The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-24
HILDREN IN l. ALL THE MILLS Reports by Dr. Bragg Sent to Senate. THIRTEEN FACTORIES INSPECTED Arraigns Sanitation and Ventilation
 of Mills. AlnshOuses and Jails of Various Couu- ties are Reported on, Many of
 Them Being Severely
 Criticized.
THIRTEEN FACTORIES INSPECTED

Report made by Dr. Shirley Bragg, State Inspector of Jails, Almhouses and Cotton Mills, reports which have lain in the Governors office for several weeks until they were sent for by the Senate in the form of a resolution pre- scented by Senator Thomas, show that in the thirteen cotton mills of the State which he has inspected, children are employed and they are apparently un- der age.
 The condition of the two mills of which Governor Conner iSNle largest owner, the Avondale and tie Sylacau- ga mills, are highly praSad by Dr. Bragg.
 The reports in general contain se- rious reflections on the sanitation and ventilation of the mills. The sanita- tion in many instances he found ex- tremely bad. In one mill he reports the unfortunate fact of negroes and whites working side by side. He found many children in the mills who were undoubtedly under the age fixed by the present child labor law, con- dition which indicated the need for . real child labor law.
 The thirteen reports which are the first written by pr. Bragg which have been made public are far from compli- mentary of the conditions which exist. He has something to say of the long hours in which the employees are conn pelled to work.
 The report also criticises the aims houses which pr. Bragg has inspected. He notes the fact that several inmates of the Jefferson County almshouse gre violently insane. Efforts have been made to get these patients in the State Insane Asylum at Tuscaloosa. but the efforts have failed. Dr. Bragg sug- gests that the attention of the asylum authorities should be called to the Jef- ferson County cases.
 The report scathingly arraigns the Jefferson County jail, among others. pr. Bragg declares that the jail is hot only unfit for humans. but 1t is uhft for even animals. Several other tails in the State are declared to be unht to keep human beings confined.
 Following are extracts made from the report of Dr. Bragg:
 Cotton Mill Conditions.
 Anniston Manufacturing Company Thirteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty aflt spindles; make sheeting. shirting, drilling and yarn. Ventilation only by window. Labor employed. 264: about 70 per cent. females. Sixty-fve children worked in this mill under h years of age. No commissary. Oper- ative's houses seventythree, and rents g. 50 to $6.50 per month No closets in these houses. Kindergarten and public school adjoin village. NH fur nishes a church. Working hours, 6;30 a. m. to 5:30 p. m, forty-fve minutes for dinner. Stop at p. m. Saturdays.
 Birmingham Cotton Mllls-Three thousand spindles, makes yarn only. Fifty laborers. including several chil- dren. Ventilation by window only. No commissary. Working hours, a. m. to 6:20 p. m, and close Saturday at D. m.
 Ayondale Cotton Mills--Conditions are good. Forced ventilation and ev- erything clean. Mill maintains a pri- mary and grammar school, also kin dergarten with fair attendance of pu- pills Also maintains day nursery with competent lady in charge. Work ing hours,~6 a. m. to D. m. with thirty minutes for dinner. Close at 3 p. m. on Saturdays.
 Ashcraft Cotton Mills, at Florence Six thousand, two hundred and forty spindles. and makes sheeting. Venti lation by window only and very poor. Closets in bad condition. Employs 133 people nearly equally divided between males and females No commissary and houses rented to operatives at 30 cents per week per room. Few children em- ployed and some under age. Working hours a. m. to D. m. with thirty minutes for dinner Close Saturdays at 12 noon.
 Cherry Cotton Mills, at Florence Eleven thousand spindles, makes yarns only Work more females than males. About nine children employed who are under age Ventilation and sanitation is very poor Closets in bad condition with no flushing whatever. Operatives pay s3 a month for houses. Working hours B. m. to 6 p. m, with forty five minutes for dinner. Close Satur. days at noon.
 Barker Cotton Mills-Fourteen thous- nh .I.x