Year: 1874

sIAdNAlloN IN THE BUILDING TRADE-COMPLAINTs


OF MASTER MECHANICS AND THE WORKING


cLAssEs-REsoURCEs OF THE LABOR oRGANI-


zATIQNs.


Ihe prospect of work for those organizations
which are connected with the building does not
appear 10 De very encouraging except for those who
may ne engaged in the completion OF buildings already
iar advanced The architects. with o single exception,
report that they have work hand in the city, and
that there Is little prospect of any One architect said
that he was drawing up specifications and making de-
signs ior projected buildings, but could not give any
partiuiars Tor few weeks. He could not say posi-
Nveiy whether the work would be begun before
nt1t spring. number of tenement-hOuses were being
CONSTRUCTED In the upper portion OF the city both on
the east and the sde and other buildings ad
vancing towards completion Should the weather
tinne Tor few weeks favorable had been there
would be some prospect of Winter work for those who
we're usually employed in the fitting up of the interior
OF buildings such painters carpenters &c. but other
wise the architects little encouragement for the
labor organizations


AT the Mechanics and Traders Exchange there
general complaint among the mechanics regard
To the stagnation in the building trade Many of them
attributed the general dullness to the EighhOur law,
and SAID that labOrers already the faacy OF the
movement. There would be little Improvement trade
until that law should be repealed and repeal could
DC erected unless the working classes took the matter
into their own hands and petOned both Congress and
the Legislature TO modify the law No attention would
be PAD either TO employers capitalists There would
be- according to their belief. little increase in bull
ding movements until an Improvement took place
in mercantile business; for while stores in pub
lie thoronghfares remained unrented, landowners
would not invest money either In improving
buildings or In erecting new ones. One member, who
mas mad large experience IN building operations for
several years as journey and employer said he did
not expect any material change the trade for year
or two after the revival Of general business At the
present time, with high and short hours.
son could make more than per cent his investments
house-buIlding and capitalists could purchase i'm
proved property ghest prices, fully 20
cent below the amount required 10 build IT, There had
lattery been reduction in the value OF improved
property In all parts Of the city, except in the immediate
neighborhood OF special centers, and while this de-
pressing Influence felt, the building trades must
naturally a check


Among the working classes OF the different trades
connected with the building interests a somewhat
despOndent feeling seemed manifest itself Those
who in steady employment said they did not know
how long would last and expressed uncertainty as to
where they could look for other work when that upon
which they engaged should be completed
oeen made the coming Winter a large numner
asserting that their time nad not been fuy occupied
during the SUNNI aud in consequence they had been
unable Ia put anything by for the winter Wnen asked
10y TBIBiSE reporter what the unions would DO FOR
them in event vi their being out OF work through
stagnailUu ia trade one OF the men said that the unions
not organized for any sucn purpose as extending
relief OF employment when there Was no EN-
plOvmen 10 he Dad The nOney was Kept Tor an entirely
different purpose" -


The following table, gathered from the officers of the
deterrent labor VIII snow the strength OF
ne various trade devoted especially TO the
building tao nuDDor Oi tLcr org iDlzitlOns or
lodges, ana Tue iuhuS "ciu III 'nc pahS u" 'H0 "J W