The New York herald., 1873-11-09
THE PITTsBURG SITUATION.
No Change for the Better ana No Hope
of Better Times Until Sprin2-A Manu-
facturcr's and n Workman's View.

No Change for the Better ana No Hope
OF Better Times Until Sprin2-A Manu-
facturcr's and u Workman's View.
PITTsBURG, Nov. 8 1879
The gloom that has hung like pail over the In
dustries OF this manufacturing city for the past
weeks. regret to state, shows no signs OF dis
appearing. even OF becoming less oppressive IN
Its density. On the contrary, depression and un-
easlness are more manifest, and the number Of
loiterers observable the principal thorough.
fares indicate additional suspensions or reduction
in the number or employees at this OF
that establshm ent. The number OF wofkmen
on the streets indulging in unsought hodaya
IS a sad, sad commentary on the dulness OF tho
times, also OF an overnowng labor market, and
tells story of the suffering aad misery that must
follow the ushering in OF the keen, bitter winds
and SHOWS OF the winter months. There Is
NO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
at any one OF the great iron workshops OF this city
About three-fourths OF them have the balf-pay sys
TEN st.n in vogue, while rev have been able to
pay in full. In probably half the mills reduction
has been made OF one-fourth or onethird
OF the number OF men employed. while,
In numerous cases, wages have been
reduced from ten to fifteen per cent. The majority
OF the mills run on single turn-that is, work.
ing on half time. Orders are Stacking with the ar
rival OF every day. and there must be total suspen.
sion unless orders flow in more rapidly than they
do at present.
INTERVIEW WITH MILLIONAIRE.
Invent over to the south side this afternoon to
have a talk with George W. Jones, OF the firm Of
Jones & Loughlins OF the American Iron Works.
a concern that mas few equals in magnitude
in the world. They employ upwards or
5000 men, and pay out every month to
their employees alone something like $100.00e
end have branches OF their establishments
in almost every large city OF the country. Jones is
gentleman OF perhaps forty years Of age, as plain
In the matter OF dress as he is polished In manners.
I asked him what he thought OF the situation.
when he told me that he had for weeks past been
keeping up his courage In the expectation OF see
ing o rift in the financial clouds, but he
felt ,n now You e see had
worst of it is here now. The bottom has
been touched, and we can't recover from 1t till
spring, no matter how things work. No concern
in the country regrets this crisis more than we do.
Tor our trade all along, both IN the @ East and West,
compete with English manufactures in the quality
OF product, and have had until within few weeks
worksn
"nave You been obliged to discharge any consid-
cradle number or your employees"
RETAINING THEIR MEN AT ANY COST.
'sNo; think about 200 would cover the number.
These, in fact have not been DISCHARGED, but re-
tired for lew weeks, when they are again given
employment, be the time ever so short. You see
we run our mills day and night. We can't see
economy as others do, In running single turn, and
by this means we retain all our hands. or cOu
they DO not find steady employment as IL was
tnat It would almost break my heart to turn nv
men out IN the streets In the lace OF a bitter
winter, men whom have had with me lor twenty
years. among whom nave been brought up and
associated WITH may say a life time. II couldn't
give them work know what they would do.
live close by them and they would come 10 me for
something to eat, and God knows this shall never
be denied them Furthermore we have 235 houses,
comfortable ones, which will afford quite number
OF people shelter lot the time In any event.n
''De you apprehend general suspension OF the
pig iron mills OF Pittsburgh S'
purpose holding out all winter, which we are
enabled to do from the fact that we are an old and
well established firm and consequently orders
come in steadily. BY the reduction we have made
In the wages OF our workmen, and the arrange
ment OF working this particular orce this week
and that force the next week, are sangulne OF
working along smoothly enough. But there will
be suffering and much OF 1t. We cannot escape it.
Why there are sixty iron mills in Plttsburg en-
ploying, may say, on the average 500 men each.
suspension OF these sixty mills Will throw
$4,000 men on the streets.n
THE EARNINGS OF MILL MEN.
"what is the average earnings OF the men en-
pOyed in the mills ~
men IN our mills make clear SIG and $50 week;
these are rollers, heaters and Others having
charge oI important departments. These are re-
sponsible men and worth the money. Other
skilled mechanics earn from $40 TO $40 week.
The best paid laborers are tne coal miners, VINO mo
which they receive five cents per bushel, earning
81 so day. Coal Is at an outrageous price and
must get a tumble.n
snas iron fallen in price, and how much higher,
II any, is 1T than previous TO the warY' 49,,
sour card prices now and those before the war
almost tally. Iron can be bought low now.
New York firm asks us to send on 200 tons, Us they
have room for It, But to our qqery, wsen ra w' So9
well, then, whenr we can't tell and VIII make
no PROMISES One consolation we have and that
IS. the stock OF iron in all or branch houses Is
small, especially scanty In our Eastern ones. When
the Cookies fell we were In good shape thank for
tune.n ., ,., -,
"Do you know from personal observation that
tho money paid your employees is boarded, and,
consequently, virtually Withdrawn from clrcua-
tlonr' 80 -, ,, . ~
Iron Works at Jonnstown ioots up monthly
si3OooO. Well formerly the little bank at tnat
place looked as regularly az pay day arrived for
the heaviest end OF this amount. IL never was
disappointed. for on tnat day about $4,000 was
deposited by the workmen. How has 1t
been the last two pay .daysf Not
the Cooke collapse frightened all so seriously.
We paw out 100000 each month"; and am sale TO
Say little or nothing OF 1t finds its way into tno
the arrest OF q drunken man. The possession oil .
banker-laughingly-is found in lis clothes"
'Do you think, or do You know from CONVERSE
iorc with the tide OF tnmigrati0nW
THE CRISIS AND IMMIGRATION. - =.
81 would say IL will not, and can't account Ior
70 only on the principle that misery loves COM
pany. There are plenty or them az WORK
here to-day who have TINS week lorMaraeu s.,iy money
to the Old country To bring out some relative or
friend aud others nc xt week Will follow their cx-
ample The truth of the matter II, the workmcn
have not yet realized ,hcr ca,iu m pos'pm, on ann u
crisis with the indifference many OF them d0 La
boring men should be made To understand the
pan,II places they occupy, should be cautioned
against Indulgence IN Apcculations 10 wliIch many
oI them Of late have been iraugnt aud also should