Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-08-27
ABOUT CHAD LABOR.
Chattanooga Tradesman Has Investigated Con
tr diiions In This State. 3ilaia e

eating the child labor law of this
State and says:
In 80 far as South Carolina is con-
cerned il will no doubt be great
surprise to people to learn how few
children under IL years of age are
employed in the mills. The Trades
mans facts were obtained this sum-
mer, when none of the children of
mill operatives are at school, hence
their number in the mills is greater
at this season than at any other.
The following are some of the
facts
Lewis w. Parker, President of
the Victor Manufacturing Company,
says that there are $50 operatives in
the mill, of whom there are 27 child
rem under 12 years of age. Mr..
Parker regrets that the number is
unusually large at this time, which
is due to the fact that the school
closed July 1. This mill operates a
school nine months in the year, pay
ing three teachers and the expenses
of the school generally out of it's
own funds.
John A. Law, President of the
Saxon Mills, Spartanburg, says he
has 275 people on his pay roll. Of
these 8 are children under IL years
old, and they will be put out as soon
as school begins, he says. There is
free school in the village running
eight months in the year.
Arthur T. Smith, of the Langley
Manufacturing Company, says that
mill has 900 employees at work, of
whom Id are under IL years old.
This corporation runs free school
four months of the year and the
county five months, making nine in
all. Mr.. Smith states that every one
of these children will go to school
on the reopening.
James l.. Orr, President of the
Piedmont Manufacturing Company,
says that there are 1923 names on
his pay roll, of which Sc are between
the ages of 10 and IL years. All of
these are sweepers and jackers and
are children of small families who
are dependent upon them for liv-
ing. There is not one under 10 and
only 13 under II. There is regular
graded school with principal and
seven teachers, and running ten
months in the year, and all of it is
paid for by the company.
Ellison A. Smyth, Of the Pelzer
and Belton Mills, says in the Pelzer
Mill there are 2,543 operatives, of
whom 25 are under 12 years old, and
in the Bolton Mill there are SAL ope-
rativos, of whom 13 are less than IL
years old. He says:
cat both Pelzer and Bolton we
have contract book, which is signed
by the head of every family we en-
ploy, and in which it is agreed that
all children under IL years of age
are to go to school provided by the
mills every day the schools are open,
and children over IL are to be en-
ployed in the mill. Our schools run
for nine or ten months and will re-
open on the 1st of September. l
find that during this holiday time
some of the children under IL years
of age do get into the mill to work,
though they are not wanted and
their employment is forbidden, but
often the children want to work and
make their wages. Of course, there
are special exceptions made to our IL
year rule in individual cases, owing
the poverty and needs of the Wild
owed mother or the invalid father,
or, in the case of orphans, to the
condition of want in which the
grandparents are found to be-"
j. /. Westervelt, of the Brandon
Mills, Greenville, says there are 207
employees in the mill. Nine are
males under IL and three females
under IL, although they are jnst a
few months removed from that age.
These are more than usual on account
of the school being closed, which is
run ten months.
Thomas f. Parker, President of
the Monaghan Mills, Greenville, says
there are 388 operatives in the mill, min
of whom % are under 12 years.
There is school open for nine
months.
u. @. Poag, Superintendent Of the
Goldville Manufacturing Company,
says there are SO operatives in this
mill, of whom 8 are under IL years.
II. Il. Fewell, President of the
Arcade Mills, Rock Hill, reports that
L