Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-06-05

official Figures Which Teach Their
own Lesson.

own Lesson.
New York Evening Post.
The bureau of statistics OF labor has
Just prepared it's summary of the growth
OF the manufactures in Massachusetts.
Certain statistics from previous tables
are included which make the pamphlet
compendium of the development of mGn-
ufscturing ever since the state was
ssttled. So this publication has
statistical and historical value, but for
discussion OF issues now before the pub
lie, review may well be limited to the
last few years. how distinctiveiy Mas
sschusetts is manufacturing state ap-
pears in the totals by the last census, f,r
"the combined proSuets of agriculture
and the fisheries and the income from
commerce amounted to hut $67, 1874, 500,
or 9,95 per cent of the product OF manu-
featuring aud mechanical Industries, or
1914, 634, 1855, and 8 05 per cent OF $7ll,-
y6S, $685." the total value Of the industrial
product OF that year. Hence ii the
blessings of the protective system were
to appear anywhere, they would appear
In Massachusetts.
At the outset 1t should be stated that
the bureau comedies that diff 1ultiea in
classification and the constant changes
In establishments make perfect statistical
work impossible. II does not set very
high value on comparisons 10 years apart,
because of the loss of identity by estab.
ltshments making returns. But it does
expect far better results for scientific
purposes from the comparison OF the an
nual returns OF manufactu es which 1t is
now required to make by law. Now,
taking the returns by totals, an immense
gain appears in the decade from 1875 to
1885. The total capital invested in
manufactures in Massachusetts, increased
from $3.50 1896, III to $500, 594, 377, or a
Rsin OF $248, 1888, 200, which is equal to
1884 per cent.
But the percentage OF increase in the
value Of stock used shows nothing like as
much. The total value rose from 1868,
$50, 1856 In 1875 to $685., 757, ass in 1885,
or a gam of 1926, 1897, 1873, which is eq1sl
to AZ 80 per cent. Comparing the tables
the other way it appears that in 1875
&252, 1886, III OF capital used $263, $50, 1886
worth OF stock, or inst abont dollar for
dollar. But in 1885, $500, 594 ,377 OF
capital used only $Ss9, 757, 458 of stock,
or u tritia less than so cents of stock for
every dollar of capital. Hence the pro.
duotiveness of capital WAS materially less
in 1885 than in 1875, which is an interest
ing correlative fact with the continued
downward tendency in the rates of inter
est on money.
This same conclusion is confirm ID frcm
other tables in the report. The total Of
persons employed was 297, O42 10 1876
and 379, 1928 in 1885, or a gain Of 80, 2S6,
which is equal TO 2770 per cent. Doubt
less this shows also an increased effective
ness of machinery, as well as tho tend
ency of capital to employ Ices human
labor according to it's Investments. An
other conatmatory fact ~ in the yaine Of
the product. THIS includes the value OF
the stock used, plus the wages and sala-
ries paid TO make it up, and the profit to
the manufacturer. II is the price of the
goods as marketed blythe maker. In 1875
the total for I'll the industries in the state
was 1928, 1858, 634 and in 1855 it was
1914, 1874, 1858 or a gain Of Sil45, fG5, 655,
which is equal to 27.56 per cent. Com
bining these percentages we have these
Interesting totals: A gsin Of 9S34 per
cent in the capital invested results in a
gain OF Al % PSF cent in the amount Of
naeterisl ussd in manufacturing in gain
Of only 81. 70 per cent in the smorut Of
labor employed, and in gain Of only
2756 per cent in the aiue 81 .he goods
ready for market-a vast change in the
relative proportions, showing greet de-
crease of productveneHs per dollar Of
capital invested.
Nov there are sea- extremely interest
Ing details to be fished ont II the u
totals OF the $500, E3t 377 or capita
inv, siad IN al the 50 ditfsr.ut k.4di o.
manufactures IN tia state, tine enormous
Bum OF &1JS 94f, 041 Was Ia cotton good.
a!one-s heavily protected msnliacture
II lad risen to that total from a57,jgi,
2l4 ia 1875, or q gain OF SOL, 942 s36
winch is equal TO los e6 per cent. Witt
this more than doubling Of capital the
value Of the stock ussd .ell from $3.50.
660,6l9 in 1875, to S36 625 $50 IN 1856
loss Of $4,000, orD,l0 PEI cent. Tn
persons employed fsll from Gil7G Il
60. 1872, a loss OF Al, or O.U7 pc
cent for twicathe capital. The wage
pad to practically the same NAN
Der of persons rose from fl6 Ill s62 Il
&6,9l5 G33, or gain of i213, III, o
~ per Cent, showing yery slight Gp
ward movement in wages. The value o
the pred ict tell from 500 5Si GIL Il
S61 ,425 l97, or q less of 50, I6g 5U4, o
lib per cent, and TINS, too, with NOR
than twics the amluat OF capitst inSeste
in the business. Further point is adda
TO these stirling fguges by the fact Ga
THIS il q lstry is he Gully one il tae list {
is leading in3uatries which tie burea
has separated rom the grand totals i
which there AZ been nat decline In tt
value OF TIE Productivity one isiportal
exception.
What is that exception2 Why, it
49, al F1Wr i 1 A. d
whuse unfortunate condition we has
heard SO much about lately, ana Who
tIiduistious have tiIured so LARGELY
the Mckinley bill U4der tie lead
capital invested, we tint THAT in 1875 Ii
wooden manufacturers had $l5,3C6 JJ
ard Ia 1855 S29 1876 656, or Psiu
$1l G29,6l4 or 1921 per csut-vOl
neeris Is high proportion Of gain
capital invested as in the care or Il
cotton manufacturers But they seem
have had even worse luck ia sou
respects than their friends the coftt
men, for their stock OF goods used II
dawn from the vslna of $21 ,U7S, I79
1876 10 80 422 953 % loss Of 81, 655 Y
or 85 per cent? even though thu
almost doubled their Investment. |
stead of doubling the persons emplov6
their Number fell from 10 G3G TO lis, 81
loss of 66, or 0 35 per cent. i
wages paid to practically the sans nul
Der OF persons rose from SIS $40, Ql5
SIS. $685. 5l, gain of Sld6 9G6, or 2
per cent-again showing slight upwa
movement in wages But the yalus
their product fell from S35 337,l23
1875 10 $3l 7iS 27s in 1885, even
their doubled capital, or loss OF 81
67S S46 or 10 IL pAr cant
az, H., t,ilEr - /.