New-York tribune., 1871-07-26
CHEAP LABOR.
,ppAIJING MISERY ~ TNeLAND.

GENERA.
The proceedings in the British House of
Lords on the 11th inst, reveal state of alarming
aeprayity among the workers in the ore elds in the
neIghborhood Of London and throughout the country
encrany Evidence from other sourcs shows that this
Iamentabe state of things exists ago the large
numbers employed farms unde. the gang system,
and in different trades
HARDsHIPs OF TIE pRICK-woRKERs.
The Earl Of shafesbury Rising to propose an address
10 the Crown on the state orehdren employed in brick
fields remarked that thisnumerous class was excluded,
only by echnicsty from the protection enjoyed by chill
ren engaged other occupations In 1872 after the fac
tories Act had becnhn operation few years, he moved
for general inquiry into the employment OF children ana
Young persons in various departments. That C0mmis-
zion mae its report and in 1862 he moved for an extern
sion Of the Commission and for further inquiries several
trades having up and Others become extinct Ihe
result of this was passing Of the Factories Act Ex-
tension Act and the Workshop Act for which the coun-
try WAS indebted to both sides of this and the other
House both Governments have done their best to pass
those measures. When however the trades To De III
cluded in them had be settled the young persons en-
gagged in the manufacture Of bricks and drainagetes
excluded those employed in pottery ana porcelain
works being included. Now the state Of things exist
ing the brckAelds had risen to such hight of cruelty
and abominaton that cry had gone forth through the
whole country lie would only cite in proof of this the
evidence drawn from the reports OF the COMMISSIONER
the report OF Mr.. Inspector Baker, and pam
phet by George Smith of Coalville near Leicester,
who had himself been Lad in the bricktelds and
hasD1eScribed what he then endured The briekyards
niE red about 1000 there being in parts Of
the country than Others, and the number of child
rem and young persons employed in them amounted TO
nearly $1,000 their varying from 80 to II. The very
large proportion of them, especially in the Midland dis
trcts, females and the hours during which they
kept to this mOnstrous toll from IA TO 6 per
day. Such being their tender age and their sex, let
their lordshps consider the character Of their oc
cupaton. He would first quote the evidence Of Mr.
emith, who had been in brckyard for many years
Here his words:
"As q child aud lad have myself gone through what
thousands are going through to-day 1t is the very
bondage Of toll and home Of evil training. When seven
years of age employed in making bricks. At nine
years OF age my employment consisted in continually
carrying about 40 of clay upon my head from the clay
heap to the table which the bricks made When
there clay had 10 carry the same weight of
bricks This labor had 10 he performed almost without
intemssion, for Is hours daily. Sometimes my labors
increased by my having to work all night at the
kilns." In a ward which he described were several
children "from nine 10 ten years old, OF both sexes
and in halfnaked state. Their employment consisted
In carrying the damp clay their heads TO the brick
makers and carrying the made bricks to the floors
which they are placed TO dry. Their employment lasts
about 10 hours daily, during which they traverse dis
tance Of about 20 miles. II may be asked why the In
Epector did nterfere4 He could not the act not ap
plying establishments in which less than 80 persons
are employed. As O further proof Of the Sc
and extremely heavy nature of the toll undergone
by the children, would submit TO your inspection a
lump Of solid clay. weighing as 10. This, in wet state,
was taken few days from off the head Of child
nine years of age who had daily 10 walk distance of
u! miles, half that distance being traversed while car
Tying this heavy burden The clay taken from the
child and the calculation made by in the presence OF
both master and men, o.,
tinued:
al had a child weighed very recently, and. although
he what over eight years OF age, he weighed
but bi b and was employed carrying IS lbs weight OF
cay on his head average distance OF 10 miles daily
case of what many thousands of poor children doing
in England at the present me and we need not wonder
into account the tender age at which they are sent to
ders faf M Smiths testimony might he re
eeved without the slightest hesitation, for IT
been circulated in the brickyards while nobody had
ventured to gainsay IT, Let them now take the eyl-
maker to what he had seen in many yards, but had
corrected in his own. This was specimen he gave of
the work Those who carry clay TO the moders called
ray-carTiers, remove ON an average % pounds TO 40
pounds OF clay on the head and about 10 pounds 70 70
pounds In their arms say one OF 10 years od CARRYING
In all full 80 pounds OF clay each journey OF 40 yards and
hall tuns distance Of 40 yards daily walks four and
half miles in doing II and four and half miles BACK;
the bricks and. average, two miles going to and
returning from work, giving total distance traversed
IGNORANCE AND IMMORTALITY GENERAL-MR BURRITTs
OBSERVATIONS.
He would next quote the observations of distinguished
American writer distinguished and venerable man of
whom their lOTdships must have heard, Mr. Elihu Bur
nit Speaking Of little girl about yeas of he said:
"she first took up mass Of the cold clay, weighing
about pounds upon her head and while balancing
there she squaed the heap without bending her body
against her stomach and with the two burdens walked
about rod and deposited them on the molding bench.
was an unhealthy flush With mass Of cold clay held
against her stomach, and bending under another on
a marvel that there could be any red blood in
s1 inch in any direction after being put to this ocepa
tOn was another mystery. Certainly not an inch could
lie added her stature in ali the working days of her
life She could only grow at nights and on Sundays"
Now this was not exaggerated 10y hairsDreadth In
heed his personal observation he could state
that il under the marx in regard 10 the denominations
which pTacticed. The moral results were such as
"of course the natural results ensue Ignorance and
immortality prevail 10 fearful extent among the work
men and children so employed How could II be other
wise All goodness and purity seems to become stamped
nut OF these people, and were 70 relate what could be
related the whole country would become sekened aud
hOrrifed" -. ..-.,--,-
equally strong language These were ms words; But
there are often phases of evil connected with work in
overlook especially the demoralizng effects
ing from the mixed employment of the sexes. flip
grow daily the young gTs Then the want Of respect
word and look the lads grow precocous. and the
girls SO coarse in their language and manners from close
cOmpanonshp at work. that in most cases the m0desty
of female life gradually becomes byword instead OF
reality, and they sing unbushingy before all
while at work the lewdest and most disgust
ing songs till ofeutmes stopped short by the entrance
of the master foreman. The overtime work is
stu Objectionable because boys and girls men and
women are less under the watchfu OF the master,
nor looked upon by the eye OF day. All these thngshe
criminay leyity coarse phrases sinful oaths ewd ges
lures conduct of the adults and youths, exercise
terrible influence for evil the young children" The
whole might be summedup in the words OF Mr. Inspector
Baker, who had judiciOusy and calmly carried the
present Act into operation, and who after visiting these
grounds deeply regretted their exclusion from the bene-
Gcla provisions Of the Act I" consider the employ
ent OF children in brckyards absolutely cruel and that
f OF the female character In them is most