New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-05
IRON WORKERS DISCOURAGED.

]. B. Cornell of the firm of j. b. 81 j. NJ.
Cornell said in regard to the Fall prospects IN IRON
working that although iron is lower than 1t has been al
any time since the war, the manufacturers who are
making more than enough money to pay their running
expenses are very few Prices OF manufactured goods
are extremely low and the depression so great that
there seems no prospect OF recovery before Spring
Throughout country manufacturers and dealers are
carrying light stocks but they show no disposition "
considerable supplies for the Winter. Even in
stores aud heating apparatus business very DUH as 10
shown by the very limited demand for iron among the
stove-manufacturers The comparatively small number
OF building enterprises in or in contemplation
in all parts Of the country has good deal to do with
the depression in r0nworkng There seems TO be more
stores and offices already built than the diminished
volume Of business requires Iron-workers generally
are doing something for occasional orders come In but
Of them running much smaller forces than they
had at this time last year 1t will probably DO hard
Winter for workingmen In the iron business. good
many are out of employ now, and there will be moro
idle The Cornells at present employing little less
than 500 men. In brisk they have many as
900 at work. and this time last year 700 were their
payroll.
Secretary Reed Of the L. Mott Iron Works said that
people have been buying but parngly through the
year. and the Fall business has begun IN dull and
backward way. September is usually the time OF most
activity In the Fall trade in iron goods but in brisk
sons there have been large sales in August. Iron Is
as low az 1t can be beaten down, and in some
cases It has been sold at cost or even less
than cost, but In spite OF the cheapness Of the raw
material manufacturers making very small profits.
Prices very low, but business Is 50 uuI that inc
manufacturers cut under each other aud force trade
The first in the market has the best chance 10 yes
the benefit OF such light investments there are made.
IL does not as II there would be more than
half the Fall trade OF good years People buy
quantity OF stoves and other heating apparatus
before winter but the duness OF building operations
and the atness the real market there Is hardly
any
fronts. The retailers and hardware dealers generally
don't invest. Manufacturers, however. have been
working charity since the panic that there Is no such
danger, as there seemed to DO last Fail, OF many of
them becoming insolvent. All OF them are looking TO
see trade on better footing and brisk business In tue
Spring. The j. L. Mott Works have been keeping nearly
all their at Work during the hot weatber-neaIy GO
In ALL at Mott Haven ana BroOklyn-but Work VIII DO
cut down in the Autumn months.
Vice Cheney OF the Architectural Iron Works
said that these works have considerable amount OK
work hand, but he thought their activity eNoepohh
in the marked dizziness and depression OF building OPP
eratiOns ana OF ironworkng These works have taken
their contracts al very low rates. but as iron mas nos
since the contracts entered upon remaining
lower than II had been Tor years, thelr UNDERTAKINGS
without encouragement I1ere are COZ men on
the payroll and the work ON mana VIII propaop sep
them busy for three mouths. From the present
outlook there Will be little dons after mat wages ao
somewhat lower than they were a year ago ana Is
much TO control labor In brisk times tue iouhuey
men aud other workmen were apt 10 De sum
necked and hard to manage. Now there rs no trVuDie
several of the ronworkng Establishments Ia the Guy,
said Mr. Cheney doing hardly any thing. and 20 lew
buildings III contemplation ana real estate Is SO
slowly disposed OF that IL does not appear now that they
Will have much To do before next Spring.
one of the members OF the nrm which conducts tho
Excelsior Iron Works said that they had only about ono
fourth their usual force OF $40 work. aud there
hardly prospect Of amendment IN the presens
extreme dullness III iron workng before Spring. ~
people do almost all Of what little building there Is IN
proyress with brick INtaeg thAn Eou.