St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-22
INDUSTRIAL OEPREssIONs
Considered by the Commissioner
OF the Labor Bureau.

WASHINGTON, March 21.-The first an
nuai report OF the bureau of labor is COM
pleted. 1t will cover about 500 pages
Under the head, The Industrial Depres-
sl0ns in the United States, Commissioner
Wright says:
FROM the observations of the agents of the
bureau ana FROM other sources from which it
has been possible to form conclusions IL is
undoubtedly true that out of the total num-
Der or establishments, such as factories
mines, etc, existing in the country. about
per cent. were absolutely idle during 1885
ana that perhaps per cent more were idle
part OF the time, or for lust estimate
~ per cent. of the whole number of such
establishments were idle or equivalent to idle
during The past year. Applying the percent
age arrived ut az per cent? we obtain a
total of sos, s39 as constituting the best stare
ment OF the upen Dyed in the United ST ates
during 1855, meaning by the unemployed
those who, under prosperous times, would De
employed, ana who In 1855 were seeking en-
poymeut that it has been possible for the
bureau TO make. It Is probably true that
this total, as representing the unemployed nc
any one time i'm the United States is fairly
representative, even if the laborers thrown
out of work through the cessation of railroad
building DC included. A million of men out
OF employment means a loss to the consump-
tive power of the country OF at least 81 .OOO-
600 per day, or II gripping of the trade of the
country OF over $500, 900 per year. The
EARNINGS OF THE PEOPLE
involved in the classes named alone would
not be Tar from 5000 each per annum, repre-
seuting total earnings of 5000, 10000. The
wage earnings OF the million thar should DO
employed are crippled TO the extent of ever
S3OO.OOO,OOO per annum, sum sufficient to-
cause reaction of business ana a general
curtailment OF expenses ftom which result
nppI tension and t.mility among ali classes.
IL Is curious so observe, however, that wni CHI
the severity of the depression causes IL Grip
ping 10 TIE extent OF several hundred million
OF dollars per year of the consuming power
OF tie people the volume of business trans
/ acted is not crippled comparatively to any
such extent 1t is shown that Just previous
To the financial panic of 1857 and 1873 and
loS2, there was an Immense increase in the
mileage OF railroads constructed in the
United States. The results of this in
throwing men out of employment have
great bearing in producing depressions
through the cripp ing of cOnsumptive powers
Tables are given indicating two things. viz:
That, while it was shown. the extent of Inc
existing industrial depression involves a
Gripping of the wage receivers of the
country and consequent crippling of the
consuming power of the people, The volume
of business has been fairly well preserved. Mt
least not crippled 20 any such extent as indi-
Gated by the Gripping of the consuming
power, and that prices nave constantly fallen
Along with these two features there has been
constant diminishing Of profits, until many
industries have been conducted with little or
no margin ID those engaged and great
COVERING OF WAGES
In general. The mechanical industries 70 the
United States are carried on by steam and
water power, representing in round numbers
3,5OO,OOO horse-pOwers, each horsepower
equaling the muscular labor IF six men: that
| is TO say, if men We're emploN cd 10 furnish
the power to carry on the industries OF this
country, IL would require 2l,0OO, 600 men. and
2l,O0O,OOO men represent a population, ac-
cording to the census of 1SSU, OF iUj, 600. 600
The industries are now carried on by 600 600
persons in round numbers. representing q
population of 2C,O00,0UU only. The employ
ment OF contract labor Of foreign importation
and rapid immigration generally are features
which have positive influence in Gripping
conSum ng power. BY the census of 1850
| the whole number of people engaged
in agriculture in the United States was
1,SIO,493. Into this number there had been
absorbed Sl2,S29 foreign born. The total
number employed in manufactures mechau-
ical and mining Industries 1885. I'll, of
which l,225, 151 wei @ OF foreign birth. 1t will
be seen at once that the tendency of immi-
grants is TO assimilate with our mechanical
industries. This increases the supply of
labor in comparison to the demands II
lowers wages, contributes to whatever over
production exists, and crippleS the consuming
power or the whole. 1t is undoubtedly true
that during the past fifty years immigration
has been of inestimable value rs an element in
American industrial progress, but it cannot be
said now, and probably not to any great ex-
tent in the future, that America is the
ROME OF THE OPPRESSED
of all nations. This advertisement will I'M
doubtedly be withdrawn as well as the other
that there is room enough in the United
States for all. Many instances might be given
to illustrate the i'll effects of the iuopertune
importation of foreign labor the employment
of Hungarians in many districts, the Padrone
systems in some localities, and other features
NOT only of foreign contract labor, but the
employment of foreign lato r, which comes
freely in a certain kind of solicitation. So
for as the investigation in hand indicates
the emp loyment of foreign labor under con-
tract to take the places of diss atistied home
l0bOrerS has been miserable failure for all
parties concerned, except, perhaps, the
parties imported. 1t has been clearly shown
that the depressiOns of the past in the manu-
featuring nations of the world have been
nearly or quite cOntemporaneous in their &C.
currence. AS TO the severity of the present
industrial depression, and its duration, il can
safely be asserted that the depression COM
menced early in 1882, and has continued until
the present time. From the time the agents
of the bureau entered the field in prosecuting
their investigations to the time they left il,
period of five or six months, there had been
marked change in the condition of business.
At the present time March, 1857 the effects
OF the depression are wearing away, aud II
the indications are that prosperity is slowly
and gradually but safely returning.