The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-19
.LANSING'SLETTER
The Industries Of Leeds Are
Many.
HOW WORKMEN LIVE.
Tables of Prices for Articles o1
Household Use.
THE INP0URING JEW TAIL0RS,
Evidence Concerning Their Wages From
Conservative British sources-Thc
Root and Shoe Industry-Woman
Labor Universal and Under Paid.

LONDON, Aug. 1s.-Although Leeds
is generally associated with Bradford,
in speaking of cloth manufacture we
must take exceptions to it, as at the
present time much of it is done within
the borders of Bradford, Huddersfeld,
Halifax ard other surrounding towns.
A little dyeing and some finishing con-
stitutes Leeds part in the preparation
for market Of our present woolen cloth.
This was not always so, but is at pres
ent, and as If to make mp for the loss,
she has adopted varied number of in
dustries. Leaving the cloth industry to
Bradford let me call your attention to
the industries most prominent in Leeds
to-day. Large glass-making factories,
iron works, steam ploughs and engines,
stone quarries, firebrick works, printing
establishments, machine shops, shoe
factories, paper mills and the already
described screw factory. In the matter
of printing, after inspecting Alf.
Cookies large establishment, and view
ing the work turned out by this enter
prising concern, can safely say for ex-
cellence they can no doubt, when occa-
sion requires, give the London firms
quite rub.
boot and shoe trade in Leeds for my
readers, believing it TO be one of the
most important industries and most easy
of access. These shoe making establish
ments turn out an entirely different class
elsewhere. Their speciality and, in fact,
<taon ohro
strong ones with nails. Immediately
you can see the demand for this produc-
tion is largely from home consumers il
the year there will scarcely be any work
thus bringing even high rate of wages
down to very small average.
1t is safe to say there are 5000 hands
employed in this industry within the
boruers of Leeds and immediate
vicinity. If these 5000 men were fully
employed the year round, their average
weekly earnings would possibly amount
to 26s or 1924 for skilled mechanics,
but taking into consideration the above
forced idleness the average is lowered
to about 1G or $4.S4. There are some
special classes. who earn during the
busy season 36 to 3Ss ($S.64 to 80. 12)
with the usual decrease during dull
months. The average rentals of the
first mentioned is from As to 4.6 per
week, (.96 to $i.00 and the last men,
toned from 6s to rs Cd per week
($1.A to $1.S0) Gas is 2s 2d per
month (52c.) These homes are not
of the best within the borders
of the city. A cellar kitchen, room
above, and one of similar size for bed
room above, sometimes divided in half,
constitute the home. They are built
back to back, one facing either street,
with no yard, and perhaps so or more
tenements to the block. On account of
no yards the wet clothes are swung
across the street from house to house,
gathering the dirt from passing travel
and SCOT from adjoining chimneys. One
can also judge from these statements
about the manner of living. / was
assured food was as cheap here as any
where in Britain, as well as general cost
of living. Below is the usual table: