charge
of Mr. Charles H. Bent, who learned the trade with Mr. Morse. They
operated about twenty mills. At that time there was but one other shop
of the size in New York. Although numerous small shops were opened from
time to time, it was not until early in the nineties that any large
cutting establishments, operating simply as cutters after the European
manner, were started in New York. There are now eight or nine which
keep twenty to seventy-five mills going, and there are four to five
hundred persons employed in the indusÂtry. The polishers earn from $24
to $60 per week. Many of the cutters, saw men and cleavers, work by the
piece, some of them, especially the latter, earning very large wages
when employed.
By
1897 our imports of rough were considerably over one million dollars
per annum. In 1899 they were nearly five millions, and though they fell
below four milÂlions the following year, they went to over six and a
half millions in 1901 and to about eight and a quarter millions in 1902.
The imports of rough have been as follows:
