The Portland daily press., 1897-01-25
MAINE LABOR.
Facts and Figures From MIR. Matthews
Report.
what Personal Canvass Has Revealed
Railroad Business Points to Better
Times.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1

haiifoao business Points to better
Times.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Augusta. January 23.-SaInuel W..
Matthews, commissioner OF industrial
and labor statistics, has his report for
1895 nearly ready for the legislature.
The report opens with review of he
business done in twenty five lines OF
manufacturing together with tabulated
returns regarding the products, help en-
ployed, wages, etc. Blanks were issued
to manufacturers through the mails but
the returns were incomplete and unsatis-
factory so it was decided that good per-
sonal canvas in a few of the cities and
larger towns would give better results
than any other method that could be en-
ployed by the department.. One was
made by employing assistants and Port
land, Biddeford. Saco Lewiston, Au-
burn and few other important places
were visited.
The result of the investigation is 90
pages Of statistics but the information
is conveniently condensed as. follows:
This investigation covers twenty five
different industries. No thorough In
vestigation of any one industry was I'M
dsrtaken, but sufficient number of re-
turns were obtained in each to show their
general condition as compared with
one year ago. The principal industries
mentioned follow:
The wooden industry is still In an un-
satisfactory condition. Eight mills
show fall off in production of nearly
fifteen per cent. Twelve mills show a
fall off in wages paid of seq, SAG and a
shortening of average running time of
one week and two days from last year.
The working force has decreased but the
rate of wages has not materially
changed.
The cotton industry shows healthier
condition. Six mills with an output of
SIS, 044 1874 for the year ending June 30,
1895. show an increase in product of
about five and three-fourths per cent.
There has been slight fall off in the
number of hands employed, but the rate
Of wages has ranged about two per cent
higher than in 1895.
The ak establishments reported where
agricultural implements and tools are
manufactured, show fall off of about
five per cent in the output. also de-
crease in time run and number Of hands
employed, though the old rate of wages
has been maintained.
Eleven shoe factories with an output
Of SO, 900, 6S in 1896, show an increase of
s51. 962 or little over two and one-fourth
per cent. An increase of three days in
average running time is noted, and about
one per cent in working forcs. The rate
of wages shows change of a small frnc-
ton Of one per cent increasing the wages
of men one can't per week and decreasing
that of women four cents Per week.
Three establishments, manufacturers Of
chewing gum, which it is believed sub
stantially covers this industry in the
state, with an output in 1926 of s6s. 756,
show an increase of about ten per cant Or
product TO the value Of s75, SOC in 1896.
The average running time Was shortened
four days, but an increase of twenty per
cent in working force is shown, confined
to women and children whose wagon are
much lower than that of men, hence the
small increase in total wages paid. No
change is noted in the rate of wages.
Four pulp and paper mills with an
output in 1895 of $3.50, $3.50. show all in
crease in value Of product of nineteen
per cent withoutany corresponding in
crease in running time or working force.
but this is explained by the fact that in
one large mill a large part of the crew
were kept at work on repairs for about
six months in 1895, otherwise the figures
would not indicate any material change
in the business of the mills reporting.
The business no doubt has increased
during the year by engagements and new
mills but no material change in those
which have been running for several
years. The Fate of wages in the four
mills show an increase Of about two and
fourth per cent of men.
Tho report includes tabulated returns
showing tie new and enlarged factories,
mills aud shops in each county. Here
are the facts obtained from Cum berland
county:
Brunswiok-Cotton mill, enlarged; cost
$50, 600.
Gray-Box mill. new; cost $1,000;
help, s.
Portland-Cold storage establishment,
new; cost, sl0 900.
Pownal--Saw mill, new; cost, $1,000;
help, 4.
South Portland Bicycle factory, en-
larged; cost, Sl.s00; help, rs.
Yarmonth-Shoe factory, new; cost,
S13, 600; helT, rs.
Yarmonth-Pulp dry house. new; cost,
$40, 600.
Thirty one pages ara devoted to the
steel shipbuilding Rtnt of the Bath Iron
Works. This includes descriptions of the
works and of the several passenger, pleas
ure and naval vessels recently built
there.