The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-11-17
THE BIG KRUPP FACTORY.
LIFE IN THE GREAT IRON AND
STEEL WORKS AT ESSEN.
Nearly 1c,OOO-Men Employed-How
the Employees of This Gigantic
Workshop Are Governed.

Essen, Germany, says Philadelphia
Press correspondent, cover an area of
about 1000 acres land in which II, 211
men are employed ia the production of
steel, and also in the manufacture of
countless different articles, such as axles,
wheels, etc., for locomotives and rail-
road carriages; rails, switches and sleep
era for railways, tramways and mining
railways; springs spiral and leaf-for
locomotives and carriages; parts of all
kinds of machinery used for any purpose +;
bridge material and rolls; material for
Jarge pumps as used in mines; all requi-
site steel and iron material for the build
ing of ships of all sizes, for war and
commercial purposes; cannons of every
caliber--the production of them having
exceeded 20,000-and last, gun cart
ridges, artillery wagons and shots.
The gross production of iron and steel
averages $50, 900 tons per annum.
For accommodations of traffic and
shipping in the establishment are used
90 locomotives with 1873 freight car
riages. About 80 miles of narrow and
broad gauge railroad line is laid through
the establishment. One chemical labora
tory, one Photographic and one litho-
graphic studio, one printing Office and a
book binding establishment are at work
for the sole use of the firm Telegraph
and telephone communication goes all
over the factory and an engine company
with 6S fremen and 80 fire alarms is also
there for the benefit of the establish
ment.
The entire establishment is surrounded
by high wall or fence. There are
only certain gates where the workmen
are allowed to enter. This is done for
the purpose of having them under
thorough control The relationship be-
tween the firm and the workman cannot
be better illustrated than to compare it
with large family. Krupp and his
officials assume the right to shape and
regulate the entire doings and existence
of their workmen, not only in the
factory, bat also at home, and this is
how it is done. At 6 A. N. the men
have to be at work. Every one is pro-
vided with check, on which is his num-
Der. When he enters the gate where he
works he puts this number into large
box. Does he happen to be one or two
minutes late, he has an hour deducted
from his work. Is he an hour late, he
loses quarter of day, and so forth.
Punctuality has to be observed and ex-
.cuses are not accepted, except in I'M
usual cases.
The working hours are, on the average,
thirteen day, with reduction for
dinner from II O'clock until 80 o'clock.
The men get paid by the day, or else
they are engaged in piece work but in
,feIthcr case the wages are about the
same.
A man who works by the piece cannot
make as much as he wants to. You see,
il seems to.be the principle of the firm
that no employe shall make any more
wages than he wants in order to maintain
himself and his family, if he has one
Therefore, the man does not get paid ac-
cording to his ability, but more SO accord
ing to what he wants. 1t is hard to de-
fermine the wages of the employees on
this account, in order to compare them
with American wages. Living is re-
markably cheap in Germany, and the
diet is totally different from what it is in
America. But should Judge, from diff
ferent inquiries which made of num-
Der of workmen engaged at different
places in Krupp's establishment, that 70
cents day is about the average pay
of an employee at Krupp's.
At 7P. NJ. great bell is tolled in the
prks, which can be heard for miles
bund, and then the workman goes
lne, and if you will follow me you will
1 how the members of this large family
( kept depending on their great
4 her, the mighty KIupp. A number
ii stores are situated all around in the
Il shborhood, where the workman can
a I his wife or his children to buy
# DDS on card. Ready money is not
8uired of him. The clerk looks at the
yrd and puts the amount of the bill
against the purchasers name in large
ss5S, and the next payday the amount
is taken oil the mans wages, that settles
it. In these stores anything may be chad
for money-clothing shoes, dry goods,
millinery goods, house furniture, grocer
les, meat, etc.
Now then, the workman has come
home, which is again in house belong
ing to Krupp, in the immediate vicinity
of the works, where has been erected a
pretty little village. The street are wide
and lined with beautiful beeches on
each side. The houses are each sur
rounded by large garden and each is
four stories high. In every house dwell
five families, each home being completely
secluded from all others. The accom-
modations are perfect, all modern i'm
provements of comfort are to be enjoyed,
and the people could not wish for any.
thing better. The rent is always de-
Quoted from the husbands wages on
every payday, and the worry Of an ap.
nroachinU rent-day never trouDleS him