The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-01-04

the Total Value of the Goods Manu-.
factured Shows an Increase.
Columbia. Dec. ga number OF
statistical statements issued by the de-
partment of agriculture gives In detail
the condition of the textile industry
In South Carolina for the past year.
The report shows decided improve
ment In the child labor condition.
There were only 249 children under
IL years OF age at work i'm the mills.
1t Is pointed out in the report that
the gradual change from coarse to
high grade goods is now felt as is
shown by the decrease OF 26.44 bales
OF cotton consumed during the year
by the textiles.
Commissioner Watson today issued
the following statement which gives
I'm detail the progress that has been
made
"The Statistical reports for the Tex
tile Industry i'm South Carolina. the
compilation of which has just today
been completed, shows a marked i'm
provement of conditions In 1910 over
those existing in 1903 Herewith are
given three different compilations and
in explanation of these figures which
vary slightly. II should be said that
the comparison from the reports on
Form %. is made up from individual
reports called for i'm June. such in
iNytl nj ,AI
simultaneously but over Il period of
approximately six weeks. This com
DilatiOn shows a total spindleage of
4.0SS,7S2, an increase OF 2I2,655 over
1909. At the end of the year the ac-
tual spindleage for the 167 plants Is
4,l44 556. and the number OF looms
is l00.l75, the number of looms for
1909 being only 96,2Sl.
This statement compiled from the
Textile Reports CForm No. 22) shows
that there has been a slight increase
in the number OF children between II
and l6 years OF age employed as the
preceding year, and that there bias
been slight increase In the number
vi bosS DetWeen Il ana IA. tnefe
has not been any increase whatever
I'm the number OF girls between 12 and
IA, and there has been decrease I'm
the number of children in both sexes
under IL.
The second compilation contained
in the tables given herewith is made
up from figures complied from the
inspectors Report. Cards rs to the
number of employees found in the
mills on date of inspection. or course
these dates vary and 1t should be said
that good many mills were running
only part time and other only run
ming their machinery at the date OF
inspection. The figures. however, are
interesting, in that they uniformly
show most marked decrease ia the
employment OF children. Another 1R-
nsnal feature revealed. Is the increase
III the employment OF The negro male
help around the mills.
The third statement is the most
important OF all the comparative state
ments that can be given, I'm that all
the sworn reports from all the plants
In the State come I'm, under the law,
on December 8 of ehc:l year, and. OF
course, are simultaneous and reveal
conditions existing at the end OF che
year In the first place this statement
reveals Tie effect of the eurtailment
lh't was necessary ON account OF the
cotton goods market. but. notwith-
standing this. the value OF the manu-
factured product, as compared TO the
preceding year, shows an increase Of
$2.oOl.73l. The total working popula-
tion has decreased 245, due evidently
10 the curtailment The village pop
ulation is ll4.S38 against 104.214 1t
is gratifying that an increased pro-
portion OF the working population Is
represented by males over l6 years
OF age, the Increase beioR $40, and
mat the only other increase is "a slight
one among the males under 16 EN-
ployed. The most gratifying fact re-
Vealed by the figures. Is the decrease
al 31S in the number OF women en-
ployed and the decrease of 1888 I'm the
number of girls under lG
During the year permits were is
sued to 249 children under 10 years
of age upon totally disabled father
widowed mother and orphan af-
fidavits duly sworn to and certified.
In most of these cases the children