USA > Indiana > Perry County > Cannelton > Cannelton, Perry County, Ind., at the intersection of the eastern margin of the Illinois coal basin, by the Ohio River : its natural advantages as a site for manufacturing > Part 7
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If we adopt the same system, our manufacturing towns or cities will be peculiarly such, and there will be of necessity the condition of society required, and this society will make the code of city policy best adapted to its wants.
So far as general laws are concerned, it will hardly be doubted but that the laws of Kentucky and Indiana are as favorable to manufactures as those of Massachusetts. The Legislatures of these states have always been ready to grant charters, and to pass any law required for the en- couragement and protection of such interests; Indiana has now the very same general manufacturing law as that under which the Massachu- setts manufacturer has been so profitably working for the last sixteen years.
The administration and execution of the law will depend on the character of each district.
As I firmly believe that the Lowell system is the only one which should be encouraged-I had almost said tolerated-in this country; as it is the only one which, while it will ensure large profits to the capi- talists and high wages to the operative, is entirely congenial to the spirit of our institutions, and will not bring upon us and entail upon our pos- terity the thousand political, social, and moral evils, which other sys- tems in other countries have engendered, and as I cannot so well de- scribe what its details are as others have already done, I take the follow- ing extracts from a remarkably well written book, prepared with great care by Rev. Mr. Miles, entitled "Lowell as it was and is:"
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Extracts" from "Lowell as it was, and as it is," by Reo. Henry A. Miles; pub- lished in 1845.
A LOWELL CORPORATION,
On the banks of the river, or of a canal, stands a row of mills, numbering, on different corporations, from two to five. A few rods from these, are long blocks of brick boarding houses, containing a sufficient number of tenements to accommodate the most of the operatives employed by the Corporation. Be- tween the boarding-houses and the mills is a line of a one story brick building, containing the counting room, superintendent's room, clerks and store rooms. The mill yard is so surrounded by enclosures, that the only access is through the counting room in full view of those whose business it is to sce that no ini- proper persons intrnde themselves upon the premises.
Thus the superintendent, from his room, has the whole of the Corporation - under his eye. On the one side are the boarding-houses, all of which are nn- der his care, and are rented only to known and approved tenants; on the other side are the mills, in each room of which he has stationed some carefully se- lected overseer, who is held responsible for the work, good order, and proper management of his room. Within the yard. also, are repair shops, each de- partment of which, whether of iron, leather, or wood, has its head overseer. There is a superintendent of the yard, who, with a number of men under his care, has charge of all the out door work of the establishment. There is a head watchman, having oversight of the night watch, who are required to pass through every room in the mills a prescribed number of times every night.
This, then, is the little world over which the superintendent presides. As- sisted by his clerk, who keeps the necessary records, by the paymaster, who, receiving his funds from the treasurer of the Corporation, disburses their wa- ges to the operatives, and not forgetting even the "runner," as he is called, who does the errands of the office, the superintendent's mind regulates all; his character inspires all; his plans, matured and decided by the directors of the company, who visit him every week, control all. He presides over one of the most perfect systems of subdivided and yet well-defined responsibility. Of course every thing depends upon the kind of man who fills such a post as this. No pecuniary considerations have ever stood in the way of the appointment, by the Corporations, of the best men who could be found. To their remarka- ble and universally acknowledged success in this respect, to their selection of individuals highly distinguished both for their general force of character, and for their integrity, conscientiousness, and magnanimity, is Lowell chiefly in- debted, both for the profitableness of her operations, and the character which she has sustained.
A LOWELL BOARDING-HOUSE.
Each of the long blocks of boarding-houses is divided into six or eight tene- ments, and are generally three stories high. These tenements are finished off in a style much above the common farm-houses of the country. and more near- ly resemble the abodes of respectable mechanics in rural villages. They are all furnished with an abundant supply of water, and with suitable yards and out-buildings. These are constantly kept clean, the buildings well painted, and the premises thoroughly whitewashed every spring, at the Corporation's ex- pense. The front room is usually the common eating-room of the house, and the kitchen is in the rear. The keeper of the house, (commonly a widow, with her family of children,) has her parlor in some part of the establishment; and in some houses there is a sitting-room for the use of the boarders. The re-
*In several of the foregoing articles reference has been made to the Lowell system. These extracts, from the very clever book of Mr. Miles, show what that system is, how it works, and why it works well.
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mainder of the apartments are sleeping.rooms. In each of these are lodged two, four, and in some cases six boarders; and the room has an air of neatness and comfort, exceeding what most of the occupants have been accustomed to in their paternal homes.
Operatives are under no compulsion to board in one tenement rather than another; it is for the interest of the boarding-house keeper, therefore, to have her bill of fare attractive. And then, as to the character of these boarding- house keepers themselves, on no point is the superintendent more particular than on this. He has generally a great liberty of choice of tenants. Applica- tions for these situations are very numerous. The rents of the company's houses are purposely low, averaging only from one-third to one-half of what similar houses rent for in the city. In times of pressure a part of this low rent, and in some instances the whole of it, has been remitted. There is no intention on the part of the Corporation to make any revenue from these houses. They are a great source of annual expense. But the advantages of supervision are more than an equivalent for this. No tenant is admitted who has not hitherto borne a good character, and who does not continue to sustain it. In many cases the tenant has long been keeper of the house, for six, eight, or twelve years, and is well known to hundreds of her girls as their adviser and friend and second mother. Though the price of board is low, at present but one dollar and twenty-five cents for female, and one dollar and seventy-five cents for male boardors, yet many of them, aided by the cheap rents just allud- ed to, and by prudent and judicious management, have paid off old debts, have educated sons and daughters, and have made a comfortable provision for old age.
It is this system to which we especially referred in our previous chapter on Waltham. By it the care and influence of the superintendent are extended over his operatives, while they are out of the mill, as well as while they are in it. Employing chiefly those who have no permanent residence in Lowell, but are only temporary boarders, upon any embarrassment of affairs they return to their country homes, and do not sink down here a helpless caste, clamoring for work, starving unless employed, and hence ready for a riot, for the destruction of property, and repeating here the scenes enacted in the manufacturing villa- ges of England. To a very great degree the future condition of Lowell is de- pendent upon a faithful adhesion to this system; and it will deserve the serious consideration of those old towns which are now introducing steam mills, whether, if they do not provide boarding-houses, and employ chiefly other ope- ratives than resident ones, they be not bringing in the seeds of future and alarming evil.
WAGES.
Precise statements will hereafter be given of the average pay of male and female hands. Only some general views of this subject will now be offered. Operatives entering the mill at once receive pay. In other arts they are ob- liged to go through some expensive process of learning. The young woman from the country, employed at first as a spare hand, and a pupil to the business, receives fifty-five cents per week besides her board. Thus the companies edu- cate nearly all their hands, and as these hands are entirely changed every few years, they have at all times thousands in their pay as mere learners. The fe- male operative will, in a few months, carn four and six pence, one dollar, one dollar and a half, per week, according to her dexterity and diligence. While the average pay of all female operatives is, at the present time, about one dol- lar and ninety-three cents per week, beside board, instances are not uncommon of their earning three and four dollars per week.
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COMFORT AND HEALTH.
The general and comparative good health of the girls employed in the mills hero, and their freedom from serious disease, have long been subjects of com-
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mon remark among our most intelligent and experienced physicians The manufacturing population of this city is the healthiest portion of the population, and there is no reason why this should not be the case. They are bnt little exposed to many of the strongest and most prolific canses of disease, and very many of the circumstances which surround and act upon them are of the most favora- ble hygienic character. They are regular in all their habits. They are carly up in the morning, and early to bed at night. Their fare is plain, substantial, and good, and their labor is sufficiently active, and sufficiently light to avoid the evils arising from the two extremes of indolence and over-exertion. They are but little exposed to the sudden vicissitudes, and to the excessive heats and colds of the seasons, and they are very generally free from anxious and depres- sing cares."
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MORAL POLICE OF THE CORPORATIONS.
It has been seen what a large amount of capital is here invested, and what manifold and extensive operations this capital sets in motion. The produc- tiveness of these works depends upon one primary and indispensable condi- tion-the existence of an industrious, sober, orderly, and moral class of opera- tives. Without this, the mills in Lowell would be worthless. Profits would be absorbed by cases of irregularity. carelessness, and neglect; while the exis- tence of any great moral exposure in Lowell would cut off the supply of help from the virtuous homesteads of the country. Publie morals and private in- terests, identical in all places, are here seen to be linked together in an indisso- Inble connection. Accordingly, the sagacity of self-interest, as well as more disinterested considerations, has led to the adoption of a strict system of moral police.
Before we proceed to notice the details of this system, there is one conside: ration bearing upon the character of our operatives, which must all the while · be borne in mind. We have no permanent factory population. This is the wide gulf which separates the English manufacturing towns from Lowell. Only a very few of our operatives have their homes in this city. The most of thiem come from the distant interior of the country, as will be proved by statistical facts which will be presented in a subsequent chapter.
To the general fact, here noticed, should be added another, of scarcely less importance to a just comprehension of this subject-the female operutires in Lowell do not work, on an average, more than four and a half years in the facto- ries. They then return to their homes, and their places are taken by their sis- ters, or by other female friends from their neighborhood.
Here, then, we have two important elements of difference between English and American operatives. The former are resident operatives, and are opera- tives for life, and constitute a permanent, dependent factory caste. The latter come from distant homes, to which in a few years they return, to be the wives of the farmers and mechanics of the country towns and villages. The English visiter to Lowell, when he finds it so hard to understand why American ope- ratives are so superior to those of Leeds and Manchester, will do well to re- member what a different class of females we have here to begin with-girls well educated in virtuous rural homes; nor must the Lowell mannfacturer forget, that we forfeit the distinction, from that moment, when we cease to obtain such girls as the operatives of the city.
To obtain this constant importation of female hands from the country, it is necessary to secure the moral protection of their characters while they are resident in Lowell. This, therefore, is the chief' object of that moral police referred to. some details of which will now be given.
No persons are employed on the Corporations who are addicted to intem- perance, or who are known to be guilty of any immoralities of conduct. As the parent of all other vices, intemperance is most carefully excluded. Abso- lute freedom from intoxicating liquors is understood, throughont the city, to be a pre-requisite to obtaining employment in the mills, and any person known to be addicted to their use is at once dismissed. This point has not received the
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attention, from writers upon the moral condition of Lowell, which it deserves; and we are surprized that the English traveler and divine, Dr. Scoresby, in his recent book upon Lowell, has given no more notice to this subject. A more strictly and universally temperate class of persons cannot be found, than the nine thousand operatives of this city; and the fact is as well known to all others living here, as it is of some honest pride among themselves. In rela- tion to other immoralities, it may be stated, that the suspicion of criminal con- duct, association with suspected persons, and general and habitual light beha- vior and conversation, are regarded as sufficient reasons for dismissions, and for which delinquent operatives are discharged.
Any description of the moral care, studied by the Corporations, would be defective if it omitted a reference to the overseers. Every room in every mill lias its first and second overseer. The former, or in his absence the latter, has the entire care of the room, taking in such operatives as he wants for the work of the room, assigning to them their employment, superintending cach process, directing the repairs of disordered machinery giving answers to questions of advice, and granting permissions of absence. At his small desk, near the door, where he can see all who go out or come in, the overseer may generally be found; and he is held responsible for the good order, propriety of conduet, and attention to business, of the operatives of that room. Hence, this is a post of much importance, and the good management of the mill is almost wholly de- pendent upon the character of its overseers; It is for this reason that peculiar care is exercised in their appointment. Raw hands, and unknown characters, are never placed in this office. It is attained only by those who have either served a regular apprenticeship as machinists in the repair shop, or have be- come well known and well tried, as third hands, and assistant overseers. It is a post for which there are always many applicants, the pay being two dollars a day, with a good house, owned by the company, and rented at the reduced charge before noticed. The overseers are almost universally married men, with families; and as a body, numbering about one hundred and eighty, in all, are among the most permanent residents, and most trustworthy and valuable citizens of the place. A large number of them are members of our churches, and are often chosen as councilmen in the city government, and representa- tives in the State Legislature. The guiding and salutary influence which they exert over the operatives, is one of the most essential parts of the moral ma- chinery of the mills.
Still another source of trust which a Corporation has, for the good character of its operatives, is the moral control which they have over one another. Of course this control would be nothing among a generally corrupt and degraded class. But among virtuons and high-minded young women, who feel that they have the keeping of their characters, and that any stain upon their associates brings reproach upon themselves, the power of opinion becomes an ever-pre- sent, and ever-active restraint. A girl, suspected of immoralities, or serious im- proprieties of conduct, at once loses caste. Her fellow-boarders will at once
leave the house, if the keeper does not dismiss the offender. In self-protection, therefore, the matron is obliged to put the offender away. Nor will her for- mer companions walk with, or work with her; till at length, finding herself everywhere talked about, and pointed at. and shunned, she is obliged to relieve her fellow-operatives of apresence which they feel brings disgrace. From this power of opinion. there is no appeal; and as long as it is exerted in favor of propriety of behavior and purity of life, it is one of the most active and effec- tual safegnards of character.
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NOTE .- The water power and site of Lowell was purchased by the Locks and Canals Compa- ny, the parent of all the other corporations. This company has furnished power, site, buildings and machinery to the manufacturing companies; it has built churches, school houses and lyce- ums; has made streets, and done whatever was needful for the health, the morals, or the intel- lectual improvement of the citizens.
Here is the best pattern of a manufacturing city the world has ever seen. Elsewhere there have been reverses-in Lowell no corporation has ever become embarrassed, or failed to meet its obligations, or been ob. liged to suspend its works; elsewhere, and where the same system has not obtained, operatives have too often become poor and degraded and a bur- then on the surrounding country; there the neighboring farmers, while they obtain high prices for what they grow, are not taxed to maintain a numerous police and crowded poor-houses; elsewhere the moral and in- tellectual condition of the operative is of slight concernment to the em- ployer-but the Lowell corporation has, with such an enlightened self interest, provided so liberally for the improvement of those they em- ploy-in the building and needful support of churches-schools and ly- ceums, that many have been attracted there "less through any necessity of their circumstances, than from a desire to avail themselves of the ad- vantages which are there enjoyed."
If, having the cheapest power, the cheapest food, and the cheapest materials, we can manufacture the cheapest goods-and if the Ohio is to be the seat of large manufacturing cities, how important it is to our- selves and to the whole country to start fair and to adopt that system which promises to the capitalist the largest profits and the best protec- ion of property, and secures to the operative the highest wages and hose religious, mental and social advantages that are far more important o him and to society than high wages.
SUMMARY
Of the advantages of manufacturing Cotton where the seams of the Illinois Coal field are cut by the lower Ohio.
We have the following data as elements of the calculation.
A mill of 10,000 spindles will consume 666 tons of cotton, make $00 tons of cloth, and use 24,000 bushels of coal, 2,530 gallons of oil, und 46,000 pounds starch per annum; it will require of operatives 25 nen and boys and 200 females, whose wages will average the Lowell rices-say, males 80 cents per diem and females $2 per week, besides board, or males $6,000, females $20,800 per annum. The average prices of board at Lowell are per week for males $1 75 and for females $1 25-or total per annum $17,375.
It is safe to assume that the prices of board on the lower Ohio would e one third less than at Lowell where a sirloin of beef costs from 15 to 7 cents the pound, potatoes from 60 cents to $1 per bushel, and most f the other articles of food in the same proportion. It will be remem-
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bered that the rents of the boarding houses at Lowell are regulated by a "sliding scale," and are dependent on the general prices of food-some times these have, as is said, been entirely abated, and the boarding house keepers have received gratuities from the corporations, so as to make : living without changing the prices of board,-and it is fair, therefore, to include the cost of board as a part of the wages paid by the corpora tions.
We have before, on page 38, average saving in cost of transportation and interest on difference of capital . $47,182 S( Add difference of 1-3 in cost of board on $17,375 .. 5,791 0€ Add difference of 19 cents per bushel on 24,00 bushels of coal. 4,560 00
Total saving per annum. $54,533 86 Deduct $1 50 per ton, supposing the goods are to be sold at Louisville, St. Louis, or Memphis. 900 00 1
$53,638 86 If, to save all cavil, we deduct 3 per cent. to cover inter- est, insurance, and commission on sales at these cities on 4,000,000 yards at 8 cents-or $320,000 9,000 0(
$44,633 86
We have a clear saving of over 17 per cent. on $300,000, which i an ample capital.
I am informed by those who have the means of knowing the fact, tha the average dividends declared on cotton mills controlled in Boston have been 14 per cent. for the last five years --- but I am not advised o
If lard oil is used we have the advantage of 15 cents per gall .- but if the use of sperm oil is continucd we pay an advanced price of 15 cents. per gall .. or $379 50. We should, however, save abont 1 cent per lb. in the price of starch, or $150. and in flour, wood, gas (or lard oil for lamps) probably $600 per annum.
On page 17 of this appendix it was stated that a mill of 10,000 spindle would manufacture 750 tons of cotton sheetings and shirtings. No. 14, yearly or 840 tons of cotton. The operatives would be about 43 men and 229 wo men and children. The fuel required in and about the mill per annum, sa 50,000 bushels.
We have an advantage over Lowell in the cost of transporting this 840 tons of cotton of at least $20 per ton, or. $16,80
And in laying down the goods in Louisville or St. Louis of over $30. per ton, or 22,50
7,20 And in coal of over 15 cents per bush. or
1,00
And in starch, oil, and wood, of over
Or a total of. $17,50 Exclusive of difference in the cost of board.
The amount of work and labor here stated is about the average of that a the cotton mills of Lancaster, Graniteville, and at other positions where nev and improved machinery is used ..
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the amount of carnings in these mills that has been added to surplus funds, or invested in new machinery, improvements, property or new stock :**
If the maximum of advantages is taken and added to 20 per cent. average of carnings of eastern mills, (and it is believed that this caleu- ation would be nearer the truth) the estimated profits here would be so enormous that western men could scarcely be brought to believe the ac- enracy of the calculations without the severest tests of experience.
Several months since, and before these articles were written, I sent he results to a friend and practical manufacturer of cotton on the Ohio. HIis answer was this:
"An Irish laborer once wrote home to his friends that he got meat for tis meals three times a week.
" 'Why, you lying dog,' said his employer, "do you not get meat lirce times a day and every day?"
" 'Yes,' said the laborer, but I want my friends to come and join me. Meat three times a week will bring them here, but if I promise it three imes a day they wont believe a word of it.' "
Another practical manufacturer in the West writes to me that the cal- ulations are substantially correct, and the results within the truth, but hat a model mill, on the Lowell system, is required to convince the vestern capitalists of these truths.
Possibly these gentlemen may be right in their opinions; but such is lot my estimate of the intelligence and enterprise of western and south- rn men: but if they should prove all disciples of St. Thomas, and re- uire for conviction, the evidence of cach of the five senses it will not ic long before northern and eastern men will occupy the field and show hem the model and the way it works. Many persons who have read hese papers with some attention have said "all these calculations and nferences may be true-we cannot gainsay either-but if they are true, why have we not seen them before? Why have our people been blind o long to these great advantages," &c.
This objection is natural enough to those whose attention has never een specially directed to this subject.
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