New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-15

gether. IL was here stated that sovera WOonsocSet
mills have large stocks OF cotton on hand, and may
also close altogether when these exhausted.
Tho Woonsocket Company, which belongs TO the
estate of crawford Allen Of Providence. q cotton
min here which has 1900 spndles 2ss LOOMS and $50
hands Its old gray stone buildings are on the right
hand Of the river This mil closed oct. 20, with
the expectation that other Woonsocket mills would also
close Some repairs needed, but not enough
ouire suspension OF more than three or four At
the end of fortnight, the other mis did not close.
the Woonsockot Company started again With full hours,
but with reduction Of wages 10 extent Of 10 per
cent None of the operators went away on account OF
the reduction but glad 10 get again at
lower rates. The Woonsocket Company expects
10 keep up fun time at tho reduced pay. and
close reduce hours unless all the other Woonsoeket
mills stop. The Hamlet Min, owned by Isaac NJ.
Bull OF NewYork has 1900 spndles 3is looms and 2io
hands, IL is unpretenous structure OF brick, aged,
squat and square with long of low stone tenement
houses attached Hero the running time has been 50
hours per week for the last three weeks No reductions
in hands or wages are proposed.
REASONS FOR BRIEF GENERAL sToPPAGE
There are two small cotton mills in Woons1cket en-
poynG about rs each, which belong to the Messrs.
Pay, who also two cotton mills at +. ankin, Mass,
in Beingham Mass, and two In stafOrdville Conn.,
or their WOonsOcket mills, running half time 20
furnish opportunity 10 put in machinery and the
other runs extra hours in the evening giving the
hands at the partially-suspended mill a chance
10 obtain some addition 10 their half pay. The
Ray cotton mills outside of Woonsooket, running
full time Mr.. Ray said that his policy in regard TO re-
duction would depend upon the action OF the other
mills. W0onsOcket manufacturers had not been able TO
10 any agreement TO the proper course to be
pursued Some have large stocks OF cotton and wool on
hand and wish TO close them of before cutting down;
others still 6ud demand for certain styles which they
manufacture and wish TO keep up production. Hence
hp nj
mills running full time with full wages some full
time with reduced wages some three full days per
week some 81 hours daily for four days six half
days. Mr.. Ray had endeavored to persuade panufac-
turers TO unite one general plan aud suspend alto
gether for Go days, giving their hands half
pay during the suspension Many mnl-oWners
object TO paying workmen any wages during enforced
idleDess but the duty Of manufacturers to assist their
operatives admitted, and 80 long suspension as that
fering among the hands. IL wond be far better how
ever for manufacturers to pay half wages Tor no w9fK
at ALL than for hafme work. because total suspension
would stop production, bring paniesricken h0ardes OF
money 10 their senses, and force demand Tor nanuac
tured goods Running the mills tends 10 Keep up the
price Of material. II, on starting again AFTER 90 DAYS
Suspension, wages were thought 10 be too mgh for
prof liable production they could be cut down oper
atyeS would be very glad 10 work full time at reduced
The woonsocket Rubber Company employs about $50
hands, principally IN the manufacture OF rubber boots
and shoes Of which $500 pairs are maze daily no re-
auctions in hours, wages Or force nave Deen made OF
proposed for the present. as the Ousles0 season III
this line Of goods has just set in There s no stock on
hand, and all WCIA ls on OiGeItu toOus. LUG w o
running dine in the evening now, and II Is ex
pecied that they vii go on with fun hours ana occa
liOual extra work all Winter.
Tie American Worsted Company. which rs controlled
by Woonsoeket capital, ana Is about 1onr years eld.
manufactures br2ids and employs 100 Aands Zoe iaot
that there is hardly any demand Tor gOTls, anu Vnat
collections are very dicut 10 maze, WI conner ind
company TO 90 on hai tlDe On MONDAY. ~ u nuen9ee
not TO close altogether AT any time, notwithstanding
that perhaps total SUSPENSION would be better for the
manufacturer, operatives need partial employment
at least The Enterprise Manufacturing company
which makes lasting with near 40 looms and $50 hands
has fair-slzed MN near the Massachnsets ilne. On
Monday this min will begin running four days IN the
week g hours Per day II is not INTENDED 10 cut DOWN
wages or numbers at present. The hands are mostly
EUglsh and French Canadians thrifty, forehanded
class whose sg % egaP e 1 Ts Gn5
Iron Foundry Company has considerable machine
shop and foundery employing IN bOtn 10 hands 10 OF
them in the machine SHOP rho machine shops are
heavily affected by the depression In mn work. and AT
manded, and collections are very talhcnt. Nov j an
were reduced 10 per cent The agent SAID that
the establishments in town which kept mp fun hours
would be forced TO cut down wages. he had reduced
not propose TO make further curtailment.
AcCUMULATIoNs IN THE SAVINGS BASKs.
The 1900 people WoonsocBet largely 1de Of
two elements--Iriss and French Canadians The Cana
dams Of late years have been imported or have come OF
their own motion great numbers TO the Rhode Island
mills The millogners in woonsocket have taken
largo share Of them. aud they make very satsac
tory operatives In the mills they are more ractaDle
less turbulent and more thrifty Many OF tnem within
few years have bought land and Dullt houses IN Wo0u-
socket and have balances in the savings banks Tho
high wages OF late years. or lhe cOmne ia o. more
domestic among the FISH operatives, has caused
Inc IRISH ihan formerly The prevailing convection
among those competent 10 Judge IS that WoonsOcket
s % moi Slt operTes s winter T6ers j. ceran
none as yet for mill IS wholly suspended Oh account
mpnt viii meet all absolute necessities for time at
least even If there are savings with which TO supple
socket have considerably s. OOCO OF deposits i'll
ALL Not much less than one-half OF this must belong TO
though this To not 80 large proportion
OF the deposits comes iron the Mil hands as in most
manufacturing places Deposits How into the
NoOnsocket banks from the farms for a con
siderable distance around, aud from small Mas
sachusetts towns WIN lpeldees daC' ,h
savings last MAJ. when nearly all them were cut OF
work for weeks account OF the great strike OF
which this place WAS the center. That Iladyised and
reckless movement unfortunate element 10 reckon
mon Ia Estimating cbanoes OF coming distress. Those
oleratiyes who had no savings bank balances TO
tain them in dleness rau 30 deeply into debt At that
lime that some OF them have emerged TIE
agitation never had Lex stand upon. Its leaders
not mllands themselves bat as II always Tue case An
strikes which have no basis. oeues
with axes 10 grind. one of The chief agaors here
photographer another the 1anitor OF hall The grew
lives made wretccd by cruel hours they forced
10 work. lind warrant IN the appearance OF Woonocket
operatives to-day. Even IN these times OF painful an
certainty and pinching econOnyt Is haFd 10 nd among
The mill hands the hagSard faces and wasted forms, OF
which we were told last May that Woons0ekct and other
n nst be admitted Of course, that the entire suspen
sion of the great mills would long exhaust savings
and bring on great suffering But the chief manufac-
tureTs generally are unwilling 10 make long suspon-
sion and few OF them will close their mile wholly Ia
any contingency. As wages have been paid promptly
on the regular PAYDAY aud fully III cash throughout all
the Woonsocket Mills, despite the necessity OF paying
premium ia some cases TO get euoagh currency, the
neratiyes here trouble over dscOunting of
bsnkorders or worry DELAYED payments The chef
manufacturing companies Of Woonsocket together re-
n,re sra 900 month wages. This amount has not
een raised without difficulty during the striDgeney
hut tue employers have felt that the hands abso-
lntev needed cash in FULL and DID not sirk their duty
Interviews with prominent WOODEN manufacturers show
mat the depression in their business 10 not so pro-
nonced as the cotton goods trade for this time OF
year Including latter october and early November, Is
alwavs a slack time with them. The buyers OF heavy
goods r Winter have got their supplies and the orders
ror Goods fully set in But the out