The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-03-16
LIFE !: ON ( the | HUDSON. : !.
BR1CKMAKERS ALONG THE HUDSON
IN 4 CONDITION OF SERFDOM.
The Average ~ Bricl<malser Earns i
$3.50 Year Making Bricks-If
the Winter il Cold He Can Earn
$40 More Cutting Ice-Organix ixa-
ton IL the First Requisite Of Fh IL
Condition Of the Toiler.

$40 More Cutting: lce-OrgnnixA-
ton IL the First Requisite OF This
Condition Of the Toiler. :.
On the shores of the beautiful Hud-
son, not a hundred miles from New
York City, there is a lowlying patch
of ground covering half mile square
where clay with blue streak is found,
from which bricks are made that go to
make up the materials in the construc-
ton of the stately edifices at the Hud-
sons mouth. Near the clay banks are
the homes of the diggers-frail houses
through which the wintry blasts shrek
when the snow flies. I will call the
hamlet East Winston.
In the summer time the hills to the
west shut out the cooling breeze, and
often the suns heat is almost powerful
enough to bake the bricks on the earth
ern floors and save the expense Of
hacking" them in the kiln to burn for
three days and nights.
There are two hundred houses in the
hamlet. The three hundred workers in
orickyards are fairly temperate in their
habits. Those native and to the man
ner born have seen sad results of the
evil and generally avoid rum. The sea-
son for work is short, the summer flies
,ast, and they must provide for the
winter. Birds of passage, who come to
he brickyards in the spring and leave
with the ''black'' frosts, are many of
Them improvident, and much Of their
| money goes to the saloon. Poor fell
| iows! their work is hard. Up at day.
| break, if the day be fair, they toll and
sweat long hours under the fierce July
| md August sun. The fine, dry sand
| hat lines the mould so that the wet,
putty clay may not stick flies in clouds
and parches the throat. They must
| lave drink.
When the sason has passed some may
De few dollars to the good, and these
| Wayfarers take up their kits and
! ,rudge to New York or some other city
| IN search of work and bread.
! The man who has a wife and child
zen in this dreary place is not SO we'll
| off. Most of his earnings have gone to
pay shopkeepers who had given him
| credit the preceding winter. This is
the only home he has ever known.
| This brick-maker has never seen New
York City; he never could spare money
to enjoy such a luxury. His father be-
| core him dug in the banks of clay. The
| digger had little time for school. AS
| I boy he had to go to work in the brick
yard, for there were younger mouths to
/ feed. There was no other work to be
nad.
i r1,o hv;o 1xo toL fho ol,
IF winter. He may shiVer in the cold
Winds, but he We lcomes the chilling
asala atssI hat be viii
i Freeze and hers Rfyvi illl he ork cuTfing
ice, and that will bring, breab for wife
and little ones. ':'2 E:''T<'s1r% u IF;
Employers of the brickmakers live
IN nearby little city. Their elegant
1 homes contain every comfort. They
nave made fortunes at brick making.
Their sons and daughters are sent to
college. There is a delightful prospect
] from the broad piazzas of their man.
siOns, which face the river, and IN the
twilight they $can conjure up pretty
visions Of Rip Van Wrinkle rolling ten
pins with the merry hobgoblins in the
Catskills, whose peaks pierce the sky
roundings are peaceful. There is no
thought of the struggling diggers in the
muddy basin a few miles away, except
a mercenary speculation as to what the
human machines may produce in the
way Of profits.
Building in New York that year was
IalmOst at standstill. There was little
demand for bricks, and millions were
left in the hands Of the manufacturers.
At the opening of the season the en-
ployers of East Winston notified their
men that there would be a reduction of
twenty cents day in their small wages
These workers were not organized, but
in small groups on the rivers shore
they talked over the matter. They fin
| ally, by common consent, picked out a
| leader, who announced that on GER
| tain evening all hands would meet in
| the village hall and discuss the pro-
| posed reduction.
Many of the brickmakers had suf-
fered during the long winter just ended,
| and they and their families were sadly
| in need of money. Every man and boy
attended the meeting. There was a
stormy session., but at the close there
| was determined unanimity that they
| would starve rather than have their
paltry wages further cut down..
A committee was appointed to in
form the owners of the different yards
of the conclusion arrived at by the men
This delegation got no satisfaction.
They were treated as agitators The
manufacturers told them that it was a
! matter of Indifference to them, as there
were plenty of bricks unsold in the
kilns-the men might stay or strike un-
til they got tired Of it. The bosses
knew they had unorganized labor to
deal with, and that it was only ques-