The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-02-01
WOMEN WORKERS.
Their Average Pay in the Large Cities and
Their Moral and Social Standing.

Their Moral and Social Standing.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Carrol1 d. Wright,
Commissioner of the Department of Labor.
has submitted report which relates en-
tlrely to the subject of working women
in great citiesn Three hundred and forty
two distinct industries in twenty-five rep
resentative cities have been Investigated.
The report shows that the working women
in the great cities are practically girls. The
average age in all cities comprehended is
% years and months The highest average
is found in Charleston, S. c., 25 years and
month; the lowest average in st. Paul, 81
years and months. 1t is found, however,
that the concentration is greatest at the
age of Is, there being of the whole
number interviewed 1860 of that age.
The. general average age at beginning
work is shown to be ID years and months,
the highest average being IL years and 10
months, the former at San Jose, Cal, and
the latter at Newark, N. J. The average
period during which the women have been
engaged in their present occupations IS
shown to be years and 8 months, and that
of the 17,427 women involved, 9,540 are en-
gagged in their first trial at earning their
own living Of the whole number, 4,120
are natlve-born. In the foreign-born, Ire
land is most largely represented, and Ger
%bany borny is haInf Ead 1 foregn5orn M 1Ss na fs
theirs and 12,4O6 foreign-born moth
ers. A great majority of the wom-
en- comprehended in the report are
single, the number being Is; $50; only 74S are
women, then, says the report, are, as rule,
single ,women,, fighting their industrial
fight alone. They are not only supporting
themselves, but are giving their earnings
largely to the support of others at home
Of the whole number under consideration,
9,S13 not only work at their regular occupa-
tions, but assist in the housewOrk at home,
the total number living at home being a.
9lS-that IS to say, very large proportion
OF the working women in the great cities
are under home influence. More than half
of the whole, 8, ,754, gave their earnings to the
home life. They contribute to the general
support. Four thousand two hundred and
sixty seven pay board at their own homes,
and only 701 receive board at the hands of
their families. The average number of per-
sons in the families of working women IS
5.25, each of which has, on an average, 2.4S
workers.
The report shows that of the 17,428 who
reported their health conditions at the time
they commenced work, 1880 were in good
health SS3 were in fair health, and 1S3 in
bad health. The changes in health cOndi-
tiOn are illustrated by the fact that Il, ,55
are now in good health, 1855 are in fai fair
tables disclose no particular facts relative
to The health changes in the different cities
or by industries. In home conditions, r.
oa0 report themselves comfortable. while
poor. and "poor" in this investigation, says
the Commissioner, ''is poor indeed" In
shop conditions, however. better state of
affairs exists. The tables upon earnings
and lost time show that of
1882 who reported. 373 earn less
than $500 per annum, and. that this class
lost an average of S6.5 days for the year
covered. The largest number earns 500
and under $3.50 per annum, losing S7.S days;
2,377 earn from $3.50 to $500, losing 31.5 days.
creases, as, for instance, 39S earn from $3.50
to S500a year, and this class lost but 1873
days. These are actual earnings, and are
not statements derived from computations
lows: Atlanta, S4.05; Baltimore, S4.1S; Bos-
ton, 1884, Brooklyn, S5.76; Buffalo, S4.27;
Charleston, S4.22; Chicago, S5.74; Cincin-
natl, $3.50; Cleveland, -S4.6S; indianapolis
Orleans. s4S1; New York, s5.s5; Philadel-
phia, S5.32; Providence, S5.51; Richmond,
1888; st. Louis, $5.19; ST. Paul, $500; San
Francisco. S6.91;. San Jose, S6.11; Savannah,
S4.99; all cities, 1924.
Upon the subject of character of the
working women" the Commissioner, among
other things, says: "From all that can be
learned, one need not hesitate in asserting
that the working women of this country
are as honest and as virtuous as any other
class of our citizens. The social standing
Of working women is becoming better and
better. The honest working woman, en-
gagged in honest labor, is entitled to the re-
spect of all honest-minded people. She
should be welcome in the churches of the
cities, and should be drawn into the best
associations, where social and moral sur
rOundings would aid her in cultivating her
own self-respect. At least, it should not be
possible to class her as the forgotten
woman for her struggle is too heroic, her
hardships too painful, her lot too dreary
for Christian people to thOughtlessly pass
her by.n