The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-12-30
Germany's $
Navy Yards
Some of the Innovations of the Ger.
man Government Regard
ing its Workers.

ing its Workers. +
Paper Read Before the ChautauQua Circle
Wilhelmshaven,s city of 81, 600 popu-
alton, situated on the North Sea, is one
Of the strongest naval ports which the
German Empire in case of war, has for
protection. More than half of the city
is in possession Of the Impera Navy
Yard, in which about 5000 men find
their daily employment. The whole
navy yard is divided into three different
wharves, Torpedo-Outfit- M a i n
wharf, of which the latter is the most
important. Each one of these wharves
is surrounded by great g t n Q wall
which has several gates open to the diff
ferent departments. A soldier picket
rema ms ON each gate and his duty is
not to let any civil body pass through |
without permission from a police in
spector. The main gate, called gate
number one, is situated on the west side
of the main wharf. More than 5000
men pass through this gate alone four
times day. There is special train
running between the navy yard and the
workingmen's district. This train is
furnished free by the Government for
the benefit of the wprkmen and gives
the latter an opporth unity to eat their
noon meals at Eomei Aside from this,
taking the railroad Aree into considera-
tion. it will save the workmen quite
q sum each year.
In the last ten years the Government
has itself given much attention to help
and lead the workman to better and
more comfortable life. ltincreas ed the
wages on an average of 20 percent and
reduced the work hours from ten to
nine ard eight hours a day. Farther
more, it erected and provided homes for
thousands of wcrkmen in the town of
Bant, which is situated only little dis
tance from the navy. ard. Right in
front of the main gate the Government
built very large and handsome hotel
lin which only workmen of the navy
ward az permitted. This hotel is sur
rounded by the beau tif III Adalbert
Place in which the wol Unknown, famous
Navy Band, under the direction of Con-
ductor Woehlbier-piays very frequent
". Back of the hotel are several bowl
ing alleys, a beer garden, billiard halls
and different apparatuses for gymnas-
tic exercise, so thatthere is nodifficulty
for the workman to exhilara tie and
amuse himself.
The foundation of the Wharf Work
mans Sick Fund to which every EN-
ploye is compelled to contribute, is an
other gre at inn IVA ion by the Govern
ment. This Sick F.und is divided int
several ella sses, and the average prices
, paid by the workmen range from hv'
to twelve cents each week, according tt
: his occupation. For this the workman
. is entitled, in case of sickness or an &C
: cident, to free professional medical at
!, tendance. If an accident occurs how
ever, dUU ~ VI lCOuciuOA 1OA0 SOAAoS4 ~ODS~
a the invalid will be sent to the Whar
: Hospital, and the Government will pa
= the same certain amount of none
\ until his recovery. Lawyers, ambu
:, lance chasers and such lik Q have on thos
= occasions no chance to graft any none
: from the workingmen, as would be tn
! case in other circumstances.
- Each individual who Is employed D
; the Government for consi derabl
4 length of time, receives after supera'
ri nuaticn certain am cunt of none
- which is payable to him on the first
each month. Furthermore, he has tt
II privilege to obtain medical attendant
h. free of charge.
no Each boy who desires to learna trat
,s. in the navy yard must show scho
n certificate to the overseer. If the certi
a. cate 8 not satisfactory to the owe
:. seer, it will be difficult for the appre
tice to find any employment by Il
Government During the time of his 9