The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-23
HALTING INDUSTRY.
<@4he WOlf' In the Manu-.
featuring Districts.
Statistics of LoWell---Thrift and
Poverty.

LOWELL, Mass. Feb. 90 1874
This city, one OF the great manufacturing centres
Df the East has been unusually successful during
tho recent financial struggles, and in TACT u doing
even larger business than 1t ever carried on be-
feEe. or course, a thriving city viii always con-
tsin certain amount Of pauperism, but tue appii-
ostaoas for help appear chiefly to come from
strangers who have been attracted BY the pros
porous reports In the hope of obtaining work.
MAYOR JEwETr
A bis inaugural address says :-'No pestilence has
visited US; no general depression OF business has
seriously disturbed the rewards OF industry.
We begin another year with the productive
capacity OF our immense manufactures and
extensive machine and workshops greatly
enlarged. with the trade OF our merchants
4aoreased In amount and pront with .
population greater by hundreds of families and
thousands oil souls; with new and beautiful build
angs covering our hitherto vacant lands; with
large and magnificent blocks rising along the lines
OF our principal streets; with an accumulated
wealth capable OF easily yielding tax sufficient Tor
our needs and with Indications OF q permanent
future growth In THRIFT and population promising
90 crafty our most ardent wishes. The financial
depression OF the country has only lightly and, we
trust. temporarily affected us, and will not Sc
E0usy disturb our prosperity or retard our gro WITH
1t has produced but q slight dlminution in the
Der. falls heavily upon the poor man. whose income
Eas already strained to its utmost tension to meet
MS daily wants. and 80 we should the more
earnestly hope that it's effects are but transitOry
and that the wall OF poverty will not long sadden
che Joyous hum of busy industry"
It Is now nearly forty years since Lowell was
rst laid out ano until within the last few years 1t
renamed place of minor Importance. Finally
capital was introduced and the foundation laid for
she great works that now give daily employment
TO about 10, 900 women and 1000 men.
During che past few months, when many OF the
great commercial centres OF the East ana West
were on the verge of crash, Lowell stood pretty
firm, and, instead OF stopping work altogether.
Kept most OF her mills running on half time so as
TO afford bread at least TO the operatives. This
movement had beneficial effect and kept the
working population at home instead OF driving
them to the OvercrOwded cities to swell the thrOng
that were already clamorng for work.
THE TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF LABOR
however. did not last more than about five or six
weeks and before the middle OF December the
mills were nearly all running on full time. Tue
managers. how ever, before resuming the regular
work, held q meeting and reduced the wages OF
the operatives rom eight to per cent. This
shey claim was necessity, that 1t was impossible
to AVOID 1t, although TO many it appeared an I'm.
Just extOrtion, as at that very time some OF the
mills had So much work on hand that they were
working nights SO as to I'LL their iders Ten per
cent on the man In receipt OF SIS per week, or on
the girl with weekly dole OF half that
amount, IS no incOnsiderable loss, and is
consequently Ielt more or less. Many oil the
mill hands mere are in tOleraby good circum-
Stances. as they have saved money and live in COm-
PORTABLE little houses bought rom their hard earn
Mgs. They are Locating on the outskirts OF the
city and RAISING suburb OIL small BRICK and frame
cottages. AS u proof that the operatives are as q
rule, saving ca.s 1T Is only necessary to call at
tentOn to the act Oh there be ng savings banks
that certainly won not exist unless they had
far show Ol support
l took drive yesterday around the different
mills and machine shops, and from every quarter
heard
CHEERFUL AND ENCOURAGING NEWS,
"a al appeared to anticipate very good season.
The following table. showing the amount OF help
employed by some OF the principal corporations IN
1873 and 1874, Is officially cVrrect:-