Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Second part - XVI. Labour Legislation and Social Statistics - 2. Social Condition and Social Statistics - Workmen's Dwellings, by G. H. von Koch, Editor, Stockholm
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workmen’s dwellings.
1085
for this purpose by the Town Council, and in the same year proposals were
presented by it partly for temporarily remedying the nuisances, and partly for
creating new legislative provisions on the subject. The proposals, however, still
are under deliberation by the Community.
Omitting what has been done by exclusively private initiative, however,
during latter years several measures in this respect have been taken. We give
below a brief account of those of greater importance.
At the expense of the State dwellings have been provided for the employées
of the State Railways; two blocks of buildings have been rented for this purpose.
Family dwellings have been provided by the city for 39 workmen employed
at the City Water-works. In 1899 the Town Council granted 575,000 kronor
for erecting 8 dwelling-houses, with altogether 268 fire-places, for the city employees.
Of these dwellings 110 are to consist of 1 room and kitchen and 16 of 2 rooms
and kitchen. In 1902 were granted 425,000 kronor for the same purpose. The
undertaking is to be regarded as a trial, and will be extended if the result prove
satisfactory. Over 1,500 workmen, or persons similarly situated are employed in
the service of the city.
Only a few factories and industrial establishments have erected
dwelling-places for their workmen on a larger scale. Among such may be mentioned the
Rörstrand China Works, and J. & C. G. Bolinders Mekaniska
Verkstadsaktiebolag (The Bolinder Mechanical Company, Ltd.). The former has erected 19 larger
and smaller stone-houses and small wooden-houses. In these and other premises
rented by the Company live 378 out of the 900 workmen employed at the works.
The latter disposes over 230 dwellings comprising 310 rooms and 201 kitchens.
The great scarcity of dwelling accomodation felt in the seventies gave rise to
vigorous action among the working classes with a view to their providing
themselves with dwelling-places on the self-help system. So-called Dwelling
Accommodation Societies (Bostadsföreningar) were formed for the building of houses. In
the middle of the eighties the movement was at its height. These Dwelling
Accommodation Societies owned 64 properties, having a total value of close upon
10 million kronor. In 1896, the number of houses amounted to 67, containing
4,810 fire-places, but the taxation value had fallen nearly V" million kronor.
Upwards of 30 % of the capital was invested by the members of the Societies.
The occupants of these habitations each possessed his own private abode. The
members of these societies were jointly and severably responsible, according to the
law then in force, for the enterprise which was accompanied with great difficulties.
The result of these has not been satisfactory. The form of the same has
shown itself to be unsuitable, and the payments and the rates of interest were
too heavy for the great number of workmen. Many members suffered great loss
and building activity ceased.
Among the habitations for workmen, erected through philanthropical
endeavours, the following may be mentioned.
Aktiebolaget Stockholms Arbetarhem (The Stockholm Workmen’s Dwelling
Company, Ltd.) was founded in 1892 on the initiative of Miss Agnes
Lagerstedt. The object of the company is to provide the cheapest habitations for
workmen possible, and to work for the moral advancement of the tenants. In this
as well as in the enterprises next mentioned, the profit of the shareholders is
limited to 4 Up to the present 5 middle-sized houses, containing 140 sets
of rooms, have been erected. Of these, 29 are single-rooms with combined
cooking and heating stoves, which are rented at 120—144 kronor per annum,
and 105 apartments containing 1 room and kitchen, for which on an average a
rent of 188 kronor per annum is demanded. This rent is likely to be less than
in ordinary circumstances by 50—75 kronor. Laundry and Bath-room are
accessible without extra cost. The rooms are specially comfortable. An illustration of
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