The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-08-07
CENSUS REPORT SHOWS RAPID
GROWTH OF PENNA.
Million Persons Now Employed in
Manufacturing at Half Billion
Wage.

Clothed in verbiage as unroman-
tic and monotonous as that of legal
document, its almost endless columns
of figures and comparative data max
ing it a discouraging document for
the lay mind to peruse, the census
bulletin just issued by the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor upon
manufactures in Pennsylvania is,
nevertheless, virtual modern-day
romance of the industrial progress of
what has grown to be one of the
wealthiest commonwealths in the
United States.
The industrial prowess of Pennsyl-
vania to-day can best be judged by
the figures hemselves-27, ,563 diff
ferent manufacturing establishments,
giving employment to 1,002,171 per-
sons, turning out products to the
value of two and a half billions of
dollars annually, and paying in sal
aries and wages $566, 6,524,000 each
year.
Steel works and rolling mills, and
blast furnaces, ranked, respectively,
first and third among the industries
OF the State,' says the census report.
The three allied industries, consid-
cred as one group for convenience,
gave employment to an average of
l43,77S Wage-earners, and turned
out products valued at S694,156, 900
in the fiscal year taken"
Comparison with industrial statis-
tics for Pennsylvania sixty years ago
is sufhcient commentary upon this
magnificent growth. Then the total
number of wage-earners engaged in
manufacturing pursuits in this state
was only 146,766 in all lines of man
ufacture, and the value of the entire
production was less than that now
attained in a single industry.
The report further specifies that
while for the entire census of the
United States 264 classifications
were compiled, all but 19 of these
are represented in Pennsylvania S
manufactures.
The natural resources of the
State,' 1t is pointed out, ARE varied
and of great Importance. They have
had a marked influence in the estab-
ilshment and growth of many indus
tries. Some of the materials used in
manufacture, such as petroleum, BIZ
luminous and anthracite coal, iron
ore, limestone, clay, glass, timber
and tobacco, are produced here in
great quantities. The accessibility
and supply determine, in large
measure, the location of many large
manufacturing establishments, es-
pecially in the iron, coke, lumberi
wood pulp and similar industries.
When it is considered that the
above figures are irrespective of the
tremendous number of persons en-
gagged in mining industries and agri-
cultural pursuits, added significance
Is given to this statement in the CEN
sus report:
The transportation facilities OF
the State, both by rail and by water
are excellent. The State is traversed
by numerous lines of railway, some
of which are the main lines of the
most important systems in the United
States. The total trackage within its
borders in 1903 was 11,206 miles
which was exceeded by only two
| States, Texas and Illinois. Philadel.
| phia is one of the most important
ports in the country"
Though this report in part deals
with the same subject from a some
what different angle, the above state
ment is considered a strong confirma
tion of the arguments and recon-
mendations made in a recent repor
to the Secretary of War by a boarC
OF engineers considering water trans
portation problems and harbor i'm
| provements.