The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-02-04
Inc Industries of Maine.
hH5tY Report from Labor Commissioners
Matthews.

Matthews.
ustslb annual report of the Maine
5l H industrial and labor statistics
Is -sioner S. w. Matthews opens
7t ytw of the business done in
ns9- lines of manufacturing, to-
gtlu WItA tabulated returns regarding
file oJmtS, help employed, wages, etc.
Bals, were issued to manufacturers
tua-q Jile mails but the returns We're
Hctnl e-e and unsatisfactory so it was
osaaaa hat good!personal canvass in
Ter i lie cities and larger towns would
ga t,fpr results than any other method
hH Hd be employed by the depart
a1l. ne was made by employing as
aHie and Portland, Biddeford, Saco,
-7.-l Auburn and a few other inn
u@l lceS We're visited.
a. -lir of the investigation is 20
lss tisties, but the information is
rrtt y unlicensed as follows:
4 ag-Stigatlon covers twenty-five
40 Gdustries. No thorough i'll
# any one industry was I'M
or. '4r a sufficient number of re-
hus obtained IN each to show their
,r-ea udifion as compared with one
rt The principal industries mep-
Nl- HNN.
'en industry is still in an I'M
s5t' condition. Eight mills show
ta Ia production of nearly fifteen
ta1 welve mills show falling off
r. tld of So, BAG and shortening
we uuning time of one week and
from last year. The working
-.'e 'l creased but the rat. of wages
,4.t aierially changed.
lAe ton industry shows healthier
D-4t@ six mills with an output of
s..77 4 for the year ending June 30,
wv an increase in product of
4g'H and three fourths per cent.
Ilrif '> been slight falling off in the
-ea04 of hands employed, but the rate
y wages has ranged about two per cent.
4sle tlat in 1895.
I4esg establishments reported where
'ao1lural implements and tools are
l'iioIa,tured, show a falling off of about
-'s Eel rent. in the output, also a de-
TEASE In time run and number of hands
4lioyea, though the old rate of wages
~'' been Maintained.
Lt'tn shoe factories with an output of
...-." .''3 in 1895, show an increase of
BY little over two and one
Ter cent. An increase of three
Nv average running time is noted,
1A a9o9t one per cent. in working force.
'| l'H Of wages shows change of a
ti.i iIction of one per cent increasing
wages of men one cent. per week and
i>ig that of women four cents per
4a!e Establishments, manufacturers of
gNilg gum, which it is believed sub
WI lover this industry in the State,
.- 81 "ntput in 1885 of sos, 756 show an
.''7e III about ten per cent. or pro-
tAe value of S75, COG in 1896. The
INNING time was shortened four
'' 'll an increase of twenty per cent
ny ''Ikng force is shown, confined to
lIr- and children whose wages are
over than that of men, hence the
'' Increase in total wages paid. No
'aL9f noted in the rate of wages.
90i pulp and paper mills with an out
'' " lN''3 of 1856, $50, show an increase
p,a 'l'e Of product of nineteen per cent
n au99l any corresponding increase in
srrt 'ag time or working force, but this is
MI aF'dined by the fact that in one large
sa,i d large part of the crew were kept at
l .l. on repairs for about six months in
i i'o, otherwise the figures would not in
NJ f-a'e any material change in the business
NJ Iie mills reporting.
IL 'he business no doubt has increased
Mill @ing the year by engagements and new
st "N but no material change in those
, salsn have been running for several
idms' The rate of wages in the four
an n'S SHOWS an increase of about two and
fourth per cent. of men.
- ,ne returns from railroads for 1896 give
w. as the number of employees and
f H. paid 50, 1853, 1853; an increase of
o,o ~ men and 1904, 996 increase in wages
dn ~ nile the report deals with various in
hi Itlles all over the State, it goes into de-
ia y, J relation to the steel shipbuilding at
MI path Iron Works, an industry that has
sw med large proportions in the past
oo, years. In relation to this plant
ias missioner Matthews says: Maine
neld foremost place in the realm