New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-28
STATE OF TRADE.
BUSINESS IN TAUNTON. MASS.

AND ABLE TO BEAR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AND
TACKs-sII.vER-PIATED GooDs-CoLoRED COTTON
GOODS.
TFRoN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
TAUNTON, Mass, Nov. 25.-This busting city
Of Bristol County contains variety OF industries
many Of which require skilled labor The machine shops
locomotive works, screw and tack manufactures have
been paying high wages and the working class here U.s.
in the MAN, well provided for the crisis No small part
OF Tauntons prosperity depends upon railway enter
prses but despite the heavy disasters which have re-
Gently befallen that branch Of activity. the employees
not so downhearted as might have been expected
No establishments have vet been closed ard the utter
hnces Of the managers net Respondent The large
cotton mills still running fun rme though with
wages slightly reduced Few iders are in the
streets and altogether this comey city which abouDds
In neat dwellings, has an air OF comfortable
welfare The city at the junction OF the Taunton and
Mil rivers and many Of the ESTABLISHMENTS are run in
part by water power re population exceeds $4,000 and
u chiefly made up OF sturdy elements Of industry, in
telligence and thrift The space embraced within the
tity limits very large and beside the central COM
munity includes several considerable villages which
sprung up about large manufactures AT Whit
enton are the big Whtenton cotton mills; at Britannia
vile is Reed Baton's mandatory of white metal and
platedware; at Weir village Crookors copper works
and fOunderie at East Tounton the Old Colony
Iron Co. which turns out great quantities OF shoyels aud
other iron implements. The most widely known OF
rolled by William Mason, OF the best known OF
Massachusetts, manufacturers This eminent mechanic
and inventor worked during his youth. successfully in
blacksmith shop, cotton mill and machine shop. In
1929, az tho Of 2 he constructed power looms for
making diaper hnen at Canterbury Conn, the first in
Afterward at Killncly, he engaged in manu-
featuring article Of ring travellers" Coming TO
Taunton be became foreman for Croker & Rich
mond. machinists and. while in that position,
&c perfected the great invention o his lfc the self
lcting mule" In 1877, his employers failed and he be-
same principal owner and manager of the concern,
building few years after from his designs the
imposing which, said the largest put
Ep ut one time for the manufacture OF machinery TIE
shop is 5l5 feet long and three stories in hight
Addition after addition has since been made, and SIX
covered by the works. Another extensive
structure is in progress. Machinery of many
kinds-engne and car materials, cor-whees, firearms.
ana complete locomouveshave been extensively made.
Springfield rhed muskets manufactured at the rate
OF COO per day during the first part OF the when the
Government was in need OF arms This branch Of pro
duction has since been abandoned. The works now
principally occupied with cotton machinery and ocOmo-
uyeS The improvements III cotton machinery made by
William NasOu famous. III 1865, be brought ont his
fret locomotive, winch attracted much attention for ee
gauce and symmetry Of design, and displayed some
peculiar exoellenCes in working. The value of the
annual production OF these works largely exceeds
million About one-third OF the force is employed upon
locomotives which five be turned out each month
The monthly payroll nearly $4,000 and at full capacity
500 men arc employed. During the past few months not
more than COO have been on the payroll. This number
has hardly been essened account of the crisis Up to
June of this year the works conducted by William
Mason in his own At that date the corporation OF
the Mason Machine Company formed with capital
OF $SOOOO nearly the whole OF it in Mr. Mason's hands.
He is the President Of the Company, W. H. Bent is
Treasurer and Frederick Mason Agent In reply to in
Ques about the ofithe Mason Machine Works In
rho erisia Mr. Rem sail at few lad
dropped of. slight reduction OF wages had been made
here and there but nothing wholesale Last week the
running time reduced to SIX hours per day. In all
probability this arrangement Of three-hfths running
time without further dimnution Of wages or Of force
will be kept up all Winter. There contracts now ON
hand which will take about three months 10 I'll at the
reduced time. Mr.. Bent's opinion there will be a
revival Of activity in the machinery trade by the first
part OF year. So healthy has been the condition OF
manufacturing this year he said, and transory are
the causes of its present arrangement that It is hardly
possible that dizziness should continue more than
few weeks longer Previous the depression business
had been moderate in the machinery trade Few new
mills were building this Summer or FAN. The demand
for locomotives and railway materials. however was
very brisk Railway building is thoroughly democrat
lied This panic has ruined the system starting rail-
roads with nothing but the proceeds Of the sales OF
bonds 70 rely upon, which has been so common.
TAUNTON MECHANICS WELL PROVIDED AGAINST TEE |
PANIC.
II reference the position and prospects Of Taunton
mechanics operatives. Mr. Bent said that they are
Of better stuff than common reasonably thrifty and
The last 10 years have been years of great
prosperity for Taunton industries and most OF the me-
chanics have been steadily employed at good wages.
Not few Of their hands have been with them dozen
years and their before them There hardly
few hundreds who have not work out OF the thou
saud OF working people the city and there is no fear
that the suffering of 1857 will be repeated The skilled
labor here is largely American, and comprises fair
proportion Of the depostors In our two savings banks
which together deposits of nearly S5OOO00o Many
Of the mechanics and operatives the houses they
1--we in This company does not furnish tenements for
the employed. In this city there has not been serious
trouble IL getting currency enough for wages, and no
Employers put Of payday or shked fun pay ment
In cash.
Tue Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company was
Incorporated The works started the year
before Its capital is s225OOO held by 20 stockholders,
resident in Taunton Providence, and NewYork. Brown
Ives OF Providence much OF the stock. The ex-
tensiyo buildings Of this Company are situated near
those OF the Mason Machine Works and close by the
railway station Their capacity is about the same as
that locomotive department OF the Mason Works,
fu production they turn out five locomotives per
month employing 400 men. Only 300 on the pay
roll several having been DISCHARGED every week this
month. Since Nov the running time has been eight
hours per day. Another hour will probably be taken of
next week Wages have not yet been reduced, but it
s proposed to thin the hands till the best only
main, when those who have been dropped will be taken
back at reduced pay n their services are needed Tho
contracts now hand win expire in about co days.
The works will not be closed then there is any en-
oouragcment further production Most of the loco
motives building here for the Maine Central
Railroad. The skilled labor here Is chiefly American,
and commands on an average from "a to 81 IS per day.
The officers say that the well provided for hard