Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-07
BUSINESS DEPRESSION.
Wha. Commissioner Matthews Will Have To
Say About II.

Hon. S. W. Matthews will have in his
next report of the bureau of industrial
and labor statistics interesting and yalu-
able information relating to the effect
of tie business depression Oh Maine in
dustries. He sent out letters to the vari-
Gus factories seeking data on the subject
of which he will speak to some length,
and after givinga letter in his introduc
tion he cites the following of interest to
every Journal reader: .
SIN response to the above letter and
questions, 224 returns were received, in
Guiding nearly all the cotton factories,
nearly all the larger woolen mills, and a
large number representing the other more
imp prtant manufacturing establishments
in tie State, employing when working
full crews, 35, 3l5 hands. A careful an
alysis of the returns, and the statements
ther lin made, furnishes very correct cx
hibit of the effects of the prevailing de-
preston upon the employees in the manu-
featuring industries of the State, in rcduc-
tions Of numbers employed, hours of labor,
and wages received.
The heads under which he will treat
the business depres sion question are as
follows:
Date of making return
Name of establishment.
Location.
Class of goods manufactured.
Rlnning or idle at present time
On full or part time.
Average hours per week when running
full time.
Average hours per week at present.
Number operatives employed when run
ming fun capacity.
Number operatives employed now.
Cause of reduction if any.
Prospect of returning to full capacity.
Have wages been reduced since April
I, 1898.
II SO. what per cent.
If idle. when was establishment shut
down
Cause Of shutting down.
Prospect Of rcsuming business.
Maine, has undoubtedly, felt the bad
effects of the business depression to a
much less degree than other sections of
the country The number Of our working
classes who have been thrown out Of all
employment has been comparatively
small. and actual suffering of rare occur
renee. As a rule, agricultural communi-
tfes have been reasonably prosperous dur
ing the past year, and capital, which has,
in more favorable business periods gone
so largely to build up and develop other
sections of the co untry has been retained
Mt home seeking Investments of % safe
evoN If not of very fattering character
House building especially in the latter
months OF the year has been marked
feature. ara new railroads have been ln-
aururatcl aud are in process OF construc-
tion which promise much for the future
development and progress of the state,
In addition to the returns made By
manufacturers, Investigations have bcen
carried on TO some extent, among individ-
ual employees in mills and factories and
in the mechanical trades the results Of
which are given in the report.
In July and August, blanks were sent
70 numerous retail dealers in all the cities
and more important towns in the state
These returns OF the retail prices OF the
pccessapics OF life at the above named
dates i'm 1893 and 1894, come from 81
towns and cities in different localities
and may be regarded as fairly representa-
tive of ''thc cost of living at the perlocs
named For several years, the bureau
has obtained reports of Factories, Mills
and Shops built during the year Inc
returns for 1894 show but s5l3 700 invested
in this direction, as compared Win 30 ,
o9a $50 in 1891, -, l2S 600 in 1892, and
ss41 725 in 1898. As has been remarked
the building of dwelling houses has been
noticeable in many sections of the State'
while that of factories, mills, etc, ior
manufacturing purposes, has been matefi-
ally reduced. .;oos
Other features of the report are articles
unon the pulp and paper industries OF the
Statc. and a history and description OF pub
fishing houses. .;.;,, :,
The report of the factory inspector Is m
| eornorated in this report, as required oS
law. The commissioner acknowledges
tba continued faithful and capable ciericai
serviees of Major c. J. House, ana tne
efieient services of the special agents
cm,loyed by him during portion OF 'he
year.
Seth Williams Pcs. New officers.