New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-21
The DHPREssION IN TRADE.


Isss n NsaSk Da6s lds~Hs~, De- n
The general deprt ssion Of business throughout the
country has to some extent reached the factories Of
this city. Never, since the revival Of trade in is43
has there been such cessation of activity in all
branches oflabor. Occasionally heretofore periods
Of dupsss have occurred at customary intervals dur
ing rome of the winter and summer months, before
orders came forward but st present factories are
moetly working without any particular demands upon
them and anticipate q continued season Of compare
tive oleness. Business, however, is far from being
PROSTATE, and there have been but few and they
founded rumors Of anticipated failures suspensions
The difficulty Of collections from the South and West
az well 90 at home and the small sales will embarraa
many but il s the general impression th 1t bust
ness men will not only be able TO meet their oblgs
lions but to maintain large number OF men on par
tisl work until the prospects become more decided.
The principal difficulty il among the laborins me-
chance many Of whom are necessarily thrown out Of
work, employers can neither spare the capital 10
provide sufficient material nor do they wish TO sccu-
mulate stock. Inquiries among some OF the proIi-
rent branches OF Manufactures lead TO the e tImste
that about one-hird Of the usually employed have
been discharged, and that the remainder are kept on
about half work. The total number who are de, il
is esii sted cannot probably be less including :p
prenices and sewing girls, than s., 0o0-the NUMBER
which hes recently been stated in several qu:rters.
Wages have not undergone any material reduction,
and am ong classes OF mechanics there is dis
position to keep up the standard even 1t the expense
Of lying idle rather than TO work at reduced wages.
In some shops the full complement Of hands has been
retained and wha, work there's. divided among them,
giving all small portion, but the general practice is
10 discharge q number IN order that the rem iInder
nav have their time more fully occupied. Forum
siey many OF the boys and girls employed 10 our
city have friends in the country, TO whom they so IN
times like the present.
In the iewery manufactures il is estimated that
onethird less bsods are employed throwing about 300
out of work. There is generally large stock on
hard and there is only slight activity in sales, occi
stoned BY the holiday trade. Some small shops have
suspended operations
The clothing manufacturers are holding up Tor the
,urirp trade and at present doing nothing In the
retail trade the sales stated 10 be only about
quarter Of the usual amount, and leading mlnufao
turer calculates that 900 tailors and sewing girls are
idle
In the hating business third of the hands have
been discharged No heavy orders remain for flling
at Iresept but operations having been restricted for
some months past good trade is anticipated IN the
turipp The manufacture usually employs several
hundred worBme with large number Of gnls
Among the harness makers there are no large or
ders eomrC forward, and one manufacturer thinks
that about half OF the hands are employed with light
work. This business lie usually very heavy IN our
City.
In one large carriage factory the hands hsve been
reduced more than ore half, and only single orders
, are coming toward. The condition OF this business
which asO OF great importance resembles the others
noticed and the various branches OF trade dependent
on it, such axle and spring making, are proper
| tiOnately reduced.
=,
being also branches dependent on this harness making
| and Others, are similarly affected
The shoe business usually employs great numoeY
in small shops and large number are vA'niy seeking
work RetaiItrade is very dull, and the exports hghL
In the patent leather Manufacture a0oat 200 ar3
ont Of errpoymeut. Heretofore the factories nave
scarcely been shls ~ ply the demand on them,
ard tie business exceedingly prosperou'.
J Tbere il not adj on hsod. asd although the
! orders are no. nsi rye, some activity prevails
| A ID
| The leather business is less affected than some
others being Of more stable character IL feels the
prevailing dizziness but the workmen are generally
| retained On about half employment
| The soap and candle business and several others,
sre also as good as usual, from peculIarity u
! their character Thus. in the former, he winter ID
ALWAYS the more active season, account Of the IN
possibility Of manufacturing IN no; weather. IGsr.
is but little building song forward except tie CON
| pletion Of some houses commenced during the pat
| sesson Fer @ ear pact, however builders nav not
been so much occupied durBg the year or to pre-
eediyc as capitalists have not chosen 20 invest IN r
money in this manner material and labor having oeen
20 expensive. There u always however same de-
mand for carpenters And ma Gus
The retail dry gOods trade IS very dull. aud has
| fallen of more. iheu - per cent Imported COOS
have declined "a prce, On account II he ii-ge stock
! i'm the country, mach OF which has gone under the
! suc.iopeers hammer. Domestic goods mtntIin
their price, The various kinds Of retail All tsll.ii
business-suCh as millinery, drcss-m lkng. dayuerfe-
Owning fancy goods books furniture, and nnl-
merahle Others. which depend on the general waits
of the cOnmuIlty-are III depressed condition. end
feel the results Of the economy which I'll are endeay-
| OriDg TO practice.
ON the who'll though our business symplthiZes
with the state OF the markets generally, cur branches
of manufacture ere So varied and OF such necessary
character TIA. our people not depresse n any
thing lke The extent experienced IL former revulsOns
and erbaps not 80 much as the accounts from other
manufacture districts indicate. There is no sctua'
suffering apparent among the industrial plpuia,on
/ az vet and their economy and frugalty during the
season Of profitable labor, il is hoped, will carry the Il
trumphshily through the present pause 10 mechanical
progress although instances Of individual suffering
! among those who have experienced sickness or re-
| verses. nav ana doubtless will occur.
1t should be remembered that the present month is
| ore eheu heavy brsncses o! business are generally
! diminished in their operations, and except for tbs
holiday trade, retail business is also light Conse-
ouenfly the aspect of affairs WI 1t more gloomy
than it ould appear a, period ordinarily more "a
yorsble The general feeling in the community is
one of hope. Crops. during the las, season, were
DOOR and il is hardly possible that they should again
become So There is great deal of money dispersed
throue the country, though there is deficiency in
tho q eat trading msrts. Specie exports are becoming
limited and laree quantity of produce IL yet TO come
forward These facts together with greater econo-
nv in imports during the coming year, will tend to
revive internal trade.
THE IRON BUSINESS or ALTIdORE.
From The Bdl.ixoye LHSTteIs. llec ~.
The present CONDITION OF the moG business Of Baltl-
Ioa ;,o ipdu ai deDa slO q -ha b.