Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-05-30
but outside the dwelling. The large
workshop thus separated from the

but outside the dwelling. The large
/ workshop thus separated from the
+ dwelling became subject to the vista
ton of the factory inspectors the same
as other manufacturing establishments.
but the workroom in the dwelling, be-
ing used solely by members Of the fam
lily and constituting part of their home,
could not be invaded by state or local
officials. To meet this situation the leg
islature in 1890 prohibited the manu-
facture of clothing and other specified
articles in any tenement building ex-
cept with the permission of the state
factory inspector, who was to issue a
license for such manufacture only
when satisfied that the work would be
done under proper hygienic and SAM.
tary conditions.
While legislation was thus limiting
the number Of workmen who might be
brought together in a dwelling place
through the exclusion of all persons
outside Of the family, economic devel-
opment was requiring the associa ton
of larger and larger numbers of work
ers in single work place in order to
obtain the full advantage of the prin-
ciple of the division Of labor. The two
tendencies combined to remove most
processes in the manufacture of cloth
Ing from the dwelling to the district
shop. What was left to be done in the
home was simply the finishing Of gar
men s-the telling, the sewing on Of
buttons, etc.-a class OF work that nat
urally falls into the hands of women.
Besides these "home finishers," who
comprise the vast majority Of all the
home workers in New York city tene-
ments, there are a few custom and
jOurneymen tail0rs, each Of whom
makes the entire garment at his home
as in former times, SO that the workers
on clothing comprise more than $4,000
Of the entire ~ 900 persons who at last
accounts worked in the licensed family
workrooms in New York city. There
were also among the home workers
somewhat more than 1000 makers Of
neckwear, nearly 1000 makers of arti-
fetal flowers and about the same num-
Der Of cigar makers, while small num-
bers were engaged in the manufacture
Of millinery goods, white goods. fur
goods, hats and caps, purses, umbrel:
las, etc.
The sanitary conditions of family
workrooms have been frequently inyes.
ugated in the interest of the projection
OF the public health against the danger
Of disease transmitted through tene-
ment made goods. But the economic
condition of the home workers them,
selves is also matter Of general inter
est, which has not as yet been ade.
Quately described, chiefly on account
Of thes ddmculties attending the collec.
ton Of statistics among foreign born
persons, who are generally ignorant OF
our language But the factory inspect
orr, who are brought into frequent
contact with the home workers In the
course Of their daily duties, have nat
urally acquired some facility In hold
ing intercourse; with them and were
therefore able while making their
semiannual inspection Of tenement
work places In August to gather q sui
hciently large number Of reports to
show forth with some approximation t.
accuracy the actual 1ncome Of the home
lwpFkers q metropo Titan easements.
The averaeo earnings among the