Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-31
FEMALE LABOR.
SEVERAL PROXIMITY EMPLOYERS IN
rERvIRwYD on THIS sUBJxcr.
A Large Number Of Girls Enploved Here
and Future Prospects Pro-
mising, Ac.

A hnumber Of the largest and most promi.
nent employers Of female labor in this city
were called on by q Dispotch reporter yes
terday, and asked as to how many white
girls and women are employed here and
what the prospects for the future are.
"You employ good many girlss" was
asked OF Mr.. Norman V. Randolph, OF the
Randolph Paper.Box Company. He re-
piled: Yes; we commenced few years
ago with four girls. To-day We have over
three hundred, and now that We have COM
plefed the new addition to our factory, we
will be glad TO employ at least one hundred
and fifty more. We presume we have now
the largest factory for the manufacture OF
fine druggist boxes Ia the world. Our old
factory was the largest in the United
States.
Our business for 1886 has been far beyond
our expectations OF ability TO fll orders
promptly. Most OF our hands make good
wages, and have steady work all the year.
We prefer hands from fifteen TO twen-
ty.lve wears OF age. and they must
be recommended either by the hands
I'm the factory or bring us satlsIac-
liability. II takes from three 10 six weeks
TO teach them. We pay from 81 80 to 81
per week while learning. All the work
made by new hlnd for a week has to be
d1aroyed; so you see 1t is expensive TO
teach them.
1t il q clean and pleasant business. and
the hands seem to like It. We have about
fifty girls from the country. Our trade ex.
10 A,ta ali A pao Canada
Mexico, ana other foreign countries.
We think the prospects for next year
good, as we have plenty OF orders to start on.
IN GREAT DEMAND.
What do you think OF the demand for fe-
male labory
am told it is very great. Many manu-
facturers tell me they will be glad TO en-
ploy larger numbers than they now have.
should think that at least 700 to 200 more
females could find steady work here. The
only trouble about bands coming from the
country and not having trade Is that they
find il hard 10 make enough for the firstf few
weeks to paw their board, and would not
advise such to come, unless they have friends
they can live WITH or have a little money.
Board can he had for 81 10 80 per week.
am glad to say that most OF the proprietors
will not employ girls Of doubtful character.
How many females do you think are en-
ploy ed in the different trades IN the city!
AT least 5000 tohite girls. can account
for fully 1900 OF them myself, and there are
certainly 1000 that ] do not know OF.
with a white population OF about G0,0o0.
that speaks more for the industry OF our
citizens than anything know OF.
You think there is still demand for
more female labor?
know il. have talked with some OF
the principal manufacturers OF the city. |
DO not hesitate TO say that there's no excuse
for any respectable girl being idle.
p. wHITLOCK, ESQ.
Mr.. =. WhitlOck, manufacturer 6i cigars,
SAWS the demand in his line for female Ia
Dor has been great, and that he has had
great difficulty IN getting skilled labor.
He has learned a large number the busi.
ness. The girls are very apt in learning
now TO make cigars and cher0ots, and make
them bcttOr and faster than men generally.
Some OF them can roll as many as 1000
cberoots per day. They make from 81 to
$40 per week. He has several girls that are
from the country, and they are doing well.
II takes beginner from three to four
weeks 10 learn the trade. Some OF them
learn very rapidly. Mr.. Whitlock hopes
to work $50 girls the coming year. The
number OF females employed In the manu-
factufe Of cigars and cheroOts in this city
Is about 20.
ALLEN & GINTER.
Mr.. GInter, OF Allen & Ginter. manuflc.
turers Of cigarettes, says they employ about
1,O00 people, principally females; that these
Girls earn good wages, and he has no tron.
bic In getting as many as he wants. 1t is
estimated that about 1,i00 girls are en-
ployed here in the cigarette trade.
CLOTHING.
MIR. Sol. Cutchins, Of Oppenhimer e
CulcbiDs. says: We give work to several
hundred women, are prepared to employ a
much larger number, and will do 50 as
rapi0ly as the labor can be sufficiently
trained. Ours is all "piece work." and
The bands get it from the factory and take
il home TO make up. The average hand
can make from 81 to 81 30 week. some
make more than the latter sum. and, o'
course, many fall below the former sum -
and attend 10 their ordinary household
duties. We have not rs many hands
as we would like to have, because
making clothing is similar to IL trade.
and there are a good many women who
will not take the care TO learn the trade 80
as TO make il profitable to them. Some
ladies begin with us, and soon tire OF their
apprenticeship, but those who have a
"turn" for the work soon become accuS-
toned to il and earn good wages. know
Of no other employment that pays as well
that can be as easily and quickly learned.
NILLIssER co.
Mr. 5. IIirsh, OF Moses Millhiser & Co.,
manufacturer Of bags and underwear, says: ::
We commenced about ten years ago and
employed then only few girls. Now we
employ about $50, with hopes and prospects
OF employing a larger number in the very
near future. We find them all OF good
character. They make from SO s. week.
Though our business is plain one, 1t takes
some time 10 make them reliable and to
earn more than SO per week.
II. II. ANDERSON.
Mr.. X, III. Anderson employs large
number Of females IN the manufacture OF
gentltmen's underwear.
II is estimated that the number OF females
employed here in the making OF bags and
centlemen's and ladies' underwear is about
4J5.
A large number OF girls are employed in
the different tobacco-factories, engaged in
puttipg up smokIng.tobacco and labelling
tobacco. Several find employment With
the binders, liair-makers, carpet
stores, and photographers.
Officers Elected.