Hide Article Text (OCR)
TOWNOFROEBLINGWORKERS’ MODELWonders Hare Been Accomplished In Nine Years.COMPANY MANA6ES ALLThis JtPMy Community of Working Pooplo Appears to Hovo 8olved Many Problems In 8hort Existence. A Pionoor In City Manager Plan.Ten years ago practically the whole body of the Roebling workers lived in the cities as they had been living for decades before In the decayed tenements that clustered about the great shops. With its fellow industries the Roebling plant fought its way through strikes, lockouts, changes, of working force, poorly done work, all the tribulations that harass capital. “We’ve got to make the best of these things, explained the other manufacturers.“No,” objected the Roeblings. “We’ve got to make these things better.”Such was the origin of Roebling, N. J.Established for nine years, this town of Roebling has passed safely the precarious stage of Immaturity that has proved fatal to so many similar projects. It lias grown and flourished, has provided its founders with labor that is competent to produce the highest grade of work and has secured for these workers the highest comfort, health and happiness at the least expense. On the paper of theory the project was fantastic; 011 the books of fact It has proved highly practicable and profitable. From Its inception the policy that has dominated and controlled Roebling has been autocratic, patriarchal. The Roebling company owns all land, houses, industries, stores, even the police and fire departments. The company supplies work and shelters the worker, and should that worker prove unworthy he is summarily discharged aud deprived not only of his wages, but of his habitation as well. Out he must go, bag and baggage, beyond the village limits.Whether this policy of paternalism Is responsible for the success of Roebling or whether the town has succeeded InHOU8BB OF THE FOBEMEN AT ROEBLINO.spite of such benevolent despotism isa mooted question. Certain It Is, however.. that Roebling has been wonder fully prosperous, while many similar projects have fallen into decay.The man who stands between the Roebling company and the Roebling worker is the manager. Raymond H. Thompson'. To him are Intrusted the prosperity of the company and at the same time, the welfare of the worker. Sanitation, health—its maintenance effectively assisted by a well equipped hospital — education, police and fire regulation, housing, water supply, all phases of commercial and social life, are under the manager's su|K»rvlsion. who administers these functions under the policy directly authorized by the officers of the company. The result is a town of over 3,000 people living a sane and comfortable life In the open country: a town of broad, scrupulously clean streets, green grass and trees; a town where disease seldom cripples the worker, ho injuring his work; a town where every man may be sure of just and sympathetic judgment upon all his demands, and. finally, with all this apparent vigor of supervision, a town where every individual has the utmost liberty.The only rules that are applied with Draconian severity.are the rules governing industry, decency and cleanliness. Not more than five adults are allowed to live In one houae, and if the children multiply too fast the parents are obliged to move Into roomier quarters. Cleanliness la preserved by soch constant Watchfulness aa la necessary to regulate so cosmopolitan a community—a community composed of Hungarian!, Swedes.- Roumanians, Pole* Irish, Germans and Russians.The tenants have come to realise the sincerity of the authorities In their determination to preserve cleanliness and order, and in consequence both exteriors and interiors of the houses ait rebukes to supposedly more enlightened communities.Commission rule, the active discharge of municipal functions by the few, was ten years ago considered a radical and dangerous ^novation; now It Is adopted by over one-third of the largest cities. The city manager plan, till recently unhearcVof, la now In effect Ih at least four considerable communities, and it is almost exactly this form of govenunent that la and has been for ten years in force at Roebling.—Town Development
Newspaper Details
Washburn Leader
Washburn, North Dakota, US
Fri, May 01, 1914
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CT, USA 20 Oct 2022
Other Publications Near Washburn, North Dakota
Washburn Leader
