The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-22

number of looms The estimated prOduc-
ton of cotton for 1900 is $50, 900 bales, and
the estimated consumption by the mills
100000 bales, leaving a surplus of 100, 00C
bales.
The decrease in child labor in the cot
ton mills and the advantages sof church
and school at nearly every mill are due
largely to the humane proprietor, who is
generally the leader in every movement
for the development Of the mill help
mentally and morally. The letters pub
ished in this chapter from mill owners
will be found of special interest.
About twenty-fv new mills have been
projected during the year and nearly all
Of them are now in course of construction.
The total number of mills is 215. spin
| dies l.1l5.820. looms 25,943 machines
1.152, requiring 81, 412 horsepower. The
average wages per day is as follows
Engineer S1.f3; firemen, 50 cents; men,
skilled, $1.1014 men, unskilled, 65% cents;
women, skilled g. cents; women, I'M
skilled 464 cents; children, 80 cents.
Number of employees. 1864 divided as
follows: Men, 1862: women. 1854;
children 3,3CS Il ,694 boys and 1,614 girls.
S2S per cent. of adults read and write,
and 694 per cent. of children read and
write. Hours of labor range from ten to
twelve
In this chapter will be found list of
the mills in the State. giving name of own
er or manager, date of Incorporation, mum
Der of spindles and looms, capitalization,
etc. The capital stock is approximately,
$40. 500, 600. This, of course, does not in
clude the new mills now in course of con-
strnct:on. Letters from representative
mill men On the condition and needs OF
the operatives are printed.
In chapter four table is printed show
ing the condition OF employees in the sew
cral classes OF factories in the State. 1t
will be seen that 81 per cent. favor a ten
hour day, 4 per cent. pay all wages in
cash. Al per cent report increase in wages,
and 80 per cent. report financial condi-
tion of employees improved Of the 176
reports, 1871 answer the question, do you
favor compulsory education" Yes" 10
answer NO" and 20 do not answer
Following the table will be found let
ters from manufacturers giving their
views as to the condition and needs of
the wage earners, which will prove Of in
teres ST.
Tobacco factories occupy the fifth
chapter, which says that the number has
very materially decreased during the past
few years Over half Of the blanks sent
out were returned with the report that
the factory had shut down or gone out
Of business. At Winston the operatives
have organized branch of the Tobacco
Workers Union. Quite large per cent.
OF the employees in plug factories are COL
ored. The letters from manufacturers in
this chapter will be found Of interest.
The chapter on Mines and Mining is de-
voted TO an article on THE Mining In
dustry in North Carolina during 1892 by
J. I'll. Pratt. of the State Geological sur
vey. The Legislature added to the duties
of the Labor Commissioner the inspec-
ton. etc, of the mines and mining indus
try OF the State at the 1897 session. but
failed to make any appropriation to carry
out the provisions Of the law.
In chapter seven the waterpoWers of the
State are discussed by Z. ". Myers, of the
North Carolina Geological Survey.
The chapter on Railroad Employees
shows the number of employees in the
different departments of service of the
several railroads in the State. and the
are in the State $50 station agents, whose
average pay is $1.29 1-6; 1857 other sta
ton men, at 50 cents; 449 engineers, at
$2.6SA 4S0 firemen, at $104 %: 315 con-
ductors, at $2.O715; 772 other trainmen, at
SIZE cents: 26S machinists. at 1923; Ala
carpenters. at s16f5s; 1,O14 other shop
men, at Sill; 4S4 section foremen, at
S125 ID; 1922 other trackmen, at rs
a a
cents; 30 telegraph operators, at $1.47 Al;
1910 ether employees. at $10S % Max
ing total of 1o,9S7 railway employees in
the State.
The ninth chapter in the book is de-
voted to newspapers. 1t shows in the
State 293 papers, divided as follows:
Daily, 26 weekly. 1879; semi weekly, 10;
bi-weekly, .: monthly. 40; semi monthly.
9; quarterly. 6; semi-annual. l; yearly,
5; not given, >.
These publications are divided politi-
cally: Democrat, 139; Republican, 16;
Populist 4; Independent, 81.
By denominations: Baptist, 10; Presby-
terrain. 4 Methodist, 6; Episcopal, 3;
other denominations, each.
Fourteen counties in the State ALEX
ander Camden. Currituck. Dare. Gates.
Graham Hyde, Jones, Martin. Pamlico,
Fender. Perquimans Tyrrell and Wa
tauga) report no newspaper.
The last chapter in the report is de-
voted to FISHERIES" This chapter is
compiled from the latest statistics. issued
November, 1899, OF the United States
Commission Of Fish and Fisheries. 1t
shows the fishing industry of the State
to be OF great Importance, and Of greater
value than any other branch of trade in