Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-05-06
WOmen,sL Labor.


in which women are engaged, with
their wages, hours of work, proficiency,
and the like.
1t is not possible to state exactly the
number of women employed IN the
various branches Of industry in New
York. In 1860 it amounted to 24.72l,
but there probably are twice as many
now. The proportion of women to the
number of men employed at the same
time was 31.IS of the one to 100 of the
other, and in Philadelphia Al 81. A
considerable number of new occupa-
tions have been opened to women OF
late, or are more largely followed by
them. such as printing, engraving, pho
tograph coloring. and telegraphy.
As compositOrs, women have been
very successful, and are now employed
in several large establishments. iDclud-
ing Harper's and the World Office.
They earn from SI1 to Sl3 per week,
being paid so cents per 1000 ems on
night and As cents on day work, the
same as men. Women are much
steadier than men, and more to be
relied on. They have no "blue Mon
days." and except for want of strength
to move forms. and such heavy parts
Of the work, would be much preferable
TO men in fact, they are superseding
them, except in night work, for which
they have been found too delicate.
They are also employed at press work,
working ten hours at Sc per week, and
as binders. book-sewers, and gilders at
| from S. to $40 per week. Out oe sixty
six hands in one establishment, ten
average $40 per week and two receive
SO so. In all of these occupations
they are said to be steadier than men.
As engravers women can earn $50
per week if skillful. A publisher who
employs them states that three or four
of them work on shares, each doing q
special part Of the work; but thinks
they do not compete with men from
want Of practice, the season for en-
craving icing very short, and most
plates being imported. The same gen
tlemau employs female clerks-a
cashier and saleswoman-and finds
them preferable to men, because their
services are so much cheaper. In Bos-
ton there are ten ladies employed as
CACI h6 III AhC OOO6 6NOIco.
As decorators and designers for china
ware, women have not been as success
ful as might be expected. This work
is mainly done by foreigners, and re-
quires a longer apprenticeship than
women can give. The latter are
employed as burnishers, and can earn
at this from IS TO 50 per week. This
is a purely mechanical and somewhat
lsborious employment, but can be
easily learned, generally in a month.
Men are not engaged in it, 50 that
there is no direct competition.
In many branches of the tailoring
business women have almost suppressed
ed men, the difference of pay being
such that men cannot compete with
them. At q single establishment in
this city about thirty-five girls, all of
Irish descent. are employed from s A.
N. TO 6 P. NJ, making pantaloons for
the Bogery and Chatham street trade.
Several sewing machines are used, but
most of the work is done by hand.
With the exception of cutting out all
the work ia done on the premises by a
division of labor. By this means the
labor is lessened. and a girl can earn
nearly double what she could make by
the ordinary plan. The average wages
are 81 per week. smart hands earning
as high as SO. Men earn from SO 70
Sl4 at the heavier parts Of the work,
such as smoothing and pressing, which
women have not the strength to do.-
The work-room is light, warm. and
,roll -artiIaea1 ,w.tb - ;roo,ra,iaroo
except the heat of the fire in summer
Cases Of sickness are rare, and the girls
are of average health. As class they
are not steady workers, but apt to shirk
when they get a little money. The
really industrious are always on hand,
but a great number are shiftless and
lazy, and only work because necessity
compels them,
The proprietor of this place com
planned of the odium which is attached
TO men in this business, which he said
was really due to individuals. and not
to the class. Employers could not be
expected to pay more than the market
price for labor, which he and many of
his associates were doing; and il was
the fault of society if this would not
support the worker. The real cause of
the cases of starvation prices, so often
given in the papers, was the middle
men. Large manufacturers would not
deal directly with workers, but got
their supplies from middlemen. who
pocketed all the profits, and forced
down the prices OF labor to almost
nothing. 0nly the poorest and most
suffering laborers would endure this.
and efficient hands could always get
better employment.
The general change from day to
piece work, which has taken place in
most kinds of business, has been of
great benefit to the women as we'll as
the men. Those who are capable and
quick can now earn far more than they
did before, and in less time also. A
gentleman of large experience states
that some girls in his employ can now
earn Sl2 and Sl3 by piece work, who
ouly made S. under the old plan
Employers, also, generally agree that
the change is as much for their benefit
as for that of their hands.
The largest and best field Of labor for |
women is in occupations connected |
with the supply of female wearing |
cloaks, corsets, hoop |
skirts, and also mems underciothing. ]
In three large establishments about /
500 hands are engaged at an average
of 81 per week. The majority of these
are skilled hands, and not more than |
one quarter Of those who usually apply |
are capable of doing the work. In one
establishment, several colored girls are /
and are found to be very in
telligent and to get along harmoniously
with their associates. In all of these
places the attendance is regular; few
absences occur, except from sickness,
and q preference IS given to women
over men. Piece work is the rule when
possible, and the general opinion is
that it pays best. As a well informed
person states, it gives twice the
amount of work, doubly as well as per
formed, and with only half as much
superintendence" Tne use of sewing
machines and division of labor have
also been beneficial both to employer
and hands. and have greatly improved
the condition of the latter.
Among the women in these establish.
ments there are many who receive
quite high wages. Ten, twenty and
thirty dollars per week are not uncom-
msn salaries, and there are several who
net even forty dollars per week. The
highest salary which any woman re-
ceiyes in this city is 5000, which. in
1t least two instances, is paid without