MIDDLESEX COMPANY - LOWELL.

On April 17 a strike occurred on the part of the weavers employed by the Middlesex Company, of Lowell, claiming an increase of wages, and three days later, a written request was received from the employees requesting the action and advice of this Board with a view to effecting a settlement. In response to their letter a member of the Board visited Lowell and met the employees on the 21st, and on the same day a formal application was signed and presented by them.

A letter was promptly sent by the Board appointing a time and place for meeting with the weavers on the 24th, and another to the agent of the corporation saying that after meeting with the employees as appointed, the Board would call upon the agent at his office. On the same day, however, an agreement was effected between the agent and a committee of the weavers in accordance with which the following notice was posted:

Commencing April 24, 1899, the reduction in wages made by the Middlesex Company in 1898 will be restored. The wages of operatives who were not reduced at that time, and of those who have since been restored will remain as at present. The price list submitted by the committee representing the weavers, after mature deliberation, the company has decided to accept. As an earnest of the desire to remove the existing difficulties they are willing to try and run the mill under the above conditions, although it hardly seems probable that they can do so.

Work was promptly resumed, and nothing further was heard by the Board about the

matter.

BOSTON HORSESHOERS-BOSTON.

On April 26 the Board learned informally that on the first day of May a strike was expected to occur in Boston and vicinity on the part of members of the Journeymen Horseshoers' Union. In the attempt to avert the strike the Board invited a committee of the union and a committee representing the Master Horseshoers' Association to meet at the rooms of this Board for a friendly discussion of the differences involved. The invitation was accepted and the two committees met with the Board at the State House on April 28.

It appeared that the dispute related to wages of "fitters" and "drivers," or "floormen." The claim was that fitters should receive $19 a week, and drivers $17,- a substantial increase for many of the journeymen, compared with prices then being paid. There were about 400 journeymen and 125 masters in Boston and the vicinity, and wages varied from $15 to $18 a week. As the conference proceeded the fact

was developed that neither committee was fully empowered to agree to a settlement that should bind others as well as themselves; consequently the Board suggested that committees be chosen with full power to act in the premises. The suggestion was favorably received on both sides, and the conference came to an end for the time being.

On May 1, the day set for the strike, the Board was informed by the president of the masters' association that that body had chosen a committee with full power, as suggested by the Board, and the clerk immediately notified the president of the union of that fact and requested to be informed what action the journeymen proposed taking.

Unfortunately for pacific measures the strike had already begun, and as several employers acceded more or less promptly to the demands of the union, and all or substantially all did so in a few days or weeks, there was, in the nature of the case, no occasion for arbitration.

IRON MOULDERS - LOWELL.

On May 8 a strike occurred on the part of iron moulders employed in Lowell by the Union Iron Foundry, the Eagle Foundry Company, Albert F. Nichols and Pevey Brothers respectively. The demand at first made was for $2.75 a day, which was afterward changed to a minimum price of $2.50 a day, - a union price by the day to be substituted where previously men were paid some by the piece and some by the day, the average earnings throughout the city being represented as about $1.75 a day. All employers were notified of the demand, and that it should take effect on April 24. No replies were received except from one employer who agreed to pay $2.50; some said that they would pay that amount if the others would. A subsequent notice was given that unless the demand should be granted, within the time stated, a strike would take place on May 8. It occurred according to programme.

On May 10 the Board of its own motion