The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-15
ANSING'SLETTER
II Deals With Pottery and Sad
dlery This Time.
STOKE And WALSALL.
The Biggest Pottery Manufacturer
Talks 0espondentIy.
THE POOR ARE GROWING POORER.
The Pay Of Potters and what They Have to
Pay for Things walsali Gets Along
Rather acknowledgements Voiced I'm
Public Places.

WAIsALL, June 25, 1892. 92.-Leaving
Manchester from the London and
Northwestern station for Stoke-on-
Trent, affords constantly changing
picture to the travellers eye. For quite
period we pass through the suburbs of
Manchester, where the tenement houses
are so closely huddled together that you
actually believe the buildings were all
built first and what little land remained
was called streets. Leaving this city all
too quickly, one cannot but admire the
choice bits of scenery, with here and
there village, and an old-fashioned
towing canal threading its way along
our line of travel. Again and again. in
the distance, one sees large wheels sup
ported high in the air, while smoke issu-
ing from little chimneys near at hand
intuitively inform us we are in the land
| Of coal.
Being on parliamentary" Ia train
run at reduced rate especially for work
| men and poor people in generaD or local
train, one sees many curious types of
people, coming and going, with a con-
slant change of dialect and manners. 1
shall explain more fully about these peo-
pie on my return unless an opportunity
presents itself before that time, but in
conjunction with the mission on which
l am travelling, can say honestly, that
/ have found III nearly every instance
the labor question is discussed, and there
are always complaints made, and dis
afa cfin, avnrassa1 both ac -, x,,oexo,
time and net results. Their opinions
were given candidly, one to another,
and through no questioning on my part.
For this reason in particular, think
there must be some truth in it.
As we proceed far south in Stafford
shire, a noticeable change for the worse
is observed. judging from appearances.
Towns themselves look les, prosperous,
inhabitants still less so, until after fre-
quent stops and long waits, we reach
the little village OF Stoke-on- Trent. I
say little, yet according to its popula-
tion, including Hanley and Burslem, it
is really large. Including the district
surrounding these places, in South Stat
fordshire there are about 350, 900 inhab-
itants. OF these, in the towns inst men,
toned, there are about 1000 people de-
pendent, in every sense of the word. on
the pottery industry. Passing through
these towns, for they are closely allied
on double-decked tram car, drawn by
dummy engine, in itself a singular sight,
and illustrating another form of prfmi-
tiveness in comparison to America, one
has an opportunity of judging as to the
condition of the people. Some of the
streets are mere alleyways, filed with
poor and suffering, while others in
mediocre state give testimony in them
selves that the people occupying the
houses or novels are not AS a whole
surely prosperous. BY inquiry we find
the association and even from one Of the
manufacturers that they. instead of i'm
proving, are going rapidly down hill.
To be sure one sees some very fair
houses, but they are not in the prepon-
derance. Food and clothing are fairly
cheap, and surely must be, for no first
class store in any line, with fancy goods
and prices could live here. The luxu-
ries as displayed are few, little fruit
and candy and that is nearly all.
To explain this situation more fully
let us take a trip through one of the
largest and finest pottery factories in
the place, as well as in the country.
We chat few moments with the pro-
prietor who assures us that the people
are going rapidly down hill. This is
Mr.. Arthur Brumfield, who has endeav-
ored in every way to assist them to the
standard even the poorest workman
should attain, but all to no use. Vari-
ious competing firms, are all about,
employing cheap labor, underselling one
and all, and in every way possible sink
ing the employees to depth from which
no power can extricate them.
From personal observation in the even |
ing, one could see that discouraged,
hang-dog, tired and spiritless way mani
tested in many Of them. / was told a
great many were born, lived and died,
and yet never were able to say they had
been more than fifty miles from Stoke. !
doubt IL there is workman in Amer |
lea, no matter how poor his occupation,
who need say such thing.
But must take you with me through |
this immense pottery, which, after the
sights / had seen, became more beauti- |
full and wonderful than anything have |
ever witnessed. To be sure, IN many |
places where skill at one time was |
wholly used, we have now combina- |
ton of machinery and skill, while in |
several departments the work which |
was once difficult, and demanded deft
workmen, has become purely mechani-
cal. The first department is where the |
mixing of ingredients is carried on. |
Here quantities of clay, flint and bone
are mixed proportionally, and after
being kneaded together, thoroughly |
mixed, and sifted upon sifted II is
finally compressed into huge oblongs.
where the workmen take that which
they require.
II isa peculiarly interesting process,
inasmuch as the quantities must be in
exact proportion to produce the desired
results. Baking Is also an interesting |
nrocess and 10 watch the workman as |