, 1877-11-30
GIRLS AS CIGAR.AIAKERS.

Manufacturers rieaxcd with tho E1rscr1-
mental Tr!al-A1,ont A,00o Working In
stead Of tho IL, 600 Strikers,
Mem }erk sun.
There arc between 1900 and 1000 girls rnnk-
ing cigars in this city now, owing to tho pent1tn9
strike Of tho c!gar.n,akers. Tho manufacturers
all tell tho same story. They say that the sue-
ccss Of the girls ia marvellous, nud that, II tho
strike continues, thoFe will not be work for tho
strikers IN VERY few weeks, as tho girls will i,e
ablo To take their places; TINT Il Is blessing In
disguise, % 1t affords new employment for
women, mud secures workers whose scrvlccs may
be depended upon at. low wages; that
the girls learn quickly; that large
proportion 1nalio good work; and thnt
they sooll no moro tobacco thau ordinary
learners. Stra1ton d;5torm expect to savc front
e9, 600 to $50, ,foo per unnnin because tho girls
don't smoke. Us they formerly allowed each 0f
tj,otr 9DI wurkmcn twcntF.tlyc cigars uer week.
They will put up thtety.avc new tables for the
Elra today.
The making Of cigars in tcncmcnts Is being
gradually abandoned, and large Factories nrr
l,ctng started. As fast ~ the apprentices learn,
they arc put Into ilcw buildings, and other mp
prcnttccs take their placus. An average OF 10
per cent: Of the applicants proyo to he Unfit for
thu work; about tho tame ~ among male
learners. 9omo fears WeFo entertained tfiat tho
girls would atckcn nt tic smell OF tho tobacco
but tho danger ot sickness has hces In measure
bbyiatcd By dividing tho work mud preparing tho
tobacco In another room.
Ihe cirls' aptitude for packing is remarkable.
Their quick eye for colors enables them 10 t!ts-
ttnTuish tho different varieties quickly. Tits
has heretofore becn considered Skilled nccu-
patton, At which expert men could mike from
earned from $f3 to 4l{ last week, after only
two wccks' practice. Ono Of thcsc girls was
formerly telegraph operator, QUO WAS drcss'
maker. and another was clerk In store. Tho
hacking must DO done By, daylight, nnd tho
othcrs earn from So to 81 q week, working nine
hours, and the manufacturers will put them on
pteco-work o. soon Us they are able.
So far from tho quality Of the girls work be-
Ing disadvantage, tho manufacturers say that
their customers DO not object to II. hut, on tic
contrnry. arc one after another putting on tho
1abci: "Thcso cigars were made by American
gtrls.h, Although the manufacturers t!cny that
the stEike has st Affected the price Of stgnrs
s.ock that thcy deemed unsatabse. One hrm
l4ad 1,0o0, 900 such cigars disposed Of. They say
thefc aro plenty Of cigars In the market, and tho
prospects, arc tliat the Elrls will euon 10 a!o to
was surprised at the Eood work tl,ut TUG atrla
did, mud that already QUO ineu had lett tho Union
aud returned to work, fenrtnX that they might
bc entiryly supplnnted !,Y the girls.
smltt says that u obvtated by tho division of
labor; and. hcsitcs, at t'rst they arc Riycn only
tho poorest kind Of tobacco to work, the same
as aty apprentice The most they spoll is u
pound In making 2 thousand siEars.-say IL Or
on trial for u week. II they arc suitable he
makes SIX wccks' contract with them, and
after that tlfuo he expects s1lat they will WORT
by tho piece. Tho manufacturers admit there
but they hayc constant applications, md cx.
pcct that the supply VI labbr will be plentiful.