I45j 



HISTORY 



13 



mill where the grievance arose, and financed entirely by 

 voluntary subscription. Frequently strikes were lost through 

 the lack of proper financial aid. The loss of a strike in- 

 variably caused the dissolution of the local union. Eleven 

 forges lapsed in 1867, and sixteen the following year. The 

 active membership was not more than six hundred. When 

 in 1870 the control over strikes became centralized in the 

 national body, and the machinery for the levying and col- 

 lecting of strike assessments was perfected, the organiza- 

 tion experienced a steady and rapid growth. The member- 

 ship increased to 2000 in 1871, and to nearly 3500 in 1873. 

 This was a high water mark. The effects of the panic de- 

 pleted the ranks of the local unions during the next two 

 years, although new forges were constantly being added. 

 The growth of the union until 1875 may conveniently be 

 observed in the following table : 



Table Showing the Growth of the United Sons of Vulcan 



Reported to Convention at : 



Year 



Active 

 Forges 



Tax- 

 able 

 Mem- 

 bers* 



Forges 



Re- 

 porting 



Dele- 

 gates 



Pittsburgh 



BuflFalo 



Semi-annual Report 

 Wheeling 



Semi-annual Report 

 Harrisburg 



Semi-annual Report 

 Chicago 



Semi-annual Report 

 Covington 



Semi-annual Report 

 Troy (_N. Y.) 



Semi-annual Report 

 Youngstown 



Semi-annual Report 

 Philadelphia 



1867" 

 1868 



1869 



1870 



1871 



1872 



1873 

 1874 



1875 



36 

 30 

 22 



24 

 26 



33 

 38 

 50 



54 

 70 



76 

 81 

 92 

 99 

 99 

 98 



1514 



665' 



652' 



816 



1083 



1265 



1454 



1959 



2191 



2614 



3095 



3331 



3048 



3038 



2485 

 2732 



23 

 20 



19 



24 

 26 



33 

 38 

 50 



54 

 69 



73 

 73 

 81 

 86 

 76 

 93 



51 

 20 



29 



42 



60 



64 



81 



73 



» No statistics are available for the years previous to 1867. 



''These figures represent the membership enrolled in tlie books, but 

 not all members were active. 



" President J. O. Edwards later reported the membership for this 

 year at 583 in June and 677 in December. By States there were 

 thirty forges in Pennsylvania, 17 in Ohio and 29 in all other States 

 together. 



