The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-10-21
GREAT IMPROVEMENT.
INDUSTRIAL CONDITION OF THR
STATE is EXCELLENT.
Report of the Labor Commissioners shows
Careful Investigation In All Portions
of state and Reveals Very Encour-
aging Condition OF Affairs


as the present conditions may Indicate.
They find very encouraging Reports
from every section Of the Common
wealth. There is growing Improves
ment in the condition Of our wage
workers, average wages, per cent. en-
ployed, increased membership, etc.,
very marked in nearly every section
of the State. There are now no COM
plants Of willing help unemployed,
while In many quarters the supply or
help desired Is very insufficient for the
demand. AS natural result, wages
are increasing all the time. In racp
The Labor Canvass
shows decided Improvement In every
feature of the statistics gathered. In
Guiding number employed, wages,
homes and social conditions. This can
vass is about two-thirds completed.
Mortgages and Interest.
The special canvass Of the eighty
counties in the State Is about COM
pleted. The tabulations Of this work
shows that the number Of mortgages
and the total amount Of mortgages up
on farm property has been reduced
thousands In number and millions In
dollars as compared with 1896, while
the rate Of interest in a great major
ity of cases has been materially re-
duced.
State Factories Increasing.
Reports Of the State factory inspec-
tors show large increase In amounts
invested In manufacturing AID In ev-
cry way represent a most catering
condition Of affairs In our factories.
A canvass Of wages shows very note
h. tn
various conditions Of employment, and
that the child labor problem is being
rapidly solved in this State. Many
new manufacturing enterprises are
placed upon our State list for the first
time this year, while but very few
have suspended operations. Some have
closed through consultations, but not
so many as In former years.
City and village improvements.
The blanks from Incorporated cities
and villages tell us that millions have
been invested in new and permanent
improvements of every character
much having been spent In sewerage
and paving. From these official
sources we have received no complaint
Of unemployed, which is indeed differ
ent from the facts of one and two
years ago.
Money Easier.
Money has been very easy In all
quarters as compared with recent
times, and small dealers and specula-
tors have been able to operate and Sc
cure favOrs that dared not think Of
asking for a loan two years ago.
The Fa rmer's Interest.
The crops Of Michigan for 1898 were
tn, n,,1 1N.xx
the average In majority. Prices have
been fair for all products Of the farm,
garden and orchard, and there has
been great activity in all kinds OF
stock, poultry and dairy raising. The
crops were all harvested early and
very large acreage Of winter grain has
been sown, according to reports from
the agricultural department.
One Of the most noteworthy in
creases has been in the 1ocks of sheep
and pounds Of wool, which have mar
keted good prices.
Natural Products.
There has been great increase in
the production Of coal In Michigan
over former, years, and 1t Is claimed
that the best wages paid to miners In
the United States are paid to our own
coal miners.
A very favorable report has just
been received from the upper penin-
sula mining country, giving account Of
new discoveries of iron and copper ana
bright promises for the coming season.
In closing 1t says that they are ex-
periencing great difficulty in securing
the needed help in several commune
ties, and that the numbering interests
complain that they cannot find men to
60 into the woods ut froll $25 to $35
per month and board.
Good and bad Effects of War.
While the war scare In March and
April brought matters to a temporary
standstill for few days in many quar-.
tiers, the declaration Of war and the ac-
tivities that soon followed, with the
hurried movement Of troops, started
everything at lively pace and greatly
improved many lines of trade. The
sudden shifting Of men, both of trades
and professions, had a most desirable
effect upon the labor market. and
gave 1t an unexpected impetus that
worked out to the best interests Of all
wage workers.
In collecting army statistics We
noticed that one particular feature Of
the Michigan volunteer regiments was
that they were made up Of both rich
and poor The professional man Of
high standing and good practice, the
expert mechanic Of splendid wages,
the trades union man. the farmer and
the day laborer all stood, marched and
fought, suffered, died and bled to
gether. for the cause Of humanity and
the honor Of the nation 1t Is a fact
that we can all feel proud Of, and
should never be forgotten.
Some interesting details will be do
veloped In these military statistics Of
Michigan.
No Serious Labor Difficulties
have occurred In the State, and most
OF the minor strikes and disputes that
have taken place have resulted In
happy mutual settlements between
employer apd employee.
New Avenues of Employment.
From the clipping department we
find that hundreds Of new business en-
terprises have been undertaken since
our last report, which we shall fully
investigate and report, and In this con-
nQCtiOn we will state that n 0raot mn