Sheffield Independent – Thursday 29 December 1892
Commercial Trade in 1892
The year has seen a marked change in a commercial sense in the populous district of Mexbro, and the general opinion now is that the horizon is very sombre in regard to several of the trades carried on.
The mineral traffic is not so extensive as desired in midwinter, and the prospects for the new year are by no means roseate. The “buzzer “—indicative of “play days “—has sounded too often of late to be satisfactory, and the question occupying the minds of the miners is whether the wages will soon have to sustain` a “drop.”
The Manvers Main, Denaby Main, Thrybergh Hall, and Wath Main miners are in the union almost to a man, and any proposal to reduce wages will be sure to be strenuously opposed.
The most significant feature in connection with coal mining in this neighbourhood is the sinking operations which are being 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 last Saturday at Cadeby, but the manager (Mr. W. H. Chambers) has informed our representative that this is erroneous, and that some months may elapse ere the mineral is “tapped.”
Meanwhile massive iron headgear is being placed over the shaft, the engine shed and machinery and various colliery offices have already been erected, and hundreds of labourers are being employed in the construction of the South Yorkshire Junction Railway—which is a single line from Cadeby to Wrangbrook, to convey the coal to the Hull and Barnsley Railway.
As a result of these extensive works, the village of Conisbro’, as well as Denaby Main, has latterly largely increased in population, and cottage property has been in great demand.
Another trade largely carried on is that of glass bottle making. Unfortunately there has been a depression in the industry during the whole of the year, and now it is very keenly felt.
As has already been stated the whole of the hands at Mexbro’, Conisbro’, Kilnhurst, and elsewhere are under notice, in consequence of the demand of the employers that less wages should be accepted.
During the year the works of Messrs. Kilner Bros, at Conisbro’, have been materially enlarged, rand Messrs. Waddington Bros. have had a largo manufactory erected at Mexbro’. 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 Mexbro’ Brick and Sanitary Pipe Works, and boatbuilding does not show any appreciable decline.