Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-04-19
WISCONSIN FACTORIES
Figures of the Manufacturing Inter
ests of the State.
Census Figures just Available Show
a Gratifying Growth in Ten Years
The Reason Is an Abundant
Supply of Raw Materials and
Accessible Markets.
Especial Statistical Letter.l

formation collected by the enumer-
reau at present is busy putting in
the most available shape the Stats
tics of the manufactures of the diff
ferent states and territories. Com
parison with the figures of previous
census statistics is both instructive
fattering character. AS with each
census taking the returns are more
complete and comprehensive, some
care has to be observed in drawing
comparisons that the figures are not
made to tell too flattering story of
growth and progress.
Wisconsin has every reason to feel
proud of her standing as manu-
featuring state, and the gratifying
growth of the past ten years should
be ample encouragement for the at
tempting of greater things before
the next government census is taken.
With her 16,1S7 manufacturing estab-
lishments of all classes, valued at
$104,3S9,7 69, employing 142,076 = per-
sons to whom $5S, 407,597 was paid in
wages during the year, with the total
gross value of production amounting
to $3.50, ,942, it is not hard to re-
alize that the Badger state is an in
dustrious commonwealth in which
there are few drones among her total
population of 2,062,916.
Ten years before these figures
were compiled there were only 10,-
All manufacturing establishments in
the state, which shows an increase of
55.4 per cent. The wage-earners en-
gagged in manufactures in 1890 num-
bered 100000, which in comparison
with the number employed in 1900
as given above shows an increase for
the ten years of 1874 per cent. But
the number employed in manufac-
lures in proportion to the population
in 1890 was greater than in 1900, in
that year it being 60 per cent, and
for 1890 IL per cent, indicating that
Wisconsin was either losing slightly
it's industrial vigor, or her wage-earn-
ers had so prospered during the ten
years as to enable some of them to
retire on competence. In 1890 the
value of manufacturing properties
was placed at $50, 227, 391, over $22,-
100000 less than the value given by
the census of 1900. The total gross
value of production of the state as
given by the 1890 census amounted to
S248, $40, 164; the figures of 1900 are
S360,S1S,942, an indicated increase of
45.2 per cent.
In commenting on this, Mr.. S. n. D.
North, chief statistician for manufac-
lures, says: This remarkable
growth of manufactures in Wiscon-
sin is to be attributed to an album
dant supply of materials and excel
lent market facilities. Manufacture
ing is not concentrated in a few To-
calities, but is distributed through
Menominee, ST. Croix, Chippewa, Wis
consin, Fox and Wolf - with many
smaller streams, and nearly 1000
fresh-water lakes in the northern
part of the state, afford enormous
water power, as yet only partially de-
veloped. On the western boundary of
the state are $50 miles of navigabl
rivers, while the great lakes extend
for more than 400 miles along the
northern and eastern borders. On
the shores of Lake Michigan and
Green bay are II important manufac-
turing cities, all accessible to lake
going boats; and the cities of Ash
land and Superior, on Lake Superior,
are large and growing manufacture
ing centers. In 1900 Wisconsin had
6,531 miles of railroads, which have
contributed to the development OF
agriculture and manufactures"
Of the 16,1S7 manufacturing estab-
lishments in the state 6,054 were
places where ''hand trades were en-
ployed. In addition to these, there
were 2,061 Establishments with a
product of less than $500 each. There is
one government establishment with
a capital of $4,100, employing an av-
erage of three hands, earning total
wages of 81 800, and with total pro-
duction of $2,42S. Wisconsin has ten
educational, eleemosynary and penal
institutions, capitalized at 1891, 1872,
employing roc hands, earning total
wages of 500, 1908, and reporting pro-
duction of $757,916. The 'hand
trades" mentioned above include such
manufactures as blacksmithing, Gus
tom made boots and shoes and re-
pairing, carpentering, cabinet max
ing, customs tailoring and repairing,
dyeing and cleaning, lock and gun
smithing, masonry, millinery, paint
ing, paper hanging, plastering, plumb
ing and gas and steam fitting, and
jewelry repairing.
Taking 20 of the leading industries
of Wisconsin and constructing there
from a vigorous, oyertowering, grow
ing giant of manufactures, we find
him made up of 6,397 establishments
with a total capital in his pockets
to carry on his thriving interests, OF
$25S, 990,016. This benefcent giant
gave employment to 91,674 wage,
earners, paying to them 500, 569,374
in good hard cash. And the wage
earners, in appreciative return
poured into his lap products valued
at $263, 982 ,667. As we make critical
examination of this industrial giant
the most prominent feature we OBJ
serve in his makeup is the lumber and
timber products. The 1,066 establish.
ments give employment to 21.7O1
wage-earners, whose production was
valued at $57,634,S16, just 16 per cent
of the total value of the products
of the state. And right here we OBJ.
serve popularity in our giant. fo1
while in nearly all other industries
he has grown remarkably in the last
ten years, we note that in lumber and
timber products there has been q
considerable shrinkage, for in 1896
Lilo establishments were reported
employing 41,305 wage-earners, with
production amounting to $50, 1866, 444
showing a decrease in value of pro.
duction during the decade of $3,331,.
62S, or SIS per cent. However, not.
The Champion Spanker