The New York herald., 1873-11-05
The Furniture Manufacturers.

The HERALD reporter next visited the furniture
store OF Degraaf h Taylor. 81 Bowery. He was in
formed by Mr.. Richards, member OF that firm
that for the last two weeks they had employed
only half their usual force. At present $50 men
were working on their premises. Their wood
work was done in their factory at Bridge
port, where they generally employed 500
men. At present they had only forty men
working at Bridgeport. Mr.. Richards further
stated that the firm would reduce wages next
week. There was no danger OF strike in the
furniture business. This would be hard winter.
still they had worked with full force up to last
Saturday, having had considerable orders for
several new nl hotels to execute Very few members
would be necessary to make reduction in the
wages OF the cabinet makers and upholsterers.
The former earned in busy times if paid by the
piece, from $50 to $24 week; II paid by the week,
SIS; the latter from $27 to $3a by piece work. or
there would be made a reduction or about twenty
per cent In the pay OF upholsterers and cabinet
makers The wages OF varnishers would not be
reduced, as they were at present only earning from
$12 to SIS week.
Messrs. Phelps, Doremus & Corbett. 2s4 Canal
street. were next visited. Mr.. Phelps, the senior
member OF the firm said that the present panic
was dlnerent from that OF 1857. The latter he re-
garded only as purely mercantile panic, while
extension OF various railroad enterprises in ad-
vance OF the real wants Of the country. The firm
had not made yet any reduction in wages, but 1t
would have to come Mr. Phelps said he was per-
sonay interested in a factory at Bridgeport where
discharged. He added Awe intend to Keep all all
married men at reduced wages. What the reduc-
tion will be am not able to state yet. 1t will be
30 arranged as to meet the requirements OF each
individual case. The reduction may be half work
or BY lowering. OF the wages. The men cannot
resist 1t, even II they were so inclined. But they
are nearly all intelligent and appreciate the condi-
ton OF things"
Business of the stove Manufacturers.
1t is probable that no class of manufacturers are
more confident OF weathering the financial cyclone
than the manufacturers and jobbers In stoves. The
severity OF the climate in this latitude Is the palla-
dum OF the stove makers safety. People will not
freeze If they can avoid IL. They may 90 half
clothed or poorly fed, but freezing is not to be
seriously thought of; and, as a consequence, the
manufacturers OF ranges and stoves smile when
they are approached on the subject OF declining
trade.
WHAT THR STOVE MANUFACTURERS SAY.
Areporter OF the HERALD yesterday visited the
various agencies OF the stove manufactures in this
city to learn the effect which the sringency IN the
money market was having upon this branch OF the
manufacturing interests OF the country.
Mr.. Watson Sanford, President OF the National
Stove Works at Peeksk, was visited at the New
York Office OF the company
'Has the tghtness in money afrected your bust.
ness to any extent ~ asked the reporter ssHave
you shortened your hours or number or menqo
.Our works are running to their full capacity.
The stove business In general has been fully eoual
to previous years. The weather has been AGAINST
the trade, and although the ioundres are all going
at present II Is probable that they win shut down
somewhat earlier than usual. It is customary 70
stop work about the 10th or 18th OF January. The
collections are hard to make. Some debts on good
men are hard 10 collect. Regarding labor NAV
say that with us there has not been any change In
prices or In the number OF employees. There Is no
prospect OF reductioD certainly not II the
weather turns out cold enough to keep up the
trade.n
STOVES A STANDARD ARTICLE.
''You are, OF course, Obliged In some cases. TO
extend your time TO some customers ~
"In a lew instances replied MIR. sanford; "but
there is an Increased cautiousncss among all man.
ufacturers In the selection OF customers. There
have been few failures, and such as have collapsed
had Deen weak for some time past. The larger
and olQer' establishments stand nrps and sEe