Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-28

ing custom
work and re-
pairing. ..S4l, 100, ,276 s41,32l ,O6l
S. N. D. North, the director Of the Gem
sus Bureau, explains the difference as fol-
lows:
"Ihis is the first census in which the
canvass has been confined to manufacture
ing establishments conducted under what
is known as the factory system, thus ex-
cluding the neighborhood industries and
hand trades. The statistics for these
mechanical trades have been a confusing
element in the census Of manufactures,
and their omission confines the data to a
presentation OF the magnitude and growth
OF the true manufacturing industries Of
the country. 10 secure comparable
figures for 1900, it was therefore neces-
sary to revise the published reports Of
the twelfth census, and in comparing the
results of the present with former CEN
suses the different bases should be held
in mind.
"rhe revision OF the published statistics
for 1900, necessary for purposes of COM
parison, involved considerable difficulty.
Certain industries, such as custom mil
linery, custom tailoring, dressmaking,
taxidermy, cobbling, carpentering, and
custom grist and saw mills, we're wholly
omitted. But the only available inlor-
nation on which to base the elimination
Of non-factory establishments from indus
tries which included factories as we'll as
local establishments was that contained
in the original reports from these estab-
lshments. and those reports were not col
lected with such segregation in view. It
was found that some establishments,
which in 1900 did little real manufactur-
ing. had in the FIVE years developed into
true factories. On the other hand, in
certain establishments the strictly manu-
featuring operations conducted in 1900
had later been discontinued, although the
establishments were still in business doing
custom OF repair work only. The latter
class, however, was composed mainly of
small establishments, and, except as to
the number reported, their inclusion or
omission has little effect on the statistics.
"Reports we're not secured from small
establishments in which manufacturing
was incidental to mercantile or other busi-
ness. or for establishments in which the
value of the products for the year
amounted TO less than $500"
The I75 establishments reported in
1905 for the eight leading industries
formed III per cent Of the total. The
capital amounted to S27 1876, 1853; en-
ployment was given to an average Of
l0.464 wage earners, TO whom wages
we're paid amounting to 81 $50, ,232 and
the products during the year were valued
az SOS. 1896. .677-these totals forming 53.3
56.6. 6O.7 and GIG per cent, respectively
Of the totals for the State. For all the
items except capital the proportion oi
the total manufactures represented by
these industries was greater in 1908 thar
in 1900.
The increase in total horsepower re
ported was from Al ,399 in 1900 to 1885,
in 1905, OF 30.3 per cent. The inoreas'
In steam power was from 81, SOS to 1901
or 27.s per cent, and in electric power
owned and rented, from $50 to 5,164
or 20s.2 per cent. The horsepower gen
Grated by water wheels decreased slightly
The proportion Of steam power to tn
total horsepower was not so great IN l9O'
as in 1900 by 1.6 per cent.