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Anonymous Letter Written to a Boston Newspaper by a Lowell Factory Girl

Deborah Woodard Poetry



November 9, 1844

I increased my earnings every month a little, by the gradual increase in speed as I grew accustomed to it.

The speed was raised just as we could bear it, and often, almost always, at our request, because with the increase of speed our pay increased.

In May 1842, the last month before the reduction of wage, I tended 2 looms. My work was in no way extraordinary, though perhaps better than average 
[2 looms x 140 beats =total 280].

In the next month, June, when speed and prices had both been reduced, I tended 3 looms at a speed of 100 [3 looms x 100 beats=total 300 beats per minute]. I earned that month, 24 days on three looms, 14 dollars and 52 cents.

In January 1843, the speed was raised to about 118 [3 looms x 118 beats=total 354 beats per minute], and the price reduced still lower. I received 16 dollars and 92 cents in payment for 24 days’ work.

In June 1843, I still tended 3 looms, and in 24 days earned 15 dollars and 50 cents.

I affirm that I have not in any of these or other months, overworked myself. I kept gaining in ability and strength, and as fast as I could do so, I was allowed to go.

And in June, 1844, feeling able, I tended 4 looms at a speed of about 120 [4 looms x 120 beats=total 480 beats per minute].

The other departments I suppose have fared much as we in the weave rooms. I believe I have given no exaggerated picture of what has been the true average of girls.



About Deborah Woodard
Deborah Woodard is the author of Plato’s Bad Horse (Bear Star, 2006) Borrowed Tales (Stockport Flats, 2012) and No Finis: Triangle Testimonies, 1911 (Ravenna Press, 2018). She has translated the poetry of Amelia Rosselli from the Italian in The Dragonfly, A Selection of Poems: 1953-1981 (Chelsea Editions, 2009), Hospital Series (New Directions, 2015) and Obtuse Diary (Entre Rios Books, 2018). Deborah teaches at Hugo House in Seattle, Washington. She also co-curates the reading series Margin Shift: Friends in Poetry.

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