Prices paid for the necessaries of life at Newcastle, 1873 and 1878. The condition of trade on the Tyne may be stated in a single sentence. It is in a deplorably bad state. A glance at the following table, which gives the prices of the leading products of this district in May, 1873, and at the date of this report, will show the extraordinary falling off that has taken place during the last five years. Many of the manufac-. turers of this district are working at a loss. Chemicals are lower now than they have been at any time since the foundation of the trade on the Tyne. The leading manufacturers are striving to reduce the cost of production. They are making extra efforts to turn out more material, with the same working staff and capacity, than they did in the prosperous times. It is their "last ditch." During May, 1873, steamers were chartered from the Tyne to New York at $6 per ton to take gas-coals, which then cost $4.80 per ton, making the price of coals delivered in New York (price, freight, and insurance) $10.80 per ton. Freights to New York have now reached the ridiculously low rate of 96 cents per ton, being 36 cents lower than to London. Best Northumberland gas-coals may be delivered in New York (price, freight, and insurance) for $2.88 per ton. If coals were admitted free of duty, New York and other of our large Atlantic cities might be furnished with fuel at a lower price than London. And the impetus which the abolition of this duty would probably give to our American wheat export trade is at all events worthy of careful consideration. Hopes were entertained that trade would revive when it became known that a congress for the settlement of the Eastern question was to meet; this has proved groundless. The bountiful harvest which is reasonably expected in the United States is far more likely to bring about better times in Europe than even the permanent and satisfactory settlement of the affairs of Turkey and her provinces. Comparative price-list of the products of the Tyne for 1873 and 1878. NOTTINGHAM. Report, by Consul Smith, on the (1) rates of wages; (2) cost of living; (3) present condition of trade, &c., in the district of Nottingham. In compliance with the requirements of the circular of the Department of State, dated April 11, ultimo, I forward my report on the wages of labor, cost of living, &c., within my district. 1. RATES OF WAGES. Inclosure No. 1 is a tabular presentation of the average earnings of laborers employed in the lace and hosiery trades in this district, those being the principal industries here, as will be seen by reference to the annual reports of the exports from this district to the United States. The table is made up from returns to the board of trade of this city, and, having been compiled with care, may be taken as reliable. Inclosure No. 2 is a statement of the wages paid by one of the largest lace manufacturers in the district. 2. COST OF LIVING. Inclosure No. 3 gives the prices of provisions, groceries, and other leading articles of consumption. 3. PRESENT CONDITION OF TRADE. There is great complaint here, as in all parts of England, of the very depressed state of trade. Manufacturers complain that their business is small and falling off, and there is a general cry of hard times. The employers of labor claim that they are losing money, or doing business at so small a profit as to make it necessary to reduce the wages of laborers. The latter are not disposed to submit to reductions. The consequence is a great uncertainty as to the future of trade. In Lancashire a great strike is now prevailing, accompanied with violence and arson, and there seems little prospect of a settlement. In this district there is much talk of the necessity of reducing wages, especially in the hosiery factories. The manufacturers complain that the competition is so sharp, especially from Germany, that a reduction of wages here is absolutely necessary. Of course the laborers resist. There has not yet been any decisive action on the part of the employers, but there is a very uneasy feeling on all sides. Therefore, the state of trade may be charac terized as extremely depressed, with much anxiety for the future. Shippers have been hoping for a revival of business with the United States, and they are still looking to our country for the beginning of better times. Up to this time there has been no increase of orders from our country, which is a liberal buyer in prosperous times. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Nottingham, June 8, 1878. JASPER SMITH 2. Wages paid by one of the largest lace manufacturers in Nottingham. Second-class workmen 25 per cent. less. 2 64 1 08 ..do...... $10 44 to 11 88 Average earnings of young women (winders, menders &c.).. do...... 3. Prices of provisions, groceries, and other leading articles of consumption. |