Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 06 January 1893

District Trade in 1892

Although never having been particularly bright trade in Mexborough district during the past year has not been so bad as many anticipated. The population has increased, and distress has been markedly absent.

Coal Trade

In the coal industry experience of the year has been that of downward prices and lessening trade. The collieries declared good dividends at the end of 1891, and the prices of coal kept up wonderfully, notwithstanding the depression affecting the iron and steel manufacturers.

But during 1892 the influence of the falling off of trade seems to have touched the colliery owners, and especially with regard to steam coal, which has latterly become somewhat of this a drag on the market. Sellers of gas coal are more fortunate, as they have managed to keep up their prices being about 6d of last year’s figures. Hard coal is, however, fully a shilling per ton lower, and looks like declining still further after the opening of the New Year.

The Yorkshire coal merchants are somewhat handicapped by the operations of the sliding scale in south Wales, where there has been a heavy reduction of wages. In Yorkshire the men still enjoy the 40% advance on the level of 1878, as compared with 7% in South Wales.

The coal trade of the district, whatever may be the state of the market, is unlikely to have more developments. The most significant feature in connection with coal mining in this neighbourhood is a sinking operations which been energetically pushed forward at Hickleton Main and also at Cadeby, the latter being by the Denaby Main Colliery Company.

A contemporary has stated that coal was reached a week ago at Cadeby, but the manager (Mr W.H Chambers) stated that this is erroneous, and that some months may elapse ere the menial is “tapped.” Meanwhile massive iron headgear is been placed over the shaft. The engine shed and machinery and various offices have already been erected and hundreds of labourers are being employed in the construction of the South Yorks Junction Railway – which is a single line from Cadeby to Wrangbrook, to bear the coal to the Hull and Barnsley Railway.

This is a result of these extensive works, the village of Conisborough as well as Denaby Main as latterly largely increased in population and cottage property has been in great demand.

At Hickleton, the Barnsley seam is to be worked, and a large area has been obtained, and it thought it will prove one of the largest collieries in the north of England.

Glass Bottle Making

Another trade that is largely carried on is that of glass bottle making. Unfortunately there has

been a depression in this industry daring the whole of the year, and now it is very keenly felt as has already been stated, the whole of the hands at Mexborough, Conisborough, Kilnhurst and elsewhere have stopped work in consequence of the demand of the employers that less wages should be accepted.

Broadly put, the two parties are at issue as to the extent of the pressure of bad trade. Admitting, however, that depression may and does exist, the men contend that their wages have reached the lowest level. On the other hand the masters say that the competition is so keen, and the prices so unprofitable that they cannot carry on their concerns except at a loss. Indeed, so great is the accumulation of stock in their warehouses that it would be a relief rather than otherwise to stop manufacturing operations until some of their accumulations have been cleared off.

For a number of years the masters and the representatives of the men have been in the habit of meeting together in the autumn for the purpose of entering into a mutual agreement for the coming year. For some weeks negotiations have been going on between the two associations of masters and men for the purpose of settling the terms for 1893. In view of the decline, not only in the volume of trade, but also in the prices obtained for the manufactured articles, the masters demanded not only a reduction to the extent of six shillings a week on the standard wages, but also certain rearrangement of the conditions of labour in regard to apprentices, slack trade, and flown marbles, which they consider hamper these in their business. It is understood that if these arrangements are working conditions would have been acquiesced in by the men the masters would have been content to ask for a reduction of three shillings a week only. The men, however, have point blank refused to do anything of the kind. They take their stand in the 1892 agreement, which they say they are determined to fight until the last. The arrangement as to “flown marbles” during 1892 was that the men should be paying for all “flown marbles” above four dozen in a day’s work. This they seek to alter to their advantage. On the question of apprentices the Masters claim the right to employ as many as they like, and the men desire a fixed maximum only should be allowed.

Building Trade

Builders and joiners have had, on the whole, a satisfactory year’s business. The theatre is not finished as was expected. The amount of building does not keep up with the demand for houses, and in cottage property this is more especially the case.

The pottery trade is not so extensive as in years gone by. The works at Swinton have only afforded occasional employment to the employees. At Kilnhurst work has been more regular. Trade is good at the Mexborough Brick and Sanitary Pipe Works and boat building does not show any appreciable decline.