Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-28
IOWA PROSPERITY.
Figures From a Census Bulletin on the
Manufactures of the Hawkeye State
Show Large Growth.

Manufactures of the Hawkeye State
Show Large Growth.
Washington, D. c., Nov. 23.-Directol
Merriam has just issued a bulletin
dealing with the manufactures of Iowa
The reports show a capital of s102, 1885,
103 invested in manufactures and me-
chanical industries in the 1889 estab-
lishments reporting for the state OF
Iowa.
buildings, machinery, tools and inn
plements, and the live capital utilized,
but does not include the capital stock
of any of the manufacturing corpor-
atoms of the state. The value OF the
products is returned at s164.617.s77, to
produce which involved an outlay of
s4,4S6,117 for salaries of officials and
clerks, S23,931 $50 for wages, $7,9S8.767
for miscellaneous expenses, including
rent, taxes, ETC.; and $101,170, 357 for
materials used, mill supplies, freight,
and fuel.
a table is presented showing for 1900
and 1890 the number of manufacturing
and mechanical industries in the state.
1t also shows the average number of
wage-earners employed by manufac-
turing establishments in comparison
with the total population, and the value
of land and buildings reported by man
ufacturers as capital, in comparison
with the assessed value of all real es-
tate and improvement. 1t also shows
the percentage of increase.
Altho agriculture is the leading pur-
suit of Iowa, manufacturing and me-
chanical industries had u steady and
significant growth during the last half
century.
The population of the state in 1850
was 1924 and in 1900 2,231,46S, an
increase in the fifty years of 2,039.254.
or 1,060.9 per cent. The average num-
Der of -wage-earners employed in man
ufacturing establishments increased
from 1,707 in 1850 to 5S,553 In 1900, an
increase of 3.330.2 per cent in h fifty
years, nj embraced in the latter year
&c per cent of the entire population
as compared with nine-tenths of l per
cent in 1850, In the thirty years since
1870, however, the difference in the
rate If growth of the wage-earning
class as compared with that of the
total population has been much less
pronounced. the population having In
creased 500 per cent and the wage
learners 1889 per cent.
Iowa has good transportation facili-
ties and an abundance Of coal. It's
manufacturing enterprises are evenly
distributed over the state n are di-
versifted in character. No one portion
or particular city of the state car lay
claim to a dominant interest in man
~ufacture or monopoly of any n of its
leading industries. The southern and
eastern portions were settled first, and
still have the denser population, YET in
the northwestern portion is located the
Heading manufacturing city.
This bulletin gives the statistics for
educational, el~eemosynary, and penal
institutions and establishments with a
product of less than $500.
OF the 1929 establishments of this
class 1888. or 81 per cent. were small
shops. The value of the products of
these establishments, consisting prin-
cipally of the sums received for Gus
tom work and repairing, amounted to
s23, 4,344, OF only 1873 per cent of the
total value of the products of the
state.
In addition to the 1929 active es-
Establishments in the state during the
census year, with a capital of s104,-
343, 592, there were II idle establish
ments, with a capital of s1,29s,220.
During recent years there has been a
marked change in the character Of the
Industries of the state. In the early
period of settlement h principle pro-
ducts manufactured were lumber, -four,
leather, and WOODEN goods. ali of which,
with the exception of flour, " since
declined, while slaughtering and the
factory manufacture of butter and
cheese have taken their places in the
list of leading industries.
The wholesale Strengthening and meat
hacking is the most important industry
in the state. The twenty-seven estab-
lishments reported for this industry
gave employment to 2,ss7 wage earners,
or 40 per cent Of the wage earners em-
ployed in the state, and the products
were valued at s25. 695, 044, or 1916 per cent
of the total value of the products of the
state. In 1890 there were wenty nine
observation-disclosures lS0S y W "o6S
earners, and products valued at S23.425,-
SIC. The increase in the value of prod
ucts during the decade was 81 per cent.
The factory manufacture Of butter,
cheese and condensed milk n second
in Importance, with 907 establishments
for 1900, 1888 wage earners n products
valued at SIS, S46,o77. The increase in the
value of products during the decade was
50.3 per cent.
Flour and grist milling holds the third
rlace among the manufacturing Indus
tries of the state. There were 702 estab-
lishments engaged in this industry in
1900, with 1885 wage and prod
valued at $13,S23,0S3. The increase
in the value of products during the dec
ade was 1853 per cent.
There were 264 establishments engaged
in the manufacture Of lumber and tim
Der products in 1900, with 2,793 wage
earners, and products valued at $8,G77,-
O5S. Allied to his industry is the manu-
facture of planning mill products. includ-
ing sash, doors and blinds. There were
sixty-fve establishments engaged in this
Industry in 1900, with 2,372 wage earners,
and products valued at SIS, 295, SAG.
There were flfty-eight establishments
engaged in car construction and repairs
by steam railroad companies in 1900,
valued at s6,221,37S. In the number of
wage earners N amount paid in wages
this industry ranks first among the
manufacturing industries OF the state.