Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-08
LABOR IN CAROLINA.
1 Comprehensive Report by Commits
Sioner B. R. Lacy.
COTTON. AND WOOLLEN-M MILLS.
These lndustries-Hours OF Work.
Condition Of Homes.


missioner y. r. Lacy for 1894 will be
volume OF $50 pages. The first section OF
Il Is devoted TO a table. statements. and
letters from cotton and w0ollen-mills.
tobacco and other factories. There are
now in operation l67 cotton and 10 wool
len-mIlls; Of these, lOs cheerfully re-
sponded to the inquiries OF the commits
sioner. leaving II which did not refuse
to answer, but which simply ignored the
blanks sent The cotton and woollen-
factories operate 7o3, 1877 splndles and 15,o5s
looms. Fifty-nine per cent. Of the mills
reported, and in these there are 6,32S wo-
men, and there are $40 children under
II years; of the latter, 1870 are boys and
1000 girls. II was mpracticable to as
certain the number Of men employed in
the factories heard from. The mills are
In twenty-nine counties. The number or
DAYS In which they were operated varied
from 100 to $40 during tho year. The
average was about go days.
HOURS OF WORK.
In u counties IL hours was a days
work; in IL counties, 10 hours; in coun-
ties, IL III SDuuAsp h12f hiiA
In / county, IL 2-S hours. In 10 counties
a lO-hour system Is Favored, while IN ~
It Is opposed. Twelve counties say 1t
ought to be fixed by law, and that it would
have a good effect.
WAGES.
The table showing average daily wages
OF operatives is very interesting. The
daily wages OF skilled men vary from 70
lie - e
In Buncombe woollen-mills and Craven
cotton-mlls. The average Is about $685.
The wages OF unslsiled men vary from
60 cents to 81. The average IL Is cents.
Those of skilled women range from 40
cents TO 30 cents. averaging 50; those OF
unskllled women from 30 to 60 cents.
averaging 10 cents Children get from %
10 40 cents; average 30. In ALL save 10
mills, all wages are paid In cash; one
pays all In store-checks, and two pay
only per cent In cash. In the great
majority Of cases payments are made
weekly. In four cases employees are not
paid overtime Wages are reported as
having decreased IN seven counties. and
the financial depression Is assigned as the
cause. The inquiry was made as to what
age should be fixed as the least at which
children should work full time. In
counties Il years, and In counties -
years. In most counties ii Is the opinion
that the age should be fixed by law. EN-
ployment is regular. save in 3 counties.
The time allowed for dinner varies from
So to 60 minutes. averaging 80.
SANITARY CONDITION.
In most cases the sanitary condition OF
mills is reported as good. and the same is
the case as to operatives houses. Four
counties say improvements are needed.
There were not many injuries. one per-
son was permanently and twentythree
temporarily disabled. In twelve counties
there Is compensation for accidents. In
nearly all daily Inspections Of machinery
are made. In one case this Is only made
semi-annually, and in one case never.
In all cases save three or four there are
religious and educational facilities. In
Alexander county the employees do not
avail themselves OF these. and they are
reported as not improving mentally or
morally OF adults from 80 to 100 per
cent, and OF children from to 100 per
cent. can read and write. The financial
condition of operatives is reported as good
in . counties. fair in Is. and poor in l.
1t is said to be improving in II counties,
the same in 2. and not improving In 6.
AGENTS REPORT.
Two men were sent out by the bureau
az an experiment to ascertain the diff
ference between collecting statistics by
means Of blanks and by agents These
agents report: They say the homes or
the operatives are as q rule better, fur
nished than those of wase-earners in
cities In many instances operatives own
their own homes. The mill-owners op-
pose child-labor Nearly all Of them
favor compulsory school law as the
only solution OF child-labor. There n a
considerable difference as to shorter
hours. some saying 1t Is necessary to
work eleven and twelve hours In order TO
compete with the northern manufacturers.
The operatives are nearly all of opinion
that as much work could be done in ten
hours as in twelve; that If mills here
are equipped with the improved machinery
now in use at the North. the latter mil!s
could easily be competed with. and that
there ia as much skilful labor, proper
tionately, at the South as at the North.
REQUIRES ATTENTION.
In one case an agent found mill which
ought to be given attention by the State
Board Of Charities. The superintendent
ran away, so as not to answer questions
The mill was a gloomy place. where boys
and girls not over or and white-haired
women toiled; and these children worked
twelve and one half hours daily. All are
maid in checks on the store. and not one
has in two years been paid cent OF
money. The checks are tradable only at
the company's store, where goods are
charged for at a rate 20 to ~ per cent.
higher than the same would cost else.
where for cash. The Tax-Collector gets
checks. When asked, What does the
nreacher get for his services? the reply
was. eve have none" Then came other
saddenlng replies I'VE have no schools
Not over 10 per cent of the adults ana
none OF the children can read and write
But this is not sample OF North Caro-
lima mills. Far from IL. In nearly all
cases, the mill-owners are Kind TO the
help. look after their religious and educa-
tional advancement, and the relations
OF EMPLOYEES and employers are gratify-
ing
AS TO FARMS.
The reports as to farm statistics labor,
etc. are well arranged. The average days
work of farm-hands is nine hours. Ave
rage monthly wages, 3d. Two thirds OF
the farmers report decrease or wages,
and a third say there Is no change.
Ii IL learned that railway-buildlng mas
increased the value OF land Sc per cent;
that land has during the year declined In
value, owing TO the low prices or pro-
ducts; that land has increase9 In value by
the growth OF towns; that the tendency
IL towards smaller farms; that during the
wear lands were improved, mainly In the
way Of buildings; that % per cent OF land
has been reclaimed by ditching and other
wise. Fertility of land is maintained.
Farmers have improved their mode OF
living. and its cost has decreased. Labor
Is plenty.
eet-Railway Fight Anticipated.
ASHEVILLE, N. c.. January IA sem
sation was created here to-day by the
selling OF the Asheville street railroad, TO