New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-31
INTERVIEWS WITH RHODE ISLAND MANU-
EACTURERS.

THE STATE OF AFFAIRS EXAGGERATFD-NO PROS
PECT OF SUFFERING AMONG OPERATIVES OR FAIL
URE OF MANUFACTURERS OPINION DIVIDED
UPON THE QUESTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AID AND
SPECIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or PRoDUC-
TON PREFERRED TO DIsCHARGING EMPLOYEES.
rFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or the IRIBusE.l
PROVIDENCE, II. l., Oct. 2S.-0piniOns ~ to
the present position and immediate future OF manufae
lures in New-EDgland, affected by the crisis. have
been diligently sought by your CORE spo1dcnt from
those competent speak with authority from the po
sition they hold the magnitude OF the interests they
control and the cearness of vision aud decsono u
clusion which have given them There h gen
eraI agreement among them In denying ciihor greas
present alarm among employers or distress amoug en-
ployed They also unite in declaring that rum 10 the
former or serious suffering 10 the latter does not
pear to 10 impending. All declare that manufaetur
ing was in an unusually strong aud sound position be-
fore the disturbances came which had Frustrated ts IN
dustres for the time, and that there
confidence enough among the miilowners "a carry
them through any storm which now seems possible SO
strong are they individually that they have not sought
TO unite and equaze their forces for the protection Of
each and all. They have neither combined TO sustain
their own class 10 depress their operatives. DE
spite assertions the contrary they have not agreed to
bolster up sinking commission-bouses nor 10 implore
the interference Of Government to make money easier
What measures most Of the individual companies ana
millowners have taken to shorten sail Ia the cfjrt
smoothly ride the Storm have already been given
in THE TRIBUNE.
Henry Howard the present Governor OF Rhode Island
ia an extensive and successful manufacturer Hp repre-
sents the Harris Manufacturing Company at Phcnix
L. which makes fine cotton goods and employs 21j hands,
800 LOOMS and l4O spindes also the Arkwrgb, Manu-
featuring Company at Fiskvie, II. T. making thr same
kind OF goods runnngl50 looms and about 5000 spins
and employing about 100 hands. Beside these mills he
Pheuix which has $50 looms. These three mills
running full time and with full forces the Harris
and the Arkwrght will probably 20 half time next
Monday. Gov. Howard said that he had hoped 10 keep
up longer. but the prolonged dullness ard the
reduction In the selling price Of goods made necessary
by the action Of the Lonsdale Manufacturing Company
In taking of cent yard from their goods Will make
early retrenchment necessary. He declared that he
knew OF little appreheu sion among Rhode Island
acturers on account the troubles Their business hac
been carefully conducted and was on thoroughly safe
and strong basis before the panic Hence there could
be with them no runous embarrassment. Most ~ fheA
thins ,hs strngency will be somewhat relieved
ana th. demand for manufactured goods grow brish
aga,u. There has been no over-productiop, and the
-oducts of all mills needed. Their goods might
ma worked on still. The trouble is not IN the want "
market for the goods but In the general ds,ras In the
aiocues which involve collections and the settlement
OF Affairs and In the obstacles to raising money fos
ming expenses II not for these checks the mills
might well run full time. In his own business coee
tons had been tolerably easy, and currency 10 pay
wages had been procured with little troabe. lie or
eratiyes had been paid promptly full and although
stories were anoat OF postponed or partial pay
ment In como largo mills, be had heard
really trustworthy statements that effect The banks
had pursued liberal aud, at the time, prudent
policy with manufacturers. and while some of them
were now stronger than before the panic began they
had done 90 much for manufacturers that thought
few OF them had been compelled ~ pay the extravaganza
rates for money ruling in the street 1t generally
known that one nrm "a w. Hnrasael bad been Oblissa