We have now but to estimate the amount of capital invested in the chimney-sweepers’ trade, and then to proceed to the characteristics of the men.
| £ | |
| 1200 machines, 2l. 10s. each (present average value) | 3000 |
| 3000 sacks, 2s. 6d. each | 385 |
| 25 horses, 20l. each | 500 |
| 25 sets of harness, 2l. each | 50 |
| 25 carts, 12l. each | 300 |
| £4235 |
It may be thought that the sweepers will require the services of more than 25 horses, but I am assured that such is not the case as regards the soot business, for the soot is carted away from the sweepers’ premises by the farmer or other purchaser.
It would appear, then, that the facts of the chimney-sweepers’ trade are briefly as under:—
The gross quantity of soot collected yearly throughout London is 800,000 bushels. The value of this, sold as manure, at 5d. per bushel, is 16,500l.
There are 800 to 900 people employed in the trade, 200 of whom are masters employing journeymen, 150 single-handed master-men, and 470 journeymen and under journeymen.
The annual income of the entire number of journeymen is 10,500l. without perquisites, or 13,000l. with, which gives an average weekly wage to the operatives of 10s. 6d.
The annual income of the masters and leeks is, for sweeping and soot, 100,000l.
The annual expenditure of the masters for rent, keep of horses, wear and tear, and wages, is 20,000l.
The gross annual profit of the 350 masters is 80,000l., which is at the rate of about 35l. per annum to each of the single-handed men, 200l. to each of the smaller masters employing journeymen, and 500l. to each of the larger masters.