The news & observer., 1905-12-21
Unusual Industrial Ac-
tivity Revealed.
A LARGE INCREASE
In the Number OF Miscellaneous Fac
tories in North Carolina This Year.
An Increase of $7,795,360
in Capital Stock Record
ed This Year.

The chapter on miscellaneous Iac-
tories In North Carolina, in the an
nual report of the Commissioner OF
Labor and Printing, which is nearing
completion, contains interesting data
showing the material progress of the
State.
That portion of the report giving
the statistics of Miscellaneous Fac
tories in North Carolina. is perhaps.
the most valuable in that 1T presents
the material growth of the State along
Industrial lines. inclusive of the small
er as well as the larger manufacture
ing enterprises. The figures this year,
If examined and studied. will reveal
unusual industrial activity, and the
evidence deduced vflerefrom should be
source of pride to every citizen OF
the commonwealth. The number OF
returns used in this compilation is four
hundred and twenty -eight, an increase
of two hundred and twenty-five over
last year, exceeding twice the number
by twenty-five. Fully seventy-five per
cent. of the manufactures of the State
are presented in the tables this year
and the average taken from these rep
resentative industries give an accurate
idea of conditions prevailing through
out the State. The average citizen has
little idea. of the wonderful progress
the State is making in an induetrlai
way, and the purpose of this chapter is
to convey such information as will en-
able the people to obtain reasonably
accurate conception of the NUMBER
and class of miscellaneous enterprises
within the State.
The returns this year indicate an
aggregate invested capital of $13, S2,-
210.00 by 312 of the 42S miscellaneous
capital stock. the Old Fort Extract
factories reporting: 115 do not report
Works again reports as a branch OF
the United States Leather Company.
and represents only a part of the
S125164600 reported by that organ
ization. The aggregate of capital
stock reported last year was $685.
$50 by 161 factories. exclusive of the
plant at Old Fort, so that an increase
of $7,795. 800 is recorded this year
Table No. / shows county, post
office. name of factory. year of incor-
poration or establishment. capital
stock or amount invested. name OF
president. owner or manager, power
used and number of horse power em-
pioyed. class of roods manufactured
time operated during year. number or
hours constituting a days work and
number of employees dependent on
factory for a livelihood.
Three hundred and forty-one factC-
ries report steam power. "a electic.
u water. 1 gasoline. 6 hand. l gaso-
line-electric. | open Kettle, and IL 90
not report power. The 40S establish
employment of 81 .519 horsepower. an
increase of 1913 over last year. Three
hundred and siXty-Seven factories re-
port the number of persons depends
ent upon them for "a livelihood to be
37,415 or 20,352 more than was re-
ported last year. Four report that
eight hours constitute a days Work;
five, nine hours: 299. ten hours: At.
eleven hours, and SO. twelve hours.
Twenty-Five do not report time ope-
rated each day but there is an evil
dent tendency toward shorter hours.
Table No. shows name of factory.
highest and lowest wages paid, when
paid and whether wages have in
creased or decreased during the year,
number Of employees. per cent of en-
ployes who read and write. opinion
concerning the employment of child
rem in factories and upon the enact
ment of a compulsory school law.
Seventy per cent. report increase of
wages: one per cent. decrease. twenty
nine per cent. report no change. SIX
ty-six per cent. of these establish
ments pay weekly; fifteen per cent. pay
monthly; eighteen per cent. pay semi
monthly and one per cent. pay daily.
Four hundred and thirteen factories
report 15,S09 persons employed,
against 1855 last year. Highest
wages per day S2.16. an advance OF
seven cents per day over last year.
Lowest wages per day lS cents.
Eighty-two per cent. of adult en-
ployes read and write; and eighty
eight per cent. of children. Sixty per
cent. answer that children under four
teen years of age should not work in
factories: five per cent. answer IN the
affirmative and thiray-five per cent.
express 70 opinion. Seventy-two per
cent. favor compulsory schoo! law,
twelve per cent. oppose it. and sixteen
Der cent. co not answer the question.
Following the tables are letters
from number of manufacturers VINO
were requested to express an opinion
upon matters of public import to
which their attention was called IN
the blanks sent out by the depart
ment.