The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-02
COMMISSIONERS wR1aHrs REPORT
What He Says about Working Girls
in Southern Cities.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-Commissioner
Carroll d. Wright devotes the last report
of the bureau now Department. of labor, just
out, to the working women in large cities
as special subjects for investigation, taking
those in twenty-five cities of the country.
The three southeastern cities selected
were Savannah, Atlanta aud Charleston.
The report is filed with interesting infor-
nation. In speaking Of the general condi-
ton Of the working women, it says:
SAVANNAH.
Industrial pursuits are almost closed to girls
in Saya nah, partly because of lingering
prejudice against the entrance Of woman into
the struggle for livelihood and partly because
the chief industry of the city--the buying.
handling and shipping of cotton affords no
scope for the employment of women.
In the dry-goods stores, however, girls are
largely employed, and they are also to be found
in a few bookbnderies and, bakeries in dress
making establishments, and in the cotton mill.
The laundries here, as elsewhere throughout the
south, are almost monopolzet by colOred help.
The cost OF living is rather hign in Savannah,
but actual want is rare. The no nes are sepa-
rate frame dwellings, and are we'll situated and
comfortable. The sewerage is good and tn
sanitary conditions generally wei cared for.
The health of the girls is good and their educa-
ton above the average in neighboring cities
The conditions under which the girls work in
dry goods stores are generally favorable, ex-
cept in the particular of late hours. The gen.
eral rule In the city is 10 keep the stores open
until or O'Clock every evening and until 10
or II o'clock on Saturday evening. The rela-
tions between the girls and their employers are
most kindly, and restrictions and discomfort are
extremely rare.
Parochlal schools are a feature of educational
life In Savannah, and are recognized and partly
supported under the public school system
Church attendance is general among the work
ing girls, and moral standards are high.
ATLANTA.
No better type of the new south could be
selected than Atlanta. Manufactures of all de-
scriptions are springing W, and one necessi-
tates another. The large patent-medicine in
dustry caused the establishment of glass works;
bag manufacturers fount it cheaper to make
than to buy their material, and opened a cot.
ton mill; and such reciprocal interests are nu-
merOus.
More working people own homes than in any
southern city visited in the course of this inves-
tgatiOn. Rents are cheap, especially in the
suburbs beyond the limits of city taxes; but
the children of families who live beyond the
city limits are not admitted to the city schools
and, as the educationa system of the country
is inefficient, great illi6eracy exists among the
working girls Their moral condition also leaves
much TO be desired.
The cost Of living is scomparatiyely high owing
to the fact that Georgia farmers ge orally raise
only cotton and buy their food. Meats fruits,
grains, butter, etc, are largely brought from
other states. Wages, except in the dry-goods
stores, are generally low. In some stores the
women receive so per cent. as much salary as
the men clerks. The most kindly sentiments
exist between employers and their employees.
Many shops possess no accommodations what
ever for the comfort of the employed.
With the erection of better business
blocks these evils will doubtless be
remeded. the employer being considerate
OF the women he employs. Great complaint is
heard, however, of the inco pste4ce and
shiftlessness of the girls, of heir ina bihty to
learn TO do fine work, of their unrsliabllity and
absenteesm. Some manufacturers, being dis
couraged by this class OF help, have gone
dressmaking or millinery receive more than
double the pay of the native born.
CHARLESTON.
In no other southern city has the exclusion Of
women from business been so rigid and the ira
dition that respectability is forfeited by manual
labor so influential and powerful. Proud and
well women have practiced great self
denial at ill-pad conventional pursuits in prefer
ence to independence in untrodden paths The
embargo against self-support has to some ex-
tent been lifted, and were there more occu-
pations open to wo nen the rush to avail them
old traditions have become The special
feature, then, of Charleston shops
is the well-born, well-educated girl
side by side in the least attractive pursuits with
the Cracker" They are religious and respect
able, and receive from their employers the con-
sderation due to good conduct and efficiency
Pay is small for men, and naturally lower for
women; hours OF labor are not excessive. and
shop conditions are favorable. The dressma :
ing industry, elsewhere the special sphere of
working girls, is conduct d almost wholly by
colored women The few manufactures which
exist are mainly due to the enterprise Of for
eigners, the natve-born citizen not always
having the means to develop the resources Of