Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-10
AS SEEN BY SCOTCH ARTISANS
The Conclusions Reached by the Expedi-
tion of Dundee Artisans.
Condition of the Industrial Classes in
Country-Wages and Expenses.

The Dundee Weekly News Of March "a
publishes report signed by the nine Dun
dee artisans comprising the artisan expedi-
ton to America, equipped and sent to this
country by the proprietors of that journal
to study the condition Of labor in this
country as compared with the old country
The delegates sum up their reports as fol-
lows:
In summing up our reports we would
mention as the result of the irvestiga tons
which we made among the artisan and in
dustrial classes In the various cities which
We visited that labor generally is remu-
nerated at about double the rates paid in
the old country. In some branches of the
iron and steel trade the wages are only
ABOUT one-half more than those ruling
at home, but in the textile and in some
branches of other industries the operatives
receive about three times what they would
do in Great Britain.
Weekly wages are the exception, artisans
in most cases being paid fortnightly and in
several instances only monthly. AS gen.
eral rule sixty hours are wrought per week,
and only in some trades and in mills and
factories is there Saturday half-holiday.
This half-holiday, moreover, is observed in
most instances only during the months
OF June July and August. In the large
work either ffty-four or forty-eight hours
per week, and on Saturday the same as on
any other day. In winter these are usually
idle for about four months. Several Of
the largest iron and steel works have
adopted the three-shift system, each set of
men being employed eight hours contin-
uously. Holidays are few in number, and
workingmen have little or no leisure or
time for recreation of any kind, except On
Sunday, when they may be seen in tens
of thousands wandering about in the parks
of any Of the large cities.
Homes and Rent.
For married persons house accommoda-
ton costs from $40 CD to $40 GD per
month, according to size and location, be-
ing from two to three times more than in
Great Britain; except in New York, where
the tenement system prevails, artisans, to
q large extent, and more particularly in
Philadelphia, where many of them either
are, or are becoming owners of their houses.
live in self-contained cottages, chiefly of
brick and consisting of two stories and cell
lar. The rents mentioned include all taxes.
except the poll tax of 81 or 81 per annum,
payment of which is the prerequisite to
voting in all elections. 1t may also be
stated that the houses vary in size from
four to seven rooms, with bath room in
some cases. All the houses of the working
men visited by the delegates were found to
be more comfortably and neatly furnished
than would be the case of the homes gen.
Il
unmarried workingmen. board and lodgings
run from "a so QSS) to So (2is) per week. In
addition 20 this, they have to pay for the
brushing of their boots-a considerable item
in America, where shine" costs 10 cents
and the washing of their clothes.
The Standard of Living.
The standard Of living Is undoubtedly
much higher in America than at home, and
the men state that they would require to
live better else they would be unable to
work they are expected to do. A builder
mentioned to a delegate, for instance. that
If gang boss" observed a man straighten
up his back he would tell him that he had
better see the time-keeper Fruit in its
season is invariably seen in considerable
quantities on the tables of workingmen.
and butcher meat either in the shape of
pie, roast or stew, is partaken of by most
of them three times every day, but the del
egates frequently heard it declared that the
best beef was exported to Great Britain.
Butcher meat ranges from cents ODD to
% cents Qs.) per pound. The working peo-
pie in America keep themselves always
well clothed. Cotton goods and shoes
are about as cheap as those at home,
but the latter, it is stated, don't wear more
than few weeks. All wooden and worsted
clothing costs, on account of the duties lev
liable, double the sum for which it could be
procured in Great Britain. Medical attend
ance is very expensive in America, running
from 81 (4s.) to 81 cd per visit. Artisans,
~
dent. can usually save about double what
they would be able to do in Scotland or
England, although 1t must be borne in mind
that money in America has. comparatively
speaking, much lower purchasing value.
Married people in particular find 1t very
expensive, although education is free. to
bring up family; and this is probably the
reason why the native-born Americans
have, as rule. so very few children.
Savings of WOrkingmen.
The sa Wings M the oil 70
ally invested with building societies. or in
the purchase of homes for themselves Local
transportation by electric, cable or other
cars is remarkably cheap in all the large
cities, as one can travel several miles for a
nickel q LID: but the quality OF water
supplied in every place visited was such as
would not be tolerated in the smallest vii
lage in Scotland or England The conditions
of labor in America are certainly much
more taxing on the system than those of
the old country. The extremes of tempara-
ture are much greater, ranging in some dis
tricts from 10 to 20 degrees below zero in
winter to about 100 Fahrenheit in July and
August. During these months many kinds
of work have often to be stopped owing to
the excessive heat, and in practically every
industrial establishment large supply of
iced water is kept for drinking purposes and
charged for usually at the rate of . or 10
cents per week. The delegates considered
it very remarkable that during the whole of
their tour they saw scarcely a single elderly
man engaged IN any KIM or occupation, but
they were informed that such were TO be
found in soldiers homes. They met, how
ever, many young and midde-aged men
who had once been vigorous and active but
who had lost their health 1t must also be
noted that in almost every establishment
visited Scotchmen were found, and these.
too, by the way, holding, as a rule. posi- lions
of considerable trust and responsibility, who
invariably stated that, although in some
cases they did not take to American ways
at first. they would never again. If they
could help II, work in the old country. We
also desire to acknowledge the very friendly
feeling with which we were everywhere met
and the extreme readiness shown by en-
ployers and workmen to supply with all
thn inf on vi oh NIn