New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-27
MODEL FACTORY TOWNS
One English Community Oper-
ated on Profit Sharing Basis.
GOOD HOMES FOR ALL
Men Work 48 Hours d Week
and Women 42-Educa-
ton Compulsory.
1etter from party making civic tour OF
Furopc with Dr. l.. T.. Pratt

sunlight, ABOUT U1tceN Ullleb lIoIU 'I'ci-
pool, on the opposite side OF tho Mersey,
and Bournesville, four miles from Biz
rninghar Only the employees of the
Lever Brothers live in Port Sunlight but
Bournesville, whilo connected with the
Cadbury cocoa and chocolate factory, Is
open to workers wherever employed.
The initial idea Of both places Is the
same-to provide clean, wholesome homes
for the employees OF company-but tho
final aim is entirely different. Sir Will
lam Lever aims TO share the prosperity
OF his firm with his workers. and thus
directly 70 increase the efficiency by I'M
proved conditions. The Idea OF the Cad
bury plant is quite different. George
Cadbury expresses Il completely when
he said. II don't want 20 make money.
want 70 make men" One 10 far
seeing BIT Of business ecumen, the other
is a realized Ideal.
Port Sunlight covers 81 acres, IS OF
which arc taken Up by factories. Tho
rest is occupied BY houses, gardens and
recreation grounds. There are homes for
700 workers IN the little town. The maxi
mum number OF houses 70 the acre is
ten, but since there are sometimes as
many as seven buildings IN the long. low,
and attractive houses, there is an added
garden space, which becomes sn added
beauty.
Gardens Pay the Rent.
This village ~ moro paternallstic than
Bournesville. The employees rent tho
houses, but the gardens surrounding
them are planted and maintained by the
iirm. Special allotment gardens are
placed at the disposal OF each tenant. as
near his home as conditions will permit,
and these can be cultivated as the ten
ante wish. The cottages OF Ave rooms,
scullery, bath and laTder, rent for about
81 Is q week. while the "parlour cottages"
two rooms larger, cost 81 So Frequently
the proceeds from the garden allotted
Offset the entire cost Of the rent.
After Ave years service the employe
receives q partnership certificate, which
brings in annually an amount equal 10
about 10 per cent OF his total wages, with
an additional certificate each year. These
have each a nominal face value OF a so
share OF stock.
Apprentices are required 10 attend night
schools are provided for the younger
children not employed in the works. Sta
tistics give the Port Sunlight youngsters
a cleaner bin OF health than the children
OF other manufacturing communities.
Accidents here have been reduced 10
minimum. out Of 5000 workers, not more
than per cent were hurt during tho
year and fo per cent OF these injuries
were slight.
Tho firm gives pensions 70 workers
over slxty-Hve. and, through co-opera-
ton with the management, tho employees
enjoy accident, unemployment and life
benefits.
In Bonneville there are $50 houses,
with a total population Of about 400.
Less than half OF these are directly en-
ployed In the Cadbury works. About an
equal number work IN Birmingham.
The houses here arc not so uniformly
attractive on the exterior az those OF
Port Sunlight but they arc quite a
modern and commodious. About l6o OF
them have been sold outright. and the
remainder arc rented. Rentals here are
from N0 TO ne weekly. With gas
water and sewer extra.
The average plot allowed 20 each
house is 80 square yards Of land, and
tho maximum number TO III. acre IL
seven. Gardens nro laid out by the
estate gardener when the houses arc
built but tenants deal with them as they
will as coon az they take possession.
Anotments are also made for produce
purposes.
Factory in Pretty Park.
The factory Itself IL set I'm park ~
unusual beauty. Twenty-Five acres OF
terraced lawn and formal gardens sur
round Il. Under the trees the workers
give frequent plays and pageant-.
Particular attention is paid In Bournes
Vile 20 tho physical wclIbeing Of tho
workers. Gymnasium work is required
twice week OF all junior employees. this |
coming out OF tho firms time. Those on
night shifts have their classes at night |
Athletic fields OF all kinds arc on the !
grounds, and tho men and women use |
them at luncheon time and after the !,
days work &c done. There ie n large !
indoor swimming tank for the women :
and an outdoor ono for the men. \ /
knowledge OF swimming IS compulsory |
and weekly baths are required. These. |
too, come out of the nrm's time.
Men work maximum OF forty eight !
hours week. while women are en- /
ployed for forty-two. The employees |
throughout are an unusually happy group .
and appear TO be IN excellent condition. !
Girls OF fourteen and over, employed az
candy wrappers sing gayly as they work. |
and there is none OF that working strain |
that Is the usual accompaniment OF n ,
large Industrial plant. No extra en-
ployes are taken on for any reason, and ,
person once employed IL assured OF his |
place as long as he proves satisfactory |
and does not infringe on the rules OF the |
establishment. The Christmas rush work
is begun In June. so that there is no |
undue hurry. and they begin TO make /
Easter eggs in August. BY perfected |
system this candy retains It's freshness.
dining hall for women employees
serves meals at a nominal rate. AS at
Port Sunlight, medical attendance Ia al
ways at hand. The idea extends further |
here, however. since all employees must /
pass rigid medical examination at regu-
lar periods Particular attention is paid I
to the teeth and eyes OF the workers.
Girl employees must take course In I
domestic economy lasting some six
months. These lessons arc taken during |
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