Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-02-06
PART OF THE CENSUS REPORT
NOW READY.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
Secretary Of State Gives an Exhaustive
Review Of the Work in His Intro
ductory-Comparison With the Cen
sus of 1885-Summary of Statistics
Never Before Published.
Madison. Februar

the state taken last year. 1t is de-
yoted to an enumeration Of the popu-
lation of the state and to statistics on
the agricultural, industrial and mineral
resources of Wisconsin. The second
volume, to be out about the middle of
the month, will be roster Of all liv-
ing eX-sOldiers and sailors of the state.
Volume [ is a large book about the
size OF that containing the state cen
sus Of 1885. The secretary of state in
his Introductory makes an exhaustive
review of the work Among other
things he says:
In the matter of agriculture and
manufactures, the statistics are not
Wholly satisfactory. The items Of
GTeameries and cheese factories, which
have been added, afford an ilIustra-
ton. The enUnerators have returned
statistics of 753 creameries with value
Of $1,557, 807 and /, 1897 cheese factories
with value Of $974,811. 1t is known
from other sources that this falls far
short OF correct summary and re
liable authorities estimate these figures
at about twO-thirds of the actually cor
rect statistics. 1t may be properly
stated that the present has been the
poorest year in a decade in which to
secure correct statistics from the farm
ers. On account of the drouth and
hard times many farmers placed low
value upon everything, while others,
apprehensiVe Of assessors and taxation,
would not furnish enumerators with
any statistics whatever. A perusal of
some comparisons, however, will be of
interest
Among other facts it is noted that
the number of men working on farms
Las decreased from 60,285 with ag-
gregate wages of $3.50 $40 in 1885, to
1928 and aggregate wages of $7,736,-
go in 1895; also that while the num-
Der Of farms has increased 1863 over
1885 and their value $95, 197,8 75, and
a corresponding increase in the aggre-
gate volume of products is shown,
there is a net decrease in the value Of
farm products of 1862, GIG. The num-
Der Of acres of wheat has decreased
enormously since 1885. In that year
1921 ,313 acres of wheat were reported
in 1895 only Al, 1853 acres. The value
of the crop in 1885 was $13 ,92S, 046 in
1895 it was only $4223,728 The next
item that shows almost as large a
decrease in value is horses and mules.
notwithstanding the respectable in
crease in number over 1885, The de-
crease in aggregate value is SO 1855 1872.
Cattle and calves on hand have de-
creased both in number and price.
The falling off in their aggregate value
is 81 SOB ,91. In the value OF cattle and
calves slaughtered there is a loss of
1896, S52 Tobacco shows a very large
decrease both in number of pounds
raised and in aggregate value. While
in 1885 we raised 29,594, 625 pounds
with a value of $2,959, 462, in 1895 the
number of pounds was only 1888, 552
and the value 1913, STA net decrease
in aggregate value of $2,745 ,945. The
corn crop decreased 11,023 ,906 bushels
and in aggregate value $2447 1872. The
wool industry also shows a falling off.
n 1885 the number of pounds of wool
produced was 6,174,527, valued at ST.
ported was 5,719,9S0 and the value
lily $735, 906
/. But there is a brighter side to the
picture. Notwithstanding the hard
times and drouth there has been q
satisfactory increase in many farm pro-
ducts.
In all branches Of the dairying in
dustry there has been a substantial in
crease. The number of pounds Of but
ter has increased IS, 413, 299 over 1885,
and the aggregate value $685. 71
The number of pounds of cheese in
creased 1901 ,915 and the aggregate
value $999,290 The increase in the
growing and value of oats is quite
large AS compared with 1885, there
has been an increase of Is, 936, 901
bushels and $5,775,256 in aggregate
value. Potatoes show an increase in
aggregate value of $1.839 All, and hay
$3.50, 401, and barley 81 37492S.
In the manufacturing industries
there has teen a large increase in
nearly, every branch. In 1885 the total
value Of manufacturing establishments,
including their products, was 1913, 700
167. In 1895 the value of the products
alone was $21S,132,9 73, and including
the manufacturing establishments
1870, 921 146 a net gain Of SIT, 900, 979.
The number of men employed in manu-
acturing establishments in 1885 was
71,1S5 and the amount of wages paid
was S25. S9S 449; in 1895 the number re-
ported was 11S,117 and the wages paid
S42, So, $50. In fact every industry re
ported in 1895 shows an increase of
from ten to one hundred and fifty per
cent. over 1885 except in one or two
unimportant items. The comparative
tables given reveal at a glance the
fourishing condition of most of our
manufacturing industries. The largest
increase is shown in the aggregate
value of iron products manufactured,
viz, S12,643 959. Leather comes next
with an increase of S10,124,4 3S. Beer
is third on the list with an increase of
$S097, Asa The value of lumber, lath
and shingles has increased 1924 ,003.
Woodenware and articles of wood make
q good showing and stand S5,514,S76
ahead of 1885 Milling is S3,S12 ,0S3
ahead and all other manufactured arti-
cles over SAG, 600, 900 better than ten
years ago.
upon the whole showing of the
census returns, however, may be traced
convincing evidences of increasing