The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-23
INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS.

The first annual report of the Hon. Carroll
D. Wright, the head of the bureau of labor,
has just been submitted to the Interior De-
partment Col. Wright's long familiarity
with industrial statistics, and his distin-
guished ability in this field of investigation,
of which he gave frequent and signal proof
as head of the Massachusetts bureau, make
this report of great interest and value, es-
pecially at this time, when labor matters are
claiming so great share of the public at
tention.
Col Wright concludes from the observa-
lions of his agents, and other sources of in
formation, that during the year 1885 of
the total number of establishments such as
factories, mines, &C., there were absolutely
idle five per cent. and that five per cent.
more were idle part of the time. Or for a
Just estimate seven and one-half per cent
of all our industrial establishments were idle
or equivalent to idle the whole Of the year.
This would indicate that 998, SS9 persons were
unemployed during 1885 who during prosper
GUS times would be employed. A million of
men out of employment means loss to the
consumptiye power of the country of at least
81 ,OOO,O 600 day, or $500, O00,0 per year. The
earnings of these people had they been en-
ployed, Col Wright estimates, would have
averaged 5000 man year, representing a
total of 1880, 10000.
But, notwithstanding the loss in the con-
sumptive power of the country, the volume
of business did not fall off to very great eX-
tent. On the contrary it was fairly wellpr
served, and prices have continually fallen.
1oo o.
til many industries have been conducted
with little or no margin to those engaged,
and a great lowering of wages in general.
The mechanical industries of the United
States are carried on by steam and water
power, representing, Col. Wright "'tlinates'
In round numbers $500, 600 morse power,
each horse power eouali-e the muscular Ia
bor Of civ men th~@~ is to say if men were
.nonlorod 70 sfnish the power TO carry on
tho fnS.gGries of this country it would re-
o,,fre 81 100000 men, and q. 100000 men rep
resent population, according to the ratio of
the census of 1880, of 105,000000 Our indus
tries are now carried on by 100000 persons,
representing population of 100000. The
difference between the actual number en-
ployed and the number that would be reces-
odly IL tholc WcI6 uO duAllldIlto W uidu
labor represents the power of machinery.
Col. Wright's deductions on this point are
very interesting. and we quote them in
full:
To do the work, then, accomplished by
power and power machinery in our mechani-
cal industries and upon cur railroads would
require men representing population of
1875 5000 in addition to the present popula-
ton OF the country Of 55,000,000, or total
population with hand processes and with
horse power of 227 100000, which population
would be Obliged to suDsist on present means.
In an economic view the cost to the country
would be enormous. The present cost of op-
Grating the railroads of the country with
steam power is, in round numbers, 500, OO0-
900 per annum, but to carry on the same
amount of work with men and horses would
cost the country 81 ,30S, 100000 These illus
trationS of course show the extreme straits to
which a country would be brought if it un-
dertook to perform its work in the old way.
The fignres are to certain extent valuable
people at large through the application OF
motive power They illustrate, too, the eX-
IRENE view of the displacement OF labor,
which, as already remarked has been posi-
tive, and it may well be said to some extent
permanent. Certainly, to the men lndIyldu-
ally involved, the displacement has been Sc
we're indeed. 1t is not necessary to. show
that all the effects of the Introduction OF
power machinery have been to raise the stan
dard of life wherever the introduction has
taken place. 1t is true that in those coun-
tries where machinery has been developed to
the greatest extent the greatest num-
per Of work people are engaged,
and that in those countries where
machinery has been developed to little
or no purpose, poverty reigns, igno-
rance IS the prevailing condition, and
cdvllizatlon, IS consequently, far in the
rear. Yet, If the question should be
equitable share of the benefits derived from
the introduction Of machinery, the answer
must be no; In the struggle for industrial
supremacy IN the great countries devoted to
mechanical productions it probably has heen
impossible for him to share euuitahlv in sncb
benefits. His greatest benefit has come
through his being consumer In very MANY
instances the adult male has been obliged ia
work at reduced wage because under inn
proved machinery women and children could
perform his work, but the net earnings of
his family stand at a higher figure than of
old. 1t is also true that While labor has been
displaced apparently in many directions,
and in many industries, machinery has
brought newer occupations especially to
women. The apparent evils resulting from
the introduction of machinery and the con-
sequent subdivision of labor, have to a large
extent, of course, been offset by advantages
gained but it must stand as positive state
ment, which cannot successfully be contro-
verted, that this wonderful introduction and
extension of power machinery is one of the
prime causes, if not the prime cause, OF the
novel industrial condition IN which the man
ufaeturing nations find themselves The di-