Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-09-24
Labor in New york.

This branch of Manufactures is carried on Dret
TT extensively in New York, but not near so rnucl
so as it would be under different regulation O
the Tariff. The duiy on Hair Seating is twenty
4 five per cent. which is very well of itself: bu
then the duty on Hair is ten per cent. which re-
duces the real protection TO the Manufactures drwl
to fifteen per cent. Under the present regulation.
owing to the extremely low price of labor 10 En-
rope, Zone would think 1t was 10 ", enough here
European Hair Seating can pay duty Of twenty
five per cent and foreign Hair Cloth is by nc
means OF so good quality as the American; and
! it is here that our manufacturers have their only
chance for reimbursing their outlay. The pro.
cesses of this manufacture are carried on 10 high
perfection IN this CITY in any par; of the world:
and the only reason for the difference in price is
in the lower wages of labor and the inferior qnal
iiy Of the European article.
Nearly the whole of The raw Hair used in the
Manufacture of Hair Seating and Curled Hair is
'mpored-some from Russia, but mostly fl ON Bue
nos Ayres. The very best article comes from the
Kto Grahda. small supply Of a tolerable Sec
ond rate article come from Cincinnati. II is com
posed OF brIses and the inner hair of the wool of
hogs. mixed in equal proportions. This is only
used for curled Hair. "a t-r... ~
The Hair after ii comes into the hands of the
Manufacturer is first sorted--tha is. the Ionr hair
which will answer for weaving is separated from
The other, which goes in to be curled II is then
hacked. and becomes ready for being spnn-
These two processes are reformed by men aud
boys. II Is very dirty and disagreeabIe work.
me har containing large quantity Of dus, and
art, winch renders II almost Impossible for one
not accustomed to II TO breathe in the apartment,
where II IS going on. The men and bows, cover
ed IRON head TO foot with The dir, and their faces
olotched all over with The finest Off carefully rub
Dec M with perspiraiOn, present studies worthy of
The grouping ofFreemen, whose Italian Lazzaro-
~ would well stand for these, except that they
are by no means so active. This work is priDci- |
Pay done by boys. who get all prices, from 81 so
10 "a and 50 per week. The general range is |
not more than So SO to SO. few men are en-. !,
CT L. .LL.- O a - ~ -~--t
The Hair tor weaving now goes into the more
delicate fingers Of the Hair Drawers, who sort i, J
INTO different lengths, each Ienghl corresponding
a the width of the cloth to be woveh.--
The girls engaged in this work make from SO to
50 SO and sometimes 81 per week After it is
jrawn il is dyed ia lunches about one third as
hick as horse's tail, aud is then ready for the
ooms. The dying is done a short scale. and
he head Dyer and Engineer gets SO per week.
,ed by two girs-one to handle The hook IAN
'werIng the purpose of ehutIel and the other
o serve the Hair. The warp for the best Seating
s of linen, but most usually il is cotton, aud each
s as long as the cloth Is wide. The server has
wO bundes--one with the large ends up and the
,rher with the small ends. Serving from each al
ernatey, the cloth is smooth and even. We have
seldom seen any mechanical operation requiring
Co VT fhar III
The prices paid for weaving vary from 20 TO 80
ents per yard. The average including plain and s
igured cloths, is "a cents. a fair average, days
work is four or five yards. But this requires two
lands, you must remember-so that perhaps
air estimate of the wages of Hair Cloth weavers
would be from 90 10 ga cents per day. The
abor is severe, and we should think It imposs-
lie or very injurious for young women TO work al
more than two thirds of the time.
The manufacture of Curled hair is carried on in
he same establishments as that of Hair Seating.
Tha, portion Of the Hair which is rejected being
Unsuitable for weaving is spun into coarse three
II four stranded rope. This work is done by men ,
nd boys, tho receive about the same average :
compensation those who sort and hackle. At ,
err being spun is backed up (ihe twist put into ,
y and then buIled aud thoroughly cIeansed. Il
then baked and confirmed Ia its kinkness All (,
hese processes performed by men and boys /,
I is ready for the plckers. These are al
most entirely Irish women, who come and carry !
If large bundles Of the rope, which they take TO /,
heir homes, where mother and children fall to /.
lcking it to pieces. A smart woman can pick /,
IS 10 80 lbs. per day; and some OF them, with !
he help of the children (of which there are gen.
rally pleniy) open Az or SO pounds per day !
hey receive for this work two cents ID. After :
hey have flushed what they brought home they
e the loose hair (now ready for the upholserer)
Ito large blanket, mount IT their heads. and
agger off under IL TO the manufacturers. Every !
erson who will at once recOect having often
ret these women and wondered how they were
BILE to walk under such enormous loads, or where Il
lev were carrying them. r-a '
These women all or nearly all have husbands, &
Tho work at various employmenis-any that they y
an get--or at none al all They live for the b
lost part in quite mseraby wretched manner, ii
lueezed into hot aud suffocaog garrets or crush
! into dark and deadly cellars. Hundreds of S
miles rent single room each in The shanties o
nd sheds which the cupidIty of landlords has Il
iused TO be erected tn the rear of small poor bail
ngs, whose tenants sadly need and ought to have g
very square foo, of ground and every moulhful Of