The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-16
ENGLISH WAGE WORKERS
Unpreiudiced and Truthful American
View of Their Present Condition.
Birmingham in the Dumps-A Visit to He'll
Women Blacksmiths in Bromsgrove
Tenement Work at Its Worst.

Correspondence of the Irdian apolis Journal
BIRMINeHAM. Sept 5-When emerged from
the New-strset Station in Birmingham q ragged
lad begged the privilege of carrying my valise to
q hotel "for penny to buy bread with" After
him grown man besoueht me to grant him the
same employment 'for the love of God" Shaken
off with the utmost difficulty, he was promptly
succeeded by another. and he, in turn. by
fourth. Boys and men, they chung to me with
pertinacity wholly unlike the more independent
ways of the American eamn. Not less than
seven or eight Of them attacked me in turn and
was fairly rid of them only when the door Of
the hotel had closed upon me. Such beegars
never had seen before. even in squslid LIVER
pool. The next day, as was lunching at
birmingham cofee-house-buns, coffee, glass Of
milk cold ham, tiled walls. high panelsd ceiling,
everything very nice; price IA cents-as sat at
lunch a succession of begesrs passed through the
room. standing in mute appeal for an instant by
each of the little tables On the street grown
men solicit pennies In the evening beggars
sing under the hotel windows, aud everywhere
others who disguise their calling under tho pre-
tense Of selling trifes which no one wants
swarm by the dozen.
The Birmingham men are the Yankees Of
England. They make, or did make. about ev-
cry conceivable kind Of article Of adornment or
utility. and enjoy almost worldwide market.
Their industries are widely diversified. and, per-
baps owing to that the Birmingham wagescaIe,
il has been claimed, is higher than in other
Cities Yet in spite of its vast resources, undo.
niable commercial genius aud wide repute as .
manufacturing center, the city is dull now, very
dull. This WAS the universal repor. OK those
whom questioned.
In something of uncertainty which way to
turn where there were so many different trades,
each presenting features Of peculiar interest, I
at last resolved to run down TO Bromsgrove and
take look at the woman blacksmiths, and for
this purpose called at the United States Consul
ate for letters and directions.
Mr. J. B. Hughes, the American Consul at
Birmingham, is, like most of our representa-
tives abroad. . courteous and obliginE gentle
man. and readily undertook to do what he could
for me.
'Is your paper Republican or Dsmocratici7
he asked.
Republican"
"Tten suppose you are getting q club to
beat my party within
Not at all. l want to write the facts as
ind them. The English papers themselves are
Birmingham, and wish TO see what truth there
is in it,"
well, think you'll find that there's good
deal of it, said Mr.. Hughea II think that
when they claim that manufacturers here are
anxious to see the Mills bills passed. They are
rather afraid of it For myself, regard free
trade as a necessity. We want a wider market
for our eoodeL"
Mr. Hughes prepared note Of introduction
certifying that / was IAN American citizen with
an interest in, but connection with manu-
featuring. who would like to see the process Of
nail-making" He agreed with me that was
likely to see very little OF the nsil-making il
known as . newspaper writer. Thus armed,
Pes out for Bromserovs, where 1 soon found
that the letter was not needed. Instead of be-
ing carried on in big factories, nail-makinR 10
done by the workmeu and women in their own
homes, - 10 the case with the very worst-paid
and most slavish toll always and everywhere.
Lying to one side of the quaint main street Of
Bromssrove is . struggling collection of huts,
thiekly huddled together in little groups
threaded only by tortuous alleys from three to
six feet wide. These huts differ somewhat in
size, but are exactly like in construction and
general arrangement Each consists Of Q shop
at one end and house or hovel at tho other,
the roof whereof rises two feet higher than at
ing-room. The whole il built Of brick. 10
the center Of the shop rises . forge with bel
lows, and round it are four anvils. The ''house"
is a single room with q chimney in one corner
and In the other q ladder by which the second
floor is reached. The sleeping room above 10
nearly high enough to stand upright in the
center, where tine roof 10 highest At the caves
the ceiling drops nearly to the floor. Inconceiv.
ably bare. wretched past belief, comfortless be-
You'd the power Of description to convey, are
these squald shanties. Furniture they have
none, the floor is tho ground. the naked brick
their walls. measured two of these novels The
living room of one VAS III feet by IL feet inch
es, the shop the same. Another, one of the finest
in the place, WAS IL feet oy II feet inches. The
most of them vary not much from IL feet
except that the space IN the latter 10 sometimes
abridged by cutting off one end as . kind Of a
closet, and always by the little ladder like stair
in and tho chimney in another.
There is no sewer. nor are there privies or cess.
pools. Here and there about this human rabbit
warren dark dust holes, built usually against
the end Of house, into which ashes and ell
nameless refuse are thrown. Such are some Of
the features Of the nailer's homes.
Entering at random one Of the little shops.
sat for half an hour watching On old man at
work. bent, shrewd- faced and kindly man who
might be some seventy years old. but WAS still
one of the best workmen in the place. The
method of making the nails--theso are all hob
nails, such As are used in rust,cs shoe soles to