Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-01
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
SUPPLY MORE Jobs
S September Improvement
Noted in Federal Report.
Surplus Workers Here.


several major industries during sep.
tenlber vas noted by the Labor Depart.
nents Employment Service In a report
made public yesterday.
THE report substantiated figures com
piled recently by the department.
Bureau Of Statistics showing genera
employment had increased Oh per cent
during the month. The bureaus report
however noted a decline Of % per cent
IN pay rolls.
John r. Alpine supervising director
OF the Employment Service, IN his re-
port said coal mining during Septem-
bgr increased in volume and thon sands
of men were recalled to the mines and
a large number who had been working
on part-t.me basis for many weeks we're
returned TO fuIl-tin1e schedule
At the same time. Ethelburt Stewart
commissioner of the Bureau Of Stats
tics. released a report showing that
$50 coal mining establishments had
reported TO his bureau that they had
taken on an additional 25.654 men dur
ing the month. bringing the general to-
tai Of employed miners to 305.8i9 and
pay rolls amounting to S5,977.s40, as
against August payroll figures Of
$3.50, $50.
IAN increase in activity occurred in
che shoe industry" Alpine's report con-
tinued, and many of these establish
tncnts reported fun forces employed on
O full-time basis.
IAN upward trend was noted In the
cigar and cigarette fnctories, which
resulted in an increase in employment
among these workers.
Seasonal influences stimulated en-
ployment in the textile industry, espe-
ciaIly in the Middle Atlantic States
where large numbers OF silk mill work
ers were absorbed.
However, paft-time schedules con-
tintled IN many OF these establishments
located in other sections of the country.
Conditions in the automobile and
Iron and steel industries showed no
change and there was considerable idle
ness among these workers. Highway
construction continued in good volume,
employing large forces of men.
Harvesting the various Fall crops
especially cotton and sugar beets. pro-
vided employment for thousands of
men.
1.-THE canning factories and packing
houses started their seasonal operations
giving employment to many men and
women.
Idle in Larger Cities.
while there was some improvement
IN the industrial situation generally
the larger cities reported considerable
unemployment, which embraced practi-
cally all trades and included profes-
sional and clerical help"
Alpine's report recorded that S6s
establishments, employing 81 ,582 per.
sons, reduced wages during the month
The average decrease was 1915 per cent
Five factories reported wage increases
of an average of lab per cent The
increases, however, affected only III
persons.
Commenting on the conditions ir
the District Of Columbia, the report
said:
While there was fairly satisfactory
volume OF employment throughout
September. there was a general surplus
of labor apparent throughout the
month, which included skilled artisans
In practically all trades and profess
i0nAl workers. There was very little
demand for any class OF Office help
and the large surplus of clerical work
2ers was increased somewhat by stu
dents In the local colleges which have
reopened for the Fall term looking
for part-time employment of one form
or another. The large Federal build
ing program continued To employ sew
eral thousand men, while private build
ang continued in good volume, offer
1ng work TO many skilled and un-
skilled laborers. improvements to city
streets and the extensions of water
mains and other utilities engaged the
services Of the usual number of men
employed by the various municipal de-
partnents Building permits recent
over $2,086. 900.
Manufacturing Fairly Satisfactory.
The manufacturing establishments
IN the District reported fairly salts
factory schedules and in practically all
instances operated with their usual
forces employed: however, the print
ing industry reported business as some
what below normal"
Stewards report said 4.7070i8 per
sons were on pay rolls of 47.52l estah-
1ishments at tie close Of September
as compared with 4,669 sos at the enc
OF August
He cited, however. that employment
in manufacturing industries in Sep
Ee1ber was 1877 per cent below the
level of the same month in 1880. anc
pay rolls were 25.S per cent lower.
Each of the IL groups OF manu-
featuring industries" the report added
ssshowed decreased employment anc
earnings over the year interval th'
falling of in earnings III each group
being more pronounced than the EN-
uloyment decreases. The textile anC
leather groups reported the least chang'
In employment and earnings. while tn,
greatest decrease in the two items wa.
shown in the iron and steel group.
Wooden Industry Gains.
Three of the 81 industries on which
the bureaus indexes OF employment anC
pay rolls are based had more EN-
ployes at the end Of the 12-montl
period than al the beginning. tn
Woolen and worsted goods industry re
ported an increase Of A. per cent il
number of employees over the CORE
pending month OF the preceding year
the cotton goods industry reported 81
increase of l.2 per cent. ana the leve
OF employment in the cyeIng ana I'm
1Shing textiles was o.6 per cent aboy,
the corresponding montA CT 1890.
The outstanding decrease n boil
employment and earnings IN this year
3o-year comparison was shown in tn
agricultural -lnplenaent industry, whicl
reported SIS per cent fewer enploye,
ana a falling Oh C $50 per cent i.
Payroll totals. The fertilizer in1USir-
reported a decrease OF a0.6 per cent i
employment over the year period: ma
chine tools, 37.2 per cent: carriages ant
wagons, S2.S per cent pianos. 81 5 pc
cent. brick. 27.6 per cent foundry an,
machine shops 26.i per cent, and ce
nasnt and sawmills, IS psg cent cac.,
Tne iron ana steel inGassry had II De
cent fewer employees. ard the autouao
bic industry showed a decline of H.
PSF cent IN employment ever Jhe yea
Interval.
Each Of the nine geographic ci
visions reported decreased employment
and payroll totals, the South Atlanti