The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-11-12
STATE REPORT ON LODI farm
Continued from page One)

Continued from page One)
ventilation arrangements. This condi-
ton would appear very easy to rem
edy. Some families are also very
large and crowding exists. A large
number of workmen also i've on the
premises at various points and are
usually bunked by themselves. Their
quarters are sufficient protection from
the weather for the seasons in which
they work, but are also very poorly
lighted and ventilated, while crowd
ing exists.
In matters of dress, the employees
furnish their own clothes, usually over
alls, jumpers and broad brimmed hats.
The youths of both sexes go barefoot
ed to considerable extent. The girls
all wear jumpers, or overalls, within
which it is said they tuck their skirt.
A number of them also wear short
sleeved dresses and protect the arms
with old stockings. The girls are
more apt to wear shoes than the boys.
AS far as could be ascertained, the
general attitude of the employers 20
ward minors was good, as well as the
interest in the welfare of employees.
1t was impossible, of course, by this
form of investigation, to ascertain
what relationships might exist be-
tween the individual overseers and the
groups who worked under them. All
workers were supposed to keep up tC
the groups with which they were
working. 1t was said that young
children were not sought, because they
could not concentrate on the work
played too much and sometimes woulC
not distinguish we'll between weeds al
vegetables. While the employers
compelled no children to work, they
were not responsible for parenta
coercion and exactions. They offel
employment, are in need of the ser
vices and pay in proportion to wha
they consider the different workers
merit. There is no physical super
vision, sick'y or weakly children arr
just as liable to be employed as tht
healthy. One argument for this is
that instances are known where sucl
children have. improved in health.
AS the groups are inspected, a tota
of IA out of110 employed appeare,
physically weak, or anemic, or stunte,
in growth. 1t cannot be said, however
that this is an undue proportion o
such children in any group of thi
number selected in any vicinity. Ol
the other hand, it cannot be said tina
these particular children were beinI
benefited by the work. The day of in
spection being cool and invigoratinI
one, there were no plain evidences o
| fatigue.
There is another feature whic
should be considered, that of the pres
ence of the contagious eye disease
trachOma, or granulated eyelio.
Among the last So children inspected
| / found 6 afflicted with conjunctiviti.
one or two Of whom / felt convince
were suffering from trachoma. It
to be noted in this connection that on
group of foreigners, consisting Q
about Is to 20 boys, and considerabl
number of mel, in some instances,
believe, with their families have com
from Youngstown, Ohio, where ther
has been great prevalence Of this dis
ease among this class Of workers. ]
would require an eye specialist t
identify the character of the eye in
Examinations which observed. Some Q
them have no doubt, were Of temper
airy character, due to the getting 0
dirt and dust into the eye., The situs
tion, however, shows the urgent nee
of medical supervision in the employ
ing Of minors, if for no other reaso
than to prevent the spread Of commur
cable diseases.