Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-12

Something About the Bulletins Soon to BE
Issued by the Census Once.

The great mass and variety Of data respect
ing manufactures collected by the eleventh
census is now, as stated in THE STAR, in pro-
cess OF analysis and arrangement for publica-
ton. But one complete bulletin relating to
manufactures has yet been issued BY the census
Office. This bulletin treats Of the manufacture
of lumber and forest products in the states Of
Michigan. Wisconsin and Minnesota. A bulle-
tin reporting statistics Of all classes Of manu-
features in the District Of Columbia will be pub.
lished at an early day. and this will be followed
by bulletins in similar form for each Of the
principal cities. 1t is proposed that each Of
the bulletins shall contain ten tables designed
to properly present the information which has
been supplied by individual reports of manu-
facturers upon the forms schedules of in
quiry issued by the census Office for that pur-
pose.
Mr.. George A. Priest, one Of the experts con-
nected with the division of manufacturers in
the census Office, speaking OF the scope of the
inquiry, said to STAR reporter:
Special schedules of inquiry were prepared
for twenty-six principal industries, and one
general schedule was formulated for the re-
ports OF establishments the operations of which
were not embraced in such special schedules.
Many of the noted students of economic ques-
tlons, as well as prominent manufacturers and
experts i'll principal Industries, were consulted
with reference to the formation of these
schedules, which uniform with respect to
securing full statistical presentation under
the general heads of capital invested" mis-
cellaneous expenses" labor and wages ;" ina
terials used and goods manufactured" The
collection OF statistics relating to certain indus
tries of peculiar characteristics was assigned 10
experts i'll such industries. The industries
selected and the names of the special agents for
each are as follows: l. Coke, Joseph u. Weeks,
Pittsburg, Pa: 2. Electrical industries, Allen
X. Foote, Washington, ID. c.; 3. Glass, Joseph
d. Weeks, Pittsburg, Pa: L. Iron and steel, Dr.
VIM. NJ. Sweet Philadelphia, Pa: 5. Manu-
factured gas. Geo. w. Graef. jr., Philadelphia,
Pa; 6. Salt, Henry Bower, Philadel pha. Pa.
All other statistics Of manufactures have
been collected by special agents and enumer-
ators who were assigned certain districts Gnd
charged with the duty OF personally visiting
every establishment Of productive industry in
their respective districts, with tho exception OF
| establishments engaged in the special Industries
noted, and obtaining distinct reports upon the
| forms prepared for that purpose.
The term establishment of productive in
dustry' was defined in its broadest meaning,
| rs intended to embrace not only mills and tao
| tories. but also the operations OF all small
| manufacturing establishments and the mechan-
| icai trades.
! The work ofproperly classifying about $50, 900
individual schedules which have been received,
| 50 that the number of industries shall be re-
| duced to the minimum consistent with a clear
| presentation for distinct classes, has required
careful study.
In the publication for the census Of 1890 of
| tabular statements for counties and cities it is
| proposed to make specific statement under
The general heads of capital employed mis-
ceilaneous expenses, labor and wages.
! materials used and goods manufactured"
for each industry having three or more estab-
Ii hments engaged therein. All industries hav-
ing less than three establishments will be stated
i'll group, in order that the private business
affairs of individual establis hments may not be
disclosed which disclosure is especially pro-
hiblted by census regulations.
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
In comparing industrial statistics for 1880
and 1890 it should be constantly considered
that some very radical changes have been made
in the form OF inquiry used in the census Of
1890. well in the manner Of presentation
of results. Since it has been char ged that the
results Of previous census inquiries relating to
manufactures were quite misleading it has
been the aim of the census Office. in formulat-
ing the schedules for the eleventh census. to
construct them 80 as to secure the most accu-
rate returns
The objections referred to have been mainly
directed at the data heretofore presented under
the heads of "capital invested" and labor and
wages" Owing to tho tendency Of manufact-
urers TO understate the amount Of capital EN-.
ployed, obtaining correct data touching in
vested capital has proved to DO the most diff
cult duty pertaining to the collection Of indus
trial statistics.
The form of questions respecting capital
| used in the census Of 1880 was follows
Capital (real and personally invested in the
business"
1t became evident from the results then OBJ
| tanned that this question was neither suhi-
| GENTLY comprehensive nor properly understood,
and for this reason the full amount Of capital
employed i'll productive industry was not re-
| ported, thus forming erroneous basis for
deductions which have proved disadvantage
| GUS to manufacturing interests.
| The word capital" employed for the
| purpose Of the census inquiry respecting man
| ufactures comprehends that portion of the
| wealth OF the country which is employed in
productive industry. Capital is the product
| of former labor, used to provide the materials
and tools sequired for the various processes of
| manufacture and for the payment Of wages to
the employed. The census inquiry is based
| upon this definition and is intended to COM
prehend all the property or assets strictly per-
tanning to u manufacturing business, whether
such property be owned. borrowed or hired.
Table No. is presentation Of statistics re-
lating to labor employed and wages paid in
each industry. 1t states for men," women"
| and children" respectively the average num-
Der of wage workers employed during the year,
the average number Of weeks employed, the
| average wages per week per hand and the
| total wages paid; also the number of hands en-
ployed at piece work and their earnings. The
average term of employment in weeks and the
| average wages per week are obtained by a COM
putation made in the census Office, embracing
| all the individual reports for each industry.
| The first half of table No. 5 exhibits, under
| the general head Of materials used" the cost
Of the principal material, the cost Of fuel, the
| cost Of mill supplies Comprising those sup
plies which are expended in the various pro-
cesses of manufacture, which do not enter into
the composition Of the producD and the cost
| of all other materials used for the manufac-
| ture of the product reported
The second half Of the table exhibits the
| value Of goods manufactured.
| The value stated under the head "total value
Of products lis the reported market value at
| the place of production, not including any
| allowance for commissions or expenses of SELL
| ing. ,.,,
| The amount stated under the head "actual
| produced value" is presented for the purpose
| OF showing the contributions of the respective
! industries to the actual wealth Of the country,
and is obtained by deducting the cost of ma
| terials used from the market value of products.
| This becomes necessary because it frequently
occurs that the products Of one industry be-
come the materials for another, and the repeti-
ton may occur through several processes of
manufacture, thus constantly adding to the
total value Of product by the repeated dupiica-
| ton and inclusion Of the cost OF original ma
| terials. While this is obviously unavoidable
and is statistcally correct it is liable to form
basis for erroneous deductions unless ac-
lcompanied by statement Of the net or 'actual
produced value"