The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-15
Ry Mrs. \. III, Oliarles.


Early ia 1872 Major Lewis Gintcr
and Mr.. John f. Allen formed a part
nership under the firm name of John
+. Allen II Co, and in Il small way,
on Franklin street near Mayo, be-
gan the manufacture of cigars, They
determined to establish plant and
begin the making of cigarettes, bus
mess then in infancy. They opened
factory and employed a dozan or
so hands. This was The beginning OF
business which later Oh was des-
tined to be developed into one of the
most extensive in the country.
About 1880 the factory was moved
from its location on East Franklin
street to the southwest corner OF SeV
enth and Cary streets. It's present sit
uation, and the firm name was chang
ed to Allen 4 Ginter. The new fac
tory building was a large four story
structure. with a large force of en-
ployes. Very soon Mr. Allen sold his
interest to Major Ginter Tor 100000,
1t has been stated.
ON January 20. 1890. the American
Tobacco Company was chartered in
the State of New Jersey, and Allen
x Ginter beca me d branch OF II, and
day il Regarded as one of the most
/ poration. It's territory of trade prae-
/ tically covers the world.
1 In 1898 one cold winter day. early
! in the morning. the factory at Sey-
enih and CarA streets, iii some mys-
FERROUS way. took IRE and, despite the
efforts OF the lire department, the large
building was entirely Quilted. Major
Csinter, realizing what IL meant for so
many girls to be thrown out of en-
ployment, engaged temporary quar-
ters at Twenty MIN and Cary streets.
and in ten days work was resumed.
/ This loss by fire VAS nearly $500,
/ coo. The debris a the old site was
soon cleared away. and it was not
( long before the present spacious six
story structure was complete, and the
/ business pushed forward and increas-
/ ed. The management employs about
! l,lOo. 100 of whom are women and
girls, and from the 495 cards returned
! 4tS reside at home and 81 board AZ
throughout different sections or the
teity About 100 Of the girls range
'Fida ~asGe FROM ~ Eo"f5 years ord ~
Inc scale of wage ranges accord
ing to the ability and rapidity of the
/ employe. / find that educational in
struction iii the three RS, read. writ
ms and arithme liz, would promote the
good OF employees. No betterment
work is conducted and no visitors
engaged In betterment work are al
lowed The working hours are from
! A. NJ. to 8 30 j. NJ, with a half
I hour from lunch, and on SATURDAY
from z a. NJ. 10 ESQ +. M. one hal IL
/ hour for lunch.
ne girls eat their lunches In the
rooms they work In. The toilet ia
Ecll1tles are very meagre. the lavato-
ries are in the center of the building
! with no windows ia them There is n
sick room provided but none are adj
mitted therein unless positively sick,
working mothers have their children
al the day nursery or have someone
TO care for them az home.
a large per cent Of the girls who
marry eventually return to the factory
| TO work again. Permission to visit tn q
factory must be gotten from the New
YORK ofhce Of the American Tobacco
Company.
II is the opinion Of the writer that
mad Major Ginter lived to the present
DAY the conditions at Allen Il Ginter
would be better, So far as the girls
are concerned
me average weekly pay roll is be
tween $1,000 and $4,000. with a total
of about 100000 wear. This il the
largest cigarette factory in Richmond
ana In the state of Virginia, and one
or the largest in the United States.
TT IL equipped with three fire escapes
and two exits.