The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-11-26
THE SEWING GIRLS.

THE SEWING GIRLS.
knrge Meeting I'm New York
The Prices p0Bd for Labor.
The Average price o. per week
lFron the New York World. Nov. 1sth.1
The movement among the working girl
in the city for an increase of prices for theil
work was inaugurated last evening by |
large meeting at the hall, 151 Bowery.-
We referred yesterday to the insufficient
prices paid for girls work, AMI the state
ments were more than coroborated at thi.
meeting. The hall was crowded in every
part, the aisles being filled by ladies stand
ing, and many were obliged to leave, being
unable to f1nd room. OF those present
there were between three and four hundred
plainly dressed, but tidy looking, intelligent
and handsome girls. The numbers proved
the interest that is felt among them for the
amelioration of their condition, Only four
gentlemen present, . member Of the Work.
mems Union and Mr.. Beach, who both assist
ed in getting up the meeting, and the rep.
resentatives of the Sun and World. After
few remarks, stating the object Of the
meeting, from the members of the Work
iagmen's Union, the ladies were called upon
the statements Of the amounts received for
their labor in the various trades in which
they were engaged. The prices reported
ranged from one dollar to three dollars per
week. The average price paid, taking all
trades represented together, was about two
dollars per week. There were many instan
ces in which only about twenty cents day
were received. There were cases mention
ed in which the employers favored particu-
lar girls, giving them better wages but re-
quiring them not to tell. The price paid for
board was stated to be from $2,95 to s.,
not including washing, in most cases taking
every cent that girl could earn, and hard
ly ever leaving her more than twenty five or
fifty cents week for all extra expenses
There were cases mentioned Of girls who
supported mothers or younger sisters or
brothers. The hours of work range from
eleven to sixteen each day. and the general
hours ut the shope being from seven in the
morning to six or seven at night with half
an hour or three quarters Of an hour for din
ner. 1t appeared to DO the case generally
that prices were much lower than year
ago. We give few samples of the cases
mentioned of prices paid.
Hoorskirts, when they first came out,
brought dollar hundred springs for max
ing: now the prices in various shops range
from fifteen to twenty-five cents hundred
springs can be made per day. A pretty lit
tie girl who made hoopskirt slides stated
that she got thsee cents gross for them
year ago, but that now only halfa cent a
gross was paid, and that smart little girl
earned about shilling day at the bust
ness.
The silver bq rnishers get cent apiece
for table spoons, of which they can thirty or
thirty.iye . day, making about dollar
and eighty cents week, and they work
wslE but if the Furnishing is not done well
they have to do it over the next day for
nothing.
Shirts bring about sixty cents dozen,
taking day and . half to finish . dozen at
very hard work. Fine shirts, all finished.
81 dozen. Flannel shirts, 4c to &c each,
md from nine to dozen can be made in .
lay; 81 dozen was paid IN 1860 for the
same that now brings SOC. Oyeralls soc .
dozen. Large cloaks, taking about eight,
hours 25c. By working early and late, s.
/ week can be made at this. Capea 35cs
dozen, taking q long day. Corsets 81 30
to IS = week. At book sewing about 50 a
week is made. For button holes on coats,
.bout'$4 week can be mace, but it is very
hard work. At dress making, 80 . week
Is made, working from 8. Q. m. to p. m.-
Lin 20 coats 18c to zoe each, Two Of them
s good ten hours work. The girls iron
md finist them. and have to buy their own
thread, which costs lOc aspool, and Of which
Dne spool is used on two coats.
Press feeders get - . week some
times.
Shelter tents, with forty button holes anc
sixteen eyelets, brought last season 25c;
they now are made for &c, and only four can
be made in day, working IS long as one
can see. Cavalry tents are eight cents
apiece for basting. and four can be bested in
. d,y.
Vest makers get 25 or Socs day.
Sewing machine operators get 6ve cents
for stitching City yards.
Parasols and umbrsllas ere SOC dozea---
eight can be made in day.
Some of the employers, If the girl is Ave
minutes late, charge her Ave cent for il.
In some Of the establiswepks, ifa button
is LEFT of . shirt, it isa rule to deduct
twenty -6ve cents from the pay.
Photographers stand on their feet from
to night, and get &3 week. One
young lady told Of an employer who, when
she asked for money, pitched her down
stairs and threatened to can policeman
One lady he'd worked ten years for one firm
ct tassd-paking. and when she asked for
an advance from s. to - week, the firm
refused to give il, Hardships and injustice
of eyery kind were mentioned a. coming