The New York Herald Newspaper, November 14, 1873, Page 5

“THE TRADES. Situauon of the Build- ing Strike. WEN OF ALL TRADES LOOKING FOR WORK, Qur Rulers Invited to Action on the Premises. In spite of the resolution of the employing ma- gons to adhere to the proposed reduction of fifty ents per day on bricklayers, masons and hodcar- riers, which would give the mechanics $3 50 and the laborers $2 a day, several builders are conced- fg the demands of the societies, and pay the old rates, At the Western Union Telegraph Company’s @b the bricklayers are now to have $4 and labor- ers $2 25, a reduction of twenty-five cents a day om the latter class of work. One other large em- ployer on a downtown job, who had given brick- layers but $3 50 till yesterday, took men on in the morning at $4. Very few society bricklayers are mow out on the wages dispute. A lew coopers, some cigar makers and alarger body of hodcar- riers are idle for the same reason, Tailors and shoemakers through the city have hardly more than hali employment; one-fourth of the marble cutters have no work to do; a third of the machinists and half the boiler makers, and many in ali branches of industry find no work for their willing hands, On all sides the cry of our population is for work. A meeting of the Work- ingmen’s Central Council was held last even- ing at Masonic Hall, East Thirteenth street, near Fourth avenue, where propositions for Telief were discussed. The same organization Nave made arrangements for a mass labor meeting in Tammany Hall, Fourteenth street, on Saturday night. Mr. Leander Thompson and other speakers Will address the assembly on the rights of working men and women and the means by which they may secure these rights. No doubt there wiil be an im- posing attendance of the hard fisted men of muscle, who demand employment, not alms or public pele a6 relief tor their distress and that of their families, Delegates to the Council from the several trades represented business as being at an unprecedented low state. Paper hangers said no paste was bein; used, Painters think their trade have less wor! ‘than ever before for a long period, nearly all bein; idie. Carpenters and joiners, brass founders an finishers and plumbers made similar statements of depression. in Brooklyn, Westchester and New Jersey, as Well as in our city, thousands of willing hands find no employment. Public improvements wait for want of money and private enterprise is at a halt irom lack of credit and confidence, Thousands who should at this season be pusy walk the strects looking gana and apprehensive of severe suffering as the winter winds grow flerce and frosty. These all look to the ‘local and general governments to take some steps to avert the dread disaster. Presi- dent Grant, Governor Dix, Mayor Havemeyer and other public men have been invited to attend the mass meeting on Saturday evening, as well as to take such executive action as will tend to give re- lief to the threatened wholesale starvation of working men when the country ts full of food. The rookiyn municipal authorities have romptly resolved to replace the reet laborers at work, thus averting suffer- ing from thousands of families. Similar action on this island could employ 10,000 men on works which quickly repay their cost by the in- creased value o! adjacent property. Between allow- ing 40,000 or 50,000 industrious citizens to drift into pauperism and crime or furnishing them employ- ment to feed them through the winter is the ques- tion our city government is now called upon quickly to decide. Ifthe decision be not prompt and wise a heavy responsibility will rest on those whom the people have placed in power. THE MARBLE MEN, About One-Quarter of the Operatives Discharged. A HERALD reporter visited several of the marble yards in the city yesterday to ascertain the condi- tion of the business and the number of men em- ployed. One branch of the marble business—the monument and tombstone business—is about the same as usual, while that part connected with the building trade has diminished a little. Several dealers vold the reporter that their business de- pended on and was governed to a great extent by the building interest; and as that industry is at present rather inactive, the marble business suffers wore or less. In point of the number bye ae del there are about one-quarter of the usual number discharged. The men on the new Cathedral are Still all at work, THE JEWELLERS, Lack of Money—Poor Prospects for the Holiday Tra: Inability to collect money seems to be the bane of the jewelry business, The business of itself is inclined to be as vigorous as ever, but the scarcity of money retards a healthy movement in the trade. Many, in fact most, of the large manufacturers way that the demands are as large aa ever, but they cannot get cash for sales, and collection is aiMecnit, if not impossible. Orders from the numerous retailers throughout the country are as great as they generally are at this time of the year, dut their notes oftime are doubtful and not current unless at great loss, From this state of facts, it is safe to conclude that old Santa Claus will not distribute his auriferous and argental gifts with as lavish a hand as has been his wont in the years of yore. The hopeful Maiden who hangs up her stocking in anticipation Of finding in iton the morrow a golden gift may be disappointed to discover a wooden substitute in the shape of a jumping-jack, and to lighten the consequent weight o! disappointment this state- Ment is made. Poor Santa Claus has been so pros- trated by the late panic that itis nighly probable his visits tnis year willbe few and far between, It is also fair to suppose that these visits will not be like the ones in former years, to the best, but to the richest. In several of the largest houses in the city one- quarter, and, in some cases, one-half of the usual number of employés have been discharged. The New York shops are only a small percentage of those throughout the country, In Connecticut espe ially there have been many hands discharged, but it is impossible to ascertain the whole amount, In the State last memtioned there is a large portion of the population in certain districts employed in the watch and silver plating business, The last in- dustry is very feeble at present, most of the fac- tories having been closed for three days in the ,week, Others have not been closed, nor do the proprietors intend to curtail their ‘working force or working time. Several gentie- men largely interested in the sliver-plated Ware business told a HERALD reporter that the major part of those who work at the trade are well to do or in comiortable circumstances, as they have earned “big” wages in the past and have saved a little something for this wet day. The Jashionable jewellers, who only make work to order and of specially fine texture, have discharged Jew, if any, of their hands, for the very fine artisan would find do dificuity in getting work at any time of the year, A rough estimate shows that about one-ninth of the jewellers In the city are out of em- ployment. SHIRTS, UMBRELLAS AND HATS, General Duiness and Want of Work Among the Work Peopic—What a Hal- timore Merchant Says. There is scarcely any business afing at present among the shirt manufacturers, At the utmost the largest houses are werking only on half time. ‘This necessitates the discharge of nearly half the cutters in each establishment or the working of the full number on half time. In this business the large houses do their cutting here and then send the material to the country to be sewed. The dulness must therefore have put a large number of sewing girls out of work in the country sewing es- Vablishments, Woollen shirts are mostly made up in this city, and @ large number of girls have been unemployed here owing to want of sales in this branch of the business, Some of the largest manufacturers say that they anticipate a lively trade in February next, or thereabouts, August, September and October are good months in this business, but this year October fell far behind in receipts, It is suid that collections are jair in the West, but poor in the South. City busi- ness 18 poe olf depressed. In some classes of is @ reduction of ten per cent is made on sales, nt there is no energy among the manufacturers to push a business, as they are waiti a eg ae Mat ererobante. totic tae in the umbrella business manufac simply ata standstill. There ts no Duntieos dome either in the country or in the city, Since about October 10 sales have entirely ceased, Some of the Jargest factories have closed altogether and others are running only on part time, but it may be said that in general the workmen and tne working girls are id Nor 18 there any prospect in this busi. peas of a revival of sales, and manufacturers look upon the balance of the year to be lost to them, It sane ited that collections are siow and Hat manafacturers are jnst now doing bnt a yer; ‘small business comparatively, The largest house in this city is barely able to keep its men earning art wages. Workmen are paidin this bosiness y the piece, some of them earning, in the busy O WeRks plbore, acanons, ay high as $6) ang $190 NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1873.—TKIPLE SHEET, some branches of the trade, $40 and $60. The total number of journeymen in the United States is about 1,000; in city from 460 to 500, It is said that the September and October trade was very brisk, with not much of a difference between this season and last. The house above alluded to in- tends preparing a full stock of goods tor January, velie that trade must revive by the end of next month. Country stocks are low and must be filled, and upon this data it is erence that business must necessarily improve. While tne HeRaLp reporter was speaking to a manuiacturer yesterday, Mr. R. Q. Taylor, a promi- nent hatter o/ Baltimore, entered the store, and on being asked how trade was in Baltimore he re- plied that not within his thirty years’ experience was his business so flourishing. His receipts for September and October showed a handsome in- crease over the receipts for the corresponding months of last year. In his opinion the great trouble amon, the merchants here was want of confidence in each other. He said he was positively astounded op going among his friends and acquaintances during the day to see how “blue” they all were looking. It had a depressing influence on himseif, and he believed that much of the present despond- ency among New York merchants was due to the fact that they did not ull agree to believe that the panic was over, and endeavor to make people gaconghonk the States come to their way of think- ng. THE CLOTHING BUSINESS. The Retailers, Wholesalers, Tailors and Cutters. A HERALD reporter called on several of the largest wholesale clothing manufacturers in the city to ascertain from them the condition of the trade, Great uncertainty, not to say disagree- ment, exists between these gentlemen as to the condition and prospects of the business. Some hold that the worst is over, while others are non- committal, ana will do nothing but shrug their shoulders when the question of prospect is put to them. They also disagree as to the present con- dition of affairs. A few state that they are work- ing with full hands on full time, and have orders enough to keep them working all winter; about the money they are stlent. It is due to the public to state here that most of the gentlemen who tell this rosy story were very anxious that the re- porter should take down in his notebook their Dames and business addresses. Others who were questioned stated that the business was very dull and that they were working with about half the usual number of hands, ‘The retail branch of the business is as a general thing very dull, although there are some few excep- tions to the rule. One house on Broadway, which does business on a strictly cash basis, 18 as busy as it was this time last year. It is generally stated that prices have reduced themselves about ten per cent, 80 as to meet the times. Several oi the genttemen spoken to told the HERALD man that it was Strange the demands that were made for cloth- ing for land coilateral One firm said that several persons irom the West had made application for clothing for which they would pay large tracts of land, which the clothiers a parcel out to their clerks in lieu of money and thus afford the young men comfortable nomes in the great West. As the employers are well aware of their clerks’ weakness for picnics and strawberry festivals these overtures were rejectea partly in consideration for the feelings of the young men, It is impossible to ascertain the exact number of tailors and cutters out of employment at present, but from-what can be gathered from representa- tive shops tt is safe to conclude that not more than three-fifths of the whole number in the city are employed. In many of the houses those at present employed are working at reduced rates, Cutters who, previous to the panic, were getting $22, are now glad to work for $18. ‘the rates paid to sew- ing machine girls have also been reduced, and the ane ee have to work very hard to make enough 0 live o1 LUMBER AND FANOY WOoDS. No Business Doing—The Dulness In- creasing—Discharge ot Employes. The lumber business has been very seriously affected by the panic,and no signs appear but those which augur that the effects of the financial diMiculties are likely to last for some time to come. ‘This business represents a large interest in the commerce of the city, At the present time large stocks are on hand lying at the docks or in storehouses, awalting the opening of trade. In the foreign trade the depression is almost total and at the present time there is $1,000,000 worth of foreign timber lying in storage. During Octo- ber business was fair, but at the beginning of this month it totally collapsed, leaving the lumber dealers without any prospect of disposing of the stocks on hand. There was about one third of a difference between the October sales of this year and last. In this business it is necessary to give orders several months in advance, and the timber ordered months ago is thereiore arriving here daily, adding to the already large stocks on hand. Before the panic immense quantities of black wal- nut were exported from this country to England and the European Continent, but now, owing to the high rate of freight and the difficulties of ex- change, this trade has entirely ceased. Collections are very difficult to make and the same want of confidence that is felt in almost every other branch of business is experienced in this. The lum>der dealers are not anxious to sell, because sales if made at all should be effected at a reduction of from ba to fifty percent. Asa rule about one half the help has been discharged from the largest es- tablishments, In domestic lumber some of the largest houses represent that this season, even with the panic upon them, they have made more money than the: did last fail. The reason for this is that last fail they had purchased at high prices and were selling at falling prices, the price of lumber having fallen, for example, in common pine, from $28 to $22 per 1,000 feet. Common eine, is Dow to be bought at $22 per 1,000 feet, and more money is made on it at that price than was made at the higher figure, for the dealers have bought the timber at prices ailowing the profit. This is true of nearly all sorts of domestic timber. Some firms say that custom- ers pay their bills pretty well and pay in casb, | Bogert , however, at the tightness of money, ut airaid to deier paying under paper promises. There is not half the lumber in the yards this year that there was this time last year. The dealers allowed their stocks to go down immediately after the panic, and, of course, have seen no rea- gon since to enlarge them to the full extent. One result of this is that a number of workmen have not been employed. Firms which at this season last year were employing 60, 80 or 100 men, are now filling all the orders they care to take with half these numbers. An average of the prices for the various kinds of timber per 1,000 feet is as lol- lows :—Black walnut, $85; ash lumber, $45; spruce, $20; hemlock, $18; Oak, $45; white wood, $45; pine (an average for fourteen sorts), $25; common pine, $22. No reduction in these prices is, as a rule, being made, ‘The fancy wood business has suffered much from the general stagnation of other branches of busi- ness. In this branch much depends upen the activity of several others of the trades, and the consequence is that itis now completely at a stand- still, Whatever business was done by some houses in October, now the majority of mer- chants ¢ been compelled to sit idle and await the development of the troublesome problem. A few larger orders, how- ever, have been received by some of the larger houses. Work in some of the factories still goes on, but only inthe fulfilment of orders that had been received before the crash. In nearly ever: house some of the help has been discharged, thoug! in a few instances, when work on previous orders is needed, the fall numbers are retained. Stocks should have been laid in before Novemoper 1, for w to that time the rivere are navigable and the rail- road ireights are not advancea—a consideration of some importance to merchants. It is represented that collections are generaily hard to made. Large stocks of this class of wood are on hand and are likely to remain so, the holders of them fear. A few merchants say that they are not selling under the ordinary ny while some others acknowledge that they are willing to sell for cash at & Considerable discount. From the following an idea may be had of the variety and the cost of foreign fancy woods:— French walnut and buris, per pound, to 500. 5 rosewood, per pound, 5c. to 10c.; mahogany, per foot, 16c. to 25c.; bird’s-eye maple, per loot, to loc. ; Hungarian ash, per pound, 18c. to 20c. 3 in | wood, per foot (plain) 6c., (figured) 120, to 16¢.; | tulip, per foot, 15c.; amboine, per pound, $2 to $250, In ‘domestic fancy’ woods wainut burls are sold at 7c. per oot, but ternut, 7c, to 8c. per foot; blister, 4c. to 1bc. per foot; pli walnut, le. to2%c, per foot; striped walnut, ic, to 4c, per foot. Itis diMcult at any time to say what is an exact and standara price for fancy woods, Trees vary in the beauty of their gr ining, and while one tree may not have a figure hat is not plain and commonplace, another and ae its nearest neighbor may possess figures r exquisite beauty. Much, therefore, depends upon chance in procuring good specimens of the several woods named above, apart irom the skill of the mechantc whose touch polishes the surface into mirror-tike transparency, For this reason ia vary just as the figures vary in beauty or rarity. LABOR IN WESTCHESTER, Results of the Financial Pantie in Pecks- ki Short Time” at the Foundries, At Peekskill, Westchester county, where there are some 700 men employed in the manufacture of stoves, the stringency in money matters is begin- ning to be seriously jelt. Although this has been generally the busiest season throughout the year @t the several foundries, @ marked dulness now exists, and nearly all of them are working short time—a state of affairs hitherto un- known to the oldest inhabitant of the Village. There seems to be an excellent feeling, DOWEL Detwoan she workmen and thes em: Dioyers, 80 that even should financial matters be- come worse there is little doubt that their mutual interests would prompt tangible sympathy on the One hand and forbearance on the other, Indeed, one manufacturer informed a HERALD representa- tive on Tuesday that it was the intention of his firm to keep their men at'work if possible all through the winter, even though they should be compeiled to pay them their wee! ry, wages in due bills, The National Stove Works, employing 125 men, are sull working (ull time, although a gentleman connected with the establishment acknowledged to the writer that a slight decline in the amount of orders 18 noticeable. This firm has not yet re- duced the wages of their bands, and hopes to be able to give the latter employment all the winter. At the Union Stove Works, the President, Uriah H. Hill, in answer to interrogatories of the re- porter, said that their TRADE WAS BECOMING SLACK, as the demand for stoves was not nearly 80 brisk as it hadbeen. bis joundry gives employment to about 150 persons, and these for the past couple of weeks are ouly working four days out of six. Mr. Hill says tnat the company does not intend reducing the men’s wages, and will suspend oper- ations entirely whon they find themselves unable to pay the same rates of wages as heretojore. Their annual time for closing, in order to effect repairs and arrange matters for the next year’s work, is about Christmas, but the dulness of the times will induce the company to discon- tinue work earlier this year. ‘This temporary sus- pension of operations for a month or so 18 always anticipated by the workmen and their families, and consequently no difficulty has ever been en- countered in “KEEPING THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.” Whether the suspension may ae a@ protracted one or not this winter must depend eatirely on the condition of the money market. Southard, Robertson & Co., stove and hollow ware manulacturers, furnish constant employ- ment for about eighty men, They have not, so Jar, made any material reduction in their working force; but, in order to adapt their affairs to exist- inj ircumstances, are now running the works only tour days in the week. This is, ofcourse, in- finiteiy bet than to discharge employés, who are mostly men with large families dependent upon them for support. The Bronze Iron Works of E. B. Finch & Son, em- ploying about thirty men, will, it is understood, oe 4 heir foundry at the end of the present onth, Montross, Lent & Pollock, stove manufacturers, giving work to about fifty men, have been running Le ae time up to last week, but at present are WORKING HALF TIME. A similar reduction in the hours of labor has been made in nearly all of the other smalier foun- dries, the operatives appearing quite hopeful and contented, knowing that their employers will do all in their power for them in the present depressed condition of business, Outside of the stove trade Peekskill presents a lively appearance, carpenters, masons and other artisans finding constant employment, Buildings in course of erection meet the visitor's opservation in every direction, it being estimated that the vil- lage has made more progress in this respect dur- ing-the present year than it has for the past tive Years in the aggregate, NEW JERSLY. sere Se A Hopetal Prospect in New Brunswick— No Alarm Felt by Capitalists—A Won- derful Recuperation. Among the leading manufacturing and industrial cities of New Jersey New Brunswick occupies a prominent position. It is a staid, solid old town, dating baek its incorporation as a city to the year 1784, Before the Revolution it was known by the name of “Prigmore’s Swamp,” so called at that time irom its grounds being covered with woods, and after the name of its then proprietor. The inhabitants looked on this name as being neither classical nor poetical, and hence the change to its more modern title. It is located in a valley, on the west side of the Raritan River, and was first settled by families of European descent, who came 1rom Long Island, In 1730 a party of Dutch settlers came thither from Albany, bringing with them an am- ple supply of building material, After the battle of Trenton © the vanquished enemy took up their winter quarters in this city. That !amous and venerable seat of learning, known as Rutgers’ College, formerly Queens, is located near the centre of the town. The water power and railread facilities of this city are second to Done in the State, Consequently factories of vari- ous descriptions and other places of industry are numerous. The manufacture of shoes, hosiery, paper hangings, rubber fixings and fruit jars compose the principal mainstay of the artisan = Class, A few thousand hands of both sexes are engaged in this kind of industry. The monetary crisis has not yet so affected this section of Jersey as to cause any serious stagna- tion in trade. A HERALD representative went on a tour of inspection yesterday and was brought into contact with nearly all the prominent busi- ness men, who freely volunteered all the informa. tion asked for. The following isa fair estimate of the present state of affairs in New bruuswick:—The Norfolk and New Brunswick Hosiery Company has about 600 hands now employed. ‘they have reduced the wages fifteen per. cent, but there has been no dimi- nution in working time. The prose are pretty fair for the coming winter. Tne Novelty Rubber Company is not seriously affected, 250 hands being at work, and they hope to contimue working with that force for some mouths to come. A small portion of their work has, however, been stopped. The superintendent of this estab- lishment stated that there were not more than 300 men out of employment in the city and those were laborers lately employed on sewers and public works. very few mechanics, he said, were idle and a hard winter is not anticipated. Two other rubber works are running, with a@ force of about 650 hands, The New Brunswick Rubber Company is increasing and extending their jusiness capacities. No material change in these establishments has taken place, and the prospects are fair. The white lead and ofl works, which gave employment to about forty hands, are not in operation. The two paper hanging factories have about 200 hands at work. One of them is working on full time and the other will commence to run on half time next Sat- urday, because navigation will then be stopped and therefore the facilities for eransportesian will not be ample enough tor the shipping of pro- ducts, and the accumulation of stock is not deemed desirable. One os the firm stated that this kind of merchandise (paper hangings) is deemed more ofa luxury than a staple commodity, and therefore he does not wonder at a slight cessation in business. ‘he panic, he said, had the effect of rostrating business considerably, but he believed t would be only of a temporary duration. The Metal Screw Company Works, which give em- ployment to about 200 hands, are tem- porarily shut down in order to have an inventory of stock taken. Business will be resumed shortly. The prospects are fair. No reduction has been made in time or wages. Two or three small foundries, with a force of about sixty hands, are in Jull operation. Felter & Co.'s shoe factory, with 300 hands, fs being worked on three-quarter time and the wages were reduced ten per cent. “Orders are not brisk, collections are easy aud prospects are good for the winter,’ was the remark of one of the firm. There are three other factories of tiis kind, which give employment to about 100 hands, and are believed to be in full operation, ‘This trade presents a fair average condition. New Brunswick, like its sister city, Trenton, has no reason to complain, as matters show quite @ respectable and iavorable comparison with other sections of Jersey. No serious depression is felt and none is anticipated from present indications, The principal mercantile firms, however, com- lain of money being tight and collections exceed- ngly diMicult to make ; but this will not create much astonishment when it is taken into account that by the defalcations of Appleton and Woodworth, the former while acting as cashier of the State Bank and the latter as president of the defunct Carpet Met the city has been drained of ut $2,000,000 in hard cash, Both these individu. als, as is well known, escaped. Numerous were the complaints made yesterday by all those inter- viewed on this topic of the silence and inaifference of the local press when these irregularities, a3 they were mildly called, first came to light, Nota word was said in condemnation of the defaulters at the time by the city papers, The State Bank resumed business last week, its empty exchequer having been replenished by the voluntary contributions of philanthropic citizens— two of them subscribing $225,000 each, The popu- lation of New Brunswick is about 15,000. ‘om the adjacent districts there are no complaints of any depression in business quarters. STATE OF BUSINESS ELSE WHERE. NOT AFFECTED BY THE PANIC. ‘There are three branches of business which have not been materially affected by the panic—viz., liquor distilleries, beer breweries and tobacco fac- tories, LONG ISLAND PARMERS. ‘The farmers of Kings, Queens and Suffolk coun- lies are chuckling over their gooa fortune, The bulk of the productions of theirlands was har- vested and marketed beiore the hard times came on, GRAIN. ‘The grain trade at the lake ports has not dimin- ished and the withering hand of the panic seems not to have touched that great interest of the country. VERY SENSIBLE. ‘Tne Vermont farmers say that when they can Pick 400 bushels of potatoes to the acre, as they are now doing, and sell them for Sighty cents & bushel they will not complain of hard times, FULL TIME AND A REDUCTION OF WAGES, . Thgnew rolling mls at Newoor Del. 0 the. | great joy of everybody, are in full operation, the —* submitting to slight reduction in their FALLING OFF IN THE MANUFACTURI HATS, Berks county, Pa., is not making hats at the an- nual rate of 3,060, as were turned out last year at this time. LONG HOURS FOR HALF TIME. Some mills on Hoosic River are running on half time, but require seven hours labor jor half @ day. PAPER MAKING IN CONNECTICUT. The Cheisea Paper Company has been running on two-tuirds of ite capacity for the last six montis, PROSPECT BRIGHTENING. Work in the various shops of the Reading Rail- road Company 18 increasing, and the probabilities are that everybody will soon again be put to work on full time. TROY CHAIN WORKS STOPPED. The chain works of J. B, Carr & Co. in North Trov, N. Y., suspended operations on Saturday night On account ol lack of orders, About sevent men and boys are thus thrown out of employment, SHUT DOWN ON BUFFALO ROBES. The merchants of Dodge City, Kan., refuse to contract lor more buffalo hides this season, owing to hard times, The trade last year at that point alone amounted to over $500,000. RISE IN THE PRICE OF LAGER BEER IN BALTIMORE. The recent advance in the price of hops from $1 25 to $2 per bushel, increasing the price of lager beer, the brewers of Baltimore have resoived to raise the price of the beverage to $11 per barrel, it having heretofore sold for $10. BUSINESS ON THE UPPER OHIO RIVER. The Wheeling (W. Va.) / r of November 10 says:—Manulactories here are inactive, ana steamers are carrying nails as low as ten cents. The manufacvuring business at Ironton has tempo- rarily suspended, and business is stagnant at all points on the Upper Ohio, A MOVEMENT FOR THE REDUCTION OF WAGES. A general movement of the manufacturers in North Adams, Mass,, to reduce wages twenty per cent is to be inaugurated on the Ist of January. Should a eorresponding reduction of the prices of the necessaries of life, and especially board bills, be also made it will make tis change more agree- able to the laboring classes, PENNSYLVANIA COAL AND IRON TRADE. The Mauch Chunk Gazette says:—The coal trade is dull, It is hard to make sales and dificult to col- lect money. Production has fallen off somewhat, because there are nu orders and there is not likely to be. The iron trade is terribly dull, and this has had a bad effect upon the Lehigh coal operators, A GLOOMY PROSPECT. On Wednesday stven machines were started at the print works at Wappinger’s Fails, Dutchess county, X.Y. It is supposed that they intend to work up all the goods on hand, aud then close until @ favorable opportunity presents itself, ‘The appearance is certainly glooiny. THE SPRAGUE COTTON MILL IN CONNECTICUT. The Jarge cotton mill at Baltic, belonging to A. & W. Sprague, of Providence, R. I., has been runuing, ever since eurly in the panic, on half time. Its ca- pacity is 76,000 spindles, It employs about 1,000 hands and will goon manulacturing unless sume- thing unforeseen occurs, SUSPENSIONS IN TROY, N. Y. B, H. Hidley, music dealer, has been compelled to suspend, but will endeavor to make some ar- Fangement with his creditors and continue busi- e883. On accountef the difficuly experienced in pro- curing discounts H, B, Ingalls & Son, dealers in pig iron, were compelled to allow one of their notes to go to protest. The constant depreciationin the eo ol iron during the year has also affected the rm. CONDITION OF THE MANUFACTORIES AT AKRON, OuI0, The Akron Iron Company at present employ 275 men, which is their average number. The wages throughout have been cut down ten per cent. The Excelsior Mower and Keaper Works, the J. F. Seiberling Company, proprietors, which have been shut down lor repairs, us is customary every season, have not started up yet. The probavility is that when work is commenced they willrun on @ reduced number of hours per day, The Barber Match Company, was never in a more rosperous condition. ley employ at present 175 hands, most of whom are girls, and work sixteen instead of ten hours per day. Whitman, Miles & Co., of the Akron Knife Works, are running ag usual, no reductions having been made. Si: nhaG mien, their average number, are employed. At the Akron Chain Works wages have been re- duced ten per cent on piece work and thirty men have been discharged. The number employed there at present is aha 2 Akron Sewer Pipe Company employ its usual ah seventy-five. No reduction has been made. Although ight directly has been heard from the Buckeye and Hill Sewer Pipe Works, it is known that both are running as usual, The Hill company gives employment to about forty-five, and the Buckeye to about thirty hands, ‘The Akron Rubber Works of Goodrich, Tew & Co., have at present shut down, as is their custom every fail. This is done to repair the machinery. The works are at present being supplied with some new machinery. Work will be resumed in a lew weeks, when a full force of men will be employed. Thomas Phillips & Co., of the Akron Paper Mills, have cut down wages twenty per cent. Taney have also discharged temporarily, trom their paper bag Mmanulactory, ten girls. They employ at present seventeen nen and three girls. A sudden decline in the price o! paper is the cause of the reduction of wages above mentioned, The Webster, Camp & Lane Machine Company have discharged six men and have adopted the eight hour system, No reduction in wages. From the Akron Hame Works of A. D. Bowman thiriveu wien bave been discharged. The number employed ut present ts twenty. The eight hour system has “veon adopted at Mr. E. H. Merrill & Co.’s pottery. None Nave been dis- charged or prices reduced. The number empioyed is twenty-one. LABOR AND THE STATE, Lecture of Mr. Charlies Bradlaugh at the Cooper Institute. The great hall of the Cooper Union has held but few such audiences as assembled last evening to listen to a lecture on the labor question by Mr. Charles Bradjaugh> Round after round of the most deafening applause greeted the speaker at the conclusion of almost every sentence. There was some slight element of disorder present, but so promptly and effectually was its outbursts quelled by the speaker that they added to the in- terest of the lecture. Mr. Thomas Sautiiff, President of the Working- men’s Union, was chosen chairman, and intro- duced the lecturer of the evening. Mr. Bradlaugh came forwaru and said :— When I consented to lecture in this room I hardly expected that the same gravity would be required as 1s now necessary. I knew that the labor question is the one with which statesmen would have to deal. It is tne question for the future. All have begun to recognize this. Unfor- tunately the circumstanges which have recently transpired render the subject one of great impat- tance, even to the men for whom I have a right to speak. LABORERS IN THE OLDEN TIME were mere deivers in the soil—siaves only in another name. In Egypt the Pyramids mark their power and their tombs more than they do the greatness or the sepulchres of the kings of those days. In India the laborer was regarded as & machine, without ‘aind or rights. Even among great writers the stain of slavery Tests upon labor, The Messrs. Guiot are now pub- lishing in Paris a book upon the present condition of the working classes. They trace out the condi- tion of the laboring classes 10 all the countries of Europe. The ideas which this book follows shall serve as the text for my lecture to-night. THE DIVISIONS OF MODERN SOCIETY. The old divisions have been changed, so that now, if you take the old countries of the world, you find them divided into the clergy, the aristocracy, the trade: what Mr. Disraeli calls “the lower st builds the beautiful cathedrals? Is it not from this “lower stratum” that these beautiful gems come? 1 shall call the aristocracy and the Church the con- sumers, the middie ciass the distributers and the lower class the producers, In this country I shail make two classes—the moneyed class and the moneyless class. in the first I include all those whose labor does not support them, be they aristocracy or beggars. In the Uld Worid the aris- tocracy claim to be the privileged class, ‘The; claim to be educated; they should be so. I will admit that the working Classes are not so well edu- cated as they might be. Poverty is THE FOSTER MOTHER OF CRIME and disease. It is our place as laborers to arraign the aristocracy for the uneducated condition of the laboring classes It is from want of knowledge of the weapons which are used against you that you are often defeated. Do not be airaid of political economy, My dear friend, John Stuart Mill, had many kind words for you, All the apeech I have to make turns upon four words—high wages, poor wages. Poor wi mean wretcbed dwellings, the ram shop more in- viting than the home and the wife notso good- tempered as she ought to be. In Irelgnd niuepence @ day is paid for Ital and here some American laborers receive $5 per day. The mere nominal wages received in London, Paris and New York are not a proper criterion of the rate. ‘The price paid for the necessaries of life must be taken into account. But thisI can say, all wages are low wages which do not give to a man good food, clothing and a comfortable hom: SOMETHING MORE WANTED. at Wage which does not give him time to think, to love and to study men and books, is too low. A_ hig wage which gives an ‘es aig for accumulating a reserve fund is the remedy with which you meet crime and disease, as well as the whole train of evils which grow up from poverty. The great, crying evils which exist in the cities of the Old World are not to be found here. How long it will be so depends upon yourselves, It does not de- nd on your government or on your millionnaires, jut, Workingmen, I say, on yourselves, DO NOT ASK CHARITY, 1 do not say that the Rothschilds or Astors are not charilable, pag J da aay wet chariyy we word J Which the workingmen should wish to see erad- teatea from the langu The financiers tell us ‘at they know the value of money. I have no ney I dount they do; but inst the value of mol plead for the Value of lif and smiling children. fe, the value of bright eyes NOW THE TIME FOR A CHANGE. — Lr ‘@ time as this, in what is called a panic, Erg fering comes where it is least able to be orne, 1gee that some of the workingmen are asking the government to aid them, Workingmen who ask the government to aid them are a disgrace to a@republic. You are the suardians of the nation. If it 18 not a8 you want it, if unings do not go just as you want them to, Isay it to your faces that you are to blame, and it is your disgrace. (A slight disturbance occurred here, and cries of “Put him out!” were hurled at the interrupter by the audi- ence.) “No,” said Mr. Bradlaugh, “1 never had a man put out of a meeting which I addressed uniess he was in such @ state that{ had to put him out myseif.”’ (Deafening applause.) Here you all have political power, and it 18 a disgrace fora citizen of this great republic to say to an Enelish- man that the government falls into the hands of cliques. I gay to you, do better first; compiain aiterwards, THE TRADES UNIONS. Are trades unions honorable, legal and justifia- ble? Iam ready to say that they are ali oi these. Any combination of men which has for its purpose to raise the price of wages for laborers is not only justifiable, but is a display of common sense. A society with this purpose, wnich holds its meetings With open doors, i8 a benefit; those holding their Meetings in secret are a blunder. Don’t be afraid of criticism, Your workingmen’s societies should be polttical organizations, I was surprised to learn that labor has nothing to do with politics. Don’t be selfish, When @ man stands up among you and offers ideas which are different from ours, honor him {6F his courage and brains, Any- y can float with the current; a stick cau do that. Be able to swim for your life and to help the weak ones by your aide, ORRUPT LEGISLATION. The representatives of monopolies should not be allowed representation in the Congress halis of this or any country. You have no right to tell me that men in the legisiatures sell their votes to these monopolies, It is you who put teem there; you who keep them there, ut the brand of scarlet on every man’s brow who sells himself, make him’ a polisleal leper, whose life shall be worthless and rotten forever after- ward. This will stop bribery in your legislatures, The workingmen are told to have patience, Pa- tience! Who says patience to a starving wan’ Hunger knows no patience. It's blasphemy toa Eaotnen who has several starving children at her 1 can scarcely tell you haw proud I am to ad- dress you to-night. 1am here to say what the men in the imulis in Northumberland have taught me and give me a right to say. I bia you good night. THE ELECTION FRAUDS INVESTIGATION. . Sympathy for Cuba and Expulsion of the Traiterous Members of the General Committee, The Committee on Organization of Tammany Hall, John Kelly in the chair, met at four o'clock | yesterday aiternoon, Messrs. Gale aud Ackert act- ing as secretaries, The investigation of election | frauds was continued, In the Eighteenth Assem- | bly district James Powers testified that he was chairman of the Tenth Eiection Polling district Board of Canvassers, and, alter counting the State and county tickets, he was assailed by three men, | one of wiom said, ‘Give it to him,” while another person named James Keegan knocked him down near the door, Keegan had endeavored to get him | to drink during the day and objected to | him peddling uckets, Keegan’s party- were in the interest of ticket. In the Eleventh Polling district Charles Chandler testified that Patrick Barry, another inspector, peddied Assembly tickets for Bernard Biglin and changed several of Henry McUabe’s tickets for those of Biglin when voters | placed them on the voxes. H. 0. Tnompson, of No. 185 Lexington avenue, was a watcher at poll dis- trict No.7 in the Eighteenth Assembiy district. The inspectors counted the Assembly ballots to the number of 173. The poll books called for 172, 0: which Henry McCabe had 113 and Biglin 48 an William G, Choate 18, Thompson heard the chair- | man say, “Let us destroy one of McCabe's and | make the count agree with the pollbook,” at the same time taking one from McCabe’s piie and de- stroying it, no objections being made by tne other | inspectors. The Committee on are inquiring into defections in tne va- rious Assembly districts, in the Tammany Hall General Committee Isaac H. Vermyie, officer in the Court of General Sessions, Patrick Finn, fire aepartment; Henry Van Holland, no avo- cation, were expelled. Ex-Judge Thomas Pierson Was dropped and Thomas C, Freeborn and George ‘W. Thompson were aliowed to send in their resig- nations, These people did not somnore the Tam- | many Senatorial and Assembly candidates in their respective districts, SYMPATHY FOR CUBA. The Solon resolution was offered for the con- sideration of the mously adopted :— Whereas Spain, by the seizure on the high seas of the American ship Virginius and those on board, and by the hasty butchery of American ciuzens in Cuba, has de- graded civilization and has violated international law, Resolved, That, represenunz the dom: of the metropolis, we demand.of the adustuicu ation the most careful scrutiny into these atrocities, atonem the inhuman outrages and something of that old J: yn vigor which vindicates the fag and honors hu- manity. The Committee of nization ordered that the afMidavits be submitied to the counsel, Colonel J. B. Fellows and George W. bray es and that they be piepered and sent to the District Attorney to 9 | Organization | = " before the Grand Jury. Police Commissioner Charlock refused to allow Alfred T. Ackert, one of the secretaries of the Tammany General Committee and acting jor some of the inspectors, to see the original aMdavits ou which inspectors were removed on election day by the Commissioners, and also ueciared that he did not Po adgmaad a@ny such organization as Tammany The committee adjourned until this afternoon at four o’clock, when the investigation will be re- sumed, THE OOUNTY CANVASS. The county canvassers resamed the canvass of votes cast at the last election at eleven o'clock yesterday morning. The Seventh, Eighth, Nioth Tenth and Thirteenth Assembly districts were taken up and canvassed belore the adjournment for the day, 28 well as some odd election districts that had been sent back fer correction. Martin Nachtman, candidate for Assembly in the Eighth district, filed @ protest declaring that he re- ceived & majority of the votes cast, and was duly elected, but, in consequence of frauds committed by inspectors and canvassers, especially in the Sixtn, Seventh, Eighth, Muth, bleveuth, Thir- teenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Election dis- tricts, votes cast for him were counted for his ad- bec mer Scherman. J Messer, also a candidate, filed a protest, ing repeating and ballot-box stung in nD iy every election district of the Eight Assembly district, and that the canvass and returns were fraudulent. He claims that he received a majority ofall the votes cast, and, therefore, he asks that the certificate of election be givento him. The protests were referred to the Committee on Pro- tests. Protests were received from Andrew Keating, Frederick Johnson, W. H. Weaber and Eugene J. McEnroe, citizens of the Sixth Election district of she Nineteenth Assembly district, against the canvass of the Assembly vote, on the ground that the Inspectors, finding two ballots tolded together | for Thomas O'Callaghan, they separated them, put them back in the box, mixed them, then drew out one of Alexander Martin’s votes and gave O'Ual- | laghau one majority. | THE JERSEY CITY BOULEVARD. | | Commencement of the Argaments in the | apreme Court at Trenton. In the Supreme Court of New Jersey, at Treaton, yesterday, arguments were commenced by Attor- ney General Glichrist on the part of the prosecutor in the case of The State of New Jersey, Henry Gaines, prosecutor, vs. The Hudson County Avenue Commissioners, 1m which is involved the right of location by the defendants of the new boulevard to be constructed in Hudson county. A large number of witnesses have already given testimony in the case before Isaac Romaine, a Supreme Court | Commissioner, at Jersey City, on behalf of the | prosecutor. ‘The following namea gentlemen are | set down as prosecutors in the pamphiet contain- ing such fiat A Peter Henderson, Adolph Meckert, Orestes Cleveland, Solon Humphreys, Marcus Beach, Samuel Neison, Jobn W. Soper, An- drew Clerk, Charles B, Brush, Robert C. Bacot, Isaac B, Culver, A Charles W. McLean and Charies Spillman. The following is a copy of the writ served on de- fendants, and «lated September 27, 1873:— THE STATE OF NRW JERSEY To THe Hupson County AVENUE ComMissionERs Greeting—We being willing, for certain reasons, to be certified of a certain resolution of the said the Hudson and determining County Avenue Commissioners, fixing the location, width and extent of the Hudson County ayepen and gag to be prepared any map or mape of said avenue, a also @ certain map, entitled “Map ot Hudson County Avenue,” maps, acts and proceedings relating W ail other D3, said ave- nue, taken and done b; the Hudson in Avenue Commissioners,and by color of an actentitiéd "An act to provide tor open! ng. constructing and maintaining an avenue or road in Hudson county," approved April ‘We command you that the said resolution, with all resoketiome} ere aes Proceedings be and accom: nying of preceding the same, be of said a eedings i relat in any hepa taken go fig and determine I. t ih November next, you certity, und sen, (7 rapid gain in part funds here to meet dry goods purchases. Another competitor in this new, grand, ground and loity the Apollo Hail-republican | & | entorced idleness, committee and was by them unant- | hur Spiliman, Jonathan Camp, | THE MONBTARY SITUATION: A Marked Imprcvement on Wall Street and on Change. THE “BEAR” MOVEMENT IN DRY GOODS, 2 Advance in Foreign Exchange and Its Influ- ence at Home and Abroad, There was quite a cheerful feeling in money ein cles yesterday upon the cumulative evidence which comes to us from all sides of improvement in the Keueral situation, It is gratifying to note in this connection, and as forming a helpful partof it, the ready acquiescence of operatives and workingmen generally ina reduction of wages, while the hint before made, that the stoppage of many manufac- tories was more largely due to the purpose to bring about this result than trom any other cause, is shown in the rapid reopening of many establish ments that have been closed ior the past few weeks, THE GREAT DRY GooDs saLEs now going on in this city help, too, this result m stimuating @ freer circulation of money, The banks of this city now announce themselves as holding $27,000,000 in legal tenders, their in this respect being no doubt attributable to the movement of tumble act, which 1s now exciting so much inter- est, has entered the ring in the person of Garner & who are selling Amoskeag prints at 7c. per yard, and prints of their own manufacture at 7c. The same goods are being sold by Claflin & Co. at 8!,c. and 9c. per yard, This whole business is un- healthy, having in it the taint of stock gambling, wnere real value is lost sight of and prices fluctu- ate up or down 4s the great operators give the impetus. It is a grave question lor buyers juss now, where willit end? ‘the great houses—Clafin, Stewart, Garner & Co., Peake, Opdyke & Co—are Just now bearing the dry goods market. itis but hatural that they should scek to undersell one another; that others should come in to undersell them, and in the end, perhaps, we may find the retail dealers forced into A MORE FORMAL LIQUIDATION underselling all. It would be but a repetition of the situation in which the Stock Exchange found itself, when it closed its doors at the com- mencement oO! the panic. The great bear clique had sold tue market down so iow that they forced adecline that broke the men they sold to, and “bull” and “bear” were buried in a common ruin, There is danger of just such a result in the dry goous market, and while there might be cause for rejoichg in sucn a result in the benefit the con- sumer would derive, it should be borne in mind, befure much felicitation is indulged in on that point, how many there are dependent upon @ healthy condition of the dry goods trade for their daily bread. Throw any large proportion of these out of employment for any considerable time, and no ephemeral shrinkage in dry foods values will ~=compensate for their It is a mistake to suppose there reduced prices mean simply reduced profits, This ignotso. They mean now a positive loss, It was shown here yesierday that the shrinkage in the value of cotton crop variously estimated at from 100,000,000, to $150,000,000, was in realti on the whole crop, only about $37,000, while it was argued hat there was yet good ground for hope—in fact expectation—that before the crop was entirely marketed this shrinkage would be wiped out, and @ handsome margin of profitearned in the year’s operations. ‘The resumption of manutacture, unless at GREATLY RBDUCED PRICES OF LABOR, willbe, in @ great measure, retarded by these forced sules, aud, ag labor will find the necessity of | seeking employment when it is offered, upon labor, alter ail will come the burden of this great reduc- tion. The capitalist, having weathered the crisis for which he was most largely responsible, can tien serenely and safely watch the distribution of his burden among toiling thousands. Atour among the bankers dealing exclusively in FOREIGN EXCHANGE revealed the fact that the improvement in price Of these bills is to them au augury that the bot- tom of the panic is happily reachea. Yesterday rates were 107 a 109, the former ior sight drafts and the latter at sixty days, Last week sterling exchange was quoted as low as 1054, which was, according to the currency standard, about three er cent below par. Since then confidence has een restored, remittances to Europe are made and exchange has ennanced in accordance with the improved feeling. One of the leading German bankers intormed the HERALD representative that’ within two days past his house has drawn for upWarda of £50,000 on English and German cor- respondents, at rates varying from 6% to7 per cent, and that at present bills of exchange are in Eas demand than they have been since the panic gan, AT THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE business yesterday was aiso quite active. Grain ia being rapidly pushed eastward prior to the closing oi.the canals—an event which is only a few days: distant. All the railroads are making the most extensive preparations to accommodate the great influx of produce now awaiting shipment the West for this as well as the foreign markets. Busi- ness AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE , bas likewise assumed livelier proportions this week, and it is probable that the receipts for du- ties at the end of this month may be nearly ag large as those for November ot last year, All That is needed is confidence, and that Is being restored among the merchants doing business here to a very large extent. THE WAR FERLING on the street, yesterday, was excited to a lively degree, and a whole series of operations, financial and military, from the issue of more greenbacks to tle acquisition of Cuba or the subjugation of the United States to Spanish rule, were discounted in the Gold Koom. The indicator, as it recorded 108%, the highest point of the day, seemed half ‘obscured by the glimmer of Spanish bayonets, while later, when it receded to 108, the bright folds of the starry flag shone brilliantly over the waters of Havana Bay, as it proudly floated from the roof of tn® Cap- tain General’s palace. It was a day of visions, and every incident of asharp and stirring campaign, from the battering down of the Morro to the sink- ing of @ monitor; Irom the hanging of Burriel to eee of an ambuscade upon our “bum- mers,” had its due record in the changeful pre- mium. There was something of the old tever of 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865 in men’s blood in the Gold Room, and ii @ heavily armed ship had only fred a salute in the bey it is possible gold might have jumped out of sight upon the assumption that tne city was being bombarded. THE ADVANCE IN GOLD was not, however, without grounds. The advance ol the rates of foreign exchange makes the shi ment of gold this way no longer profitable, while the reiusal of the Bank of England to further ad- vance ‘ts minimum rate of discount at the regular meeting yesterday and the easier feeling in respect. to money in the open market are accepted as indi- pO the movement is thought there to be arrested. RUMORS, Wall street was singularly free from rumors yes- terday. Late in the afternoon there were hints of a large defaication or deficiency in the accounts of officer of some Western ratiwa: compen, mounting, it was asserted, to $600, on hird of which Was reported to have been made good by the delinquent, Nothing more definite in relation to the party ur the railway could be learned, and it is as likely to prove a “bear” canard as anything else. Of the same nature was another rumor to the effect that trouble was likely to be deveioped during the week in one of our city banks now held in high esteem, hence the name is withheld, ‘A BRAHMIN'S JOKE. Mr. Sheshadri Addresses the Students at Columbia College Law School, Mr. Sheshadri was present at the morning ses ston of Columbia College Law School yesterday, and at the conclusion of Professor Dwight’s lec ture made a few remarks te the Di hecdeny of the class. He sweetened his words of instruction with a highly interesting sketch of how the high caste ‘Brahmins of India managed to see thelr numerous wives. In this regard, he said, In all probability inadvertently, that the Bratmil a @ tour @round the country so see their many ves, jase as our circuit judges do. The boys ma their appreciation of the joke by immense and the speaker anticipated ab explana- Goa Soiniag. inthe laugh. Mtr Sheshadrt con- rks byan exhortation to the young. No oa india, assuring them that they would there find litigation a thousand times more complicated than in the States, notwithstanding the existence of the heirs of Anneke Jans, SHOOTING OF BROWN. His Death in Har! e Coronor Keenan yesterday held an inquest at No, 211 West 126th street on the body of Mr. Eben- ezer H. Brown, the wealthy real real estate opera- tol-shot Wor ches honths Mr. Brown had been ‘much distressed. tn spirits, but particularly so for nearly two months Di ‘He had been so at times it was found neces- sary for his wile to watch him. The depresson of Mr. Brown is all ve been caused in may fient tae ttalnp to ie Constitution and laws of this J dates MERCER BEASELY, Chief Justice, \dder, Vredenbui and Messrs, Gilchrist, ee rosecutor, and. Messrs. norne are for the pri Abpotk puxaD and 3! or defendants leged r\ ease of the brain. 16 oat ko 6th inst. According to the the found that Mr. Brown was tem; at the time of committing the deed. at nearly Oity-elght years of age and a native of ts State,