The New York herald., 1878-03-27
TIE WORKING W0MEN's HOTEL.


The near approach OF the opening of the Stewart
est IN an institution which taken many years
to complete The long article published the HERALD
ON Sunday, giving account OF the arrangements
oil the hotel and the rules by which its inmates will
be governed, read by thousands OF the working
women OF The city and variousiy commented upon.
The schedule oil prices scanned with eager eyes
and probably attracted than any other
point in the report The rates were undoubtedly
surprise to many readers who had imagined that the
hotel was to be to certain degree charitable nsti-
tuon intended to benefit chiefly poorer classes OF
working women, such as sewing gls and young women
employed IN factories 0tbers regarded the prices
very reasonable considering the many advantages OF
the hotel aud thought that there would be difficulty
In filing the 500 rooms very short time with the
better class OF working women, who good saia
rcs, bat unable to 1.-Two at home BY the pub
lishcd rules were regarded as unwarran.ed restric-
tions, calling to any womans sense of independence
On the other hand, there were those who thought
them perfectly justihable and even necessary.
WORKING WOMEN.
To ascertain more definitely the views on this sub
jcct OF working OF various grades and learn
what saMries they generally receive and consequently
what amount they are able to pay Tor board lodg-
Ing repoi ter oil the HERALD yesterday visited
bef OF the principal establshmen the city where
girls and women are employed aud conversed The
girls themselves, well with their overseers and
employers All OF them had either the accounts
in the Sunday else had heard of them and
were perfectly FREQ IN expressing their opinions
on the subject. With many OF them the
opening oil the hotel and charges were TOPIC OF
conversation when they were interrupted by tho
porter, ana they all glad to have opportunity
to express their views to Outsider. A large dry
and fancy goods store on Eighth avenue was first
visited number OF saeswomen were questioned as
to the hotel ana replied unhesitatlngy that they
thought the prices exorbtant, If It intended
TO benefit the poor.
"Why," said one, 'there are not ten ladies' in the
store who could thnk Of living there. l have worked
here long time and get moro tnan most OF them,
and couldn't afford il by good deal" Nor l."
I chimed In TWO or three others who had gathered
around during momentary luIl IN their occupation
I'il have to wait tiii l make much more than 1 do
now oeore can .nink ,,s OF gong 'nsr. continued the
with another person in 1t! Where i
now, IN boarding house, have a
There can bathc every day tor nothing, while
hotel you have TO pay ten cents bath. Aud
ing machine allowed in the building We'll, wonder
bow they think poor woman Is gong TO get hcr SOW
Ing done Send II out, suppose and pay Tor 1t. l
guess that hotel wasn't'DuL Tor me Tue others all
nodded and the reporter moved oil to speak to
group young women behind an adjoining counter,
who were converslng sy that he doubted not
tney were speakug oil the matter winch cngrossed
own thoughts at tho moment But they we're only
discussing the price Of a piece OF RIBBON they haa
The accounts of the opening oil the stewart
Hoto but had heard that The prices quite nigh
and had thought nothing more OF H. Ipey were
| handed copy oil the rules ana regulations
Them carefully, at FIRST making comment; but IA
they read on, giving vent TO occasional express
macnnes,' humphl NO visitors, without
special permission, for bath = no dog
Soe,s in The worIsI So restric,,ona arc n,aess
upon any boarder' Well, Pm glad they think
take the rules; they don't SUIT me, II know myself.
| couidn't pay for all these privileges, Pm AFRAID
get good room now and good board lor SO a week,
and think IN stay where am"
| WOMEN
The reporter then inquired OF Tho superintendent
how many girls and women Were employed IN the VA
rous departments Of the store and what salaries the
majority OF them received. "Ihero are $50 alto
| gelner," he replied; .in tho busy season more
lnan two hundred saleswomcn being employ cd.
These get on an average ~ or 50 week. One two
| get $50, but not more than twenty five per
cent OF the wnoie number receive more than SIS or
| $40. Tue other threc.quarters get less tnan
giris l The drossmakIng ana millinery departments
uont get more thln SIS 1T the most, and lew o them
So" cierk who was standing near ,he super
iutendenI sad that his Two sisters sewed morn
Ing I'll night anu couldn't earn 50 week.
visit was then made to large store Sixth ave-
nue., where many gris and women employed.
The same sentiments were expressed here IA ) the
Eighth avenue store, number oi sirs saying that
could not possibly afford 10 live IN the notc
ana If they coud woud prefer good boarding house
where they could have sewing machine ana Other
|
bookcase on the wall TO make It seem moro
hoineiIkc. One OF the head here SAID
tnat tne average salary OF the saeswomen
did not exceed IS aud that OF the sewing
g,rls So. Another large store OF the same
KIND on sixth avenue was visited, ana with the
result. Onc OF the sslesw omen VINO was spoken to
SAID that So, 81 or s, week was more tnan she or
any oil her associates could pay. 1t The hoei, she
aducd, was intendcI Tor WORKING women OF the
poorer classes the weekly average should
81 80 or SO al the utmost, including cxras II, ON
Inc vtner hand, IL was merely a uouej making insti
| luIi 10 he very I'M Lupr itrpe
establishment, iurtner down the same avenue, tho
same views were expressed IN dlercnt language. Ono
elderly saeswonln said, with reference the prices
charged by the managers, the benent would be to
them and DOT 10 the working women.
DIFFERENT VIEW
The lady supern tendeni however took tho opposite
side and supported II with mucn animation. She her
sell, snc said lived at nome, Dut II she ana not,
would 30 10 the new hotel at once. Some years
ago, before her iamy came To the city, she veI
boaruing house ana had TO pay IS week. There was
nothing neat and respectable be had for less thin
that amount Az the homes for iricndiess girIs
where 81 week Is charged the suToundIngs are re-
spectacle, but the rules are somewhat too severe.
Ine rules ana regulations OF the new hotel, though
apparently rainer strict, were none Too much
girls who knew what best Tor them. Tney gener-
ally AZ tor The IL
sion oil sewing macnines she thought 1T very wise.
those boarders wno had none themselves would
be disturbed by those above hem aud there wou1 Dc
much likelihood, II machines were allowed vi the
whole Duiidug soon being turned into shop, as the
glrls would be very apt TO take IN sewing
| IL cheaper, she SAID, 10 buy under
and outer clothing than to make II. There
are many thousands OF women In the city who sup
port themselves anu only ,OcO can be accommodated
in the new hote There would De no diilculty, tue
superintendent thought n hlling " very rapidly with
working oil Tue better CLASS, VINO from $40
TO $l5 and SO or even more a week. a chei per
might be opened for those VINO make less anu
fora TO give out Iittle.
In the principal DRY goods and fancy goods stores
Broadway, more Is paid than IN the corresponding cs
tabiishmeDts on Sxth ana Eighth avenues Al thc
pr.ncpai Fetal shops on Broadway the working
women earn on an average about 81 week artists,
toacnors ana telegraph operators also ~ be admit
tea 10 the new hotel two young ladies', artists, and
ing that they would have 10 pay sl2 room
there, went 10 hrsL class boarding house IN Fith
avenue and TOOK comfortable room IOr .2 less
IL the paper box and otner manufactures where ANS
are employed To DO light WORK the pay Is generally
very small, work bcug paid Tor by the piece instead
ny Time. A majority OF INDUSTRIOUS ana aollvo
girls cannot earn more Than 81 or 81 wcek. In
iug none but the most active and skiifu can earn
more Than slO anu even that amount IL yer! seldom
made. Many, very many giris make only IS, - OF 50
II week. hey generally live ut nome. None o these,