Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-21

IL Is estimated that at least 10000
looms and, probably o Da0spindIes are
now idle in the cotton aud WOODEN
mills OF this city and vicinity. in
consequence Of the continued
depression in trade. 1t is
impossible 10 give the exact
figures, but this estimate il the lowest
OF several made Ivy wcl,-intormed gen
tlenen. At the usual rate of running
these machines it means Il total loss OF
work for from 5000 10 G,o00 operatives
while probably ten times rs many are
working on reduced wages or on short
ened time. The depression is felt most
severely in the business of producing
the cheaper grades Of cotton and
woolen goods. and il is so general that
as one OF the largest mill-owncrs in the
city said yesterday, Everybody who
can afford 10 close his mill, is doing
So This gentleman said i'm n
decided tone; eve have stop
ped our mills because it would not
pay TO keep them running. | do not
know how ion. they will remain idle
hut ii viii be until the price OF labor
decreases or that of our products adj
vanceS. This was said OF mill on
and probably about twice rs MANY peo.
pc III Their families depended for their
daily bread. tcould be duplicated in
several sections OF the city, and in
every section there has been mate
rlni reduction either in wages or in the
hours % labor, or both within the past
month, some mill owners have
closed their establishments for an in
definite time, others have found ex.
euSes Ter temporary stoppage in the an
hnM repairs which they are in no
hurry 70 make; others still work
sEismodicallN, being forced hy bush
ness necessity to make up goods
aS 't1 rs they can lind sale for
them, even ri n loss; many have
reduced their force 10y stopping
one or moro sections, tAas reducing
their output, and nearly all those still
Working ran their mills only hy dsv-
light, which az this season OF tho wear
Is equivalent 10 about threc-uua,,cy.
time.
THE CAUSE OF rHE SrAGNATIoN.
All have the same story TO tell. There
has been an ovcrproduction of these
grades of cuttons and wOOllens. and
the effort 20 force on the marho, n
greater quantity OF goods than il DO.
mMded has resulted in DEPRESSING
prices lower than the goods could h,
pnttably madc. Cotton prints. aiug-
mans, chlntIcs, dcninls, dclAines. mus.
nus, serges, ilanneis, cashueros and
all the comnoner kinds OF cottou ANA
wooilen goods are cheaper now than
thSN ever were before in this city. and
II CONSUMERS have not found it cut be-
lore this II u because the retailers have
taken advantage of the mauuEtc-
tuners and lobbers' necessities to in
crease their own profits.
Various causes are assigned for this
unfortunate state OF things. Some uen.
Veuicu who have studied the question
mink a sufficient cause tnr The outlines
OF Trade IS TO be fouud in the Sprlneinu
up ot cotton mills in the South. when
not only compete AT an ADVANTAGE with
Wttn Northern mills, since they have
iltlle or no freight 10 pay on their raw
material, and c.tn get labor much
cheapef Than it can to had here, but
also take away the large market which
the South always presented for the
ynafser kinds OF cOtluu goods. Others
however say this is 40. the PRINCIPAL
cause OF the depression and dolit
whether il hasany inilaence whatever
especially on Philadelphia mills. since
they say Philadelphia long
ago ceased 90 manufacture the
coarse goods demanded hy the
southern market. This class looks
rather 70 the general advance of the
American people in wealth and lux
urious habits of life; they are dropping
The cheap clothing aud household ser.
vice, with which they have been con-
tent heretofore, and are buying Amer
and costlier goods. And theadvocat,.s
ot this theory paint To the fact that The
mills which make fine goods have no
trouble In getting all the order. they
want AZ remunerative prices-and 10
the iarlher fac; that our imports of