The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
PROSPERITY IN
LABOR CIRCLES
Commissioner Doherty's Report
Indicates Wave of Industrial
Development.
ALL LINES ARE TREATED
Report Goes Into Detail, Show
ing How Various Industries
Are Growing.
Labor Commissioner James b. Dohcrty

Labor Commissioner James b. Doherty
has issued the ninth annual report of
his department. and 1t indicates that
there is general wave of industrial
prosperity sweeping over the State. The
Year. as viewed by the report. has been u
splendid one in all respects. The con-
densed summary gives in q nutshell the
general condition OF the several indus
tries, and is as follows:
Building Trades.
a marked Increase over the preceding
year is shown both in value of products
and In wages, while general satisfaction
with present conditions and n confidence
in continued activity prevails. For easy
reference the several braiehes are noted
here: further details may be gathered by
consulting the tables which follow:
Bricklayers.
The volume of business. as compared
with 1904, shows a decrease Of $32, 1888.
and the number OF firms reporting are
four less These changes come from the
disposition of the general contractors to
employ bricklayers and do the work di-
rectly. An advance In wages from to
IL H. per cent. by nine out of the seven
teen firms reporting and no reduction
business reported good, and the outlook
excellent The hours of labor remain
the sarne-eight in cities and towns and
ten in rural districts
Brick and Tile Manufacturers.
a number of manufacturers who have
heretofore contracted to lay part of the
output OF their yards have confined
themselves TO selling their whole output
at the yard This system, together with
added plants, accounts Tor the increase
Of SSSl,7T9.95, as well as the decrease in
the preceding item.
General Contractors.
Formerly it was the habit for the car
penter to assume the contract and sublet
the balance OF the work. OF late the |
general contractors comprise engineers |
masons or any person expert in con-
struction. The increase in value of
buildings over 1904 shows $685.. 16i.2 in |
present report.
Lime and Cement.
Impetus has been given this industry |
from the constantly growing demand for |
concrete and grarolithic work. The re-
port covers the plants throughout the /
State. and shows volume of business of (
more than half million dollars over
the year preceding. The natural deposits {
make the State capable Of almost un- |
limited development in this field OF en-
terprlse.
Painters and Paperhangers.
Increase in business reported over
1905. sls,soTsS. Wages generally ad-
vanced, with hours OF labor remaining
the Same.
Plumbers, Gasfitters and Timers
An increase in this feature OF the
"building trade" of s2i62S7.5S is shown
over 1904, Increase Of wages generally
reported.
Sash, Doors and Blinds.
The general activity in building made
extra demands on the several plants,
which resulted in an increased produc-
ton of $l91.1O5.3S. together with an in
crease in wages and in capital invested.
Sawrnills.
Every effort has been made TO get
full report of the mills throughout the
State but local demands have been such
that the smaller mills have been moved
from place to place to meet them. and
extent abridged. The business, however,
has been good. and the report shows an
excess product over 1904 of $1,926, 435.7S,
with a general increase in wages.
Stone Contractors and Quarry
4 men.
Crushed Stone for building blocks and
granolithic work formed an important
item of quarry product, and the indica-
tons are that this feature VIII grow
steadily larger. Product value increased
si6,O4T.S4 and an increase i'm wages