The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer - Lighthouse ...

426 LIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap, xxxiv.
at Clay Cross. A large population had now settled down at
that place, and the original hamlet, consisting of about twelve
cottages, had assumed the dimensions of a town. Iron smelting
furnaces had been added to the colliery, and decided prosperity
at length promised to attend Mr. Stephenson's original enter-
prise. How were these workpeople to be morally and in-
tellectually improved, and their children efficiently educated?
Such was the question which occupied the attention of Mr. Ste-
phenson and his friend. Small beginnings were made, educa-
tional institutes of all kinds growing but slowly ; but at length a
system was established, so admirable and calculated to be so
beneficial to all parties concerned, employers and workpeople
alike, that we think the institution at Clay Cross may be cited
as a model for general imitation by large employers of labour in
all districts. It is briefly as follows —
:
It is made a condition of employment at the works that every
man and boy shall pay a fortnightly rate for educational and
other purposes. Every married man pays a shilling a fortnight,
every single man eight pence, every boy five pence. Of
these respective contributions, two pence a fortnight from each
is appropriated exclusively for education. It is further made a
condition, that the fund shall be administered by the manager of
the works ;
efficiency to the system.
the concentration of the power in his hands ensuring
In return for these contributions, the following important
benefits are conferred: 1. Free education in day schools for all
the children of the workpeople. 2. Free education in night
schools for all the boys and young men desiring instruction.
3. Freeaccess to a Workmen's Institute, with its lectures, read-
ing room supplied with daily and weekly newspapers, and library
of 1600 volumes. 4. Free medical and surgical attendance to
all the workpeople and their families. 5. Relief at the rate of
is. a week during sickness, and 5s. a week during disablement
by accident, to all the workpeople. 6. Free access to a fort-
nightly dance in the large hall, attended by the workpeople and
their families. 7. A band of instrumental music, a drum and
fife band, a choral society, and a cricket club, are maintained out
of the rate. 8. Between thirty and forty pounds are yearly