New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-19
THE FUTURE OF coLoaBD WOMEN.

ures to promptly quiet.
THE FUTURE OF C0LORBD WOMEN.
We meet every morning platoons OF
colored. girls going to school with their
satchels stuffed with books, slate and
atlas. They are we'll dressed, neat and
cheerful We infer that themselves and
their parents are intent upon securing an
education, even at the expense of in
creased toll for the support of these
pupils while pursuing their studies. We
ask ourselves, What is to be the future of
these girls intelligently intent on the i'm
provement of their minds? There can be
no doubt but that improved knowledge
qualities any one better for the pursuits
Of life, but it becomes also important that
society should provide appropriate en-
ployment for improved intelligence.
We will assume that portion of these
educated women would like to have some
industrial and mechanical employments.
These employments ought to be organized
by individuals or by associations. Sup
pose we consider two of these enterprises:
/. Ready made clothing.
This is one of the most extensive indus
tries in the United States. Cloths are
purchased by the cargo. 1t is cut into
garments. and turned over to the sewing
women. There may be hundred machines
in the same building, all run from the
same power. A large quantity of CLOTH
ing is likewise sent into the county; often
to distant States, made up and returned.
These stocks are sent to every part of the
| United States, and to foreign countries.
| The shoemaking business is also con-
| Quoted in the same manner.
It is probable if a correspondence
should be opened with Philadelphia, New
York, or Boston, quantity Of these goods
might be receipted for and sent for manu-
facture here. An association of sewing
women might order such supply, and it
might turn as much to the advantage of
the merchant and the workwomen, as if
the same goods had been sent into 1Iichi-
gan.
2. The manufacture Of cotton yarns,
cloths and prints.
There can be no doubt but that there
is in New Orleans as large supply of fe-
males capable Of being educated to the
manipulation and manufacture of cotton
goods as anywhere else in the Union. We
do not propose to repeat the proofs that
the three elements which constitute la
Dor. to wit: food, fuel, rents and raiment
are cheaper here than elsewhere. 1t will
become the duty Of those who think for
the employment of the people to institute
an authentic examination, and we are sat-
isfed they will find the facts as We have
stated them. They will find the average
rate of seven dollars and half per week |
paid mill operatives an adequate induce
ment for females to seek such employ
ment.
We are satisfied that there are many in
telligent and reflective men of the colored |
race, who know that the employment of |
the men alone will not secure the support |
of whole people. Such considerate |
men know that the condition of the |
colored females is not favorable to their
personal independence, nor TO domestic
relations They know that the colored
women have in fact advanced little be-
yond the mental labors OF former state
It is not our province to advert to The
effect upon either the future nurture or
numbers of the race. Our object is alone
to show that if the intelligent industry of
the colored women, should be realized in
the mechanic arts. it would aid greatly in
social teeiiug toward them
by utilizing vast capacity for enhancing
the products of the country.
The industries specified alone would
add enormously to the income Of LOUISE
aua. A million of bales of cotton, worth
fifty millions Of dollars, converted into
goods by machinery and labor, would be
worth one hundred and fifty millions Of
dollars. An element of labor which is
now only useful to the extent of certain
mental and domestic services would be-
come far more productive than the pro-
1uctive labor of the field, and Louisiana
would esteem the women who spin cotton
IS of even more value than the men who
plant, pillow, gather and gin and bale the
cotton.
We have confined these observations to | ;
he colored industrial element. It is
qually applicable to the unemployed s
White industry. There is no industry +,
which we have mentioned that would not
ford adequate employment to all women !
vho wish, or are fitted for such work, aud ,
his without respect to color or condition.
The argument has been made for quar-
er Of century to the white people Of
be South. 1t has to limited extent a
zen acted upon, and in those commune
les in which these industries have been =
lanted there has been q result of profit | u
nd social comfort There is a particu- II
II reason why the colored people should
9 offered the same argument, and there
re particular reasons why those of that u
ice who think for their people should n l.,
Ike steps to investigate TIE possibilities VI
securing such intelligent employment. Il
1t is moral and social question of d.
uch importance to all. There are more d