The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-24
The Jewelry Business In Providence.

ltrom the providence Journal, Jan. ~
Below Is a table containing SONS statistics relating 10
the jewery business In this city. In included ap
diaries and manufacturers Of silver ware well the
workers in gold The extent OF the trade we have no
doubt will surprise ,st OF our readers The aggregate
number OF persons who directly rely on Il for support
including employees, clerks, statesmen and travelling
AGENTS. more than seventeen hundred. n each q
them has two others dependent upon hm-and this
low estmatemore than tenth Of our whole popula
ton lean upon the manufacture Of the precious metals for
their means OF living. Tho wages and salaries paid In
prosperous times must exceed the OF nine hundred
Thousand collars per annum. The labor and expense Of
the manufactured article s estimated 10 be about
third 81 the entire cost II this estimate be correct tho
value OF the whole annual product Of the business
fall much short OF - 900 900.
According TO the table below nearly twelve hundred
persons In this branch Of business alone are now deprived
Of their accustomed labor Many Of the three hundred
working short time reduced rates OF compensation
We have heard OF men who IN good times from 0res
70 I'VE dollar. per day, offering to work for mere pitt
lance TO save themselves and families from absolute suf
fering No class Of workngmcn 70 much money -
jewellers and We fear no class little Many a
them are men OF superior intelligence and from the ma
ture OF their employment Of refined and elegant tastes
What many other mechanics they prcdeaily lavish
IN their love Of the beautiful and the ornamenni or
squander In the indulgence OF appetite and sense ms
present time Of adversely and distress will teach lessou
Of prudence TO many long 10 be remembered Upon the
another auspicous they will be found 10
have formed more frugal habits, and TO place higher
estimate than ever before upon the almighty dollar.
Upon no class Of our citizens have the present dis
as,rnns times fallen with more crushing weight than
on the men who conduct the jewelry business. The
amount of suspended and protested paper which
they hold is frightfully large Their credits are
very loug-always eight, and frequently twelve
rnonths-and in commercial revuson like the pre-
sent with their debtors scattered over the whole
Unon their losses must unavoidably be severe MANY
OF them however are known 10 possess large means and
they have, during ths whole period OF unexamped ca
amy maintained their credit as we'll or better Than any
other class Of business men. u 10 be hoped that hap
pier times Will soon dawn upon the jewellers Men moro
generous and public spirited cannot be found IN our com
mun'y. They have cmpoyeda large number OF persons
and raid them literally. Their handsome profits have
been brought nome, and so expended 10 promote the
general hrn and prosperity The manufoctnre on gold
and silver was commenced IN Proviien more than a
century ago and from very small BEGINNINGS has grown
up 70 rva IN magnitude and extent that any other pac
m the country II Is now commanding in Importance
that whatever tends 10 embarrass cripple cannot he
viewed IN any other light than that Of public misfortune
Number OF persons employed before the crisis ies
Number OF persons nov employed. .............. 3is
Amount Of weekly wages paid before the crisis sle,s7J