The Labor enquirer., 1882-12-16
co-operating shoemakers.

Paris" an expert in one OF the leadlng
Broadway stores said 1.-The long, slim
feet of American women lose nothing by
comparison with those of the high born
women of Europe \ II
Our women have pretty feet, and they
like to see themselves well shod regard
less of cost. Just look at, that riding
boot, made to fit like gloveto the knee,
a model of elegance and durability.
How dainty is this satin slipper, with the
+ Louis XIV. heel, which adds an inch and
tbree-quarters to the stature of the
wearer, and makes number four slipper
look like a number one. That heel is
constructed on the same scientific prin[
ciples as the leaning tower of Pisa, SO
long as the center of gravity falls any
where within the heel and not on the
instep it is all right. Women's fine shoes
in this city have about reached pertec-
tion. Although we do large business,
we do not have an establishment where
all the work in making a shoe is done.
We cut out the uppers and Innings and
the kid, and tie them all together, and
they are then sent out to the filters.
Cutters receive from SIS to $50 week.
The filters employ twenty or thirty girls,
according to the size of the establish
ment. One pastes, another turns IN the
KID around the edges, another seWs in
the Innings, another sews the oQtsides,
another works the buttonHoles, and,
finally, the operator on the machine BeWs
the whole together The girls wages
vary from s. to SIS week. The uppers
are then brought back to the store and
we send them out to the shoenakers with
the leather for thesoles and heels. These
men usually work togetherin large shops,
which they hire on shares. Just now,
before the holidays, we are very busy,
and these shops are usually open and the
men at work on Sunday You ought to
60 there and take look at them some
Sunday morning"
what nationalities are mostly en-
gagged and is there any preference as to
their work?'
"Swedes, Irish, Scotch and English.
The Swedes are the most steady and re
liable men. They attend closely to
business and make the best average
wages the year round, With the others
liquor is their worst enemy. If they
would only work steadily they could
make good wages. On some classes Of
work l have seen man take work away
in the morning and bring it back finished
in the evening, for which he received 81
or &.25; and have seen some smart
fellows make at times as much as $50 or
$35 a week. -
dWhat is known as the Twenty fourth !
street community shop is near Eighth
avenue, 1t occupies large upper story
divided into two rooms. On entering
the rooms, about twenty men were seen
on Sunday morning tapping, heeling,
sewing, butfing, and lasting variety Of
work. One man was sitting in the mid
die Of the large room reading aloud the
news Of the day in the Sun.
"This is a community shop" Mr.. Rich
ard Parker said. "All sitters here be-
long to the Ladies' Branch. Of Boot and
Shoemakers for the City Of New York,
and have to conform to the wages state
ment issued by the society. was one Of
the original incorporators of this shop.
About twelve years ago eight Of us took
this place, paid all expenses, and charged
every sitter so much MONTH Alter two
or three years, as we we're not making
any profit, and the scheme was favorably
regarded by the rest Of the sitters we
turned it into community shop. Each
man pays $3.50 month. We have
thirty sitters in this shop, and as our
rent amounts to $50 a month there is
alwaY a small surplus, out of which we
pay for fire, newspapers, etc. We have
about all we can accommodate now, and
usually have the year through. We
have president, secretary and treasurer,
all in one, who collects the dues, paysjthe
rent and whatever bills there may be,
makes the fires in winter, opens and
closes the shop, and is allowed for that
seat and $3.50 month. His accounts
are audited once a quarter. At present
that Office is vacant. The shop is open
from 5 a. m. to- 10 p. m. on week days,
and on Sundays from 5 a, m. to , p. m.