our manufactory. There are portions of the work that might be done by
females as well as male labor. Still we have not adopted the plan." A
manufacturer writes from New Britain, Connecticut: "We employ women in
packing goods, and making brass hinges, and pay from thirty-eight to
sixty-five cents per day of ten hours. We formerly paid women $1.50 per
day. We now get the same amount done by girls for sixty-five cents. We
employ them because the work is light, and we can get it done at that
price. The part done by women requires one month to learn. The prospect
for this work in future is good. Spring and fall are the best seasons,
but our hands are employed the year round. Other parts of the work could
be done by women if they were willing, but the work is dirty. They are
superior to men in the same branch, as they handle the work quicker, and
are, as a general thing, more steady and reliable. The housework here is
mostly done by Irish girls, while American girls prefer working in
shops, even at less wages. There are many other branches of our work
that might be done by females, for which we pay men $1 and $1.25 per
day; but the work is rather dirty, and few here would do it, as they can
have cleaner work, and we have never sought that kind of help on that
account."
=203. Locks.= "The Newark Lock Company" employ eight American girls in
packing hardware. They are paid by the week, from $3 to $5, and average
half the pay of men, who do more laborious work. Women spend six or
eight months learning. Activity and neatness are desirable qualities.
Women excel in both qualities. We expect to double our business in a
year or two. The women work ten hours per day, and have steady
employment. Two thirds of all the locks used in the United States are
made in the five large lock manufactories of Connecticut. The best
locality is near the great emporium, and on tide water, to save freight.
Board $2.50." The secretary of the Eagle Lock Company writes: "We employ
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred men, and only twenty girls.
Our work is not suitable for females, except to pack our locks in paper
ready for market. They work by the piece, and can earn from $10 to $25
per month, according to how they employ themselves. They are mostly
daughters of men employed by us, and board at home. They are all Yankee
girls. We only work ten hours, unless business is driving." "Hardware
manufacturers in Cromwell, Connecticut, pay eight women from 50 to 62½
cents per day for packing. They work ten hours a day. The work can be
learned in one month. The prospect of work in future is good. Board
$1.62 per week." Manufacturers in N. Britain write: "We pay by the day
from 50 to 60 cents, ten hours' work. Women are not generally better
paid than they now are, because they compete with each other so much in
the light, easy, and clean branches of labor, and meet competition in
light work from boys. Their time of learning is from six months to a
year, and half never learn. They are paid while learning. An eye for
putting up work true to the square, and quick fingers, are the most
essential qualifications. The business is constantly increasing. Work is
the same, or nearly so, at all seasons. Girls employed by us have every
personal comfort and convenience that is possible, and are paid as much
as men for the same labor. Most of our work is more or less greasy and
dirty from iron and brass filings. Girls usually have less natural
_mechanical_ intelligence, we think. It may be, however, that the want
is from their inexperience in mechanical branches. Our impressions are
that New England is the place for manufacturing small wares, requiring
great activity and industry. Our workers have the use of a public
library and lectures free. Board, $7 to $8 per month--thirty to
thirty-one days." A manufacturer of trunk castors, in Massachusetts,
writes me that he once employed girls to paint castors, and put them in
packages for the dealers.
=204. Nails.= Making wrought nails is too hard work for women. A
manufacturing company of nails, in Boston, write me there are no women
employed in the nail factories of New England. The work is exceedingly
heavy. Another manufacturing company write, they have never known of
women being employed in making nails in any country. But we know that in
France, women are employed in turning the wheel in making nails, and at
Sedgley, E., and the neighboring villages, the number of girls employed
in nail making considerably exceeds that of the boys. In England, the
part done by girls is attending machinery that splits iron into the
proper widths for nails.
=205. Rivets.= A manufacturer writes: "We believe no manufacturer
employs women in our particular branch of industry. The business
requires great strength and exposure to furnaces." The writer suggests
that in _iron moulding_, perhaps a new career might be opened for women.
"Innumerable small castings are now being made, such as buckles, eyes,
rings, &c., for harness making. As this work is exceedingly light,
requiring skilful manipulation, it might be within the scope of women to
undertake this branch of industry." The casting is dangerous. The
mixture of gases in the hot metal sometimes produces a blowing--that is,
the metal is thrown into the air, falling oftentimes on the workers,
penetrating their clothes and burning them. A woman's clothes would be
unsuitable for this work. The moulding is very light, easy work, and we
think as suitable for women as most mechanical labor.
=206. Screws.= The processes in making screws are forging, turning up,
nicking, worming, and tipping. The cutting and polishing of screws, in
Birmingham, are chiefly done by women. The machinery used requires care
and delicacy.
=207. Skates.= Skate manufacturers in Maine write: "We employ from ten
to twelve ladies to stitch skate leathers, for about two months in the
year, November and December. They are paid by the piece, and average 50
cents a day. All are Americans. Board, $1.50 per week. In the New
England States, more American women are employed than foreigners,
particularly in country towns."
=208. Shovels.= A shovel manufacturer says he employs boys to clean the
handles, by holding them as they run over emery belts. He pays the boys
$3 a week. For varnishing the iron part of the shovel he pays 10 cents a
dozen, and "yesterday a youth was able to do twenty-one dozen." This
branch of work, we think, might be done by strong women.
=209. Wire Workers.= I was told at a wire manufactory, New York, that
women are never employed to draw wire. If it be true that wire drawers
are a very rough, coarse set of men, it is well girls do not work in the
establishments; as the work is such, we presume, that all must be
employed in the same apartments. The labor of drawing is such that the
hands of the men become almost like iron. Mr. S., Philadelphia, employs
a woman to weave fine wire. She learned it in her native country,
Scotland. She also sews pieces of fine wire cloth together. She receives
$5 a week, and seldom works ten hours a day. Most men and women engaged
in wire work are English or Irish, who learned the trade in their own
country. I was told it requires some years to attain excellence. Weaving
requires considerable strength in both upper and lower limbs. Men wire
workers are paid from $1.50 to $2.50 a day. Mr. C., New York, employs a
number of women weavers and seamers. They are paid $4 a week. Formerly
their girls would want a day to go to a picnic, to get ready for a
party, or help their mothers at home. The steam would have to be stopped
unless they could get hands to fill their places during the time, which
was very difficult and often could not be done. For a while their women
gave them so much trouble, they had to stop the machinery altogether. It
caused him such annoyance that some of the female members of his family
learned, and are now employed. He employs women to cover steel for hoop
skirts, and pays $3 a week. A few women are employed at wire weaving in
Cincinnati. The wiring and making of bird cages seems to me a field of
industry open to female hands. They can be made in any place, and the
work is light. Wire could be woven in fenders by women, I think. Mr. C.,
maker of patent rat traps, employed a number of girls to lace the wires.
Some he paid by the week, some by the piece. They mostly earned $3 a
week. A small girl could learn it in two weeks. I saw a manufacturer of
wire stands for cloaks, mantillas, &c. He employs a few ladies to dress
them, paying 25 cents apiece. One of his hands is very expeditious and
can cover six in a day. Those that know nothing of the work, he employs
in making skirts only, and of course make less. February, March, August,
September, and October are the busy months. There are only three places
in New York where the work is done. A wire maker, in Lowell, writes: "I
employed a girl four years ago in wire weaving, that gave unqualified
satisfaction. She left, to obtain a college education. I paid by the
piece when I employed her, and at the same rates as I paid men. She used
to earn $1 a day, and even did so while attending school; but of course
worked before and after school--probably seven or eight hours a day.
Most of my work is too laborious for women; but some wire workers that
make meal sieves, corn parchers, &c., can, and I believe do, employ them
to advantage, by reason of the price of labor being much less for women
than men. This kind of business is limited. There are not more than one
hundred and fifty men and women, probably, working at the business in
New England. A maker of sieves, and wire goods in general, writes from
Worcester, Massachusetts: "The business is quite healthy compared with
needle work. I employ six women, who earn from $4 to $5 per week of ten
hours a day. Men earn from $7.50 to $12. Some goods we manufacture will
not justify us in paying women higher prices. (The women should not do
it. They would then have to employ men and pay better prices, when women
could come in and claim equal wages.) Our kind of work they learn in a
few weeks. There will be no falling off, in future, of this work. Most
girls like the work. Board, $2 per week in families." A wire
manufacturer in Belleville, New Jersey, writes: "We employ females in
sewing and winding wire. The employment is not unhealthy. We pay from
$2.50 to $4.50 per week. Learners receive $2.50 per week. Board, $2 to
$2.50. Men in our establishment average $2 per day. I would say that in
some branches of our business, women might take the place of men."
* * * * *
=Brass Manufacture.= In some branches of the brass manufacture women are
not at all employed--in a few others, they are. At a brass bell
foundery, we were told the work is not healthy, and is too heavy for
women.
=210. Candlesticks.= A manufacturer of candlesticks in Vermont "employs
from three to four women, because they are better adapted to the work
than men. He pays by the piece, from $13 to $15 per month, and employs
them the year round. Women are paid as well as men or boys at the same
kind of work. It requires from three to five years to learn the
business--from one to two years, that part done by women. Women are paid
small wages while learning. It is a clean, comfortable business. There
are no parts of our work suitable for women in which they are not
employed."
=211. Hooks and Eyes.= The agent of the Waterbury Hook and Eye Company
says: "The hooks and eyes are given out to families to put on cards, for
which they are paid by the gross. It pays poorly--probably not more for
a child than 50 cents a week. The country and villages around supply
plenty of girls for the factories. In good times the hands in the
factories are kept employed all the year. We employ three females to
pack our finished light work, which is as neat and healthy work as can
be in any pleasant factory--pay is $3.50 to $4.50 per week of sixty
hours. No males are employed on similar work. Supply and demand regulate
prices. Only a short time is required by a competent girl to learn to do
our work properly; and pay commences when they commence. Every good
qualification which 'flesh is heir to' is needed to make the _right_
sort of help. Prospect for employing more females than heretofore is not
flattering. Girls are preferable for any light, neat, tasty work. Ours
are Americans, and I believe as comfortable and happy as people are
likely to be on this sinful globe. I doubt if much of our other work can
be done by females. A place nearest to a large market, where good air
and water prevail and means of living are reasonable, is the most
desirable place to locate a factory, ordinarily. Churches, schools,
libraries, lectures, &c., afford ample means and opportunity for mental
and moral culture, for those who work ten hours a day, and can board for
$2 a week, and are free from any special cares or anxieties." N. S. &
Co., North Britain, write: "We employ nine women to make paper boxes,
and pack hooks and eyes. They earn from 60 cents to $1 per day of ten
hours, but are paid by the piece. The men earn from $1.15 to $3 per day;
but their work is different from the women's. The women learn their part
in two or three weeks. Industry and self-respect are the most desirable
qualities. The prospect for future employment is good. They work all the
year. Board, $2 per week."
=212. Lamps.= Mr. J. "used to employ girls to cement the glass body on
the marble stand, and the top of the body on the metal through which the
wick passes. He also employed them in papering to send away. The
prospect for workers is poor, because the business is limited. He paid
his girls $3.50 a week. No manufactories in the West or South." In 1860
the manufacture of coal-oil lamps formed the principal business of
sixteen companies, who employed 2,150 men and 400 women and boys."
=213. Pins.= The pins made in the United States are not so high priced
as English pins. They have not until lately been so well finished. In
pin making in England, the drawing and cutting of the wire, the cutting
of the heads from the coils, and the trimming are mostly performed by
men; the other operations, by women and children. Sometimes, in trimming
the pins, a man, his wife, and child work together. For pickling and
trimming the pins the price usually paid is two cents a pound. A skilful
and industrious worker can head 20,000 pins per day, for which in
England they are paid about 30 cents of our money. Pin heading is very
sedentary work, and children seven or eight years of age are often kept
at it for twelve or thirteen hours, with merely time for hasty meals.
Girls at Sedgley and Warrington begin as early as five years of age to
work in the pin factories. It is said that at Wiltenhall they are
treated with much cruelty, if at all refractory. In Sedgley more women
are employed than men, and receive the same treatment. The secretary of
the American Pin Company at Waterbury, Connecticut, writes: "Women are
employed in tending machines, and in sticking and packing pins, and
packing hooks and eyes, and making paper boxes. The work is not
unhealthy. The lowest wages by the week is $3.25 while they are
learning; afterward $3.50 and $3.75 per week, ten hours a day. Some work
by the piece, and earn from $14 to $21 per month. The supply of woman's
labor is equal to the demand, at the prices we pay. We work through the
year, generally without stopping, except for the holidays. Our average
number is fifty. Girls can do the work as well or better than boys, that
could be hired at the same price. Most are Americans. They have their
Sundays, holidays, and evenings--also a public library and institute
lectures at a very small cost--besides religious privileges afforded by
six churches. Board, $1.50 to $2 per week." The Albany Company, at
Cohoes, sends the following information: "Women, and girls not younger
than twelve years of age, are employed in sticking, folding, wrapping,
&c. The same work is done in England and Germany. Wages from $6 to $20
per month, working twelve hours a day. Those having had the most
practice can usually do the work faster and better, consequently obtain
higher wages. They receive pay while learning. The qualifications most
desirable are care, attention, and activity. The business is not likely
to increase greatly, as the work is mostly done by machinery and the
demand for the article is limited. We are busy at all seasons except in
extremely hot or cold weather. The hands work twelve hours--by so doing
they obtain higher wages. We have more applicants than we wish. We
employ from twelve to fifteen, because they can do the work more readily
than men. The work is light, and the condition of the women quite equal
to that of women otherwise employed to obtain the necessities of life."
The agent of the Howe Manufacturing Company, in Connecticut, reports:
"Our work is all done by the piece. The earnings of the workwomen vary
according to their skill, diligence, and the number of hours spent at
work. Average in April last, $11.09--in four weeks. Highest earnings of
one individual $22.09 (equal to $5.54 per week). Small girls earn from
$1 to $1.50 per week, and work six or eight hours. Men and women do not
perform the same kind of labor in our establishment. Why all persons are
not paid equally for equal labor, I do not feel competent to explain. A
knowledge of our work is soon acquired. Learners are paid for what they
do. A good character and reputation, honesty, fidelity, common
mechanical ability, and diligence are desirable qualifications. We
generally find the hands we want in our own immediate neighborhood. Our
work is considered desirable, and much sought for. In all seasons the
hands are equally employed, except dry seasons, when we are short of
water to drive our machinery. Our _stock_ hands generally stay with us
till they get married or lay up so much money that they are able to get
along with less labor, or become too old or infirm to work to advantage.
Some have stayed with us over twenty years, many over ten years. The
number of hours for work is discretionary. We seldom request industrious
hands to work more hours than they choose. Our hands sometimes work
twelve or fourteen hours, at their pleasure. Small girls, of whom we
employ but five or six, seldom work ten hours. The number of women and
girls employed in our establishment heretofore has been variable,
averaging perhaps thirty. We are using improved machinery, which has
already reduced the number, and will reduce it still more. Our work is
peculiarly adapted to female labor. Nearly all our hands are American
born. In twenty-two years' business, we have seldom, if ever, had an
adult woman employed who was unable to sign her name to the pay roll.
Our adult women have the churches and lyceum lectures, which I believe
they generally attend. Their time for reading, for the most part, will
be evenings and Sundays. Small girls can attend our district school free
of cost." A manufacturer, in Seymour, Connecticut, writes: "We pay from
$3 to $4 per week. We employ no men in sticking and packing, and, if we
were not particular as to whom we employ, we could reduce the amount of
our monthly pay roll a large per cent. It requires very little practice
to learn the part of our business done by women, and in most cases we
pay them full wages upon entering the mill. No special qualifications
are needed. The kind of business we pursue will always be carried on,
but of course can never become very common. No difference in the
seasons, and the girls are never thrown out of employment. Under the
present regulations they work eleven hours, and the time could not well
be shortened, as that would tend to derange the other departments of our
business. We have but ten employed at present, but in the course of a
few days expect to have about twenty. They are employed because they are
peculiarly qualified for the business, and on account of the lower rate
of wages as compared with the labor of men. We employ women in all cases
when the work is suitable for them. Women as employed by us are superior
to men, being more expert and active. The New England States are
doubtless the best locality for our business. The females employed by us
are all intelligent and of good mental ability."
=214. Rings.= The American Brass Ring Co. "employ twenty women at
presses, in packing, &c. They are all foreigners. Board, $1.50 per week.
The work is not unhealthy. Women are paid fifty cents a day of ten
hours. Women are paid $2 a week for four weeks while learning. The
prospect of future employment is no better than the business now
offers."
=215. Scales.= H. T., manufacturer of scales and weights, Philadelphia,
Penn., writes: "We employ women in making metallic weights. The work is
not unhealthy. They earn from $4 to $6 per week. No comparison in the
price of labor. Women can make as much as men, if they are willing. It
requires almost a lifetime to learn the business; but the part the women
work at requires but a day or two. We pay learners. No extraordinary
qualifications are needed. A good prospect for increase of employment.
No difference in seasons. They work from four to ten hours. Women cannot
be employed at our heaviest work, on account of the great physical
strength required." I was told at F. & M.'s, New York, that the beams of
the scales could be burnished by women. It is done with steel
instruments. I suppose the pans could also be burnished by them.
Burnishing the back of the plates could be done by women also, but it is
somewhat dirty work. Women would have to work in the room with the men,
for while the foreman was employed, he would like to keep an eye on the
employees. The work is rather heavy for women, but not more so than some
in which they are engaged.
=216. Stair Rods.= A manufacturer of plated stair rods told me "he
employs a woman to burnish the rods. She can make from $4 to $7 a week,
not working more than ten hours a day, being paid from fifty cents to $1
a hundred. It is work hard on the chest, but he thinks not hard on the
eyes. He had one lady who did it at home. In large establishments, rods
are now burnished by machinery. The polishing of stair rods is very hard
work, and requires strong, stout lads." Another stair-rod manufacturer
told me "he has employed a boy to tie up stair rods, but would employ a
girl and pay the same price, $1 per day."
* * * * *
=217. Steel Manufacture.= No women are employed in the conversion of
iron into steel in this or any other country. It is rough, heavy work.
It requires great physical strength, and is unsuitable for a woman. No
women are employed in the manufacture of axes in this country. It is
rough, coarse work, and done by stout, strong men. In one of the largest
cutlery establishments in the United States they employ six hundred men,
but no females; except six, for wrapping up goods. In the finishing of
metals there are three branches: turning, filing, and setting up. In
turning, jagged particles of metal fly off, and often enter the eyes of
the workers, doing them great injury. Goggles of magnetized iron might
be used to prevent this. The magnetized wash is used to prevent the
filings from getting down the throats of grinders and polishers. For
learning the two parts, turning and filing, four years of apprenticeship
are served. The turning requires more skill than physical strength. It
might be done by women that were willing to serve so long an
apprenticeship.