Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1837-08-18
"The times are out Of joint"

THE PAINTING BUSINESS, Of all Others is perhaps,
at present, in the worst situation" Curiosity, last
week. led ascertain, from actual observation the
condition sfthe principal Offices. The proprietors in
spite Of the gloomy aspect of the times still stick to
hope for the amendment of trade some time or anoth
err but the jours, having long since given up all hope
have whenever an opportunity offered, wisely turned
their attention to ether sources of livelihood There,
are, however, great numbers now idle.
Every body has heard Of the Harpers they are I'M
mortalzed with the reading public; sermons, novels,
and hstories-useess, useful, and entertainng-have
they poured upon the community, without number.
But their streams of light are damned up; without
the Intervention of legislative enactments, they have
suspended operations their banks like those of the
Wall streetfraterny no longer servceable to those
who formerly deposited thereon; and the sweet little
innocent houris who won't to throng the binde-
ry, are now-non est The amount of capital invested
IN this establishment Is perhaps double thar of any
other in America. Exclusive Of their immense build
ngs worth, probably 5000 900, they have stock of
printing, binding, and stereotype materials valued at
upwards of S420, 000 which have been UNEMPLOYED
for the last four months. In ordinary times the Har-
pers employ about two hundred persons whose aver
age wages IS per week; in these times Of suspen
sion, pressure, and what not, they give work (and
that too mostly out of charity, to somewhere near
forty, who average just enough to their souls the
trouble of parting with the tenement Of clay--say IS
or So per week. Besides the business which they
have heretofore dsne upon their own premises they
have given out great quantity of work to other Of
fees; but now such is the beauty of the credit sys
tenn, they have scarcely enough keep their appren
tces-those learning type sticking from that "paren
of vice." dlsness.
1.-THE Methodist Book Concern" is a mammoth
Of the second grade. With all due Difference and I'VE
were their premises entered upon. Certain grave
members of the craft were gravey employed in Ego
ing through the notions of setting type. II did mt
take long them; and it don't take them long
I, count the money earned which is about "a or IS
per week the agreement with them being for en-
ployment half the time, upon the old saw, 81 half
loafs better than no bread" Last year there were
about sixty composltors engaged who averaged about
% per week; but now there are only twenty -four,
and the capital Of $500, 900 is lying in as dormant
state as specie in the Manhattan Bank.
Francis f. Ripley, our enterprsing neighbor at the
corner has an excellent establishment worth sl2 600;
but il is Of little at present There are now three
hands somewhere about the building, who are doing
a small business; but it would not have been diff
cult previous to the pressure count sixty seven
~ almost any day in the week. who were pockene
their 80 or $40.
Redfeld & Lindsey publishers of the Family Ma
game, who generally give employment to twenty
five or thirty compostors, engravers and fnishers,
now have fsur lads about the premises and we will
pledge our character for dscernmen that not one OF
them is killing himself with hard work. Here are
$4,000 unproductive.
Smith 4 Valentine always have managed (pre-
vous to the first of May) to give employment to 20
men-now they have two-and $4,000, which they
wish was out of the business.
Scatcherd & Adams are doing little, with three
jours.; they could, land do in fair times,) employ
twelve or fifteen to advantage; also printing ma
teral TO the value Of $4,000
w. II. Coycr, who has $4,000 invested in his busi-
ness has not journeyman to put any portion in ope-
ration heretofore had no difficulty in counting eight
| or ten.
Geo. p. Scott * Co. print the Mirror, and little
store of catalogues, and forth There are $4,000
which might be more advantageously invested in some
! other business. They are now doing about half as