The Yale expositor., 1915-10-07
FIRST ARTICLE

From "Mchigan-the Land of Plenty.O
MO state in the Union offers greater
~ opportunities to the manufacturer
than Michigan The history of the
growth of the manufacturing indus
tries of the state is proof conclusive
of the truth of this assertion. While
the growth of manufacturing indus
tries has been closely related to the
development of the splendid transpor-
tation facilities of the state, yet the
rapid advance in manufactures dates
back as far as 1925, when the Erie
canal, affording connection with the
eastern seaboard, was opened. The
transportation facilities of the state at
present. both by rail and by water,
are excellent. With over nine thou
sand miles of railroad, Michigan Is
sixth state In the Union in its length
Of trackage. The state borders on four
of the great lakes, which furnish splen-
did rail and water transportation facil-
tiles, the state is most fortunately To-
Gated with reference to the great mar
kets OF the country. II should be not
ed that Michigan is located but short
distance from the center Of population
of the country, thereby giving the
state remarkable market advantages.
New York, Buffalo, and in fact the en-
tire East is a ready and accessible
market for Michigan products Cleve-
land, Indianapolis, st. Louis and the
other cities of the South are within
easy reach. Chicago, Milwaukee, st.
Paul, Minneapolis and other cities of
the West likewise receive their por-
ton of made-in-Michigan goods. There
are, perhaps, two other features that
place Michigan in the fore ranks as a
manufacturing state. One is the abun-
dance Of water power afforded by the
many rivers and streams, and, second,
the varied manufacturing industries
within it's borders.
Importance and Growth Of Manufac-
lures.
Michigan has for many years been
one of the leading manufacturing
states. In 1S49 the value of it's man.
ufactured products amounted to SILL
169, 900; by 1869 it had increased to
$11S,395, 900, and in 1909 1t amounted
to $685., 109,0 00 The early development
of manufactures in the state was due
largely to the utilization of it's extern
sive forests, while the growing mar
kets afforded by the rapidly develop
ing West, and advantageous situation
of the state with respect to the mar
kets of both the East and the West,
and its important agricultural and
mineral resources have also been in
fluential factors in it's later progress
During 1S49 an average of 9,344
wage earners, representing 23 per
cent of the total population of the
state, were employed in manufactures,
while in 1909 an average of 231 ,499
wage earners, or SO per cent of the
total population. were so engaged.
During this period the gross value of
manufactured products per capita of
the total population Of the state in
creased from $2S to $244. The pro-
portion which the manufactures of the
state represented of the total value of
the products of manufacturing indus
tries In the United States increased
from IL per cent in 1S49 to 2.S per
cent in 1899 and 3.3 per cent in 1909
The growing industrial importance OF
Michigan is indicated by the fact that
in the value of manufactured products
II has advanced from seventeenth
place among the states of the Union
in 1S49 to ninth in 1899. eighth in 1904
and seventh In 1909.
In 1909 the state of Michigan had
9,159 manufacturing establishments
which gave employment to an average
of 271,071 persons during the year
and paid out s153.S3s, 900 in salaries
and wages. OF the persons employed
,499 were wage earners. These
establishments turned out products
TO the value of s6S5.1Os. 900. to pro
duce which materials costing s36s.612.
600 were utilized. The value added BY
manufacture was thus s316,497. 900
whiah figure best represents the me-
wealth created by manufacturing op
erations during the year.