MOODV: THE CONDITION OF PACKINO HOUSP: EMPLOYEES. 49 



in the bottom and work when there is anything for them to do. 

 About two-thirds of them are married. The cart gang numbers 

 nine men, eight of whom are married. They receive i7/^ cents 

 per hour. No colored men in this gang; the entire gang is com- 

 posed of "floaters." 



46. Unh)ADING. — Thirty-five men, majority of whom are mar- 

 ried — sixteen are negroes, the rest are foreigners. Twenty-nine 

 can read and write English. Average wage is $2 per eight hour 

 day. These men board in the "Patch" or are renters in the bot- 

 toms. All their work is piece work — i. e. so much for a car-load. 

 The following are some of the prices paid by the car-load: Coop- 

 erage, $5; coal, $1.40; cooperage in large packages, $2.50; salt in 

 bulk or sack, $2.50; sawdust or lumber, $5. This gang is also 

 composed of "floaters." Few of these men or of the roustabouts 

 can save any money. 



47. Beef Loading. — Sixty men, mostly negroes; all are mar- 

 ried. Mostly illiterate, live in Wyandotte. Average wage 15 cents 

 per hour; piece workers by the thousand pounds average $10 per 

 week. Checkers and weigh masters receive $12 per week. Not 

 all of this gang belong to the "floaters," as some have been in 

 the gang from six to twelve years. 



From the foregoing a brief summary may be given: 



1. The majority of the employees are unmarried and live at 

 home or board; while those who are married for the most part 

 live in rented houses. 



2. Comparatively few belong to labor organizations of any kind; 

 a large number are in benefit orders, lodges or life insurance com- 

 panies, membership in which is encouraged by the Armour Co. 



3. The average workman is fairly industrious and moral, but 

 there is a large proportion of the employees (men, women and 

 children) who live in homes of degredation and vice, outside of 

 working hours. The home life of this latter class is fearful. They 

 live in the immediate vicinity of the packing houses, crowded 

 together in dirty little shanties, whose door-yards are the deposito- 

 ries of refuse and, in some cases, human filth. 



4. The majority of the employees live in Kansas although some 

 few live on the Missouri side. 



5. Throughout the plant ample protection is afforded against 

 fire. 



6. Bviildings are kept neat and clean, and are, in most cases, 

 well lighted and ventilated. 



7. The employees, while at work, are civil and well-behaved. 



8. Nearly all nationalities are represented: German, Austrian, 



