New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-06


Tot.l..... "a 81 47s 465 lg7 lO5 I,IOO az aO47
ACCIDENTS NOT ARISING FROM MACHINERY.
Total. ........ 50 30 SO % 10 1ss 70 ns
The reports are unanimous in bearing witness
to the extraordinary activity of trade during the
half year. Such was the demand for work that
III some branches of industry the supply of labor
was insufficient. This difficulty was less preVa-
lent in the wooden manufactures, where improved
machinery allowed the manufacturers to dispense
with manual labor, than in cotton and W0rsted
factories, where much machinery has been stand
ing for want of hands, particularly OF the younger
Some vicious methods have been adopted IN past
times to meet this transitOry deficiency Of labor. In
the infancy of the factory system, when manufactu-
rers we're in want of labor it was obtained directly
BY application to the erseers OF some distant PARISH
who forwarded q certain number OF apprentices,
children Of tender age, who were bound 10 the
manufacturers for term of years. The children
being once apprenticed the POOr-Law officers con-
graduated their respective parishes on their dehV-
GRANGE from idle mouths, while the manufacturer
proceeded to make the best of his bargain by keep
ing them at the most economical rate and ~ screw
ing from them all the labor Of which they we're ca
pable. Hence the first of the series OF Factory
acts passed in 1902, az Geo. Ill. Cap 73, has for
its title, "An act for the preservation OF the
"ployed in cotton and other mills, and cotton and
"other factories, and was merely intended to nit.
gate the evils Of the apprenticeship system. But
as improvements were made In machinery, dli-
ferent kind of labor was wanted, when trade
became brisk and the population OF the nelgn-
borhOod failed to supply the mills with their
full complement Of hands. These manuiac-
turers sent to Ireland, and brought over irish
families; but ireland has ceased to be the market
III NJ oh a
English demand and manufacturers have now to
look TO the Southern and Western counties OF En-.
gland and Wales for families which can be tempted
by the present rate of wages in the Northern Coun
ties TO commence q new career OF industry. Agents
have been sent throughout the country TO set forh
the advantages offered to families by removing 70 the
manufacturing districts and they are empowered TO
make arrangements Tor the emigration " Inc Nor,n
Many families are said to have been forwarded
by these agents Still the importation into manu-
featuring town of q man with his wife and family
has this peculiar disadvantage, that while the
Younger members of the family, who can soon Do
taught, and whose services become valuable IN
comparatively short period, are most in request
there is no ready demand for the labor OF the man
and bis wife, unskilled in factory labor. ms mas
induced some manufacturers to return, In some
measure, to the old apprenticeship SYSTEM ana 70
enter into engagements for specific periods, with
boards of guardians for the labor Of destitute pau
Der children In these cases, the manufacturer
lodges, clothes and feeds the children but pays
them no regular wages. With the return OF thn
system, complaints of its abuse seem also to have
revived. However, this kind Of labor, it should DC
remembered, would only be sought after when
none other could be procured, for it is priced
labor. The ordinary wages of boy OF Is woun
be about 4 shillings per week; but 10 pdee, W
clothe to feed and to provide medical attendance
and proper superintendence for 80 or 100 oil thsse
boys, and to set aside remuneration TOR mem
could not be accomplished for shillings heao POI
week.
A comparison Of the rate of wages paid TO factory
operatives in 1889 and that paid in 1909 proves tio
highly interesting fact that the rate OF wages mas
honr, az work. were restricted to GO per week,
while, with few exceptions, q real reduction mas
been suffered in The printing bleaching, and dyelns
works in which the labor OF children, young pr
sons. and women is unrestricted, and where they
are at times employed fourteen and fifteen hours
per day. The following statements have reference