The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-01-22
THE FURNITURE TRADE.
CONDITION OF THE EMPLOYEES IN
STATE FACTORIES.

h'reau - Annunf wages raid - Iotai
Value OF tho Product aIuabIe Statisti-
cal Information.
The following is general summary,
from the seventh annual report of the
State Bureau OF Labor and Statistics, OF
the investigat on of the condition of the
employees OF the furniture manuf acturing
industry IN Michigan:
The seventh annual report Of the Mich
igan Bureau OF Labor and Industrial Sta
tistics, just issued, containing the result
OF and Investigation OF the financial nd
social condition of the employees of the
furniture manufacturing industry of the
State.
Seventy-eight furniture factories were
canvass sd 10y the special agents of this
bureau-twenty- eight in Grand Rapids,
fifteen in Detroit, three each in Owosso.
Worthwhile, Charlotte, and Sturgis, two
each in Manistee, Muskegon, Big Rapids,
Buchanan, and Holland, and one each in
Adrian, st. Johns, Otsego, Grand Ledge,
Sparti, East Saginaw, Constantine, Ann
Arbor, Potteryille, Newyago, Hillsdale,
Niles. aud Allegan.
In response 10 circulars sent out by
this bureau, tifty-four out of the seventy
eight firms gave the following informa-
ton: Total number of employees upon
their pay roll on the trst pay day in May.
1889, 6.9l3; total amount of wages paid
during the past fiscal year, 81, 554, $50,
amounting to 1869 80 per capita for man.
boy and girl employed. This also in
cludes salaries of foIemen. superintend-
e.ts, and travelling statesmen. The whole
sale value OF the goods manufactured
during the same period OF time was
S7,2ln, 1872. The per cent. of wages to
the wholesale value of the goods pro-
duced is .35+
In the seventy eight factories in this
st tie the special agents of this bureau
made personal canva s of 5,22G men and
boys and 22l girls. This is the largest
personal enumeration OF workingmen
ever made by the bureau. Five hundred
and twenty-five have money in the saw
ingS banks or at interest, amounting to
1853, 1924. One thousand three hundred
and thirty-two own homes valued at
Sl,4sl, $40. Average value of each home,
$l,l22.32
OF the employees 10 years of age and
over, .33t per cent. own homes. In De-
troit it is .3Ot, in Grand Rapids .3lt, aud
in the outside towns ssh. The per cent.
of home owners to those who are married
is .50t. In Grand Rapids it is .40t. in
Detroit SIT, and in the outside towns .55t.
Considering the high price of city lots
in the two cities, the per cent. Of home
owners makes a better showing III IN in
the other places. Seven hundred and
ninety eight of the homes are mortgaged
for a total of 1855, 1872; ,26S rent and
pay monthly rental of $S,lSl.s2. an
average of S6.45. In Grand Rapids it is
S6.5S, in Detroit 1886, and in the out
side towns 1857. The o'al annual rent
is SOS, lSl.S4, an aver sc of STAB.
Two thousand seven hundred and sixty
Il 4
One thousand five hundred and twenty
three of the employees board. The total
weekly cost for board and room is s., $685.
40 an average of 50. 50. In Grand Rapids
it is S3.77 in Detroit 1888, and in the
outside towns 80. IL. Total annual board,
1919, l6l.4S. Six hundred and thirty-fou
of the more provident employees have pro-
vided for their families by life insurance,
which is .l2t per cent. The total life in
surance is S977, 30S. One thousand two
hundred and thirty-nine have provided
for sickness or accident 10y membership
in benefit societies. The total weekly
benefit in case of sickness or accident is
81 ,506.72, an average of S6.05. In Grand
Rapids it is S5.9S, in Detroit S7.34, IN
the outside towns. S5.1 a.
When the employees first began work as
boys in the shops or learning their trade,
3, ll6 had good health, AZ fair, AZ poor,
and Is did not answer the question. Two
hundred and thirty cannot read which is
on per cent. and 269 cannot write, which
is .O5+.
In answer TO the question: Are you
subject TO loss of wages by error, waste
or hreakage?" Four thousand nine hun
dred and ninety seven replied and 22g
did not answer. OF those who replied,
only 81 said that they were subject to the
loss. To the question: Are you re-
quired TO exercise more than ordinary
care to prevent accidents to yourself and
TO others?" Four thousand nine hundred
and twenty eight replied and 29s did not
answer. OF those who answered $50
said yes. They included engineers and
men who ran or worked about machines
or machinery. Have wages increased or
decreased during the past five years?"
The 3, 9S9 who answered give the follow
ing replies: Los an increase, 100 de-
crease, and ,43l reported wages just the
same as five years ago.
DO you pay cash when you purchase
your goods, or do you buy on credit from
one pay day to the other?" One thousand
two hundred and thirt, mine did not an
swer the que stion and 1887 did Their
replies we're as follows: Three thousand
three hundred and sixty-nine pay cash,
ll6 both pay cash and buy on credit, and
5O2 buy on credit.
To the question: DO you keep an item
lied account of your expenses?" nine
hundred and six made no reply. $50 do
not keep an tented account and Az do.
Are you rs we'll off as you were five
years ago?" Three hundred aud twenty
five did not answer the question, 4.22l
made reply, 1921 said that they were
as we'll off as they were five years ago,
$40 said they we're not As we'll of, and 490
said they we're better of, which is IL per
cent The majority of those who said
that they are as we'll off or better off are
young men who 1ive ye RS ago were learn
ing trades and have since advanced to
mans wages, or are foreigners who came
TO this country since five years ago, who,
as a matter of course, are as we'll off or
better off.
In Grand Rapids and Detroit 2, 059 en-
ployes were asked if they were in favor
of eight hours rs n work day. The re-
plies were as follows: Yes, ]. 1888: no, POS;
don't know, 80; can't say. 9; don't care,
g. hardly know, 3; all the same, 3; won't
say, L; can't tell, 1; immatenal, l; and
three preferred Saturday half holiday.
The woman who carries n handker-
chief in her corsaoe should remember