Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-01
BUSINESS FIGURES.
A CENSUS OF MANUFACTURING IN
DUSTRtSS TO BE TAKEN.
How the Work VIII he Done-Thc ones
tions to BE Asked-Taik with
the Agent.

A census Of the wealth and industry OF
Richmond as 1t was on June l. 1890, Wiii
shortly be taken.
For this purpose Mr.. Carter Harrison
has been appointed chief special agent
with Mr.. ". NJ. Justis IA assistant, and IN
day or two, when they receive additional
Instructions. Room of the custom-house
will be assigned as their headquarters and
the work Of gathering in the manufac-
turing statistics will be commenced lmme-
dIetelv.
In conversation with Dispatch reporter
yesterday evening Mr.. Harrison said: My
appointment was only received few days
ago and am still waiting for further or
ders from Washington, but it is nay Inten-
tiOn If ] find that | will not have sufficient
time and help 70 do justice TO Richmond
10 give the position up, for do not intend
to make job of gathering the manutectu-
ring statistics of this city like that winch
was made Of our population.
WONDERFUL GROWTH.
I'm my opinion" continued Dir. Harri-
son, the growth OF Richmond's manutac-
turing enterprises has been tremendous.
and far greater proportionately than our
population IN the last decade, and for these
reasons II will be my special pride to make
Us good n showing for the city as possible.
In my instructions received from Wash
ingtOn It was suggested that ] put myself
in communication with representative
businessmen and with the officers OF such
commercial and manufacturing oreanlza-
tions as may exist in Richmond; and tOl-
lowing these suggestions | visited Colonel
John b. Purcell, president OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, and MIR. }.
II. Witty chairman of the Com
mittee on Information and Statistics
of that organization. Both of these gen
tleman expressed their willingness 10 AID
me in any manner which was IN their pow
er. and blr. Witty expressed the opinion
that forty davs-the time allowed me-was
not by any means sufficient TO complete
the work of gathering the information CON
cerning our manufacturing establish
ments.
WAIT MORE HELP.
Under these circumstances | have ap-
Piled 10 Congressman Naddill tor n
larger allowance Of help and au extension
of time for doing the work. and he has
promised 10 aid me TO the best Of his
ability. | think will have but little trouble
IN getting more men To help me and an ex-
tension Of time, for rs matters stand at
present we will have only two men-Alr
Juell- anu IlFHtU 10 At Allt fAliif WI -
and we will be limited 10 forty days
WHAT Hg WILL DO.
The census TO be taken under the di-
rection OF Mr.. Harrison viii be confined
exclusively to our manufacturing enter
prises. but in the case OF certain peculiar
industries the collection of statistics
has been assigned to expert special agents
without regard 20 locality.
The returns from manufacturing estab-
lishments received here will be used only
for tabulation and no publication will be
made IN the census reports that Will dis
ciOae the operations of individual estab-
lIshments.
All manufacturing enterprises, however
small, will have TO be enumerated. Ac-
cording 20 the requirements Of the law
concerning this branch Of the census the
statistics will not only include mills and
factories, but also the operations OF all
small establishments and the mechanical
trades. such as blacksmithing, carpenter
ing, coopering, masonry, and brlcklaylng,
mechanical dentistry. millinery. tailoring,
wheelwrighting. &c.
FALSE STATEMENTS AND BEFUsALs.
The agents collecting the statistics are
required to be uniformly courteous toward
those whom they are thrown IN contact
with officially. but at the same time they
are expected 10 guard against false and
misleading statements by manufacturers
who manifest an inclination TO evade CIV
inc the required data. After having eX-
hausted pacific measures without success,
thew have only to report To the Census
Bureau at Washington, and the persons
making such refusals or false statements
Will be dealt with according to law.
THE QUESTIONS.
Among the questions which will be asked
will be the amount II capital employed in
the business: the profits. average number
of hands employed; number of whHe
hands; number OF colored hands; number
of women emplOyed number OF men oul-
ployed; number Of children employed
the kind of business and character OF the
product; items of investment. both owned
and borrowed amounts expended for the
items enumerated: total amount OF wages
paid 10 hands and 10 officers or firm mem
bers: weekly rates of wages; materials
used: kinds Of the principal materials and
the quantities of each.
These iuterrogations must be answered
with the greatest possible accuracy, and IN
cases where inventories were made some
months previous that will be considered
a. representing the present status OF the
business.
SPECIAL AGENTS.
For those classes Of manufactures the
investigation Of which Will be placed III
charge of agents without regard 10 locall-
ty. schedules will be mailed direct. with
the request that the blanks be properly
filed out ready for the special agent when
he shall call.
Among thess classes are chemical manu-
features, clay and pottery products. cotton
manufactures. dyeing and finishing tex
tiles. ship-bulding, wool manufactures
hosiery and knit goods. and leather (pa-
! tent. enamelled. and morocco.