Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-06
MILLS PROMOTE WAGES
Girls Often Earn sI.75 a Day in
Knitting Mills.
a Pretty Homo wedding-visited by Nor
folk Detectives Coroners Jury Ends Its
Work An Enjoyable Social Told In a
Paragraph.
Paragraph.

business man In Berkley speaking to
reporter for the Virginian- Pilot yes
terday.
Continuing. he said. in substance,
None of the knitting mills, where the
girls about here are chiefly employed,
dares to cut wages. A short statement
VIII demonstrate why that is true:
There are six knitting mills in this
vicinity-three are here and one mill
each is In Portsmouth, Norfolk and
Lamberts Point.
These mills have an aggregate out
put of 2,225 dozens finished garments
with an approximate aggregate value
of nearly $4,000. daily. They pay
steady wages, and, therefore, they are
attractive to people at a distance. who
come here, by families, from North
Carolina and Virginia, for the sole
purpose of getting work in the mills.
That causes u great immigration here;
still that does not supply the demand:
1t does not prevent the maintenance of
wages here for competent mill work
or; 1t does not warrant any cut in
wages.
IF any mill man should cut. even
to the extent of one cent on n gar
ment. his ship would be cleared in a
short time. Those girls affected by
such cut would simply go to one of
the other mills. Any one of the mills
would be glad to get them. too.
THAT keeps the price of labor up,
even if the mills were disposed. which
they are not. to reduce wages.
Now, while almost any sort of an
employee, who can work at ALL is sure
of earning a dollar, any bright girl of
is years of age can earn S1.25 to S1.75
q day. She can do that right along
after a little experience. Compared to
employees I'm stores, that Is q great
deal better-so much better that 1
wonder why sensible girls sometimes
n store a na-h1lf those
They frequently make not more than
$3.50 a week, and then prefer the work
and longer hours in stores.
1.-The mills of this side of the river
are great inducements to immigration,
besides being a great benefit in CIV
who could not find profitable employ
ment otherwise. That is SO trus that
whole families come here from the
country in order to find employment
for the women.
One feature of that is lamentable,
namely. that frequently the women
support the family on their wages from
the mills. / don't know whether the
men can't find work or don't want 1t,
but it is lamentably true that the wo-
| men often support the family.
However that may be, the textile and
| other mills here make Berkeley the
manufacturing centre of this district
\ of the State. There are many things
| favoring this place as manufacturing
| site, and for my part shall be glad
| to see other factories come here. They
| will assist and promote the prosperity
| of Berkeley and South Norfolk.
A HOME WEDDING.
A beautiful but quiet home wedding
was celebrated at the residence of Mr..
and Mrs. w. a. Brown. on Berkeley
avenue. Yesterday afternoon at 4:4S
| o'clock. The contracting parties were
Miss Grace Aline, their highly esteemed
daughter and Mr.. Thomas Willis Up
ton. The ceremony was performed by
Rev. w. a. Slaymaker. pastor of Arm
strong Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The bride was becomingly attired in
a. navy blue suit, trimmed in white
satin and applique. with hat and gloves
to correspond. and carried bride roses.
The maid of honor, Miss Sadie Brown,
sister of the bride. was similarly at
tired and carried La France roses.
Mr.. l.. w. Bartlett, of Norfolk. was
best man.
The parlors were beautifully decorat-
ed with cut flowers and potted plants.
There were no cards. Only the family
| and a few mutual friends witnessed
the ceremony. After congratulations
Mr.. and Mrs. Upton were driven to
the Washington steamboat landing.
where they embarked on ten days
bridal tour.
| On their return they will reside tenn
porarily at the home of the brides
parents.
The bride Is the second daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Brown and is very popu-
lar among n large circle OF friends.
Mr.. Upton Is the son OF Mr.. and Mrs
Willis Upton of the county, and is a
popular young man.
VISIT OF NoRFOLK's sLEUTHS.
Messrs. Hcppel and West. Norfolk
detectives. were in town yesterday
stolen from Norfolk people during seye-
raj months past. They did not succeed
in finding any goods, but found several
papers connecting Joe Spadey, the
| noted thief who was drowned Monday
| morning, with several prominent court
cases in Norfolk. Spadey served seve-
raj short jail terms in Norfolk
The detectives think that thew. "a
weu as the Berkeley people. have got
ten rid of notorious thief who was
party to some of the boldest robber-
les committed in Norfolk. Since Spa
dy's death the colored people who
knew him say that their suspicion was
aroused by his actions.
KILLING OF MARCELLUS GEORGE
The coroner's jury empanelled Tues
day afternoon to hear evidence con-
nected with the killing OF Mr.. Mar
cellus George on the Berkeley Street
Railways extension, about o'clock
Tuesday morning. convened again at
the Town Hall yesterday afternoon
and heard the testimony OF several
witnesses. and rendered the following
verdict:
The deceased. Marcellus George,
came 20 his death by being run over
by car while on the Berkeley Electric
Street Railway Companys track, at
the corner of Holiday and Barn
Bridge streets, about o'clock Tues
day morning, September 4th. 1907