226 LAND AND LABOR. 



giving us about eight months full time and four months dull 

 trade." Boots and Shoes, (a) page 149. 



" During the last five years the trouble has been in not hav- 

 ing work enough to give reasonable employment to body and 

 mind. The uncertainty of values, and the consequent fitfulness 

 of trade each man buying what he has previously sold have 

 deprived each employer and employe* of the regularity needed 

 to realize any profit in the business." Ibid, (&) page 149. 



" The diflSculty of keeping our employes at work steadily any 

 number of hours per day throughout the year is one of the 

 greatest disadvantages under which our business labors. It is 

 only for a short time each season that we can have the balance 

 of work and workmen properly adjusted. The demand for 

 goods, for a time, is greater than we can supply ; while for a 

 much larger part of the year we have more men than we need." 

 Ibid., (d) page 149. 



" Our busy or hurried season begins now early in March, and 

 usually ends by the first or middle of July. For the past few 

 months we have not only reduced the hours of labor, but our 

 force, waiting for a solution of the question so important to 

 manufacturers; viz., What can be done to assist the distribu- 

 tion and consumption of our manufactures at living prices ? " 

 Carriages, page 150. 



" Our season extends only over a small part of the year, be- 

 ginning usually in February, closing in June, a very few being 

 made in August and September. Many of our employe's can 

 not obtain other work for the balance of the year when not em- 

 ployed in our branch of business." Straw Goods, (V) page 155. 



"Since October, 1873, we, with other tack manufacturers, 

 have averaged only two thirds time.-' Tacks, page 155. 



" In times of great business depression, such as we have been 

 going through for the last three or four years, the working peo- 

 ple especially are led to believe there must be something radi- 

 cally wrong in the management of our business industries to 

 cause such depression. Things seem to get worse rather than 

 better, and as yet no one seems to know the remedy." Textiles, 

 (g) page 159. 



