The National tribune., 1883-11-29
GOOD SIR TITUS SALT,
And Richard CASTER, the BenefactOrS Of
the English Working Classes.



Special Correspondence National Tribune.
BRADFORD, ENGLAND, November 1.
The Journey from Manchester to Bradford
would be both picturesque and entertaining if
IL were not chiefly made under ground. In
the brief intervals between tunnels there are
rlirnrscs Of Yorkshire hills and suggestions of
the life and customs made familiar to US all by
Charlotte Bromte and sydney Smith; and ey-
cry stopping place has the interest incident to
manufacturing regions for the student OF So
ciaI and economic questions. Bradford, itself.
is not a beautiful city, but il has the pride In
its good government which IS characteristic OF
the manufacturing cities OF middle and north
ern England. aid It's worSpeoIic have one
great advantage over the workers of such huge
cities as London. Manchester and birmingham
Their city is bliit IN a valley and ii Is not so
large as to prevent their having comparatively
easy access ia the surrounding hills during
their rather frequent holidays. From many
places in tho city, too, there are charming views
TO be had, and there are always excursions TO
be made to Saltaire.
Saltaire is d model village. built by philan-
thr0pic manufacturer Sir Titus Salt, on the
banks OF pretty little STR am, the Aire, which
gives to the village the second p2rt OF It's name
Tic surroundings OF SaiSare are exceedingly
pretty. rich in wooded hills and broad green
meadows, and the experiment OF Fastening the
millennium could not wei be made under more
favorable circumstances than here. The dis
advantages under which the ordinary English
miii-land in manufacturing city, such as
Manchester or Birmingham, la5ors, are: j. 4
foul atmosphere, which peryades his working
place. hrs home. his church. his clothing, his
food and his skin. 2 An insufficient water
supply Rherewith to meet this ever present,
overwhelming enemy. 3. A home so crowded
that cicanliness would be difficult, even If the
bad atmosphere and insufficient water did not
make il impossible f. A more or less conf
plete dearth Of means Of education beyond the
rUdiments taught in the elementary schools.
Now. these four disadvantages the good Sir
Titus resolved to remove from the lives OF his
employees.
TIE GOOD MANS PLANS.
In a little biography Of Sir Titus Salt. pub
lished ID 1873. there is the following deserip-
ton of his first measures for creating his model
village:
in 1859 there were one hundred and ninety-four
mills in Bradford and its suburbs. in this year Sir
Titus might IL he had wished, have retired from
business with all Lis wealth; but he chose rather
90 60 on. hoping thereby 10 help his own large
family and also improve the condition Of the fac
tory workers. For in making his thousands he
never forgot the thousands who helped him
make them. Bradford, with its still Increasing
nauntictor7cs. was becoming overcroyFceG. dirty,
smoky beyond I'll precedent. its streams and
canals were every year becoming more aud more
sinks OF filth aad pollution and Aotbeds OF foul dis
ease and Mr. SAT- wisely determined to be no
party is further increase. Looking around him.
lie saw a better SPOT on the banks Of the river Aire
and purchasing tract there, ne 81 once began 20
erect such palace OF industry England had
never seen, with dwellings for the woTkpeopie
contiguous.
The mill itself is a fine building, beautiful
enthusiastically, furnished with admirable ar
rangements for heat. light and ventilation, and
suited to the employment Of four Thousand
hands The litEe biography before quoted
from states naiTely the plan upon which Mr.
Salt proceeded:
But when the works were finished and opened
much still remained 10 he done. Houses must be
erected Tor the accommodation OF the four thou
SAND work. people who We're thus drawn together
Churches sud chapels were needed for public wor-
ship; washhpuses for the promotion OF cleanliness;
schools for the education OF the children; aims
houses and an 7rInary for the use Of the aged and
poor elue and liis1ltlte Tor the purpose OF
literary culture and recreation and a public park
for outdoor aIlusements.
Az UNFORESEEN MISFORTUNE.
These comprehensive needs have now been
met, and Saltaire i En- attractive village fur
nished with the means Of making the life of
its inhabitants not only physically comfortable,
but full Ct interest well, for the park j. used
for active and entertaining sports: the insti-
tute furnishes lectures and concerts and many
of the means Of culture which Mr. Be5aDt pro-
posed for his Palace Of Delight in his diVerting
little story, All Sorts and Conditions of Men; -
and the sunny, smOke-free light in which we
saw SGlt2ire spoke volumes for the advantage
of the Salt2iTe workman over his brother who
lives in Anc0ats almost any other part of
Manchester, the paradise Of the British work
man. Pure air, pure water, good homes, and
ample opportunity for culture, the good Sir
Titus obtained for hiE men; but, alasi he did
mot foresee that alpaca goods. on tie popularity
Of which the Saitaire works must depend for
Success might one day fall into disuse. This
unhappy state Of Affairs has arisen: the de-
1rf
maintain the four thousand workers, and un-
less some experiments which are now in pro-
cess for substituting silk, while retaining the
present machinery, should prove Unexpectedly
successful, this beautiful work Of a true philan-
thr0PIst may speedily prove q total failure.
Meanwhile Bradford itself has made long
strides towards becoming model town. Smoke
and dirt and crowding are still to be found, but
they are said 70 be growing less, while the
bright faces Of the little half-rimersv to be
seen il the streets prove that the administra-
ton Of the compulsory law is By 10 means per-
funct0ry il Bradford. On this subject, the
American Consul. Lr. William T. Griunell has
kindly furnished me with some data which are
worth far more than my OEn h2sty obserya-
tons. Yorkshire cruelty. Is manifested IN
Yorkshire schools, We ali know from reading
Nicholas Aackle5y and pitging poor Smike.
But the former cruelty Of the Yorkshire en-
plOyeTs T recognized FOR the first time 10 read
Ing the following sketch which Mr. GTinnel
has kindly placed ct my disposal:
AEoTRER BRADFORD BEEEFAcroR.
Two great questions were aaitatsng The nation
az The 8flc when tic Reform excitement was hap
pliy Aaycd by the passing of Lord John Russell 8
act These questions were colonial slavery and
Factory oppression. Ii in September 1880 that
Richard D42siler made his famous appeal for the
extinction Of Yorkshire slavery THE picture
he GreE II the Euferings Of the factory children
was very appalling one, but none the less trle-
Tie very streets which receive the Utterances Of
the Al.l--larerg Society are every morning water
60 by tbs tears uf innocent victims al the acculsed
shrines 81 aFerice who are compelled moi by The
crnc Wl5p Of The negro e.Rye-GFiver. but By the
dread ct tsfe equal T-2praing thong or strap Of
the cycr4ccECf 90 hasten Alf-dressed but not half
leo, a. those magazines d British iglfanGiIe slavery
the norstea mills IA the town and neighborhocd
OF Bfaas1rd
Thousands Of little chrdren-both male and
feilae. but principally fe1aae from seven TO four
Gocl0cS in the morning tall ia The evening with
oElig-i5rgtens blush while you read It-thirty
minutes allowed for eating and recFeatOn-n Mr.
Oastler followed up this appeal with great energy
o. action, and Lord Ashburton NOW Earl Shafts
bu8H and others took up le cause Of the factory
children with great warmth. Meetings were held
II Bradford Leeds, and other places and the Ten
boarp 81 was sirennousiy advocated and SIREN
uousE opposed. In tie summer Of 1893 q meet
Ing attended 10y 100000 operatives was held
a. Miiscg In support OF the bill. That same wear
the law was amended, and since then the condition
oil The factory operatives In the Bradford worstei
mills has been very much improved Lord Skates
bury on proposing to the House Of Lords on the
GtM of August that Ia