Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-11-30
INDUSTRIES OF STATE.
Labor Commissioner Erickson's
report Full of Interesting
Information.

liIlitSbild1 boldliSbICS3 NOW LII LIC 1ACllAdo "
the printer and nearly ready for distribu-
ton. It is a volume of nearly $50 pages,
and presents a mass of valuable informa-
ton in a manner which shows thorough
investigation.
Price of Farm Products.
Six subjects are treated in the report:
Production and price of farm products;
condition of wage earners; wages and
time in operation; factory inspection; cost
of production and earnings in manufac-
turing industries; and building and loan
associations.
The part relating to production and
price of farm products includes also much
data and many facts relating to the gen.
eral condition among farmers. The data
concerning the yield per acre and cost of
raising was obtained direct from the far
mers. Regarding the average yield per
acre in Wisconsin the report shows that
wheat yields 17.5 bushels per acre, oats
1874 bushels, barley BOB bushels, CORE
1872 bushels, buckwheat 20 bushels po-
tatOeS $50 bushels, hay 1.66 tons, and
tobacco 1900 pounds. Regarding the cost
to the farmer of raising these products it
is seen that wheat is raised at an average
cost Of 1872 cents per bushel, oats at
16.2 cents per bushel, barley at 21.9 cents
per buShel, corn at II 4 cents per bushel,
buckwheat at 2S.5 cents per bushel, po-
tatoes at 1875 cents per busheI, hay at SD
ton, and tobacco at 2.O6 cents per
pound.
The data concerning production and
price Of farm products was obtained
from the various reports issued by the
government, and the purpose of this
part being to show, if possible, some of
the causes for the apparent fall in
prices during the last decade this data
relates to the whole country. The fall
nFlppG CNnCidnrQd from stand
point, and the conclusion arrived at is
that one Of the main causes is to be
found in the fact that our producing
power IS increasing faster than the
power or ability to consume, resulting in
an oversupply. This is supported by
review of the ratio of production to
population from 1870 to 1896, which
shows that during this period the pro-
duction of wheat increased S1.7 per
cent, corn 70.7 per cent, oats 1921 per
cent. and hay 1475 per cent, while
population increased only 62.7 per cent.
Condition of Wage Farmers.
The facts regarding condition of wage
earners relate mostly to earnings, saw
ings, expenses of living, housing in cit
les, etc, and were gathered from about
1000 replies received in reply to inquir-
les sent out by the bureau, many of
which are printed in full and make in
teresting reading. The expenses of liv-
ing have been carefully analysed, and
furnish another illustration of the law
advanced by DIR. Engel. The part re-
lating to the rates of wages and time in
operation cover eight years, from 1888
to 1895 inclusive. The facts were fur
nished by the employers and cover the
daily rate of wages, the average yearly
earnings and time employed during the
period of about $4,000 wage-earners in
nearly 1900 establishment One of the
most striking features of this investiga-
ton IS the fuctuation in wages from year
to year, the highest wage being that of
1892 and the lowest that of 1898. AS
the figures shown apply to about 80 per
cent. of the Wage-earners in the state,
not including farm hands, and are abso-
lutely reliable, they are certainly val
liable.
The report of factory inspections shows
that the factories in the state are, as
rule. in good condition; that the laws
regulating the guarding of dangerous ma
chineTy the requirements for safety in
case of fire and the sanitary conditions
of the shops are, with few exceptions,
readily complied with During the in
spection year the inspectors visited 230
towns and villages. and. besides, several
hundred churches. halls and other public
buildings, inspected 2,2S4 factories and
workshops, each employing five or more
persons This is 295 more factories
ton. Only forty-five children under IA
years Of age were found employed with
out the necessary permit. The number
of accidents reported was 157. and of
these u proved fatal. In the 1884 fac
tories inspected 115,497 persons, 1O2,O66
male and 13,431 female, were employed
at the time Of inspection.
Cost OF Production.
Of especial interest is the part which
relates to 'cost of production" the in
vestigation embracing forty-seven indus
tries. and a detailed account is given
Of the cost of production, the ratio Of
the value of the product to the amount of
caoital used in producing it, the amount
Of capital used, the comparative earnings
Of employers and employees in each Of
these industries, as well as the average
for all. The data was collected from
over 400 establishments, or more than
- per cent of all now in operation
in the state. The tables of averages for
the state show in percentages, the share
Of the selling price OF the total product:
which goes to the different elements of
expense These are seen to be: Raw
material and supplies of all kinds. $3.50
Dar cent; rent, go per cent. salaries,
$50 per cent; wages, 22.4T per cent;
taxes, insurance, freight, repairs and
expenses and depreciation of plant, 7.30
per cent; interest on circulating capt.
tai invested or used, 2.55 per cent; net
profit or the balance between these ex-
nenses and the value or selling price of
the goods, Ala per cent. These Ia
bles also show that this net profit is
equivalent to 1888 per cent. on the total
eapital-both fixed and circulating used
N production. The average a. innv vest
the average earnings from the industry
they are engaged clio il Of ne e%9pEkloyers and
veiy. All figures are based upon the
business of one year.
The report concludes with an inquiry
into the conditions and workings of the
building and loan associations doing bust
ness in the state, giving complete state
md nd Of the last fiscal year and at the
close of their first year in operation
Commissioner Erickson recommends that
these institutions be placed under the
supervision Of the state bank examiner.
Tie total assets reported by, all these as,
YEAR foot up to 3,495, 676.46; the num-
Der of shares in force to 81 l65; number