Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-03
Annual Report Of Industrial and
Labor Statistics.
Trade Unionism, the Granite and
Lime Business, Special Features.
history of Rumford Falls and It's
Growth Fully Described.

pubic. In mis- introduction the COM
missioner says:
The work of the Bureau during the
past year has been largely devoted to
the investigation of important in
dustries and to ascertaining the de-
velopment and extent of trade union
ism in the State.
Among the important industries of
Maine is that of the manufacture of
granite, an industry that is carried on
TO a gerater or less extent in nearly
every county. The fact that there are
ABOUT one hundred and fifty quarries,
about fifty being in active operation,
SHOWS that the amount of work re-
CURED for this special investigation
was necessarily very great. This in
vestiSation shows that this industry is
IN a prosperous condition. Maine now
occupies the leading position among
the states of the Union as a granite
producing State, having gone ahead of
Massachusetts which heretofore has
led in this industry. Brief but inter-
esting articles upon the manufacture
of artificial stone, a novel enterprise
not generally known by the public, and
on the manufacture of brick by ma
chinery and the lime industry are in
Guided in this report
Efforts have heretofore been made
by the Bureau to obtain statistics re-
latlng to trade unions, but with slight
success. The commissioner is glad to
be able to report that much greater in
terest and readiness to answer the
questions asked by the Bureau has
been manifested the present year. The
unions have largely increased in num-
bers, membership and influence, and
nearly every trade is represented.
While it cannot be claimed that the
exhibit made in the report is COM
plete and fully accurate, owing to
changes which have been constantly
going on during the progress of this in
vestigation, yet it will be seen that
trade unionism in Maine has become
an important factor in it's Industrial
conditions.
Other features of the report are
compilation of returns from the as
AeSSorS of the cities, towns and planta>
tions, of factories, mills and shops
for manufacturing purposes, enlarged
completed, or in process of erection
during the year 1902; an article relating
to the railroads in the State; cotton
and wooden industries; and agricul-
tural and other statistics compiled
from census bulletins.
''An extended description of Rum
ford Falls, the phenomenal develop
ment and growth of which, owing to
it's great water power, has attracted
the attention OF the country, is pub
lished in the report and will be found
of great interest.
1.-The report of the Inspector of Fac
tories, Workshops, Mines and Quarries
is published in this report in accord
ance with the provisions of the law
THE conditions of labor during the
past year have been quite satisfactory
and but few labor disturbances have
aiken place within the State. Labor
has been in great demand and employ
meEt at good wages the prevailing
rule"
The first subject treated is the
granite industry in Maine. In this
chapter the commission gives a list of
all the granite operators in the State
and summarizes his findings as fol-
lows:
From the returns made to the bureau
ated during the year 1901, the following
summary of the more important facts
is obtained:
Capital invested in the indus
try $2,915, 900
Value of production in the
year 1901 $2,6S9, 300
Whole number of workmen
employed $500
Total number of quarrymen S14
Total number of granite cut
tiers 1912
Total number of blacksmiths Isl
Total number of paving cut
terS 1874
Total number of common
| laborers $50
| Other workmen, engineers,
carpenters, poli-he etc, 161
| The total amount paid out for labor
was little over $2,000,000. The rates
Of wages Of the different classes of
| workmen were as follows: granite cut
| ters, from $3.50 to $500 per day; quarry
men. from $1.15 to $500 per day; black
smiths, $3.50 per day; common laborers,
from $50 20 $1.75 per day; other labor
ers including polishers, engineers car
penters, etc. from $1.75 to $3.50 per day
Paving cutters work by the piece re-
ceiving fixed sum for LOCO blocks.
They generally make from 1925 to $3.50
per day.
All granite cutters work eight hours
per day. In some large plants the
quarrymen now work only eight hours
but in most plants they work nine
hours per cay. In many plants the
blacksmiths work but eight hours,
while in the majority of cases they
work nine hours. In several plants all
| classes of laborers work only eight
hours per day, but aside from granite
cutters the majority of laborers work
nine hours.
Nearly all the granite cutters in the
State belong to the Granite Cutters
Union, while most of the blacksmiths
belong to the same union. A large pro-
portion of the quarrymen belong to the
Quarrymen's Union and many of the
engineers belong to the same union.
The answers on the blanks to the
eleventh question, What is the market
for your production" We're in many
cases, THE United States east of the
Mississippi river" On two or three OF