DORTMUND. 
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coal and iron mines. The second firm is the Hoesch Iron and Steel Works, 
which carries on the production of iron and steel, and manufactures thereof ; it 
had in 1905 4,126 workmen and officials at the works, and 3,589 in the coal 
mines. There are two other large firms, one for the manufacture of bridges, 
gasometers, &c., with 1,100 employees, and the other for machine-making 
with 1,500 employees. All the other works in Dortmund itself are small. In 
September, 1906, all were extremely busy, much overtime was being worked, 
and the large firms stated that they had great difficulty in procuring a sufficient 
number of workmen. 
The ordinary working day consists of 12 hours, with two hours of 
intervals ; the intervals are definitely fixed so far as practicable, but in blast 
furnaces, foundries, rolling-mills, &c. it is not possible for definite pauses to be 
assigned. The theory is that the workmen there get their meals as opportunity 
offers, and are entitled to intervals amounting in all to two hours ; but it is 
alleged that in practice, during times of high pressure, there are often scarcely 
any intervals at all. Work commences at 6 or 7 a.m. ; in the former case there 
is usually half an hour’s pause from 8 to 8.30 a.m., and lj> hours from 12 to 
1.30 p.m. ; when work begins at 7 the pauses are usually 9 to 9.15, 12 to 1.30, 
and 4 to 4.15. In the great works there are night shifts also. In both the 
Union and Hoesch works wages are paid monthly, and advances are made 
halfway through the month to such workmen as wish for them ; in other works 
wages are paid half-monthly or weekly. Wages are in the main for piece-work. 
The Hoesch works present some interesting features. They cover a great 
extent of ground, and the abundance of space gives an impression of roominess, 
with ample air and light. There are elaborate lavatories, well provided with 
shower-baths, &c. Near the main entrance to the works, just within the gates, 
is a well-equipped ambulance station, with a doctor in attendance ; this is 
connected with the factory Sickness Insurance Society (established under the 
compulsory Insurance Acts), but medical assistance is given also to the wives 
and families of the workmen. Outside the works there is a large dining-hall 
for workmen, in which a dinner is provided for about 4d., but the hall is 
comparatively little used. Great numbers of the workmen go home to dinner, 
but for those who do not (and many in the foundries, blast works, &c. cannot 
do so) the dinners are collected in covered waggons. These go each morning 
to various appointed stations in the surrounding district (where the workmen 
chiefly live), collect the dinners there (they are brought by the wives and 
children) and convey them to the works, where they arrive about 12 o’clock 
noon. The firm also maintains a creche for children from 2 to 6 years of age 
(i.e. up to school age) ; the children are kept from 8 to 12 and from 1 to 
4 o’clock. The nominal charge is 6d. per child per month, but in many cases 
this is reduced to 3d., and about one-third of the children are admitted free. 
Finally the firm possesses near the works 202 houses with 493 dwellings, built 
by the firm itself chiefly for foremen. The houses are mostly small houses for 
two families, each family having three or four rooms, and generally there is a 
small garden. 
The “ Union ” firm has also a small colony, not merely for foremen, but for 
workmen of any kind. The houses are usually for six families, and each is 
completely detached, with a garden in front. There is a creche for young 
children. ‘ There is also a small Co-operative Society for the workmen. As in 
the Hoesch works, the lavatory arrangements are good, and the canteen system 
is well organised. 
In the coal mines an eight hours shift is worked by the chief classes of men 
employed underground, the hewers and trammers, except in places where the 
ordinary temperature is more than 82 degrees Fahrenheit, in which case the 
hours of labour may not exceed 6 ; there are no pauses. In these nours i» 
included the time necessary for the men to get from the bottom of the shaft to 
the workplaces, and vice versa, but not the time occupied by the descent and 
ascent of the shafts. For other underground workers there is a nine hours shift. 
For above-ground workers there is a 12-hours day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with 
morning and afternoon nauses of half an hour each, and a one-hour interval 
at mid-day No women are employed at the coal mines m this district, and no 
youths under 16 years of age. Overtime is prohibited where the temperature is 
above 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Wages are either so much per shift, or more 
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