ESSEN. 
237 
branches of the building trades the general range was from 27s. to 32s. 5d. for 
skilled men, except stucco-workers 35s. 5d., while bricklayers’ labourers earned 
25s. Ad. 
Connected with Krupp’s works are a large number of institutions of 
various kinds, which must be noticed here, if any adequate idea of the position 
of the workmen is to be obtained. 
(a) Housing.—The firm has built a number of workmen’s colonies, with 
4,327 dwellings in 1905. These will be described later ; here it is necessary 
only to remark that one of these colonies (Altenhof) is for aged, disabled and 
pensioned workmen, who receive their dwellings free of rent. There is also 
one large home for 600 unmarried workmen, who pay 9¡¡d. a day for board and 
lodging. There are two small homes (each accommodating 30) for foremen 
or the higher grades of workmen. 
(b) Co-operative Society.—In 1905 the Supply Stores (“ Konsum- 
Anstalt”) had 36 shops in Essen, for the sale of meat, bread, groceries in 
general, ironmongery, furniture, clothing, boots and shoes, &c. ; and 19 shops 
for the sale of potatoes, coal, &c. In addition it has a large bakery, producing 
between 11,000 and 12,000 loaves a day, a laundry, tailors’ and shoemakers’ 
workshops, 11 restaurants, and a number of other concerns. Only employees of 
Krupp, or their families, may purchase at the shops, and they receive a 
substantial dividend (recently 15 per cent.) at the end of the year ; but they 
have no share in the management of the central institution, which is administered 
entirely by the firm, and its accounts are not published. The prices charged, 
and their relation to town prices, will be discussed later. 
(3) Dining Halls.—There is one large dining hall, where 1,100 persons 
can dine at a time ; the meals are supplied at a cheap uniform rate by the firm. 
There are also several other halls in which workmen can take their dinners, and 
any members of their families (the wives and children who bring the meals) 
can sit with them, at numerous small tables, during the meal. In addition a 
number of heated waggons collect dinners and convey them to the various 
factory entrances. 
(4) Library.—The library founded by the firm for the workmen and their 
families has over 51,000 volumes, and in March, 1906, there were 13,450 readers 
on its list ; the average number of volumes lent out per month for the 
year 1905-6 was 32,333. 
(5) Health Institutions.—The firm maintains one ordinary hospital, two 
hospitals for contagious diseases, one medicinal baths establishment, and an 
admirably-equipped convalescent home. There are also good baths in one of 
the colonies. 
(6) Miscellaneous Institutions.—There is a club house for foremen, a 
domestic training school for girls, and some technical schools. The firm also 
makes large contributions, not prescribed by law, to special Workmen’s Pension 
Funds ; the workpeople are required to contribute to these funds, and in case 
they leave the employment of the firm or are discharged their contributions are 
forfeited. 
Wages and Hours of Labour in the Principal Occupations, October, 1905. 
Weekly Wages. 
Weekly Hours of 
Labour. 
Building Trades (agreement rates)* :— 
Bricklayers and masons 
Stonemasons 
Carpenters 
Joiners and cabinetmakers 
Plumbers 
Painters ... ... 
Stucco-workers 
Hodmen... ... 
Labourers 
31s. 3c?. 
29s. 8c/. to 32s. 5d. 
30s. Id. 
27s. 
22s. 9d. to 25s. 10c/. 
27s. 7d. „ 28s. 10c/. 
35s. 5d. 
21s. 9c/ 
25s. Ad. 
59 
51 
59 
60 
57 
60 
59 
59 
59 
* The wages and hours of labour stated for the building trades are for a full week in 
summer.