Annual report of the North Carolina Department of Labor

              THE LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
THE COLLECTION OF
NORTH CAROLINIANA
C331
N67L
1890
c.2
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
00033934 55
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FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
OF THE
State ok North Carolina,
FOR THE YEAR 1890.
JOHN C. SCARBOROUGH, Commissioner.
RALEIGH:
Josephus Daniels, State Printer and Binder.
PEESSES OF EDWARDS & BROUGHTON.
iSqo.
INTRODUCTORY.
Office Bureau Labor Statistics,
Raleigh, N. C, January i, 1891.
His Excellency Daniel G. Fowle,
Governor of North Carolina :
Dear Sir— In obedience to the provisions of Chapter 113, Laws
of 1887, I present the Fourth Annual Report of the " Bureau of Labor
Statistics," being the Report for the year 1890.
As stated for your Excellency's information, and for the information
of the members of t!ie General Assembly, in the Report for 1889, the
Reports of the Bureau have had a wide circulation throughout the vari-ous
States of our Union and in the governments of Europe. Calls for
them now are more frequent than formerly, and inquiries in reference to
them and the facts brought out and subjects treated constantly come to
this office from all classes of our own people and those of European
governments. The Reports have been well received and the work of
the Bureau has been favorably commented on by the students of and
writers on economic questions in which the facts in reference to the
condition of labor and laborers bear a very considerable part. The
file of applications for the regular distribution of the Reports from year
to year has largely increased since the last Report was sent out. I
mention these facts to show to your Excellency and to the General
Assembly the interest taken in the work of this and similar depart-ments,
both in the National and State Governments, and as an index
to the usefulness of the Department. It has already done a good and
much-needed work for the classes for whom it was specially established,
and one which is to have its influence in working out the good which
is in the future for our people. In the years to come it will do a better
work, because, if properly sustained, it will be a more extensive work,
covering a larger range of subjects, and these in more varied phases,
as our population and industries shall increase and our varied resources
shall be brought to light and developed. It will be so sustained and
Introductory.
enlarged in its scope of work for our people if the intention of the
framers of the Constitution, which commands the establishment of the
Bureau, shall be carried out. I find, by reference to our State Con-stitution,
that section 17 of article 3 of said Constitution is as follows:
The General Assembly shall establish a Department of Agriculture, Immigration and Sta-tistics,
under such regulations as may best promote the agricultural interests of the State, and
shall enact laws for the adequate protection and encouragement of sheep husbandry.
This section of the Constitution was ordained by the Constitutional
Convention of 1875, and was ratified by a vote of the people at a subse-quent
election held for the purpose. So that it occurs to me, as it will,
doubtless, to your Excellency, that the same obligation rests upon the
General Assembly to provide for a Bureau of Statistics (you will notice
the Constitution does not limit it to Labor Statistics as does chapter *
113, Laws of 1887), m connection with the Department of Agriculture,
as to provide for and maintain the Department of Agriculture itself.
The Constitution, as cited, commands both, and one as much as the
other, to be provided for.
As limited to Labor Statistics by the statute creating the Bureau, it
is an important and useful department to our people and State. Useful
to laborers, because through it the humblest man or woman can be
heard in reference to his or her condition in their own way, and
through their own language, speaking to the public ear of their wrongs,
if wrongs have come upon them, or of their advantages and prosperity,
if these have come. In this connection I cannot do better in an argu-ment
for sustaining the Bureau than to quote the words of Hon.
W. N. Jones, in submitting the Report of the Bureau for the year 1888,
in his views of the utility of the Bureau and the estimation in which
the laboring and producing classes, who have thought of it, hold the
work of the Bureau
:
The people have recognized the Bureau in its true light, as a vehicle for the expression of
views upon economic questions and affairs of State, and along with the information furnished
of a private nature, the correspondents have given their opinions upon public affairs as well
as those that immediately concern them. The expressions for the most part have been con-servative
and prudent. There are but few bitter criticisms even in stating complaints, and
what is said will commend itself by reason of this fact. Abuses will sooner be corrected by
a plain, temperate expression than in any other way. The considerable space given to the
statement of opinions from correspondents will do good. They will command that attention
from all which the voice of the laboring and producing classes should receive.
Introductory.
The Bureau is designed to be an educational force. Its purpose is to investigate matters
pertaining to the producers of the State, and to present them for public consideration. In
this way it is hoped that a just public sentiment will be produced and fostered, and thus
encouragement will be given, and the avenues to the highest development will be kept open.
To the producing classes belong the hope of any people, and when their ideas are sought and
they are encouraged and developed the best results follow to all. No better way has been
found to do this than for a State to look particularly after these classes—to see what their
condition is and what it ought to be and then present it for public consideration. Those
States which have done so have been the most progressive and prosperous—not for one class
but for all classes. In this age of machine and corporate power, States must be on the alert,
as well as individuals, for the best conditions, and those that are watchful get the prizes,
while those that make no extra efforts find themselves far in the rear, eating the dust and dirt
of those in front.
It is true that it is not the duty of the State to have any class of its citizens as pampered
favorites, but it is its duty to see that those ideas prevail which shall bring the best results to
the body politic. That is done wherever enlightened views obtain about economic questions
which concern the condition of those who toil. It is well known that servile labor is not the
best labor, and that kind which approaches it has never brought the best results to the State.
Those nations of antiquity were not the most prosperous or the most powerful when the lines
between those represented by the patrician and plebeian were the most strongly drawn, and
little attention given to the great body of the people. The same lesson may be learned from
mediaeval and modern history, and if we take up the history of the English speaking people
we shall see that every step they have taken away from vassalage, every movement among
them which has given stimulation and encouragement to those who toil, has brought the best
results to" all. The history of the past may reasonably be relied on as an index for the future.
The purpose, therefore, that called into being labor bureaus is a high one—that purpose
being to look into the condition of the producers—particularly of those who are employees
—
to get their ideas and present them along with the ideas of others—to get ideas and to give
back ideas, that may act and re-act, that the public mind may be informed and a just senti-ment
created and fostered.
The first Labor Bureau was established in Massachusetts in 1869—a State in which more
attention, perhaps, is paid to economic science than any in the Union. The Massachusetts
Bureau made such a record for good in that Commonwealth, that no department of State was
more relied on or created a greater interest than the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It came to
be liberally supported, and it soon attracted attention in other States by its work. In 1872,
Pennsylvania established a similar Bureau, and in 1876 Missouri also established one; other
States followed, until now there are twenty-two State Bureaus in existence, and also a
National Bureau, which has recently been enlarged and made a separate department of the
government. These bureaus owe their rise and growth to no sudden impulse or ebullition of
feeling, but the good effect of their work being seen and observed, they have steadily widened
their influence and made their way to public favor. It is safer to assume that the develop-ment
of this kind of statistical work has just begun. The statistical department of govern-ment
does not to-day, highly as it is regarded, occupy that prominent position which it is des-tined
to assume. There is an eagerness everywhere apparent for statistical information,
especially on economic questions, not for theoretical, but for practical purposes. The time
has come when it is recognized that it is best for States to " keep books," as well as prudent
business men, in order to post themselves thoroughly about their internal affairs, to see what
their condition is and what their possibilities are—hence the avidity for statistical information.
Introductory.
The field which the North Carolina Bureau is intended to occupy, therefore, is not new or
untried. It is a field well known, practical and definite, and one from which may be obtained
the best results to the State.
The words quoted above from Mr. Jones' Report for 1888 are appli-cable
and true now, and will continue to be true, and the subject will
grow in importance as the years go by, and as our population increases
and our resources develop, and as our industries shall be diversified
and the hum of busy machinery shall be heard on every hand. Then
labor agitations, which as yet have only partially reached us, will come
in all the force, and it may be violence, with which they have come to
other States and to other nations. We shall do well and act wisely if
we shall care for the present demands of laborers, heard but indis-tinctly
as yet in our State, but be ready beforehand with facts care-fully
gathered, and with people well informed on these questions and
facts, that we may avoid the mistakes made and the wrongs committed
in other States and nations.
At the Convention of the Chiefs and Commissioners of Bureaus of
Labor Statistics held in Hartford, Connecticut, in June, 1889, a distin-guished
statesman and Senator in the Congress of the United States
used the following language in. a speech made to that Convention. I
quote it here because it expresses better than I can hope to express
the utility and the importance of labor bureaus and their work:
I have noticed the establishment and organization of labor bureaus in the different States
with great satisfaction, and have been gratified with the progress made by them in ascertain-ing
and giving to the public accurate facts and figures, calculated to awaken in the popular
mind a greater interest in the welfare, happiness and progress of the men who are doing the
world's work. It seems to me that, satisfactory as the work already accomplished is, it has
just begun. The gentlemen who have met here to-day, representing their organizations in
the different States, are in the highest sense educators. The public are pupils, and have
scarcely progressed beyond the primary stage in learning the lessons taught by the statistical
information which is being collected and published. I look for great advancement both in
the teaching and in the learning of the facts calculated to improve, not only the material
inter*ests of*the co*untry,*but al*so the*condit*ion an*d welfa*re of*its citi*zens. **
I have sometimes felt that, in the agitation which has characterized the newly awakened
interest in labor and laborers, we were all, to some extent, overlooking the great idea which
underlies this agitation. We see the evidences of discontent; we read of strikes and contro-versies,
and violence at times; we feel that there is a contest, and we cannot always wholly
approve the conduct of the contestants on either side, These surface events attract our
attention, and sometimes we become alarmed at what seems to be a dangerous conflict
Introductory,
between classes of our people—between capitalists on the one side and laborers on the other.
But if we look deeper than the surface, I think that we shall see that a great movement for
the up-lifting of humanity is in progress the world over; that if discontent exists among the
common people, it is but the evidence of an aspiration for better things; of an aspiration
which ought to be and must be satisfied.
I am not one of those who believe that humanity is being degraded in the world. I believe
that the people as a mass are growing wiser, better, happier, and are coming to a more per-fect
understanding of their rights, duties and responsibilities. The disagreeable symptoms
which shock and alarm our pessimistic friends seem to me to indicate, not decay or deteriora-tion,
but healthy and vigorous life. The truth, as I read it, is that the common people are
coming to understand their rights and their duties, and are determined to enjoy the one and
perform the other. Mistakes they will undoubtedly make, but out of all the agitation and
contest they will reach a higher plane in social, moral and political life.
The very theory of our government requires a recognition of the dignity of labor and the
worth of the laborer. In a country where the vast majority of men labor with their hands,
democracy is impossible unless each laborer counts as an equal unit in the problem of govern-ment;
and this is possible only where the laborer is fairly treated, justly appreciated, and
honestly discharges the responsibilities which a republican form of government puts upon
him. To put it in more practical words—a republican government is a government by all the
people. Each one who participates must be the equal of every other one. The rights of the
laborer must not be subordinate to the rights of the idler. A glance at the world's events
must satisfy anyone that the common, humble people of the world are coming to understand
this, and, whether under a republican or monarchal government, are aspiring to become real
factors in all problems of human life.
What we call the " labor movement" is after all but a new development of the passion of
mankind for liberty. And whatever the strife or contention, whatever the mistakes or
blunderings, which may attend this development, the outcome is sure to be a higher and
nobler liberty for mankind. We all ought to welcome this. I rejoice in it, not in the wrongs
that may be perpetrated in securing this liberty, but in the result that is sure to be accom-plished.
If there is danger, safety is to be found in knowledge. With accurate information
as to the respective relations which capital and labor sustain to production, we shall have less
of contention and strife. It is easy for the man who labors to think that he alone produces;
it is easy for the capitalist to think that capital is the greatest factor in production, and that
labor plays only a subordinate part. But when the facts which you, gentlemen, are engaged
in ascertaining, shall be generally known and understood, the true relations of capital and
labor will come to be thoroughly apprehended. It will be found that both are essential to
production and progress, and that neither can dispense with nor despise the other. Money
will no longer exalt its possessor, nor manual labor degrade him who performs it. The
laborer and the capitalist must, and when this subject is understood, will meet on the com-mon
ground of manhood, each understanding the part he has to perform in the world's prog-ress
and in human advancement. As the importance of the work you have in hand comes to
be better understood, it will be more universally appreciated.
When labor bureaus were first established, I think it may have been felt by some that they
were merely a concession to a troublesome class of our citizens. But "we builded better
than we knew." They were the need of the century, and that fact is coming to be fully
recognized. As investigators, you occupy a position second in importance to none, and your
responsibility is consequently great. What we, who cannot spend the time to investigate
Introductory.
wish to know is exact truth. We do not wish to be fed with speculation, but with cold,
unimpeachable facts. Your work will be slow, your labors difficult, and oftentimes discour-aging,
but the fruits of your labor well performed will be ample and satisfactory. Like the
leaves of that tree planted by the River of Life, your conclusions are to be for the "healing
of the Nations."
If these positions be correct with reference to bureaus limited to
Labor Statistics—and I think they are—then a Bureau covering not only
statistics pertaining to labor, but all other statistics, whether directly,
indirectly or remotely concerning labor, or not specially connected
therewith, with a larger scope for investigation and work after useful
information and actual conditions in all walks of life and for all occu-pations
in the make-up of the life of a people, will necessarily be of
greater utility.
I am not specially concerned as to its limitations by the statute
creating the Bureau, however. My object in what I have said, and in
what I have quoted, is to impress upon those who may be doubtful
as to the utility of our Bureau to the general public the views of well
informed men and the practice of other States, and thus save harmless
a department commanded by our Constitution, and made an impor-tant
part of the Agricultural Department of the State by the Consti-tution.
The work of any similar Bureau is necessarily difficult, and
immediate and direct results not easy to point out specifically. But if
allowed time and reasonable support they prove their own utility and
work out the good of the State and its people, working along with
other useful and beneficent departments.
In the work of preparation for getting the material from which to
compile this report, I prepared and sent out one hundred and ninety-two
circular letters with proper inquiries to the proprietors of cotton
and woolen mills, one hundred and ninety-two slips to the same for
names of employees; two hundred and nine circular letters of inquiry
to proprietors of tobacco factories, two hundred and nine slips for
employees of same ; nine hundred and twenty-three circular. letters with
inquiries to sundry manufacturers, nine hundred and twenty-three slips
to same for names of employees; sixty-nine circular letters to proprie-tors
of fisheries, sixty nine slips for names of employees of same ; thirty-six
circular letters to mines with thirty-six slips for employees in same:
one hundred and twenty-nine circular letters to employees in cotton
and woolen mills; one hundred and thirteen circular letters to tobacco
Introductory.
and cigar factory employees ; one hundred and ninety-six circular let-ters
to employees in sundry manufactories, and seven hundred and
fifty-two circular letters to farmers. This makes in all about three
thousand six hundred circulars of inquiry. In addition to these, the
work of writing personal letters of explanation of our circulars and for
corrections in reports and requests for replies to our inquiries has been
quite large. This heavy correspondence is made necessary by reason
of the fact that we have been compelled to confine ourselves to the
office work of correspondence for want of sufficient means to gather
statistics by personal solicitation and visitation to factories, mines, fish-eries,
etc., to obtain statistics and inspect conditions. The subjects
embraced in this report are contained in five chapters, as follows:
CHAPTER I.— Reports from cotton and woolen mill proprietors
and from employees in same.
CHAPTER II.— Reports from tobacco factory proprietors.
CHAPTER III.— Reports from manufacturers other than of cotton
and tobacco.
CHAPTER IV.—-Reports from employees in factories, mills, etc.,
other than cotton mills.
CHAPTER V.— Reports from farmers of farm products, cost of pro-duction
and wages of farm laborers, etc.
In Chapter I, keeping the purposes of the statute in mind for guid-ance
in shaping inquiries to manufacturers, as well as to others, I give
the results of replies of cotton and woolen factory proprietors to inqui-ries
in circular letter, No. I for 1890, to these manufacturers. The
names of proprietors and of mills are not given in the reports, for obvi-ous
reasons, under a promise to them in my letter, that their replies,
being voluntary, "Your names and firm shall not be used without
your consent, as I seek not to expose individual business, but to tabu-late
facts without reference to individuals or firms." The factories
come in the tables by counties and numbers, and the nature of the
investigations and facts gathered therefrom, and the subject matter of
this chapter will be seen from inquiries made of the factories, as follows :
Name of factory, post office, county. Class of goods manufactured, ; number of
spindles,....; number of looms, ; power used, ; number of "horse power" ;
number of days in operation during the last year, ; total amount of capital employed,
; pounds of cotton or wool consumed during the year, ; pounds of yarn produced,
; yards of domestics (woolen cloth) produced, .; yards of plaids, ; value of
io Introductory.
products for the year, ; amount paid for labor for the year, ; average number of men
employed, ; average wages paid skilled men per day, ; unskilled, ; average num-ber
of women employed, ; average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled,
; average number of children and youths employed, ; boys, ; girls, ; average
wages paid children per day, ; number of children under fourteen years of age employed,
; under twelve years, ; do children receive less for same work than adults, ; num-ber
of hours constituting a day's work, ; how often are wages paid in full, ; are trade
checks used, ; does the mill own a store, ; are employees required to trade there. ;
do employees live in houses owned by the mill, ; usual number of rooms in houses, .
;
size of rooms, ; usual number of occupants in houses, ; are employees required to pay
rent, ; have employees good educational and religious facilities, ; do they avail
themselves of these, ; what per cent, of adult employees can read and write, ; what
percent, of children employed can read and write, ; what percent, of employees save
part of their earnings, ; how many of your employees live in their own houses, ; has
your mill a library for the benefit of employees,
Make suggestions which occur to you for the practical betterment of laboring men, women
and children. Effect of working children in cotton mills on their health, education and
morals. Age below which they ought not to be employed, etc., with your opinions as to
libraries for use of operatives in mills; hours for labor; hours for recreation and study, etc.,
and any information you may think of interest to the public and beneficial both to labor and
capital.
The replies to these inquiries and the letters with suggestions and
experiences of proprietors make up the* first part of Chapter I.
The second part of the chapter is made up of the answers of cotton
and woolen-mill employees to the inquiries sent them and their sug-gestions
and experiences given in their letters. The following are the
inquiries on which this part of the chapter is based :
Name, post-office, county, (for convenience of Bureau). Trade, or kind of labor per-formed,
; number of years' experience in the work, . ; wages per day, ; per week,
; per month, ; total earnings past year, . . ; total earnings of all others in your family,
; days lost in year for lack of work, ; from sickness, ; are you paid by day, week,
month or year, ; what part of wages paid in cash, ; what part of wages paid in store
orders,.. ..; do you trade where you choose, ; number of hours required for day's work,
; price of board in your locality per week, . total number in your family, ; num-ber
of these working for wages, ; number working otherwise for support of family, ;
cost of living for yourself and family for the year, ; do you own a home, ; if not, what
rent do you pay, ; have your wages increased or decreased during the past year, ; per
cent ; cause, ; how many of your children are between six and twenty-one years of
age, ; how many of these attended school past year, ; how many of your children work
in factories, ; boys, ; girls, . . .
; how many at other constant employment, ; boys,
; girls, ; resp ective ages of those in factories, ; at other employment, ; wages
of boys working in factories, ; girls, ; wages of boys working at other employment,
Introductory. i i
; girls, ; what is the condition of your family for house room ; what of other
laboring families for same, ; are you a member of any church, ; how many of your
family are members, ; what are your opportunities for public worship, ; do you take a
newspaper,... ; daily, ; weekly, ; monthly, ; to what extent are you supplied
with books, ; have you the use of any public library ; how many volumes, ; does
your family attend Sunday-school,
Remarks on any subject regarding the condition of working men and women and their
families, and what, in your opinion, would improve it, in reference to house-room con-veniences
and comforts, and the needs of working people for houses made roomy, comfort-able
and cheerful.
Chapter II of the Report is made up from the statistics gathered
from manufacturers of tobacco in reference to their business, wages
and condition of employees, and letters of suggestion and general
information from tobacco manufacturers. The following resume of
inquiries to this class of manufacturers will show the character of the
subject-matter of this chapter :
Name of factory, post-office, county, (for convenience of Bureau). Class of goods manu-factured,
; number of days in operation the last year, ; total amount of capital
employed, ; pounds of tobacco consumed during the year, ; value, ; value of prod-ucts
for the year, ; internal revenue paid, ; amount paid for labor for the year, ;
average number of men employed, ; women ; children under fourteen years of age,
; under twelve years, ; hours constituting a day's work, .... ; wages of foremen per
day, ; cutting-room men per day, ; stamping men per day, ; women, ; boys,
; girls, ; boxing and shipping men per day, ; boys per day, ; classers or pick-ers,
men, per day, ; women, ; stemmers, boys, per day, ; girls, .... ; rollers, men,
per day, ; per ioo pounds men, ; screw-room men per day, ; boys per day, ;
cigarette makers per 1,000, ; cigar makers per 1,000, ; what do cigarette and cigar
makers average per day, ; cigar and cigarette packers per 1,000, ; average per day,
; firemen per day, ... ; watchman per day, ; machinists per day, ; carpenters per
day, ; laborers per day, ; how often are wages paid, . . . . ; are they paid in cash, ;
are trade checks used, ; does factory run a store, ; do employees live in houses owned
by factory, .. ..; do they pay rent for factory houses, ; do employees have good educa-tional
and religious facilities, ; is the educational condition of laboring people improving,
; is the moral condition of laboring people improving, ; is the financial condition of
laboring people improving,
Make suggestions which occur to you for the practical betterment of laboring men, women
and children. Effect of working children in tobacco factories on their health, education and
morals Age below which they ought not to be employed, etc., etc., with your opinions as
to libraries for use of operatives; hours for labor; hours for recreation and study, etc., and
any information you may think of interest to the public and beneficial to both labor and
capital.
12 Introductory.
Chapter III is made up of replies from general manufactuiers, saw-mill
men, sash, blind and door manufacturers, wagon, buggy, carriage,
cart and plow manufacturers, harness-makers, saddlers, etc.
The character of the subject-matter of the chapter may be gathered
from the resume of the inquiries sent these manufacturers and opera-tors
below given :
Name, post-office, county (for convenience of ureBau). Trade or business, ; number
of months in operation past year, ; amount of capital employed, ; value of product for
the year, ; amount paid for labor during the year, ; average number of men employed,
; average number of women, ; youths, ; children under fourteen years of age,
; average daily wages paid skilled men, ; women, .. ; average daily wages paid
unskilled men, ; women, ; average daily wages paid youths, ; children under four-teen,
; number of hours constituting a day's work, ; how often are wages paid, ; per
cent, of increase in wages past year ; decrease, ; average price of board per month,
; per cent, of wages paid in cash, ; merchandise or orders, ; percent, of adult
employees who can read and write, ; per cent, of children employees who can read and
write, ; per cent, of employees owning homes, ; per cent, who save part of earnings,
; is the educational condition of laboring people improving, ; is the moral condition
of laboring people improving, ; is the financial condition of laboring people improving,
Make suggestions which occur to you for the practical betterment of the condition of labor-ing
men, women and children. Effect of working children in mills, or other industries, on
their health, education and morals. Age below which they ought not to be employed, etc.,
etc., with your opinion as to libraries for use of operatives in mills or factories; hours for
recreation and study, etc., and any information you may think of interest to the public and
beneficial to both labor and capital.
Chapter IV is made up of replies from various classes of operatives
in manufacturing establishments (except cotton and woolen-mill oper-atives),
merchanics, general laborers (skilled and unskilled), shoemakers,
harness-makers, etc., and their letters and suggestions to the Bureau
and public in answer to the following inquiries sent them by the
Bureau. The character of the subject-matter of the chapter may be
gathered from the nature and extent of the inquiries below:
Name in full, post-office, county (for convenience of Bureau). Trade, or kind of labor per-formed,
; number of years' experience in the work, ; wages per day, ; per week,
; per month, ; total earnings past year, ; total earnings of all others in your
family, . ; days lost in year for lack of work, ; from sickness, ; are you paid by day,
week, month or year, ; what part of wages paid in cash, ; what part of wages paid in
store orders, ; do you trade where you choose, ; number of hours required for days'
work, ; price of board in your locality per week, ; total number in your family, ;
number of these working for wages ; number working otherwise for support of family
Introductory. 13
; cost of living for yourself and family for the year, ; do you own a home ; if not,
what rent do you pay, ; have your wages increased or decreased during the past year, ;
what per cent., . ; cause, ; how many of your children are between six and twenty-one
years of age, ; how many of these attended school past year, ; how many of your chil-dren
work in factories, ; boys, ; girls, ; how many at other constant employment,
; boys, ; girls, , respective ages of those in factories, ; at other employment,
; wages of boys working in factories, ; girls ; wages of boys working at other
employment, ; girls, . ; what is the condition of your family for house room, ; what
of other laboring families for same, . . ; are you a member of any church, ; how many of
your family are members, ; what are your opportunities for public worship, ; do you
take a newspaper, ; daily, ; weekly, ; monthly, ; to what extent are you sup-plied
with books, ; have you the use of any public library, ; how many volumes, ;
does your family attend Sunday-school,
Suggestions on any subject regarding the condition of working men and women and their
families, and what, in your opinion, would improve it in reference to house-room con-veniences
and comforts, and the needs of working people for houses made roomy, comforta-ble
and cheerful.
Chapter V is made up of Agricultural Statistics and wages of farm
laborers, as gathered from the replies of farmers to enquiries sent out
from the Bureau directly to each farmer correspondent of the Bureau.
The character of the subject-matter of this chapter may be gathered
from the character and extent of the inquiries given below:
Name of farmer reporting, ; post-office, ; county, .; number of acres in farm,
; number of acres cultivated, ; value of entire farm if placed upon the market, ;
value of that portion used in farming operations, ; value of farming utensils, vehicles,
tools, etc., used upon your farm, ; value of other personal property used or raised on your
farm, such as horses, cows, sheep, hogs, etc.,
Note.—The above questions are intended to elicit, as near as you can come to it, the
amount of capital used by you on your farm during this year, not including such property as
mills, gins, etc.
VALUE OF ARTICLES RAISED ON FARM.
Give as near as you can the value of products produced and sold, or to be sold, from your
farm during this year, in money,
Note.—Give in answer to above question, the value in money of articles produced and sold,
or to be sold, off your farm during this year, such as cotton, grain, hay, vegetables, fruit,
milk, butter, poultry, and in fact, everything produced and sold, or to be sold, from your farm.
Give as near as you can the.value of whatever was produced on your farm and used, or to be
used, for the support of the family or hired help during this year, and in the estimate include
that used by live stock, poultry, etc.,
Note.—The answer to the two questions above should include everything produced upon
your farm only. It is not intended to include what is raised by tenants. If no other crop is
raised except by tenants, the estimate might be made from a tenant's crop, taking the value
of land, production, etc., of an industrious tenant.
14 Introductory.
EXPENSES OF FARM.
Number of members of your family now supported on your farm, ; number of members
of your family who live and work on your farm, whether in the field or house, ; amount
paid hired help who worked on farm this year, in wages, . . .. ; estimated value of services of
those working on farm this year, who were not paid in wages, ; amount paid for fertili-zers
for farm this year in money, ; value of necessary articles of food bought for use on
farm in 1890, including that bought for stock,
What per cent, of an average crop did you make this year, ; what per cent, of an aver-age
crop was raised this year by the farmers of your township, in your opinion, ; what per
cent, of an average crop was raised this year by the farmers of your county, in your opinion,
. ; what, in your opinion, is the average value of land in your township, per acre, ;
what, in your opinion, is the average value of land per acre for your county, not including
town lots, ; number acres cultivated by you in cotton, ; bales produced, ; value of
product, ; in tobacco, ; pounds produced, ; value of product, ; in corn, ;
bushels produced, ; value of product, ; in wheat, ; bushels produced, ; value
of product, ; in rice, .. ; bushels produced, ; value of product, ; in oats, ;
bushels produced, ; value of product, ; in rye, ; bushels produced, ; value of
product, ; in field peas, ; bushels produced, ; value of product, ; in peanuts,
; bushels produced, ; value of product, ; in sweet potatoes, ; bushels produced,
; value of product, ; in Irish potatoes, . . ; bushels produced, ; value of product,
; in cabbage, ; heads produced, . _ .
; value received, ; number acres in orchards,
; value of products, ; in grapes, ; value of product, . . . . ; in clover, ; pounds
produced, ; in other grasses, ; pounds produced, ...'.; wages per day paid "day hands,
"
; men,....; women, __.; wages per month paid men, ; women, ; do men with
families hired by the year have house, fire-wood, garden and truck patch free of rent ; if
not, what arrangements are made about these items
Give any other information you think of interest, or suggest any evils existing, and your
opinion as to proper remedies.
The reports from farmers have necessarily been late coming in from
the nature of their business and the lateness in many sections in finish-ing
the gathering and housing of crops. This has made the com-pletion
of this chapter of the report impossible at an earlier date than
this, unless I had chosen to close it with the very few reports which
came earlier, having been based upon tstimates before gathering crops,
rather than upon weights and measurements after gathering. I did
not think it best to close the chapter until I had as many reports as
possible, before being compelled to close to finish up the report in time
for the session of the General Assembly.
I hoped to be able, in connection with the gathering of agricultural
statistics for this report, to gather the statistics of what is popularly
known as the " exodus of the Negroes " from our State, these being
largely farm tenants and farm laborers. It was found exceedingly
Introductory. l S
difficult to get at anything approaching correct estimates, and anything
like accuracy in facts was impossible. I could not address every farmer
and landowner in that portion of the State from which the "exodus-ters
" took their departure as to how many left each farm. The rail-roads
have no reports of these that I am aware of, which could be
given me without asking too much of the time and labor of their
agents and employees to be given gratuitously to the service of the
Bureau. The funds at my command were not sufficient to enable me
to visit localities of their departure and to investigate for myself, or to
enable me to pay some one in each locality to investigate and report.
Under these circumstances I have not made any investigation leading
to facts worthy of being published as correct.
There have been various estimates of the number of laborers, white
and black—for some whites left the State in the movement—who left
our State. These vary all the way from six thousand to eighteen
thousand, including women and children. How far these estimates
are from being correct I have no means of knowing. The exodus
movement has been attributed to various causes by one and another
of those who have spoken or written anything on the subject. Some
attempts were made to show that the cause was political. An article
published by General Barringer clearly showed that politics had noth-ing
to do with the movement, but that it was a purely business trans-action
by men in other States having large bodies of land who wanted
hands to clear and cultivate it and who sent agents to North Carolina
to procure them. The succession of bad crop years and poor crops in
North Carolina put the Negroes in such condition as to be easily
influenced by the stories of these agents, magnifying the ills of the
Negro here and exaggerating the good to come to him in the localities
where he was wanted, by reason of high wages and cheap and plenti-ful
food, rich lands and abundant crops to be made with less labor
than was required here for poor crops. In this way many were induced
to abandon their homes and their State to go elsewhere looking for
a better country. This, I think, the correct view.
No general inconvenience, I believe, has been experienced in this
State b)y this movement. In some localities the landowners and
farmers suffered considerable inconvenience and loss by loss of hands
and tenants to cultivate their lands. The year 1890 was an unpre-cedented^
good crop year throughout the State for all crops except
16 Introductory.
wheat, oats and rye. The good crops and the extra quantity of pork
fattened and saved bring new hopes and renewed energy to the farmers
and contentment to the laborers. This will, I think, largely arrest the
tendency of farm-laborers to leave our fields for new and untried local-ities
and people.
Expressing the hope and the belief that this Bureau will be strength-ened,
and not crippled by any action of the General Assembly, and my
thanks to Captain W. S. Harris, Clerk to the Bureau, for his faithful
services, and stating to your Excellency that the expenses of the
Bureau for the past two years may be found by items in the Auditor's
office, and that the vouchers for every item of said expenses are on file
in this office for the inspection of anyone wishing to inspect them, I
close this introduction to the Report of the Bureau for the year 1890.
Thanking your Excellency for your uniform kindness and courtesy
to me, I am, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN C. SCARBOROUGH,
Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BUREAU of LABOR STATISTICS
FOR 1S90.
Chapter I.
TABLE, STATEMENTS AND LETTERS FROM COTTON
AND WOOLEN MILL PROPRIETORS.
This chapter contains the information gathered from the reports of
cotton and woolen mill proprietors and from employees in said mills.
The information gathered from the proprietors of cotton and woolen
mills was given in answer to the circular letter and questions attached,,
printed below. The same circular letter was used for cotton and
woolen mills, as it was found that by pen-changes of a few words in the
circular it would apply as well to both. It will be noticed by those
who are even partially acquainted with the cotton and woolen manu-facturing
interests of the State, that all did not send in replies to our
inquiries. This is to be regretted for several reasons, apparent to any
intelligent reader of this Report, as the Reports go to all the States
and Territories of our own government and to all the leading foreign
and American governments, and fail to impress these with the rapid
growth and progress of these industries in our favored climate and
under the superior advantages of our unsurpassed water-power and
facilities for manufacturing purposes.
Some of the reports are full and quite satisfactory; others are less so.
Some are accompanied by excellent letters full of wise suggestions and
breathing a kindly spirit towards their employees and showing the
earnest desire on the part of the writers to aid their employees in
every way possible to better their condition and elevate themselves in
the scale of citizenship. They also breathe a kindly spirit for the
Bureau and a disposition to aid us in our work in any way which to
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
them seemed legitimate and proper. For this, these gentlemen, one
and all, have our hearty thanks. They have been courteous and kind.
We thank them. We have endeavored to approach them in a spirit of
peace and good will, and have endeavored to be promoters of peace
between employers and employees, and not breakers of peace and
stirrers-up of strife and confusion.
With those who have not seen fit 'to reply to our inquiries we have
no quarrel and will not utter words of complaint. We express the
hope that in the future they may look upon the efforts of the Bureau
favorably, and aid it in every way to faithfully and efficiently perform
the work prescribed and contemplated by the law creating the Bureau
and prescribing its duties.
CIRCULAR LETTER TO COTTON AND WOOLEN MILL PROPRIETORS.
Office Bureau Labor Statistics,
Raleigh, N. C, August 22, 1890.
GENTLEMEN: The statute under which this Bureau was established,
chapter 113, Laws of 1887, makes it the duty of the Commissioner of
Labor Statistics "to collect information upon the subject of labor, its
relation to capital, the hours of labor, the earnings of laboring men and
women, their educational, moral and financial condition, and the best
means of promoting their material, social and moral prosperity." I
have endeavored in this circular letter to the proprietors and mana-gers
of cotton factories, to ask such questions as will bring out facts
for information, such as the language of the statute contemplates. I
address these questions to you, recognizing the mutual interest of capi-tal
and labor, and the necessity of hearing both sides in order to get
at the facts and true status of the relations between capital and labor.
JVIy mission is peace, with no desire or purpose to set the two by the
ears, but with the earnest desire to promote peace, harmony and good
-will between employers and employees. These are the true basis of
ireal and lasting prosperity to both. I come with this desire, and trust
you will meet me in the same spirit. I, therefore, request you to send
me', at as early a day as possible, this sheet in the enclosed prepaid
envelope, with the questions answered as carefully and correctly as
possible. By so doing you will do me a personal and official favor and
Cott >n and Woolen Mills. 19
confer a benefit upon the State, whose servant I am. Were the means
at my command sufficient, I would gladly call in person and solicit
your replies, form your personal acquaintance, and give any verbal
explanations needed. But this not being the case, I am left to this as
the only method of communication with you. Your names and firm
shall not be used without your consent, as I seek not to expose indi-vidual
business, but to tabulate facts without reference to individuals
or firms.
I enclose a slip for names of some of your employees from whom I
may seek information under the statute quoted. Will you do me the
favor to give me the names and post-office address of several of your
most intelligent, unprejudiced and reliable employees, men and women?
I desire to present facts and not the statements of narrow prejudice.
You will find a small prepaid envelope for the purpose. Assuring you
of my earnest desire to serve the best interest of all and to promote
harmony and good will between employers and employees, I am,
Very truly yours,
JOHN C. SCARBOROUGH,
Commissioner of Labor Statistics.
1. Name of factory _
2. Post-office County
3. Class of goods manufactured
4. Number of spindles Number of looms
5. Power used Number of "horse power "
6. Number of days in operation during the last year
7. Total amount of capital employed - .
8. Pounds of cotton consumed during the year
9. Pounds of yarn produced . ..
10. Yards of domestics produced Yards of plaids
11. Value of products for the year
12. Amount paid for labor for the year. .
13. Average number of men employed
14. Average wages paid skilled men per day, $ ; unskilled, $
15. Average number of women employed
16. Average wages paid skilled women per day, $ ; unskilled, $
17. Average number of children and youths employed; boys
girls _
,
20 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
i 8. Average wages paid children per day
19. How many children under 14 years of age ; under 12,..
.
20. Do children receive less for same work than adults
21. Number of hours constituting a day's work .
22. How often are wages paid in full .. Are trade checks used.
23. Does the mill own a store
24. Are employees required to trade there
25. Do employees live in houses owned by the mill
26. Usual number of rooms in houses ; size of rooms
27. Usual number of occupants in houses
28. Are employees required to pay rent
29. Have employees good educational and religious facilities
30. Do they avail themselves of these
31. What per cent, of adult employees can read and write.
32. What per cent, of children employed can read and write
33. What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings.
34. How many of your employees live in their own houses..
35. Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 21
TABLE No. 1.
COTTON AND WOOLEN MILLS, SHOWING CLASS OF GOODS MANUFAC-TURED,
NUMBER OF SPINDLES, POWER USED, NUMBER OF DAYS IN
OPERATION DURING LAST YEAR, TOTAL AMOUNT OF CAPITAL
EMPLOYED, POUNDS OF COTTON OR WOOL CONSUMED DUR-ING
THE YEAR, POUNDS OF YARN PRODUCED, YARDS OF
DOMESTICS, Etc., PRODUCED, VALUE OF PRODUCTS
FOR THE YEAR, AMOUNT PAID FOR LABOR, AVER-AGE
NUMBER OF MEN, WOMEN, YOUTHS AND
CHILDREN EMPLOYED, AVERAGE DAILY
WAGES OF SAME, HOURS FOR DAY'S
WORK, Etc., HOUSE-ROOM FOR EM-PLOYEES,
RELIGIOUS FACILI-TIES,*
LITERACY AND ILLIT-ERACY
OF EMPLOYEES, Etc.
22 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
TABLE NO. I — COTTON AND WOOLEN MILLS —SHOWING CLASS OF GOODS MANU
COUNTIES. ^a
ni
i-u
11
fs
u ^
a as
ft
IB >>
01 !>n->
ed "i
T3 rt
w <« ft
d n.H
fc fc-*
eg-
O cS
° ft
01T3
Alamance:
i
2
3
4
5
Alexander
Ashe ,
Buncombe:
i
2
Cleveland:
i
2
Catawba:
i
2
Caldwell
Cumberland...
Franklin
Forsyth:
i
2
Gaston:
i
2
Guilford:
i
2
3
Haywood
Halifax
Iredell
Lincoln:
i
2 .'.
Mecklenburg:
i
2
3
4
Montgomery .. New Hanover
Pasquotank ...
Randolph:
i
2
3
Richmond:
i
2.„
Rockingham..
Rutherford
Surry:
i
2
3
Wilson
Cotton plaids
Domestic checks
Yarns and plaids
Jeans, blankets, yarns, etc.
Plaids
Yarns and sheetings
Rolls, yarns and jeans
Plaids, cottonades, etc
Jeans, linseys, satinets, etc
Warps and yarns...
Warps and twines.
Yarns and warps
Carding and spin'gwool.
Carpet warps
Warps, shirtings, etc
Cotton-spinning
Sheetings, cottonades, etc
Cassimeres, fine jeans, etc
Warps, yarns, etc..
Plaids, warps, etc..
Cotton plaids...
Plaids
Plaids
Woolens
Hosiery '.
Cotton yarns ..,
Cotton yarns...
Woolen yarns..
Cotton yarns
Warps and yarns
Cotton yarns
Cotton yarns
Cotton yarns
Cotton flannels, etc
Cotton twines, netting, etc
Bags and warps
Plaids and seamless bags..
Plaids
Plaids and cottonades...
Sheetings
Yarns and canton flannels
Yarns .
Yarns, warps, etc
Cassimeres, kerseys, etc..
Jeans, linseys, etc....
Single and double warps..
3,200
4,400
3,200
200
6,112
210
3,100
5,000
Water and steam 175
Steam 150
Water ! 130
Water and steam) 15
Steam and water
Water 18
Water
Steam.
Water.
Steam.
Water.
3,200
14,000
Water.,
Water..
2,000
6,200
Steam.,
Steam.,
Water..
Water.,
.Steam
.
Steam
Steam
.
1,000
1,000
Steam.
Water
.
7,088
5,000
6,864
15,000
Steam.
Steam.
Steam.
Steam.
'Water.
5,712 190 I
612 1 Steam..
2,192
5,000
2,500
4.032
4,000
4,000
2,100
1,000
360
6,452
30 Steam and water
200 !Steam and water
12S Water..
1 So Water.
132 Water.
39 Water.
Steam.,
.... Water.
....Water
4 Water.
....Isteam.
300
60
75
300
full
260
full
full
280
270
260
300
290
210
52
300
260
210
182 306
240
230
450
150 .
175 283
35 3°o
5,000
Don't know
15,000
15,000
175,000
9,600
75,000
130,000
100,000
350
50,000
50,000
78,000
12,000
25,000
16,000
3,200
100,000
131,500
250,000
85,000
150,000
23,000
60,000
125,000
60,330
125,000
150,000
125,000
600,000
659.250
*i5,ooo
1,274,234
80,000
450,000
1,137,042
931,725
600,000
1,500,000
1,028,477
*i6o,677
376,000
895,500
130,000
224,100
150,000
120,000
681,600
1,021,000
1,872,000
400,000
600,000
75,000
480,013
900,000
424,257
530,000
640,000
450,000
8,000
100,000
*4o,ooo
858,124
*Wool. t Woolens. X Bags. Children.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 23
FACTURED, NUMBER OF SPINDLES, POWER USED, NUMBER OF DAYS IN OPERATION, Etc.
re o
S*1
fc
Tn 3
<LJ-C
fl o
'3
is
;°£
a c
3 3
a p. j
d D
hod
5 a"
"S-o
gg
^«
t, ,-d "°
in
i" S ft
~ IT c p,
3 3 S?3
3 n re
S c P*
(U u
«l ^ "-a
u.3
.a a
S3
tuog
bo M
re a
ID'S
re j3
2,500 f S,ooo
Can't tell 1
70,000' 217,840
2,500,000
3,4So,ooo
$110,000
3,740,226
8,000
263,098
12,373
25,000 40
32,433.24
30,000 40
i,ooo| 4
64,030 102
3,000, 6
$2 50 $ 70 60 •$
2 00
90
1 25
1 37
40 to 60 25
1 00 50
60 :
5,000 f 6,500 6,000
100,000
9S7,"5J
838,725
528,000'
1,478,000! 5,000,000
163,341
150,970
564
90,000
336,000 ,
798,035
!
1,500,038
t 172,427
1,136,533
848,656
201,600 1,281,800
138,000 .
115,000
168,171
37,879
60,000
50,000 ....
i,7oo| 4
1 8, 000
i 15
12,07s 1 20
20,280; 36
315 3
6,2501 6
75,000 100
1,250; 1
27,079, 22
n,3i3 26
8,400 20
36,275 81
1 00
1 25
2 50
1 25
1 00
1 75
2 50
1,800000
57,680
10,000
7,040
13,000
25,000
3,000
1 50
1 25
1 05
2 00
1 37
80
J
35 to 50 15
60 ! 45
60 45 to 55
! 50
I 00
65
60
S5
596,400
853,000
1,638,000
350,000
500,000
64,500
69,572
792,000
384,000
3,Soo
300 4
"3,3i6
144, Soo
294,840
52,000
150,000
18,000
1412,289 62,521
X 540,000 2,300,000, 143,365
1,996,800' 90,000
13,200 26
23,040 25
27,500j 35
6,700] 15
44, 200! 160
4,oooi 3
io,775 13
30,000;
2o,Soo 33
2 00
2 50
2 00
1 50
1 00
5,000, 1, Soo, 000 , 26,000, 40 2 00
60
50
60
75
75
75
55
1 00
1 00
40
50
60
65
65
75
40
1 00
75
75
1 00
60 to 80
35 to 50
40
35
30
30
40
40
40
40
30 to 35
25
35
45
35
15
None
37M
30,000
759,402
f 6,000 .
16,805 16
I 8
18,400
20,000
130,000
1,620! 5
I
S
1,500 4
16,600! 14 32
40
25 to 40
37 to 50
35
27>2
27
30
33K
50
45
23
6
4
None
None
6
24 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
TABLE No. i — STATEMENT OF COTTON AND
COUNTIES.
> tn
S g
U <U (v.
r- " ^
•5 ^"S
."=,0 a
=u^ « £ «
O U£
O &
o.2
>>3
a >> 4J
>^
t/1 ?
=>£
<u 5 ^3 -rH
S g as- -- o 1 o «^
3
o til
Q *
3 -2
Alamance:
Alexander..
Ashe
Buncombe:
No.
No.
No.
Yes.
No.
No.
Weekly No. Yes No j Mostly. 2 to 5
Weekly.... No. YesJExpectedj Yes 2 to 5
Weekly No. Yes No jMostly. 5
No. No. No JNo 1 to 3
Weekly No. Yes No ; Yes Ji to 5
On demand Yes Yes Expected Mostly.
Weekly Yes Yes'No Yes
Cleveland:
No.
No.
"J*
IlM
Catawba:
Semi-monthly
Monthly
Weekly.
Weekly.
Caldwell
Cumberland.
Franklin
Forsyth:
No.
No.
Gaston:
No.
No.
I iK Weekly..
10 "[Weekly.,
n IWeeklv..
n^Monthly
II Daily
n/2
Guilford:
Haywood.
Halifax....
Iredell
Lincoln
:
n 1/
No.
No.
No.
Semi-monthly
Semi-monthly
Weekly
Semi-monthly
11 Monthly
11 Semi-monthly
11 ISemi-monthly
11 Weekly
10 Every two w'ks
Mecklenburg:
15
Montgomery ..
New Hanover.
Pasquotank ....
Randolph:
Richmond:
No.
No.
5 I No.
! No.
3 I No.
! No.
None No.
3 No.
] No.
None No.
11H
njl
Weeklv.
Weekly.
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Semi-monthly
Monthly
Monthly
Weekly...
Weekly...
Monthly
No.
Yes
Yes
Yes
No,
No.
Yes
No.
Yes
No.
Xo.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Yes
No.
No.
No.
Yes
Yes
No.
Yes
No.
Yes
No.
No.
Yes 2 to 6
Mostly. ! 3 to 6
Yes.
Yes.
Partly..
Yes'No.
Yes'No.
Xo.
Xo.
Yes No.
Yes No.
No.
No.
Yes
No.
Yes
Xo.
Yes
No.
No.
No.
No.
Yes
NoJ Partly..
No No
Yes
Yes.
3 to 5
3
A few.
A few.
Yes
Yes.
Yes
Yes ..
Mostly.
In part
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No..
Yes No.
No
No
Mostly.
Yes
Yes
Mostly.
3 to 6
5
4
2 :o 4
4 to 8
4
2 to 4
4
4
4
5
4 to 6
4 to 5
All sizes.. Can't say
16x16 5
6 to 10
i6xiS Can't say
15x18 3
4 to 6
12x16
14X14
14X18
12x16
14X16
16x16
15x16
16x16
15x16
15x15
15x16
15x16
12x12
I0X I2
I2XI4
I0X I2
17X17
3 to 6
1 family.
6
4 to 8
7 to 10
6
1 to 4
1 family.
4
2 to 6
6 to 12
2 to room
2 to 8
5 to 10
3
6
6
5 to 7
6
3 to 8
Rockingham
.
Rutherford....
Surry:
3 ••
Wilson ,
5 ! No.
None No.
None No.
None
None No.
3 ' No.
11K
Weeklv...
Monthly
At will....
Monthly
Monthly
Weekly...
Yes No iYes.
Yes No \%—
No. No. I |Partly..
No. Yes No : Yes
No. NoJ !No
NoJnoJ Partly..
2 to 6
3
16x16
12x15
i6x i8
14x16
3 to 4 I I2X l6
5
10
4 to 8
4 to 5
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 25
WOOLEN MILL PROPRIETORS — Continued.
a "g
a ba
'O'v
8-SS
>> S
V.° <r. >~ 3
cd rt n
Hn3
ill
D O
o 0-~
o
K
Low rent Fairlv good... Partly.
Yes
Low rent
No
Nominal
No
No
Yes jAfewofthein
Yes IA few ofthem
Fairly good.. No
Yes Some
Fairly good.
.
: Most of them
Yes Yes
Can't say. Can't say. About 33^.. | 10 or 15 No.
Yes.
Yes.
Nominal
No
No...
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
No.
Yes.
Yes.,
Yes..
Yes.
Yes.
90
100
Don't know.
75
75
100
Don't know.
5��
5°
Most of them
5°
Don't know.
75
75
All
5 or 6
One-half..
None
Yes.
Yes.
None .
Yes..
Fair.
Partly
Very little..
Yes
Partly.
Yes Yes
Yes Fairly well.
Yes 'Not much.,
Yes IYes
25
75
100
100
90
75
100
S3
83
75
None .
None .
All
10
Can't say
None
Com'n sch'ls No Can't say.
Yes Fairly well... 98
, Yes jNotmuch | 80
Yes Yes \ 100
Yes Yes Yes
50
50
very few
S. School
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
'No.
I No.
No.
[NO.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No..
No..
No..
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes
Yes.
Partly.,
Yes Yes
Yes [E. no; R. yes
Very good E. no; R. yes
Yes
J E. no; R. yes No
Yes [Can't say
Yes Yes
100
100
E. no; R. yes Not much
Yes jPart of them
Yes 'Not gen'ly....
Yes Yes ...»
Can't say.
100
85
100
5
Can
33%
't say.
25
75
3
75
None
None
Can't say....
5
5
3
One family.
One-third....
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Yes.
No...
No.
No.
First-class Fairly well.
Yes Some do
Yes Some do...
Yes Generally.
Yes No ;
E. no; R. yes Yes
75
100
85
Can't sav.
37%
3° One-third...,
One-fourth
None
3 families.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
26 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
STATEMENTS AND LETTERS FROM COTTON AND WOOLEN MILL PRO-PRIETORS.
ALAMANCE COUNTY.
No. i — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, plaids.
Number of spindles, 8,498; number of looms, 434.
Power used, steam and water; number of " horse-power," 450 to 500.
Number of days in operation during the last year, full time—ten months.
Total amount of capital employed. I do not know.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 1,274,234.
Pounds of yarn produced. I cannot tell; have kept no account of it.
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids, 3.740,226 square yards.
Value of products for the year, about $263,098.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $64,030.
Average number of men employed, 102.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25 [calculated from facts in slip. J. C. Scar-borough];
unskilled, 77 cents, calculated.
Average number of women employed, 210.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 70 cents; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed, 40.
Average wages paid children per day, 35 cents.
How many children under fourteen years of age? ; under twelve?..
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes, as a general thing.
Usual number of rooms in houses, one to five; size of rooms, 10x16 and 18x20.
Usual number of occupants in houses. I cannot say.
Are employees required to pay rent? A nominal one; about enough to keep them in
repair.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? A church here; schools as in
the country.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Not as much as they ought.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? It is impossible for me to say.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ? I cannot tell.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? I cannot answer this.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? Five or six.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.'
No. 2 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton plaids.
Number of spindles, 3,200; number of looms, 200.
Power used, water and steam; number of "horse-power," 175.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 27
Number of days in operation during the last year, 306^.
Total amount of capital employed, $125,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 600,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, about 514,000.
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids, 2,500,000.
Value of products for the year, about $110,000.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $25,500.
Average number of men employed, about 40.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.00 to $3.50; unskilled, 65 to 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, about 60.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 60 cents to $1.25; unskilled, 40 to 60.
Average number of children and youths employed—boys, 25; girls, 35.
Average wages paid children per day, about 35 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? About 20; under 12, about 10.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven hours; average, 66 hours per week.
How often are wages paid in full ? Once a week. Are trade checks used ? No; cash.
Does the mill own a store? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? No; not forced to trade at store.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Mostly.
Usual number of rooms in houses, two, three, four and five rooms; size of rooms, all sizes
to suit families.
Usual number of occupants in houses, about 150 operatives; can't say how many occupants.
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes, low rent; five-room house $2.50 per month.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Fairly good.
Do they avail themselves of these? Some largely, some not at all.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? Can't say, as I do not know.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ? Can't say, as I do not know.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? Can't say, presume about one-third.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? About ten or fifteen.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
Remarks.—We need a good public school here, but the county board seems loath to give
it. We have offered a cash donation to get one, and have worked hard to get it, and trust to
be remembered for our labors in that direction.
We have comparatively an orderly set of operatives and very little trouble. They seem to
be contented with their pay, and those that think they can better themselves we are always
glad for them to do so. We have healthy men and women who have been in the mills since
they were small children. We do not care for children under twelve, but have to take them
to please the parents. We consider a cotton mill about the healthiest place a man can work.
Of course there is considerable lint in some departments, which is not conducive to health; but
we have yet to see the business that does not present some objectionable features.
Yours, etc., * * *
No. 3 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, domestic checks.
Number of spindles, 4,400; number of looms,
28 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Power used, steam; number of "horse-power," 150.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 293.
Total amount of capital employed, .
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 659,250 pounds.
Pounds of yarn produced. It was all spun up.
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids, 3,480,000.
Value of products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year, $32,433.24.
Average number of men employed,
Average wages paid skilled men per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of women employed,
Average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, ; girls,
Average wages paid children per day,
How many children under 14 years of age? ; under 12 ?
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? Every one paid according to work
done.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full ? Every week. Are trade checks used? No.
Does the mill own a store ? An interest in a store.
Are employees required to trade there? No; all things equal, they are expected to trade
there.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, two to five; size of rooms,
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent ? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? But few of them.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write?
What per cent, of children employed can read and write?
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? .
How many of your employees live in their own houses?
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees?
No. 4— Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, yarns and plaids.
Number of spindles, 3,120; number of looms, 186.
Power used, water; number of "horse-power," 130.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 292.
Total amount of capital employed,
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year,
Pounds of yarn produced,
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year, $30,000.
Average number of men employed, 40.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $2; unskilled, $1.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 29
Average number of women employed, 57-
Average wages paid .killed women per day, fi ;
unskilled, 50 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 20; girls, 16.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Six; under 12, none.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full? Every week. Are trade checks used ? No, cash.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Most of them.
Usual number of rooms in houses, five; size of rooms, 16x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses. Average about five.
Are employees required to pay rents ? Yes; a very low rent.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? They do mostly; some are neglectfu .
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? Suppose go percent.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ?
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? Most of them.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? Nine.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? Sunday-school hbrary only.
No. 5— Woolen Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, jeans, blankets, yarns and flannels.
Number of spindles, 200. Number of looms, 7.
Power used, water and steam. Number of "horse power," 15.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 175.
Total amount of capital employed, $5,000.
Pounds of wool consumed during the year, 15,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, 2,500; 5,000 pounds rolls.
Yards of woolens produced, 8,000. Yards of plaids,.. ..
Value of products for the year, $8,000.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $1,000.
Average number of men employed, four.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, 90 cents; unskilled
Average number of women employed, three.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 60 cents; unskilled
Average number of children and youths employed; boys two, girls one.
Average wages paid children per day, 35 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? One; under 12
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? Yes.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full? Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? No.
Usual number of rooms in houses, one to three; size of rooms,..-
30 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Usual number of occupants in houses ? Six to ten.
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Plenty of religious; but no school
worthy of the name.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Poorly.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? 100.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ? ioo
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 50.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? All.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
Remarks—Employees should own stock in mills in which they work, no matter how small;
gives them more interest in the welfare of the concerns. Co-operation seems to be the one,
thing needful to better the condition of employer and employed. "Bellamy's Nationalism"
seems, to the writer, at least, plausible. * * *
ALEXANDER COUNTY
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, yarns and heavy 4-4 sheeting.
Number of spindles, 672; number of looms, 24.
Power used, water; number of "horse power," 18.
Number of days in operation during the last year, about 290.
Total amount of capital employed, $15,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, about 8o,0oo.
Pounds of yarn produced, about 70,000; about 65,000 of which we wove.
Yards of domestics produced, 217,846; yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $12,373.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $3,000.
Average number of men employed, 6.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.37; unskilled, 50 cents.
Average number of women employed, 14.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 60 cents; unskilled, 33 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed, beys 2; girls 2.
Average wages paid children per day, 20 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Two; under 12, two.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Sixty-six per week.
How often are wages paid in full? On demand. Are trade checks used? Yes.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? Are expected to.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? About half of them do.
Usual number of rooms in houses, two; size of rooms, 15x18.
Usual number of occupants in houses, three
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Fair; good school two and a
half miles distant.
Do they avail themselves of these ? The larger part of them do.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? Seventy-five.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 31
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? Fifty.
What percent, of employees save part of their earnings? Seventy-five.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? About half.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
Remarks.—I suggest that Capital and Labor be let alone to manage their own affairs.
* * *
ashe county— Woolen Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, rolls, yarn and jeans.
Number of spindles, Number of looms, 20.
Power used, water. Number of "horsepower,"
Number of days in operation during the last year, 120.
Total amount of capital employed, $15,000.
Pounds of wool consumed during the year,
Pounds of yarn produced,
Yards of woolens produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year,
Average number of men employed,
Average wages paid skilled men per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of women employed,
Average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed; boys , girls
Average wages paid children per day,
How many children under 14 years of age? ; under 12 ?
Do children receive less for same work than adults ?
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? . .
.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? Yes.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, two; size of rooms
Usual number of occupants in houses, four to six.
Are employees required to pay rent? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? Seventy-five.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ? Fifty.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? Seventy-five.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No,
BUNCOMBE COUNTY.
No. 1— Woolen Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, jeans, linseys, satinet and some all-wool goods.
Number of spindles, 210. Number of looms, 5.
32 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Power used, water-wheel. Number "horse power," 12.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 260.
Total amount of capital employed, ninety-six shares of $100 each.
Pounds of wool consumed during the year, 10,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, about 5,000.
Yards of woolens produced, 6,500 of plaids of all kinds.
Value of products for the year, unknown, but about $6,000.
Amount paid for labor for the year, about $1,700.
Average number of men employed, four, counting myself.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25; unskilled,
Average number of women employed, none.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed; boys two; girls....
Average wages paid children per day, one boy 80 cents, the other 60 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? None; under 12, none.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Ten.
How often are wages paid in full ? Monthly. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store ? A small one; only to sell what we get in exchange for goods.
Are employees required to trade there ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Myself and son.
Usual number of rooms in houses, six and three; size of rooms, 14x15 feet, mostly.
Usual number of occupants in houses, four in mine, three in two, and one alone.
Are employees required to pay rent ? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Very good.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Not much.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? All.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ? Two boys live at home, and I
don't know.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? All.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? One.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
Remarks.—People who work in small woolen mills have, generally, good health. I think
steady work (if not too hard) helps morals. Don't think children under fourteen should be
made to work steadily at anything. Have never seen libraries do much good; those connected
with mills who wish to read can always get enough of reading matter. Think ten hours per
day ought to be the outside limit where women and children are employed, and that the
State should see that it is enforced.
As for the betterment of laboring men, I don't think anyone can help them much. A man
blessed with good health and average ability who will work honestly, without needing watch-ing,
will soon make a record for himself whicti will be more useful to him than anything any-one
can do for him. * * *
No. 2 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, plaids, cottonades and stripes.
Number of spindles, 6,112; number of looms, 376.
Power used, steam; number of " horse-hower," 300.
Number of days is operation during the last year,
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 33
Total amount of capital employed, $175,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year,
Pounds of yarn produced,
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, .
Amount paid for labor for the year, $50,000.
Average number of men employed,
Average wages paid skilled men per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of women employed,
Average wages paid skilled women per day, — ; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, ; girls,
Average wages paid children per day, .
How many children under 14 years of age ? ; under 12?
Do children receive less for same work than adults?
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven and a half.
How often are wages paid in full? Semi-monthly. Are trade checks used ? No; pay cash.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Are employees' required to trade there ? —
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, two to six; size of rooms, 15x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rents? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? ..
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write?
What per cent, of children employed can read and write?
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings?
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
CALDWELL COUNTY
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, carpet warps.
Number of spindles, 3,200.
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power," no.
Number of days in operation during the last year. 300.
Total amount of capital employed, $50,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 600,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, 528,000.
Yards of domestics produced, none. Yards of plaids, none.
Value of products for the year, $90,000.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $6,250.
Average number of men employed, 6.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $2, 50; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 25.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled, 40 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed, bovs 5; girls 5.
34 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average wages paid children per day, 30 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age ? Three; under 12, two.
Do children receive less for' same work than adults? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? Yes.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, three to five; size of rooms, 12x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses, seven to ten.
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? 90.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 80.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 10.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
CATAWBA COUNTY.
No. i— Woolen Mill.
Trade or business followed, carding and spinning wool.
Number of months in operation past year, regular work three months.
Amount of capital employed, $105.30, per month.
Value of product for the year, $569.
Amount paid for labor during the year, I315.
Average number of men employed, 3.
Average number of women, 2; youths 2; children under 14 years of age, .
Average daily wages paid skilled men, $1.25; women, 30 cents.
Average daily wages paid unskilled men; 30 cents; women, 25 cents.
Average daily wages paid youths, 30 cents.
Number of hours constituting a day's work, ten.
How often are wages paid ? Once every week.
Average price of board per month, $6.
Per cent, of wages paid in cash, 100.
Per cent, of adult employees who can read and write, 100.
Per cent, of employees owning homes, 100.
Is the educational condition of laboring people improving ? Somewhat.
Is the moral condition of laboring people improving ? Some.
Is the financial condition of laboring people improving? Very little or none
Remarks.—In regard to your inquiries about the age of children to work in factories, and
•the effect on their health, I am not prepared to say; I know that children working in cotton
factories generally look pale and bad. But such is the condition of the country that poor men
with large families cannot make their living by farming, so they go to factories, as factory
men can give better prices for labor than farmers.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 35
Now, in answer to your last inquiry, I will say that scarcity of money is one great cause
of the depression throughout the country; the volume of money in circulation is not sufficient
to transact the business of the country. Who is to blame for this ? Is the government, or is
it rings, combines and monopolies ? Western North Carolina is oppressed with debt and
mortgages. At the low prices of farm products a farmer cannot support his family and pay
the interest on his indebtedness. Some say this state of things is brought about by idleness;
some say it is by over-production. I think it is brought about by the scarcity of money.
The farmer wishes to make a purchase for one hundred dollars in cash; it will take 150 bushels
of his wheat to bring the cash; this is one-third more wheat than it should take, and so with
other products. Well, I am now almost eighty-four years old. I have lived to see several
times of depression in the money market. For instance, in Jackson's day the charter of the
United States Bank expired; Congress renewed the same, Jackson refused to sign the bill;
consequently money became scarce. That was a woful time for men that were in debt;
property sank in value perhaps one-half. Again, at the time of the great Negro speculation,
when the banks were borrowed out and compelled to close; this had the same effect as Jack-son's
veto. And now I am fully persuaded that something must.be done for the working
classes of this country, or it will be plebeian and patrician, or lords and peasants. The people
of this country have tasted liberty and they never will submit to be enslaved by a few. A
revolution must come.
You are at liberty to make use of my opinions as you think best.
Yours truly, * * *
No. 2
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, yarns and warps.
Number of spindles, 4,232. Number of looms
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 100.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 288.
Total amount of capital employed, $100,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 931,725.
Pounds of yarn produced, 838,725. *
Yards of domestics produced, _ _ . Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $150,970.50.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $20,280.
Average number of men employed, 36.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1; unskilled, 50 cents.
Average number of women employed, 53.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 50 cents; unskilled, 25 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys 16, girls 20.
Average wages paid children per day, 35 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Eight; under 12, none.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting day's work? Eleven and a half.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Partly.
Usual number of rooms in houses, four; size of rooms, 15x15.
36 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Usual number of occupants in houses, four to eight.
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? ioo.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 75.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 50.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? Two.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
CLEVELAND COUNTY.
No. i — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, warps, and twines.
Number of spindles, 5,000. Number of looms, none.
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power,"
Number of days in operation during the year, about 300.
Total amount of capital employed, $130,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 1,137,042.
Pounds of yarn produced, 987,115.
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $163,341.77.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $12,078.27.
Average number of men employed, 20.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 60.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 60 cents; unskilled, 45 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 10; girls, 10.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Twelve; under 12, eight.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Twelve.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? Yes.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
A.re employees required to trade there? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, 3; size of rooms, 14x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses, six.
Are employees required to pay rent? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Not much.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? 75.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 40.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? 10.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 37
No. 2 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, warps and yarns.
Number of spindles, 3,ioo. Number of looms,
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 125.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 300.
Total amount of capital employed, $75,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 450,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, 100,000.
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year, eighteen to twenty thousand dollars.
Average number of men employed, 15.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, 75 cents to $1.75; unskilled, 50 cents.
Average number of women employed, 10.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 75 to 90 cents; unskilled, 35 to 50 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 15; girls, 15.
Average wages paid children per day, 35 to 50 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Six; under 12,
Do children receive less for same work than adults? No; if they can do it.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Ten.
How often are wages paid in full? Every week. Are trade checks used? Money.
Does the mill own a store? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, 3; size of rooms, large.
Usual number of occupants in houses, one family to a house.
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes; nominal rent.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? In a measure.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? 25.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 10.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 10.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
CUMBERLAND county — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, warps, shirtings and cottonades.
Number of spindles, 14,000. Number of looms, 320.
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power," 400.
Number of days in operation during the last year, all except holidays.
Total amount of capital employed. Inquire of Philadelphia office, 333, Drexel building
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, about 1,500,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, about 1,478,000.
Yards of domestics produced, about 5,000,000. Yards of plaids, none.
Value of products for the year. Inquire of Philadelphia office.
Amount paid for labor for the year, about $75,000.
38 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average number of men employed, ioo.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 150.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 75 cents; unskilled, 40 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 75; girls, 75.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? About 75; under 12, don't know.
Do children receive less for same work than adults? Both are paid for what they do.
Number of hours constituting a day's work'? Eleven and a half.
How often are wages paid in full? Every month. Are trade checks used? Store tickets are.
Does the mill own a store? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, 3; size of rooms, 14x14.
Usual number of occupants in houses, say 6.
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Fair.
Do they avail themselves of these? To a limited extent.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? 75.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 50.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? Can't answer.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? Quite a number.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
FORSYTH COUNTY.
No. I — Woolen Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cassimeres, fine jeans, kerseys, etc.
Three self-operating mules. Number of looms, 38.
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," IOO.
Number of days in operation during the last year, full time.
Total amount of capital employed,
Pounds of wool, etc., consumed during the year, 160,677.
Pounds of yarn produced, . _ _
.
Yards of woolens produced, 172,427^. Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $37,879.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $11,313.72.
Average number of men employed, 21.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1 to $2.50; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 27.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 50 cents to $1.00; unskilled, 40 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 13; girls, 3,
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Seven; under 12, I.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Sixty-nine a week.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 39
How often are wages paid in full? Every two weeks. Are trade checks used? No.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Partly.
Usual number of rooms in houses ; size of rooms,
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Fairly well.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? 84.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 25.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings?
How many of your employees live in their own houses? .. . .
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
No. 2
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, sheetings, cheviots, cottonades, etc.
Number of spindles, 4,500. Number of looms, 1S0.
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 175.
Number of days in operation during the year, full time.
Total amount of capital employed, ....
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 1,028,477.
Pounds of yarn produced, 35,16s, not woven.
Yards of domestics produced, 1,500,038. Yards of other goods, 1,136, 533.
Value of products for the year, $168,171.53.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $27,079.76, exclusive of salesmen, etc.
Average number of men employed, 22.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1 to $2 50; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 93.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 50 cents to $1; unskilled, 40 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 24; girls, 32.
Average wages paid children per day, same as women.
How many children under 14 years of age? Twenty-seven; under 12, thirteen.
Do children receive less for same work than adults? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Sixty-nine hours a week.
How often are wages paid in full? Every two weeks. Are trade checks used? No.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Only a few, since we are in town.
Usual number of rooms in houses, ; size of rooms,
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? S3.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 6S.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? ...,
4o North Carolina Labor Statistics.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? .....
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
—
Cotton Mill,
Trade or business followed, cotton spinning.
Number of months in operation past year, ten.
Amount of capital employed, $15,000.
Value of product for the year, $9,000.
Amount paid for labor during the year, $1,250.
.Average number of men employed, one.
Average number women 6, youths 2, children under 14 years of age 2.
Average daily wages paid skilled men, $1; women 40 cents.
Average daily wages paid unskilled men, ; women,
Average daily wages paid youths, 40 cents; children 40 cents.
Number of hours constituting a day's work, eleven.
How often are wages paid ? Daily.
Per cent, of increase in wages past. year, ; decrease,
Average price of board per month, $5.
Per cent, of wages paid in cash, not kept; merchandise or orders, not kept.
Per cent, of adult employees who can read and write, 100.
Per cent, of children employees who can read and write, 100.
Per cent, of employees owning homes, none.
Per cent, who save part of earnings, none.
Is the educational condition of laboring people improving ? Yes.
Is the moral condition of laboring people improving ? Yes.
Is the financial condition of laboring people improving? Yes, but not saved.
Remarks.—In my little business many of the questions do not exactly apply, but it is very
plain to be seen that the condition of those employed is very much improved in every respect;
they have free schools, Sunday-school and church advantages, and I have no suggestions to
make. I will state that while the answers given apply to the employees at present, I have
had a family to leave my employment recently after paying $2,000 for a plantation. I will
state further, that while the hands, generally, do not save up much, I am paying consider-ably
more for the same work than they pay in large mills North. They pay no rents, and
nothing for fuel. * * *
GASTON COUNTY.
No. 1—Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, plaids, warps, towels, twine and hammocks.
Number of spindles, 6,200. Number of looms, 100.
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power," 300.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 270.
Total amount of capital employed,
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 895,500.
Pounds of yarn produced, 798,035.
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids, 848,656.
Value of products for the year,
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 41
Amount paid for labor for the year, $36,275.76.
Average number of men employed, 81.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, ; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 68.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, . ; unskilled, 50 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys 23, girls,
Average wages paid children per day, 25 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? ; under 12,
Do children receive less for same work than adults?
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full ? Semi-monthly. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, ; size of rooms,
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write?
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ?
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings?
How many of your employees live in their own houses ?
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
No. 2
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, warps and skein yarns.
Number of spindles, 2,000. Number of looms, none.
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power," 45.
Number of days in operation during last year, 280.
Total amount of capital employed, $55,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, about 376,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, about 336,000.
Yards of domestics produced, none. Yards of plaids, none.
Value of products for the year, about $60,000.
Amount paid for labor tor the year, about $8,400.
Average number of men employed, 20.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1 to $1.25; unskilled, 75 cents and 85 cents.
Average number of women employed, 25.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 60 cents; unskilled, 45 cent and 55 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys 4, girls 6.
Average wages paid children per day, 30 to 35 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Six to eight; under 12, three.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No; get same.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven to eleven and fourth.
How often are wages paid in full? Weekly. Are trade checks used? Yes.
Does the mill own a store? One-third interest.
42 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Are employees required to trade there ? If they choose.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, three to six; size of rooms, 14x18.
Usual number of occupants in houses, one to four. *
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Not much.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? About 50 to 75.
What per cent, of children employad can read and write ? About 50.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? Very few, say 5.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? Very few; one out of thirty.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
Remarks.—I think the best thing I could suggest would be a law to compel the fathers of
families and children to work too. There are at least one-third about our mills that as soon as
they get their children into work lay around the stores and still-houses and drink up and
spend all the children make. They get so lazy they hire what little wood they use chopped,
and never think of working their little gardens; and the old women consider it a disgrace to
wash their clothes, and would almost as soon throw them away and buy new ones as to wash
a day or two; and the boys must have three or four dogs instead of a hog. Factory hands are
better paid, generally, than any other class of laborers in this country, but their money comes
often and easy and goes the same way, and that is why they are almost always grumbling, or
at least that has been my experience.
GUILFORD COUNTY.
No. i — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, plaids.
Number of spindles, I.S72. Number of looms, 100.
Power used, steam. Number of " horse-power," So.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 290.
Total amount of capital employed, $78,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 224,100.
Pounds of yarn produced, 201,600.
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids, 1,281,800.
Value of products for the year, $57,680.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $25,000. . •
Average number of men employed, 23.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.05; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 20.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 65 cents; unskilled, 40 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 10; girls, 15.
Average wages paid children per day, 35 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age ? Six; under 12, two.
Do children receive less for same work than adults? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full? Twice a month. Are trade checks used? No.
Does the mill own a store? Yes.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 43
Are employees required to trade there? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? The majority do.
Usual number of rooms in houses, from two to four; size of rooms 16x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses, from two to six.
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Not as they should.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? About S-loths.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? About 6-Sths.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? Two-thirds.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? 10.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
Remarks.— We think if the operatives in cotton mills would economize they could, at
least, save ten per cent, of their wages. We know that our hands could, for everything in
the provision line is cheap, and goods even cheaper, but they are the most extravagant class
we know of.
We think children should not be worked in mills until they are fully developed, and we
do not want to work them, but their parents force them in, saying, they need their help.
Children are not profitable help to the mill-owners. We think they should not be employed
under fourteen years of age.
We think if every mill had a good library attached it would be a good thing. We think
eleven hours is long enough for hands to work; that would leave eight hours for sleep, and
five hours for study and recreation, which is more than any other class of people get.
We have long thought that if there was a savings bank attached to all the mills, and hands
could be induced to deposit a part of their wages, it would do much to help the laboring class.
No. 2 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, plaids.
Number of spindles, none. Number of looms, 112.
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 100.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 300.
Total amount of capital employed, $50,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year,
Pounds of yarn produced, .
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $180,000.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $13,000.
Average numbtr of men employed, 25.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25; un>killed, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 30.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, $1; unskilled, 60 cents.
Average number ot children and youths employed; boys, 5; girls, 6.
Average wages paid children per day, 45 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Four; under 12, one.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full? Every two weeks. Are trade checks used? No.
44 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, four; size of rooms, 14x16 average.
Usual number of occupants in houses, four average (family).
Are employees required to pay rent ? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Fairly well.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? 9S.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 95.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? 50.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? 8.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No,
Remarks.—We do not think cotton-mill work is detrimental to the health of anyone, provided
they are supplied with proper food. Improper and poorly prepared food, filth, etc., are the
principal causes of poor health when it occurs among factory people. We believe our help
are as healthy and vigorous as any other class of laboring people for indoor work. We think
eleven hours per day not too long. Almost all work is by the piece, and they get the benefit
of the time. If hours were made shorter the pay would be less. The work is not laborious,
and in cold and bad weather, as a rule, they are better off in the mills than at home. South-ern
labor is not worth as much per hour as Northern labor on account of climate, hence they
will always have to work eleven hours to do the same amount of labor that people do in a
colder climate. Children under twelve should not be employed — under fourteen should go
to school four months in the year or not get work. * * *
No. 3 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton plaids.
Number of spindles, 1,020; number of looms, 48.
Power used, steam; number of " horse-power," 60.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 260.
Total amount of capital employed, ...
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 325 bales. m
Pounds of yarn produced,
Yards of domestics produced, ; yards of plaids,
Value of Droducts for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year, $7,039.10.
Average number of men employed, 12.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.50; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 15.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 8; girls, 10.
Average wages paid children per day, 35 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Don't know; under 12, none.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven.
How often are .vages paid in full? Once per month. Are trade checks used ? Yes.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 45
Are employees required to trade there ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, five; size of rooms, I2xi6.
Usual number of occupants in houses. One family.
Are employees required to pay rent? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Ordinary free schools.
Do they avail themselves of these? No.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? Don't know.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? Don't know.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? Don't know.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
Remarks.—We don't see that cotton mill work affects the health of children, and their
morals are decidedly better than those who are allowed to run idle. * * *
HALIFAX COUNTY
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, hosiery.
Number of spindles, Number of looms,
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 20.
Number of days in operation during the last year. Only been in operation about two
months.
Total amount of capital employed, $25,000.
Pounds of wool consumed during the year,
Pounds of yarn produced, ....
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year,
Average number of men employed, seven.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.37; unskilled,
Average number of women employed. We have only about forty at present, but will have
about eighty in a few weeks.
Average wages paid Skilled women per day, 85 cents; unskilled, 60 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys 6, girls 12.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age ? Fifteen; under 12, three.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? Don't do same.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Ten.
How often are wages paid in full ? Every two weeks.v Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Only two houses owned by mill.
Usual number of rooms in houses, four; size of rooms, 15x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent ? Yes.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Yes.
46 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? All
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? go.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? . .
.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? About twelve.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
HAYWOOD COUNTY Woolen MM.
Trade or business followed, woolen manufactory.
Number of months in operation past year, eight.
Amount of capital employed, $12,000.
Value of product for the year, $10,000.
Amount paid for labor during the year, $3,000.
Average number of men employed, 4
Average number women employed, 3; youths, ; children under 14 years of age
Average daily wages paid skilled men, $2; women, 60 cents.
Average daily wages paid unskilled men, 75 cents; women,
Average daily wages paid youths, ; children under 14,
Number of hours constituting a day's work, eleven.
How often are wages paid ? Weekly.
Per cent, of increase in wages past year, . ; decrease
Average price of boaid per month. $8.
Per cent, of wages paid in cash, 3^; merchandise or orders, %.
Per cent, of adult employees who can read and write, all.
Per cent, of children employees who can read and write,
Per cent, of employees owning homes,
Per cent, who save part of earning, j£.
Is the educational condition of laboring people improving ? Yes.
Is the moral condition of laboring people improving ? Yes.
Is the financial condition of laboring people improving? Yes.
Remarks.—We are careful in selecting our labor; want to employ on'y those of good char-acter,
and find it more satisfactory. * * *
IREDELL COUNTY
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton yarns.
Number of spindles, 1,000. Number of looms,
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power,"
Number of days in operation during the last year, 300.
Total amount of capital employed, .
Pounds of cotion consumed during the year, 150,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, about 138,000.
Yards of domestics produced, .... Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year, . ..
Average number of men employed, ...
Average wages paid skilled men per day, ; unskilled,
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 47
Average number of women employed,
Average wages paid skilled women per day, ; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed, beys ; girls
Average wages paid children per day,
How many children under 14 years of age? .; under 12,
Do children receive less for same work than adults?
Number of hours constituting a day's work ?
How often are wages paid in full?. .. Are trade checks used?
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ?
Usual number of rooms in houses, : size of rooms, .
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent ?.._..
Have employees good educational and religious facilities?
Do they avail themselves of these ?
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ?
What per cent, of children employed can read and write?
What percent, of employees save part of their earnings?
How many of your employees live in their own houses? .
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees?
LINCOLN COUNTY.
No. I— Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton yarns.
Number of spindles, 1,000. Number of looms,
Power used, steam. Number of " horse-power," 60.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 260.
Total amount of capital employed, $16,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 250 bales.
Pounds of yarn produced, 115,000.
Yards of domestics produced, ... Yards of plaids
Value O'f products for the year,
Amount paid for labor for the year. $3,800
Average number of men employed
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25; \\< skilled, 60 cents.
Average number of women employed.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 40 cents; unskilled
Average number of children and youths emph>\ ed; boys, ; girls,
Average wages paid children per d ,y, ....
How many children under 14 years of age? None; under 12, none.
Do children receive less for same work than adults? ...
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Ten.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Arc trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store? No.
48 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Yes; in part.
Usual number of rooms in houses, two; size of rooms, 12x12.
Usual number of occupants in houses,
Are employees required to pay rent? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Some do.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? All
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? .
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 25.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? Two.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
No. 2 — Woolen Mill.
Trade or business followed, manufacture woolen yarns, adjusters and repairers, engines, etc.
Number of months in operation past year, 8.
Amount of capital employed, $3,200.
Value of products for the year, $2,200.
Amount paid for labor during the year, $300.
Average number of men employed, 4.
Average number women, 1 ; youths, ; children under 14 years of age,
Average daily wages paid skilled men, ,fi; women, 50 cents.
Average daily wages paid unskilled men, 50 cents; women, 30 cents.
Average daily wages paid youths, ; children under 14,
Number of hours constituting a day's work, ten.
How often are wages paid ? Weekly.
Per cent, of increase in wages past year, none; decrease, none.
Average price of board per month, $6.
Per cent, of wages paid in cash, 75; merchandise and orders, 25.
Per cent, of adult employees who can read and write, 100.
Per cent, of children employees who can read and write
Per cent, of employees owning homes, 60.
Per cent, who save part of earnings. So.
Is the educational condition of laboring people improving? Yes.
Is the moral condition of laboring people improving? No.
Is the financial condition of laboring people improving? Yes; but slowly.
Remarks.—I believe the laboring classes would be more interested and profitable if we
would only require them to work eight hours per day and pay them a fair remuneration for
same. Children should not work in cotton mills; should not be worked younger than fifteen
years. By hard labor and over-exertion continually they become dwarfed and do not reach
an age of full development. # * *
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.
No. i — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, warps and yarns.
Number of spindles, 5.000; number of looms,
Power used, steam. Number "horsepower," 240.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 49
Number of days in operation during the last year, 322 (by running extra time occasionally).
Total amount of capital employed, $100,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 681,600.
Pounds of yarn produced, 596,400.
Yards of domestics produced Yards of plaids
Value of products for the year, $113,316.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $13,200.
Average number of men employed, 26.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.00; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 23.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 65 cents; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed; boys five; girls, four.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age, 9; under 12, .
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? Same pay for same work.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full ? Every Saturday. Are trade checks used ? Cash only.
Does the mill own a store ? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes (each house isolated).
Usual number of rooms in houses, 4: size of rooms, 15x16.
^
Usual number of occupants in houses, average two to a room.
Are employees required to pay rent? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Plenty.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Educational, no; religious, yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write? 95.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? So.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings? 50.
How many of your employees live in their own houses? Eight.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
Remarks.—We have all selected labor, and of the best class, and keep it so. Over fifteen
years don't hurt; under fourteen should not be allowed, it stunts and deforms the child
mentally, morally and physically. Ten hours should be the law; too many mills are working
women and children twelve to fourteen hours a day. Employees can improve the morals of
their help by excluding (as we do) loose women and drunken men, or bad men and boys.
Libraries will do, but compulsory education is better, and restriction as to age will send chil-dren
to school, as they cease to be profitable to their parents until fourteen. We have a sav-ings
bank and allow interest — 6 per cent, on deposits— which accounts for a large per cent.
of hands saving nr>ney. Our hands are all cheerful and satisfied— take pride in themselves
and in their work. We have strict discipline tempered with kindness and justice, and increased
production and money to us is the result. Our Building and Loan Association is a great help
also towards saving money and hands owning their own houses, and is doing more good than
all the Young Men's Christian Associations put together. The moment a mill hand has
money at will, he begins to be a good and useful man, holds up his head with better views
and feelings. * * *
No. 2 — Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton yarns.
Number of spindles, 6,864. Number of looms, none.
4
5o North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Power used, steam. Number of " horse-power," 230.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 285.
Total amount of capital employed, $131,500.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 1,021,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, 853,000.
Yards of domestics produced, none. Yards of plaids, none.
Value of products for the year, $144,800.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $23,040.
Average number of men employed, 25.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.25; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 40.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 65 cents; unskilled, 55 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 22; girls, 28.
Average wages paid children per day, 45 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Twenty; under 12, five.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Twelve.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, 2 to 4; size of rooms, 15x15.
Usual number of occupants in houses, 2 to 8.
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Both exceptionally good.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Not of former as much as latter.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? 85.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write? 75.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 10.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? Eight.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
Remarks.—Children under twelve years of age should be prohibited by law from working
in mills or factories, and should be compelled to attend school. Those above this age com-pare
favorably in physical condition and appearance with other children. We favor a law
limiting the working time of women and children to eleven hours. When business was good
we voluntarily cut our time down to this, but nearly all our competitors continued to run
twelve hours and made competition so close that we were, in self-protection, compelled to
resume the longer time. Good libraries would be a means of improvement to operatives, if
msed; but very few, we think, would use them. * * *
No. 3— Woolen Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, yarns, 8 to 30.
Number of spindles, 7,088. Number of looms,
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 182.
Number of days in operation during the last year, 306.
Total amount of capital employed,
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year
Pounds of yarn produced,
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 51
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year,.
Amount paid for labor for the year,
Average number of men employed, 21.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1.40; unskilled, 60 cents.
Average number of women employed, 23.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 60 cents; unskilled, 40 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys, 13; girls, 20.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Eighteen; under 12, fifteen.
Do children receive less for same work than adults? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work? Eleven and a half
How often are wages paid in full ? Every week. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, 4, 6 and S; size of rooms, 16x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses, 6 to 12.
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities ? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ? 70.
What per cent, of children employed can read and write ? 40.
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings ? 5.
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees ? No.
Remarks.—No child under twelve years of age should work in a cotton mill. It is not
unhealthy for children over twelve years of age. Eleven hours should be a day's work. There
should be a library attached to each mill for the benefit of operatives. * * *
No. 4
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton yarns.
Number of spindles, 15,000. Number of looms,
Power used, steam. Number of "horse-power," 450.
Number of days in operation during last year, 308.
Total amount of capital employed, $250,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 1,872,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, 1,638,000.
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $294,840.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $27,500.
Average number of men employed, 35.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $1; unskilled, 75 cents.
Average number of women employed, 40.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 75 cents; unskilled, 50 cents.
Average number of children and youths employed; boys 30, girls 45.
Average wages paid children per day, 40 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? ; under 12,
52 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Twelve.
How often are wages paid in full ? Weekly. Are trade checks used ? No.
Does the mill own a store? No.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, 4; size of rooms, 15x16.
Usual number of occupants in houses, 5 to 10.
Are employees required to pay rent ? No.
Have employees good educational and religious facilities? Yes.
Do they avail themselves of these ? Yes.
What per cent, of adult employees can read and write ?
What per cent, of children employed can read and write?
What per cent, of employees save part of their earnings?
How many of your employees live in their own houses ? None.
Has your mill a library for the benefit of employees? No.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
—
Cotton Mill.
Class of goods manufactured, cotton yarn.
Number of spindles, 3,360. Number of looms,
Power used, water. Number of "horse-power," 150.
Number of days in operation during the last year, about 300.
Total amount of capital employed, $85,000.
Pounds of cotton consumed during the year, 400,000.
Pounds of yarn produced, 350,000.
Yards of domestics produced, Yards of plaids,
Value of products for the year, $52,000.
Amount paid for labor for the year, $6,700.
Average number of men employed, fifteen.
Average wages paid skilled men per day, $2; unskilled, 55 cents.
Average number of women employed, thirty.
Average wages paid skilled women per day, 40 cents; unskilled,
Average number of children and youths employed; boys 6, girls IO.
Average wages paid children per day, 25 cents.
How many children under 14 years of age? Three; under 12, three.
Do children receive less for same work than adults ? No.
Number of hours constituting a day's work ? Eleven.
How often are wages paid in full ? Every week. Are trade checks used ? Yes.
Does the mill own a store ? Yes.
Are employees required to trade there ? Only one store; they can trade anywhere they please.
Do employees live in houses owned by the mill ? Yes.
Usual number of rooms in houses, four; size of rooms, 15x16, 10x15.
Usual number of occupants in houses, three.
Are employees required to pay rent ?'