New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-08
DELAWARE VALLEY.

PRESTON.
lpRoa SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBoSs,'
PmLIIPsBURG, N. j., Nov. 4.-On both sizes
Of the Delaware River the junction of the Lehish az
this noint cluster many important manufactures OF
IRON which, In good business tines use cohsioer"io
part OF the pig iron which IL turned out from the many
furnaces which dot the Lehigh Valley from TINS poin'
to Perryyille q distance OF something moro '""n W
miles These furnaces use "a porSioh o'
their supply hematite from mines Id thiS
Vicinity Tho manufacturers here nave peen ie''
,I,.turhed by the panic than those Oh any
other district which visited though ali speak Oh
the difficulty they find In obtaining money 70 pay tho
hands and the small present demand Tor ther pfouue
tons Tney look forwird to good trade In the spring
AT much lower prices than those of the last year. but
st sufficiently high to make 1t profitable to keep on
producing now the prevailing prices OF the raw ma
terial ana labor. Almost without exception, entire
sympathy exists between the masters ana the men, ana
their efforts are mutually directed TO rendering the
present condition OF business as little Injurious as pos
sble TO either.
The Delaware Rolling Mil and Axle Works have been
stopped for the past .hree weeks until yesterday, when
they started again. with their force reduced from 10
workmen to rs. aud with reduction OF Is per cent on
wages TO meet the low tone the market The supern-
tendent SAYS that OF the very glad 70 get
10 work again even at lower pay-eyen the puddlers,
from whom he expected the greatest tronble' -Four
men-roughers and hnishers-struck at the reduction
and refused TO work except at old rates These men had
been making from IS to So, aud could afford
TO stand the reduction better tnan any other
class Us said that he would not take them
back on any terms and would supply their places
The prices OF iron have fallen halt cent per pound
and old rates cannot be given for LABOR Ihs MIL sup
plies obbers In New-York and Philadelphia, ana does
not depend directly upon other manufacturers for a
market The propretors intend 10 keep on "a at present
uat better times The President Of the Company was
Ftfrf ahOnf mo
orders II they prove to be all right tho works may
start ogan IN full blast very soon The axle works con-
troed by this company have been at work up to last
Friday when hoy stopped Ii - proposed TO start
them again next week. when % more men VIII ma em
ployment Nearly all their wOrkmen remain waiting
for p gi,ap,;alt They say that II they only work
three days IN the week. 50 a. 10 pay their board they
will be satisfied until business reyives.
The American Sheet Iron Works. owned By McClees
Co.. are ut work with 100 on Ae-haftne-only one
half the mill being work, and the men working on alter
nate weeks The reduction OF time was made week
ago last Monday but the old wages are SIN paid II
WAS proposed at first discharge half the force and
work those who remained full time ; but the workmen,
having been called into consultation with the pro-
prieors expressed their preference for the present
plan. The superintendent OF the works said that
there are no sales, and II attempt were made
TO force their goods the market they w0uld the
price down even lower than 1t is, aud would not
then find buyers. They expect TO accumulate stock all
Winter. but willing TO do rather than TO throw
their out OF employment They expect to keep on
running as present until the Spring demand opens.
This firm manufacture for the iOhbng trade, chiefly OF
New-York Philadelphia. anu Boston, though they have
some trade with the West aud with NegOrleans. Ths
same firm have gavanzing works In New-fork City,
and forge Tor making charcoal "bloom"
The Phillpsburg stove works employ IS men they
have made reduction In or in force, in the
running time except in the fouudcry which Is working
only four days In the week An attempt was made to
lower the wages paid nshers paror stoves, which
the superintendent said had been 30 per cent too high
but the men would not standit and left. They had
immense stock hand. and could spare the
labor The men understand the situation very
well, but will submit to anything rather than
TO reduction OF wages. The molders
especiay arc willing 10 work short time or to take
large part of their pay in due bils but insist the
nominal rate being maintained. TIE factories have
large stock on hand and expect to accumulate until the
middle OF December, when they will probably shut
down They usually close for few wee.is the first
of January but this they will close earlier and not
open again until tho demand for their goods warrants
them in doing 80. The superintendent said thai they
had great trouble in making collections. but uD to the
present time had been able to pay their workmen in
full aud without delay. Nearly every other company in
the valley, he said except tho Andoyer had been COM
PEELED to pay partly in due bills.
The Phillipsburg Manufacturing Company are en-
gagged In making iron bridges, nuts, bolts, &c. They
were found, like the Western Manufacturing Company
in Paterson, In full blast. They filing contracts
which have neither been revoked delayed, and the
superintendont said they were more busy than
now They employ 25 workmen full time aud at the
old rate wages They have contracts for IL bridges
on the Eric Railway, some OF which are nearly COM
pleted and II neither the Erie any other railway
company for whom they at work, fail to meet their
engagements they sure or full work for the Winter
The nut and bolt business Is dead and they manufac
ture only those which they need Ia their own work
The Warren Foundery and Machine Company Is one Of
the largest the valley. They employ 40 workmens
reduction of only l2-and have made no change In
wages or In working hours The superintendent told
your correspondent this morning that times very
hard with them, and It has been very difficult TO get
money pay the but they had succeeded in meet
ing each payday promptly. Their manufactures con-
sist chiefly OF gas and waterppss. and the advan
tage In with the bridge builders that the
tractors either cities and towns other large
porations which cannot afford TO allow their work to
stand still. They are furnishing the large water
pipes to New-York, Brooklyn Rochester, Providence,
Societies which raise the money aud promptly
This Company expect to keep on without any change,
and say that hard times" will be all before they
get through the work already hand. The Phillips
burg Foundery smaller shop the other side OF tho
town. and engaged in manufacturing harness iron. ma
chine work. &c. have reduced their force from 80 23
and are running on half time. The foreman OF the
works said that they had orders aud could get
They expect keep work accommodating stock long
as they can raise money 10 pay their hands, is
very uncertain how long this will be-
Across the Delaware River, In Easton and South
Easton there are manufactures which. together with
ghborng mines and furnaces have added greatly 10
the wealth OF Stewart 81 Co. have rolling
mill in South Esston and two wire mills They manu-
f.np IN tnafn
brooms. In good times they employ 40 mon; but
two Of their ms have been stopped for two weeks and
the other will stop at the end of the present week Toe
superintendent said tina, there orders, aud