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[Compiled from the biennial reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of Iowa.]

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INCREASE IN AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EACH ESTABLISHMENT.

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per estab

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lishment, Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent.

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The annual statistics of manufactures in Massachusetts, published by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, present reports from a large number of manufacturing establishments in the State, and each year compare conditions with the previous

year.

On the basis of the 4,695 establishments reporting, 1897 compared with 1896, shows a gain of 2.72 per cent in the number of employees and 1.53 per cent in wages paid.

On the basis of the 4,701 establishments reporting, 1898 compared with 1897, shows a gain of 1,80 per cent in the number of employees and 1.61 per cent in wages paid.

On the basis of the 4,740 establishments reporting, 1899 compared with 1898, shows a gain of 9.58 per cent in the number of employees and 11.61 per cent in wages paid.

On the basis of the 4,645 establishments reporting, 1900 compared with 1899, shows a gain of 3.77 per cent in the number of employees and 6.67 per cent in wages paid.

The table follows:

Increase in number of employees and wages paid.

[Compiled from the "Annual Statistics of Manufactures in Massachusetts," published by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor.]

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The Eighteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of New York shows for recent years the number of employees as reported by about 5,000 establishments.

No report is made as to total wages paid and average yearly earnings in these establishments.

In 1896 these 5,000 establishments furnished employment to 283,934 persons; in 1897 the number increased 14,996 or 3.28 per cent. In 1898 the increase was 36,834 or 12.32 per cent over 1897, and 51,830 or 18.25 per cent over 1896. In 1899 the increase was 71,471 or 21.29 per cent over 1898, and 123,301 or 43.43 per cent over 1896. Or, for every 100 persons to which these establishments could furnish employment in 1896, 143 persons are now employed. The table follows:

Number of employees as reported by about 5,000 establishments.

[Compiled from the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of New York for the year 1900.]

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PENNSYLVANIA LABOR REPORTS.

The Secretary of Internal Affairs of the State of Pennsylvania in his report for 1900 publishes a series of tables of comparative statistics relating to 830 identical establishments representing 89 industries. Extracts from these tables are presented here and some further figures are shown which enables a ready comparison of present conditions with conditions which prevailed during the last Democratic administration.

The first table presents a study of the increase in the number of employees. It must be borne in mind that these reports are from identical establishments for the whole series of years, 1896 to 1900. In 1896 the average number of employees was 134,790, which number increased to 140,661 in 1897, a gain of 5,871 or 4.36 per cent. In 1898 the number was 156,943, a gain of 16,282 or 11.58 per cent over 1897 and a gain of 22,153 or 16.44 per cent over 1896. In 1899 the number was 179,779, a gain of 22,836 or 14.55 per cent over 1898 and a gain of 44,989 or 33.38 per cent over 1896. In the year 1900. the number of employees was 190,024, a gain of 10,245 or 5.70 per cent over 1899 and a gain of 55,234 or 40.98 per cent over the Democratic times of 1896.

This means that where 100 persons were employed in 1896, 141 persons were employed in 1900.

The table presenting aggregate wages paid by these 830 establishments makes a still better showing. The amount paid in wages in 1897 was 4.79 per cent greater than in 1896. In 1898 the amount was 16.76 per cent above 1897, and 22.35 above 1896. In 1899 the amount was 24.19 per cent greater than in 1898 and $26,643,939 or 51.94 per cent greater than in 1896.

The year 1900 shows an increase of 6.38 per cent over 1899, and when compared with 1896 an increase of $31,619,512 or 61.64 per cent. Or, for every $100 disbursed for wages in 1896 the same establishments in 1900 disbursed $161.64.

Not only did these companies in 1900 employ 141 persons for every 100 employed in 1896 but, as shown in a following table, the average yearly earnings of each employee were decidedly greater in 1900. The average yearly earnings in 1896 were $380.54, while in 1900 the average was $436.33, a gain of $55.79 or 14.66 per cent as compared with 1896.

The average days in operation increased from 270 in 1896 to 288 in 1900, a gain of 18 days or 6.67 per cent.

Summarizing these tables, it is seen that for every 100 persons who were employed in 1896, 141 persons now have employment; that for every $100 paid to the wage-earners in 1896, $161.64 are now paid; that even with the phenomenal increase in the number of persons furnished employment the average yearly

earnings have also been increased; that instead of an average of $380.54 to each of 134,790 persons in 1896, an average of $436.33 to each of 190,024 was paid in 1900; that in 1896 employment was furnished 134,790 persons for 270 days while in 1900, 190,024 persons were employed for 288 days.

The tables follow:

Eight hundred and thirty identical establishments, representing 89 industries. [Compiled from the Annual Report of the Secretary of Internal Affairs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Vol. XVIII, 1900.]

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PERSONS EMPLOYED.

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The biennial reports of the Bureau of Labor and Industrial Statistics of Wisconsin present information relating to 1,499 establishments for the years 1896, 1897, and 1898. In 1899 the Bureau, owing to lack of time, was unable to investigate but 992 establishments, but based on the establishments investigated, the Bureau in its Tenth Biennial Report has given the per cent of increase in number of persons employed and total wages paid, and the actual increase in average yearly earnings and average days in operation in 1899 as compared with 1896.

The statement of the commissioner follows:

*

*

"Among the more important results with respect to the growth of our manufacturing industries since 1896, which developed through the above investigations, the following may be mentioned. * From 1896 to 1899, inclusive, the following changes took place. ** In the total amount paid as wages the increase amounts to 37.31 per cent. In the average number of persons employed it was 31.65 per cent.

* * *

From the returns of 1500 establishments it was found that average yearly earnings to each worker or, to each position which was constantly filled during the business year, was $396.63 in 1896, $416.63 in 1897, $418.95 in 1898, and $420.50 in 1899. This is an increase in 1899 over 1896 of $23.87.

In the days in operation the increase is equally gratifying. Thus we find that the average number of days in operation was 263.40 in 1896, 270.81 in 1897, 278.40 in 1898, and 281.90 in 1899. The increase in 1899 over 1896, thus amounted to 18.5 days. It is easy to see what this increase means not only to employers but to the employees as well."

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