The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-02
KANSAS INDUSTRIES
AS Reported by the State Bureau of
Labor.

The statistics for the annual report
of the state bureau of labor have been
completed and the last manuscript has
been sent to the state printer. From
this manuscript some interesting facts
in reference to Kansas labor interests
have been gathered:
What is known as the general manu-
facturer'S blank has heretofore done
dustry, but realizing that the questions
asked were not sufficiently technical to
cover special lines, blanks were this
year prepared for the cigar manufac-
turers, creameries and cheese factories,
poultry packing concerns, book bind
ers and printers, mills, and abattOirS.
There We're 2SS cigar factories in the
state during the year and they produc-
ed 16, ,S57, ,06S cigars. OF these Al re-
ported a total of 4,846,5 SIS cigars pro-
duced with an invested capital of $12S,-
166 and wages paid of $54. .842.
1t was early noted by the tone of the
returns that this industry is very SER
iously injured by the lack of home con-
sumption and would be a leading COM
mercial enterprise if our citizens would
use home made goods in preference to
those made abroad. It is estimated
consumed in the state each year and if
our own factories could make and sell
these it would give employment to more
labor and circulate more money.
The creamery and dairy industry is
a growing factor of great importance
to our state and will soon rank among
resources in this line. Our mild open
winters reduce to minimum the cost
of housing and caring for the cattle.
Vast prairieS for grazing and a soil
fertile in its production of all the grains
and grasses make Kansas in every
manner peculiarly adapted to this bus
mess. Beginning with 1877 up to 1896
the production of butter, cheese and
milk shows a wonderful growth. With
! out giving each years output, it is of
interest to know that in 1887 the value
Of n e-fNI1
$50. 592.4 .48; value of butter 81, 1923, ,403 "a;
value of milk SAT- 381; total value $4,-
$50, ,377.32 For 1896 the value of the
same products in the same order was
$125, sos. 50; $4,225, ,S96.44; $500, $40; $4,972,
1856.
Forty-three firms reported to the de-
partment showing a total capital in
vested of $2S7, ,365; total cost of plant,
$215, ,7S6; greatest number of hands en-
plOyed, 229; total amount of wages paid
out, $116,351; average daily wages paid
for skilled labor, $1.91; for ordinary la
Dor, 81; sixteen report business increas-
er over previous year and eleven report
a decrease. The range of increase of
business is from 10 to 80 per cent.
This is the first year any attempt
has ever been made to systematically
report the poultry packers. These show
an invested capital of $21, 400; total val
| ue of product $156. 1856; total wages paid
| out, $4,000; greatest number of hands
| employed, 305; three report business in
| creased and one decreased.
There are only about a half dozen
exclusive book binding concerns in the
| state, but these are on large scale
and employ a large force of men. To
| these have been added job printers
and blank book makers, 21 firms report
! ing total capital invested of $259, 800
/ and employing 357 hands. Total wages
/ paid out during the year, $11S, ,S37; aver
| age wages for skilled labor, $2.33; for
| ordinary labor, $1-12; six each report
| increase and decrease of business.
| The milling industry is probably the
| most important in the state with the
| one possible exception of the pork and
| beef packers, but the latter is confined
| to practically one locality while the
| former is widely distributed through
| out the entire state. The past two
| years has been disastrous to the mills
| because of the scarcity of good milling
| wheat and the low price of flour COM
pared with the wheat market One
hundred and fifteen mills responded to
| the blanks sent out Of which number
| "a were. sufficiently complete to tabu-
/ late. These show an aggregate capital
| of 5000, $40, which probably is not so
per cent OF the entire invested capital
| of the state Total wages paid out,
| 1888, 1915 total capacity in barrels per
| day, 17,719; tC tai output for year, 1,692,-
| $50: number of bushels of wheat ground,
| 6,625, ,346; cost of wheat ground, 81, $685.
| 1884; corn ground. 907, 800 bushels; cost of
| corn ground, $146 016; number of bush
| els of all other grain ground, 11T 800;
| cost of same, $2S, 595; total pounds of
| wheat flour manufactured, 291. 81 ,53S,
value of this flour, $4,6O3. .6S7; corn meal
H. II.
/ $99, ,351 total number lbs. of al other flour
made, 1876, 500; value of same, $16 III;
total pounds of Offal produced. 1913 347.-
| S9Z; value, $3S1,7S6; greatest number of
| hands employed, 281; average 545; num-
| ber of mills using water power, TO- &c
| using steam.
The pork packing business among
| the most important of the state was
| we'll answered this year. There are u
| in the state and all answered, showing
| a total capital of $14, ,748 5SS, an increase
| over last year. Total value of product
| for year, $52, ZAP, ,S35; cost of raw mater
| ial, $48, ,027, ,610; wages paid out, $3.414,-
| S35; greatest number of hands, 7796;
| average daily wages for skilled labor,
| 2.52; for ordinary labor, $142: business
| increase or decrease, one reported in
| crease of 10 per cent and one decrease
| of 20 per cent, the others report no
| change
The investigation to the conditions
| of the labor organizations reveals
| very encouraging situation. No great
| strike has disrupted the membership
| and a growing feeling of compromise
| and arbitration is the rule. The rail-
/ way brOtherhOods especially show
| very nattering progress, both in mem
| bership and spirit. Nearly all the local
| trades assembly or with their national
! body and in many cases with both the
| national body and the American Fed
| Grafton of Labor The hard times have
| of course had their effect on the unions
| especially the building trades and the
| coal miners but on the whole no ser
! iOus complaint is found and very few
| lodges have lapsed.
/
FREDGRANT WON'T HAVE 1T
| He neoIire &c %be Toresid al, 10 Ta,,rlar ~