Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-11-02
THE BIG KRUPP FACTORY.
LIFE IN THE GREAT IRON AND
STEEL WORKS AT ESSEN.
Nearly ~, 600 Men Employed How
the Employees of This Gigantic
WorksnOn Are Governed.

Essen, Germany, says IhlladeIpnla
Press correspondent, cover an area OF
about 1000 acres land in which II, 211
men are employed in 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
ers 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
large 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, O00-and last, gun cart
ridges, artillery wagons and shots.
The gross production of iron and steel
averages go, 900 tons per annum.
For accommodations of traffic and
shipping in the establishment are used
2S locomotives with SS3 freight car
riages. About 81 miles of narrow and
broad gauge railroad line is laid through
the establishment. One chemical labora-
tory, one Photographic and one lltho-
graphic studio, one printing office and
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 IS firemen and 80 fire alarms is also
there for the benefit of the establish
ment.
The entire establishment is surrounded
by a high wall or a 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 letter 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 A. NJ. the men
have to be at work. Every one is pro-
vided with a check, on which is his num-
ber 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 a quarter of day, and so forth
Punctuality has to be observed and ex
cUses are not accepted, except in IN
usual cases.
The working hours are, on the average,
thirteen a day, with a 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
either case the wages are about the
same.
A man who works by the piece cannot
make as much as he wants to. You see,
it seems to be the principle Of the firm
that no employe shall make any more
wages than he wants in order to main tain
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-
termine the wages of the employees on
this account, ia 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 l made OF a num-
Der of workmen engaged at different
places in Krupp's establishment, that 20
cents a day is about the average pay
of an employe at Krupps.
At p. NJ. a great bell is toIled in the
works, which can be heard for miles
around, and then the workman goes
home, and if you will follow me you will
see how the members of this large family
are kept depending on their great
father, the mighty k1upp. A number
of stores are situated all around in the
neighborhood, where the workman can
send his wife or his children to buy
goods on a card. Ready money is not
required of him. The clerk looks at the
card and puts the amount of the bill
against the purchasers name in large
book, and the next payday the amount
is taken of the mans wages, that settles
it. In these stores anything may be had
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 a house belong
ing to Krupp, in the immediate vicinity
of the works, where has been erected
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 al 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-
preaching rent-day never troubles him
very much. A small strip of a garden,
where a few vegetables may be raised,
belongs to each home too, and the people