New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-14
WANTED.
FIFTY DISTRESSED WAICH-MAKERs
to
Shell peas for the
MEANERs.

Wages at this time rose TO an unprecedented
ght and ended in Disbursements between master
and man until finally the temporary demand fell
off, Several lists were established ana were sub
sequently broken by strikes In 1885 the last LIST
ever established was Promulgated and continued to
form the acknow ledged basis of prices in the plain
engine wcaviDg till the collapse of the trade in sG0
TimmLs, in his history of the Coventry ribbon
trade brings out the tact that among the many yicis
STUDIES which the ribbon trade has undergone during
the last few years few are moro remarkable than
those consequent on the discovery Of the aniline
dyes Owing to the great beauty and variety of
tie cOlors produced by these dyes perfectly plain
ribbons have almost comp tely superseded the Cd
elaborately figured fabrics IN popular estimation.
Now that silk be dyed in &C loTs surprising tho
old tnts not only in brllliancy but IN permanence,
and perfectly plain ribbon can he woven m which
the most practlsed eye can detect ~ lmperiecton,
there exists no longer any practical hlgdr9neo to
the production of uniiguTed fabrics for which mod
ern taste has created an abundant demand.
The prejudice In this vicinity against the factory
system still exists in the minds of the weayers,
though | was told it was dying out Indeed. 80
far my observations went, think those employed
In the factories were better or than those working
at home in the cottages. At first the worst classes
of weavers said to have found their way into
the factories l}ut these have been eliminated, and
they now employ what may he tetmed the middle
classes Of weave Then the highest and the low.
est now to lie found among the OUT door opcr.
atiyeS. In the best of times the wages OF females
IN the factories range from -. 10 us. OF OIL the
average not over ~ a week.
Next to the ribbon trade Coventry is celebrated
for watches and probably about 900 persons arc
en- gagged in this occupation. had long CONVERSE
ton with matchmaker who was sixty four years
of age, had served his regular apprentl ceshlp to
the business and actually worked at IT for half a
century. He told me that he now received IS.
81 "A for the same amount of work that he for
merly paid 20s. lS6 ~ for; that under prOtec-
ton he could earn EG $50, but now he was lucky
to make 3Os ~ so week. " But, SIR SAID tho
aged and bent watch maker, " the Fair Traders are
agltatlng things. and great feeling IS growing 1t
is all owing to the cheap labor abroad. and | as
sure you | could show you my expenses when
earned f6 a week We get nothing now cheaper
than then. Good meat, sir. IS shilling pound
(2I cents, and all provisions are very dear | can
hardly live on 30s. week. The old man pointed
ailectiOnately to the placard in his window an
nOuncng the meeting Of the Fair Trade Club on
Friday night and asked Inc 10 stay and attend. lie
said: Some of orr most prominent men are inter-
estng themselves in this matter"
made inquiry about the bicycle trade of Cow
entry. OF which much has been recently said |
found 1t not very extensive. | met several
bicycle makers Oating in the square. They told me
they earned from Il 10 2ls. week. but that they
were generally ont OF work about three month, in
tho year Altogether the present condition OF tho
industrial classes in Coventry tar from satisiac-
tory. There Is a great deal of poverty AMI suffering
ROBERT T.. PORTER.