KRUPP FOUNDRIES, Social Work at, one of the early difficulties encountered by the great Essen works was that by 1861 the em ployees had outgrown the living accommoda tions to such an extent as to create disturbance to the growth of the industry. Two rows of houses were constructed (1861-62) for the fore men and the workmen's dwellings were started in 1863, and became the colony known as Alt Westend. The buildings were of simple con struction, but sanitary, and rents were low. By the beginning of 1872 the second colony— called New-Westend — was completed. There were 3,659 dwellings built by 1891, besides 43 for widows free of rent. The capital expended had a net income of 2.5 per cent, which was invested in other improvements. The small Essen Co-operative Society had its management undertaken by the firm in 1868 and its title was changed to and all varieties of goods were supplied at lowest possible prices to the workmen. This work was done at the responsibility and risk of the firm for numerous years at cost, but the work was later turned over to the employees for free co-operation. All sales are done for cash, and the balance of profit is returned yearly to the purchasers pro rata of value of purchases.
A boarding establishment, known as the °Menage,* was started in 1856 with 200 un married men. By 1873 the number had grown to 1,775, falling off to less than 500 in 1875, then growing to about 800. The lack of freedom caused its falling off. The health of the em ployees is looked after by a board of physicians, and a large bathing establishment is assisting the hygienic work. Three insurance associa tions have been formed, against accident, for life insurance and against sickness, to which the firm contributes $60,000 per year, $2,500 of which is paid under the Imperial Insurance Law. A
trust fund of $250,000 produces from its inter est pension funds for the use of those whose needs are not covered by other sources. Under the employees' widows pension plan payments are made annually amounting to nearly $952.000. The city of Essen also has a gift of $500,000 provided for building material and moral im provement from the interest. There are also numerous scientific and manual training schools. The rapid growth of socialistic propaganda centre is remarkable, however, and of recent years has kept pace with the advance in the social and economical program.
In the last few years the colonies of Sche derhof, Nordhof and Cronenberg were added to the two Westends, and Baumhof was built a short distance from the city in 1890 on cheaper land, affording detached buildings of two stories to accommodate three or four fam ilies and permitting larger gardens to surround the dwellings, at a rental of 85 cents per week for five rooms and garden. Following these came Alfredshof (erected 1894) a model village, and Altenhof, started a little later, built on still more attractive lines. The latter accommodates aged employees and widows free of rent. Friedrichshof was the next colony erected, on advanced lines. Each of these numerous colo nies has its market place, beer-hall, co-operative store, park and music pavilion. The dwellings, some few years ago, figured 4,300 about Essen and 700 in the colonies of Bredeney, Annen, Gaarden and Bochum. Consult Blencke, 'Al fred Krupp' (1898) ; Klein and Hehnemann, Alfred Krupp> (1903).