The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-18 00:00:00

CLOSING OF THE PRESTON MILLS.

TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND PERSONS OUT
OF EMPLOYMENT.
(From the Northern Daily Times.)

On Saturday afternoon the various mills in Preston
and its vicinity, in which the notices to the hands had
expired, were closed, and upwards of 15,000 additional
persons are thus left without employment. On Friday
and Saturday, no less than 36 mills were closed, and if
we add the number closed for a few weeks previously
(10), we have a grand total of 46 mills now absolutely
closed, and in which there is an entire suspension of
manufacturing operations. There are yet running four
mills, which are under notice to close, so that in a few
days the number of mills closed will be upwards of 50,
only eight mills in the whole district continuing opera-
tions. The number of mill hands at Preston is estimated
at about 30,000, and the number who are now walking
about the streets of Preston without employment is set
down at from 20,000 to 25,000 persons. The amount of
wages paid weekly at the various mills now closed is
stated to have been from 12,0001. to 13,0001.
The immediate withdrawal of so large an amount
must operate very injuriously on the trade and general
business of the town. To enable the large number of
human beings who are now without employment to exist,
the committee of the operative union proposes to pay
them weekly a sum of 4,0001., and they allege their
funds are sufficiently strong to enable them to continue
this payment for some weeks. In the meantime dele-
gates are to be deputed to visit all the principal towns
in the kingdom, to solicit assistance from the operative
classes of those towns, to enable those of Preston
to prolong their struggle with their employers and
to compel them, if possible, to yield the 10 per cent.
on present prices. Thus far we have indications of
an obstinate and ruinous struggle, rendered less likely
to be brought to an amicable or speedy conclusion by
a strong belief on the part of the hands that the mas-
ters cannot long afford to keep their mills closed, and
a feeling on the part of the masters, amounting almost
to a certainty, that the necessities of the hands, when
without employment for a few weeks, will bring them
to their senses, and induce them to submit not only
to the terms which they now propose, but to any which
they may then think fit to insist upon.
This is the present position of the unfortunate mis-
understanding, which has arisen between the employers
and the employed at Preston, and until either party
succumb, or some arrangement is come to, even supposing
the union is enabled to continue the payment of 4,0001.
per week, the business operations of the town must
suffer to the extent of 8,0001. per week, or in the ratio of
the very large sum of 400,0001. per annum. The pro-
spective loss of this sum and the difficulties in which
it must involve shopkeepers and others have necessarily
caused a great deal of excitement amongst persons in
business, and they are not slow to attach blame to
all parties who have taken any part in producing the
present crisis. The general feeling, however, seems to
be that, if some slight concessions on immaterial points
on the part of the masters and men were made, the
strike, or rather " lock out," as it is now called, might
be speedily terminated, and busiuess allowed to resume
its usual course. On the other hand, the operative
classes, not alone of Preston, but of several towns in
Lancashire, Cheshire, &c., are favourable to the course
taken by the " lock-outs," and have determined to
support them to the last. So far as the trade of
Preston is concerned, this was clearly exemplified on
Friday evening, when a meeting was held at the Far-
mers' Arms, at which 15 trades were represented, com-
prising steam-engine-makers, boiler-makers, mechanics,
tin-plate workers, stonemasons, bricklayers, joiners,
flaggers, slaters, &c. An unanimous resolution come to
was, to support the lock-outs to the best of the ability
of the various trades, and a form of placard was drawn
up, announcing to the publio the determination of va-
rious trades to do so.

After the closing of the mills on Saturday, owing to
the extreme wetness of the day, no demonstration on
the part of the " lock-out " hands took place, but in
the afternoon the bell-man was sent round, who an-
nounced that a meeting of the weavers would be held at
the Temperance Hall at four o'clock. Should this morn•
ing, however, prove fine, a monster meeting is to be
held on the Marsh, Preston. The amount of steam
power now idle exceeds 2,000 horses, and the dispute is
stated to have resulted from a difference relative to the
payment of 1/. per week in a small mill.