New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-19
INDUSTRIAL ENGLAND.
BY ROBERT p. PORTER. MEMBER OF THE LATE
TARIFF COMMISSION.
WORK AND WANT IN The "BLACK COUN-
TRY"

XVII.
WORK AND WANT IN The BLACK COUN
TRY"
rrRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
IYE WASTE, Worcestershire, March D.
1t has been truly said that OF all places III "nl0n
the handmade nail trade IS carried on this Lye
Waste is one Of tho most quantity typical Some OF
the novels which, as of the local bards sings the
Lye MASTERS used to build like the martins with
dirt" still stand but most of the nailers tenements
are now loosely constructed one story brick struc-
lures The late Richard Rowe once said they were
dropped down here, there, and everywhere, Us II
they had tumblcd from the skies. Indeed stranger
loses himself in the narrow. miry thoToughiaIes
that wind or zigzag between the houses rs he
might lose himself In a nest OF London
courts. Waste Bank, Careless Green, DARK Lane
the Dock are q few few specimens OF the local no
menclature. it is said that the last bull ever
bated in England was bated on Lye waste. Urls
used to work in its nail-shops half naked" says NJ
Rowe. land most Lye MASTERS went bare-legged
and barc-footed" They never dreamt OF getting
married and whenever they prayed, twas for ale
or strong beer" Things are Lot quite so bad as this
at Lye now, but In a three days walk through this
country during which trip have visited Neither
ton, Bromsgrove Gornal, Cradley, Blackheath, Old
Swinield, Old Hill, Rowley, Regis and llalesowen,
found that society is pretty generally regulated"
by "fourpenny tthe favoritc ale of the vicinity.
and have seen sights that have made mo seriously
doubt if was in a Christian land
This region OF country is located part in the
County of Stafford and part in that of Worcester
The population of Dudley is about 47,OOO. Tho
other placesare not dignifed into municipalities but
struggle along and included In what are called
the urban sanitary districts of West Bromwich
$1,000 inhabitants; Briefly Hill, $1,000; Broms-
grove 5000; StOnrbridge. 10000. There is no
public spirit no municipal pride. The district Is
badly drainod not lighted except b. the flames of
the furnaces and FORCES.
1t 10 said that about $4,000 persons are
engaged in this dismal district making nails and
rivets Though within seven miles of the great
and prosperous city of Birmingham, no one seems
to know or Gaze about this army of men. women,
young girls and children condemned TO a life Of
wretchcd slavery The district itself has aptly been
described grImy chaos. Huge mounds OF
black and dirty-white rubbish, melancholy asses
cropping the sparse, shnvclcd heritage on the
banks of worked outputs; siaGnant pools. spreading
like dead seas between the jumbed, natural and
artificial hills; cindcr-srewn meadows threaded by
filthy footpaths ending al smutty stiles high roads
funged with a drcary continuity Of dugy red brick
y
looks almost as pure as a lily; small boys clustered
on the roads kicking and punching and bcspattor-
ing their smaller feminine acquantances; bigger
ones loaiing around the little dIngy public houses;
narrow ragged hcdgcd lanes. leading uowhthcr IL
particular, piifalled with iuky puidles through
which unwashcd. unshaycn. hraYy-bootel men
founder and splash, with their hands N their coat
pockets and vicious loOSin dogs covering a their
heels; jaundiced canals crowded with lanky black
bargcs: soping tramways, almost obliteratcd by
gritty yscOus black mud cross ne and cOnvrrg!ng
railways with roadside stations that look like re-
Gently cuptied SCOT warehouses; gibbetcd black coli
ery wheels dIlaWdatcd engine houses and cottages
sinking on ono side. iutO tho under
mined earth; dingy red and clay-colorcd cones
and domes; iron works furnaces. chimneys Of
all kinds, sending up smoke and flames. This IS no
exaggerated picture Of what saw in my walk.
which began al Dudley and thence. via Nethcrton.
Rowley. Regis, Cradley. Stuorbridge, through this
dismal place and back to lIalcsowen.
The inhabitants of this dcsolate district are
among the most industrious. and yet the most
wretchcd. in England They are engaged In making
all kinds Of nails. rivetS and chains. The work IS
done in little "smlthys' attached TO the novels In
which the workers reside. and for which the usual
rcu: seems 10 be about -. Id to IS. Sd.
a week, ll4Ao ofCl MY CtDlh.
These houses, as a rule, contain htte
or no furniture They are filthy and wretched
beyond description. What spare time the unhappy
nailers wife gets from nursing the baby aud pre-
pairing the meagre meals, is spent al the smithy fire
away at the anvil until late NJ night. But
tho extra work that the woman does. combined with
that Of one child-say n girl Of fourtoen-wll
barely keep the family from starvation. For ex-
ample: An expert mailer. working steadily from
Monday morning TO Friday night. can only make
two and a half bundles of iron rods into nails.
Tor when ho gets O. 7l.d. per bundle. or
for his weeks work. los. sd. exactly -. Now, his
wife by working every moment Of her spare tlmo
and late into the night-ncg ccting the wrctched
little children-can make a bundle OF commoncr
nails for which She is paid 3s. Id ana tho llttlo
stuntcd girl OF twelve with her brown
arms and steady unArring aim, will hammer ont
Ialf bundle Is 6l2d. Total earnings Of an indus
rlons and Woodworking family three at the forge,
or the entire week:
English Uni'fd states |