The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-11-18
wEsTMINSTER'S SHIRT FACTORY.
An Industry Whose Full Usefulness 10 the
Community Is Prevented by Lack
of operators.

Two years ago, on November LIST, NJ. Strauss
& Co., of Baltimore, now Strauss, Eisman i
Co., opened a shirt factory in this city IN a
building erected by the Merchants and Man
ufacturers Association of Westminster and
given to them free of rent for period OF i've
years The building is 100 by 80 feet, two
stories high, fronting on John street, and
running back toward the Western Maryl land
Railroad. 1t is we'll lighted by numerous
windows, and heated by steam. 1t is cool IN
summer and warm and comfortable in win
ter Near by is the boiler and engine rooms,
in separate building, and David Myers the
engineer, keeps engine, boiler and pipes III
excellent order The boiler, which is 40
horse power, furnishes steam for heating and
also for the l5-horse power engine, that drives
the sewing machines.
The lower floor of the factory is now used
as a packing room, but it is large enough to
accommodate cutting department also, and
Messrs. Strauss, Eisman 4 Co. will have the
cutting done here Just soon as they can
get enough persons to operate all the ma
chimes. They need forty more girls and
Young women now. They have recently
added a number of sewing machlues, which
are awaiting persons TO pat them IN molon;
just why all the help needed is not supplied
it is difficult to understand. One of the OBJ
iects in putting up the building and giving 1t
rent free was to get an industry located here
that would furaish employment tor females.
Those who took stock IN The enterprls" gave
their money, without any hope of direct re-
turn upou it. for the sole purpose, II may be
said, TO afford an opportunity tor temsies 10
earn n livelihood so that they could be Inde-
pendent and not dependent. The wages
earned are far better than those paid to ie-
nd ha Labor
are shorter. Some of the operatives make
more money than do type writers, stenograph-
ers and cashiers in stores, and the work Is as
cIeanly as poSsible-just as much so as a lady
sewing upou new goods on her machine at
home. There is this difference however-at
home the m achine must be driven by foot
mower. whereas the machines at the factory
are run by steam and this labor avoided
A representative of the Advocate took
look through the factory few days ago, ana
he saw about fifty young girls aud lew oil
n,a,ure ace At work-all neatly dressed aud
apparentlv enjoying their occupation. II
vas 81 beantiful scene, busy seene--So many
fanalas desiring TO be independent and max
inc their own money-ah intent upon theif
uork No task is set, The work IS piece
work. each person being paid according to
the amount Of work done, aud any one can get
excused for half day or = whole day eecA-
sionally upon application. some o. 'he IN mos -,
..,,'-;,.rr.ed oneratives make as much AS 90
- 81 les a day Others make - 30.
=, 90 and S.. so aud $500 aud on down, &C
c,r,l;n,, To their skill, aud skill comes by ex-
narienre The average earnings OF lhe work
srs skilled and unskilied Is about si-5O per
uaek MeSsrs. Strauss, Etsman * Go. have
tense of the building for three more years;
II AZ The end of that time they cannot get al
tbs oDarators they need they may close ~
49, and those employed viii be thrown out
m. c;tizeps who put up the building, As be
fore noted. for the sole purpose OF g1Fiug
e,sv ard remuneralive employment 10 te-
males. hope that the factory vii be eoHii"
ued. ana that all the help needed vii sooe er
snnnlied The character sud standing OF all
appGeans are firsi inquired 'a'o' aud no one
need be afraid Of evil associations
r. b. Ball. the superintendent Is a eeaI
,aops gentleman. and has the WORK Thoroughly
s,-s,..,5,,;red Two accounts Oft the work done
a.. L,nt-one by the superintendent and one
nv each o,,erstor The SHIRTS, Shen CON
pi-,ej are tarsci 10y each operator At ~"FN
-, ,t..,, ANA then they are taken to tue eH'
.r,ioers three ia number. with Mss Minnie
Giggnrd As CHIEF After theS are sh'ppea 10
tbe Raltimors hnuse they are again inspeeisa'
ana 4 any shortcomings are observed, TIE
taos indicate wlo has beeu careless IN Tue
work
The factory = nos turning oa' S7H 'i"As5
shirts-6. 600 week OF ordinary qnallly' II
The desired number Of operatives b secured
The more skilled ones will be Engaged IN IA "A
ing tine white shirts, aPoa which larger sases
can be made.
Tbe machines asei in the factory are OF
,,,;Frreu, make. though The most oi ihein are
S.,a.,cr aud Wheeler & Wilson nneh'ncA-
There are also SIX machines tor sPscie' ~osA,
F.eb .birt goes through the hands Of twelve
r.r.ous. One pits on the iFoa1 taeiug,
apo,hsf makes the yokcs smother The ce''aE'
another the sleeves, another the ~ris'easd''
another works bagsoa holes, another P9t' %"
i,utIou.. and 80 on sulil The garment Is m
ished.
II j. interesting 30 look ~ me tAs'"'t N''N
= -. ,,,.s,-tfv,.. At work VISITORS AiWays
~eieonse-so ,hsy doa'' TAX to the ladies' II
Nnrk