The times., 1901-03-30


The Census Office has issued a Dulle-
tin concerning manufactures in the Dis
trict Of Columbia, prepared by Chief
Statistician North. The collection Of
the statistics of manufactures and me-
chanical industries was Withdrawn
from the enumerators and assigned 70
special agents. The total cost Of the
collection of these statistics was
$3.95995.
In drafting the schedules of enquiry
for the Census Of 1900, pains were taken
to preserve the basis Of comparison
with the census of 1890. The enquiry
concerning capital invested. while diff
fering slightly in arrangement, was in
tended to elicit the same items and to
cover the total amount of capital-both
owned and orrowed-invested in the
business.
The bulletin says:
AT the Census Of 1890. the average
number of persons employed during the
entire year was called for, and also the
average number employed at stated
weekly rates of pay. AT the Census of
1900 the greatest and least numbers Of
employees were reported. and also the
average number employed during each
month of the year. The average num-
ber of wage-earners (men. women, and
children employed during the entire
year was ascertained by using L, the
number Of calendar months, as dt-
visor into the total Of the average num-
bers reported for each month. This
slight difference in the method of ascer-
tanning the average number of wage
earners during he entire year may
have resulted in a variation in the num-
her. and should be considered in max
ing comparisons.
AT the Census of 1890 the number
and salaries Of proprietors and firm
members actively engaged in the busi-
ness or in supervision were reported,
together with their salaries. and in
cases where salaries were not actually
paid to proprietors and firm members,
the amount that would ordinarily be
paid for similar services was cstinla ed
At the Census Of 1900 only the number
Of proprietors and firm members ac-
lively engaged in the industry OF in su-
pervision was ascertained and no sal
aries were reported for this class. 1t is,
therefore, impossible to compare the
number and salaries Of salaried officials
of any character for the two censuses.
Washington is not manufacturing
city in the general significance Of the
term. and it follows that nearly all the
industries reported in 19OO-123 in num-
ber-were Of the kind which may be de-
scribed as neighborhood industries, i. e,
industries embrac cling establishments
engaged in the production or repairing
Of articles for local consumption solely,
including the so-called hand trades,
such as carpentering, masonry. paint
ing. repairing Of every description,
dressmaking, custom tailoring. etc; and
also industries carried on in connection
with mercantile pursuits; al Of which
are not manufactures in large sense,
but rather the mechanical industries,
contemplated by the Census act. 1t is
doubtful if any considerable proportion
of the products Of the establishments in
the District, valued at $4I667,622, is
shipped outside of Washington FOR con-
sumption elsewhere. The percentage of
increase shows a healthy and crafty
ing growth, and indicates that the num-
Der Of small shops in which the various
mechanical Industries are pursued has
increased in Washington in keeping
with the general increase in popula-
ton"
In a table is given a comparative
statement Of the manufacturing and
mechanical industries Of the District
as returned at the censuses Of 1880, 1890
and 1900. Certain industries reported at
the Census Of 1890 were omitted in the
Census Of 1900, namely: Electric light
and power, mechanical dentistry, dress
making when done by dressmakers who
work at their homes and employ no
help the trimming and finishing Of cof-
fms and burial cases carried on in con-
nection with an Undertaking business,
and the manufacture Of druggists prep
arations by retail druggists. For the
purpose Of comparison, the totals in
these Industries as returned in the Cen
suses Of 1850 and 1890 were excluded
from the table.
The table shows an investment Of
s41. .eSl, ,245 in carrying on the manufac-
turing and mechanical industries of the
District in the census year, divided as
follows:
Land ................................. s5,e54.95S
Buildings Observation-Disclosures -----.----. t,1Sl'945
Machinery, etc..-......-............. -, 1878
-
Total.................... .S2S Col, ,086
Live capital. 1890 l55
Grand total-.......--...... 81 ,9Sl,245
In addition to the above amount,
$3.50. 900 was reported as invested in
three establishments that were idle dur
ing the census year. One Of these was
q paper mill, one brick yard. and one
an opaque glass blowing works. The
live capital includes cash on hand. bills
receivable, unsettled ledger accounts,
raw materials stock in process Of man
ufacture, finished products on hand.
and other sundTies.
The bulletin referring to the table
above mentioned says:
The capital Of $4l9SI,2 ,245 was utilized
in the manufacture Of a product Of the
e. eE- coo rfst.,.z