KÖNIGSHÜTTE.
293
the nature of the work performed by men of a given occupation group in the
two countries. One finds, for instance, that in Königshütte the work of the
“ mine-filler ” at a blast-furnace is confined to the pushing of the ore-laden
trolleys to the hoist at the base of the furnace, the trolley having previously
been filled for him by a woman. In the United Kingdom the “ mine-filler ”
has to fill his own trolleys as well as push them up to the blast-furnace. It
should also be remembered that the figures in the table include earnings tor
extra shifts. Thus the keeper at a blast-furnace in Königshütte working not
more than 6 shifts (of 12 hours) in a week would earn 36s., while chargers and
“ mine-fillers ” earn 27s. and 28s. respectively in 6 shifts of 8 eight hours.
As indirectly bearing on the subject of working-class earnings in
Königshütte, the following figures relating to the incomes of the occupied
population of the town in 1904 may be of interest. For municipal purposes all
incomes of £21 per annum and upwards are assessed for taxation. The total
number of persons assessed for this tax in 1904 was 14,602, or approximately
one person in every four of the population in that year. In the following
table these 14,602 persons are classified according to ranges of income :—
Range of Yearly Income.
£21 and under £33
£33 ,, £45
£45 „ £150
£150 „ £300
£300 „ £475
£475 and upwards...
Total
Number of persons
whose incomes fell within
the ranges stated.
2,611
5,708
5,779
381
78
45
14,602
It would appear, therefore, that 8,319, or 57 per cent, of all persons
assessed, had incomes of less (han £45, while in the whole town there were
only 504 persons, or about 1 in every 29 assessed, whose incomes reached £150
a year.
Housing and Rents.
The housing conditions of the working-classes of Königshütte cannot be
regarded as satisfactory, for at the end of 1905 70 per cent, of the total population
of this town were living in tenements of either one or two rooms, and the
average number of persons per room was 2*7 for the one-roomed tenements
and 2"3 for the two-roomed. This is shown by the following statement, in
which the population of the town is classified according to the size ol the
dwelling occupied at the end of 1905 :—
Number of Rooms in Tenement.
1 room
2 rooms
4 „
5 or more rooms
Total
Number of
Tenements.
2,418
8,482
2,042
792
742
14,476
Population housed in such Tenements.
Total.
6,508
39,385
10,939
4,178
4,206
65,216
Per cent.
100
604
16-8
64
64
100-0
Practically the whole working-class population of Königshütte may therefor
be said to live in tenements of one or two rooms. Many of these tenements
are to be found in detached houses of the cottage type, having no upper floor,
and dating from the time when the local coal-mining industry was entirely in
the hands of the State. These houses were purchased by many of the miners
on the extended payment system with State assistance, and were intended for
