The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-11
FACT IS INTERESTING
Since SOLONS BEGAN
WHEAT-BREAD PROBE
Discrepancy in Prices Of Raw
and Finished Product Prompt
ed Investigation
BREAD OUTPUT ENORMOUS
Where Other Businesses Are
Concentrated, Bakeries
Are Not Far Behind
BREAD OUTPUT ENORMOUS
Nv FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

By FREDERIC J. HAShIN
Washington. D. c., March lin
view of the congressional investiga-
ton in,o the conspicuous discrep-
ancy between the low price of wheat
paid the farmer and the high cost
of bread, it is interesting to note that
in a large number Of American cities
the value of bakery products Is
greater than that of any other In
dustry.
Except in cities where certain in
dustries have concentrated, that is,
cities having balanced manufactures
rather than s%pecialties, bread and
bakery products constitute the out
standing product from the point OF
view Of value.
1t is an interesting commentary on
the extent to which the United States
is living in a machine age that
foundry and machine shop products
come next and there is, as indicating
that the American people are inter-
ested in exercising their minds, the
further fact that one OF the most
widespread industries is the printing
and publishing business.
The United States has q definite
industrial geography with a re-
markable concentration OF certain
types of manufacture in certain cities.
The reasons for this concentration
are various. Grand Rapids, Mich.
for example is famous the world over
for it's furniture. The manufacture
of all types OF furniture constitutes
far and away its leading industry
with an output valued at some $685.
OOO, 900 a year. Next in order come
motor vehicle bodies. The reason for
this concentration is that the forests
of Michigan originally furnished con-
venient an6 enormous supplies OF
wood. There also was adequate
water transportation. That wood
furniture and wood automobile bodies
should be manufactured there IN
great quantities vas inevitable.
Hardware-the necessary fittings for
furniture and allied wood products
follows. But aside from this spe-
cialty bread comes next with products
valued at 81 68, 900 a year.
Take Akron, Ohio, as another ex-
ample. It's rubber products are
valued at s484, 600. 900 a year with the
foundry and machine shop products
connected with the rubber manufac-
ture second. Then comes bread.
81. 406 900 worth. AS all crude rub
Der comes overseas, there is no reason
for the first establishment of a great
rubber industry at Akron. 1t just
happened. But once started, a fabric
of favorable railroad rates, both on
crude rubber to Akron and on fin
ished products away from that city,
was built up and attracted new CON-
panies entering the field.
Industries of Mammoth Size
Chicago and Detroit are other
cities with industries of a size that
overwhelm all competitors. This is
the more interesting in view of the
fact that both are ~favorably situated
for any number of industries. Both
have fine water and rail tranSpor-
tation. Chicago'S slaughtering and
meat packing industry turns out
products to the value Of $3.50, DOC, 900
a year, about three times the value
of products of the nearest rival. That
the Windy City is in the pathway to
the cast of shipments of hogs from
the great corn belt and of cattle from
western ranges accounts in part for
this growth. But also the early es-
adjustment of the Chicago Stock
yards. the greatest in the world, had
its influence.
Chicago's iron and steel industry
has reached an output valued at
$40. 600 900 while foundry and ma
chine shop products are worth $780,
600, 900 and electrical goods STAT ,000,-
900. In addition to these tremendous
machine age specialties we find Chi
cago making $40. 900 900 worth Of
bread and bakery products a year, a
value greater than that of Pitts
burgh's steel.
The greatest concentration of in
dustry anywhere is to be found in
New York City. Neither food nor
drink ONE anywhere near the mag
nitude Of the garment industry alld
never before has there been such a
concentration in place. The In
credible sum of 81, 500, 000, 600 repre-
sents the value of the annual output.
Needless to say, of this more than
81 .l45. 900, 900 represents women's
clothing. Nor does the total include
1882. OOO. 900 merely for millinery,
$4,000, 900 for furs, and $l76, 100000
for silks.
The mere trimmings for garments
made in New York in the course, Of q
year mount up to q value Of $47,000,-
GOO. Suspenders and garters run to
1000, 900 a year while the value of
the incidental manufacture Of but
tonholes in mems clothing reaches
1868 900. The output Of the allied
industry of dyeing textiles Is valued
at $28, 000, 900, while > em~broideries
made each year are worth SIC. 1000.