New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-14
PHILADELPHIA IRON MANUFACTURES.

OPINIONS OF WORKERS IN IRON AND STEEL MA
CaINEBY REGARDING THE PANIC-REDUCTroNs
II HOURS or WORK AND NUMBER OF MEN EN-
PLOYED-THE PROSPECTS FOR THE SPRING TRADE
GOOD.
lFao4 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRmUSE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. Ill have to-day
visited several OF the large manufacturers of
iron goods IN this city, to ascertain their
views in reference to the present disturbed
condition Of trade Their experiences varied
with the different departments OF business 10 which they
belonged but the opinion prevailed among all that the
OF the financial troubles past and that there
would very soon be healthy revival OF trade. The
only thing needed TO hasten il return OF public
confidence. and there indications that this would
not De long delayed.
HcIsy G. Morris & Co. az Ffthst. and Washing
tcu-sve are founders and manufacturers Of heavy
machinery, sugar apparatus, 60. They also have
blast furnace al work Mr. Morris said that the depres
sion had affected them about It had else.
Their maximum force Of workmen is about 800, but be-
fore tho troubles began they did not have more than 6o0
and have not reduced the number Since There has
been very slight reduction in wages. About four
eck- 20 they undertook 70 make general reduction
ranging from 12 10 20 per cent but the men struck right
e face o. the probability Of their having nothing to
DO and the matter compromised. No fresh orders
arc coming in, and. in many cases, they
have been requested to postpone the delivery
OF machinery ordered before the panic, account
o! thc difficulty in obtaining money TO pay for it, This
not the for fresh orders in ordinary tines but
generally they busy through the Fail and Winter in
working M the orders OF the Spring and Summer. Their
sugar machinery sent chiefly TO South America and
Cuba and the high rate of exchange with Cuba and the
fact that South American business is done with English
exchange, make it highly improbable that remttances
VIII DO received very from either those countries
They expect 10 continue at work through the
Winter. reducing the working hours per day as the
days get shorter MI Morris said that the not
u condition 90 be idle without suffering; he didn't
believe ,hcre were five his shop who had S5oeach
ahead Through the Building Association, many of
tncm hal homes OF their own. which I'M
paid for but very few had moneylto live except
they earned It from week to week He intended TO be
ready for brisk business in the Spring, aud thought
that after the FIRST OF May manufacturers would make
40 for me present deficiency
The Pascal Iron Works. Morris. Tasker Company at
Fifth and TasAorsts manufacture iron tubes and pipes
o. az kinds. street lamp posts and lanterns, gas appa-
rtlS. Sc Their foundery and shop this city the
largest o. Che kind IN the country and they are building
much anger works at Newcastle Del In busy seasons
they employ average of 1000 workmen they now
have force Of 200 who working three-quarter's
tun They have reduced wages average of per
Cel laviUs taken the largest proportion from those
having tho largest daily earnings. They gave notice
long time before went into effect and
fsene submitted TO it without objection. New orders
.F, asn III considerably, but there TO be
u 1ov mont and members of the firm think the worst
- Dyer They working entirely orders, and put
up stock According to present indications they will
trep a Winter with the<present force. and expect
all right the Spring when 1T will be
10, better COR the temporary check it has sustained.
They have found 1t very difficult TO make collections,
aud IN have had TO bay greenbacks to pay
wages but thoy have been able pay their men In full
every Friday.
The Penn steam Engine Works. Eeafe & Levy at
Beach and Pamer-sts, manufacture steam engines and
work for the Southern Steamship Company. the
Ted star Line the White Star Line, the Clyde Line &c.
They employ 800 In good times. but have reduced
the number now 70 between 400 and 5OO and are work
in- bali day short each week They have made no
change wages, but Mr. Levy told your correspondent
thas IL they should talk with the and explain
stters to them he thought they would raise objec-
ton 10 "A reduction. lie said that no new orders
hlye come IN for month past, and
they are working up old orders They
DO not work stock but heretofore they always
lad work ahead which not the now except TO
very smaH extent. They build good many little boats
eucn ~ are used tugs IN EewYOrk and in the South.
They propose when orders run out to and build
or Of these enough keep their present force at work.
But II they 10 so they will have to make some
rangemont with the men as to wages for they expect to
SEQ a general tumble in prices in the Spring. Beside
RE above-named force employed in the shops, there
are from 100 20 900 constantly at work outside
repair vessels steam Transports &c Repairs have
been held back for the past aonth put they must De
uado, and Hr Levy expects to see this part OF their
business a. good this Winter ever. They have had
r,,ie m faining money and we had plenty coming
20 them an tie time. They have no anxiety about
money what they have DONE but are anxious toee
norr order, coming in. The only extension they have
5sen asked 10 give single note for $500 and they
believe ar the notes they hold be perfectly good They
Npsct everything TO GENE out straight in little while
me only thing is 70 keep the wheels moving I'LL that
5 giTrs Of the firm OF J. F. Morris & Co.. founders
.fct
emf that they usually employ about 800 men, but that IN
,nscllue-sh0ps the numbers constantly vary. They
nave not parted with 20 men IN consequence OF the
panic, but have reduced their WORKING time 10 DAYS
ssch week They are receiving orders and. as they
do no work on stock they have reduced the time so as TO
spread out the work long as possible The men IN
er.sand chs and cooperate with them in the change
Jq,ev have made no reduction in the rate OF wages
Tney have seen the time that, Tor the same reasons
tey reduced the working time u four Gays each week.
but tmsnoss "a duer than al any time since 1860.
VIM Cramp & sons, iron ship-builders and engineers
not only are very busy themselves 0nt are Keeping
many rolling mills and iron works busy invarious parts
of t6e country They are Just finishing the steamship
be SiOl burden. and viii be ready for launching
about & eI and e sen Sui n no aTd sTe
ndpg the Columbus. o 600 tons burden, for the same
Inc. 1t VIII be launched some time duTng the
VbIch are specially with this firm They also have
contract for building seven eoers iSr e heading ho
road OF LOO TONS each 10 De ehtre OF o
see houses &c. and adapted TO the hardest KIND OF
work Tbey have wate,ngnt s ana
osVai ~ 9s0 men, and have discharged none eK
cent a few who were dong pecuHhnr klnu OF
YORK Oh some vessels when na'o Geen obi mn
lsneo hsn2 Will carry them through the Winter. butt
e force is too large for the work ana IN ord S H0 o
the hours OF daylight with one day on each
week TINS done 20 cave tns men t t eating them
FORD % lose theIn and run the rsK OF ns Rot'nh ,
h1cE sS,1 they have made reduction ID the rave
of wages but they have no uniform scare OF s%6
- ecb man according his value ia the sh0p OF yau
fbe men understand the reason for the fedue.on ~
time and acauiesoe IN IT, They have never Deep puI V
dsy for wages though the hrm have had 10 puy tne
reepbacks tor payment OF wages, ana IN ohe cas 10
20 nay two per cent for them. Their payToh anVun'0
20 ti3 900 per week -.,... .oonn,sc
n Dston Il Sons. a. Front and LaurelSts, manuIsc-
,a eavs squares, levels tOwels, &C. They are among