Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-04
INDUSTRY PASSES
S1OD,O1O,OI)O MARK
Commercial Interests Within
District Show Increased
Annual Output.

Not more than one.f1fth of the wage
earning population of Washington Is
employed by the Government, while the
remainder. is in large part employed
In the operation of more than 500 in
dustrial establishments, which together
have passed the $100,000,000 mark in
annual output.
These figures are cited by the Cham
Der of Commerce, which, in prepara-
ton for It's fifth annual industrial ex-
position here in october, has collected
the data TO show the industrial and
commercial status Of the Capital and
to demonstrate its progress in these
lines.
Amplifying. the chamber says that
the value of the products of 10 Of the
leading industries ranges from more
than ST. 900 900 to nearly $4,000 600.
Publishing Large.
Printing and publishing are by far
the most important industries In the
District. According to Bureau OF the
Census figures quoted in 1927. the latest
year for which census statistics are
available, newspaper and periodical
products here reached value OF $23.S
6I7.701, while the aggregate value OF
book and job work was $6,34l ,453.
Next in Importance among local in
dustries is the manufacture OF food.
Bread and other bakery products
reached a total value of SlO,576, 203 in
1927. while the wholesale value OF
slaughtering and meat-packing prod
nets was $7.73O.792. Third on the list
was ice cream the local production OF
which totaled value of $3864, l64 in
1927. The output of coffee and spices
in the District reached total value
Of S2.O85. 943. while ice manufactured
here in the IL months had value OF
$l.398.87l, 1t is added.
No complete list of articles manu-
featured in Washington has ever been
compiled, according to the report OF
a recent survey of the Joint Industrial
Council, which listed ITS different
products. far from complete compila-
1ion. The Greater Washington area
does not contain many plants manu-
featuring heavy products. There are,
however, few plants making motor
trucks, truck bodies and freight cars.
fabricatine structural steel and assem-
bling electrical machinery.
Many Stone Quarries.
Washington and the surrounding ter
ritory contain a number OF high quail
ity stone quarries. There are also many
plants engaged in the making OF brick,
cinder block, composition stone, floor
ing, roofing and clay products. Other
plants are engaged In the fabrication
Of sheet metal and other building ma
terials.
AS necessary outgrowth OF the
technical activities Of the Federal Gov
eminent and for other reasons Wash
tngton Is rapidly becoming an impor--
tant center for the manufacture OF
precision tools and instruments and
similar scientific products requiring
highly skilled operatives. 1t is added.
In this group are found firms en-
gagged in the manufacture Of patterns
and models, scientific instruments OF
a wide variety, surgical appliances,
electrical machinery, dental goods, ar
tificial limbs and teeth and general
druggists supplies.
In 1925 the Bureau Of the Census
reported ASST employees engaged in
manufacturing. 1878 engaged in trans
portation utilities and 22,793 engaged
in trades in the District of Columbia,
exclusive Of Government employees.
These totals do not include industrial
employees in the local industrial area
beyond the political limits Of the Dis,
trict.
Large Number Of Employees.
1.-THE number of gainfuly employed
In the District in 1925 was 236,027, Of
which about 10000 were Government
eTlplONBS. Vic NOhlASA ACPOL'
said. IF we spread the base to include
the outlying industrial area and allow
for q slight increase to date. the present
grand total should be at least 100000.
If the same ratio holds now as in 1925
there should be approximately $1,000
persons now engaged in manufacturing
in the local industrial area. The total
however. is much larger than this. be-
cause industrial employees in the Fed
number. With Federal industrial en-
ployes included, the grand total would
be well over $4,000 It should be re-
membered. however. that this final fig
ure does not include the census groups
for transportation, trades and public
service, which would appear to include
many employees usually classed as in
dustrial."
The Joint councils QUESTIONABLE
asked all employers whether local wage
rates were lower. higher or equal to
the rates in similar plants in other
cities. FiftyIsix concerns replied to this
question. Two stated that wages are
lower % stated that wages are higher
and 81 reported wages about the same.
The primary object of the industrial
exposition is to concentrate public at
tention upon the importance of foster
ing suitable industries in the Capital,
Accordingly. there will be presented
Q birds-eye picture Of typical Wash
ington industries. More than half OF
the exhibit space has already been al