The New York herald., 1873-10-31
THE LABOR PANIC.
Prominent Manufacturers-The Carriage
Makers, Piano Makers, Sewing Ma
chino Men, Iron Workers, Brick
layers and Masons-A Re-
duction Of Wages and
Number Of Work.
men Anticipated.

There were some important developments In the
labor question yesterday. HERALD reporter
conversed with some OF tine leading manufac-
turers Of the city, and also with mechanics and
laborers who may be considered representative
men OF their respective classes. twill be seen, from
the statement given below. that the depression
caused by the panic is spreading among many OF
the trades and Is likely to affect many OF the work
ingmen OF New York seriously.
A leading machine manufacturer stated that
business In the machine line had been very dun
ever since the panic. "Wages must come DOWN.
ne exclaimed, "and all the trades must follow in
the movement / think you will find that the va
rious iron works win all reduce the rate OF wages
even II they do not dismiss a large part OF their
10rce." well known builder and contractor, who
was present at the interview, said. Eyes, tnat's
true there's very little done in building, for in
stance; money is too scarce and
PEOPLE WON'T INVEST THEIR MONEY
money in new buildings In consequence
Several bricklayers working at the new building
in Broadway, at the corner OF Dey street, and at
other buildings in course OF construction said that
great many bricklayers were being discharged in
various parts OF the city. One or them, officer
OF one OF the Drickayers' associations, gave his
views in regard to the proposed reduction OF the
ductionn he said, "but It's hard to say what the
result win be. The present wages are s4 day,
and some OF the employers talk Of reducing them
to So so from next Monday. l think the brick
layers would resist this reduction, however,
although great many OF them are out OF work.n
One OF the officers OF the Stone Mason's Society
said 1.-THE employers are not discharging any
stone cutters A builder in Eighty first street dis
charged all his stone cutters from his new row OF
houses, although they were quite finished, with the
exception OF the stoops. He said the panic
HAD BEEN TOO MUCH FOR HIM.
"Ac present there are not very ma ny stone
mas0ns out OF work. but am afraid there will be
hundreds and hundreds ere many days. Their
wages range now from 81 TO $4 so day."
A builder In the Mechanics and Traders Ex-
change, in Murray street. said There is not
more than half the work doing this fall of what
frightful scarcity OF money. have heard that the
wages OF almost all mechanics, carpenters &C., are
to be reduced q half q dollar In November. No
one, OF course can tell at this moment whether
this Will actually be done"
The Singer Sewing Machine Company employ
about q, 600 hands In this city. 1t was indeed an
important question whether this vast force would
be dismissed in consequence of the "hard tlmesn
Mr.. Hopper, the President OF the company, stated
that they would neither reduce their force cut
down the wages. Their trade was largely foreign,
which gave % them an advantage over othe. manu-
adjustments to Elizabethport, but this would not
throw any men out OF employment, as most Of them
would probably remove TO ElizabethpOrt. The re-
m0val would be
ACCOMPLISHED IN THREE MONTHS.
First one department would be removed, then
another, and another, and each department would
be closed for only one week. The panic had not
affected their business, with this exception only
that all the people TO whom they were owing money
came rushing up after them. The average wages
OF the men In their employment were SIS week,
MI. <. Weber, the piano manufacturer, said that
he employed 315 men, but that he had put them all
on half time since week ago last Monday. This
but as most Of them had quite respectable accounts
in the savings banks they would bear 1t easily.
men, on three-quar,er time. He did not expect
to discharge any OF his men this winter as they
could not be easily replaced By others. The great
cult ever since the panic and It was no longer ad-
visable TO give credit in most cases. The present
Mr.. Weber gave 1t as his opinion that about 800
or 1000 pianomakers were out OF work,
much larger number than usual Just at
this time he added, there ought to be
VERY FEW OUT OF WORK,
as the period from now TO the lst or January was
the one In which they generally did the best bus-
There are about 5000 men in the carriage
OF the city-in fact OF the United States-was called
upon ana gave very interesting statement in re-
gard to the effect OF the panic upon this particular
trade. He said a great many men had been dis
charged during the last three we Ks and that prob
ably one-haf out OF the $500 workmen in the car
riage trade were now out OF employment He
himself had discharged 500 men, 1t was very dif
cult, indeed, to collect any money. There had as
have aS to be cu down prese
times" cOnunued-there was no doubt OF 1t. The
present average earnings OF the workmen were
ably be twenty per cent. He did not think that
the wOrkmen would resist this reduction; in fact
he was convinced tnat In almost all the trades the
worKmen would be glad to get work this winter at
reduced rates.
Brooks Bros. in Union square, were also called
upon. Mr.. Brooks said that there had been
LARGE REDUCTION OF THE FORCE
OF the wholesale clothing establishment but not OF
that of the retail. They had neither discharged
any OF their employees nor cut down their wages in
anticipation OF fair :rade this fall. The panic
had affected them in the number OF their sales.
clothing establishments at this season oil the year,
but beyond this he had not reduced the number Of
s ss Sc s n IN TRADE
reduction Of the number OF men and OF their wages
in the clothing establishments OF this city.
The Architectural Iron Works, in Fourteenth
street, near avenue b, employ 800 men and have
not discharged any OF their wOrkmen in conse-
quence OF the panic. Mr. Badger the President,
that the company had met with some severe
'.crawoacksn but had happily, overcome them.
winter. The number OF iron workers in the City he
estimated at about 5000 and hall OF them were
now out OF employment. The superintendent OF
the establishment said there would probably be
HEAVY REDUCTION or WAGES,
amounting to twenty-five per cent, during this
winter. Some 1.-THE establishments would, proba-
bly,, put their men on three-quarter time in No
vember, and, at the same time reduce the rate of
wages from fifteen TO twenty-five per cent. At
present the average earnings OF the iron workers
were SO q day. but they would probably be cut
down to 81 day during the winter. The manu-
facturers would be compelled TO make this reduc-
tion, in order to save themselves from the general
crash.
The Morgan Iron Works, at the foot OF Tenth
street, East River, were also visited. Mr.. John
Roach was not In, but the cashier said that none
OF the men in his employ had as yet been dis
charged. nor had their wages been cut down.
About 900 men were employed in these works.
ave won't reduce our force this winter,n he said,
"but shall probably make reduction OF wages in
common with other manufacturers. When We are
full OF work and the men want an increase they
are not at all delicate IN demanding IL, and don't
see why we should be. The reduction OF wages
will probably not be made
BEFORE THE lsT OF DECEMBER.
There are about $500 steam engine iron
workers In the city. Not many OF them are out OF