The New York herald., 1873-11-08
ENVELOPES AND CARDS

Business Fallen Or About One-Third-
Anticipation OF a Brisk Trade At an
Early Day-No Hands Disch arge ed,
hut Nearly All Working on Reduced
Time.
Manufacturers OF envelopes and OF cards were
visited yesterday and their views ascertaned
relative to the condition OF their business AS in
every other business, manufacturers in these
branches OF trade have suffered to some extent
though not so much as houses in the majority OF
other manufactures. The envelope is an article
that must be used as well in time OF panic as in
time of peace, and is as much in use to-day as it
was two months ago. 1t is easy to understand,
therefore, how the depression in the trade Is
merely OF a temporary character, and no matter
how long the effects OF the panic may
last in other branches OF business, In
this the depression must II not entirely,
at least to a very great extent. gradually
cease and healthy condition OF trade be revived.
Manufacturers In every instance are endeavoring
to keep their hands at work, though, with only a
single exception, the employees are not working on
full time. The total number OF girls at work in
the city at this business is about co., a much
smaller number than has been generally supposed.
AS rule, about ten per cent OF the hands in any
factory are males. The work done by the girls is
very light, and the wages received by the best
workwomen range from $40 to s12 week. The
employers, as a rule, represent that there is con-
siderable difficulty In making collections,
some OF them saying that to collect large
amounts IL a serious undertaking. while others 90
so far as to say that in collecting small bills
IL is astonishing to find how slow dealers are to
part with their money. Country customers are
making very lew purchases, being distrustful OF
the future and are endeavoring to work or their
old stocks rather than invest their money In new
ones City customers buy only In small quantities
for a similar reason. IL would seem that this
trade though "a q whole II has suffered TO the ex-
tent of about one-third of the usual business, is
auent upon the nervousness or traders In general
to venture upon any outlay.
George Reay, OF John street, states that tnde-
pendent of his government contract Tor stamped
envelopes he employs Tor ms ordinary business
about ninety hands, seventy OF whom are girls. lie
has been obliged TO put his employees on half time,
the hands working half week EACH Many notes
nave come back protested. Orders in some cases
that had been given before the panic commenced
were since countcrmanded. lie does not believe
that there will be anything doing before February.
Information sent him by his customers In the
country In that business Is at a stand-till Manu-
facturcrs have been running down their stocks,
preparing for hard time, Just as dealers are sell
ing OFT their Old stock, afraid to renew. There
will be scarcely q necessity TO reduce the produc-
ton lower than IL has been. IL has been found
a diricult task to make collections
Woodwork 4 Graham, of John street. repre-
sent that their collections all things considered,
are good though the sales are light In october
they were doing about hali as nuch business as
usual, but this month there nus been STEADY IN
crease, SO Tar as they can Judge there u mol now