Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-08-02
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
Nsw YoRK, JULI 26, ls5

EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
Nav YoRK, JuLr 26, 1851.
Among the most important manufactures carried in thin
city that Of ready made clothing which Is increasing
rapidly as 70 rank already the business which employs
most hands and feeds mouths than any other in opera
ton among Your Washington readers all know that
ago there were not he Of the ready made clothing
shops your city which open there. As with you
every where the United States has the demand for
such work increased in like proportion With nconsiders-
BILE exceptions the goods thus sold Enthusiastically
ther for Wholesale houses located here Boston, and in
Phladephia about eghttenths Of the whole being sent
abroad from this point The statistics Of the trade show that
in the city proper there quite persons supported
BY the business while the number living BY who deni-
zsns OF villages in Connecticut New York, and New Jer-
sey, few hours ride sail from this point much larger
The majority Of these workmen and wokwomen paid
living r.~--, Ssr.s-a'y 49,. ~o,~sas ,>-as-s
houses At times dailes contain accounts Of shameful
imposions practsed by unpncpled dealers this class
too many Of whom without capacity to defend themselves
year ago than such bad exposed by the
reporters and punished by the law for practising the trick Of
advertising for large number of female hands, giving out
garment to each to try their work, the depose Of the
value of the cloth in moneys and then, when the finished
work returned refusing pay for it, give back the
depose the ground that the poor had ruined the
garment in making up This is the :" last dodge" of the
Peter Funks who hang the skirts of the business II
may be written to the credit Of the authorities Of the city
that by making prompt example Of every such brought
to their notice. they have pretty ectuay put stop this
disgracefu practice Nevertheless quesion whether the
operatives in any other branch of the business of New York
suffer much those engaged in making CLOTH
ing the prices paid owing to the great competition, being
h..l e. 49,
healthy workman workwoman while il is the employ
ment to which the destitute females of the city, many of
them with dependent families prone rush. The large
houses keep up the prices paid the operative general
thing.
Believing business Of great Importance only the
city, bot to the whole countyr its has reduced
the price Of the greater part Of the clothing in the Uni
ted States full 3sa per centum in the last years. shall
proceed TO make it the subject Of this letter.
The leading New York house the trade 10 that Of s. H.
HAsroRD & Co., (ate Lewis & Hanford, which is said to
furnish employment for full 800 operatives many Of whom
however, work only during the hours that conveniently
be spared from domestic duties.
The original firm commenced business in ls40 and in
1914 began to manufacture extensively for the supply of
dealers from the interior gradually increasing their business
until il has to be great to require in carrying
the army Of workmen and workwomen above mentioned
They occupy of the stores (No. 29) in Park
Row. recently erected the site Of the old Park Theatre by
Messrs. Vim. B. Asto Phelps, and Brewster. There is
not elegant complete, and capacous store in the city
Of New York single lot than all five Of the build
ings which Mr. A. and his associates have placed there, i'm
medste'y fronting the Asor House. Their fronts of brown
stone bs.ply .na far Of the
appearance Of grand and noble public buildings than Of bu
siness housss they are. The occupied By 8. H.
- nE E--A
snd including the two stories Of basemen is stories in
height Il is lighted during the dy by large skygh the
floor of each story Immediately under it being oPen
In the lower basement the cloths received stored in
the package On the basement floor above is their sales
room for what they furnishing goods" Shirts hand
kerche hose umbrellas drawers &c., arranged like every
thing else in the establishment in perfect order, md ranging
price from the cheapest to the most costly required by the
trade. Thy keep in this full fifty different styles Of
Shirts for all which there is demand, each being popular
somewhere On the ground floor is their saes-room for
pantaoons and vests, with the counting house principal
office in the On the second floor above samples Of
their stock of ranged for inspection and sales. Here
also their arrangement Offices for making clothes to the
order Of individuals in the city They do large business
Of that kind The aperture for light in the Aoor Of the third
story covered with glass, TO the goods below from the
effect Of the dust made by the brigade Of above This
glass casing Of greatly improves the beauty of the
rangement of these On the third story floor in the
the apartment for giving out and receiving the work.
wherein during business hours constantly from fifty
hundred mistress workers. who receive the
work in quantities, and again give out at home others
be made up In the front Of this range the cloths
packed and inspected by passing them slowly rollers be-
tho light and the Inspector who checks every flaw,
enable the cutter to avoid when the material passed into
his hands Here, too are the arrangements for sPonging
the fine cloths Of all descriptions which is necessary before
making them up. On the story aboveths fourth from the
ground and sixth from the oundaton-,he cutters thirty
forty in number, work. cutting one wo three sets Of the
cloth at time, depending its thickness This important
branch Of the factory s under the charge of Mr. Barnum
whose arrangements for ensuring its proper operation
most systematic and ingenious. Between 100 and 200
garments here and trimmed daily, to gil all conceiva
BILE fances in the brains Of customers. The reader will
therefore perceive the necessity great care confusion
should arise, and the difficulty of guarding against it,