Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-16
Trend From Farm to
Factory Still Continues

Factory workers in the United
States now, Tor the first time, exceed
unose engaged ON the farms. Inc
Lrend OIL the population Oh the Unned
States from the farm to the manutac-
turing and transportation centers IS
illustrated, says the Trade Record
OIL The Uuy bank Oh New York by q
ngurcs OIL the number OF persons en-
gagged in gaInIul occupations IN the
united States IN 1920 with similar
ngureS Tor carrier years. Analysis
OIL the occupations OF people OIL the
country have been made at each de
cennlal census during the last halt
century and the official figures Tor
I 1920 snow while the number OF pers-
ons "gamfully occupied" III agrlcul-
tural nneS was in 1920 less than dou-
bic that oil 1910, half century earl
Ter; the number engaged IN manu-
featuring and mechanical industries
was IN round terms tive times as many
as IN 1870 and those engaged in trade
and transportation" SIX times as
many as III 1870.
The census bureau, however, sounds
a word OF warning as to its 1920 tig-
ures of persons engaged in "agrl-
culture, forestry, ana animal hus-
bandry," because of the fact that the
census of 1920 was taken on January
!, while those of preceding censuseS
had been taken on April 10 when the
number of persons employed on farms
and in the forests was doubtless lar
ger than on January /. The actual
ngures, however, for those engaged
in agriculture, forestry and animal
huSbandry' increased from 6,l4l 900
in 1870 to 10.3S2, 900 in 1900, 1862
900 in 1910, and 1881 900 in 1920,
suggesting that even with an allow
ance for the difference in the date of
the taking of the census, the number
engaged in agriculture, forestry and
animal huSbandry" in 1920 was pro-
baby somewhat less than in 1910,
while the number engaged in manu-
featuring and mechanical industries"
grew from 2,45l 900 in 1870 to 1885,
900 in 1900, 10,65S,0 900 in 1910 and
1882, 900 in 1920, making it quite
clear that irrespective of the change
in date of the census of agricultural
occupations the growth in the number
of those engaged in manufacturing is
far greater than those engaged along
agricultural lines.
In the group showing the number
engaged in trade and transportation"
there is a still larger percentage of
increase than in manufacturing and
far larger than that of agriculture,
the total number engaged in trade
and transportation" having advanced
from 100000 in 1870 TO 4,767.000
IN 1900, 6,25l 900 in 1910, and $780,,
600 IN 1920, these increases having
been of course coiucidcntal with the
growth in railroads and other trans
pOrtation facilities, and in very re-
cent years the use of the horselcss
vehicle for transportation as an ad
junct to or in competition with the
railways which nave shown but little
growth in very recent years.
The professions which term In
cludes Lawyers, literary and Scienti-
fic persons, physicians, teachers, cler-
y y
electricians, engineers and journal
lists, also show great attraction and a
large percentage of increase to their
ranks, the number having frown from
$4,000 in 1870 and $4,000 in 1890
/ to l,295,000 in 1900, ana 2,l52,OOO IN
1920.
The official figures of the number
/ of persons engaged under the classi-
tcation domestic and personal ser
vice" seem to justify in some degree
at least the general assertion IN re-
cent years as to the conditions in this
line in every day life. While 1t is not
possible, owing to an apparent change
IN grouping, to compare tigurese of
the group domestic and personal ser
vice with those extending over the
entire period covered by the figures
above quoted, the total number en-
ployed IN domestic and personal SER
vice in 1920 is materially less than
in 1910, and is the only group showing
an actual decline when comparing
1920 with 1910, except in the case of
agriculture for which an explanation
is above stated. The total number of
persons ten years of age and over
employed under the designation dom
este and personal service" was in
1920, 100000 against 5,772,0O0 ten
years earlier. The number of females
engaged in domestic and personal
service fell from 1921 900 in 1910
to 2.1S4,000 in 1920; while the males
engaged in domestic and personal
, service showed much less reduc.
ton, from l,241,OO0 in 1910 to 1916
900 in 1920.
/ The increase in the number of per
sons "gaiufulIy employed is much
greater proportionstely with womer
= than with men. The number of fe
, males "ganfully occupied grew from
2,6iT,0O0 in 1880 TO S,594,000 in 1920
an increase Of 22l per cent while TIT
, males "gainfully occupied" increased
from 14,745,OO in 1880 to 33,059, 000
= an increase of but 124 per cent,