The New York herald., 1876-12-04
THE IMPENDING WINTER.


PRESENT CONDITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE
LABoRINo POOR.
The first chill blasts OF winter have brought with
them gloomy suggestions to the thousands of the hon.
est laborng class who have nothing to depend upon
for the next tour months but tho chance OF
a few days work at intervals.
The prospect OF snow and frost Is them OF
gladness as II is to those who delight the tngle OF
the sleigh bell and tho merry pa,ter Of the
skating rink. To tho wealthy winter is sug-
gcstive OF the VOL heated home, hot DIN
ncrs and joyous evening parties, balls and
theatres To the occupant OF tho tenement house it
implies long and dreary nights and days, cold apart
mcn,s ana hungry and ragged children.
In order ascertain how the poor class is prepared
for the coming winter HERALD reporter yesterday
visited the most popuously tenanied localities OF the
city and many OF the large workshops and ioundres
upon whose employment these people depend Tor sub
sistence Tho cry which greeted the reporter wher-
no went was anything but encouraging and many
hard working, honest men were found out OF employ
ment, without any plans for The future. Many were
encountered who had been only discharged on
Saturday night, and their weeks pay just
sufficient to cancel the bills for tho maintenance
OF the family during Tho previous week. When
asked by the reporter the cause OF their discharge
they replied that there were too many hands Tor
mechanic, business IS at liz lowest ebb now;
OF US that desired work had steady employment up
10 the present, which enabled Us to pay oil any
debts contracted IN tho dull summer months,
and just We got square the lay on came. Our
condluon,n he continued, s'was bad enough last
winter; but God only knows how viii DO
able to rub tins one, everything SO high.
fortunate enough 10 have ton OF coal laid
away in tho cellar and by economy may DO able to
make it pass the winler; but here we have potatoes
advanced last week nearly 81 per barrel, hour IL
gone considerably higher, puttor IS seven or eight
per pound dearer from threc TO our cents
aud kerosene OIL which could buy short ago
twelve cents per gallon 10 now thirty to thirtytwo
may be ielt in tho pockets Of the rich man. but
tell you, SIR, that when man has got TO support
family IL is very considerable Item People thought
that when the elections wce over times would be bet
ter, but II Is all the same. +"
10 tho suggestion the reporter asking If it would
be good policy II oyors instead oi cischarging
men by the wholesale, would adopt The system OF low
er,ng wages during The duh months and keep all en-
pioysd he replied 40. course t would" but employ
ers general thing, have very little consideration
for the laboriug man.
Every one Of those whom tho reporter visited took
the ot the situation as related above, ana
as they all OF the class "too proud 10 beg aud
honest TO stea, the different charitable nstitu
tons Will feel them no encunorancc. II thcy can
scrapc together sufficient te-meet the demands OF
greedy landlord their reputation tor honesty procurss
comes around, when they Ind themselves Immersed
in debt winch if'ures si.shsr efforts TO liquidaio
before the next winter sets ln
Thus the aborlng mAsscs from whom the nation
derives its principal greatness are obliged 10 Toll from
year TO year. giving all thor energy, until old age
0vertakcs tiicin and death relieves them OF thoir
earthly burdens
Few OF those who derive all the profit from the poor
mans labor have any conception Of tho manner in
which the individuals from whom they gain thor
wealth aro compelled to exist The resident vi Fiith
avenue or Murray Hill, II he were 10 visit tho
novel OF his workman, would bo surprised how nc
could feel SO cheerful on eoing 10 his work each
morning. II he would visit the great tenement
localities on east sido he would wonder
comprising in all over 100 human beings,
living less space than wealthy family of three or
four would occupy.
Houses ntended for tenemcnts are built With
velous uniformity. being Designed 10 Accommodate
who may desire Two or three rooms Tor their
acconim odation. As general rule Two all
that most iaboring men Afford To pay rcnt
for and the who enjoys three Is thought
to live IN luxury. Into OF these
disease breeding structures inscriptions landlords
crowd many as thirty families. Tho
average each is $40 To Sl2 per month"; which
brings an aggregate rental of 900 per year.
hat is equal 10 the yearly cost OF hrst class man
sion the best locality in the city THIS Was tho
language OF a very Intelligent mechanic whom tho re.
porter in his apartments, pnrtakng OI frugal
meal with his wife aud tive Children, yesterday alter
noon AS the reporter started to leave he remarked
further.-
1--WE would not live in this manner II We could avoid
II. but entirely Mt the mercy OF the landlord.
If we the river get rents cheaper;
but then the process vi travel Is 20 slow we can't
reach our work III timo. |! We could live In West
chester we could rent whole cottage Tor the same
price We pay in this pest house; but those who
wealthy are endeavoring to defeat rapid transit which
would enable US to do this. A man may put up with
such Il tenement this for the winter season, but
Imagine what q not house IL must be N summer,
when twenty-five thirty cooking stoves are gong at
once
Ii required no stretch OF INN gina,ion tho part Of
tho reporter TO con.e to tile conclusion suggested