The New York herald., 1873-11-16

male beauty such II h.; but now, when the trees
are bare and yachting looks az much out OF season
as bathing, o cloud OF dulness has crept over
New London, and what with the panic and
the falling or in the whaling business there Is
little more life left than one might find In grave
yard. There was time when this port equipped
and sent forth In the season feet Of seventy-fve
vessels to the whaling grounds. This has now
fallen OF TO ABOUT twenty, and there Is little hope
the number win ever much exceed that hgure.
WHALING IN THE PAST.
Speaking to Mr.. Williams OF the firm OF Williams
4 Haven, great whaling men, whose ships are on
oil the oceans OF the earth, from the South to the
North Pole, l learned. as | supposed, that the
panic had but little effect on their business.
''Wnaling,n SAID he, "has declined. Where
Is years ago there Has feet or 600 American ves-
sells engaged in the business there only $50.
You see petroleum and the new oil they are max
ing from cotton seed have cut In on the whale oil
trade and reduced its profits and Importance. Nor
is there the same demand for whaebone. We have
only 10 vessels engaged In the business. At
this time OF the year there Is nothing DONE The
boats go out generally from June to September and
return from April to July. We are now chiefly In
the guano and seal fur trade. In partner
ship with another firm we have leased the
Seal Islands or Alaska from the government, and
down In the Indian Ocean, at the islands Of
Kerguelen and Providence, we have three ships In
the seal fishing and other ships on the west coast
States.n The falling off In this whaling business
was a loss TO New London, but with the instructive
turn for manufacturing characteristic OF Connecti-
cut people, factories were established or extended,
and though the whalers are no longer such source
OF wealth to the community other things have been
made to Yield q revenue in their place.
NO DECREASE OF sHIPwRIGHTs' WAGES.
considerable neet OF vessels is still owned by
this port and most or them are doing safe coast
tween W New London and New York. two are laid
up account OF the hard times Though vessels
are here for sale and building has fallen or so per
cent shpwrights are as high priced IN their wages
as in the best OF days.
ANXIOUS FOR WAR WITH SPAIN.
The talk OF the town to-day is the probability OF
war with Spain. 1t would be very popular among
the New Londoners Naval officers out OF work
who are stopping around here, are beside them
selves, with joyful anticipation oil such prospect.
The natives are marine In their tastes, and, clean
ana airy the town appears, the smell and pres
OF tar sufficiently palpable TO indicate the
presence OF a seafaring population. The govern
ment could. easily man few line OF battle ships
THE INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES.
The number OF operatives out OF work Is about
ming on three-quarter time and out OF It's ordinary
100. The Albertson Douglas machine shop ls run
force OF 100 men, employs at present 100. There
has been no reduction Of pay, and whether the
shop Will continue as 1t Is depends on trade. The
Wilson Manufacturing Company are also on three
quarter time. They have discharged some OF their
hands The Atwood silk thread factory is on half
rime with 80 hands; no reduction OF wages.
The New London wooIen mill has 80 hands
employed on full time and pay. Browns cotton
gin factory has 90 men engaged at half time.
Woodworths paper mills are on half time, with
with the same number. The Mountain Avenue
Shirt Factory, working on fve-sixth time, has
discharged ten per cent OF the 120 hands IL en-
ployed Dudley Stevens carriage factory IS
help. R0bertson's paper mills are fully employed.
These constitute the industrial activities OF New
London, and manage to circulate enough money
to keep the population OF 5000 or 5000 tolerably
comfortable.