The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-04

MS earnings at the company store. M
such conditions prevail in the South.
On the other hand. 1t has been shown
that much more extensive system OF
paternalism, or company house, board
,hs houses and welfare institutions
formerly was in operation in New
England cotton and wool mill towns
IMAM now is found In the South, and
'hat these conditions have only dis
appeared In New England because Of
the displacement of the native Amerft
can mill operative by the Immigrant
from Southern and Eastern Europe. II
is also now conceded that these con-
oltlons in the South have been adopted
LOT the same reasons that fcmerly led
10 their establishment in New England
-the foundation of entirely new in :
dustrial communities has made It
necessary for employers to provide
housing and other facilities for these
wage carners. and welfare work has
becn entered into in order to develop
stable and efficient labor force.
Possibilities In the South.
The most striking fact, however.
which has come to light as the re-
suit of five years exhaustive and
scientific investigation, has been the
possibilities in the South for tho
thrifty and Intelligent wage-earners.
( The reason these opportunities have
! not SO far been graspcd by the South
crn industrial worker is that they
| have not been appreci: Ted by them or
nave been too thriftless to take nd :
vantage of them. The Industrious and
/ ambitious native American or older
/ Immigrant wageearner OF the North
or West would be quick 10 realize and
seize upon the possiD.ities of the
situation.
The first thing that impresses the
impartial observer in contrasting con-
ditions in the South and other Sec
TONS is the better housing and living
| conditions offered by the Southern
States. Industrial localities in the
Middle and New England States are.
as a rule, cities OF considerable size.
The working population Is housed in
block houses or in tenements contain
/ Ing m ninum OF four families.
Rents are high and apartments are
usually crowded into or.er to reduce
this necessary item of expenditure. In
the South the conditions, as a rule. re
entirely different. southern manu-
featuring cities and towns are newer
and smaller and land la much cheaper.
Manufacturing establishments are
usually located In the outskirts of the
cities and towns. where large land
areas are aNaliaDle, anu IN pTOVlQlnB
housing facilities for employees space
is allotted to each house sufficient for
Il mower and vegetable garden, for
! Keeping poultry. and stable for o
(, COW or horse. The rents for such
| houses are low and they are planned
| for only one family. Often employ s
! are permitted to purchase :heir homes
| by means OF monthly payments.
Where no such policy is followed by
the manufacturing company, other
| houses and lands are available at n
| cost within reach of the wage.earner
| and on terms adapted to mis- earnings.
AS has already been pointed out, these
| opportunities have existed for many
f: years in the South. but the average
: Southern wage-earner recruited from,
! the remote agricultural and mountain
/ GUS class have not developed the thrift
and energy to take advantage of them
! Ambitious American or En- ylish, Irish
| Scotch and German wage-earners
would quickly grasp these opportuni-
ties. 1t is also true that farming land
| is as cheap and as available in the
! South as in any other section of the
country. The wage-earner from other
: sections Of the United States or from