Rigel
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A girl who moved to Lowell for a job, to support the family, was placed in a boarding house. Extended rules applied to the boarding house and was enforced by the leader. If a Lowell girl violates one of the rules she will be escorted out of the boarding house as well as the city unable to return.
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The conditions that the Lowell girls suffered were extremely grim. There was poor ventilation and sewer lines in the factories and unheated boarding houses. The meals were scarce and disgusting and rooms were smaller than what was expected.
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Lowell girls worked elongated hours.They usually worked from 5:00am to 7:00pm . Bells indicated when it was time to attend work, when there were breaks, and when it was time to leave. They were given breaks when it was time for dinner which were usually forty five minutes. Speed gates would open three minutes before work started. If a mill girl was late she would automatically be fired.
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The mill girls wore old tattered garments. Minimum wage was paid instead of a better pay that they would be promised .Girls were given six months to learn how to work the mills before working there.
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The mill girls were continuously watched by overseers and the head boarding house leader.
When they arrived, the factory was unsanitary and work hours were so long that they were not able to do their daily activities that was promised to them.
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Diseases were spread and deaths occurred from sickness and accidents inside the factory. If one was to report sick or injured and could not work for the day, they would be instantly fired and replaced.