Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-29
NO LITTLE THOUGHT
Being Given by Employer and EN-
ploye to the Subject of
TOILET ROOMS In THE MILLS.
Many Manufacturers Disposed to Give Their
Workmen Facilities
10 APPEAR NEAT WHILE ON THE STREET

The opinions of a score of workingmen in
yesterdays DISPATCH on increased con-
veniences for cleansing purposes in the
mills and shops of the city, were read with
deep interest by both owners of shops and
their employees. In many of the mills on
the Southside and along the river front
copies of THE DISPATCH were found every
where. When an opportunity was had for
q short rest, the men would gather In groups
and listen while one of their number would
read aloud the statements made by their
fellow-workers.
On the desks in many of the mill Offices,
THE DISPATCH was lying, with the pages
turned over to the article containing the
why's and the wherefores for the supreme
virtue of cleanliness among employees.
The subject was discussed among the men
and their employers, and what the latter had
to say on the matter showed they mad given
it no little thought and consideration. Many
of the mill and shop owners were out of the
city and their opinions could not be learned;
others were too busy TO talk on the subject
when reporters called and others still were
around somewhere but could not be found.
OF those who were seen, but two said they
did not wish to talk on the subject. They
were Messrs. Chess, of the Chess, Cook &
Co. Iron Works, on the Southside, and Zug,
of the Zug & c. Sable Iron Works, on Etna
street.
ALL THINKING IT OVER.
Where the owners themselves could not
be seen, several managers and bosses were
found, and while they generally did not
wish to express an opinion either way on the
matter, they all said thev had read the articles
and had thought the subject over.
The employers. who would talk nearly all ex-
pressed themselves in favor of the advocacy of
the plan by THE DISPATCH, but under certain
conditions. They were willing that the men
who got dirty in their employ should get clean
in their employ also. One mill owner
made the remark that he wished the workmen
in his mill to go out of his mill as clean as the
clerks in his Office, and that he was willing to
provide the necessary facilities to every work
man who would declare such an inclination,
and that he had always done so. Another man.
ufacturer said he was already putting in lock-
ers and better washing facilities for the men
In his employ. Another thought that there
could not very well be much better accommo-
dstions than there were now but he could not
say what he would do about 1t, if the men re-
Quested such things.
The conditions on which one mill owner said
ne would construct some kind of lockers in his
mill were that the workmen should appreciate
the improvements and not destroy them.
Mr.. Frank Nimick, one of the owners of
the Sligo Mill, on the Southside, talked like
this: The whole thing depends upon the men
themselves. The trouble is that they might
abuse privilege of that Kind. 1 can hardly
say what we would be disposed to do We
must necessarily go slow. There are SO many
men who would Just take special delight in
smashing lockers and closets. Even now we
cannot put up cupboard of any kind in the
and smash off the lock and carry it home
We have some lockers now, where SOAP towels
and tools may be kept and we would put in a
good many others if they were requested but
very few workmen ask us for them. Conse-
quently we don't put them up. Most of our
Eorkmen live around in the near vicinity of
the mill, or up on Mt. Washington, and can
reach their homes in few minutes"
HAVE PLENTY OF WATER.
]. w. Friend, one of the proprietors of the
Clinton blast furnce, on the Southside, was
seen in his office, on Water street. and said: 81 |
don't think we can do much better than is now |
found in the mill. The men don't use what |
they have got. 1 don't know what we would /
decide upon if the men should petition us for |
what The DISPATCH has suggested. There is |
plenty of water to wash IN. The puddlers all |
wash in the 'boshes.' and it is as good place |
as could be wanted"
The manufacturing firm of Ritter & Conley,
on First avenue is building new works on Pre-
BILE avenue Allegheny. Mr. Ritter was strongly
in favor of lockers in all the shops and mills of
the city. 1T is good idea, and one we have
Deen aQVOcaCln9 1Or some Jlne." ne SAID. I'VE |
have now new works in course of construction
over in Allegheny, and we are fitting them up
in just thar way. If were a workman l would |
want them, and think every man should feel |
the same way"
Mr.. Zug, of Zug & Co.. on Etna street, had |
nothing to say on the subject. He did wish to |
say what would be done if the men should re- |
quest such conveniences from the firm.
Mr.. Anderson, of Anderson e. Co., machin- |
lists, on First avenue, said: "An manufactur- |
ing establishments should have those facilities |
for their workmen. We have them here, al |
though all our men do not use them, because |
they live nearby"
Mr.. Chess of Chess, Cook & Co.'s mill, on |
the Southside, hadn't given the matter any \
consideration, and he did not want to talk or |
TO be reported on the subject at all.
Mr.. HemphIll, of the firm of Mcintosh, I
Hemphill & Co., sa1d LAS far as we are con-
cerned we want every man in our employ to
have the same privileges as another. BuI if the
men want to go home dirty they can do SO. and
If they want to go clean they have the oppor-
tunity to do SO also. We would like to have
them leave our mill as clean as the clerks in
our office. No man has ever asked us for a
locker or a closet that he didn't get it. We
can't furnish the men with soap or towels. If |
we did we would have to start soap-and-toweI
factory. The soap and the towels would be car
ried away almost as soon as they were put up
II the men ask us for lockers they can have
them"