The New York herald., 1873-11-08
THE LABOR CRISIS.
DeplOrable Condition Of the Working
Glasses in Philadelphia.
IMTERNATIoMALIsTs at WORK.
Interview with Vice President Shaw, Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 7, 1873.

and consequently Is becoming INTRODUCTION 10
what succeeds In this letter. For long, long
time strange rumors have compromised In the
estimation OF the people the standing and solldity
OF the Pennsy lvania Railroad and when, therefore,
the directors met to take final action respecting
future work. the street awaited the issue with no
little roreboding and doubt All day long. while
the session convened, the probable conclusion at
which the directors would arrive has been the
theme OF earnest conversation and no small num-
ber OF perpleXing conundrums
The rumor that was rampant last night was to
the pnrporJ that the Vice President OF the road,
Colonel Thomas A. Scott, mad formally rendered his
resignation, and that there was every probability
that the same would be accepted. The rum0r was
true n one sense while In another it was false.
The facts OF the these :-Colonel Scott ad-
dressed a letter TO the President OF the company,
Mr.. Thomson, ana stated therein if the Board OF
Directors thought that their interests or the in
terests OF the road could be advanced by his re-
m0val his resignation would be forthcoming at
once. He did not resign he simply stated that
he would, provided the clamor and crash OF
the hour demanded IT, The directors decided that
afternoon that no such sacrifice was needed, and
UNANIMOUSLY voted their entire satisfaction OF the
manner in which all the duties Of the Vice Presi-
dent had been fulfilled.
THE CAUSE
which led Mr.. Scott 10 write as stated above, to
Mr.. Thomson was the fact that his name was on
the paper OF the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Con-
Cerning the dividend great debate ensued, at the
conclusion OF which was as follows 1T was decided
TO declare semi-annual dividend OF five per cent
upon the company's stock, whibh would be 81 90
upou each share. This is payable in scrip bearing
seven per cent interest at the end OF fifteen
months, running on until March l, 1876, the COM
pany reserving TO itself the right 10 redeem the
same SIX months after the date OF its issue. Fully
ST., ,0O0 600 was created at the last allotment hty
per cent Of which has been already paid in; THIS
scrip Is receivable as payment for instamentS
upon this increase OF stock
THE STATE OF TRADE.
Let us now turn to the state Of trade generally
and carefully study its condition. Taking up one
by one those various occupations that engage
the energies and attention OF the great majority
arriving at a far and satisfactory conclusion the
situation Is as follows:-ln the rolling mills, no
matter mat to which % particular one you may go, you
doing service to about half the time as formerly,
and attended. with less than one-half the
number of hands. The workmen. patient, anxious
and hopeful, loiter idly around the buildings
which were only short time ago the scenes OF the
most surprising activity but in the exceeding
employers can give them but lew assurances
ior the future They, hope, though they
circumstances in which both the Cambria
and PENNSYLVANIA Iron Works at present stand,
pOrtant mills TO stand the strain OF the crisis.
THE CABINET MAKERS,
who thus far have noby breasted the struggle, are
just beginning TO give way Never II is said in the
history or the local trade has the situation been
80 alarming, and 1t Is inevitable that before the
close OF the present month many must dismiss
their hands, while some win nave to abandon the
business altogether for the present The number
OF men engaged IN cabinet making is exceedingly
large, and when they cease their work all the
npholsterers. varnishers, polishers, &c, Will be
Obliged to do the same
THE GAS FIXTURE BUSINESS
is one which thus far has suffered very greatly,
and day alter day seems to grow less promising.
Hundreds Of men have been discharged, not only
which the fixtures are made, but many men are
turned away daily through lack OF work by those
employers whose business 1T Is to arrange the
pipes and hang the fixtures after they are turned
out from the factories. The greatest depression
prevails in this branch OF the trade which is here
carried on to very large extent, and employs in
It's service thousands oil men, wno would lind IL
dif1cult to engage i'll other occupation with very
AMONG THE HATTERs
business amounts to almost nothing. Wages have
generally been reduced ten and more per cent. and
scores OF workmen have been weekly discharged.
THE CIGAR TRADE
too, is in bad situation here as elsewhere through
out the country, oniy those nrms VINO are oehlnd-
hand in their orders employing anything like their
usual number OF men. IL Is no eXaggeration to
assert that more than tw0-thirds OF the
ENGRAvERS AND LITHoGRAPHERS
OF this city are thrown out OF employment An
adept in the art to-day informed your correspond
wages have ranged all the way from $40 to $40 per
day. but that now he really was altogether out OF
work. and that during the last few days he had not
made cent.
TURNER'S, PATTERN MAKERS AND wEAvHRs
are In precisely the same situation. Discharges
have followed reduction of wages, and hundreds
devoted to these employments are on the street
unable to find anything 10 do.
But OF all who have suffered the most, and whose
alarming condition at this nour ought to appeal 10
the sympathies Of all able to bestow charity, may
be mentioned the
wages have been reduced ten, twenty and
thirty per cent; thousands have been put on hali
time and thousands more left to take care OF
themselves. In one locality thirteen mills closed
in one day, In another eighteen, and in
other places several more. The total numoer
Of discharged employees in their special business
alone that your correspondent can count runs up
10 5000, and there are many other mills OF which
/ am ignorant whose looms are hushcd and whose
apartments are rs quiet az grave.
THE BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS,
which In this city act as savings banks for the
1unds OF the laboring classes, are suffering
being exhausted, while scores and scores OF
mechanics who during many long years denied
themselves not only the luxuries but, In several
instances the necessities OF life, that they might
provide their wives and children with homes, to-
day Offering their homes for sale AZ almost any
price. The
RECAPITULATION
is sad indeed. The Pennsylvania iron works un-
able to pay their men, thirteen cotton mills silent
Reading; while In the limits OF the city proper the
following briefs clearly show the deplorable condi-
ton OF traQe:-
White 4 Co., shawl manufacturers; entirely sus-
pended.
David Johnston 4 Co., manufacturers OF vene-
tian carpets, with twelve immense looms, at
present retain but seven workmen
Stnson Brothers, carpet makers; entirely sus-
pended
Thomas Dolan, manufacturer OF knit goods, has
discharged 400 hands.
James Long Brother, cotton and woonen
goods discharged 800 bands.
l. H. Scbadewald hosiery, usually employing 120,
mas only elgnty-fye, and these on half time.
John Galashens, cotton goods; all hands dis
missed; work suspended.
w. I. Richardson, furniture; 46 discharged and
only retained.
Raaigh 4 Co., suspenders; 500 men and women
all on half time.
J. Welsh Co., cotton 100 hands discharged and
work suspended.
Stetson n Brother, hats; so discharged work
suspended.
Daman, Maylin Co., carpets; so hands DIS
charged.
Sheppard Brothers, silk dress goods; /, 600 hands
discharged; work suspended last night