New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-31
ASSOCIATION.
Tinmen,s As.oeiatiOn in Paris
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
n.n.. IL. % lGs


Tinmen's Association in Paris
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
PARIS, Apri "a, 1851.
have recently paid visit to some OF
the Industrial Associations, which are no" e1ciuhg
40 much interest IN Pans, and viii give you oflei
description Of one which examined Win 'he great
est care This Is the Association OF BLOCK I'm WON
orc Passing through a aanow passage between the
rear Of two theaers IN tho Rue de Bondy' came up
on a large COURTYARD. fedswth trees and shruo5ery
and reminding youmore OF pleasant country VlHaee
than Of the somDcr purhcus Of mechanical INDUSTRY
IN this crowded city. The pace was dotted win sew
oral small. neat cottages, each with garden and
cluster Of trees and in the center building OF more
nreiensions which proved be the shop Of the Assoc
ciated workmen. On entering the first floor found
A warehouse well supplied with manufactured goods
and convenient wOTk-roons with an excellent stock
al tools and everything r. admirable oroer me
workmen were busy as bees, and wore happy, satls
fed look which / have rarely found among the la
boring CLASSES IN Europe. The whole appearance OF
the place showed that II was money-fn'hing CON
Germ, and no mistake.
Of romance YOU may find IN 1t an Illustration oi me
miracles which Will be realized IN TINS age by lbe
principle OF Association.
TIE block TN business holds an important place IN
the mechanical industry Of Paris II gives support
10 about 500 families or counting four 10 family,
10 over 1,oOo persons In the Department Of the
Seine there arc SAID TO be about $50 master worNnen
engaged in the manufacture Of bOck-tln lamps, be-
side nearly a. many more employed IN making other
articles OF household use Of the same material.
About 500 hands are employed III these 0i1efehi
establishments. OF whom ons-thTd may be considered
as stationary, while the rest are constantly changing
from one cmployer 10 another. When there IS
press OF orders they hired temporarily and DIS
charged a. soon - the work y done Hence, thty
are always on the move from shop 20 shop, and often
from, rffsr oo,sv- IN q
led to form unsettled habits, and IN fact become
sort or wandering arabs IN the midst OF the city.
This Is the inevitable lot of the trade, and a tendency
against which Association Will have 10 struggle Win
ylgOT.
The division Of labor, winch is carried to great
extent, brings down the rate OF wages 10 scarcely
more than a living prce and sometimes hardly that
When there is fun employment, 1t Is not so bad, as
then man can average 4! francs a day on lamps,
and francs on other work But for SIX months IN
the wear Is difficult for the lamp maker to find even
half days work lie Is thus out of employ great
4 part of the time to bring down the wages 80 per
cent, making the average rate not over or 81
francs day. am told that IN the commercial Crisis
Of lS41 Il fell down to francs on VIII easily per
ceiye that IN such state OF things the WOrknen
would not be slow to avail themselves OF any prom
iSing measures Of relief Soon after the Revolution
they began TO open then eyes
Convention was called on the l2lh OF March,
1915 ii voted by reclamation TO form Mutual
AID Society, and steps were taken toward It's organ
izaOn. Weekly meetings were soon commenced
Paris was declared IN a state OF siege They were
resumed IN the following October. with less nu-
merouS but more interested attendance, and prOpo-
sltlOn was soon made TO establish limited ASSOCla-
ton, subject 10 the regulations of the Code OF Com
mCrCC. 4 set Of bylaws was drawn mp. But no
capital was forthcoming. The hat was held Al the
door 10y one OF the members, after the close OF each
session, when small amount was collected IN vol
uniary contributions. The articles of Association
were adopted ON the Sd Of December, lS4e, and pub
hshed the following January. About 300 francs had
lcnr nv tho nod eta Oh of
woTkmon contributed tools and stock To the amount
Of 400 francs addition sort OF shdniy was hlred
for 500 francs and after getting lar start only 10
francs remained IN the treasury. The want OF cash,
however. was not so bad rs the want OF customers.
They could command no work whatever for some
time The FIRST order, which was for lantern,
brought IN twelve francs, but this a piece of
good fortune that was not soon repeated The
wages. which had been fixed at two francs day
were reduced 70 three, 10 two and finally 10 one
iTanc Week. Inc ASSOCIATION Was reduCed 10
three persons before the close OF March, 1879
and they could live only by sharing the bread of out
side workmcn.
These three mon were genuine heroes. They
rOughed II out TIL thc tide turned. Never losing
heart they waited with better success than MlcaW-
her for something to turn up Business AZ last came,
but instead OF sczng the profits for themselves they
devoted them 10 the common interests. As fast as
circumstances would permit, they recalled the assoc
GATES who had been starved and thus, before the
month OF july they recruited BY the addition OF some
members. Good orders came in. and they were able
Of stock. AbOu, tins time they suffered 4 severe
blow. On gong 20 work one fine morning IN July,
they found their shop-window broken, the tools
knocked into cooked hat the mOney-draWer
broken open, and all the cash taken away. TO make
bad worse. !, was trumpe,od forth IN the ConServa
tive newspapers that The money Was stolen 10y the
associates themselves.
They now thought that II was all over with their
enterprise. They were about to dissolve the con-
Germ, when several other ind, idua associations step
ped forward for their rehef Their contributions
we're accepted as a loan. Beginning with five francs
week, they paid of The whole sum IN small INSTALL
mentS, according Ia their means.
With tins encouragement they went 10 work with
mesh confidence. In order 10 gam confidence they
put their stamp their goods, which step greatly
Increased their business. especially among exporting
merchants They now took az The manufacture OF
fixtures for gas, N addition 10 their other industry.
With the increase of their profits they able to
leave their old uckety shed. and TO hire the comfort
able quarters where found them, al 4 rent OF ESQ
francs year
AGer a succession Of dismal Apul days which beat
the New Ork Spring all hollow, have al last got
q streak Of delicious weather. Yours, as ever, L.