The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-12-17
VIRGINIA PRODUCTS
INCREASE IN VALUE
INDUSTRY SHOWS GREATER GAIN
THAN 1T HAS FOR MANY
YEARS.
ENFORCE LABOR LAWS.
DoHERTY,s REPORT
SHOWS FEWER NINE ACCIDENTS. 4
PROSECUTIONS ron VIOLA
TIoNs REPORTED.

Iron and machine works took the
lead in the Statewide increase in the
manufacturing and mining industries
in Virginia during the year 1913 ac-
cordIng to the annual report of State
Commissioner of Labor Doherty, Just
from the printer.
The increase for the year was The
largest for some time. The total
value of the products was $213525,-
S2S.27, showing net increase over
the preceding year Of s34,5s3345.49.
The number of manufacturing plants
of all sorts during the year was 2.55s,
an increase of $50 The iron and ma
chinery trade showed that the largest
increase, more than eight million, with
woodenware and boxes next, bore than
six million. Says the report:
Saw mills, which show IA fewer
number OF plants In operation, never
theless. show important gains in the
value Of product Among the few
trades which show losses In value Of
product he loss may in many cases.
be explained by causes which do not
permantly affect the productive power
of the industry as for instance, the
burning Of a large plant, or the sus-
pension Of production in order to
pursue developing operations"
No Business Depression.
The report of Commissioner Doherty
shows the existence of no great
business depression In the State up to
| October / of this year. On the con-
trary. it shows business development
seldom PARALLEL in the State in res
cent years, The largest decrease OF
the eight industries showing decreas-
es was in the -four and grist mills
industry with a loss of 520.360.SS;
next il the paper tin box industry
with loss of s44o.o56.7s. Paper
and pulp mills come next with more
, than 5000. 900 loss while the decreases
es in the other Ave are comparatively
unimportant. Thlrty-eight industries
showed increases ranging from more
than $4,000 up to more than eight
million.
In addition to the collection OF sta.
tistics the duties of the Labor Depart.
ment also involve inspection of facs
tories and prosecutions of the viola.
tons of the State labor laws. Re-
Gently the agents of the department.
have been unusually active. In the
mining districts. especially. where
workmen are constantly in danger of
death by explosions brought on by
carelessness of miners in handing ex-s
/ plosives, Agent Lucas has succeeded
in bringing to justice scores of Offend
ers. During the year covered by the
| report, only nine persons were prose-
cuted under section of the mining
! law. prohibiting a miner or other
emp1oye from taking into the mines
more powder than is required for
one shift. while since October several
! score have been prosecuted in many
parts OF the mining section. of whom
the great majority are brought to
court and convicted.
Commissioner Dohertys report.
states, however, that the number of
mine accidents for the ten months
ending October /. compare ravorably
With the figures for the year ending
December 81. 1913. There were
twenty-six fatal and Si2 not fatal dur
ing that ten months as compared with
forty-five fatal and 3S5 not fatal for
the preceding twelve months.
No General Disaster.
There has been lesser casualties.
occurring singly," says the report
But" is continues. attention should
| be directed to a diminutfon of those,
classes II accidents. which, my their
! frequent recurrence, indicate that pre-
ventive measures may be taken. 1t
is hoped that a rigorous enforcement
of the law. now being made throught
the agency Of this bureau. may 90
far toward accomplishing this pur-
pose
! OF the enforcement of the labor
I laws during the year the report says:
/ There were one hundred and three
cases tried in various courts during
the year: twenty-one under the Child
Labor Law; thirty-six under the Ten
Hour Law. four under the law which
requires adequate seats for saieswom-
en-: two under the Semi monthly Pay
Law: ten under the Fire Escape Law
and twenty-nine under the Sanitary
( Law, There was one motion to re-
move a Juice Of the peace. made on
the ground Of incompetency and be-
cause OF his hahitual disregard OF
the requirements OF the Child Labor
Law. in issuing permits to work to
children under age.