Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-31
Maine Manufactures.

a copy has just been received by the
Journal, deals with the subject of
Names manufactures and is therefore
of much interest in this section. The
bulletin is of special interest as it ap-
pears just as Labor Commissioner
Matthews annual report is made pub
lie. though they are far from covering
the same ground. In the bulletin
credit is given Mr.. Matthews for his
valuable assistance To the government
in preparing 1t.
The reports show a capital of s122.-
9lS, s2s Invested in 1900 in manufactures
and mechanical Industries in the 6i02
establishments reporting for the State
OF Maine. This sum represents the
value of land, buildings. machinery,
tools. and implements, and the live
capital utilized, but does not include
tho capital stock of any of the manu-
featuring corporations of the State.
The value of the products is returned
at 1927 ,3Sl ,4ss, TO produce which in
volved an outlay of $3.l7l.433 for sal
aries of $500 officials. clerks. etc; $685.
521,slo for wages of 5000 employees;
y,774.2lG FOR miscellaneous expenses.
including rent. taxes. etc; and sos. $685.
40S for materials used. mill supplies.
freight. and fuel. It is no, to be as
sumed, however. that the difference be-
tween the aggregate Of these sums and
the value of the products Is. in any
sense, Indicative Of the profits in the
manufacture Of the products during
the census year. The census schedule
takes 40 cognlZance ct the cost OF SELL
Ing manufactured articles. or of inter-
est on capital invested, or of the mer-
camille losses incurred in the business.
or Of depreciation In plant. The value
Of the product given Is the value as OBJ
tanned or fixed at the shop or factory.
The gross value Of the products in 1900
was s12.. 3Gi, ass.
The bulletin shows that there has
been wonderful growth in the marAl-
featuring and mechanical industries of
Maine during the half century from
1850 to 1900. The population during
these years increased from 5S3l6s to
Go4,4G6. or 1871 per cent, while the
average number of wage-earners en-
poyed in manufacturing establish
mcnts increased from $500 to 14,s16, or
1877 per cent, embracing, in 1900. 1913 per
with as per cent. in 1850. The number
OF establishments reported increased
from 1874 to 6702. the capital from $l4,-
49,, I52 to 1922. 9lS,s26, and the product
from 1924, S61, O57 to sl27.361. 4s5. Probably
the hest indication of the Importance OF
the wage-earning class is afforded BY
the greatest number employed at any
one time during the year. In 1900 this
vas 10. 2i3. or 15s per cent. Of the total
population Of the State. The decade
from, 1890 TO 1900 shows an increase in
the value of products of 33.1 per cent,
which is greater than for any other
decade since 1870.
The 10 leading manufacturing in
dustries of the State are in the order
of the value of their products as fol-
lows: Cotton. lumber, wool. paper and
p pulp. fish canning. flour and grist,
foundry products, shipbuilding. tanning
and the printing and publishing of
newspapers. The first four are nearly
equal in Importance, and there is big
drop between the fourth and the fifth.
In three of these branches of industry.
manufacture of cotton goods. ship
building and tanning there was a de-
crease in the value of products in the
decade from 1890 to 1900. but in ship
building there has been a marked re-
vlval since the census figures of 1900
we're obtained. Let us glance briefly
at the summary of each of these ~
leading Industries of our State.
The manufacture of cotton goods has
long been the leading industry of the
State. The Is establishments reported
in 1900 gave employment to 1923 peo-
pie, 1873 per cent. Of the wage-earners
of the State. and their products were
valued at sli.6Sl. OS6. or ll.5 per cent. OF
the total manufactured products of the
State. In 1890 there were % establish
ments reported. employing 1892 wage
f earners and with products valued at
Sls,3le,909. The earliest cotton mills
were at Brunswick, Wilton and Gardi-
ner in the first decade of the last CEN
tury. Now Lewiston and Biddeford
lead. and all the mills are west of the
kennebec river. 4G
There were sss establishments en-
gagged in the manufacture of lumber
and timber products IN 1900. the in
trstry second ir rank. with 6ss4 wage
earners and products valued at $l3.-
4ss. 401. In 1890 more men were en-
ployed. but the product was. $1,S3s, Al
less in value. Spruce has supplanted
H.. Y 49,. 49,,