The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-11
The Labor Market M New YORK..

hand is not without encouraging signs.
1t will surprise any one to learn that
many branches OF industry are in an al.
most stagnant state; that there is but
slight activity in others; and that wages
in almost every trade have been reduced.
II needed no exact inquiries to ascertain
the truth of facts 30 obvious as these; and
no.sibIy The prevalent impression is that
thc stagnation OF business is greater than
mr. injuries show il TO be. The more
nrominent features OF the existing condi-
lion OF labor are the. generally light de-
mand for it, the paralyzed state OF the
building trade, including the several
trades connected with it, the decline Of
the power Of the trade unions, and the
comparatively healthy condition Of the
industries connected with the supply Of
articlesfor personal use and consumption.
In times before the panic, when the ma
terial industries OF the country were ex-
panding with n feverish and unnatural
haste, the building trades were among
those which enjoyed the largest degree Of
prosperity. Wages were 81 90 and S. per
day for bricklayers, stonemasons and car
penters; the unions were in full strength;
and even the unskilled laborers-the bod
carriers, mortar mixers, &c.-had their
union, numbering nearly eight thousand
men, and gave Infinite trouble by strikes.
The contraction which followed the panic
was first and most severely felt by this
class OF workmen. BriCklayers may now
be had for 50 per day, or indeed any sum
that the men will take, for the union is
powerless, the carpenters aud joiners are
no better, and one union in this trade has
ceased to exist; the stone cutters are not
in 80 depressed state, US their wages are
still So 80 per day; but the stone masons
share the full extent OF the distress which
has fallen on the bricklayers. The plas-
terers have come down from S. per day to
50, and the number OF unemployed at this
rate is very large; the house and sign
painters are in about the same condition.
The plumbers are even worse of; but to
the general stagnation Of business there is
added the further loss 10 the trade OF n
winter too mild to cause trouble to the
water and gas pipes. This may be said
10 complete the list OF industries connect
cd with building, and among these the dis
tress is greatest.
Turning to trades connected with the
household, we find that among the several
classes OF cabinet-makers the number Of
highlyskilled workmen unemployed is not
larger than usual, but is very large
among those Of the second class. The
best workmen arc employed on custom
work, the second grade on the ready
made furniture. The demand for this
has been almost entirely for the cheapest
kinds, the better varieties OF it being
drag on the market. The earnings OF
the varnishers and:polishers have dropped
from SIS to $40 per week. The paper
hangers are no better. There is little de-
mand for their services, and wages aver
age about $40 or Sl2 per week. lnmetal-
working trades there seems to be nearly
the same degree Of distress rs among the
building trades; the machinists and black
smiths, brass and iron moulders, having
all suffered heavyreductions otwages. The
horse-shoers supply steady want, and
their trade appears 10 have been but
slightly affected by the hard times.
Looking over the whole list OF trades
enumerated, it appears that while scarce
" any have escaped some pressure, those
which have been least affected are the
tailors, shocmakers, hatters and bakers.
The shocmakers have suffered for the
same reason that the plumbers have. A
mild winter makes less demand on shoe
leather than severe one; but there is
hope for good spring trade, and the
Crispins are not inclined to lose heart
over their prospects. The tailors appear
10 earn about the same wages rs before,
though the trade is not specially active.
The matters are in the same condition.
Bread must always be had, and the pres
sure OF hard times has not been severe
enough to cause any perceptiblc falling
off In the demand for workmen.
From these and other evidences it
might be surmised that u healthy tend.
ency to economy had been the result OF
the panic Of 1873. People do not feel
inclined to spend extravagantly, but they
are not suffering so much rs might be
expected from actual poverty. II they
were, there would be little demand for
the labors OF cabinet makers; and the
trades manufacturing articles for person.
al use and consumption would suffer
much more than they appear to be doing
now. Cheap furniture is steadily called
for because the people have the means to
buy new articles, but want them at as
low prices as possible; clothing is in
steady though not extravagant demand;
boots and shoes are called for less than is
usual at this time, owing to merely tenn
porary and accidental causes. Carriage
makers, cigar-makers, and piano.makers
are not in great distress, the falling oil
in their wages, and consequently in the
demand for their labor, being much less
than among bricklayers and machinists;
though carriages, cigars and pianos are
certainly articles OF luxury. The reduc
ton here represents economy rather thar
poverty in the consuming class.
Unskilled labor, OF course, suffers mos
heavily. The 'Longshoremen's Union hal
only n nominal existence, and the Labor
er's Union is entirely broken up. Labor
ers may be had in any number for 81 pei
day; and 'longshoremen, though they pre-
tend 10 keep up the union rates, can, II
fact, be had at wages scarcely higher thar
those OF ordinary day laborers. The shil
building trade is dull, so far as new worl
Is concerned; but in those branches IL
which repairing is the principal work
there is fair amount Of activity. TAX
| ing the whole labor market so far as pre-
scented, and as itindicates the general con
dition OF trade, it may be said that thing
are not nearly so bad as they might be
Some signs OF revival are apparent; bu
the spirit Of economy which is eyiden
everywhere is perhaps the best augury
for return OF prosperity in the near fu
turc.