Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-12
INSPECTION OF FACTORIES.



tice Charles b. Lore her first annual
report, which is as follows;
As shown in the appended report, l
visited the numerous factories, stores, |
&C., stated therein, and found nearly |
1000 women and girls employed, ard |
after careful inspection, the neces- |
sity for law requiring proper sani-
tary regulations and necessary accom- |
fnodations was plainly apparent. i am
sure that if the conditions as l found |
them were generally known, necessary
legislation would have been effected
long ago and the evils complained of
reniedied by law.
While in some factories and stores l
found excellent accommodations, in
others the conditions were abominable;
however, since the inspections were
made | am pleased to report, the
required changes were made where
necessary, and various improvements
are noticeable.
When began my visits, was the
recipient of great number of COM
plants from employees, describing tho
Questionable conditions of number
Of places, hut / am glad to state that
these complaints have ceased. Only in
n few places were objections offered
TO having the inspections made, how
ever, after the legal requirements were
pointed out, the objections were with
drawn and the provisions of the law
were complied with.
| In some of the establishments l
found the proprietors ready and willing
| to cooperate with me in the work OF
improving the conditions Of the work.
| ing women and girls, which encouraged
1 ~. tra,s oh in, Of than
| deserve public commendation for the
humane ard charitable spirit mani
| tested towards their employees.
| After careful inquiry among num-
| her Of female employees / Ind notice
| able Improvement in several respects;
| few conn laints being made of the
rough manners and improper language
| Of Inscriptions forenlen, which form
/ erly characterized certain factories; in
fact, the result thus far is especially
gratifying and must be very salts
| factory to those interested in the well
fare of the working classes.
The factory law has now been in
force long enough to demonstrate its
usefulness and that it is q blessing to
many neglected working girls, is evil
denced by the open acknowledgment of
their grateful appreciation to those
| who We're instrumental in having the
law enacted.
The proper function of the factory
inspector has long been recognized in
many of our States, embracing not
only the protection of females, but
child labor as we'll, and also the safe
guards Of life and limb, and the en-
forcement of such restrictions as the
law may prescribe.
In addition to the provision regu-
lating the sanitary arrangements, the
hours of labor as in all the States,
should be limited. Fire escapes should
be provided and the law requiring
them rigidly enforced.
In almost all factories elevators are
in Use, but in many cases small boys,
for the sake Of economy, are engaged
in operating them, and yet it is we'll
known fact that many OF the accidents
with elevators in factories are occa-
stoned through the ,carelessness OF
small boys. 1t should therefore be
unlawful for boy under 1S years OF
age to be allowed to run an elevator.
Itseems to me that the law requiring
I fire escapes and elevators should be
under the jurisdiction of the factory
inspector, whose duty it, should be tc
see that the law is properly enforced.
In some States the owners of fac.
: tories and large stores are required to
report to the factory inspector, al
accidents occurring therein. Thost
: accidents are Immediately investigated
t and repetition possibly averted.
On the subject of child labor,
found q great many very young girl'
) at work in factories, that should be al
! school and while their work was not t.
2 say laborious, yet in some instance!
they worked longer hours than they
should. 1t seems to me that Legislation
! should be effected preventing youns
2 children under Ia years from working
in these factories. They should bl
5 compelled to attend school and care
loss parents who send young and some
times illiterate children out TO work
: often at u years of age should b,
anlendable to the law.
Q The children should be protected
from INSCRIPTIONS and misguided
j. parents and should ba given an oppor
!, turity of acquiring at least common
school education now happily within
the roach OF all. These suggestion
J are made as a result of my observations
y OF the conditions as found them ant
: the experience acquired in the per
9 formance OF my duties during tn
y year.
70 There are features Of the factory law
" which are very important to the work
|. ing women and girls and are now re
!. ceiying careful attention. The subjec
II certainly deserves the thoughtful con
!, sideration of tho philanthropic an,
= charitably inclined Of the State there
;, by assisting in promoting tho work O
. eleyating and improving the moral ant
"a social condition of the working classe
/, and in placing Delaware in line witt
Is her sister States of the Union on thi
+ important subject.
3 In submitting my report / desire t
u publicly commend the Hon. P. L
Cooper, Deputy Attorney General
4. whose valuable services were con
y stantly at my command.
II In closing would suggest that pro
81 vision be made for the printing an
i free distribution Of the report, in orde
= that the people could be informed G
the work of tho office.
y List Of factories, stores, &C., wit
the number Of female employees:
y Blumenthal & Co., 300; Ford Morocco
\. Co., 200; American Leather Co., 81
n ". J.. McClary, So W. b. Clerk Co.
VI 10; Garrett & Barr, 10; W. Jones
Co, Id; Mitchell & Thomas, Il
Tadman & Hickman, 10; W. Beadeu
kopf, 10; Beadenkopf Bros, 8; Charlie
!, Baird q Co., u Stevenson Leathe
" Co., 6; Charles f. Fritz q Co., 4
~ James Bonner, 8; Wilmington Jul
aV CO., 145; Georgetown Hosiery, 132
y. Wilmington Hosiery, 100; Taylor
Hawthorn, 100; J. Bancroft & Sor