Newspapers / The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, … / Feb. 8, 1940, edition 1 / Page 15
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IDLE WORKERS REMAIN WORRY Production Gains Likely to Leave Five Millions Still Unemployed NO BOOM FROM WAR (By CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES) With industrial production equalling the highest rate in our history about eight-and-a-half millions of our citidens who want work, who are able to work, are either idle or engaged in some form of publicly-financed em ployment devised to utilize their services and provide them with a means of livelihood. Furthermore, even though 1940 brings a 10 to 15 per cent, in crease over the high level of busi ness activity in the last quarter of 1939, there is no real prospect that private industry can absorb more than three or three-and-a half million of these idle workers. Since 1929 the supply of would be workers has been augmented by 600,000 each year. This is the excess of new workers over the number removed from the roster of employables by re&san of age, illness and 1 death. That means there are about six millions more people working or i seeking jobs than there were in 1929. And in that year the American Federa tion of Labor estimated 1,864,000 were without jobs. But industry is more efficient than it was in 1929. Output per man-hour during the first half of 1939 was approximately 25 per cent, higher than in 1929. Even with the shorter work week and considering that increased de mand would start operation of less efficient units, manufactur ing enterprises would probably not require many more than a million additional employees to produce 10 or 15 per cent, more goods than are being turned out now. A sustained building boom, of course, would mean more employ ment in that field but an opti mistic estimate would not put the number of new men that could be hired in the near future at more than a million. Mining, transportation, the dis tribution, service and miscellan eous fields will naturally enjoy cumulative benefits if long-con tinued, high-geared production of heavy goods supports and accel- '*. *"? ■ ■ I ... j B L i 5 llflllllli / ' Welcome, New Citizens! Well Done, Chatham! May the Future Bring Even Greater Progress and Expansion for the Company and Happiness and Contentment for Employees and Officials Alike! i i . - ■ , *'■ ■-' ■ Elkin Lumber & Manufacturing Co. ! EVERYTHING TO BUILD ANYTHING Phone 68 Elkin, N.C. Girls of the Chatham Shipping Department fiSK ■ jBWJI ■psonh |RWfv ./ iiTr- t ?- ;; '- jJMrMHaflggil'lWW'i Pictured above are the girls of the Chatham Manufacturing Company shipping department, a majority of whom will continue with the company here. The picture was made at the Christmas party held December 21, 1939. Ezra Shamel, foreman of the department, is pictured in the back row. ferates the demand for consumer goods. How many might be re employed in these fields, it is im possible to guess. The number might be large but radical and permanent changes have occurred since 1929. High taxes have dis couraged some types of spending important in 1929 and unemploy ment, in turn, seems destined to be contributing factor in keeping taxes high. The thought that a genuine, sky-rocketing war boom might reveal jobs for all does not appear to have a very sound basis either. The demand for workers which appeared in late 1915 and 1916 was partly caused, at least, by the shutting-off of the labor supply which America had been accus tomed to receive each year from abroad in the period preceding the war. During the year ended June 30, 1914, our population was increased 915,000 by immigration. The following year the flow had been cut to 123,000. Since 1931, immigration has been negligible and a complete cessation of the influx would have no appreciable effect on the labor market at the present time. Shutting our eyes to dismal statistics, however, it is possible to dream of another golden era THE ELKIN TRIBUNE. ELKIN, NORTH CAROLINA Woman, Armless, Feet to Natchitosis, La.—Mary Bell De Vargas, born armless, is making a tidy living painting with her feet, which also serve her for playing bridge, powdering her nose and waving hello to her friends. Mary, who took up art work when she was four years old and later paid her way through the State Normal College here with when everyone who wants a job in productive enterprise will have it. This dream would evolve a rejuvenated American spirit, a new burst of energy and enthus iasm, new wants, new ambitions, and the shirt-sleeved will to sat isfy them. Such dreams have come to reality in the past, orig inating, frequently, from such a drably apathetic atmosphere as has clung throughout the thorny 30's. Perhaps in the 40's we will create a method of using men as skillfully and as efficiently as we have learned to use machines. the pictures she painted, has her studio on the main highway through Natchitoches. Now nearing her 30's, she is a happy human being who would even drive an automobile if her family would permit—and if she could get a license. Her pictures, filled with great detail work of the ancient iron balconies in this oldest town in Louisiana, have won her awards from the American Artists Pro fessional League. "I can knit, crochet, play cards, put on rouge, wash my face or almost anything you can think of," says Mary as she sits on a stool and begins combing her hair with her feet. She wears toeless stockings and shoes that easily can be slipped on and off. To Be Grandfather Teacher —Robert, what are you going to do when you grow up? Robert l'm going to be a grandfather and just sit around telling everybody how cold the winters were and the things I did when I was a boy. In Sweden the bell towers are built separately from the churches. ji •:% -■' ~ : :': -■•'■■' -••;■'••'■;••-. -■■■-•■■■ - •-: /. v¥^^::' ; V--" -.;. i "' V; ' ;. ' "'v':-; . > ; v , ; V:;'V-V- -- ' ' " *"'""" ; "f? *'' We Welcome the New Elkin Employees of the Chatham Manufacturing Company TO A GOOD TOWN AND TO A GOOD BARBER SHOP We join with all other Elkin firms and citizens in welcoming all of you to Elkin, and sincerely hope that you will find pros perity and contentment here. And at our barber shop you will find the same warm welcome. Expert barbers are here to serve you with barber service you'll like. Make us Your Barber Shop. Complete bath service. Come in and let's get acquainted. Reece Barber Shop E. T. REECE, Prop. East Main Street Elkin, N. C. Pag Seven
The Elkin Tribune (Elkin, N.C.)
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Feb. 8, 1940, edition 1
15
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