The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-06-23
GIRLS IN FACTORIES.
Tine Sturdy Maidens Employed in the
Wire Mills of Pittsburgh

Inc sturdy Maidens Employed in the
Wire Mills of Pittsburgh.
There are probably thousand women
IN the city of Pittsburgh who work in
iron mills making bolts, nuts, hinges
and barbed wire. Over three years
ago the men who had been working in
the bolt works gave such dissatisfaction
that the proprietors decided to try girls
at the same work. The venture was
such success that nothing would in
duce them to go back to the boys and
men. just about the same time the
wire mill was removed from Illinois to
Pittsburgh, and, as the girls were such
a success in the bolt works it was de-
cided to give them trial in the wire
mill. Once again they made a success
and the doors of the hinge factory were
thrown open to them.
For just this purpose the factories
We're visited to see what kind of people
worked there, what prospects they had
in life and what they aimed at At the
first sight of the bolt works one can
not believe that any thing bright or in
teresting could live inside. At the call
of the $50 a. m. whistle girls are seen
coming from all directions towards the
factory. They are generally dressed
tidy and we'll, and with their lunch
baskets on their arms are not unlike
any working girl one may see. The
first thing they do after entering the
building is to change their street dress
for one to work in, tie up their hair,
roll up their sleeves, and putting on a
coffee sack apron are ready to begin
the days labor. At seven o'clock the
last whistle blows, the wheels groan
and screech as if they were weary to
resume another days work, but in q
little while they began to move with
more rapidity and the noise amounts to
something terrific.
Little girls from six years up to
twelve put the nuts on the bolts and
pack them. The ''nutting on is also
accomplished by machine power. The
worker puts a nut on a plate, then,
after catching the head of bolt in the
jaws above, she presses her foot on the
pedal, when, presto! the work is done.
At long tables, built of substantial
wood, are rows of young girls, inter-
spersed with scattering of women
whom life cast forth in their old age.
They pile the bolts, row after row, al
ternate heads, then wrap them in
strong paper.
The girls always come to the factory
clad neatly and well. 1t seems rather
strange, but they never mingle with
the men in the same factory. They in
variably find sweethearts elsewhere
and marry well. The girls were very
happy and every thing moved as
smoothly as steel on ice, until a fore
woman was introduced to take the
place of a foreman. Immediately she
put a stop to all singing during the
day and all dancing at noon. There
was a decided stir among the girls at
these new rules, but they were forced
to submit. Since then they spend the
noon hour reading and doing fancy
work. Most of the girls are experts
with the needle, and those who read
would surprise a scholar with their
quotations. Still the majority are
much addicted to love stories of the
duchess" order. There are more
handsome girls in this factory than
could be found among the same num-
berata reception. They are beautifully
formed and the influence of the oil
keeps the hands white and prevents
them hardening from contact with the
iron.-Nellie Bly,, IN PhHadelphja Press.