New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-24
INDUSTRIAL ENGLAND.
NV poRERr P. PORTER, MEMBER OF THE LATE
TARIFF COMMISSION.
XVIII.
,ARoR. WAGES AND SOCIETY IN THE COAL
AND IRON REGION.
,,,ro,, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF rnE TRIDUNEi

NIppI EsBoRoUGH England, February ~
Jump into my carriage, sara d. heuIey, JUG
of the leading surgeons and physicians of MlddleS-
borough land / will show you the town and some
of my patients, about twenty of those snail WISH
this afternoon being workingmen."
THANKED the Doctor cordially for his kindness
and we were soon at the door of the first mouse
M,ddlesborough in some regards is not unlKe an
American CITY, being newly built and the streets
running at right angles There are few really me
buildings and DO handsome shops. Inc work-peopio
comprising almost the entire population Oh inc oi'I
live in straight rows of chOcOlate-coioTed prich
houses built with painful regularity. some u
these rows are larger than Others, but rows Vhey
are and cbocolate-colored they are, all the same
for that. The streets look black ana are ehtIeiy
destitute of trees The first house we ehtered was
that of q man employed in the chemlcal WORKS.
HIS wife was Just recovering from long illness
They had six children, making in all a family of
eicbt The house contained one general ROOM a
scullery. and two small bedrooms up stairs. On
the clean red tile floor of the general room was
mat and near the white hearth rag hearth-rug,
making a neat and cOsey contrast with the we'll
backed stove and cheerful fire. Her husband, the
woman told us, had worked hard at the neighoor'
ing chemical works, and was sober, industrious
man. but of course they had not saved anything
His wages amounted to Ct or SO one week, ana 3os'
or So. so the next making an average per week. IL
he lost no time. of pos. or about 500. lie was
skilled workman.
The next place was that of an IRISH famy'
Though it was a cold dav, there was no fire IN the
general room and hardly any furniture. On the
wall was "a common PRINT of President Garheld Ill
his generals uniform, draped with the Stars and
Stripes couple of prints representing epochs IN the
life of the Prodigal Son, and fair engraving OF the
Deluge A few canaries IN a large wooden cage
were the only occupants of the room, which was
cold desolate and depressing. In all Vislted
about twenty of the wOrk-peope's cottages. some
were very cosey and others almost ike plg-slies'
The place being newly built, and all the house let
ting for single families, and the operatives OF All
kinds earning far wages, at one ume even
very high wages for England, there was no need Tor
wretchedness and squalor, where the people WeTe
sober and industrious.
| call to mind one house which was particularly
comfortable. ana both Dr. Hedley and myself sat
and chatted with the occupants for fifteen minutes
TINE. the house was on the general-room-two-be
room-aud-scullery plan. but for all that there was
such general slr of hOme-comfOrt IN the high
backed wel-eushOned arm-chairs. the glowing
fire cracking IN the blacklist of stoves and wmtest
of hearths the cheerful cOlored prints from me
Illustrated London Netcs and Graphic neatly framed.
the family Bible the little centre table the
green foliage of the plants III the window, the
bright brass candlestcks and the glass ornaments
on the high black mante the housewife IN her
nea. gown busy at needlework, and the neat anti
macassars on the rather upright and stiff sofa,
demonstrated how much comfort could he got out
of these houses with the right kind of wife.
"Itisa pity" said the Doctor as we babe the
occupants of the house gOod-day. that SO MANY
women are utterly negectful of their husbands
comfort. With a tempting armchair at ms own
hearth. and neat wife. man enjoys his pipe and
mint of beer at home better than at the public
house."
In this trip made the most careful inquiries ID
regard to the actual earnings of the iron-workers.
and found that the average earnings OF saggerS
was is. and 4d., or S104 day; of mime hileTs
As Sd, OF 81 ~; of chargers" 5s Sd. to 5s Cd,
or about ST 80 per day. and keepers IS Cd. to
rs. or 81. 90 per day. These figures are absolutely
trustworthy and were corrobOraed in every case,
and taken down in the presence of DR.. Hedley.
Laborers are paid in MiddlesbOrough S. to IS. and
ID. or about so cents per day but found several
laboring men VINO said they only received IS 3d. or
GA cents per day. House rents vary from as low as
% Cd a week to 5s aud some OF the better houses
rs Cd. a week. The latter houses are occupied by
foremen and men earning say $50 week, ana
who perhaps have one or more children employed
in the neighboriug works or factories Men WORKING
in the Bessemer pits are pau ITolh Os Ou' W o'' Vi
about $3.50 per day.
The shops in MiddlesbOrOugh are OF cheap order
and the goods displayed mostly such as attract
working-people Wednesday is half holiday and
most of the tradesmen put up their shutters and
.mnse themselves IN some way but Just how don't
know There is in the evening the Oxlord falace
Variety Hail. with young lady who wlllslng On
Isp'tit Nice toMake Believed or the Theatre Royal
with the drama of Taken from Life" and, on
s,xeT occasons even Madame R6Ze at the Temper
auce Hall, but such prima donna IS rare treat.
The windows of some of the statIonerS ana DOCK
seIers' shops remind one of the days OF the Ola
Catnach press, when hOarse-voiced runlahs Da"ieu
The last diving speech and confession" of the cul-
nrit at the foot Of the gallows before the poor
wrctcb,s life was extinguished; when the " last
traoedvD was sold on the street corner IN dodger
of twelve by eight, and when the news was not IN
freouentlv suug in doggerel on the street corner III
these sbops the Bradford Chimney Calamity the
"Hull Murder" the " Hounsow Tragedy, III verse;
NAV be bought for a half-penny, while tDe WINDOWS
are filed with the cheapest and West OF literature.
Tho members of the Town Council have an odd
wav of thanking voters for their support al eiec-
tions and one that might offend the y iree-Dorh
citizen of America" At any rate few American
Aldermen whould Gaze TO paste pl card, three loe'
nv two one very house in long row, III an America
CITY, as is not infrequently done al
and in this way read that Mr.. Raylton DIXON " re-
FIRMS bs most hearty thanks for the support OF the
freehoIders of Mddesborough at the recent borough
election etc. Trains through the heart OF the
town. There is good deal of drunkenness some
wears 800 ard even 600 persons being ar
rested for this offense, exceeding IN this gloomy
pre-eminence Bradford, with 10000 more popuia-
ton. Wife-beating and assaults on women are
everyday crimes, and morning spent IN the poiice
court revealed of the most brutaii%eu ihei anu
,.o,,an T ever met with. | was astOnsbed at the
Gobt sentences for beating and naming women.
The public houses and beer-shOps dispense Deer
and gin to parents weekdays, and after sending