New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-01
HOW TO WIN SUCCESS.
MULTIPLICITY OF PAYING OCCUPATIONS.
UyCEAsING DEMAND FOR MEN AND WOMEN
WHO CAN WORK NONCOMPLIANCE
LANCE OF CAREFUL PREPARATION
AND PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT.
By Carroll d. Wright, United States Commissioner OF
Labor.

persons engaged in such occupations is usually
greater than the gain in population, as, for III
stance between 1870 and 1880 the increase III
population 80 per cent while the increase
in the number of persons engaged in all occupa-
tions was 80 per cent. Making fair estimate
on the basis OF the past. there must have Dceh Ill
round numbers, % 100000 persons OF all ages
and conditions engaged in gainful occupations
in June last Without going into the niceties
of mathematical calculation. The foregoing state
ment means that there 100000 persons each
wear added to the number engaged III all occupa-
tions and this number is arrived at not only
by the ordinary process of division over inc
decade of years. but also by separate CALCULATIONS
based on death rate and on other elements. Inc
figure means that there will be open during the
present year in round numbers, 100000 opportunl-
ties for work for gainful employment In some
way 1t is not easys however, TO Scertain with
any degree of accuracy the contingent of the
population that will supply these places. We can
only arrive at an approximation Of the truth.
The gain in total population for the year succeed
ing the last Federal enumeration, basing the
calculation upon the average gain for the last
ten years. will be 1852, 45o-that is TO say, from
this number of people the 100000 places needed
10 preserve the integrity of the work OF the country
must be drawn What proportion exactly CT TINS
l25245O will be candidates for the 100000 places,
as have said, cannot be stated with accuracy
but making an estimate from various standpolnts,
! am led 10 the conclusion that the number VINO
will desire to enter the places, the places
required to be filed in the ordinary development
and increase in all ranks of labor. will be in the
Vicinity of 800 000-men women and children
II these conclusions are reasonably correct tand
7 see no possibility of their beins very far out OF
the way) it is probably true that the time has
arrived when every person in the United States
who desires remunerative employment cannot ma
IT, Five hundred thousand people must compete
for 400. 900 places. What am saying has nothing
10 do with the great army of unemployed, which
through all ages has hung upon the outskirts OF
civilization | am dealing simply with current
events in the way Of occupation. 10 MI the
AGO. 900 places. 441O per cent must enter asri-
culture 2343 per cent must enter professional
and personal service 1C.41 per cent must enter
trade and transportation and 22.G6 per cent must
enter manufacturing mechanical and mining III |
dustries These percentages relate to all persons |
employed, whether male or female
A statement based on tie proportions shown by
The census of 1880 indicates That of the total |
number of persons now employed in the country III |
all occupations s4.1S are males and 1922 females
the relative percentage of each entering the great
departments of employments being as follows
Of those entering agriculture. 4O6S per cent mus
be males and 3.42 per cent females; OF those
entering professional and personal service, 1915"
per cent must be males and 1913 per cent females
of those engaged In trade and transportation |
1907 must be males and "a females, while o. |
those engaged in manufacturing mechanical and |
mining industries, 1s.43 per cent must be males
and 1853 females. These largc figures show the
occupations of the people that have been made |
possible by the great multiplicity in Kinds oil |
empoyment-that is, in diversity of Industries.
When this century opened the speed at which |
persons could travel goods be forwarded or Intel |
lieence conveyed was not materially greater than
IN very ancient times the speed being '"at oil
the horse or of the wnd-propelled vessel; or as
in the case of transmission OF ltr-
ligence of crude systems OF signalling ms
statement we'll illustrates the whole condition
of industry from seventy-fve TO one hundred years
AGO. The wants of the people were supplied in
the same slow way that speed was employed, ana
through the efforts Of men engaged in but ic"
occupations in fact the names OF all the occupa
tons then known or necessary FOR tie production
of the things needed could be easily recltcd frou'
memory by any one at all familiar with industrial
affairs TIE learned professions. socalled' the
skilled trades and the ranks of unsiiIed labor were
open to men domestic service and needlcwOrK ana
a very few minor caliagS offered the Only oppof
tunities for women to earn living. To-day IL
would require pamphlet Of considerable size
to enumerate the designations of the occupations
of the people, and the caltings open to women
have increased in number to many hundreds. All
productions at the opening of the century were
largely OF domestic nature The importer sup
nlied the wants of the people for goods Of high
grades or of artistic quality. so, the paying
avenues for employment were exceedingly re
stricted. not only in number. but also as TO re-
Enumeration.
This is not the place to discuss the question as
to the difference in wages, prices and cost OF
living We are dealing simply with the oppor
tunities to enter fairly remunerative occupations
and what can be done, or should be done, by
young men and women who desire to compete
successfully for the vacant places.
The great increase in the number of occupa-
aons constitutes question which cannot be re
iuced to mathematical accuracy. Machinery has
at times and for individuals displaced labor, but III
my own opinion it has increased the opportunities
for labor 10 greater extent than 1t has
displaced the individual who seeks work
This is an exceedingly difficult PROPOSE
ton to prove, but little observation will
show that in the main the statement is fairly
correct BY the increase of production the wants
of the people have increased, Injuries have become
necessities, and each great invention has carried
with it an increased number of occupations and OF
those not before known. For instance, in the
railroad work of the country there employed
steadily at the present time more than 100000
people. 1t cannot he possible that this vast
number of people would have been necessary had
the stage-coach system continued. for this sys
TEN would have kept with it the inferior demand
in all other directions. When considers that
it takes 700,0 900 men to equip the railroads of
the United States at the present time, what is
the number necessary to supply all the infinite :
variety of labor necessary for their building fol
the equipment of track, rolling stock, stations,
printing, and everything outside of the mere run
ming of trains? The same may he said of the ,
great electrical progress Of the present time, al
mo having ANYTHING do with cleo | /