The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-08-04
Another Study in Census Statistics North Carolina
Manufacturing.

This is the third and final installment of my
studies in North Carolina census statistics. Two
weeks ago / called attention to the remarkable
fact that In rank among the States in population,
manufacturing and agriculture, North Carolina
went forward more rapidly from 1890 to 1900
than any other old State, North or South. Last
Sunday a general review of the North Carolina
statistics in the recently issued abstract of the
Twelfth Census" was given. This paper will
deal with the manufacturing interests of the
State.
During the forty years from 1850 to $780,
manufacturing was practically at a stand-stin in
North Carolina. We actually had fewer establish
ments in 1890 than in 1850; there were $3.50
when Lincoln was elected and there were only
1867 when Benjamin Harrison went into the
White House. In 1850-there were $4,000 men
over sixteen years of age engaged in our manu-
featuring and mechanical industries, and in 1890
there were only $4,000. The number of establish
ments decreased more rapidly from 1880 to 1890
than in the war decade of 1860-187O.
But in 189O-19OO, the tide turned. In these
ten years the number of establishments increased
from 1867 to 7,226-practically doubled; and
the capital went from $32, 100000 to SIG, 900, 900
more than doubled. The number of wage
earners increased from 1926 to 7O,57O, and
their total wages from $6,552,121 to $13,868,43O.
In 1890 the value of products was $4,000 600;
in 1900, So, 100000.
1t is practically accurate to say that in 1890
only two persons in each 100 in North Carolina
were wage-earners engaged in manufactures in
1900, four In each 100 were so employed. In the
decade the number of men employed Increased 96
per cent, the number of women ISL per cent, chill
dren 119 per cent. With our new laws against
child labor, we may expect the relative gains dur
ing the present decade to be somewhat different.
Cotton factories employ nearly half the States
wage-earners and produce about one-third of the
total value of our manufactured products. The
number of establishments increased in 189O-19OO
from 81 to 1T, while the value of output nearly
threbled, rising from $9,563,443 to $28,372,7 98.
Says the bulletin: "The growth of the. manu-
facture of cotton goods has been steady since
crease and of greatest percentage of increase in
crease and of greatest percentage on increase in
the value of products was during the decade end
ing with 1900. In 1890 the State was tenth in
rank in this manufacture in the United States;
it is now third, Massachusetts being first and
South Carolina second. In 1890, among Southern
States, it ranked third; it is now second, South
Carolina preceding it, and Georgia taking third
place. Although second in value of products, it
is first in number of establishments, in average
number of employees, and in totaal wages paid.
The amount of cotton consumed yearly by the
spindles now running is nearly equivalent to the
annual cotton crop of the State, which, in 1899,
was 473, 155 commercial bales"
In North Carolina manufactures, the timber
and numbering business ranks next to cotton mill
ing, both in capital invested ($13,OOO,OOO) and in
value of products ($14,862,OO). The number of
establishments more than doubled during the last
decade, and the number of employees increased
from 6,466 to 11,751.
Of the ten leading industries, only tobacco