The New York herald., 1873-11-17
PENNSYLVANIA.
Stagnation OF Trade and Suffering
Among Laborers-Glass Factories
Stopped-No Resumption Probable
Before January.


Stopped-No Resumption Probable
Before January.
PITTsBUR6. Nov. IA, 1873,
One OF the most absurd statements ever i'm
pressed in printers ink appeared In an Eastern
paper few days since in a correspondence from
this city, which was the effect That PROBABLY less
than 10000 men were out OF employment In Pits
burg, and that there was comparatively little or no
depression in the manufacturing industries OF the
city and cause for uneasiness among the work
ingmen. There is no necessity whatever for an ex-
aggeration OF the effects OF the present CRISIS and
still less for making light OF truly serious matter
by Misrepresentation. There Is nothing to be
gained by
A coNcEALMENT OF THE TRUTH
In matters OF such graad import as this. Facts IN
connection with the situation as 10 exists now,
may not be pleasant reading and may not be lrult
ful OF benefits the interests OF the city, never
theless that is no reason for withholding them rom
the public. When l say there is great depression
here in the manufacturing Industries and in bush
ness generally, that there are thousands OF work
ngmen out OF employment and that there is suffer-
ing among the families OF such state truths sub
stantated through careful inquiry into the matter
in question: and from personal observation.
Yesterday and the day before it had their dreary
quota OF banking failures, what is usually
termed by the officials 81 such concerns
temporary suspensions" The collapse OF
these money repositories Of course had
not a tendency to dissipate any part OF the gloom
hanging over the manufacturers interests or to
cause business men to brighten up and look hope
fully for a revival OF trade.
AMONG THE GLASS MANUFACTURERS
paid visit to the glass manufacturers on the
south side this afternoon. There are some 20
glass factories in this par: OF the city, most OF
which are running In these factories are en-
ployed about 1000 men and boys, and the sum
total OF their wages amounts in one week to about
$4,000. found at the Mckee glass house about
60 or 75 men on q strike, owing to reduction O 10
per cent In their wages. There are many men in
the works who earned regularly $25 ana from
that to only IS each week. On this class OF
wOrkmen the employers wished to make reduc-
ton OF wages, which was resisted II won't toucn
the earnings OF any OF the laborers In my employ"
said Mr.. kee to me, "for know well enough tnat
no man can live on less than 81 day, but
on skilled labor are obliged to make u reduc-
ton to maintain our trade IN the Boston ana New
YORK markets. IL H oniy with this class OF men,
high priced labor, We have trouble. Those VINO
were earning lesser amount each week would
have
QUIETLY SUBMITTED TO THE REDUCTION
had we made it. There Is no money whatever for
the employers in the glass business this winter,
and only to save men the suffering that would
follow an entire suspension OF operations have we
consented TO go on. With the reduction OF 10
winter.n
"Do all the manufacturers propose reduction
In the wages oil their emplOyes pr
.'Ycs; before the close oil another week every
factory on this side OIL the river Will cut down the
wages OF their men, IL can't De avoided Tnere IS
q general complaint OF the scarcity OF orders, and
this, together with the scarcity OF currency, rem
ders the situation OF the glass men any nlng out
cheerful or hopeful one."
Another manufacturer said to me that the COM
plant oil a scarcity of orders was general, and II
matters continued in this way Tor much longer
up entirely state OF AFFAIRS That he hoped would
be avoided in some manner. Not only OF scarcity
or orders were they complaining, but also the
great number Of unpaid accounts tney nave stand
ing on their books. A great NUMBER OF these
the debtors are in condition to liquidate them at
any time; but, on account OF the stringency in
money matters, they Will not allow penny TO pass
out OF their possession INTO general circulation II
they can possibly avoid II.
TALK WITH JOHN KING
went over then the extensive window glass
concern OF William McCully 4 Co. and found Jonn
King, the junior partner IN ms private ollce. Mr.
cund face. and he was as courteous and polite as
q diplomat. l asked him what ne thought OF the
wnuow glass trade and II the future was bright or
otherwise He shook his head TO indicate that the
situation was not promising, and then he COM
menced on the old story, which seems TO be the
root OF the present evil-to wit, high priced labor
.'Eow many factories in and about PittsDurg are
engaged in the manufacture OF window giassW l
asked.
"rhere are forty, as we counted them the other
dav, employing from 800 TO 1000 men altogether.
tion since last July, and they are not likely to re-
sumo operations for some time to Gomez
~ presume IL Is In consequence OF an attempt to
reduce the wages OF your employesS'
precisely. such movement was brought about
last july when we stopped or brief season, in
consequence OF the very hot weather, to repair our
furnaces We found then that other manufacturers,
In New York and elsewhere, were working into
our trade, for the reason that they manufactured a
similar article and sold IL Tor less than We were
able to do. Thereupon we concluded TO reduce the
wages OF our employees 10 per cent which they
tad and INV ctn Nd mi QuQIp q q
GLAssBLowERS RICHLY REWARDED.
what amount Of money does skilled glass;
'You win be astonshed when tell you that
some glassDlowers in our employ make S340 and
$3.50 per month, and work but eight hours each
day. These superior workmen, but glassbow-
ers Will average $500 q month, and boys, called
gatherers and fatteners VIII earn from 500 to
$ll0 each month. Why, these men lived on the fat
OF the land. It was and is not an uncommon thing
for the wives OF some OF the men to call at the
Office and get $40 just for marketing on market
day. They buy everything OF the best and 1--we as
nabobs as long as their money lasts. They did
not actually know the value OF money-at
least that Is the impression one got from obsery-
ing the manner in which they squandered It. Wages
have been entirely too high, so high indeed for the
superior and cheap coal we nave been unable to
compete TO any serious extent with Eastern manu-
lacturers OF window glass"
NO WORK TILL JANUARY.
'Tn view OF hard winter coming on do not
workmen show disposition to accept the re-
duction and return to work ~
al dare say some OF them would resume work
now at a reduction, while others would not for
you must know glassblowers a very in
dependent set Of workmen. But even II they
would oil return we could not give them
work, for we Will not resume operations, nor will
any Of the other window glass factories, until
after the LIST OF January We are determined to
hold on until there Is reduction in the price OF
coal and further reduction in oil sorts or LABOR.
We are not disposed TO resume operations in view
OF the depression that exists at present. for we
cannot see our way clear; and may add that the
strike OF the glassblowers in July was fortunate
circumstance for the operatives, as 1t gave them
an opportunity to work on all their old stock. At
the present moment we have but small supply OF
the various sizes OF glass; but as the demand is
not over brisk, we are satisfied to continue as we
and run the stock entirely out. When that
time arrives the future may look more auspicious
than IL does just now."
OHIO.
Lafc One ming Of the Pork Packing Sen.