The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-20
The Statistical Work of the Depart
ment, Including Accidents and
Inspections, Set Forth.
PROSPERITY WAVES RESULT
AN ACTUAL DEARTH OF MECHANICS
AM LABORERs.
Employment of Children Under Age
i'm FaefOries-ImprOyed SAN
itary Conditions.

State Factory Inspector McAbee submit
ted his annual report TO Governor Durbin
yesterday. Under an act of the Legislature
OF 1901 the number OF deputies was in
creased from two. to five. thereby enabling
the department to divide the State into
five districts, assigning a deputy 90 each.
David f.. Specs. of V~incennes. was made
chief deputy. and the other deputies APP
pointed were James II. Roberts of South
Bend. ]. II. Clarke of Indianapolis and
Thomas s.. Williamson Of Anderson. Har-
vey a. Richards was appointed in 1899. The
report says that the increase in the number
OF deputies gave the department a force
which will amply repay the State for its
outlay by improving conditions, reducing
the number of accidents due to dangerous
machinery, lessening the number Of dam
age suits against the proprietors. as well
as making better citizens Of those en-
ployed under improved moral and sanitary
conditions.
There were 1891 orders issued by the de-
partment during the year. and 2.413 inspec-
tons made. There were 672 accidents in
factories during the year. go being serious
and $50 slight. There were thirty-nine
fatal accidents. one from boiler explosion.
Infee from saws and six caused by break
ing of shafting. The other twenty-nine
fatalities resulted from miscellaneous
causes.
WAVE OF PROSPERITY.
The wave of prosperity, which was first
felt in the fall of 1884, says the report.
has continued with undated force until
not only has the unemployed found en-
ployment at remunerative wages. but it
has caused an actual dearth of mechanics
and labOrers in nearly all the trades. This
IS more noticeable in the window-glass
houses and among that class of iron work
ers where the old process known as 'pud-
ding is still In vogue. Puddlers are at a
premium. consequently they are receiving
the highest compensation ever received for
this kind Of work. Furniture manufactu-
Iers are employing all who ask for work.
Manufacturers of wOTkingmen's garments
are crowded with orders and sufficient help
cannot be had TO operate the machines now
in position. The same conditions exist in
all parts of the State. Common labOrers
do not have TO tramp IN search OF employ
ment."
The report says there have been few
complaints during the year relative to the
employment Of children under fourteen
years OF age. Most of these were made
by persons who had not carefully read the
law. and when Investigated few violations
were found. The report gives a list of
firms that We're fined during the year for
fragrant violations OF the law. They were
all In the glass business. where boys We're
scarce. Inc VIOLATIONS Were so pam mat
they all pleaded guilty and were fined.
outside OF glass works little trouble was
encountered. now that the department
stores ara living up TO the requirements of
the law.
The report says the department has been
repeatedly solicited by the mothers of those
under fourteen years of age for permission
for their children to work. Many of them
were very persistent IN their solicitations,
as they could not understand why the
state would not allow their children to
work uVhaO fhpU uarp their only CfInnorf
The number OF illiteIate children reported
at work in factories is surprisingly few,
says the report. They are so few-nOt
more than a dozen In the entire State-that
the department can scarcely credit the re-
ports secured from manufacturers on this
subject. II is pointed out that the few
illiterate children are from States south of
Indiana who have moved into this State.
SANITARY CONDITIONS.
? Regarding the sanitary conditions the re-
port says:
while many of our factories are not just
what we would like to have them, yet the
we feel TO force these improvements beyond
the education Of both employer and en-
ployed would be a detriment 10 all con-
Cerned. So we have endeavOred to cult
vate a spirit OF emulation. and we find that
Just as soon as one establishment improves
their conditions their ~neighbors as well as
their competitors adopt these improvements
and Others that have proved to be practical
There - a continual Improvement apparent
all over the State. This perhaps is more
marked where the larger part of the EN-
plOyes are females. who apparently take
more kindly To these betterments.
w sincerely hope that the time is no
far distant when all those places where tn,
wOTkmen become dust and SCOT begrimeC
shall be provided with bath and other "a
cilities for their employees so they may by
seen on the streets on the way home ap-
pearing and feeling like American citizens
This would have as beneficial effect OF
many men as does the clean linen and
china on the tables of the dining rooms
where women are employed. who carry the
idea of a lastly arranged table home will
them. possibly this being their first lessor
I'm this line. The moral effect is well wortT
the trial, especially since those who have
tried these methods claim that 1t pays in
dollars and cents"
In reference 10 the weekly wage law the
report says that the department has beer
unable TO lave any of the suits brought
against some of the larger corporations
reach the Supreme Court. The law is very
generally observed. except perhaps "A few
OF the stone quarries that are still payfng
monthly. having an agreement with then
men To that effect.
DCnH AMI CnHTErU