The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-05
A PHASE OF HARD TINES.
the IMMENSE BUSTyEss DOVE M
THE CITY "a VNBROH ERS
Rooms Packed with Houscbeid Utensils and
WorkinEmrn's 'sToois-FauiiIy Bibles Pnwn-
ed-Dinmonds Turned over for Bread.

Rooms Packed with Houscbeid Utensils and
workingmen's sToois-FamiIy Bibles Pawn-
cd-Dinmonds Turned over for Bread.
Owing to the extraordinary run upon
the pawnbrokers for loans, tho money lenders
have not only bocn compelled to reduce tho
amount Of the loans on articles taken, but have
placed limit to the accommodation. Inside OF
every pawn shop In town now hangs a eign /:
mot more than SIS loaned on any article.'
"What is that forT' said a sUS reporter to
Uncle Simpson. pointing to the sligo.
"Jhat means Just what 1t Gays. We couldn't
let people have all the money they want. why,
we would need more than thore Is In the United
States Treasury"
How much money have you loaned outr
81 suppose the Arm has out ssJJ.0)O. and some
times more than that; money comos In aud goes
out all the time. We are not making a great
deal. In fact, things have been so duh lately
that the sales Of goods unredeemed have, In
many Instances, not realized the amount of the
original loans. There Is such a lot Of old truck
comos In that really aln't worth anything"
Bat you get a great deal of Iewelry down
town7
Yes; those fellows over In the City Hall get
hard up just before pay day, and they put away
great deal OF jewelry aud business men often
want enough to make up note or bill. They
generally take the things out again; but the
poor people who come with coats and dresses
leave them. Then we have to store tho stur for
u year snd take the chance OF getting our money
back"
The clerks said that they had not known such
demand for money IN years. The poor were
parting with everything they had, and they were
compelled to stop loaninr on many articles
which in ordinary times they would receive.
On the extreme east and west sides the pawn
brokers have done tremendous business. At
one establishment IN Eighth avenue ave clerks
arc engaged from o'clock A. VI. to & I. VI. TAX
ing In goods. The building, of Ave stories, 10
packed from cellar to garrett. Rooms are de-
voted to special articles. All the dressos-esch
days collection by itself-are Kept IN separate
apartment, and the silks. mernos, Sc, classi-
Ned so that they csn be readily found. They
had on hand over thousand dresses, varying
iu value from nifty cents to $40 each. In one
room on tho third floor the racks around tho
walls were nlled with large, square packages,
covered with canvass.
~ hat are thosel" asked the reporter.
" Iuem's family Bibles, and very nnc editions,
too. most 81 tnem," said the clerk, uncovering
one, and showing the ornamental binding aud
Kilt edges. " We loan from - to s. apiece on
them. There - over l43, ana soune OF them
have been there fJr very long time. People
bungry, Out don't Ike to lose the books alto
gethsr, So they pay tine interest and keep them
mere. ihere are great many OF them contain
in1 FANNY pecixrees, marriages, and deaths.
Ihei amt worth - much, but tne people VINO
pawn them Tcnsraliy take them out before the
ems Of the year
Tue room adjoining was filed with carpenters
too.s saw hins arolud the w"ii', and hies Of
moru-c cutse,s, planes. socks, auI centre Uits
l.N ptlcd ~ On tae door, eacn alticie bearing
You see" said tho clerk, "the workingmen
6ln't had anyt ing TO dc, aud tnen they ave as
long ss thcv can upon their tools. We amt
tskin' any more OF tnese (kick,ng against a
| or I'm kAkl4 uast
smut down on them. 1ney ains worth an thins
much, ana we are eettina such lot OF to Is II
we nhd taken AL the old buck saws aud planes
and trOwei5 th,t We peCn offered wa would
have had tne building 1led."
"fes;' 5Gt hsreM.y RhNc down on nat irons.
We used ~ give tureo cents a pound Tor tnom,
bat We mai to stop II. hef are sch a bother
to handle, aud they an't worth ANYTHING. We
have had enough nat irons come here ~ sink :
frl.ate. hry really aiu't wJrth tbe stur. ge'
hawai-. IN most oi ths rooms were covered
wiin mirrors, good and bad, Of All sizes aud
SHAPES. Dsing asecd whstner mirrors nAd becn
"snut wa" on Yet the clerk stiI, " ~ {;
glass 5 alnAV, sell well. Ihese second hAnI
/ uct"rs buy tu-m al ths sles, and We c.la AWAY .
| Get pick what wc lend on them
"ho~ n.ucnao yoh lend on tnemf'
"WeiL Que Ike tLs Nouchin. glass which
! looked uNr -neet If olock IN, aud wnich
maze the cioik's eNes apparently rise upward
| On. Ne gel lot hAe tLs. Mueu people get
! hagd W tuey don't care "D'Gt Guailiag them
! Srhel, ,ahl tney s.t ri o. sI-sses MoAg Visa
\ pass 20 VS. DO ,ked by pianofor,e makers
tool, So AL anvils, nd clock mSkcrs kits, sur
| RicI Instruments, cuOprr-' tOoIs, and IN TACT
every eluOem oi tcade Oaj could TANK OF. Ia
| the winter seHson tney generally nld Il iarge
| qIlnty Of implcu.eDts offered. out never before
| had they cOuis /" sd quanliti
tha uAnl. Nassau, ami Beecker streets are
| studded VITA waat are termed diamond
/ pTOKvre." Iuoy ore simpy pawnorokers VINO
/ 10 O.s.pess without unt license, und wlthuu-
! any IrspO .siDiity. Nhiie pdwaurOkeis, how
ever, riho a tAn OF LVl.hiis ple-tuhu tne VA 10
! Of pirct OF J-weIr', tltse brJAsts give nearer
tle Ms.l b, aud leq.ile Yep ptvhrut wi,hlu a
mon.A or TWO. Ii tnc pay ,ueIl 70 nut 10 20 e
/ thy sei the Neiry. thousands have been
/ lo!oed u pawn lhuir dianonds.
! LIT az men iph3 sagcr from the hud times ID
e.ie 10 uo,S J0s 4GicH lgd hs.,lr.eas.