Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-02-09
Wages in EnsIlsh Cotton Moufactories.

In recent paper read before the London Statistical
Society, by Mr. David Chadwick, Of Sesford, we find
mass OF highly interesting facts, in relation to the
poyment OF steam and the wages paid to operatives in
the cotton manufactures of England. In an ordinary
cotton mill seven classes of workpeOpe employed in
the following operations, viz l. steam engine men, por
ters &c; z, cotton mixing and blowing B. carding and
preparing 4, selfactng mule spnnerS 5, throste spin
ming g. spinning upon hand mules and Z, power loom
weaving. In cotton mill of 500 workers. he estimates
the numbers in these classes Of work % g. 72 35 Co.
275 and in beaming, twisting, and sizing, IA Of the
total number l9 per cent are men, 5O2 per cent wom
en- e. per cent. boys, and 242 per cent. girls.
IAe of nearly all classes of factory operatives
appear to have increased from 10 to 25 per cent during
the last twenty years. This is mainly owing to the i'm
provements in the construction OF the machinery and
the increased speed at which it worked and the
consequently increased productive power The
reduced cost upon the production of week by the
working of pair of mules with 800 spndes each in
stead OF 400 each amounted to 9l 3s l0d which is
shared In the following proportions, viz to the opera
tive 40s lOd leaving LBS for extra aid the reduction of
price to the consumer and interest additional capital
and profit to the master
In 1859 the average rate of wages of spinner on a
pair of unimproved mules of 400 spindles each in pro-
ducing No. 70s yarn IS Id per 20 h., his gross
weekly earnings Ais and deductng piecers wages los,
the spinner's net wages are 25s. The same workman
with pair OF doubledeckers with 1000 spindles and
more pecers, earns 3s 111d per 20 h., Sos 1Od per
week. deducng 2Os for piecerss wages net amount
of 3Os lOd weekly Othe O46 cotton factories in Eng
land and Wales in 1856, 1880 situated in Lanca-
shre and Notwithstanding various restrictions the
poyment OF young PERSONS and the reduction Of the hours
of labor for adults by the Ten Hours Act of June l847)
from 60 to 60 hours weekly the import of raw cotton in
creased from 46000000 lbs. in 1874 to 034 100000
in $685. whilst value of exports of cotton manufactured
goods and cotton twist and yarns increa ed from 26
millions of sterling in 1874 to 43 millions sterling in
1858-an extension of branch of trade in IA years
unparalleled IN the history OF any country in the world.
Mr.. Chadwick estimates the number of persons in
Lancashire directly engaged in the various branches of
the cotton trade in 1859, at upwards OF 100000 per-
sons, adding that % mills are now in course of
erection in Blackburn and its neighbOrhOod
The amount paid for wages to those 100000 persons
in Lancashire at the present average rate of los 3d
per week. as per return before given, would amount to
9205, ,833 per week, or sel0653,0O0 per annum. The
number of spindles and power looms now employed in
cotton spinning and manufacturing in Lancashire may
be estimated at 28000000 spindles and 100000 looms.
1t has been estimated that the cost of spinning mill
and all the requisite preparing machinery from 23s to
24s per spindle and of weaving establishment e24
per loom and that the value of the present mills and
machinery is 18s per spindle and ego per loom. The
capital invested in Lancashire, in cotton mills and
machinery, and working stock may be estimated at 81
millions sterIing viz
% 900 900 spindles at l8s each 925, 200 900
300, 600 looms, at G2O each 100000
Estimated value of materials and stock of manu-
facured goods and of working capital 2O,OOO,OOO
A CoUNTERFEIT.-A friend has handed to us for no.
tice counterfeit $40 bill the Ashevile Branch of
the Bank OF Cape Fear 1t is probable that we have
heretofore noticed the emission, but another
ton of it may to put readers their guard
1t is dated Oct 1855, No. S92 The signatures of
the President and Cashier appear to be engraved and
the initials Of the Cashier sname instead of running into
each other in the genuine BILL entirely separated
The paper is imsy and the print pale, especially OF
the signatures and large KS and Los IN the corners
The word Asheville spelt Ashve, the being omitted
Fayetteville Observer.