salt,coals,andanumberofothernecessarymeansofsubsistence。[41]Gladstone’snextBudgetspeechofApril7th,1864,isaPindaricdithyrambusontheadvanceofsurplus—value—makingandthehappinessofthepeople"temperedbypoverty。"Hespeaksofmasses"ontheborder"ofpauperism,ofbranchesoftradeinwhich"wageshavenotincreased,"andfinallysumsupthehappinessoftheworking—classinthewords:"humanlifeisbut,inninecasesoutoften,astruggleforexistence。"[42]ProfessorFawcett,notboundlikeGladstonebyofficialconsiderations,declaresroundly:"Idonot,ofcourse,denythatmoneywageshavebeenaugmentedbythisincreaseofcapital(inthelasttenyears),butthisapparentadvantageistoagreatextentlost,becausemanyofthenecessariesoflifearebecomingdearer"(hebelievesbecauseofthefallinvalueofthepreciousmetals)……"therichgrowrapidlyricher,whilstthereisnoperceptibleadvanceinthecomfortenjoyedbytheindustrialclasses……They(thelabourers)becomealmosttheslavesofthetradesman,towhomtheyowemoney。"[43]
Inthechaptersonthe"working—day"and"machinery,"thereaderhasseenunderwhatcircumstancestheBritishworking—classcreatedan"intoxicatingaugmentationofwealthandpower"forthepropertiedclasses。Therewewerechieflyconcernedwiththesocialfunctioningofthelabourer。Butforafullelucidationofthelawofaccumulation,hisconditionoutsidetheworkshopmustalsobelookedat,hisconditionastofoodanddwelling。
Thelimitsofthisbookcompelustoconcernourselveschieflywiththeworstpaidpartoftheindustrialproletariat,andwiththeagriculturallabourers,whotogetherformthemajorityoftheworking—class。
Butfirst,onewordonofficialpauperism,oronthatpartoftheworking—classwhichhasforfeiteditsconditionofexistence(thesaleoflabour—power),andvegetatesuponpublicalms。TheofficiallistofpaupersnumberedinEngland[44]851,369
persons;in1856,877,767;in1865,971,433。Inconsequenceofthecottonfamine,itgrewintheyears1863and1864to1,079,382and1,014,978。
Thecrisisof1866,whichfellmostheavilyonLondon,createdinthiscentreoftheworld—market,morepopulousthanthekingdomofScotland,anincreaseofpauperismfortheyear1866of19。5%comparedwith1865,andof24。4%comparedwith1864,andastillgreaterincreaseforthefirstmonthsof1867ascomparedwith1866。Fromtheanalysisofthestatisticsofpauperism,twopointsaretobetaken。Ontheonehand,thefluctuationupanddownofthenumberofpaupers,reflectstheperiodicchangesoftheindustrialcycle。Ontheother,theofficialstatisticsbecomemoreandmoremisleadingastotheactualextentofpauperisminproportionas,withtheaccumulationofcapital,theclass—struggle,and,therefore,theclass—consciousnessoftheworking—men,develop。E。g。,thebarbarityinthetreatmentofthepaupers,atwhichtheEnglishPress(TheTimes,PallMallGazette,etc。)havecriedoutsoloudlyduringthelasttwoyears,isofancientdate。F。Engelsshowedin1844exactlythesamehorrors,exactlythesametransientcantingoutcriesof"sensationalliterature。"
Butfrightfulincreaseof"deathsbystarvation"inLondonduringthelasttenyearsprovesbeyonddoubtthegrowinghorrorinwhichtheworking—peopleholdtheslaveryoftheworkhouse,thatplaceofpunishmentformisery。[45]
B。TheBadlyPaidStrataoftheBritishIndustrialClassDuringthecottonfamineof1862,Dr。SmithwaschargedbythePrivyCouncilwithaninquiryintotheconditionsofnourishmentofthedistressedoperativesinLancashireandCheshire。Hisobservationsduringmanyprecedingyearshadledhimtotheconclusionthat"toavertstarvationdiseases,"thedailyfoodofanaveragewomanoughttocontainatleast3,900grainsofcarbonwith180grainsofnitrogen;thedailyfoodofanaverageman,atleast4,300grainsofcarbonwith200grainsofnitrogen;forwomen,aboutthesamequantityofnutritiveelementsasarecontainedin2lbs。ofgoodwheatenbread,formen1/9more;fortheweeklyaverageofadultmenandwomen,atleast28,600grainsofcarbonand1,330grainsofnitrogen。Hiscalculationwaspracticallyconfirmedinasurprisingmannerbyitsagreementwiththemiserablequantityofnourishmenttowhichwanthadforceddowntheconsumptionofthecottonoperatives。Thiswas,inDecember,1862,29,211grainsofcarbon,and1,295grainsofnitrogenweekly。
Intheyear1863,thePrivyCouncilorderedaninquiryintothestateofdistressoftheworst—nourishedpartoftheEnglishworking—class。Dr。
Simon,medicalofficertothePrivyCouncil,choseforthisworktheabove—mentionedDr。Smith。Hisinquiryrangesontheonehandovertheagriculturallabourers,ontheother,oversilk—weavers,needlewomen,kid—glovers,stocking—weavers,glove—weavers,andshoemakers。Thelattercategoriesare,withtheexceptionofthestocking—weavers,exclusivelytown—dwellers。Itwasmadearuleintheinquirytoselectineachcategorythemosthealthyfamilies,andthosecomparativelyinthebestcircumstances。
Asageneralresultitwasfoundthat"inonlyoneoftheexaminedclassesofin—dooroperativesdidtheaveragenitrogen—supplyjustexceed,whileinanotheritnearlyreached,theestimatedstandardofbaresufficiency[i。e。,sufficienttoavertstarvationdiseases],andthatintwoclassestherewasdefect?inone,averylargedefect?ofbothnitrogenandcarbon。Moreover,asregardstheexaminedfamiliesoftheagriculturalpopulation,itappearedthatmorethanafifthwerewithlessthantheestimatedsufficiencyofcarbonaceousfood,thatmorethanone—thirdwerewithlessthantheestimatedsufficiencyofnitrogenousfood,andthatinthreecounties(Berkshire,Oxfordshire,andSomersetshire),insufficiencyofnitrogenousfoodwastheaveragelocaldietp;[46]Amongtheagriculturallabourers,thoseofEngland,thewealthiestpartoftheUnitedKingdom,weretheworstfed。[47]Theinsufficiencyoffoodamongtheagriculturallabourers,fell,asarule,chieflyonthewomenandchildren,for"themanmusteattodohiswork。"Stillgreaterpenuryravagedthetown—workersexamined。"Theyaresoillfedthatassuredlyamongthemtheremustbemanycasesofsevereandinjuriousprivation。"[48]("Privation"ofthecapitalistallthis!i。e。,"abstinence"frompayingforthemeansofsubsistenceabsolutelynecessaryforthemerevegetationofhis"hands。")
Thefollowingtableshowstheconditionsofnourishmentoftheabove—namedcategoriesofpurelytown—dwellingwork—people,ascomparedwiththeminimumassumedbyDr。Smith,andwiththefood—allowanceofthecottonoperativesduringthetimeoftheirgreatestdistress:
BothSexesAverageweeklycarbonAverageweeklynitrogenFivein—dooroccupations28,876grains1,192grainsUnemployedLancashireOperatives28,211grains1,295grainsMinimumquantitytobeallowedtotheLancashireOperatives,equalnumberofmalesandfemales28,600grains1,330grainsOnehalf,or60/125,oftheindustriallabourcategoriesinvestigated,hadabsolutelynobeer,28%nomilk。Theweeklyaverageoftheliquidmeansofnourishmentinthefamiliesvariedfromsevenouncesintheneedle—womento243/4ouncesinthestocking—makers。Themajorityofthosewhodidnotobtainmilkwereneedle—womeninLondon。Thequantityofbread—stuffsconsumedweeklyvariedfrom73/4lbs。fortheneedle—womento111/2lbs。fortheshoemakers,andgaveatotalaverageof9。9lbs。
peradultweekly。Sugar(treacle,etc。)variedfrom4ouncesweeklyforthekid—gloversto11ouncesforthestockingmakers;andthetotalaverageperweekforallcategorieswas8ouncesperadultweekly。Totalweeklyaverageofbutter(fat,etc。)5ouncesperadult。Theweeklyaverageofmeat(bacon,etc。)variedfrom71/4ouncesforthesilk—weavers,to18
1/4ouncesforthekid—glovers;totalaverageforthedifferentcategories13。6ounces。Theweeklycostoffoodperadult,gavethefollowingaveragefigures;silk—weavers2s。21/2d。,needle—women2s。7d。,kid—glovers2s。
91/2d。,shoemakers2s73/4d。,stocking—weavers2s。61/4d。Forthesilk—weaversofMacclesfieldtheaveragewasonly1s。81/2d。Theworstcategoriesweretheneedle—women,silk—weaversandkid—glovers。[50]Ofthesefacts,Dr。SimoninhisGeneralHealthReportsays:"Thatcasesareinnumerableinwhichdefectivedietisthecauseortheaggravatorofdisease,canbeaffirmedbyanyonewhoisconversantwithpoorlawmedicalpractice,orwiththewardsandout—patientroomsofhospitals……
Yetinthispointofview,thereis,inmyopinion,averyimportantsanitarycontexttobeadded。Itmustberememberedthatprivationoffoodisveryreluctantlyborne,andthatasarulegreatpoornessofdietwillonlycomewhenotherprivationshaveprecededit。Longbeforeinsufficiencyofdietisamatterofhygienicconcern,longbeforethephysiologistwouldthinkofcountingthegrainsofnitrogenandcarbonwhichintervenebetweenlifeandstarvation,thehouseholdwillhavebeenutterlydestituteofmaterialcomfort;clothingandfuelwillhavebeenevenscantierthanfood?againstinclemenciesofweathertherewillhavebeennoadequateprotection?dwellingspacewillhavebeenstintedtothedegreeinwhichover—crowdingproducesorincreasesdisease;ofhouseholdutensilsandfurnituretherewillhavebeenscarcelyany—evencleanlinesswillhavebeenfoundcostlyordifficult,andiftherestillbeself—respectfulendeavourstomaintainit,everysuchendeavourwillrepresentadditionalpangsofhunger。Thehome,too,willbewheresheltercanbecheapestbought;inquarterswherecommonlythereisleastfruitofsanitarysupervision,leastdrainage,leastscavenging,leastsuppressionofpublicnuisances,leastorworstwatersupply,and,ifintown,leastlightandaip;Sucharethesanitarydangerstowhichpovertyisalmostcertainlyexposed,whenitispovertyenoughtoimplyscantinessoffood。Andwhilethesumofthemisofterriblemagnitudeagainstlife,themerescantinessoffoodisinitselfofveryseriousmoment……Thesearepainfulreflections,especiallywhenitisrememberedthatthepovertytowhichtheyadvertisnotthedeservedpovertyofidleness。Inallcasesitisthepovertyofworkingpopulations。Indeed,asregardsthein—dooroperatives,theworkwhichobtainsthescantypittanceoffood,isforthemostpartexcessivelyprolonged。Yetevidentlyitisonlyinaqualifiedsensethattheworkcanbedeemedself—supporting……Andonaverylargescalethenominalself—supportcanbeonlyacircuit,longerorshorter,topauperism。"[51]
Theintimateconnexionbetweenthepangsofhungerofthemostindustriouslayersoftheworking—class,andtheextravagantconsumption,coarseorrefined,oftherich,forwhichcapitalistaccumulationisthebasis,revealsitselfonlywhentheeconomiclawsareknown。Itisotherwisewiththe"housingofthepoor。"Everyunprejudicedobserverseesthatthegreaterthecentralisationofthemeansofproduction,thegreateristhecorrespondingheapingtogetherofthelabourers,withinagivenspace;thatthereforetheswiftercapitalisticaccumulation,themoremiserablearethedwellingsoftheworking—people。"Improvements"oftowns,accompanyingtheincreaseofwealth,bythedemolitionofbadlybuiltquarters,theerectionofpalacesforbanks,warehouses,&c。,thewideningofstreetsforbusinesstraffic,forthecarriagesofluxury,andfortheintroductionoftramways,&c。,driveawaythepoorintoevenworseandmorecrowdedhidingplaces。Ontheotherhand,everyoneknowsthatthedearnessofdwellingsisininverseratiototheirexcellence,andthattheminesofmiseryareexploitedbyhousespeculatorswithmoreprofitorlesscostthaneverweretheminesofPotosi。Theantagonisticcharacterofcapitalistaccumulation,andthereforeofthecapitalisticrelationsofpropertygenerally,[52]isheresoevident,thateventheofficialEnglishreportsonthissubjectteemwithheterodoxonslaughtson"propertyanditsrights。"Withthedevelopmentofindustry,withtheaccumulationofcapital,withthegrowthand"improvement"
oftowns,theevilmakessuchprogressthatthemerefearofcontagiousdiseaseswhichdonotspareeven"respectability,"broughtintoexistencefrom1847to1864nolessthan10ActsofParliamentonsanitation,andthatthefrightenedbourgeoisinsometowns,asLiverpool,Glasgow,&c。,tookstrenuousmeasuresthroughtheirmunicipalities。NeverthelessDr。
Simon,inhisreportof1865,says:"Speakinggenerally,itmaybesaidthattheevilsareuncontrolledinEngland。"ByorderofthePrivyCouncil,in1864,aninquirywasmadeintotheconditionsofthehousingoftheagriculturallabourers,in1865ofthepoorerclassesinthetowns。TheresultsoftheadmirableworkofDr。JulianHunteraretobefoundintheseventh(1865)andeighth(1866)exportson"PublicHealth。"Totheagriculturallabourers,Ishallcomelater。Ontheconditionoftowndwellings,Iquote,aspreliminary,ageneralremarkofDr。Simon。"Althoughmyofficialpointofview,"hesays,"isoneexclusivelyphysical,commonhumanityrequiresthattheotheraspectofthisevilshouldnotbeignored……Initshigherdegreesit[i。e。,over—crowding]almostnecessarilyinvolvessuchnegationofalldelicacy,suchuncleanconfusionofbodiesandbodilyfunctions,suchexposureofanimalandsexualnakedness,asisratherbestialthanhuman。Tobesubjecttotheseinfluencesisadegradationwhichmustbecomedeeperanddeeperforthoseonwhomitcontinuestowork。Tochildrenwhoarebornunderitscurse,itmustoftenbeaverybaptismintoinfamy。
Andbeyondallmeasurehopelessisthewishthatpersonsthuscircumstancedshouldeverinotherrespectsaspiretothatatmosphereofcivilisationwhichhasitsessenceinphysicalandmoralcleanliness。"[53]
Londontakesthefirstplaceinover—crowdedhabitations,absolutelyunfitforhumanbeings。"Hefeelsclear,"saysDr。Hunter,"ontwopoints;first,thatthereareabout20largecoloniesinLondon,ofabout10,000personseach,whosemiserableconditionexceedsalmostanythinghehasseenelsewhereinEngland,andisalmostentirelytheresultoftheirbadhouseaccommodation;andsecond,thatthecrowdedanddilapidatedconditionofthehousesofthesecoloniesismuchworsethanwasthecase20yearsago。"[54]"ItisnottoomuchtosaythatlifeinpartsofLondonandNewcastleisinfernal。"[55]
Further,thebetter—offpartoftheworking—class,togetherwiththesmallshopkeepersandotherelementsofthelowermiddleclass,fallsinLondonmoreandmoreunderthecurseofthesevileconditionsofdwelling,inproportionas"improvements,"andwiththemthedemolitionofoldstreetsandhouses,advance,asfactoriesandtheaffluxofhumanbeingsgrowinthemetropolis,andfinallyashouserentsrisewiththeground—rents。
"Rentshavebecomesoheavythatfewlabouringmencanaffordmorethanoneroom。"[56]Thereisalmostnohouse—propertyinLondonthatisnotoverburdenedwithanumberofmiddlemen。ForthepriceoflandinLondonisalwaysveryhighincomparisonwithitsyearlyrevenue,andthereforeeverybuyerspeculatesongettingridofitagainatajuryprice(theexpropriationvaluationfixedbyjurymen),oronpocketinganextraordinaryincreaseofvaluearisingfromtheneighbourhoodofsomelargeestablishment。Asaconsequenceofthisthereisaregulartradeinthepurchaseof"fag—endsofleases。""Gentlemeninthisbusinessmaybefairlyexpectedtodoastheydo?getalltheycanfromthetenantswhiletheyhavethem,andleaveaslittleastheycanfortheirsuccessors。;[57]
Therentsareweekly,andthesegentlemenrunnorisk。InconsequenceofthemakingofrailroadsintheCity,"thespectaclehaslatelybeenseenintheEastofLondonofanumberoffamilieswanderingaboutsomeSaturdaynightwiththeirscantyworldlygoodsontheirbacks,withoutanyrestingplacebuttheworkhouse。"[58]Theworkhousesarealreadyover—crowded。andthe"improvements"alreadysanctionedbyParliamentareonlyjustbegun。Iflabourersaredrivenawaybythedemolitionoftheiroldhouses,theydonotleavetheiroldparish,oratmosttheysettledownonitsborders,asnearastheycangettoit。"Theytry,ofcourse,toremainasnearaspossibletotheirworkshops。Theinhabitantsdonotgobeyondthesameorthenextparish,partingtheirtwo—roomtenementsintosinglerooms,andcrowdingeventhose……Evenatanadvancedrent,thepeoplewhoaredisplacedwillhardlybeabletogetanaccommodationsogoodasthemeagreonetheyhaveleft……Halftheworkmen……oftheStrand……walkedtwomilestotheirwork。"[59]ThissameStrand,amainthoroughfarewhichgivesstrangersanimposingideaofthewealthofLondon,mayserveasanexampleofthepackingtogetherofhumanbeingsinthattown。Inoneofitsparishes,theOfficerofHealthreckoned581personsperacre,althoughhalfthewidthoftheThameswasreckonedin。Itwillbeself—understoodthateverysanitarymeasure,which,ashasbeenthecasehithertoinLondon,huntsthelabourersfromonequarter,bydemolishinguninhabitablehouses,servesonlytocrowdthemtogetheryetmorecloselyinanother。"Either,"saysDr。Hunter,"thewholeproceedingwillofnecessitystopasanabsurdity,orthepubliccompassion(!)beeffectuallyarousedtotheobligationwhichmaynowbewithoutexaggerationcallednational,ofsupplyingcovertothosewhobyreasonoftheirhavingnocapital,cannotprovideitforthemselves,thoughtheycanbyperiodicalpaymentsrewardthosewho,willprovideitforthem。"[60]Admirethiscapitalisticjustice!Theowner,ofland,ofhouses,thebusinessman,whenexpropriatedby"improvements"suchasrailroads,thebuildingofnewstreets,&c。,notonlyreceivesfullindemnity。Hemust,accordingtolaw,humananddivine,becomfortedforhisenforced"abstinence"overandabovethisbyathumpingprofit。Thelabourer,withhiswifeandchildandchattels,isthrownoutintothestreet,and?ifhecrowdsintoolargenumberstowardsquartersofthetownwherethevestriesinsistondecency,heisprosecutedinthenameofsanitation;
ExceptLondon,therewasatthebeginningofthe19thcenturynosingletowninEnglandof100,000inhabitants。Onlyfivehadmorethan50,000。
Nowthereare28townswithmorethan50,000inhabitants。"Theresultofthischangeisnotonlythattheclassoftownpeopleisenormouslyincreased,buttheoldclose—packedlittletownsarenowcentres,builtroundoneveryside,opennowheretoair,andbeingnolongeragreeabletotherichareabandonedbythemforthepleasanteroutskirts。Thesuccessorsoftheserichareoccupyingthelargerhousesattherateofafamilytoeachroom[……andfindaccommodationfortwoorthreelodgers……]andapopulation,forwhichthehouseswerenotintendedandquiteunfit,hasbeencreated,whosesurroundingsaretrulydegradingtotheadultsandruinoustothechildren。"[61]Themorerapidlycapitalaccumulatesinanindustrialorcommercialtown,themorerapidlyflowsthestreamofexploitablehumanmaterial,themoremiserablearetheimproviseddwellingsofthelabourers。
Newcastle—on—Tyne,asthecentreofacoalandirondistrictofgrowingproductiveness,takesthenextplaceafterLondoninthehousinginferno。
Notlessthan34,000personslivethereinsinglerooms。Becauseoftheirabsolutedangertothecommunity,housesingreatnumbershavelatelybeendestroyedbytheauthoritiesinNewcastleandGateshead。Thebuildingofnewhousesprogressesveryslowly,businessveryquickly。Thetownwas,therefore,in1865,morefullthanever。Scarcelyaroomwastolet。Dr。
Embleton,oftheNewcastleFeverHospital,says:"Therecanbelittledoubtthatthegreatcauseofthecontinuanceandspreadofthetyphushasbeentheover—crowdingofhumanbeings,andtheuncleanlinessoftheirdwellings。Therooms,inwhichlabourersinmanycaseslive,aresituatedinconfinedandunwholesomeyardsorcourts,andforspace,light,air,andcleanliness,aremodelsofinsufficiencyandinsalubrity,andadisgracetoanycivilisedcommunity;inthemmen,women,andchildrenlieatnighthuddledtogether:
andasregardsthemen,thenight—shiftsucceedtheday—shift,andtheday—shiftthenight—shiftinunbrokenseriesforsometimetogether,thebedshavingscarcelytimetocool;thewholehousebadlysuppliedwithwaterandworsewithprivies;dirty,unventilated,andpestiferous。"[62]Thepriceperweekofsuchlodgingsrangesfrom8d。to3s。"ThetownofNewcastle—on—Tyne,"saysDr。Hunter,"containsasampleofthefinesttribeofourcountrymen,oftensunkbyexternalcircumstancesofhouseandstreetintoanalmostsavagedegradation。"[63]
Asaresultoftheebbingandflowingofcapitalandlabour,thestateofthedwellingsofanindustrialtownmayto—daybebearable,tomorrowhideous。Ortheaedileshipofthetownmayhavepulleditselftogetherfortheremovalofthemostshockingabuses。To—morrow,likeaswarmoflocusts,comecrowdinginmassesofraggedIrishmenordecayedEnglishagriculturallabourers。Theyarestowedawayincellarsandlofts,orthehithertorespectablelabourer’sdwellingistransformedintoalodging—housewhosepersonnelchangesasquicklyasthebilletsinthe30years’war。Example:Bradford(Yorkshire)。Therethemunicipalphilistinewasjustbusiedwithurbanimprovements。Besides,therewerestillinBradford,in1861,1,751uninhabitedhouses。ButnowcomesthatrevivaloftradewhichthemildlyliberalMr。Forster,thenegro’sfriend,recentlycrowedoverwithsomuchgrace。Withtherevivaloftradecameofcourseanoverflowfromthewavesoftheeverfluctuating"reservearmy"
or"relativesurplus—population。"Thefrightfulcellarhabitationsandroomsregisteredinthelist,[64]whichDr。HunterobtainedfromtheagentofanInsuranceCompany,wereforthemostpartinhabitedbywell—paidlabourers。Theydeclaredthattheywouldwillinglypayforbetterdwellingsiftheyweretobehad。Meanwhile,theybecomedegraded,theyfallill,oneandall,whilstthemildlyliberalForster,M。P。,shedstearsovertheblessingsofFree—trade,andtheprofitsoftheeminentmenofBradfordwhodealinworsted。IntheReportofSeptember,1865,Dr。Bell,oneofthepoorlawdoctorsofBradford,ascribesthefrightfulmortalityoffever—patientsinhisdistricttothenatureoftheirdwellings。
"Inonesmallcellarmeasuring1,500cubicfeet……therearetenpersons……VincentStreet,GreenAirePlace,andtheLeysinclude223houseshaving1,450inhabitants,435beds,and36privies……Thebeds—andinthattermIincludeanyrollofdirtyoldrags,oranarmfulofshavings—haveanaverageof3。3personstoeach,manyhave5and6personstoeach,andsomepeople,Iamtold,areabsolutelywithoutbeds;theysleepintheirordinaryclothes,onthebareboards?youngmenandwomen,marriedandunmarried,alltogether。Ineedscarcelyaddthatmanyofthesedwellingsaredark,damp,dirty,stinkingholes,utterlyunfitforhumanhabitations;theyarethecentresfromwhichdiseaseanddeatharedistributedamongstthoseinbettercircumstances,whohaveallowedthemthustofesterinourmidst。;[65]
BristoltakesthethirdplaceafterLondoninthemiseryofitsdwellings。"Bristol,wheretheblankestpovertyanddomesticmiseryaboundinthewealthiesttownofEurope。"[66]
C。TheNomadPopulationWeturnnowtoaclassofpeoplewhoseoriginisagricultural,butwhoseoccupationisingreatpartindustrial。Theyarethelightinfantryofcapital,thrownbyit,accordingtoitsneeds,nowtothispoint,nowtothat。Whentheyarenotonthemarch,they"camp。"Nomadlabourisusedforvariousoperationsofbuildinganddraining,brick—making,lime—burning,railway—making,&c。Aflyingcolumnofpestilence,itcarriesintotheplacesinwhoseneighbourhooditpitchesitscamp,small—pox,typhus,cholera,scarletfever,&c。[67]Inundertakingsthatinvolvemuchcapitaloutlay,suchasrailways,&c。,thecontractorhimselfgenerallyprovideshisarmywithwoodenhutsandthelike,thusimprovisingvillageswithoutanysanitaryprovisions,outsidethecontrolofthelocalboards,veryprofitabletothecontractor,whoexploitsthelabourersintwo—foldfashion?assoldiersofindustryandastenants。Accordingasthewoodenhutcontains1,2,or3holes,itsinhabitant,navvy,orwhateverhemaybe,hastopay1,3,or4shillingsweekly;[68]Oneexamplewillsuffice。InSeptember,1864,Dr。SimonreportsthattheChairmanoftheNuisancesRemovalCommitteeoftheparishofSevenoakssentthefollowingdenunciationtoSirGeorgeGrey,HomeSecretary:?"Small—poxcaseswererarelyheardofinthisparishuntilabouttwelvemonthsago。Shortlybeforethattime,theworksforarailwayfromLewishamtoTunbridgewerecommencedhere,and,inadditiontotheprincipalworksbeingintheimmediateneighbourhoodofthistown,herewasalsoestablishedthedepôtfo;thewholeoftheworks,sothatalargenumberofpersonswasofnecessityemployedhere。Ascottageaccommodationcouldnotbeobtainedforthemall,hutswerebuiltinseveralplacesalongthelineoftheworksbythecontractor,Mr。Jay,fortheirespecialoccupation。Thesehutspossessednoventilationnordrainage,and,besides,werenecessarilyover—crowded,becauseeachoccupanthadtoaccommodatelodgers,whateverthenumberinhisownfamilymightbe,althoughtherewereonlytworoomstoeachtenement。
Theconsequenceswere,accordingtothemedicalreportwereceived,thatinthenight—timethesepoorpeoplewerecompelledtoendureallthehorrorofsuffocationtoavoidthepestiferoussmellsarisingfromthefilthy,stagnantwater,andthepriviescloseundertheirwindows。ComplaintswereatlengthmadetotheNuisancesRemovalCommitteebyamedicalgentlemanwhohadoccasiontovisitthesehuts,andhespokeoftheirconditionasdwellingsinthemostsevereterms,andheexpressedhisfearsthatsomeveryseriousconsequencesmightensue,unlesssomesanitarymeasureswereadopted。Aboutayearago,Mr。Jaypromisedtoappropriateahut,towhichpersonsinhisemploy,whoweresufferingfromcontagiousdiseases,mightatonceberemoved。Herepeatedthatpromiseonthe23rdJulylast,butalthoughsincethedateofthelastPromisetherehavebeenseveralcasesofsmall—poxinhishuts,andtwodeathsfromthesamedisease,yethehastakennostepswhatevertocarryouthispromise。Onthe9thSeptemberinstant,Mr。Kelson,surgeon,reportedtomefurthercasesofsmall—poxinthesamehuts,andhedescribedtheirconditionasmostdisgraceful。
Ishouldadd,foryour(theHomeSecretary’s)informationthatanisolatedhouse,calledthePest—house,whichissetapartforparishionerswhomightbesufferingfrominfectiousdiseases,hasbeencontinuallyoccupiedbysuchpatientsformanymonthspast,andisalsonowoccupied;thatinonefamilyfivechildrendiedfromsmall—poxandfever;thatfromthe1stApriltothe1stSeptemberthisyear,aperiodoffivemonths,therehavebeennofewerthantendeathsfromsmall—poxintheparish,fourofthembeinginthehutsalreadyreferredto;thatitisimpossibletoascertaintheexactnumberofpersonswhohavesufferedfromthatdiseasealthoughtheyareknowntobemany,fromthefactofthefamilieskeepingitasprivateaspossible。"[69]
ThelabourersincoalandotherminesbelongtothebestpaidcategoriesoftheBritishproletariat。Thepriceatwhichtheybuytheirwageswasshownonanearlierpage。[70]HereImerelycastahurriedglanceovertheconditionsoftheirdwellings。
Asarule,theexploiterofamine,whetheritsownerorhistenant,buildsanumberofcottagesforhishands。Theyreceivecottagesandcoalforfiring"fornothing"?i。e。,theseformpartoftheirwages,paidinkind。Thosewhoarenotlodgedinthiswayreceiveincompensation£4
perannum。Theminingdistrictsattractwithrapidityalargepopulation,madeupoftheminersthemselves,andtheartisans,shopkeepers,&c。,thatgroupthemselvesaroundthem。Theground—rentsarehigh,astheyaregenerallywherepopulationisdense。Themastertries,therefore,torunup,withinthesmallestspacepossibleatthemouthofthepit,justsomanycottagesasarenecessarytopacktogetherhishandsandtheirfamilies。
Ifnewminesareopenedintheneighborhood,oroldonesareagainsetworking,thepressureincreases。Intheconstructionofthecottages,onlyonepointofviewisofmoment,the"abstinence"
ofthecapitalistfrontallexpenditurethatisnotabsolutelyunavoidable。
"ThelodgingwhichisobtainedbythepitmanandotherlabourersconnectedwiththecollieriesofNorthumberlandandDurham,"saysDr。JulianHunter,"isperhaps,onthewhole,theworstandthedearestofwhichanylargespecimenscanbefoundinEngland,thesimilarparishesofMonmouthshireexcepted……Theextremebadnessisinthehighnumberofmenfoundinoneroom,inthesmallnessoftheground—plotonwhichagreatnumberofhousesarethrust,thewantofwater,theabsenceofprivies,andthefrequentplacingofonehouseonthetopofanother,ordistributionintoflats,……thelesseeactsasifthewholecolonywereencamped,notresident。"[71]
"Inpursuanceofmyinstructions,"saysDr。Stevens,"IvisitedmostofthelargecollieryvillagesintheDurhamUnion……Withveryfewexceptions,thegeneralstatementthatnomeansaretakentosecurethehealthoftheinhabitantswouldbetrueofallofthem……Allcolliersarebound[’bound,’
anexpressionwhich,likebondage,datesfromtheageofserfdom]tothecollierylesseeorownerfortwelvemonths……Ifthecolliersexpressdiscontent,orinanywayannoythe’viewer,’amarkofmemorandumismadeagainsttheirnames,and,attheannual’binding,’suchmenareturnedoff……Itappearstomethatnopartofthe’trucksystem’couldbeworsethanwhatobtainsinthesedensely—populateddistricts。
Thecollierisboundtotakeaspartofhishiringahousesurroundedwithpestiferousinfluences;hecannothelphimself,anditappearsdoubtfulwhetheranyoneelsecanhelphimexcepthisproprietor(heis,toallintentsandpurposes,aserf),andhisproprietorfirstconsultshisbalance—sheet,andtheresultistolerablycertain。Thecollierisalsooftensuppliedwithwaterbytheproprietor,which,whetheritbegoodorbad,hehastopayfor,orratherhesuffersadeductionforfromhiswages。"[72]
Inconflictwith"publicopinion,"orevenwiththeOfficersofHealth,capitalmakesnodifficultyabout"justifying"theconditionspartlydangerous,partlydegrading,towhichitconfinestheworkinganddomesticlifeofthelabourer,onthegroundthattheyarenecessaryforprofit。Itisthesamethingwhencapital"abstains"fromprotectivemeasuresagainstdangerousmachineryinthefactory,fromappliancesforventilationandforsafetyinmines,&c。Itisthesameherewiththehousingoftheminers。Dr。
Simon,medicalofficerofthePrivyCouncil,inhisofficialReportsays:
"Inapologyforthewretchedhouseholdaccommodation……itisallegedthatminersarecommonlyworkedonlease;thatthedurationofthelessee’sinterest(whichincollieriesiscommonlyfor21years),isnotsolongthatheshoulddeemitworthhiswhiletocreategoodaccommodationforhislabourers,andforthetradespeopleandotherswhomtheworkattracts;
thatevenifheweredisposedtoactliberallyinthematter,thisdispositionwouldcommonlybedefeatedbyhislandlord’stendencytofixonhim,asground—rent,anexorbitantadditionalchargefortheprivilegeofhavingonthesurfaceofthegroundthedecentandcomfortablevillagewhichthelabourersofthesubterraneanpropertyoughttoinhabit,andthatprohibitoryprice(ifnotactualprohibition)equallyexcludesotherswhomightdesiretobuild。Itwouldbeforeigntothepurposeofthisreporttoenteruponanydiscussionofthemeritsoftheaboveapology。Norhereisitevenneedfultoconsiderwhereitwouldbethat,ifdecentaccommodationwereprovided,thecost……wouldeventuallyfall?whetheronlandlord,orlessee,orlabourer,orpublic。Butinpresenceofsuchshamefulfactsasarevouchedforintheannexedreports[thoseofDr。Hunter,Dr。Stevens,&c。]aremedymaywellbeclaimed……;Claimsoflandlordshiparebeingsousedastodogreatpublicwrong。Thelandlordinhiscapacityofmine—ownerinvitesanindustrialcolonytolabouronhisestate,andtheninhiscapacityofsurface—ownermakesitimpossiblethatthelabourerswhomhecollects,shouldfindproperlodgingwheretheymustlive。Thelessee[thecapitalistexploiter]meanwhilehasnopecuniarymotiveforresistingthatdivisionofthebargain;wellknowingthatifitslatterconditionsbeexorbitant,theconsequencesfall,notonhim,thathislabourersonwhomtheyfallhavenoteducationenoughtoknowthevalueoftheirsanitaryrights,thatneitherobscenestlodgingnorfoulestdrinkingwaterwillbeappreciableinducementstowardsa’strike。’"[73]
D。EffectofCrisesontheBestPaidPartoftheWorking—ClassBeforeIturntotheregularagriculturallabourers,Imaybeallowedtoshow,byoneexample,howindustrialrevulsionsaffecteventhebestpaid,thearistocracy,oftheworking—class。Itwillberememberedthattheyear1857broughtoneofthegreatcriseswithwhichtheindustrialcycleperiodicallyends。Thenextterminationofthecyclewasduein1866。Alreadydiscountedintheregularfactorydistrictsbythecottonfamine,whichthrewmuchcapitalfromitswontedsphereintothegreatcentresofthemoney—market,thecrisisassumed,atthistime,anespeciallyfinancialcharacter。Itsoutbreakin1866wassignalisedbythefailureofagiganticLondonBank,immediatelyfollowedbythecollapseofcountlessswidlingcompanies。OneofthegreatLondonbranchesofindustryinvolvedinthecatastrophewasironshipbuilding。Themagnatesofthistradehadnotonlyover—producedbeyondallmeasureduringtheovertradingtime,buttheyhad,besides,engagedinenormouscontractsonthespeculationthatcreditwouldbeforthcomingtoanequivalentextent。Now,aterriblereactionsetin,thatevenatthishour(theendofMarch,1867)continuesinthisandotherLondonindustries。[74]Toshowtheconditionofthelabourers,IquotethefollowingfromthecircumstantialreportofacorrespondentoftheMorningStar,who,attheendof1866,andbeginningof1867,visitedthechiefcentresofdistress:"IntheEastEnddistrictsofPoplar,Millwall,Greenwich,Deptford,LimehouseandCanningTown,atleast15,000workmenandtheirfamilieswereinastateofutterdestitution,and3,000skilledmechanicswerebreakingstonesintheworkhouseyard(afterdistressofoverhalfayear’sduration)……Ihadgreatdifficultyinreachingtheworkhousedoor,forahungrycrowdbesiegedit……Theywerewaitingfortheirtickets,butthetimehadnotyetarrivedforthedistribution。Theyardwasagreatsquareplacewithanopenshedrunningallroundit,andseverallargeheapsofsnowcoveredthepaving—stonesinthemiddle。Inthemiddle,also,werelittlewicker—fencedspaces,likesheeppens,whereinfinerweatherthemenworked;butonthedayofmyvisitthepensweresosnowedupthatnobodycouldsitinthem。Menwerebusy,however,intheopenshedbreakingpaving—stonesintomacadam。Eachmanhadabigpaving—stoneforaseat,andhechippedawayattherime—coveredgranitewithabighammeruntilhehadbrokenup,andthink!fivebushelsofit,andthenhehaddonehisday’swork,andgothisday’spay?threepenceandanallowanceoffood。
第54章