The work and wages of this group of families before and after the disaster were carefully studied.
TABLE 68.—OCCUPATION BEFORE THE FIRE, OF 415 OF THE MEN IN FAMILIES RECEIVING AID UNDER THE COTTAGE PLAN
| Occupational group | MEN IN EACH SPECIFIED OCCUPATIONAL GROUP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro- prie- tors | Em- ploy- es | Total | |
| Personal and domestic service | 10 | 185 | 195 |
| Manufactures and mechanical pursuits | 9 | 88 | 97 |
| Trade | 15 | 105 | 120 |
| Professional | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 35 | 380 | 415 |
The incomes of the 35 men who conducted a business before the fire, as estimated by them, ranged from $20 to $200 a month in 24 instances. Eleven men gave no figures, but said they had gotten a living out of their business. Certainly the living was precarious for the group as a whole, for they had little if any savings. At the time of the investigation, the number owning their own business was less than half what it had been in April, 1906. The nature of employment suffered sharp changes. The record is not complete, but for the 341 men whose post-disaster occupation record as employes was obtained, 174 may be classed under personal and domestic occupations, 92 under manufactures and mechanical pursuits, 59 under trades and transportation, and two under professional. Fourteen were classed as miscellaneous. It would appear that the number employed at work demanding chiefly physical strength, is somewhat increased; the number engaged at work requiring skilled labor, slightly reduced.
A janitor’s comfortable home
Improved at small expense
Camp Cottages After Removal
The following table gives the wages received by the 380 male employes before the disaster: