Evening star., 1911-08-28
Center Of Whaling Industry.

New Bedford is still the most impor-
tant whaling center in the world. No
other city in the United States or Eu-
rope has so much money invested in YES
sells and outfits but the rapid increase of
the manufacturing industries has made
that business insignificant, and one might
say that the people are now engaged in
spinning different kinds OF yarns from
those the whalers used to tell in ancient
times.
Thirty-one per cent of the population.
or nearly one out OF every three persons
in New Bedford, is engaged in the cot
ton mills, which turn out l.OOO miles OF
cloth each day. The procucts are chiefly
fine goods. and that requires skilled la
Dor, which must be paid high wages. As
soon as new mill is proposed the Eng
Lancashire the French Canadians send
the news to Quebec. and by the time the
wheels are ready to 80 round q thousand
skilled spinners are here applying for
work. There are $3.50 looms and 2oS5,
2S4 spindles. The capital invested in
sixty-seven factories is $38, ,415, 100, which
paid So O57. 800 In dividends in 1910.
The famous Wamsutta mills are the
largest. with 22s.s36 spindles. 1900 looms
and 200 employees. The Whitman. the
ploy from 1.5OO to 1900 hands The New
Bedford Cotton Yarn Company employs
3.OnO men. but they are scattered in sew
eral different factories. Twenty-one Of
the sixty-seyen mills have more than
$1.O0r.OOO capital.
In order to provide skilled labor for the
mills, the municipality has established a
textile school. now in its sixth year. and 1t
has proven one Of the most valuable as
sets Of the community. There are 160
pupils. nearly all Of them young men en-
ployed during the daytime in the different
cotton factories. who are ambitious to
qualify themselves for advancement.
There are three such schools in Massa-
chusetts. the other two being at Fall
River and Lowell. Tuition Is free to
citizens of New Bedford who attend the
evening classes; students from outside
the city must pay a tuition fee OF $50
q year. and the fame Of the school Is SO
great that forty-two are now in attend
and Mexico.
Labor Unions Strong.
The operatives Of New Bedford are
strongly unionized. believe there are nc
open shops in the town, and the weavers
union. which is one Of the richest labor
organizations in the country. owns a fine
piece Of property called the Labor
Temple. which is the headquarters of all
the organizations in the city. There
petty differences which are continually
arising between the operatives and the
manufacturers are always settled by ar.
bitration.
The question of child labor Is q serious
one. The mill owners generally declare
that they would prefer to strike of the
pay rolls the name of every operative un.
der seventeen years Of age. but 1t would
create unerding trouble and cost them
the services of their best spinners and
weavers. who insist that their children
shall be given employment as soon as
they have reached the legal age Of four.
teen. and often misrepresent their ages
In order 70 increase the family income
The combined earnings Of many families
reach $50 and SD week. and more thar
half that amount goes into the savings
banks.
The mill owners OF New Bedford do no
house their employees. They explain tha
| they can secure better returns from thu
same amount of money invested in mill
| and machinery. and therefore the tene
ments are owned by cooperative build
ing associations and by the operative:
| themselves. The census viii show tina
the pecuniary condition of the factor.
hands Of New Bedford is more favorable
| than that Of most manufacturing towns
and while cannot give the figures a
present. they will he published when th'
| full returns are compiled.
! The different uati0nalittes, the Poytu