vi] LONDON WORKERS, SECULARISTS, ETC. 97 



workmen that his object was to improve their condition, to 

 make them more healthy and happier and better off than 

 they were. This was incredible to them, and for two years 

 he made very little progress. 



His second great difficulty was that his partners were 

 business men, who expected him to carry on the works on 

 ordinary business principles, so as to obtain for them at least 

 as large returns as any other factories in the country* 

 Generally, he was absolute and sole manager, but he knew 

 that he could not make any large or extensive alterations 

 till he had obtained a surplus revenue beyond what was 

 expected. For the first two years he limited his improve- 

 ments to the factory itself and its management, and to 

 endeavours, mostly in vain, to obtain the confidence of the 

 workers. 



One thing, however, he did for the benefit of the workers 

 which had some effect in disarming their enmity and sus- 

 picions. Instead of the retail shops where inferior articles 

 were sold at credit for very high prices, he established 

 stores and shops where every article of daily consumption 

 was supplied at wholesale prices, adding only the cost of 

 management. The result was that by paying ready money 

 the people got far better quality at full 25 per cent, less than 

 before ; and the result soon became visible in their superior 

 dress, improved health, and in the general comfort of their 

 houses. 



But what at length satisfied them that their manager was 

 really their friend was his conduct when a great temporary 

 scarcity of cotton and its rapid rise in price caused most of 

 the mills to be shut, and reduced the workers to the greatest 

 distress. But though Owen shut up the mills he continued 

 to pay every worker full wages for the whole of the four 

 months during which the scarcity lasted, employing them in 

 thoroughly cleaning the mills and machinery, repairing the 

 houses, etc. This cost £7000, which he paid on his own 

 responsibility ; but it so completely gained the confidence 

 of the people that he was afterwards able to carry out im- 

 provements without serious obstruction. Being wholly 



VOL. I. H 



