The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-01-27


In large aud we'll known mandatory,
which makes goods TINT are sent to almost
oil portions of the civilized world, four hun
dred and fifty persons are employed, Of
whom seyenty-five are girls and women.
OF this latter number, however, only about
dozen are given steady work Throughout
the year. The establishment referred tc
manufactures chiefly railroad supplies, such
as lanterns, locomotive head lights, tir
cans, stove boards on which stoves are
placed when in use, chandeliers and SINH
lar articles. In addition to these, how
ever, articles made of tin, such as baby
rattles, kerosene cans, pots, kettles, &C.,
are turned out, and the services of girls are
here employed in soldering and placing to
gether the different parts, stamping designs,
apanning the tin goods when about com.
pieted, mailing the corners on the stove
boards and in similar work When tie fall
trade for stoves is about to commence sixty
or seventy extra girls arc employed in work.
ing on the stove boards referred to. This
work usually begins about the end of June
and lasts until the latter part of October,
when the demand for stoves is almost ut on
end The wages of these girls and women
'ange from seven and half cents to twelve
and half cents per hour, although occas.
ionally an expert employee makes ST. 25 per
day when working by the piece. Their
work is almost entirely of mechanical de.
scription, and requires no very great degree
of mental ability.
The class of girls that employ" said
Appointment manufacturer of extracts and
spices to reporter, " is somewhat higher
than that you would find in the packing
houses, though their characteristics ar,
doubtless similar and the wages about alike
I pay my girls all the way from SO to So
week, and to one or two who have been
with me o long time, ] pay by the piece
they make IS or 80 per week The general
-un of girls wages, however, in this bust.
ness throughout the city ia about $5 per
week. When new hands at the business
,ome they are clumsy at the work and spoil
4 good many labels, SO of course they re-
ceive but little pay, but most of them soor
pick up the knack.
/ have oil sorts of girls apply here every
day for work, some who are way down il
the scale OF neatness and some who are neal
but carry the signs of poverty with them.
while others come here dressed rs finely MS
my daughter ever dresses, and frequently
they will have their sealskin cloaks. These
latter compose largely the number that are
not obliged to labor. They put the most
of their wages on their backs, aud as q rule
cannot be relied upon for steady work like
the more needy girls.
What hours do they have? From
seven in the morning till six at at night. ]
have to be very strict with them in self.
defence. For instance, when first began
10 employ female help disliked exceeding.
" to dock them for being late, and seldom
even said anything, but IL grew~so bad that
had to adopt the system, and now l dock
every one who is late over fifteen minutes
g As to their labor there is nothing disa
/ greeable about 1t. They have place py
themselves, just far enough apart to keep
them from talking continually, and their
duties consist in FASTING labels on the boxes
and bottles and tying the chamois skin
guards over the shoppers. When they be.
come adopts it is surprising how quickly
they will do their work. Yes, prefer them,
taking everything into consideration,
think, to male help. They are cheaper than
men, and, though they may not do SO much
work, yet their skilful and neat handling
make up the difference. l am aware that
they deprive great many men of employ
ment, but am of the opinion that the ma
jorty of the girls work from sheer necessity,
and therefore are equally entitled to the
fruits of their labor. Some who apply are
very young, but generally employ only
those who are at least fifteen"
we employ some fifty-two women in
our establishment" said large iron and
brass manufacturer, and at the only work
for which they are available-core making
we find them almost invaluable. We
formerly hired boys at the same class of
work, but VIC found that they were too am
bilious to learn trades and mako more wages
to be of service to US, SO we replaced them
with girls and young women, who are salts
fed to earn moderate wages at compare
lively easy employment. They are paid
$3.50 to sc a week, which is more than
large percentage Of the girls who work in
stores and shops down town receive. CHI.
cage News.
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