New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-11
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two days TO the requisite DI-cber of names.
Among the original % subscribers were the following
printers, more or less fayOrably known to journey
men printers generally: Nelson w. Young, President
of the Workingmens Union. and day foreman in
The Herald office: Charles b. Smith President elect
of the New-York Typographical Union; Robert
McKechne at the time President of tine National
Typographical Union and now foreman Of The Horld.
One of the snb-cditors of The TRIBUNE was also a
member and still retains his interest. The other
members were prominent and active members OF the
Typographical Union. Care was taken, as Of neces-
sity should be in all such undertakings TO enlist in
the scheme the best class of printers. 1T would not
be tFne and just history OF The undertaking TO omit
To say that the leaders and directors, and managers
of this enterprise were men Of more than average
intelligence and industry. These traits as well as
money necessary to the of any such under
taking by men of any trade. Only such men can
hope TO be successful manufacturers either by tho
old or the cooperative plan. Those below the average
of intelligence must always expect to be only hired
aborers Ii is the great and just rule of life which the
perfect scheme of cooperation, the most powerful
plan Of protective union cannot alter one ot or TITLE
The first payment of the original installment was
made in November, 1865, and regular weekly pay
ments were made from that time forward. The cap
ta stock was fixed at 81 900, and 1t not intended
to begin work until that sum was paid up The
members were patient, perseverng men, some Of
whom talked of waiting years if necessary TO get
the requisite capital. But early in the year 1851 the
Office of The Aec York Shipping List was offered for
sale at a sacrifice and the attention Of the cO6pera
tives was called TO this as an opportunity forbegn-
ming business at The Office had cOstS5OO It had
been perfectly fitted mp and used but little over "a
month; the material embraced full assortment of
newspaper type, much of which could be used in the
li,,ht i,h In
found to be bargain at $500, at which it was now
held Mr. Beach, the proprietor. offering to sell to
the association easy terms. few of the % MEM
bers anxiOus to begin operations, proposed To pay up
their share of the capital stock at once and several
did So BY May 1867, abOnt $3.50 OF the capital
stock was thus paid in. OF this sum 500 was paid
in cash for the Office; three notes at six, twelve and
eighteen months, given for the remaining $500,
and on May the Office opened by the Associa-
ton as announced on small card, the only effort
made by it in the way Of advertising, as a'"bonk.
Job and general printing Office One OF the prlnci-
pal mistakes of the management has been the failure
to advertise.
The establishment on its opening gave employment
10 only two of the members of the Association. Tho
members put their Office precisely the same foot
ing as any other job office appealing TO 30 society or
organization for help, but taking whatever came
They had expected, and reasonably enough, the Gus
tom of small merchants aud tradespeOpe struggling
like themselves but il is their experience that tho
greater part of their custom came from other classes
large houses having much printing to DC done,
looking closely to its cost, and engaging where
il could be had cheapest. We learn that IKE ex-
perence marked the Iopenng OF the Iallors Co
operative Union. 1t was the expectation OF Mr.
Robert BsseTt, the originator OF the latter estaD-
lishment that the working classes themselves would
lar .1ty
that. on the contrary the support has come mainly
from Broadway clOthers, large merchants and man
ufacturers and, singularly enough, from editors
classes of men," as workngman expressed 1t to
us better acquainted with the economy OF CO.
operation than the working classes seem TO be with
its advantages
The business of the Journeymen Printers Associa-
ton did net rapidly increase. Work came in slowly;
the weekly installments toward raising the capital
stock were regularly paid and the small profits were
spent in increasing the stock. At the end OF the hrst
six months the business gave employment to bve
men, and at the end of their fiscal year-May, 1863
25 printers found constant employment at the regu-
lar Union prices.
The second year of the adventure was still moro
prosperous Even in the dullest season the business
was above the average of that enjoyed by surround
ino establishments The business was extended rs
the patronage increased, the profits going to swell
the stock or TO add new material Two new steam
PRESSES were purchased in June 1862 and these gave
EMPLOYMENT to three additional hands The majority
of those employed were journeymen not interested
in the profits of the concern. The most of those who
had entered into the scheme held more lucrative
posons in other Offices these they retained invest
ing what they could spare in the Association AT tho
close of the second fiscal year-Alay lS69-the Asso-
citation gave full and remunerative employment To
~. and a
wear the Association also declared dividend Of 80
per cent The capital stock was increased to $4,000
81 shares of 5000 each and the dividend went in
part payment. The members were so well satisfied
with the investment of their money in this scheme
that they were unanimously in favor of charging
tbe establishment and increasing the capital stock.
Al the same time the Office stock and fixtures were
carefully inventoried at$l6,OC0. Ascend dividend
will be declared about Jan. J, 1870. and halfyeary
afterward. 1t is thought by the President and the
Manager that the stock inventory at the end Of 1869
will show value of not less than $4,000.
All this. it must be remembered, is the result Of
the investment originally Of only 1880 and at no
time of more than 1890, and the labor OF two men
originally and notmore than twenty-five men ut any
time since. The sum paid in by the coOperatiVes
has averaged not more than 81 per week, sum so
insignificant as not to be missed. u suppose, SAID
the President abiding to this point, that there Is
not one of the members who aside from his interest
In the concern, is not as well of to-day as IL he had
not paid in his stock at alp 1t would have been de-
posited In bank drawing but per cent interest, or
probably spent for some object which would have
been not only useless but dangerous.
The martial success Of the Journeymen Printers As
socation created considerable commotion in the Ty
biographical Union Of this city. 1t was urged that
the concern was not properly cooperative, as II was