The Van Buren press., 1902-05-03
IN ARKANSAS FACTORIES
The Varied Manufacturing indus
tries of the State.
CsnsuS Figures Just Tabulnted In
Washington show steady ana
Gratifying Growth During the
Past Half Century.
Special Statistical Letter.

|
census bureau, where the mass of sta
tistical information regarding the
states and territories gathered at the
last census taking is being classified
and tabulated. One Of the depart
ments of the burean has been busy OF
late in arranging the statistics of man
ufactures by states.
1t must be especially gratifying to
Uncle Sam and fair Columbia to see
how most of the states have grown
in manufactures during the last ten
years. Apparently this growth has not
been confined to any special section OF
the country. Pick your state any
where, north south, east or west, and
the obiging chief of the department
Mr.. S. y. D. North, will, from the sta
tistics which his large force of clerks
has arranged. be able to satisfy you
that most satisfactory growth has
been made.
Taking Arkansas, for instance, Mr..
North said: although Arkansas Is
an agricultural state, there has been
steady growth in the manufacturing
and mechanical industries during the
half century. The population during
these wears increased from 209.so7 to
1871 .564. or 524.9 per cent, but the av-
erage number of wage earners EN-
ployed in manufacturing establish
ments increased from s24 to 26,jOl, or
3,O47.4 per cent, embracing In 1900 two
per cent. of the entire population,
compared with four-tenths Of one per
cent. in 1850. Probably the best indi-
cation Of the importance OF the wage
earning class is afforded by the great
est number employed at any one time
during the year. In 1900 this was 49,
052, or 80 per cent OF the total popu-
lation Of the state
There were in the state in 1900, asa
manufacturing establishments, Of
which 1861 were places where hand
trades were employed. In addition to
these there were 1850 establishments
WI a product of less than $500.
The capital invested in the 4,7o4 es-
adjustments totaled $4,000, $40, the
wage earners employed, 26,501; the
wages earned SS,6S6,20l, and the value
of products turned out, S44, ss3,7S3.
The $3.50 small establishments had an
invested capital Of s1,207,2s4; had 1905
proprietors and firm members; en-
ployed 2.672 wage earners; paid out in
wages, S579sO, and turned out prod
ucts valued at $685., 4G5.
The hand trades employed 1902 wage
earners, paying them in wages Sji5,-
675 and producing manufactures
valued at 80 67j,4i3. These hand trades
included bicycle repairing, blacksmith
ing and wheelwrighting, custom boots
and shoes and repairing carpentering,
custom tailoring, dressmaking, dye
ing and cleaning, cabinet making and
furniture repairing lock and gun
smithng, masonry, millinery, paint.
ing, paperhanging, plastering, plumb
ing, gas and steam fitting, sewing ma.
chime repairing, and jewelry and watch
repairing,
During the decade from 1890 to 1900
the per cent. of increase of manufac.
turing establishments in the state was
1913; the increase ~ capital invested,
1902; the wage 0arners, S7i; the
wages, SOS, and the value of products,
0Sl While the increase in population
was 1863 per cent, the increase in wage
Farmers engaged in manufactures
was s7,i, which certainly speaks well
for the industrial progress of the
state
The seven leading industries Of the
state, naming them in the order Of
their importance, according TO the
value Of production, are as follows:
Lumber and timber products, Touring
and grst mills, cotton seed oil and
cake, planning mills, cars and general
shop construction cotton ginning, and
printing and publishing, These seven
Industries embrace 1907 establish.
ments or Ga per cent, Of the total num-
Der Of the state; S2O,slIQj5, or $50
per cent, Of the capital; 2l7l7 or SIS
per cent, Of the total average number
Of wage carners; $1,000, 1872, or sos per
cent Of the total wages, and S37,00G,-
400, or s2A per cent, Of the total prod
ucts,
The forests Of Arkansas were In 1898
estimated TO csyer $4,000, 900 acres, or
more than thrcc.fourths Of the total
area Of the state. Mr. G. w. Greene, In
his book on Arkansas, says that "hard
woods prevail north Of the Arkansas
river cypress swNmps cover great
part Of the eastern alluyial districts,
and in the south there are extensive
districts covered with pine" and In the
tenth census report II was declared
that "the hardwood forests Of the
state are hardly surpassed In variety
aud richness, and contain incstimnblc
bodies Of the finest oak, walnut, hick-
DRY and ash timber" For this reason
Il Is not strange that the timber and
lumber products Of the state rank
first In Importance, In 1900 LOO es.
Adjustments were reported, with n
capital of S2l,7277lO, gave employment
TO l5,SO5 wage cnrncrs, or GO per cent
Of the wage earners Of the entire state.
The value OF the products was Se3,.
050,0s3, or 53i per cent Of the value
of all the products Of the state, com.
pared with Ss,Od3,O59 In $500, an In.
crcosc of Sl5,Ol6,o3i, or l07Oper cent.
Related to the lumber and timber In.
dustry and ranking fourth In Impor.
lance Is the manufacture Of planning
mill products, FIFTY establishments
were reported In 1900, employing l,0S2
wage eorners and production valued
at $9,20O,ia2, The development In this
phri icnnr branch OF inhnsIrN h shnyn-