New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-06
FACTORY INSPECTION HERE.
RESULTS OF A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

FEWER CHILDREN EMPLOYED THAN EVER Be
FoRE-MAYY IMPROVEMENTS ORDERED.
Ever since May % the entire staff Of deputy factory
inspectors and John Faney the assistant state factory
inspector, have been in this city Inspecting factories
The deputies are Francis W. Coc George schaubert
johnson Beers and George \. Mckay. The deputy
women factory inspectors have also taken part In the
Inspection They are Mrs. Alexander brewer, Miss
EIecta r. Lockwood, Miss Margaret Finn and Miss
Julia Farley Nearly 900 factories have been In
speced and hundreds Of violations of the factory laws
ordered 10 be remedled. In an Interview just before
he started on his vacation Mr.. Franey said:
More actual good has been accomplished this year
during the special inspection than ever before. The
general condition of the factories Inspected shows
great improvement in every respect The Intelligent
employers Of labor dre beginning to realize the adj
vantage OF the factory laws and not anxious to
evade them as formerly. But most OF the foreign
horn manufacturers, Of whom do not even speak
English look upon all improvements they are forced
TO make by law as mpostOne. We have Insisted on
the immediate discharge Of children under fourteen
years and of those under sixteen years who have not
got certificates from their parents proving their age
In some factories have ordered as many a. fifteen
children 70 tc discharged Yet there were found to be
20 per cent less children employed this veal than last
Mr.. Franey divided the city into four districts and
assigned Mr. COe to the south Of Canast and east
Of Broadway Mr. SClEuDeTt one Soull VI
Il and west Of Broadway Mr. Beers, north Of Canalst
and west of broadway and Mr.. Mckay north Of Canal
st. and east OF Broadway Mr.. COe In his report says
that few age found In his district
rs most OF the factories which he inspected were Of
leather goods cigars and bags. lie also says that
great improvement I'm sanitary arrangements was found
In all the factories visited What caused Mr. Coe the
most trouble seems to have been tho freight elevators
Many Of these had only low gates bars to protect
employees while the law provides for automatic doors
The new Aqceduct, ne asserted, q factor In the
improvements noticeable in the sanitary arrangements
Mr. schaubcit found four small children in his dis
trict and discharged them. lie ordered fifty fire.
escapes, 100 automatic doors elevators, twenty
water closets twenty-five hatchwuy guards to be
put in Altogether Mr. SchnubeTt Inspected over 400
factories and ordered $50 Improvements lie asserted
the majority OF those VINO try 10 cVade the factory
in the district Inspected by Mr. Beers many small
children found at work, and forty under fourteen
years discharged. Mr.. Beers ordered many fire
escapes TO be cleared Of distractions which rendered
them useless and also ordered automatic doors for
many elevators.
January /. Since then he has visited over COO fac
tories most of them places where clothing made.
OF these he says that % per cent work sunday.
Factory law, noticed by Mr. Mckay, is that fewer
small children were employed In the. crowded tcnc-
ment "a tories THIS year thah heretofore Many Of
the children over fourteen years Old that arc employed
do not speak English. Mr.. Mckay had Isaac Green-
baum, OF No. y Bowery fined $40 for employing
children under fourteen years. Mr.. Mckay is the
authority for the assertion that many Itiiians are
entering the clothing trade, and are competing sue
cessfuliy with the Hebrews.
Altogether the results Of this special inspection
of factories Will be of great benefit to several thousands
Of working and women. In time with tho
addition 0i few necessary laws, there is no reason
why this city should not he the model factory centre
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