New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-24
MANUFA CTURING INDUSTRIES.

VALUABLE STATISTICS TO BE COLLECTED
SPECIAL EXPERTS APPOINTED FOR THE WORK BY
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CENsUs-wHAT
Is TO BE DONE IN THIS CITY-srATEMENT OF
CHARLES Il. HILL, CHIEF SPECIAL AGENT FOR
NEw-YoRK.
In addition to the census recently completed of
the population of the United States special experts
bave been appointed by the Government to collect
statistics of manufactures and industries through
ont the country. These statistics will be for the
twelve months beginning June l. 1879. and ending
May 81, 1880. Charles L. Ill., whose office is in
the Coal and Iron Exchange, in Cortandt-st., has
received the appointment of Chief Special Agent to
collect such information of the manufactures of
this city. MIR. Hill was for years at the head
of the firm of Charles Z. Hill & Co, in the china
trade and was tho first vice-presldent of the I'm
porters' and Grocers' Board of Trade at its organ
cation. lie was appointed Chief Spec al Agent for
New. York upon the recommendation of the CON-
mcrcial organizations of the city, which largely
interested in obtaining full and accurate statistics
of the manufacturing industries of New York. The
commissions for Mr.. Hill and his assistants were
ceived last Monday from Census Superintendent
Walker. and the work has already been begun.
Sixty DAYS are given for the completion of the
work. MIR. Hill was visited by a TRIBUNE re-
porter yesterday, aud gave the following interest
ing particulars of his work:
We are required by oath to hold as strictly con-
fidennal the statistics that We obtain, and 10 re-
port them only to our higher officers for complla
ton. otherwise should be glad TO allow you 10
have what we have already obtained. This is done
so that the facts cannot DC put to any use which
can possibly prejudice the interests of any industry
or corporation. The statistics will be published IN
book form, when completed by the Department Mt
Washington. new law lawpas,ed lately authorlz-
ing this work to be done BY special agents from the
fact that the manufacturing industries have so
largely increased. The last information of the kind
was collected in 1870, and by the regular census
4 OFT | hpiIpV
| $685. establishments in Newiork, l hayeno doubt
but that the increase has been in the ratio OF the
increase of population, and from this estimate that
we shall find the number to have increased to over
TO- 900 in the last years. Besides IN 1870 the
| work was not done thoroughly as 1T Will be this
year with the more complete arrangements which
" All cities of above 5000 inhabitants are to be
thoroughly canvassed An important fact to be
noticed is that each assistant special agent in the
| work has the same authority to compel the answer
ing of proper questions that the regular census emu
| merators had. Since 1870 many new industries
| have sprung up which have grown TO a great mag
nitude-that of oleomargarlne' Tor instance. can
not tell you how many assistants shall employ.
! 1t will depend much upon how rapidly those ad-
| vance who are at work. They Will all be COM
petent men, however carefully, selected with
view to their familiarity with the industries as
| signed TO their The work, as can readily be
seem is of no ordinary kind. For instance, in 1870
in the clothing industry alone there were 034 esia1-
| shments, employing 2,2OO men, women ana chill
| dren" -,
turing establishments. On these schedules full
| questions are printed. The ten special industries
boot and shoe factories cheese ana ontteT iacto
| RES Touring and grist-mllls, salt works, lumber
| mills and saw-mills, brick yards and tile works
| paper mills, coal mines, agricultural implement
works and quarrles. Besides these, particular at
tenton will he given to the subjects of leather, both
| tanned and curried. condensed milk factories and
| Strengthening and meat packing There Will also be
general schedules embracing the work of the chief
| manufacturing industries of the city, such as
clothing, hats and caps, planoiortes. sugar re-
| fnenes ETC., the details IN connection with which
are all to be enumerated carefully
| The questions on the general schedules are more
carefully prepared than usual aud are very com
| pete For instance, some of the more important on
those of manufactures are as follows:
Name Of corporation company or individual produc-
| ing the value OF 5000 annually.
Name OF business. manufacture or product
Capital Ceal or PERSONAL invested IN the business.
u Average humber of hands employed. including the
number males above sixteen years. females above NJ
| teen years. and children and youths
Wages and hours OF labor, including ~ number OF
| Der, and from November TO May; t2) average days
for skilled mechanic; 90 average day wages
for ordinary laborer ~ total amount paid In wages
Months in operation, including those full time,
| three-quarter time only, on twothlrds time only on
| one half time only, ana those who were idle.
Value OF product. including jobblng and repairing
The power used In manufacture, Including, II water
mower is used On what river stream ~ height or
fall IN 81 number Of wheels. their KIND. breadth
In feet. revolutions per minute ana morse power; II
L
| gnes and horse power
| With each schedule instructions furnished
| stating that the term productive industry must
be understood in its largest gEifcance. to include
not only all factories and large works but also the
| mechanical trades, such as blaoksmthing cooper
| ing carpentering ETC. The smallest shop Is not 10
| be omitted provided the production reaches 1000
| annually including the cost of materials The kind
of business the character OF the product Is to be
described as specifically possible, and in the case
of small shops, where book-aCCOuns are not Kept.
the agents are specially instructed to the great
| est care and judgment. Only serviceable boilers
and engines to be reported aud IN ascerlaiIlng
the horse power of tho engines III use the best In
formation available is required to be procured.
| There may be some delay IN getting correct an
swers to all these questions" added Mr. Hill. for
| probably many firms have not Kept as full statistics
| as our schedules call for Yet think IN tue main
we shall have no great difficulty IL will require
information that we desire can ultimately be OBJ
| tanned" 80,
do you not expect that some persons will give
false returnsW
| " If they do. we cannot help It, Of course we
must our best judgment. especially In regard 10
| the smaller establishments. With the large ones
there will not be any such difficulty, probably: The
| business men supposed TO represent Things
| rightly to u.s. especially when they know that we
| are bound to hold the information that We obtain
| AS strictly confidential Besides this, no names OF
| firms are used in the general compilation which is
published and there Is no chance for any person
or firm get the least particle OF free advertising
| out of the work"
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| nJnNJNUT WEI TqER REpDRT