The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-22
THE INDUSTRIES
OF A GREAT STATE
And Condition of Its Work
ing People.
SHOWN BY STATISTICS
Annual Report Of the Bureau of La.
Dor and Printing
LETTERS FROM ALL CLASSES OF PEOPLE
Most Space Deyot. d 10 the Trades ard the
Farming Interest Of the Stale. A Re-
port of Real Interest aad
Great Value.

6redt vaiue,
The thirteenth annual report of the
Bureau of labor and printing of the State
of North Carolina for the year 1899, was
issued yesterday by B. R. Lacy, Comis-
smoner, and w. E. Faison Assistant
Commissioner
1t IS an attractively printed volume OF
over 400 pages, divided into ten chapters
1t was very proper that the first chapt-
er of the book should be devoted TO Agri-
cultural Statistics. Fer, as Mr.. Lacy sc
truly says:
There is no better class of citizens on
earth than the farmers of North Caro-
lima; they are conservative and safe, and
have furnished our cities with many OF
cur most successful and energetic bust
ness men,
Discussing the decline in agricultural
pursuits and the growth of cities, the re-
PORT says:
In 1910 twenty-one per cent. of the
population of the United States were en-
gagged in agriculture. il 1870 it had fallen
10 fifteen per cent; in 1890 to thirteen per
cent. while. on the other hand in 1850
only four per cent were engaged in man.
ufacturing: in 1870 five per cent; in 1890
seven and a half per cent. The workers
on farms decreased from 1910 to 1899 from
twentyone per cent. to thirteen per cent.
while those engaged in manufacture in
creased from four to seven and half per
cent.-nearly doubled. From 1880 TO 1890
the city CT Chicago doubled her popula-
tion. while over seven hundred county
townships in Illinois actually lost popu-
lation. These are facts and are food
for serious considerati ton.
Accompanying this chapter is a table
Of great value. showing the financial and
educational condition of the farmers OF
the State. compiled from 379 blanks filled
out by representative farmers from every
county in the State. from June 18th TO
September 18th, 1S99.st,,-
By reference to table it will be seen
that the average wages paid farm labor
in the State is as follows: Men, $S.9l;
women, 1927, and children, $3.5S. In ad-
dton to wages, rations to the value OF
1882 and house, pasture, garden, etc. TO
the value of S2.63 are furnished, which
brings the average to $15.36 for men. 1t
will also be seen that the cost of produc-
ton of the principal crops is as follows:
Bale of cotton $500 pounds) $24.56, bushel
Of wheat 81 cents, bushel of corn Al
cents bushel Of oats 20 cents, 100 pounds
of tobacco $6.91, and the selling price,
cotton SIS cents wheat rs cents. corn "a
cents, oats 80 cents, tobacco $7.11.
The question: do you favor compul-
sorry education?" was answered Yes" by
PA, NO by eightysix, and eighteen did
not answer.
In this chapter will also be found 15S
letters. selected from the large number
received, which give the views of progress
sive, thinking farmers upon the conditions
and what Will best promote the interest
Of the farming element of the State.
The longest chapter in the Report is
the second, entitled Trades" 1t takes
ND 1872 pages, filed with valuable tables
and letters Of much interest from me-
chanics. Following the letters will be
found tables showing the condition of the
several labor organizations in the State;
also a table showing the National trade
organizations with date CT organization
name and addre SIS of secretary and pres
ent membership. A careful study OF tins
chapter can not fail to benefit the wage
Garner. as it will give him new ideas and
cause him to think on his condition and
what will best promote his interests.
BY reference to this table. ii will be
seen that 81 per cent. are paid weekly;
1916 per cent. favor weekly payments; 81
per cent. are paid cash in full; % per
cent. make full time; 65 per cent. report
reduction in wages in the nature of fines
- per cent report wages increased; ID
per cent. report decrease. and 81 per cent.
no change; S0.3 per cent. favor l0-hour
day - per cent. 9-h0ur day, and 1 per
cent. S-hcur day 81 per cent. favor es-
tablishing days work by law. The
average age fer entering trade is Ia
years. and 81 per cent. favor establishing
an age by law, G5 per cent. favor linden
tured apprenticeship system; so per cent
favor recurring common school eXamina-
tion before entering trade: 43.7 per cent
report cost CT living increased, and l5.4
per cent decreased; 80 per cent. report
financial condition improved, and "a pei
cent report it unimproved. The average
per cent. that read and write is 1871
In the 364 blanks received, the question
was answered Yes by 800: No by Al
and So did not answer.
Cotton and Woclen Mills" is the title
of the third chapter.
There has been an unprecedented
growth in the cotton mill business in
North Carolina this year. both in new
mills and the charging of old ones. The
following figures from the Report show
The growth of the cotton mill business
in the past half century:
In 1910 there were in North Carolina %
cotton mills, operating 1890 spindles and
700 looms; in 1850, % mills, operating
10000 spindes and 500 looms: in 1860, SO
mills, operating 1900 spindies and SOC
looms: in 1870. SO mills. operating $500
spindles and coo looms; in 1880, - mills
operating 924o0 spindles and 1900 looms
in 1890, 81 mills operating 331 800 spindles
and 1900 looms; in 1899, 1S1 mills, operat-
ing 1,l09. 23S spindles and 25,765 looms.
North Carolina ranks among the leading
cotton manufacturing States, being sixth