The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-22

| TO blame a. the strikes OF the ehipbuilders arc
trade from this to other ports where the work re-
quired could be performed promptly. Boston
shipwrights profited largely by the last strike
among the caulkers. as many vessels that were
lying at wharves for repairs were taken thither
| when it became apparent that the work needed
on them could not be done in this city, except at
an enormous cost-the caulkers demanding not
| only an increase of wages, but also that eight
hours labor be reckoned as full days work.
| The effect of the present dulness among all the
trades that have to do with shipbuiding Is very
Visible and very distressing to these men and their
families. II is to be hoped that speedy revival
of the shpbuilding interest at this port will re-
lease them from their involuntary idleness.
| TwINE MAKERS
The business of twisting fax, hemp and cotton
into Irvine is in much the same state as it was at
| this time last year. In and around New York
| there about forty ropewalks connected with
the Irvine Manufacturers Association, where the
| average number Of men and boys employed is ten.
Most Of the establishments are in the same con.
| dition they were twelve months ago. and good
workman can generally earn on an average 81 80
per day.
The dulncss Of trade and consequent scarcity OF
| money affect very unfavorably the sales of the
| clothiers. As a natural consequence their en-
| ployes. the journeymen tailors. are suffer-
| ing from the prevailing hard times, Those
who have been in the business for the
last twenty years declare that the present
season is the dullest they have known. Trade,
they say. is at standstill, and out in the sub
l urD5, Wnere the JOurneymen resfQe, Ine NOISE Ol
their sewing machines is hushed Persons who,
| when travelling on the street cars, have been in
the habit OF seeing men carrying to the city large
| bundles Of clothing, which they and their wives
carrying but one, or at most two. garments. The
dulness is very general and on the journeymen es-
pecialy it presses with exceeding severity at this
Indictment season of the year.
| TRUNKMAKERS.
The business of trunkmaking is not carried on
as extensively in this city as it is in Newark N. j..
which may be denominated the headquarters Of
that branch Of industry. In this city, however, it
the average Of former yeafs Many men IRE out
Of employment, and the prospect Of their soon OF:
tanning it is verJ slight.
In this branch Of business the winter season Is
always dull one, and although many men are out
OF employment tho number is said not to be
greater than is usual ut this time of the year. The
out of town demand for furniture is said to be
good and large makers who supply such demands
do not complain Of any very great falling on in
| their orders.
There 10 now very large number Of walters
who have NO Aiuatons. state OF things which
may In some measure be accounted for from the
fact that nearly all the river steamboats, have been
laid up for the winter, and also that the watering
place hotels arc now closed. The number unem-
ployed, however, is very much larger than usual
great degree to the fact that many of the large,
first class city hotels have reduced the number of
| their employees, step rendered necessary in con-
sequence Of the falling of in travel Walters may,
as a rule, be divided into two classes, saloon men
and hotel employees. The first named receive on
the average about 81 or So per week, and the lat.
ter about SIS per month. This difference in the
rate of wages is to be accounted for from the fact
that saigon Yaiters are only boarded six days in
the week And always have to pay for their own
| lodgings. Hotel walters, on the contrary, are
boarded all the week and most generally sleep in
the establishments in which they are engaged.
| The majority Of them are married men, and as
class are steady and industrious.
Our Machine Shops and ship Yards.
There is probably no branch Of industrial enter
prise which exhibits the effects Of the depressing
influences now operating so disastrously upon the
| trade and commerce Of the country in greater
degree than the iron business, and especially that
portion which derives its activity from its in
and adaptation to the purposes Of navigation.
The almost complete idleness prevailing at the
various ship yards in and near this city, where tho
| life and hum of business which used at one time
| to characterize them il now Conspicuous In it,
ABSENCE has operated with most injurious con-
sequences upon the great foundries and machine
shops Of this city. The almost universal
| answer to any inquiry respecting the
condition Of business is the response, "Dull
very dull" and the crowds Of hardy sons Of
seeking from their fellow man leave to work."
attest with sad emphasis the truth Of this state.
ment. OF the men connected with the shipbud-
ing trade Of this city, which includes those on
gagged in tho construction Of machinery well as
the men employed on the hull and rigging, it may
be stated a. q rough estimate that twenty thou
sand are at present out Of employment, while
many others have engaged in other occupations,
1,oy obs
q state Of affairs are numerous and not ali local.
that Is, New York is not at this sea-
son of the year exceptionally dull. but, ON
the contrary. enjoys its fair proportion Of
what demand exists. Reports from England from
the various iron districts show . corresponding
depression there. while similar reports como in
from all parts Of this country. The proceedings
Of the Cleveland Convention, which met last week,
looked to with much interest in the hope that
they may aid in the removal of one Of Me causes
Of stagnation, or which Ii so regarded by the
manufacturers. in the establishment Of . more
equable system Of taxation. We are, say the
iron founders, cramped by an unfair imposition
upon us Of the taxes Of the country. The raw
material which We use has first to contribute
its proportion towards the internal revenue;
articles used in working up this material, such IS
rivets, are taxed, and the government claims five
per cent from upon tho gross amount of our
contract, irrespective Of its resulting psoftaby to
US or otherwise. An additional cause Of depres-
sion in this city is no doubt the disturbance pro-
duced in the labor market by che combined strike
OF the shipjoiners, carpenters and caulkers some
months since. Much greater activity would
doubtless prevail In the yards ct the pres
ent time II the delay In the execution Of
contracts thus occasioned, and the un.
expected loss involved thereby, had not
| occurred. Notwithstanding all this, however,
while II cannot be denied that . general dulness
prevails among the toundrymen and shipbuilders,
| none Of them seem spprehensive Of much
hopeful in their antcipations Of o renewal Of trade
after the 0rst OF the rear. The best idea Of the