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Show HIM LHII.T Lli" An Active Contractor Presents a Column of Highly Interesting Facta and Figures. WAGES OP THE PRESENT DAY. Tho Volume of Labor and How It is Ingeniously Ingen-iously Eegulated By the Federated Feder-ated Trades. "Zion has been a Mecca for the la borer during the season." This was the articulation from a woll knowti co ntractor as ho struck au admiring ad-miring attitude and lifted his eyes to the top of the Commercial block, a structure that would awaken a spirit of prido in any metropolis. "Y e, sir," bo continued, as his eyes again got down to their natural horizon, "it has been a picnic for him, aud w hile at times he was in a position to diclato hii own wages, I must say he has acted squarely. Of course, there have been ono or two little Interviews between him and his employer, but hard feelings were only temporary, and a sensible view was taken of the matter. For myself I want to see the highest scale wages possible. It makes times better for all classes. It puts spirit into everything and a spike-tail on the limes, iiut there is ono thing that must be respected at all times tho fact that tho scale cannot be changed without with-out disaster to the employer in the middle mid-dle of a contract. You will understand that when I put in a bid it means that I have considered ovory source of expense. I have simply represented repre-sented the Federated trades and put the skill ami sinew of its disciples on the market. I know, for example, w hat the scale of wages is at that moment mo-ment and govern my bid accordingly. It is too lato to raise the price then and I believe that this fact has become so woll known to the labor unions that henceforth when a strike is ordered it will be by mutual agreement between the contractor and the union." "Rut yon were speaking of wages!" "Yes, to return to that. Labor is better paid in .Salt Lake than in any city with which I am acquainted. There are exceptions of course, but they don't arise in localities where labor is employed em-ployed in largo volume. Tho demand here has been lirm, very firm. One thing more than all others to which this is due is that all contracts con-tracts of recent date havo been taken with tho 'time clauso'included. An un-forseen un-forseen delay may change the whole complexion of the labor market. It increases in-creases the demand and very frequently has it forced an advance. This has been especially ho with referenco to stone-niastns, brick-layers, plasterers and hod carriers. At times we have been compelled to pay as much as $1)60 a day to tho brick layer. Now that is princely, and is more money than the average man realizes from his brains that is, take it the year round. Then again there are contractors who found it necessary to put the pay of plasterers up to $5.50, when the scale was a dollar less. It was the strong and sometimes riotous demand for their skill, however, that forced it. And J imagine that this applies to the experience of tho average contractor, con-tractor, so that Salt Lake, as I have said, has become one of the best labor markets in the country." "What of the future?" I "The outlook is gratifying, first-class. The volume of labor will of course depend de-pend largely on the architectural growth of the city, but then there are other industries and other enterprises that must influence it. There are the approaching railroads, manufacturing, manufactur-ing, the paving anil improvement of streets, and a half doen other things that draw on the volume of labor. The Federated trades have got that, matter down to a line art. They regulate the volume in a town as carefully as the engineer regulates h is steam. Too much of either is injurious, and hence 1 say the market will continue con-tinue lirm at good prices for at least several years. I never have contracted in a city when labor was in a healthier condition than it is here, aud it speaks well for future prosperity. pros-perity. But I have got to catch that car," and the interview was abruptly cut off. |