Hemingray Glass Company - Muncie, Indiana

PICKING UP AT MUNCIE.

All Glass Factories But Two Are in

Operation.

PRESIDENT TROTH AT MUNCIE.

Muncie Consumers Must Also Pay Higher

Prices for Natural Pay.

MUNCIE, IND., Sept. 23. - There is not an idle industry in the city with the exception of the Nelson Glass Co. and the Port Glass Co., both of which concerns make a specialty of Mason fruit jars. It is a singular coincidence that both of these firms are comprised of home members and local capital.

Ball Bros. are running two large tanks on double turn with three men in a shop. They are also building another large tank, which they are hurrying as fast as possible, and which will be put on double turn as soon as completed. It is expected that this furnace will be in operation by Oct. 15. This firm will then have 190 blowers working exclusively on Mason fruit jars. This is the only green factory operating at present. Information relative to the intention of the Nelson Glass Co. is not obtainable. Their manager, J. J. Pennypacker, has been laid off since July 1; and, by the way, we hear it rumored that Joe is about to accept a place at his trade again in the near future. The prospect for an early resumption by this company is not very rosy.

The Port Glass Co. think they may resume in part in the near future.

The Muncie Glass Co. - flint - are running their large works up to their fullest capacity, with plenty of orders and with brilliant prospects for a full season.

Maring, Hart & Co. and C. H. Over window factories are running full, with bright prospects of continuing through the winter.

The Hemingray Glass Co. are busy on their specialties. On the whole the outlook is considerably brighter for Muncie than it was a year ago, but this apparent prosperity is obtained at a sacrifice of the workers, as every branch of trade has suffered a reduction in wages of from 15 per cent to 30 per cent, and in some instances the reduction has reached 50 per cent.

The Pendleton correspondent is to be congratulated that their gas company has been satisfied with a 12 1/2 per cent raise in the price of gas. The Muncie natural gas octopus, as it is called by two of our prominent citizens, in an exhaustive article in the MORNING NEWS, the leading paper of the city, has given notice of an advance in prices of 20 per cent for cooking stoves and 60 per cent for grates, making an average of 40 per cent for one cooking stove and one grate, and nearly 50 per cent for one cooking stove and two grates. Your Pendleton Gas Co. isn't in it with our octopus. The consistency for this move is not discernible to an outsider. The reasons given by the octopus are that the supply is gas is falling and they are compelled to go out further for it, thereby increasing the cost. Yet these same gentlemen are very active in offering inducements to manufacturers to locate here; and the principal inducement is the unlimited supply of gas, and they will then say that there is no perceptible diminution of the same. It is "Heads-I-win; tails-you-lose" sort of a game. The city council have the matter under consideration, and it is yet to be seen whether the octopus will have his tentacles clipped or whether he will be allowed to stretch out and choke his victims. This company is practically owned by two men who, five years ago, were considered poor, and to-day they count their wealth by the thousands, and yet they say the present rates do not pay them.

The Citizens Street Railway Co., to all intents and purposes, own the principal streets of this city, and one man power is fully demonstrated in municipal affairs, and the natural gas octopus is as surely monopolizing the gas system, and unless council calls a halt we will be at their mercy; wages go down, living and fuel go up.

President Troth, of the green workers, was in the city the past week attending to trade affairs. He feels greatly encouraged with the outlook as far as a resumption of work is concerned, but deprecates the necessity for a reduction of wages. A reduction of wages is not the most agreeable thing to a glass worker, but it is to be hoped that the membership will gracefully accept the settlement and heartily support their officers in doing what in their judgment was for the best interest of the trade. - MUNCIE.