The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-02-09
BILLION DOLLAR STATE
KANSAS YEARLY PRODUCTS OF
GREAT VALUE.
The Report OF the Labor Commission
eF Shows Only Sixteen Strikes
in the State Last Year.

i
topeka. Feb. 5.-W. L. A Johnson,
commissioner Of labor, read a report
today before the State Society Of La
Dor and Industry, in session in repre-
sentative hall, regarding the condi-
ton surrounding labor in the state
In mis- paper, which is also signed BY
Secretary ". D. Robinson, Mr.. John
son gives sine interesting information
showing that while the value Of agrl-
cultural products leads any other
single industry yet Kansas is fast
coming TO the front as a manufactur-
ing state. Regarding strikes, Mr.
johnson says:
From Labor Troubles.
"Our state has been singuiarly for
tuuate in that respect, as only sixteen
strikes occurred during the year that
2ere OF sufficient consequence to merit
hotfce at this time. These strikes were
~ short duration and distributed
through various avocations, The
. number. settled successfully was seven,
partially successful six, unsUccessfuily
three The causes leading up TO these
strikes may be divided as follows: Fog
al increase in wages one, demanding
a contract and TecOyni on three. re-
instatemeut OF discharged employees
a shorter yOrkdaF two, on account
Of a breach OF contract on employers
four. The total number OF members
involved was 1878; total number Of
days lost on account Of strikes was
1178O Thus we see that when com
pared with our wage earning popula-
ton the small number involved in
controversy is insignificant and indi-
Gates the peaceful and prosperous
Regarding manufacturing, Mr.
johnson says
About 5000 Factories.
There are in this state, including
al kinds Of manufacturing industries,
nearly 5000, but the forthcoming re-
port will eliminate all such industries
as custom millinery, tailoring, dress
making, taxfdermy, cObbling, carpen-
terfng, suction saw and gTist mills, etc,
Of small magnitude and will include
only such industries as may be in
cluded under what is termed the fac
tory system and whose value Of pro-
ducts for the year amounts to more
than $500 OF this class covered in
the investigation, operating under the
factory system, there are 2,474 estab-
Iishments, an increase over 1900 Of
7-6 per cent
The capital invested in this class Of
industries is $S8,1SO,117, or an in
crease in the five year period OF 43-3
per cent. The total number OF wage
earners, exclusive Of salaried officials,
$40. an increase in five years OF
3O.6 per cent. These wage earners in
our manufacturing industries for the
year 1905 received a grand total Of
S1S,7ST.O71, or an increase in the
wages paid in our manufacturing in
du-.ries over 1900 Of 46-z per cent
7'Of these total wage workers 2s703 /
are women and represent in increase
ia the number employed during the
B-year period of So per cent This
startling statement calls attention to
the necessity Of legislation regulating
the employment Of women in factories
and limiting the length of the work
day, IS well as providing against night
work
Materials Cost S155, S4O,449.
The cost Of materials used in these
manufacturing establishments for
1906 was S155,840,449, or an increase
in the materials used over 1900 OF
PSI per cent The value Of products
including custom work and repairing
FOR. the year 1905 was the splendid
sum of S197,S94,992, or an increase
over 1900 Of 29-2 per cent
These figures evidence the fact that |
Kansas is no longer to be considered |
wholly as an agricultural state. but
that our various divisions Of wealth |
production should be set forth for the |
year 1905 somewhat after this fash /
ion:
Total value Of all agricuI-
turaI products S23S,S1S,665 |
Total value Of live stock.
as per assessors report
for 1895 ------ 169,S21,157
Total value OF products
manufactured ---- 81, 394,s92 |
Estimated value OF cut
put Of coal - $500, 00G /
Estimated value OF zinc
and lead - 100000 |
The Oil Productivity.
Adding to these above enumerated |
known values OF SS11,929,SO6 the |
further speculative values Of oil and !
gas let US see what the estimate viii |
show. A recent report on the oil pro-
duction for the Kansas midcOntinent
field shows for the year 1905 1O,147,-
O22 barrels Of oil. This at the ex-
tremely low price OF an average OF |
so cents for the entire year would /
make a value Of S5,O7S,515, and the |
further speculative estimate on the !
value OF the output Of gas, which now
Fapp5ies such cities as Parsons, COT |
EeEFlties SOplALs ElllSDuEBs Cnanules /
Erie, lola Ottawa, Lawrence, Kansas /
City, Kan, Topeka and a large num-
Der Of other towns too numerous to
mention, estimated AT q daily output
OF 100 million cubic feet. or value /
FOR the year on this basis at an aver
age Of twenty cents per 1000 cubic |
Feet, Of S7,3Ge,0OO. This gives US an
annual output Of $S25,s1s, 025. If we
add 70 this the values of native stone, /
lime gypsum, clay sand aud the pro-
duets OF more than i've thousand