The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-10
FACTORY
INSPECTORS
REPORT
Ninth Annual Document Pre-
ssntsd to General Assembly.
Recommendations Made.

Yesterday in the senate was presented
the ninth annual report OF the state In
spectors OF factories which Is rather an
interesting document The report shows
that during the year ending Dec. 81 the
inspectors visited 62S manufacturing es-
tablisments. an increase OF IL over the
number visited last year. There were rs
new establishments OF which 81, though
reported, were not inspected. because OF
not then employing Ave women or chill
dren. which would require the attention
OF the inspectors.
The number OF employees found in the
various establishments were divided as
follows:
Males OF l6 years and over, S0.s+o; fe-
males or 10 years and over, j, lOJ. Total
number S6.043. Males under 10 years or
age, 2sS7; females under is years OF age.
25sO. total number Of children employed.
5477. making a grand total OF A,520.
Compared with the report OF last year
this shows an increase OF 1886 In the num-
Der OF men employed. an increase OF sll
IN unmber OF females employed. Increase
OF 1855 I'm number OF boys employed, and
an Increase OF 254 in number OF girls en-
ployed, making grand total or 1906 In
crease In the whole number employed.
There were 100 more children employed
by factories OF the state than In the year
previous. which Is accounted Tor because
OF the general increase and the scarcity
OF help which has made IL necessary to
empty younger help In order to keep ma
shlnery running.
The use OF spinning frames instead Of
mules is another factor. In 1901 the chill
dren numbered SIS OF the whole number
employed. while In 1902 the percentage
was 8, that is. children under l6 years OF
age.
The inspectors remind the readers Of the
report that the necessity of law that
requires all children under 1s years Of
age be not employed without a certificate
from school authorities showing the
child had received certain education,
was recommended In the eighth report.
The enactment OF new ruant law had
been something accomplished in that d.
rection The inspectors have not the priv
ilege OF inspection OF the work certificates
but felt the justice OF demanding the
same, and the inspectors believe, with
permission to follow this course OF In
spection OF certificates, II will be possible
10 remove all children under lawful age
from the factories of the state.
The inspectors believe that the enforce
ment Of provision OF the new truant
law requiring that all children between
the ages OF l3 and IS shall attend school
or go to work. will send more children 10
the shops than 10 the SCHOOLS. III IL not
considered harmful for children to work
If they be not deprived OF the opportu-
nifty TO secure education 1t Is pointed
out that were n clause added TO the law.
providing that children may be put per-
manently at work when 13 years OF age,
a proviso that such children as have
passed the elementary grades OF instruc-
tion In the public schools. much larger
number would obtain the education neces-
sary TO At them for ordinary business
life. and at the same time lay the found
alton for further culture limited only
by their Individual ambition and mental
calibre. The recommendation IL made
that the time OF closing the probationary
period OF school attendance be extended.
The statistical portion OF the report
shows some interesting analyses Of the
figure. The increase shows that Of the
males 341O were in Providence county.
The report recommends that elevators
be made inaccessible from without while
in motion. The sanitary conditions have
improved during the year During the
year there were 1o4 accidents. of which
six were fatal. The majority of the acci-
dents were the result OF negligence on
the part OF the employees.