The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-26


les. Continuing from the furnaces,
when the block of metal is heated to the
desired temperature, Ii is handed upon
two weeeled truck, and is wheeled by
man to the "rollers." This is a pecu-
liar process. On one roll, by series OF
narrower and narrower openings, this
block Of metal is rolled or compressed
into either strip four to six inches
wide, and sixty feet long. "a
number of steel rails Qarge numbers
of which are made,) boiler plates or
anything which is desired. Continu-
ing with the plates which relate to tin,
we find them carried through roller af-
ter roller, until. as they pass between
the final presses AMI shoot out like a
fiery snake some sixty feet long, they
seem TO be imbued with life, until by
the combined dexterity of some three or
more men with long tongs they are run
along trough fed by water, and cut
into various lengths, and thickness Of
some six, seven or eight plates. These
plates are shipped to various places,
principally Swansea, where they are cut
and divided, and after being annealed
with the tin compound produce our tin
plates.
The men who roll these plates just
mentioned receive the best average
wages, and are compelled to constantly
endure great heat. The average is about
CO or $96S, and the best, for most skill
full workmen runs from f3 to GA, $l3.72
to $l9.36, but honestly speaking, the
highest, or near it, is very rarely
reached. The balance of workmen,
which include the largest number, are
called laborers, who vary according
to proficiency and time spent in position,
from Is 10d to 3s day, 44c to 72c day.
Compare these wages with Hugh
ODonnelrs $144 a month. and the un-
skilled laborers Sc day at Homestead.
There is another class of workmen
large iron works. They may be summed
up as boiler makers, blacksmiths, iron
moulders, filters, carpenters, pattern
chanics Those people are the worst off
of any employed, yet indenspensab
and the best workmen in their class,
good, reliable men, who thoroughly un-
derstand their occupation, and yet they
receive an average of but 3s., or re.
per day of nine hours. They work
many extra hours and in many cases are
compelled to in order to provide for
their families. / neglected to state
that rolling men, who receive the larg-
est pay, labor twelve hours at time, or
shift, as il is called. In the first | said
that the cheapness of coal was the main
reason of these iron works being located
at Merthyn, which is quite a distance
inland. There is an abundance of coal,
and many engaged in mining it, yet l
hesitated about investigating, for the
reason they are practically unorganized
they receive fair wages, and reports and
figures could not be as authentic as |
should wish.
Knowing in all probability, / should
visit Newcastle and Cornwall, and in
spect mines and meet people who are
into the condition as am, and
whose information with my investiga-
tion, would leave no opportunity of con
tradiction, / devoted much of my time
to the iron-workers' wages, hours and
and will report on miners
later on more fully.
As we have visited Denlais' works for |
and taken the standard of |
wages from people in the vicinity (after
visiting other localities), let us also |
question in the same vicinity regarding |
food, rent, and other incidentals. Many |
of the houses in the vicinity are owned |
by Jews. and are more like cattle-sheds |
than dwellings,, in some cases built on
the side of a hill, which forms one side
Of the dwelling, on the first floor, neces-
'arily making il damp and unwholsome,
while above in the sleeping room or
rooms, if there happen to be more than
,ne, each contains one small window
in lead, which cannot be
opened. This is surely far from sani-
AIRY if not deadly.
The rooms vary in number according
o price. Mary are but two-room dwell
ngs. where on the first floor all eat
ogether, some four, five or six, and
scending by a wood en- ladder, in
imilar room all sleep. These houses
re joined together in blocks, and the
ooms are about 10 by 10 feet. You can
tand on the ground and almost touch
he second floor. and with an average
ane reach nearly the caves. No carpets
dorn the floors, and few pictures the
walls. A table and few chairs is the
lverage furniture. Other houses boast
BOAST of three or four rooms, but the
exterior is very little larger in
many cases, so that it might reasonably
De called distinction without differ
ence. They are on little different
prlnClpleS us IollOWS Inc gentleman |
living upstairs has his front door en-
trance one street and also has the attic.
while the gentleman living downstairs
really has the other gentleman's cellar
kitchen facing upon another street. so
they are practically separate. A little
ground in some cases is allowed the
but it requires such labor to
become fruitful that many give up.
Rents vary from the two room tenements
just mentioned, costing 5s. or 81. 20 to
the larger three or four room tenements
costing on an average e1 to G1 5s. a
month, or $4.S4 TO 1904.
The average miner earns in the
vicinity of f3 or $i3.72 per week, but
ont of IL he must pay his helper, which
)f course amounts to considerable.
This is for twelve hours day for six
lays. Boys are allowed in the pits as
Early as IL years of age, il they have
passed a required standard at school.
Their wages are from As. Cd. $1.Os) to
los. Cd. (S2.52) for the same number of
lours according to time employed and