St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-15


find a certain class of evils exist even
among the best. About 400 women are
EMPLOYED in this business, not counting
the Office help.
One morning a short time ago, on my
way to work, l got into conversation
with laundry hand: You can mostly
pick out laundry girls in any crowd, she
remarked. "They are stoOp-shouldered
and have such pinched faces and hollow
eyes. Look at that girl just passing;
she walks and acts like feeble old
woman, yet she's only young girl made
old and miserable by the work."
whats the reaSon"'
"Oh, | dunno: never thought any
thing about the reason of it, but know
some laundry work kills even the stout
est girls in few years."
Thinking that for such results the
causes would easily be apparent, did
not ask as many questions OF the girls
as usual, but mostly noted their con-
ditions and surroundings myself. Many
of the conditions spoken OF in each es-
tablishment might be applied to all.
THE CASCADE LAUNDRY
on Second avenue south, between Third
and Fourth streets, first attracted my
attention, because in the window sat
two girls at polishing machine for
cuffs and collars. Nov I've made a
mistake" thought /, "these girls do not
look overworked nor unhealthy, and
what handsome office Mr.. Purchase
haSp'
| stepped into the office, intending to
ask permission to 90 through the eStab-
lishment. There were several persons
in the office, among them poorly clad
old woman, Standing near her, over
heard the following conversation: -.
"Fd like to go up and see Mary s."
she meekly requested.
mo such girl works here" replied
the dude bookkeeper, without looking
up.
''But she does, and I want to see her"
Cant you wait until noon"'
mo, because Pm going away On the
train; won't keep her minute II you'd
let me 90 see her."
well, if you must see her, suppose
] can call her down here" and with the
air of one comforting a great favor, the
aforesaid bookkeeper went out, return
ing in moment, he said:
MARY says she's too busy to come
down stairs"
Don't make no difference to me, I'd
Jest as soon go up stairs and see her,"
insisted the old lady.
mo you don't. No outsider allowed
any farther than the Office" was his de-
cisive reply.
1t seemed to me that it must be pleas
ant to be shut off entirely from the
outer world during working hours.
| didn't wait to ask permission, but
watched an opportunity when that
obliging young man was otherwise en-
gagged,
ISLID PAST
Il Il IN
the laundry. The building is three
ings, and is pretty clean except the
wash room.
On the second floor were the starching
and ironing machines, A number of
girls were standing at the various ma
chimes and busily working.
GLOW much are you paid day?"
1--WE don't get paid that way; we
get 10 cents an hou1 if we are good
workers."
That's about Sc a week, isn't it?"
mo, we never have work but five
days in the week, SO the most we can
earn is S. week."
do you stand all dayW
''You bet we do; ten hours a day
straight" answered stout Swede girl.
Yes, and get lots of work running the
"How can you endure such work?"
Its awful hard" answered one, "but
we have better time here than in a
good many other places"
''HoW SOP"
"You see we get our pay regular, an
the place is clean, besides, we get ice
water to drink in summer. Some places
there's nothing but river water"
Don't you be so sure about its being
clean all the way through" called girl,
who was passing. "Come down and
see the wash ROOM" We started down,
but my guide had an errand to the third
floor. Of course 1 went along. The
stairway was long and totally dark, as
CROPPED my way up. couldn't help
thinking what trap that stairway
would be in case of fire. The polishing
machines here, as in other places, had
danger" cards hung above them.
THE WASH ROOM.
We took the elevator to the wash
room in the basement. 1t was so dark
after l had padded and slipped around
awhile, knew several things about that
floor. 1t was of stone, cold. wet and
slippery. The steam filled the air and
dripped from the ceiling and wall. The
place was lighted from two windows be-
low the level of the sidewalk. Itlooked
more like rat hole than a place where
women were forced to work. The girls
in this department were all foreigners
One said:
'1t's no good to hire American girls
to run these heavy machines, those girls
wear out too quick"
The steam, darkness, heat and smell
from dirty clothing made a disgusting
combination. didn't wonder that the
proprietor refused admission to visitors
Such work room is disgrace to hui
mainly.
l asked one girl. 'How much are you
paid for washing?"
'I've earned only $3.50 or 81 at first
I'VE Oat 10 cents an hour 1uhan I'VE learn