St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-17
FACTORY INSPECTION.
"A Sample Case at Minneapolis
A Reform Needed.
To the Editor of the GLOBE.

To the Editor of the Globe.
Among the laws which the working
people wish to have passed at this ses-
sion of the legislature is one providing
for factory inspectors. They are much
needed. Perhaps case in point will
serve as an illustration. There is an
overall factory on First avenue north,
| between First and Second streets, where
| goods are manufactured for Wyman,
| Mullin & Co. The work is given under
contract to F. w. Nevins. who employs
| from $50 to 200 girls. The factory is
| situated on the second and third floors
| of brick building. The building has
| received no inside finish, except a coat
! of whitewash occasionally applied to its
| walls, while the rough rafters make a
| dingy ceiling. No elevator is provided,
| nor, on the third floor, any means of
ventilation, except from sky
light, which has to be kept closed
on account of being directly over
an operatives machine. The windows
| at each end are curtainless and dirty.
1t is rumored that the floors have never
been scrubbed. 1t Is fact that they
| are not swept unless the girls take
| be at work. All rags aau paper are
| pushed to one end of the roc II, serving
| as nests for mice and other vermin. The
| third floor is heated by two large stoves,
which are quite inadequate fo. ILs pur-
| pose. Many days there is no ire 1T all.
| The closets are sometimes out Ot order,
| thus adding sewer gas to other discOm-
/ forts of poorly ventilated factory.
r., Now, all these diScOmfOrtS could be
avoided if the employer would take a
| little trouble to make the factory COM
| Portable. But he protests that he
| doesn't want his business iEterfered
with by outsiders. 1t might be thought
! that there are some means OF compell-
| Ing him to treat employees more fairly,
but such is not the case.
John Lumb. the commissioner of
| labor. claims that under the law at
| present governing the bureau OF labor
| in Minnesota. he has no power in such
| cases. DR.. Kilyington, the health in
! spector. says he has no authority over
| the sanitary condition of the building,
until the present laI are amended.
8 There is no fire e,Sra - Oh the build
ing, although the ordinance requires
one on building of that height, but the
| building inspector hasn't got to that
| place vet, so that nearly 200 girls work
| daily in building that is practically a
fire trap. surrounded by filth and dust,
| breathing foul air and suffering from
| cold. When in addition to these dis
comforts it is remembered that for the
past three months there has only been
work to keep them busy on an average
of three days in the week, making their
earnings from So to 81 per week. one
wonders that they don't give up the
| struggle in despair.
Of course the amountof work and rate
of wages are governed by the market.
But if there were law giving factory
inspectors authority to remedy cases Of
gross neglect then the surroundings
| might be made more cheerful.
The girls are powerless to help them
selves. being obliged to take work upon
whatever terms it may be offered. If
public opinion could be aroused in their
| favor it would insure better surround
ings. And why not expend little SYM
pathy and charity upon girls who are
trying to earn an honest living. Then
| less would be needed for police courts
| and Bethany home. RAMBLER.
Minneapolis, Feb. 16.