present law, as to its practical workings. As will be seen, a considerable majority of the correspondents do not believe that the present statute meets the needs of our people on the subject. Many practical suggestions are made by them and presented in the chapter, as are also the crystalized ideas of other States in the shape of extracts from their apprentice laws. In Chapter IV, some ideas have been gathered and inserted in reference to manual and technical training. A comparatively new subject, it is true, to most of the people of the State, but one that is destined to occupy a considerable share of their attention in the no distant future. It was thought proper and useful, therefore, to give some of the ideas of the leaders of thought upon the subject in this report. Chapter V, deals with the present public road law of the State. In it are given the views of many correspondents in this State, representing all shades of opinion upon the subject. Extracts from the road laws of other States are also given. This is one of those public questions that of necessity claims a large share of the attention of the people of the State. Information upon the subject will be appreciated, and it is safe to assume that no chapter in the report will get more attention than the one on public roads. Chapter VI, which is the last, is given to Agricultural Statistics, and is, in the main, concerning the productiveness of farming in the State the past year. The facts and figures given were taken from the experience of individual farmers, the correspondents of the Bureau. The deductions made from the information given will prove of interest and value, as will also the remarks contained in the chapter, in reference to agricultural affairs. Besides the foregoing subjects, it was the intention of the Bureau to present in this report also, a chapter in regard to the mining industry of the State, and much information with respect to the business and labor in them was collected, but it was not as full as desired, and as the matter of the report, without the chapter on mining, occupied as much space as could be given to it, we determined to withhold the same for further investigation and fuller data. The size of the present report, together with the smallness of the appropriation made for the support of the Bureau, is our excuse for not undertaking the investigation of other subjects which we were requested to investigate by persons interested in them, and which were in line with our duties. As will appear from this report and the former one, a considerable correspondence has been carried on by the Bureau with the people of the State. Their interest in the department has constantly increased from the beginning. They have given us generous and cheerful aid by responding to our inquiries, as well as by words of encouragement. They have recognized the Bureau in its true light, as a vehicle for the expression of views upon economic questions and affairs of State, and along with the information furnished of a private nature, the correspondents have given their opinions upon public affairs as well as those that immediately concerned them. The expressions for the most part have been conservative and prudent. There are but few bitter criticisms even in stating complaints, and what is said will commend itself by reason of this fact. Abuses will sooner be corrected by a plain, temperate expression than in any other way. The considerable space given to the statement of opinions from correspondents will do good. They will command that attention from all which the voice of the laboring and producing classes should receive. The Bureau is designed to be an educational force. Its purpose is to investigate matters pertaining to the producers of the State, and to present them for public consideration. In this way it is hoped that a just public sentiment will be produced and fostered, and thus encouragement will be given, and the avenues to the highest development will be kept open. To the producing classes belong the hope of any people, and when their ideas are sought and they are encouraged and developed the best results follow to all. No better way has been found to do this than for a State to look particularly after these classes-to see what their condition is and what it ought to be and then present it for public consideration. Those States which have done so have been the most progressive and prosperous-not for one class but for all classes. In this age of machine and corporate power States must be on the alert as well as individuals for the best conditions, and those that are watchful get the prizes, while those that make no extra efforts find themselves far in the rear, eating the dust and dirt of those in front. It is true that it is not the duty of the State to have any class of its citizens as pampered favorites, but it is its duty to see that those ideas prevail which shall bring the best results to the body politic. That is done wherever enlightened views obtain about economic questions which concern the condition of those who toil. It is well known that servile labor is not the best labor, and that kind which approaches it has never brought the best results to the State. Those nations of antiquity were not the most prosperous or the most powerful when the lines between those represented by the patricians and plebeians were the most strongly drawn, and little attention given to the great body of the people. The same lesson may be learned from mediæval and modern history. and if we take up the history of the English speaking people we shall see that every step they have taken away from vassalage-every movement among them which has given stimulation and encouragement to those who toil has brought the best results to all. The history of the past may reasonably be relied on as an index for the future. The purpose, therefore, that called into being labor bureaus is a high one-that purpose being to look into the condition of the producers—particularly of those who are employees-to get their ideas and present them along with the ideas of others—to get ideas and to give back ideas, that they may act and re-act, that the public mind may be informed and a just sentiment created and fostered. The first labor bureau was established in Massachusetts in 1869a State in which more attention, perhaps, is paid to economic science than any in the Union. The Massachusetts Bureau made such a record for good in that Commonwealth, that no department of State was more relied on or created a greater interest than the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It came to be liberally supported, and it soon attracted attention in other States by its work. In 1872, Pennsylvania established a similar Bureau, and in 1876 Missouri also established one; other States followed, until now there are twenty-two State bureaus in existence, and also a National bureau, which has recently been enlarged and made a separate department of the government. These bureaus owe their rise and growth to no sudden impulse or ebullition of feeling, but the good effect of their work being seen and observed, they have steadily widened their influence and made their way to public favor. It is safer to assume that the development of this kind of statistical work has just begun. The statistical department of government does not to-day, highly as it is regarded, occupy that prominent position which it is destined to assume. There is an eagerness everywhere apparent for statistical information, especially on economic questions, not for theoretical, but for practical purposes. The time has come when it is recognized that it is best for States to "keep books," as well as prudent business men, in order to post themselves thoroughly about their internal affairs, to see what their condition is and what their possibilities are hence the avidity for statistical information. The field which the North Carolina Bureau is intended to occupy therefore is not new or untried. It is a field well known, practical and definite, and one from which may be obtained the best results to the State. The work accomplished by it the past two years is only an earnest of what can be done. It is hardly necessary to say that such work as the Bureau has in hand should be well done, and sufficient funds should be provided for that purpose. The act establishing the Bureau allows three thousand dollars for the first year's work, and two thousand dollars for each subsequent year. By reference to this creative act, it will be seen that this latter sum is less than is necessary to run the ordinary expenses of the department. By the most rigid economy it requires the sum of three thousand dollars to pay the salaries, postage and incidental office expenses. This amount is required to meet the expenses of the Bureau when the work is done entirely by correspondence, as was done the past two years, and is less than that allowed by any other Bureau in the country. Most of the bureaus allow a special sum for travelling expenses for investigation by canvass, and the money expended in this way is found to be wisely spent, because in some instances, and in regard to some lines of investigation, it is necessary for statistical work to be done by canvass in order to get the best and most reliable data. It will only be necessary to call attention to the present allowance for the support of this department to show how meagre it is, and also how insufficient it is to do the work embraced in the act establishing the same. In transmitting this report, we desire to say that the thanks of the Bureau are due, and are cordially extended, the many correspondents who have answered our inquiries, and who have given the information contained in the Report. They have served their Respectfully, |
