River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-04-17
WISCONSIN, FACTORIES
Figures OF the Manufacturing Inter
ests of the State.
Census Figures J7st Available Show
Gratifying Growth in Ten Years
The Reason Is an Abundant
supply Of RmSv Materials and
Accessible Markets.
fspecIal Statistical letter.

uidUIuR anu cldSSiIS my TIC = ICdI
mass of valuable and interesting in
formation collected by the enumer-
ators during the year 1900. The bu-
rcau 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
and interesting and generally of a
tlattering character. AS with each
census taking the returns are more
complete and prehensive, some
care has to be observed in drawing
comparisons that the figures are not
made to tell too fattcring a 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 1G,187 manufacturing estab-
lishments of all classes, valued at
$l04 ,389, 100, employing 1906 per-
sons to whom $58, 4O7,597 was paid in
wages during the year, with the total
gross value of production amounting
to $360,81S,042, 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 2,0G2,916.
Ten years before these figures
were compiled there were only 49,
AT manufacturing establishments in
the state, which shows an increase of
55.4 per cent. The wage-earners en-
gagged in manufactures in 1890 num-
bcred 12O,O06, 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
for 1890 IL per cent, indicating that
Wisconsin was either losing slightly
its industrial vigor, or her wage-earn-
ers had so prospered during the ten
years as to enable some Of them to
retire on a competence. In 1890 the
value of manufacturing properties
was placed at $S2, 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
SPAS, $40, 1864; the figures Of 1900 arc
$500, ,942, an indicated increase Of
1872 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 abun-
dant supply Of materials and excel
tent market facilities. Manufacture
ing is not concentrated in n few To-
calities, but is distributed through
out the state. Six large rivers-the
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-
yeloped. On the western boundary of
the state are $50 miles of nayiga bic
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 1877 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
product of less than $500 each. THERE'S
one government establishment with
Il capital of $4,100, employing an av-
erage of three hands, earning total
wages of $1,92O, and with a total pro-
<luction of S2,42S. Wisconsin has ten
educational. eleemosynary and penal
institutions, capitalized at 1891, 1872.
employing roo hands, earning total
wages of $29,30S, and reporting a 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 90 of the leading industries
of Wisconsin and constructing there
from vigorous, overtowering, grow
ing giant of manufactures. we find
him made up of 6.397 esta blishments,
with total capital in his pockets,
TO carry on his thriving interests, of
S25S, 99O,016. This benefcent giant
gave employment to 91,674 wage
carners, paying to them $50, 569,374
in good hard cash. And the wage
carners, in appreciative return.
poured into his lap products valued
at 1868, 9S2,S67. 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.O66 establish
ments give employment to 2t.7o1
wage-earners, whose production was
valued at S57,634.S16. just lie per cent.
of the total value of the products
of the state. And right here we OBJ
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