Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-21
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


objection. There is actually a scarcity of
bread among thousands, if not hundreds of
thousands who heretofore never knew what
want really was. Hard Times is, no
vork to be had, is admitted to be the kew to
all the difficulties. In New York City, for in.
stance, in some branches Of mechanical and
manufacturing business, not more than one
eighth as much is doing now as at this time
last year; while in none is more than one
half as much being done, and in few more
than one fourth. 1t is judged by the New
York city press, that there are in and around
that city full twenty thousand active, indus
trious, steady, and willing mechanics and la.
borers, such as are generally sure of getting
work at the highest wages in ordinary times
now entirely out Of employment while thou
sands more in that city are working short
time" From Boston, Detroit, Albany, Buff
falo, Worcester, Philadelphia, and dozen
other northern centers of business, we have
similar advices and from all of them we learn
through the newspapers, it is thought the
hard times have just commenced; or, in other
| words, that thousands on thousands more, who
yet find employment, will soon be without it.
This is the legitimate result of the impos.
sibility which employers now find of making
! both ends meet of paying the prices for labors
| which ruled throughout the country not long
| since. Their orders have ceased altogether
| in some cases, and in most others they find it
impossible to get prices which will justify the
payment of the wages which labor not long
| since obtained. Another result of this state
of things has been a decrease in the current
rates of wages. Thus, in New York the few
ship carpenters employed, got 81 so per diem,
as against So at this season last year The
laborers in loading freight for the Erie Rail.
road Company get but 80 cents per day, be-
ing a reduction of 20 cts. Laborers on works
in New York receive S1.OO per diem, instead
of SIPS. The coal beavers and storkers of
steamboats, and steamships in New York, have
submitted to reduction of Is per centum of
their late wages. It i 8 said that full 1000
tailors and tailorers in New York and its en-
virons are out of work, while thousands more
do not know whore they are to get their next
job This is truly distressing picture, COM
ing home to the hearts Of all who are blessed
with the capacity to feel for the suferings of
their fellow man.
Fortunately, the great mass of the Southern
people, who are independent of the vicissi-
tudes which eight times'' bring on banks,
railroads, and manufacturing joint stock COM
panies, and the shipping interest, mot living
as very large portion of the Northern people
do, through their operations,) will escape the
evil effects of this state of things, for the most
part Nevertheless, our laboring population
here are much worse off in the after of work
than at any previous time for years past, we
believe. Almost all descriptions of business
are dull now, and promise to grow duller after
he Christmas holidays.
However, it is the duty of the enterprising
business man, whatever may be his calling, to
seek to get full share of the trade in his line.
This can be done only by seeking it through
the advertising columns of the newspapers, in
each locality, which go into the hands of all
classes and descriptions of persons Barnum,
| in confessing the secrets Of his extraordinary
success in everything he undertook, attributes
it nearly all to persevering and shrewd adver-
Using. He AYERS that none other of his in
vestments ever paid 60 well. The same remark
was once made to Us in private conversation
by the celebrated Dr.. Benz Brandeth, who
has frequently paid away from $50, 900 to
$50 900 per annum in making his business
known to all, far and wide.
The remarkable success of the Star ia owing
for the most part to the manner in which we
have advertised it far and wide, BY seeking
to keep its news columns well supplied with
infor nation of interest to all, such as no other
journal has the faculty of procuring. The
result is, that it is rare to see newspaper
which does not contain paragraph common
cling, The Washington Star says" &C. This
is the key to the great circulation Of the Star,
carrying it not only into almost every family
in Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria,
sands in all quarters of the Union. To judi
cious and perseyering advertising only, do We
attribute the Stars unprecedented success
So we cannot do better by those who desire to
thrive in business, in these hard times, than
to advise them to resort to the advertising COL
umns Of the press, so as to be certain to catch
fair share of all the trade tn at may be going.
The Claims Board Proposition what
We can learn, Congress will hardly make q
board of commissioners for the examination of
private claims on the Government, as at pres
ent urged. There can be 10 doubt of the i'm
portance Of some efficient legislation designed
to expedite the settlement Of such claims on
the General G vernment as usually 20 before
Congress. We have repeatedly urged simple
changes in the rules for the transaction of
business, which, from long experience, we are
satisfied will, if adopted, do much in that
way. But when, instead of adopting reforms
they are permitting speeches on general poll
tics Of absent members engaged in Iecturinp