Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-26
AN ENGLISH FACTORY TOWN.
Changes in 1hiriy.four Years.-Llfe OF
the Employees.

NO. 10 r1. NItfhtN'S 'sNf''f
MANCHESTER ROAD, BRADFORD,
ENGLAND, May s, 1s93.-Bradford I'm
Yorkshire) Ia my birthplace, but have
not resided there since 1859. ltha
large manufacturing town Of about
y5O, 900 inhabitants, ana almost full OF
factories--w ooleD, cotton, SILK, e'c,
and hence, like many other towns IN
England, 10 full Of smoke, which arises
from the numerous steeple.like chin
ncys. Upon my arrival here II was
like comingto town | had never
seen before--I felt lost. 30 many
changes had taken place that could
not locate II. Travelling through some
Of the principal streets | looked up AT
the various signs over tho stores, but
my memory failed to serve me that !
had seen them before. L went to one
OF the principal roads near wherel
last resided, and then l began to see
whereI was. Fresh to my memory
came the names Of streets | used TO be
familiar with, but which had long
since forgotten. II called to my mind
scenes and incidents OF my childhood.
Here stood near where had 40 often
associated with my elder brother, who,
nj the age Of twelve, was killed In n
factory, and through whose death
circumstances transpircd whereby We
removed 10 Middlesborough york
shire) and there embraced the
Gospel.
But oh, what changes have taken
place during the past thirty-thrte
years. Everybody IL stranger TO me
ALI fresh faces. New buildings by
the Thousands have been erectod-old
ones have been torn down and rebuilt,
There IL one old landmark which
have not forgotten, and that Is the
old parish church, erected several
centuries ago. Listen TO the bells,
the merry, merry bells! How sweet
10 my ear the sound They bring to
my mind happy remembranoeso Of days
gone by.
made Inquiries concerning old
established firms whom l used TO be
well acquainted with, but could learn
no particulars. Faces L had been
familiar with were not 10 be seen.
Many relatives and acquaintances were
dead and gone years ago. One TAMIL
lar face Ia cousin) was missing--onc
whom 1 had 40 often played with In
my childhood days. 1 had been nn-
ticipAting = warm welcome from her,
but TO my great surprise learned that
she had been laid In the silent tomb
over four Year,.
Wednesday, May 8, 1 visited one OF
the factories In Bradford-a privilege
that very few obtain. The large room
1 entered was full OF looms; tho noise
and CHATTER OF machinery was almost
desfening. At these factories 1t is
nearly all female labor. Where there
are night shifts men only are employed.
They work ten hours . day. IL Ia n
very common occurrence for husband
and wife to labor In the mill TO procure
sufficient TO sustain their and their
families. As soon as children reach
the age Of eleven they are put TO work
ut the factory on half time. They are
obliged to attend school half q day
daily. At fourteen they have Iermis.
sion to work full time. Men working
night work begin ut quarter past o In
the evening and work until q quarter
TO Q nsxt morning, when the mill stops
for Anal -hour-fisst time In twenty.
four hours. They receive the large
sum Of $3.50 per week for twelve aad y
half hours work ct night. Many
Thousands OF these operatives have
smigrated to America, where they
have been pleased with large wages,
better health and other Inducements
which they would not have received
here had they remained until they had
grown grey.
1 deeply sympathize with the poor
factory girl. Al an early age-eleven
years-sho 10 sent TO the mill. When
she arrives at q manageable age she
ia wed, but.still works steadily ut the
factory. Probably her husband 10 work
ing al the same place. In some In,
stances they work at the mill nearly
all their lives. One woman told me
that after marriage she had worked
there sixteen years, and after that hau
taken in washing until her health
failed her. Many instances could b,
related which are heartrcnding.
The poverty and distress throughout
Great Britain are almost appalling to
an American. Upon the streets may
be seen thousands Of ragged, dirty
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ana bAreheAdeu
In many instances. Women, poorly
clad, can also be- seen without covering
for head and feet. There is not SUM
Client employment by far for the work.
Ing classes, and numerous hosts OF
able-b0died men can be seen marching
the streets. How the poor make live.
lihood In many instances 10 q mystery,
and one which l have yet failed 10
solve.
Tho drinking water IL not what II
ought 70 be In England. You can
form an idea when inform you that |
have not had good drink since 1 left
New York. l often think OF the adj
vantages we have In this respect In
Utah. Oh, for drink OF pure, spark.
ling water! oh, for n GLIMPSE OF our
mountain streamsl
desire to take this opportunity OF
sending my kind regards to my many
friends and acquaintance who inquire
concerning me, and will say that / am
enjoying good health and feeling well.
Today l proceed to Middlesbrough