The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-20
RUSSIAN WORKINGMEN
GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR
CONDITION IN RECENT YEARS.
Factory I. nds Are Also Land Owners
and Divide Their Time-Sweeping
LEGISLATION in Their Favor.
New York Evening Post.

New York Evening Post.
. In Russia, which is an agricultural coun-
try, the great and small MANUFACTURES
take their workmen from among the rural
population. For the greater part workmen
in Russian factories are, at the same time,
land owners, who are not factory work.
men by profession. The wages they earn in
factories are not their only means Of ex-
istence, but are only accessory to what
they get by their agricultural labors. The
workman loves his land, and does not like
to leave it permanently for the factory; he
has, therefore, continual intercourse with
his village, and goes there yearly TO see
his relatives, and still more to cultivate his
little farm. Therefore II. life of the Rus
sian workman is quite different from that
Of the Russian abroad. Thus, having his
own land, he is more independent in sign
ing a contract with his master, and can de-
mand higher wages than if he had no land
and no home. He does not always take adj
vantage of this circumstance. Nevertheless,
he always has in view that, in case OF fail
ure, he can always return to his village.
where he will get board and lodging. This
is the reason why, in the manufacturing
localities of central Russia, the wages
change regularly twice a year; In spring
and summer they are 10 to 20 per cent.
higher than in autumn and winter. This
occurs because in spring many workmen
return to their villages for field labor, and
hands become scarce in factories. This fact
also determines the term of service. In the
central governments the workmen are gen.
! orally hired from Oct. 1 to Easter, when
field work begins, or from Easter to Oct.
], when all field work is ended.
Being an agriculturalist by nature, and
- &c. w.A~1r 80 he. H. ..f.Afnn
kind of labor, the Russian workman sell
dom tries to perfect himself in any other
industry, and seldom chooses other occu,
effect upon his earnings, but, on the other
hand, in case of need, he finds a place
I0lS tb more easily Sill ol IL some some f oSe
special industry; especially as. having
great natural capacity. he easily adapts
who had had many workmen under him
both in England and Russia, once de-
clared that a Russian workman would
learn as much OF a new trade in three
months as an Englishman would learn in
three years. Thus, the Russian workman
frequently works first at one factory, then
at another, when the two have nothing in
common.
The Russian workman spends very little
of his earnings in food, lodging and dress
as compared with the workmen If other
countries. His demands are very modest.
His food is very simpe, though abundant.
and suits his taste. 1t consists of stchi
cabbage soup, meat, hulled buckwheat
boiled into thick Cruel, with linseed oil,
for dinner and supper; for breakfast, tea
and sour black rye bread. On fast days,
which are many, he eats fish, mushrooms
and vegetables, instead of meat. His prin-
cipal and favorite beverage is kvas, small
beer brewed from the sour black bread,
or direct from the rye meal, AS in many
factories tea and sugar are furnished by
the proprietorS, the workman's food be-
comes still less expensive. The factory
owners get these articles in large quanti-
ties, and buy them very cheap and OF a
fair quality.
BOARD AND LODGING.
In Moscow, for example. a workman's
board comes 10 about S2.25 TO $3.50 a month,
or from 81 to $50 a year. But for the most
part, both in towns and villages, the work.
men board at their own expense. In order
to reduce the cost they form associations
or clubs, called artels, and board together.
An artel is generally formed either of work.
men from the same village or from the
same factory section. They choose a chief
among themselves. who has to arrange all
the affairs OF the club. They also appoint
several members 10 control the chief,
called the starosta. The starosta buys ali
the provisions, engages a cook. keeps the
accounts and calculates what each men,
Der OF the artel is TO pay. The accounts
are then presented to the administration
of the factory, which pays them out OF the
earnings OF the workmen. The administra-
ton furnishes the artel with a kitchen,
fuel. water and an eating room free, all
| each person. Thus the workmen receive