The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-10-06
PENNSYLVANIA WORKS THE BABIES!
CHILDREN DISCONTINUE SCHOOLING FOR REGULAR
WORK, ONLY 146 WORKING CHILDREN OUT OF
1920, ATTENDED CONTINUATION SCHOOL

Excessive child labor in a Penn
sylvania cOal-mining district in the
anthracite region, and a direct rela-
tion between child labor and the low
earnings of the fathers are reported
by the U. S. Department of Labor
through the Children's Bureau in a
bulletin just issued. The study, en-
titled "Child Labor and the Welfare
of Children in an Anthracite Coal
Mining District" deals with children
from 13 to 16 years of age in a dis
trict of the central field in Schuylkill
County. In this area of little more
than half a square mile 24,726 per-
sons were found living,-13, ,592 of
them with more than one person per
room and 3045 with two or more.
Rooms were generally small and the
cubic air space below a minimum
standard.
The conditions caused by crowding
were rendered worse by lack of prop
er sanitation and general disrepair
of the houses, largely attributed to
the undermining of the land. The
mining companies and estates own
ing the land were protected by their
leases from liability for any damage
to property or to life and limb re-
sulting from the frequent cave-ins
due to the mining operations beneath
the town. Cheap and faulty con-
struction and neglect on the part Of
the owners were also believed to be
responsible for much of the disre-
pair The available land, hemmed in
by mining properties on all sides,
was so nearly covered with houses
chat even when these were unsafe
The tenants found it necessary to re-
main. Streets, railroad tracks, and
dumps afforded the only space
within the town where children could
play.
Children in this district, the report
says. "suffer both from congestion
Of population and isolation" From
most of the outlying settlements of
The district children had to walk long
distances, sometimes by hazardous
paths in order to reach school if they
wished to attend beyond the sixth
grade. School buildings and instruc-
ion for the lower grades We're also
very deficient. Of the boys between
L3 and 16 years of age in the district,
81 per cent-896 out of 1,564-and
of the girls, 20 per cent-453 out of
l,572-had left school for work.
A total of 519 boys had been en-
oloyed contrary to law, before reach
ing the age of IA years,-299 had
had been employed full time, and 90
per cent of these in or about the
mines. Likewise in violation of law,
1877 boys not yet 16 years of age had
been employed underground. OF 97S
boys from 13 to IS years Of age who
had been employed in or about the
mines. 178 had suffered accidents,
including serious injuries in the
breakers as well as underground. The
girls were employed chiefly in cloth
lng, cigar and other factories, and in
domestic or personal service. Fam
lily need was the reason most fire.
quently given for leaving school and
going to work, and Incorporation of
children who had entered employment
was greater as the fathers income
was less. Almost half of the 4S3
children whose fathers earned less
than $3.50 year had discontinued
their schooling for regular work,
while only 11.5 per cent Of the 1873
whose fathers earned $3.50 or more
had done so.
The average best days pay during
the year ending May 81, 1919, among
the mine-working fathers included in
the study. was between $4 and $5.
but although the period was one of
high production before the industrial
depression, 81 per cent of these faith
ers had lost time because of market
fluctuations. car shortages, and 9th
er industrial conditions. This was
directly reflected in their earnings
for the year, less than one-fifth of
the fathers employed in the mining
reported earnings of 81 ,450 or more.
and only A per cent earnings of
1850. A total of 231 or 1866 per
cent, reported less than $3.50; 543 or
80 per cent reported less than 81 ,050.
and 8S2 or 63.4 per cent, less than
$3.50.
Accidents resulted in an additional
loss of time, and fatal accidents to
the father had occurred in 90 of the
families studied In 235 families the
chief wage Garner had been disabled
either totally or partially for all or
part of the year preceding the inves-
tigation.
OF the children between 13 and 16
years of age who had left school 1877
had not got beyond the third grade
26O more had stopped at the fourth