Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-01-25
FURNITURE WORKERS.
Their Financial and Social Conditions
In the State of Michigan,

Michigan Bureau of Labor Statistics
just is ued, contains the result Of an in,
vestigahon of the financial and social
conditions of the employees of the furni.
ture manufacturing industry of the
State.
Seventy eight furniture factories were
canvassed by the special agents of the
bureau; twenty eight in Grand Rapids,
Is in Detroit, and the remainder in small.
Ter cities or towns.
In response to circulars sent out from
the bureau, 81 of the 70 firms gave the
following information: Total number
of employees upon their pay roll on the
first pay day in May, 1889, 6,913. Total
amount of wages paid during the past
fiscal year, 1864, 1865, amounting to
S369.50 per capita for man, boy and
girl employed. This also includes sala-
ries of foremen, uperintendents and
travelling statesmen. The wholesale value
of the goods manufactured during the
same period of time was $7,210, 1872, The
per cent of wages to wholesale value of
the goods produced is .35.
The special agents of the bureau made
a personal canvass of 5 1926 men and boys
and 221 girls. The following is the ma
til nality: Americans, 800; Hollanders,
1859; Swedes, 1853; Germans, 73S; Po-
landers, rs; Scotchmen, %; Russians,
%; Englishmen, 81; Canadians, $40;
Frenchmen, 10; Danes, 46; Normegians,
"a; Austrians, %; Irishmen, As; Bel
gians, 20; Brazilans, 3; Welshmen, f.:
Finsanders, l.; Swiss, II; not answered,
/; West Indies, /; born ON the ocean, 3;
Bermuda Islander, /; Isle of Man. l.;
Central Amesican, 2; Italian, 3. OF the
employees 81 per cent are foreign born;
AZ per cent of the foreigners are Hol-
landers and p per cent. are Germans.
In the factories outside of Grand Rap
ids and Detroit, the employees are mostly
Americans.
OF the 2,509 who are reported as having
been born in the United States, I .469
had American parents, 223 Holland, 449
German, l03 English, 1873 Irish, IS Po-
hsh, did not answer, 80 Canadian 30
Scotch, Austrian, % French, 1 Rus
sian, Danish, Norwegian, 2 Swedish,
] Welsh, 6 Belgian, l Spanish, New
Zealand, 5 Swiss. OF the total number
of employees, $3.50 are married, 10S are
widowers and 2,5SS are single; AZ per
cent are married, including the widow
5rs. The number of boys and young
men who work in the Detroit factories
reduces the percentage for the whole
State. There are 1881 children IN the
families. This is not large number,
considering the fact that so many of the
workmen are foreigners, who are gener-
ally credited with having large families.
They average a tritle over 2t to the IA
mily. This is one less than other staff
sites have shown. Two thousand two
hundred and thirty of the children at
tend school; 2.471 of the employees care
for themselves only and do not contri-
butte to the support of others ,761 sup
port with their earnings, other than
themselves, S,405 persons Total num-
Der of months employed during the
year, 55,5004 an average of 1916. Three
thousand five hundred and thrty.two
lost time during the year, amounting
to 141, 697 days. Ten hours is a days
work in every furniture factory in the
State. No store order or truck system
is In vogue. There is no company store.
All of the employed in this industry are
paid in cash. Three firms pay monthly,
26 semi monthly, and 40 weekly.
Three hundred and fifty seven foreig
ners reported that they were not natur-
allied; 521 had money when they ar
rived in this country. amounting to |
$66, 1853 so; 1877 had sent money to rela,
tives or friends to the old country,
amounting to $l1 ,594 80.
The cost of working tools during the |
year was asked, to ascertain whether |
that was any considerable Item of ex !
pense with working men, ,105 reported |
that they had bought tools amounting
to $S,709.45.
During the year 1918 employees saved |
$l33, ITO. This sum includes the payments
made on homes; % per cent. of the en-
ployes saved money.
Five hundred and twenty five have
money in the savings banks amounting
to Sl63, 1874, One thousand three hun
dred and thirty-two own homes valued |
at 81 ,4S4, $40. Average value of each
home ST. 1872 30.
Seven hundred and ninety eight of the
homes are mortgaged for total of
$3.50, l92; l,26o rent and pay monthly
rental of SIS, 1912, an average of S6.45
In Grand Rapids it is 1868. in Detroit,
ST., 56, and In the outside towns $5.67.
The total annual rent is S9S, 49, "a, an
average of $77.43
Two thousand seven hundred and
sixty-seven take newspapers and maya
zines.