Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-01-31
LETTER FROM ENGLAND.
Improved Condition OF the Working
Glasses and Other Matters.

BIRMINGHAM, England, January
10th, 1890. Correspondence of
the DEsEREr SEws.}-S!nce my
arrival IA England on the end Of
November last have had the OPP
pOrtunity of noting many items of
interest.
That vast improvement has
taken place in the general con-
ditiOn of the working classes is be-
yond doubt. Wages I'm nearly all
the branches OF industry are con-
siderably higher than was the case
when left England twenty-eight
years ago. The commodious tene-
ments erected show an evident de-
-sire on the part of the owners to
make the occupants comfortable.
Food is remarkably cheap, with the
exception of meat, and in this re-
spect the importation Of American
and colonial productions tends to
keep down prices. Clothing is down
toa minimum; ami yet, in spite Of all
this, poverty is rampant everywhere,
supeTinduced 10y an excessive use Of
intoxicating liquors. This consump-
ton of .'drinko goes on in spite Of
the great efforts of the numerous
missions by the churches and tenn
perance organizations. Ii goes with
out saying that this country possesses
the elements of n comfortable exist
ence for all classes. but they are
neutraliZed by the demoralizing ef-
fleets OF the drink traffic. At meet
ing held in Birmingham a short
time ago it was gravely asserted
that n large number OF licensed
liquor shops and alehouses were
owned and controlled by city and
county officials, and instances were
given where the business was owned
as stock company, Christian min
listers being among the shareholders,
Under these conditions il is no
wonder that the uneducated classes
will indulge their propensity for
liquor, thereby impOverishing their
families, andi in many cases being
compelled to seek relief from the pa
rochiai authorities.
While in Manchester ! visited
some OF the large cotton factories.
As an example of the importance Of
the improved machinery introduced
into the spinning departments Of the
cotton industry, it is calculated that,
under the old method Of single-wheel
hand-spinning, one spinner, by work
ing fifty-six hours, could spin five
hanks of No. 80 twist. With the
appliances now at command one
man with the assistance Of two boys
can produce 55,0gS hanks Of the
same description Of twistin the same
time. The enormous sum Of ESQ.,
900, 600 is represented as the none
tary extent of Manchester's trading |
operations, 1000, 100000 yards OF
cloth being sold annually. The
rapid increase Of the population is |
evidenced by the fact that whereas
a few years ago the various towns
and villages could be readily defined |
by the cluster of houses there, one
can new travel in almost any direc-
ton from Manchester and find miles |
upon mills of streets, the lines Of the |
respective towns being defined by |
poles placed in the ground
| am enjoying my labors in the |
missionary field. There is but little |
inclination on the part Of the masses
to listen TO the message we bear.
Still we do not feel discouraged, but |
try in our humble way to dissemi- |
nate the truths Of the Gospel by
bearing our testimony To the people, |
distributing tracts, etc. My travel
ing companion is Elder Charles II. |
Lyman, Of Parowan- We are labor-
ing in the Northampton district of |
the Birmingham Conference, among
a good class of people.
My sympathies extend most heart |
lily to the members Of the Peoples
party in Salt Lake, who are now
struggling so manfully to hold their |
own against those who are SEEKING
to ruin the prospects Of our beautiful |
mountain city. God prosper His
work in all lands.
w. G.. Buckley.