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PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREM ENT SYSTEMS
501
(c) A deferred annuity, beginning at the age at which the employee
would otherwise have become eligible for retirement, of the amount
which would have been allowed him at that age.
An employee between 45 and 55 years of age, involuntarily sep
arated from the service after at least 15 years and before becoming
eligible for retirement, shall be entitled to a deferred annuity, but
upon reaching 55 years of age may elect to receive the immediate
annuity as provided in paragraph (6) above.
The amount deducted from the basic salary of each employee
covering the period from August 1, 1920, to July 1, 1930, shall be
credited to an individual account of such employee to be maintained
in the office where the employee is employed, and amounts deducted
after July 1, 1930, less the sum of $1 per month, shall likewise be
credited to such individual account. An employee covered by the act
who is transferred to an employment not under the act, or who
becomes separated from Government service before becoming eligible
for retirement, shall be refunded the amount deducted from ms salary
with interest at 4 per cent per annum, compounded on June 30 of
each year.
But if such employee reenters the service in any employment cov
ered by the act, such refund must be redeposited with interest in
order to receive any benefit under the act. In case of the death of an
annuitant after retirement, but before he has received in annuities
purchased by the employee’s contributions, an amount equal to the
total amount to his credit at the time of retirement, the amount
remaining to his credit shall be paid in one sum to his legal repre
sentatives, unless the annuitant elected to receive an increased
annuity as provided for in the act. If an employee dies before becom
ing eligible for retirement or establishing his claim for an annuity, the
total amount of his deductions, with interest, shall be paid* to the
legal representative. If a former employee entitled to the return of
the amount credited to his individual account becomes legally
incompetent, the total amount due may be paid to his guardian or
committee.
The aggregate period of service which forms the basis for calcu
lating the aifiount of any benefit is computed from the date of original
employment, either as classified or unclassified employee in the civil
service of the United States or in the service of the District of Colum
bia, including periods of service at different times and in one or more
departments, branches, or independent offices or the legislative
branch of the Government, and service overseas, and the Army,
Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. But in the case of an em
ployee electing to receive a pension or retired pay on account of
military or naval service or compensation under the war risk com
pensation act, the period of his military or naval service upon which
such pension is based is not included. He may, if so entitled, re
ceive both a pension for his military or naval service and an annuity
under the act. Employees who transfer from an employment covered
by the act to an employment not so covered but in Government
service, and who later return to an employment under the act,
receive credit for such time in the employment not covered, upon
contributing to the fund what he would have contributed if he had
continued in the covered employment. Periods of separation
from the service and any leave of absence exceeding 6 months in the
502
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND RELIEF
aggregate in any calendar year shall not be included (except bene
ficiaries under the United States employees’ compensation act,
and substitutes in Postal Service) in computing length of service.
All persons already retired under the provisions of the act of May
22, 1920, or the act as amended, shall have their annuity computed
and paid in accordance with this act, but in no case is the annuity
to be reduced.
The act provides that payments shall be made by check on the first
business day of each month following the period for which the pay
ment has accrued. The old-age retirement annuity commences from
the date of separation from the service and continues during the life
of the annuitant.
None of the moneys mentioned in the act are assignable, subject
to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process.
Source of Funds
Funds are secured by deductions from the basic salary, pay, or
compensation of all employees covered by the act. Prior to July 1,
1926, the deductions were at the rate of 2% per cent. Since that
time, however, employees have been required to contribute 3%
per cent of their basic salaries. The amounts so deducted are de
posited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the
“ civil service retirement and disability fund” for the payment of
annuities, refunds, and allowances.
The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to receive as a supple
ment to the fund any donations by private individuals or organi
zations for the benefit of civil service employees.
All employees covered by the act are deemed to have consented
and agreed to the deductions.
The Secretary of the Treasury is directed to invest portions of the
retirement fund in interest-bearing securities of the United States or
Federal farm-loan bonds and the income from such investments is
made a part of the fund.
Administration
Commissioner of Pensions.—The administration of the act is dele
gated to the Commissioner of Pensions under the direction of the
Secretary of the Interior. An appeal to the Secretary of the Interior
is allowed from a final order of the Commissioner of Pensions. The
Commissioner of Pensions is required to make a detailed comparative
report annually and transmit to Congress, through the Secretary of
the Interior, reports and recommendations of the Board of Actuaries.
[Under a presidential order of July 21, 1930, consolidating govern
mental activities, affecting war veterans, the duties and powers
formerly vested in the Pension Bureau of the Department of the
Interior are now transferred to the new Veterans’ Administration.'
Civil Service Commission.—The Civil Service Commission is requirec
to keep a record of appointments, transfers, and other essentia,
information concerning individual service, and to furnish the Com
missioner of Pensions such reports therefrom as he shall request.
The commission is also required to prepare and keep tables and records
showing mortality experience and percentage of withdrawals from
service and other information which may serve as a guide for future
valuations and adjustments of the plan for retirement.
503
ESTABLISHMENT RETIREM ENT PLANS
Board of Actuaries.—Three actuaries (one of whom shall be the
Government actuary) selected by the Commissioner of Pensions
and known as the Board of Actuaries are directed to report annually
upon the actual operations of the act, recommend changes which in
their judgment are deemed necessary, make a valuation of the “ civil
service retirement and disability fund71 at 5-year intervals or oftener
if necessary, and prepare such tables as may be required by the
Commissioner of Pensions for the purpose of computing annuities
under the act. The Commissioner of Pensions is authorized to fix
the compensation of the Board of Actuaries, except that of the
Government actuary.
Statistics of Operation of the Act
The report relating to the Bureau of Pensions for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1929, found in the annual report of the Secretary of
the Interior, contains the number of claims before the bureau, and
the receipts and disbursements under the operation of the act during
the fiscal year. Of the 32,321 claims before the bureau for action
during the year, 30,640 were disposed of, leaving 1,681 active claims
awaiting final settlement.
The following statement shows the receipts and disbursements
under the civil service retirement act for the year ending June 30,
1929:
Balance in the fund June 30, 1928___----------------------------------$83, 078, 000. 43
Amount deducted from salaries of employees during year_____ 28, 019, 824. 61
Interest and profits_____________________________________
4, 550, 042. 24
Appropriated from general fund of the Treasury____________
19, 950, 000. 00
Total in fund_____________________________________ 135, 597, 867. 28
Disbursements on account of annuities-------------------------------Disbursements on account of refunds______________________
12, 005, 048. 88
4, 067, 423. 54
Total disbursements_______________________________
16, 072, 472. 42
Balance in the fund June 30, 1929----------------------------- 119, 525, 394. 86
Establishment Old-Age Retirement Plans
LARGE number of private companies have established pension
plans for older workers in their own establishments. A survey
of such plans was made by the Bureau in 1925 and a summary of the
results was published in the 1927 handbook. Owing to the fact that
numerous studies of this subject have been made by other agencies,
no recent survey has been made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, a few new plans, involving points of particular interest,
have been described in the Monthly Labor Review from time to time,
and these are noted below.
A
Special Retirement Adjustments in the Steel Industry
A t a c o n v e n t i o n of the American Management Association, held
in New York May 9,1929, the superintendent of the relief department
of the Bethlehem Steel Co. presented a paper describing the methods
47767°—31------33
504
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND RELIEF
by which the associated companies deal with long-service employees
who are dropped from the pay roll through no fault of their own.
Such a situation may arise from a number of causes, such as consolida
tions, changes in process, changes in the location of the industry,
changes in products, changes designed to secure greater efficiency, or
through the total incapacity of an employee due to age or physical
disability.
Ordinarily the first effort is to place those who have been laid off
with other departments or plants of the same company, thus giving
them a chance to continue their membership of the pension system.
When this can not be done, the company will use its contacts with
other employers to aid those dismissed in securing work elsewhere.
Employees having the necessary age and service qualifications are,
if conditions warrant, sometimes placed at once on the pension roll,
and those who have less than the required qualifications are sometimes
given reduced pensions, on a pro rata basis. When neither transfer
nor pension is practicable, some kind of dismissal wage payment seems
the only resort, and this may take either of two forms: Full or part
pay for a stipulated period, or a lump-sum payment, based usually
on length of service and earnings. Of these, the second seems to be
gaining favor.
Several examples are given of the application of these principles.
When a small specialty plant belonging to the corporation was closed
employees eligible for pension were placed on the pension roll, and
other long-service workers received a dismissal wage varying with
their length of service and age. Those aged 45 and over, if they had
10 or more years of continuous service to their credit, were granted
when dismissed one week’s pay for each year of service, while those
with 15 years or over of continuous service were given the one week’s
pay for each year of service, regardless of age. The same plan was
followed by another company which found it necessary to close
permanently two of its plants. Another company had formulated a
comprehensive scheme, varying its treatment, according to whether
men were permanently laid off for lack of work, or dismissed on
account of age or disability, or obliged to retire because they had
reached the age of 70, as follows:
Permanent Lay-offs on Account of Lack of Work
I f an employee had one or more but less than 15 years of service
and was under 65 years of age, the treatment differed according to
his age and physical condition. If he were under 45, he was simply
given one or two weeks7 notice. If he were 45 and under 60, if he
were in good physical condition, he would be given in any case two
weeks’ notice, and, in addition, a dismissal wage of four weeks’ full
pay if he had served for 5 but under 10 years, and of eight weeks’
full pay if he had served 10 but under 15 years; if however, he had a
physical defect which would make it difficult for him to secure work
elsewhere, he would be given two weeks’ notice, and one week’s full
pay for each year of service. If he were 60 and under 65, he would
receive this same treatment, and if he were 65 or over, with 15 or
more years’ of service, his case would be referred to the home office
for special consideration,
ESTABLISHMENT RETIREM ENT PLANS
505
Terminations on Account of Age or Disability
T h e s e are the cases of employees with serious physical defects which
involve unusual accident or sickness hazard, but which are not totally
disabling. If the worker concerned has had less than 10 years7
service and is 65 but under 70 years of age, he is given one week’s pay
for each full year of work; if he has had 10 but less than 15 years of
service, he is given 12 weeks’ full pay for 10 years’ service, with an
additional five weeks’ pay for each additional year of service; if he has
served for 15 but under 20 years, he is retained until retirement
becomes imperative on account of disability, in which case some special
arrangement is made, depending on age, length of service, financial
circumstances, and the like.
In these cases those with less than 10, and those with 10 but under
15 years’ of service, are treated as those in the corresponding groups
under the preceding heading, but those who have had 15 and under
20 years’ service are given a regular retirement allowance of 2 per
cent for each year of service, and this is guaranteed for life.
Employees Totally and Permanently Disabled
I f t h e y have had less than 10 years of service, they are given sickness
benefits through 6 weeks for 1 year’s service, with an additional 5
weeks of benefit for each additional year of service, up to a maximum
of 46 weeks’ benefits. If they have served for 10 and under 15 years,
they are given 78 weeks’ benefits, and then retired with a special
allowance lasting 10 months in the case of 10 years’ service, with a
possible extension of 5 months for each additional year of service. If
they have had 15 and under 20 years of service, they are given 78
weeks’ sickness benefit, and then retired under regular or special
arrangements depending on age, length of service, and similar
conditions.
Insurance and Pension Plan of Standard Oil Co. of New York
A n i n s u r a n c e and pension system covering approximately 45,000
employees of the Standard Oil Co. of New York and its subsidiaries
was announced recently by the company.16 The plan, which is
retroactive to January 1, 1931, provides for a pension allowance and
for death and disability benefits in addition to the pension.
The insurance is in the form of a group policy, each employee
receiving a certificate from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.,
which is to administer the plan. The company will pay three-fourths
of the premium and the employees one-fourth. Participation in the
plan is optional on the part of the employees after six months of contin
uous service with the company.
The normal retirement age is 65 for men and 55 for women in the
domestic service, and in the foreign service of the company 55 and
50 years, respectively. Optional or discretionary retirement is allowed
for men upon the anniversary of participation in the plan nearest the
55th birthday after 30 years of continuous service and for 20 years’
service at the 60th birthday, while women and foreign-service em
16Standard Oil Co. of New York.
Revised plan for annuities and insurance, Jan. 1,1931.
506
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND BELIEF
ployees may retire at the completion of 20 years’ service on the
anniversary date nearest to the 50th birthday.
The amount of the annuities is equal to 2 per cent of the actual pay
in the year preceding retirement, multiplied by the number of years
of service. The amount paid for foreign service is one and one-half
times that of domestic service, but in no case may an annuity exceed
75 per cent of the wages or salary prior to retirement. The amount
of the death benefits payable to beneficiaries of active subscribing
employees or annuitants will be equal to one year’s salary or pay.
In case of total and permanent disability before the age of 60 the
amount of the death benefit is paid in monthly installments over a
period ranging from 32 to 60 months according to the amount of
benefit.
If an employee leaves the service of the company before the com
pletion of 25 years of service he is entitled to cash payment equal to
five-sixths of his contributions, or he may continue his contributions
to the insurance ocmpany and at retirement age receive the annuity
based upon his contributions, or he may discontinue further payments
and receive a porportionate pension when he reaches retirement age.
After completion of 25 years of service he has the same options, and
in addition he retains the right to receive the annuity accruing to
him from the company’s contributions.
As is usual in such plans, the company reserves the right to discon
tinue the plan at some future time, but any change or discontinuance
does not affect the retirement annuities purchased by the employees,
and the company’s contributions which were made prior to such
change or discontinuance.
Provision is made for employees now eligible for retirement who
were insured under the insurance system previously in force, so that
increases in salaries during the 5-year period prior to retirement will
be considered in fixing the amount of the pension.
Safeguarding the Employees’ Interest Under Industrial Pension
Plans
T he chief arguments against industrial pensions have been that
they tend to bind the employee to the particular enterprise, thus
limiting his choice of employment, and that they engender a false
sense of security on the part of the employee. Practically all of the
establishment plans contain a clause stating that the plan may not be
construed as a contract giving an employee the right to a pension and
the right is reserved to alter, amend, or withdraw the plan at any
time without liability on the part of the company. This provision
usually is not stressed, however, by the company and the employee
may not realize therefore that there is always the possibility that a
pension will not be forthcoming when the time arrives for it to become
payable.
An article on industrial and State pensions in the Service Letter on
Industrial Relations, June 5, 1929, published by the National Indus
trial Conference Board (Inc.), discusses the relative merits of industrial
and State pension systems and points to the plan of the Western Clock
Co. as a constructive effort to meet the objections which can validly
be brought against industrial pensions.
The plan, briefly stated, provides that a yearly paid-up pension to
which the employee contributes is purchased by the company for each
ESTABLISHMENT RETIREM ENT PLANS
507
employee having at least two years’ service with the company who
chooses to become a member. The benefit paid for by the employee
is called “ income” and the benefit paid for by the company is called
“ pension.” The income benefit consists of a level premium deferred
annuity which will become effective upon retirement at the age of 65
for the remainder of the employee’s life provided he has kept up his
payments on the premium. The policy may be continued if the
employee leaves the service of the company, or it may be converted
into a paid-up policy at a reduced face value. The pension, the cost
of which is entirely paid by the company, is in the form of a small
paid-up deferred annuity for each employee who continues his mem
bership throughout each year. The insurance company holding the
policy issues a stamp for the amount of each year’s annuity and these
stamps are affixed to the contract certificate. The sum of the stamps
purchased by the company and with the income purchased by the
employee constitutes the pension when the employee finally retires.
The pension stamp remains in full force and effect as long as an em
ployee leaves his contributions in the fund even though he leaves
the service of the company and whether or not he continues to pay the
premium for his income or takes a paid-up annuity and ceases further
payments. In other words, as long as he does not withdraw his
contributions the pension stamp is good for an annual pension equal
to the amount stated on the stamp. An employee may take a cash
surrender value on his income but this of course removes him from
further participation in the plan.
In concluding the article in the Service Letter it is said:
This is perhaps the forerunner of some reciprocal plan operated by insurance
companies, or by some central body which will permit service in whatever com
pany to count proportionally toward a retirement annuity to which the employee
contributes throughout his working life, and to which each employer contributes
in proportion to the individual’s service in the particular establishment. Admit
tedly, such a solution seems visionary for many reasons. A very small proportion
of employers of labor are now providing pensions, and any reciprocal plan is
dependent upon a very general adherence to the pension principle. It is difficult
to conceive of any such widespread adoption of pension plans without some form
of compulsion. The actuarial problems and details of administration would be
very complex. However, if industrial pensions are to serve as an adequate solu
tion of the social problem of old-age dependency, their effectiveness in geographic
coverage and in coverage of the working population will need to be materially
increased.
Annuity Unit Plan of a Large Manufacturing Company
A p e n s i o n plan was announced in 1929 by the Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Co. which provides for the voluntary coop
eration of the employees, who are given the opportunity to buy
annuity units in addition to those provided by the company. The
plan provides for retirement at the age of 65 with an annuity depend
ing upon the employee’s length of service and salary or wages. Em
ployees covered by the plan receive at the expiration of each year of
service an annuity certificate which entitles them to a number of units
of income after retirement. The service annuity units provided by
the company are deposited in a trust fund administered by a board of
trustees consisting of officials of the company and of a bank, with the
bank acting as custodian of the funds, while the employees’ annuity
units are underwritten by one of the large life insurance companies.
508
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND RELIEF
All employees who were under *70 years of age on May 1, 1929, the
date the plan was effective, were eligible to participate in the plan
after a waiting period of one year. Each annuity unit yields $1 per
month beginning at normal retirement age and continuing for life.
The number of company units per employee range from one to six,
according to the salary grade, and if an employee purchases a number
not less than the scheduled number of company units he receives a
bonus of one-fourth of a company unit for each one provided by the
company. An employee pays for the employee annuity units at the
rate for his age at the nearest birthday at the beginning of each
annuity year, the monthly payments ranging from $1.86 for men and
$2.11 for women at the age of 20 to $9.56 for men and $10.72 for
women at the age of 64. These are the group annuity rates fixed by
the insurance company.
In case an employee dies or ceases to be employed by the company
prior to reaching retirement age, the full amount paid by him for an
employee annuity unit is returned with compound interest at the
rate of 3% per cent per annum, less a cancellation charge of 3% per
cent if his service is terminated within two years after the purchase
of his first employee annuity unit. In case an employee does not
wish to accept the cash refund, he may continue to make premium
payment on an adjusted basis directly to the insurance company or
in case he does not wish to keep up the payments he may accept a
certificate for the deferred paid-up units if the total income from such
payments would amount to not less than $10 a month.
Instead of a straight pension terminating upon his death an em
ployee also has the option of converting the company annuity units
and the employee annuity units he buys for himself into a joint
and survivor annuity, so that after he dies the income will continue
to his widow as long as she may live. Under this joint plan the
income is smaller than under the regular pension plan.
It is stated in the plan that while the company desires and expects
that the plan will be permanent, the right is reserved to modify it or
withdraw it at any time. The trust fund set up by the company
insures, however, the honoring of all company annuity units issued
up to the time of such action since the annual payments of the
company are irrevocably turned over to the board of trustees.
Financing Railroad Pension Plans
Several studies of industrial pension plans which have recently
appeared have emphasized the rapid growth in the cost of such
systems as the number of pensioners increases, and the danger of
their coming to grief unless they have been based upon a careful
study of their future cost and an intelligent provision for meeting
these costs as they develop. In its issue for August, 1930, the Electric
Railway Journal, presenting a survey of the pension plans of a number
of street railway companies, points out that in most of these the
pensions are paid out of current earnings, that in many of them the
cost is already becoming embarrassingly high, and that in several
cases it has been considered necessary to recast the system entirely
or at least to change the pension rate at first established.
The position of the railroads in regard to carrying their pension
plans has been difficult in the past, for up to 1928 the regulations of
the Interstate Commerce Commission did not permit them to make
any charge to operating accounts for pensions except as these were
ESTABLISHMENT RETIREM ENT PLANS
509
actually paid out. In other words, they were unable to build up
proper reserves, and had to follow the dangerous and expensive plan
of paying pensions out of current earning^. In response to their
protests against this situation, the commission issued an order, pub
lished December 17, 1928, permitting the formation of pension
reserves when a road had established a definite contractual obliga
tion for pension payments.
Specialists in pension plans have pointed out that the importance
of this order can hardly be overestimated, since it makes it possible
for the roads to assure the continued solvency of their pension sys
tems, and bases the employee’s hopes for the future on a definite
contractual relation rather than on the kindly intention of the
employers.
The Railway Age in its issue for August 2, 1930, contains a dis
cussion of various methods of funding plans under this order, by a
member of the Equitable Life Assurance Co. The costs to be pro
vided for under a funding system, he points out, consist of three
parts: First, there is the present value of future pension payments
to persons already on the pension roll; next, there is the present value
of the pension which must hereafter be paid to present members of
the force in consideration of the years of service which they have
already rendered, and finally there is the cost of the pensions to be
paid for the services which are now being rendered and which will
be rendered after the system is completely funded.
To make the entire change from an unfunded to a funded system
at one step would involve such a large increase in the charges to
operating expense that it might not be practical. In such a case, it
is suggested, it might be well to adopt a program of partial funding,
the object being to wipe out or fund the accrued liability by degrees
instead of doing it all at once. This might be done by arranging to
purchase annuities at the time of retirement for all employees retired
after adopting the plan and at the same time arranging to finance on
an annuity basis all pensions already in effect. This latter step is
not really necessary, if it proves inconvenient, since the existing
pension roll will inevitably be wiped out in time by death. The
essential matter is to prevent any additions to the existing pension
roll on a cash disbursement basis, and if this is accomplished it is not
really of very great importance whether the pensions already opera
tive are quickly funded by purchasing annuities or gradually extin
guished by the death of the pensioners.
There are only two elements in the cost of partial funding. The first is the
cost of annuities purchased for employees currently retired and is determined by
the number of retirements and the annuity rates used. The second element of
cost is the payment of pensions directly to the survivors of pensioners on the
roll at the time the plan was adopted. Obviously this latter element of cost
will constantly decrease and will disappear when the old pension roll is eleminated.
The distribution of these two elements of cost should be controlled by a budget
that may be determined on the yearly basis or for 5-year periods based on
actuarial computations.
Such a plan, it is pointed out, should be regarded only as prepara
tory to the installation of a fully funded system.
The cost of carrying out the partial funding program should be budgeted as
a fixed amount each year until such time as the pension roll in existence at the
beginning of the program is eliminated through the purchase of immediate
annuities or death. When this point is reached the complete funding program,
which provides for the cost as a constant percentage of pay roll should be started.
510
OLD-AGE PENSIONS AND RELIEF
Care of the Aged by Labor Organizations
DETAILED account of the provision made by labor organiza
tions for their aged and superannuated members, by means of
both homes for aged and old-age pensions, based upon the Bureau of
Labor Statistics study of the subject (Bui. No. 465) was given in the
1929 Handbook (Bui. No. 491, pp. 534-542).
A
Old-Age Pensions Paid by Labor Organizations, 1930
I n 1930 according to information furnished to the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11 of the 12 labor organizations which
have old-age pension systems paid in pensions the sum of $3,403,180
to 13,049 pensioners. No data are available for 1930 for the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, but from statements in the brother
hood magazine, it appears that benefits are being paid at a lowered
rate and a radical revision of the pension fund of that organization is
under consideration. Omitting that organization, in the 4-year
period, 1927 to 1930, the number of pensioners of labor organizations
has risen from 6,839 to 13,049—in other words, has nearly doubled—
while old-age benefits have increased from $2,362,476 to $3,403,180, or
44 per cent.
The details for the various organizations which have pension plans
are shown in the following table:
REQUIREM ENTS FOR PENSION, N U M BE R OF PENSIONERS, AND A M OU N T DIS
BURSED FOR PENSIONS B Y SPECIFIED TRADE-UNIONS, 1930
Requirements
for re©eipt of
pernsion
Labor organization
Amount of pension
Age
Bricklayers___________________________
Bridge and structural-iron workers.........
Carpenters___________________________
Electrical workers.....................................
Granite cutters..........................................
Locomotive engineers...............................
Locomotive firemen and enginemen-----Printers_____________________________
Printing pressmen.....................................
Quarry workers_______________________
Railroad trainmen................................... .
Street-railway workers..............................
Total, 1930 ___________________
Total, 192711....................................
65
2 60
65
65
62
605
65
60
60
60
(10)
65
Mem
bership
(years)
20
220
30
20
25
1
2
25
20
10
2
20
$7 per week__________
$25 per month..............
$15 per m onth3...........
$42 per month..............
$60 per year4...............
$25-$65 per month .
$30-$40 per month .
$8 per week..................
$4 per week..................
$50 8..............................
$30-$70 per month____
$800 in lump sum____
Number
of pen
sioners
Amount
paid in
pensions,
1930
2,037
595
5,000
83
432
(5)
652
3,188
398
«13
505
146
i $744,718
164,975
658,350
30,832
16,410
(5)
246,540
*1,186,024
72,436
650
165,445
116,800
13,049
6,839
3,403,180
2,362,476
* Year ending June 30,1930.
* After 15 years' membership regardless of age if disabled because of injury received at work.
* Paid quarterly.
4 $10 per month for 6 months of the year.
* No data.
6 Or younger, if disabled for work in the occupation.
* Year ending June 20, 1930.
s Flat sum, deducted from death benefit.
* Number paid lump sum in 1930.
10 No age requirement, but must be totally and permanently disabled for work.
^ Does not include 4,467 pensioners and $988,519 paid by locomotive engineers.
During the past few years the subject of old-age pensions for
members has received a large amount of attention from labor organ
izations and several have considered the advisability of adopting a
CA.BE o f
th e
aged
by
la b o b
o r g a n iz a tio n s
511
pension plan. In 1930, the annual meeting of the Amalgamated
Clothing Workers passed a resolution favoring the establishment of
both a home for aged and a pension scheme “ if conditions permit it.”
The hotel and restaurant employees’ union has established a “ trail
blazers’ old-age pension fund” to which contributions are being
invited from members, with the idea of accumulating money to be
used eventually in the payment of pensions. The 1930 meeting of
meat cutters and butcher workmen went on record as favoring the
establishment of both a home for aged members and a pension plan.
Under the action taken by the convention the approval of each local
was necessary and this has now been obtained. An assessment of
$25 has been levied on each member of the union, payment beginning
in October, 1930, and continuing at the rate of $1 per month for 25
months. Pensions will be payable at the age of 65, after 20 years’
membership, and a retired member will be given his choice of a pen
sion of $30 per month or residence (himself and wife) in the home;
the same option will be given to members disabled for work at the
trade, after 10 years’ membership. It is planned to finance the home
by means of a livestock and ranching business owned and operated
by the union through a subsidiary company. The locals will be
urged to erect cottages on the ranch, to be occupied by retired
members who will perform such tasks as they are fitted for. It is
remarked that in this way the organization will be “ setting its mem
bers up in a business that is right next door to their life work.” The
plan also contemplates the education of orphans of deceased members.
Local No. 306 (New York City) of the Motion Picture Machine
Operator’ Union has recently established a pension system providing
for pensions to members, disabled from accident or occupational
disease, who have reached the age of 60 years and have been in good
standing in the organization for 15 years. The plan went into oper
ation January 1, 1931. The pension will be $25 a week. The funds
will be raised at least in part by the operation of a truck advertising
business, which has been taken over by the union.
OLDER WORKER IN INDUSTRY
513
Problem of the Older Worker
HIS is a problem of such recent development that when the 1929
issue of the Handbook was published, it had hardly begun to be
discussed, but within this interval it has risen to serious importance.
There is pretty general agreement that its increasing seriousness is due
in part to the greater productivity of labor under rationalization and
mass production methods, and in part to the more extensive employ
ment of women and the industrialization of negroes. All these factors
increase the supply of potential labor at a time when the demand is
lessening. The employer who has an abundant choice tends to take
the younger applicant, and more and more the older employee who for
one reason or another loses his job finds himself passed over. As this
situation becomes recognized, intelligent and social-minded employers
seek means of preserving the employability of their own workers, and
public employment offices and private philanthropic bodies make
special efforts to place the older applicants, so that a double process is
going on, one of displacement, the other of retention and replacement.
The latter movement, however, is lamentably small as compared with
the first.
In the following pages several articles are presented dealing with
the existence and results of a maximum hiring age limit. The first
summarizes the results of a survey made by the National Association
of Manufacturers as to the existence of such a limit, and the second
gives figures presented by the industrial relations committee of this
same association to show that the age level of industrial employees is
rising. This result is so contrary to that of most investigations into
the subject that the figures are given as a matter of presenting the
association’s conclusions, although the statement does not give in
formation as to the representative character of the industries covered.
These articles are followed by a report on investigations in Maryland
and California which gives in detail results suggested by several less
extensive studies, and by a discussion on finding work for the middleaged in San Francisco which shows the difficulties in the way of placing
older applicants, and also calls attention to the need for special and
painstaking efforts toward this end.
A question of urgent importance is what can be done to keep the
middle-aged or older worker from losing his job. From a business
point of view an employer can not afford to load down his pay roll
with unprofitable workers, but if an employee can maintain his use
fulness, or even increase it as he gains in experience as well as in years,
he becomes an asset instead of a liability, and the problem ceases to
exist. The efforts of forward-looking employers, some of which are
discussed in the following pages, to utilize such abilities as their elder
workers possess, and to keep the middle-aged from settling down into
the rigidity and lack of adaptability apt to characterize age, form an
interesting development of the industrial situation, and one which
bids fair to be of increasing importance during the next few years.
T
515
516
OLDER W O RK ER IN INDUSTRY
Age Limits on Employment by American
Manufacturers
HE proceedings of the thirty-fourth annual meeting of the
National Association of Manufacturers, held in New York City,
October 14-16, 1929, contains a report of a survey made by its indus
trial relations committee as to the extent to which manufacturing
establishments of the United States have set maximum age limits
for employment. The text of the report, so far as this subject is
concerned, is as follows:
“ During recent months there has been more discussion about the
older workers in industry than about any other single phase of employ
ment relations. The results of an investigation of several hundred
manufacturing firms shows that 72 per cent of the manufacturing
plants of the United States have no set maximum age hiring limits,
the great majority stating that they disregard age and hire only on a
basis of physical fitness of the applicant and ability to perform work
satisfactorily. A considerable number declare that they prefer older
employees because they are steadier and have acquired valuable skill
which younger employees lack. We know of no companies which
discharge employees when they reach a given age.
“ Twenty-eight per cent of the manufacturing plants do have maxi
mum hiring age limits, refusing to hire new employees beyond certain
fixed ages, but many of them make exceptions in the case of former
employees. Among this 28 per cent of the plants with a maximum
hiring age limit, the limits range from 25 years to 70 years for unskilled
and semiskilled workers and from 35 years to 70 years for skilled work
ers. (We include in this 28 per cent some plants which deny having
any rigid limit but which state that in practice nearly all workers
newly employed are below some certain age.)
“ The most frequent limits are 45 for the unskilled and semiskilled
and 50 for the skilled. In employing semiskilled and unskilled workers
about 25 per cent of the companies with hiring-age limits (or about 6
per cent of the total) use the 45-year limit, with 50 per cent setting
the maximum age higher and 25 per cent putting it lower than 45.
The benefit of skill and craftsmanship is seen by the fact that in
companies having maximum hiring limits for skilled employees only
18 per cent place the limit below 45; 63 per cent use either 45 or 50
years, and 19 per cent put the limit somewhere about 50 years.
“ The majority of companies having maximum hiring-age limits
set such limits for a number of different reasons. An analysis of the
reasons given for the establishment of such limits reveals that 22 per
cent relate to physical condition of the workers or the work, such
matters, for example, as sickness, irregular attendance, eyesight
requirements, steadiness of hand, and the heavy type of work in the
foundries and some other manufacturing operations. The efforts
of industry to take care of aging employees in plant pension plans,
which usually limit benefits to those in the company employ 15 to 20
years, and a feeling that industrial concerns have a special obligation
to provide steady employment to individuals already in their employ
for many years, is given as the cause for 21 per cent of the estab
lishment of maximum age limits. The cause of third importance—
19 per cent—responsible for maximum hiring limits is given as the
tendency of older employees to slow up at their tasks. The heavy
T
517
AGE DISTRIBUTION, 1923 AND 1028
cost of workmen’s compensation insurance, the liability of older
employees to injuries, and added danger to other employees when
working with older men is given as the cause in 14 per cent of the cases
where such limits exist. The existence of group life-insurance plans
is given as the cause for 11 per cent of the maximum age hiring limits,
since the addition of large numbers of aged employees would heavily
increase the cost of insurance premiums.”
Age Distribution of Industrial Workers in the United
States, 1923 and 1928
SERIES of hearings on Federal aid to State old-age pensions was
held in Washington, February 20, 21, and 28, 1930, before the
House Committee on Labor, at which, on February 28, the manager
of the industrial relations department of the National Association of
Manufacturers, speaking in opposition to such aid, maintained that
the charges of discrimination in industry against the older worker are
either untrue or greatly exaggerated. In support of this claim he
gave figures showing that the percentage of workers above 40, 50 and
60 is increasing, and was higher at the end than at the beginning of a
5-year period studied. These figures were afterwards published in
more detail in a pamphlet on public old-age pensions issued by the
association in April, 1930. They are based on a detailed analysis of
1,189,006 workers in 1923 and of 2,632,822 in 1928, made by the
industrial relations department of the association from data covering
the combined group life insurance experience of six large insurance
companies. No information is given as to the nature of the industries
covered.
A
PERCEN TAGE OF WORKERS IN SPECIFIED AGE GROUPS IN 1823 A N D
Percentage in specified
age group i n Age group
Percentage in specified
age group i n Age group
1923
16 to 20.
21 to 25.
26 to 30.
31 to 35.
36 to 40.
41 to 45.
46 to 50.
51 to 55.
1928
10.86
15.95
15.43
13.74
12.14
9.73
7.66
5.87
1928
7.76
15.68
15.74
14.29
12.79
10.65
8.06
5.93
1923
1928
56 to 60____
61 to 65___
66 to 70___
71 to 75___
76 to 80___
81 and over.
3.96
2.58
1.34
.55
.15
.04
4.18
2.56
1.49
.63
.20
.04
Total
100.00
100.00
It will be observed that beginning with age 26 there was a higher
percentage of all workers in each of the 12 higher-age classes in 1928
than in 1923, with the exception of the two age groupings 61-65 and
81 and over. This becomes even more strilang when we view the
following statement:
Per cent of all workers—
1923
Over age 40_____________________ _____ _ 31. 88
Over 50__________________ _____________ 14 49
Over 60________________________________ 4 65
Over 70......... ................. ............ ........................74
1928
33. 74
15.03
4 92
.87
518
OLDER W O RK ER IN INDUSTRY
Age Limits in Industry in Maryland and California
I N JANUARY, 1930, the* California Department of Industrial Rela
tions published a study of middle-aged and older workers in Califor
nia, which dealt with the subject in a general way and which was fol
lowed by a more detailed study, recently published, based on data as
of March,. 1930. In the spring of 1930, the Maryland Commissioner
of Labor and Statistics undertook a study of the same subject in his
State, the results of which have been issued under the title of “ The
Older Worker in Maryland.” While these two studies cover in part
the same ground, each has its own distinguishing features, and each
supplements the other in important particulars.
The Older Worker and the Age Level in Maryland Industries
T he Maryland study had two distinct purposes: First, to learn
whether Maryland employers set maximum age limits for hiring,
and, if this is so, to find how general the practice is and at what ages
the limits are set; and, second, to assemble, as a basis for further
study and consideration, if necessary, certain definite findings in re
gard to a condition which, if proved existent, would create a social
and economic problem of no little weight.
Questionnaires were sent out to 1,063 establishments in Baltimore
and in the State outside the city, and replies to these were received
from 858 active business organizations with not less than 173,724
employees. Of these, 772 organizations, employing 113,498, or 65.3
per cent of the total number of workers covered, set no age limits; 32,
with 7,513 employees (4.3 per cent of the total), had no definite age
limit but did have a tendency toward employing younger workers or a
preference for doing so; and 54, with 52,713 employees (30.3 per cent),
had definite age limits.
Of the 60,226 employees in the establishments either setting age
limits or tending to prefer the younger applicants, 64.7 per cent were
employed by railroads and public utilities, and 26.3 per cent by
manufacturing establishments. The commonest age limit given was
45 years, but in specific cases it ranged downward to 23 years for men
and 30 for women. The reasons for setting age limits fell, for the
most part, into four groups: The nature of the work to be done, the
lesser desirability of the older worker, organization policies such as
the desire to retain posts suitable for elder workers for the men and
women growing old in their own service, and the maintenance of
benefit plans, such as retirement pensions, group insurance, and the
like. This last cause is considered by the author of the report as of
special importance in leading to the adoption of age limits.
Age Level in Maryland Stores and Factories
I n t h e hope of discovering whether there is any indication of a
changing age level in industry, either as a result of setting age limits
or from other causes, a special study was made of two groups of
workers— those in manufacturing industries, and employees in retail
department stores.
Age records were secured for 32,946 individuals, of whom 18,495
were employed in 56 manufacturing establishments in Baltimore or
519
AGE LIMITS— MARYLAND AND CALIFORNIA
its immediate vicinity. Of the remaining number, 8,874 were em
ployed in 23 manufacturing plants in the counties, and 5,577 were
working in seven retail department stores in the city of Baltimore.
The facts concerning race, sex, and age of these workers are presented
in great detail, with similar facts concerning the general population,
but a few of the summary tables give the high lights of the situation.
Baltimore retail department stores.—The department-store employees
studied were thus divided as to race and sex:
T a b l e 1.— RACE AN D SEX DISTRIBU TION OF EM PLOYEES IN BA LTIM OR E D E P A R T
M E N T STORES
Race
Males
White______________________
Negro______________________
Total __
_
___
Females
Total
1,544
200
3,757
76
5,301
276
1,744
3,833
5,577
The age distribution of the whites differed from that of the colored,
but the latter formed so small a proportion of the whole that in the
following tables no distinction of race is made. In Table 2 the age
distribution of these department-store employees is compared, first
for the whole group and then by sex, with the age distribution of the
whole population of Baltimore as given by the census of 1920, and
the age distribution of those gainfully employed and of those gainfully
employed in trade. All the comparisons deal with those aged 14 and
over.
T a b l e 2 .- P E R CEN T DISTRIBU TION OF POPULATION AND OF SPECIFIED E M PL O Y E D
GROUPS IN BALTIM ORE, B Y AGE GROUP AND SEX
Both sexes
Age group
Em
Em
Em
All
All
All
Em ployed Total gain
Em ployed Total gain Em ployed
Total gain ployed
in
7
ployed
in
7
ployed
in 7
popu fully
popu fully
popu fully
in
retail lation
in
retail lation
in
retail
em trade
lation em trade
em trade
depart
depart
depart
ployed in
in ployed in
in
in
ployed in
ment
ment
ment
in
in
1920
in
1920 stores 1920
1920 stores 1920
1920 stores
1920
1920
1920
in 1930
in 1930
in 1930
14 years...........
2.2
0.6
0.9
15 years............
2.2
2.0
1.2
16 years............
2.3
4.1
2.3
17 years............
2.2
2.6
3.9
18 and 19 years.
5.8
4.8
7.4
20-24 years......
13.2
15.1
16.4
25-44 years....... 1 44.3 1 46.6 145.1
45-64 years....... 23.3
22.6
17.9
65 years and
over...............
3.2
5.7
2.1
Age unknown
Total—
Females
M ales
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.2
0.5
0.5
0.7
2.0
1.0
1.8
1.0
2.9
2.2
1.6
3.1
2.2
5.0
1.9
3.2
11.5
4.6
4.4
6.0
13.1
25.6
13.6
14.7
38.5 144.8 148.5 147.4
10.5
20.4
23.7
24.9
2.1
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
2.0
1.9
3.2
2.4
4.2
6.5
3.7
4.4
2.3
5.6
4.5
9.0
9.4
10.9
5.0
21.8
13.5
19.3
20.3
39.8 143.5 141.3 139.6
13.7
12.1
22.9
16.5
0.5
.7
2.6
5.2
12.6
27.3
37.8
9.3
.5
4.0
5.2
3.6
2.7
.9
4.6
6.3
2.1
.6
.2
3.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
i Includes those of ages unknown.
Comparing the whole group of department-store employees with
the general population, it will be seen that they have a smaller pro
portion of their number aged 14 and 15, but that from age 16 onward
they have a larger proportion until the age group 25 to 44 is reached,
47767°—31------34
520
OLDER W ORK ER IN INDUSTRY
when they fall behind. The detailed figures given in the report show
that this lag begins with the group aged 30 to 34 and increases with
each age group thereafter. The same general situation is shown
when the department-store employees are compared with those who
in 1920 were gainfully employed, and with those employed in trade,
and when the comparison is made by sex. In the latter case, how
ever, it appears that the excess of female department-store em
ployees over those gainfully employed in 1920 does not begin until
age 17, while the excess over those employed in 1920 in trade does
not appear until ages 18 and 19. A point of special interest is the
proportion aged 45 and over. Taking those aged 45 to 64, the per
centage of the store employees is less than half that of the general
population, or of those gainfully employed; when the comparison is
with those employed in trade, the disproportion is not so great, but
is still strikingly large. The male department-store employees
approach more nearly to the age distribution of the other groups, but
even they show only a little more than one-eighth aged 45 to 64,
as against nearly one-fourth in this age group in the general male
population and males gainfully employed, and one-fifth among the
males employed in trade. The female department-store employees,
as compared with the general female population, show less than half
as large a percentage in the age group 45 to 64, and a considerably
lower proportion than those gainfully employed in 1920 but not so
marked a difference from those employed in trade. On the whole,
these tables indicate rather clearly the working of two tendencies:
There is an evident diminution in the employment of children under
16, and a relative decrease in the employment of workers in the
higher age groups, especially among those aged 45 and over.
Maryland manufacturing establishments.—Data were secured con
cerning 27,369 employees in 79 Maryland manufacturing plants, who
were thus divided as to race and sex:
T a b l e 3 .- S E X AND RACE DISTRIBU TION OF M A R Y L A N D FA CTO R Y EM PLOYEES
Race
Males
Females
Total
White______________________
Negro______________________
18,672
2,215
6,263
219
24,935
2,434
Total___________________
20,887
6,482
27,369
As in the case of the department-store employees, full data were
collected as to the ages of these workers, and the results are given in
great detail. Table 4 shows the age distribution of the manufacturing
workers as a whole and by sex, as compared with the general Maryland
population in 1920, with those who in 1920 were gainfully employed,
and with those employed in manufacturing and mechanical industries.
521
AGE LIMITS— MARYLAND AND CALIFORNIA
T a b l e 4.—PER CEN T DISTRIBU TION OP POPULATION AND OP SPECIFIED E M PLO Y E D
GROUPS IN M A R Y L A N D , B Y AGE GROUP A N D SEX
Males
Both sexes
Age group
All
Total gain
popu fully
lation em
in ployed
in
1920
1920
Em
ployed Em
in
manu ployed
in 79
factur manu
ing
factur
and
ing
me
chan estab
lish
ical ments
indus in
tries
1930
in
1920
100.0
100.0
100.0
Em
ployed Em
in
manu ployed
in 79
factur manu
ing factur
and
ing
me
chan estab
lish
ical
indus ments
in
tries
1930
in
1920
0.1
2.7
0.5
0.3
2.4
.4
1.0
.8
2.5
1.8
1.8
1.7
3.5
2.5
2.1
2.1
9.1
5.1
5.0
4.7
20.9
12.7
13.5
13.6
47.9 141.2 145.4 147.6
24.3
26.1
25.1
14.5
14 years............
2.6
0.6
0.6
1.2
1.2
15 years...........
2.3
2.2
16 years............
2.6
2.6
17 years...........
2.5
2.6
2.9
18 and 19 years.
5.0
6.0
5.8
20-24 years.....
12.5
14.8
14.4
25-44 years....... 141.1 144.1 145.6
24.2
45-64 years....... 23.8
23.3
65 years and
over...............
7.6
4.3
3.6
Age unknownTotal___
All
Total gain
popu fully
lation em
in ployed
in
1920
1920
Females
All
Total gain
popu fully
lation em
in ployed
in
1920
1920
Em
ployed Em
in
manu ployed
in 79
factur manu
ing
factur
and
ing
me
chan estab
lish
ical
indus ments
in
tries
1930
in
1920
2.6
0.8
1.5
0.1
3.2
.3
2.3
1.8
1.2
3.9
6.8
2.6
2.3
2.5
4.4
6.5
6.2
9.5
5.1
11.0
19.2
19.1
12.7
18.6
51.9 141.4 139.9 135.8
16.7
23.5
17.7
14.7
0.2
.8
3.6
7.6
18.3
26.4
34.7
7.5
1.3
.5
6.6
4.7
4.0
1.7
.5
7.3
2.8
1.9
.4
.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
i Includes those of ages unknown.
This shows the same general trend that appeared in Table 2 con
cerning department-store employees. The percentage of children has
decreased and so has the proportion of workers aged 45 and over. The
relative decrease in this last age group is particularly marked among
the female employees, only 7.5 per cent o f the number studied being
in the age group 45 to 64, while in 1920 the corresponding percent
ages were: For females employed in manufacturing and mechanical
industries, 14.7 ; for those gainfully employed, 17.7; and in the general
female population, 23.5.
The lowered age level might, of course, result from the practice of
a few very large plants instead of indicating a general trend. To
test this the 79 plants studied were tabulated with reference to the
proportion of their employees under the age of 45. Roughly speaking,
about 70 per cent of the general population aged 14 and over is found
in these lower age groups, so the classification was begun at this point.
The following table shows the results:
T a b l e 5 . —N U M BER OF M AN UFACTU RIN G ESTABLISHM ENTS H AVING SPECIFIED
PERCEN TAGES OF EM PLOYEES AGED 44 OR UNDER, AND N U M BE R OF EM PLOYEES
IN EACH GROUP
Per cent of employees aged
44 or under
Under 70...................................
70 and under 72_____________
72 and under 74........................
74 and under 76........................
76 and under 78______ ____ _
78 and under 80......... ..............
80 and under 82
82 and under 84.... ...................
84 and under 86..................... .
Number Number
of estab of em
lish
ployees
ments
11
4
8
9
3
3
9
5
7
1,954
441
1,483
3,823
741
639
3,157
1,854
2,076
Per cent of employees aged
44 or under
Number
of estab Number
of em
lish
ployees
ments
86 and under 88__
88 and under 90........................
90 and under 92........................
92 and under 94_____________
94 and under 96__ _____ ___
96 and over_______________ _
3
4
2
2
6
3
2,347
957*
262
153
4,278
3,204
Total...............................
79
27,369
522
OLDER W O RK ER IN INDUSTRY
It will be seen that only 11 establishments, or 13.9 per cent of the
total, employing 7 per cent of the workers, correspond to the age
level of the general population in having under 70 per cent of their
employees in the age groups under 45; or, to reverse the order, in
having at least 30 per cent of their employees in the groups aged
45 ana over. In 41 (51.9 per cent) of the plants, employing 18,288
or 66.8 per cent of the total number of workers studied, the propor
tion of employees under 45 varied from 80 to 96 per cent and over.
Apparently, the tendency to employ, or to keep in employment,
only the younger, workers is fairly widespread, although of course
its effect shows far more clearly in the larger establishments. This
latter fact is emphasized by some data received after the general
analysis was made:
Reports received from 3 additional Baltimore or near-Baltimore plants after
records of 79 plants had been analyzed indicated that in 2, in each of which less
than 200 persons were employed, 61.4 per cent and 65.6 per cent of all employees
were less than 45 years of age. Of the more than 1,000 persons employed in
the third plant, however, 96.1 per cent were 44 years of age or younger.
The Older Worker in California
T he California study is based upon 2,808 reports—2,098 from
manufacturing and 710 from nonmanufacturing establishments—
received in reply to a questionnaire sent out by the State department
of industrial relations early in 1930, the pay-roll data being as of
March. The number of employees covered was 534,608, of whom
289,510 were in manufacturing and 245,098 were in nonmanufacturing
establishments. Three hundred and six (11 per cent) of the reporting
establishments, with 208,936 employees (39 per cent), had definite
maximum age limits for hiring, and 2,502, or 89 per cent, had no
such limits. Of the manufacturing establishments 9 per cent, and
of the nonmanufacturing 17 per cent, had age limits. Of the em
ployees, however, 18 per cent of those in manufacturing and 64 per
cent of those in nonmanufacturing establishments were in concerns
having such limits. The extent to which age limits were adopted
differed considerably in the different industrial groups.
Public utilities ranked highest, 28 of the 71 reporting, with 94 per
cent of the total 136,548 public utility employees, having such limits.
Transportation companies came next, 11 of the 37 reporting, with
73 per cent of the 14,263 employees covered, having maximum hir
ing age limits. Of the mercantile establishments reporting, 13 per
cent, and of the trade companies, 24 per cent had age limits.
There appeared to be a distinct relation between the size of an
establishment and the adoption of hiring-age limits. The average
number of employees per establishment reporting was 190, while
for the establishments reporting age limits it was 683 and for those
reporting no age limits 130. This was especially marked among
public utilities. Reports were received from 71 of these, the average
number of employees per company being 1,923, but for the 28 having
age limits it was 4,603, and for the 43 which had no age limits it was
179.
Maximum Ages and Occupations
O f t h e 306 employers who reported that they had adopted maxi
mum age limits for hiring, 272 gave the age limits they had established,
some giving age limits for different occupations in considerable detail,
while others gave a single maximum age as applying to all occupations.
AGE LIMITS— MARYLAND AND CALIFORNIA
523
The 89 employers who set a single age were grouped as follows,
according to the maximum set: 30 years, 1; 35 years, 6; 40 years, 13;
45 years, 24; 50 years, 28; 55 years, 5; and 60 years, 12. Forty-five
and 50, it will be noticed, are the ages most frequently set, 50 being
slightly in the lead. However, in 20 cases the limit was set at or
below 40.
Reasons for Establishing Hiring-Age Limits
As in the Maryland study, it was found that employers frequently
explained their adoption of maximum hiring-age limits as due to
their maintenance of such plans as retirement pensions or group
insurance. To test this, an analysis was made of the figures concern
ing the establishments which had and which had not set up welfare
plans. The total number of establishments reporting, it will be re
membered, was 2,808, of which 306 or approximately 11 per cent had
established age limits. Of the total number reporting, 783 had group
insurance or pension plans or both, or physical examinations, or com
bined physical examinations with one or both of the other plans, and
in this group 148 establishments, or 18.9 per cent, had adopted age
limits for hiring. On the other hand, among the 2,025 which had
neither group msurance nor retirement plans nor physical exami
nations, only 158 or 7.8 per cent had hiring-age limits.
A further study of the figures shows that establishments having a
combination of the insurance and pension plans, or pension plans
alone, or physical examinations of applicants for employment are
the establishments in which maximum hiring-age limits are found
more frequently than in establishments having group insurance only.
Technological unemployment is given as one important reason for
the existence of age limits on hiring. Since the war the part in pro
duction played by machinery has increased materially, the output
per worker nas grown larger, and the number of workers required has
decreased, while the demand upon the individual worker has in many
cases become more severe.
Technological unemployment is clearly one of the important causes of maxi
mum hiring-age limits. Because of the competition for jobs brought about by
unemployment, employers of labor are in a position to hire younger persons for
whatever jobs they may need to fill. Moreover, owing to the introduction of
speedier machines and to the greater strain and intensity under which economic
goods are now produced, many employers prefer to hire younger people, whom
they consider more adapted to present-day factory conditions. It must be con
ceded that in periods of widespread unemployment it is more difficult for middleaged workers to find work than for younger persons.
A considerable part of the difficulty, however, is ascribed to sheer
prejudice against the older worker, which leads to a hasty assumption
that he is less useful than a younger applicant, and takes no account
of the qualities in which he may excel.
Such qualities as experience, adaptability, judgment, carefulness, loyalty,
steadiness, good personal habits, and other measures of individual worth, which
may be found more frequently among older than younger workers, are ignored
in all cases where maximum age limits automatically exclude workers from gain
ful employments.
Reasons for Preferring Older Workers
E ighty- nine per cent of the employers replying did not make use
of age limits in hiring, and a number of these gave their reasons for
not approving of such a practice. The general attitude was that an
applicant should be hired or turned away on the basis of his individual
fitness for the job in question, but a number of those answering gave
524
OLDER W O RK ER IN INDUSTRY
reasons for thinking that a middle-aged employee was really more
desirable than a younger one. Some employers pointed out that age
has little to do with the matter; “ some men are old at 40, some are
young at 60” ; mental and physical fitness are what really matter,
and if the applicant has these, his years are unimportant. Middleaged and older workers are more efficient and experienced, say other
employers; they are better fitted for certain jobs; they are steadier
and reduce labor turnover; they are less likely to injure themselves;
they are more faithful and reliable, and have better judgment.
The report closes with a register of employers openly opposed to
the establishment of maximum hiring-age limits, composed of 1,287
of those answering the questionnaire who expressed their willingness
to let their names be used in stating their position. These companies
had on their pay rolls at the date given 157,746 employees, or an aver
age of 123 per 'company. In presenting this list it is stated that
“ there are a large number of other employers in California who are
also opposed to maximum hiring-age limits, but who thought that
if their names were used they would be flooded with applications for
employment from middle-aged and older workers,” and who are
therefore not included in this register.
Conclusion
T hese two studies, carried on in States differing widely in their
industrial characteristics and geographically as far apart as the limits
of the Union permit, show a marked similarity in their general findings.
In both States it appears that a number of employers consciously and
intentionally set age limits beyond which they will not hire an appli
cant for employment. In both States the practice seems to be suffi
ciently common to affect a considerable proportion of the workers.
In Maryland 30.3 per cent of 173,724 employees, and in California
39 per cent of 534,608 employees were in establishments in which
maximum age limits for hiring were used. In both States the practice
was found to be more common among public utilities and transporta
tion companies than elsewhere. In both States the limits varied
with the nature of the occupation; in California the age most com
monly set as applying to all occupations was 50 years, in Maryland,
45 years, but in both States 40 and even 35 years were found as the
deadline. In both States the leading reasons assigned for the prac
tice are the maintenance of welfare plans, and unemployment, which
gives the employer a large body of applicants from whom to choose.
The Maryland study presents a body of data as to the changing age
level in industry, and the California study emphasizes the ill effects
of excluding the older worker from employment. Both agree in
finding that the adoption of maximum age limits for hiring is suffi
ciently common to create a social and economic problem of the first
magnitude.
Finding Work for the Middle-Aged
T
HE Employment Aid of San Francisco is a philanthropic, pri
vately supported placement bureau, charging no fee to those for
whom employment is found. It was established in 1929 to help in
handling the problem of unemployment among the middle-aged. In
a report on the first eight months of its work, issued in February, 1930,
the management describes its three purposes.
FINDING W O RK FOR THE MIDDLE-AGED
525
Primarily, it provides a placing agency where the needs of unem
ployed older men and women may receive individual and sympathetic
attention. So many of the larger industries are refusing to employ
workers over 40 or 50 that commercial agencies naturally give them
only a minimum of attention. Often, however, the older worker,
although perhaps unfit for the work he did in earlier days, is still per
fectly capable of becoming a useful employee at some other job, at
which he may maintain his independence indefinitely. What is
needed is a recognition of the facts, followed in some cases by training
for a new job, and aid in securing work fitted to his changed capacity.
The effort to continue to make good at a job to which a man is no
longer adequate has unfortunate effects, both physical and mental,
which may be prevented by facing the situation and entering some
other type of work, perhaps not in itself so attractive or so well paid,
but better suited to the worker’s age and ability.
The second purpose of the Employment Aid is to keep people at
work in their own interests and for the sake both of the community
and of industry, and the third is to acquire a fund of information
which may eventually be useful in dealing with the general problem
of unemployment, with special reference to middle-aged persons.
Work of the Agency
D u r in g the period (approximately eight months) covered by the
report, 577 men and 531 women, 1,108 in all, applied for positions
and 242 were placed, of whom 74 were men and 168 women. As
the knowledge of the agency spread, its work increased, and during
the last three months covered applications for work averaged 225 a
month and the positions found averaged 42. The following list gives
some idea of the kind of positions found:
For women
Millinery apprentice.
Cafeteria worker.
Clerk, branch office, cleaning works.
Cannery worker.
Janitress, building.
Janitress, retail store.
Seamstress, private.
Linen-room worker, hospital.
Diet-kitchen worker, hospital.
Ward maid, hospital.
P. B. X. operator.
Typist, branch office of telegraph com
pany.
Stenographer, small office.
Cashier.
Saleswoman.
Chambermaid, hotel.
Laundry worker.
Caterer.
Bookkeeper.
Manager, sanitarium.
Manager, boarding house.
Cottage matron, children’s institution.
Matron, boys and girls’ club.
Supervisor of public dance hall.
Practical nurse.
Driver of auto to carry children to and
from clinic.
Light factory worker:
Toy factory.
Bag factory.
Electrical products factory.
Labeling.
Seed company.
Cook.
General houskeeper.
Housekeeper for employed mother or
widower.
Children's nurse.
For men
Accountant.
Cannery worker.
Bookkeeper.
Caretaker.
Janitor.
Elevator operator.
Hospital porter.
Hospital engineer.
Construction engineer.
Watchman.
Ranch worker.
Attendant, club.
Messenger*
526
OLDER W O RKER IN INDUSTRY
Some of the applicants were skilled workers no longer useful be
cause of changes m methods or substitution of machinery, and in
other cases their speed and certainty had been lessened by age. Some
of them were small employers driven out of business by increasing
competition, and unused to working under anyone else. In some cases
it was necessary to train the applicant for a new kind of work, and v
in all cases careful study was required to find the job which suited
his capacities and to secure his adjustment to the changed conditions.
On the whole, it was easier to find places for the women than for the
men, though this did not apply to all kinds of work. It was very
difficult to place women between 35 and 45 who wished positions as
stenographers, typists, filing clerks, or clerical workers, no matter
what might be their qualifications, since employers much preferred
young girls for such positions.
But the fact that women can turn to housework affords a very important
outlet to those over 45. We have had a number of women, formerly either in
retail selling positions or in clerical work, unable to find such customary employ
ment, coming to us to ask for positions in a home. Older women are well adapted
as practical nurses, and as mothers' helpers. It is our policy to induce the un
trained older women to go into some form of domestic work rather than to seek
a clerical position, for here she has at least some skill. More than one-half our
placements of women have been in this category.
Women are also able to take on light factory work, as this is not often affected
by age. As long as a woman's fingers are nimble, the color of her hair makes
little difference. Then, too, one may often sit when doing some factory job,
and under such circumstances older women may well compete with younger ones.
Incidentally, they can offer a real advantage in causing less labor turnover than
youngsters.
Extent and Seriousness of the Problem
T he experience of the bureau with employers showed beyond any
question that discrimination against older workers is real, even
though the employer himself is sometimes unaware that it exists.
The executives were almost always interested in the work of the
bureau and disposed to be sympathetic, but many hired no employees
over 40 or 45; some even said that for certain positions the age limit
was set at 35. When a company has a pension plan or group insur
ance, these age limits are prescribed by formal rules, but other em
ployers who have no such plans have also very definite rulings as to
age. None of the placements made were with large employers, but
were in smaller offices and factories, some retail stores, in homes, in
institutions, and in suburban places, or were for the doing of odd jobs.
Some of the large employers at first proposed to help, but found it
impracticable to do so.
The executive of one large insurance company told us he thought a depart
ment might be set aside for older women workers; but after consulting with his
employment manager and various department heads, he decided this could
not be done. The president of a department store said that his company made
no discrimination against older women, really welcomed them; but when his em
ployment manager was called in, she stated that younger women were always
given preference, as this was for the best interest of the company. Thus, in
spite of his wish to help give employment to older workers, the employer often
finds it incompatible with good business practice to do so.
Unfortunately, the present trend is toward the formation of large
industrial combinations and the merging or giving up of smaller
ones, with grave results to the older worker.
Concentration of business generally, through mergers and combinations, to
gether with the introduction of more machinery, has thrown many workers out
M AKING THE MOST OF THE OLDER EMPLOYEE
527
of employment in San Francisco, as well as in other parts of the United States.
Of these the younger workers can find reemployment much more readily, pri
marily because large industry so often bars the middle-aged. The seriousness
of this condition will be realized if we stop to consider that in the United States in
1914 small establishments (with a product valued at $5,000 to $20,000) hired 6.1
per cent of the wage earners. Big establishments (with a product valued at over
$1,000,000) hired 35.9 per cent. In 1925, those hired by the small establishments
had decreased to 1.9 per cent and those hired by large industries had increased
to 56.8 per cent.
Suggestions as to Remedies
R e v i e w i n g the arguments for and against the employment of
older workers, the report gives full weight to the claim of employers
that such workers are apt to be less adaptable, that old people are a
greater accident risk than young persons, that they are often lacking
in adjustability and are unwilling to accept new ways, that owing
to changes in methods of work the experience which they consider
their most valuable asset may be a real detriment to them, and that
old workers often resent being under the supervision of young depart
ment heads, while to-day the subexecutives in an organization may
be decidedly young men or women. Admitting all this, it is yet
argued there are certain types of work well adapted to older employees,
that employers might do much to preserve the physical fitness of
middle-aged workers, that training might be given in the place of
employment for new jobs suited to the employee's age, and that
there are a number of dead-end jobs, now usually performed by boys
and girls, which might well be definitely set aside for the older workers.
Unquestionably, such measures would involve some expense and
trouble, but in the long run they offer a more satisfactory way of
caring for the#old worker than the method of simply turning him
adrift, with the result that ultimately the public (and the employer
as part of that public) must take over his support.
Taking, however, the situation as it now exists, with numbers of
older persons out of work and unable to find it for themselves, the
experience of the bureau seems to show the need for some agency
which can afford, as a commercial employment bureau can not, to
give the time and thought required to find work the applicant is
fitted for, to learn whether any jobs are available for which he is
trained, to help him secure retraining if that is needed, and to aid
him in adjusting himself to the new conditions of his work. Indi
vidual treatment of this kind is absolutely necessary for the successful
placement of the older seekers for work.
Making the Most of the Older Employee
I N ANY discussion of age limits in industry, employers are apt to
maintain that the industrial value of a worker tends to diminish
as he grows older, that his output is less, that he loses more time
through illness, and that more risk of accident, either to himself or
others, is involved than in the case of a younger man. They admit
that in certain cases the skill and experience he has acquired offset
these handicaps, but they deny that this is always so, asserting that
on the contrary if new methods are to be introduced his long familiar
ity with the old ways may be a real disadvantage. Moreover, health
528
OLDER W O RK ER IN INDUSTRY
experts are beginning to hazard the opinion that the strain of trying
to keep up with jobs to which they are no longer equal may be at
least a contributing cause to many of the breakdowns in middle age,
and efficiency experts are pointing out that keeping men on at jobs
for which they are really not qualified is an expensive proposition.
Nevertheless, employers are reluctant, both as a matter of humanity
and of policy, to discharge a man simply because he is growing old.
This is particularly the case where a pension system has been insti
tuted, and the employee has looked upon this as a protection for his
old age. Few industrial pension plans, however, permit retirement
before 60, unless the worker is really incapacitated, and 65 is a more
common age, with 70 as a not unusual limit. What is to be done
with the employee who at some time after he has reached 45 begins
to slip, but who will not be eligible for retirement on pension for
perhaps 20 years?
The more humane and socially minded employers keep such work
men in the service, usually trying to put them at lighter jobs as they
grow older. An inquiry made by the Kentucky Department of Labor
showed that of 316 industrial firms in that State which were questioned
on the subject, 171, or 54 per cent, replied that they made a practice
of changing older workers to less laborious and less dangerous posi
tions.1 But when the actual practice is examined, variations appear.
Such an answer may mean simply that in a general way the employer
expects to put the older men at such jobs as watchmen, elevator
tenders, sweepers, and the like, or it may mean that a careful effort
is made to fit each man into the position where his own peculiar
ability may have the fullest scope, and to safeguard the health and
general capacity of middle-aged and older workers, so as to post
pone as long as possible their period of diminishing efficiency. In an
address delivered at the annual meeting of the National Association of
Manufacturers, October 15, 1929, a representative of the Metro
politan Life Insurance Co. cited an example of such a method of
treatment which had been worked out with unusual care:
The Norton Co., of Worcester, Mass., believes that the average worker wants
to keep active in factory work as long as possible. The company recognizes the
danger of overloading the organization with workers who are paid more than
their services are actually worth.
In consequence, it has adopted a plan which has three distinguishing charac
teristics: (1) Considering individually each older man to determine his actual
working capacity; (2) keeping each in the best physical condition possible under
the circumstances; and (3) so arranging the work that each man is physically
able to use the large experience which he has gained during his productive years
with the company.
The plan is administered through the cooperative efforts of three departments
of the company—medical, production, and employment.
The medical department has as its function the repeated physical examination
of older men to determine whether they are fit for the work which they are doing;
and, if not, what their physical capacity is for work in the plant.
The production department has for its function investigation of older men to
see that they are employed at work which will bring them the highest return
of which they are capable, thus making use of their experience and providing
them with a reasonable income.
The employment department has for its function the transferring of those of
the older men who because of physical reasons are unable to work any longer in
the department to a department for which they are physically fitted, the decision
being arrived at after consultation with the medical and production departments.
i Kentucky. Bureau of Agriculture, Labor, and Statistics, Department of Labor? Bui. No. 35:
Elder Worker, Jipuisville, 1929, p. 18,
The
M AKING THE MOST OF THE OLDER EMPLOYEE
529
It has been found that there are at least 32 types of positions in this plant which
may be filled by older workers with profit to themselves and the company.
An allowance fund has been established which is drawn upon to pay each older
worker the difference between what he actually earns and the amount he is paid.
This prevents a hidden charge against production. The fact that at present, of
39 men 65 years of age and over, only 3 are unable to earn fully the wages paid
them is an indication of the satisfactory operation of the plan.
A pamphlet recently issued by the National Association of Manu
facturers on public old-age pensions describes measures adopted by
several different companies. One, finding that its costs were unduly
increased by the number of older workers on its rolls, studied its
-operations to see where these could be profitably employed, and finally
massed them in one of its units manufacturing a light specialty.
Another, studying its various operations, has selected as suitable for
older men a number of occupations in which they are not employed
about machinery, except in the case of slow freight elevators, where
it is considered that no appreciable danger is involved. Another com
pany, which has developed a very complete plan for the care of its
older workers, makes a suggestion involving a psychological principle
of considerable importance:
A well-defined promotion policy should make it easier in another period of
20 years to adjust employees to less active jobs as their ages increase and as they
slow up. A person who has worked up through four or five jobs always has more
mental and physical resources of readaptation than one who has worked for the
major part of his life upon one job.
Training the Older Employee for Continued Employment
A r e p o r t issued in 1929 by the American Management Association
gives some examples of employers who put this principle into effective
use.2 The association had undertaken a survey of the practice of
representative companies in regard to special training for the older
worker, as a result of which the conclusion was reached that com
paratively little was being done along this line. However, according
to the report, “ while but few concerns are conducting training as an
aid to this adjustment problem, still the evidence is clear that they
represent a trend in dealing with the older worker, whether by general
or special training, which is both economical and social. * * *
From the evidence collected this training for older employees increases
their efficiency on present work, prepares them for transfer to other
work, and improves the spirit of cooperation.”
The report takes up in detail the information received from three
companies, having a total of “ perhaps 50,000 employees,” which
have conducted special training for older workers for about four years.
All three of these firms give the training on the work. One supple
ments it by means of manuals describing the work done in each
department, thus enabling the worker to become familiar with the
duties of other positions. Also, in the company’s slack seasons
“ the office people are transferred to the floor division and the floor
people take the office work. This not only trains them for other
jobs, but gives them the appreciation of the difficulties of the other
job and promotes better cooperation between the divisions of the
department.”
Other groups of employees are taken off their regular jobs for a period of two
years and are given experience in nearly every department in the company.
a American Management Association. General management series No. 93: Training Older Employees
for Continued Employment, by C. R. Dooley and Helen Washburn. New York, 1929.
530
OLDER W O RK ER IN INDUSTRY
During this time we attempt to determine for what department the employee
will be best suited and late in the course give him specific training for that work.
One of the other companies stated that its training course has
proved very popular and that there is a long waiting list for it. The
course runs for two years, the instruction being given after working
hours on two evenings a week for a three-hour period. It is optional
with the employees whether they take the training and they are not
paid for the time spent. It is estimated that the cost to the company
aside from light, heat, and power, is approximately $200 a month for
the 60 men taking the course.
Effect of the Training
T he following quoted statements, taken from the report, give the
experience of the three companies as to the effect of training:
Company A:
Easier to employ older men profitably.
Easier to transfer men from one machine or group to another.
Does make it easier to adjust working relations.
Company B:
We feel that it is much easier to transfer employees where there is some
form of regular training.
We feel that it is also easier to adjust employees to new surroundings
through training.
Company C:
Because the employee Is trained on more than one thing and has a broader
knowledge, it is much easier to find an opportunity for him and there
fore to transfer him. Because of contact with other departments he
has found out during his training that there are other places that have
opportunities and are agreeable to work in, and therefore he is more
agreeable to being transferred. Because he has broadened out and has
studied other work, he has learned to attack new problems and is
therefore more adjustable.
All three of the companies agreed that there is a marked increase
in efficiency and in usefulness as a result of the training, the reply of
Company B being to the effect that “ there is a decided change in
usefulness because in many instances it permits the employee to
continue his or her working career for several years, and we find that
the vast majority of our employees, who would be eligible for pensions,
desire greatly to be allowed to continue at their work as long as
possible.”
It seemed to be a universal custom among the 40 companies which
replied to the inquiry to put employees on lighter or simpler work as
they grow older, often at the same rate of pay. All of the companies
stated that they either pension older employees or find suitable work
for them, practically never releasing them.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS-LABOR CONDITIONS
531
Labor Conditions in the Philippine Islands
GENERAL report on industrial conditions in the Philippine
Islands was published by the United States Department of Com
merce in 1927. Extracts from sections of that report which
dealt with labor conditions were given in the Handbook of Labor
Statistics, 1929 edition. The following information is taken from the
latest available issues of the Statistical Bulletin of the Philippine
Islands, 1928 and 1929, issued by the Philippine Bureau of Commerce
and Industry; the annual report of the Governor General of the Phil
ippine Islands, 1929: and Bulletin No. 27 of the Philippine Bureau of
Labor, 1929, published in 1930. Amounts of money are shown in
pesos, a peso being equivalent to 50 cents in United States currency.
A
Wages in Manila, 1927 and 1928
I n T able 1 the average daily and monthly wages in various occu
pations in the city of Manila are presented for 1927 and 1928
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAG E WAGES OF LABORERS IN VARIOUS ESTABLISHM ENTS, C IT Y OF
M AN ILA, 1927 AND 19281
[Peso=about 60 cents in United States currency]
1927
1928
Establishment
Per day
Per month
Pesos
Pesos
Aerated water, brewery and distillery:
Machinists ________________________ __________
2.48
120.09
215.00
Labelers_______________________________________
55.62
Firemen___ ___________________________________
.69
Bottle cleaners____________________ _____________
24.00
Bottle fillers___________________________________
Carriers______________________________________
Packers_______________________________________
Automobile repairing and carriage shops:
3.23
142.00
Mechanics_____________________________________
2.22
60.00
Blacksmiths___________________________________
93.88
2.18
Painters
___________________________________
120.00
Carpenters_______________________ _____________
2.45
79.71
2.87
Electricians____________________________________
V ulcanizers
______________________________ _
1.20
65.00
3.19
Welders ______________________________________
__________________________________
Tinsmiths
Upholsterers _________________________________
2.54
Chauffeurs____________________________________
Bakeries, confectioneries, and chocolate and coffee fac
tories:
2 26.72
2 1.61
Bakers ______________________________________
2.91
2 23.70
Ovenmen______________________________________
48.75
C onfectioners__________________________________
2.75
2 16.40
2 1.00
Kneaders _ __________________________________
25.00
Laborers
_________________________________
2 14.00
Coffee makers __________________ _____________
Chocolate makers______________________________
2 25.67
Caramel makers__________________________
2 20.00
2 1.00
Packers_______________________________________
Beds, trunks, and furniture shops:
2.31
2 45.36
Carpenters
1.89
33.40
Vamishers-- __________________________________
1.31
Rattan weavers _________________________ - ____
Curvers
_ __ ________________________
2.40
2.26
Turners........................................... - ..........................
1 Compiled from the annual reports of the Phillippine Bureau of Labor.
2 Free food and lodging.
Per day
Per month
Pesos
2.88
1.38
1.52
.90
1.28
.90
3.00
2.71
2.40
2.95
2.25
1.50
2.93
1.27
2.64
Pesos
133.00
230.00
74.00
25.00
28.00
126.00
120.00
75.00
81.00
60.00
68.00
2 1.30
2 1.25
2.79
2 1.00
2 2.68
2.50
2 1.00
2 1.08
2 1.00
2 27.00
2 24.00
37.00
2 19.00
2.25
1.67
1.49
2 35.00
2 27.00
2 32.00
3.10
36.00
533
2 20.00
2 17.00
534
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS— LABOR CONDITIONS
T a b l e 1 . -A V E R A G E WAGES OF LABORERS IN VARIOUS ESTABLISHM ENTS, C IT Y OF
M AN ILA, 1927 A N D 1928—Continued
1927
1928
Establishment
Per month
Per day
Beds, trunks, and furniture shops—Continued.
Desig
Glass workers...........................
Sawyers....................................
Painters....................................
Mechanics................................
Laborers...................................
Blacksmithing and horseshoeing:
Hammerers..................................................
Horseshoers..................................................
Brass works, tinsmithing, and welding shops:
Braziers..................................... .................
Tinsmiths_____________ ________________
Welders........................................................
Candle and soap making:
Candle makers.............................................
Soap makers................................................
Cigar and cigarette factories:
Cigar makers8.............................................
Cigarette makers3.......................................
Wrappers.....................................................
Box decorators3...........................................
Stem strippers3...........................................
Machinists.................. ................................
Ring makers3................................-............
Tobacco cutters3........................................ .
Choosers..............- ............................- .........
Driers...........................................................
Laborers (minors)........................................
Classifiers...................... - .............................
Packers3......................................................
Cold storage, ice cream, and ice plants:
Butchers.......................................................
Machinists......................... - ........................
Common laborers------ ------------------ ------Chauffeurs...................................................
Cleaners.....................- .............. - ...............
Packers
_______ ________
Desiccated coconut factory:
Carriers.................... - ..................................
Machinists...................................................
Shellers........................................................
Parers...........................................................
Dried fish and vermicelli factories:
Cooks.................... .......................................
Driers...................................... —.................
Cutters.................................. - .....................
Kneaders......................................................
Blacksmiths.................................................
Boilermakers................................................
Carpenters...................................................
Foundrymen.......... ....................................
Machinists.......... ........................................
Pipefitters...................................................
Common laborers.......................................
Electrical workshops:
Electricians..................................................
Electrician assistants....... ..........................
Laborers.......................................................
Embroidery and millinery shops:
Embroiderers3.............................................
Ironers3.........................................................
Cutters3............................. .........................
Ribboners3..................................................
Seamstresses3..............................................
Designers3...................................................
Revisers 3-_................................................
Engineering and building construction:
Carpenters................................................. .
Masons.........................................................
Laborers...................................................... .
Molders........................................................
Tinsmiths....................................................
P ainters.....................................................
Plumbers.....................................................
Electrical installers.....................................
2 Free food and lodging.
Pesos
20.90
1.66
2.70
1.34
Pesos
65.00
52.50
22.67
~~2~30.~00
1.94
1.64
42.27
Per month
Pesos
Pesos
2 1.50
1.73
2.31
1.75
236.00
2.30
1.60
1.75
2 37.00
"55.OO
1.40
2.42
4.24
2.13
3.19
1.65
1.50
Per day
28.33
33.00
2 29.00
220.00
1.28
1.17
1.26
129.38
1.39
.93
.62
3.03
1.00
175.00
21.68
1.50
1.38
1.10
.68
35.00
1.38
1.06
35.00
2.88
63.00
133.00
1.00
4.00
1.34
1.06
1.22
1.10
1.00
"
175.33
1.61
57.14
1.62
1.98
1.04
55.00
39.00
1.33
1.63
1.74
2 1 .0 0
2 1 .0 0
2.84
2.89
2.71
3.26
3.06
2.87
1.63
2.68
2.93
2.56
93.00
1.00
1.12
1.01
1.00
17.22
26.29
24.67
2.65
1.28
1.50
.87
1.05
.96
.73
1.02
1.27
1.02
1.00
T02
2.32
2.20
1.50
2.13
2.65
93.00
3Women only.
2.39
2.29
1.34
2.72
2.69
2.90
2.50
3.33
2 29.00
2 24.00
2 26.00
2 27.00
63.00
130. CO
” 33.00
25.00
33.00
31.00
29.00
2 25.00
24.00
535
WAGES IN M ANILA, 1927 AND 1928
T a b l e 1.—AVERAG E WAGES OF LABORERS IN VARIOUS ESTABLISHM ENTS, C IT Y OF
M AN ILA, 1927 A N D 1928—Continued
1927
1928
Establishment
Garages and stables:
Chauffeurs __
. . ... . ...
Calesa drivers__________________________________
Per day
Per month
Pesos
Pesos
Gas works:
Gas makers..
..
___________
Fitters________________________________________
1.67
1.79
84.00
Hat and umbrella making and repairing:
_____________
Hat makers _
Molders
____________________________________
Ribboners 3__ _______________________________
2.00
1.55
1.16
41.79
36.20
35.64
1.42
19.50
Umbrella makers. .. ___________
Hemp pressing and rope factory:
Engravers
... Lime and tile factories:
_______________________
Tile makers
____________________________
Laborers. _ __________________________________
Lumber yards and sawmills:
Carpenters
_________________________________
Sawyers______________________________________
Laborers. ____________________________________
Machine tenders_______________________________
Chauffeurs
__ _____________________________
Machinery and foundry shops:
Foundry men
_______________________
Patternmakers_________________________________
B oilerm akers
______________________________
Turners
__________________________________
Mechanics.. __________________________________
Blacksmiths
_____________________________
Common la b o re r s ____________________________
Motor truck transportation:
Truck drivers__________________________________
Laborers
__________________________________
Mechanics_____________________________________
Washing.
__________________________________
Newspaper publishing, printing, etc:
Binders_ _ __________________________________
Helpers
. __________________________________
Linotypists____________________________________
Lithographers__________________________________
Minerva operators______________________________
Newsboys __ ________________________________
Photographers_________________________________
Pressmen______________________________________
Typesetters____________________________________
Machinists____________________________________
Folders_____________________________ ____ -........Nickel plating, bicycle, typewriting, etc., repairing
shops:
Machinists ___________________________________
Nickel platers_________________________________
Oil and lard factories:
Machinists ___________________________________
Oilers_________________________________________
Boilers
_________________________________
Feeders — __________________________________
Painting shops and photo studios:
Photographers__
___ _____________________- __
Painters_______________________________________
Retouchers.......................... .......................................
2 Free food and lodging.
47767°—31----- 35
Pesos
2.29
1.05
2.75
1.00
1.87
2.25
1.46
4.10
1.48
1.66
.95
1.38
1.43
1.20
1.35
.80
1.42
2.00
25.00
v
41.47
93.25
71.74
106.00
2.36
1.85
2.04
4.08
Pesos
53.00
26.00
90.00
23.00
57.00
22.00
28.00
104.00
94.00
83.00
125.00
1.50
1.73
1.00
2.50
2.48
2.26
1.34
2.67
2.38
1.30
3.60
1.78
3.03
2 50.00
2.93
3.44
2.77
3.61
158.99
3.30
3.00
1. 50
3.19
3.09
2.30
1.65
2 50.00
2.00
1.17
2.50
.85
48.00
27.00
90.00
30.00
1.01
37.82
5.45
2.04
2.05
166.27
2.88
2.26
3.40
1.03
99.67
71.92
135.83
33.17
2.49
1.79
70.00
2.92
2.78
2.00
1.75
230.00
2.00
1.49
1.85
1.64
1.00
1.31
4.83
2.04
2.40
1.24
2.62
3.30
2.55
2.98
53.42
50.00
26.40
2.00
*1.50
Per montn
1.80
2.00
1.44
1.23
1.12
1.92
Jewelry, silversmithing, and watch repairing:
Per day
73.35
65.00
75.00
Women only.
21.25
2.36
8
200.00
31.00
150.00
145.00
74.00
95.00
98.00
98.00
33.00
108.00
2 25.00
55.00
64.00
536
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS— LABOR CONDITIONS
T a b l e 1.—AV E R AG E W AGES OF LABORERS IN VARIOUS ESTABLISHM ENTS, C IT Y OF
M A N ILA , 1927 A N D 1928—Continued
1928
1927
Establishment
Railway and tramway transportation:
Per day
Per month
Pesos
Pesos
Per day
Pesos
3.19
2.58
1.44
2.52
1.84
2.29
2.49
2.25
2.43
2.44
2.93
1.17
2.62
Brakemen ............ .
....... -
Conductors___ ________________________________
M otorm en_
_____ ________________
Firemen
.
...............
.
2.44
<.26
<.29
2.70
1.79
130.00
Inspectors „
_______
2.72
70.00
Electricians,
_ _ .... .
_
_____
Common laborers
........
Sculpture and marble works:
2.52
2.47
Marble workers
_ ________________
3.48
3.36
Sculptors___ ____________ ___________________
Shoes, slippers, and other leather goods:
2.32
65.68
1.96
Shoemakers_________ __________________________
2.00
1.98
28.50
Slipper makers
__ _______________ ______
1.66
Cutters_________________________________ ______
1.42
44.74
1.77
Harness m akers_______________________________
1.90
1.56
Braziers_______________________________________
Stevedoring and wharfaging:
Tiflnnfth crews__________________________________
ighterm en...
________ ____L___________________
1.60
Common laborers______________________________
Truck drivers__________________________________
21.20
Bull cart drivers_______________________________
Tailoring and shirt making:
Tailors...................................... ........................ .........
1.85
48.30
1.70
81.52
2.72
2.31
Cutters________________________________________
1.31
Sewers8_______________________ ______ ___ ____
1.35
.65
Buttoners..____________________________________
1.54
Ironers________________________________________
Miscellaneous:
Button makers_____ _________________ __________
2.74
Tairy men . ..
2 1.60
2 1.60
1.09
Ironers8_______________________________________
Matchmakers_________________________________
1.05
Musical instrument makers— ............ ................. .
1.56
Rice cleaners3________________ ________ _________
.80
.80
Washers, laundry......................................................
1.15
2 Free food and lodging.
8 Women only.
Per month
Pesos
48.00
82.00
70.00
66.00
2 29.00
2 20.00
60.00
49.00
89.00
15.00
41.00
* B y the hour.
Salaries in Philippine Civil Service, 1925 to 1929
T he table below gives the average salaries of the regular and
permanent personnel in the Philippine civil service, 1925 to 1929.
T a b l e 2.—SALARIES IN PH ILIPPIN E CIVIL SERVICE—RE G U LAR A N D PE RM A N E N T
PERSONNEL, 1925-1929
[Peso=about 50 cents in United States currency]
Officers and employees
Average salaries
Year
Americans
1925...............................................................
1926.............................................................. .
1927................................................................
1928................................................................
1929................................................................
506
462
484
494
471
Filipinos
16,339
17,756
19,165
19,606
20,332
Total
16,845
18,218
19,649
20,100
20,803
Americans
Pesos
4,229.22
4,338.35
4,225.96
4,298.25
4,471.75
Filipinos
Pesos
1,253.56
1,270.46
1,275.54
1,279.20
1,283.98
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
537
Wages of Common Labor in Various Provinces
On July 1,1928, the daily wages paid to 19,599 common laborers
employed under the jurisdiction of the bureau of public works in 50
Provinces of the Philippines ranged from 0.25 to 1.70 pesos, 1,031
workers in Bohol receiving from 0.70 to 1 peso; 1,015 workers in Capiz,
from 0.50 to 1 peso; and 1,275 workers in Leyte, from 0.75 to 1 peso.
Hours of Labor
T able 3 gives the hours of labor in different industry groups in the
city of Manila for 1929 as compared with 1928 and 1927.
T a b l e 3.— HOURS OF LABOR IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES IN THE C IT Y OF M A N ILA ,
1927, 1928, AND 1929
1927
Industrial group
1928
1929
Hours of Number
Hours of Number
Hours of Number
of
of
of
labor
labor
labor
laborers
laborers
laborers
Food and kindred products...... .................
Textiles and clothing..... ............................
Metal, mechanical, and electrical________
Home construction and furniture making.
Leather and allied products_____________
Printing and allied industries___________
Liquor, beverages, and tobacco..... .............
Chemical and allied products. ...................
Clay, stone, and glass products..................
Cars and carriages and allied industries...
Works of arts____________ ______ _______
Lumber and wood manufactures________
Transportation and communication______
Miscellaneous__________________________
7.5-12
8- 9
8-14
9
8- 9
8- 9
9
9
9-10
9
8 .5 -9
9
7.5-15
8.5-13
8.5-10
8- 9
9
9
9
8 .5 -9
8 .5 -9
9
8 .5 -9
9
8 .5 -9
9-10
19
8 .5 -9
2,306
3,782
4,060
4,454
1,189
2,047
11,030
371
173
1,013
232
1,481
4,126
2,919
Total................ ........... ......... ............
39,183
8-12
8-12
8-11
8-11
8- 9
8- 9
7-12
8-12
8-12
9-10
8-10
9-10
9-12
8-12
2,592
7,566
2,476
3,163
1,729
1,900
10,794
1,288
282
1,348
361
1,324
8,781
1,216
1,777
4,338
1,206
2,727
75
1,669
4,593
400
142
660
891
114
520
3,236
44,820
22,348
i Garages and stables, and fishing industries have no fixed hours.
Wholesale and Retail Prices
T able 4 shows the average retail prices of foodstuffs in the markets
of the city of Manila in 1927 and 1928, and.Table 5 the average prices
of the most important articles of food for sale in the public markets of
Philippine municipalities.
T a b l e 4 . - -AVERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS IN THE M A RK ETS OF THE
C ITY OF M AN ILA, 1927 A N D 1928
Article
Cereals and grains:
Coffee.......................
Mongo......................
Rice..........................
Fish and other sea products:
Bangus.....................
Candole..... ...............
Crabs.............................
Shrimps....................
Fowls:
Chicken....................
Hens.........................
Roosters....................
Fruits:
Bananas, latundan..
Coconuts..................
Lemons.....................
Papayas....................
Meat:
Beef, fresh................
Pork..........................
Unit
1928
Pesos Pesos
Liter i .. 0.78
0.87
.21 .16
Ganta2.
.36
—do---
One—
— do.___
— do.___
100—
.31
.35
.37
.38
3.91
2.90
.22
One....... .57
...d o .___ 1.06
— do.___ 1.12
100...
One..
100...
One-
.92
.07
.81
.16
Kilo 3—
..d o -----
.82
i L iter*0.908 dry quart.
1927
1.00
.22
.62
1.09
1.06
.75
.08
.60
.12
.78
Article
Unit
Amargosa....................
Beans, native..............
Eggplants..... ..............
Onions, Bombay.........
Potatoes.......................
Squash, red.................
Squash, white.............
Sweet potatoes............
Tomatoes....................
Miscellaneous food stuffs:
Condensed milk..........
Eggs—
Chinese.................
Duck...... ..............
Native...................
Salt, white..........................
Sugar:
Brown..........................
Refined........................
Vinegar...............................
One.......
Bunch..
100
Kilo
— do.___
One.......
— do___
Sack___
100
2 Ganta=2.71 quarts.
1927
Can.......
1928
Pesos Pesos
0.02
0.03
.05
.05
2.00
1.71
.24
.38
.17
.13
.27
.25
.27
.24
1.20 <1.04
1.37
1.00
.36
.34
100
4.00
...d o ------ 5.00
— do.___ 5.00
Liter___ .06
4.00
4.00
6.00
.05
.32
.35
.02
.31
.35
.06
Kilo
...d o -----Liter___
8 Kilo=2.2046 pounds.
« Per 100.
538
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS— LABOR CONDITIONS
T a b l e 5.— AVERAG E PRICES OF THE MOST IM PO R T A N T ARTICLES OF FOOD FOR
SALE IN THE PUBLIC M A RK ETS OF THE M U N ICIPALITIES OF THE PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS, 1927 AN D 1928
Unit
Article
1927
1928
Pesos Pesos
0.14
0.13
.11
.13
.20
.17
.85
.83
.77
.83
.37
.29
.04
.03
.04
.05
.59
. 42
—do— .38 .34
—do— .15 .09
100.... .60 .71
.90
1.22
__do—
Liter...
.07
.10
.12 .10
... do—
Kilo—
Liter i.
— do__
...d o__
K ilo 2- .
—do__
One___
... do.—
— do__
— do__
R ic e ...........
Corn______
Mongo....... .
Beef......... .
Pork............
Chicken......
Hen’s egg...
Duck’s eggBangus____
Dalag..........
Hito............
Sardines___
White saltVinegar___
Sugar_____
Article
Unit
Coffee..............................
Garlic..............................
Tomatoes........................
Native onions.................
Peppers—........................
Ginger..................................
Amargosa...........................
Eggplants..... ......................
Red squash..........................
Patola..................................
Radishes.........................
Sweet potatoes................
Gabe................................
Bananas, Bufigulan.......
Bananas, Lacatan..........
Bananas, Latundan............
Liter...
i Liter=0.908 dry quart.
1927
Pesos Pesos
0.44
0.60
1.25
100..... 1.11
Dozen.
.13
100..... .51
Dozen.
— do___
100.....
...d o —
One___
...d o—
Dozen.
100.....
...d o—
Dozen.
...d o___
...d o —
1928
.05
.15
1.04
.71
.14
.04
.12
.93
1.68
.11
.14
.11
.10
.89
.06
.13
1.16
.63
.14
.04
.11
1.08
1.56
.13
.12
.09
2 K ilo=2.2046 pounds.
In Table 6 are reported the average wholesale prices of staple
products, for 1913 and for 1925 to 1929, by years.
T a b l e 6.— AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES OF SPECIFIED PRODUCTS IN THE PHILIP
PINES, 1913 A N D 1925-1929
Year
Manila
Sugar
Rice
hemp
(per cavan)1 (per
picul)2 (per picul)
Pesos
5.34
9.40
9.32
7.56
7.86
8.90
1913.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
i Cavan=2.13 bushels.
Pesos
16.02
33.90
28.56
28.14
21.78
18.37
Pesos
4.79
6.85
6.46
7.06
7.13
6.25
2 Picul=140 pounds.
Coconut
Copra
oil
(per kilo)3 (per picul)
Tobacco
(per quin
tal)4
Pesos
14.31
13.21
12.39
11.37
11.23
9.45
Pesos
15.90
18.04
16.67
14.83
12.87
14.24
Pesos
0.03
.41
.40
.35
.34
.31
3 Kilo=2.2046 pounds.
Maguey
(per picul)
Pesos
9.13
16.35
16.42
14.05
12.29
12.16
* Quintal=100 pounds.
Cost of Living in the Philippines, 1929
T he c o s t of living for skilled and unskilled workers in Manila
and six other towns in the Philippines in 1929 is shown in Table 7:
T a b l e 7.—AVERAGE COST OF LIVING PER D A Y IN SPECIFIED CITIES AN D TOWNS
IN THE PHILIPPINES, 1929 i
[One peso=about 50 cents in U. S. currency]
Skilled
Common
City or town
Single
Married
Pesos
0.85
.94
1.07
.94
1.10
1.50
1.08
.96
.97
Pesos
2.11
2.35
2.25
2.01
2.16
2.17
1.92
2.13
1.82
1.30
2.62
1.05
2.10
1.14
2.32
.92
1.79
Pesos
1.31
1.34
1.23
1.23
1.40
1.57
1.28
1.29
1.04
Average, 1929
Average, 1928.........
Single
Pesos
2.82
2.69
2.37
2.53
2.53
2.84
2.51
2.88
2.39
Cebu.......................
Cotabato.................
Iloilo........................
La Union................
Legaspi...................
Manila, city of____
Mindoro.................
Occidental Negros..
Oriental Negros___
i Estimated by deputies of the Philippine Bureau of Labor.
Married
539
WOMAN AND CHILD LABOB IN M ANILA, 1929
It will be noted that the average cost of living was considerably
higher in 1929 than in the preceding year. This is reported as due
principally to generally higher prices of rice. Other items of the
family budget showed slight changes.
Factory Inspection in the Philippines, 1929
D u r in g 1929 the labor inspection division of the Philippine
Bureau of Labor covered 138 municipalities of 21 Provinces, including
the city of Manila. The total number of industrial and mercantile
establishments and plantations inspected in 1929 was 4,742—a
decrease of 364 as compared with the number in the preceding year,
as shown in Table 8. This decrease, it is explained, was due to the
fact that a great portion of the time of three inspectors was taken up
with field work in connection with the workmen’s compensation law
and interisland migration activities.
T a b l e 8.—F A CTO R Y INSPECTION W ORK OF PHILIPPINE BUREAU OF LABOR, 1925 TO
1929
Industrial
Year
1925...............
1926...............
1927...............
1928—............
1929...............
Mercantile
Agricultural
Total
Number
Number Number Number Number Number Number of estab Number
of estab of workers of estab of workers of planta of workers lishments of workers
and plan
lishments
lishments
tions
tations
2,445
2,576
3,718
4,008
3,846
60,418
69,948
59,608
76,611
60,481
329
378
655
992
419
6,067
4,243
7,783
10,941
3,055
47
294
211
106
477
3,396
19,786
11,310
6,981
16,411
2,821
3,245
4,584
5,106
4,742
69,881
93,977
78,701
194,446
79,947
i As given in report, not exact sum of items.
Woman and Child Labor in Manila, 1929
I n o r d e r to enforce the provisions of Act 3071, which regulates
the employment of women and children in the Philippines, large
and small factories and other work places were inspected in the city
of Manila and in certain Provinces. All Provinces could not be
included because of the limited number of inspectors.
Table 9 shows the distribution of woman and child workers in
various inspected establishments in that year and the preceding one.
While the number of establishments was 597 in 1929 as compared with
542 in 1928, the number of minors employed was 82 less in the later
year.
540
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS— LABOB CONDITIONS
T a b l e 9 .— DISTRIBU TION OF W OM AN AN D CHILD LABOR IN INSPECTED ESTABLISH
M ENTS IN M AN ILA, 1928 AND 1929
1928
1929
Number
Number
of chil
of chil
Number Number
Number Number
dren
dren
of estab
of estab- of women under
18
18 listments
lishments of women under
years
years
of age
of age
Industry
Areated water____________________
Asbestos sheet____________________
■Rfl.g repairing
Buttons__________________________
Candles__________________________
Candy___________________________
Cigars and cigarettes______________
Desiccated coconut_______________
Dressmaking and tailoring_________
Embroidery______________________
Glass____________________________
Hats_____________________________
Hemp___________________________
Tfift ereani
_
Kapok___________________________
Laboratory_______________________
Laundry_________________________
Matches_________________________
Printing_________________________
Refreshments_____________________
Remnant importing_______________
Shirts____________________________
Shoes and slippers________________
Umbrellas________________________
Vermicelli________________________
Total______________________
7
1
10
1
1
9
40
1
66
23
1
6
4
1
34
10
107
100
3
86
5,552
202
372
1,787
2
39
77
2
1
3
1
24
318
2
16
3
3
49
271
53
84
132
15
435
145
47
542
9,604
3
17
17
9
1
12
1
69
82
3
4
13
25
19
927
10
36
85
6,486
30
856
32
107
202
23
2
17
4
1
2
1
148
689
1,825
11
85
125
2
6
14
667
24
82
1
19
65
117
108
35
11
24
15
4
1
541
180
48
10
66
4
14
1,252
597
11,181
1,170
7
16
6
8
46
36
31
6
2
5
Adjustment of Wage Claims by Philippine Bureau of Labor,
1925 to 1929
W orkers who can not afford to pay for legal aid are assisted by the
Philippine Bureau of Labor in the prosecution of their claims involving
industrial relations. Not only Filipino laborers but also American
employees and other nationals avail themselves of this service. A
statistical summary of the activities of the bureau along this line for
the 5-year period, 1925-1929, is given in Table 10:
T a b l e 10.— ADJUSTM ENT OF W AGE CLAIMS, PHILIPPINE BUREAU OF LABO R, 1925-1929
[Peso=about 50 cents in United States currency]
Year
Num
ber of
cases
Num
ber of
claim
ants
Adjustments
Favor
able
Unfav
orable
Amount
collected
1925..............................................................................
1926..............................................................................
1927..............................................................................
1928..............................................................................
1929..............................................................................
615
766
728
923
956
1,371
1,697
1,418
2,146
1,630
365
447
493
511
560
250
319
235
412
396
Pesos
19,209.63
23,575.26
18,171.91
22,912.21
22,611.79
Total_______________________________ ____
3,988
8,262
2,376
1,612
106,480.80
541
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
Industrial Accidents, 1925 to 1929
T able 11 is a record of the industrial accidents in the Philippines
from 1925 to 1929.
T a b l e ll.-I N D U S T R I A L ACCIDEN TS IN THE PHILIPPINES, 1925 TO 1929
Number of injuries
Number
of acci
dents
Year
Tempo
rary
Perma
nent
Fatal
Adjustments
Total
Indemni Not in Amount
fied
demnified collected
1925 ...........................
1926............................
1927.............................
1928 ...........................
1929.............................
430
447
452
1,104
2,055
390
390
355
968
1,953
15
19
34
27
45
48
104
143
109
57
453
513
532
1,104
12,055
247
375
322
955
11,070
206
138
210
149
325
Pesos
21,706
25,053
35,395
82,765
90,053
Total................
4,488
4,056
140
461
14,657
12,969
1,028
254,972
i Does not include 660 cases pending adjustment.
Strikes, 1925 to 1929
" ^ S tatistics on strikes in the Philippines, 1925 to 1929. are sum
marized in Table 12.
T a b l e 12.—STRIKES IN TH E PHILIPPINES, 1925 TO 1929
Number
of
strikes
Year
1925........................................................
1926.........................................................
1927......................................................1928....................................................... 1929—......................................................
Total________________________
Number
of strikers
Object or cause of
strike
Dispute settled in
favor of—
For
higher
wages
Workers Employ
ers
Other
23
27
53
38
26
9,936
7,279
8,567
4,729
4,939
12
18
33
21
13
11
9
20
17
13
19
16
39
21
10
4
U
14
17
16
167
35,450
97
70
105
62
Labor Organizations
I n 1928 there were 110 labor unions in the Philippines with a total
membership of 68,828— an increase of 7 unions and 5,112 members
as compared with the preceding year. Of the 68,828 members, 5,631
were females.
54 2
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS— LABOR CONDITIONS
Migration of Philippine Labor to Hawaii, 1925 to 1929
T he accompanying table shows the migration of Filipinos to and
from Hawaii for five years, 1925 to 1929.
T a b l e 1 3 .— FILIPINO EM IGRAN TS GOING TO A N D RETU RN IN G FROM H A W A n, 1925
TO 1929
Going to Hawaii
Returning from Hawaii
Year
Men
Women
Minors
Total
Men
Women
Minors
Total
1925............................
1926............ ...............
1927........................... .
1928.............................
1929— ........................
6,104
2,977
9,784
9,026
8,189
256
160
120
153
134
159
219
170
143
46
6,519
3,356
10,074
9,322
8,369
2,183
2,562
2,410
3,968
3,402
264
348
510
379
241
307
480
645
492
348
2,754
3,380
3,565
4,839
3,991
Total................
36,080
823
737
37,640
14,525
1,742
2,272
18,539
Agricultural Cooperative Associations
T he activities of rural agricultural cooperative societies are of
considerable importance in the Philippines, as indicated in Table t***T a b l e 1 4 . —OPERATIONS OF RU RAL AGRICU LTURAL C R E D IT COOPERATIVE ASSO
CIATIONS, 1925 TO 1929
[Peso= about 50 cents in United States currency]
Year
1925_ ................. ...............................................
1926............................... ....................................
1927___ _______ _______________ _____ _____
1928...... ........... ..................... ...........................
19291.____ ____________________ __________
1 Preliminary figures.
Number
Total
Paid-in
of asso number of capital
stock
ciations members
543
544
547
550
554
84,002
87,535
89,082
90,843
92,000
Pesos
905,204
928,248
952,106
962,761
975,000
Total re
sources, in
cluding loans,
interest, and
deposits
Pesos
2,549,306
2,570,588
2,733,854
2,737,583
2,800,000
Loans to
members
Pesos
2,408,261
2,429,994
2,595,620
2, 585,874
2,650,000
PORTO RICO—LABOR CONDITIONS
543
Labor Conditions in Porto Rico
O FIRST-HAND investigation of labor conditions in Porto Rico
has been made by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics
since the surveys embodied, respectively, in its Bulletin No. 34 (1901)
and Bulletin No. 61 (1905). In 1919, however, the United States
Employment Service issued a report on labor conditions in Porto
Rico, and in 1923 the United States Children's Bureau issued a report
entitled “ Child Welfare in the Insular Possessions of the United
States: Part I, Porto Rico.” In 1924, Public Health Bulletin No.
138 (Tuberculosis Survey of the Island of Porto Rico, October 11,
1922, to April 18, 1923) was issued by the United States Public
Health Service.
The annual reports of the Governor of Porto Rico and of the Bureau
of Labor of the Department of Agriculture and Labor of Porto Rico
contain important current information.
According to the 1920 census the population of Porto Rico was
1,299,809. A table showing the industrial distribution of gainfully
employed persons 10 years of age and over in that year is given
in Bulletin No. 439 (p. 479) of the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
N
Wages in Porto Rico, 1928-29
HE following wage statistics^ for Porto Rico are taken from the
annual report of the commissioner of agriculture and labor of the
island, which is included in the annual report of the governor for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1929.
Table 1 is compiled from a more comprehensive one, giving data for
5,157 establishments employing 58,057 persons, of whom 28,852 were
men and 29,205 were women. The wages shown below are for those
industries which are reported as having 100 or more employees.
T
545
546
PORTO RICO— LABOR CONDITIONS
T a b l e 1 .— SAMPLES
OF D A IL Y WAGES PREVAILING IN C E RTAIN INDUSTRIAL
ESTABLISHM ENTS VISITED B Y OFFICIALS OF BUREAU OF LABOR OF PORTO RICC
D U R IN G FISCAL Y E A R 1928-29
Number of em
ployees
Daily wages
Industry
Men
Automobile repair shops...................
Bakeries..............................................
Barber shops......................................
Blacksmith shops..............................
Buttons...............................................
Cabinetmaking shops........................
Carbonated water..............................
Carpenter shops................................
Cigarettes...........................................
Cigars.................................................
Coffee polishing and selecting...........
Confectioneries....................... ..........
Dairies................................. ..............
Dressmaking shops...........................
Electric plants....................................
Fertilizers...........................................
Foundries...........................................
Fruit canning.....................................
Fruit packing.....................................
Handkerchiefs-.................................
Hats....................................................
Ice......... ..............................................
Laundries-..........................................
Mechanic carpenter shops.................
Mechanic shops.................................
Men’s shirts.......................................
Men’s wearing apparel......................
Needlework and embroidery............
Printing shops...................................
Rock quarrying and crushing...........
Shoemakers’ shops.........................
Sugar factories....................................
Tailor shops.......................................
Tobacco curing..................................
Tobacco stripping..............................
Watchmakers’ and silversmiths’
sh ops.............................................
609
1,248
I,137
226
96
104
186
118
110
2,950
55
352
894
2
450
191
362
115
633
10
82
288
270
284
114
21
88
281
709
145
1,065
II,473
129
235
2,117
102
$0.50
.40
.50
.50
.40
1.00
.41
75
1,740
400
450
807
19
382
116
3
229
231
1,135
4,882
42
1
10
2
220
18,007
Women
Men
Women
.66
1.00
.33
.50
.40
.33
2.50
.50
1.00
1.00
.60
.50
1.16
.83
.50
.50
.70
.66
.83
1.00
.33
.50
1.00
.50
(0
.50
.50
.50
.50
$2.50
3.25
2.00
2.50
1.25
2.00
1.66
2.00
2.25
3.42
1.25
1.66
1.00
2.77
2.25
3.00
1.16
1.25
1.66
2.16
2.22
2.00
2.00
2.50
2.00
3.00
3.33
3.00
1.75
2.00
0)
2.00
.80
3.33
$5.00
6.00
3.33
4.00
2.00
3.33
2.83
3.33
4.51
$1.00
.50
$1.66
1.00
1.25
2.43
6.66
2.00
3.00
1.66
5.05
3.50
6.75
2.00
2.00
4.16
3.25
3.84
3.33
3.60
4.16
3.33
5.00
7.50
$2.16
1.00 "Tl8
.66
2.00
4.34
1.00
1.00
.50
.35
.50
.50
.83
.35
1.00
.80
.41
.50
.20
.50
1.16
1.21
1.47
3.00
4.16
.50
.75
.80
1.00
1.16
5.00
.50
.25
.90
.75
1.62
6.00
1.00
1.33
.66
6.66
2.50
3.33
0)
3.33
1.00
1.58
1.66
1.00
1.38
1.00
2.66
2.50
2.50
1.66
1.95
1.83
2.66
1 See Table 3.
BmMing trades.—The daily wages for “ masters” in the building
trades in the year under review were, in the various towns, as follows:
Daily wage
Arecibo_______________________________________ $3. 00-$4. 00
Guayama_____________________________________ 3. 00- 5. 00
Humacao_____________________________________ 3. 00- 4. 16
Mayaguez_____________________________________ 2. 50- 4.16
Ponce________________________________________ 2. 50- 6. 66
San Juan_____________________________________
3. 40- 7.10
Other towns___________________________________ 2. 00- 5. 00
The daily earnings for masons in San Juan were from $2.70 to
$4.80; in Ponce, from $1.75 to $3; and in Mayaguez, $2 to $3.50,
and in smaller towns, from $1.75 to $3.50. The wages of carpenters
and painters were about the same as those of masons.
The daily wages of helpers ranged from $1.26 to $2.25 in San Juan;
$0.80 to $1.44 in Ponce; $0.75 to $1.25 in Mayaguez; and from $1
to $1.62 in other towns, an average of $1.25 prevailing.
Coffee plantations —In 1928-29 inspections were made by the offi
cials of the Porto Rican Bureau of Labor on 261 coffee plantations
employing 4,066 men and 2,454 women. The men were earning from
$0.25 to $1 per day, $0.50 or $0.60 being the prevailing rate.
Fruit plantations.—The inspections of 52 fruit plantations in 19
municipalities, which in 1928-29 were employing 1,241 men and 69
547
WAGES IN 1 9 2 8 -2 9
women, disclosed that the prevailing daily wages for men were $0.60,
$0.75, $0.80, and $1; and for women, $0.35, $0.40, and $0.50.
Tobacco industry.—Investigation was made of 289 tobacco planta
tions in 38 localities. The number reported working on such planta
tions in 1928-29 was 7,288, of whom 4,522 were men, 2,736 women,
and 30 children. Sample daily wages reported for the municipalities,
where the inspected plantations were reported as having together
more than 200 workers, ranged from 30 cents to $1.33 for men and
from 25 to 72 cents for women.
There was less work in the tobacco-stripping shops in 1928-29, as
a result of the damage done by the September, 1928, hurricane to large
quantities of tobacco. Employers increased the number of pounds to
each peseda of wet tobacco to be stripped by the women, which was
equivalent to a very considerable cut in wages. Samples of rates
prevailing in the stripping shops and cigar factories are shown in
Table 2.
T a b l e 3 .— SAMPLES OP D A IL Y WAGES PREVAILIN G IN TOBACCO-STRIPPING SHOPS
AN E CIGAR FACTORIES VISITED B Y OFFICIALS OF BUREAU OF LABOR OF PORTO
RICO DURING FISCAL Y E A R 1928-29
Number of
workers
Daily wages
Occupation
Men
Men Women
Tobacco-stripping shops:
Assorters...................................
Chauffeurs................................
Classifiers.................................
Delivery clerks..... ...................
Driers.......................................
Fillers.......................................
Foremen...................................
General helpers........................
Hoopers.....................................
Labelers____________________
Leaf selectors............................
Loaders. ...................................
Packers....................................
Porters......................................
Pressmen..................................
Revisers........ ............................
Stowers—............... ..................
Strippers *.................................
Timekeepers .............................
W atchmen„.............................
Weighers...................................
Wetters.....................................
Cigar factories:
Assorters...................................
Blenders...................................
Bunchers.................................
Cigar binders...........................
Cigar makers............................
Classifiers (tobacco).................
Cleaners (scraps).....................
Counters (bands and wrappers). .
Delivery clerks.........................
Driers (tobacco).......................
Fillers........ ...............................
Filleters.................................
Foremen______________ _____
Laborers (miscellaneous)........
Leaf selectors............................
Mechanics................................
Office clerks..............................
Packers....... ............................. .
Porters.......................................
Revisers........... ................. .......
Strippers................................... .
Watchmen............ ................... .
Weighers (tobacco).................. .
Wetters (tobacco) ___________
6
1
3
281
393
155
669
17
54
"i’ l49
10
1
1
24
49
12
6
29
79
12
82
12
39
14
34
299
78
5
21
2,425
26
4
224
144
446
9
8
3
2
10
53
205
27
18
25
12
12
7
3
13
5
3
2
17
$2.00
$3.00
$3.33
.66
1.25
1.66
1.00
1.75
2.50
5.00
1.75
3.60
1.00
1.25
1.52
2.16
1.16
1.83
1.45
1.50
.90
1.16
.50
1.25
1.25
1.83
.90
.82
1.00
15,691
733
Women
3.00
2.50
1.25
1.66
1.10
1.00
.85
►90
.75
.75
.50
.70
1.00
4.69
3.00
2.28
2.04
1.00
2.00
.75
1.26
3.42
1.75
.40
1.75
2.00
2.80
1.50
.85
1.50
.50
4.00
3.00
6.66
4.16
4.00
3.33
1.66
6.66
6.25
2.25
2.50
4.50
1.33
2.57
1.00
2.50
1.25
1.25
1.75
1.50
1.00
1.00
2.00
2.50
3.25
3.00
1.12
2.00
3.00
.75
1.66
.75
1.25
1.66
2.33
1.50
1.50
2.00
1.00
.50
1.00
1.50
2.05
.81
1.25
2.00
.33
.57
1.00
i Work is done by the piece at 25 cents a peseda of 6 to 9 pounds of wet tobacco.
$1.00
$0.83
$1.00
.50
.65
.80
.80
1.25
.50
’ .’ 75
1.06
1.00
1.25
1.10
1.00
.75
.75
.25
.90
.75
4.34
.70
1.83
3.29
2.60
1.00
1.00
1.00
2.00
1.50
1.20
.75
.85
.91
2.00
1.00
.65
.50
.33
2.25
1.25
2.43
1.50
2.05
1.00
1.92
.75
3.00
2.83
1.25
1.25
.50
.70
1.50
.75
.33
1.00
548
PORTO RICO— LABOR CONDITIONS
Sugar industry.—In 1928-29 there was a surplus of labor in the
sugar-cane zone because of the drift of workers from other parts of
the island. Samples of prevailing wages for specified occupations in
the sugar industry in the northern and southern districts of Porto
Rico are given in Table 3.
T a b l e 3.—SAMPLES OF D A IL Y WAGES PR EV A ILIN G IN THE SUGAR IN D U STRY IN
TWO SECTIONS OF PORTO RICO DU RIN G TH E SEASON OF 1928-29
Daily wages
Occupation or employment
Northern section
Southern section
Cultivation and harvesting of sugar cane:
B anking u p
Cane cutting............................................................... ..... $1.00
C ane h a u lin g .
__
... .... .................
1.00
Cattle tending
_
.66
Chopping and lopping.... ............................... ................. 1.00
Cross p low in g (w ith m achine)
1.40
Cross p low in g (w ith o x e n ) ____ _ ________ _____ . . ^
1.00
Cultivators.................................................. ..... ........ .... 1.60
C n ttin g and hauling seed
., - ....... .............. ..
1.00
!Ditrthing _ _____
1.76
pumping cane,
.. ___ ___ ....
1.00
Filling wagons_____________ ________________________ 1.00
Foremen______________________ ___ _______________ 1.75
F u rrow m arking
1.00
F u rrow in g .
1.00
H arrow ing (w ith m achine)
H arrow ing (w ith o x«n ) ,
Heaping straw___ ________ ___ ___________________
H i l l i n g ____________________
Irrigating__________________________________________
Loading.................. ..... ........ ............... ..... ...................
Overseers_________________________________ _________
Planting__________________________________________
Plowing (with machine)_____________________________
Plowing (with oxen)________________________________
Replanting......................................................................... .
Scattering fertilizers_________________________________
Scattering lime or bagasse__________________ _______ _
Stablemen________________________________________
Water boys_________________________________________
Weeding___________________________________________
Yoke drivers_______________________________________
Sugar factories:
Bag sewers________________________________________
Bagasse men_______________________________________
Blacksmiths____________________________________
Boilers (at the)____________________________________
Brick layers_______________________________________
Cane weighers__________________________________
Carpenters_________________________________________
Cartmen___________________________________________
Cattle tenders............. ....... ........ ......... -........................
Centrifugalers_________________________________ ____ _
Chauffeurs______________________________________
Cranemen___________________________
Crystallizers________________________________________
Defecators_________________________________________
Electricians___________ ___________________________
Engine drivers______________________________________
Filters (at the)......... ....................................... ...................
Foremen................................... ......... ................................
Frothers, pans (at th e ).._______ ____________________
Lime pits (at the)_________________________________
Machinists____________ __________ _____________ __ _
Mechanics_________________________________________
Mechanics (assistants)______________________________
MillmAn____________________________
Overseers__________________________________________
Pump tenders______________________________________
Railroad track repairers_____________________________
Stablemen__________________________________________
Stokers____________________________________________
S w itchm en
__
Triplers____________________________________________
$0.90
1.50
1.75
1.10
1.00
1.75
$0.80
1.00
1.00
.50
.80
$0.70
.60
.60
.40
.60
1.20
1.25
1.50
1.20
1.25
1.50
.90
1.75
1.75
.90
1.00
1.25
.75
.75
.90
1.00
1.00
.80
.60
.75
.75
Loo
1.00
1.25
.90
.85
.85
.75
.75
.55
5.00
1.00
1.75
1.50
1.00
.80
.70
1.50
.75
1.00
.75
3.33
.80
1.25
1.00
.80
.60
.60
.90
.50
.80
.60
1.67
.60
.90
2.50
.80
2.40
1.75
3.00
1.85
3.15
2.25
3.50
1.66
3.00
1.90
3.00
.70
1. 50
.83
.90
1.25
2.66
1.66
4.16
.85
2.95
1.00
2. 50
.90
2.66
3.33
1.50
2.00
3.00
.90
2.80
1.00 ' 3.50
.75
1.33
.90
1.50
1.15
3.00
2.50
6.66
1.00
3.00
.80
3.00
1.66
5.00
.80
1.50
1.75
.70
.87
1.15
1.00
1.80
.95
1.35
1.20
2.83
2.00
1.50
2. 25
2.00
3.00
2.00
2.50
1.15
.83
1.65
2.83
1.80
1.61
1.75
2.33
2.40
1.75
2.25
1.00
1.05
2.00
3.50
1.75
1.75
3.33
1.15
1.25
.91
1.50
1.10
1.80
1.00
.75
1.25
1.00
1.90
1. 25
1.75
.85
.80
1.00
1.50
.80
l.CO
.85
1.00
1.75
.75
1.00
.60
.75
1.00
1.05
.75
.75
2.15
.90
.60
.66
1.10
.88
1.00
$0.80
.90
$0.70
.70
.80
.65
.75
1.00
.80
1.00
.80
.80
1.25
.76
.80
.60
.60
.70
.75
.60
.75
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.50
1.05
1.15
5.00
1.00
2.00
1.25
.90
.80
.75
.66
.75
1.00
.75
.75
.75
.80
.90
1.00
3.33
.80
1.50
.80
.75
.60
.70
.60
.60
.65
.80
.80
1.67
.65
1.40
.60
.65
.40
.60
.80
.60
.40
.60
.50
3.33
1.75
3.50
2.70
4.00
4.80
4.00
1.15
1.16
2.97
3.00
2.66
4.16
2.10
5.00
3.33
1.79
2.33
2.00
2.00
3.75
6.73
2.50
2.97
5.20
2.00
1.75
1.33
2.00
1.66
3.33
1.50
1.35
2.75
2.00*
3.00
3.33
3.00
.75
1.00
1.65
2.50
1.65
1.75
1.50
3.33
2.66
1.35
1.75
1.25
1.50
2.33
5.00
1.75
1.75
2.83
1.40
1.16
1.08
1.50
1.33
2.33
.65
.75
.65
.40
. 50
.65
.40
.60
.40
RETAIL PRICES OP FOOD IN SAN JUAN
549
Because of the oversupply of labor at the close of the grinding
season the sugar-mill operators cut down the working week to two
or three days in order to distribute employment to all their help.
Other employers increased the working hours per day from 8 to 9%
with no increase in wages.
Embroidery and needlework industry .—This industry has become one
of the most important in Porto Rico. Inspections were made in
1928-29 of 348 shops employing on an average 281 men and 4,882 women.
Table 4 records the wages in various occupations in this industry.
T a b l e 4 .— SAMPLES OF D A IL Y WAGES P REVAILIN G IN E M B R O ID E R Y A N D N EE D LE
W O R K SHOPS IN PORTO RICO DU R IN G FISCAL Y E A R 1928-29
Number of
workers
Daily wages
Occupation
Men Wom
en
Classifiers....................
Chauffeurs................. .
Cutters........................
Designers................... .
Embroiderers..............
Finishers.................... .
Folders....................... .
Hemstitchers............. .
Ironers.........................
Labor, miscellaneous..
Laundresses............... .
Mechanics...................
Pullers...................... .
Receivers................... .
Retailers.....................
Revisers...------ --------Seamstresses...............
Sewers, machine.........
Stampers.....................
20
” 95
7
334
62
Men
$0.83
1.00
5.60
Women
$3.33
3.33
7.60
$5.00
$0.33
$0.83
$1.33
.41
1.66
.25
.29
.33
.20
.50
.29
.50
1.33
2.30
.83
.58
.66
.83
1.25
.83
1.00
1.25
.91
1.00
1.47
2.00
1.50
1.50
.20
.33
.66
.50
.41
1.00
1.50
1.16
1.50
1.60
2.00
2.66
.33
1.00
1.92
20
92
865
911
194
133
107
3
138
1,731
10
180
.90
1.33
2.50
"i"6o'
5.80
1.83
2.50
.75
1.00
1.00
2.60
2.50
2.50
Retail Prices of Food in San Juan
Q
UOTATIONS on retail prices of food usually purchased by la
borers in San Juan are given as follows in the annual report
of the Governor of Porto Rico for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1929 (pp. 756-757):
Per pound
(cents)
Bacon______________________________________________
Beans:
Red___________________________________________
White Bread____
Codfish___
Coffee-----Corn meal_
Ham_____
Lard-------Onions......
Potatoes--.
14
12
12
14
10
12
14
36
40
5
24
16
20
8
Rice.
3
4
5
Sugar-
4
5
6
6
550
PORTO RICO— LABOR CONDITIONS
The prices vary somewhat in different towns—for example, the
highest quotation for rice in certain localities is 8 cents per pound
and the lowest price reported in some places is 3 cents. The one
price quoted for coffee in two towns is only 29 cents, while in two
other towns the highest quotation is 48 cents. While bread in San
Juan is reported at 10 cents a pound, there are a number of towns
where it is priced at 7 cents.
Unemployment in Porto Rico, 1929
I N PORTO RICO, in 1929, there were 170,519 persons unemployed,
according to a memorandum prepared by the chief of the bureau
of labor of the island, which was included in the first report of the
legislative committee to investigate the industrial and agricultural
uneasiness and restlessness causing unemployment in Porto Rico, pub
lished in February, 1930. This number of the idle does not include
the physically disabled, married women doing domestic work in their
homes, or children under 18 years of age. The following data from in
spection reports and figures compiled by other island authorities are
also presented in the above-mentioned memorandum as approximately
showing the actual labor situation in Porto Rico in 1929:
Population of available workers:
In sugar industry---------------------------------------------------------------In coffee, tobacco, and fruit industries________________________
Permanently employed in other industries_____________________
Office employees at fixed salaries_____________________________
Professionals and their employees____________________________
In public service enterprises_________________________________
In mercantile industry______________________________________
Chauffeurs licensed by department of interior__________________
In domestic service in private homes, hotels, and restaurants____
Number
75, 000
51, 421
55, 000
10, 000
8, 000
6, 000
30, 000
15, 000
40, 000
Total, employed_________________________________________ 290, 421
Unemployed______________________________________________
170, 519
Grand total_______________________ ____ ________________
460,940
Taking the preceding figures as a basis, 37 per cent of the available
workers of the island were unemployed in the year under review.
Social Conditions in Porto Rico
HE report of the Governor of Porto Rico for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1930, devotes considerable space to the labor and
general social conditions existing in the island. Certain significant
excerpts from this report are given below:
“ The annual report that I am writing can not cover the full year,
because I did not arrive in Porto Rico until the first week in October,
1929. At that time I found conditions on the island exceedingly
bad. We were struggling with three great problems—disease, pov
erty, and an island revenue that was insufficient to meet the budget
then in force.”
T
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
551
Health Problems
“ W e were and are a prey to disease of many kinds. In the fiscal
year ending June 30,1929, 4,442 of our people died from tuberculosis.
Our death rate in this disease was higher than that of any other place
in the Western Hemisphere, and 4K times the death rate in the
continental United States. Our death rate from malaria was 2 %
times the rate in the continental United States. Phrasing it differ
ently, some 35,000 people in our island are now suffering from tuber
culosis, some 200,000 from malaria, and some 600,000 from hook
worm. Besides hookworm, there are a number of other intestinal
parasites that cause great damage; among them are ascaris, bilharzia,
trichuris, etc. * * *
“ We have an excellent, hard-working insular department of health,
but the funds at its disposal have been and are entirely inadequate to
face the problem. For example, in tuberculosis we have an insular
sanitarium with beds for 290 public patients. In the municipalities
we can take care of some 50 more in local public hospitals, besides
some 150 beds in various institutions, making a total of 490, as com
pared with about 35,000 cases. We are unable to isolate our sources
of infection. In consequence they are forming nucleuses in the com
munity from which the disease is constantly spreading and augment
ing. Time and again I have seen mothers or fathers desperately ill
with tuberculosis, surrounded by six or eight children. * * *
“ In so far as the mountain districts are concerned, the mountain
folk get little medical attention of any kind in 75 out of the 77 dis
tricts. There are two districts where mass work is being conducted
against hookworm. I have ridden continually through the hills and
almost invariably ask the farmers when a doctor has been there.
So far I have not found in those regions an instance where there has
been a recent visit from a competent medical man. When one of
the country people gets a disease no competent care can be obtained
except by bringing the patient to the nearest town, where medical
treatment is often too expensive for the family purse.”
Economic Problems
“ E conomically, our condition was equally bad. More than 60
per cent of our people are out of employment either all or a part of
each year. The average yearly income of the working man or woman
ranges between $150 and $200. Hundreds come to the government
offices weekly, with but a single request—work. They do not ask for
a dole, merely the opportunity to earn a livelihood. This condition
has been brought about by a number of different factors. To begin
with, we have a population of 440 to the square mile. That means
that we must practice intensive agriculture. In Porto Rico the low
lands are held in large measure in big farms, either by companies or
individuals. We have too few small farmers. This condition is
not new. It has always existed to a large extent, though now it is
worse. In the last century much of the property was owned in Spain.
Now much is owned by sugar companies in the continental United
States, though some is still owned in Europe.
“ It is axiomatic that the small farmholder is the basis of society.
Our endeavor, therefore, must be to aid such as exist and to strive
47767°—31------36
552
PORTO RICO— LABOR CONDITIONS
to put back on the land again, on farms owned by themselves, as
many of our people as possible.
“ Even if we practice intensive agriculture fully and develop our
small farms, we can not by agriculture alone support our population.
We must in addition have industries. There is an exceptional oppor
tunity for the development of industries in Porto Rico. There is an
abundance of intelligent, honest, and industrious labor. We have
power, both hydroelectric and manufactured, and a water haul to any
of the world markets.”
Financial Problems
“ D ue largely to the economic conditions outlined above, the finan
cial situation of the government last autumn was desperate. During
the year ending June 30, 1929, we had overspent our revenues by
$1,191,301.19. This sum, plus the deficits incurred in the immed
iately preceding years, was being carried in the form of floating in
debtedness through loans at the banks. The condition of the banks
was bad. They had suffered heavily as a result of the hurricane.
Many of their loans were frozen. The money borrowed by the
government had added to this burden, cramping them still further.
As a result, they were in no position to extend the credit sorely needed
by our people if we were to build our businesses.
“ The interest rates in the island are very high. The banks charge
on regular loans 9 to 12 per cent, which of course cripples business
expansion. Besides this, there is considerable usury being practiced
by outside individuals, who loan money at rates running up to 25 per
cent. This latter is illegal, but is almost impossible to detect and
punish. Financial institutions for the specific purpose of encouraging
industry are necessary.
“ Furthermore, our budget for the year 1929-30 had been based
upon an erroneous estimate of receipts, and the government was run
ning behind at the rate of $200,000 a month, piling up a deficit which
it was estimated by the treasury would be in the neighborhood of
$2,000,000 additional at the end of the year. Matters reached such
a state that it was necessary to borrow $200,000 on a note of hand
in order to pay the salaries of government employees in December, and
at that time some 6,500 vouchers of debts owed by the government
were outstanding. These comprised overdue bills for food for the
hospitals, supplies, etc.”
Measures Taken
“ W ith this situation to face, we at once set to work to make com
prehensive plans for the future. The problem divided itself roughly
into two parts. The first of these was the immediate necessity. That
embodied feeding the children; some 60 per cent were greatly under
nourished, many of them on the verge of starvation. In order to
effect this we appealed to certain organizations in the continental
United States. When President Hoover heard of conditions here,
he arranged that the American Child Health Association should visit
the island. As a result of their report, the American Relief Associa
tion Children’s Fund (Inc.), contributed $100,000. Meanwhile, the
Golden Rule Foundation had been carrying on a campaign throughout
the United States by which some $50,000 in cash or its equivalent was
realized.
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
553
“ We spent $25,000 for milk stations to feed babies. The balance
we used through our school lunch rooms. These have become an
institution in the island, because such a large percentage of the
children would go practically unfed if they did not exist. * * *
“ In so far as the financial situation of the island is concerned, we
held conferences with the banks and, through the understanding
statesmanship of the Department of the Treasury in Washington,
obtained a deposit here of $1,500,000 of the funds appropriated by
the Federal Congress for use by the Porto Rican Hurricane Relief
Commission.
“ We then made a survey of the governmental operations and cut
drastically many nonessential expenses. We also undertook an
intensive campaign for the collection of past-due taxes, where we felt
that the individuals could pay but were avoiding payment.
“ Through the two above endeavors we succeeded at the end of the
fiscal year in reducing the anticipated deficit by $500,000.
“ Meanwhile we suggested to the legislature the authorization of an
issue of $4,000,000 worth of 4% per cent 10-year serial bonds, to fund
our floating indebtedness. This issue was authorized and was sold
at $101.35 on June 24, 1930.
“ As a result of the policies inaugurated above, the island debt is
now funded. The banks have been freed of the loans they were
carrying, and our budget for the coming year is balanced. * * *
“ The second aspect of the problem which we faced was the creation
of a sound economic basis for our people, without which none of our
efforts can ultimately avail.
“ Porto Rico was in the past entirely agricultural, and even at the
present day the vast majority of her people draw such livelihood as
they may obtain, either directly or indirectly, from farming. We
decided that our efforts must be primarily directed toward helping
the small farmer, with the idea of putting back on the soil as many as
possible, and instructing all in such methods as should make their
farms profitable. * * *
“ Due to the density of the population, the government of Porto
Rico had hardly any public land, and such as was suitable for farming
has now been exhausted. We therefore decided to extend the scope
of the [homestead] commission by buying cheap land from large
holders and using it for homesteading purposes. We accordingly
provided an issue of $500,000 worth of bonds in the last legislature for
this purpose.
“ The second and even more important endeavor we decided to
develop was the extension of a special type of consolidated vocational
rural school. We have had in the past in Porto Rico, as we have had
in the continental United States, a tendency to educate boys and
girls with no thought as to their future. It is cold comfort for any
child to be turned out on the world after his education has been com
pleted with no means of earning a livelihood. * * *
“ To further our effort in getting the knowledge of proper farming
methods, crops, and markets out to the smaller farmers, we appropri
ated $20,000 to be used in the establishment of farm bureaus. These
will be like those now in operation in the continental United States.
They are cooperatives with government aid and guidance. We
expect to establish six or eight of these in the coming year. * * *
554
PORTO RICO— LABOR CONDITIONS
“ In order to grapple more effectively with the growing problem of
industrial labor on this island, we suggested to the legislature and they
approved the reorganization of the bureau of labor, which is in
the department of agriculture. Through this reorganization various
endeavors reflecting directly upon the workingman and his social
condition will be coordinated under a single administration and under
the direction of a subcommissioner.’ ’
Campaign Against Disease
“ T h e next of the great evils that we faced was that of disease
Our island funds are far too limited to grapple in any adequate fashion
with this great evil. We can make no frontal attack. Our plan
with the resources we have at hand is to extend gradually through the
island a system of health units based on that now in existence in
certain parts of the continental United States.
“ We plan to cover the entire island with a system of 20 of these
units. Each unit will be responsible not only for the urban population
wherein is situated the headquarters, but in addition, i o v all of the
country population out to the farthest farms on the hillside. * * *
“ During the year 1929-30, the infant-mortality rate was 133 per
1,000, as compared with 179 per 1,000 in the previous year. Un
doubtedly the aid given through milk stations had a very consider
able effect upon this, for the large majority of the babies who received
aid would probably have died had none been available. We have
reduced the mortality rate in tuberculosis, but our rate is still the
highest in the hemisphere.
“ We have cut considerably the ravages of dysentery, diarrhea, and
enteritis. The same holds true in so far as bronchitis and malaria are
concerned. As a result of all of this our general mortality rate has
been reduced to 21.3. * * *
“ Certain national organizations of standing and repute, numbering
among them the American Child Health Association, the Catholic
Porto Rican Child Welfare Association (Inc.), the American Relief
Association, Children’s Fund (Inc.), the American Social Hygiene
Association, the National Tuberculosis Association, and the Porto
Rico Child-Feeding Committee, met together in New York and
formed a joint committee which, under the name of the Porto Rico
Child-Health Committee, has for its mission a 5-year program specifi
cally directed against disease and its mainspring, malnutrition. This
committee has announced its intention of endeavoring to raise $7,300,000, the money to be spent in certain well-coordinated endeavors over
this period of years, at the end of which time it is expected that the
program they are undertaking, plus the work of the insular govern
ment, will have placed Porto Rico in such position that she can com
bat the evils herself. * * *
“ To sum up, we believe that desperate though the problems of
Porto Rico may be at this time, there is a practical solution for them
which can be applied by work on the island and aid from without the
island, which will create a proper and adequate economic condition
here. Furthermore, our people here have a most important and use
ful r61e which they are perfectly capable of playing in the future.”
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
555
Retail Prices in the United States
Retail Prices of Food
ETAIL prices of food in general averaged higher in 1929 than in
the preceding year. This was particularly true of sirloin and
round steak, rib and chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, ham, hens,
eggs, and potatoes. Butter, cheese, flour, rice, and sugar, on the
other hand, were cheaper than in 1928.
Prices of fresh beef steadily increased in the first seven months of
the year, but declined thereafter. December prices were, however,
well above those of January. The price of pork chops rose from Janu
ary to September, and declined in the next three months. Bacon
and ham were highest in price in August, declining thereafter to the
end of the year. Hens reached their price peak in May, with receding
prices to the year's end.
Butter increased in price early in the year, declined in summer,
strengthened in autumn, and again declined in the closing months of
the year. Cheese prices were downward, while milk, after weakening
in summer, advanced in fall and winter. Eggs showed strong seasonal
variations, declining sharply from January to April, increasing stead
ily to November, and moving downward in December. Bread prices
were constant except for a slight decline in fall and winter. Prices of
flour declined in spring and summer, advanced in early fall, and again
declined later. Corn meal showed no variation until December,
when prices stiffened. Rice showed only minor price fluctuations,
while potatoes were stationary in the first four months but rose steeply
to August, with declining prices later in the year.
Sugar decreased slightly in price in the first half of the year and
increased in the second half. Tea showed negligible price fluctuations,
while coffee varied but little in price until near the end of the year,
when it receded sharply. All commodities, as measured by the
weighted index for food, declined from January to April, increased to
September, and again declined in the remaining months. The
December level was somewhat above the level for January.
R
Retail Prices of Food in 1930
I n 1930 retail food prices averaged considerably below those of 1929.
All food articles included in the bureau's compilation, except com
meal, potatoes, and tea, showed decreases from the price level of the
year before. The average for potatoes was appreciably higher, while
com meal and tea were stationary in price between the two years.
Butter, eggs, and coffee, in particular, were much cheaper than in
1929-
Except for a slight reaction in September, prices of fresh beef of all
kinds receded steadily throughout the year. December prices
averaged about 15 per cent below those of January. Pork chops
showed erratic price fluctuations, increasing in early months, declining
in May, increasing again to September, and declining sharply to the
end of the year. Prices of bacon and ham, while exhibiting less
violent variations, decreased in the year. Hens rose slowly in price
in early months and then declined, with December prices at the
lowest point of the year.
558
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
Butter prices were seasonal, rising in early months, declining in
summer, rising again in autumn, and slumping thereafter. Prices
of cheese were downward, while milk also declined appreciably in
the year. Eggs fell 40 per cent in price from January to June, but
slowly increased to November. December prices were appreciably
lower. Bread and flour prices decreased in the year, flour in par
ticular being much cheaper in December than in January. Corn
meal and rice showed minor price changes, but these were downward.
Potatoes rose steeply in spring but fell as abruptly in fall and winter.
Sugar steadily declinea in price throughout the year, except for a
slight reaction in the closing months. Tea price fluctuations were
negligible, while coffee prices steadily receded throughout the year.
As shown by the weighted index, food prices in 1930 receded in the
first three months, rallied slightly in April, and declined thereafter
except for a small reaction in the fall months. The price level in
December was about 12 per cent below that of January.
Table 1 shows for the United States average retail prices of speci
fied articles of food for the years 1913 and 1929 and for each month
of 1929.
T able
1.—AVERAGE
R E TA IL PRICES OF SPECIFIED FOOD ARTICLES IN THE UNITED
STATES, B Y YEARS, 1913 A N D 1929, AN D B Y MONTHS FOR 1929
Article
Unit
1929
Av
Aver
erage
for Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug, Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
year 15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15 15
15 year
1913
1929
Sirloin steak..
Round steak..
Rib roast.......
Chuck roast..
Plate beef____
Pound.
...d o___
.-.do___
...d o ....
...d o___
Cts.
25.4
22.3
19.8
16.0
12.1
Cts.
48.4
42.6
35.8
29.0
20.6
Cts.
47.8
42.1
35.4
28.7
20.3
Cts.
47.9
42.2
35.5
28.8
20.3
Cts.
49.0
43.4
36.4
29.5
20.6
Cts.
50.4
44.9
37.2
30.4
21.1
Cts.
51.2
45.8
37.6
30.7
21.3
Cts.
52.5
47.0
38.2
31.3
21.5
Cts.
52.4
47.0
38.0
31.1
21.3
Cts.
51.5
46.1
37.5
30.7
21.2
as.
50.3
44.5
37.0
30.0
21.0
Cts.
49. 1
43.8
36.3
29.4
20.7
Cts.
48.9
43.4
36.0
29.3
as.
Pork chops....
Bacon, sliced..
Ham, sliced-..
Lamb, leg of—
...d o___
...d o___
...d o .__
...d o___
...d o___
21.0
27.0
26.9
18.9
21.3
32.3
43.0
53.8
39.!
39.!
33.0
42.7
53.7
40.3
39.7
35.2
42.9
54.3
40.9
40.5
37.1
43.3
54.7
41.8
41.8
37.7
43.4
55.1
42.1
42.2
37.6
43.8
55.3
41.2
41.3
39.5
44.3
56.4
41.1
39.9
40.4
44.7
56.8
40.3
39.4
40.7
44.4
56.4
39.5
39.2
38.9
43.7
55.1
38.5
38.4
35.8
43.0
53.9
37.9
37.7
34.3
42.5
53.4
37.9
37.1
36.9
43.5
54.9
40.1
39.7
Salmon, canned, — do___
31.9 31.7 31.4 31.5 31.3
red.
Milk, fresh......... Quart— 8.9 14.3 14.3 14.3 14.2 14.2
Milk, evaporated. 0)---11.4 11.4 11.4 11.1 10.9
Butter.................. Pound. 38.3 57.7 58.5 58.4 55.8 54.5
Oleomargarine (all —do___
27.6 27.6 27.5 27.4 27.3
butter substi
tutes).
Cheese-................ —do___ 22.1 38.4 38.2 38.2 38.1 38.0
Lard.................. — —do___ 15.8 18.5 18.4 18.4 18.5 18.4
Vegetable
lard —do___
24.7 24.7 24.8 24.8 24.9
substitute.
Eggs, strictly fresh Dozen. 34.5 50.6 49.1 42.1 36.7 38.7
Bread................ — Pound.
5.6 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Flour.................... —do___
3.3 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.0
Corn meal............ —do___
3.0 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3
Rolled oats___
—do—
8.9 8.9 8.9 8.9 8.9
50.0
44.4
36.7
29.9
20.6 20.9
31.4 31.5 31.7 31.8 31.9 31.9 32.2 31.7
14.2
10.9
53.8
27.2
14.3
10.9
53.4
27.2
14.3
10.8
53.8
27.1
14.3
10.7
54.8
27.1
14.3
10.6
55.7
27.0
14.4
10.5
53.5
26.9
14.4
10.4
51.6
26.7
14.3
10.9
55.1
27.2
38.0 37.9 37.8 38.0 37.9 37.8 37.7 38.0
18.3 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.3 18.0 17.6 18.3
24.8 24.8 24.8 24.7 24.7 24.6 24.4 24.7
41.4 44.1 48.3 53.0 58.0 63.3
9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 8.9 8.9
4.9 5.0 5.2 5.3 5.2 5.2
5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3
8.9 8.8 8.9 8.9 8.8 8.8
62.8 49.0
8.9 9.0
5.1 5.1
5.4 5.3
8.8 8.9
Corn flakes_____ (2)......
Wheat cereal____ (3)------Macaroni_______ Pound.
Rice.............. ....... -.d o .__
Beans, navy____ —do__„
9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5
25.5 25.5 25.5 25.5 25.5 25.4 25.5 25.5 25.5 25.5 25.5 25.5 25.5
19.7 19.6 19.6 19.6 19.7 19.7 19.7 19.7 19.6 19.7 19.7 19.6 19.7
8.7 9.8 9.8 9.8 9.8 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.8 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.6 9.7
13.2 13.8 14.0 14.2 14.2 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.2 13.7 13.1 14.0
Potatoes________
Onions____ _____
Cabbage________
Beans, baked___
Corn, canned___
1.7
* 16-ounce can.
..d o ___
..d o ___
-do.
2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.7 3.1 3.9 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.2
7.6 8.2 8.4 8.2 7.4 7.0 7.0 6.4 5.7 5.3 5.0 5.0 6.8
5.8 5.9 5.7 5.2 5.2 4.8 4.8 5.6 5.1 4.5 4.2 4.4 5.1
11.7 11.8 11.9 11.9 11.9 11.9 11.9 11.9 11.8 11.7 11.7 11.5 11.8
16.0 15.9 15.9 15.8 15.9 15.8 15.8 15.8 15.8 15.8 15.7 15.7 15.8
* 8-ounce package.
3 28-ounce package.
* No. 2 can.
559
R E TAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T a b l e 1.— AVERAG E R E TA IL PRICES OF SPECIFIED FOOD ARTICLES IN THE U NITED
STATES, B Y YEARS, 1913 AN D 1929, A N D B Y MONTHS FOR 1929—Continued
Article
Peas, canned........
Tomatoes, canned
Sugar, granulated.
Tea....................
Coffee................
Prunes..................
Raisins............
Bananas______
Oranges...........
Unit
0)
Pound.
...d o ___
.do—
.d o ....
...d o —
Dozen.
..d o ___
Av
Av
1929
er
er
age
age
for Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. for
year 15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15 year
1913
1929
Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. as. Cts. Cts Cts. as. Cts, Cts, as. Cts. Cts.
16.8 16.7 16.7 16.7 16.7 16.6 16.6 16.6 16.6 16.7 16.6 16.5 16.7
12.3 12.7 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.4 13.8 13.8 12.9 12.6 12.6 12.5 13.0
5.5 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.6 6.6
54.4 77.5 77.6 77.6 77.6 77.6 77.5 77.4 77.5 77.6 77.6 77.4 77.7 77.6
29.8 49.5 49.5 49.6 49.6 49.5 49.4 49.4 49.3 49.2 49.1 48.3 46.3 49.1
14.2 14.2 14.3 14.3 14.4 14.6 14.7 15.0 15.9 17.1 17.9 18.2 15.4
11.7 11.6 11.6 11.5 11.6 11.6 11.7 11.8 12.0 12.2 12.4 12.3 11.8
33.9 33.3 32.1 31.8 31.9 31.7 32.1 31.9 32.1 32.4 32.7 32.2 32.3
46.4 43.6 38.7 39.8 41.3 44.0 44.9 45.6 44.2 44.9 43.0 43.5 43.3
<No. 2 can.
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of speci
fied articles of food for the years 1913 and 1930 and for each month
of 1930.
T able
AVERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF SPECIFIED FOOD ARTICLES IN THE UN ITED
STATES B Y YEARS, 1913 AN D 1930, AND B Y MONTHS FOR 1930
Article
Unit
Sirloin steak....... Pound.
Round steak____ ...d o___
Rib roast............ —do___
Chuck roast......... —do— .
Plate beef........... —do___
Pork chops......... —do___
Bacon sliced_____ —do___
Ham, sliced...
—do___
Lamb, leg of—
—do___
—do___
Hens................
Salmon, canned,
red................. . —do__
Milk, fresh......... Quart..
Milk, evaporated. 0)......
Butter._________ Pound.
O leom argarine
(all butter sub
stitutes............. ...d o ___
Cheese................ - ...d o ....
Lard...............
do___
Vegetable
lard
substitutes____ — do___
Eggs, strictly fresh Dozen.
PoundBread..............
Flour...............
...do—
Corn meal............ —do___
Rolled oats.......... —do___
Corn flakes..........
Wheat cereal....... ?)Macaroni..... ....... Pound.
Rice......................
.do.
Beans, navy.........
.do.
Potatoes............... .do___
Onions.................
.do___
Cabbage.............do.
Pork and beans... (<).....Corn, canned....... (<).......
Peas, canned....... (4).......
Tomatoes,canned (<).......
Sugar, granulated Pound. .
Tea....................... —.do.......
Coffee...................
Prunes................ — do___
Raisins............... —do___
Bananas.............. Dozen..
Oranges.............. —do—
116-ounce can.
A v
Av
30
er
er
age
age
for Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. for
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
year 15
15
15
15
15 year
1913
1930
Cts. as. Cts. Cts. as. Cts. Cts. a s . Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts. Cts.
25.4 49.0 48.6 48.4 48.3 48.3 47.9 46.3 44.6 45.0 44.5 43.3 42.9 46.4
22.3 43.6 43.3 43.0 43.1 43.0 42.7 41.1 39.4 39.7 39.3 38.1 37.7 41.2
19.8 36.3 36.0 35.9 35.9 35.6 35.1 34.0 32.3 33.0 32.5 31.8 31.6 34.2
16.0 29.5 29.5 29.2 29.2 28.7 28.1 26.6 24.9 25.6 25.4 24.7 24.6 27.2
12.1 20.9 20.8 20.6 20.4 19.9 19.4 18.1 16.8 17.2 17.2 16.9 16.9 18.8
21.0 35.3 35.2 36.1 37.1 36.1 36.6 36.5 36.7 39.1 37.9 32.8 31.4 35.9
27.0 42.4 42.6 42.6 42.5 42.3! 42.3 42.3 42.0 42.7 42.6 42.1 41.3 42.3
26.9 53.6 54.0 54.1 53.9 54.0j 54.0 53.8 53.3 53.5 53.1 52.1 51.5 53.4
18.9 39.1 38.1 36.6 35.8 35.9 36.6 35.7 33.7 34.0 32.8 31.4 31.1 35.1
21.3 38.0 38.2 38.3 38.2 37.4 35.7 34.4 33.8 34.0 33.8 32.6 32.0 35.5
31.9
8.9 14.2
10.4
38.3 46.7
31.9
14.1
10.3
47.0
31.9
14.0
10.3
46.7
31.8
14.0
10.3
48.1
31.8 31.8 31.9
14.0 14.0 14.0
10.2 10.1 10.0
46.3 43.3 43.7
32.6
14.0
10.0
47.4
33.5 34.0 34.3 34.3
14.0 14.0 14.0 13.5
10.0 9.9 9.9 9.9
48.7 47.8 45.4 42.5
32.6
14.0
10.1
46.1
26.4 26.2 26.1 26.0 25.8 25.6 25.7 25.4 25.1 25.0 24.6 24.5 25.5
22.1 37.4 36.9 36.4 36.0 35.8 34.9 34.3 33.9 34.2 34.2 33.8 33.2 35.1
15.8 17.2 17.1 16.9 16.8 16.7 16.6 16.3 16.5 17.5 17.7 17.5 16.7 17.0
24.5
34.5 55.4
5.
8.9
3.3 5.1
3.0 5.4
8.8
9.4
25.5
19.6
8.7 9.6
12.7
1.7 3.9
5.1
5.1
11.4
15.6
16.5
12.6
’ ~5.’ 5 6.6
54.4 78.0
29.8 43.8
18.4
12.3
32.1
46.7
24.4
47.2
8.8
5.1
5.3
8.8
9.4
25.6
19.5
9.6
12.3
3.9
5.1
6.7
11.3
15.5
16.5
12.6
6.5
77.9
42.7
18.3
12.2
31.3
49.4
24.4
35.3
8.8
5.0
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.5
19.5
9.5
12.1
3.9
5.0
8.5
11.2
15.4
16.4
12.6
6.4
77.7
41.9
18.2
12.2
31.4
52.1
2 8-ounce package,
24.3
34.5
8.8
4.9
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.5
19.5
9.6
11.8
4.1
5.6
9.8
11.1
15.4
16.4
12.6
6.3
77.5
41.4
18.1
12.1
30.6
60.9
24.3
33.7
8.8
4.8
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.4
19.5
9.5
11.6
4.3
6.0
7.3
11.0
15.4
16.3
12.8
6.3
77.5
40.9
17.4
12.0
30.6
66.7
24.3
33.6
8.8
4.8
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.4
19.4
9.5
11.5
4.2
5.9
5.6
11.0
15.4
16.3
12.4
6.1
77.8
40.6
17.0
12.0
31.0
67.2
24.3
35.1
8.8
4.6
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.4
19.3
9.5
11.5
3.3
5.8
4.4
11.0
15.3
16.2
12.4
6.1
77.6
40.4
16.5
11.9
30.6
64.0
24.2
38.8
8.7
4.5
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.4
19.2
9.5
11.5
3.1
5.2
4.3
10.9
15.3
16.1
12.4
6.1
77.4
40.1
16.1
11.9
29.9
63.7
328-ounce package.
24.2
43.1
8.7
4.4
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.4
19.2
9.6
11.7
3.2
4.7
3.9
10.9
15.3
16.1
12.3
5.9
77.3
39.5
15.5
11.9
29.7
63.3
24.1
44.8
8.6
4.3
5.3
8.6
9.3
25.4
19.1
9.5
11.3
3.1
4.2
3.6
10.8
15.2
16.0
12.1
5.8
77.2
39.1
14.5
11.7
29.4
66.8
24.0
48.4
8.5
4.2
5.2
8.6
9.3
25.3
18.9
9.3
10.2
2.9
3.9
3.4
10.7
15.1
15.9
11.7
5.9
76.9
38.7
13.6
11.5
29.3
51.1
23.8
41.6
8.5
4.1
5.2
8.6
9.3
25.3
18.6
9.2
9.7
2.9
3.9
3.7
10.7
14.9
15.7
11.5
5.9
76.9
38.5
13.1
11.4
29.0
35.7
4No. 2 can.
24.2
41.0
8.7
4.7
5.3
8.7
9.4
25.4
19.3
9.5
11.5
3.6
5.0
5.5
11.0
15.3
16.2
12.3
6.2
77.5
40.6
16.4
11.9
30.4
57.3
560
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
The figures in Table 3 show the per cent of increase in the average
retail price of each of 22 important food articles in 1929 compared
with the pre-war year 1913, arranged according to increase, while
Table 4 gives similar information for 1930.
T a b l e 3.—PER CEN T OF INCREASE IN R E T A IL PRICES OF 22 ARTICLES OF FOOD IN
1929 C O M PARED W ITH 1913
Per cent
of in
crease in
1929 com
pared
with 1913
Article
TTyym_________________
‘R.nnrtd stftftk.. „ _ _
fiirlnin stftalr,„ ___
Potatoes______________
Chuck roast__________
Hens_________________
Rib roast_____________
Corn meal____________
104.1
99.1
96.9
88.2
86.9
86.4
85.4
76.7
Per cent
of in
crease in
1929 com
pared
with 1913
Article
75.7
72.7
71.9
64.8
61.1
60.7
60.7
54.5
Pork chops
_______
Plate beef......... ...........
Cheese______________
Coffee______________
Bacon .. ................
Milk
Bread_______________
Flour............................
Per cent
of in
crease in
1929 com
pared
with 1913
Article
Butter______________
Tea_________________
Eggs________________
Sugar_______________
Lard________________
Rice.............................
43.9
42.6
42.0
20.0
15.8
11.5
T a b l e 4 .- P E R CEN T OF IN CREASE IN R E TA IL PRICES OF 22 ARTICLES OF FOOD IN
1930 COM PARED W ITH 1913
Per cent
of in
crease in
1930 com
pared
with 1913
Article
Potatoes______________
TTsvm_________________
Round steak__________
Sirloin steak__________
Com meal..........- Rib roast_____________
Pork chops___________
Chuck roast__________
111.8
98.5
84.8
82.7
76.7
72.7
71.0
70.0
Per cent
of in
crease in
1930 com
pared
with 1913
Article
Hens________________
Cheese______________
Milk______ __________
Bacon______________
Plate beef___________
Bread_______________
Tea........................ ......
F lou r..........................
66.7
68.8
57.3
56.7
55.4
55.4
42.5
42.4
Per cent
of in
crease in
1930 com
pared
with 1913
Article
Coffee_________ _ _
Butter___________
Eggs________________
Sugar_______________
Rice________________
Lard________________
36.2
20.4
18.8
12.7
9.2
7.6
Trend of Retail Prices of Food, 1890 to 1930
T a b l e 5 shows by index numbers the trend in the retail cost of food
in the United States from 1890 to 1930. In addition, the per cent of
increase or decrease in each year as compared with the preceding year
is shown. In 1929 prices averaged 1.6 per cent higher than in 1928,
while in 1930 they were 6.1 per cent lower than in 1929. The percent
age increase from 1890 to 1930 was 111.3, but in 1930 prices were
27.7 per cent below the peak of 1920.
T a b l e 5 .— IN D E X N UM BERS A N D PER CENT OF CHANGE IN Y E A R IN T H E R E TA IL
COST OF FOOD IN THE U N ITED STATES, B Y YEARS, 1890 TO 1930
[Average for year 1913=100]
Year
1890
1891____
1892____
1893. ...
1894,
1895.......
1896 ....
1897. ,
1898
1899.
1900........
Per
Index cent
of
num
change
ber in year
69.6
70.6
69.3
71.0
67.8
66.5
64.9
65.4
67.1
67.7
68.7
+1.4
-1 .8
+2.5
-4 .5
-1 .9
-2 .4
+0.8
+2.5
+0.8
+1.6
Year
1901
1902.......
1903........
1904.,...
1905....
1906____
1907 .
1908
1909. ..
1910
Per
Index cent
of
num
change
ber in year
71.5
75.4
75.0
76.0
76.4
78.7
82.0
84.3
88.7
93.0
+4.1
+5.4
-0 .5
+1.3
+0.6
+2.9
+4.2
+2.8
+5.2
+4.8
Year
1911___
1912___
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
Per
Index cent
of
num
change
ber in year
92.0
97.6
100.0
102.4
101.3
113.7
146.4
168.3
185.9
203.4
-1 .1
+0.1
+2.5
+2.4
-1 .1
+12.3
+28.7
+15.0
+10.4
+ 9.4
Year
1921........
1922 .....
1923 .....
1924
1925
1926
1927
...
1928
1929
1930
Per
Index cent
of
num
change
ber in year
153.3
141.6
146.2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
—24.6
-7 .6
+3.3
- 0 .2
+7.9
+2.0
- 3 .2
-0 .7
+ 1.6
-6 .1
561
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
The accompanying chart shows the trend of retail food prices by
months for the years 1928 to 1930.
JAH. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUN. JUL
AUG. SER
OCT. MOV. DEC.
Index numbers showing changes in the retail prices of 22 important
food articles for the years 1913 and 1920 to 1930, also for the months
of 1929 and 1930, are contained in Table 6.
T a b l e 6 .— IN D E X NUM BERS OF R E TA IL PRICES OF PRINC IPA L ARTICLES OF FOOD
B Y YEARS, 1913, 1920 TO 1930, AN D B Y M ONTHS FOR 1929 AND 1930
[Average for year 1913=100]
Year and
month
1913...................
1920...................
1921.................
1922...................
1923...................
1924...................
1925...................
1926...................
1927...................
1928...................
1929...................
1930...................
1929: January..
February.
March___
April........
M ay........
June.........
July..........
August-—
September
October—
November
December
1930: January-.
February.
March___
April........
M ay_____
June-........
July..........
August.
September
October—
November
December
Sirloin Round Rib Chuck Plate Pork Bacon Ham
steak steak roast roast beef chops
100.0
172.1
152.8
147.2
153.9
155.9
159.8
162.6
167.7
188.2
196.9
182.7
190.6
188.2
188.6
192.9
198.4
201.6
206.7
206.3
202.8
198.0
194.1
192.5
192.9
191.3
190.6
190.2
190.2
188.6
182.3
175.6
177.2
175.2
170.5
168.9
100.0
177.1
154.3
144.8
150.2
151.6
155.6
159.6
166.4
188.3
199.1
184.8
191.0
188.8
189.2
194.6
201.3
205.4
210.8
210.8
206.7
199.6
196.4
194.6
195.5
194.2
192.8
193.3
192.8
191.5
184.3
176.7
178.0
176.2
170.9
169.1
100.0
167.7
147.0
139.4
143.4
145.5
149.5
153.0
158.1
176.8
185.4
172.7
180.8
178.8
179.3
183.8
187.9
189.9
192.9
191.9
189.4
186.9
183.3
181.8
183.3
181.8
181.3
181.3
179.8
177.3
171.7
163.1
166.7
164.1
160.6
159.6
100.0
163.8
132.5
123.1
126.3
130.0
135.0
140.6
148.1
174.4
186.9
170.0
181.3
179.4
180.0
184.4
190.0
191.9
195.6
194.4
191.9
187.5
183.8
183.1
184.4
184.4
182.5
182.5
179.4
IV5.6
166.3
155.6
160.0
158.7
154.4
153.8
100.0
151.2
118.2
105.8
106.6
109.1
114.1
120.7
127.3
157.0
172.7
155.4
170.2
167.8
167.8
170.2
174.4
176.0
177.7
176.0
175.2
173.6
171.1
170.2
172.7
171.9
170.2
168.6
164.5
160.3
149.6
138.8
142.1
142.1
139.7
139.7
100.0
201.4
166.2
157.1
144.8
146.7
174.3
188.1
175.2
165.7
175.7
171.0
153.8
157.1
167.6
176.7
179.5
179.0
188.1
192.4
193.8
185.2
170.5
163.3
168.1
167.6
171.9
176.7
171.9
174.3
173.8
174.8
186.2
180.5
156.2
149.5
100.0
193.7
158.2
147.4
144.8
139.6
173.0
186.3
174.8
163.0
161.1
156.7
159.3
158.2
158.9
160.4
160.7
162.2
164.1
165.6
164.4
161.9
159.3
157.4
157.0
157.8
157.8
157.4
156.7
156.7
156.7
155.6
158.1
157.8
155.9
153.0
100.0
206.3
181.4
181.4
169.1
168.4
195.5
213.4
204.5
196.7
204.1
198.5
200.0
199.6
201.9
203.3
204.8
205.6
209.7
211.2
209.7
204.8
200.4
198.6
199.3
200.7
201.1
200.4
200.7
200.7
200.0
198.1
198.9
197.4
193.7
191.4
Hens
Milk Butter Cheese
100.0
209.9
186.4
169.0
164.3
165.7
171.8
182.2
173.2
175.6
186.4
166.7
184.0
186.4
190.1
196.2
198.1
193.9
187.3
185.0
184.0
180.3
177.0
174.2
178.4
179.3
179.8
179.3
175.6
167.6
161.5
158.7
159.6
158.7
153.1
150.2
100.0
187.6
164.0
147.2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159.6
160.7
157.3
160.7
160.7
160.7
159.6
159.6
159.6
160.7
160.7
160.7
161.8
161.8
161.8
lo9.6
158.4
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
1£7.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
151.7
100.0
183.0
135.0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143.1
138.6
145.2
147.5
143.9
120.4
150.7
152.7
152.5
145.7
142.3
140.5
139.4
140.5
143.1
146.4
139.7
134.7
121.9
122.7
121.9
125.6
120.9
113.1
114.1
123.8
127.2
124.8
118.5
111.0
100.0
188.2
153.9
148.9
167.0
159.7
166.1
165.6
170.1
174.2
171.9
158.8
173.8
172.9
172.9
172.4
171.9
171.9
171.5
171.0
171.9
171.5
171.0
170.6
169.2
167.0
164.7
162.9
162.0
157.9
155.2
153.4
154.8
154.8
152.9
150.2
562
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 6 .- I N D E X N U M BERS OF R E T A IL PRICES OF P R IN C IP A L ARTIC LE S OF FOOD
B Y YEARS, 1913, 1920 TO 1930, A N D B Y M ON TH S FOR 1929 A N D 1930—Continued
Year and month
Lard
Eggs Bread Flour
Com
meal
Rice
Pota Sugar
toes
1913 .............................
1920_____ ____ ____
1921..............................
1922.... ..........................
1923 ..............................
1924_________________
1925-......... ............ .
1926...............................
1927 ..............................
1928...............................
1929...............................
1930 .............................
1929: January..............
February______
March................
April...................
M ay.............. ..
June............. ......
July....................
August— ...........
September..........
October________
November....... .
December______
1930: January-----------February_______
March_________
April...................
May............. ......
June....................
July__.................
August................
September_____
October________
November______
December______
100.0
186.7
113.9
107.6
112.0
120.3
147.5
138.6
122.2
117.7
115.8
107.6
117.1
116.5
116.5
117.1
116.5
115.8
115.8
116.5
117.1
115.8
113.9
111.4
108.9
108.2
107.0
106.3
105.7
105.1
103.2
104.4
110.8
112.0
110.8
105.7
100.0
197.4
147.5
128.7
134.8
138.6
151.0
140.6
131.0
134.5
142.0
118.8
146.7
142.3
122.0
106.4
112.2
120.0
127.8
140.0
153.6
168.1
183.5
182.0
160.6
136.8
102.3
100.0
07.7
97.4
101.7
112.5
124.9
129.9
140.3
120.6
100.0
245.5
175.8
154.5
142.4
148.5
184.8
181.8
166.7
163.6
154.5
142.4
154.5
154.5
154.5
154.5
151.5
148.5
151.5
157.6
160.6
157.6
157.6
154.5
154.5
154.5
151.5
148.5
145.5
145.5
139.4
136.4
133.3
130.3
127.3
124.2
100.0
216.7
150.0
130.0
136.7
156.7
180.0
170.0
173.3
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
180.0
18a 0
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
176.7
173.3
173.3
100.0
200.0
109.2
109.2
109.2
116.1
127.6
133.3
123.0
114.9
111.5
109.2
112.6
112.6
112.6
112.6
111.5
111.5
111.5
112.6
111.5
111.5
111.5
110.3
110.3
110.3
109.2
110.3
109.2
109.2
109.2
109.2
110.3
109.2
106.9
105.8
100.0
370.6
182.4
164.7
170.6
158.8
211.8
288.2
223.5
158.8
188.2
211.8
135.3
135.3
135.3
135.3
158.8
182.4
229.4
235.3
229.4
223.5
223.5
223.5
229.4
229.4
229.4
241.2
252.9
247.1
194.1
182.4
188.2
182.4
170.6
170.6
100.0
205.4
176.8
155.4
155.4
157.1
167.9
167.9
166.1
162.5
160.7
155.4
160.7
160.7
160.7
160.7
160.7
160.7
160.7
160.7
106.7
158.9
158.9
158.9
158.9
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
157.1
155.4
155.4
153.6
151.8
151.8
100.0
352.7
145.5
132.7
183.6
167.3
130.9
125.5
132.7
129.1
120.0
112.7
121.8
120.0
118.2
116.4
116.4
116.4
116.4
120.0
121.8
121.8
121.8
120.0
120.0
118.2
116.4
114.5
114.5
110.9
110.9
110.9
107.3
105.5
107.3
107.3
Tea
Coffee
100.0
134.7
128.1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
142.5
142.3
142.6
142.5
142.5
142.6
142.6
142.6
142.6
142.5
142.3
142.5
142.6
142.6
142.3
142.8
143.4
143.2
142.8
142.5
142.5
143.0
142.6
142.3
142.1
141.9
141.4
141.4
100.0
157.7
121.8
121.1
126.5
145.3
172.8
171.1
162.1
165.1
164.8
136.2
166.1
166.1
166.4
166.4
166.1
165.8
165.8
165.4
165.1
164.8
162.1
155.4
147.0
143.3
140.6
138.9
137.2
136.2
135.6
134.6
132.6
131.2
129.9
129.2
All
arti
cles 1
100.0
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
154.6
154.4
153.0
151.6
153.3
154.8
158.5
160.2
160.8
160.5
159.7
158.0
155.4
153.0
150.1
151.2
150.1
147.9
144.0
143.7
145.6
144.4
141.4
137.2
122 articles in 1913-1920; 42 articles in 1921-1930.
Food Prices, by Cities
C h a n g e s in the retail prices of food in each of the 51 cities covered
by the bureau's reports are shown in Tables 7 and 8. Comparisons
for each month are made with the base year 1913, with the corre
sponding month of the preceding year, and with the preceding month.
Increases are denoted by the plus sign ( + ) and decreases by the
minus sign ( —).
T a b l e 7.—CHANGES IN THE R E T A IL COST OF FOOD SINCE 1913, IN 12 MONTHS, AN D IN
1 M ONTH , B Y CITIES A N D B Y M ONTHS, 1929
Per cent of change in specified city and period i n City and period
Jan.
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
United States:
Since 1913...................... +54.6 +54.4 +53.0 +51.6 +53.3 +54.8 +58.5 +60.2 +60.8 +60.5 +59.7 +58.0
In 12 months................. - . 3 +1.8 +1.1 - . 3
- . 4 +1.4 +3.7 +3.9 +2.1 +2.3 +1.5 +1.4
In 1 month.................... - . 8 - . 2
- . 9 - . 9 +1.1 +1.0 +2.4 +1.1 + .3 - . 2 - . 5 -1 .1
Atlanta:
Since 1913......................
In 12 months.................
In 1 month............... .
Baltimore:
Since 1913......................
In 12 months.................
In 1 month....................
+61.3 +59.6 +57.9 +56.5 +57.7 +58.5 +61.0 +63.7 +64.0 +63.5 +60.3 +58.1
+1.7 +3.1 +2.8 - . 1
- . 7 +1.3 +3.5 +3.9 +2.7 + 1.5 - 1 .2 - 2 .8
- . 8 -1 .1 -1 .0 - . 9 + .8 + .5 +1.6 +1.7 + .2 - . 3 - 1 .9 -1 .4
+57.8 +57.5 +55.4 +53.6 +56.8 +59.3 +63.9 +66.1 +66.0 +66.4 +63.6 +62.2
-1 .8 - . 3 + .2 -1 .7 -2 .1 + .6 +3.5 +3.4 + .7 +3.5 +2.6 +3.1
+ .3 - . 2 -1 .3 -1 .1 +2.1 +1.6 + 2.9 +1.3 - . 1
+ .2 -1 .6 - . 9
R E T A IL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
563
TABLE 7 .— CHANGES IN THE R E T A IL COST OF FOOD SINCE 1913, IN 12 MONTHS, A N D IN
1 M ONTH , B Y CITIES A N D B Y MONTHS, 1929—Continued
Per cent of change in specified city and period i n City and period
Jan.
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Birmingham:
Since 1913...................... +61.0 +59.9 +56.8 +57.0 +57.5 +58.5 +60.2 +62.5 +62.1 +62.2 +62.4 +60.3
In 12 months................. + .1 +2.2 +1.4 +1.0 -1 .5 + .9 +1.4 +1.8 + .4
.0 + .8 - . 6
In 1 m onth................... - . 2 - . 7 -1 .9 + .1 + .3 + .6 +1.0 +1.5 - . 3
.0 + .2 -1 .3
Boston:
Since 1913____________ +55.3 +55.4 +53.7 +52.3 +54.2 +53.8 +60.7 +64.2 +61.6 +62.5 +62.6 +60.2
In 12 months................. -1 .5 + .1 - . 8 - . 4 + .3 +1.4 +4.3 +5.1 + .2 +2.1 +1.4 +1.8
In 1 month................... -1 .3 + .1 -1 .1 - . 9 +1.2 - . 3 +4.5 +2.2 -1 .6 + .5 + .1 - 1 .5
Bridgeport:
In 12 months................. —1.8 - . 4 -1 .3 -1 .3 -1 .7 +1.4 +3.1 +3.0 +1.1 + .9 + .4 +1.3
In 1 month— ....... ...... -2 .1 -1 .1 - . 9 - . 7 + .4 +2.3 +2.7 +2.0 + .4 - . 3
-.3 - .8
Buffalo:
Since 1913................. . +59.2 +59.6 +58.3 +54.3 +56.4 +59.8 +63.3 +66.4 +66.0 +65.7 +64.7 +63.1
In 12 months_________ + .2 +2.2 +1.0 -1 .5 - . 3 +2.0 +5.4 +5.5 +2.2 +2.1 +1.2 +1.9
- . 5 + .3 - . 8 -2 .5 +1.3 +2.2 +2.2; +1.9 - . 2
-.2
In 1 month______ ____
- . 6 - 1 .0
Butte:
In 12 months................. + .3 +1.8 +3.3 +1.2 -2 .3 +5.0 +6.5 +4.4 + 3.8 +4.4 +3.1 + 2.4
In 1 month— .............. -1 .0 + .8 -1 .2 -1 .6 +2.4 +2.9 +4.1 -1 .6 - . 9 + .5 -1 .2 - . 6
Charleston, S. C.:
Since 1913------------------ +57.2 +56.0 +55.2 +55.6 +55.2 +55.7 +55.8 +61.6 +62.2 +62.2 +62.4 +60.4
In 12 months................. +1.2 +2.1 +1.5
.0 - . 9 +1.6 +1.9 +5.2 +2.6 +1.9 +2.5 +1.5
In 1 month___________ - . 5
.0 + .1 - 1 2
-.7
- . 6 + .3 - . 3 + .3 + .1 +3.7 + .4
Chicago:
Since 1913— ................. +64.9 +65.3 +64.4 +63.9 +64.6 +66.5 +70.0 +71.2 +71.0 +70.5 +70.5 +71.6
In 12 months............... . - . 3 +2.0 +2.2 +1.2
.0 +1.8 +3.3 +2.6 + .5 +1.9 +1.8 + 3.0
In 1 month............... .
-1 .0 + .3 - . 6
-.3
.0 + .7
- . 3 + .4 +1.1 +2.1 + .7 - . 1
Cincinnati:
Since 1913................. . +58.6 +59.8 +57.9 +56.5 +60.8 +61.9 +64.1 +64.6 +65.7 +66.8 +66.6 +65.0
In 12 months................. + .6 +4.9 +3.5 +1.9 +1.2 +3.0 +4.4 +3.7 +2.1 +3.8 +3.6 +4.1
In 1 month.................. .
.0 + .8 -1 .2 - . 9 +2.8 + .7 +1.4 + .3 + .7 + .7 - . 1
-.9
Cleveland:
Since 1913................... +50.8 +52.0 +48.7 +47.6 +50.9 +54.5 +57.5 +60.2 +59.6 +56.9 +54.4 +50.6
In 12 months............... -1 .2 +1.6 -1 .4 -3 .0 -3 .1 +• 1 +2.6 +3.1 +1.4 +1.8 + .5 -1 .0
In 1 month..................
- . 8 + .8 -2 .2 - . 8 +2.3 +2.4 +2.0 +1.7 - . 3 -1 .7 -1 .6 -2 .5
Columbus:
In 12 months................. +1.0 +4.5 +3.1 +1.2 +1.8 +1.5 +5.7 +4.7 +2.1 +3.7 +2.3 +1.6
In 1 month.................... - . 8 + .4 -1 .7 -1 .4 +2.3 + .3 +2.8 +1.1 - . 1 +1.0 - . 8 -1 .3
Dallas:
Since 1913...................... +55.9 +56.0 +56.9 +54.3 +54.0 +55.3 +56.5 +58.2 +59.9 +59.4 +57.8 +59.0
In 12 months................. - . 6 +3.2 +3.6 +1.6 + .1 +1.7 +2.9 +2.5 +1.6 +1.0 -1 .3 - . 8
In 1 month.................... -2 .7 + .1 + .5 -1 .7 - . 2 + .9 + .7 +1.1 +1.0 - . 3 -1 .0 + .7
Denver:
Since 1913.................... +38.1 +38.7 +36.6 +36.2 +38.1 +40.9 +44.4 +44.4 +42.1 +43.5 +42.5 +41.9
In 12 months................. -1 .8 +3.1 + .7 - . 7
- . 5 +1.3 +2.9 +3.8 +1.0 +1.4 - . 2 - . 5
In 1 month.................... -3 .1 + .4 -1 .6 - . 2 +1.4 +2.0 +2.5
.0 -1 .6 +1.0 - . 7 - . 4
Detroit:
Since 1913...................... +61.2 +60.7 +59.5 +57.6 +59.9 +64.2 +68.4 +70.3 +69* 3 +66.4 +64.7 +62.8
In 12 months................. + .1 +2.8 +1.2 - . 3
- . 1 +3.7 +5.2 +4.7 +2.6 +2.6 +1.5 +1.4
In 1 month.................... + .4 - . 3
- . 8 - . 2 +1.5 +2.7 +2.6 +1.1 - . 6 -1 .8 -1 .0 -1 .1
Fall River:
Since 1913...................... +54.2 +51.5 +51.5 +49.3 +49.0 +50.6 +57.0 +59.6 +60.1 +59.6 +58.3 +56.4
In 12 months................. -1 .1 - . 7 + .2 -1 .2 -1 .8 +1.2 +4.3 +3.3 +1.6 + .5 + .4 - . 1
In 1 month.................... - 1 .5 - 1 .8
- . 9 - 1 .2
.0 -1 .4 - . 2 +1.1 +4.3 +1.6 + .3 - . 3
Houston:
In 12 months................. -1 .6 +3.6 +3.0 +1.8 +2.4 +3.8 +5.3 +4.5 +3.3 +2.9 +2.3 +2.9
I n i month....................
.0 - . 1
- . 1 + .9 - . 1 +1.4 + .5 +1.2 - . 2
- . 6 + .8
-.7
Indianapolis:
Since 1913...................... +53.1 +53.4 +52.1 +49.0 +51.2 +52.1 +57.3 +59.7 +60.7 +60.0 +57.6 +56.2
In 12 months................. +2.1 +5.8 +3.3
.0 - . 6 +1.1 +3.7 +4.8 +3.6 +5.6 +3.3 +2.3
In 1 month.................... + .3 + .2 - . 8 -2 .1 +1.5 + .6 +3.4 +1.6 + .6 - . 4 -1 .5 - . 9
Jacksonville:
Since 1913..................... +42.8 +40.7 +41.1 +39.8 +40.1 +43.1 +45.5 +49.3 +49.6 +49.5 +47.3 +46.3
In 12 months................. -2 .2
.0
.0 -1 .0 - . 9 + .9 + .7 +2.1 - . 5 + .3 + .5 + .6
In 1 month................... -1 .8 -1 .5 + .3 - . 9 + .2 +2.1 +1.7 +2.6 + .2 - . 1 -1 .4 - . 7
Kansas City:
Since 1913............ ......... +52.8 +53.8 +51.9 +49.2 +49.8 +51.2 +54.8 +57.6 +59.3 +58.0 +57.1 +56.1
In 12 months................. +1.9 +4.9 +1.9 - . 4 -1 .3 +• 1 +4.7 +6.3 +4.5 +5.0 +3.6 + 4.0
I n i month.......... ......... +1.8 + .7 -1 .2 -1 .8 + .4 + .9 +2.4 +1.8 +1.1 - . 8 - . 6 - . 6
Little Rock:
Since 1913...................... +51.5 +51.9 +49.1 +47.9 +49.4 +49.0 +50.1 +53.5 +55.7 +55.3 +54.3 +53.3
In 12 months................. +2.1 +5.9 +3.2 + .8 + .7 +2.0 +4.1 +5.4 +4.8 +4.3 +3.0 + 1.6
In 1 month................... + .4 + .3 - 1 .9 - . 7 +1.0 - . 3 + .7 +2.3 +1.4 - . 3 - . 6
-.6
Los Angeles:
Since 1913.................... +44.6 +42.4 +41.6 +41.4 +43.5 +44.2 +44.9 +48.4 +51.2 +51.4 +49.7 +43.9
In 12 months............... +2.0 +3.5 +1.8 +1.2 +2.7 +4.7 +3.6 +4.2 +2.0 +1.1 + .5 - 2 .6
In 1 month.................... -2 .1 -1 .5 - . 5
- . 1 +1.5 + .5 + .5 +2.4 +1.9 + .1 -1 .1 - 3 .9
Louisville:
Since 1913...................... +54.2 +56.7 +55.1 +53.6 +56.6 +56.4 +55.8 +56.8 +58.9 +58.0 +56.8 +54.5
In 12 months................
+ .4 +4.3 +3.9 +1.9 + .2 +1.6 +2.0 +3.4 +1.8 +1.6 +1.1 - 1 .2
In 1 month.................... -1 .4 +1.6 -1 .0 -1 .0 +1.9 - . 2 - . 3 + .6 +1.3 - . 6
- . 8 - 1 .4
564
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 7 .— CHANGES IN THE R E T A IL COST OP FOOD SINCE 1913, IN 12 MONTHS, A N D I NT
1 M ON TH , B Y CITIES A N D B Y MONTHS, 1929—Continued
Per cent of change in specified city and period i n City and period
Jan.
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Manchester:
Since 1913...................... +52.5 +51.1 +50.7 +47.6 +49.3 +50.6 +57.1 +60.0 +58.8 +57.9 +57.5 +53.1
In 12 months................. + .4 + .1 - . 3 -2 .1 -2 .1 + .5 +2.0 +2.6 + .1 +1.1 +1.1 -1 .4
- . 3 -2 .1 +1.2 + .9 +4.3 +1.9 - . 8
- . 6 - . 3 - 2 .8
In 1 month.................... -1 .8 - . 9
Memphis:
Since 1913...................... +50.2 +49.8 +47.3 +47.5 +48.5 +50.4 +52.2 +54.6 +53.4 +51.9 +52.3 +51.3
In 12 months................. +2.8 +5.3 +2.4 +1.4 + .6 +2.8 +3.2 +4.2 +1.5 + .2 + .5 - . 2
- . 3 -1 .7 + .2 + .7 +1.3 +1.2 +1.6 - . 8 -1 .0 + .3 - . 7
In 1 month.................... - . 9
Milwaukee:
Since 1913...................... +56.0 +57.2 +55.9 +52.8 +53.6 +55.7 +65.3 +65.0 +64.4 +64.5 +62.5 +60.0
In 12 months................. + .6 +3.2 +1.9 - . 6 -1 .5 + .6 +6.5 +5.4 +2.8 +4.7 +3.3 +2.4
- . 3 + .1 -1 .2 -1 .6
In 1 month.................... —. 2 + .8 - . 8 -2 .0 + .5 +1.4 +6.1 - . 2
Minneapolis:
Since 1913...................... +53.8 +55.7 +55.5 +53.2 +53.9 +55.9 +59.4 +59.3 +61.4 +60.8 +60.2 +59.2
In 12 months................. + .9 +3.6 +2.0 - . 5 -1 .4 + .2 +4.7 +4.9 +5.1 +5.1 +4.2 +3.2
-.4 -.6
In 1 month.................... - . 3 +1.2 - . 1 -1 .5 + .5 +1.4 +2.2 - . 1 +1.3 - . 4
Mobile:
In 12 months................. -1 .8 - . 4 -1 .0 -1 .5 - . 8 +1.5 +3.0 +3.7 + .9 - . 9 -2 .0 - . 4
.0
In 1 month.......... ......... -1 .0 -1 .4 + .2 - . 3 + .9 + .2 +1.5 +1.9 - . 4 -1 .0 - . 9
Newark:
Since 1913—................... +49.6 +47.9 +46.3 +46.2 +47.8 +49.0 +52.0 +55.3 +55.2 +56.2 +55.0 +53.7
In 12 months................. -1 .1 - . 7 -1 .0 -1 .1 -1 .0 +1.2 +2.7 +4.0 +1.2 +2.3 +1.2 + 1.8
.0 +1.1 + .8 +2.0 +2.2 - . 1 + .6 - . 8
-.9
In 1 month.................... - . 9 -1 .1 -1 .1
New Haven:
Since 1913...................... +56.1 +54.9 +54.7 +52.0 +53.1 +54.6 +59.3 +62.0 +65.0 +64.6 +63.9 +61.7
- . 3 + .8 - . 8 -1 .1 +• 5 +3.2 +3.6 +2.7 +2.4 +1.9 +1.9
In 12 months................. - . 3
- . 4 -1 .4
- . 1 -1 .8 + .7 +1.0 +3.0 +1.7 +1.8 - . 2
In 1 month.................... -1 .6 - . 8
New Orleans:
Since 1913...................... +54.9 +54.8 +53.9 +53.1 +54.2 +53.9 +57.1 +58.8 +59.5 +59.3 +58.8 +58.0
In 12 months................. + .3 +3.5 +2.8 +1.1 +1.2 +2.5 +3.4 +3.3 +2.4 +2.2 +2.0 +1.4
In 1 month.................... - . 5 - . 1
- . 6 - . 5 + .8 - . 2 +2.1 +1.1 + .4 - . 2 - . 3
-.5
New York:
Since 1913...................... +57.9 +56.6 +55.3 +55.0 +55.6 +57.2 +60.7 +63.3 +64.1 +65.2 +63.6 +61.7
In 12 months________ _ -2 .0 - . 6 + .2 - . 8 -1 .3 +2.1 +4.3 +4.1 +2.2 +2.8 +1.3 +1.2
In 1 month.................... -1 .2 - . 8
- . 2 + .4 +1.0 +2.3 +1.6 + .5 + .7 -1 .0 -1 .2
-.8
Norfolk:
In 12 months................. - . 3 + .3 +1.3 - . 5 - . 2 +1.1 +3.1 +3.6 +2.4 +1.3 +1.0 + .5
In 1 month.................. - -1 .6 - . 6 - . 4 -1 .2 +1.3 + .5 +1.8 +1.5 +1.0 - . 6
.0 - 1 .2
Omaha:
Since 1913.................... - +48.7 +49.0 +48.9 +47.2 +45.4 +48.3 +50.1 +48.2 +52.9 +52.3 +51.7 +51.1
In 12 months................. +1.3 +3.8 +4.5 +2.0 - . 7 +1.5 +2.3 + . 6 +1.5 +1.9 +1.8 +1.7
In 1 month....................
.0 + .2 - . 1 - 1 .2 -1 .2 +2.0 +1.2 -1 .3 +3.2 - . 4
-.4
-.4
Peoria:
In 12 months................. + .5 +3.5 +1.7 -1 .2 -1 .9 -1 .0 +1.0 +3.9 +2.8 +3.7 +3.2 +2.2
In 1 month.................... - . 5 + .4 - . 8 -1 .5 + .5 + .2 +2.2 +2.2 + .7 - . 1
-.2
-.8
Philadelphia:
Since 1913—................... +55.9 +55.5 +53.7 +52.6 +56.4 +56.7 +60.3 +63.5 +64.3 +65.0 +63.9 +63.2
In 12 months................. -3 .3 -1 .1 -1 .7 -2 .7 -2 .5 - . 9 +2.2 +3.4 +2.1 +3.3 +3.1 +2.9
In 1 month.................... -1 .6 - . 3 -1 .1 - . 7 +2.5 + .2 +2.3 +2.0 + .5 + .4 - . 6 - . 5
Pittsburgh:
Since 1913...................... +58.7 +58.4 +57.5 +53.5 +56.4 +58.7 +60.4 +62.9 +63.5 +62.6 +60.6 +59.6
In 12 months................. + .4 +3.3 +2.7 +1.2 +1.9 +4.6 +5.6 +4.3 + 2.0 +1.2 - . 1 -1 .0
In 1 month.................... -1 .6 - . 2
- . 6 -2 .6 +1.9 +1.5 +1.0 +1.6 + .4 - . 6 -1 .2 - . 6
Portland, Me:
In 12 months................. - . 4 -1 .1 - . 6 -1 .7 -1 .3 + .7 +4.8 +3.0 + .1 + .5 - . 1
-.3
In 1 month.................... - . 8
-.7
- . 6 -1 .1 +1.0 +1.1 +5.8 + .7 -1 .1 - . 7
- . 8 -2 .9
Portland, Oreg.:
Since 1913...................... +41.1 +41.4 +38.7 +38.6 +41.9 +42.9 +46.1 +45.6 +46.6 +49.0 +48.4 +45.2
In 12 months................ - . 6 +2.4 +1.4 +1.2 +3.9 +3.5 +4.6 +4.4 +1.9 +3.2 +2.6 +1.3
In 1 month.................... -1 .5 + .2 -1 .9 - . 1 +2.4 + .7 +2.2 - . 3 + .7 +1.6 - . 4 - 2 .2
Providence:
Since 1913...................... +56.0 +53.6 +54.6 +51.5 +53.0 +56.5 +61.8 +64.4 +64.2 +64.3 +62.6 +60.0
In 12 months................. + .4 - . 4
- . 1 -1 .9 - . 3 +3.1 +5.1 +4.8 +2.3 +1.9 + .9 +1.5
In 1 month........ ........... -1 .1 -1 .5 +0.6 -2 .0 +1.0 +2.3 +3.4 +1.6 - . 1
.0 -1 .0 - 1 .6
Richmond:
Since 1913...................... +59.7 +61.6 +61.0 +59.1 +62.4 +59.4 +60.5 +62.9 +66.2 +66.7 +64.6 +61.9
In 12 months................. -1 .2 + .9 +2.3 + .3 + . 7 -1 .2 +1.0 +1.6 +1.1 +1.6 + .6 - . 3
In 1 month.................... -1 .7 +1.1 - . 4 -1 .2 +2.1 -1 .9 + .7 +1.5 +2.0 + .3 -1 .3 -1 .6
Rochester:
In 12 months................. -1 .2 + .7 -1 .6 -2 .7 - . 1
- . 1 +4.3 +3.8 + .7 + .1 - . 1
-.6
In 1 month.................... -2 .3 + .1 -1 .4 -1 .6 +2.6 - . 7 +4.3 +1.6 - . 4
-.2
- . 4 -1 .9
St. Louis:
Since 1913...................... +58. C+57.8 +57.4 +55.9 +60.7 +61.4 +65.0 +64.5 +65.1 +63. C+63. C1+61.1
In 12 months................. + .4 +2.3 +2.2 + .6 +2.6 +3.2 +6.0 +5.5 +4.2 +3.6 +2.9 i +1.7
In 1 month.................... - . 3
-.3
- . 9 +3.0 + .4 +2.2 - . 3
-.1
.0I -1 .2
+ .4 -1 .2
St. Paul:
In 12 months................. - .4 +2.6» + .9 -1 .4 -3 .2 - . 7 +2.3 +3.9 +3.0 +4.1 +2.Si +2.7
In 1 month.................... + .1 +1.4 ” 6 -1 .7 + .5 + .4 +3.5 + .7 + .9 - . 9 -1.C1 - . 5
565
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T able 7#—CHANGES IN THE R E TA IL COST OP FOOD SINCE 1913, IN 12 M ONTHS, A N D IN
1 M ONTH, B Y CITIES A N D B Y MONTHS, 1929—Continued
Per cent of change in specified city and period in <jny ana. penou.
Jan.
Salt Lake City:
Since 1913......................
In 12 months.................
In 1 month....................
San Francisco:
Since 1913......................
In 12 months.................
In 1 month....................
Savannah:
In 12 months.................
In 1 month....................
Scranton:
Since 1913......................
In 12 months.................
In 1 month........ ..........
Seattle:
Since 1913......................
In 12 months.................
In 1 month....................
Springfield, 111.:
In 12 months.................
In 1 month........ ...........
Washington:
Since 1913....... ..............
In 12 months.................
In 1 month....................
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
+33.3 +33.4 +31.9 +31.3 +32.2 +34.7 +41.8 +38.8 +39.1 +40.3 +39.5 +35.5
+1.1 +3.2 +3.3 +2.6 +1.8 +2.1 +7.7 +4.9 +2.7 +3.1 +2.4 - . 4
-2 .0 + .1 -1 .1 - . 5
+ 7 +1.9 +5.2 -2 .1 + .2 + .9 - . 6 -2 .9
+52.3 +49.7 +49.7 +48.9 +49.7 +51.4 +53.6 +56.3 +57.4 +59.2 +58.9 +55.3
+ .9 +1.5 +1.1 + .7 +1.5 +2.6 +3.5 +4.8 +2.0 +2.4 +2.0 + .5
.0 - . 5 + .6 +1.1 +1.4 +1.8 + .7 +1.1 - . 2 -2 .3
-1 .4 -1 .7
-1 .9 +2.3 +1.3
.0
-2 .6 + .1
-.8
-.5
- . 8 +2.2 +2.9 +4.4 +2.3 +2.1 + .7 + .2
+ .5 +1.8 +1.1 +2.1 + .1 + .6 - 1 .6 -1 .3
+61.6 +61.4 +59.4 +57.0 +59.5 +61.9 +64.1 +67.8 +69.7 +70.1 +68.9 +67.7
-1 .2 + .2 - . 1 -1 .6 -1 .7 + .5 +2.3 +2.9 +2.4 +3.1 +2.4 +2.1
-1 .6 - . 1 -1 .2 -1 .5 +1.6 +1.5 +1.3 +2.2 +1.2 + .2 - . 7 - . 7
+46.7 +46.7 +44.3 +44.6 +47.2 +49.3 +50.9 +52.4 +52.6 +54.7 +53.3 +51.8
+1.4 +3.2 +1.5 +1.9 +3.4 +4.8 +5.4 +4.9 +1.4 +3.7 +2.9 + 3.6
.0 -1 .6 + .2 +1.8 +1.4 +1.1 +1.0 + .1 +1.4 - . 9 - 1 .0
+ .1
+ .1 +2.8 + .6 -2 .4 -2 .8 - . 5 +2.2 +2.2 +1.9 +3.0 +2.7 + 2.5
+ .4 + .1 -1 .1 -1 .6 +1.3 +1.6 +3.0 - . 3 + .6 - . 7
-.2
-.5
+62.0 +61.4 +59.0 +57.9 +61.3 +64.2 +67.8 +71.1 +70.7 +68.7 +65.0 +63.2
- . 5 +1.2 + .5 -1 .3 - . 8 +1.8 +3.5 +2.9 + .4
.0 -1 .1 - . 5
-1 .2 - . 4 -1 .5 - . 7 +2.1 +1.8 +2.2 +1.9 - . 2 -1 .2 -2 .2 -1 .1
T able 8.—CHANGES IN TH E R E TA IL COST OF FOOD SINCE 1913, IN 12 M ONTHS, AN D IN
1 M ON TH , B Y CITIES AN D B Y MONTHS, 1930
Per cent of change in specified city and period i n City and period
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
United States:
Since 1913___
In 12 months.
In 1 m onth...
Atlanta:
Since 1913......
In 12 months.
In 1 month...
Baltimore:
Since 1913___
In 12 months.
In 1 month...
Birmingham:
Since 1913___
In 12 months.
In 1 month...
Boston:
Since 1913----In 12 months.
In 1 month....
Bridgeport:
In 12 months.
In 1 month—
Buffalo:
Since 1913.— .
In 12 months.
In 1 month....
Butte:
In 12 months.
In 1 month....
Charleston, S. C.:
Since 1913___
In 12 months.
In 1 month. __
Chicago:
Since 1913___
In 12 months.
In l month.,.
+55.4 +53.0 +50.1 +51.2 +50.1 +47.9 +44.0 +43.7 +45. +44.4 +41.4 +37.2
+.4 - . 9 -1.“ - . 3 -2.1 -4 .5 -9 .1 10.3 -9 .4 10.0-11.4 -1 3 .2
-1 .
-2.6
-1.8 -1 .4 -1 . +
+1. - . 9 -2.0 -3 .0
+55.9 +52.8 +49.2 +50.0 +47.6 +45.5 +46.0 +43. +46.0 + 4 5 .5 +41.4 +37.3
6.4 -8.2 -9 .4 -12.1 -11.0 -11.0 -11.8 -13.1
-3 .4 -4 .3 -5 .5 -4 .1
-1 .4 -2.0 -2 .4 +.5 1.6 -1 .4 +.3 -1 .4 +1.4 - . 3 -2.8 -2 .9
+60.1 +57. +53.2 +54.6 +53.9 +52.5 +18.4 +47.0 +49.5 + 4 9 .4 +46.1 +41.8
+1.5 + .3 -1 .4 +.6 - 1 . ‘ -4 .3 -9 .5 -11.5 -9 .9 -10.2 -10.7 -12.6
0 -2.2 -3 .0
+1.7
-2 .7
-1 .3 -1 .4 -3 .0 +.9 - . 5
+58.5 +53.5 +51.4 +53.7 +52.3 +50.2 +49.7 +49.2 +49.7 + 4 7 .4 +43.7 +41.8
-1. * -4 .0 -3 .4 -2.1 3.3 -5 .3 -6 .5 -8.2 -7 .7 - 9 . 1 -1 1.5 -1 1.5
-1 .4 —.6 - . 4 +.4 - 1 . 5 -2 .5 -1 .3
-1.1 -3 .1 -1 .4 +1.5
+57.8 +56.4 +52.5 +53. o +51.9 +50.2 +48.8 +47.3 +49.0 + 4 9 .0 +47.3 +43.0
+1.6 +.6 - . 8 + .6 -1 .5 -2 .3 -7 .4 -10.3 -7 .8 - 8 . 3 -9 .4 -10.8
-1.1 -1.0 -1.0 +1.2 0 -1.1 -2 .9
-1 .5 -.8 -2 .5 + .5
-4 .0
-1.1 -2 .3 -1.2 -2.1
-1.6 -2.1 + .4 -.5
-5 .1 -9 .1 -11.5 -9 .3
-1 .
-.7 +2.9
-8.8 -10.2 -12.7
+.2 -1 . -3 .6
+59.3 +57.4 +54.0 +54.7 +54.0 +52.2 +46.3 +47.6 +49.7 + 4 9 .5 +46.4 +40.3
-9 .9 - 9 . 7 -11.1 -1 4.0
+•1 -1 .4 -2.8 + .2 -1 .5 -4 . -10.4 -11.3 +1.4
- . 1 -2.1 - 4 .2
+.9
-2 .3 -1.2 -2.2 + .4 - . 4 -1.2
+1.4
-2.0
+.2
- . 4 +1.7
—.4 -1 .7 + .4
-.4
-5 .2
+.2 -2.1
-10.1 -13.2
-1 .3 -5 .0
-12.4 - 1 3 . 8 -1 4.6 -1 4.8
.9
- . 1 -1.0 2.1
+57.9 +55.6 +53.7 +54.6 +53.7 +50.6 +49.0 +50. +50.3 + 4 9 .2 +45.6 +42.2
+.4 - . 3 - . 9 - . 6 - . 9 -3 .3 -4 .3 -6 .7 -7 .4 -8.0 -10.4 -1 1.4
-2.0 -1.2 +1.2 - . 4 -.7 -2 .4 2.3
-1.6 -1 .4 -1.2 + .6
+68.3 +65.5 +63.4 +64.4 +62.8 +60.9 +55.9 +54.6 +58.0 + 5 6 .5 +52.5 +49.4
+2.1 +.1 - . 6 + .3 -1.1 -3 .3 -8 .3 -9 .7 -7 .6 -8.2 -10.6 -12.9
+2.2 -1.0 -2.6 2.0
-1 .9 -1.6 -1 .3 + .6 -1.0 -1.1 -3 .1
566
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 8.—CHANGES IN THE R E T A IL COST OF FOOD SINCE 1913, IN 12 MONTHS, A N D IN
1 M ONTH , B Y CITIES A N D B Y M O N TH S, 1930-Continued
Per cent of change in specified city and period i n City and period
Jan.
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Cincinnati:
Since 1913...................... +61.8 +62.2 +58.9 +61.3 +57.7 +56.0 +52.5 +52.8 +54.5 +52.9 +49.9 +45.3
In 12 months................. +2.1 +1.5 + .6 +3.1 -2 .0 -3 .7 -7 .1 -7 .1 -6 .7 -8 .3 -1 0.0 -1 2 .0
In 1 month.................... -2 .0 + .2 -2 .0 +1.5 -2 .2 -1 .1 -2 .2 + .2 +1.1 -1 .0 -2 .0 - 3 . i
Cleveland:
Since 1913...................... +50.2 +49.6 +46.0 +48.2 +46.8 +45.4 +41.3 +41.6 +42.7 +39.4 +37.1 +32.6
In 12 months................. - . 4 - 1 .6 -1 .8 + .5 -2 .7 -5 .9 -10.3 -11.6 -10.6 -1 1.2 -1 1.2 -11.9
- . 4 -2 .4 +1.5 - . 9 -1 .0 -2 .8 + .2 + .8 -2 .3 -1 .6 -3 .3
In 1 month.................... - . 2
Columbus:
In 12 months................. + .9 - . 3 + .3 +2.8 + .5 - . 5 -7 .6 -9 .9 -7 .9 -9 .4 -10.4 -1 2.3
0
- . 7 -4 .5 -1 .4 +2.1 - . 7 -1 .8 - 3 .5
In 1 month.................... -1 .5 - . 8 -1 .1 +1.1
Dallas:
Since 1913. .................... +55.3 +51.5 +51.0 +49.8 +48.2 +44.5 +43.9 +42.0 +43.1 +42.7 +42.4 +38.6
In 12 months................. - . 4 -2 .9 -3 .8 -2 .9 -3 .7 -7 .0 -8 .1 -10.3 -10.5 -1 0.5 -9 .7 -1 2.8
- . 8 -1 .1 -2 .5 - . 4 -1 .3 + .8 - . 3
- . 2 -2 .7
In 1 month.................... -2 .3 -2 .4 - . 3
Denver:
Since 1913-................... +38.2 +37.0 +33.9 +35.6 +35.7 -34.2 +30.5 +27.7 +30.8 +28.6 +26.3 +21.9
In 12 months.................
0
-1 .3 -1 .9 - . 5 -1 .7 -4 .8 -9 .7 -11.5 -8 .0 -10.4 -11.3 -14.1
In 1 month.................... -2 .6 - . 9 -2 .2 +1.3 + .1 -1 .2 -2 .8 -2 .1 +2.4 -1 .7 -1 .8 -3 .5
Detroit:
Since 1913...................... +61.7 +54.4 +54.1 +56.4 +53.7 +52.2 +46.9 +46.7 +48.7 +45.9 +39.4 +36.7
In 12 months................. + .3 -3 .9 -3 .4 - . 7 -3 .9 -7 .3 -12.8 -13.9 -12.2 -12.3 -15.3 -16.1
In 1 month.................... - . 7 -4 .5 - . 2 + L 5 -1 .8 - . 9 -3 .5 - . 2 +1.3 -1 .8 -4 .5 - 2 .0
Fall River:
Since 1913...................... +53.3 +50.9 +46.8 +46.7 +46.1 +45.8 +42.9 +40.9 +42.3 +43.2 +41.6 +34.3
In 12 months................. - . 6
- . 4 -3 .1 -1 .8 -1 .9 -3 .2 -9 .0 -11.7 -11.1 -10.3 -1 0.5 -14.1
-.4
- . 2 -2 .0 -1 .4 +1.0 + .6 -1 .2 -5 .1
In 1 month.................... -2 .0 -1 .5 -2 .7 - . 1
Houston:
In 12 months................. +1.3 -1 .4 -1 .0 - . 7 -4 .1 -5 .2 -8 .0 -8 .5 -8 .7 -9 .9 -11.9 -1 4.5
In 1 month.................... -1 .6 -2 .7 - . 4 + .2 -2 .6 -1 .2 -1 .6 - . 1 +1.0 -1 .4 -2 .9 -2 .2
Indianapolis:
Since 1913...................... +53.5 +53.0 +48.8 +51.4 +51.4 +49.1 +44.6 +41.8 +45.3 +41.7 +39.0 +31.5
In 12 months................. + .3 - . 3 -2 .2 +1.6 + .2 -1 .9 -8 .1 -1 1.2 -9 .6 -11.4 -11.8 -1 5.8
In 1 month.................... -1 .7 - . 4 -2 .7 +1.7
0
-1 .5 -3 .0 -1 .9 +2.5 -2 .5 -1 .9 -5 .4
Jacksonville:
Since 1913...................... +4S.5 +39.4 +39.3 +38.1 +37.4 +37.1 +37.4 +37.0 +38.9 +37.6 +34.7 +33.3
In 12 months................. + .5 - . 9 -1 .3 -1 .2 -2 .0 -4 .2 -5 .6 -8 .2 -7 .2 -8 .0 -8 .5 -8 .8
In 1 month.................... -1 .9 -2 .9 - . 1
- . 5 - . 2 + .2 - . 3 +1.4 - . 9 -2 .1 - 1 .0
-.9
Kansas City:
Since 1913...................... +55.1 +53.9 +50.6 +51.7 +50.3 +45.9 +36.1 +38.6 +41.3 +39.8 +37.1 +34.4
In 12 months................. +1.5 + .1 - . 9 +1.6 + .3 -3 .5 -12.1 -12.1 -11.3 -11.5 -12.8 -13.9
In 1 month.................... - . 6
- . 8 -2 .2 + .7 - . 9 -2 .9 -6 .8 +1.8 +2.0 -1 .1 -1 .9 -2 .0
Little Rock:
Since 1913.................. . +51.9 +50.2 +45.4 +46.2 +44.7 +40.8 +40.0 +41.0 +40.7 +39.7 +36.0 +32.3
In 12 months................. + .3 -1 .1 -2 .5 -1 .2 -3 .2 -5 .5 -6 .7 -8 .2 -9 .6 -10.0 -11.8 -13.7
In 1 month.................... - . 9 -1 .1 -3 .2 + .5 -1 .0 -2 .7 - . 6 + .7 - . 2
- . 8 -2 .6 -2 .7
Los Angeles:
Since 1913...................... +42.5 +38.8 +37.8 +40.2 +38.2 +33.7 +31.0 +30.9 +32.6 +31.9 +28.3 +23.6
In 12 months................. -1 .4 -2 .5 -2 .7 - . 9 -3 .7 -7 .3 -9 .6 -11.8 -12.3 -12.9 -14.3 -14.1
In 1 month.................... -1 .0 -2 .5 - . 7 +1.7 -1 .4 -3 .3 -2 .0 - . 1 +1.3 - . 5 -2 .7 - 3 .7
Louisville:
Since 1913-................... +50.6 +50.9 +46.6 +49.3 +47.4 +44.9 +38.8 +42.2 +43.4 +38.8 +36.1 +31.1
In 12 months________ _ -2 .3 -3 .7 -5 .5 -2 .8 -5 .9 -7 .4 -10.9 -9 .3 -9 .8 -12.1 -13.2 -1 5 .2
In 1 month.................... -2 .6 +0.2 -2 .9 +1.9 -1 .2 -1 .7 -4 .2 +2.4 + .8 -3 .2 -2 .0 -3 .7
Manchester:
Since 1913— ................ +51.3 +50.8 +46.6 +47.7 +47.1 +46.3 +43.6 +42.6 +44.1 +43.1 +40.6 +34.4
In 12 months................. - . 8 - . 2 -2 .7 + .1 -1 .5 -2 .9 -8 .6 -10.9 -9 .3 -9 .4 -10.7 -12.2
In 1 month........ ........... -1 .2 - . 3 -2 .8 + .7 - . 4 - . 5 -1 .8 - . 7 +1.0 - . 7 -1 .8 -4 .4
Memphis:
Since 1913...................... +50.4 +48.3 +44.5 +46.4 +45.2 +42.1 +38.9 +39.3 +39.4 +37.6 +33.9 +28.9
In 12 months................. + .1 -1 .0 -1 .9 - . 7 -2 .3 -5 .5 -8 .8 -9 .9 -9 .1 -9 .4 -12.1 -1 4.8
In 1 month.................... - . 6 -1 .4 -2 .6 +1.4 - . 9 -2 .1 -2 .3 + .3 + .1 -1 .3 -2 .7 -3 .8
Milwaukee:
Since 1913....... —........... +58.3 +57.1 +55.2 +56.2 +55.3 +51.5 +45.6 +45.1 +47.6 +46.6 +43.1 +38.1
In 12 months..... ........... +1.5 - . 1
- . 5 +2.2 +1.1 -2 .7 -11.9 -12.1 -10.2 -10.9 -11.9 -1 3.7
In 1 month.................... -1 .1 - . 7 -1 .2 + .6 - . 6 -2 .5 -3 .9 - . 4 +1.8 - . 7 -2 .4 -3 .5
Minneapolis:
Since 1913...................... +56.8 +53.9 +51.9 +52.7 +50.8 +51.7 +43.4 +43.1 +46.5 +45.7 +43.3 +38.9
In 12 months................. +1.9 -1 .1 -2 .3 - . 3 -2 .0 -2 .7 -10.1 -10.2 -9 .3 -9 .4 -10.5 -12.7
In 1 month.................... -1 .5 -1 .9 -1 .3 + .5 -1 .2 + .6 -5 .5 - . 2 +2.4 - . 5 -1 .7 -3 .1
Mobile:
In 12 months...............
- . 8 -1 .6 -2 .2 -1 .0 -3 .9 -5 .4 -7 .3 -8 .7 -7 .4 -6 .8 -7 .9 -1 0.7
In 1 month.................... -1 .4 -2 .2 - . 4 + .9 -2 .0 -1 .4 - . 5 + .3 +1.0 - . 4 -2 .0 -3 .1
Newark:
Since 1913...................... +49.6 +47.9 +44.6 +45.6 +45.0 +42.6 +39.4 +39.1 +41.2 +43.3 +39.8 +34.7
In 12 months..... ...........
.0
.0 -1 .2 - . 5 -2 .0 -4 .3 -8 .3 -10.4 -9 .1 -8 .3 -9 .8 -1 2.3
In 1 month.................... -2 .6 -1 .1 -2 .3 + .7 - . 4 -1 .6 -2 .3 - . 2 +1.5 +1.5 -2 .4 - 3 .6
New Haven:
Since 1913...................... +57.4 +53.7 +50.3 +50.3 +50.5 +48.2 +46.1 +45.4 +47.5 +49.0 +47.7 +45.4
In 12 months................. + .8 -.8 4 -2 .9 -1 .1 -1 .7 -4 .1 -8 .3 -10.3 -10.6 -9 .5 -9 .9 -10.1
In l month.................... -2 .7 -2 .3 -2 .2 + .1 t -1 -1 .5 -1 .5 - . 5 +1.5 +1.0 - . 9
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
567
T a b l e 8 .— CHANGES IN THE R E TA IL COST OF FOOD SINCE 1913, INT12 MONTHS, A N D IN
1 M ONTH, B Y CITIES AN D BY MONTHS, 1930-Continued
Per cent of change in specified city and period in—
vjuy ana penoa
Jan.
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
New Orleans:
Since 1913...................... +55.7 +53.7 +51.4 +51.3 +47.1 +45.2 +42.9 +43.1 +45.1 +43.0 +39.3 +36.8
In 12 months................. + .5 - . 7 -1 .6 -1 .2 -4 .6 -5 .7 -9 .0 -9 .9 -9 .1 -1 0.2 -12.3 -13.4
In 1 month.................... -1 .4 -1 .3 -1 .5 - . 1 -2 .8 -1 .3 -1 .5 + .1 +1.4 -1 .5 -2 .5 -1 .8
New York:
Since 1913...................... +57.0 +55.4 +52.6 +53.1 +51.2 +50.0 +46.7 +47.0 +49.8 +49.3 +47.1 +41.9
In 12 months................. - . 5 - . 8 -1 .8 -1 .3 -2 .8 -4 .6 -8 .7 -10.0 -8 .7 -9 .7 -10.1 -1 2.3
In 1 month.................... -2 .9 -1 .0 -1 .8 + .3 -1 .2 - . 8 -2 .2 + .2 +2.0 - . 4 -1 .4 -3 .6
Norfolk:
In 12 months................. - . 2 -2 .1 -4 .1 -2 .3 -4 .3 -5 .6 -9 .7 -11.5 -1 0.7 -10.4 -1 1.2 -1 2.2
In 1 month.................... - 2 .3 -2 .4 -2 .5 + .7 - . 9 - . 9 -2 .6 - . 5 +1.9 - . 3
- . 9 -2 .2
Omaha:
Since 1913...................... +50.5 +48.3 +44.7 +46.8 +46.4 +44.9 +35.9 +36.2 +39.7 +36.6 +34.6 +31.7
In 12 months................. +1.2 - . 5 -2 .8 - . 3 + .7 -2 .3 -9 .5 -8 .1 -8 .6 -10.3 -11.3 -12.8
In 1 month.................... - . 4 -1 .5 -2 .4 +1.4 - . 3 -1 .0 -6 .3 + .3 +2.5 -2 .2 -1 .5 -2 .1
Peoria:
In 12 months................. +1.9 +1.1 +• 1 +2.1 +1.2 - . 6 -7 .1 -9 .6 -9 .0 -9 .6 -11.5 -1 2.9
In 1 month___________ - . 7 - . 5 -1 .8 + .5 - . 4 -1 .6 -4 .4 - . 6 +1.4 - . 8 -2 .3 -2 .3
Philadelphia:
Since 1913....... .............. +57.8 +55.6 +51.2 +52.1 +52.1 +49.1 +44.5 +43.3 +47.1 +47.2 +45.5 +40.5
In 12 months................. +1.2 + .1 -1 .6 - . 3 -2 .7 -4 .9 -9 .9 -12.3 -10.4 -10.8 -1 1.2 -1 3.9
In 1 month........ ........... -3 .3 -1 .4 -2 .8 + .6
.0 -2 .0 -3 .1 - . 8 +2.6
.0 -1 .1 -3 .5
Pittsburgh:
Since 1913............ ......... +57.0 +53.3 +49.2 +49.8 +49.5 +49.0 +43.2 +43.0 +48.7 +46.5 +41.5 +36.7
In 12 months................. -1 .0 -3 .2 -5 .3 -2 .4 -4 .4 -6 .1 -10.7 -12.2 -9 .0 -9 .9 -11.9 -1 4.4
In 1 month.................... -1 .6 -2 .4 -2 .7 + .4 - . 2 - . 3 -4 .0 - . 1 +4.0 -1 .5 -3 .4 -3 .4
Portland, Me.:
In 12 months................. - . 9 -1 .3 -3 .9 -1 .7 -3 .1 -5 .5 -10.9 -11.5 -1 0.0 -9 .8 -10.3 -1 1.0
In 1 month.................... -1 .4 -1 .1 -3 .3 +1.3 - . 5 -1 .4 - . 3
.0 + .7 - . 5 -1 .2 -3 .7
Portland, Oreg.:
Since 1913...................... +41.0 +40.0 +39.5 +40.2 +39.3 +35.6 +30.6 +28.4 +28.8 +28.3 +24.2 +19.1
- . 9 + .6 +1.2 -1 .8 -5 .1 -10.6 -11.8 -12.1 -1 3.9 -16.3 -1 8.0
In 12 months................. - . 1
In 1 month.................... -2 .9 - . 7 - . 3 + .5 - . 6 -2 .6 -3 .7 -1 .7 + .3 - . 4 -3 .2 -4 .1
Providence:
Since 1913...................... +57.6 +55.5 +51.4 +52.3 +50.8 +48.3 +46.3 +45.3 +48.1 +46.9 +45.5 +39.4
In 12 months................. +1.0 +1.3 -2 .0 + .5 -1 .5 -5 .3 -9 .6 -11.7 -9 .8 -1 0.6 -1 0.5 -1 2.9
In 1 month.................... -1 .5 -1 .3 -2 .6 + .6 -1 .0 -1 .7 -1 .3 - . 7 +1.9 - . 8
- . 9 -4 .2
Richmond:
Since 1913...................... +60.5 +59.7 +55.1 +56.7 +55.4 +53.8 +49.1 +50.0 +50.9 +50.2 +46.5 +42.6
In 12 months................. + .4 -1 .2 -3 .7 -1 .5 -4 .3 -3 .5 -7 .1 -7 .9 -9 .2 -9 .9 -1 1.0 -1 1.9
In 1 month................... - . 9 - . 5 -2 .9 +1.0 - . 8 -1 .0 -3 .1 + .6 + .6 - . 5 -2 .5 -2 .6
Rochester:
In 12 months................. - . 6 -1 .3 -3 .0 - . 4 -2 .7 -2 .7 -10.5 -11.8 -9 .6 - 9 .7 -1 2.0 -14.5
In 1 month.................... -2 .4 - . 7 -3 .1 +1.0 + .3 - . 7 -4 .1 + .2 +2.2 - . 4 -3 .0 -4 .7
St. Louis:
Since 1913...................... +59.8 +59.0 +56.3 +58.2 +54.8 +51.1 +44.6 +46.5 +49.2 +46.7 +42.2 +37.9
In 12 months................. +1.2 + .7 - . 7 +1.4 - a 7 -6 .4 -12.4 -10.9 -9 .6 -1 0.0 -1 2.7 -14.4
In 1 month............... .
- . 8 - . 5 -1 .7 +1.2 -2 .2 -2 .4 -4 .3 +1.3 +1.8 -1 .6 -3 .0 - 3 .0
St. Paul:
In 12 months..... ........... +1.4 -1 .2 -2 .6
.0 - . 9 -2 .6 -10.9 -1 0.7 -9 .8 -9 .9 -11.5 -1 3.2
In 1 month.................... -1 .2 -1 .2 -2 .0 + .8 - . 4 -1 .3 -5 .3 + .9 +1.9 -1 .0 -2 .8 - 2 .4
Salt Lake City:
Since 1913...................... +31.4 +31.4 +29.9 +32.0 +31.3 +32.1 +25.4 +24.1 +25.2 +24.8 +21.3 -1 7.3
In 12 months................. -1 .4 -1 .5 -1 .5 + . 6 - . 7 -1 .9 -11.6 -10.6 -1 0.0 -11.1 -13.1 -1 3.5
In 1 month.................... -3 .1
.0 -1 .2 +1.6 - . 5 + .6 -5 .1 -1 .1 + .9 - . 3 -2 .8 -3 .3
San Francisco:
Since 1913..................... +53.9 +50.9 +49.9 +51.7 +50.6 +46.6 +43.7 +42.5 +44.8 +44.4 +43.1 +37.8
In 12 months............... . +1.0 + .8 + .2 +1.9 + .6 -3 .2 -6 .4 -8 .8 -8 .0 -9 .3 -9 .9 -11.3
In 1 month.................... - . 9 -1 .9 - . 6 +1.2 - . 7 -2 .7 -1 .9 - . 8 +1.6 - . 3
- . 9 -3 .7
Savannah:
In 12 months................. + .8 -1 .9 -2 .2 -1 .6 -3 .3 -6 .4 -7 .1 -9 .7 -9 .5 -11.1 -12.4 -12.8
In 1 month..... .............. -2 .0 -2 .6 - . 4 + .2 -1 .3 -1 .4 + .3 - . 8 + .4 -1 .2 -3 .1 -1 .8
Scranton:
Since 1913...................... +63.0 +61.8 +56.9 +57.6 +58.1 +56.1 +51.8 +51.4 +52.0 +51.0 +48.3 +44.7
In 12 months................. + .9 + .3 -1 .5 + .4 - . 9 -3 .6 -7 .5 -9 .7 -10.5 -11.3 -12.2 -1 3.7
In 1 month.................... -2 .8 - . 8 -3 .0 + .4 + .3 -1 .3 -2 .8 - . 2 + .3 - . 7 -1 .8 - 2 .4
Seattle:
Since 1913...................... +46.5 +45.5 +45.6 +47.4 +46.8 +43.7 +38.7 +34.3 +36.2 +36.2 +33.9 +27.4
In 12 months................
- . 1 - . 8 + .9 +1.9 - . 2 -3 .7 -8 .0 -11.9 -1 0.7 -1 2.0 -12.7 -1 6.0
In 1 month.................... -3 .5 - . 7 + .1 ,+ 1 .2 - . 4 -2 .1 -3 .5 -3 .2 +1.5
.0 -1 .7 -4 .8
Springfield, HI.:
In 12 months..............— +1.2 + .9 - . 6 +2.5 + .3 -3 .0 -10.0 -9 .7 -8 .3 -8 .6 -9 .7 -12.9
In 1 month.................... - . 9 - . 1 -2 .6 +1.4 - . 9 -1 .8 - 4 . 4 - . 1 +2.3 - 1 . 1 -1 .3 - 4 . 1
Washington:
Since 1913...................... + 6 1 .9 + 6 0 .9 + 5 6 .0 +57.3 + 5 5 .9 + 5 4 .6 + 5 0 .9 + 4 9 .1 + 5 4 .5 + 5 5 .5 +50.1 + 4 6 .5
In 12 months................. - . 1
- . 3 -1 .9
- . 4 - 3 . 3 -5 .8 -1 0 .1 -12.9 - 9 . 5 -7 .8 - 9 . 1 -1 0.2
In 1 month.................... - . 8 - . 6 - 3 . 0 + .8 - . 9
- . 8 - 2 . 4 -1 .2 +3.7 + .6 -3 .5 -2 .4
47767°—31------37
568
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
How Food Prices are Obtained
R e t a i l prices of food are collected from retail dealers through
monthly reports of actual selling prices on the 15th of each month.
The stores are selected by agents of the bureau from those patronized
largely by wage earners. Prices are secured from every type of store—
the neighborhood store, the downtown store, the department store,
and the chain store—provided a large part of the patronage comes
from wage earners. Some of the stores are credit and delivery, some
are cash and carry, and some are cash and delivery. No “ fancy”
stores are included.
The number of firms is apportioned according to the industrial
importance of each city. For the larger cities reports are obtained
from 25 to 30 stores and for the smaller cities from 10 to 15 stores.
The total number of firms furnishing prices on one or more articles
of food each month is now approximately 1,800. Quite naturally
firms are not constant, but when one firm drops out permanently
another firm, similar in kind, is selected to replace it. Moreover, as
the wage-earning population of a city shifts, stores are selected in
the new localities to preserve the representative character of the
prices.
Cities Included
A t t h e beginning of the year 1913 retail prices of food were being
collected by the bureau from 39 cities, as follows:
Atlanta, Ga.
Baltimore, Md.
Birmingham, Ala.
Boston, Mass.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Charleston, S. C.
Chicago, 111.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Dallas, Tex.
Denver, Colo.
Detroit, Mich.
Fall River, Mass.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Kansas City, Mo.
Little Rock, Ark.
Los Angeles, Calif.
Louisville, Ky.
Manchester, N. H.
Memphis, Tenn.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn.
Newark, N. J.
New Haven, Conn.
New Orleans, La.
New York, N. Y.
Omaha, Nebr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Pittsburgh. Pa.
Portland, Oreg.
Providence, R. I.
Richmond, Va.
St. Louis, Mo.
Salt Lake City, Utah.
San Francisco, Calif.
Scranton, Pa.
Seattle, Wash.
Washington, D. C.
The following cities were added to the list on the dates named:
St. Paul, Minn., June, 1913.
Springfield, 111., May, 1914.
Butte, Mont., January, 1915.
Rochester, N. Y., May, 1916.
Columbus, Ohio, June, 1916.
Bridgeport, Conn., Oct., 1916.
Mobile, Ala., April, 1918.
Norfolk, Va., April, 1918.
Houston, Tex., May, 1918.
Peoria, 111., May, 1918.
Portland, Me., June, 1918.
Savannah, Ga., January, 1920.
Retail prices are shown, therefore, for 39 cities from the beginning
of 1913 and for the remaining 12 cities from the dates given above.
For most of the cities retail prices of certain articles from 1890 to
1903 were published in the Eighteenth Annual Report of the Com
missioner of Labor and were continued in subsequent bulletins.
Effort is made to secure quotations on similar grades of commodi
ties in the different cities. There are, however, some local customs
which must be considered when any comparison is made of the prices
in the different cities. For example, the method of cutting sirloin
steak in Boston, Mass., Manchester, N. H., Philadelphia, Pa.,
Providence, R. I., and Portland, Me., differs from that in other cities.
The cut known as “ sirloin” in these five cities would be known in
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
569
other cities as “ porterhouse.” There is in these cities, owing to the
methods of dividing the round from the loin, no cut that corresponds
to that of sirloin in the other cities. There is also a greater amount
of trimming demanded by the retail trade in these cities than in others.
Tins is particularly true of Providence, R. I. In any comparison of
prices in one city with those in another due consideration should be
given to the following facts:
1. The trade demands and is furnished more expensive grades of
articles in some cities than in others.
2. The cities for which prices are shown in this report are widely
separated; some are in localities near the source of supply, while
others are a considerable distance from it, making it necessary to
include in the prices a greater charge for transportation.
3. Methods and costs of doing business vary greatly in different
localities, due to the demands of customers and to rents, wages, and
other fixed charges or expenses.
Method of Constructing Index Numbers of Food Prices
I n c o n s t r u c t i n g the index numbers of retail food prices issued
oy the bureau, average annual prices for the United States have
been computed for each of 43 articles by dividing the sum of all
prices for an article in the 51 cities by the total number of reporting
firms. The average price of each article was then multiplied by a
figure denoting the average annual family consumption of that article
in the United States as shown by an investigation conducted by the
bureau in 1918.1 The products for the several articles thus obtained
were next added, giving the cost of a year’s supply of these foods
when purchased by a family at the retail prices shown. The result
was then reduced to a percentage of the corresponding result for the
year 1913, taken as the base. Monthly index numbers have been
constructed in the same manner as the yearly index numbers by using
average monthly prices instead of average yearly prices, the year
1913 being the base period in all cases.
For the years 1913 to 1920 the index numbers were uniformly com
puted from the prices of 22 food articles.2 In 1921, when the number
of articles was increased to 43,3 the following plan was adopted: It
was assumed that the total cost of the 43 articles, if this information
had been obtained, would have shown the same percentage of change
from 1913 to December, 1920, as was shown by the 22 articles. There
fore the index number for the 22 articles in December, 1920, which
was found to be 177.85, was accepted as the index number for the 43
articles. The money cost of the 43 articles in December, 1920, was
found to be $461.51. The ratio of the money cost to the relative cost
in December, 1920, was therefore 461.51 to 177.85, or 1 to 0.3854. For
each month since December, 1920, the index number has been obtained
by multiplying the money cost of the 43 articles by 0.3854. The
resulting index numbers are comparable with the index numbers for
years and months prior to January, 1921, on 22 articles.
* See United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 357.
* These are sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, lard,
hens, flour, corn meal, eggs, butter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, nee, coffee, and tea.
» Articles added in 1921 are lamb, canned salmon, evaporated milk, oleomargarine, nut margarine, vege
table lard substitute, rolled oats, corn flakes, wheat cereal, macaroni, navy beans, onions, cabbage, baked
beans, canned com, canned peas, canned tomatoes, prunes, raisins, bananas, and oranges.
570
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
The average annual family consumption of the 43 articles is here
given for geographical sections and for the United States as a whole,
as shown by the bureau’s cost of living study of 1918.
T a b l e 9 .-F O O D W EIGH TS: AN N U A L CONSUMPTION PER FA M ILY
North
Atlantic
South
Atlantic
North
Central
South
Central
32
32
31
31
23
27
27
30
30
25
35
35
24
24
17
34
34
32
32
23
38
38
24
24
16
39
39
39
39
27
...d o _____
— do_____
...d o _____
...d o _____
...d o _____
36
17
22
8
23
29
13
26
14
25
43
20
43
2
24
45
18
14
2
23
42
17
19
1
22
Salmon, canned - ....................
Milk, fresh______________
Milk, evaporated..... ..............
Butter......................................
Oleomargarine.........................
...d o _____
Quart____
Pound___
— do_____
9
337
77
66
16
10
412
95
75
8
9
155
73
56
9
9
364
48
53
30
9
177
85
60
16
25
19
10
13
19
6
377
92
89
8
Nut margarine-......................
Cheese...... ........................ ......
Lard___ _______ __________
Vegetable lard substitute.......
Eggs, strictly fresh.................
— do_____
— do_____
__ do_____
— do_____
Dozen___
6
12
34
9
61
4
12
27
6
68
5
13
38
10
57
11
12
45
5
53
3
11
38
22
55
2
15
18
16
70
Bread.......................................
Flour...................................... .
Corn meal......................... ......
Rolled oats.............................
Corn flakes________________
Pound___
— do_____
— do_____
— do_____
__ do_____
531
264
54
41
7
642
224
29
45
6
417
313
108
31
6
521
263
39
39
6
450
318
140
38
13
438
280
34
45
5
"Wheat cereal—. .................... .
Macaroni....... ..........................
Rice_______ ____ ____ ______
Beans, navy________________
Potatoes___________________
...d o ..........
.-.d o _____
...d o _____
— do_____
...d o _____
7
23
35
22
704
7
25
32
23
746
2
15
55
17
514
6
20
26
25
810
3
29
56
21
485
12
27
28
19
706
Onions.....................................
Cabbage.........................- ........
Beans, baked— ......................
Corn, canned...........................
Peas, canned_______________
.-.d o _____
— do_____
...d o _____
— do_____
__ do_____
66
65
7
10
10
72
62
8
8
10
52
61
10
9
9
62
70
6
13
13
82
66
5
10
9
64
61
4
10
9
Tomatoes, cannod...................
Sugar______________________
Tea__________ _______ ______
Coffee_____________________
— do_____
...d o _____
__ do_____
__ do_____
16
147
8
40
15
140
13
33
21
145
6
42
10
154
5
45
35
133
3
52
12
161
6
35
Prunes.--..............— .............
Raisins_____________ _______
Bananas---- -----------------------Oranges____________________
...d o _____
— do_____
Dozen
— do_____
11
9
11
7
14
9
11
6
9
4
8
9
11
11
11
6
8
7
13
9
10
12
9
8
Article
Unit
Sirloin steak.............................
Round steak__ _____ _______
Rib roast................. ...............
Chuck roast_____ _____ _____
Plate beef__________________
Pound___
— do_____
— do_____
— do_____
...d o _____
Pork chops..............................
Bacon...................... ...............
Ham....................................... .
Lamb_______ , ......... ..............
Hens______________________
United
States
Western
J In cities where most of the sales on bananas are by the pound rather than by the dozen, the weightings
as given in the above table have been multiplied by 3 and have then been applied to the prices on the pound.
By giving to each article a weighting equal to its relative importance
in the consumption of the average family, the total expenditure for
food on a given date forms a proper basis of comparison with the
expenditure for the same articles of food on any other date. For the
purpose of showing the movement in retail prices it is assumed that
this relative importance remained the same through the whole period
1913 to 1930. The average family expenditure in each city in the year
1913 has been taken as the base for that city, and index numbers have
been computed for each year from 1913 to 1930, following the same
method used for the United States as a whole. These index numbers
show the trend in the retail cost of all foods combined in each indi
vidual city as compared with the average cost in that city in the year
1913
571
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
Retail Prices of Coal
T h e following table shows for the United States both average
and relative retail prices of Pennsylvania white-ash anthracite coal,
stove and chestnut sizes, and of bituminous coal in January and July,
1913 to 1928, and for each month of 1929 and 1930, An average
price for the year 1913 has been made from the averages for January
and July of that year. The average price for each month has been
divided by this average price for the year 1913 to obtain the relative
price.
T a b l e 10.—AVERAGE AND RELATIVE PRICES OF COAL FOR THE UN ITED STATES
ON SPECIFIED DATES FROM JANUARY, 1913, TO D E CEM BER, 1930
Pennsylvania anthracite, white ash—
Year and month
Stove
Average
price
Chestnut
Relative
price
Average
price
Relative
price
Bituminous
Average
price
Relative
price
1913: Average for year.............
January...........................
July..................................
1914: January...........................
July.................................
1915: January...........................
July................................ .
1916: January...........................
July................................ .
1917: January...................... .
July..................................
1918: January...........................
July........................... ......
1919: January...........................
July..................................
1920: January...........................
July..................................
$7.73
7.99
7.46
7.80
7.60
7.83
7.54
7.93
8.12
9.29
9.08
9.88
9.96
11.51
12.14
12.59
14.28
100.0
103.4
96.6
100.9
98.3
101.4
97.6
102.7
105.2
120.2
117.5
127.9
128.9
149.0
157.2
162.9
184.9
$7.91
8.16
7.68
8.00
7.78
7.99
7.73
8.13
8.28
9.40
9.16
10.03
10.07
11.61
12.17
12.77
14.33
100.0
103.0
97.0
101.0
98.3
101.0
97.7
102.7
104.6
118.8
115.7
126.7
127.3
146.7
153.8
161.3
181.1
$5.43
5.48
5.39
5.97
5.46
5.71
5.44
5.69
5.52
6.96
7.21
7.68
7.92
7.90
8.10
8.81
10.55
100.0
100.8
99.2
109.9
100.6
105.2
100.1
104.8
101.6
128.1
132.7
141.3
145.8
145.3
149.1
162.1
194.1
1921: January...........................
July..................................
1922: January..........................
July..................................
1923: January...........................
July.................................
1924: January.............. ............
July..................................
1925: January...........................
July............ ...................
1926: January________ ______
July.................... .............
1927: January............ ...... ........
July......... .... ...................
1928: January__________ ____
July................. ...............
15.99
14.90
14.98
14.87
15.43
15.10
15.77
15.24
15.45
15.14
0)
15.43
15.66
15.15
15.44
14.91
207.0
192.8
193.9
192.4
199.7
195.5
204.1
197.2
200.0
196.0
0)
199.7
202.7
196.1
199.8
192.9
16.13
14.95
15.02
14.92
15.46
15.06
15.76
15.10
15.37
14.93
0)
15.19
15.42
14.81
15.08
14.63
203.8
188.9
189.8
188.5
195.3
190.1
199.1
190.7
194.2
188.6
C1)
191.9
194.8
187.1
190.6
184.9
11.82
10.47
9.89
9.49
11.18
10.04
9.75
8.94
9.24
8.61
9.74
8.70
9.96
8.91
9.30
8.69
217.6
192.7
182.0
174.6
205.7
184.7
179.5
164.5
170.0
158.5
179.3
160.1
183.3
163.9
171.1
159.9
1929: January...........................
February.........................
March..............................
April................................
M ay.................................
June.................................
July..................................
August.............................
September.......................
October............................
November.......................
December........................
15.38
15.40
15.39
15.04
14.74
14.82
14.94
15.01
15.21
15.31
15.31
15.34
199.1
199.3
199.2
194.6
190.7
191.8
193.4
194.3
196.8
198.2
198.2
198.5
15.06
15.07
15.07
14.71
14.40
14.48
14.63
14.67
14.87
14.98
14.98
15.00
190.3*
190.4
190.4
185.8
182.0
183.0
184.8
185.4
187.9
189.3
189.3
189.6
9.09
9.07
9.06
8.76
8.52
8.50
8.62
8.69
8.87
8.98
9.00
9.05
167.2
166.9
166.7
161.3
156.8
156.5
158.6
159.9
163.2
165.3
165.6
166.5
1930: January........................ .
February.........................
March..............................
April................................
M ay.................................
June....................... .........
July..................................
August......................... —
September........ ..............
October...........................
November.......................
December........................
15.33
15.33
15.33
15.32
14.66
14.62
14.84
14.88
15.08
15.13
15.14
15.13
198.4
198.4
198.4
198.3
189.6
189.3
192.1
192.6
195.2
195.8
196.0
195.9
15.00
15.00
15.00
14.99
14.33
14.32
14.53
14.57
14.80
14.87
14.90
14.89
189.5
189.6
189.6
189.4
181.0
180.9
183.6
184.1
187.0
187.9
188.2
188.1
9.11
9.04
9.02
8.84
8.53
8.54
8.65
8.70
8.79
8.88
8.94
8.94
167.6
166.4
166.0
162.7
157.0
157.2
159.1
160.1
161.7
163.3
164.6
164.4
i Insufficient data.
572
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
In view of the marked difference between high volatile and low
volatile bituminous coal, with respect both to price and heating quali
ties, retail prices for these two kinds of coal are shown separately for
the following cities, in which both kinds are used to a considerable
extent by home owners. The figures have been compiled from
reports furnished to the bureau by retail dealers.
T a b l e 11.—AVERAGE R E TA IL PRICES OF HIGH AND LOW VOLATILE BITUMINOUS
COAL IN JANUARY, APRIL, JULY, A N D OCTOBER, 1929 AN D 1930, BY CITIES
[Per ton of 2,000 pounds]
1929
City and kind of coal
Janu
ary
Chicago, 111.:
High volatile, prepared sizes. _
Low volatile—
Prepared sizes....................
Run of mine...................
Cincinnati, Ohio:
High volatile, prepared sizes. .
Low volatile, prepared sizes...
Cleveland, Ohio:
High volatile, prepared sizes...
Low volatile, prepared sizes.. .
Columbus, Ohio:
High volatile, prepared sizes..
Low volatile, prepared sizes...
Detroit, Mich.:
High volatile, prepared sizes..
Low volatile—
Prepared sizes....................
R u n of mine......... .............
Indianapolis, Ind.:
High volatile, prepared sizes..
Low volatile—
Prepared sizes.................. .
Run of mine.............. ........
Louisville, Ky.:
High volatile, prepared sizes..
Low volatile, prepared sizes...
Milwaukee, Wis.:
High volatile, prepared sizes..
Low volatile, prepared sizes—
Minneapolis, Minn.:
High volatile, prepared sizes..
Low volatile, prepared sizes...
Norfolk, Va.:
High volatile, prepared sizes........
Low volatile—
Prepared sizes....................
Run of mine......................
Richmond, Va.:
High volatile, prepared sizes__
Low volatile—
Prepared sizes....................
Run of mine......................
St. Paul, Minn.:
High volatile, prepared sizes____
Low volatile, prepared sizes...
Washington, D. C.:
High volatile, prepared sizes1___
Low volatile, prepared sizes 1_.
Mixed, run of m ine1...............
April
1930
July
Octo
ber
Janu
ary
April
July
Octo
ber
$8.20
$8.27
$7.74
$8.42
$8.53
$8.52
$7.78
$8.09
11.85
8.25
11.85
8.25
10.35
7.50
12.35
8.25
12.32
8.25
12.18
8.25
10.29
7.75
11.96
5.54
7.79
5.55
7.38
5.70
7.63
6.05
8.38
6.30
8.78
5.55
7.53
5.80
7.75
6.30
8.53
7.43
10.03
7.04
9.03
7.19
9.03
7.10
9.96
7.10
9.97
7.18
10.03
6.75
9.25
6.86
& 09
8.06
5.75
7.25
5.79
7.31
6.13
8.44
6.07
8.38
5.93
8.25
5.79
7.19
6.02
7.75
&33
8.30
8.23
8.46
8.39
8.05
&09
8.00
10.33
10.31
8.00
9.53
7.67
10.27
10.31
9.46
7.67
9.46
7.67
9.77
7.83
8.00
8.00
8.00
8.00
9.80
6.28
6.19
6.01
6.31
6.01
5.94
5.80
5.90
9.04
7.00
8.29
6.88
7.93
6.63
9.04
7.25
8.71
7.17
8.44
6.96
8.21
6.90
8.75
7.05
7.16
9.75
5.66
8.00
6.16
8.75
6.66
9.00
7.01
9.50
5.83
8.10
6.18
8.50
6.37
8.75
7.80
11.08
7.80
11.08
7.67
10.49
7.71
10.96
7.68
10.99
7.68
10.99
7.68
10.43
7.68
10.63
10.90
13.50
10.90
13.50
10.41
13.24
10.53
13.65
10.56
13.65
10.56
12.39
10.26
13.14
9.81
12.63
7.25
7.25
9.00
6.83
9.00
6.50
8.50
6.50
8.50
7.00
10.00
7.00
8.38
a38
7.88
7.81
7.81
10.50
7.00
10.50
7.00
9.00
7.00
8.38
a 25
8.75
9.78
7.50
8.53
6.75
9.11
7.25
9.13
7.25
9.09
7.25
8.37
6.75
9.37
7.25
13.50
10.68
13.50
10.18
13.27
10.28
13.65
10.27
13.65
10.27
12.63
10.08
13.15
9.75
12.80
8.75
11.42
7.63
8.63
11.00
7.81
8.63
11.00
8.63
11.42
7.75
8.63
11.43
7.75
8.63
11.43
7.75
8.38
10.93
7.81
8.63
11.43
7.81
8.38
7.50
10.68
7.63
i Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
Retail Prices of Gas
T he net price per 1,000 cubic feet of gas for household use in each
of 51 cities is shown in the following table. The average family con
sumption of manufactured gas is assumed to be 3,000 cubic feet per
month. In cities where a service charge or a sliding scale is in opera-
573
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
tion, families using less than 3,000 cubic feet per month pay a some
what higher rate than here shown, while those consuming more than
this amount pay a lower rate. The figures here given are believed to
represent quite closely the actual monthly cost of gas per 1,000 cubic
feet to the average wager earner's family. Prices for natural gas and
for manufactured and natural mixed gas are shown in Table 13 for
those cities where it is in general use. These prices are based on an
estimated average family consumption of 5,000 cubic feet per month.
T a b l e 13.—N E T PRICE P E R 1,000 CUBIC FE ET OF M AN UFACTURED GAS BASED ON
A FA M IL Y CONSUMPTION OF 3,000 CUBIC FEET, IN SPECIFIED M ONTHS FROM
APRIL, 1913, TO D E C E M B E R , 1930, B Y CITIES
June
15,
1924
June
15,
1925
T *
June
15,
1926
June
15,
1927
June
15,
1928
Dec.
15,
1928
June
15,
1929
Dec.
15,
1929
June
15,
1930
Atlanta........ - .............. $1.00 $1.55
.85
Baltimore....................
.90
Birmingham................
1.00 .80
.81
Boston.........................
1.20
Butte............................ 1.49
2.10
$1.55
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
$1.55
.85
.80
1.18
2.10
$1.55
.85
.80
1.18
$1.55
.85
.80
1.18
$1.55
.85
.80
1.18
$1.43
.85
.80
1.18
$1.43
.85
.80
1.16
$0.85
.80
1.16
$0.85
.80
1.16
1.55
1.02
1.25
.95
1.55
1.02
1.25
.95
.82
1.55
1.55
1.25
.95
.79
1.25
.90
.79
1.55
.98
1.25
.90
.79
1.55
.98
1.25
1.55
.98
1.25
1.55
.98
1.25
1.55
.98
1.25
1.55
1.98
1.25
.79
.79
"".79
.79
.79
1.15
1.09
1.15
1.97
1.38
1.15
1.05
1.10
1.97
1.38
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.15
1.14
1.14
1.14
1.05
1.97
1.38
1.05
1.92
1.38
.95
1.92
1.34
1.92
1.34
.95
1.92
1.34
.95
1.92
1.34
.95
1.92
1.34
1.92
1.34
1.20
.82
1.20
.82
.95
1.80
1.20
1.20 1.20 1.20
.82
.96
City
Apr.
15,
1913
Charleston, S. C..........
Chicago........................
Cleveland....................
Denver.........................
Detroit.........................
1.10
Fall River....................
Houston.......................
Indianapolis................
Jacksonville-...............
Manchester..................
.80
Memphis.................
Milwaukee..............
Minneapolis............
Mobile........... ..............
Newark........................
.80
.80
.85
.75
1.00
.60
1.20
1.10
1.00
.75
.85
1.02 1.02
.82
.90
1.76
1.76
1.76
.82
1.05
1.76
1.20
.82
.94
1.76
1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.21 1.21
1.13
1.30
1.23
1.33
1.08
1.13
1.30
1.24
1.33
1.08
1.13
1.30
1.25
1.33
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.13
1.25
1.33
1.25
1.33
.95
1.24
1.32
1.24
1.32
.95
1.24
1.32
1.50
1.19
1.17
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.30
1.29
1.29
1.29
1.29
1.29
1.29
1.29
.85
.90
.90
.90
.90
.90
.90
.90
1.57
1.00
1.45
1.50
1.54
1.05
1.45
1.50
1.53
.95
1.45
1.50
1.52
.95
1.45
1.40
1.51
.94
1.45
1.40
1.51
.94
1.45
1.40
1.51
.90
1.45
1.40
.90
1.45
1.40
1.45
1.40
1.45
1.40
1.45
1.35
1.00
1.45
1.35
1.45
1.25
1.45
1.25
1.45
1.25
1.45
1.25
1.45
1.25
1.00
1.77
1.00
1.43
1.25
1.00
1.77
1.43
1.25
.95
1.77
.82
.97
1.80
1.80
1.20
1.20
.90
1.15
1.18
1.30
1.23
1.40
1.18
1.13
1.30
1.23
1.40
1.08
.90
1.20
1.20
1.20
1.10
.95
.85
1.55
1.16
1.22
1.55
1.16
1.17
Richmond....................
Rochester.....................
St. Louis......................
St. Paul...................... .
.90
.95
.80
.95
1.30
1.00
1.00
.85
Salt Lake City...........
San Francisco.............
Savannah___________
Scranton.....................
.87
.75
Seattle...........................
Springfield, 111.........
Washington, D. C_.
Honolulu, Hawaii. .
1.00
1.00
N e w Orleans.............
New York------------Norfolk....................
Omaha..........................
Peoria......................
Philadelphia............
Portland, Me...............
Portland, Oreg........
Providence..............
1.00
1.10
.84
1.00
.82
2.10
.82
.96
1.76
1.01
1.10
New Haven.............
2.10 2.10 2.10 •2.10 2.10 2.10
Dec.
15,
1930
1.00 1.00
1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20 1.20
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
1.00
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.11 1.11 1.11
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
1.45
1.25
1.77
1.21
1.20
1.00
1.42
1.17
1.13
1.29
1.00
1.11
.90
i Price is based on 15.9 therms, which is the equivalent of 3,000 cubic feet of gas of a heating value of 530
British thermal units.
574
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RE TAIL
T a b l e 1 3 .— N ET PRICE PE R 1,000 CUBIC FEET OF GAS BASED ON A F A M IL Y CON
SUMPTION OF 5,000 CUBIC FEET, IN SPECIFIED M ONTHS FROM APRIL, 1913, TO
D E CEM BER, 1930, B Y CITIES
Natural gas
City
Atlanta..... ........
Buffalo..............
Cincinnati.........
Cleveland.........
Columbus.........
Dallas________
Denver— .........
Houston............
Kansas City___
Little Rock.......
Los Angeles___
Louisville..........
Memphis..........
Mobile..............
New Orleans__
Pittsburgh........
Salt Lake City..
San Francisco.-
Apr.
15,
1913
June
15,
1924
$0.30
30
30
30
45
$0.50
.55
.45
June
15,
1925
.68
June
15,
1926
June
15,
1927
June
15,
1928
Dec.
15,
1928
June
15,
1929
Dec.
15,
1929
$1.17
$1.09
$0.75
.60
.55
.74
$a75
$0.75
.60
.48
.79
$0
$0.75
60
48
79
99
75
95
65
84
45
97
$0.75
.60
.48
.79
.99
.75
.95
.65
.84
.45
.95
.75
.60
.48
.79
.99
.75
.95
.65
.84
.45
.95
.95
.95
.97
’ “ .‘ 75
.60
.48
.79
.99
.75
.95
.65
.84
.45
.95
1.24
.95
.60
.99
.97
$0.65
$0.65
.60
.48
.7 9
.75
.95
.65
.91
.45
.9 5
.6 5
.4 5
28
.45
.53
June
15,
Dec.
15,
Manufactured and natural gas mixed
$0.65
Buffalo_____
Los Angeles.
$0.65
$0.65
$0.65
$0.65
From the prices quoted on manufactured gas, average prices have
been computed for all of the cities combined and are shown in the
next table for specified months of each year from 1913 to 1930.
These prices are based on an estimated average family consumption
of 3,000 cubic feet.
Relative prices have been computed by dividing the price in each
year by the price in April, 1913.
The price of manufactured gas in December, 1930, showed an
increase of 24.2 per cent since April, 1913. From June, 1930, to
December, 1930, there was a decrease of 2.5 per cent.
T a b l e 14.—AVERAGE AND RELATIVE N E T PRICE PER 1,000 CUBIC FE ET OF M AN U
FACTU RED GAS IN U NITED STATES, BASED ON A F A M ILY CONSUMPTION OF 3,000
CUBIC FEET IN SPECIFIED MONTHS OF EACH YEA R , 1913 TO 1930
Date
Apr. 15,1913.
Apr. 15,1914.
Apr. 15,1915.
Apr. 15,1916.
Apr. 15,1917.
Apr. 15, 1918.
Apr. 15, 1919.
Apr. 15, 1920.
May 15,1921.
Sept. 15, 1921.
Dec. 15, 1921.
Mar. 15, 1922.
June 15, 1922.
Sept. 15, 1922.
Dec. 15, 1922.
Mar. 15, 1923.
June 15, 1923Sept. 15, 1923.
Average Relative
net price
price
$0.95
.94
.93
.92
.91
.95
1.04
1.09
1.32
1.31
1.30
1.29
1.27
1.26
1.25
1.25
1.24
1.24
100.0
98.9
97.9
96.8
95.8
100.0
109.5
114.7
138.9
137.9
136.8
135.8
133.7
132.6
131.6
131.6
130.5
130.5
Date
Dec. 15, 1923.............................
Mar. 15,1924.............................
June 15, 1924...........................
Sept. 15, 1924............................
Dec. 15, 1924.............................
June 15, 1925............................
Dec. 15, 1925...... .......................
June 15, 1926.............................
Dec. 15, 1926.............................
June 15, 1927.......................
Dec. 15, 1927....................... .
June 15, 1928________________
Dec. 15, 1928________________
June 15, 1929________________
Dec. 15, 1929............................
June 15,1930........................ .
Dec. 15, 1930........... .................
Average Relative
net price
price
$1.25
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.24
1.23
1.23
1.23
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.21
1.22
1.22
1. 21
1.21
1.18
131.6
130.5
130.5
130.5
130.5
129.5
129.5
129.5
128.4
128.4
128.4
127.4
128.4
128.4
127.4
127.4
124.2
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
575
Retail Prices of Electricity
Explanation of Prices
T h e following table shows for 51 cities the net rates per kilowatthour of electricity used for household purposes for specified months
in 1928, 1929, and 1930. For the cities having more than one tariff
for domestic consumers the rates are shown for the schedule under
which most of the residences are served.
Several cities have sliding scales based on a variable number of
kilowatt-hours payable at each rate. The number of kilowatt-hours
payable at each rate in these cities is determined for each customer
according to the watts of installation, either in whole or in part, in
the individual home. The number of watts so determined is called
the customer’s “ demand.”
In Baltimore the demand is the maximum normal rate of use of
electricity in any half-hour period of time. It may be estimated or
determined by the company from time to time according to the cus
tomer’s normal use of electricity and may equal the total installation
reduced to kilowatts.
In Buffalo the demand consists of two parts—lighting, 25 per cent
of the total installation, but never less than 250 watts; and power,
2%, per cent of the capacity of any electric range, water heater, or
other appliance of 1,000 watts or over and 25 per cent of the rated
capacity of motors exceeding one-half horsepower but not less than 1
horsepower. The installation is determined by inspection of premises.
In Houston the demand is estimated as 50 per cent of the con
nected load, each socket opening being rated at 50 watts.
In New York the demand for Company C, when not determined
by meter, has been computed at 50 per cent of total installation in
residences, each standard socket being rated at 50 watts and all
other outlets being rated at their actual kilowatt capacity.
In Portland, Oreg., the demand for Company A has been esti
mated as one-third of the connected lighting load. Ranges, heating
devices, and small power up to a rated capacity of 2 kilowatts are
not included.
In Washington, D. C., the demand is determined by inspection and
consists of 100 per cent of the connected load, excluding small fans
and heating and cooking appliances when not permanently connected.
576
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 15.—N E T PRICE PER KILOW ATT-HOUR FOR E L E C T R IC ITY FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE IN SPECIFIED MONTHS OF 1928, 1929, AND 1930, FOR 51 CITIES
City
Atlanta___
Baltimore..
BirminghamBoston...........
Bridgeport..
Buffalo____
Butte....................
Charleston, N. C_.
Chicago.................
Cincinnati.
Cleveland:
Company A..
Company B_.
Columbus..
Dallas........
Denver___
Detroit..
Fall River .
H ouston...
Indianapolis.
Jacksonville..
Kansas City-
Little Rock.
Los Angeles..
Louisville.—.
Manchester..
M em phis...
Milwaukee..
Measure of consumption, per month
Service charge...................................... .
First 50 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 150 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 20 hours’ use of demand2............
Next kilowatt-hours equal to 8 times
the consumption at the primary
rate—minimum 200 kilowatt-hours.
First 100 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 2 kilowatt-hours per 100 square
feet of floor area.
Next 70 kilowatt-hours.........................
All current.............................................
First 60 hours' use of demand *............
Next 120 hours’ use of demand2..........
Excess....................................................
First 20 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 25 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 50 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 3 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Next 3 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Excess....................................................
Service charge per room.......................
First 6 kilowatt-hours per room; mini
mum, 4 rooms.
Excess....................................................
First 40 kilowatt-hours.....................—
Next 200 kilowatt-hours.......................
Service charge.................— .................
First 600 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 50 kilowatt-hours...................... .
First 800 kilowatt-hours.....................—
First 15 kilowatt-hours....................
Next 30 kilowatt-hours......................
Excess....................................... ............
First 3 kilowatt-hours per active room;
minimum, 3 rooms.
Next 50 kilowatt-hours................... —
First 25 kilowatt-hours...................... .
Next 75 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 3 kilowatt-hours per room; mini
mum, 4 rooms.
Next 100 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 50 kilowatt-hours.................... —
Next 50 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 500 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 5 kilowatt-hours per active room;
minimum, 3 rooms.
Next 5 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Excess....................................................
First 4 rooms or less. (Rooms in ex
cess of 4,10 cents each additional.)
First 6 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Next 6 kilowatt-hours per room..........
First 35 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 140 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 30 kilowatt-hours.........................
First step: 3 rooms, 15 kilowatt-hours;
4 rooms, 18 kilowatt-hours; 5 rooms,
21 kilowatt-hours; 6 rooms, 24 kilo
watt-hours; 7 rooms, 27 kilowatthours; 8 rooms, 30 kilowatt-hours.
Next step: Number of kilowatt-hours
equal to the first step.
First 6 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Excess....................................................
First 9 kilowatt-hours for each of the
first 6 active rooms and the first 7
kilowatt-hours for each active room
in addition to the first 6.
Next kilowatt-hours up to 200............ .
Excess....................................................
For footnotes see end of table.
De
cem
ber,
June,
1929
De
cem
ber,
1929
June,
1930
De
cem
ber,
Cents
Cents
Cents
Cents
Cents
7.0
34.0
5.0
3.0
7.0
34.0
5.0
3.0
6.7
3.4
5.0
3.0
6.7
3.4
7.7
8.5
7.7
8.5
7.7
8.5
7.7
8.5
7.7
7.5
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
5.0
3 .0
5 .5
5.0
4.0
1.5
7.0
5.0
3.0
4.0
10.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8.0
4.0
”v§;r
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.0
3.0
6.7
3.4
10.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
3.0
5.5
5.0
4.0
1.5
8.0
4.0
10.0
7.0
5.0
3.0
10.0
5.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
45.0
<5.0
4 6.0
30.0
53.0
6 7.0
30.0
53.0
7.0
30.0
5 3.0
6.0
5.0
4 .0
30.0
3.0
5.0
4.0
30.0
3.0
5.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
4.0
10.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
3.6
2.3
8.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
3.6
2.3
10.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9 .0
6.0
6.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
9.0
4 .0
6.5
5 7.0
7.0
4.0
6.5
6.0
7.0
6.5
7.0
6 .5
7.0
6.5
5.0
2.5
4.5
2.5
4 .5
2 .5
50.0
4.5
2.5
50.0
7.0
5.0
4.8
2.5
7.6
7.0
5.0
4.8
2.5
7.6
10.0
M .5
6.5
M.5
6.5
6.0
5.0
2.5
7 .0
5.0
3.0
3.6
2.3
5.0
7 7.2
57.0
7.0
6.0
8.0
4.0
10.0
3.6
2.3
8.0
5.0
7.0
8.0
5.0
7 7.2
6.0
10.0
®10.0 • 10.0 *10.0
~i°”5."6 "105.0 "i°5.6
ii 7.6
“ 7.6 7.6
11.0 10.0 10.0
8.0
5.0
7.0
6.0
10.0
3.6
2.3
8.0
5.0
7.0
4.0
6.5
6.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
6.7
8.0
5.0
6.2
6.0
8.0
5.0
6.2
i* 2.9
1.9
i2 2.9
1.9
1*2.9
2.9
1.9
2.9
1.9
5.0
6.7
5.0
6.7
1.9
577
RETAIL PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T able 15.—N E T PRICE PE R KILOW ATT-HOUR FOR E L E C T R IC ITY FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE IN SPECIFIED MONTHS OF 1928, 1929, A N D 1930, FOR 51 CITIES—Continued
City
Minneapolis.
Mobile..........
Newark..
New Haven...
New Orleans..
New York:
Company A_.
Company B_
Company C_.
Norfolk................
Omaha................
Peoria..
Philadelphia:
Company A..
Company B..
Pittsburgh..........
Portland, Me..
Portland, Oreg.:
Company A..
Company B_.
Providence..
Richmond...........
Rochester............
St. Louis:
Company A..
Company B_.
St. Paul............
Salt Lake City.
San Francisco..
Measure of consumption, per month
First 3 kilowatt-hours per active room;
minimum, 2 rooms.
Next 3 kilowatt-hours per active room.
Service charge for house of 3 rooms—consumption of 5 kilowatt-hours
included, 10 cents extra for each ad
ditional room; not more than 10
rooms counted.
First 50 kilowatt-hours........................ .
Next 45 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 20 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 30 kilowatt-hours.........................
All current.............................................
Service charge.......................................
First 20 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 30 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 1,000 kilowatt-hours.....................
All current........................................ —
First 60 hours’ use of demand2............
First 100 kilowatt-hours........................
First 10 kilowatt-hours per room.........
Next 160 kilowatt-hours.......................
First 4 kilowatt-hours per active room.
Next 4 kilowatt-hours per active room..
Excess....................................................
June,
1929
De
cem
ber,
June,
1930
Cents
Cents
Cents
Cents
8.6
Cents
8.6
7.1
7.1
80.0
7.1
80.0
7.1
80.0
7.1
80.0
9.0
5.0
9.0
5.0
9.0
5.0
9.0
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
5.5
25.0
• 9.1
7.8
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
5.0
9.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
9.1
7.8
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
«5.5
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
7.0
9.5
7.0
&5
5.5
3.0
9.0
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
8.6
9.0
8.0
139.0
W6.0
8.6
8.0
6.0
8.6
8.0
6.0
8.0
6.0
Minimum charge including use of first
10 kilowatt-hours.
Next 38 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 20 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 30 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 10 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 20 kilowatt-hours.........................
Next 30 kilowatt-hours.........................
First 3 rooms, 15 kilowatt-hours; 4
rooms, 18 kilowatt-hours; 5 rooms,
21 kilowatt-hours; 6 rooms, 24 kilo
watt-hours; 7 rooms, 27 kilowatthours; 8 rooms, 30 kilowatt-hours.
Next 3 rooms, 35 kilowatt-hours; 4
rooms, 42 kilowatt-hours; 5 rooms,
49 kilowatt-hours; 6 rooms, 56 kilowatt-hours; 7 rooms, 63 kilowatthours; 8 rooms, 70 kilowatt-hours.
i<8.0 i<8.0 i<8.0 1*8.0
i*7.0 i«6.0 i« 6.0 w6.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.0 8.0
8.0 8.0
8.0 8.0
8.0 8.0
First 30 kilowatt-hours...
Next 40 kilowatt-hours. _
Excess________________ _
First 30 kilowatt-hours...
Next 40 kilowatt-hours...
Excess............................. .
Service charge..................
All current...................... .
First 100 kilowatt-hours..
All current.......................
First 9 kilowatt-hours per active room.
Excess....................................................
First 4 rooms or less, 18 kilowatt-hours;
5 or 6 rooms, 27 kilowatt-hours; 7 or 8
rooms, 36 kilowatt-hours.
First 3 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Next 3 kilowatt-hours per room...........
Service charge—consumption of 11
kilowatt-hours included.
First 250 kilowatt-hours.......................
Excess....................................................
Service charge
First 30 kilowatt-hours "for residence of
6 rooms, 5 kilowatt-hours added for
each additional room.
Next 140 kilowatt-hours........................
For footnotes see end of table.
De
cem
ber,
5.5
4.0
5.5
4.0
5.5
4.0
De
cem
ber,
1930
7.0
9.5
7.0
8.5
5.5
3.0
9.0
6.0
3.0
75.0
6.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
ao
8.0
5.5
4.0
8.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
i«7.6 w 7.6
176.7 1*6.7
182.9
182.9
i»7.3 i»7.3
206.7 206.7
i«7.6
18 2.9
50.0
6.5
8.5
5.5
3.0
1.8
5.5
3.0
1.8
50.0
6.5
8.5
5.5
4.0
8.0
W2.9
50.0
6.5
8.5
182.9
50.0
6.5
8.5
i«7.6
176.7
18 2.9
1*7.3
206.7
18 2.9
50.0
6.5
8.5
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
6.7
2.4
6.7
2l4
8.0
8.0
8.0
176.7
18 2.9
i»7.3
206.7
8.0
8.0
7.1
2.9
90.0
7.1
2.9
90.0
2.4
8.6
7.1
2.9
90.0
2.4
8.6
7.1
2.9
90.0
40.0
5.0
7.0
40.0
5.0
7.0
40.0
5.0
7.0
40.0
4.5
7.0
40.0
4.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
35
2.4
8.6
7.1
2.9
8.1
2.4
8.6
8.6
578
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 15.—N ET PRICE PE R KILOW ATT-HOUR FOR E L E C T R IC IT Y FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE IN SPECIFIED MONTHS OF 1928, 1929, AND 1930, FOR 51 CITIES—Continued
De
cem
ber,
1928
June,
1929
Cents
Cents
t 9.0
21 9.0
First 40 kilowatt-hours______________
Next 200 kilowatt-hours_____________
First 40 kilowatt-hours______________
Next 200 kilowatt-hours_____________
First 30 kilowatt-hours____ ____ _____
Next 70 kilowatt-hours______________
First 30 kilowatt-hours______________
Next 70 kilowatt-hours.................... ....
Washington, D. C ____ All current_________________________
Honolulu, Hawaii____ First 100 kilowatt-hours_____________
City
Measure of consumption, per month
Savannah____________
Service charge_________________ ____
First 50 kilowatt-hours__ _____ ______
First 250 kilowatt-hours_____________
Scranton_____________
Seattle:
Company A ______
Company B _____
Springfield, 111.:
Company A ______
Company B______
De
cem
ber,
1929
June,
1930
De
cem
ber,
1930
i 9.0
219.O
Cents
100.0
6.0
219.O
Cents
100.0
6.0
21 9.0
Cents
100.0
6.0
8.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5.5
2.0
5. 5
2.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
225.9
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
5.2
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
5.2
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
4.7
8.0
6.0
3.0
6.0
3.0
4.7
8.0
* First 100 kilowatt-hours.
* For determination of demand see explanation of prices.
3 Next kilowatt-hours up to 800.
4 First 80 kilowatt-hours.
« All current.
• First 75 kilowatt-hours.
? First 30 hours’ use of demand. For determination of demand see explanation of prices.
8 Excess.
• First 200 kilowatt-hours.
First 50 kilowatt-hours.
u 1 to 149 kilowatt-hours.
12 Next kilowatt-hours up to 300.
13 Five kilowatt-hours for each of the first 2 active rooms and first 4 kilowatt-hours for each additional
active room.
H First 12 kilowatt-hours.
i« Next 36 kilowatt-hours,
i# First 9 kilowatt-hours.
17 Next kilowatt-hours in excess of the first 9 kilowatt-hours until 100 use of demand has been reached.
For determination of demand see explanation of prices,
is Next 50 kilowatt-hours.
19 First 13 kilowatt-hours.
?0 Next kilowatt-hours: For an installation of 600 watts or less 7 kilowatt-hours will apply. For each
30 watts of installation in excess of 600 watts 1 additional kilowatt-hour will apply.
21 First 150 kilowatt-hours.
22 First 120 hours’ use of demand. For determination of demand see explanation of prices.
Wholesale Prices in the United States
Wholesale Prices in 1929
HE general level of wholesale prices showed little variation during
the year 1929. The peak was reached in July, when prices
averaged about 1 per cent higher than in January. Weakening
markets in the second half of the year brought the general level down
to the lowest point of the year in December, when the average was 3
per cent below that of January. The year’s average was about l){
per cent below the 1928 level.
Farm products advanced in price from January to March, but de
clined in the next two months. July prices were the highest of the
year, but steady recessions thereafter brought the November level to
a point 4 per cent lower than the January figure. December prices
advanced somewhat. Foods, after weakening in the first half of the
year, increased in August and September, but declined again there
after. Hides and leather products showed marked variation, the
index falling 6 per cent from January to May, reacting to some extent
T
WHOLESALE PRICES IN UNITED STATES
579
in summer and fall, and declining again in the closing months of the
year.
Textile products showed little price fluctuation in 1929, but with
a downward tendency, while fuel and lighting materials also moved
within narrow limits. Metals and metal products slowly advanced
in the early months of the year, but steadily declined later. Prices
of building materials and chemicals and drugs fluctuated slightly
from month to month, while house-furnishing goods were quite stable.
Compared with average prices in 1928, decreases in 1929 were
recorded for the groups of farm products, foods, hides and leather
products, textile products, fuel and lighting materials, chemicals and
drugs, house-furnishing goods, and miscellaneous commodities, while
two groups, viz, metals and metal products and building materials,
showed increases.
Wholesale Prices in 1930
A m a r k e d decline in the general level of wholesale prices took place
in 1930. Except for a slight reaction in later summer, the trend was
steadily downward throughout the year, the net decrease in the 12
months being 17 per cent. The year’s average was more than 10
per cent below the 1929 level.
Among farm products there were radical price declines in grains
and in livestock and poultry. Grains as a group fell 21 per cent in
price from January to July, rose slightly in August, and again de
clined to the end of the year. December prices averaged about onethird below those of January, wheat in most markets decreasing 40
per cent in the year. Meat animals and poultry declined over 18
per cent in price in the first half of the year, rallied somewhat in
August and September, and again decreased thereafter. Beef steers
fell 25 per cent in price from January to August, but gained later.
Cows were cheapest in November, when prices averaged only 60 per
cent of those of January.^ Hog prices were erratic, rising in the early
part of the year, falling in summer, rising again in late summer and
fall, and slumping in December. Prices of sheep and lambs also
varied widely during the year, new low levels being reached in fall
and winter. Live poultry slumped in price during the year, with
December prices two-thirds of those of January. Cotton in all markets
showed a radical decrease, falling over 40 per cent in price during
the year. Eggs averaged about 75 per cent of 1929 prices, the De
cember average being less than 60 per cent of that of December, 1929.
Prices of onions, tobacco, and wool were appreciably lower than in
the year before, while potatoes in all markets averaged higher but
with weakening prices at the end of the year.
Food prices averaged about 10 per cent lower than in 1929. Marked
variations were shown in the prices of butter, fresh and cured meats,
dressed poultry, coffee, fish, flour, fresh and dried fruits, and canned
vegetables. Hides and skins reached new low levels in the closing
months of the year, the December average being one-third below
that of January. Leather also declined, but to a less extent than
hides and skins. Prices of boots and shoes and other leather prod
ucts were more stable, but with a downward tendency. Textiles
showed radical price decreases, cotton goods falling 18 per cent,
580
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
silk and rayon 32 per cent, woolen and worsted goods 13 per cent,
and other textiles 23 per cent in the year. Compared with prices
in 1926, the bureau’s base year, silk and rayon had decreased
approximately 50 per cent by the end of 1930, while hemp and jute
had decreased more than 50 per cent.
In the group of fuel and lighting materials, with the exception of
petroleum products, prices were fairly stable in the year, but with a
downward movement. Anthracite and bituminous coal and coke
showed small decreases, while gas advanced. Crude and refined
petroleum decreased radically, with prices at the end of the year in
many instances at less than half those of 1926.
Metal products steadily declined in the year, with nonferrous
metals leading in price decreases. Copper, lead, silver, tin, and zinc
averages for 1930 were materially lower than those for the preceding
year. Agricultural implements and automobiles also averaged lower
than in 1929. Lumber prices moved sharply downward during the
year, with brick, paint materials, and other building materials show
ing smaller decreases. Chemicals and drugs likewise exhibited price
declines, fertilizer materials and mixed fertilizers being included in
the decrease. Furniture showed little change from the 1929 level,
while furnishings were somewhat cheaper. In the group of miscel
laneous commodities, cattle feed prices declined rapidly in 1930, the
average for December being 36 per cent below the average for De
cember, 1929. Paper and pulp showed smaller decreases, while crude
rubber sank to a point in October that was only 42 per cent of the
October, 1929, price and only 17 per cent of the 1926 base price.
Automobile tires were somewhat cheaper than in the year before.
Trend of Wholesale Prices, 1913 to 1930
T h e figures in the table which follows furnish a comparison of whole
sale price fluctuations of different groups of commodities since 1913.4
Similar information for each month of the period from January, 1913,
to June, 1928, has been published in Bulletin No. 473 (pp. 10-41).
* For an explanation of the method used in computing these index numbers see Handbook of Labor
Statistics, 1929 edition, Bui. No. 491, pp. 608-612; also Bui. No. 493, pp. 2-5.
581
WHOLESALE PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X N UM BERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M ODITIES, 1913 TO DE C E M B E R , 1930
[1926=100]
Farm products
Year and month
Grains
Live
stock
and
poultry
Foods
Other All farm
farm
products products
Butter,
cheese,
and
milk
Meats
Otner
foods
All foods
1913.............................
1914....... .....................
1915.............................
1916.............................
1917...........*................
1918.............................
1919.............................
1920............................
1921.............................
71.1
77.1
93.8
99.6
170.4
168.6
177.4
176.4
89.1
73.2
74.6
68.8
82.8
119.4
141.0
148.7
125.1
78.2
70.8
66.7
63.3
78.4
116.2
142.1
153.0
155.3
93.8
71.5
71.2
71.5
84.4
129.0
148.0
157.6
150.7
88.4
65.9
62.9
62.4
69.7
91.5
110.3
125.1
125.2
97.5
59.8
62.6
57.6
66.4
92.9
115.2
117.6
108.0
77.4
65.9
66.0
71.0
83.3
116.1
123.8
138.0
157.9
94.3
64.2
64.7
65.4
75.7
104.5
119.1
129.5
137.4
90.6
1922.............................
1923............ ...............
1924.............................
1925.............................
1926.............................
1927.............................
1928.............................
1929.............................
1930.............................
85.0
88.0
100.6
118.3
100.0
100.9
107.3
97.4
78.3
83.2
77.7
79.3
98.9
100.0
98.9
105.4
106.1
89.2
103.4
116.7
114.2
114.5
100.0
99.2
105.8
106.6
91.1
93.8
98.6
100.0
109.8
100.0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
91.4
103.4
94.5
101.1
100.0
104.0
105.6
105.8
95.7
76.6
76.2
75.7
93.3
100.0
92.7
107.0
109.1
98.4
93.6
99.6
100.0
104.5
100.0
96.2
95.5
91.6
83.0
87.6
92.7
91.0
100.2
100.0
96.5
101.0
99.7
90.1
1928
January......................
February...................
March........................
April...........................
May...........................
June...........................
104.7
108.4
113.6
121.6
127.0
119.9
100.2
100.1
96.3
102.3
103.9
104.7
110.7
106.1
105.0
106.4
107.9
103.4
106.1
104.5
103.5
107.6
109.8
106.7
108.6
106.4
104.2
101.0
100.1
99.8
91.6
97.8
94.7
99.2
103.2
104.0
99.0
96.2
97.7
99.1
100.3
98.1
98.5
98.7
98.0
99.5
101.2
100.3
July............................
August.......................
September..................
October......................
November..................
December...................
111.6
95.4
97.5
96.6
94.6
94.3
112.1
116.7
124.0
106.4
100.6
99.1
102.1
104.2
102.3
103.9
104.8
110.0
107.1
107.0
108.8
103.5
101.6
103.6
103.3
107.3
109.3
108.4
109.7
110.0
112.7
119.3
126.5
116.4
108.7
102.3
95.5
93.5
94.0
91.2
91.0
90.8
102.3
104.1
106.9
102.3
100.1
98.0
1929
January.....................
February. .................
March.... ...................
April...........................
May...........................
June...........................
98.3
102.0
98.2
94.3
88.2
91.0
102.1
101.8
111.0
114.7
110.0
111.0
111.3
109.2
107.5
101.8
10?.7
102.3
105.9
105.4
107.1
104.9
102.2
103.3
109.0
109.9
109.2
106.1
104.3
105.5
105.7
102.3
108.5
111.5
111.5
111.5
90.7
90.9
87.4
86.0
86.6
88.5
98.8
98.1
98.1
97.7
97.7
98.9
July............... .............
August.......................
September.. ..............
October......................
November..................
December..................
102.2
99.3
101.6
99.1
94.9
97.5
114.9
112.8
106.6
98.8
93.7
94.6
104.5
105.8
108.3
108.9
108.1
108.2
107.6
107.1
106.6
103.9
101.1
101.9
103.4
104.4
106.5
106.2
103.7
101.9
116.7
116.0
113.1
106.7
102.5
103.2
94.0
94.8
95.9
95.8
94.5
94.4
102.8
103.1
103.2
101.2
98.8
98.6
1930
January......................
February. .................
March........................
April...........................
M ay...........................
June............................
93.8
89.0
83.5
84.1
82.1
78.7
100.5
101.3
99.6
96.9
93.2
88.5
103.9
98.9
95.2
99.0
96.5
92.7
101.0
98.0
94.7
95.8
93.0
88.9
97.5
97.4
98.5
99.3
92.5
90.4
106.2
105.1
1012
103.2
101.3
99.9
91.7
89.2
86.2
87.7
86.3
85.1
97.2
95.5
93.9
94.6
92.0
90.5
July............................
August— .................
September..................
October......................
November..................
December...................
74.1
80.4
77.0
72.1
64.0
64.0
81.8
84.6
88.0
82.4
77.7
76.3
86.9
86.7
86.4
86.3
85.4
78.1
83.1
84.9
85.3
82.6
79.3
75.2
92.0
97.9
99.6
98.7
95.8
89.4
91.8
93.1
99.2
96.7
91.4
89.2
80.7
79.4
79.3
79.8
78.4
74.5
86.3
87.1
89.2
88.6
85.7
81.8
582
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b e e 1.—IN D E X N U M BERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF C O M M O DITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930—Continued
Hides and leather products
Year or month
Hides and
skins
Leather
Boots and
shoes
Other
leather
products
AH hides
and leather
products
1913.............................................................................
1 9 1 4 .. .- ....................................................................
1915.............................................................................
1 9 1 6 ............................................................. - .........
1917.............................................................................
1918....... .....................................................................
1919.............................................................................
1920-— ............................................................
106.8
113.4
126.2
151.5
201.3
194.2
267.4
206.7
89.5
69.1
72.5
75.8
107.2
141.9
135.3
187.5
188.2
111.7
54.5
56.3
58.6
69.1
91.5
97.9
134.7
151.1
111.5
50.8
51.4
55.3
64.5
85.3
97.2
133.1
140.8
118.6
68.1
70.9
75.5
93.4
123.8
125.7
174.1
171.3
109.2
1922............................................. - .............................
1923.............................................................................
1924........... ............................. ...................................
1 9 2 5 .. .- ...........................- ......................... .............
1926.— .....................................— .........................
1927...........................................................................-
115.8
117.6
110.2
118.7
100.0
120.4
148.6
112.7
91.0
105.2
104.1
99.8
104.8
100.0
109.2
126.3
113.2
101.3
98.1
99.1
98.4
100.5
100.0
102.5
109.9
106.3
102.0
113.5
103.7
103.7
102.8
100.0
104.1
108.5
106.2
105.1
104.6
104.2
101.5
105.3
100.0
107.9
121.7
109.2
99.9
151.4
158.7
157.3
167.3
164.5
155.0
123.8
129.3
129.3
129.8
130.2
127.3
108.4
109.2
109.5
110.4
110.5
110.8
108.4
108.4
108.4
108.4
108.4
108.4
121.0
124.1
124.0
126.7
126.3
123.7
155.8
140.6
141.9
129.9
130.0
131.0
128.5
128.5
126.2
124.2
118.8
119.3
110.8
110.8
110.8
110.4
108.9
108.4
108.6
108.6
109.0
109.0
108.4
108.4
124.2
121.0
120.7
117.5
115.5
115.7
January.........................................................
February..................................................... March............................................................
April..............................................................
124.1
106.4
107.9
108.2
104.7
110.9
120.5
117.1
112.8
111.3
110.7
110.3
106.7
106.6
106.6
106.6
106.2
106.1
107.6
107.6
107.3
105.0
104.9
105.5
113.6
109.0
108.3
107.9
106.8
108.0
July............................................................ —
August............................................. - ......... .
September.....................................................
October.........................................................
November............................. ............... ......
D ecem ber....................................................
114.5
117.2
121.3
117.9
109.3
107.4
112.1
111.5
112.4
114.2
113.3
110.6
106.1
106.1
106.1
106.1
106.1
106.1
105.8
106.0
106.6
106.6
106.1
106.1
109.2
109.7
110.8
110.5
108.4
107.4
January.........................................................
February......................................................
March...........................................................
April............................................. - ..............
M a y .............................................................
June........ ............................................ - ........
104.2
99.0
95.8
108.3
107.7
107.4
105.3
103.8
103.8
103.8
103.8
103.7
103.0
105.8
105.8
105.8
105.3
105.3
105.1
105.1
103.9
103.2
102.7
102.6
102.4
July—...........................................................
August...........................................................
September.....................................................
October..................................................... .
November..... ...............................- ..............
December......... ............................................
94.0
91.2
94.2
83.6
102.9
100.6
105.2
100.7
104.9
100.5
100.3
100.3
105.0
98.9
99.1
96.5
94.0
91.2
1930.............................................................................
1928
January.........................................................
February......................... .......... .................
March...................................... ....................
August...........................................................
September-------------------------------------------O ctob er.......................................................
November.....................................................
December--------------------- -------------------1929
1930
95.8
96.8
99.0
75.1
69.4
104.2
102.9
100.1
99.9
98.2
96.7
93.3
91.5
97.7
104.2
104.2
104.2
583
WHOLESALE PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T a b l e 1 .— IN D E X N U M BERS OP W HOLESALE P R IC E S, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM MODITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930-Continued
Textile products
Year or month
Cotton
goods
Silk and
rayon
Woolen and Other tex
worsted
tile prod All textile
products
goods
ucts
68.0
66.0
62.3
08.7
98.7
146.6
71.8
71.3
68.3
87.1
98.4
116.4
53.7
50.5
55.0
70.4
101.7
138.6
62.7
55.0
60.3
81.9
132.2
169.7
57.3
54.6
54.1
70.4
98.7
137.2
147.5
190.7
99.5
104.3
116.9
114.7
145.5
162.7
110.5
121.0
129.5
103.1 .
124.3
153.7
91.9
95.7
107.5
106.8
124.2
104.5
63.1
70.8
77.4
87.1
135.3
164.8
94.5
100.2
111.3
106.7
110.0
100.0
97.9
101.2
99.4
87.4
104.5
100.0
88.1
83.6
80.1
63.2
110.2
100.0
97.6
100.4
97.8
87.8
104.1
100.0
95.4
86.9
81.8
66.0
108.3
100.0
95.7
96.3
93.7
80.7
January.......................................................
February.,................................... -..............
March........................................................ —
April..............................................................
May.............................................................June...............................................................
102.3
101.4
108.9
100.7
101.3
101.1
83.7
84.8
84.7
85.5
84.8
82.6
99.0
99.9
100.6
100.5
100.9
101.2
90.4
88.2
88.6
86.2
84.5
85.9
96.7
96.6
96.5
96.5
96.6
96.3
August..........................................................
September....................................................
October................ ........................... - ...........
November.....................................................
December.....................................................
102.0
101.4
100.1
100.7
101.2
101.3
81.7
81.7
82.7
84.4
83.7
83.7
101.5
101.0
100.1
100.0
99.9
100.0
89.6
89.1
86.5
86.1
85.8
84.9
96.8
96.3
95.6
96.1
96.1
96.1
January--------------------- ------ ------------------February.................... ...................... ...........
March..... .................................................—
A p ril............................................................
101.3
100.8
101.3
100.2
99.7
99.1
83.2
83.1
81.9
82.4
80.9
79.5
101.1
100.9
100.7
100.3
98.7
97.8
85.3
85.6
86.2
85.3
81.1
80.3
96.4
96.1
96.1
95.5
94.2
93.3
July...............................................................
August........................................ ..................
September.....................................................
October.........................................................
November...................................................
December.....................................................
98.7
98.7
98.9
97.2
96.5
96.2
96.2
95.7
94.6
79.7
84.5
83.1
92.8
93.1
93.1
92.7
91.5
90.4
1916................................. — ............. — ........... —
1917.................................. ......... ........... ......... .........
1 9 2 2 .................................................................. ..
1928
1929
99.0
78.6
79.9
80.3
79.3
98.1
97.2
75.4
95.4
93.8
76.0
74.9
94.0
93.2
73.7
91.0
72.0
89.6
88.9
88.6
77.0
1930
January.........................................................
February......................................................
March............................................................
April..............................................................
M ay..............................................................
June...............................................................
91.4
90.7
89.3
64.3
July...............................................................
August.........................................................
September.....................................................
October......................................................
November.....................................................
December.....................................................
87.4
85.0
82.8
81.6
81.9
79.7
60.4
57.6
55.4
52.1
50.7
51.7
47767°—31----- 38
91.9
70.3
88.0
86.6
84.6
83.6
83.2
82.3
80.0
76.1
75.1
72.3
72.2
70.6
72.3
72.1
69.0
89.4
88.3
86.5
85.5
84.6
82.2
65.5
63.5
80.0
77.7
61.3
75.5
73.8
59.0
57.9
57.8
73.3
72.4
584
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M ODITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930-Continued
Fuel and lighting
Year or month
Anthra Bitumi
cite coal nous coal
Coke
Gas
Petrole All fuel
um prod and light
ucts
ing
1913............................................................ ...............
1914.......................................................................... .
1915...................................................... .....................
1916...................................... ..................... ...............
1917...................................... ..................... ...............
1918............................ ................. ......................... 1919............................ ........... ...................................
1920............................ ................. .............................
1921___________ ______________________________
58.9
59.6
59.5
63.9
72.4
82.3
75.8
92.5
92.5
38.1
34.8
33.9
55.5
98.4
81.4
79.8
165.4
77.7
46.3
37.5
37.8
52.0
106.6
100.9
84.4
162.3
90.6
78.1
78.4
78.3
78.0
76.5
79.4
86.4
98.2
115.6
73.3
65.8
54.1
87.3
112.1
135.3
128.0
183.5
104.4
61.3
56.6
51.8
74.3
105.4
109.2
104.3
163.7
96.8
1922................................ ......................... ...............
1923........................ - _________________ ______ 1924_______________ __________________________
1925.............................. . .......................... .............
1926.............................. ................... ........... .............
1927............................ - _______ _________________
1928................................................ ...................
1929____________ __________________________
1930 ............................. ...........................................
95.3
100.8
98.6
99.7
100.0
96.3
91.7
90.1
89.1
113.1
113.4
99.7
96.5
100.0
100.4
93.6
91.3
89.4
119.1
118.8
97.2
97.7
100.0
94.4
84.6
84.6
84.0
110.3
104.8
102.9
101.9
100.0
97.9
94.9
93,2
102.9
82.6
83.5
95.0
100.0
72.7
72.0
71.3
61.5
107.3
97.3
92.0
96.5
100.0
86.5
82.8
81.6
76,1
94.8
95.3
94.8
90.2
94.9
94.7
93.8
86.0
84.4
84.4
95.9
95.9
95.8
95.2
65.6
66.6
66.6
80.8
81.2
80.8
89.8
90.3
92.0
June..........................- ..................................
July..............................................................
August---------------------- -------------------------September_____________ ____ ______ ____
October.—________ ____ ____ __________
November___________________ _____ ___
December..........—.......................................
90.5
91.4
90.3
91.2
91.2
91.2
91.2
92.5
1929
January.......... -............................................
February......................................................
March...........................................................
April.............................................................
M ay............................................................ .
June.......................................... ..................
91.1
91.6
91.4
88.1
87.4
88.1
July............................... .............. ................
August....................... ...............................—
September____________________ ______ —
October----------- ---------- ----------------- -----November____________________ ______ —
December_____ _______________________
89.1
90.0
90.6
91.2
91.2
91.2
1930
January.......................................................
February......................................................
March................................ .........................
91.2
91.2
91.2
1928
January.............................. .........................
February...................................... ..............
March................................ ..........................
April............................... ........... ..................
91.8
93.2
93.9
93.6
93.2
82.8
84.1
84.7
84.6
84.9
84.9
85.0
84.9
84.5
69.0
95.2
71.9
80.8
81.8
82.1
94.8
94.6
94.3
93.5
93.3
73.5
76.8
77.1
76.3
75.5
73.9
82.8
84.6
85. J
84.9
84.4
83.5
71.9
68.9
68.5
71.1
72.5
76.6
82.5
81.3
80.6
80.6
81.1
83.3
94.6
95.0
71.2
93.0
93.7
84.5
85.1
92.0
85.2
89.3
89.2
89.6
84.7
84.7
84.7
92.4
92.2
92.1
93.4
93.4
94.0
89.9
94.6
94.3
94.3
93.1
92.4
91.7
73.3
70.3
92.4
84.7
84.6
84.4
84.4
84.4
84.2
84.1
84.2
84.2
84.2
84.0
84.0
92.5
86.9
85.8
92.2
91.4
89.9
88.4
88.4
88.2
91.0
94.1
94.9
97.9
99.7
67.3
65.7
63.7
65.6
66.5
63.6
79.9
78.8
77.4
77.9
73.0
76.4
86.5
87.8
89.1
88.8
88.6
89.2
84.0
83.8
83.9
99.4
99.8
101.3
61.0
60.9
75.4
75.4
89.6
89.6
89.6
89.2
89.1
89.1
83.9
83.9
83.8
99.7
97.0
95.4
62.0
59.4
53.3
51.1
76.3
75.1
71.8
90.2
August..........................................................
September............................. ......................
October.........................................................
November....................................................
December.....................................................
92.2
90.5
91.3
92.0
92.0
70.2
70.8
70.9
69.9
82.0
80.9
81.1
81 7
81.7
81.3
70.5
585
WHOLESALE PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X N U M BERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M O DITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930-Continued
Metals and metal products
Year or month
Iron and
steel
All
Nonfer- Agricul Automo Other
metals
rous
metal
tural im
biles
and
metal
metals plements
products
products
1913...............................................................
1914__............................................................
1915...............................................................
1916...............................................................
1917...............................................................
1918...............................................................
1919...............................................................
1920..............- ...............................................
1921...............................................................
70.9
61.4
64.7
109.7
176.7
147.0
130.0
157.1
109.4
88.9
76.3
108.6
160.2
165.7
144.4
118.9
118.3
78.3
72.9
73.1
71.2
71.0
86.3
114.0
113.8
111.9
111.4
147.5
125.0
115.5
107.6
110.4
121.0
142.5
160.7
143.4
53.7
53.8
54.2
56.3
62.3
74.2
81.5
100.9
97.6
90.8
80.2
86.3
116.5
150.6
136.5
130.9
149.4
117.5
1922...............................................................
1923...............................................................
1924...............................................................
1925-..............................................................
1926-............................................................
1927...............................................................
1928...............................................................
1929..............................................................
1930-..............................................................
98.1
117.3
109.4
102.2
100.0
95.9
94.9
97.3
91.5
83.5
95.3
93.0
101.4
100.0
91.8
93.3
105.7
80.7
88.2
98.8
105.7
100.4
100.0
99.2
98.8
97.9
95.1
116.6
108.7
107.5
105.3
100.0
102.5
106.9
110.9
104.5
94.7
103.3
101.7
100.5
100.0
100.2
97.2
98.5
97.9
102.9
109.3
106.3
103.2
100.0
98.2
99.8
104.4
95.3
93.9
94.9
95.2
95.1
94.8
94.2
91.7
90.5
90.4
91.3
92.0
92.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
104.3
104.3
104.3
104.3
104.7
105.1
98.2
97.9
97.9
96.9
96.9
96.9
98.1
98.3
98.4
98.4
98.6
98.7
94.0
94.5
94.7
95.1
96.1
96.6
92.6
92.9
93.8
95.8
97.9
98.0
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
105.1
108.9
108.7
108.7
108.7
111.2
96.9
96.9
96.9
96.9
96.9
96.9
98.6
100.4
100.5
101.0
101.7
102.9
96.7
96.9
97.1
98.2
98.4
98.2
100.7
105.0
117.2
113.1
104.9
104.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.8
98.3
98.3
111.6
111.6
111.6
112.2
112.2
112.2
98.4
98.4
98.4
98.5
98.5
98.5
103.6
104.4
106.4
106.4
105.2
105.1
97.9
97.6
97.6
96.8
96.5
96.3
105.1
105.1
104.9
104.2
102.4
101.5
98.3
98.3
98.2
96.1
96.1
96.1
112.2
110.7
110.3
109.9
108.0
108.0
98.5
98.5
98.5
98.6
98.6
98.6
105.0
104.3
104.1
103.6
102.3
102.1
95.7
94.8
94.9
93.8
92.9
91.7
100.6
100.2
98.6
90.5
80.6
78.1
96.1
96.1
95.0
95.0
95.0
95.0
106.8
106.8
106.8
106.8
106.8
105.5
98.4
98.4
98.4
98.4
98.4
98.4
101.2
100.9
100.6
98.8
96.8
95.4
90.7
90.1
89.5
88.6
88.3
88.0
73.5
72.7
71.2
67.8
68.4
69.7
94.9
94.9
94.9
94.9
94.9
94.9
105.5
102.5
101.6
100.2
99.8
99.5
98.4
98.4
98.4
98.4
98.0
95.2
94.3
92.7
91.8
90.4
90.2
90.0
1928
January........................................................
February......................................................
March.—................................... ..................
April.............................................................
August..........................................................
September.............. . ..................................
October........................................................
November....................................................
December.....................................................
1929
January.........................................................
February......................................................
March...........................................................
April________ ______________ __________
August.................. .......................................
September............ ........... ........- ..................
October............ ........................... ..............
November....................................................
December.....................................................
1930
January........................................ — ...........
February...........................................- .........
March............ .............................................
April...................................................... —
July.................................. - ..........................
August..........................................................
September....................................................
October...................... —........... — ..............
November....................................................
December...................- ................................
586
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 1 .— IN D E X NUM BERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M O DITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930—Continued
Building materials
Year or month
Lumber
Brick
Other All build
Paint
Cement Structur materials
building ing mate
al steel
materials
rials
1913.......................................................
1914.......................................................
1915.......................................................
1916.......................................................
1917............................................. .........
1918.......................................................
1919.......................................................
1920......................................... .............
1921.......................................................
54.0
49.9
48.7
55.1
72.2
83.5
113.0
165.2
88.9
38.9
38.8
39.1
42.4
50.2
66.7
91.9
118.4
105.7
59.6
55.0
51.0
65.4
80.3
94.6
102.3
117.2
110.8
77.1
60.0
65.3
128.9
190.8
153.2
128.7
144.4
104.4
50.8
50.7
54.8
77.1
95.3
121.9
140.3
148.1
83.9
63.1
59.7
65.1
87.8
114.0
121.0
116.8
135.0
111.1
56.7
52.7
53.5
67.6
88.2
98.6
115.6
150.1
97.4
1922.......................................................
1923.......................................................
1924.......................................................
1925................................. ........... .........
1926.......................................................
1927................................. ........... .........
1928........................................... ...........
1929....................................... ...............
1930................................. .....................
99.1
111.8
99.3
100.6
100.0
92.5
90.1
94.5
85.7
99.4
103.6
103.4
100.1
100.0
93.2
92.7
91.1
84.7
103.5
107.9
105.7
102.6
100.0
96.7
95.9
91.8
91.8
88.5
123.7
114.2
102.2
100.0
94.7
95.2
98.1
87.3
93.8
101.3
99.7
109.3
100.0
91.0
86.6
91.3
84.9
95.3
105.9
104.0
100.4
100.0
94.1
101.3
106.9
101.1
97.3
108.7
102.3
101.7
100.0
93.3
93.7
97.1
90.3
January.......................................
February....................................
March.........................................
April.............................. ............
M ay...... .....................................
June............................................
88.5
88.9
88.9
87.8
88.1
88.7
92.4
92.5
92.3
92.9
92.7
93.2
96.5
96.5
96.5
96.5
96.5
96.5
91.9
94.5
97.0
97.0
95.8
94.5
88.0
85.9
85.5
85.0
85.7
87.1
92.7
93.2
92.7
100.2
103.5
104.0
90.8
91.0
91.0
92.5
93.5
93.9
July.________ _______________
A ugust..____________________
September__________________
October........................ ..............
November......................... .........
December................................
89.5
90.3
91.3
91.7
92.7
93.6
93.2
92.6
92.4
92.4
92.3
93.6
96.5
96.5
94.6
94.6
94.6
94.6
94.5
94.5
94.5
94.5
97.0
97.0
87.6
86.2
85.8
87.1
88.2
87.7
104.1
104.4
104.2
104.3
105.7
107.0
94.4
94.6
94.7
95.0
96.0
96.8
January.......................................
February____________ _____
March_________ _____________
April.................................. ........
M ay.......................... ............... .
92.9
95.0
96.8
95.4
94.6
94.2
92.9
92.5
92.2
92.4
92.4
89.1
94.6
94.6
94.6
94.6
94.6
94.6
97.0
97.0
97.0
97.0
99.6
99.6
86.7
86.3
86.7
85.2
85.7
86.5
107.8
108.6
110.5
109.6
106.3
106.1
96.6
97.5
98.8
97.9
96.8
96.4
July........................... ...............
August______________________
September___ _____ ____ _____
October______________ _______
November_____________ ______
December___________________
94.0
94.2
95.7
96.3
92.4
92.4
89.1
89.6
89.4
90.6
90.5
90.5
94.6
92.0
86.0
85.6
86.6
89.2
99.6
99.6
99.6
97.0
97.0
97.0
90.7
92.8
99.9
101.1
97.8
95.7
105.7
105.4
105.4
105.6
105.4
106.5
96.7
96.7
97.5
97.8
96.0
96.2
January.......................................
February.................... ..............
March............. .........„ ..............
April......... .................... ............
M ay............................................
June............... ...................... ......
92.7
91.9
91.6
91.8
89.7
85.3
90.4
88.3
88.3
88.4
86.4
83.0
90.4
92.7
92.7
92.7
92.7
91.7
97.0
91.9
91.9
91.9
91.9
86.8
93.7
93.0
92.1
91.4
89.1
88.7
106.4
106.5
106.4
104.0
101.8
99.6
96.2
95.7
95.4
94.7
92.9
90.0
July................. ...........................
August................ ......................
September.:........... .....................
October......................................
November___________ _______ _
December___________________
83.3
81.1
80.8
80.2
80.1
78.1
82.9
82.5
82.3
82.5
81.8
81.6
91.7
91.7
91.7
91.7
91.1
90.6
84.3
84.3
81.7
81.7
81.7
81.7
87.1
83.7
78.1
75.9
74.4
72.4
99.4
98.7
98.0
97.3
97.8
97.1
88.9
87.4
86.4
85.8
85.6
84.4
1928
1929
*
1930
587
WHOLESALE PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X N UM BERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS AN D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M ODITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930—Continued
Chemicals and drugs
Year or month
Drugs
Ferti
and
Mixed
Chemi phar
lizer ma ferti
cals
maceu terials
lizers
ticals
House-furnishing goods
All
chemi
cals and
drugs
houseFurni
Fur All
furnish
ture nishings ing
goods
1913..................................................
1914.................................................
1915............................ .....................
1916...........— .................................
1917.......................... ........... ...........
1918.................................... .............
1919___________ _____ __________
1920______________ ________ _
1921.......................... ........... ...........
89.4
91.0
127.8
196.9
187.6
187.3
145.8
166.5
108.9
56.6
60.8
82.9
88.8
108.3
130.2
113.7
119.8
96.2
85.5
78.3
133.7
205.2
228.0
236.9
191.8
211.6
117.9
84.3
85.5
92.0
142.2
137.7
195.0
221.7
177.1
162.5
80.2
81.4
112.0
160.7
165.0
182.3
157.0
164.7
115.0
70.7
70.6
70.9
72.8
81.7
93.3
114.7
165.6
129.9
47.9
48.7
47.1
54.8
70.3
94.5
101.4
128.5
103.3
56.3
56.8
56.0
61.4
74.2
93.3
105.9
141.8
113.0
1922__________ _________________
1923_________ _____ _____________
1924___________________________
1925___________________________
1926_________________ _______ _.
1927_________________________
1928___________________________
1929___________________________
1930..................................................
97.2
100.6
102.2
104.1
100.0
100.0
101.3
100.2
93.5
93.3
95.7
95.8
97.7
100.0
87.3
70.8
70.5
67.4
102.3
102.5
92.6
98.8
100.0
96.2
94.6
92.1
85.6
119.0
107.4
95.9
100.4
100.0
93.0
97.3
97.2
93.6
100.3
101.1
98.9
101.8
100.0
96.6
95.5
94.4
88.7
114.6
116.7
107.9
104.6
100.0
97.6
97.2
96.0
96.5
97.0
104.8
103.4
102.2
100.0
98.6
97.5
97.5
94.9
103.5
108.9
104.9
103.1
100.0
98.2
97.4
96.9
95.7
January..................................
February.................................
M a rch .................................
April.......................................
M ay...................................... .
June.........................................
102.4
102.1
101.0
101.1
100.8
100.4
72.6
71.7
71.1
70.6
70.4
70.3
94.8
94.0
96.5
97.4
95.5
94.0
97.0
96.5
96.8
97.0
97.6
98.1
96.3
95.8
95.6
95.8
95.3
94.9
98.2
98.0
97.9
97.8
97.8
97.7
98.8
98.7
98.6
97.9
97.8
96.5
98.6
98.4
98.3
97.9
97.8
97.0
July..................... - ................
August----------- ------------------September____ _____ _______
October.------ --------------------November......... ........... .........
December................................
100.2
100.5
101.1
101.8
102.3
102.4
70.4
70.3
70.1
70.7
70.9
70.8
93.0
93.4
93.5
93.8
94.1
94.1
97.5
97.4
97.5
97.5
97.6
97.8
94.5
94.7
95.1
95.6
96.0
96.1
97.4
97.6
97.5
95.5
95.3
95.3
96.6
96.9
97.0
97.1
97.1
97.1
96.9
97.2
97.2
96.5
96.4
96.4
January..................................
February--------------------------March.......................... .........
April........ ................. .............
May...........- ........- ........... ......
June.............. - ................ ........
102.1
102.4
101.6
100.5
99.4
98.6
71.0
71.1
71.1
70.7
70.5
69.8
94.6
94.7
94.7
94.6
94.1
92.6
97.1
97.1
96.7
96.2
96.7
96.7
95.9
96.1
95.6
94.9
94.2
93.4
95.1
95.0
95.0
95.0
95.0
95.0
97.6
97.6
97.4
97.8
97.8
97.7
96.6
96.6
96.5
96.7
96.7
96.6
July...............................- ........
August................ ...................
September---------- ------ -------October.____ _______ _______
November------ ------------------December___________ ______
99.1
99.3
99.9
100.4
100.0
99.6
69.8
70.1
70.3
70.7
70.6
70.6
90.7
90.5
89.9
90.1
89.9
89.5
97.3
98.2
97.8
97.4
97.4
97.1
93.4
93.7
93.9
94.2
94.0
93.6
96.7
96.7
96.7
96.7
96.7
96.7
97.5
97.3
97.3
97.4
97.4
97.7
97.2
97.1
97.1
97.1
97.1
97.3
January.......... ........................
February................................
M a rch ...................................
April................................. ......
M ay...........-............................
June....................................... -
98.9
97.9
96.8
96.6
95.3
93.8
69.0
68.6
68.3
68.0
67.8
67.9
89.8
89.5
88.2
88.1
86.5
85.3
97.1
96.2
94.8
94.4
93.6
94.1
93.0
92.3
91.2
91.0
89.9
88.9
96.6
96.6
96.6
96.6
96.6
96.5
97.7
97.3
96.3
95.8
95.8
95.9
97.3
97.0
96.5
96.2
96.2
96.2
July...................................... —
August— ------------------------September--------- ---------------October. ---------------------------November------ ------------------December_________________
92.5
92.1
90.9
89.6
89.2
89.1
67.3
66.8
66.8
66.8
66.3
65.5
84.3
83.3
83.1
83.6
82.1
81.4
93.1
92.7
92.5
92.9
87.8
87.3
86.6
86.0
85.2
84.8
96.5
96.5
96.5
96.5
96.5
95.5
95.8
95.3
94.4
94.2
94.0
87.6
96.2
95.9
95.4
95.3
95.2
91.3
1928
1929
1930
91.1
90.6
588
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X N U M BERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES, B Y GROUPS A N D SUBGROUPS
OF COM M O DITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930—Continued
Miscellaneous
Year or month
Cattle
feed
Rubber, Automo
Paper
bile tires
crude
and pulp
Other
miscel
laneous
All
miscel
laneous
All com
modities
1913__________________ ___________
1914......................................................
1915............................. .........................
1916.......................................................
1917.......................................................
1918......................- .............................
1919.......................................................
1920....................................... - .............
1921.......................................................
82.2
87.6
89.1
95.5
140.2
146.2
185.7
184.3
89.2
59.4
58.2
56.7
89.0
112.7
106.7
115.1
181.8
107.6
170.2
135.2
135.4
150.0
149.2
124.4
100.7
72.6
34.4
207.2
173.1
155.1
160.4
198.0
229.2
209.2
232.5
179.5
64.4
64.5
64.3
68.5
78.6
107.6
120.5
150.2
107.5
93.1
89.9
86.9
100.6
122.1
134.4
139.1
167.5
109.2
69.8
68.1
69.5
85.5
117.5
131.3
138.6
154.4
97.6
1922............- ........... - ............. - ..........
1923........................... ...........................
1924______________________________
1925......................... ......... ........... — 1926_____ _______ _____ ______ _____
1927........................... - .................
1928........ ............. — - ..........- ...........
1929........................... ............... ............
1930............................... .....................
107.3
118.5
110.2
112.7
100.0
117.8
138.1
121.6
99.7
91.6
102.8
100.7
105.2
100.0
92.2
89.4
87.9
85.0
36.0
61.3
54.3
149.9
100.0
77.9
46.4
42.3
24.5
115.4
109.5
92.6
98.6
100.0
76.3
64.4
55.6
53.1
100.4
102.0
100.8
99.6
100.0
99.9
98.6
106.3
99.7
92.8
99.7
93.6
109.0
100.0
89.9
83.0
80.5
73.4
96.7
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
97.7
96.5
86.3
133.1
90.9
90.9
90.5
90.2
82.2
69.7
64.7
55.0
41.5
98.8
99.2
89.8
39.0
69.8
69.8
69.8
69.8
62.2
1928
January-------------------------------February.......... ........... ..............
March...................................... .
A p ril..........................................
'M a y ............................................
June................................. ..........
139.1
154.4
153.3
160.4
148.8
July-------------------------------------August___ ____ ______________
September...................................
October________________ _____
November.................. ................
December........................... ........
89.0
96.3
98.3
98.4
98.8
98.4
87.3
86.8
849
85.1
82.2
96.4
61.6
61.6
61.6
98.4
98.1
80.8
60.9
96.0
97.4
98.6
89.2
40.1
132.4
111.5
121.1
128.2
137.8
89.2
39.8
98.5
9& 5
88.6
37.9
37.0
58.1
137.0
58.1
99.7
80.1
100.1
97.8
96.7
96.7
January..................................... .
February................. ...................
March.........................................
April...........................................
M ay..................... ......................
June......................................... —
134.8
129.3
122.2
108.9
101.6
106.2
87.8
87.8
87.8
87.8
88.3
88.2
40.8
49.6
50.6
44.0
44.9
42.7
58.1
56.1
55.9
55.8
55.3
55.3
100.9
100.3
100.2
103.8
106.6
109.7
80.5
80.4
80.0
79.2
79.6
80.4
97.2
96.7
97.5
96.8
95.8
96.4
July........................ ................. .
August........................................
September........ .........................
October.......................................
November...................................
December.................................. .
120.5
124.7
132.5
88.2
88.2
88.2
55.3
55.3
55.3
109.0
108.6
81.3
81.3
98.0
97.7
130.4
124.1
122.4
87.9
87.9
87.3
43.9
42.6
41.9
40.7
108.5
108.4
108.6
108.9
81.7
81.3
80.1
79.8
97.5
96.3
94.4
94.2
108.3
88.8
88.8
89.0
88.8
39.7
38.1
38.8
98.0
79.3
79.7
80.3
80.0
97.6
9&3
98.9
1929
1930
January.—..................................
February.....................................
March............... .........................
April............................. ..............
M ay........ ...................................
June.................................... ........
July_____________ ___________
August..................................
September_______ ___________
October.......................................
November...................................
December....................................
113.5
87.3
107.5
103.8
117.1
110.3
102.0
87.0
87.0
86.0
85.6
85.2
94.8
83.8
83.8
83.5
83.5
83.5
83.6
104.8
*3.6
89.6
83.0
78.2
34.5
33.2
55.1
55.0
55.2
31.1
32.8
55.2
55.2
78.7
93.4
108.5
31.6
30.9
29.2
25.9
55.2
54.7
54.5
52.2
108.6
108.3
107.9
103.3
78.5
78.2
78.5
77.5
74.5
92.1
90.8
90.7
89.1
86.8
23.6
52.0
52.0
52.0
52.0
97.2
71.7
84.0
84.0
84.2
82.6
80.4
78.4
20.3
17.1
16.9
18.6
18.6
51.4
51.4
94.5
93.8
91.5
88.9
86.9
71.2
69.7
68.8
67.8
66.9
Wholesale Prices of Farm Products and Nonagricultural Commodities
I n T a b l e 2 the price trend of farm products since 1913 is compared
with the trend of all other commodities combined into one group
and designated “ Nonagricultural commodities.”
589
WHOLESALE PRICES IN UNITED STATES
T a b l e 2.—IN D E X NUM BERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES OF F A RM PRODUCTS, NONAGRI-
CU LTU RAL COM M ODITIES, A N D A L L COM M ODITIES, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930
[1926=100.0]
Year or month
191
191
191
191
191
191
191
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
193
3
4
5
6
7
..
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
.
.
.
.
.
0
Farm
Nonagriproducts cultural
All com
modities
71.5
71.2
71.5
84.4
129.0
148.0
157.6
150.7
88.4
93.8
98.6
100.0
109.8
100.0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
69.0
66.8
68.5
85.3
113.1
125.1
131.6
154.8
100.1
97.3
100.9
97.1
101.4
100.0
94.4
95.5
94.4
85.9
69.8
68.1
69.5
85.5
117.5
131.3
138.6
154.4
97.6
96.7
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
97.7
96.5
86.3
106.1
104.5
103.5
107.6
109.8
106.7
107.1
107.0
108.8
103.5
101.6
103.6
93.7
94.2
94.0
94.7
95.6
95.2
95.9
96.7
97.8
96.4
95.4
94.8
96.3
96.4
96.0
97.4
98.6
97.6
98.3
98.9
100.1
97.8
96.7
96.7
1928
January___
February...
March....... .
April.......... .
M ay............
June___ ___
July.............
August........
September..
October___
November..
D ecem ber-
Year or month
Farm
Nonagri- All com
products cultural modities
1929
January..................
February................
March.....................
April.......................
M ay........................
June........................
105.9
105.4
107.1
104.9
102.2
103.3
94.9
94.3
94.9
94.7
94.1
94.6
97.2
96.7
97.5
96.8
95.8
96.4
July........................
August....................
September..............
October...................
November..............
December...............
107.6
107.1
106.6
103.9
101.1
101.9
95.5
94.3
95.1
94.3
92.6
92.2
98.0
97.7
97.5
96.3
94.4
94.2
1930
January..................
February................
March.....................
April.......................
M ay........................
June........................
101.0
98.0
94.7
95.8
93.0
88.9
91.4
90.6
89.8
89.4
88.1
86.3
93.4
92.1
90.8
90.7
89.1
86.8
July........................
August........ ..........
September..............
October...................
November..............
December...............
83.1
.84.9
85.3
82.6
79.3
75.2
84.4
83.8
84.0
82.8
80.9
79.4
84.0
84.0
84.2
82.6
80.4
78.4
Wholesale Prices of Raw Materials, Semimanufactured Articles, and Finished
Products
A c o m p a r i s o n of price trends of raw materials, semimanufactured
articles, and finished products is afforded by^ the figures in Table 3.
The commodities included under the three designations are as follows:
Raw materials.—Barley, corn (2 quotations), oats, rye, wheat (6 quotations),
calves, cows (2 quotations), steers (2 quotations), hogs (2 quotations), sheep
(3 quotations), poultry (2 quotations), beans, cotton (3 quotations), eggs (7
quotations), apples (3 quotations), lemons, oranges, hay (3 quotations), hops,
fluid milk (3 quotations), peanuts, alfalfa seed, clover seed, flaxseed, timothy
seed, tobacco, onions, potatoes (4 quotations), sweet potatoes, wool (9 quota
tions), cocoa beans, coffee (2 quotations), copra, bananas, pepper, hides and
skins (7 quotations), raw silk (4 quotations), hemp, jute, sisal, anthracite coal
(3 quotations), bituminous coal (3 quotations), crude petroleum (3 quotations),
scrap steel, iron ore (2 quotations), crushed stone, gravel, sand, crude sulphur,
phosphate rock, nitrate of soda, tankage, rubber (2 quotations). Total, 108
commodities.
Semimanufactured articles.—Oleo oil, raw sugar, vegetable oil (4 quotations),
leather (7 quotations), print cloth (2 quotations), cotton yarns (5 quotations),
rayon (4 quotations), spun silk (3 quotations), worsted yarns (3 quotations), pig
iron (6 quotations), bar iron (2 quotations), skelp, steel billets (2 quotations),
merchant steel bars, aluminum, antimony, electrolytic copper, pig lead, nickel,
quicksilver, silver, pig tin, slab zinc, barytes, copal gum, linseed oil, rosin, tur
pentine, vegetable oils (2 quotations), opium, camphor, wood pulp (2 quotations).
Total, 62 commodities.
Finished products.—Butter (18 quotations), cheese (3 quotations), milk (2
quotations), fresh beef (2 quotations), cured beef, fresh lamb, fresh mutton,
cured pork (5 quotations), fresh pork, poultry (2 quotations), fresh veal, bread
(5 quotations), fish (5 quotations), flour (11 quotations), canned fruit (2 quota
tions), dried fruit (4 quotations), glucose, hominy grits, lard, meal (2 quotations),
molasses, oatmeal, oleomargarine, rice (2 quotations), salt (2 quotations), granu
lated sugar, tallow, tea, canned vegetables (4 quotations), vegetable oil (2 quota
590
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
tions), vinegar, soda crackers, shoes (21 quotations), gloves (2 quotations),
harness, suitcases, traveling bags, cotton blankets, denims, drills (2 quotations),
duck (2 quotations), flannel (2 quotations), gingham (2 quotations), hosiery (2
quotations), muslin (4 quotations), percale, sheeting (5 quotations), thread,
ticking, cotton underwear (2 quotations), silk hosiery (3 quotations), wool
blankets, flannel, overcoating (2 quotations), serge suiting (5 quotations),
trousering, wool underwear (2 quotations), dress goods (6 quotations), binder
twine, burlap, linen shoe thread, rope, coke (4 quotations), manufactured gas,
fuel oil (2 quotations), motor gasoline (4 quotations), natural gasoline, kerosene
(2 quotations), reinforcing bars, nails, cast-iron pipe, steel plates, steel rails,
steel sheets, .structural steel, terneplate, tin plate, wire (4 quotations), black
steel pipe, brass sheets, sheet copper, copper wire, lead pipe, zinc sheets, agri
cultural implements (20 quotations), automobile (6 quotations), sewing ma
chines (2 quotations), cooking stoves (3 quotations), lumber (12 quotations),
lath (2 quotations), shingles (2 quotations), brick (4 quotations), cement, bone
black, lampblack, litharge, putty, red lead, shellac, lithopone, white lead, zinc
oxide, asphalt, plate glass (2 quotations), window glass (2 quotations), hollow
tile, lime (2 quotations), slate, acid (8 quotations), alcohol (2 quotations),
aluminum sulphate, anhydrous ammonia, bleaching powder, borax, copper
sulphite, formaldehyde, sal soda, soda ash, soda bicarbonate, caustic soda,
sodium silicate, inedible tallow, calcium arsenate, benzine, toluol, naphthalene
flake, anilin oil, white arsenic, salicylic acid, creosote oil, copperas, coal-tar
colors (4 quotations), caustic potash, calcium chloride, lime acetate, salt cake,
citric acid, tartaric acid, cream of tartar, Epsom salts, glycerin, peroxide of
hydrogen, quinine, castor oil, menthol, soda phosphate, zinc chloride, phenol,
ethyl alcohol, manure salts, muriate of potash, sulphate of ammonia, ground
bones, acid phosphate, sulphate of potash, kainite, mixed fertilizers (6 quota
tions), furniture (14 quotations), carpets (3 quotations), cutlery (2 quotations),
pails, tableware sets (2 quotations), glass nappies, glass pitchers, glass tumblers,
plates, teacups and saucers, tubs, cattle feed (4 quotations), box board (3 quota
tions), paper (2 quotations), automobile tires (3 quotations), cylinder oil (2 quo
tations), neutral oil (2 quotations), soap (2 quotations), starch, tobacco (2 quota
tions). Total, 380 commodities.
T a b l e 3 . — IN D E X N U M BERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES OF R A W M ATERIALS, SEMI-
M AN U FACTU RED A RTICLES, A N D FINISHED PRODUCTS, 1913 TO D E C E M B E R , 1930
[1928=100]
Year or month
191 3
191 4
191 5
191 6
191 7
1918. .
1919.............
1920. .
192 1
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
192
193
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
Semi- Finish
All
Raw manu
comed prod modimate factured
rials articles ucts
68.8
67.6
67.2
82.6
122.6
135.8
145.9
151.8
88.3
96.0
98.5
97.6
106.7
100.0
96.5
99.1
97.5
84.3
74.9
70.0
81.2
118.3
150.4
153.8
157.9
198.2
96.1
98.9
118.6
108.7
105.3
100.0
96.9
97.4
96.5
82.2
69.4
67.8
68.9
82.3
109.2
124.7
130.6
149.8
103.3
96.5
99.2
96.3
97.7
97.1
97.8
97.9
98.6
97.8
97.8
97.3
96.9
96.9
96.9
97.2
93.9
94.8
94.8
95.9
97.1
96.7
97.8
99.1
100.5
98.5
97.2
96.4
100.6
100.0
94.5
97.0
96.2
88.4
69.8
68.1
69.5
85.5
117.5
131.3
138.6
154.4
97.6
96.7
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
97.7
96.5
86.3
1928
January...
February..
March.......
April.........
M ay.........
June..........
July..........
August___
September.
O ctober...
November.
December.
100.2
99.1
97.9
100.1
101.4
99.3
99.5
99.2
100.5
97.4
96.2
97.4
96.3
96.4
96.0
97.4
98.6
97.6
98.3
98.9
100.1
97.8
96.7
96.7
Year or month
Semi Finish
All
Raw manu
com
mate- factured
ed prod modi
rails articles ucts
ties
1929
January..............
February............
March.................
April...................
M ay...................
June....................
98.7
98.1
98.9
97.0
95.3
96.6
97.3
97.2
99.1
97.4
95.1
94.4
96.5
95.9
96.5
96.9
96.4
96.7
97.2
96.7
97.5
96.8
95.8
96.4
July....................
August...............
September..........
October..............
November..........
December...........
99.1
98.9
98.9
97.1
94.8
95.0
96.0
96.2
97.6
97.9
95.6
94.3
97.8
97.3
97.0
95.8
94.2
93.9
98.0
97.7
97.5
96.3
94.4
94.2
1930
January..............
February............
March................
April...................
M ay...................
June....................
94.0
91.8
89.3
89.8
87.8
84.8
93.0
92.1
90.6
87.9
83.6
82.0
93.3
92.6
92.0
91.9
91.0
88.9
93.4
92.1
90.8
90.7
89.1
86.8
July....................
August...............
September..........
October..............
November..........
December...........
81.1
81.8
82.1
80.0
76.8
74.2
79.7
78.1
76.5
75.5
75.6
74.3
86.7
86.4
86.8
85.6
83.7
81.9
84.0
84.0
84.2
82.6
80.4
78.4
591
WHOLESALE PRICES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Index Numbers of Wholesale Prices, 1890 to 1930
I n T a b l e 4 the index numbers of wholesale prices as computed by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the major groups of commodities
have been extended back to 1890, the earliest year for which whole
sale prices were collected by the bureau. While results here given
for years prior to 1913 are necessarily based on a smaller number of
commodities than are the results for the years since 1913, they may
be considered comparable for all practical purposes.
T a b l e 4.—IN D E X NUM BERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES, 1890 TO 1930
[1926=1001
Year
Farm
prod
ucts
1890........—
1891.............
1892_______
1893.............
1894........—
1895............
1896_______
1897.............
1898.............
1899.............
1900............
1901_______
1902.............
1903........—
1904............
1905.............
1906.............
1907.............
1908.............
1909_______
1910.............
1911_______
1912......... .
1913_______
1914............
1915.............
1916........—
1917.............
1918_______
1919.............
1920.............
1921............
1922...........
1923............
1924_______
1925............
1926.............
1927............
1928.............
1929.............
1930.............
50.4
54.2
49.5
51.3
44.6
43.9
39.6
42.5
44.9
45.8
50.5
52.8
58.4
55.6
58.5
56.4
57.3
62.2
62.2
69.6
74.3
66.8
72.6
71.5
71.2
71.5
84.4
129.0
148.0
157.6
150.7
88.4
93.8
98.6
100.0
109.8
100.0
99.4
105.9
104.9
88.3
Hides
and
Foods leather
prod
ucts
55.5
54.8
51.0
54.7
48.2
47.3
44.1
45.5
47.8
47.7
50.8
50.5
53.3
52.0
54.0
55.1
53.4
57.0
58.7
62.6
64.9
62.0
66.8
64.2
64.7
65.4
75.7
104.5
119.1
129.5
137.4
90.6
87.6
92.7
91.0
100.2
100.0
96.5
101.0
99.7
90.1
47.5
47.9
47.2
45.1
43.0
49.4
45.2
45.9
48.3
49.4
49.4
48.9
50.8
49.9
49.7
53.9
57.7
58.0
55.6
61.5
60.2
58.8
64.5
68.1
70.9
75.5
93.4
123.8
125.7
174.1
171.3
109.2
•104.6
104.2
101.5
105.3
100.0
107.9
121.7
109.2
99.9
Tex
tile
prod
ucts
Fuel
and
light
ing
57.8
54.6
55.2
54.1
46.1
44.3
43.1
42.9
44.9
47.7
53.3
48.1
49.4
52.8
52.9
54.1
58.7
63.5
54.8
56.5
58.4
55.5
55.7
57.3
54.6
54.1
70.4
98.7
137.2
135.3
164.8
94.5
100.2
111.3
106.7
108.3
100.0
95.7
96.3
93.7
80.7
38.1
37.0
34.8
35.3
34.3
40.3
39.5
33.9
34.5
41.2
46.3
44.6
51.8
60.3
53.3
49.6
52.0
54.4
53.7
51.6
47.6
46.7
51.4
61.3
56.6
51.8
74.3
105.4
109.2
104.3
163.7
96.8
107.3
97.3
92.0
96.5
100.0
86.5
82.8
81.6
76.1
Metals Build
AU
Chemi Houseand
ing
fur Miscel
com
metal mate cals and nishing
lane modi
drugs goods
prod
ous
rials
ties
ucts
105.3
92.2
84.0
76.8
65.7
70.4
71.2
65.0
65.3
100.0
98.0
93.1
91.0
90.2
79.9
89.1
102.4
109.8
86.3
84.5
85.2
80.8
89.5
90.8
80.2
86.3
116.5
150.6
136.5
130.9
149.4
117.5
102.9
109.3
106.3
103.2
100.0
98.2
99.8
104.4
95.3
46.5
44.2
41.7
41.6
39.8
38.8
38.9
37.4
39.6
43.6
46.2
44.3
45.3
46.7
45.0
48.1
54.0
56.8
52.0
53.7
55.3
55.3
55.9
56.7
52.7
53.5
67.6
88.2
98.6
115.6
150.1
97.4
97.3
108.7
102.3
101.7
100.0
93.3
93.7
97.1
90.3
73.2
74.0
74.6
72.7
65.5
64.7
65.0
70.9
77.4
81.1
82.1
84.2
86.5
84.1
84.1
82.3
76.8
78.5
79.6
79.9
82.0
81.6
80.7
80.2
81.4
112.0
160.7
165.0
182.3
157.0
164.7
115.0
100.3
101.1
98.9
101.8
100.0
96.6
95.5
94.4
88.7
49.9
50.4
48.1
48.1
45.3
43.5
43.4
42.5
44.0
45.0
48.9
48.9
49.2
50.9
50.3
49.7
51.3
55.0
51.6
51.7
54.0
52.7
53.0
56.3
56.8
56.0
61.4
74.2
93.3
105.9
141.8
113.0
103.5
108.9
104.9
103.1
100.0
98.2
97.4
96.9
95.7
97.9
94.3
86.6
89.0
86.4
88.9
90.2
92.5
93.4
97.4
102.0
93.4
88.1
98.9
109.5
117.4
115.3
108.2
97.8
129.6
152.7
108.6
106.4
93.1
89.9
86.9
100.6
122.1
134.4
139.1
167.5
109.2
92.8
99.7
93.6
109.0
100.0
89.9
83.0
80.5
73.4
56.2
55.8
52.2
53.4
47.9
48.8
46.5
46.6
48.5
52.2
56.1
55.3
58.9
59.6
59.7
60.1
61.8
65.2
62.9
67.6
70.4
64.9
69.1
69.8
68.1
69.5
85.5
117.5
131.3
138.6
154.4
97.6
96.7
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
97.7
96.5
86.3
Wholesale Prices in the United States and in Foreign
Countries, 1923 to December, 1930
I N THE following table the more important index numbers of
wholesale prices in foreign countries and those of the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics have been brought together in
order that the trend of prices in the several countries may be com
pared. The base periods here shown are those appearing in the
sources from which the information has been drawn, in most cases
being the year 1913 or some other pre-war period. Only general
592
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
comparisons can be made from these figures, since, in addition to
dffierences in the base periods, there are important differences in the
composition of the index numbers themselves.
IN D E X NUM BERS
Country___ United
States
Bureau
Computing of Labor
agency
Statis
tics
OF WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED
CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Czecho Den
Canada Austria Belgium slovakia
mark
STATES AND IN
Finland France
Ger
many
Italy
Domin Federal Minis Central Statis Central General Federal
ion Bu Statis
t ic
try of
Bureau Statis Statis Riccarreau of
Indus Bureau
do BaDe
tical
of Sta
tical
of
Sta
tical
chi
Statis Bureau
try and tistics
part
tistics Bureau Bureau
tics
ment
Labor
Base period.
1926
1926
Commodi
ties........
550
502
January- April,
June,
1914
1914
47
132
July,
1914
1913
1926
1913
1913
1913
69
118
139
45
400
138
\
Year and
month
497
573
558
744
847
843
851
977
997
1008
955
979
979
924
102.0
103.9
98.4
99.4
October
434
480
504
515
991
1012
949
960
387
415
407
421
516.1
525.7
503.9
499.6
1924
January____
April
___
July.............
October____
99.6
97.3
95.6
98.2
580
555
566
555
974
1008
953
999
494
450
481
497
904.4
510.3
427.4
52.0
1925
January___
February___
March_____
A p ril_____
M ay_______
June_______
July.............
August____
September-.
O ctober___
November __
December__
102.9
104.0
104.2
101.9
101.6
103.0
104.3
103.9
103.4
103.6
104.5
103.4
559
551
546
538
537
552
559
567
577
575
569
565
1045
1048
1034
1020
1006
998
1009
993
996
989
977
977
243
240
236
230
227
223
212
197
186
179
176
176
514
515
514
513
520
543
557
557
556
572
605
633
568. 2
571.1
571.2
570.1
571.2
590.9
612.0
630.6
621.5
617.1
612.3
613.8
1926
January___
FebruaryMarch_____
April
_M ay_______
June__ ____
July
August __
September-.
October____
November-.
December__
103.6
102.1
100.4
100.1
100.5
100.5
99.5
99.0
99.7
99.4
98.4
97.9
560
556
583
621
692
761
876
836
859
856
865
860
966
950
938
923
928
926
948
963
973
972
978
978
172
165
158
157
158
157
158
162
162
178
170
158
634
636
632
650
688
738
836
769
787
751
684
627
1923..............
1924..............
1925..............
1926..............
1927..............
1928..............
1929..............
100.6
98.1
103.5
100.0
95.4
97.7
96.5
1923
January____
April ___
J u ly ...........
__
1July,
98.0
99.4
102.6
100.0
97.7
96.4
95.6
103.0
102.1
101.3
101.2
100.2
100.2
100.2
99.1
98.5
98.1
97.6
97.9
124
136
136
123
133
130
130
122
120
119
119
118
124
126
126
123
125
128
127
210
163
153
153
150
100
101
102
98
419
488
551
703
617
620
611
137.3
141.8
134.4
137.6
140.0
137.2
135.8
134.3
133.1
132.7
132.3
131.9
133.1
134.0
134.9
136.2
137.1
137.1
1503.9
i 497.4
1612.0
i 618.2
1466.7
1 453.1
i 439.7
608.0
603.5
592.3
590.0
595.8
604.9
618.2
632.5
622.0
596.7
594.2
573.6
593
WHOLESALE PRICES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
IN D E X NUM BERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES IN THE UNITED
CE RTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES—Continued
Country___
United
Bureau
Computing of Labor
agency
Statis
tics
Base period.
Czecho Den
Canada Austria Belgium slovakia
mark
Finland France
Ger
many
IN
Italy
Domin Federal Minis
Statis Central General Federal
ion Bu Statis
try of Central
Bureau Statis Statis RiccarBureau tical
reau of
Indus
do BaDe
of Sta
tical
of Sta
tical
tical
Statis
chi
try
and
part
tistics Bureau Bureau
tistics
Bureau Labor
tics
ment
1926
January- April,
June,
1914
1914
Commodi
ties..........
STATES AND
560
502
47
July,
1914
132
1913
1926
1913
1913
400
138
135.9
135.6
135.0
134.8
137.1
137.9
137.6
137.9
139.7
139.8
140.1
139.6
558.2
555.8
544.7
521.3
496.2
473.4
466.7
465.4
465.4
467.5
466.0
462.9
138.7
137.9
138.5
139.5
141.2
141.3
141.6
141.5
139.9
140.1
140.3
139.9
463.5
461.3
463.9
464.4
464.9
461.7
453.1
456.2
457.8
463.3
465.6
464.4
630
638
640
627
623
611
613
597
597
590
584
576
138.9
139.3
139.6
137.1
135.5
135.1
137.8
138.1
138.1
137.2
135.5
134.3
461.2
462.7
461.1
455.0
451.6
446.6
439.7
437.4
437.0
435.8
430.8
424.5
664
564
553
548
542
532
538
532
524
508
494
488
132.3
129.3
126.4
126.7
125.7
124.5
125.1
124.7
417.4
408.0
399.7
396.1
390.3
380.6
374.9
379.4
374.6
364.4
360.6
349.6
1913
118
Year and
month
1927
January___
February..
March____
April..........
M ay....... .
June...........
July............
August____
SeptemberOctober___
November.
December—
1928
January___
February.March____
April______
M ay...........
June...........
July...........
August—
September.
October___
November
December1929
January___
February...
March.........
April______
M ay............
June............
July.............
August____
September.
October___
November..
December—
January___
February-March____
April_____
M ay...........
June......... .
July............
August.......
September.
October___
November.
December-
841
992
983
975
966
967
975
157
156
153
152
152
152
152
153
153
154
154
154
129
128
129
131
131
133
133
133
131
129
128
127
851
848
848
847
844
844
841
831
830
835
847
855
982
985
978
984
987
986
979
996
986
971
957
955
153
152
153
154
155
155
155
154
151
150
151
151
93.7
94.9
95.5
94.1
92.4
92.6
96.0
98.1
97.3
96.7
95.8
96.2
128
130
133
134
135
134
132
132
128
127
125
123
867
865
953
950
964
963
940
917
922
916
902
895
151
159
154
150
148
146
149
150
150
149
147
146
93.4
92.1
90.8
90.7
89.1
95.6
94.0
91.9
91.7
89.9
125
123
86.8
88.0
84.0
84.0
84.2
82.6
80.4
78.4
85.8
84.1
82.5
81.4
79.8
77.8
96.6
95.9
94.5
93.7
93.7
93.8
94.1
95.2
96.5
97.0
96.7
96.8
97.8
97.6
97.3
97.5
98.5
98.9
98.6
98.3
97.1
97.2
96.9
97.3
130
130
133
135
137
142
140
133
130
129
127
127
96.3
96.4
96.0
97.4
98.6
97.6
98.3
98.9
97.8
96.7
96.7
96.9
96.8
97.7
98.3
97.7
97.1
96.2
95.4
95.5
95.4
94.9
94.5
97.2
96.7
97.5
96.8
95.8
96.4
98.0
97.7
97.5
96.3
94.4
94.2
100.1
2 In gold.
121
119
118
121
119
118
115
112
110
107
856
854
858
846
848
851
845
850
837
851
848
858
850
846
838
834
979
975
976
979
888
876
791
774
777
774
750
739
729
712
705
693
679
2 126.1
2 124.2
2 121.5
2 121.0
2 120.2
2 119.1
2 119.7
2118.1
2115.1
2 113.3
2112.7
2 111. 1
143
140
136
135
132
130
129
128
126
123
122
120
100
101
101
100
100
101
101
102
101
101
103
103
102
102
103
103
103
103
103
103
101
101
101
101
100
100
100
99
98
98
97
97
96
96
95
95
622
632
641
622
621
618
600
587
594
604
607
624
632
617
620
617
122.8
120.2
120.1
117.8
594
PRICES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
IN D E X N U M PERS OF W HOLESALE PRICES IN TH E U N ITED STATES A N D IN
C E R TA IN FOREIGN CO CJNTRIES—Continued
Country___
Neth
er
lands
Nor
way
Spain
Cen Cen Insti
tute
tral
tral
of
Bu Geog
Bu
Computing reau
reau raphy
agency----of
of
and
Sta
Sta
Sta
tistics tistics tistics
Swe
den
Cham
ber of
Com
merce
Swit United
King
zer
dom
land
Aus
tralia
New
Zea
land
South
Africa Japan China India
Na
Fed
Bureau Cen Office
tional
Bank Tariff
of
sus
eral Board
of
Com
Labor
Census and Census
of
of
and
and Japan, mis
De
Sta
Sta tistics Sta Tokyo sion,
part Trade
tistics Office tistics
Shang
ment
hai
Labor
Office,
Bom
bay
Base period.
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
C om m od i
ties______
48
95
74
160
118
150
92
180
188
56
>117
44
1923..............
1924..............
1925..............
1926..............
1927..............
1928..............
1929..............
151
156
155
145
148
149
142
232
268
253
198
167
161
153
172
183
188
181
172
168
171
163
162
161
149
146
148
140
127
129
128
123
124
121
116
199
206
202
179
170
171
166
156.4
153.9
159.4
164.1
170.4
160.7
163.7
181
182
163
149
147
146
145
1923
January____
April............
July........ ....
October____
157
156
145
148
223
229
231
235
170
174
170
171
1924
January____
April______
July_._.........
October____
156
154
151
161
251
263
265
273
1925
January____
February. __
March_____
April............
M ay_______
June............
July...........
August____
September..
October.......
November..
December...
160
158
155
151
151
153
155
155
155
154
154
155
279
281
279
273
262
260
254
249
237
223
220
220
1926
January.......
February. __
March_____
April............
M ay_______
June_______
July.............
August........
September..
October.......
November..
December...
153
149
145
143
143
144
141
139
140
143
147
147
Year and
month
3J.47 items.
158.9
166.2
159.1
148.1
141.4
140.3
136.5
170
165
162
161
159
157
158
163
168
162
161
157.0
162.0
156.5
158.1
163
167
180
171
131
126
124
125
184
196
192
212
152.7
157.7
155.4
156.1
187
180
178
181
178
184
182
186
161
161
157
167
165.4
164.7
162.6
170.0
174
166
163
163
131
126
125
133
211
207
195
213
155.8
153.7
151.5
152.8
188
184
184
181
191
192
193
190
191
187
188
184
185
187
186
187
169
169
168
163
162
161
161
159
157
154
155
156
171.1
168.9
166.3
161.9
158.6
157.2
156.9
156.2
155.1
153.9
152.7
152.1
163
162
160
158
159
162
162
162
162
163
165
160
166
162
162
162
162
162
161
161
160
162
161
160
130
214
210
204
202
199
200
198
200
201
200
198
194
159.9
159.2
160.3
159.3
157.8
157.3
162.8
160.3
160.2
159.0
158.4
158.1
173
173
171
165
164
160
158
160
157
158
160
154
214
186
211
186
205
183
199
179
197
179
194
177
192
178
193
180
193
178
198
179
199
185
184 1 186
153
152
149
150
151
150
148
147
146
148
148
150
151.3
148.8
144.4
143.6
144.9
146.4
148.7
149.1
150.9
152.1
152.4
146.1
161
160
163
168
167
163
162
162
158
154
155
166
159
159
157
156
156
155
156
154
153
153
151
153
192
188
184
181
177
177
179
177
176
174
171
170
164.0
163.0
164.4
162.8
159.7
155.8
156.9
160.5
164.2
171.1
174.4
172.0
154
151
150
151
151
150
149
148
149
147
146
146
181
175
162
145
142
145
141
153
147
146
145
143
143
145
142
142
144
142
142
158
165
161
154
146
147
147
130
127
124
124
120
122
127
i
595
WHOLESALE PRICES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIE3
i.NDEX N UM BERS
Country___
Neth
er
lands
OF W HOLESALE PRICES IN TH E U N ITED STATES A N D IN
CE R TA IN FOREIGN C OU N TRIES-Continued
Nor
way
Spain
Swe
den
Swit United
King
zer
land
dom
Aus
tralia
New
Zea
land
South Japan China India
Africa
Na
Fed
tional
Bureau Cen Office
Tariff
Bank
eral Board
of
of
sus Census
Labor
Com
Census and
of
of
and
and Japan, mis
De Trade
Sta
part
Sta tistics Sta T okyo sion,
ment
Shang
tistics Office tistics
hai
Cen Cen Insti
tute
tral
tral
of
Bu
Bu
Computing reau reau Geog
raphy
agency___
of
of
and
Sta
Sta
Sta
tistics tistics tistics
Cham
ber of
Com
merce
Base period.
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
1913
July,
1914
1913
1913
1913
1913
July,
1914
C om m odi
ties............
48
95
74
160
118
150
92
180
188
56
117
44
1927
January.......
February__
March_____
April............
May...
.Tunft...........
July.............
August____
September..
October.......
November..
December__
145
146
144
143
145
149
151
149
150
150
151
151
174
172
167
164
162
166
165
167
167
165
166
166
184
180
179
177
172
171
168
168
169
169
168
169
146
146
145
143
145
146
146
146
148
147
148
148
141
141
141
140
141
140
140
142
144
145
147
146
143.6
142.6
140.6
139.8
141.1
141.8
141.1
140.9
142.1
141.4
141.1
140.4
154
153
150
151
152
155
161
165
170
173
166
162
151
147
147
147
145
146
146
146
146
146
147
148
128
1928
January
February__
March_____
April............
M ay_______
June_______
July.............
August------September..
October.......
November..
December__
153
150
152
153
152
153
148
144
145
146
148
148
164
163
164
162
162
161
162
162
158
157
157
157
166
166
165
166
164
164
164
166
168
174
176
175
148
147
149
151
152
151
150
149
146
145
145
145
145
144
145
146
145
145
144
144
144
145
145
144
141.1
140.3
140.8
142.9
143.6
142.6
141.1
139.3
137.6
137.9
137.9
138.3
163
160
160
162
159
158
157
154
153
152
152
154
150
147
147
147
148
148
148
147
148
149
150
149
123
1929
January.......
February__
March_____
April............
M ay_______
June_______
July.............
August_____
September..
October.......
November..
December__
146
146
147
144
142
141
141
142
141
140
137
135
154
155
155
154
152
151
152
154
154
154
152
152
171
175
174
174
171
170
169
170
171
172
171
172
144
145
144
141
140
139
140
141
140
138
135
134
143
143
142
140
239
139
143
143
142
142
140
139
138.3
138.4
140.1
138.8
135.8
135.6
137.4
135.8
135.8
136.1
134.0
132.5
157
156
157
158
156
158
159
160
162
161
158
154
147
146
146
146
147
147
147
148
148
148
147
146
120
1930
January.......
February__
March_____
April...........
M ay_______
June_______
July.............
August _> .
September. _
October____
November. _
December__
131
126
122
122
118
118
115
114
112
111
no
107
150
147
146
145
144
143
142
141
141
140
139
136
172
173
173
172
168
166
170
173
174
175
175
175
131
128
125
124
123
123
121
121
119
118
117
117
136
133
131
129
128
126
126
126
123
122
120
117
131.0
127.8
124.5
123.7
122.0
120.7
119.2
117.8
115.5
113.0
112.0
108.9
151
147
144
146
148
145
144
142
134
130
126
123
147
146
146
146
146
145
144
146
144
142
141
141
107
Labor
Office,
Bom
bay
Year and
month
126
120
122
121
119
120
117
115
113
104
100
99
170
171
171
170
171
172
170
167
169
170
168
168
172.8
172.0
174.7
173.1
171.3
169.3
171.0
170.8
171.8
168.7
165.7
163.5
146
148
146
145
146
147
147
148
148
146
144
143
169
169
169
170
171
169
169
170
174
174
173
174
163.1
164.3
163.4
163.1
164.5
160.0
159.2
157.2
156.2
158.8
159.2
159.9
141
142
140
142
145
149
147
146
148
150
149
145
172
171
171
170
169
168
166
165
164
163
160
155
160.1
162.4
164.2
161.2
161.7
162.6
162.7
164.7
167.1
168.0
164.7
164.7
148
150
147
144
141
143
145
146
147
146
143
141
152
151
148
147
143
138
134
133
130
124
123
122
169.6
174.7
173.9
174.2
173.4
185.9
190.1
189.4
187.5
182.3
177.7
177.7
139
137
137
134
130
127
124
124
120
117
112
110
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
597
Productivity of Labor in Eleven Manufacturing
Industries
HE publication in 1929 of the detailed figures of the 1927 Census
of Manufactures permitted the extension of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics index numbers of man-hour productivity in 11 manufac
turing industries to include the years 1926 and 1927. Other informa
tion which became available has also afforded opportunity for minor
corrections in the figures previously published. (See Handbook, 19241926, Bui. No. 439, p. 543.)
The revised figures are given in Table 1. In four of the industries
it was possible to carry the index numbers back as far as 1899, and
in three others as far as 1904. The index numbers for the census
years earlier than 1914 are, however, only general approximations of
the productivity situation and not so clearly representative of the
actual conditions as the index numbers for the later years.
T
T a b l e 1 .— IN D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOUR PR ODU C TIV ITY OF LABOR IN 11 M ANU
FACTU RIN G INDUSTRIES, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1899 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Iron and steel
Year
Slaugh
Leather tering
Steel Boots
and
and
Indus Blast works shoes tanning meat
and
try as a fur
packing
whole naces rolling
Pe
Ce
tro Paper ment Auto Rub Flour Caneleum and manu mo
ber mill sugar
refin pulp factur biles tires
ing refin
ing
ing
ing
m ills
1899 1904.............
1909.............
1914_______
1919_______
1921_______
1923.............
1924.............
1925.............
1926_______
1927..............
59
69
100
100
100
87
131
130
153
157
155
44
59
80
100
85
106
149
156
196
204
203
63
70
104
100
110
85
126
123
143
149
146
100
108
100
100
108
111
119
115
115
115
124
93
92
92
100
102
130
138
135
134
134
141
115
100
98
113
120
125
121
127
126
61
57
117
100
97
114
138
165
179
169
182
83
95
100
105
95
117
121
127
136
140
100
101
123
132
132
138
144
154
40
35
100
141
190
265
258
280
302
278
100
149
198
279
338
352
366
392
94
92
100
95
118
127
139
143
154
159
100
78
83
104
117
133
140
133
In this study the progress of industrial production has been meas
ured by man-hour output in preference to output per worker. There
have been material changes in the daily or weekly working hours from
time to time, such as the reduction from the 12-hour day to the 8-hour
day in the iron and steel industry in 1923, so that a worker is not a
fixed unit of measurement from one year to another. A man-hour,
however, remains a constant and unvarying unit at all times, and can
therefore be used as a consistent measurement for all periods.
The indexes here given take no account of the causes of changes in
output per man-hour. The term “ man-hour productivity of labor”
must not be confused with the term “ labor efficiency,” and the changes
shown should not be attributed solely to the increased productive
ability or capacity of the workers. Although that factor has, without
47767°—31----- 39
599
600
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
doubt, played an important part in the higher productivity, many
other factors are also involved, such as application of mechanical
power, improvements in machinery, processes, or management, and
elimination of waste, any one of which, or any combination of which,
might effect changes in an industry. The index numbers merely
show that changes have taken place, and to what extent; they do not
point out the origin of the changes.
Index numbers of man-hours of labor—The average number of
persons engaged in each industry, including all salaried and super
visory employees, was obtained from the United States Census of
Manufactures for the census years 1899 to 1927. An index of employ
ment was constructed from these data, establishing the trend of
average employment for the industry, using 1914 (the latest pre-war
census year) as the base. As it was also desirable to show the relative
employment during some of the recent years not covered by the
census, the employment indexes of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for
manufacturing industries were used to bridge the gaps.
The prevailing weekly hours of labor in each industry were likewise
obtained from the United States Census of Manufactures for the
census years of the period, as far as available, supplemented by data
from special studies of wages and hours in the industries by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, or from information on hours published in
the Survey of Current Business. An index of average hours for the
industry, also on the 1914 base, was prepared from such data, covering
actual hours per week, when possible, but otherwise prevailing full
time hours per week.
The index numbers of employment (persons employed) were
multiplied by the index numbers of weekly working hours, to form
an index of average man-hours for the industry, establishing the trend
with as great a degree of accuracy as the existing data permit.
Index numbers of production—Data as to the annual output for
each industry were obtained chiefly from the United States Census
of Manufactures, though it was found advisable to use other sources
for the automobile industry and the cement-manufacturing industry.
An index of physical output, or production, was prepared from such
data (again using 1914 as base), thus establishing the trend of pro
duction.
Very few industries produce only a single uniform commodity, or
have a common unit of measurement winch can be applied to the
varied products. In most of the industries here covered it was
necessary to measure the production of the entire industiy by means
of its key product, or to weight the various important products of
the industry (before combining them), according to the special con
ditions of manufacture, and to calculate the production index numbers
from adjusted production figures.
It was also necessary to interpolate the production for the non
census years of 1924 and 1926 through the application of continuous
production data from other sources, such as industrial associations,
adjusted to the census figures.
Indexes of man-hour 'productivity.—The final step consisted in divid
ing the index numbers of production for the industry by the index
numbers of man-hours worked, resulting in an index of productivity
which expresses the relative increase or decrease in man-hour output
in specified years as compared with the man-hour output in 1914.
ELEVEN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
601
The productivity index numbers do not afford any comparison of
the actual output of any industry in the various years, as this depends
greatly on the total number of persons engaged in the industry and
the number of hours worked by them. Also, it is to be remembered
that the indexes are merely relative figures and do not indicate the
actual amount of production per man-hour in any industry.
Index Numbers for Individual Industries
T he 11 industries for which indexes of man-hour productivity have
been constructed were selected solely because the necessary statistical
data on employment, hours, and productivity were available in satis
factory form.
While they cover a wide range of industrial conditions, they can not
be considered representative of the entire manufacturing field.
Direct comparisons, based on these index numbers, should not be
made without considering other elements that might influence the
trend of labor productivity. Very^ great increases in man-hour pro
ductivity were, for example, experienced in the automobile industry
and the rubber-tire industry, while in the boot and shoe industry and
the slaughtering and meat-packing industry the gains were compara
tively insignificant. The automobile industry and the rubber-tire
industry, however, scarcely existed in 1899. The rapidly growing
demand for their products created an intense development within a
short period of time and resulted in enormous increases in labor pro
ductivity. On the other hand, the boot and shoe industry and the
slaughtering and meat-packing industry were already well developed
in the early years included in this study. High levels of productivity
had been reached, the technique of the industry had been developed,
and the demand for the products was fairly stable. Consequently
these industries could not be expected to show such remarkable
increases in labor productivity as are shown by the more newly
developed industries.
Iron and Steel Industry
The iron and steel industry, as considered in this study, covers the
three primary groups of manufactured products: Unrolled iron and
steel, consisting of pig iron, steel ingots, and castings direct from the
furnaces; semifinished rolled iron and steel, consisting of billets,
blooms, slabs, and sheet and tin-plate bars; finished rolled and forged
iron and steel, consisting of bars, plates, rods, sheets, skelp, structural
shapes, rails, and other products of rolling mills. Machinery and
other elaborate manufactures from rolling-mill and foundry products
are not included.
The key products of the industry, pig iron in the case of the blast
furnace branch, and steel ingots and direct castings in the case of the
steel-works and rolling-mills branch, have been considered as repre
sentative of the output for the industry, when combined after proper
weighting of each. They are both intermediate products, and nearly
all the finished products of iron and steel have passed through one or
the other of these stages.
602
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b l e S.—IN D E X N U M BERS OP MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND MAN-HOUR PRO
D U C T IV IT Y IN THE IRON A N r STEEL IN E U STR Y , FOR SPECIFIEE YEARS, 1899 TO
1927
[1914=100]
Manhours
Year
1899.................................
1904.............................. 1909........................... ......
1914..................................
1919.................................
1921..................................
79
88
103
100
144
93
Pro
duc
tion
47
61
103
100
144
81
Man-hour
produc
tivity
59
69
100
100
100
87
Manhours
Year
144
121
123
127
120
1923................................
1924................................
1925...................... .........
1926................................
1927................................
Pro
duc
tion
188
157
188
200
186
Man-hour
produc
tivity
131
130
153
157
155
Blast jurnaces, and steel works and rolling mills.—Separate index
numbers of man-hours, production, and man-hour productivity were
prepared for each of the two branches of the iron and steel industry—
blast furnaces, and steel works and rolling mills.
T a b l e 3.—IN E E X NUM BERS OP MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, A N D M AN-HOUR PRO-
E U C TIV IT Y IN BLAST FURNACES ANE IN STEEL W ORKS A N D ROLLING M ILLS,
FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1899 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Blast furnaces
Year
Manhours
1899............................................................
1904............................................................
1909............................................................
1914................................ ...... ........... .........
1919...........................................................
1921........................................ ...................
1923................................. ...... ..................
1924...........................................................
1925-.........................................................
1926—.........................................................
1927-........................................................
132
121
139
100
155
67
116
86
80
82
77
Steel works and rolling mills
Produc Man-hour
produc
tion
tivity
58
71
111
100
131
71
173
134
157
167
156
44
59
80
100
85
106
149
156
196
204
203
Manhours
72
84
98
100
132
97
151
131
135
138
131
Produc Man-hour
produc
tion
tivity
45
59
102
100
145
82
190
161
193
205
191
63
70
104
100
110
85
126
123
143
149
146
Over the period 1899 to 1927 man-hour productivity increased
more rapidly in blast furnaces than in steel works and rolling mills,
361 per cent against 132 per cent. This was partly because greater
improvements had been made in both machinery and technical oper
ation in the blast-furnace branch of the industry, and partly because
whenever depressions occurred the smaller and inefficient blast fur
naces were closed down, leaving only the higher-productivity plants
in operation. Consequently man-hour productivity actually in
creased during periods of depression in spite of reduced total produc
tion, except during the slight decline in 1926 to 1927. In the steel
works and rolling mills, however, the total output decreased consid
erably faster than the corresponding man-hours during periods of
depression, resulting in reduced man-hour output
The index numbers for the steel works and rolling mills correspond
in a general way with those for the industry as a whole, because that
branch is by far the larger of the two. During the period covered by
this study it employed from six to thirteen times as many workers as
the blast furnaces.
603
ELEVEN MANTJFACTTJKING INDUSTRIES
Boot and Shoe Industry
The boot and shoe industry covers the manufacture of boots, shoes,
sandals, moccasins, leggings, gaiters, and miscellaneous footwear,
other than rubber. The material used is principally leather, though
canvas and other textile fabrics are also included.
The total number of pairs of shoes manufactured was accepted as a
measurement for the construction of the index numbers of production,
regardless of style or type. The figures of production of the various
styles were combined without weighting.
T a b l e 4 . — IN D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND MAN-HOUR P R O
D U C TIVITY IN THE BOOT AND SHOE IN DU STRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1899 TO
1927
[1914=100]
Year
1899........................
1904.................... .
1909
..............
1914.......................
1919........................
1921............ ..........
Manhours
77
80
100
100
105
88
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
77
86
100
100
113
98
100
108
100
100
108
111
Year
1923.................... .
1924.......................
1925_________ ___
1926_____________
1927______ ____ -
Manhours
106
98
101
102
101
Produc Man-hour
produc
tion
tivity
126
113
116
117
125
119
115
115
115
124
Leather-Tanning Industry
The leather-tanning industiy covers the manufacture of eather
from hides and skins of all kinds, including the tanning, currying,
and finishing of the leather, but not the manufacture of products from
that material.
The principal products, consisting of sole and belting leather, and
upper leather (including patent leather), were used to determine the
index numbers for production, since some 80 per cent of the hides
and skins tanned are used for shoe and belting leathers. The output
of sole and belting leather was reduced to pounds and that of upper
leather to square feet, and an index was constructed for each. These
indexes were weighted, and a composite index for the industry was
then obtained by combining the weighted indexes.
T a b l e 5 .— IN D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND M AN-HOUR PRO
D U C T IV IT Y IN TH E LEATHER-TAN N IN G IN DU STRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1899
TO 1927
[1914=100]
Year
1899........................
1904........................
1909........................
1914........................
1919........................
1921........................
Manhours
92
102
112
100
117
80
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
86
94
103
100
119
104
93
92
92
100
102
130
Year
1923........................
1924........................
1925........................
1926— ...................
1927........................
Manhours
97
85
86
87
86
Produc Man-hour
produc
tion
tivity
134
115
115
117
121
138
135
134
134
141
Slaughtering and Meat-Packing Industry
The slaughtering and meat-packing industry covers the slaughtering
of cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, goats and kids, and hogs, and
the preparation of the meat products in wholesale establishments, but
6 04
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOft
does not include the small concerns which furnish meat only for direct
retail trade nor slaughtering done on farms for consumption or sale.
The index numbers of production were computed from the com
bined output (in pounds) for the principal products: Meats; lard;
hides, skins, or pelts; and hair or wool. The various items of pro
duction were not weighted.
T a b l e 6.—IN D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND MAN-HOUR PRO
DU C T IV IT Y IN THE SLAUGHTERING AND M EAT-PACKING IN DU STRY, FOR SPECI
FIED YEARS, 1909 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Year
1909........................
1914....... ................
1919........................
1921........................
1923........................
Manhours
89
100
136
103
121
Produc
tion
102
100
133
116
145
Manhour
produc
tivity
115
100
98
113
120
Year
1924........................
1925........................
1926........................
1927........................
Manhours
118
113
110
112
Produc
tion
147
137
140
141
Manhour
produc
tivity
125
121
127
126
Petroleum-Refining Industry
The petroleum-refining industry covers the refining of crude
petroleum by fractional distillation, to separate the natural con
stituents into a variety of products, the principal ones of which are
gasoline, fuel oils, lubricants, and illuminating oils. These four
major products alone are often used to measure the output of the
industry, but in this study the index numbers for production were
computed from the total output of all products (in barrels or barrels
equivalent), combined without weighting.
T a b l e 7.—IN D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND MAN-HOUR PRO
D U C TIVITY IN THE PETROLEU M -REFIN IN G IN DU STRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS,
1899 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Year
1899........................
1904........................
1909........................
1914........................
1919........................
1921........................
Manhours
44
61
54
100
208
210
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
27
35
63
100
202
239
61
57
117
100
97
114
Year
1923........................
1924........................
1925........................
1926........................
1927........................
Manhours
232
216
226
249
243
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
319
357
405
422
443
138
165
179
169
182
Paper and Pulp Industry
The paper and pulp industry covers the manufacture of all classes
of wood pulp, and all classes of paper and paper board, but not the
manufacture of articles from paper or paper board.
A series of index numbers was prepared for each of the two major
groups of wood pulp—mechanical and chemical. These were weighted
and combined. A similar series was prepared for each of the six
major groups of manufactured paper—newsprint, book paper, writing
paper, wrapping paper, box board, and all other grades together.
These were likewise weighted and combined. The resulting index
numbers for pulp and for paper were combined, without weighting,
to form composite index numbers for the industry as a whole.
605
ELEVEN M ANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
T a b l e 8 .— IN D E X N U M BERS OP MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AN D M AN-HOUR PRO
D U C T IV IT Y IN THE P A PE R A N D PULP IN DU STRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1904 TO
1927
[1914=100]
Year
1904........................
1909........................
1914........................
1919.......................
1921........................
Manhours
75
88
100
114
106
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
62
84
100
120
101
83
95
100
105
95
Year
1923........................
1924........................
1925........................
1926........................
1927........................
Manhours
122
120
126
128
126
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
143
145
160
174
176
117
121
127
136
140
Cement Manufacturing Industry
The cement industry covers the manufacture of all kinds of hy
draulic cement. The principal product is Portland cement, but small
quantities of natural cement and puzzolan cement are also manufac
tured. Refractory cement is not included, nor is the manufacture of
products from the hydraulic cement.
As Portland cement constitutes uniformly about 99 per cent of
all hydraulic cements manufactured in this country, the index num
bers for production were based on the output of this product alone.
The production figures were obtained from data published annually
by the United States Bureau of Mines, in preference to the data in
the Census of Manufactures, as the trend is similar and both census
years and intervening years are covered by the Bureau of Mines.
T a b l e 9.—IN D E X NUMBERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND M AN-HOUR PRO
DU C TIVITY IN THE CEMENT-M ANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, FOR SPECIFIED
YEARS, 1914 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Year
1914—.....................
1919.......................
1921........................
1923........................
Manhours
100
91
91
118
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
100
92
112
156
100
101
123
132
Year
1924........................
1925.......................
1926........................
1927........................
Manhours
128
133
130
127
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
169
183
187
196
132
138
144
154
Automobile Industry
The automobile industry covers not only the manufacture of all
classes of complete motor vehicles, but also the manufacture for
sale of automobile bodies and parts used in the manufacture of auto
mobiles. Batteries, engines, lighting and starting systems, motors,
rubber tires, and vehicle springs are not included.
The index numbers of production are based on the total number of
motor vehicles produced each year, divided into three groups—open
cars, closed cars, and trucks. Index numbers were prepared for each
group, and the three index numbers were combined, after weighting,
to form a composite index number for the industry as a whole. The
census figures for production did not permit segregation of the number
of motor vehicles manufactured in the United States from those
manufactured in American-owned establishments located in Canada.
Consequently, the production figures published by the National
Automobile Chamber of Commerce in 1927 and 1928 were chosen
in preference.
606
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b l e 10.—IN D E X N UM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND M AN-HOUR PRO-
D U C T IV IT Y IN T H E AU TOM OBILE IN DU STRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1904 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Year
1904........................
1909........................
1914........................
1919........................
1921........................
Manhours
10
62
100
252
157
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
4
22
100
355
298
40
35
100
141
190
Year
1923.......................
1924......................
1925........................
1926........................
1927........................
Manhours
286
266
301
293
258
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
758
687
842
884
718
265
258
280
302
278
Rubber-Tire Industry
The rubber-tire industry covers the manufacture of prepared rubber
from the crude material, and the manufacture from the prepared
rubber of rubber tires (pneumatic or solid) and of inner tubes for all
classes of vehicles.
Index numbers were prepared for the total output of each of the
three main divisions of products: Pneumatic tires, including motor
cycle and bicycle tires as well as tires for motor vehicles; inner tubes,
likewise for the three types of vehicles; and solid tires for trucks, etc.
After weighting the respective index numbers for each year, they were
combined to form a composite index number for the industry.
T a b l e 11.—IN D E X NUMBERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AND MAN-HOUR PRO
D U C TIVITY IN THE RUBBER-TIRE INDUSTRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1914 TO
1927
[1914=100]
Year
1914........................
1919........................
1921......................
1923........................
Manhours
100
262
154
187
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity-
100
391
305
521
100
149
198
279
Year
1924........................
1925...................... .
1926........................
1927........................
Manhours
180
207
202
197
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
608
728
739
773
338
352
366
392
Flour-Milling Industry
The flour-milling industiy covers the manufacture of flour or meal
from wheat or other grains in commercial or merchant mills, establish
ments which are engaged in the purchase and milling of grain and the
sale of the products made from it. Custom or grist mills, which do not
buy grain but grind it on shares or for a stipulated price and produce
approximately 5 per cent of the total for the country, are not included;
nor is the manufacture of food preparations from the grain-mill
products.
The principal product is wheat flour, which constitutes three-fifths
of the total quantity ground by the mills. Other products, in the
order of their importance, are: Feed, screenings, etc.; bran and mid
dlings; com meal and corn flour; rye flour; and buckwheat flour.
Index numbers of production were computed from the total output
of all products, reduced to pounds, and added without weighting.
607
LOADING AND DISCHARGING SHIPS
T a b l e 12.—IN D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, AN D MAN-HOUR PRO-
DUCTIVTTY IN THE FLOUR-MILLING IN D U STRY , FOR SPECIFIED YEARS, 1904 TO
1927
[1914=100]
Manhours
Year
97
105
100
109
79
1904........................
1909 ....................
1914........................
1919
_____
1921 .
___
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
91
97
100
104
93
94
92
100
95
118
Year
1923.......................
1924............ ..........
1925.......... ............
1926.......................
1927........................
Manhours
77
72
68
65
64
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
98
100
97
100
102
127
139
143
154
159
Cane-Sugar Refining Industry
The cane-sugar refining industry covers the refining of raw cane
sugar, practically all of which is imported, but does not include sugar
from cane grown in the United States nor the refining of beet sugar.
The products consist of sugar in various forms, sirup, and molasses,
but the index numbers for production were based solely on the total
amount of refined sugar produced, disregarding specialty products and
•by-products.
T a b l e 1 3 .-I N D E X NUM BERS OF MAN-HOURS, PRODUCTION, A N D M AN-HOUR PRO
D U C T IV IT Y IN THE CANE-SUGAR REFIN IN G IN DU STRY, FOR SPECIFIED YEARS,
1914 TO 1927
[1914=100]
Manhours
Year
1914
1919
1921
1923
_____
100
156
136
128
Produc
tion
Man-hour
produc
tivity
100
121
113
133
100
78
83
104
Year
1924..................... .
1925.........— .........
1926-......................
1927....... ...............
Manhours
124
122
117
116
Produc Man-hour
produc
tion
tivity
145
162
164
154
117
133
140
133
Productivity of Labor in Loading and Discharging
Ships
HE study of labor productivity in cargo handling, completed in
1930 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, constitutes the first
attempt in this country, or abroad, to measure in units of cargo
handled the output of longshoremen in loading and discharging ships.
The survey covered the seaports of Seattle, Takoma, Grays Harbor,
Portland, Oreg., San Francisco, and Los Angeles on the Pacific coast;
Cristobal on the Panama Canal; Galveston, Houston, Port Arthur,
New Orleans, and Mobile on the Gulf; and Savannah, Charleston,
S. C., Norfolk and Newport News, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston,
and New York on the Atlantic coast.
The productivity of labor is expressed in terms of long tons and
revenue tons of cargo loaded or discharged, per gang per hour and
per man per hour. The gang-hour output indicates the dispatch of
the ship in port. The man-hour output provides the means of measur
ing the labor productivity.
Loading and discharging ships is still predominantly a hand indus
try. Recently, however, labor-saving devices have been introduced
to facilitate the transfer of cargo from the ship to the shed of the pier
and vice versa. Although lack of comparative data made it impossi
T
608
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOS
ble to gauge the effect of these changes on the productivity of long
shore labor in handling general cargo, the figures for some of the
individual commodities handled in full cargoes indicate a decided
increase in the productivity of longshore labor. For instance, in
discharging raw sugar at a San Francisco refinery a gang of 34 long
shoremen using hand trucks in transferring the sugar from the
ship's side to the refinery used to average 1,200 bags or 70 long tons of
Hawaiian raw sugar per gang per hour, which is about 35 bags or 2
long tons per man per hour. In 1926, with a system of belt conveyors
takmg the place of hand trucks, the average productivity of a gang
of 21 longshoremen handling the same kind of sugar was 1,681 bags
or 94.7 long tons per gang per hour, which is 80.1 bags or 4.51 long
tons per man per hour. This represents an increase of 125 per cent
in the productivity of longshore labor in the port of San Francisco.
In New York in 1923, a gang of 29 longshoremen using hand
trucks discharged 408 bags or 59.2 long tons of Cuban sugar per hour,
which is an average of 14.1 bags or 2.04 long tons per man per hour.
In 1928, with the hand trucks replaced by electric platform trucks,
a gang of 22 men averaged 597 bags or 87.7 long tons of Cuban sugar
per hour, which is 27.1 bags or 3.99 long tons per man per hour;
representing an increase of nearly 100 per cent over 1923.
Similarly in discharging bananas in New York in 1925 with the
“ stage” or hand process, 561 stems of bananas were handled per gang
per hour or 12.42 stems per man per hour. In 1928, with a system
of pocket and belt conveyors replacing the stage process, 776.5 stems
were handled per gang per hour, or 18.37 stems per man per hour.
This constitutes an increase of the productivity of labor of nearly 50
per cent.
Table 1 gives the productivity of longshore labor in loading cotton,
case oil, and steel products, and Table 2 the productivity of longshore
labor in discharging raw sugar, lumber, and bananas in the principal
seaports of the United States.
T a b l e 1.—P R O D U C TIV ITY OF LABOR IN THE LOADIN G OF COTTON, CASE OIL, A N D
STEEL PRODUCTS
Cotton
Output per ganghour
Port, and line number
Long tons
Galveston:
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
15.0
15.0
15.0
15.0
1.57
1.47
1.46
1.42
97.7
15.0
1.45
6.5
104.0
100.2
97.2
15.0
15.0
15.0
1.55
1.49
1.44
6.9
6.7
6.5
99.1
15.0
1.47
6.6
65.3
20.1
.72
3.3
22.1
20.3
19.5
99.4
91.2
88.6
18.0
18.0
18.0
1.23
1.13
1.08
5.5
5.1
4.9
20.7
93.7
18.0
1.15
5.2
1, 8 ships.................................................
2, 35 ships................................................
3,10 ships................................................
4, 34 ships................................................
23.6
22.1
21.9
21.3
Average___________________________________
Houston:
Line No. 1,10 ships................................................
Line No. 2,16 ships................................................
Line No. 3, 32 ships................................................
21.8
23.2
22.3
21.6
Average___________________________________
22.0
Line No. 4, 9 ships, hand stowed and screwed—
New Orleans:
Line No. 1, 21 ships................................................
Line No. 2,14 ships................................................
Line No. 3,14 ships................................................
14.5
Average._- _________. . . . . . _. . . . . ____ ______
Bales
106.0
98.8
98.4
95.7
Output per manAverage
hour
number
of men
per gang Long tons Bales
7.1
6.6
6.6
6.4
609
LOADING AND DISCHARGING SHIPS
TABLE 1 .— P R O D U C TIV IT Y OF LABOR IN THE LOADING OF COTTO N, CASE OIL, A N D
STEEL PRODU CTS—Continued
Cotton—Continued
Output per ganghour
Port, and line number
Long tons
Bales
Output per manAverage
hour
number
of men
per gang Long tons Bales
Mobile:
Line No. 1, 26 ships________________ __________
Line No. 2, 9 ships___________________________
Line No. 3,17 ships__________________________
20.2
19.9
15.2
89.5
88.3
67.4
16.9
17.0
16.3
1.20
1.17
.93
5.3
5.2
4.1
Average..____ - ____________________________
19.9
88.3
16.9
1.18
5.2
Savannah:
Line No. 1,11 ships______ ____________________
Line No. 2,13 ships__________________________
Line No. 3, 21 ships__________________________
Line No. 4,13 ships_______ ___________________
Line No. 5,15 ships__________________________
26.7
22.6
24.4
20.0
19.1
119.0
100.1
109.8
90.0
86.0
30.0
28.9
32.0
30.3
30.0
.89
.78
.76
.66
.64
4.0
3.5
3.4
3.0
2.9
Average- — — _____________________________
22.1
98.8
30.3
.73
3.3
Charleston:
Line No. 1,11 ships__________________________
Line No. 2,18 ships__________________________
Line No. 3,13 ships__________________________
20.2
18.7
16.9
91.3
84.0
75.2
26.8
27.2
26.8
.75
.69
.63
3.4
3.1
2.8
Average.. . . . __________ - ____ _________ ___
18.5
82.8
26.8
.69
3.1
Norfolk and Newport News:
Line No. 1,17 ships__________________________
Line No. 2, 23 ships_______ ___________________
Line No. 3,10 ships__________________________
30.5
30.3
28.9
135.4
136.5
130.0
22.6
22.9
22.6
1.35
1.32
1.28
6.0
6.0
5.8
Average_____________________ - __ —__ - ____
30.0
135.0
22.6
1.33
6.0
Case oil
Output per ganghour
Port, and line number
Long tons
Cases
Output per manAverage
hour
number
of men
per gang Long tons Cases
San Francisco—refinery: 3 ships______. . . . . . . . _____
31.2
825.0
16.8
1.86
49.0
Port Arthur—refinery:
UnA No. 1, 11 ships____________ . . . ___- ______
Line No. 2, 23 ships___________ - _____________
76.5
75.9
2.035.0
2.024.0
23.0
23.0
3.32
3.30
88.5
88.0
Average.—. . . . . . __ - __ - ____ — _-___ —____
76.2
2,029.0
23.0
3.31
88.2
New Orleans—refinery: 11 ships__________ ________
68.2
1,823.0
33.0
2.07
55.3
Philadelphia—refinery:
Line No. 1,19 ships___ _______ ___ ,___________
Line No. 2,12 ships__________________________
60.6
58.4
1.675.0
1.604.0
22.6
22.9
2.68
2.55
74.0
70.0
Average.—........................... - .............................
60.1
1,660.0
22.7
2.65
73.0
New York—refinery:
Line No. 1,12 ships..____________. . . . . __ ______
Line No. 2, 6 ships____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___
Line No. 3,9 ships__________ - ____ - __________
56.6
52.1
47.4
1.510.0
1.335.0
1.265.0
17.1
16.3
17.5
3.30
3.20
2.71
88.3
81.9
72.5
Average.- ________ _____________________ __
50.7
1,345.0
17.2
2.95
78.2
New York—from lighters:
Line No. 1,15 ships__________________________
Tiinft No. 2,17 ships____ _____ ________________
34.4
31.4
908.0
824.0
18.7
19.3
1.84
1.63
48.6
42.7
Average_______ ______________ ___ __ ______
32.5
857.0
19.1
1.71
45.0
610
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—P R O D U C TIV IT Y OF LABOR IN TH E LOADING OF COTTO N, CASE OIL, A N D
STEEL PRO DU C TS—Continued
Steel and steel products
Port, commodity, and line
number
Out Aver
put age
per num
gang- ber of
hour men
(long per
tons) gang
Out
put
per
manhour
Gong
tons)
Houston: Rails, 9 ships...........
7.8
9.0
0.87
Mobile:
Pipe, 15 ships....................
Iron and steel, 12 ships___
20.7
14.5
15.9
19.5
1.30
.74
Newport News: Steel billets,
17 ships.................................
31.1
14.8
2.10
Baltimore:
Rails—
Line
Line
Line
Line
1, 6 ships___
2,13 ships...
3,14 ships...
4,14 ships...
28.2
26.6
25.2
22.8
15.1
15.2
15.1
18.1
1.87
1.75
1.67
1.26
Average....................
26.3
15.8
1.66
P ip e Line No. 1,9 ships....
Line No. 2,13 ships...
Line No. 3, 24 ships...
27.7
25.0
21.6
16.0
17.5
18.0
1.73
1.43
1.20
Average-................. .
24.3
17.4
1.40
1,13 ships...
2,14 ships...
3, 24 ships...
4,14 ships...
30.6
31.3
34.5
31.6
17.2
18,7
22.4
23.1
1.78
1.67
1.54
1.37
Average....................
32.7
21.2
1.54
No.
No.
No.
No.
Tin plate—
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
Port, commodity, and line
number
Out Aver
put age
per num
gang- ber of
hour men
(long per
tons) gang
Out
put
per
manhour
(long
tons)
Baltimore—Continued.
Steel sheets—
Line No. 1,14 ships___ 24.5
Line No. 2,14 ships___ 22.4
Line No. 3,13 ships___ 14.9
18.1
22.6
17.3
1.35
.99
.86
Average...................... 20.2
18.5
1.09
Wire rods, Line No. 1, 14
ships.................................. 25.7
Mixed steel products, 13
ships.................................. 16.2
19.2
1.34
18.9
.86
15.2
14.9
14.8
14.2
1.03
1.05
21.1
21.8
18.6
14.2
15.0
14.5
1.49
1.45
1.28
14.6
20.9
15.1
25.5
.97
.82
Philadelphia:
Rails, 20 ships......................
Pipe, 20 ships......................
Miscellaneous steel—
Line No. 1,16 ships___
Line No. 2, 25 ships___
Line No. 3, 23 ships___
Line No. 4, 20 ships
(sheets)......................
Line No. 5, 23 ships___
Average...................... 19.2
15.0
1.28
25.0
20.2
1.24
New York:
Steel products, 12 ships
11.6
Pipe and steel products, 22
ships.................................. 21.5
19.7
.59
16.0
1.35
Tin plate, 20 ships..............
T a b l e 3 .— PR O DU CTIVITY OF LABOR IN THE D ISCHARGING OF R AW SUGAR, LU M BER,
AND BANANAS
Raw sugar
Output per ganghour
Port, and line number
Long tons
San Francisco—refinery:
Line No. 1,103 ships..
Line No. 2, 53 ships—
Bags
Output per manAverage
hour
number
of men ,
per gang Long tons
Bags
i
94.7 11,681.0
59.6 i 1,101.0
21.0
26.6
4.51
2.24
180.1
141.3
80.4 1 1,442.0
23.3
3.45
161.9
Galveston—pier: 27 ships............
49.2
2 338.6
36.4
1.35
29.3
New Orleans—refinery: 72 ships..
55.2
2 386.0
23.0
2.40
2 16.8
New Orleans—pier:
Line No. 2, 36 ships..
Line No. 3,12 ships..
Line No. 4, 22 ships..
45.0
36.3
34.2
2 315.0
2 254.1
2239.4
23.0
21.0
23.0
1.96
1.73
1.49
2 13.7
2 12.1
2 10.4
Average...............................
Average..........................
40.0
2 280.0
22.5
1.78
2 12.5
Savannah—refinery: 40 ships..
56.6
3
396.0
33.0
1.72
2 12.0
1 Hawaiian sugar, about 135 pounds to the bag.
2 Cuban sugar, about 330 to 350 pounds to the bag.
3 Porto Rican sugar, about 250 to 270 pounds to the bag.
611
LOADING AND DISCHARGING SHIPS
TA B L E S.— P R O D U C TIV IT Y OP LABOR IN THE DISCHARGING OF R A W SUGAR, LUMBER*
AN D BANANAS—Continued
Raw sugar—Continued
Output per ganghour
Port, and line number
Long tons
Baltimore—refinery:
Line No. 1,43 ships.
Line No. 2, 42 ships.
Bags
Output per manAverage
hour
number
of men
per gang Long tons Bags
1.70
1.25
2348.0
1611.0
Average................
43.1
Philadelphia—refinery:
Line No. 1, 68 ships.
Line No. 2, 7 ships,.
Line No. 3,19 ships.
Line No. 4, 29 ships.
66.4
48.1
46.9
43.9
Average................
55.7
New York—refinery:
Line No. 1,43 ships.
Line No. 2,13 ships.
Line No. 3,14 ships.
Line No. 4, 36 ships.
Line No. 5, 23 shipc.
Line No. 6,14 ships.
Line No. 7,15 ships.
Line No. 8, 65 ships.
87.7
66.7
62.6
55.7
58.0
55.3
45.0
59.2
Average................
63.9
Boston—refinery:
Line No. 1, 23 ships,
lin e No. 2, 22 ships.
Line No. 3, 47 ships.
71.7
71.0
56.4
Average................
63.8
449.0
405.0
317.0
4 758.0
2
3
2
597.0
467.0
438.0
601.0
4 769.0
2 387.0
4 741.0
2 408.0
2
2
2
3
595.3
486.4
2 395.1
3
2
29.0
1.48
35.0
34.0
34.0
34.0
1.90
1.41
1.38
1.29
34.6
1.61
22.0
25.0
24.4
23.9
25.0
24.1
21.9
29.0
3.99
2.67
2.57
2.33
2.32
2.30
2.05
2.04
5 3 .5
2.72
29.0
29.0
27.8
2.47
2.45
2.03
28.4
2.25
2 12.0
i 21.1
2 12.8
3
11.9
9.3
2
4 22.3
2 27.1
218.7
2 18.0
3 25.1
4 30.8
2 16.1
4 33.9
2 14.1
20.5
3
2 1 6 .8
214.2
Lumber
Port, and line number
Average Output per
Output per number
of man-hour
gang-hour
men
per (board
(board feet)
feet)
gang
San Francisco—ship’s tackle:
Line No. 1,19 ships
_____________________________________
Line No. 2,10 ships________________________________________
Line No. 3, 22 ships.............................................................. .........
Line No. 4,18 ships________________________________________
31,480
27,330
34,100
24,400
15.3
15.5
24.4
19.9
2,060
1,760
1,390
1,230
Average_________________________________________________
28,950
16.5
1,650
Gantry crane—unit system of stowage, 31 ships_______________
68,800
11.5
5,970
Los Angeles—ship’s tackle:
Line No. 1, 20 ships_________________ ____ _______ __________
Line No. 2, 20 ships____________________________________ _
Line No. 3,19 ships________________________________________
Line No. 4,18 ships________________________________________
Line No. 5,23 ships______________ ____ ____ ___________ ____
31,430
24,570
31,490
24,010
24,870
16.1
12.7
16.7
14.1
15.7
1,950
1,940
1,880
1,710
1,580
Average_________________________________________________
26,630
14.7
1,810
Baltimore—ship’s tackle and railroad cars:
Line No. 1,11 ships________________________________________
Line No. 2,15 ships________________________________________
15,900
11,200
18.1
17.2
880
650
Average_________________________________________________
14,500
17.9
810
* Hawaiian sugar, about 135 pounds to the bag.
3 Cuban sugar, about 330 to 350 pounds to the bag.
« Porto Rican sugar, about 250 to 270 pounds to the bag.
4 Philippine sugar, about 135 pounds to the bag.
612
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b l e 3 .— PR O D U C TIV ITY OF LABO R IN THE DISCHARGING OF R A W SUGAR, LU M BER,
AN D BANANAS—Continued
Lumber—Continued
Average Output per
Output per number
of man-hour
gang-hour
men per (board
feet)
(board feet)
gang
Port, and line number
Philadelphia—ship’s tackle and railroad cars:
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
Line No.
2,12 ships________________________________________
3,15 ships________________________________________
4, 9 ships_________________________________________
5,9 ships_________________________________________
6, 38 ships___. ____________________________________
13,700
13,600
12,600
12,000
9,900
9,300
16.7
17.8
16.9
17.0
16.0
15.0
820
760
750
710
620
620
11,700
16.5
710
Boston:
Ship’s tackle—
Line No. 1,17 ships____________________________________
Line No. 2,18 ships____________________________________
Line No. 3, 22 ships____________________________________
14,400
12,900
11,500
15.7
15.7
15.4
920
820
750
Average_____________________________________________
13,200
15.6
850
Pier and railroad cars—
Line No. 1, 54 ships____________________________________
Line No. 2, 7 ships_____________________________________
9,200
9,300
15.6
17.2
590
540
Average_________- - _________________________ ________
9,200
16.5
560
New York:
Ship’s tackle—
Line No. 1, 47 ships____________________________________
Line No. 2, 25 ships____________________________________
Line No. 3,15 ships____________________________________
Line No. 4, 24 ships____________________________________
Line No. 5,15 ships____________________________________
Line No. 6,18 ships____________________________________
Line No. 7,13 ships____________________________________
16,300
16,100
15,100
15,000
14,400
13,500
12,600
14.6
14,5
14.4
14.9
14. 6
14.8
14.7
1,120
1,110
1,050
* 1,010
990
910
860
Average_______ _______________________ ______________
15,400
14.6
1,050
Pier and railroad cars—
Line No. 1, 25 ships____________________________________
Line No. 2,14 ships____________________________________
Line No. 3,15 ships____________________________________
Line No. 4, 9 ships_____________________________________
Line No. 5, 20 ships____________________________________
Line No. 6,17 ships____________________________________
14,800
13,400
11,700
12,400
12,700
12,300
20.0
18.6
16.9
18.1
18.8
18.3
740
720
690
690
680
670
Average_________________________________________- ___
13,000
18.6
700
Bananas
Port
Output
Average
per gang number of
or convey men per
gang or
or hour
(stems)
conveyor
Outpat
per manhour
(stems)
New Orleans:
Line No. 1,165 ships_______________________________________
Line No. 2, 313 ships_______________________________________
2,299.4
1,663.2
Average_________________________________________________
1,832.8
133.7
13.71
Mobile, 166 ships______________________________________________
Charleston, 53 ships___________________________________________
Baltimore, 69 ships____________________________________________
Philadelphia, 94 ships__________________________________________
Boston, 102 ships______________________________________________
New York, 97 Slips........................................... ............................... ....
1,369.0
0)
465.0
806.0
672.1
776.5
100.0
0)
32.0
40.2
42.7
42.3
13.69
9.66
14.53
20.06
13.39
18.37
158.8
124.5
1 Not available; the discharging was done partly by a belt conveyor, but chiefly by hand power.
14.48
13.36
613
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
Ratio of Value of Production to Wages and Their Pur
chasing Power in Manufacturing Establishments,
1849 to 1929 a
HIS study of the relative share of wage earners in the product of
their labor, together with the relation between the purchasing
{>ower of the wages paid to labor and the value of the products of that
abor, has been developed from an analysis of the basic figures as
shown by the United States Census over a period of 80 years. These
basic figures are presented in Table 1.
The first part of this table presents the basic data as copied from
the Statistical Abstract of the United States (1929) and from the
Census of Manufactures advance reports for 1929. The averages and
percentages shown in the second part of the table have been com
puted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To these have been added
mdex numbers of wholesale prices from 1849 to 1929 on the basis of
1926. Index numbers of retail prices of food back to 1909 on the same
base are also given. Unfortunately a dependable index of retail
prices of food prior to 1909 is not available.
T
T a b l e 1 .— EARNINGS A N D OUTPUT IN M AN UFACTU RIN G INDUSTRIES A N D W HOLE
SALE A N D R E TA IL PRICES IN SPECIFIED YEARS, 1849 TO 1929
Kind of factories and year
Factories and hand and neighbor
hood industries:
1849...............................................
1859........................................ — 1869...............................................
1879........................... - ..................
1889...............................................
1899...............................................
Factories, excluding hand and neigh
borhood industries and establish
ments with products valued at less
than $500:
1899...............................................
1904...............................................
1909...............................................
19141.............................. ..............
Factories, excluding establishments
with products valued at less than
$5,000:
1914...............................................
1919...............................................
1921...............................................
1923...............................................
1925...............................................
1927............................................. 1929...................................... ........
earn
Number of Wage
(aver
establish ers
age
for
ments
year)
Wages
(in mil
lions)
Cost of
Value
materials, Value of
supplies, products added by
fuel, and (in mil manufac
ture (in
power (in lions)
millions)
millions)
123,000
140,000
252,000
254,000
355,000
512,000
957,000
1,311,000
2,054,000
2,733,000
4,252,000
5,306,000
$237
379
620
948
1,891
2,321
$555
1,032
1,991
3,397
5,162
7,344
$1,019
1,886
3,386
5,370
9,372
13,000
$464
854
1,395
1,973
4,210
5,656
208,000
216,000
268,000
273,000
4,713,000
5,468,000
6,615,000
7,024*000
2,008
2,610
a 427
4,068
6,576
8,500
12,143
14,359
11,407
14,794
20,672
24,217
4,831
6,294
8,529
9,858
177,000
214,000
196,000
196,000
187,000
192,000
199,000
6,895,000
8,998,000
6,944,000
8, 777,000
8,382,000
8,350,000
8,550,000
*4,067
2 10,460
8,200
11,008
10, 727
10,849
11,271
14,267
37,197
25,292
34,684
35,897
35,133
3 37,358
23,975
62,000
43,619
60,530
62,668
62, 718
68,453
9,708
24,803
18,327
25,846
26,771
27,585
3 31,096
* Includes data for “ Poultry killing and dressing” industry.
2 Includes data for all establishments reporting products valued at $500 or more. These items vere not
tabulated separately for establishments reporting products valued between $500 and $5,000.
3 Less cost of mill or shop supplies.
« Abstract of article by Ethelbert Stewart, U. S. Commissioner of Labor Statistics, in Labor Review,
December, 1930, pp. 33-36.
614
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—EARNINGS AN D OUTPUT IN M A N U FA C TU RIN G INDUSTRIES AND W HOLE
SALE A N D R E T A IL PRICES IN SPECIFIED YEA R S, 1849 TO 1929—Continued
Kind of factories and year
Factories and hand and neighbor
hood industries:
1849...............................................
1859................................................
1869.................................................
1879...................—..........................
1889.................................................
1899-...............................................
Factories, excluding hand and neigh
borhood industries and establish
ments with products valued at less
than $500:
1899-............................................. .
1904................................................
1909................................................
1914 i..............................................
Factories, excluding establishments
with products valued at less than
$5,000:
1914.......................................... .
1919............................................. 1921..........................................
1923.................................................
1925................................ - ..............
1927................................ — ........1929......................... ...................-
Aver Value
age of prod
yearly uct per
earn
wage
earner
ings
Per
Per
Per
cent
cent
cent
Value value
added added
wages wages
are of are of
per
is of
wage
value ofvalue
prod
value
earner of prod of prod uct
uct
uct
added
Index Index
num num
bers of bers of
whole retail
sale
prices
prices of food
(1926= (1926=
100)
100)
$248 $1,065
1,439
289
302
1,648
1,965
347
2,204
445
437 2,450
$485
651
679
722
990
1,066
45.5
45.3
41.2
36.7
44.9
43.5
23.3
20.1
18.3
17.7
20.2
17.9
51.1
44.4
44.4
48.0
44.9
41.0
60.1
61.0
93.5
58.8
57.4
52.2
426
477
518
579
2,420
2,706
3,125
3,448
1,025
1,151
1,289
1,403
42.4
42.5
41.3
40.7
17.6
17.6
16.6
16.8
41.6
41.5
40.2
41.3
52.2
59.7
67.6
68.1
55.2
63.8
590
1,162
1,181
1,254
1,280
1,299
1, 318
3,477
6,890
6,282
6,896
7,476
7,511
8,006
1,408
2,757
2,639
2,945
3,194
3,304
3,637
40.5
40.0
42.0
42.7
42.7
44.0
45.4
17.0
16.9
18.8
18.2
17.1
17.3
16.5
41.9
42.2
44.7
42.6
40.1
39.3
36.2
68.1
138.6
97.6
100.6
103.5
95.4
96.5
63.8
115.8
95.4
91.1
98.1
96.8
97.6
*Includes data for “ Poultry killing and dressing ” industry.
It will be seen from this computation that in 1849 the average yearly
earnings of persons employed as wage earners in the manufacturing
industries covered by the United States Census was $248. The value
of the manufactured product per wage earner was $1,065. The value
added to the raw material by the manufacturing process per wage
earner in 1849 was $485. The wage earner thus received in wages
23.3 per cent of the value of the finished product and 51.1 per cent of
the value added to the raw material by reason of his labor.
Fifty years later, in 1899, the average worker in manufacturing
establishments was receiving, on the same census basis, $437 a year.
However, the census basis changed in that year and on the new basis
he was receiving $426 per year, which was 17.6 per cent of the value of
the goods produced and 41.6 per cent of the value added by manufacture.
By 1929 the average worker was receiving $1,318 in wages, the value
of the goods produced had risen to $8,006 per capita of workers em
ployed, and the value added to the raw material by reason of his
labor had increased to $3,637 per worker. However, in 1929 the
worker received 16.5 per cent of the value of the product as against
23.3 per cent in 1849, and 36.2 per cent of the value of the product
added as against 51,1 per cent in 1849.
For a better view of the entire situation, index numbers of the
figures here considered have been computed on an 1849 base. The
results are presented in Table 2.
615
RATIO OP VALUE OP PRODUCTION TO WAGES
T a b l e 2.—IN D E X NUM BERS OF EARNINGS AN D OUTPUT IN M A N U FA C TU RIN G IN
DUSTRIES AND OF W HOLESALE PRICES, IN SPECIFIED YEARS, 1849 TO 1929
[1849=100]
Average
yearly
earnings
Kind of factories and year
Factories and hand and neighborhood
industries:
1849...................................................
1899..................................................
Factories, excluding hand and neigh
borhood industries and establish
ments with products valued at less
than $500:
1899...................................................
1904.............................. ...................
1909...................................................
1914.......................... ........................
Factories, excluding establishments
with products valued at less than
$5,000:
1914...................................................
1919...... ................ .........................
1921................ ......... .............. .........
1923 .......................... ....................
1925 .................................... .........
1927 ..................... ................. .........
1929..................................................
Per cent Percent Per cent
wages Whole
value
Value of Value
product added added is wages
are of
sale
are of value
per wage per wage of value value
of prices
of product
earner earner of prod product
uct
added
100.0
176.2
100.0
230.0
100.0
219.8
100.0
95.6
100.0
76.8
100.0
80.2
100.0
86.9
171.8
192.3
208.9
233.5
227.2
254.1
293.4
323.8
211.3
237.3
265.8
289.3
93.2
93.4
90.8
89.5
75.5
75.5
71.2
72.1
81.4
81.2
78.7
80.8
86.9
99.3
112.5
113.3
237.9
468.5
476.2
505.6
516.1
523.8
531.5
326.5
646.9
589.9
647.5
702.0
705.3
751.7
290.3
568.5
544.1
607.2
658.6
681.2
749.9
89.0
87.9
92.3
93.8
93.8
96.7
99.8
73.0
72.5
80.7
78.1
73.4
74.2
70.8
82.0
82.6
87.5
83.4
78.5
76.9
70.8
113.3
230.6
162.4
167.4
172.2
158.7
160.6
From Table 2 it is seen that the average yearly earnings in manu
facturing industries were 76.2 per cent greater in 1899 than they
had been 50 years before, that the value of the product per wage
earner was 130 per cent greater, that the value added to the raw ma
terial as the result of manufacture was 119.8 per cent greater, that
the per cent that wages bore to value of product had decreased 23.2
per cent, the per cent that wages were of value of product added
had decreased 19.8 per cent, and wholesale prices had decreased
13.1 per cent.
By 1929, or 30 years later, the average yearly earnings had increased
over 1849, 431.5 per cent, the value of products per wage earner
had increased 651.7 per cent, the value added by manufacture per
wage earner had increased 649.9 per cent. The per cent that wages
were of the value of the product had decreased 29.2 per cent, and the
per cent that wages were of value added had decreased by the same
amount, while prices had increased 60.6 per cent.
Comparison of 1909 with 1929
F o r a shorter-range view and for a view within a range of years
where conditions have not been radically changed, index numbers of
the census and price figures have been computed upon the basis of
1909, and are shown in Table 3. Another advantage which this
adjustment gives is that it affords an opportunity to add the index
numbers of retail prices of food in addition to the general index
numbers of wholesale prices.
47767°—31----- 40
616
PRODUCTIVITY OS’ LABOR
T a b l e 3 .— IN D E X NUM BERS OF EARNINGS AN D OUTPUT IN M AN U FACTU RIN G IN
DUSTRIES A N D OF WHOLESALE AND R E TA IL PRICES IN SPECIFIED YEARS, 1909
Kind of factories and year
Factories, excluding hand and neigh
borhood industries and establish
ments with products valued at less
than $500:
1909.................................................
1914................................................
Factories, excluding establishments
with products valued at less than
$5,000:
1914...................... .........................
1919.................................................
1921 ............................................
1923......................... ......................
1925.................................................
1927................................................
1929................................................
Value
of
Average product
yearly
earnings per
wage
earner
Per
Per
Per
cent
cent
Value
cent
wages Whole Retail
added value wages
prices
added
per
are of
sale
are of value
is of
wage
of prices of food
of product
earner value of value
product
product
added
100.0
111.8
100.0
110.3
100.0
108.8
100.0
98.5
100.0
101.2
100.0
102.7
100.0
100.7
100.0
115.6
113.9
224.3
228.0
242.1
247.1
250.8
254.4
111.3
220.5
201.0
220.7
239.2
240.4
256.2
109.2
213.9
204.7
228.5
247.8
256.3
282.2
98.1
96.9
101.7
103.4
103.4
106.5
109.9
102.4
101.8
113.3
109.6
103.0
104.2
99.4
104.2
105.0
111.2
106.0
99.8
97.8
90.0
100.7
205.0
144.4
148.8
153.1
141.1
142.8
115.6
209.8
172.8
165.0
177.7
175.4
176.8
In 1914 the census again revised the classification, and furnished
two sets of figures for the same year, but taking the readjusted
figures for 1914 on the basis of 1909 equaling 100 it is found that five
years later the average yearly earnings had increased 13.9 per cent;
the per cent wages are of value of product had increased 2.4 per cent;
wholesale prices had increased seven-tenths of 1 per cent, while retail
prices of food had increased 15.6 per cent.
Analyzing the 20-year period between 1909 and 1929 the average
yearly earnings in the manufacturing industries increased 154.4
per cent, the value of product per wage earner increased 156.2 per
cent, the value added by manufacture per wage earner increased 182.2
per cent, the per cent wages are of value of product fell six-tenths of
1 per cent, while the per cent wages are of value of product added
fell 10 per cent; wholesale prices increased 42.8 per cent while retail
prices of food increased 76.8 per cent. #
In order to avoid the possible criticism that the wholesale price
index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics which is used in these tables
is so heavily weighted with agricultural commodities as not to be
indicative of price trends in manufactured goods, Table 4 has been
prepared. This table gives index numbers of wholesale prices of
nonagricultural commodities, that is of precisely the same products,
so far as they go, that are covered in the Census of Manufactures,
and to facilitate comparisons four different bases for computation
are presented.
T a b l e 4 .- I N D E X NUM BERS OF WHOLESALE PRICES OF NON AGRICU LTU RAL COM
MODITIES IN SPECIFIED YEARS, 1914 TO 1929
Year
1914.....................................................................................
1919........................... .........................................................
1921.....................................................................................
1923............................................................ ........................
1925........................................ ...........................................
1927................................................... ......... .......................
1929.....................................................................................
1926—100.0 1913=100.0 1914=100.0 1909=100.0
66.8
131.6
100.1
100.9
101.4
94.4
94.4
96.8
190.7
145.1
146.2
147.0
136.8
136.8
100.0
197.0
149.8
151.0
151.8
141.3
141.3
100.2
197.4
150.1
151.3
152.1
141.6
141.6
617
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
Coal-Mine Labor Productivity1
T
HERE are a number of difficulties in the way of arriving at
satisfactory figures as to the ^productivity^ measured on the
basis of output per man per day, in the coal mines of this or any
other country.
In the United States the output is generally given in tons per day
for the entire force, consisting of both underground and surface
labor. As it is only the miners themselves who actually produce
the coal, the question of their output is of course entirely covered
up by “ other labor.”
A report of the Bureau of Mines permits the segregation of miners,
loaders, and shot firers, which correspond with the English term
“ coal getters.” These are the men who directly pick, blast, or cut
the coal from the natural seam and produce the commercial coal.
Besides their work, there is simply the matter of handling and trans
porting the coal and of keeping the mine in working condition for
handling and transporting it.
The four groups of workers which can be segregated from the
Bureau of Mines report are: (1) Miners, loaders, and shot firers;
(2) haulage and track employees; (3) all other underground employees;
and (4) surface employees. For these, two totals are given, the first
total being for all employees underground and the other for all em
ployees. Table 1 shows the productivity of labor in the coal mines
according to these groupings. In this, as in the other tables presented
in this article, mines producing less than 1,000 tons of coal per year
are excluded.
T a b le
1.—COAL-MINE OUTPUT PER M AN PER D A Y , 1929
[Computed from Bituminous Coal Tables (preliminary), 1929, United States Bureau of Mines]
Average tons per man per day
Underground employees
State
Surface
Haulage
Miners,
All em
employees
All other ployees
loaders, and and track employees
un
shot firers employees
derground
All em
ployees
Bituminous
Alabama...................................
Alaska.— ................................
Arizona.....................................
Arkansas..................................
California, Idaho, Nevada,
and Oregon............................
Colorado...................................
Georgia_____________ _______
Illinois......................................
Indiana......... ...........................
Iowa..........................................
Kansas.....................................
Kentucky.................................
Maryland.................................
Michigan.................................
Missouri............ .......................
Montana...................................
New Mexico........................... North Carolina......................
North Dakota..........................
Ohio..........................................
Oklahoma.................................
Pennsylvania.._____________
5.08
11.56
2.24
4.00
26.23
57.82
36.98
28.18
23.95
24.09
36.98
36.74
3.61
6.88
2.00
3.19
20.90
8.50
36.98
17.46
3.08
3.81
1.90
2.70
3.97
6.65
30.45
43.24
15.22
43.27
2.85
5.08
9.32
12.05
4.02
fi. 11
7.55
4.96
4.13
6.35
13.60
5.82
1.67
12.56
6.66
5.38
7.11
54.09
66.04
33.20
55.86
35.90
27.26
22.62
54.19
59.50
35.02
20.07
105.42
48.07
30.16
45.29
50.67
68.32
31.38
85.32
37.81
29.75
24.08
4& 74
89.25
41.69
20.07
131.06
56.31
34.42
42.85
6.87
8.87
3.22
4.44
5.35
3.68
3.05
5.09
9.85
4.46
1.43
10.34
5.30
4.03
5.38
9.13
32.69
1.68
50.07
33.10
40.35
19.58
35.05
29.75
31.17
16.31
39.89
25.43
10.03
20.08
37.24
20.04
39.67
2.17
4.40
1.68
6.06
7.00
2.98
3.63
4.64
3.28
2.77
3.87
7.90
3.79
1.25
6.84
1.64
3.36
4.73
i Abstract of article by Ethelbert Stewart, U. S. Commissioner of Labor Statistics, in Labor Review,
December, 1930, pp. 37-42.
618
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—COAL-M INE OU TPU T P E R M A N P E R D A Y , 1929—Continued
Average tons per man per day
Underground employees
State
Surface
All em
employees
Miners,
Haulage
All other ployees
un
loaders, and and track employees
derground
shot firers employees
South Dakota ____________ _
Tennessee__________________
Texas______________________
Utah..........................................
Virginia____________________
Washington________________
West Virginia...........................
Wyoming__________________
Total, bituminous_____
All em
ployees
3.17
4.86
5.87
11.78
7.87
6.14
9.45
9.89
26.08
40.56
52.37
29.87
33.35
35.09
46.35
31.40
49.45
75.72
25.83
32.10
39.28
57.38
3.17
3.62
4.64
8.53
5.02
146
6.26
7.14
22.05
26.62
41.31
27.70
21.30
36.52
38.66
3.17
3.11
3.95
7.09
4.24
3.77
5.34
6.02
7.74
40.75
41.85
5.63
35.41
4.85
Anthracite
P ennsylvania_______________
4.24
21.99
12.85
2.78
9.75
2.17
Grand total___________
7.01
36.79
32.83
4.99
26.84
4.21
Taking the State of Illinois as an example, the table shows that the
average output per man per day in the coal mines of that State is
6.06 tons, while the average output per miner or coal getter per day
is 9.32 tons. Similarly, the average output in Indiana for all em
ployees is 7 tons, or not much more than the output in Illinois, while
the productivity of the coal getters is 12.05 tons, but this is covered
up in the general average largely by the fact that the surface em
ployees handle 50.07 tons per man per day in Illinois while in Indiana
they handle but 33.1 tons per employee per day. In Utah there is
a general average for all employees of 7.09 tons, with an average for
the actual miners of 11.78 tons.
In Table 2 there is an attempt to show the relation of the number
of persons in each of the other groups to the number employed in the
group of miners, loaders, and shot firers. For instance, for each
actual coal getter in Illinois there is seventeen-hundredths of a man
employed in haulage and track work; there is eighteen-hundredths
of a man employed in other underground labor; there is nineteenhundredths of a man employed on the surface.
619
COAL MINES
T a b l e 2.—N U M BER OF PERSONS EM PLOYED IN EACH OTHER GROUP FOR ONE
M AN EM PLO Y E D AS A M IN ER, LOADER, OR SHOT FIR ER
Underground employees
Miners,
loaders,
and shot
firers
State
Bituminous
Alabama................. ..................... ........... ..........................
Alaplra.
. . _ .
Arizona_____________________________ ___________
........ .......
...........
Arkansas
California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon. ......... ............
Colorado_________ _____ ___________ _____________
Georgia__________________ ________________________
Illinois............ .... .............. ........... ....................................
Tndiar)^ ___________________________________________
Iowa______________________________________________
Haulage
and track
Surface
Other
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
0.19
.20
.06
.14
.13
. 1*)
0.21
.48
.06
.11
.26
.15
Kentucky ____ ___________________________________
Maryland _______________________________________
Michigan.... ................... - ___________________________
Missouri....... .......................... - ........................................
M on ta n a .._______________________________________
New Mexico_____________________________ _________
North Carolina____________________________________
North Dakota____ ______________________ ______ ___
Ohio_________ ____ —_______ _____ ______ __________
Oklahoma ________________________________________
Pennsylvania................. .................... .......... ................
South D akota................................................ .............. .
Tennessee________________________________________
Texas...................... ..........................................................
Utah.......................................................... ........................
Virginia .................................................. ........................
Washington_____________ _____ ______________ ______
West Virginia.........- .........................................................
Wyoming_________________________________________
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
21.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
.17
.18
.12
.09
.21
.18
.18
.12
.23
.17
.08
.12
.14
.18
.16
.18
.18
.13
.06
.20
.17
.17
.13
.15
.14
.08
.10
.12
.16
.17
.19
.14
.22
.26
.18
.27
.21
.15
.12
.16
.30
.19
.24
.17
.22
.22
.29
.28
.25
.26
.26
Total, bituminous____________________________
1.00
.19
.18
.22
Anthracite
Pennsylvania_____________________________________
1.00
.19
.33
.43
1.00
.19
•21
.26
K ansas____ __________________________ ________ ____ _______
Grand total. _____________ __________________
1 All surface—102 employees.
0.24
1.36
.06
.23
.43
.20
0)
. 19
.36
. 10
.26
.22
.17
.13
.39
.34
.23
.17
.63
.18
.27
.18
2 32 miners, loaders, and shot firers only.
Methods of Mining
N a t u r a l l y the productivity of the coal getter is determined
largely by the extent to which machinery is employed. This is
indicated in Table 3.
6 20
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
T able 3.—PERC E N TA GE OP T O T A L OUTPUT, B Y SPECIFIED M ETH ODS OF M IN ING
BITUMINOUS COAL, 1929
[From Bituminous Coal Tables (preliminary), 1929, United States Bureau of Mines]
Per cent mined by each method
State
Alabama..
Alaska__
Arizona
Arkansas.
Colorado..
Georgia__
Illinois__
Indiana. _
Iowa____
Kentucky:
Eastern------Western------Maryland______
Michigan----------M issouri...........
Montana............
New Mexico____
North CarolinaNorth Dakota—
O h io ..................
Oklahoma______
Pennsylvania----South Dakota__
T exas.-...........
U ta h ..............
Virginia...........
Washington—
West VirginiaWy
’
Total-
Production
(net tons)
Cut by Mined by Shot off
From Not speci
Total
machines hand
the solid strip pits
fied
17,943,923
100,610
10,132
1,695,108
9,920,741
44,636
60,657,641
18,344,358
4,241,069
2,975,971
66.3
46,025,452
14,437,148
2,649,114
804,869
4,030,311
3,407,526
2,622,769
52,180
1,862,130
23,689,477
3,774,080
143,516,241
12,854
5,405,464
92.7
90.1
24.4
97.9
27.7
49.9
21.9
1,100,668
5,160,521
12,748,306
2,521,327
138,518,855
6,704,790
10,322
534,988,593
48.8
56.2
76.1
54.7
30.2
8.8
38.3
88.6
67.5
10.4
10.0
19.3
.2
21.4
90.0
80.7
46.2
36.8
6.8
4.9
11.5
4.8
12.5
9.7
57.0
50.6
5.2
"74.T
‘“O'
2.1
7.1
1.2
2.1
1.2
13.1
13.0
29.4
61.0
9.8
26.9
19.3
2.7
.3
48.7
39.0
2.1
1.1
78.7
85.7
27.7
85.7
70.0
22.5
1.7
1.4
42.7
12.8
9.7
26.7
47.2
19.6
12.9
29.5
1.3
19.2
100.0
75.4
13.9
6.8
2.1
12.1
1.8
0.1
4.7
100.0
8.9
100.0
.2
.1
34.4
2.8
1.3
1.4
.3
49.3
35.8
1.1
1.0
46.3
7.5
13.1
.5
4.4
.7
.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
.1
1.1
3.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
.1
100.0
Taking the entire industry, the percentage of coal cut by machines
in 1929 was 75.4 per cent, as against 50.7 per cent in 1913 and 73.8
per cent in 1928. Machine cutting, however, is only part of the story.
The increase in mechanical loaders as between 1928 and 1929 has been
75.6 per cent for the country as a whole, 161.8 per cent in the State
of Illinois, 57.9 per cent in the bituminous fields of Pennsylvania,
35.8 per cent in Kentucky, and 23.2 per cent in West Virginia.
The mechanization of the coal mines, including in this term not
only the cutting and loading machines but the installation of electric
engines and larger cars for hauling the coal from the face of the
working to the mouth of the pit, is responsible for most of the increase
in output in the coal mines during the past 40 years. Some of it, of
course, is due to the entirely different methods of securing the coal,
such as the practice of blasting from the solid, which means that there
is no mining done in the old sense of the term. A hole is drilled with
electric power into the solid seam of coal, and an explosive is fitted
into this hole and ignited, tearing the coal from the seam without
further human energy. That this is a most wasteful and destructive
process is not a part of the present story.
The output in the bituminous coal fields of the United States per
man per day in 1890, all employees considered, was 2.56 tons, or an
average of 579 tons per man per year. In 1929 the average output
for the entire country, all employees considered, was 4.85 tons per
BOOT AND SHOE M AKING
621
day, or 1,064 tons per year. In anthracite the increase was from 1.85
tons per man per day, or 369 tons per year in 1890, to 2.17 tons per
day, or 487 tons per year in 1929; and this in spite of the fact that
in 1890 a miner’s workday was practically 10 hours on the average,
while in 1929 with comparatively few exceptions it was 8 hours.
Unfortunately, the reported time used in these figures is not always
upon a uniform or upon a very satisfactory basis. In many instances
the mines still report “ tipple time” instead of the actual mine oper
ating time; that is to say, the old method, of reporting the mine in
operation if at any time during the day the tipple was working, still
continues in some places. Tipple time means the time during which
coal is being dumped from the mine cars through the tipple into
railroad cars for shipment. It may mean only that the coal hoisted
the day before is loaded into the railroad cars, or it may mean that
the hoisting machinery and the tipple are operating while the mine
itself is not; that is to say, there is no coal actually being mined from
the seams at the working faces. It may also mean that only a part
of the mine is being operated.
This more or less seriously affects the accuracy of the reported days
in operation as they relate to the actual working of the mine. Again
it is true, as the report of the Bureau of Mines cautions, that “ many
of the smaller operators do not even average the pay roll for the year,
but rather set down the number of employees shown by the last pay
roll,” with the result that the figures represent the “ number of men
commonly dependent on the mines for employment.” 1 However,
the material used is the best available, and doubtless the accuracy of
the basic data improves from year to year.
The tendency of all these possible errors in basic data would be
unduly to increase the reported number of employees and the oper
ating time, and hence to decrease the average output per man-hour.
Labor Productivity in Boot and Shoe Making Before
the Invention of Machinery
OCUMENTARY material on boot and shoe making in the first
quarter of the nineteenth century affords some data on produc
tivity of hand workers before the invention of shoemaking machinery.
Joseph Lye was a skilled shoemaker of Lynn, Mass., doing only cus
tom, or “ bespoke,” work. He kept a diary, after the fashion of his
time, from which can be obtained an idea of productivity, at least of
one individual shoemaker who was probably representative of the
craft. Entries in the diary from 1817 to 1822 show that Lye’s usual
daily output was two pairs of shoes, although he sometimes made 3
pairs, and one dajr he records making “ 2 pairs of village walking boots
at 45 cents, 2 pairs military at 40 cents.” At that rate, the usual
daily earnings of a good shoemaker, working for himself on bespoke
work in his own shop, would be 80 to 90 cents. Two of Lye’s entries
read: “ This week’s work comes to $5.87 exclusive of other work” ;
“ this week’s work amounts to $5.40”—items which in both cases
refer only to his earnings at the shoemaking trade.
D
1U. S. Bureau of Mines. Mineral Resource, of the United States, 1925, Part II, pp. 428,429.
622
PRODUCTIVITY OF LABOR
The transcript of testimony in the trial of the Journeyman Cordwainers of Philadelphia in 1806 contains specific data on the time
element in the hand manufacture of the elaborate boot in fashion at
the time. A pair of ordinary long boots, known as “ Cossacks,” was
“ reckoned at three pairs of shoes” in the matter of time, in fixing piece
rates. The “ backstrap,” the style of boot involved in the wage
controversy out of which the conspiracy trial grew, was much more
elaborate than the Cossack.
An occasional employer had his journeymen work on his own
premises in a crude sort of factory, but the more usual custom was for
the journeymen to work in their own homes on material furnished by
the employer and already, cut. The finished work was then returned
to the employer.
During the course of the trial one of the employer-plaintiffs was
asked how much his journeymen earned in a week. He replied: “ I
have had them earn but $6 and $7, but some have earned $11.25 and
$12 a week; a good workman may earn $11.25 a week, for a good work
man can make 3 pairs of backstrap boots a week, which, at $3.75 a
pair, is $11.25.”
A journeyman called upon as a witness was asked: “ How many
hours a day must a man work to earn $11.25 a week?” He answered,
“ I could not earn $10 at the present rates if I was to work all the 24
hours of the day.” Another journeyman testified: “ A man can not
make a pair of backstraps under three days, setting steadily, late and
early. I can not make $12 a week, and I much doubt if any man can
on full-dress, fancy-top, backstrap boots.”
A third said: “ I work very hard, and later hours than other men.
At most I earn but $10 a week. I don't remember I ever earned
$11.25. In common I could not make more than $7 or $8; on an
average I can not earn more than $9.”
Admitting in answer to a question, that a fellow worker had earned
more, he added, “ but he had to work on Sundays to do it.” It had
taken him two weeks, he continued, to finish and deliver four pairs of
boots.
When fancy-top boots came into fashion in the summer of 1805, the
employers granted an advance of 50 cents above the prevailing rate
on backstrap boots for the new model. According to one witness
who worked on fancy-top boots at the price originally fixed: “ I
* * * could only make $8.50 a week, and I worked from 5 in
the morning until 12 or 1 at night. I can not make more than two
pair a week.” The employers' attorney asked him if he was “ a
smart workman,” and he replied: “ Not too fast or too slow; just
middling or so, like the common run.”
The scale current in 1805 and the proposed increase which the
employers, through a general agreement, refused to grant, were:
Current
scale
Proposed
scale
Fancy tops_______________________________ $4 25
Backstraps_______________________________ 3. 75
Long boots------------------ ------- --------------------- 2. 75
Cossacks_________________________________ 2. 75
Bootees__________________________ ____ — 2. 50
$5. 00
4. 00
3. 00
3. 00
3. 00
Evidence was introduced to show that the new prices asked by the
Philadelphia cordwainers were the rates then prevailing in New
623
LABOR COST ON FARMS IN COLORADO
York and Baltimore. In this connection the statement was made
that, “ considering how much dearer house rent, firing, and marketing
is at those places, the journeymen in Philadelphia have the advantage
even at the present rates.”
The strike was lost, and in the conspiracy trial brought by the
employers the following year, the leaders of the cordwainers’ organiza
tion were found “ guilty of a combination to raise their wages” and
fined “ $8 each, with costs of suit.”
Labor Cost of Producing Crops on Irrigated Farms in
Colorado
OR a number of years the Colorado Agricultural College Experi
ment Station, in cooperation with the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, has been collecting data on the cost of producing
crops on irrigated farms in Weld County, Colo. A report on the
results of the study was published in the latter part of 1929, the data
covering principally the years 1922 to 1927, although certain infor
mation is given for 1928.®
Costs of production, including man-labor cost, were worked out
for all of the different crops grown on the farms selected for study.
The important crops in that region were alfalfa, potatoes, sugar
beets, barley, wheat, oats, and beans. Some of the cost data in
connection with these crops, compiled from the report, are given in
the following table:
F
AVERAGE Y E A R L Y COST OF PRODUCING SPECIFIED CROPS ON IR R IG A T E D FARM S
IN W ELD COUNTY, COLO., 1922 TO 1927
Item
Pota
toes
Sugar
beets
Pinto
Seed
Barley Alfalfa beansi
beans2
Oats
Wheat
24.08
2,337
48.65
3 2.47
10.21
662
16.54
1,084
13.37
1,969
19.21
2,035
14.10
21.05
16.17
20.46
38.53
47.57
.30
37.35
43.04
13.6
19.6
.06
13.79
18.81
.10
$13.01
$11.20
$0.71
$63.31
$4.63
$2.89
$0.49
$29.49
$5.35
$2.92
$12.63
$6.95
$24.38
$12.40
$6.26
$0.50
$33.12
$34.49
$4.52
$3.06
$0.04
$30.90
$4.84
$2.90
$0.10
$30.57
Total costs.................................. $90.26 $88.23
Loss per acre.................... - .................. 5$13.63 5$25.50
$37.50
$7.75
$32.65
$4.22
$52.28
$23.58
$54.07
$2.67
$38.52
$9.35
$38.41
$1.55
Acres in crop harvested....... .......... ...
Yield per acre, pounds....... ................
Accounted for per acre, pounds_____
Waste per acre, pounds __ _ ____ _
Man-hours per acre.............................
Horse-hours per acre...........................
Tractor-hours per acre ___________
Costs per acre:
Man labor.....................................
Horse labor...................................
Tractor_______________________
All other costs4.............................
28.91
36.08
11,461 314.92
9,308
2,153
53.44
40.69
81.10
83.99
.46
.71
$17.89
$11.31
$0.46
$60.60
1 Mexican beans. Data are average of years 1924 to 1927.
2 All varieties of beans grown under contract for seed houses. Data are average of years 1924 to 1926.
3 Tons.
* Including such items as equipment, buildings, taxes, threshing, seed, manure, etc.
* Profit per acre.
« Colorado Agricultural College. Experiment Station. Bulletin 353: Cost of producing crops on irri
gated farms, by R. T . Burdick and H. B. Pingrey. Fort Collins, 1929. 72 pp.
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
625
D e a th s fr o m
L e a d P o is o n in g , 1925 t o 1927
STATISTICAL study of deaths from lead poisoning in the
United States, by Dr. Frederick L. Hoffman, published as Bul
letin No. 488, of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a continuation
of an earlier study published in 1929 which showed that a gradual
reduction in the deaths from chronic lead poisoning had been taking
place. The present bulletin covers the 3-year period, 1925-1927, and
its figures reflect a further decline in lead poisoning as measured by
the death rate.
The actual number of deaths recorded in the United States regis
tration area during the period were, respectively, 142 in 1925, 144 in
1926, and 135 in 1927. As in the earlier study, painters led all the
other occupational groups in the number of deaths, with 216, or more
than half the total number, occurring in this occupation. Among the
other occupational groups, metal workers and lead workers com
bined had 35 deaths; laborers, 35; and printers, 12; while electric
storage battery workers, paint makers, miners, plumbers, and other
occupations in which there is exposure to lead had fewer than 10
cases each. The group of laborers represents many employments
connected with lead-using industries in which unskilled manual labor
is required to a considerable extent. The small number of deaths in
the electric storage battery industry (5) is regarded as surprising in
view of the extensive exposure to the lead hazard in the industry,
but it is explained on the ground that lead poisoning in serious form
in the industry is very rare, while lead absorption is extremely com
mon. The fact that only one death from lead poisoning in the pottery
industry is recorded during the 3-year period is regarded as evidence
of the effectiveness of the far-reaching sanitary reforms introduced
into the American potteries during recent years.
Other deaths reported under occupations such as farmers, with 13
deaths, and commercial, with 9 deaths, are regarded as nonindustrial,
although in the case of farmers there is a suspicion of lead painting
being carried on privately, leading to lead mfection. Among the
cases of nonindustrial poisoning were 13 cases among women and 10
cases among children. The deaths among women were due chiefly
to the absorption of lead from drinking water which had passed
through lead pipes, while the children’s deaths were in most cases
the result of eating paint from cribs or toys.
While fatalities from lead poisoning are shown by the report to
have decreased, an increase in the number of cases of temporary
disability caused by lead poisoning is shown by data regarding com
pensation cases in New York State for the two years 1925-26 and
1926-27. The number of compensated cases increased from 213 in
the year ending June 30, 1926, to 243 in the following year, the major
number of cases occurring in the manufacture of electric storage
batteries.
A table is included in the report showing the increase in the pro
duction and use of lead pigments in the years 1917 to 1927. There
A
627
628
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
was a very considerable increase in all these products (except blue
lead) during this period, although there was a slight decline in the
production of red lead and litharge in 1927 as compared with 1926.
As building construction involving painting indoors and outdoors has
been maintained at a higher level in the past few years than formerly,
and as the production of lead pigments has been so much greater,
the actual decline in industrial lead poisoning can not be attributed,
therefore, to any falling off in the manufacture and use of the various
lead products.
_____ _________
Causes of Death, by Occupation
A
STUDY of the causes of death by occupation1 among a large
industrial group shows the changes in health conditions among
the wage earners of the Nation as compared with conditions revealed
by a similar study for the years 1911 to 1913.
The present study analyzes the causes of death among 3,250,000
white male policyholders 15 years and older insured in the industrial
department of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. Of this number
112,364 died during the years 1922, 1923, and 1924, and while infor
mation was not complete in regard to the occupational classification
of the entire number, the occupations of 105,467 of these persons were
known and it is this group, therefore, that forms the basis of the study.
Various conditions have had a profound influence upon the health
situation of the industrial population. Chief among these are
improvements in machinery, changes in industrial processes, new
findings regarding the sanitation of factories, reductions in the hours
of labor, increases in wages, and the extensive welfare activities which
are characteristic of modern industry. The betterment of living
conditions and improved standards of living have made their impress
very definitely upon the longevity and vitality of wage earners and
have been reflected in lower death rates. Workers 20 years of age
may expect to live, on the average, five years longer to-day than at
the time the earlier study was maae. These facts, brought out by
the findings of the present report, are of great importance, as it is
only by the widespread dissemination of such facts that a sound
means of bettering working conditions and still further raising the
level of industry can be attained. Such a report covering, as it does,
a typical cross section of the wage-earning population provides,
therefore, reliable and useful information as to industrial morbidity
conditions for industrial physicians, health officers, and private
practitioners, and for labor arbitrators also and others interested in
the improvement of working conditions.
The method of analysis followed in the report has been in general the
same as that used in the previous study. Since the number of insured
persons in each occupation was not known, the method of propor
tionate mortality has been followed; that is, for each occupation the
part that any cause of death has played in the total mortality was
found, taking into account the factor of age. This has been found to
be a satisfactory method of working out practical problems of indus
trial hygiene although certain allowances for the lack of accurate
i U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Bui. No. 607: Causes of death, by occupation, by Louis I. Dublin and
Robert J. Vane, jr.
CAUSES OF DEATH, B Y OCCUPATION
629
knowledge of the occupational status of living policyholders have to
be made. The causes of death have been classified as heretofore,
according to the standard method used by the United States Census
Bureau, and the occupations have been classified according to an
abridged and modified list of titles based on the classified index to
occupations of the Bureau of the Census, so that comparability with
the previous study and with data of the Census Bureau have been
maintained.
The group of persons included in these mortality tables consists
mainly of workers in the United States and Canada in manufacturing
plants, mines, transportation industries, and mechanical pursuits; it
constitutes therefore a fairly homogeneous social and economic
group which is predominantly urban. Although the group is con
sidered typical of the wage-earning population of the country, it
includes fewer agricultural workers, professional people, executives,
and small, independent business men than does the entire working
population.
Mortality Rates of Different Groups
A c o m p a r i s o n of the mortality experience of the group as a whole
with the rates at the same ages for men in the general population of
the United States registration States shows that the mortality rate
for all ages combined is lower for the insured group than for the males
in the registration States, the rates in 1923 being, respectively, 11.8
and 13.8 per thousand. This condition is due, however, to the
lower mortality in the first age group, 15 to 24 years, and in the last,
65 years and over. At age 25 the mortality rate of the industrial
group is higher and it increases progressively up to 54 years, the death
rate for the age period 45 to 54 years being 43 per cent higher than
that of the general population, while in the next period, 55 to 64
years, the rate is 34 per cent higher. These rates reflect primarily
the results of industrial exposure. The lower rate for the insured
group in the beginning is accounted for by the fact that the group is
then in its best physical condition; the rates for the last age penod,
where the insured again make a more favorable showing, are not
reliable, because most of the industrial policies terminate at age 74.
The effects of industry are also reflected in the differential death
rates for males and females, as a comparison of the rates for the male
insured group with those for the company’s female industrial policy
holders shows that after age 10 the mortality rates for males are con
sistently higher than those for females with the#single exception of
the age period 15 to 24 years, when the industrialization of women
is at its height. After that period the majority become housewives
and the lowered rate is ascribed to the absence of industrial hazards
in the lives of most women.
An even greater difference suggestive of the effects of industrial
exposures is found when the mortality of industrial males is compared
with that of persons who are mainly engaged in nonhazardous pur
suits. A comparison of the rates for the industrial group with those
for male policyholders in the ordinary department of the Metropoli
tan Life Insurance Co.— a group composed mainly of the clerical
professional, and commercial classes, with a fairly large number of
agricultural workers and better-paid mechanics—shows that, age for
age, the mortality rates for the industrial group run from one and
630
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
one-half times to more than two times the rates for policyholders in
the ordinary department.
The less favorable situation of the industrial worker is also shown
by the figures for life expectancy. At the age of 20 the industrial
worker has an expectation of life of 42 years; or, in other words, he
may expect to reach age 62. Among those engaged in nonhazardous
occupations, however, the 20-year old worker may expect to attain
the age of 69, or 7 years additional. At succeeding age periods the
advantage still remains on the side of the nonindustrial group.
The comparisons of these different groups all show the influence of
industrial environment on mortality rates and life expectation and
the rates give a rough measure, therefore, of the tax which industrial
work exacts and of the hazards to which workers are exposed.
Causes of Death
C o m p a r i s o n of the principal causes of death in 1912 and 1923, the
midyears of the two studies, shows that the most important causes
in 1923 were organic diseases of the heart with a rate of 188.7 per
100,000, tuberculosis of the respiratory system (149.7), and influenza-pneumonia (124). In 1912 tuberculosis of the lungs with a
rate of 319.9 was the leading cause of death, while organic diseases
of the heart with a rate of 203.9 held second place, and nephritis
with a rate of 178.1 was third. At ages 15 to 24, in 1923, accidental
or undefined violence was the leading cause of death, with tubercu
losis of the respiratory system holding second place. The position
of accidental violence and tuberculosis was reversed for the next two
age periods, while after age 44 years diseases of the heart became the
chief cause of death with death rates of 253.3 in the age group 45 to
54, and of 681.3 in the 55 to 64 age group. In the first of these
periods tuberculosis was second in numerical importance with a rate
of 218.5; but in the latter it was superseded by cancer, which showed
a rate of 436.2, and by nephritis and cerebral hemorrhage, each of
which had a rate of 363.
Almost every cause of death has shown a downward trend in mor
tality. Tuberculosis of the respiratory system, one of the most
important causes, has shown a very great improvement, the death
rate decreasing from 319.9 per 100,000 in 1912 to 149.7 in 1923, or a
reduction of 53.2 per cent. Workers 25 to 34 years of age and 35
to 44 years were the most favorably affected, the decrease amounting
to 60.2 and 62.6 per cent, respectively. Nephritis has shown a
significant but smaller decrease of 38 per cent, the rates declining from
178.1 for all ages in 1912 to 110.5 in 1923. The mortality rate from
this disease showed the greatest decline in the age period 35 to 44,
when it went down 55.7 per cent. Mortality from pneumonia also
showed the substantial reduction of 26.2 per cent, the rate in 1923
being only 92.5. The greatest decline in deaths from pneumonia
occurred among the younger workers, in the age periods 25 to 34 and
35 to 44. the reduction amounting to 42.4 and 35.2 per cent, re
spectively. The fatal accident rate was reduced from 140.6 in 1912
to 121.2 in 1923, a decline of 13.8 per cent. Diseases of the heart
showed little change for all ages, but changes in classification pro
cedure have materially affected the comparability of the figures
between the two periods. Heart disease, in spite of a decrease in the
actual death rate, has become relatively more important owing to the
CAUSES OF DEATH, B Y OCCUPATION
631
much more rapid decline in the death rate from tuberculosis. In the
years 1911-1913, 12 per cent of all the deaths were due to heart
disease, while 15.4 per cent of all the deaths in the period 1922-1924
were from that cause.
Mortality rates for some of the lesser causes of death have markedly
decreased, notably typhoid fever, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide,
while the effects of better industrial hygiene are seen in the 50 per
cent decline in the death rate from chronic lead poisoning, a disease
of almost exclusively occupational origin.
Exceptions to the general downward trend of mortality are found
in the rise of the cancer death rate, the rate for influenza, and for
automobile accidents. The death rate for cancer increased from 77.6
per 100,000 in 1912 to 94.9 in 1923, a rise of 22.3 per cent, the rates
increasing 15.5 per cent and 30.6 per cent, respectively, in the impor
tant age periods 45 to 54 and 55 to 64. The influenza rate went up
157 per cent and the rate for automobile accidents almost 500 per
cent for all ages between the years 1912 and 1923. Increases of a
lesser amount were registered for diabetes and for homicide.
The influence of the occupation upon mortality rates is shown by
comparison of these figures with those of males insured in the ordinary
department of the company. The rates in the industrial department
were higher for all causes, the death rates for tuberculosis, age period
for age period, being two and one-half to nearly four times as high as
among the professional, mercantile, and agricultural group. The
pneumonia and accident rates are more than twice as high as among
the nonindustrial workers, and the degenerative diseases—cerebral
hemorrhage, nephritis, and organic diseases of the heart—are two
and sometimes three times as high.
In spite of the relatively unfavorable mortality of the industrial
group, this group has exhibited a greater improvement, age for age,
than has the general population, the decline in mortality for white
males'in the industrial group, 1912 to 1923, amounting to 27 per cent,
while the reduction among white males in the registration States.
1911 to 1923, amounted to only 3.5 per cent.
Conclusion
T h e difference in death rates which the study has shown to exist
between the insured industrial group on the one hand and males in
the general population and among males insured under ordinary
policies on the other (the disparity increasing from year to year up
to about age 54) is considered to indicate that exposure to industrial
hazards is cumulative in its deleterious effects. The study brings out
sharply the wide variation that exists in the percentage distribution
of the deaths from violence and the principal diseases in various
occupations within the several age periods. When occupations with
high percentages for a selected cause of death are brought together, a
common industrial hazard is frequently found, thus suggesting that a
definite cause and effect relationship exists between a given industrial
hazard and a particular cause of death. A positive association is
most clearly marked in the case of accidental violence, tuberculosis,
the nontuberculous respiratory diseases, alcoholism, and such a
strictly occupational disease, for example, as lead poisoning. The im
portance of more complete data and coverage is pointed out in the
47767°— 31------- 41
632
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
report. The lack of information regarding the number of living policy
holders in the different age groups is a serious handicap which pre
cludes the possibility of computing occupational death rates. Un
doubtedly such death rates would be a much more accurate measure of
the hazards to life in the various occupations than we now have.
Consequently it would be highly desirable to obtain death rates
classified according to age and cause of death for a much larger
number of occupations than was covered in the study. The absence
of trustworthy occupational mortality statistics in the United States
hinders the work of industrial hygienists, and such a work as the
present one can only partially overcome the lack of reliable data.
Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Industry
A N ARTICLE on the prevalence of tuberculosis among industrial
X I . workers in the Statistical Bulletin, July, 1930, published by the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., summarizes a paper by Dr. A. J.
Lanza and Mr. R. J. Vane, presented at the Industrial Hygiene
Conference, Chicago Tuberculosis Institute, April 25, 1930.
Tuberculosis in industry presents two phases, the report states,
which are based on causal factors which are entirely distinct although
at times overlapping. One factor is the general prevalence of tuber
culosis among industrial workers which results from their socialeconomic status and the other is the tuberculosis which results from
a specific occupational hazard.
Comparison of mortality rates of three classes of the population,
all white males, shows that the insured group of Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. industrial policyholders has the poorest showing in
regard to the prevalence of tuberculosis. This group represents the
least favorable economic stratum, while of the two other groups the
ordinary policyholders represent the highest, with males in the
general population of the registration States coming in between and
including both classes. The tuberculosis death rates for males in the
registration area are lower than those for insured males in the in
dustrial group at every age period except 65 to 74 years. In the age
group 15 to 19 years the rate for the industrial group is 18 per cent
higher than for males in the registration States, becoming progres
sively worse at each succeeding age period up to 45 to 54 years. The
industrial group is at an even greater disadvantage when their rates
are compared with those for males insured in the ordinary depart
ment, the industrial death rate from tuberculosis in the age group
45 to 54 years being three and one-third times that for males in the
ordinary group.
The wide variations in the death rates of these classes can not be
explained altogether by differences in economic position, as the effects
of specific industrial hazards are also present. The rates for women
are particularly unfavorable for the early age groups—the time of
employment and maternity. For females in the industrial group in
the age period 15 to 19 the tuberculosis death rate is two and onefifth times that for males in the same group, while from 20 to 24 years
it is 50 per cent higher. After the age of 25 the rate for women begins
to decline while that for males increases, and at the age period 45 to
54 years, the period of maximum difference, the male rate is three
and one-third times the female rate.
P B E V A L E N C ! OF TtJBBECXTLOSIS IN INDUSTRY
633
Analysis of the mortality rates on the basis of occupation is more
difficult owing to the fact that statistics on occupational mortality
are meager. An analysis of occupational mortality of white persons
insured under ordinary policies ($1,000 or more) was made, however,
by 12 of the largest insurance companies during the years 1915-1926.
This report gives, for a large number of selected occupations, the
number of life-years exposed, grouped by age into two broad age
groups, 15 to 39, and 40 years and over; and the actual number of
deaths from tuberculosis under each occupation is compared with the
number of deaths which would have been expected on the basis of
death rates prevailing among standard lives of the same ages. The
greatest hazard was shown by these figures to be presented by the
lead and zinc mining industry, these miners having a tuberculosis
mortality 8 times as great as among “ standard” lives. The harm
ful effect of silica dust is shown by the fact that the highest ratios
of actual to expected deaths were—underground lead and zinc miners,
1,800 per cent; granite and sandstone cutters, 941 per cent; copper
miners, 889 per cent; and gold and silver miners, 818 per cent. Tuber
culosis was responsible for one-half of all the deaths of lead and zinc
miners, 29 per cent of the deaths of copper miners, and 20 per cent of
those of gold and silver miners. Iron miners, who are but slightly
exposed to silica dust, had a ratio of actual to expected deaths of 267
per cent and the ratio among quarry workers was 259 per cent.
Although it was impracticable to separate the granite quarries from
the limestone quarries, it was considered that there was no doubt
that the figures would show an excessive rate among the workers in
granite quarries as this was clearly indicated by the difference in the
mortality ratios for the granite and sandstone cutters and the marble
and limestone cutters. The ratio of actual to expected deaths among
the former was 941 per cent or 16 deaths to 1.7 expected deaths,
while among the latter the ratio was only 300 per cent or 3 actual
to 1 expected death.
These figures are evidence of the fact that the most outstanding
industrial hazard from the standpoint of tuberculosis is inorganic dust
of which silica dust is the most harmful. The report states that the
exact nature of the changes which silica causes in the pulmonary
tissue and its extraordinary relationship to tuberculosis are unknown
and that “ when we know why a silica-dusted lung becomes tuber
culous we shall probably know a great deal more about tuberculosis
than we do at present.”
Other occupations which offer exposure to silica dust are grinding,
in which the ratio of actual to expected deaths from tuberculosis was
206 per cent, or 7 deaths to 3.4 expected, and certain foundry occupa
tions. In the foundry industry, although there was a high rate for
tuberculosis, the extreme rates were found for influenza and pneumo
nia but the dust is considered to be a factor in the nontuberculous
respiratory disease rate.
Among other occupations in which exposure to dust was not so
great farmers and farm laborers were found to have the lowest rates,
80 and 65 per cent, respectively, while the high rates of others such as
laborers (298 per cent), porters (400 per cent), longshoremen (300
per cent), cooks (248 per cent), and servants (174 per cent) are
considered to be due largely to social-economic status of such
workers.
634
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
Health Conditions Among American and Canadian
Industrial Populations in 1930
HE mortality record for the many million industrial policyholders
of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for 1930 shows that the
people of the United States and Canada enjoyed better health that
year than ever before.2 The death rate of insured persons one year
old and over was only 8.3 per thousand, or 6.6 per cent less than in
1929 and 1.1 per cent less than in 1927, the year in which the previous
minimum death rate was established. Practically all diseases, with
only a few minor exceptions, showed an appreciable decline during
the year, and for a considerable number of diseases a new minimum
for all time was registered. In all but two months a lower death
rate was shown than for the corresponding month of the preceding
year and in six, namely, January, March, May, June, November,
and December, a new minimum was recorded.
The low death rate for the year 1930 was all the more remarkable,
the report states, considering the unfavorable business conditions
which prevailed, since unemployment is not conducive to low mor
tality rates. The fact that the depression followed closely upon a
period of employment at high wages, it is thought, may account in a
measure for the delayed effect upon the public health, as it was
possible for many families to avoid distress by having recourse to
their savings. Well-organized relief work has also resulted in retard
ing the effects of unemployment upon the health of families, and the
favorable weather conditions of the year, together with the lack of
serious epidemics, were also factors in the good showing for 1930.
The extent of the improvement is shown by the fact that if the
1911 death rate of 12.5 per 1,000 had prevailed in 1930, 227,835 of the
policyholders of the company would have died during the year in
stead of only 151,510. The saving in lives, therefore, amounted to
76,325. Reduction in the deaths from tuberculosis accounted for
more than one-third of this saying, decline in deaths from pneumonia
for one-eight, and the four principal diseases of childhood, measles,
scarlet fever, whooping cough, and diphtheria, for one-ninth. In
addition, there were 3,708 fewer deaths from typhoid fever than
would have occurred if the 1911 death rate for that disease had pre
vailed, and 3,642 and 2,759 fewer deaths from diarrheal conditions
and accidents, respectively. Three-fourths of the saving in lives,
therefore, is due to the reduction in the death rate from preventable
diseases, which have been the object of the most intensive health
work by the different public and private agencies.
The reduction in the tuberculosis death rate, which was the most
outstanding improvement in the year, amounted to 7.3 per cent over
that for the previous year and was 64.0 per cent below that for 1911.
The improvement was most marked in cases of tuberculosis of the
respiratory system, which causes almost nine-tenths of the deaths due
to all forms of tuberculous disease. This improvement was shown in
all parts of the country, in city and rural districts, among both white
and colored people, and probably, it is stated, in every occupation and
industry, but the greatest improvement was found among the wageearning population of the cities where the situation has always been
T
2 Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
Statistical Bulletin, January, 1931.
HEALTH CONDITIONS— INDUSTRIAL POPULATIONS
635
the most serious. The improvement in economic and social condi
tions resulting from the decrease in tuberculosis deaths is shown by
the fact that the highest mortality rate has shifted within two decades
from age 39 in 1911 to nearly 54 years in 1929, or an age when the
children of the breadwinner are usually capable of self-support.
There was no serious outbreak of influenza during 1930, and the
death rate for this disease, which was 13.1 per 100,000, was lower than
for any year, with a single exception, since the widespread epidemic
of 1918-19. The combined improvement in the rates for influenza
and pneumonia was a very important factor in the reduction in the
general death rate of 1930.
Although there was a rise of four-tenths of 1 per cent in the rate
for cancer, in general the rate of increase has been retarded in the last
two years. This is regarded as giving some grounds for satisfaction
although the mortality rate shows an increase of 16.3 per cent over
the figures for 1911 and it is estimated that 2,022 more deaths from
malignant growths occurred than would have been recorded under
the rate prevailing in 1911. An upward trend has been evident in
diabetes for many years and the mortality rate of 18.6 per 100,000
which was identical with that for 1929 is the highest ever recorded.
It is obvious, the report states, that the increasing use of insulin has
failed to check the rise in the disease although there is no question
that it has prolonged the lives of thousands of persons suffering from
the disease. Although there was a slight decline in the mortality
from heart disease and chronic nephritis, this was believed to be due
to the lower incidence of influenza and pneumonia. Heart disease is
still the principal cause of death in the industrial population and
with the single exception of 1929 the rate, 146.4 per 100,000 was the
highest the company has ever recorded. However, there are some
encouraging aspects in the mortality from cardiac disease, the rate
having dropped for children and for adults up to the age of 45. This
improvement has been attained, it is believed, through the widespread
preventive and therapeutic measures which have been taken against
cardiac affections, including increased school medical inspections.
While the chronic nephritis rate has shown little variation for more
than a decade, it nevertheless was 27.5 per cent lower in 1930 than
in 1911. A new minimum was established for the third successive
year for diseases of pregnancy and childbirth, although the mortality
from puerperal conditions is said still to be needlessly high. A slight
decline in the death rate from alcoholism was shown from the rate for
1929 but the rate from cirrhosis of the liver registered a slight increase.
There was a marked increase in the suicide death rate from 8.7 per
100,000 in 1929 to 9.8 in 1930, or 12.6 per cent, but the rate is well
below the level recorded for the years 1911 to 1916. An improvement
was shown in the fatal accident rate, and for the first time in 20 years
a decline was recorded in the mortality from automobile accidents.
The drop was small, however, only 1.4 per cent, and is probably of
small significance, since other estimates indicate that there was an
increase for the population as a whole and also because there was a
smaller increase than in previous years in the number of cars on the
road.
The improvement in the death rate among Metropolitan industrial
policyholders has continued to be much greater than in the general
population. A comparison of the rates for 1929, the latest year for
636
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
which the statistics of the registration States are available, shows that
among the policyholders of the company the 1929 death rate was 28.8
per cent lower than in 1911 and for the general population only 11.9
per cent.
International Typographical Union Mortality, 1929
HE mortality experience of the International Typographical
Union is shown in the foHowing statistics for the year 1929.3
Table 1 gives the membership from 1912 to 1929 and the mor
tality, from four selected causes, per 100,000 exposed to risk.
T
T a b l e 1.—M O R TA L IT Y FROM FOUR SELECTED CAUSES, PER 100,000 M EM BERS, 1912
TO 1929
Year
M ember
ship
Pulmonary tu
berculosis
Deaths
Rate
Cancer
Deaths
Rate
Diabetes
Deaths
Rate
Nephritis
Deaths
Rate
1912 to 19181........................
1919 to 1923 1..... .................
421,100
350,900
698
514
165.7
146.5
139
281
33.0
80.1
45
77
10.7
21.9
298
240
70.8
68.4
1925.......................- ...........
1926.............. - ........- ...........
1927.....................................
1928........................ ............
1929............................. ........
70,372
72,704
74,829
75,738
76,015
87
87
56
74
90
123.6
119.7
74.8
97.7
118.4
66
64
83
79
94
93.8
88.0
110.9
104.3
123.7
12
15
14
16
12
17.0
20.6
18. 7
21.1
15.8
56
38
47
38
46
79.6
52.3
62.8
50.2
60.5
369,658
394
106.6
386
104.4
69
18.7
225
60.9
Total, 1925 to 1929
» Aggregate membership and deaths.
The table shows a decline in the death rate from pulmonary tuber
culosis, except for the year 1929, when there was an increase over the
preceding year and a material increase over 1927. This increase is in
contrast to the decline in pulmonary tuberculosis in the general
population, but the numbers are relatively small, though at the same
time suggestive of a condition more or less disconcerting.
Cancer is shown to have increased continuously from an average
death rate of 33 per 100,000 during 1912-1918 to 123.7 per 100,000
during 1929. This conforms to the general increase in cancer but the
rate of increase has been somewhat more pronounced in the population
at large. Deaths from diabetes show a substantial decline during the
year under review, although diabetes in the population generally is
increasing. Deaths from nephritis show an increase over the preced
ing year, out the rate is lower than that for 1927, although higher than
that for 1926. Compared with earlier years, however, the rate is still
measurably below the earlier average. Comparing the period 1919 to
1923 with 1925 to 1929, it appears that tuberculosis has declined from
146.5 to 106.6; cancer has increased from 80.1 to 104.4; diabetes has
declined from 21.9 to 18.7, and nephritis from 68.4 to 60.9.
The proportion of mortality of selected causes presents a some
what different picture. Table 2 shows the corresponding returns on
a proportionate basis for the four selected causes.
3 Data for previous years were presented in Bulletin No. 427, and in Labor Review, issues of July, 1927,
April, 1928, and March, 1929.
637
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE CASES IN ILLINOIS
T a b u : 2.—PROPO RTION ATE M O R TA L IT Y FROM FOUR SELECTED CAUSES, 1912 TO
1929
Deaths due to—
Pulmonary
tuberculosis
Year
All
causes
Num
ber
Per
cent
Cancer
Num
ber
Diabetes
Per
cent
Num
ber
Per
cent
Nephritis
Num
ber
Per
cent
1912 to 1918 1....... ...................
1919 to 1923 i...........................
3,338
3,447
698
514
20.9
14.9
139
281
4.2
8.2
45
77
1.3
2.2
298
240
8.9
7.0
1925.........................................
1926.........................................
1927.........................................
1928........................................
1929.........................................
880
913
1,002
913
1,090
87
87
56
74
90
9.9
9.5
5.6
8.1
8.3
66
64
83
79
94
7.5
7.0
8.3
8.7
8.6
12
15
14
16
12
1.4
1.6
1.4
1.8
1.1
56
38
47
38
46
6.4
4.2
4.7
4.2
4.2
Total, 1925 to 1929 K —
4,798
394
8.2
386
8.0
69
1.4
225
4.7
1 Aggregate deaths.
The table shows that the number of deaths from pulmonary tuber
culosis declined from an average of 20.9 per cent of deaths from all
causes during 1912-1918 to 8.2 per cent during 1925-1929. Cancer
increased from 4.2 to 8 per cent, diabetes from 1.3 to 1.4 per cent,
and nephritis declined from 8.9 to 4.7 per cent.
It should be explained that the foregoing mortality is derived from
the death rolls as published in the monthly journal of the Interna
tional Typographical Union, including both the deaths in the journal
membership and the deaths occurring at the Printers’ Home. They
do not represent precisely the mortality for the calendar year, but
more accurately the mortality from December to December. Since
this method* has been followed now for a number of years, it would
seem inadvisable to change it. There are no reasons for believing
that any material alterations would result if the mortality were ad
justed precisely to the calendar year, which would involve a very
considerable amount of additional labor.
Compensable Cases of Occupational Disease in Illinois
NDER THE occupational disease act of Illinois, as amended in
1923, disability or death caused by an occupational disease
arising out of and in the course of employment in certain specified
occupations is considered as an accidental injury. The specified
occupations are those involving the use or handling of certam com
pounds of lead or arsenic, or other poisonous, chemical, mineral, or
other substances in harmful quantities or under harmful conditions,
the manufacture of brass, or the smelting of lead or zinc. Other
diseases or infections are compensable only if proved to be accidental
injuries or the result of such injuries.
Compensable occupational disease cases are reported to the in
dustrial commission in the same manner as accidents, so that all
cases involving more than seven days’ disability are reported. Since
April, 1928, the commission has also requested additional informa
tion on all cases indicating disease or industrial poisoning. These
data, in summary form, are given in the February and March, 1930,
U
638
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
issues of the Labor Bulletin, the official publication of the Illinois
Department of Labor.
Up to the end of January, 1930, preliminary reports had been
received in 439 cases, the great majority of which have been sup
plemented by additional information.
The following table shows a summary of the nature of the disease
in the 439 cases, by industry group:
COMPENSABLE OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE CASES R E PO RTE D IN ILLINOIS, A P R IL 1,
1928, TO JAN U ARY 81, 1930, B Y N ATURE AN D INDU STRY
Nature of disease
Clerical
and
profes
sional
service
Con
struc
tion
Benzol poisoning____________________________
___________
Carbon
_______
monoxide poisoning
Chlorine gas poisoning_______________________
Gas poisoning, not classified.................................
Hydrogen sulphide poisoning_______________
Illuminating gas poisoning___________________
Inflammation of lining of nose____________ ____
Lead poisoning______________________________
Lung affections, not classified_________________
Methyl chloride poisoning________ ___________
Naphtha poisoning__________________________
5
Skin affections, not classified_____________ ____
Tuberculosis________________________________
Weil’s disease_______________________________
Not classified________________________________
Total.............................................................
5
1
1
6
Manu
factur
in g
6
1
1
1
1
2
302
2
1
9
1
1
20
60
1
Trade
1
9
Trans
porta
All in
tion
and
dustries
public
utilities
2
1
2
1
i
7
5
7
1
384
21
9
n
18
1
1
1
2
3
311
2
1
1
86
1
1
9
439
The occupational disease act covers only a small number of occuf)ations, and the main hazards to the workers in these are from the
ead compounds. Consequently there is a relatively high proportion
of lead poisoning in the reported diseases—70.8 per cent—which
would be misleading if compared with figures for a State where all
occupational diseases are included. Skin diseases come next, with
19.6 per cent, while carbon monoxide poisoning ranks third, with
4.1 per cent.
A sex division of the affected workers shows that a proportionately
larger number of cases occurred among male workers, based on a
rough estimate of four male workers employed for every female
worker, as 92.3 per cent of the cases were males. Comparatively
few of these were minors, and the largest number of cases was in
the 5-year group between 25 and 29 years of age. In the case of
the females, the largest number of cases occurred in the age groups
of 18 to 20 years and 35 to 39 years.
Occupational Diseases Investigated in Massachusetts
in 1929
HERE were 544 cases of occupational diseases investigated in
Massachusetts during 1929, according to a report for that year
by the division of industrial safety.4 The majority of the cases and
T
4 Massachusetts. Department of Labor and Industries. Report for the year ending Nov. 30, 1929.
Boston, 1930, pp. 35-51.
639
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES IN NEW JERSEY
all of the eight fatalities occurred among men, only 61 cases being
reported among women. Lead poisoning and gas and fume poisoning
each resulted in one fatality and there was one death from pneumo
coniosis, two from tuberculosis, and three from anthrax.
The following table shows the number of investigated cases of
occupational disease, by cause:
CASES OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE IN V E STIG A TE D IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 1929
Number of cases
Number of cases
Disease
Disease
Male Female Total
Male Female Total
Dermatitis. _____ ___________
Lead poisoning_____________
Gas and fume poisoning____
Chrome poisoning__________
Anthrax___________________
Pneumoconiosis
Cyanide___________________
292
168
i 68
22
2 12
15
5
1Including 1 fatal case.
53
2
1
4
345
70
69
22
12
9
5
Dust inhalation____________
Tuberculosis ............... ...........
Silicosis....... ............ ......... ....
Benzol poisoning___________
All other__________________
5
35
4
2
5
1
5
5
4
2
6
Total.............................
493
61
554
2Including 3 fatal cases.
3 Including 2 fatal cases.
The number of diseases listed as occupational is limited by the fact
that the workmen’s compensation act of Massachusetts does not, in
terms, include occupational disease. Industrial injuries have been
held by numerous court decisions to include any injury, damage or
harm, or disease which arises out of and in the Course of the employ
ment, which causes incapacity for work and takes from the employee
his ability to earn wages. A recent decision, however, stated that
simple disease resulting from employment affords no ground for
recovery under the workmen’s compensation act, but that the disease
must also be a personal injury within the meaning of the act. The
statutes require that such cases be reported by the employer to the
department of industrial accidents and it is these reports which form
the basis of the investigation.
The importance of skin affections as a cause of disability is shown
by the fact that more than 60 per cent of the cases reported were cases
of dermatitis. Nearly all of these injuries were caused by contact
with irritant dusts, acids, or chemicals used in the process of manu
facture. The number of cases of anthrax was larger than in any other
year since 1920.
Occupational Diseases in New Jersey in 1928
NDER the New Jersey occupational disease law, compensation
is paid for sickness from the following causes: Anthrax, poison
ing from lead, mercury, arsenic, phosphorus, benzene and its homologues and derivatives, wood alcohol, chrome, mesothorium or radium
necrosis, and caisson disease.
There were 150 occupational disease cases for which compensation
was paid during the year ending December 31, 1928, of which 7 were
fatalities; 2 resulted in permanent total disability; 19 in permanent
partial disability; and 122 in temporary disability. The time loss
amounted to 78,790 days and the compensation paid amounted to
$85,084, while $7,935 was expended for medical care. This was
U
64 0
SICKNESS AND DEATH STATISTICS
about twice the number of cases that were reported the previous
year, indicating, it was considered, an improvement in the reporting
of occupational diseases.
The following table, from the New Jersey Department of Labor
Industrial Bulletin, June, 1929, shows the number and type of cases,
the total days of disability, and the compensation paid for cases of
industrial poisoning in New Jersey in 1928:
N U M BE R OF CASES OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE, T Y P E OF DISABILITY, DAYS
LOST, A N D COM PENSATION PAID IN N EW JERSEY IN 1928
Cases of occupational disease
resulting in—
Poison or disease
Anthrax______________________________________
Arsenic_______________________________________
Carbon monoxide_____________________________
Compressed air (caisson disease)________________
Chrome ulceration_________________ __________
Dust_____________________ _____ ______ ______ _
Hides and furs (handling and preparing)________
Heat and light (not burns)_____________________
Lead___________ ____ ________________ ____ ___
Benzol.______________________________________
Cellulitis, etc. (caused by falls or handling objects).
Total............... ................................................
Per
Per
ma
ma Tem
nent
nent
Death total partial porary
disa Total
disa disa bility
bility bility
1
2
3
1
1
6
6
2
4
2
6
3
5
1
1
3
68
8
21
7
2
19
122
1
4
1
Num Amount
ber of of com*
days
pensation
lost
5
6,093
2
98
8
7,010
7
1,865
5
117
1
28
1
16
3
40
77 24,221
18 36,159
23
3,143
150
78,790
$2,832
206
6,730
3,770
198
44
22
77
23,602
43,973
3,630
85,084
It is pointed out in the report that benzol and lead were responsible
for nearly two-thirds of the cases. In the textile and the animal
leather trades, 13 fatal cases of benzol poisoning were reported during
the past three years and as benzol has been used in large quantities in
different industries in the State it is considered probable that these
cases represent only a small proportion of the actual fatalities from
the cause, since the toxic properties of benzol are not understood by
many physicians and undoubtedly many cases have not been properly
diagnosed.
SMALL LOANS
641
Small Loans
HE subject of credit is one of vital interest to the average wage
earner, since the margin between his income and expenditure is
usually so small that unforeseen emergencies such as illness, accident,
or other misfortunes can soon wipe out any surplus he may have and
reduce him to the necessity of borrowing. Various studies have
shown that usually only dire necessity drives people to borrow, the
need is immediate and imperative, and the prospective borrower
must obtain his loan from whatever source is available or that he
knows about. Also, his desire is to obtain the loan as privately as
possible.
Of late years the small-loan agencies have greatly expanded both as
to type and scope. A recent study distinguishes nine different
types of loan agencies, varying widely as to effectiveness and interest
charges, but doing collectively a credit business estimated at $2,592,500,000 a year. It is said, however, that even with the enormous
expansion that has taken place in this field, the credit facilities are
still far from filling the need for loans.
As the annual interest charges of the various types of loan agencies
vary from as low as 6 per cent to as high as 480 per cent, it is evident
that unless the prospective borrower is fairly well informed he may
very easily overlook the lower-cost lender and apply to one whose
rates are unnecessarily high, especially since the methods by which
interest rates are calculated are often very complicated and he may
not realize what the actual cost will be.
The various types of agencies, their charges, costs, and profits, as
well as some analysis of the occupational and social status of the
borrowers, are discussed in the pages following. Detailed data as
to the membership, operations, ana methods of the credit unions,
which are a form of low-cost credit agency, are given in the section
on Cooperation, page 73.
T
Cost of Credit to the Small Borrower
Types of Small-Loan Agencies
STUDY of the whole small-loans field was recently made under
the auspices of the Twentieth Century Fund, the results of
which are given in the book, Financing the Consumer, by Evans
Clark, published in 1930.
The agencies operating in the small-loans field are classified by
the author into the following nine groups:
(1)
The unlicensed lenders, i. e „ . all loan companies operating
without a license and without any public regulation. This group
includes not only the “ loan sharks” but also concerns charging
re e n a b le rates but operating in States having no regulatory law.
'these lend on the security of wage assignments, chattel mortgages,
automobiles, comaker notes, etc.
A
644
SMALL LOANS
(2) Pawnbrokers, making loans on the security of jewelry and
other valuables left on deposit.
(3) Personal finance companies, which are licensed agencies making
loans of $300 or less, under the authority of such statutes as the uni
form small-loans law. Most of their business is done on the security
of chattel mortgages, although they sometimes take wage assignments
as security.
(4) Industrial banks (such as Morris Plan banks), which combine
a small-loan business with the sale of investment certificates on the
installment plan. Their loans are usually made on the security of
comaker notes.
(5) Personal loan departments of commercial banks, lending on
the security of comaker notes.
(6) Credit unions—cooperative credit associations lending only to
members, usually on the member's shares or on an indorsed note.1
(7) Remedial loan societies, usually organized on a semiphilanthropic basis and doing a limited-dividend small-loan business, on
chattels, notes, or pledges.
(8) Axias—unlicensed and unchartered voluntary savings and
loan societies, usually among foreign groups, which make loans on
indorsed notes and shares.
(9) Employers' loan organizations, set up by employers to supply
credit to their employees.
The report estimates that together these small-loan agencies make
loans of about $2,592,500,000 a year, to some 14,350,000 borrowers,
the proportion of loans made by each type being as follows:
Per cent
Unlicensed lenders___________________________________
Pawnbrokers________________________________________
Personal finance companies____________________________
Industrial banks--------------------------------------------------------Commercial banks___________________________________
Credit unions_______________________________________
Remedial loan societies_______________________________
Axias_______________________________________________
Employers’ plans____________________________________
28. 9
23. 2
19. 3
13. 9
7. 3
2. 4
2. 3
1. 9
.8
Total_________________________________________ 100.0
A spectacular expansion is now taking place in the small-loans
business, but the author points out that nevertheless “ the demand
for credit far outruns the present available supply, presaging a great
expansion of this business in the future.” The need for small credit
is shown by the fact that it is estimated that in New York City one
of every two families borrows from small-loan agencies every year.
Rates Charged by Small-Loan Agencies
A l a r g e proportion of the customers of the small-loan companies
are driven to borrow because of dire distress, and their power to
bargain “ is reduced to a minimum by the pressure of their needs.”
The limited number of such agencies still further restricts the bor
rower’s choice and bargaining power. “ The typical small borrower
has.not the financial leeway that would enable him to ‘ shop around’
for a low-priced loan; nor are there usually enough places in which
1 For data as to credit unions—membership, loans, etc.—see p. 73.
645
COST OF CREDIT TO BORROW ER
to shop. He must take what he can get at the only agency he knows
about.”
Also, he is at a distinct disadvantage from the fact that the methods
of calculation of interest and the various charges imposed are so
subtle and so complicated that “ probably not one out of a thousand
buyers or borrowers has the slightest idea of the actual annual rate
he is charged for his credit—let alone how the rates he pays compare
with those of other agencies.”
The need of a uniform basis of calculation is emphasized which will
show the borrower “ the rate per year he has to pay for the money of
which he has the actual use.”
The annual rates charged by the various types of small-loan
agencies are given in the following table:
ANNUAL BATES OF IN TER E ST CHARGED B Y SPECIFIED TYPES OF SMALL-LOAN
AGENCIES
Agency
Credit unions______________________________________________________________
Personal-loan departments of commercial banks_______________________________
Industrial banks____ ______________ __________________________________ _____ _
Remedial loan societies______________________________________________________
Axias___________________ _____ ______________________________ ______________
Personal finannn companies__________________________________________________
Pawnbrokers_____________________ ________ _______ _________________ ______ __
Unlicensed lenders__________________________________________________________
Usual
charge
Per cent
12.0
18.1
17.3
26.9
28.5
42.0
36.0
Range of
charges
Per cent
6.0- 18.0
9.4-22.6
17.3- 34.4
12.0- 36.0
"36.0^" 42.0
12.0-120.0
240.0-480.0
One important factor is not considered in these rates, i. e., that the
borrower who pays the lender’s charges in advance does not have the
use of that money meanwhile. If he obtains the loan from a discount
company he pays the whole interest in advance and he has to pay
it even if he should be able to pay off the principal before the end of
the term of the loan, for discount companies dp not often rebate any
interest under these conditions. On the other hand, if the borrower
obtains his loan at a pawnshop he does not pay the interest until he
redeems his pledge, and therefore has the use of the interest money
during the full period of the loan. The credit union laws and the
uniform small-loans laws provide that the interest shall be calculated
each month and only on the unpaid balance, and that no other fees
may be levied. Thus, if a man who borrows $100 from a personal
finance company, at the rate of interest of 3% per cent a month, the
loan to be repaid in monthly installments over a period of a year, he
does not pay $42 in interest, as he would if his note were discounted in
advance; he pays $22.75, because he is charged interest each month
only on the amount which still remains unpaid. A man borrowing
the same amount from a credit union at the most common creditunion rate of 1 per cent per month would actually pay, not $12, but
$6.50, for the use of the money. In addition, when the interest is
calculated on the unpaid balances, the borrower who wishes to pay
off his loan faster than the regular term is automatically protected
against having to pay interest for the rest of the term.
It is seen that of all the small-loan agencies the credit union’s rates
are the lowest. Not only that, but the member of the credit union
makes a profit from his own loan through his share in the credit-union
dividends.
646
SMALL LOANS
Costs of Operation
T he credit union and pawnshop operate at the least cost of all the
agencies. This is possible for the credit union because it pays no
large salaries and often none at all, and may have free office space,
and also because, lending only to its own members whom the credit
committee knows, it incurs no expenses for investigation and has little
or no loss from failure to repay loans. The pawnshop also operates at
low cost, because the security for the loan is always in its possession
and is more than equal in value to the amount loaned; there is no
expense incurred either for investigation or for collection of the loan;
and as the loans are not repaid in installments, there is little book
keeping to be done. Comaker loan companies, according to the author,
cost from one and a half to three times as much to operate as pawn
shops and credit unions because of the necessity of investigating the
borrowers. The “ personal finance companies cost four to five times as
much to run because of the higher cost of dunning as well as of inves
tigation.” As they lend on chattels requiring personal inspection and
appraisal in each case, and as this kind of security has a very low resale
value and is therefore insecure because of that fact, the chattel lender
must be more sure than any other lender of the responsibility of the
borrower. One of the major items of expense of the chattel lender is
the cost of collection of delinquent accounts. “ The collateral for these
loans is so poor and it is so impolitic to force collection on its sale or
redemption that these concerns will go to almost any lengths to avoid
foreclosures. Because they deal with the least responsible class of
borrowers, an exceptional amount of personal ‘dunning’ is required.”
The statement below shows the per cent of loan fund which goes
into operating costs, for the various types of small-loan agencies.
Cost (per
cent) of
operation
Personal-loan departments of banks_____________________ 3. 0
Credit unions________________________________________ 2 3. 7
Pawnbrokers:
Remedial________________________________________
3. 5
Commercial______________________________________ 8. 4
Industrial banks______________________________________ 9. 9
Chattel loan agencies:
Remedial________________________________________ 12. 4
Leading company_________________________________ 17. 8
New Jersey companies________ ________ ___________ 21. 6
Profits
T he data for profits obtained were admittedly scattered and unsat
isfactory. Figures for the industrial banks show net profits for the
Morris Plan banks amounting to 19.3 per cent of the capital, for the
Citizen’s Systems of 14.8 per cent, and for the Wimsett System, of
16.4 per cent.
Practically no profit data were available for the pawnshops or per
sonal-loan departments of commercial banks; the author considers it
{>robable, however, that the better-run pawnshops would show “ the
argest profits of all the small-loan agencies because, while their rates
are relatively high, their costs of operation are relatively low,” though
* The data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 135 credit unions from various sections of
the country for 1929 showed an expense ratio of only 1.79 per cent.
COST OF CREDIT TO BORROW ER
647
he thinks that the personal-loan departments would show the least
profit of all.
Analyses of the reports of all the personal finance companies in New
Jersey showed a net return on invested capital (including surplus) of
10 per cent, while another study, not published, showed profits of 9.8
per cent for the small independent companies and of 18.4 per cent for
the chain companies. The author remarks, in this connection, “ If
the average large company in this State returned 18 per cent a year,
it is probable that the most successful concerns showed a profit in
that State of 20 per cent and over.”
“ Ironically enough,” the author points out, “ it is among the reme
dial loan societies—the so-called ‘semiphilanthropic agencies’— that
some of the highest profits are revealed. Five societies showed a net
profit of 15 per cent or over, another 24 per cent, and still another 30
per cent on its capital. Most of these limit their dividends to from
6 to 8 per cent; the result is therefore that the remainder goes into
surplus, and the company whose profit amounted to 30 per cent
(though it paid dividends of only 6 per cent) has accumulated a sur
plus “ much greater than its entire paid-in capital.”
Similar data were not available for the credit unions, but dividends
paid out of net income in 1928 by 119 credit unions in New York
State showed that the highest rate was 10 per cent, while the average
rate was 4.8 per cent.
Conclusions
A ssuming that the small-loan agencies, like other businesses, are
entitled to a fair profit, and that 10 per cent (figured on the average
loan funds) could be considered “ fair,” the following conclusions are
reached:
1. The prices charged by most commercial pawnshops appear to be higher
than the costs of doing that kind of business warrant.
2. The prices charged by those personal-loan departments of banks whose
charges are the lowest are probably too low to carry this business at a fair profit,
while those charging the highest rates are higher than are warranted.
3. The prices charged by the Morris Plan and similar industrial banks are
somewhat higher than the relative cost of their class of business justifies.
4. The costs of doing a chattel-loan business are so much greater than those
under the comaker note and pledge forms of collateral that a higher rate for the
personal finance companies is an economic necessity.
5. The 3Yi per cent per month rate allowed by most States for the chattelloan business may have been justified on an economic basis during the early
years of its development, but the profitable conduct of this business by many
concerns in States with a 3 per cent maximum and the reduction to 2% per cent
by the Household Finance Co. in making loans above $100 raise the presumption
that 3}i per cent may now be higher than is economically necessary, at least
for loans above the $100 level.3
6. No concrete evidence exists of any profits among the legitimate commercial
loan companies which might be called excessive in comparison with those in the
fields of ordinary business—especially banking and manufacturing—although
among the most efficient large chain companies net profits of from 10 to 20 per
cent on loan funds employed are common.
The report recommends that an investigation should be made of all
the agencies engaged in mass finance and that provision be made for
continuing statistics to be gathered by the United States Department
of Commerce.
sThis does not mean, the author states, that the 3H per cent law should necessarily be repealed.
47767°—31------ 42
648
SMALL LOANS
Because of the public regulation of rates, these agencies have already
been placed more or less in the position of a semipublic utility, and
the author recommends—
(1) That they should definitely be given this status, that they be
required to take out a State license before being authorized to do
business, and that they be required to make complete financial and
operating reports to the proper State supervising authority.
(2) That they should be required to calculate their rates on the
basis of a single standard of measurement, which would show the
yearly rate charged the borrower for the funds of which he actually
has the use, and to include a statement of this rate in all of their loan
contracts.
(3) That maximum rates of charges should be specified by some
State authority for every small-loan agency, which rate should depend
on the costs.
(4) That they should be authorized, under strict State supervision
and regulation, to take investments of small amounts at attractive
interest rates from customers and to use these funds as part of their
loan funds. (This recommendation is made because “ one of the major
factors in the high cost of operating small-loan companies has been
the difficulty of obtaining working capital at anything but exception
ally high rates.” )
(5) That “ because credit unions furnish by all odds the most
satisfactory and cheapest form of mass finance service, because the
small-loan business is intimately connected with public welfare, be
cause the incentive of private profit does not operate in their advance
ment, and because no private commercial interest would be served
in so doing, Government aid should be extended to the credit-union
movement.” The precise form of aid would have to be worked out
after a thorough study of the situation, but the report suggests that
State financial aid might be extended for the organization of credit
unions and for educational campaigns showing the advantages of this
form of credit.
Economic and Social Status of Borrowers from SmallLoan Companies
STUDY of the records of 10,000 small loans was published
recently by the Russell Sage Foundation as part of a general
survey of the small-loan business.4 The offices covered by the sur
vey, which was made in 1922-23 by the questionnaire method, were
located in 109 cities in 17 States and comprised, with a few exceptions,
offices licensed under the uniform small-loan law or an equivalent
statute.
A
Types of Borrowers
A t o t a l of 8,189, or 82 per cent, of the loans were made to married
couples; 533 to individual men, either not married or not living with
their wives; and 1,072 to individual women, not married or not living
with their husbands; and 206 to cosigners not husbands and wives.
* Robinson, Louis N., and Stearns, Maude E. Ten thousand small loans. New York, Russell Sage
Foundation, 1930.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS OF BORROWERS
6 49
Eighty-five per cent of the borrowers were below 50 years of age.
The individual male borrowers were on the whole a younger group
than the married men, but the individual woman borrowers were in
general older than either the married men or the individual men.
Eighty-three per cent of the loans were taken out by native white
borrowers, 10 per cent by foreign-born white borrowers, and 6 per
cent by Negroes. Sixty-six per cent of the borrowers were not only
native white persons but had native fathers. Among the foreign-born
white borrowers 21 years of age and over, the predominating national
ities were English, German, Irish, and Italian.
There were only 303, or 3 per cent, of the 10,000 borrowers who
were not usually employed at a gainful occupation.
Of the 9,574 gainfully employed borrowers for whom occupation
was reported, 286 men and 3 women were engaged in agricultural
pursuits. Of the 9,285 engaged in other industries, 260 men were
employed in the extraction of minerals; 4,023 men and 187 women
in manufacturing and mechanical industries; 1,407 men and 24 women
in transportation; 1,105 men and 62 women in trade; 320 men and 2
women m public service; 210 men and 79 women in professional serv
ice; 427 men and 426 women in domestic and personal service; and
639 men and 114 women in clerical work.
Financial Status of Borrowers
A bout one-third of all of the borrowers owned real estate, but of
these only 19 per cent owned it free of mortgage. Approximately 33
per cent of the married couples, 26 per cent of the individual men,
and 32 per cent of the individual women were real-estate owners.
The report states that as nearly one-fifth of the women were boarding
or lodging house keepers this may account for the large proportion
owning real estate. Married men owned their property unencum
bered less often than the other groups of borrowers, and when their
property was subject to mortgage their equity in it was less. The
median amount of equity for au of the borrowers together and for the
group of married men separately was about $1,500 and for the other
groups about $2,000. Approximately one-tenth of all of the borrowers
owning mortgaged real estate had less than $500 equity in their
property and 60 per cent had less than $2,000 invested.
Sixty-nine per cent of the borrowers rented the dwellings in which
they lived, 24 per cent owned them subject to mortgage, 5 per cent
owned them outright, and 2 per cent received them rent free or as
part compensation for services rendered.
Except for real estate and life insurance, less than 30 per cent of the
borrowers reported any savings or available funds and it was de
duced from the records obtained that 72 per cent had none, although
the report states that this figure may be somewhat too large as it was
not practicable to make specific inquiries regarding every possible
form of personal property.
Amount of Loan
T he majority of the 10,000 loans were for small sums, the amount
most frequently borrowed being $100 and the next in frequency $50.
Only 4 loans were for amounts in excess of $300. The individual men
and the individual women in general borrowed smaller amounts than
6 50
SMALL LOANS
the married couples. One-half of the loans to individual men and
to individual women were for $70 or less and one-fourth were for less
than $50.
Of the total number of loans, 4,167, or 42 per cent, were renewals
at the same office, usually for increased amounts. Half of the
individual women had borrowed at least three times before and half
of each of the other groups—married couples and individual men—
had borrowed at least twice before. Few of the borrowers had taken
out loans more than ten times at the same office, although there were
34 who had borrowed more than twenty times and 3 had borrowed
more than sixty times.
Occupational Analysis of Borrowers from Small-Loan
Companies
I N THE latter part of 1929 an investigation of the small-loan
situation in New Jersey was made under the auspices of the New
Jersey Industrial Lenders’ Association.5
The statistical part of the study was confined to the small-loan
companies operating under a law of 1914, but general inquiries were
made concerning other companies making small loans. The report
discussed the practices of three classes of institutions in the State
which make such loans, in addition to the so-called small-loan
companies—the Morris Plan banks, the Wimsett thrift and loan
companies, and commercial banks.
The number of borrowers from these small-loan companies in New
Jersey on November 30, 1928, is reported to have been 111,900, the
outstanding loans totaling about $19,000,000. It is estimated that
there were in New Jersey in 1928 some 800,000 married men, and since
the small-loan companies as a rule make loans only to married men it
would appear that approximately one married man out of eight was
a borrower from these companies.
Occupational Distribution of Borrowers from Small-Loan Companies
T w e n t y - n in e sample small-loan companies were selected for study
and an attempt was made to classify all borrowers on an occupational
basis. Reasonably accurate information is said to have been obtained
from 28 companies reporting for 23,716 borrowers. The table following
shows, by occupation, the number of borrowers, the average monthly
family income, and the average amount borrowed. Both open and
closed accounts were included in the tabulation, but only those
borrowers were included for whom records of occupation, size of loan,
and family income were all reported.
* New Jersey Industrial Lenders’ Association. The small-loan situation in New Jersey in 1929, by
Willford Isbell Song. Trenton, 1929.
651
OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF BORROWERS
N UM BER OF BORROWERS FROM 28 SMALL-LOAN COMPANIES, IN NEW JERSEY,
AVERAGE M O N TH LY F A M ILY INCOM E OF BORROWERS, AND AVERAGE SUM BOR
ROW ED, B Y OCCUPATIONAL CLASS
Status and occupation of borrower
A11 occupations,___
__ „ __________ _______ __ ____ _______
Employers and self-employed
^..... .... ........... .... ............ .... .........
Nonprofessional_________________________________________________
Agents
______ ___ ........................................... ...... .........
Barber shop and hat.hhnnsft proprietors
________ ___
Boarding-honse keepers
_
Building contractors, including employing carpenters, plumbers,
punters, p.tp.
Dressmakers and milliners.
__ .
_
. ..........
_
Electricians, ftti»___ .... ... ..
Farmers____________________________________________________
Fishermen and boatmen
Florists, nurserymen, etc .................
Garage and filling-station proprietors________ _______ _________
Merchants
.
Hotel or restaurant keepers________ __________________________
Jewelers (proprietors)__________ ________________________ _____
Mechanics (proprietors) .... _
_ . _ _... ___ ___ Realtors____________________ ____ ___________________________
Shoe repairers__________________________ _____________ _______
Stock brokers_______________________________________________
Tailor-shop proprietors
_____
.
Ta*i drivp.rs
__ .
_
.
_ _ _
...............
Truckman
__ ____
____ __ _ _ ._ _ ____
__ _
TTnclassified
... . __ ........... _ ........
...... . . . ____
Professional_____________________________________________________
Accountants and auditors_________- __________________________
Architects, etc__________________ ____________________________
Artists, designers, etc________________________________________
Authors, editors, etc_________________________________________
Dentists____________________________________________________
Druggists and chemists______________________________________
Educators___ - ____________ ____ _____________________________
Engineers, surveyors, etc_____________________________________
Entertainers_________________________________________________
Nurses, etc. (independent).................................................. .............
Physicians, osteopaths, etc
_______________________________
Lawyers, abstractors, notaries, etc_____________________________
Undertakers_________________________________________________
Unclassified_________________________________________________ i
Employees_________________________________________________________
Professional__________________ ~__________________________________
Accountants and auditors____________________________________
Actors and entertainers______________________________________
Architects__________________________________________________
Army and Navy officers____________________________ ,_________
Artists, designers, sculptors___________________________________
Chemists, assayers, etc_______________________________________
Clergymen__________________________________________________
Editors, reporters, etc______________________ _____ ___________
Engineers, technical_________________________________________
Judges, lawyers, etc__________________________________________
Mliftinmns__________________________________________________
Officials, governmental and institutional..................... ...................
Secretaries and organizers___________________ _____ ___________
Statisticians______________________________________________ _
Teachers____________________________________________________
Unclassified__________________ _________________ - ......................
Managerial___
- .. . .......
Superintendents and managers_______________________________
Foremen, floorwalkers, etc..... ................ ............... ..........................
Officers of vessels............ .................................. ................................
Others—. ——___________- ______ ______ ______________ __ - _____
Agents, solicitors, and commercial travelers.______________________
Sales people_______- ___ ______________________ __________________
Clerical employees____ 1_____
- —
--i ^
____
Accountants, bookkeepers, and cashiers________ ______ ____
•Post-office clerks and mail carriers____ ______ -_______
Shipping
__.._________
clerks
____ „__ __ .______
Stenographers, typists, etc___________.__ ___________
Telephone operators______ ___ __ _____ ___________________
Telegraphers.—. _______________________ -__ _______ _____
Other clerical........................................................
■Average
Number monthly Average
of bor
family sum bor
rowers
income
rowed
of class
23,716
$168.46
$169.81
4,965
4,709
74
155
244
186.79
185.93
232.66
183.65
161.13
201.50
200.68
217.91
200.23
182.43
1,103
89
76
‘ 251
25
44
84
748
182
15
84
104
76
8
113
96
296
842
256
12
10
14
2
13
17
26
9
18
69
36
18
4
8
18,751
838
58
7
12
2
22
34
58
24
104
U
41
42
22
6
322
73
1,350
356
639
26
329
1,132
341
-1,385
221
199
130
40
41
29
725
195.54
136.51
209.54
152.65
153.32
166.81
165.02
187.56
227.84
155.33
206.70
192.15
185.87
337.50
195.93
183.85
170.87
183.85
202.72
303.33
206.10
245.00
150.00
355.76
211.17
185.19
186.67
230. 56
143.80
256.89
124.44
205.00
171.90
163. 52
218.10
271.47
446.71
231.33
.282.50
172.05
206.94
141.53
238.42
271.55
148.64
199.07
244.79
231.27
242.84
207.98
189.92
204.40
259. 75
188.41
199.35
176.17
201.47
144.82
159.05
177.43
158.75
144.65
141*08
120.05
181.41
158.41
195.34
157.02
192.83
186.41
152.20
204. 57
238.46
216. 66
242.20
251.67
197. 74
254.66
208.29
238. 75
200.64
200.32
186.38
192.15
216.66
268.42
287.50
243.86
265.00
284.61
261.76
179.42
211.11
203.33
166.16
229.17
240.28
207.50
272.50
161.42
210.32
234.14
155.00
183.75
300.00
239.54
193.59
186.98
188.96
214.28
243.64
165.49
217.98
215.23
200.83
221.98
181.10
191.56
223.03
177.42
182.88
185.64
202.78
162.30
171.-47
189.32
173.10
148.88
162.00
137.80
190.69
171.35
652
SMALL LOANS
N U M BER OP BORROW ERS FROM 28 SMALL-LOAN COMPANIES, IN NEW JERSEY,
AVERAGE M O N TH LY F A M IL Y INCOM E OF BORROW ERS, AN D AVERAGE SUM BOR
R O W ED , B Y OCCUPATIONAL CLASS—Continued
Status and occupation of borrower
Employees—-Continued.
Gnardiana or public safety,
Firemen. I_____ ____ * ___________ ______ __ ___________ _______
Policemen an<i w^tchmfin ,
Soldiers, e t c . . . . . ____________________________________________
Others_____ . . . ___________________________________________
TVTfmnal wftrkp.rs, „ _. _
■Rfifcfirs_____
.........
.....
Building workftrs ___
Butchers..______________ _____ ________- ____________________
Chauffeurs, taxi men, etc................................................................ .
Electricians______________________________ ___________ _____ _
Expressmen and truckmen________________ ______ __ ______ ___
Factory workers, skilled and semiskilled-................. ...................
Factory workers, unskilled................... ............................................
Fishermen and sailors........................ ..............................................
Garage employees and mechanics............................................... .
Gardeners, agricultural laborers, etc........................................... .
Messengers__________ _______ _______________________________
Miners______________ . . . . ___ _______________________ ______ __
Shovelers and miscellaneous laborers..____ ____________________
Telephone linemen, etc......... .......... ....................................... .........
Railway trainmen and yardmen.................................. ...................
Road and street builders_____________________________________
Stevedores, car loaders, etc.............. ................................ ................
Street-car conductors and motormen...............................................
Street cleaners_______________________________________________
Printing trades______________________________________________
Unclassified_________________________________________________
Servants________________________________________________________
Barbers and hairdressers_______________________ ______________
Chauffeurs, etc_________________________________________________
Cooks__________________________________ _______ ____________
Elevator operators, bell boys, etc_____________________________
Housemaids, etc_____________________________________________
Janitors, firemen, etc........................................................................
Launderers and cleaners______________________________________
Nurses and midwives, unskilled......................................... ...........
Porters_____________________________ ____________ ___________
Waiters, etc_______________________ _____________________ ___
Unclassified__________________________ ______________________
Average
Number monthly Average
of bor
family sum bor
rowers
income
rowed ?
of class
682
178
426
6
72
11,229
82
2,051
84
326
231
1,221
2,303
1,427
38
363
162
9
3
923
108
540
32
57
71
31
206
961
1,794
102
105
176
54
346
302
231
59
166
150
103
$171.39
187.52
165.05
150.50
170.81
157.29
171.50
183.13
157.61
156.51
183.18
142.65
163.04
128.00
136.92
155.52
122.09
154.67
166.00
130.93
162.12
178.61
146.84
156.23
154.68
122.03
186.78
158.92
127.15
147.69
139.30
147.30
134.52
108.79
127.53
119.40
140.71
116.73
144.20
118.30
$168.95
163.23
172.88
147.50
161.61
151.83
177.34
161.00
181.68
147.43
175.47
147.63
156.75
130.98
143.61
151.83
143.64
130.00
116.67
131.45
154.46
161.92
174.22
132.21
144.01
121.35
175.26
160.43
138.98
170.61
154.59
152.16
123.61
119.10
147.86
125.18
155.34
124.39
162.78
128.43
One-fifth of all borrowers were either employers or self-employed
persons, and the remaining four-fifths were employees. Of the total
number of borrowers, 19.86 per cent were business men; 4.62 per cent
were professional men; 5.69 per cent were in the managerial class;
6.21 per cent were agents and sales people; 5.84 per cent were clerical
workers; 2.88 per cent were guardians of public safety; 47.35 per cent
were manual workers; and 7.55 per cent were classed as servants,
although some occupations were included under the head of servants
which are not commonly so regarded, such as barbers and hairdressers,
nurses, etcl
It will be noted that the largest loans were taken out by persons in
the professional class, business men and those in the managerial group
coming next. The largest amount was borrowed by two men classi
fied as Army and Navy officers, who borrowed $300 each. The
smallest loan recorded for a single occupation was $119 for housemaids.
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS
653
Strikes and Lockouts in the United States, 1916 to 1930
S INCE 1916 the Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled each
month data concerning important strikes and lockouts in the
United States. Those disputes involving fewer than six workers or
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the actual and relative number of disputes since
1916, while Tables 2 and 3 present in a concise form some details
regarding strikes occurring during the past three years.
T a b l e 1.—N U M BER OF DISPUTES, 1916 TO 1930
Disputes in the United
States recorded by
the bureau
Year
Actual
number
3,789
4,450
3,353
3,630
3,411
2,385
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1,112
1,553
Disputes in the United
States recorded by
the bureau
Year
Relative
number
100
117
88
96
90
63
29
41
Actual
number
Relative
number
1,249
1,301
1,035
734
629
903
653
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
33
34
27
19
17
24
17
T a b l e 2.—IN DU STRIAL DISPUTES BEGINNING IN AN D IN EFFECT AT END OF EACH
M ONTH, JANUARY, 1928, TO DEC E M B E R , 1930, AND T O TAL N UM BER OF DISPUTES,
W ORKERS, AND M AN-DAYS LOST IN THE YEARS, 1928, 1929, AND 1930
Number of
disputes
Month and year
Number of workers
involved in disputes Number of
man-days
lost during
Begin In effect Begin
In effect month or
ning in at
ning
in
end of month or at end of
year
month or month
month
year
year
1928: Total____________________________________
1929: Total
_________________________________
1930: Total____________________________________
629
903
653
1928
January......................................................................
February........................... ......... ..................... .........
March_________________ ____ - .............................
April_____________________ ____________________
M ay______________________________ _____ - .........
June------- ------ --------- --------------------------------------July-------------- -------- —.............................................
August..........................................— .......................
September.......... .......................................................
October........... ......... ............................. - ..................
November............ ................... - ................................
December......... .........................................................
48
52
41
71
80
44
54
59
52
61
44
23
63
58
47
48
56
46
42
42
34
42
38
29
18,850
33,441
7,459
143,700
15,640
31,381
18,012
8,887
8,897
27,866
37,840
5,172
81,880
103,496
76,069
129,708
133,546
143,137
132,187
105,760
62,862
41,474
38,745
35,842
2,128,028
2,145,342
2,291,337
4,806,232
3,455,499
3,670,878
3,337,386
3,553, 750
2,571,982
1,304,913
1,300,362
991,238
48
54
77
117
115
73
80
78
98
69
61
33
36
35
37
53
73
57
53
43
49
31
32
21
14,783
22,858
14,031
32,989
13,668
19,989
36,152
25,616
20,233
16,315
10,443
3,386
39,569
40,306
40,516
52,445
64,853
58,152
15,589
6,714
8,132
6,135
6,067
2,343
951,914
926,679
1,074,468
1,429,437
1,727,694
1,627,565
1,062,428
358,148
244,864
272,018
204,457
95,541
1929
January......... ............................................................
February.......... .........................................................
March......................................... - .............................
July....... —...................................................— ........August...................................................... -..............
September.................................................................
October......................................................................
November..................................................................
December...................................................................
357,145
230,463
158,114
31,556,947
9,975,213
2,730,368
655
656
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS
T a b l e 3 .— IN D U S T R IA L DISPUTES BEGIN N IN G IN A N D IN E F FE C T A T END OF EACH
M ONTH , JAN U ARY, 1928, TO D E C E M B E R , 1930, A N D T O T A L N U M BE R OF DISPUTES,
W ORKERS, A N D M A N -D A YS LOST IN TH E Y EARS, 1928, 1929, A N D 1930—Continued
Number of
disputes
Number of workers
involved in disputes
Number of
man-days
during
Begin In effect Begin In effect lost
month or
ning in at
ning
in
at
end
of
year
end
of
month or month month or month
year
year
Month and year
1930
45
52
49
64
66
59
78
51
72
47
44
26
Jftniiflrv
February______________________________________
March________________________________________
April___ ____ __________________ ____________ —
May.......... .............. ........................ ........................
June__ _____________________________________
July__ ______________________________________
August- ______________________________________
September____________________________________
October______________________________________
November_____ _______________________________
December_____________________________________
21
40
38
41
29
34
30
33
44
36
29
7
9,240
37,480
15,017
6,379
9,329
14,011
14,308
15,902
16,337
10,858
4,390
4,863
5,316
6,683
5,957
5,840
4,386
8,311
4,815
7,131
13,778
16,007
7,759
5,144
184,730
438,570
291,127
189,828
185,448
144,117
141,647
142,738
208,184
335,916
273,608
194,455
T a b l e 3 .— NUM BER OF DISPUTES AND NUM BER OF W ORKERS INVOLVED IN THE
YEARS 1928, 1929, AND 1930, CLASSIFIED B Y INDUSTRIES
1928
Industry
Auto, carriage, and wagon workers...........
Bakers.........................................................
Barbers................... ...... .............................
Building trades.......................................... .
Chauffeurs and teamsters___ ____ ______
Clothing.................................... - .............. .
Furniture.......................................... ..........
Glass workers.............................................
Leather workers..........................................
Lumber and timber workers......................
Metal trades...........- ..................................
Miners....................................................
Motion-picture operators, actors, and the
atrical workers........................................ .
Oil and chemical........................................ .
Printing and publishing............................ .
Stone........................................................... .
Textile............................................... .........
Other industries........................................ .
Total................................................. -
1929
1930
Number Number Number
Number Number
of work Number
of work
work
of dis
of dis
of dis ofers
ers
in
ers in
in
putes
putes
putes
volved
volved
volved
1
10
12
134
16
124
26
4
5
7
52
416
5,074
19,965
1,631
618
611
196
598
1,266
195,876
2,314
1,479
487
2,103
35,284
23,489
357,145
4
212
62
169
32
2
11
3
53
77
3
8
2
130
903
2,246
1,515
861
24,198
12,947
60,540
2,917
112
4
7
7
186
40
103
19
1,243
322
3,541
25,529
5,783
54,177
891
1,403
568
130
452
2,142
6,340
64,202
1,211
1,3
181
1,564
160
338
11,553
15,070
200
23,065
230,463
653
158,114
Principal Strikes and Lockouts in 1929 and 1930
S OME of the more important labor disputes occurring in the years
1929 and 1930 are described below.
Shoe workers, Massachusetts.—Demanding a wage increase of 10
per cent and a 5-day week of 44 hours, the Shoe Workers’ Protective
Union inaugurated a strike at Haverhill, beginning June 1, 1929,
with 280 employees of the Milchen Shoe Co. This number, through
accessions from time to time, increased by June 27 to approximately
5,000 strikers, affecting about 26 factories, according to press reports.
The strike ended on August 19. Under the plans of the settle
ment the wages and hours of labor in effect when the former agree
UNITED STATES, 1929 AND 1930
657
ment expired are to continue for three years with the privilege of
extending it to December 31, 1934, if the parties agree.
The manufacturers had stipulated that the workers must reorganize
and appoint a responsible person as manager before they would be
recognized. The union met this condition by appointing Prof.
Norman Ware, of the department of economics at Wesleyan Univer
sity, as temporary manager of the union.
Anthracite coal miners, Pennsylvania.—Ten collieries of the Lehigh
Coal & Navigation Co. in the Panther Creek Valley were involved
in a strike of approximately 7,000 workers from July 1 to July 26,
1929. Because of slackness in the market, the company worked the
various collieries alternately in order to give work to all. The men
demanded that work be alternated semimonthly instead of monthly.
It was decided to refer the matter to district officers for settlement,
the men returning to work meanwhile.
Clothing workers, New^ York.—On July 2, 1929, the union cloak
makers in New York City began a strike for improved conditions
in the industry and to enforce certain demands which they sought
to have embodied in a proposed new agreement with the manufac
turers. The former agreement expired June 1, but negotiations had
continued after that date.
The strike was called by the International Ladies' Garment Work
ers' Union against the inside manufacturers, members of the Indus
trial Council of Cloak, Suit, and Skirt Manufacturers (Inc.), the
so-called stylists of the industry, and against the contractors, mem
bers of the American Cloak and Suit Manufacturers' Association
(Inc.). A third group, the jobbers, members of the Merchants Ladies'
Garment Association (Inc.), was also involved. The jobbers furnish
the material and arrange with the contractors, who employ the
workers to manufacture the garments. The industry normally gives
employment to some 28,000 or 30,000 workers of both sexes, but at
the time the strike began, according to press reports, only about
15,000 persons were actually employed.
The demands included a $5 wage increase, reestablishment of the
unemployment insurance fund, a 40-hour week, and modification of
reorganization rights affecting discharge. The main purpose of the
union in calling a strike, however, was to strengthen its control of
the industry and to do away with the alleged sweatshop. Much of
the work had gotten into the hands of independent or nonunion shops,
over which the union sought to extend or regain control, and the
strike was also directed against those shops which employ both union
and nonunion workers.
A virtual settlement of the major differences was reached on July
11 between representatives of the union and of the Industrial Council,
the recognized leader of the employers' groups, the other two associa
tions accepting similar settlements.
The employers' demands respecting piecework and a 42-hour week
were dropped. The employers also agreed to a substantial modifi
cation of the reorganization or discharge clause, whereby the dis
charging of shop chairmen or other union workers will be subject to
review by the impartial chairman. The union withdrew its demand
for a $5 increase in the minimum scale, but the agreement provided
that one year from the date thereof the union may apply to the
impartial chairman to consider a modification of the wage schedules
658
s trik e s
and
lo c k o u ts
therein agreed to. Agreement was reached to organize a joint con
trol commission to supervise the maintenance of standards and agree
ments and to discourage the manufacture of garments in nonunion
shops.
This commission is composed of the impartial chairman in the
industry and of an equal number of representatives of the contract
ing parties and of all other organizations that are subject to the
machinery established by the agreement and three prominent citizens
of the city of New York not connected with the industry, appointed
by the Governor of the State of New York.
The commission is to be maintained by annual contributions from
parties to the agreement, which runs for'three years, ending June 1,
1932After receiving the approval of the shop chairmen and of the union
membership in a referendum vote on July 15, the agreements were
formally signed at the city hall in the presence of the lieutenant
governor and the mayor on July 16, on which date the workers began
to return to their places of employment.
Clothing workers (dressmakers), New York— In pursuance of its
policy of improving working conditions and eliminating the “ sweat
shop,” the International Ladies7 Garment Workers’ Union called a
strike of dressmakers in New York City which began on February 4,
1930, and involved approximately 30,000 workers, probably twothirds of whom were women.
In the strike call as published it was stated that “ this general
strike is called by our union to establish the 5-day, 40-hour week,
minimum scale of wages, the right to the job, to place responsibility
upon the jobber for conditions in contracting shops, and to eliminate
the many sweatshop conditions.”
The strike affected the so-called “ inside manufacturers,” repre
sented by the Affiliated Dress Manufacturers (Inc.); the contractors,
represented by the Association of Dress Manufacturers (Inc.); and
the jobbers, represented by the Wholesale Dress Manufacturers
Association (Inc.).
In response to an invitation by the Governor of New York, repre
sentatives of the four organizations involved conferred with him on
February 7 and it was decided to accept the services of the lieutenant
governor as mediator.
The “ inside shop ” manufacturers (Affiliated Dress Manufacturers),
employing, it was said, about 7,000 workers, came to an agreement
with the union on February 10, to run for two years, whereby the
union agreed to waive its demand for unemployment insurance for
one year, reserving the right to open negotiations again at the begin
ning of another year. The settlement also provided for a permanent
impartial chairman and a commission to “ police” the industry, sim
ilar to that now functioning in the cloak industry; a 40-hour, 5-day
week; Saturday overtime to be permitted during the busy months at
time and a half; overtime on week days to be paid for at the regular
rate for pieceworkers and at double rates for week workers; wage
scales to remain unchanged.
This agreement was ratified by the strikers on February 11.
The chief obstacle to a general settlement at that time was reported
to be the demand by the jobbers’ association that the contractors’
association refuse to accept work assigned by independent jobbers,
UNITED STATES, 1920 AND 1930
659
and also the reciprocal demand by the contractors’ association that
the jobbers confine their dealings to the organized contractors.
Failure of the jobbers and contractors to compose their differences
delayed a complete settlement and the lieutenant governor was again
called in. On the morning of February 12 he announced that a
definite settlement of the garment strike had been reached. The
contractors’ association agreed to give up its claim to jurisdiction
over contracting shops outside of Greater New York, and the jobbers,
on their part, agreed to confine their work to members of the con
tractors’ association for a trial period of three months, this arrange
ment to be extended after that period if found to be satisfactory.
The strikers began to resume work on February 13, but a further
disagreement developed between the jobbers’ association and the con
tractors’ association that threatened another disruption of relations
and the lieutenant governor was prevailed upon again to serve as
mediator. On February 22 he issued a statement reading in part as
follows:
The underlying question between the jobbers and the contractors was to for
mulate their mutual rights and obligations in a manner that would be well
balanced in all points and equitable to both parties.
To achieve this end certain suggestions nave been made to both sides which
have eventually led to the formulation of a clause which both sides have ac
cepted as settling the point in controversy. This clause, in substance, provides
that the contractors will not deal with nonassociation union jobbers on more
favorable terms than with members of the jobbed association and that similarly
the jobbers, in dealing with nonassociation union contractors, will do so on the
same terms as with members of the contractors’ association. This disposes of
the matter in controversy and completes entirely the undertaking I assumed in
serving as mediator.
Final ratification of the agreement between the contractors and
jobbers was voted on February 25 by the Association of Dress Man
ufacturers, having been previously ratified by the Wholesale Dress
Manufacturers Association, the organization representing the jobbers.
Building trades, Missouri.—A strike of approximately 8,500 organ
ized workers in the building trades of Kansas City and near-by dis
tricts began on March 1, 1930, and ended, it is understood, by March
13. The workers had asked for a 5-day week with the same pay as
for the 5%-day week. It was agreed that the then present wage scale
with a 5K-day week would remain in effect until July 1, on which
date the 5-day week would become effective and there would be wage
increases ranging from 22% cents to 50 cents a day; also that on Jan
uary 1, 1931, there would be another identical wage increase. The
agreement will expire March 1, 1932. It is understood that the 50cent increase was granted to all of the mechanical trades in the building
trades council except the carpenters and perhaps one or two other
trades that either were not affected by the controversy or had indi
vidual contracts.
Textile workers, Virginia.—Some 4,000 employees of the Riverside
and Dan River Cotton Mills (Inc.), of Danville, began a strike on
September 29, 1930. Accounts are conflicting both as to the number
of workers directly involved and as to their grievances. A spokes
man for the United Textile Workers, the organization with which the
strikers were affiliated as Local 1685, said the strike was put into effect
because of refusal of mill officials to permit workers to belong to the
union, discrimination, and other grievances. A strike at the mills had
660
STRIKES AND L O C K O U T
been approved by a vote of the workers taken on September 17 and
18. At that time it was stated that 95 per cent of the union mem
bership voted in favor of calling a strike.
An offer from the governor to appoint a mediation committee was
accepted by the strike management committee but was rejected by
the company.
Toward^ the close of the month troops were sent by the governor
to maintain order at the Dan River mill, which is located just across
the Dan River, in the village of Schoolfield, Pittsylvania County.
This mill, it is understood, resumed operations with a partial force
of nonunion workers on November 24. Just how many operatives
were then working in the plants of the company is unknown.
The strike was unsuccessful and ended on January 29, 1931, by
a vote of the strikers.
TURNOVER OF LABOR
661
Labor Turnover in American Factories
EGINNING in July, 1929, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has
been compiling and publishing monthly reports on labor turnover
in representative establishments. The form of average originally
used was that of the unweighted median company rate. Beginning
with January, 1931, the form of average was changed to the arithmetic
mean and the monthly figures were recomputed on this basis back to
June, 1930. The revised figures differ materially from the figures
shown for the same months when the unweighted median was used.
The form of average was changed because the bureau considers
that the arithmetic mean gives a more representative picture of actual
turnover conditions in industry than the median of company rates.
In using the median the small company had as much influence on the
rates as the large company. In using the arithmetic mean each
company has an influence on the rates in proportion to the number of
its employees.
The number of quits, lay-offs, discharges, and accessions actually
occurring during the month in %
aU plants reporting are added. The
totals of each of these items are divided by the total average number
on the company pay rolls during the month. This gives the monthly
quit, lay-off, discharge, and accession rates. The equivalent annual
rates are obtained by multiplying the monthly rates by the number
of times the days in the current month are contained in the 365 days
of the year. When the current month contains 31 days the rate is
multiplied by 11.17; when the current month has 30 days the mul
tiplier is 12.17; and when 28 days the multiplier is 13.04.
The indexes for manufacturing as a whole are compiled from reports
made to the bureau from representative establishments in more than
75 industries employing at this time about 1,250,000 people. In the
8 industries for which separate indexes are presented, reports are
received from representative plants employing approximately 25 per
cent of the total number of employees shown for those industries by
the Census of Manufactures of 1927. In the automotive industry
schedules are received from plants employing nearly 200,000 people.
Firms reporting for the boot and shoe industry employ nearly 100,000
persons and those for cotton manufacturing nearly 125,000. The
foundries and machine shops reporting have approximately 175,000
workers on their pay rolls. The furniture industry is represented by
firms employing nearly 40,000 persons and the iron and steel industry
by firms employing 225,000 people. The reports received from repre
sentative sawmills indicate that there are approximately 65,000
workers on their pay rolls, while those from slaughtering and meat
packing establishments show nearly 85,000 employees.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation and
accession rates, the tables herewith show the net turnover rate. The
net turnover rate means the rate of replacement. It is the number of
jobs that are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that
is increasing its force, the net turnover rate is the same as the total
separation rate because while more people are hired than are separated
from their jobs, the number hired above those leaving is due to expan
B
477670— 3 !------- 43
663
664
TURNOVER OF LABOR
sion and can not justly be charged to turnover. On the other hand,
in a plant that is reducing its force, the net turnover rate is the same
as the accession rate, for while more people leave than are hired the
excess of separations over accessions is due to a reduction of force and
therefore can not be logically charged as a turnover expense. The
net turnover rate for industry as a whole was the same as the accession
rate for each of the twelve months of 1930, which means that in each
of these months more people were released from employment than
were hired. For January, 1931, however, the net turnover rate was
the same as the separation rate. In other words, more people were
hired than were separated from the pay rolls during that month.
Table 1 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates for industry as a whole for each month of 1930 and for
January, February, and March, 1931:
T able
1.—AVERAG E L A BO R TU RN O VER RATES IN SELECTED FACTORIES IN 75
INDUSTRIES
A — Monthly rates
Separation rates
Month
Quit
1930
1931
Lay-off
1930
1931
Discharge
1930
1931
Total
Accession
rate
1930
1931
1930
2.88
2.69
2.95
3.95
2.97
3.94
2.82
4.15
3.67
3.55
3.28
2.92
2.51
2.71
3.27 : : : : : : :
2.56
2.05
2.13
3.95
2.88
3.94
2.69
4.15
2.95
3.55
3.28
2.92
2.51
2.71
3.27 : : : : : :
2.56
2.05
2.13
3.08
3.08
January..............
February. .........
March................
April____ ____ _
M ay__________
June...................
July___________
August...............
September.........
October..............
November_____
December_____
1.85
0.74
1.60
.74
1.94
.94
2.11
2.01
1.85 ...........
1.35
1.40
1.50
1.29 : : : : : : :
.90
.84
2.70
1.95
2.50
1.75
2.83
1.75
2.57
2.68
3.00 ...........
4.17
3.99
3.14
2.88 : : : : : : :
2.77
2.74
0.54
0.19
.62
.20
.60
.26
.53
.48
.46 ...........
.32
.36
.36
.32 : : : : : : :
.24
.21
5.09
4.72
5.37
5.21
5.17
5.31
5.84
5.75
5.00
4.49
3.91
3.79
Average—
1.55 ...........
3.00 ...........
.42 ...........
4.97
1931
Net turn
over rate
1930
1931
B — Equivalent annual rates
January.............
February______
March................
April__________
M ay ._________
June__________
July....................
August________
September_____
October_______
November.........
December..........
Average__
8.7
21.8
20.9
9.6
11.1
22.8
25.7
23.7
22.5
15.9
16.5
18.3
15.2
11.0
9.9 ______
31.8
23.0
32.6
22.8
33.3
20.6
31.3
31.5
36.5 ..........
49.1
47.0
38.2
33 9
33.7
32.2
6.4
2.2
8.0
2.6
7.1
3.1
6.5
5.6
5.6 ...........
3.8
4.2
4.4
3.8
2.9 ...........
2.5
60.0
61.5
63.2
63.5
60.8
64.6
68.8
67.7
60.9
52.9
47.6
44.6
18.7
35.9
5.1
59.7
33.9
35.0
34.8
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30.1
24.9
25.1
37.1
35.0
36.8
43.2
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30.1
24.9
25.1
33.9
35.0
34.8
37.1
The annual quit rate for 1930 was 18.7. The discharge rate was
5.1 and the lay-off rate 35.9. The total separation rate for the year
1930 was 59.7 as compared with the accession rate of 37.1. That
is, for each 59.7 employees who were separated from their jobs during
the year 1930 only 37.1 were hired.
The charts on pages 665 and 666 show in graphic form the informa
tion contained in Table 1,
INDEXES OFAVERAGEMONTHLYLABOR TURNOVER RATES, 1930&1931.
SEPARATION RATES.
a>
o>
Or
666
TURNOVEB OF LABOR
AMERICAN
f ACtfORlES
667
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession and net turn
over rates for the automobile industry, boot and shoe industry, cotton
manufacturing, iron and steel industry, sawmills, slaughtering and
meat-packing establishments, foundries and machine shops, and fur
niture manufacturing for each month during the calendar year 1930
and for January, February, and March, 1931, presented on both a
monthly and an equivalent annual basis.
T able 3 . - AVERAGE LABOR TU RNO VER RATES IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES
A — Monthly rates
Separation rates
Industry and month
Automobiles:
January.......................
February.....................
March.........................
April............................
M ay.............................
June.............................
July..............................
August.........................
September...................
October........................
November...................
December....................
AverageBoots and shoes:
January,...................
February..................
March......................
April.........................
May.........................
June..........................
July..........................
August......................
September................
October.....................
November.....................
December................
Average..
Cotton goods:
January......................
February-..................
M arch ......................
April..........................
M ay...........................
June...........................
July............................
August.......................
September.................
October......................
November..................
December......................
Average..
Foundries and machine
shops:
January-...................... .
February. ....................
March......................
April.........................
M ay..........................
June..........................
J u ly ........................
August____________
Discharges
Quits
Lay-offs
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
2.76
1.16
1.81
2.21
2.20
1.59
1.14
1.23
1.29
1.19
.81
0.54
.74
1.09
a 92
.38
.56
.50
.50
.39
.24
0.18
5.81
2.31
2.04
1.97
5.59
5.90
9.48
7.66
7.42
5.39
3.80
3.69
2.63
1.71
1.71
.40
1.52
1.97
1.93
2.00
2.48
2.06
1.94
2.04
2.19
2.01
1.71
1.23
1.27
1.58
.21
5.09
1.27
1.37
1.34
2.13
2.47
1.82
1.76
2.84
2.78
2.73
4.38
1.00
2.07
1.98
2.27
2.40
2.36
2.06
1.91
1.58
1.00
1.00
1.36
.55
2.40
60
2.16
1.92
2.20
1.41
1.22
.58
2.23
2.07
2.17
3.34
3.58
2.44
2.09
2.18
1.92
1.81
2.36
1.88
1.36
1.88
1.88
1.87
1.29
1.11
1.01
.52
.55
.90
.80
.88
.80
.79
.54
.43
.45
2.03
3.24
2.87
4.12
4.52
4.58
4.08
Net turn
over rates
1930
1931
1930
9.49 3.35 13.50
3.85 2.66 4.74
4.41 3.19 6.92
4,68
7.45
9.29
3.98
7.88
2.34
10.86
2.78
9.27
3.69
9.04
3.83
6.83
4.02
4.77
5.95
4.74
3.43
2.92
4.12
7.76
9.49
3.85
4.41
4.68
3.98
2.34
2.78
3.69
3.83
4.02
4.77
3.43
1930
1931
7.01
1.88
1.23
1.16
1.03
1.8
Accession
rates
Total
4.02
4.00
3.99
5.29
5.06
4.23
4.37
5.76
5.30
4.91
5.65
5.15
5.22
3.48
2.81
3.24
4.81
2.60
1.87
2.00
4.88
4.50
5.16
5.31
4.98
4.81
5.80
5.62
4.78
3.98
3.75
2.74
5.97
3.09
3.18
2.76
3.19
3.78
4.74
4.08
2.99
2.05
2.41
3.66
4.50
3.33
4.17
4.27
3.95
3.25
2.47
2.72
4.58
4.34
2.93
1.46
4.48
5.88
4.92
4.19
6.00
5.55
6.78
6.35
6.12
5.54
2.87
3.87
4.39
4.63
3.95
3.76
3.05
2.26
2.56
4.02
3.09
3.18
2.76
3.19
3.78
4.37
4.08
2.99
2.05
2.41
3.66
2.81
3.24
3.30
3.57
3.91
4.47
3.50
2.32
2.10
2.72
2.92
2.66
3.19
5.22
3.49
4.00
3.21
3.72
1931
4.50
3.33
4.17
4.27
3.95
3.25
2.47
2.72
4.58
3.98
2.93
1.46
3.57
3.21
3.72
3.47
2.93
2.96
3.38
4.19
4.63
3.95
3.76
3.05
2.26
2.56
2.93
2.87
3.38
6 68
TURNOVER OF LABOR
T able
2.—AVERAGE LABOR TURNOVER RATES IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES—Continued
A — Monthly rates— Continued
Separation rates
Industry and month
Quits
1930
1931
Foundries and machine
shops—Continued.
September..................... 1.07
October......................
.85
November..................
.66
December..................... .55
June.............................
July..............................
August.........................
September...................
October........................
N ovem ber.................
December....................
Average....................
1.73
1.26
1.44
1.21
1.18
1.09
1.03
1.81
1.91
1.91
2.26
2.13
1.87
1.54
1.61
1.45
1.13
1.11
Average-....................
1.63
Sawmills:
January....................
February..................
March......................
April.........................
M ay..........................
June..........................
July..........................
August......................
September................
October....................
November................
December-...............
Average....................
Slaughtering and meat
packing:
January....................... .
February. ....................
March...........................
April............................ .
M ay.............................
June............................. .
July...............................
August.......... ...............
September....................
October.........................
November.....................
Average..
1931
1930
1931
Total
1930
1931
Accession
rates
Net turn
over rates
1930
1930
.26
2.45
2.27
1.85
2.05
2.45
2.27
1.85
2.05
.55
3.57
5.35
3.02
3.02
0.25
.34
.37
4.38
4.39
4.33
4.50
3.45
3.30
3.61
5.92
4.84
3.86
4.52
6.75
6.17
6.18
6.11
6.66
5.04
4.85
5.09
7.20
7.69
.44
4.50
6.12
.45
.34
.45
.42
.40
.49
.24
.26
1.24
1.15
1.22
5.64
4.77
5.69
1.36
1.03
1.38
3.50
3.40
3.58
4.00
4.24
4.61
4.07
3.92
3.83
3.58
3.19
3.15
2.16
1.90
2.21
3.34
2.87
3.82
5.09
5.34
7.07
3.72
2.48
2.35
4.01
5.52
5.09
4.06
3.88
3.25
2.56
2.27
1.91
2.32
1.74
1.31
1.40
.10
1.32
1.71
2.25
2.29
2.05
2.16
2.25
1.95
2.23
.31
1.82
1.18
1.37
1.47
.92
1.35
.96
1.07
.93
.95
.72
4.52
3.99
3.54
4.97
8.10
5.35
6.98
6.09
7.64
6.58
7.23
7.42
1.06
6.03
10.10
7.47
6.68
1.69
.79.
.72
.65
.73
.56
.57
7.70
7.51
4.47
4.14
4.59
5.34
5.14
3.79
4.67
4.80
5.59
4.40 9.91
6.48 11.03
6.88 10.86
8.13
7.77
8.19
8.21
7.95
6.70
7.10
6.48
7.85
6.30 10.02
8.72 7.39
5.23
8.47
9.01
10.34
6.92
6.34
7.33
7.62
7.30
6.24
2.22
.76
5.37 !....... . 8.35
7.68
3.80
3.39
3.89
4.28
3.51
2.93
.22
.20
.13
1.97
1.22
1.74
2.68
3.01
2.99
2.26
1.93
1.39
3.01
2.37
2.49
2.91
2.84
2.72
2.08
2.09
2.26
1.70
1.12
1.29
1.56
1.41
1931
5.33
5.33
3.75
3.91
0.55
.57
.80
.71
.72
.71
Lay-offs
3.82
4.01
2.87
3.10
.22
1.18
Iron and steel:
January.......................
February____________
M a rch ........................
April............................
M ay.............................
June........................... .
July.............................
August.........................
September...................
October...................... .
November................... .
December.................... .
1930
0.44
.47
Average—
Furniture:
January-----February—
March.........
April............
Discharges
.91
.96
.86
.75
.79
.88
9.50
8.75
8.90
10.17
12.96
9.24
10.73
10.03
11.58
9.56
9.99
9.74
9.42
6.28
6.81
9.11
7.91
9.66
10.09
5.85
6.17
6.71
6.93
8.32
4.96
4.51
3.34
2.87
3.82
5.09
5.04
4.85
3.72
2.48
2.35
5.24
4.77
4.78
4.01
2.52
2.24
2.03
3.50
3.40
3.58
3.88
3.25
2.56
2.27
1.91
2.32
1.74
1.31
1.40
2.16
1.90
2.03
2.94
2.94
3.76
8.02
4.56
4.56
5.24
5.51
4.78
1931
9.99
7.44
7.07
9.39
8.75
7.91
9.66
10.09
5.85
6.17
6.71
6.93
8.32
4.96
4.51
9.42
6.28
6.81
7.47
9.50
5.02
5.19
9.91
7.39
5.23
8.13
7.77
8.19
6.92
6.34
6.70
7.10
6.48
6.24
7.68
6.30
5.02
5.19
66 9
AMERICAN FACTORIES
T able
A V E R AG E LA BO R T U R N O VE R RATES IN SPECIFIED IN D U STRIE S-C ontinued
B —Equivalent annual rates
Separation rates
Industry and month
Automobiles:
January.......................
February-................... .
March...........................
April............................
M ay..............................
June..............................
July...............................
August.........................
September................... .
October........................
November................... .
December.................... .
Average..
Boots and shoes:
January....................... .
February. ....................
March...........................
April.............................
M ay..............................
June............................. .
July...............- ..............
August..........................
September................... .
October.........................
November................... .
December— ............... .
Average..
Cotton goods:
January................... .
February....................
March................. .........
April.................. ..........
M ay..............................
June...................... .......
July...............................
August------------- ------September................... .
October.........................
November.............. ......
December.................... .
Average..
Foundries and machine
shops:
January....... ................
February. _..................
March...........................
April.............................
M ay..............................
June..............................
July...............................
August..........................
September....................
October.........................
November....................
December.....................
Average..
Furniture:
January....................... .
February..................... .
March...........................
April.............................
M ay..............................
June..............................
J u ly .-...........................
August..........................
Lay-offs
Quits
1930
1931
1930
32.5
15.1
21.3
26.9
25.9
19.4
13.4
14.5
15.7
14.0
9.9
10.4
6.4
9.6
12.8
10.8
5.0
90.2
90.3
63.4
46.2
43.4
31.0 111.7
22.3 50.2
20.1 51.9
57.0
97.6
95.9
127.8
109.2
110.0
80.3
58.0
55.8
39.5 158.9
34.6 61.8
37.5 81.4
90.7
46.8
28.5
32.7
43.4
46.6
47.3
72.4
40.4
60.8
83.8
62.6
111.6
4.4
4.0
5.9
5.5
3.3
2.8
6.6
11.8
13.0
16.0
7.7
7.8
8.1
6.8
8.3
6.5
7.1
6.5
5.4
5.6
5.6
4.3
2.8
21.8
6.3
17.7
22.1
22.9
22.0
15.7
13.1
11.9
13.0
10.0
68.4
30.1
24.0
24.0
65.8
71.8
5.7
6.7
22.4
6.1
7.2
10.6
10.4
10.4
9.7
9.3
14.9
17.9
15.8
25.9
29.1
22.1
20.7
33.4
33.8
32.1
53.3
45.7
4.7
4.4
4.2
25.4
25.0
25.9
27.1
24.4
26.4
39.3
42.1
29.7
24.6
26.5
22.6
2.6
2.9
2.9
6.5
5.1
5.3
5.4
5.5
2.7
3.1
14.8
6.7
42.7
21.1
14.8
17.5
14.2
13.9
2.9
4.4
4.4
7.8
6.1
5.0
4.7
4.8
16.0
13.7
30.6
24.4
23.5
57.7
41.8
41.0
36.6
38.2
58.2
46.8
45.6
32.2
53.0
43.4
49.1
52.0
46.5
39.6
29.1
32.0
55.7
51.1
35.7
17.2
56.3
42.0
57.5
58.6
60.7
64.6
58.7
58.6
68.3
47.1
41.8
43.7
66.1
27.3
27.4
32.0
54.6
70.6
67.5
79.8
77.3
72.1
65.2
64.9
62.7
45.6
46.1
36.0
37.5
45.5
57.2
54.5
4&1
1931
1931
34.4 111.7
53.7 50.2
91.3 51.9
57.0
46.8
28.5
32.7
43.4
46.6
47.3
58.0
40.4
34.4
34.6
37.5
62.6 |
52.7
76.7
57.9
47.3
40.3
37.4
33.6
37.5
46.0
51.4
48.0
36.4
24.1
29.3
43.1
41.0
36.6
38.2
41.8 |.........
42.0
51.0
52.6
53.0
43.4
49.1
52.0
46.5
39.6
29.1
32.0
55.7
46.8
35.7
17.2
42.0
41.8
43.7
41.7
34.5
38.6
39.8
44.3
37.1
26.6
30.1
29.8
26.7
22.5
24.1
64.2
57.0
50.3
53.2
53.3
51.6
52.7
53.0
40.6
60.6
70.3
40.3
37.4
33.6
37.5
46.0
55.8
48.0
36.4
24.1
29.3
43.1
47.3
52.2
47.0
64.4
59.5
51.4
51.4
67.8
64.5
57.7
68.8
28.3
6.6
6.5
7.4
9.4
22.1
28.7
26.5
38.1
34.9
48.5
55.0
53.9
48.0
46.5
47.2
34.9
36.5
8.0
1930
2.1
2.7
4.6
8.6
6.2
12.1
1930
1931
6.2
12.2
24.4
25.8
26.7
29.2
27.8
25.1
22.5
18.6
22.9
16.6
14.8
9.2
9.1
7.7
8.3
1931
Net turn
over rates
1930
4.8
14.5
16.6
18.6
1930
Accession
rates
1931
5.9
4.7
2.8
4.5
4.0
2.9
1.9
2.0
18.3
23.2
25.2
23.5
30.2
24.2
23.2
240
25.8
24.5
20.1
6.6
6.1
Total
54.6
54.5
48.1
44.3
37.1
26.6
30.1
29.8.
26.7
22.5
24.1
34.5
37.5
39.8
36.5
61.7
71.9
56.3
66.4
62.1
67.0
82.2
72.5
75.2
71.9
59.3 .........
40.6
33.8
46.5
62.9
61.7
62.1
56.3
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
59.3
670
TURNOVER OF LABOR
T a b l e 2 .— AV E R AG E LABO R TU R N O V E R R ATES IN SPECIFIED INDU STRIES—Continued
B — Equivalent annual rates— Continued
Separation rates
Industry and month
Quits
1930
Furniture—Continued.
September................... .
October........................
November...................
December....................
Average....................
13.3
5.6
5.3
3.5
4.1
14.1
5.2
12.1
8.0
21.3
24.9
22.5
27.5
25.1
22.8
18.1
18.9
17.6
13.3
13.5
9.7
Average.................... .
19.6
Sawmills:
January.........................
February................... .
March..........................
April............................
M ay..............................
June...................... .......
J u ly --..........................
August.........................
September...................
October........................
November...................
December....................
44.7
44.2
45.8
52.1
41.3
35.7
31.5
35.4
36.4
26.6
23.5
16.4
Slaughtering and meat
packing:
January........................
February. ....................
March..........................
April............................
M ay.............................
June.............................
J u ly --..........................
August.........................
September...................
October........................
November...................
December....................
Average....................
1930
12.0
Iron and steel:
January........................
February--.............. .
March........................
April............................
M ay.............................
June.............................
July..............................
August..........................
September................... .
October........................ .
November................... .
December.................... .
Average....................
1931
Discharges
8.4
9.4
8.4
35.4
33.4
33.1
24.5
24.6
27.5
20.0
13.6
19.9
1.1
2.0
1.6
1.2
14.6
15.0
14.4
16.1
20.1
27.4
27.0
24.1
26.3
26.5
23.7
26.2
3.7
21.8
5.3
4.4
5.3
5.1
4.7
1.4
6.0
2.8
11.4
15.9
20.5
1931
16.0
13.4
16.2
Accession
Net turn
over rates
1930
1930
Total
1930
1931
1931
86.0
87.5
90.5
43.8
30.2
27.7
59.1
43.8
30.2
27.7
73.1
47.9
47.9
41.2
44.3
42.2
48.7
49.9
56.2
47.9
46.1
46.6
42.2
38.8
37.1
25.5
24.8
26.0
45.1
65.0
66.4
47.8
47.2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16.5
35.5
29.7
29.2
23.9
41.2
44.3
42.2
47.2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16.5
87.3
12.7
72.3
.....jl21.1
10.7
12.5
10.1
9.1
9.3
10.7
9.3
8.5
7.9
8.6
6.8
6.7
7.2 78.6
8.9 100.4
4.4 88.4
54.4
48.7
55.9
62.9
60.5
46.1
55.0
58.4
65.8
9.2
64.6
11.2
11.6
8.5
10.1
10.9
5.1
6.5
6.0
53.2
52.0
41.7
60.5
95.3
65.1
82.2
71.7
93.0
77.4
88.0
51.8 116.6 74.2
84.5 143.8 113.7
81.0 127.8 102.0
98.9
91.4
99.7
96.7
93.6
81.5
! 83.6
I 78.8
I 92.4
19.8
25.5
24.8
23.9
110.9
81.9
80.2
1.8
117.9 111.8 116.6
96.4 65.5 96.4
61.6 61.1 61.6
103.1
98.9
106.0
91.4
99.7
125.8
81.4
81.4
74.6
74.6
89.2
81.5
83.6
89.7
88.8
78.8
73.4
73.4
92.3
1931
35.5
94.4 111.8 110.9 110.5 117.6 110.5
59.5 114.1 81.9 118.8 97.0 114.1
53.7 104.8 80.2 93.1 83.2 93.1
123.8
117.6
117.6
152.5
118.8
118.8
71.2
112.5
71.2
72.6
126.3
72.6
79.0
118.0
79.0
84.3
141.0
84.3
97.9
112.5
97.9
60.4
121.6
60.4
53.1
53.1
114.6
13.9
17.9
17.3
15.9
11.7
12.6
10.9
15.2
20.3
16.6
1930
40.2
42.5
72.0
78.4
3.1
2.7
2.4
36.1
27.3
1931
Lay-offs
74.2
65.5
61.1
92.3
The highest quit rate for the year 1930, 36.1, was shown in the
sawmill industry; the lowest quit rate, 14.1, was shown by the
furniture industry. Sawmills also had the highest discharge rate,
12.7. ^The lowest discharge rate, 3.7, was registered by the iron and
steel industry. The highest lay-off rate was 72.3 in the sawmill
industry; the lowest, 21.8, in the iron and steel industry. The high
est accession rate was shown by the slaughtering and meat-packing
industry, the accession rate in that industry bemg 92.3. Iron and
steel had the lowest accession rate, 35.5.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
AND RELIEF
671
Unemployment Insurance and Relief
ITH the unfavorable employment conditions existing during
the past several years, very great interest has been developed
in all forms of relief plans and programs. In general, however, these
plans and programs fall under the three heads noted in the 1929 Hand
book (Bui. No. 491), namely, employment exchanges, unemployment
insurance and benefit plans, and plans for stabilizing business under
takings.
The present situation regarding employment exchanges is described
in an article beginning on page 129. As regards unemployment
insurance, there has been no public action. The number of private
plans has been increased but the total number of persons covered by
such plans is still a relatively small proportion of the total working
population. A summary of the existing plans is given in this section.
Programs for stabilizing and regularizing industrial employment
have been considered and offered in very large number, by both
public and private organizations. A few representative programs
of this character are noted in an article in this section.
W
Unemployment Benefits and Stabilization Policies in
the United States
HE present unemployment situation has focused attention upon
the various plans to ameliorate the condition of workers forced
out of employment by economic changes beyond their control and
upon measures taken to forestall and prevent unemployment.
In this country unemployment insurance has not been the subject
of legislation, although in some of the States such legislation has been
proposed. In isolated instances, however, employers have put
unemployment insurance plans into effect, usually in conjunction
with a definite policy for stabilization in the plant or industry, and
the trade-unions have in some cases paid out-of-work benefits to
their members and in other cases—notably the men’s clothing indus
try—have been successful in the establishment of unemployment
insurance plans through collective agreements.1
T
Trade-Union Plans
A l t h o u g h unemployment benefits have been paid by a number of
national and international unions at various periods, only three such
plans appear to be in existence at the present time. Of the aban
doned plans several were in trades in which through changing work
processes or for other causes the union became so weakened that the
organization was dissolved; in other cases opposition to the payment
of unemployment benefits developed within the trade-union itself,
and the practice was, therefore, given up. The plans which continue
* A detailed account of these various plans is given in Bulletin No. 544 of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
673
674
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
in existence are those of the Diamond Protective Workers’ Union of
America, the Deutsche Amerikanische Typographia, and the Inter
national Association of Siderographers. Two of these unions—the
diamond workers and siderographers—employ altogether not more
than a few hundred men. The Deutsche Amerikanische Typographia
was the first trade-union organized in this country to pay unemploy
ment benefits on an international scale. The total membership in
1928 was reported to be 636.
The locals of certain of the national and international unions also
pay out-of-work benefits to their members. These include the Bakery
and Confectionery Workers’ Union of America, the International
Typographical Union, Amalgamated Lithographers of America,
International Photo-Engravers’ Union of North America, Inter
national Brotherhood of Bookbinders, International Stereotypers’
and Electrotypers’ Union of North America, International Printing
Pressmen and Assistants’ Union of North America, and Amalgamated
Lace Operatives of America.
In addition to the unions which pay a direct unemployment benefit,
an indirect form of benefit through the exemption of unemployed
members from the payment of dues is practiced by many unions.
While this form of benefit does not relieve the lack of earnings, it has
the advantage of keeping workers in good standing so that they are
eligible for other union benefits.
Insurance Through Collective Agreements
V a r i o u s industries have instituted unemployment insurance
schemes through collective agreements between employers and the
unions. The underlying principle in these plans is the responsibility
of the industry for the employment of its regular workers.
There are nine industries in which unemployment relief has been
provided for by joint agreement. These include several branches
of the clothing mdustry, namely, the ladies’ garment industry;
men’s clothing industry; cloth hat, cap and millinery industry, and
straw-hat industry; the lace industry; wall-paper industry; the
hosiery industry; and the shop employees of one railroad.
The women’s garment industry was among the first to set up a
system of guaranteed employment and unemployment benefits. This
system was established in Cleveland by a decision of the board of
referees in 1921. It was followed by a similar agreement in the New
York market in 1924, and later in Chicago. Factional differences
in the union resulting in its disorganization led to the loss of the plan
in New York City and in Chicago.
The Amalgamated Clothing Workers and the employers in the
Chicago market signed an agreement early in 1923 providing for the
creation of an unemployment insurance fund supported by the pay
ment of equal contributions of 1% per cent of the pay roll by the em
ployers and the employees. By a later agreement (1928) the em
ployers’ share was dotibled, the employees’ part remaining thesame;
Large amounts'have been paid out to workers involuntarily unem
ployed for lack of .work, but although the fundhasbeen very suceessml"in aUeviating the' effects of -unemploythent on the workers* in* the*
opinion of the chairman"of’the fund' the scheme has:had no tendency,
to decrease unemployment. Similar agreements were concluded in
BENEFITS IN UNITED STATES
675
Rochester, N. Y., and in New York City in 1928, although with dif
ferent rates of contribution. In Rochester the agreement provides
that employers and workers shall contribute \)i per cent of the pay
roll and wages, respectively, but up to the present time the employees’
contributions have been waived. In New York City the employers
pay the entire amount, or 1% per cent of the total pay roll. The
unemployment benefit plan of the wall-paper industry dates back to
1894 when the machine printers and color mixers secured an agree
ment with the employers covering a guaranty of wrork and payment
for lost time. This is probably the earliest plan on a national scale
dealing with the unemployment problem The latest agreement,
signed in 1929, provides for a guaranty of 40 weeks’ continuous
employment, 30 that within this limit the
^ of
unemploy
ment fall upon the employer. No liability for uii-mployment is
assumed by the employer, however, for tht remaining 12 weeks of the
year.
Loc.‘>l * the Cloth Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers’ International
Union in New York City and Philadelphia have had agreements with
employers providing unemployment benefits since 1924. In both
cities * funds are made up of employers’ contributions amounting
to 3 per cent of pay roll.
In the straw-hat industry plans similar to those in the cap industry
were obtained in 1924 and 1925 in New York City by two locals of
the United Hatters of North America. These plans provide for the
payment of 3 per cent of the wTeekly pay roll by the employers.
Members of Local 3 of the union employed in shops where there is no
agreement in effect may pay 3 per cent of their wages into this fund
if they w^ish, and thus become eligible for benefit, but such payment
is not compulsory. Members of Local 45 may obtain coverage by
paying into the fund $1.50 per week for 40 weeks.
A national agreement was concluded between the Full-Fashioned
Hosiery Manufacturers of America and the American Federation of
Full-Fashioned Hosiery Workers which became effective August 1,
1930. By the terms of the agreement each member of the association
contributes to the fund a sum equal to 1 per cent of the weekly wages
paid in the factory, these contributions beginning August 1, 1930,
while the workers pay one-half of this amount, their contributions
beginning September 1, 1931. The agreement provides for restricting
membership in the union to the actual number of jobs, as a check
upon the payment of unemployment benefits. The agreement is
effective until August 31, 1931, and will be renewed automatically
unless either party desires to terminate it.
The Seaboard Air Line Railway entered into an agreement with
the Shop Craft Federation in 1927 to guarantee steady employment
to a specified number of shopmen for the year 1928. The agreement,
which granted the company the privilege of increasing its forces above
the specified minimum at any time, has been renewed each year.
Establishment Insurance and Guaranty Plans
T he practice of providing some insurance against.forced unemploy
ment among, their workers has not gained any .widespread acceptance
676
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
among employers. There are at present 15 companies known to
have established systems of unemployment insurance for their em
ployees. In most of these plans emphasis is laid upon measures for
stabilizing employment, such as manufacturing for stock to avoid
seasonal fluctuations, avoidance of unnecessary hiring when business
is active in order to avoid lay-offs and to maintain the normal pay
roll in times of depression, deferring maintenance and repair work
as far as possible in times of increased industrial activity, shortening
or lengthening the work periods in accordance with production require
ments, and the application of extra sales energy when sales are most
needed. By the use of these and other methods which may be
applicable to the conditions of a particular industry, all available
means are taken to keep the men employed rather than to subsidize
unemployment by the payment of benefits. When these means fail,
however, to insure employment, provision for the payment of benefits
is made.
An unemployment fund was established by the Dennison Manufac
turing Co. m 1916. Up to January, 1931, the plan provided for the
payment of benefits to workers who were unemployed because of
lack of work or those whose earnings were reduced because of trans
fer. But early in 1931, the plan was changed to guarantee to employ
ees with at least six months’ service who were retained on the pay roll
a certain percentage of their normal weekly pay.
The Leeds & Northrup Co. set up a fund in 1923 as a result of
the depression of 1920 in which the company was obliged to lay off
men without being able to make any provision which would help the
workers to meet the emergency. The fund, which is maintained en
tirely by the company, represents an attempt to build up a reserve
sufficient to meet any major industrial depression. In the case of
lay-off there is no waiting period before the payment of benefits.
The unemployment insurance plan of the Dutchess Bleachery (Inc.),
which provides for the establishment of a sinking fund from which
benefits should be paid in times of unemployment, was established in
1920. A worker is considered unemployed when the plant or any
department of the plant is closed temporarily on account of business
depression or other cause over which the operatives have no control.
Employees who have worked for the company on either a piece-work
or time-work basis for 12 months are eligible for benefits, at least
24 hours’ pay per week being guaranteed under the plan unless the
fund becomes exhausted.
The plan of the John A. Manning Paper Co. was originally a union
agreement with an employment guaranty of 52 weeks’ employment for
all employees having a year’s service with the firm. Misunderstand
ings arising from its application, however, caused its abandonment
after a trial of one year. The organization of the Manning Welfare
Association in 1922, for the purpose of providing various benefits for
production employees, included as one of the benefits unemployment
insurance entirely paid for by the companv. This plan guaranteed
payment for unemployment on account of lack of work up to a fixed
maximum payment. A contributory unemployment insurance plan
was partially put in effect April 1, 1931. The fund will be formed
by a contribution of 1 per cent of the operating employees’ wages,
matched by a contribution of an equal sum by the company. In an
BENEFITS IN UNITED STATES
6 77
unemployment emergency this will be supplemented by a 1 per cent
deduction from the earnings of salaried employees and officials.
The Behr-Manning Corporation, whose employees are members of
the same unions and welfare association as the Manning Co., has
operated under an identical plan, but in the spring of 1931 was con
sidering the adoption of a joint contributory plan.
The employment-guaranty plan of the Crocker-McElwain Co. and
the Chemical Paper Manufacturing Co., which was instituted in 1920,
and amended in February, 1931, guarantees employment at 80 per
cent of full-time earnings for 44 weeks in the year to employees having
five years’ service with the company.
The S. C. Johnson & Son Co., Racine, Wis., has a plan of unemploy
ment benefits administered by the employees’ mutual benefit associa
tion, but financed by the company. The plan was inaugurated in
1922, but much attention has been given by the company to the
stabilization of the industry so that the out-of-work benefits are a
comparatively unimportant part of the policy of the company to
provide regular and stable employment for its workers.
The plan of the Columbia Conserve Co. was established in 1917
as part of the general plan of democratization by wiiich employees
were given a voice in the management of working conditions generally.
In line with this policy of the company, every effort has been made to
stabilize a highly seasonal industry with a view to eliminating un
employment as completely as possible. The regular workers are
hired, after a probationary period, on a salary basis, and workers
whose status is purely temporary, on a wage basis. The salaried
workers are given a guaranty of a full year’s employment, while the
wage earners are guaranteed 45 hours’ employment a week at a
fixed hourly rate during the period they are employed. The opera
tion of the factory is now in the hands of the workers, who own more
than 50 per cent of the common stock of the company.
The Procter & Gamble Co. has maintained guaranteed employment
in the different plants and offices of the company since 1923 for em
ployees who participate in the profit-sharing plan of the company.
The employment guaranty insures 48 weeks’ employment per year,
at full pay, to all employees, of at least six months’ service with the
company, whose wage or salary does not exceed $2,000 per year.
The United Diamond Works (Inc.) has a plan of unemployment
benefits which was adopted in 1921. This is one of the largest dia
mond-cutting establishments in the United States, and the peculiar
necessities of the trade made it essential to provide for maintaining
the force because of the skill and training involved in diamond
polishing. No special fund was set aside, but men are usually paid
25 per cent of their average full-time earnings and women 20 per cent.
The plan is temporarily suspended owing to the closing of the plant.
Among the plans recently established is that of the Brown &
Bailey Co., Philadelphia, which established a trust fund from which
benefits are paid to workers on weekly wages, both skilled and un
skilled. There are no service requirements, and the compensation
for total or partial unemployment is sufficient to bring the income up
to 75 per cent of the employee’s normal weekly earnings. The plan
was changed to a joint contributory plan in 1930,
6 78
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND BELIEF
The General Electric Co. established a new unemployment pension
plan in the summer of 1930. The plan provides that employees with
service of one year or more are eligible for participation. Employees
contribute approximately 1 per cent of their earnings as long as they
amount to 50 per cent of the average full-time earnings, and the com
pany contributes an amount equal to that paid in by employees.
Benefits are not paid for the first two weeks of unemployment but
may be made for a maximum of 10 weeks in any 12 consecutive months.
The plan is part of the definite stabilization program of the company.
The Consolidated Water Power & Paper Co. established an unem
ployment compensation plan in February, 1929, which provides for
remuneration to permanent employees who are unemployed because
of curtailed operations. Benefits amount to approximately one-third
of the average monthly wage. The plan was adopted as the result of
an agreement reached by the company with the local representatives
of the three union organizations with which the company has dealt
for the past 10 years.
A novel cooperative plan for guaranteeing employment and paying
unemployment benefits financed entirely by the companies was
entered into by three manufacturing firms of Fond du Lac, Wis., in
1930. The employing organizations are the Sanitary Refrigerator
Co., Northern Casket Co., and Demountable Typewriter Co., in
cluding two subsidiary enterprises of the latter company, the Stand
ard Refrigerator Co., and the American Lock & Hinge Co. The
companies agree to provide “ steady employment” so far as possible,
to assist employees for whom jobs can not be provided to secure
other suitable employment, and in case this is impossible to pay a
cash unemployment benefit after the first 15 days of unemployment,
equal to 65 per cent of the average earnings during the year preceding
unemployment.
A joint unemployment benefit plan was entered into by 14 com
panies of Rochester, N. Y., m February, 1931. These companies,
with the exception of one public utility, are engaged in manufacturing,
the companies all being under separate management and control.
The plan provides that the companies will bear the entire cost of the
plan except in the case of prolonged unemployment in which case they
may require contributions of 1 per cent of earnings from all employees
who are not receiving benefits, including officials. No benefits will
be paid until 1933, the intervening period being devoted to the
accumulation of reserve funds which it is estimated will at that time
be sufficient to meet ordinary requirements.
Plans for Stabilizing Employment
URING the early part of 1929 and prior to the beginning of the
serious depression in the latter part of that year, a plan was
worked out in Cincinnati, Ohio, on a city-wide basis and under public
auspices, for stabilizing employment and industry. Following the
depression many such plans were devised by committees appointed
by various pubnc bodies as well as by industrial, labor, church, and
other organizations. A few of these plans, believed to be fairly
representative of the respective groups, are here described .
D
M A N S FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
67%
Employment Methods During Depression: Recommendations
of President’s Emergency Committee
T he following is the full text of an outline of industrial policies
and practices in time of reduced operation and employment prepared
for the President’s Emergency Committee for Employment in
January, 1931. Reports coming from progressive companies through
out the country form the basis of the outline, which, it is stated, is
to be regarded as suggestive only.
Outline of Industrial Policies and Practices in Time of Reduced Operation and
Employment1
I. Methods of Spreading Employment
I n a n attempt to spread employment and earnings as far as pos
sible, most companies faced by a reduction in operations have
shortened the working time of individual employees in the depart
ments or plants affected. This is frankly an emergency procedure
and has met with widespread acceptance by employees where they have
been advised of the necessity of such a step. The advantage of
providing many or all employees with some earnings rather than
a smaller proportion of employees with full earnings needs no explana
tion. In most cases the hourly rates of the employees have been
maintained and overtime work has been eliminated. The lower
limit of work afforded each employee kept on the pay roll is usually
half-time. Operating problems affect the particular combination
of hourly and daily schedules used. To the extent necessary, some
companies have suspended deductions from pay for savings, home
purchase, stock, or similar plans to afford employees on part time the
immediate use of all pay earned.
A. Reduced weekly schedule.—Use of a 5, 4, or 3 day week.
B. Reduced daily schedule.—Use of 8, 7, or 6 hour day.
C. Shorter shifts in continuous operation.—Use of four shifts,
similar change.
six hours each, or
D. Alternating shifts, gangs, or individuals on same job (“ staggering”).—Use
of two or more groups or individuals at same job, alternating their employment;
3 days on, 3 days off; 1 week on, 1 week off.
E. Rotation of days off.—Operations requiring group coordination have been
continued in some companies, in the face of a necessity to reduce pay roll, by the
rotation of days off by the employees in the group, thus giving some work to all
those in the group. The advantage of days off over against reduced daily hours
is that employees may be able to use free days to work at home or to do odd jobs
to supplement earnings. Notice of days off is usually given as long in advance
as possible to permit securing of such jobs.
II. Methods of Increasing Work Available
While methods of increasing work are often technical and are to
be tested by economic and financial determinations, there has been
widespread use of such plans to broaden the employing power to the
companies.
A.
More extensive maintenance and repair.—Cleaning, repairing, testing, paint
ing, etc., of machinery, structures, properties, etc.
i The methods here briefly presented were revealed by correspondence to be in practical operation. They
are presented for their suggestive value only. It is recognized that each individual management must
judge the applicability of any suggestion to its particular situation. There has also been prepared foi the
President’s Committee a Survey of Unemployment Relief in Industry, which may be obtained by address
ing the committee, Department of Commerce Building, Washington, D. C.
47767°— 31------- 44
680
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND BELIEF
B. Accelerated replacement.—Hastened replacement of worn, obsolete, or
inadequate machinery, parts, or facilities, rearrangement of machinery; modern
ization of power, processing, or handling equipment. The economic test of
proper productive capacity, and the probable immediate effect on the operating
personnel employed have been matters for serious consideration in developing
such plans.
C. Construction.—Construction, of new plant, buildings, industrial track and
roadway, housing, power facilities, etc., is being carried on by many companies
even though seasonal conditions may not be entirely advantageous. Increased
employment and decreasing costs are considered important reasons for immediate
action.
D. Production for stock.—With proper safeguards some companies find this
feasible. Measures permitting increased operations are the obtaining of orders
for future delivery, improvement of warehousing facilities, and forecasting future
orders through more extensive field surveys. Where possible, some companies
assure those supplying them with material as to their future needs.
E. Development of new products and new customers.—Attempts are being made
to reach new levels of consumption through new types and improved quality of
»roducts, decreased price, extensive advertising, and more scientific salesmanship,
t is the belief of some that qualitative improvement in company products is an
important means of creating new demand and thereby offsetting unemployment
f
III. Analysis of Pay Roll and Survey of Personnel as a Basis for Lay-Off Procedure
As soon as lay-offs are in prospect, companies have proceeded to
analyze their pay rolls and to make personnel surveys. Hit-or-miss
lay-offs, poor policy in normal times, are entirely unwarranted in
times of serious unemployment and impaired employee earnings. In
many companies, intensive analysis of card records previously avail
able, personal interviews at the employment department or by fore
men or supervisors in the plant departments, or consultations with
representatives of the workers affected have been made the basis for
ensuing steps in reducing personnel. Where the proportion of the
reduction necessary was not at first apparent, some companies have
taken tentative action, later reconsidered in the light of pay-roll
analysis and personnel surveys. The best procedure, it has been
found, can only be established on the basis of definite, complete, and
up-to-date knowledge of the economic status of the personnel con
cerned. The following purposes are served by such action:
A. Disclosure of persons willing to go on furlough without pay.—Older persons
approaching retirement, married women with husbands working, employees
wishing furloughs for vacation purposes may accept lay-off voluntarily if certain
privileges as to future employment, service record, or coverage under company
plans are assured.
B. Disclosure of duplication of wage earners in same family unit in the com
pany’s employ.—While action thereon is complicated by many circumstances,
the knowledge of the total income accruing to a family unit from company
employment is of value in time of serious unemployment.
C. Determination of need for earnings as indicated by number of dependents and
home responsibilities.—Information concerning married women with husbands
employed over against single or widowed women with home dependents, family
heads with aged or young persons dependent upon them, illness, or other
emergencies, has been found useful.
Z>. Determination of adequacy of part-time earnings.—Part-time employment is
found to affect the budgets of some employees far more seriously than those of
others. Financial advice, or reconsideration of employment schedule, may be
necessary in certain cases.
E. Determination of practicality of predating transfer to pension roll.—Some
older employees have savings accumulations which might permit them to accept
reduced pensions immediately.
F. Indication of persons to whom assurances can be safely given as to the security
of their employment.—The removal of anxiety where this is possible is found to
release purchasing power, encourage charitable contributions by those employed,
and stimulate community and plant morale.
PLANS FOK STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
681
G.
Maintenance of list for 'preferential employment.—As an outcome of the
analysis and surveys above, a priority list can be maintained similar to those
used by draft boards in the World War. Seniority in service, skill, training, and
experience are all factors to be considered.
IV. Methods of Assistance to Persons Laid Off
Few progressive companies have dropped all concern for former
employees on termination of employment. The present emergency
has greatly stimulated the application of methods of assisting laid-off
employees.
A . Placements in other jobs whether temporarily or permanently laid off.—Em
ployment department machinery, outside exchanges, outside visits by employ
ment officers, interplant committees, community interchange arrangements,
advertisements and circular letters, and other means have been used to secure
employment for laid-off employees. Longer notice of lay-off affords greater
opportunity to locate a new job.
B. Loans and credits.— Cash loans, lump sum or periodic, are extended in
certain companies, following friendly investigation of need. On reemployment
loans are to be repaid with or without interest by deductions from wages. Tact
ful and intelligent action assures protection against distress in those cases where
pride and sensitiveness otherwise cover up need. Credits are given on rent, fuel,
food, and clothing where company housing, services, or stores are available.
Such loans or credits are usually extended to employees temporarily laid off where
the persons assisted are both willing and able to assume financial obligation.
C. Dismissal compensation in case of permanent lay-off,—There has been an
increasing use of permanent lay-off compensation where technological change
coupled with decreased employment have rendered necessary permanent separa
tion of longer-service employees. In a time of depression such bonuses are found
to be all the more essential to cushion the shock to the employee in the readjust
ment of standards and expectancies. Such compensation ranges between com
panies from two weeks’ to one year’s wages, usually varying according to the age
and service of the employee.
D. Follow-up surveys through personal visits, card records, and community inter
change of information.—Companies attempting to assume responsibility for laidoff employees, to the extent possible to prevent their becoming dependent on
community relief, have found personnel surveys by trained representatives and
the preparation of continuing records valuable in preventing or alleviating dis
tress. Cooperation with community relief agencies is often essential to prevent
oversight or duplication of assistance.
E. Cooperation with community relief agencies.—To a marked extent company
and company relief organizations, where such exist, are cooperating with estab
lished community relief agencies. Unless such cooperation is developed, serious
oversight may develop on the one hand and duplication of efforts on the other.
Where any form of charitable relief is planned, communication with established
agencies has been found to be essential. Company gifts or employee contribu
tions by pay-roll deductions are usually put to most effective use by experienced
relief officers. Provision of free transportation, medical, fuel, housing, employment
and administrative services are among the steps taken by many companies.
V. Permanent Policies for Stabilization of Earnings and Employment
A. Forecasting and planning.—There are indications of greater use of outside
statistical experts and services and the employment of staff statisticians in coor
dination with planning and production scheduling departments as a means of
avoiding excessive operations and inventories at a time of imminent decline in
business.
B. Broader training of new employees, apprentices, and special groups within
personnel.—Broader training of personnel has been found to afford greater flexi
bility in shifting employees between departments in time of changing demand or
changing methods of production. Developments of more extensive and efficient
training departments include the “ preemployment school,” apprenticeship
courses, and “ the flying squadron.”
682
UNEM PLOYM ENT INSURANCE AND BELIEF
C. Standardization of 'products.—Greater accuracy and range of forecasting has
been found to be possible where products are standardized. Price concessions
are sometimes made to customers specifying standard products in orders filled
from stock. Experience indicates that standardization of products reduces idle
machinery and allows greater flexibility in the use of personnel.
D. Guaranteed employment.—Security of employment has been found to afford
marked improvement in employee morale and efficiency if properly supplemented
by wage, promotion, and other financial and nonfinancial incentives. Such
guaranties are considered a desirable goal in industrial relations practice, more or
less attainable according to the company’s product or service and financial situa
tion.
E .. The elastic workday or week.—Some companies have been operating for a
considerable period on the plan that daily or weekly hours, rather than the num
ber of employees hired, should be adjusted to the amount of work available/
Certain railroad companies have developed this plan in employment procedure
in their maintenance departments. As a permanent plan, it causes some fluctua
tion in employee earnings but this is considered preferable by the group affected
as against sharp variations from full earnings to no earnings in the case of those
laid off.
F. Unemployment insurance.—As a final protection to the standard of living of
the industrial employee, private unemployment insurance has received an impetus
during the last year. Insurance plans with adequate funds previously accumu
lated are not numerous, but, the accomplishments of the plans in operation at this
time are encouraging emulation. Unemployment insurance or pension plans are
usually voluntary and contributory, although in one important scheme all em
ployees may be assessed by pay-roll deductions in times of emergency. Loan
plans for laid-off empolyees are in some cases associated with those for unemploy
ment benefits, either through the use of the same accumulated fund or the possi
bility that loans now made will be later merged into a program for the assurance
of some income to persons laid off in the future.
Cincinnati’s Employment Stabilization Plan in Operation
E arly in 1929 a permanent committee on stabilizing employment
was appointed by the city manager of Cincinnati, the purpose of
the organization being not only to study the employment stabiliza
tion problem but to set up machinery to cope with an unemployment
crisis should one arise. The members of this committee are men
widely representative of the city's governmental, business, and socialservice forces. The subcommittees are concerned, respectively, with
the State-city employment exchange, continuous employment, tem
porary employment, public works, cooperation of social agencies,
budget and finance, State and national cooperation, transients, fact
finding and publicity, and education. The following brief report oil
the functioning of the general permanent committee and its various
suborganizations in the face of an unemployment emergency is taken
from an article by the city manager of Cincinnati in the April, 1930,
issue of the American City.
Preparing to Cope With a Slump in Employment
E ach of the subcommittees has its particular activity and operates
as a unit, while the general permanent committee's work is coordinated
through the city department of public welfare.
It is obvious that several of the subcommittees are especially well
adapted, to function before or during an unemployment crisis.;; Late
in September and in October, 1929, the fact-finaing committee discoveired an employment decline in certain Cincinnati industries; Tins
shrinkage in volume of employment became more rapid in November
and the various committees prepared to meet the emergency* The
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
683
subcommittee on continuous employment endeavored to get industry
to accept the principle of furnishing work for as many as possible,
with a reduction of hours or by staggering employment, so that a
smaller proportion would be laid off. Many Cincinnati establish
ments agreed to this principle and assisted in preventing the un
employment situation from becoming as serious as it otherwise might
have been. Several important concerns had already accepted the
principle of employment stabilization and had definite plans of con
tinuous work for their personnel.
Increase in Public Works
As a r e s u l t of the urgent recommendations of the committee for
the inauguration at once of such public work as was practicable to
carry on at this period, more work of this character was done during
the 1929-30 winter period than ever before in the annals of Cincin
nati and Hamilton County. The Hamilton County commissioner
made extensive public improvements and Cincinnati’s city manager
kept his departments active with all the jobs that could be done in
the winter months. Adjoining cities in Ohio and Kentucky com
bined in efforts to utilize many men on public work.
The subcommittee on temporary employment, which has nearly
100 members representing civic organizations and various community
groups, began at once to find a large number of temporary jobs.
This action tended to relieve to some extent the gravity of the early
period of the unemployment emergency. Subsequently, provision
was made for the employment, in public and semipublic institutions,
of heads of families who had, because of unemployment, applied for
relief. This relief program was financed largely by the department
of public welfare, assisted by the community chest. Through this
scheme 500 heads of families were given employment each week at
a fair rate per hour, for a sufficient number of hours to enable them
to supply their families with necessaries. The work thus furnished
was necessary, but the departments and agencies had had no appro
priations to carry it on, and it could not have been accomplished
without such a relief program as that established by the department
of public welfare and the community chest.
Cooperation of Social Agencies with Public Welfare Department
I n this emergency the subcommittee on cooperation with social
agencies functioned actively, receiving the unemployed who called,
deciding on those who could be taken care of under the industrial
relief plan, and referring to the social agencies those for whom unem
ployment was only one of the difficulties calling for relief.
The committee on transients, through the transient bureau of the
public welfare department, maintained close contact with transients
or drifters ,coming into Cincinnati, posted them on the employment
situiation, and by. social treatment handled these cases as a separate
issue from the genera:! unemployment problem confronting the
commimity.
In;ihe j.u&gment o f those in most direct contact with the industrial
situation in Cincinnati, "the city manager’s committee on stabiliz
ing employment has had a very definite part in reducing the serious
684
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
ness of the unemployment emergency which came to this, as well as
other cities, during the past few months.” In addition to the effective
work of the various subcommittees already outlined, it is also reported
that the improvement and heightened prestige of the State-city em
ployment bureau in Cincinnati have enabled that office to play a more
important part in placement than ever before. Furthermore, under
the Cincinnati plan the actual facts and conditions regarding unem
ployment have been made available to business establishments and
citizens, no attempt being made to exaggerate or minimize the
situation.
Ohio Program for Stabilizing Employment
A plan for stabilizing industry and employment in the State of
Ohio was drawn up in the early part of 1930 by the department of
industrial relations of that State and issued with the formal approval
of the governor. The plan contemplates four principal lines of action:
(1) Stimulation of public building; (2) improvement of public em
ployment offices; (3) stabilization of employment within individual
plants and industries; and (4) study of the extent and causes of un
employment. It is proposed that permanent State committees be
created for each of the subjects.
The full text of the plan follows:
Stabilization of Industry and Employment
The burden arising from unemployment and irregular employment
falls directly and heavily upon the wage earner and his family.
Ultimately, however, this burden falls upon society in general and
affects all phases of community life—industry, business, schools,
churches, and citizenship.
Contrary to general opinion, there is a considerable amount of in
voluntary idleness and broken time even when industrial conditions
are approximately normal and business is good. The amount of
idleness fluctuates with the seasons, with changing business conditions,
and with changes in industrial processes and business methods.
The State and its several political subdivisions are in position to
aid in lessening involuntary idleness and thus render service to the
individuals and families which now suffer and to society in general.
To render more than temporary aid will require long-time planning.
The general plan here suggested recognizes the need for undertaking
to meet the immediate unemployment situation, but places the greater
emphasis upon constructive plans for reducing the large amount of
involuntary idleness which is continuously found. During so-called
normal times the number unable to secure work may be more or less
than one-half as large as during periods of depression, but the hard
ships suffered by those who are idle are just as great.
The Federal Government and, finally, each of the important indus
trial States must become a part of m y comprehensive plan for greatly
reducing involuntary idleness. It is, however, a slow process to arouse
the interest of and secure action by the several States, and some
State must take the lead. The plan here suggested deals almost
wholly with the State of Ohio and includes only such things as may be
begun at once.
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
685
1. Public work.—In order to relieve the immediate situation the
plans of President Hoover and Governor Cooper, of stimulating public
work, should be carried forward as rapidly as possible.
Unless these plans are closely followed up there will be many delays
and much of the work which it was hoped would be started early in
the year will not get under way until summer or fall. It is suggested,
therefore, that:
(а) A central record be made of all major projects in the State and
that progress on such public work be noted from time to time.
(б) A State committee on public work be created to devise ways and
means of stimulating public work and progress on such work at this
time. This committee might consist of three to five members and
ought to include both labor and management.
(c)
A small local committee on public work be created in each
county and possibly in each of the larger cities. The local com
mittee would be expected to cooperate with the State committee and
should include labor and management in its membership.
If the State and local committee on public work could be continued
as a permanent organization, it would be very helpful in planning
for the distribution of public work according to general industrial
conditions, as far as that may be possible.
2. Public employment offices.—The Federal, State, and local Govern
ments can render valuable service by developing and maintaining
effective employment offices and by bringing the local offices together
into a well-organized State and National system. Such offices supply
information concerning available work and available workers, and
as need arises, definitely seek out jobs or workers. Ohio is in position
to go forward more rapidly at this time than is the Federal Govern
ment and many of the States.
When adequately supported and properly manned, such employ
ment offices can render excellent service both to wage earners and to
management and can materially lessen the time lost by workers.
To be effective, an employment office must have the continued active
support of management and of labor and the personnel must be selected
with a view to competency in that particular work.
An incidental but important result of the development of a more
effective system of public employment offices would be the gradual
elimination of the type of private employment office which exploits
wage earners and particularly those in the greatest need of work.
It is suggested that—
(а) A permanent State committee on public employment offices
be created to advise with reference to the best methods of further
developing public employment office work in Ohio and of securing
continued support of management and labor. This committee ought
to be small and include both labor and management in its membership.
(б) In view of the varied and unusual qualifications required for
successful superintendents and placement personnel in public employ
ment offices, arrangements be made, if possible, with the State civil
service commission for a committee consisting of a representative
of labor, a representative of management, and a representative of
the department of industrial relations to assist in preparing and
conducting examinations for superintendents and placement personnel.
686
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND BELIEF
3.
Stabilization of industry.—This matter merits the most careful
attention both from the standpoint of reducing involuntary idleness
and irregular work and from the standpoint of business itself.
Industry—that is, management and labor in cooperation—can
best devise, develop, and adopt plans for stabilizing industry and
employment within a plant or within an industry. Government’s
contribution in such work at this time is probably largely that of
making available information as to experiments and accomplish
ments. In many plants management and labor do not have the
opportunity for the experimentations necessary in such pioneer work,
but could profit from the experiences of others.
One of the interesting industrial experiences during the World
War was the unselfish spirit of some of the larger bakeries in freely
placing at the disposal of the smaller plants the results of their labora
tory tests and their practical experience in using wheat-fiour substi
tutes. Similar services were rendered competitors in many lines of
business at that time.
This spirit of helpfulness is still alive and doubtless can be enlisted
in a cause as important, both from a humane and a business stand
point, as is that of stabilizing industry and employment and thus
relieving, as far as may be possible, the waste and tragedy of jobless
workers.
It is suggested that—
(a) A permanent committee on stabilization of industry and
employment be created to advise with reference to the best methods
of conducting a continuous study of plans of stabilizing industry and
employment in Ohio and, if possible, elsewhere. This committee
ought to be small and to include both labor and management.
(b) Brief reports concerning plans which have been effectively used
for stabilizing industry and employment be published from time to
time for the information of industry—management and labor—and
the public in general.
A. Extent and cause of unemployment.—Current information con
cerning the extent and cause of unemployment would encourage
deliberate consideration of the problem of involuntary idleness. It
also would avoid the necessity of relying upon estimates, which vary
greatly and which are usually made only during the stress of serious
unemployment.
Considerable information is available concerning employment but
comparatively few studies of unemployment have been made. The
popular opinion, which is quite contrary to the facts, seems to be
that everyone is employed during so-called normal times. Only
when a stage is reached where buying slackens, bills can no longer be
met, payments on the little home are overdue, employment offices are
crowded, and the charity organizations are swamped with families
seeking relief, does the public seem to appreciate that people are
unemployed. Such studies of unemployment as have been made
indicate that even in periods of normal times the number of unem
ployed is probably one-half or more than one-half that of periods of
serious industrial depression. During normal times, therefore,
many wage earners and families suffer because of irregular employ
ment, and business, too, loses because of lack of stable incomes of
such wage earners. The number of wage earners affected is merely
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
687
smaller and the loss to business less in normal times than in periods
of depression.
The Federal and the State governments ought to be expected to
make available reasonably accurate current information on unemploy
ment. No other agencies can command the facilities for collecting
and compiling such data. Furthermore, information collected and
compiled by such governmental agencies would be less subject to
charge of bias.
The United States Bureau of the Census will shortly collect data
concerning unemployment, but the facts probably will not be available
for many months, nor will the data agam be secured by that agency
until another census period.
It is believed to be possible to secure considerable current informa
tion concerning unemployment and, therefore, it is suggested that—
(а) A permanent committee on statistics of unemployment and
irregularity of employment be created to advise with reference to
ways and means of collecting and compiling information on unem
ployment and irregularity of employment in Ohio.
(б) Brief reports of such compilations be published from time to
time during periods of normal industrial conditions as well as during
periods of industrial depression as an aid in stimulating constructive
planning in stabilizing industry and employment.
Summary.—This outline for Ohio seeks to provide methods for
carrying through the plans already under way to relieve present
unemployment conditions and it futher provides four measures
looking toward stabilizing industry and employment and reducing
unemployment, as follows:
1. Permanent committee on public work.
2. Permanent committee on public employment offices.
3. Permanent committee on stabilization of industry and employ
ment.
4. Permanent committee on statistics of unemployment and irreg
ularity of employment.
Four committees are suggested rather than a single committee for
the reason that the fields of work are distinct and there will be a
better chance to enlist the services of outstanding persons in each
specialized field.
It does seem important for government to give serious attention
to a matter which is of such far-reaching significance as is involun
tary idleness. The very rapid changes in processes and methods of
production, transportation, marketing, and other activities have
brought about most difficult problems of labor adjustment. The
problems can not be met by labor alone nor by labor and management.
The helpful cooperation of society as represented by government is
needed.
Involuntary idleness is an extravagant waste both from the stand
point of the individual and of business. If wage earners can not be
employed and retain their self-reliance, they ultimately become
charges upon the community. Prevention of involuntary idleness
with all of its train of suffering, want and waste, ought to be a chal
lenge to society. Ohio, with her many progressive cities and varied
industries, is in an excellent position to take the lead in this work,
688
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND BELIEF
Report and Recommendations of New York Committee on
Stabilization of Industry
On November 13,1930, the Committee on Stabilization of Industry
for the Prevention of Unemployment,2 which was appointed by the
Governor of New York in March, 1930, submitted its second report.3
This body has held conferences with employers and leaders of public
opinion in various parts of the State, collected data on stabilization
projects, studied the experience of this and other countries, and pro
moted the organization of community groups to grapple with local
unemployment problems. According to the committee any adequate
prograin for dealing with unemployment must include the regulariza
tion of industry, a thoroughly organized labor market, and some
measure of security for the worker and his dependents in periods
when he finds himself jobless through no fault of his own. Excerpts
from Part I 4 of this report are given below:
Chief Causes of Unemployment
The chief types of unemployment are four: Seasonal, cyclical,
technological, and chronic. Seasonal unemployment seems to be
half the principal single cause of the total volume and is caused either
by uneven purchasing by ultimate consumers or by weather condi
tions which affect production. * * *
Business is not regular in its course but moves through cycles of
prosperity, recession, depression, and revival. At the low point in
a major cycle, employment in the industrial lines will range from 12 to
18 per cent less than at corresponding seasons in good years. Despite
the large amount of research into the nature of the business cycle,
causes of depression and boom are complex, changing, and accidental
and have not been any more definitely isolated than have the causes
of cancer. We do, however, know far more about ways in which we
might lessen the severity of these cyclical swings than we put into
effect.
Although the menace of unemployment resulting from labor-saving
devices or changes in the art of manufacture may have been exag
gerated in the minds of the workers affected, it is well known that
improvements in technical production do cause labor displacement.
While ultimately these workers may be absorbed, there frequently
is an intervening period of unemployment which causes much suffer
ing and which must be mitigated.
Chronic unemployment mainly results from the practice of indi
vidual plants maintaining a labor reserve to meet their busiest days
and seasons. This may be expected to continue until a better
organization of the labor market is effected, which, by pooling the
reserves, will release the present duplicate reserve staffs for other
employment.
2 The personnel of the committee is as follows: Henry Bruere (chairman), Ernest G. Draper, Maxwell
S. Wheeler, John Sullivan, Henry H. Stebbins, jr., and Frances Perkins; Paul H. Douglas, technical
advisor.
3 For preliminary report recommending various emergency measures for meeting the unemployment
crisis, see Labor Review for August, 1930, p. 26.
* Part II, printed separately, contains detailed description of various stabilization and insurance prac
tices with which industries in the United States are attacking the problem of unemployment.
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
689
What Can Be Done?
S u c h being the main causes of unemployment, how can we grapple
with them? We should like first to emphasize the r61e business can
play in reducing seasonal employment. * * * The four chief
means of regularization, one or more of which are employed by many
business concerns, are: I. Stimulating consumer and dealer demand
during the off season. II. Scheduling production so that employ
ment will be fairly evenly distributed throughout the year despite the
fluctuations in sales. III. Developing side-line and filler products
for the slack seasons. IV. Using a flexible working-day rather than
alternately hiring and laying off workers. Each of these methods
will now be discussed in turn.
I. Stimulating Consumer and Dealer Demand in the Off Season
At first thought this possible outlet would seem to be diminishing
because of the increased practice of hand-to-mouth buying. While
this is a very real obstacle, some firms have at least in part overcome
it. The International Shoe Co. was in the past able to secure ad
vance orders from its dealers by guaranteeing that if prices later rose
the prices on such deliveries would not, but that if prices fell the
dealers would get the benefit of the reduction. The American
Radiator Co. has stimulated off-season sales by quoting winter
prices 5 per cent below those of the late summer and early fall.
Some large firms which have a dominant position in their industry
have changed consumers’ habits by advertising. The Hills Bros.
Co., who pack Dromedary dates, have extended the holiday demand
for their product by pointing out year-round possibilities for the use
of dates. The Sherwin-Williams Co. has conducted campaigns to
stimulate fall and winter painting. The Coca Cola Co. has made
that drink a year-round product by constant advertising.
Small businesses can not by themselves effect such changes in the
habits of consumers, but joint effort through trade associations secures
results. * * *
II. Scheduling Production
This is by far the most common device which is now being used to
keep employment fairly evenly distributed through the year. Among
the prominent New York companies which are using this method to
regularize operations are the Eastman Kodak Co., International
Harvester Co., Auto Strop Razor Co., Proctor & Gamble, Ithaca
Gun Co., Sterling Engine Co., Remington-Rand Co., Remington
Typewriter Co., Agfa-Ansco Co., Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.,
Spencer Lens Co., Neptune Meter Co., W. & L. E. Gurley Co.,
Sheridan Iron Works, Otis Elevator Co., Richardson-Boynton Co.,
Griffin Manufacturing Co., Oneida Community, Gorham Silver Co.,
Kirkman & Sons, Hickey, Freeman Co., S. S. White Co., Elite Glove
Co., Columbia Mills, Knox Hat Co:, Hills Bros. Co. In nearly all
of these cases the following steps have been taken: (1) An estimated
sales budget for the year is drawn up in advance based on past record
and the reasonable prospects ahead. (2) As nearly as possible, this
yearly quota is divided into 12 monthly or 52 weekly parts; goods are
produced in this ratio and surpluses over current sales are stored to
meet the demands of the rush seasons. (3) The estimated sales
690
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
quota is checked several times during the year against actual sales.
If the budget proves to be above actual sales, production is dimin
ished. If realized sales exceed the budget quotas production is in
creased. If the forecasting has been competently done, however,
the error from purely seasonal causes should not be large, although
cyclical fluctuations will continue to cause trouble. * * *
III. Introducing Side Lines and Fillers
The historical partnership of coal and ice—an alliance badly
damaged at present by the illness of the junior partner—is the classic
example of this method of reducing seasonality. Among the com
panies listed in the report as using this method are: International
Harvester Co., Remington Arms Co., Welch Grape Juice Co., Beech
nut Co., New York Quinine & Chemical Works, Dutchess Manufac
turing Co., and the H. A. Dix Co. * * * It is not enough, how
ever, merely to develop side lines in order to maintain steady employ
ment. It is also necessary to transfer workers from the main products
to the fillers, and this in many cases requires additional training.
The Michael-Steams and the Hickey, Freeman Co., of Rochester,
have both developed such flexibility to a very high degree. * * *
IV. Using the Flexible Working-Day Instead of the Lay-Off
This method of meeting the seasonal peaks is used by the Delaware
& Hudson Railway when the working time is varied between 8 and
10 hours a day, according to the demands of business. In this way
permanent workers put in up to 10 or 12 hours extra a week to handle
the fall increase in traffic, and at other times work only 48 hours, and
sometimes only 32 hours a week. This practice is used in one form
or another by a number of plants, including many canneries and the
National Cloak & Suit Co., and has much*to recommend it. * * *
Many firms believe that such policies as we have mapped out, while
socially desirable, would not pay them individually because of the
added storage and interest charges which planned production entails.
It is the common practice of most business men who have not yet
regularized their employment to use this argument as an excuse for
their own inertia. The firms, however, which have regularized
production find that such a program has brought economies which
decidedly outweigh the costs. These economies are of four main kinds:
(1) The costs of hiring and maintaining large numbers of untrained
workers for short periods of time. It is costly to hire new workers
to meet the peak periods, since they are unaccustomed to the
work. * * *
(2) By reducing the fixed capital charge per unit of product, if an
appreciable increase is made in the working force to meet seasonal
peaks, additional capital in the form of machinery and floor space
must be provided. * * *
(3) Where work is irregular and uncertain, firms find it necessary
to pay an hourly rate above the average in order to attract an ade
quate and fairly competent staff of workers. * * *
(4) Regularization lessens the conscious and unconscious restric
tion of output on the part of the workers. In industries where work
is irregular it is the almost universal tendency for employees to
slacken their efforts as they see off seasons approaching. * * *
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
691
There is much reason, therefore, for business to set itself vigorously
to the task of regularizing production. The social need, the economic
advantages, and the practical methods of stabilization must be
called to the attention of business managers everywhere. Those
who seek to reduce unemployment should seek the cordial interest
and cooperation of employers. That is one of the chief tasks which
we have set ourselves, and by means of conferences in various cities
of the State we have sought to stir the interest of business men in the
practical achievement of those who come to these conferences to de
scribe the successful methods of stabilization which they follow.
Trade associations and local chambers of commerce might well make
stabilization of operations one of their major concerns. Some have
done so, notably the Rochester chamber. * * * The State could
be of service to small businesses which can not afford a specialized
research staff by having two or more competent industrial engineers
or experienced administrators who will place their knowledge and
experience at the disposal of plants which wish to regularize. Such
experts should under no conditions be political appointees but should
be secured after consultation with well-recognized associations of
engineers and managers. Under such safeguards we believe that a
competent advisory staff could be of great service to industry and
labor in the State. We recommend that it be attached to the
department of labor.
All Unemployment Can Not be Cured by Regularization
W e w o u l d be guilty of false optimism, however, if we were to
conclude that all industries can be regularized by such methods. If
one classifies the industries which have been able to put into effect
production to stock under planned policies, one finds that they fall
into one or more of the following classes: (1) Those producmg a
standardized product such as soap, dates, sUverware, standard parts,
etc.; * * * (2) those with highly skilled workers where it is
very important to retain a steady staff, such as plants manufacturing
measuring instruments, optical works, etc.; (3) those where the prod
uct is quasimonopolized and where the manufacturer can accordingly
resist pressure from dealers; (4) those where storage costs per dollar
of value are not excessively high. Such industries are important but
there are many others which do not fall into these four categories.
In those which do not, the elimination of seasonal fluctuations is at
present almost impossible.
This is particularly true in industries where styles change rapidly,
as in the manufacture of clothing and shoes and more particularly in
the women’s branches of both of these industries. Women’s clothing
stocks are almost as perishable as radishes or celery. * * *
Weather Changes Will Continue to Cause Unemployment
I t is also true that while we can mitigate we can not entirely re
move the direct influence of the weather in causing unemployment.
More building is now done in the winter than was formerly believed
possible, but even at best the inclemencies of winter weather in this
State will always cause a considerable amount of unemployment.
Such stoppage of work will not only affect workers in the building
trades but will cause irregularities in industries producing building
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
materials. Such goods are bulky and have high storage costs. This
will continue to serve as a deterrent against large quantities being
produced to stock. The canning of food can be better regularized
than it is to-day but it is idle to hope that in the predictable future
all unevenness can be ironed away. * * *
Cyclical Unemployment
During periods of cyclical unemployment individual firms are to a
large degree helpless to overcome the numerous factors that create
depression* Some business men have argued that by indulging in
more advertising during depressions and by releasing new products,
stabilization can be effected. But such a policy at best can only be
practiced by firms producing specialty goods. It is patently im
practicable for producers of standardized consumers7 goods or of
capital goods who are of course most severely hit by periods of depres
sion. Furthermore, the increase in business which the specialty
firm may obtain is primarily at the expense of other industries and
hence does not help in the general solution. The ultimate control of
the business cycle is in our opinion still a long way off. It probably
involves some form of international action governing the supply of
money and credit which will stabilize the general price level and so
prevent those fluctuations which encourage business to peak activity
during periods of prosperity and discourage it from production
during periods of depression.
The State and municipal governments are not as helpless in these
emergencies as are private industries. They can time their public
works so that an appreciable volume of additional work can be under
taken as private business slackens. * * *
Added construction by private business during periods of depres
sion will also be of assistance. Because of lower material and labor
costs and the lower rates of interest such a policy will in many cases
prove to be actually economical for the large enterprises.
It has been a common practice during this depression for firms to
work the major portion of their force part time instead of laying off
a large portion completely and having the remainder work full time.
Out of 598 firms with a total force of 180,000 which replied to a ques
tionnaire we addressed to 1,400 manufacturing concerns, 157 employ
ing 61,000 workers explicitly stated that they were following this
policy. * * *
Technological Unemployment
W hile ultimately the workers displaced by improvements in
machinery or in management may find work, the intervening period
of unemployment is likely to be onerous and when new work is found
it is often at a sacrifice in earnings.
Ways must be found therefore to lighten the burden which society
now compels the workers to bear alone as the price of industrial
progress. The following methods are now being used by some con
cerns and deserve to be much more widely copied.
1.
Technological changes are planned especially with a view to
minimizing the resulting displacement of labor; improvements are
introduced gradually instead of in revolutionary fashion and are
especially furthered during periods of prosperity.
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
693
2. When it is necessary to reduce the working force because of
technical changes such reduction is affected by not replacing normal
losses due to death, superannuation, separation, etc., rather than
through outright dismissal. This is the policy followed by the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
3. A dismissal wage is paid to those who are dropped because of
technical and administrative changes.6 * * *
In addition, society can and should provide at least three other
services which will help ease the worker’s transition from declining
to expanding industries:
1. Competent and impartial agencies, preferably governmental,
should issue from time to time forecasts of those industries where,
because of impending technical changes and an inelastic demand for
the commodity, a decline in the number of workers is imminent.
Such information, judiciously distributed, would restrain many young
I)eople from entering industries on the downward trend, and would
ead others to leave them as opportunities arose elsewhere.
2. Displaced workers should be reeducated for work in other lines
and especially for such occupations as they may be fitted for in the
expanding industries.
3. An adequate system of public employment offices to facilitate
finding work for those displaced.
Public Employment Offices and Chronic Unemployment
L o gica lly , an all-inclusive State employment service, by pooling
the labor reserves, should diminish the idle surpluses which tend to
be retained by individual firms and industries. * * *
We must be frank to say, however, that the development of the
public employment offices has not in the past been such as to realize
these possibilities. Part of this failure has been due to inadequate
funds, but part has also been caused by a lack of interest and com
petence on the part of the staff which has until recently existed. As
a result of the survey conducted by an advisory committee appointed
by the industrial commissioner, Frances Perkins, the management of
the State public employment offices has been changed and improved
methods adopted. The improvement which resulted was evidenced
by increase in placements from an average of 4,800 in January and
February, to 8,000 in April, 10,400 in May, and 7,600 in June, 1930.
This betterment was effected in the face of a falling labor market.
This committee believes that the public employment service should
be furnished with additional funds and that advisory committees of
employers and workers should be created to cooperate with them in
the different cities where there are offices. The practice of associat
ing industry and employee representatives in the management of the
offices should tend to popularize them by improving their opportunity
to secure openings for competent workers. The New York labor
market is now broader than the confines of the State itself. Our
business establishments draw workers from all parts of the Atlantic
seaboard and from other regions of the country as well. Our workers
in turn frequently seek work in other States. There is need, there
fore, of a vigorous and effective federated system of State employ
5 Jfor article on dismissal wage, see p. 703 of this bulletin.
694
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
ment offices which will manage interstate clearance of labor and which
will promote efficient employment work in other States. * * *
We believe that a substantial improvement in the condition of the
unemployed would be effected if, instead of the present chaotic and
ill-supervised way in which private employment agencies are licensed
by the municipalities, a centralized system of State licensing and
inspection were substituted.
Stabilization of Wage Earners* Incomes During Periods of Depression
W e must face the fact that despite the efforts to minimize it some
unemployment will continue. Good management may reduce but
will not eliminate seasonal unemployment. Good management, in
its zest for improvements, may on the other hand, at times increase
technological unemployment. Cyclical fluctuations may be lessened
in part by an intelligent public works policy, but their control lies
outside the power of State and Federal agencies.
Despite all efforts therefore a large number of workers and their
families will continue to confront hardships from the effects of busi
ness depressions. How then may these workers and their dependents
be protected against the hardships and uncertainties of these periods?
Society can not rest until it has satisfactorily answered this question.
Charity, while necessary at present, should not be the final method
by which the worst effects of unemployment are alleviated. Chari
table relief is often inadequate in amount and carries with it a sense
of degradation which causes large groups to suffer greatly before they
will ask for aid.
Several courageous plans 6 have been launched by employers and
workers to meet this problem. * * *
Summary and Recommendations
W e th erefo re recommend:
1. A serious and determined effort by management to lessen sea
sonal fluctuations in production and in employment through welltested methods of regularization. Trade associations, chambers of
commerce, and the State should facilitate this by supplying informa
tion and a staff which will help private enterprises to reduce season
ality. It would be desirable for the State department of labor to
have one or more competent production engineers or experienced
business men whose services could similarly be placed at the disposal
of the smaller firms who wish to stabilize but who do not have a
sufficiently specialized managerial staff to work out the method of
doing so. In the selection of these experts, the advice of professional
associations of engineers and of managers should be followed.
2. Management should take all possible steps to lessen the tempo
rary unemployment which may be caused by technical and policy
changes. Dismissal wages should be paid to those displaced because
of impersonal forces rather than personal fault.
3. Increased appropriations should be provided for the State em
ployment service and the fullest efforts made to get the working
cooperation of employers and labor in all cities where offices exist.
« Included in article on Unemployment Benefits and Stabilization Policies in the United States, p. 673
of this bulletin.
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
695
As these offices increase in strength, an earnest effort should be made
to decasualize industry by eliminating the surplus labor reserves.
State licensing and inspection of private employment agencies should
be substituted for municipal supervision.
4. Communities should organize committees to consider the prob
lem of local unemployment. These groups can be of service in pro
moting the movement for regularization, in improving the local em
ployment offices, in helping frame a public works policy, and in
stimulating community action to relieve distress and to consider
remedies.
5. There should be set up a State planning board to help frame a
long-time program of public works for State and municipal govern
ments and to accelerate work on this program during periods of busi
ness depression.
6. Sharing of slack time among workers during periods of depres
sion to the fullest degree possible rather than dismissing a portion of
the employees entirely from work is a desirable practice.
7. Adoption by industry of insurance plans which will help to
stabilize the wage earners’ incomes during periods of unemployment.
Full and impartial investigation of this question by a properly con
stituted national body to determine what can be done to supplement
efforts of private industrialists and workers to protect the working
people of the Nation against the effects of unemployment too great
for individual resources to offset.
Report of Employers’ Organizations on Solution of Unemploy
ment Problem
I n t h e course of a report of March, 1930, entitled “ Public Unem
ployment Insurance,” prepared by a joint committee of the National
Association of Manufacturers and the National Industrial Council,
that committee declares itself opposed to such insurance and suggests
for consideration the following eight schemes for coping with unem
ployment. The committee states, however, that it does not wish to be
understood as recommending any single one of these measures, but
takes the position that the method best suited to a particular set of
circumstances can be determined only by careful study in each
industry and undertaking.
1. Unemployment insurance in industry.— Unemployment insurance
has been instituted by at least 10 companies in their own establish
ments and is still in operation in the following 8 concerns: Columbia
Conserve Co., Crocker-McElwain Co., Dennison Manufacturing Co.,
S. C. Johnson & Sons, Leeds & Northrup Co., Manning Paper Co.,
Procter & Gamble Co., and the United Diamond Works.7
Of six employer-union unemployment insurance plans set up, five
are still functioning, namely, those covering the Chicago Amalga
mated Clothing Workers, the Cleveland Ladies’ Garment Workers,
and the workers in the lace industry of Kingston, Scranton, and
Wilkes-Barre, and in the New York cloth hat and cap industry.7
2. Dismissal wage.—A growing number of industrial undertakings
pay a so-called “ dismissal wage” to employees who have served for
a long period but who are not old enough or who have not been
7 Additional schemes are reported on in an article entitled “ Unemployment benefits and stabilizatioii
policies in the United States.” Labor Keview, March, 1931, pp. 3-8,
47767°—31----- 45
696
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
employed long enough to be eligible for the regular company pension.
Their separation may be the result of mergers or changes in location,
products, or processes. When it is not possible to transfer such
employees to other departments, establishments, or work, provisions
such as the following have been made:
(a) The payment of a reduced pension.
(b) Full or part pay for a restricted period to aid the dismissed
worker to adjust himself.
(c) The payment of a lump sum in cash, the amount being ordi
narily based on wages and service period.
(d) Where possible, adequate advance notice of dismissal.
(e) The continuance of insurance rights for a specified period.
(/) Efforts to secure positions for these workers with other con
cerns.
(g) Unemployment insurance plans to cover various contingencies,
such as those referred to above.
3. Stabilization of industry and employment.—According to Senate
Report 2072, seventieth Congress, second session, submitted Feb
ruary 25, 1929, “ the testimony is fairly convincing that stabilization
can be accomplished in industries which were once regarded as being
seasonal in their every aspect.” It was also suggested in the report
that “ consideration be given to the benefits of stabilized production—
the finer morale of the workers, the better workmanship, the increased
production, the lowered costs of production, and the elimination of
the cost of training the unskilled recruits.” Attention is called to
the descriptions of the plans of various companies to secure stabili
zation in H. Feldman’s volume, The Regularization of Employment,
published in 1925, and to Bulletin No. 37 in the production executive
series of the American Management Association.
4. Planned public works for the stabilization of employment.—In the
Senate committee’s report, quoted above, it is urged that Federal,
State, city, and other minor governments adopt promptly the plan
of ordering public works so that they will constitute a buffer in
periods of unemployment.
5. Stabilization of the dollar.—A substantial and growing number
of economists and financiers hold that business stability would result
from the regularization of the purchasing power of the dollar.
6. Unemployment insurance through insurance companies.—In 1919
and again in 1923 the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. urged the
New York State Legislature to amend the insurance laws so as to
make it possible for that company to write unemployment insurance.
The proposed legislation was not enacted, but the company is reported
as still willing to do some experimenting in unemployment insurance
if the necessary amendments are passed.
In the judgment of the joint committee of the National Association
of Manufacturers and the National Industrial Council, it would
seem logical to afford insurance companies which are willing to sell
unemployment insurance the opportunity to do so. The committee
asks, “ Why not give them this right instead of trying to force enact
ment of legislation to provide such insurance through taxes and
politically controlled funds?”
7. Reduction of taxation in industry.—The memorandum under
review refers to the statement made by Hon. James J. Davis, Secre
tary of Labor, at the meeting of the International Association of
PLANS FOR STABILIZING EMPLOYMENT
697
Public Employment Services, at Cleveland in 1928, that “ every
dollar needlessly extracted from industry in taxes cripples business
and helps to reduce the funds available for wages.” In the judg
ment of the joint committee, the elimination of local taxes will assist
depressed undertakings and those subject to great competition and
will reward managerial efficiency in more prosperous plants.
8.
Seasonal wage adjustments.—In certain industries a higher daily
wage is paid to offset seasonal unemployment. This practice is
quite general in the building trades in numerous cities.
Proposals for Dealing with Unemployment, by President of
American Federation of Labor
Various preventive and remedial measures for unemployment
were proposed by the president of the American Federation of Labor
on April 1, 1930, at the hearings on unemployment in the United
States, before the subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Comm(
'
rs :
developed before actual
co]
x
picture of unemployment
obtained. Facts may be secured from three principal sources:
(a) The Federal unemployment census already undertaken. The
enumeration of the unemployed should also be made a regular part of
every decennial census.
(b) To supplement the census data there should be a national
clearing house for current information on unemployment, such as
could only be made available through an adequate Federal employ
ment service. In addition special studies of unemployment should be
made from time to time for the discovery of trends.
(c) Employment data should be assembled and published by some
one Federal agency. Various departments are at present gathering
this information for some industries. The compilations now made
are based on pay rolls and do not show the full extent of unemploy
ment as part-time employment is not considered nor is the number of
man-hours worked given.
2. Federal employment service.—An adequate Federal employment
service must establish standards and practices for local agencies.
This national service should have an advisory council in which both
labor and management should be represented.
3. Deferred programs for public construction.—These should be
planned to offset cyclical unemployment. Although such a program
has been before Congress and has been discussed at length for years,
the recent 1929 depression “ came upon us without provision for
initiating a constructive program, together with the machinery for
putting it into operation.”
4. Special employment counsel andwcatioiwl training opportunities\—
These are needed for workers dismissed because of technological
changes.
5.
Job analysis.—Job analyses should be made to ascertain job
requirements, in order to find suitable employment for older workers.
8 United States. Congress (71st, 2d sess.). Senate. Committee on Commerce. Unemployment in the
United States. Hearings before a subcommittee on S. 3059, S. 3060, and S. 3061, Mar. 18,21, and Apr. 1,
1930. Washington, 1930, pp. 59-72.
608
u n e m p lo y m e n t in s u r a n c e a n d r e l i e f
There has been discrimination against such workers through hiring
policies which favor younger workers and without due regard to
needed qualifications.
6. Stabilization.— Industry must meet its responsibility for its
workers by fair wages and hours. The major responsibility for
planning the regularization of production rests upon management;
unions, however, have aided substantially in such plans. The possi
bilities of stabilization have been demonstrated by certain progressive
industries. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the railway shopmen
recently signed an agreement to cooperate in the regularization of
employment. In the construction industry, a marked advance has
been made along this line, seasonal factors having been offset by new
materials and new methods.
(a) When, however, seasonal fluctuations can not be completely
overcome, arrangements should be made between management and
the workers to establish incomes on an annual basis.
(b) It is also suggested, in the case of employment irregularities
which the industry is unable to eliminate, that hours be still further
cut and the work apportioned among the members of the personnel
in order that none may be obliged to have recourse to charity. “ There
is a moral obligation on the part of the employer to tide these men
over.”
Plants and raw materials are useless without human workers.
“ Too many managements get from under the consequences of bad
management, unwise sales and buying policies, business depression,
etc., by charging the losses to workers in the form of wage reduction
and lay-offs.”
7. Unemployment insurance in industry.— “ If there was not such
relentless warfare made upon trade-unions by corporations and large
employers of labor there could be developed through collective actions
forms of unemployment insurance which would result in tiding the
employees over these periods of seasonal unemployment.” In certain
industries where trade-unions do function, plans of this kind have
been jointly worked out and are now in operation.
Referring to Senator Wagner’s bills for coping with unemployment
(S. 3059, S. 3060, and S. 3061), Mr. Green said “ this legislation must
be supplemented by patriotic and economic and industrial service on
the part of private employment corporations and employers,” other
wise “ they are headed for what, I think, will proximate the dole that
is now in England.” He also said that he did not like the so-called
dole, which he considered rather demoralizing, as he thought men
were better off if they earned money than if it were given to them,
and that opportunities should be created for them to earn money.
8. Steady increases in income.— Steady increases in wage earners’
incomes are necessary in order that there may be purchasers for the
greater industrial and agricultural output. “ High wages are a
sustaining element in prosperity and prevention of unemployment.”
9. General adoption of 5-day week.— Referring to his various recom
mendations made for coping with unemployment the president of the
American Federation of Labor said: “ I think it all ought to be supple
mented by a reduction in the hours worked per day and in the days
worked per week. I think the 5-day work week ought to be estab
lished universally.”
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ANi> RELIEF
699
President’s Conferences for Continued Industrial
Progress
N NOVEMBER, 1929, with a view to concerted action for con
tinued business progress after the stock market panic, the Presi
dent of the United States held a series of conferences with the follow
ing groups in turn: Railway executives, industrial and business
leaders, representatives of labor, representatives of the construction
industry, representatives of four national agricultural organizations,
and public utility officials. One or more members of the Cabinet
attended a number of these sessions.
The conferees agreed to cooperate for the purpose for which the
meetings were called. In line with that objective the industrial and
business leaders who attended the conference held the morning of
November 21 authorized the President to state for them individually
that they would not initiate any wage-reduction movement and that
they strongly recommended that the country as a whole take this
attitude. “ They considered that aside from the human considera
tions involved, the consuming power of the country will thereby be
maintained.”
The representatives of labor, as a result of their conference with
President Hoover on the afternoon of the same day, authorized him
to state that they strongly^ recommended that “ no movements
beyond those already in negotiation would be initiated for increase of
wages and that every cooperation should be given by labor to industry
in the handling of its problems.”
The agricultural conferees “ favored an immediate extension of the
road program with special emphasis of farm-to-market roads. The
opinion also was expressed that agricultural prices which had suffered
in sympathetic action in the stock market have now begun to recover,
and that the efforts of the Farm Board in stabilizing those prices
have been very helpful.”
I
Telegrams to Governors
T he President also sent telegrams to all the State governors,
inviting their cooperation and that of municipal, county, and other
local officials through the speeding up and adjustment of road,
street, public building, and other construction of this type in such
manner as to further employment. He publicly announced that the
State, county, and municipal governments were responding in the
most gratifying way. An examination of available copies of replies
to his telegrams disclosed the fact that huge sums of money were
to be spent on public works in 1930.
Conference Called by the United States Chamber of Commerce
U pon the initiative of President Hoover, the United States
Chamber of Commerce called a meeting for December 5 in Wash
ington, D . C., to which 400 delegates, representing more than
300 trade organizations, were invited. The opening address was
delivered by the President himself, who said in part:
This body represents industries of the United States. You have been invited
to create a temporary organization for the purpose of systematically spreading
70 0
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
into industry as a whole the measures which have been taken by some of our
leading industries to counteract the effect of the recent panic in the stock
market. * * *
You represent the business of the United States, undertaking through your
own voluntary action to contribute something very definite to the advancement
of stability and progress in our economic life. This is a far cry from the arbitrary
and dog-eat-dog attitude of the business world of some 30 or 40 years ago.
And this is not dictation or interference by the Government with business.
It is a request from the Government that you cooperate in prudent measures
to solve a national problem. A great responsibility and a great opportunity rest
upon the business and economic organization of the country. The task is one
fitted to its fine initiative and courage.
Beyond this, a great responsibility for stability and prosperity rests with
the whole people. I have no desire to preach. I may, however, mention one
good old word—work.
T o carry out the presidential counsel the conference, after hearing
reports from the representatives of 32 basic industrial and trade
groups, authorized the appointment of an executive committee by
Julius Barnes, chairman of the board of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States to secure and collate more detailed reports and
to formulate measures for the eradication of whatever weaknesses in
the national economic structure such reports might disclose.
A larger general committee, which might include as many as 50
members, was also authorized by the conference, such members to
serve as contact men between the executive committee and trade
associations and commercial groups.
President’s Emergency Committee for Employment
RGANIZATION of the President’s Emergency Committee
grew out of a series of meetings of a Cabinet committee on unem
ployment under the chairmanship of the Secretary of Commerce.
On October 21,1930, it was announced that Col. Arthur Woods, who
had served with the President’s Conference on Unemployment in
1921, had been selected as director of the new committee. The Cabinet
committee then became an advisory body on unemployment matters.
O
Scope of Work Undertaken
I t was understood from the beginning that the President’s Emer
gency Committee would not give direct aid to the unemployed, but
would coordinate work already undertaken or being organized by
local agencies and disseminate information as to what one locality
was doing, as a guide for work being organized in another locality.
Colonel Woods’ plan provided for cooperation with governmental
(Federal, State, county, and municipal), industrial, and public
agencies.
As the name of the committee implies, its work has primarily been
that of finding jobs for idle men. Colonel Woods is quoted as stating
at a press conference: “ The chief purpose of the organization is to
find jobs for idle men, and the secondary one to advise communities
in supplying relief for the needy.”
Machinery of the Committee
A group of specialists was called to direct the work at headquarters
set up in Washington, D. C. Edward L. Bemays became counsel on
SURVEY OF RE LIEF PLANS IN INDUSTRY
701
public relations, Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth became head of the
women's division, Porter Lee acted as head of a division on welfare
aspects of unemployment, and Bryce M. Stewart undertook direction
of the statistical analysis. For contact work with committees and
groups in given localities, seven regional advisors were named to
devote themselves to the problems of seven geographical regions set
up by the committee. In addition, the cooperation of various agencies
both governmental and nongovernmental was secured, among these
agencies being the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., which made a
sample unemployment survey at the request of the committee.
Methods of the Committee
To those private organizations, communities, and States which had
not developed machinery for combating unemployment when the
present emergency arose, or which needed assistance in perfecting
machinery, the President's Emergency Committee brought exact
information based upon first-hand investigation and the reported
experience of other organized groups. This has been accomplished
by conference and more especially by use of the press, speeches to
special groups, and by nation-wide broadcasts, and through publica
tions of the committee which are available for public distribution.
Two pamphlets dealing with specific plans of coping with unem
ployment have been widely distributed. One of these, entitled “ An
Outline of Industrial Policies and Practices in Time of Reduced
Operation and Employment,” said to be suggestive only, is reproduced
on page 679 of tins handbook. The second, entitled “ A Survey of
Unemployment Relief in Industry/' based upon the action taken by
manufacturers, in 500 localities and employing more than 750,000
men in 1929, to spread work, create work and furnish direct relief, is
summarized below.
Throughout the months that the President's Emergency Com
mittee has been functioning, the responsibility resting upon each
individual to stimulate employment has been stressed. To this end
the housewife and home owner have been urged to spend wisely but
more heavily for current needs and to make necessary household
repairs and extensions at this time, when two ends may be served by
stimulating employment and securing the benefit of lowered prices.
At the same time that the committee has been urging householders
to make heavier expenditures, its members have used their influence
to secure the extension of public building. While directing attention
to these two avenues of employment the committee has acted es
pecially, both in conference and through its publications, to stimulate
general industrial activity and to influence employers to spread avail
able work among the greatest possible number of people.
Survey of Unemployment Relief in Industry
O LEARN the extent to which individual industries are attempt
ing to meet the emergency occasioned by unemployment and
the methods they are using to that end, the President's Emergency
Committee for Employment made a survey of a diversified list
of large and small corporations manufacturing in over 500 locations
T
702
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
and employing more than 750,000 men in 1929.9 Table 1 is repro
duced from this study and shows the extent to which relief plans were
used in companies of varying size.
T a b l e l.-U S E OF RELIE F PLANS B Y COMPANIES OF V A R Y IN G SIZE
Number employed at 1929
peak
Item
Under
1,000
1,000 to
5,000
Over 5,000
Total companies in each group____ _________ ___________________
Per cent
100
Per cent
100
Per cent
100
Companies having an unemployment problem 1....... ........................
Companies spreading work___________ _________________
_
Companies creating new work by repair or construction programs—.
Companies giving direct relief_____________________ ____________
75
53
2 37
16
86
72
25
31
96
88
56
40
1 Includes those maintaining forces intact only by the adoption of relief measures.
2 Concentrated in companies employing less than 500. Small companies are able to keep working forces
intact by this means.
From Table 1 it is apparent that the larger the number of employees
in 1929, the greater the percentage of companies having an unemploy
ment problem, the percentage rising from 75 for companies having
under 1,000 employees at the peak in 1929 to 86 for those companies
having 1,000 to 5,000 and to 96 per cent for the companies having
over 5,000 employees.
The report goes on to state that the survey indicated great varia
tion among companies and operation varied from full, normal time
to 50 per cent of full time and in some few instances to as little as 25
per cent of full-time operation.
It was found that many companies without formal plans for relief
were developing machinery for relief and that a deepening sense of
responsibility with regard to the unemployment problem was in
evidence. Table 2 shows the extent of relief in relation to degree of
unemployment.
T a b l e 2 .— E X T E N T OF RELIE F IN RELA TIO N TO DEGREE
OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T
Decline from 1929 peak
Item
0-10
per cent
decline
10-30
per cent
decline
Over 30
per cent
decline
Per cent Per cent
100
100
Per cent
100
Per cent
100
No
change
Total companies in each group_____________________________
Companies with formal relief plans__________________ ____ __
Companies spreading work___________________ ____ ________
Companies creating work through repair and construction
programs_______________________________________________
C om na nies srivinff dirent relief
1
16
i 43
13
65
37
85
4.2
95
143
26
30
47
47
57
47
* These percentages reflect the effort being made by means of relief measures to maintain employment
unchanged in spite of decreased business.
In commenting on the extent of relief in relation to degree of unem
ployment the writer of the report draws attention to the fact that a
9 A survey of unemployment relief in industry, prepared for the President’s Emergency Committee
for employment.
703
THE DISMISSAL W AGE
large proportion of the companies which reported little or no change
in the number at work were able to maintain this condition only
through extensive application of emergency methods. Some com
panies felt that the burden of assistance needed by employees was
beyond their capacity to meet but after investigation met the situa
tion by dividing work or rendering other direct aid. The figures in
Table 2 show the importance of spreading work as a relief measure,
since 95 per cent of the companies with 30 per cent or more of unem
ployment resorted to this method of relief. The methods of spreading
work and the relative use of this and other unemployment plans are
as follows:
Per cent80
Total companies having an unemployment problem__________________
100
Companies spreading work________________________________________
By fewer days per week 10_____________________________________
By shorter hours____________________________________________
By rotation of jobs__________________________________________
82
53
43
43
Companies creating new work_____________________________________
By repair and maintenance programs 10_________________________
By new construction_________________________________________
By manufacture for stock_____________________________________
44
32
12
1121
Companies with unemployment insurance___________________________
127
Companies giving direct relief_____________________ ______ ________ ___ 37
Donations—
Cash 10 ______ ______ __________________________________ ___ 20
Food___________________________________________________ ___ 17
Clothing________________________________________________ ___ 16
Fuel___________________________________________________ ___ 14
Medical aid_____________________________________________ ___ 14
Rent___________________________________________________ ___ 13
Loans__________________ ______ ____________________________ ___ 14
The Dismissal Wage
AYMENT of a dismissal wage to workers losing their jobs or
positions because of lack of work, while still extremely limited
in application, is a practice which is increasing among employers
who recognize the fact that they have a large measure of responsi
bility when workers are dismissed because of curtailed production,
changes in production methods, or other reasons over which the
workers themselves have no control. A report by the Associated
Industries of Massachusetts on the problem of the older worker in
industry referred with evident approval to the use of the dismissal
wage as one of the important measures of relief for the problem of
the older worker in industry. While the dismissal wage does not
contribute materially to the final solution of the unemployment
problem, it is of very real assistance in giving the dismissed worker
the opportunity to conduct a wider search for a new job or to adjust his
standard of living to a reduced income. It may also have the effect
of reducing unemployment in the individual plant in which it is in
P
9a The companies upon which statistics are based were net weighted according to number of employees.
10Note that subclassifications are not exclusive. Some companies use two or more.
u Probaby in large part a normal procedure.
12 Per cent of all companies interviewed.
704
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
effect, by curbing any tendency on the part of the employment man
ager or foreman to discharge employees for insufficient reasons.
One of the earliest examples of a definite plan for the protection
of workers dismissed for any cause was that of the Delaware &
Hudson Railroad, which introduced this feature as part of a compre
hensive group insurance plan in 1922. The provision relative to un
employment compensation applies to workers who have been in con
tinuous employment with the company for 24 months or more and
who carry at least two of the three forms of contributing insurance
to which they are eligible. Such employees are automatically in
sured at the company’s expense against unemployment resulting
from dismissal for any cause and in the event of discharge are paid
a stated sum per week for a period not to exceed six weeks or for so
much of that time as the employee is unable to secure employment.
In connection with its unemployment insurance plan, the Denni
son Manufacturing Co. provides that in case of long-continued de
pressions, if it becomes necessary to discharge workers other than
those who have been employed on a purely temporary basis, the dis
charged employees shall be given two weeks' notice or shall be paid
for the same period. The Columbia Conserve Co. pays to dis
charged employees a dismissal wage of two weeks’ salary “ to help
tide them over until they can get another job.” The plan of the
Consolidated Gas, Electric Light & Power Co. of New York provides
for all workers except those paid on an hourly basis a dismissal wage
amounting to 1 week’s pay for service of from 6 to 9 months; 2 weeks’
pay for 9 months to 5 years; and 1 month’s pay for employees with
over 5 years’ service. One month's salary is paid by the Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Co. to dismissed employees having from '5 to 10
years’ service and 2 months’ salary to those having from 10 to 15
years’ service.
Some companies are adopting a policy of giving reduced pensions
to employees laid off permanently after a certain period of service;
and pension plans, particularly those of a contributory type, are
making provision for those employees who must be discharged for
one reason or another before reaching retirement age.
The reduction of forces because of the adoption of labor-saving
machinery is responsible for many dismissals. In the men’s clothing
industry the collective bargaining agreement between the employers
and the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America provided for
the equal distribution of work among the regular cutters in slack
seasons rather than for their discharge. The increasing use of cut
ting machines coupled with the policy of nondischarge of the work
men resulted, however, in the employment of a larger number than
could be furnished full-time work. As a consequence of this overmaiming of the industry three firms, one in Chicago and two in New
York, found it necessary to reduce their forces. Representations by
the union to Hart, Schaffner & Marx when this cut in the force was
contemplated resulted in that firm’s conceding the justice of paying
compensation to the workers who thus found themselves out of work.
The firm contributed $50,000 and $25,000 was added from the unem
ployment insurance fund of the industry, the dismissed men being
paid $500 each for the loss of their jobs on the understanding that
they were to leave the industry altogether and go into other lines of
work.
THE DISMISSAL WAGE
705
In New York City one clothing firm found it was necessary to dis
miss 80 employees. The firm advanced $3,000 and the employed
workers in the shop each gave two days’ earnings. A committee
chosen from among the men who were dismissed decided that the
indemnity money should be distributed according to the financial
need of each, but within the limits of $50 as a minimum and $200 as
a maximum. The second New York firm found it necessary to dis
miss 25 workers and here again the firm and the workers who re
mained joined in the payment of the indemnity for dismissal.
Loss of work through the complete closing down of a plant or a
department occurs frequently in this period of mergers and plant
reorganization. The recent closing by the United States Rubber
Co. of its two plants in Connecticut—the El Candee at New Haven
and the Hartford Rubber Works—is an example of loss of work
because of this contingency. The plants concerned were longestablished institutions, the New Haven factory being the oldest
rubber plant in the country, and thus suddenly to throw out of work
hundreds of workers meant an immense amount of hardship and
suffering to these workers and their families. In addition the com
pany had to consider the morale ©f several thousand employees in
other plants as well as the good will of the consuming public. Under
the plan determined upon, employees haying less than 10 years’
service with the company were not paid the#dismissal wage; however,
all employees having 15 or more years of service but who were not
eligible for pension were given one week’s pay for each year of service,
while all employees 45 years of age or over who had 10 years’ service
were paid on the same basis. In determining the policy followed in
the payments, it was felt that consideration was given to employees
who had remained with the company steadily during the war, and to
those who would find age a handicap in obtaining a new job, as well
as to the problem of adjusting to a change of position those workers
who were still young but had never worked in any other factory. In
the Hartford plant more than $100,000 was paid in “ wage-termination
bonuses” and about 30 foremen were placed in factories in the State
while assistance was given to the unemployment committee which
was formed to find jobs for the men thrown out of work.
A plan recently adopted by another company provides that
employees released on account of lack of work, reorganization, or
abolishment of position, or from causes other than voluntary with
drawal, insubordination, misconduct, or inefficiency will receive cash
settlements. These payments amount to two weeks’ notice with
one-half month’s pay for employees with less than two years’ service
except in the case of strictly temporary employees. For those having
two or more years’ service a maximum of one-half month’s pay is
given for each year of service to employees having the following
qualifications: Monthly rate employees incapacitated because of old
age or physical disability, or released because of reorganization or
discontinuance of position, and day-rate employees with 10 years or
more of service released because of reorganization, discontinuance of
position, or physical incapacity, or those 50 years of age or over with
five years’ service who were released for one of these reasons. In
this plan an attempt was made to fix a dismissal wage which would
take into consideration age and probable dependents as well as length
of service.
706
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
It is the practice frequently to give employees warning of the prob
able cutting down of production through the dismissal of employees,
so that although such a notice does not take the place of a dismissal
wage as it does not give the opportunity for hunting another job, it
does soften to a certain extent the fact of loss of employment. A
number of companies followed this policy during the depression of
1920 and 1921 when large reductions in the numbers employed became
necessary. Notice of intended dismissal is also frequently required
under the terms of collective agreements concluded between employers
and members of trade-unions both in this country and in European
countries, the length of notice varying according to the individual
contract.
Payment of the Dismissal Wage in Foreign Countries
There has been some recognition in European countries of the
justice of compensating employees for dismissal on account of the
reasons outlined in this article. There are a few legislative enact
ments, notably in Germany and Soviet Russia, against unfair dis
missal although even in regard towthis contingency the idea is not yet
clearly expressed.
In England the firm of Messrs. Rowntree, of York, has had a plan
for the protection of dismissed workers in effect since 1920. A sum
amounting to approximately 1 per cent of the wages bill is set aside
annually, which is used in the payment of benefits to persons dismissed
by the company. The benefit is based on the average earnings of the
employee and is payable for a period proportionate to his service.
Additional payment is made for a dependent wife and for each of not
more than three children under 16 years of age. In 1924, owing to
reorganizations, reduction of the force became necessary and the com
pany adopted a policy of assisting the dismissed men to get a fresh
start by paying over in a capital sum to such persons an amount not
to exceed 75 per cent of what might be due them as unemployment
pay, together with a dismissal gratuity equal to one week’s salary for
each year of continuous service over five years. In 1928 when, on
account of further reorganizations a considerable number had to be
laid off, the company tried to secure jobs for the dismissed workers
by advertising that employers giving these workers employment would
be paid £2 ($9.73) a week for one year for each worker as a contri
bution toward the cost of training for the new job.
Special provisions are in force in regard to journalists in a number
of countries owing to the extreme insecurity of position in the jour
nalistic profession. In countries where labor questions are dealt with
through collective agreements the agreements usually provide for a
comparatively long notice of dismissal and in some cases additional
compensation is paid proportional to the length of service. In Italy
this amounts to six months’ pay for ordinary journalists, foreign
correspondents, stenographers, reporters, etc., and in addition such
employees receive an amount equal to one month’s pay for every
year or fraction of a year of service.
In Japan under the 1923 factory act employers must give 14 days’
notice of dismissal or 14 days’ pay. In 1927 the Kawasaki Dockyards
in Kobe were obliged to lay off 3,000 men, to whom $250,000 was paid
in dismissal allowances, and in the same year $458,000 was paid in
REPORT OF SENATE COMMITTEE
707
discharge allowances to 700 men dismissed by an iron foundry in
Kyushu. Dismissal allowances are paid even to men discharged for
strike activities. Temporary workers, however, have not been in
cluded under the provisions and may be engaged for two or three
weeks with prefectural approval. There is an increasing tendency
among factory owners to employ temporary workers in order to
avoid the payment of the statutory indemnity. The Conference of
Factory Inspectors which met at the Japanese Bureau of Social
Affairs April 14 and 15, 1930, decided that persons engaged in the
same work as permanent employees should be considered as per
manent workers and be entitled to the statutory dismissal wage when
discharged at the employer's convenience.
Under the law in Mexico employees discharged without justified
cause are allowed three months' pay; in Ecuador the requirement is
two months' pay for dismissed employees with more than one year's
service; and in Bolivia there is a graduated scale ranging from one
month's pay for less than one year's service to 20 months' pay for
25 or more years' service.
An interesting example of the dismissal wage is reported from
Greece. Unemployment among harbor workers resulting from the
introduction of labor-saving methods was dealt with in a decree ap
proved by the Greek Chamber on November 18, 1928. The decree
granted a dismissal wage to boatmen who were unemployed as a
result of the direct loading of vessels at the new wharf in Piraeus. It
was provided that an official committee on which the workmen were
represented should be formed in the different ports of the country,
which should determine the maximum number of workers required
for the traffic of the port and should select the ones to be retained, on
the basis of their skill and character. Among the workmen thus
forced out of employment those having a service of at least five years
were to be paid a dismissal wage of 15,000 drachmas ($195), increas
ing by 2,000 drachmas ($26) for each 2-year service period. Under
certain conditions dependents of the dismissed workmen also received
an indemnity payment but the total amount for any one family
could not exceed 40,000 drachmas ($520).
Report of Senate Committee on Causes and Relief of
Unemployment, 1929
HE United States Senate on May 3, 1928, provided that the
Senate Committee on Education and Labor should make an in
vestigation of the causes of unemployment and possible methods of
relief. After extended hearings, Senator Couzens submitted the re
port of the committee on February 25,1929. The general findings of
the committee were summarized in its report as follows:
1.
Private industry should recognize the responsibility it has to
stabilize employment within the industry. The Government should
encourage this effort in every way, through sponsoring national con
ferences, through publishing information concerning the experience
had by industries in this work, and through watching every oppor
tunity to keep the thought of stability uppermost in the minds of
employers.
T
7 08
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
2. Insurance plans against unemployment should be confined to
the industry itself as much as possible. There is no necessity and no
place for Federal interference in such efforts at this time. If any
I)ublic insurance scheme is considered, it should be left to the State
egislatures to study that problem.
3. The States and municipalities should be responsible for building
efficient unemployment exchanges. The Government should be re
sponsible for coordinating the work of the States so as to give a
national understanding of any condition which may arise and so as
to be able to assist in any national functioning of the unemployment
exchanges.
4. The existing United States Employment Service should be re
organized, and every employee should be placed under civil service.
5. Efforts should be made to provide an efficient system for obtain
ing statistics of unemployment. The first step should be taken by
the Bureau of the Census in 1930, when the bureau should ascertain
how many were unemployed as of a certain date and how many were
not seeking employment and yet were unemployed as of that date.
6. The Government should adopt legislation without delay which
would provide a system of planning public works so that they would
form a reserve against unemployment in times of depression. States
and municipalities and other public agencies should do likewise.
7. Further consideration might well be given to two questions,
the effect had on unemployment by industrial developments such as
consolidation of capital, and the necessity and advisability of provid
ing either through private industry, through the States, or through
the Federal Government, a system of old-age pensions.
Federal Law on Advance Planning of Public Works for
Stabilization of Industry
RESIDENT HOOVER on February 10, 1931, signed a bill
(S. 5776)—Public bill No. 616—called the “ Federal Employ
ment Stabilization bill,” which is intended to aid in preventing the
evils of unemployment during periods of business depression.
The law creates a governmental board which will be charged with
the duty of keeping a constant watch upon economic conditions
and trends in the United States in order that when a period of depres
sion is imminent and a stimulant of economic activity is demanded,
the Federal Government may immediately undertake the acceleration
of public works construction, so as to check any curtailment of pro
duction and thereby lessen the period of business inactivity.
The principle of so-called advance planning in the construction of
public works has long been recognized, but it has probably only been
during the past ten years that the subject has been given careful and
serious consideration in the United States. In 1920 a report of the
second industrial conference recommended the advance planning of
public works as “ one of the most useful approaches to the general
problem of unemployment.” Numerous other reports were sub
sequently presented by sundry committees and conferences, all of
which adopted the general principle that the expansion of public
works during periods of business inactivity was one means of sta
P
ADVANCE PLANNING OF PUBLIC WORKS
709
bilizing prosperity. In 1928, at a conference of governors held at
New Orleans, Governor Brewster, of Maine, advocated the establish
ment of a three-billion-dollar reserve fund to form a prosperity reserve.
The board established under the new Federal act is composed of
the Secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture, and Labor.
President Hoover, upon his approval of the law, placed the organiza
tion under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Commerce.
Analysis of Act
Object.—-The proper timing of Federal public construction, so as to
aid in stabilizing private employment when private demands for labor
are slack.
Federal agency created.—A board to be known as the Federal
Employment Stabilization Board is established, to be composed of
the Secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture, and Labor.
The board is authorized to appoint a director, experts, and clerical
assistants, selected under the civil service laws, and their compensa
tion fixed under the classification act.
Duties of hoard.— (a) To advise the President of the trend of
employment and business activity; (b) to cooperate with the con
struction agencies in formulating methods of advance planning;
(c) to make progress reports; and (d) to perform other functions
required by the act, such as collecting information concerning advance
construction plans of other public and private agencies.
Construction agencies.—The following are listed as “ construction
agencies” : Department of Agriculture (Bureau of Public Roads,
Bureau of Plant Industry, Forest Service, Bureau of Dairy Industry,
Bureau of Animal Industry); Department of Commerce (Aeronautics
Branch, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Bureau of Fisheries, Bureau of
Lighthouses); Department of Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service); Department of the
Treasury (Coast Guard, Public Health Service, Office of Supervising
Architect); Department of War (Office of the Quartermaster General,
Office of the Chief of Engineers); Department of Justice (Bureau of
Prisons); Department of the Navy (Bureau of Yards and Docks);
Department of Labor; Post Office Department; and independent
Government agencies (Veterans’ Administration, Office of Public
Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, the District of
Columbia, Architect of the Capitol, and the Panama Canal).
Basis of board’s action.—The board is to base its action upon the
volume of construction contracts (based upon value) awarded during
&ny 3-month period in comparison with the corresponding 3-month
period of three previous calendar years. It may also take into consid
eration in this connection the index of employment and other infor
mation concerning employment furnished by the Department of
Labor or any other public or private agency, and also any facts
considered pertinent.
Procedure.— The President is authorized to direct the several gov
ernmental departments to advance and prosecute all construction
projects within their control during the depression period.
Detailed construction plans are to be prepared by the various
governmental agencies for a 6-year period, with estimates showing
projects allotted each year, and these will then be submitted to the
710
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
board and to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget. The plans
are to be revised each year.
The law provides that before a recommendation for appropriations
is made for the next fiscal year the President is to consider the volume
of construction and the state of employment and the activity of
general business throughout the United States. Whenever he finds
that an emergency exists or is likely to exist within the next six
months, he is to advise the Congress by.a special message of such
supplemental estimates as he deems advisable for emergency appro
priations. Such appropriations, however, may be expended only for
highways, rivers and harbor works, fiood-control projects, public
buildings, or other projects authorized by Congress and included in
the 6-year advance plans.
Provisions in Trade Agreements for Stabilizing
Employment
ANY labor unions seek, through the medium of trade agree
ments with their employers, to stabilize or equalize employ
ment for their members. No such arrangements can, of course,
increase the amount of work to be done, but there are many ways in
which a given amount of work can be so distributed as to improve
greatly the regularity of employment.
One of the most common provisions directed to this end is the pro
hibition of all overtime work during slack seasons or when members
of the trade are idle. Also in a number of cases overtime work is
prohibited if there is available space in the shop or factory for an ad
ditional worker, and in some of the trades overtime is limited to a
certain number of hours a day or a week.
Another method of stabilizing employment is the provision, which
occurs in several agreements, for equal distribution of the work avail
able among all employees during the slack seasons. A number of
agreements also provide that during the dull season there shall be no
discharge of an employee who worked during the busy season, but
such employees shall be given an equal share of whatever work is
available.
Lay-offs during slack seasons are arranged for in a number of the
agreements, it being provided that lay-offs are to be in rotation so
that all employees shall share equally in the work, and in some cases
are limited to one day a week, while in others each employee may be
laid off for a week at a time.
Provision for a reduction in the number of hours to be worked in
a day or a week before any employee shall be laid off or discharged
constitutes another method for equalizing such work as is available.
A guaranteed period of employment for regular employees is pro
vided for in a number of agreements. In some cases employment for
a certain number of weeks during the year is guaranteed, while in
others a full week’s work is guaranteed if the employee works any
part of the week.
Unemployment insurance is provided for in certain of the clothingtrade agreements. According to provisions in some of these agree
ments the unemployment fund is contributed to by both employers
M
PROVISIONS IN TRADE AGREEMENTS
711
and employees, while in others the employees are not required to
contribute to the fund.
This study is based on an analysis of 600 trade agreements received
by the bureau from 1926 to 1930. The following provisions were
found in about 350 agreements*
Regulation of Overtime
T hirteen locals of bakery workers either prohibit or limit over
time work; two of these permit no overtime work by regular em
ployees at any time; four permit overtime work only when substitutes
are unavailable; one limits the overtime work to two hours per day
if substitutes are unavailable; six will permit not more than two hours
per week overtime by regular employees if extra men are available.
Two locals of brewery workers prohibit all overtime work while
employees are on part time or when members are unemployed.
One local of broom makers permits overtime work only when the
factory is working full time—44 hours per week; one permits over
time work when the union can not furnish extra help.
In the building trades one local of bricklayers and masons provides:
“ When 50 per cent of the trade is unemployed no overtime work
shall be permitted where it is possible to employ more men during
regular working hours.” One local of carpenters provides: “ Mem
bers not to work more than 8 hours in 24 hours when local can furnish
carpenters, except in case of emergency and then not more than one
week in any one month” ; another provides: “ No member shall
work overtime except when the district council is unable to supply
the required number of men, or to save life or property.” One local
of lathers provides: “ On all overtime work unemployed members
shall have the preference if qualified.” Three locals of operative
plasterers prohibit overtime work when members are out of employ
ment. Two locals have the following provision: “ When continuous
overtime is worked on any building, such overtime, as far as is possible,
shall be given to unemployed members.” One local of plumbers
provides: “ Overtime on new work shall not be permitted while
members of local are out of work.” One local of sign painters pro
vides: “ The union reserves the right to prohibit members working
overtime during the slack seasons.”
Cloth Hat, Cap, and Millinery Workers’ Union in one agreement
provides:
No overtime work shall be performed during any part of the months of June,
July, and August. During the rest of the year overtime work may be performed
only with the consent of the union.
The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, in agreements
covering eight locals, has the following provision:
No overtime snail be permitted so long as there are vacant accommodations
in the shop for additional workers, and workers can be supplied by the union
within a reasonable time.
Six locals provide: “ No overtime permitted unless union is unable
to furnish sufficient help to do the required work in regular hours” ;
and eight locals provide: “ No overtime work shall be exacted or per
mitted between November 15 and December 31 nor between May 1
and July 15.”
47767°—31----- 46
712
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
Fur workers’ agreements covering four locals prohibit overtime ex
cept in four months of the year—August, September, October, and
November—when overtime not to exceed two hours daily five days a
week is permitted; and two locals provide: “ Overtime work not
exceeding three hours a day shall be permitted between the second
Monday of September and second Monday of December on the first
five working days of the week, and four hours on Saturday.” One
local provides as follows: “ No overtime shall be permitted while
there are any members of the union unemployed and who can be
furnished to the firm by the union.”
Six agreements of typographical workers have the following provi
sion:
If employee accumulates a full day’s overtime in 30 days he shall take a day
off within the next financial week and put on a substitute. Failing to do so the
chairman shall put on one for him.
Equal Distribution of Work
Trade-agreem ent provisions for the protection of the regular em
ployees during the dull periods or slack seasons are many and varied.
The one calling for equal distribution of work is the one most generally
used.
Three locals of broom makers stipulate that sufficient material
shall be furnished to all employees to work steadily during the time
shops are running; one of these provides that no new help shall be
hired until all old employees are working full time. One local pro
vides that if one journeyman waits for material all the journeymen in
the shop shall stop work until all are furnished with material. ^
One local of sign painters provides that during slack periods all
work shall be distributed equally among regular employees.
The agreements of 13 locals of cigar makers stipulate that in dull
seasons all employees shall be placed on equal limit, and that no new
help shall be hired until that limit is removed. Two of these also
provide: “ When men are limited to a stipulated number each week
they shall not be required to report every day provided the stipulated
amount can be made in less time.”
The following is the provision of one local of cleaners, dyers, and
pressers: “ During dull periods employer agrees to divide as much as
possible the work equally amongst all employees. New employees
with less than six months’ service shall be laid off before the division
of work.”
Three locals of boot and shoe workers provide for an equal distribu
tion of work during the slack season; two of these also provide that
there shall be no lay-off during the slack season.
Four locals of cloth hat and cap makers provide for an equal dis
tribution of work among all the workers during slack seasons.
Amalgamated Clothing Workers’ agreements covering seven locals
have a provision for an equal distribution of work during slack seasons,
and that all workers shall be given an equal opportunity for a share of
whatever amount of work there may be, without discrimination.
The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ agreements, covering
26 locals, provide for an equal distribution of work during slack sea
sons; 7 of these locals also provide that workers shall not be required
to report for work every day during the slack season and remain in
PROVISIONS IN TRADE AGREEMENTS
713
the shop when there is no work for them; 19 locals also stipulate that
workers required to come into the shop during the dull season shall
be given at least one-half day’s work.
The United Garment Workers’ agreements provide: “ During slack
seasons no new employees will be hired and no work will be divided
with any employee who has been a member of the. local union for less
than nine months.”
The Fur Workers’ agreements, covering 11 locals, provide for an
equal division of work during the slack season; 8 of these locals
provide as follows:
Equitable division of work shall be carried out wherever possible during the
months of June, November, and December for those who have worked with the
firm not less than seven consecutive weeks prior to the period when equal division*
of work is begun in each establishment.
In the event of the union claiming that an emergency affecting unemploy
ment prevails in the industry, the matter shall be referred to the conference
committee to establish whether or not such alleged emergency exists and upon
finding the existence of such an emergency, ways and means for mitigating this
condition shall be devised. In the consideration and action of such matter the
chairman of the conference shall act only in the capacity of mediator.
The journeymen tailors’ agreements, covering 11 locals, provide
for equal distribution of work during slack seasons and that no em
ployee who worked during the busy season shall be discharged during
the dull season.
The Glass Bottle Blowers’ Association agreement covering stopper
grinders provides: “ When work becomes slack in any shop, each
man, including apprentices, shall receive an equal share of work.”
Two locals of machinists stipulate that in case of depression there
shall be an equal division of work in order that all men shall have a
share of the work; one of these also stipulates that the company shall
not discharge regular employees during the depression.
The International Pocketbook Workers’ agreement has the follow
ing provision:
It is agreed that during the slack season all work shall be distributed and
divided equally among the workers in the factory. In case when and where it
is absolutely necessary for an employer to reorganize his working force he shall
bring such matter for adjustment before the association and the union. The
union will be given a reasonable time to place in other employment such workers
as are affected by the reorganization. Equitable distribution of work shall be
practiced during the period of reorganization.
The National Brotherhood of Operative Potters’ agreement
provides as follows:
Manufacturers are requested when work is short to instruct foremen to divide
work as equally as possible, and not to prefer some man over others in the dis
tribution.
Five locals of upholsterers stipulate: “ When there is not sufficient
work for all employed to put in full time, the work shall be divided
equally among those employed.” One of these also provides for equal
distribution among the apprentices at the same time.
Lay-offs During Dull Season
Six lo c a ls of bakery workers provide that during dull seasons men
shall be laid off for one to three days in rotation; one of these provides
that if the employee is not notified on evening before of lay-off the
714
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
next day he shall be paid for the day; one also provides that there
shall be no discharge of regular workers during the dull season.
Thirteen locals of brewery workers stipulate that during the dull
season the employees shall be laid off in rotation; five of these stipu
late that the lay-off shall be for one week and never by the day or
hour; two, that the lay-off shall be not more than one week nor less
than one day at a time; three, that the lay-off shall be for one day
per week for each employee; and one, that if the employee is off sick
such time shall be considered as his lay-off time.
One local of coopers stipulates that “ Men shall not be discharged
on account of slack work; they shall be laid off in rotation for not
longer than one week nor less than one day.”
In the agreements of two locals of bookbinders is the following
provision: “ When through lack of work it is necessary to lay off any
of the regular force, phalanxes shall be formed so that every employee
shall take a day off in turn.”
Two locals of stereotypers and electrotypers stipulate that if men
are to be laid off on account of a depression a definite schedule must
provide an equal time off for journeymen and apprentices.
Two locals of typographical workers have the following provisions:
If necessary to lay off any regulars through lack of work, phalanxes must be
made so that every employee (except foreman) shall take a day off in turn.
If owner or stockholder is a member of the union and employed as working
man, other employees must not be laid off during slack season.
The agreement of one local of teamsters and chauffeurs provides
that in dull seasons each member shall lay off for one week, and if
necessary may lay pS another week in the same order. The provi
sion by one local is as follows: “ During the winter months when
work becomes slack no regular union man shall be discharged, but
may be laid off; lay off to take place impartially, and no man to be
laid off for less than one day.”
Reduction of Hours
T he agreement of one local of structural-iron workers provides as
follows: “ In case of depression, work shall be reduced to seven hours
a day and five days a week. Should a further reduction become
necessary, the force shall be reduced and seniority shall govern.”
One local of hotel and restaurant workers provides: “ This local may
for reason of unemployment institute a 5-day week, with wages to be
paid pro rata.”
One local of leather workers stipulates that in case there is not
enough work, the hours of work shall be cut in order to give work
to all employees.
The following provisions are found in the agreements of three locals
of machinists:
If business falls off, there shall be no lay off until working hours have been
reduced to seven hours a day, and then those last employed shall be the first
laid off.
In case of depression in trade, hours shall be shortened all that is necessary
to keep normal force employed.
In case of depression in trade, the hours shall be shortened on Saturday before
reduction in force takes place.
PROVISIONS IN TRADE AGREEMENTS
715
Eight locals of photo-engravers provide as follows:
Should it become necessary to reduce the working hours, such reduction shall
be equal on each day of the week and shall affect the entire working force and
be operative for not less than a week. Reduced time shall constitute the regular
time for week, and work performed in excess shall be paid at overtime rates.
The Maintenance of Way Employees' agreement with the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. has the following provision:
When it is necessary to make a reduction, a full force may be retained and the
hours of service reduced to 40 hours per week before the force is reduced, when
mutually agreed upon with the majority of the men directly affected.
Three locals of upholsterers provide: “ When work is scarce, the
hours shall be reduced to 40 hours per week from May 1 to Labor
Day in order to provide employment for a larger number of workers."
Guaranteed Employment
T he agreement of one local of brewery workers guarantees at least
one-half time employment to all employees during the winter months;
that of three locals provides that the average number of employees
in April and May shall be the minimum number of employees for
the succeeding year and that extra men may be employed during
July, August, and September.
One agreement of hoisting and portable engineers provides that
when an engineer is laid off it must be for a whole week, otherwise
he shall receive his full time; another provides “ An engineer tempo
rarily laid off and reemployed after the expiration of time not to
exceed six days shall be paid for the days of the week preceding his
reemployment."
Three agreements of sign painters stipulate that all regular employ
ees shall be guaranteed 40 hours' employment for each successive
week. One agreement of scenic and pictorial painters guarantees
regular employees 44 hours' employment for each successive week.
Two agreements of fur workers have the following provisions:
The firm agrees that it will employ during term of agreement such fleshers,
shavers, and floor workers as may be out of employment for more than one week;
provided that over the average amount of wages in the trade is being earned
in the shop to which such workers are sent.
A worker who is discharged before the end of the week shall be entitled to a
full week’s pay. Failure to notify a worker of his discharge on or before the
last working day of the week shall entitle him to a full week’s pay for the
following week.
One agreement of the International Ladies' Garment Workers’
Union guarantees designers 26 full and consecutive weeks' work,
after a trial period of two weeks; a second guarantees that the em
ployer will not reduce the number of workers nor disband his factory
during the life of the agreement ; a third guarantees that the employer
will not reduce the number of operators to less than 12; a fourth
agreement covering 6 locals has the following provision: “ The em
ployer agrees to employ, during the life of this agreement, at least
six operators and all such other help as may be necessary in order
that the operators may work without interruption."
One agreement of laundry workers guarantees a full week's work
to all old employees, except when they lose time of their own volition.
Five agreements of motion-picture operators and stage employees
guarantee a full week's salary for four days' work or over.
716
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RELIEF
One agreement of stereo typers stipulates that “ where an employer
sees fit to close his plant for less than one week, the members of the
union employed in such plant shall receive their full week’s pay.”
One agreement of typographical workers provides “ In reducing the
force the foreman can not lay off regular employees until the end of
the fiscal week; another provides “ In an office where only one journey
man is employed he must be employed for at least five days in the
week. If not enough work, he must be paid for five days’ work.”
One agreement of window cleaners provides as follows: “ To all
regular employees a guaranty of 40 hours’ work per week. This shall
apply to anjr week, even a week with a holiday, provided member is
ready and willing to work.”
Two railroad agreements with trainmen, conductors, yardmen and
switch tenders contain the following provision:
Regularly assigned passenger trainmen who are ready for service the entire
month and who do not lay off of their own accord shall receive the monthly
guarantee provided for in Article 1 (rates of pay), exclusive of overtime. The
monthly guarantee applies only when the sum of the daily rates in any given
month does not exceed the monthly guarantee.
One agreement of street-railway employees guarantees extra men
a minimum of 42 hours per week but they shall report three times
daily if requested; a second guarantees all extra men an average of
seven hours each day for 26 days if they are available for work; a
third guarantees that extra men who answer the roll call shall receive
$20 per week. One agreement guarantees all extra men a minimum
wage of $85 per calendar month to be paid in semimonthly install
ments each pay day. Two agreements provide that extra or reserve
car operators shall be guaranteed $100 per month; another provides
as follows:
The minimum wage for regular extra motormen and conductors shall be $105
per month. The purpose of this is to insure that all employees of this class
shall make this minimum wage per month whether or not they secure enough
work for that month to equal it at the hourly rate. To entitle extra motor
men and conductors to such minimum wage, they must make all reports required
by the company, accept all work offered and perform all duties assigned in accord
ance with such rules.
Six agreements of teamsters and chauffeurs provide that steady
drivers shall be paid a full week’s wages, unless they are discharged
for cause or fail to report for work; three agreements provide that
week workers shall be guaranteed a full week’s pay whether work is
provided or not; two agreements provide “ Any man working five days
a week shall be paid for the full week.”
Six agreements of upholstery workers guarantee week workers a
full week’s work, or pay for same.
Unemployment Insurance
Unemployment insurance is provided for in agreements of cloth
hat and cap makers, straw and felt hat makers, men’s clothing
workers, ladies’ garment makers, full-fashioned hosiery workers, and
cleaners, dyers, and pressers. The provisions for unemployment
insurance in these agreements are given on page 674.
FOREIGN COUNTRIES
717
Miscellaneous
T he following provisions are not included in the foregoing classi
fication, but seem to have the same end in view— a more equal dis
tribution of work among union employees.
Two agreements of waiters, members of the Hotel and Restaurant
Employees’ Union provide: “ Members working steady shall not be
permitted to accept extra work under any consideration.” One
agreement of street railway employees provides: “ Regular employees
not allowed to perform extra work when extra men are available.”
Two agreements of paving cutters have the following provisions:
The company shall not employ any more men than they can keep going with
steady work.
In periods of depression the employer shall confer with a committee of paving
cutters to discuss conditions before laying off men.
One agreement of lathers provides: “ No employer shall hire men
from another shop while there are members idle.”
Unemployment Insurance in Foreign Countries
OMPULSORY or voluntary unemployment insurance schemes,
fostered and aided by the State, have been established in 17
countries in Europe, and in Queensland, Australia. The Russian
unemployment insurance plan, established under the Labor Code of
1922, has been practically given up since the prosecution of the “ 5Year Plan” demands the employment of all available labor.
Any account of the operation of the unemployment insurance sys
tems in force in foreign countries is given in Bulletin No. 544 of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics,
C
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
719
Wages and Hours of Labor
HIS section contains summaries of all of the wage studies made
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics since the publication of the
1929 Handbook, and also digests of current wage studies made by
other official agencies for certain industries not covered by the bureau
investigations. In addition references are given to earlier wage arti
cles of importance contained in previous handbooks when no later
reports are available.
T
Wage Studies of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics devotes a very large part of its
resources to compiling information on the subject of wages and
hours of labor. In the important field of union wage scales a study
is made each year. The organized workers in the various trades
usually have a standard minimum rate which is the prevailing rate
for the trade in the locaHty. In the most important manufacturing
industries and in coal mining a wage study is made about every two
years. It is recognized that a yearly study should be made in all of
the most important industries, but funds have not been available for
this purpose.
The questionnaire method is satisfactory in some lines of inquiry,
but is not very successful in the collection of wage data. Except in
rare instances, the bureau has found that the only satisfactory method
is to send special agents to compile the statistics from the employers’
pay rolls, and this is the usual method pursued by the bureau. In
many industries a large proportion of the employees are paid at piece
rates and no record is kept of the time worked by them. In such
industries it is necessary to arrange with the employers, and some
times with the employees as well, to keep a special record of the hours
worked during the pay period studied.
A complete census of wages in all establishments in an industry in
the United States is prohibitive because of cost. Hence the sampling
method must be used. Selection is first made of typical representa
tive plants from which to request wage data. These must be selected
with care, so as to insure a geographical representation, as well as a
wage representation for the locality. All employees are included in
the report obtained from a plant, except in the case of a very few
large plants, where to cover all employees would distort the repre
sentative character of the total data collected in the locality. A suf
ficient number of plants is taken to insure a fair cross section of the
country as a whole. In some instances 20 per cent of all wage earners
in the industry in the country may be covered; in other instances
as high as 30 or 40 per cent.
As soon as possible after the data are collected summary figures
are prepared and published in the Labor Review. Later the infor
mation is published in greater detail in bulletin form.
T
721
722
WAGES AND HOURS OP LABOR
The following table presents a list of the wage studies of the bureau
completed during 1929 and 1930 and the principal data regarding
average wage, earnings, and hours of labor for each industry:
AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS IN INDUSTRIES COVERED B Y W AGE STUDIES
OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, C O M PLETED IN 1929 A N D 1930
Males
Average hours
Date of
survey
Industry
Airplanes...... ...................................................................
Aircraft engines................................. ............................
Bituminous coal mining:
Miners and loaders...................................................
Other employees............ ................ .....................
Boots and shoes......................... .................................
Cigarettes......................... ............ ................ .................
Cotton goods manufacturing.........................................
Dyeing and finishing textiles.................... .................
Foundries and machine shops:
Foundries.............................................................
Machine shops..........................................................
Furniture.........................................................................
Hosiery and underwear:
Hosiery......................................................................
Underwear....... ..................................................... .
Iron and steel industry:
Blast furnaces............................................................
Bessemer converters...................................... ..........
Bar mills........................................................ ...........
Standard rail mills......................... .........................
Sheet mills................................ ................................
Tin-plate mills....... .......... ................................... .
Open-hearth furnaces................................. .............
Puddling mills-------------------------------- ---------------Blooming mills..........................................................
Plate mills............................................. ...................
Men’s clothing.................................................................
Motor vehicles......................... ......................................
Portland cement industry__________________________
Rayon and other synthetic textile manufacturing____
Slaughtering and meat packing........... ................. ........
Sugar refining.....................................—................. ........
Woolen and worsted goods manufacturing....................
Average earnings
Full Actually
time, worked Per
per
in 1
hour
week
week
Full
time,
per
week
Actual
in 1
week
1929
1929
47.9
48.9
47.3
50.3
$0,669
.706
$32.05
34.52
$31.68
35.51
1929
1929
1930
1930
1930
1930
0
0
48.8
49.9
53.7
51.0
/ 2.687
0
\ 8. 626
.605
0
.604
42.7
46.5
.378
43.9
.346
50.7
.473
0
0
29.48
18.86
18.58
24.12
* 49.85
<52.57
25.79
17.60
15.19
23.99
1929
1929
1929
51.0
50.3
52.1
48.8
50.4
50.3
.625
.641
.499
31.88
32.24
26.00
30.50
32.30
25.12
1930
1930
52.4
50.9
45.0
45.1
.707
.458
37.05
23.31
31.84
20.65
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1929
1930
1928
1929
1930
1929
1930
1930
60.7
53.7
55.6
56.0
48.9
47.4
57.7
50.3
55.0
58.0
44.3
49.4
60.8
51.1
49.3
59.3
49.7
(l)
(iS
v)
v)
v)
v)
(1)
Ye
(1)
(!)
39.4
47.0
56.7
46.7
48.5
55.1
42.6
.528
.643
.625
.628
.793
.732
.714
.686
.666
.639
.885
.756
.518
.504
.525
.472
.516
32.05
34.53
34.75
35.17
38.78
34.70
41.20
34.51
36.63
37.06
39.21
37.35
31.49
25.75
25.88
27.99
25.65
0)
0)
0
0)
0
(1)
0
0
0
34.84
35.56
29.33
23.53
25.45
25.99
21.97
1929
47.3
44.r9
Airplanes________________________________________
48.9
42.0
Boots and shoes___________________________________ 1930
1930
49.9
Cigarettes
_ _ _ _______________________________
43.2
1930
52.9
Cotton goods manufacturing_______________________
40.9
Dyeing and finishing textiles_______________________
1930
50.5
42.4
Foundries and machines shops:
49.7
Foundries.___________________________________ 1929
42.3
1929
49.3
46.1
Machine sh ops_______________________________
1929
50.5
46.4
Furniture
____________________________________
Hosiery and underwear:
52.1
Hosiery
_ _________________________ 1930
40.1
Underwear____________________________________ 1930
50.2
39.5
Men’s clothing____________________________________ 1930
44.2
36.2
1928
50.3
41.1
Motor vehicles - _ ______________________________
Portland cement industry _________________________
1929
52.0
46.6
Rayon and other synthetic textile manufacturing____
1930
49.0
42.3
48.9
44.9
Slaughtering and meat packing_____________________ 1929
51.5
43.0
Sugar refining.................... .......... ................. ................ 1930
49.5
38.8
Woolen and worsted goods manufacturing___________ 1930
$0,380
.382
.268
.293
.335
$17.97
18.68
13.37
15.50
16.92
$17.09
16.04
11.58
11.98
14.20
.451
.399
.345
22.41
19.67
17.42
19.08
18.41
16.03
.366
.330
.504
.487
.389
.344
.369
.289
.392
19.07
16.57
22.28
24.50
20.23
16.86
18.04
14.88
19.40
14.66
13.04
18.24
20.04
18.12
14.55
16.54
12.42
15.19
Females
1 No data.
2 Based on time at face, including lunch time.
3Based on time in mine.
* In half month.
723
AIRPLANES AND AIRCRAFT ENGINES
AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS IN INDUSTRIES COVERED BY WAGE STUDIES
OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, COM PLETED IN 1929 AND 1930-Con.
Males and females
Average hours
Industry
_ _
Airplanes................. ................... ..........
Boots and s h o e s .__________________________ _ _ .
Cigarettes_____________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cotton goods manufacturing______ _____________ _
Dyeing and finishing textiles________ ____ _____ ____
Foundries and machine shops:
F ou n d ries___________ ____________ _ ______
Machine shops__________ ______ _
_______
Furniture__________________ _____________________
Hosiery and underwear:
Hosiery......... ...........................................................
Underwear____________________________________
Men’s clothing_______ _____ ____ __________________
Motor vehicles___________________________________
Portland cement industry_______________ ____ _____
Rayon and other synthetic textile manufacturing.........
Slaughtering and meat packing___________________ _
Sugar refining..........__________ _____________________
Woolen and worsted goods manufacturing___________
Date of
survey
Average earnings
FuU Actually
time, worked Per
hour
per
in 1
week
week
Full
time,
per
week
Actual
in 1
week
1929
1930
1930
1930
1930
47.9
48.9
49.9
63.4
50.9
47.3
42.4
44.7
42.7
49.3
$0,663
.510
.318
.325
.452
$31.76
24.94
15.87
17.36
23.01
$31.37
21.62
14.19
13.38
22.29
1929
1929
1929
51.0
50.3
51.9
48.7
50.3
50.1
.624
.638
.490
31.82
32.09
25.43
30.39
32.06
24.52
1930
1930
1930
1928
1929
1930
1929
1930
1930
52.2
50.3
44.3
49.4
60.8
50.2
49.2
58.7
49.6
41.9
40.6
37.8
46.9
56.6
44.8
48.0
54.2
40.7
.497
.357
.701
.750
.517
.441
.504
.461
.460
25.94
17.96
31.05
37.05
31.43
22.14
24.80
27.06
22.82
20.83
14.50
26.48
35.14
29.25
19.76
24.18
25.00
18.73
Wages and Hours in Various Industries and Trades
Airplanes and Aircraft Engines: Hours and Earnings, 1929
HIS report presents the results of the bureau’s first comprehen
sive study of wages and hours of labor of wage earners in the
airplane and aircraft-engine industries in the United States.
The information, collected late in 1929, covers 11,079 wage earners
employed in 41 representative airplane plants and 3,290 wage earners
employed in 14 representative aircraft-engine plants. The airplane
plants were located in 21 States and the engine plants in 8 States.
Early in 1929 the bureau mailed a questionnaire to all airplane
and aircraft-engine manufacturers of record, requesting data per
taining to the number of planes and engines produced in 1928, as
well as to the number of employees as of May, 1929. Replies were
received from 101 airplane manufacturers and 19 engine manufac
turers.1 In 4 of the 101 plants, engines were manufactured in addi
tion to the airplanes, making a total of 23 companies reporting the
manufacture of engines. A total of 16,105 wage earners were reported
as employed in the manufacture of airplanes and 5,977 in the manu
facture of engines. Only 78 of the plants above mentioned produced
planes in 1928. Therefore, it will be seen that the present study
embraces approximately 65 per cent of the total number of wage
earners in these two industries. The aircraft study is restricted to
airplanes, thus excluding craft lighter than air.
T
No data are here shown for the few foundries connected with certain
plants. Figures for “ test pilots” were considered confidential by a
number of manufacturers. Hence, figures for the occupation have
been omitted. There were eight females employed as inspectors in
one engine plant, but data for these are omitted to avoid identifica
i See Labor Review for August, 1929, p. 62.
7 24
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
tion of the plant. Hence, the figures for manufacture of aircraft
engines are for male wage earners only.
For purposes of tabulation, the data have been presented by
geographical districts in order not to disclose the identity of indi
vidual plants.
The States in which airplane or aircraft-engine plants were located
are arranged below by districts:
District
States included
New England______________Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Middle Atlantic____________New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
South Atlantic_____________ Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.
East North Central------------- Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wis
consin.
West North Central________ Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska.
West South Central________ Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Western................... ..............Colorado, California, Oregon, and Washington.
Average Hours and Earnings by Occupations
T a b l e 1 presents average full-time hours per week, average earn
ings per hour, and average full-time earnings per week for all impor
tant occupations and for a group designated as “ other employees.”
This group includes employees in occupations each too small in
number of workers to warrant separate presentation.
Airplanes.—The average full-time hours per week for all male wage
earners covered were 47.9, as shown at the end of the first section of
the table. The average for females was 47.3 hours. The average
earnings per hour were 66.9 cents for males and 38 cents for females;
and the average full-time earnings per week, $32.05 for males and
$17.97 for females. For both sexes combined, the full-time hours per
week averaged 47.9; average earnings per hour were 66.3 cents; and
average full-time earnings per week, $31.76.
Inspection of the data for the occupations shows that the average
earnings per hour for males ranged from 48.4 cents for helpers to 82.7
cents for inspectors, and for females from 36.7 cents for coverers
(fabric) to 54 cents for welders.
Aircraft engines.—The averages for all occupations combined in the
manufacture of engines show the full-time hours per week to be 48.9;
the earnings per hour, 70.6 cents; and the full-time earnings per week,
$34.52.
The averages for the several occupations show that the earnings per
hour range from 42.5 cents for apprentices to 86.1 cents for polishers
and buffers.
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAG E HOURS AND EARNINGS IN THE M AN UFACTURE OF AIRPLANES
AN D A IR C R A F T ENGINES, 1929, BY OCCUPATION AN D SEX
Airplanes
Occupation and sex
Assemblers, detail, male............................................................ .
Assemblers, final, male___________________________________
Cabinetmakers, male_____________________________________
Cable splicers, male____________ ____ ____________________
Coppersmiths, male________________________ — ____ ______
Coverers, dural, male— __________________________________
Coverers, fabric, male____________________________________
Covereis, fabric, female___________________________________
Coverers, wood, male................................................................ ,
Average full
Average full
Average
time hours earnings per time earnings
per week
hour
per week
47.1
47.6
47.1
47.3
47.5
48.9
48.4
47.0
46.7
$0,645
.674
.727
.673
.719
.685
.604
.367
.678
$30.38
32.08
34.24
31.83
34.15
33.50
29.23
17.25
31.66
725
AIRPLANES AND AIRCRAFT ENGINES
T able 1.—AVERAG E HOURS AN D EARNINGS IN THE M AN UFACTU RE OF AIRPLANES
A N D A IR C R A F T ENGINES, 1929, B Y OCCUPATION AND SEX—Continued
Airplanes—Continued
Average full
Average
Average full
time hours earnings per time earnings
per week
hour
per week
Occupation and sex
Howl makers, ma)A
.
___ _ _ .
Dri]i press operators, male_____ . .......................... . .... ....
Eleotncians/Vnale-.l..-.............
... . ................
■Fitters and bench hands, male
Frame builders, male:
Dural fuselage_______________________________________
Steel fuselage. ________________________________________
Wood fuselage___________________________ ____________
t.ful
_. ___ .. .
_
_
Steel tail__________________ _______ __________________
Wood t.?u1_
__.
_
Dural wing__________________________________________
Wood wing__________________________________________
TTftlpfirs, male
. _
TnspArttoTS, TTifllft ,.. . _ _ _ . - - Laborers, male___________________________________________
Lathe operators, m a le ....__ ______________________________
Machinists, male___________________—___________________
Milling-machine operators, male__________________________
Painters, hand, male_________________________________ ___
Painters, letterers, and stripers, male— ___________________
Painters, spray, male_____________________________________
Patternmakers, male_____________________________________
Polishers and rubbers, male___ __________________ _________
Rib builders, dural, male_________________________________
Rib builders, wood, male__ _______________________________
Rib builders, wood, female_____________________________ _
Screw-machine operators, male._______________________ _ _
Sewing-machine operators, male___________________ _______
Sewing-machine operators, female_______ ____________ ___
Sheet-metal machine operators, male____
_______ ____
Sheet-metal workers, hand, male____________________ ___ __
Spar builders, dural, m ale..______________________________
Spar builders, wood, m ale..______________________________
Testers, ground, male____________________________________
Toolmakers, male________________________________________
Upholsterers, male_______________________________________
Welders, male___________________________________________
Welders, female___ ______________________________________
Woodworking-machine operators, male____________________
Other employees, male___________________________________
Other employees, female__________________________________
48.2
48.1
47.8
47.7
$0,744
.562
.685
.665
$35.82
27.03
32.74
31.72
46.5
47.7
47.2
47.5
49.1
46.5
48.3
47.6
47.6
47.5
48.6
47.2
47.9
48.2'
48.5
47.8
48.6
48.2
46.9
48.3
48.3
48.4
48.4
47.8
47.7
49.4
47.8
49.9
47.3
47.6
48.5
47.0
47.8
49.0
47.8
48.0
48.0
.712
.699
.756
.684
.616
.688
.669
.656
.484
.827
.520
.759
.773
.727
.604
.817
.660
.817
.677
.652
.503
.372
.693
.802
.410
.608
.728
.645
.710
.753
.822
.759
.764
.540
.727
.695
.413
33.11
33.34
35.68
32.49
30.24
31.99
32.31
31.23
23.04
39.28
25.27
35.82
37.03
35.04
29.29
39.05
32.05
39.38
31.75
31.49
24.29
18.00
33.54
38.34
19.56
30.04
34.80
32.19
33. 58
35.84
39.87
35.67
36.52
26.46
34.75
33.36
19.82
All airplane occupations, male................. .......... ............
All airplane occupations, female_____________________
47.9
47.3
.669
.380
32.05
17.97
All airplane occupations, male and female____________
47.9
.663
31.76
Apprentices, m ale..______________________________________
Assemblers, male________________________________________
Blacksmiths, male_______________________________________
Boring-mill operators, male............... .........................................
Coppersmiths and tinsmiths, male........ ...................................
Dnll-press operators, male________________________________
Fitters and bench hands, male___________ __________ ______
Grinding-machine operators, male................. ...........................
Helpers, male________________________________________ _ .
Inspectors, male_________________________________________
Laborers, male___________________________________________
Lathe operators, engine, male_____________________________
Lathe operators, turret, male_____________________________
Machinists, male_____________________________________ _ .
Machinists’ and toolmakers’ helpers, male_________ ________
Milling-machine operators, male_____________________ . _ _
Packers, male______________________________ _______ ______
Paint sprayers, male___________________________ _________
Polishers and buffers, male_______________________________
Screw-machine operators, male__ _____ ___________________
Sheet-metal machine operators, male______________________
Testers, male___________________________________________
Toolmakers, male______________________________ ______ ___
Other precision machine operators, male___________________
Other skilled employees, male_________ ____ ______________
Other employees, male_____________ ______ ______ ________
47.6
49.3
48.3
50.1
47.7
49.2
48.7
49.2
49.3
48.7
48.5
49.2
49.1
49.3
50.5
49.2
48.7
48.9
48.3
49.2
48.8
49.1
49.1
48.2
48.8
49.1
$0,425
.714
.728
.814
.762
.672
.628
.791
.537
.753
.526
.783
.742
.795
.528
.749
.594
.675
.861
.781
.709
.783
.844
.756
.849
.630
$20.23
35.20
35.16
40.78
36.35
33.06
30.58
38.92
26.47
36.67
25.51
38.52
36.43
39.19
26.66
36.85
28.93
33.01
41.59
38.43
34.60
38.45
41.44
36.45
41.43
30.93
All aircraft engine occupations, male________ _________
48.9
.706
34.52
Aircraft engines
726
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average Hours and Earnings in 1929, by Districts
T he figures in Table 2 show average full-time hours per week,
average earnings per hour, and average full-time weekly earnings for
all males, for all females, and for both sexes combined in each indus
try and for each district.
Airplanes.—Average full-time hours in the airplane plants are
lowest in the Western district, the average for males being 46.5 hours
I>er week and for females 45.1 hours per week. The highest full
time hours are shown for the West South Central district, where the
average is 50.8 for males and 51.8 for females.
The highest hourly earnings are for male wage earners in the
East North Central district, who received an average of 70.5 cents
per hour, and the lowest earnings for males, 55.3 cents per hour, were
in the West South Central district. The average hourly earnings for
females range from 26 cents in the West North Central district to 41.7
cents in the Western district. The average earnings for both sexes
combined range from 54.7 cents in the West South Central district to
70.3 cents in the East North Central district.
The full-time earnings per week for males range from $28.06 in the
West North Central district to $33.91 in the East North Central dis
trict; for females, from $12.97 in the West North Central district to
$19.58 in the Middle Atlantic district.
Full-time earnings for both sexes combined range from $27.72 in
the West North Central district to $33.SI in the East North Central
district.
Aircraft engines.—The aircraft-engine establishments visited were
located in only four districts. The average full-time hours per week
range from 48 for the employees in the Middle Atlantic district to
50.2 for the employees in New England.
The average hourly earnings for the employees range from 65.9
cents for the New England district to 78.4 cents in the Western
district, and the full-time earnings from $33.08 per week in the New
England district to $38.96 for the Western district.
T a b l e 2 .—AVERAG E HOURS AND EARNINGS IN THE M ANUFACTURE OF AIRPLANES
AND A IR C R A F T ENGINES, 1929, B Y SEX AND D ISTR IC T
Airplanes
[See definition of districts, p. 724]
Sex and district
Males
New England............
Middle Atlantic_____
South Atlantic
East North Central-. .
West North C en tra lWest South C e n tra lWestern.......................
Total..................
Females
New England..............
Middle Atlantic..........
South Atlantic.........—
East North Central.„
West North Central__
Average
Average
full Average
full
earn
time
time
hours ings per
earn
per
hour
ings per
week
week
Sex and district
Average
Average
full
Average
full
time
earn
time
hours ings per earn
per
hour ings per
week
week
Females—Continued
47.9
47.6
50.6
48.1
48.3
50.8
46.5
$0.642
.695
.641
.705
.581
.553
.666
$30.75
33.08
32.43
33.91
28.06
28.09
30.97
47.9
.669
32.05
48.3
47.3
49.7
49.6
49.9
.361
.414
.318
.330
.260
17.44
19.58
15.80
16.37
12.97
West South Central__
Western.......................
51.8
45.1
$0,342
.417
$17.72
18.81
Total.................
47.3
.380
17.97
Males and females
"N
Ta
tlOflftTlH
J
L>
oW
WU
£iJigicUiU.__
__
Middle Atlantic_____
ftnnth Atlontin
East North CentralWest North C en tra lWest South C en tra lWestern......................
47.9
47.6
50.6
48.1
48.3
50.9
46.4
.639
.691
.632
.703
.574
.547
.656
30.61
32.89
31.98
33.81
27.72
27.85
30.44
T o ta l,...............
47.9
.663
31.76
727
AIRPLANES AND AIRCRAFT ENGINES
T a b l e 2.—AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS IN THE M ANUFACTURE OF AIRPLANES
A N D A IR C R A F T ENGINES, 1929, B Y SEX A N D DISTR IC T—Continued
Aircraft engines
Sex and district
Average
Average
full
full
Average
earn
time
time
hours ings per
earn
per
hour
ings per
week
week
Average
Average
full
full
Average
time
earn
time
hours ings per earn
hour ings per
per
week
week
Males—C ontinued
Males
New England..............
MidHlA
XV1.1UU1U AAtlsvntio
v la llv lt .* .....
East North Central...
Sex and district
60.2
48.0
49.8
$0,659
.702
.748
$33.08
33.73
37.25
Western.......................
49.7
$0,784
$38.96
Total. ...............
48.9
.706
34.52
Growth of the Airplane Industry
The United States Census Bureau showed data for the airplane
industry for the first time in 1914. At that time the airplane was only
beginning to show its commercial possibilities. The World War
caused much time and money to be given to research and the develop
ment of aircraft, both for civil and military use. As a result the 1919
Census of Manufactures, which came just after the war, revealed
that the number of factories had almost doubled and that the number
of wage earners was 21 times as large, compared to 1914.
Table 3 contains information published by the Census Office for
each census year from 1914 to 1927, relating to the number of airplane
establishments, the number of wage earners, the amounts paid for
wages, the average wage per year, the cost of materials used, and the
value of the products. Figures for 1929, the last census year, are not
yet available. The figures in the table indicate forcefully the radical
changes that have taken place in the industry, In 1914 the census
showed only 16 establishments employing 168 wage earners, while in
1919 there were 31 establishments and 3,543 wage earners. The
depression year of 1921 brought employment down to 1,395 wage
earners. In 1923 wage earners numbering 2,901 were employed.
This number nearly equaled the employment in 1919. In 1925 the
number decreased to 2,701 wage earners. In 1927 the number of
workers employed had increased to 4,422, the largest employment in
the history of the industry up to that time. From 1921 there has been
a steady increase in the number of plants manufacturing airplanes, the
table showing an increase from 21 plants in 1921 to 70 plants in 1927.
The number of wage earners published in previous years by the
Census Office, as shown in Table 3, is the average employment for
the year and therefore not strictly comparable with the figures
obtained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May, 1929, details
of which are described on page 723, when there were 22,082 employees
in the industry. This figure represents conditions probably at the
highest point of employment of the year 1929,
47767°—31----- 17
728
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 3.—N U M BE R OF
ESTABLISHM ENTS AN D WAGE EARNERS, WAGES, COST
OF M ATE R IA LS, A N D VALUE OF PRODUCTS IN THE AIRPLAN E IN DU STRY,
1914 TO 1927
[Data from the United States Census of Manufactures]
Wage
Number earners
of estab (average
lishments number)
Census year
1914...........................................
1919
....... ...................
1921___ ____ _____ ____ ______
1923________________________
1925_________ ______________
1927............................................
16
31
21
33
44
70
168
3,543
1,395
2,901
2,701
4,422
Average
Total wages wages per
paid
wage
earner
$134,827
4,906,740
2,202,307
4,521,949
2,222,151
6,857,614
$803
1,385
1,579
1,559
1,563
1,551
Cost of
materials1
Value of
products
$133,939
7,126,965
2,407,395
3,829,574
2,869,967
7,517,183
$789,872
14,372,643
6,641,988
12,945,263
12,524,719
21,161,853
i Including cost of fuel, electric power, and shop supplies.
Statistics are not available to indicate the increase in the com
mercial use of the airplane except for the period since 1926. As
the census figures include production of all planes built, whether for
military or for commercial use, the available data for the commercial
part of the industry are given separately in Table 4, which table shows
data for civil aviation in the United States for each of the four years
from 1926 to 1929. The figures are for the number of planes in the
transport service, the number of passengers carried, the number of
miles flown, the number of miles of commercial airways, the number
of miles of lighted airways, the number of gas and electric beacons,
and the number of commercial and private airports.
The number of planes increased from 69 in 1926 to 525 in 1929; pas
sengers carried, from 5,782 in 1926 to 173,405 in 1929; and the number
of miles flown from approximately 4,300,000 in 1926 to more than
25,000,000 in 1929. The mileage of commercial airways increased
from 8,404 in 1926 to 36,000 in 1929. In 1926, 2,041 miles of these
were lighted while in 1929 there were 12,448 miles lighted. The num
ber of beacons increased from 612 in 1926 to 1,311 in 1929 and the
number of airports, including both commercial and private, from 263
in 1927 to 495 in 1929. The number of airports in 1926 was not shown.
T a b l e 4 .-C I V I L AVIATION IN THE U NITED STATES, 1926 TO 1929 i
Year
1926..............................
1927_............................
1928.............................
1929.............................
Number
Airplane
Mileage of
of planes Passengers
on miles flown commercial Mileage of
in trans carried
lighted
transport
by
all
opera
airways
in
port
airways
lines
tors
operation
service
69
128
325
2525
5,782
8,679
49,713
2 173,405
4,318,087
5,870,489
10,673,450
2 25,141,499
8,404
9,122
16,667
36,000
2,041
4,468
6,988
12,448
Electric
and gas
beacons
Commer
cial and
private
airports
612
760
1,188
1,311
263
385
495
i Data from Mar. 22, 1930, number of “ Aviation.”
s United States. Department of Commerce. Yearbook, 1930.
Aluminum, Brass, and Copper Utensils and Wares,
Manufacture of
See Aluminum, brass, and copper utensils and wares, manufacture
of: Wages and hours of labor, 1927, Handbook (Bui. No. 491), pages
761-763.
BITUMINOUS COAL MINING
729
Anthracite Mining: Hours and Earnings
See Honrs and earnings in anthracite mining, 1924, Handbook
(Bui. No. 439), pages 710 to 718.
Batteries and Small Motors: Hours and Earnings
See Batteries and small motors, manufacture o f: Hours and earn
ings, 1927, Handbook (Bui. No. 491), pages 763-769.
Bituminous Coal Mining: Hours and Earnings, 1926 and 1929
This report presents summary figures of average hours and earnings
of employees in the various occupations in bituminous coal mining in
the United States as of 1929 in comparison with like figures for 1926.
The figures are the results of a study of the industry in 1929 by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The averages were computed from data covering hours and earn
ings of individual employees for a half-month pay period. The pay
periods for each of 513 mines, or 96 per cent of the 535 mines included
in the report, was for a half-month in the first quarter of 1929 and for
each of 351 mines, or 66 per cent of the total, was for a period in
March. The averages are therefore representative of hours and
earnings of employees in bituminous coal mining in the first three
months of 1929. The wage data used in compiling this report,
except for a very few companies which made transcripts of their
records for the bureau, were taken directly from the pay rolls and
other records of the companies by agents of the bureau for representa
tive mines in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,
Ohio, Pennsylvania,^ Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The 1929 figures are for a total of 152,211 employees, or 29 per cent
of the 522,150 mine workers reported by the United States Bureau of
Mines as engaged in the mining of bituminous coal in 1928, and
represent 32 per cent of the 474,011 reported by the Bureau of
Mines in the States covered by this study. Of the 152,211 included
in the report 137,313, or 90 per cent, were underground or “ inside”
wage earners. The remaining 14,898 were known as surface or
“ outside” employees, though a comparatively few of them may at
times work underground.
The three basic occupations in bituminous coal mining are those
of hand or pick miners, machine miners, and hand loaders. They
represent approximately 63 per cent of all wage earners in the indus
try and are usually paid a rate per ton of 2,000 pounds, run of mine,
that is, of coal as mined, including “ slack.”
Hand or pick miners undercut coal with a pick, cutting some dis
tance back from the “ face” or upright surface of the seam, separate
it from the seam with pick or explosives, and shovel the coal from the
floor of the mine into mine cars. Machine miners undercut the seam
of coal with electric or compressed-air coal-mining machines. After
the seam of coal has been undercut, hand loaders usually blast the coal
from the seam or bed and with hand shovels load it into mine cars or
onto conveyors which empty into the cars. Shot-firers do the blasting
in some mines. Contract loaders, machine loaders, gang miners, and
machine miners’ helpers are of much less importance in numbers,
730
W AGES AHD HOURS OF LABOR
the four occupations combined comprising only 12 per cent of the
152,211 employees covered by this study.
As the miners and loaders are usually paid tonnage instead of
time rates, very few companies keep a daily time record for such
employees. It was necessary therefore, in order to ascertain the
hours worked by the miners and loaders, to arrange with mine
officials to have kept a special day-by-day record of the hours of
each employee for a half-month pay period. Employees in all oc
cupations inside and outside the mines, except miners and loaders,
are usually paid time rates—that is, rates per hour or day, and in a
few instances per week or month. The hours worked by time
workers and the earnings of both time workers and tonnage workers
are of regular record.
Table 1 shows for each State and for all States combined, for 1926
and 1929, the average number of days and hours worked, and average
earnings made in a half month by miners and loaders, the employees
who actually mine the coal and load it into mine cars. The average
hours and earnings per hour presented for each of the seven specified
occupations are based on (1) time at the face, including time for
lunch, and (2) total time in mine, including time for lunch and travel
time in the mine from its opening to the face and return. The term
“ face” means the perpendicular surface of the seam of coal on which
the men are working, or broadly their place of work in the mine.
The time for lunch, as reported, was usually about 30 minutes. The
round-trip travel time in the different mines ranged from 10 minutes
per day for the mine with the shortest time to two hours for the one
with the longest time. The weighted average time of travel in mine
from opening to place of work in mine and return for the 99,405
miners and loaders of the 535 mines was 48 minutes per day or 24
minutes each way.
In five of the seven occupations the average number of days on
which employees worked and the hours worked in the half month were
less in 1929 than in 1926, in one the average days were the same for
the two years but the average hours were greater in 1929, and in one
the average days and hours were greater in 1929 than in 1926.
In each of the four more important occupations in number of em
ployees—the four combined comprising 98 per cent of the 99,405
miners and loaders—average earnings per hour were decidedly less in
1929 than in 1926. Based on time at the face, including time for
lunch, average earnings per hour for hand loaders decreased from 77.9
cents in 1926 to 64.8 cents in 1929, or approximately 17 per cent; for
hand or pick miners decreased from 78.3 cents in 1926 to 67.3 cents,
or 14 per cent; for machine miners decreased 15 per cent; and for gang
miners decreased 27 per cent. Average earnings per hour based on
time at face, including time for lunch, for contract loaders increased
from 84.9 cents in 1926 to 86.9 cents in 1929; for machine loaders
increased from 78.8 cents in 1926 to 81 cents in 1929; and for machine
miners’ helpers increased from 68.1 cents in 1926 to 70.3 cents in 1929.
On the same basis average earnings per hour in 1929 for hand loaders
in the various States ranged from 38.8 cents for the State with the
lowest to 92.2 cents for the one with the highest average, and for pick
miners ranged from 50 to 85.3 cents per hour.
Average earnings in one-half month in 1929 for hand loaders in the
different States ranged from $20.96 to $64.12. The average for the
731
BITUMINOUS COAL MINING
occupation in all States combined decreased from $57.48 in 1926 to
$45.78 in 1929, or 20 per cent. Average earnings per start or day by
States ranged from $3.43 to $7.03, and the average for all States
combined decreased from $6.12 in 1926 to $5.15 in 1929, or 16 per cent.
In the other principal occupations also there was a marked decrease
in average earnings for the half month and per start or per day.
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAGE N U M BE R OF STARTS (DAYS OR PARTS OF DAYS) AN D AVERAG E
HOURS AN D EARNINGS OF M INERS AND LOADERS, 1926 AND 1929, B Y SPECIFIED
OCCUPATION
Average hours—
\ Occupation and State
Average earnings—
Aver
age
In half
Per start
Per hour
num
month
based on—
based on—
ber of
based on—
starts
Year (days)
in half Time
Time
Time
month
at
at
at
Time
Time face
Time
pay
face
face
in
in
in
period includ
includ mine
includ mine
mine
ing
ing
ing
lunch
lunch
lunch
Loaders, contract:
Alabama...................... 1926
1929
Colorado...................... 1926
Kentucky.................... 1926
1929
Pennsylvania.............. 1929
Tennessee............. ...... 1926
1929
Virginia....................... 1926
1929
West Virginia-............ 1926
1929
9.4
9.0
<9
In
half
month Per
start
pay
period
83.5
79.0
91.8
87.9
8.8
8.8
9.7
9.8
(9
<9
(9
(9
$0.652
.647
$59.89
56.86
$6.35
6.34
(9
(9
(9
(9
<9
(9
(9
8.9
7.9
8.3
9.4
.988
1.077
1.210
1.085
.917
1.012
1.106
.997
85.17
88.34
90.83
101.14
8.11
7.95
9.20
9.42
10.5
11.1
9.9
10.7
86.2
82.0
75.0
93.2
94.3
93.3
115.1
P)
(9
92.9
87.3
82.1
101.5
1926
1929
10.1
9.7
85.3
82.9
92.4
90.8
8.4
8.6
9.1
9.4
.849
.869
.784
.793
72.43
72.07
7.16
7.45
Loaders, hand:
Alabama...................... 1926
1929
Colorado...................... 1926
1929
Illinois......................... 1926
1929
Indiana........................ 1926
1929
Kansas......................... 1929
Kentucky.................... 1926
1929
Ohio............................. 1926
1929
Pennsylvania.............. 1926
1929
Tennessee.................... 1926
1929
Virginia........................ 1926
1929
West Virginia.............. 1926
1929
8.5
8.2
10.0
6.8
9.4
9.1
10.3
8.2
4.0
9.0
8.2
9.2
8.9
9.7
9.3
8.3
5.9
9.0
9.7
9.4
9.0
74.2
72.4
81.2
53.8
77.0
74.8
72.8
62.4
33.6
69.7
65.5
71.6
69.2
78.7
75.1
63.5
45.1
70.9
72.1
67.1
69.1
81.4
79.5
88.3
57.6
85.1
81.0
78.1
66.5
35.8
74.2
71.2
77.8
75.1
85.9
83.2
68.2
48.1
76.1
77.2
73.3
76.2
8.7
8.8
8.1
7.9
8.2
8.2
7.1
7.6
8.4
7.8
8.0
7.8
7.8
8.1
8.1
7.7
7.6
7.8
7.4
7.1
7.7
9.6
9.7
8.8
8.4
9.0
8.9
7.6
8.1
9.0
8.3
8.7
8.4
8.5
8.8
9.0
8.3
8.1
8.4
8.0
7.8
8.4
.478
.388
.789
.736
1.078
.857
1.116
.922
.719
.617
.595
.817
.592
.711
.601
.436
.464
.597
.549
.776
.653
.436
.353
.726
.688
.976
.791
1.040
.865
.676
.579
.547
.752
.545
.651
.542
.406
.436
.556
.513
.710
.591
35.47
28.08
64.07
39.62
83.07
64.12
81.25
57.52
24.19
42.98
38.98
58.48
40.93
55.94
45.14
27.68
20.96
42.33
39.62
52.05
45.06
4.16
3.43
6.39
5.78
8.80
7.03
7.90
7.02
6.07
4.78
4.77
6.35
4.61
5.75
4.88
3.35
3.54
4.68
4.09
5.51
4.99
Total........................ 1926
1929
9.4
8.9
73.7
70.6
80.3
77.3
7.8
7.9
8.6
8.7
.779
.648
.715
.592
57.48
45.78
6.12
5.15
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
Total........................
Loaders, machine:
Alabama...................... 1929
Illinois.......................... 1926
1929
Indiana...................... . 1926
1929
Kentucky.................... 1926
1929
Ohio............................. 1926
1929
Pennsylvania.............. 1926
1929
1 Data included in total.
10.8.
10.2
12.1
(9
(9
(9
9.9
8.8
(9
10.0
8.8
9.2
P>
(9
10.5
9.5
88.5
85.8
103.3
(9
(9
84.9
73.0
<9
92.6
79.9
(9
78.7
88.6
85.1
83.4
93.9
92.8
(9
h
97.7
95.1
88.5
84.8
8.2
8.4
8.5
$0,717
.720
8.2
7.4
7.6
8.7
8.6
8.3
(9
8.8
9.1
9.5
9.4
9.1
(9
7.8
10.1
9.3
8.3
10.7
10.1
(9
(9
(9
(9
8.5
9.0
9.3
10.0
.883
.875
1.337
(9
1.043
1.065
(9
1.093
.686
.632
(9
(9
.704
.712
.828
.805
1.199
(9
.957
.974
(9
1.032
.647
.579
(9
(9
.638
.635
78.11
75.05
138.05
(9
(9
(9
88.57
77.79
7.25
7.36
11.39
(9
(9
(9
8.96
8.86
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
<9
86.04
60.81
53.76
62.32
60.37
8.56
6.92
5.87
5.96
6.37
732
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAG E N U M BE R OF STARTS (DAYS OR PARTS OF DAYS) AND AVERAGE
HOURS AN D EARNINGS OF M IN ERS AN D LOADERS, 1926 AN D 1929. B Y SPECIFIED
OCCUPATION—Continued
Average hours—
Occupation and State
Loaders, machine—Contd.
Tennessee............. —
1926
1929
Virginia........................ 1926
1929
West Virginia.............. 1926
1929
Total........................ 1926
1929
Miners, gang:
Alabama...................... 1926
1929
Illinois......................... 1926
1929
Indiana........................ 1926
1929
Kentucky.................... 1926
1929
Ohio........................— 1926
1929
Pennsylvania.............. 1929
Tennessee.................... 1929
Total........................
1926
1929
Miners, hand or pick:
Alabama..................... 1926
1929
Colorado____________ 1926
1929
Illinois......................... 1926
1929
Indiana........................ 1926
1929
Kansas......................— 1926
1929
Kentucky.......... ......... 1926
1929
Ohio............................. 1926
1929
Pennsylvania.............. 1926
1929
Tennessee.................... 1926
1929
Virginia........................ 1926
West Virginia-......... — 1926
1929
Total......................... 1926
1929
Miners, machine (cutters):
Alabama...................... 1926
1929
Colorado...................... 1926
1929
Illinois........................ 1926
1929
Indiana........................ 1926
1929
Kansas........................ 1929
Kentucky.................... 1926
1929
1Data included in total.
Average earnings—
Aver
age
In half
Per start
Per hour
num
month
based on—
based on—
ber of
based on—
starts
Year (days)
in half Time
Time
Time
month
at
at
at
Time face
Time
Time
pay
face
face
in
in
in
period includ
includ
includ
mine
mine
mine
ing
ing
ing
lunch
lunch
lunch
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
(9
8
Si
(9
In
half
month Per
start
pay
period
(9
(9
(9
8.2
11.8
10.2
11.2
82.9
112.5
89.8
98.2
87.9
117.6
95.8
108.4
10.1
9.5
8.7
8.8
10.7
10.0
9.3
9.7
$0,551
.565
.717
.743
$0,519
.541
.671
.673
(!)
$45.68
63.56
64.32
72.94
$5.57
5.39
6.26
6.52
9.9
9.8
87.3
84.5
93.7
91.6
8.8
8.6
9.5
9.4
.788
.810
.735
.747
68.80
68.39
6.96
7.00
8
879.6 87.1
(9
(9
81.9
71.2
91.4
75.0
43.6
88.8
60.1
76.9
76.0
88.2
75.8
97.1
82.9
47.3
97.9
67.6
85.1
79.0
8.3
8.4
7.6
7.9
8.3
8.0
7.9
5.8
8.6
8.2
8
89.1 1.411
8 1.289
8 112.28
9.5
9.5
78.7
79.7
86.0
86.3
9.7
8.5
10.2
6.8
9.8
11.3
8.9
9.0
9.4
7.3
10.2
9.8
9.9
81.8
76.4
77.4
50.5
77.4
88.5
65.4
61.5
67.4
50.9
85.0
82.8
73.5
0)
81.2
80.6
69.6
61.5
89.6
90.3
75.6
65.3
(9
(9
9.6
9.8
9.4
11.5
9.1
5.5
11.2
10.4
8.9
9.2
(9
9.9
9.9
8.7
8.0
(9
(9
(9
9.0
8.1
8.4
9.1
8.7
8.8
6.5
9.5
8.6
1.108
1.335
1.319
.685
.616
1.084
1.096
.721
.848
1.029
1.254
1.242
.619
.567
.982
.973
.651
.816
90.75
95.11
120.63
51.34
26.84
96.22
65.80
55.42
64.48
11.73
9.28
10.14
10.45
5.66
4.91
8.61
6.30
6.21
6.99
8.2
8.4
9.0
9.1
1.377
1.010
1.260
.932
108.33
80.50
11.36
8.45
90.8
84.6
86.4
55.6
84.1
96.7
70.7
65.4
71.7
55.9
91.5
89.6
79.6
8.4
9.0
7.6
7.4
7.9
7.9
7.3
6.9
7.2
7.0
8.5
8.4
7.4
9.3
9.9
8.4
8.1
8.6
8.6
7.9
7.3
7.7
7.7
9.1
9.1
8.0
.540
.531
.787
.853
.923
.716
1.047
.796
.809
.711
.647
.623
.879
.486
.480
.705
.775
.850
.656
.969
.749
.761
.647
.601
.575
.813
44.12
40.58
60.95
43.08
71.47
63.40
68.50
48.95
54.53
36.16
54.99
51.57
64.67
4.53
4.76
5.95
6.30
7.32
5.63
7.68
5.47
5.83
4.97
5.47
5.26
6.54
(9
(9
(9
8.2
8.1
8.0
7.7
9.0
9.1
8.7
8.1
(9
.768
.657
.436
.500
(9
.696
.586
.402
.471
(9
(9
(9
(9
62.39
52.91
30.37
30.79
9.8
9.0
69.5
68.6
(9
<9
(9
(9
7.7
8.3
.794
.669
.730
.612
55.21
45.83
9.8
9.4
77.0
74.7
84.3
82.5
7.9
7.9
8.6
8.8
.783
.673
.715
.609
60.31
50.29
10.2
9.3
10.5
6.1
9.7
9.9
9.6
9.4
4.5
9.7
9.2
91.8
87.1
88.8
48.8
74.5
79.2
74.8
71.4
39.6
84.6
80.5
100.5
95.1
95.4
52.0
82.4
85.8
79.7
75.9
42.1
89.3
86.9
9.0
9.3
8.4
8.0
7.7
8.0
7.8
7.6
8.8
8.7
8.8
9.8
10.2
9.1
8.5
8.5
8.6
8.3
8.1
9.4
9.2
9.5
.911
.742
1.071
1.172
1.501
1.139
1.614
1.295
.823
.956
.963
.832
.680
.997
1.099
1.358
1.052
1.514
1.217
.773
.905
.892
75.7
74.9
7.1
7.6
(9
(9
6.27
5.35
3.49
3.84
5.65
5.10
6.18
5.33
83.61
8.17
6.92
64.65
95.12
9.03
57.17
9.32
111. 89 11.57
90.29
9.10
120.68 12.53
92.40
9.86
32.56
7.24
80.83
8.34
77.48 1 8.43
733
BITUMINOUS COAL MINING
T a b l e 1 .— A VERAG E N U M BE R OF STARTS (DAYS OR PARTS OF DAYS) AND AVERAGE
HOURS AN D EARNINGS OF M INERS AN D LOADERS, 1926 AND 1929, B Y SPECIFIED
OCCUPATION—Continued
Average hours—
Occupation and State
Average earnings—
Aver
age
In half
Per start
Per hour
month
num
based on—
based on—
ber of
based on—
starts
Year (days)
in half Time
Time
Time
month
at
at
at
Time
Time
Time
pay
face
face
face
in
in
in
period includ
includ mine
includ mine
mine
ing
ing
ing
lunch
lunch
lunch
In
half
month Per
start
pay
period
VIiners,machine (cutters)—
Continued.
Ohio............................. 1926
1929
Pennsylvania...... ........ 1926
1929
Tennessee.................... 1926
1929
Virginia........................ 1926
1929
West Virginia.............. 1926
1929
10.5
10.2
10.9
10.3
9.8
6.6
10.9
11.1
10.7
10.2
83.6
84.2
94.2
89.6
85.3
54.8
99.4
99.3
89.5
92.1
90.7
91.1
102.5
98.8
91.8
57.6
105.3
104.7
96.9
100.1
7.9
8.2
8.6
8.7
8.7
8.3
9.1
8.9
8.4
9.0
8.6
8.9
9.4
9.6
9.3
8.8
9.7
9.4
9.1
9.8
$1,202
.876
1.133
.978
.518
.651
.821
.787
1.200
1.062
1926
1929
10.3
10.0
86.0
85.0
93.3
92.4
8.3
8.5
9.0
9.3
1.195
1.018
1.101
.936
102.68
86.52
9.93
8.68
Miners, machine (cutters),
helpers:
Alabama....... .............. 1926
1929
Colorado...................... 1926
1929
Kansas......................... 1929
Kentucky.................... 1926
1929
Pennsylvania. ............ 1926
1929
Tennessee..... .............. 1926
1929
Virginia.................. .
1926
1929
West Virginia.............. 1926
1929
8.1
8.1
10.7
7.4
4.3
8.4
8.6
10.6
10.4
6.4
4.5
8.6
10.7
9.3
10.3
72.0
75.4
89.2
56.6
38.1
74.7
76.0
94.8
93.8
60.8
38.4
83.6
95.5
86.0
97.7
79.4
83.1
99.3
60.6
40.4
79.0
81.8
102.2
102.2
64.2
40.6
87.8
100.5
90.9
104.8
8.8
9.3
8.4
7.7
8.8
8.9
8.9
8.9
9.0
9.4
8.5
9.8
9.0
9.3
9.5
9.7
10.2
9.3
8.2
9.3
9.4
9.6
9.6
9.8
10.0
9.0
10.2
9.4
9.8
10.2
.597
.528
.939
.981
.810
.718
.715
.839
.822
.371
.410
.489
.492
.620
.683
.541
.480
.843
.916
.762
.679
.665
.778
.754
.351
.388
.465
.468
.586
.637
42.96
39.84
83.70
55.54
30.81
53.64
54.35
79.54
77.05
22.55
15.76
40.87
46.98
53.30
66.75
5.28
4.90
7.85
7.52
7.11
6.41
6.85
7.47
7.39
3.50
3.48
4.77
4.41
5.73
6.47
1926
1929
8.8
9.0
79.0
81.5
84.5
88.1
9.0
9.0
9.6
9.8
.681
.703
.637
.650
53.77
57.25
6.14
6.34
Total........................
Total........................
$1,108 $100.49
.810
73.78
1.041 106.70
.887
87.67
.482
44.20
.619
35.65
.775
81.60
.746
78.14
1.108 107.39
.976
97.77
$9.55
7.21
9.75
8.50
4.49
5.42
7.49
7.02
10.05
9.54
Table 2 presents, for each State and for all States combined, 1929,
average starts or days and average hours and earnings in one-half
month. The averages are for all miners and loaders that were in
cluded in the study in that year. The average number of starts or
days worked in the half month for all States combined was 9.1 and
the range by States was from 6.8 to 9.8. Based upon time at face,
including time for lunch, the average number of hours worked in the
half month was 72.6 and the range was from 49.7 to 77.7. On the
same basis the average hours per start were 8, with a range from 7.1
to 8.9. Average earnings per hour on the same basis were 68.7 cents
and ranged from 45.3 cents to 92.6 cents. Average earnings in the
half month were $49.85 and the range was from $26.91 to $67.55,
while the average earnings per start for all States combined during the
same period were $5.50, and the range was $3.86 for the State with
the lowest to $7.04 for the one with the highest average earnings per
start or day.
734
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T able
A VERAG E STARTS, HOURS, AN D EARNINGS OP M IN ERS A N D LOADERS,
IN H ALF-M ON TH P A Y PERIO D, 1929, B Y STATE
Average earnings-
Average hours—
State
Aver In half month
based on—
age
starts
in half
month Time
covered at face Time
in
includ
ing
mine
lunch
Per start based Per hour based
on—
on—
Time
at face
includ
ing
lunch
Time
in
mine
Time
at face
includ
ing
lunch
Time
in
mine
In half
month
Per
start
pay
period
Alabama.......................... —
Colorado................... - .........
Illinois------------- ---------------Indiana...............—......... —
Kansas------- --------------------Kentucky------------------------Ohio....................................Pennsylvania______ ____
Tennessee..............................
Virginia............ - ......... - ........
West Virginia..................... —
8.3
6.8
9.6
8.6
7.0
8.4
9.0
9.5
7.0
9.8
9.1
74.2
51.8
77.9
63.5
49.7
68.2
70.5
77.7
53.8
74.3
70.8
81.6
56.3
84.5
67.6
54.5
74.1
76.5
86.4
57.1
79.4
77.9
8.9
7.6
8.1
7.4
7.1
8.1
7.8
8.2
7.7
7.6
7.8
9.8
8.2
8.8
7.8
7.7
8.8
8.5
9.1
8.2
8.1
8.5
$0,453
.815
.867
.926
.712
.634
.622
.645
.500
.568
.689
$0,411
.750
.799
.870
.650
.584
.573
.580
.471
.532
.626
$33.58
42.22
67.55
58.85
35.39
43.24
43.83
50.13
26.91
42.23
48.77
$4.03
6.18
7.04
6.83
5.03
5.15
4.87
5.27
3.86
4.30
5.35
Total.............................
9.1
72.6
79.6
8.0
8.8
.687
.626
49.85
5.50
Table 3 presents for 1926 and 1929 the average number of starts
(days) and average hours and earnings for 9 of the most important
inside and 4 outside occupations and for 2 groups of “ other em
ployees” in which the employees are usually time workers— that is,
paid at rates per hour or day and a few per week or month. The
averages are based on hours actually worked. The groups of em
ployees designated in the table as “ other employees” include all wage
earners usually paid time rates in all occupations in the industry
other than those in the nine specified inside and four specified outside
occupations. There is not a sufficient number of employees in any
one occupation in either of these groups to warrant separate tabulation.
The table shows that average days and hours worked in the half
month were greater for engineers and pumpmen than for any of the
other occupations. Employees in these two occupations frequently
work on Sunday and may also work overtime on week days. It will
be seen from the table that average days, hours, and earnings in the
half month and average earnings per day and per hour were less for
each occupation in 1929 than in 1926. The decrease in average
earnings per hour for brakemen was from 68.7 cents in 1926 to 59.6
cents in 1929, or 13 per cent; for inside laborers, 12 per cent; for
motormen, 10 per cent; for trackmen, 10 per cent; for outside labor
ers, 10 per cent; for “ other employees, inside,” 7 per cent, and for
“ other employees, outside,” the decrease was nearly 3% per cent.
735
BITUMINOUS COAL MINING
T a b l e 3.—AVERAG E N U M BER OF STARTS (DAYS OR PARTS OF DAYS) AND AVERAG E
HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1926 AND 1929, BY OCCUPATIONS
[Data in this table are for employees of all inside and outside occupations except miners and loaders]
Occupation
Inside work
Brakemen............................................................
Bratticemen and timbermen..............................
Cagers....................... ..........................................
Drivers............................................. ...................
Laborers...............................................................
Motormen.......................................................... .
Pumpmen............................................................
Trackmen............................................................
Trappers (boys)............................................... .
Other employees..................................................
Outside work
Blacksmiths................. .......................................
Carpenters and car-repair men...........................
Engineers.............................................................
Laborers...............................................................
Other employees..................................................
Year
Average
number
of starts
(days)
made
in half
month
pay
period
Average hours
worked—
Average earnings—
In half Per In half Per
month
month
start
start
pay
pay
period (day) period (day)
Per
hour
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
9.9
9.5
10.8
10.6
11.1
10.9
10.2
9.5
9.4
9.0
10.8
10.3
12.7
12.3
10.8
10.4
9.9
9.4
11.3
10.7
83.8
81.0
89.2
88.3
99.5
96.1
84.4
77.8
78.7
75.2
94.7
89.6
118.3
113.5
91.0
85.8
79.7
75.6
98.0
92.1
8.5
8.5
8.3
8.3
9.0
8.8
8.3
8.2
8.4
8.3
8.7
8.7
9.3
9.2
8.4
8.3
8.0
8.1
8.7
8.6
$57.61
48.31
66.20
57.19
80.73
65.79
59.80
49.52
48.82
40.90
67.97
58.21
74.04
62.45
64.15
54.47
30.17
26.79
75.96
66.38
$5.82
5.08
6.16
5.39
7.29
6.03
5.88
5.24
5.18
4.53
6.27
5.64
5.84
5.06
5.92
5.26
3.04
2.86
6.71
6.18
$0,687
.596
.742
.648
.811
.685
.708
.637
.620
.544
.718
.649
.626
.550
.705
.635
.379
.354
.775
.721
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
1926
1929
11.9
11.3
11.4
10.8
13.3
12.8
10.7
10.0
12.1
11.1
104.8
99.5
98.3
92.9
119.6
111.9
92.6
86.8
108.1
98.7
8.8
8.8
8.6
8.6
9.0
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.9
8.9
77.94
67.47
64.28
56.84
91.17
79.56
50.53
42.78
65.31
57.53
6.56
5.96
5.64
5.24
6.83
6.21
4.74
4.30
5.41
5.18
.743
.678
.654
.612
.762
.711
.546
.493
.604
.583
Table 4 shows for 1929 the number and per cent of the 70,853 hand
loaders, 19,666 hand or pick miners, and 5,937 machine miners
(cutters) in each classified hourly earnings group, based on (1) the
actual hours at the face or seam of coal, including time for lunch,
and (2) the total hours in the mine, which includes the working hours,
time taken for lunch, and time of travel from the opening of the
mine to the face and return. It was shown in Table 1 that the average
hours per day at the face for hand loaders were 7.9 and that the
average, based on total time in mine, was 8.7, the difference per day
being eight-tenths of an hour, or 48 minutes, which represents the
average time of travel inside the mine from the entrance of the mine
to the place of work and return.
Average earnings per hour computed on the basis of hours at the
face (including time for lunch) are greater than when computed on
the basis of total hours in the mine (including time of travel and time
for lunch) because the latter average includes 48 minutes per day of
nonproductive time spent in travel.
736
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 4.—N U M BE R OF LOADERS, HAND OR PIC K M INERS, A N D M ACHINE M IN
ERS (CU TTERS) WHOSE HOU RLY EARNINGS W ERE W ITH IN EACH CLASSIFIED
AM OUNT, 1929
Number of hand loaders
Classified earnings per hour
Based on
time at
face, in
cluding
lunch time
Based on
time in
mine
Number of miners,
hand or pick
Based on
time at
face, in
cluding
lunch time
Number of miners,
machine (cutters)
Based on
time in
mine
Under 30 cents. ........................
30 and under 40 cents...............
40 and under 60 cents..............
60 and under 60 cents...............
60 and under 70 cents...............
70 and under 80 cents________
80 and under 90 cents________
90 cents and under $1________
$1 and under $1.10_____ _____
$1.10 and under $1.20________
$1.20 and under $1.30________
$1.30 and under $1.40________
$1.40 and under $1.50________
$1.50 and under $1.60....... ........
$1.60 and under $1.70________
$1.70 and under $1.80________
$1.80 and under $1.90.......... .
$1.90 and under $2___________
$2 and under $2.50........ ...........
$2.50 and under $3....................
$3 and over..............................
3,151
6,778
10,8^6
12,318
10,999
8,972
6,588
6,341
2,205
1,330
644
303
127
75
51
28
26
18
37
9
7
4,736
9,0*22
13,138
12,989
10,5*5
7,694
6,888
2,919
1,509
728
317
121
64
56
23
20
17
10
20
3
4
515
1,347
2,694
3,502
3,399
2,915
2, V0
1,425
817
448
236
116
55
42
16
13
5
5
13
2
1
803
2,035
3,361
3,909
3,387
2,571
1,6%
923
471
263
97
61
36
16
9
6
5
5
7
Total...............................
70,853
70,853
19,666
Based on
time at
face, in
cluding
lunch time
Based on
time in
mine
1
23
44
121
321
457
589
679
676
614
832
439
314
292
179
123
48
37
36
93
14
6
34
72
192
446
547
762
733
645
714
666
340
292
175
102
50
36
37
34
50
6
4
19,666
5,937
5,937
Boot and Shoe Industry: Hours and Earnings, 1930
A s t u d y of hours and earnings of the workers in the boot and
shoe industry in the United States was made by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics early in 1930. Data were collected for 31,549 males and
23,609 females in 161 representative shoe factories in 16 of the most
important States in the industry. Previous studies of the industry
were made in each of the years from 1910 to 1914 and in the even years
from 1914 to 1928.
The present study reveals that the average full-time hours per week
of wage earners in the industry, all occupations combined, were 48.9
in 1930, as compared with 49.1 in 1928. Average earnings per hour
were 51 cents in 1930 and 53 cents in 1928. Average full-time earn
ings per week were $24.94 in 1930 and $26.02 in 1928. Between
1928 and 1930, hours per week decreased 0.4 per cent, earnings per
hour decreased 3.8 per cent, and average full-time earnings per week
decreased 4.2 per cent.
Trend of Wages and Hours, 1910 to 1930
T he trend of wages and hours in this industry since 1910 is shown
in Table 1.
The averages in this table for the years from 1910 to 1914 are for the
wage earners in selected occupations only and are directly comparable
one year with another. Those for the even years from 1914 to 1930
are for wage earners in all occupations in the industry and are also
comparable one year with another. Averages for wage earners in
selected occupations should not be compared with those for wage
earners in all occupations.
737
BOOT AND SHOE INDUSTRY
The index numbers in Table 1, with the 1913 averages as the base,
or 100 per cent, are for the purpose of furnishing comparable figures,
one year with another, over the entire period from 1910 to 1930. The
index for any year from 1910 to 1914 for selected occupations is the
percentage that the average for the year is of the average for 1913.
The index for any year from 1914 to 1930 for all occupations was
computed by increasing or decreasing the 1914 index for the wage
earners in the selected occupations in proportion to the increase or
decrease in the average for each year as compared with the averages
for all employees in 1914. Average full-time hours per week decreased
from year to year from an index of 102.7 in 1910 to 88.2 in 1920,
increased to 88.4 in 1922, to 88.9 in 1924 and 1926, to 89.2 in 1928 and
then decreased to an index of 88.8 in 1930. The peak of earnings came
in 1920 with an index of 232.0 for average earnings per hour and 203.7
for average full-time earnings per week. Indexes of average full
time earnings per week did not increase or decrease in the same pro
portion as average earnings per hour, because of the change from year
to year in average full-time hours per week.
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAGE HOURS A N D EARNINGS, W ITH IN D E X NUM BERS, IN THE BOOT
AN D SHOE IN DU STRY, 1910 TO 1930
Average
Index numbers (1913=100)
Year Full-time
Full-time Full-time Earnings Full-time
hours per Earnings
earnings hours per per hour earnings
per hour per
week
week
week
per week
Selected occupations only__....... ...... 1910
1911
1912
1913
11914
All oc c u p a tio n s,_________ _______ ____ 11914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
66.5
66.3
66.6
55.0
54.6
64.7
54.6
52.3
48.6
48.7
49.0
49.0
49.1
48.9
$0,286
.292
.288
.311
.314
.243
.259
.336
.559
.501
.516
.528
.530
.510
$16.07
16.37
15.91
17.08
17.11
13.26
14.11
17.54
26.97
24.45
25.28
25.87
26.02
24.94
102.7
102.4
100.9
100.0
99.3
92.0
93.9
92.6
100.0
101.0
94.1
95.8
93.2
100.0
100.2
99.1
94.9
88.2
88.4
88.9
88.9
89.2
88.8
107.5
139.7
232.0
207.9
214.1
219.1
220.3
212.0
106.6
132.5
203.7
184.7
190.9
195.4
186.6
188.5
1 Two sets of averages are shown for this year—one for selected occupations and the other for all occupations
in the industry. The 1910 to 1914 averages for selected occupations are comparable one year with another
as are those for all occupations one year with another from 1914 to 1930.
Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Occupation and Sex
The establishments included in the 1930 study, like those covered
in former years, are representative of the factories in each State in
which the boot and shoe industry is of material importance. The
study was limited to establishments in which the principal products
were men’s, women’s, or children’s shoes made by the welt, McKay,
or turn process. Data were not taken for any establishments whose
main product was nailed or pegged shoes, or specialties such as slip
pers, leggings, felt or rubber footwear, nor for factory officials, office
employees, foremen, power-house employees, watchmen, teamsters, or
chauffeurs.
Except for a very few factories, the 1930 wage data used in the
report were taken directly from the pay rolls or other records of the
factories by agents of the bureau for a representative pay period in
738
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
January, February, or March. The shoe factories in the 16 States
included in the study in 1930 employed, according to the 1927 Census
of Manufactures, 97.4 per cent of all wage earners in the industry in
all States in that year. The wage earners included in the 1930 study
represent 27.9 per cent of the total number employed in the 16 States
in 1927 and 27.2 per cent of the total in the United States in that year.
Table 2 shows for 1928 and 1930, average full-time hours per week,
earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week. The averages are
for males and for females in each of the specified occupations, and also
for the group tabulated as “ Other employees. ” This group includes
those occupations in which the number of wage earners was not suffi
cient to warrant separate tabulation.
In 1930 average earnings per hour of males ranged by occupation
from 35.2 cents for stampers, linings and uppers, to $1,058 for turn
sewers, and of females ranged from 30 cents for shoe cleaners to 50.6
cents for cutters, vamp and whole shoe machine.
T a b l e 3.—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 AND 1930, B Y OCCUPATION A N D
SEX
Department and occupation
Sex
Average full
time hours
per week
1928
1930
Average earn
ings per hour
Average full
time earnings
per week
1928
1930
1928
$0,796
.663
.506
.509
.405
.467
.411
.651
.447
.630
$40.05
32.58
23.69
25.92
18.04
21.76
18.38
31.41
22.49
31.61
1930
Cutting department
$38. 77
32.75
25.25
24.89
19.85
23.49
20.14
31.44
21.81
30.62
Cutters, vamp and whole shoe, hand____ Male___
Cutters, vamp and whole shoe, machine. ...d o____
Female..
Male___
Cutters, trimmings, hand...........
Female..
Male___
Cutters, trimmings, machine___
Female..
Male___
Skivers, upper_________________
Female..
Male___
Cutters, linings, hand..................
Female..
Male___
Cutters, linings, machine....... .....
Female..
Sole leather department
48.6
48.7
50.3
48.9
49.7
49.9
49.4
48.1
49.1
48.7
49.7
49.2
49.7
48.7
49.4
49.9
48.9
49.0
50.3
49.0
48.3
48.8
48.6
49.2
49.7
$0,824
.669
.471
.530
.363
.436
.372
.653
.458
.649
.416
.566
.334
Male..
.do..
.do..
Female..
Male___
—do.......
.do..
Female .
Male___
Female.
49.3
49.2
49.8
48.6
49.0
49.3
.716
.644
.627
.744
48.4
51.6
52.0
48.7
48.1
49.3
48.8
48.3
48.8
50.0
48.8
.517
.388
.403
.498
.453
.554
.541
.424
.483
.418
Male___
Female.
Male___
48.0
48.9
46.2
50.4
48.8
47.7
.621
.400
.352
.382
.537
29.81
19.56
17.74
18.64
25.61
Female..
Male___
Female..
Male___
49.3
45.4
48.8
48.3
49.4
.48.8
47.8
49.5
48.0
49.3
48.9
44.7
48.6
47.8
49.1
48.7
.330
.808
.416
.648
.424
.440
.624
.407
.408
.346
.335
1.036
.388
.616
.430
.432
16.27
36.68
20.30
31.30
20.95
21 47
29.83
20.15
19.58
17.06
16.38
46.31
18.86
29.44
Cutters, outsole......................
Cutters, insole.................. —
Rounders, outsole and insole..
Channelers, outsole and insole-----------Cutters, top and heel lifts, machine___
Heel builders, hand__________ ______ _
Heel builders, machine....... ...............
<
*)
49.5
0)
.681
.481
.394
20.68
27.85
16.60
23.67
19.58
35.30
31.68
31.22
36.16
29.79
30.66
33. 71
25.02
33."82
27.04
26.13
20.69
24.15
20.40
0)
20.02
20.96
24.25
21.79
Fitting and stitching department
Stampers, linings or uppers-------------Cementers and doublers, hand and ma
chine.
Folders, hand and machine..
Perforators............................
Tip stitchers..........
Closers or seamers.
Seam rubbers, hand and machine..
Lining makers................................
Closers-on........................................
i Data included in total.
.do_.
Male___
Female..
Male___
Female..
Male___
Female. .
...d o ____
49."2"
49.1
49.0
47.4
49.4
47.5
48.8
49.9
.404
.409
.333
.716
.395
.366
.
19.58
18.76
21.11
21.04
19.80
19.39
16.45
34.01
19.28
18.26
739
BOOT AND SHOE INDUSTRY
T a b l e 2 .—A VERAG E HOURS AND EARNINGS. 1928 AND 1930, B Y OCCUPATION AND
SEX—Continued
Department and occupation
Sex
Average full
time hours
per week
Average earn
ings per hour
Average fulltime earnings
per week
1928
1928
1930
1928
$0.830
.451
$0. 787
.419
.895
.439
.390
.334
.503
.408
.672
.465
.395
.371
.834
.400
.393
.314
$39.76
22.28
1930
1930
Fitting and stitching department—Con.
Top stitcliers.
Binders______
Buttonhole makers.
Button fasteners___
Eyeletters_________
Vampers.
Barrers.................
Tongue stitchers..
Fancy stitchers.
Back-stay stitchers.. _
Table workers_______
Lacers, before lasting.
Lasting department
Last picker* and sorters____________
Assemblers for pulling over machine..
Pullers-over, hand____________________
Pullers-over, machine_________________
Side lasters, hand_____________________
Side lasters, machine...... ................ .........
Bed-machine operators......... ............... .
Hand method lasting machine operators.
Turn lasters, hand..................... ..............
Turn lasters, machine..............................
Turn sewers...____ ___________________
Tack pullers....................... ......................
Male___
Female..
Male___
Female..
— do___
...d o___
Male___
Female..
Male___
Female..
—do___
—do___
Male___
Female..
—do___
— do___
Male___
Female..
49.2
49.2
49.8
48.8
49.7
48.2
49.3
49.5
49.0
47.2
49.4
49.1
48.3
49.7
49.3
Male___
..d o ____
Female. _
Male___
..d o ____
—do..,— .
..d o ____
__do____
Male___
—do____
—do____
—do____
—do____
Female..
49.3
49.0
49.9
48.4
49.2
48.2
49.3
49.2
47.2
47.9
52.0
49.6
49.2
0)
49.0
49.0
49.4
49.3
49.1
49.3
49.0
49.1
49.4
46.5
Male___
—do...... .
—do____
—do____
49.1
49.9
49.3
49.1
50.8
49.0
48.7
49.4
48.8
48.9
49.4
49.1
49.3
49.0
49.4
49.3
48.8
49.1
49.1
49.0
49.1
49.3
49.2
49.1
49.2
49.1
48.9
48.9
49.1
49.6
49.1
49.1
49.2
48.4
49.2
48.2
49.1
48.8
.890
.508
.512
.425
.342
.656
.815
.512
.417
.766
.755
.533
.648
.764
.829
.716
.618
.764
.618
49.5
(2)
49.1
49.1
49.3
49.1
48.8
49.0
49.2
49.3
49.6
48.8
49.5
48.9
49.1
48.7
49.0
49.2
49.1
48.6
.651
(2)
.755
.589
.581
Bottoming department
Goodyear welters.............................. .........
Welt beaters and slashers_______________
Bottom fillers, hand and machino_______
Sole cementers, hand and machinc______
Sole layers, hand and machine..
Rough rounders...................... .
Channel openers and closers___
Goodyear stitchers............
McKay sewers.................
Stitch separators________
Levelers.................. .........
Heelers, leather.................
Heelers, wood_.................
Heel trimmers or shaversHeel breasters—................
Edge trimmers........ .........
Sluggers.-...................... ...
Female..
Male___
—do____
- d o ____
FemaleMale___
—do____
- d o ____
- d o ____
- d o ____
..do____
—do____
—do____
- d o ____
—do...... .
47.9
49.4
47.2
49.1
46.9
48.9
49.4
48.7
48.7
49.4
48.2
49.1
49.5
49.0
46.7
49.1
49.1
48.4
49.1
48."6~
49.0
.492
.401
.352
.588
.435
.727
.505
.393
.386
.778
.423
.419
.318
.428
.373
.477
.577
..501
.710
.740
.690
.661
.682
.856
.831
.575
.873
.448
0)
.355
.465
.568
.452
.683
.715
.637
.663
.657
.673
.780
24.21
19.73
17.53
28.69
21.62
35.04
24.90
19.45
18.91
36.72
20.90
20.57
15.36
21.27
18.39
$37.15
20.57
41.98
21.47
19.27
16.27
24.50
20.16
32.39
22.83
19.55
18.18
38.95
19.64
19.30
15.20
17.43
23.52
28.27
25.00
34.36
36.41
33.26
32.59
33.55
40.40
39.80
29.90
43.30
22.04
CO
22.79
27.83
22.33
33.67
35.11
31.40
32.49
32.26
33.25
36.27
.820
.524
.445
.425
.368
.594
.751
.506
.417
.727
.684
.491
.586
.689
.746
.670
.586
.722
.550
43.61
25.35
25.24
20.87
17.37
32.14
39.69
25.29
20.35
37.46
37.30
26.17
31.95
37.44
40.95
35.30
30.16
37.51
30.34
40.18
25.73
21.94
20.91
18.07
29.22
36.87
24.74
20.39
35.70
33.93
24.11
28.77
33.90
36.11
32.96
28.25
35.45
26.84
.620
.695
.706
.567
.527
.341
.576
.375
.436
.342
.441
.300
.501
.563
.380
32.22
(2)
37.07
28.92
28.64
30.44
33.92
34.59
27.90
25.98
16.91
28.11
18.56
21.32
16.79
21.48
14.70
24.65
27.64
18.47
1.058
.415
50.78
20.34
Finishing department
Buffers...................
Naumkeag operators..
Edge setters__............
Heel scourers_______
Heel burnishers_____
Bottom finishers..
B rushers-........... .
Shoe cleaners.......
Last pullers.
Treers......... .
i Data included in total.
Male___
.—do___
— do......
— do___
— do......
FemaleMale___
FemaleMale___
FemaleMale___
FemaleMale___
— do.......
Female..
48.9
48.0
49.4
49.5
48.3
49.0
49.2
49.2
49.3
.632
.553
.454
.336
.493
.334
.510
.624
.386
30.90
26.54
22.43
16.63
23.81
16.37
25.09
30.70
19.03
? Data included in “ other employees.”
740
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b le
2.— A V ERAG E HOURS A N D EARNINGS, 1928 A N D 193ft B Y OCCUPATION AND
SEX—Continued
Department and occupation
Sex
Average full
time hours
per week
1928
Average full
time earnings
per week
Average earn
ings per horn-
1930
1928
1930
1928
1930
$0,606
.383
$29.21
18.84
.331
.441
.379
.500
.351
$27.60
18.62
23.62
18.49
21.52
19.06
18.22
15.74
21.97
18.90
25.14
17.76
Finishing department—Continued
Repairers_____________________________
Male_____
Female__
Male____
Female___
Sock liners____________________________ Male____
Female__
Lacers (before packing)___________ ____ Male____
Female___
Packers_____________________ _____ _
Male
Female___
Other employees................ ......... .............. Male........
Female___
48.5
49.4
48.5
49.3
49.7
49.0
48.2
49.2
49.6
48.7
49.0
49.2
48.2
49.2
49.3
48.8
48.8
48.8
48.9
$0.569
.377
.487
.375
.433
.389
.378
.320
.443
.388
.513
.361
All occupations....... .......... .............. Male_____
Female__
49.0
49.2
48.8
48.9
.625
.397
.604
.382
30.63
19.53
29.48
18.68
All occupations, both sexes..............
49.1
48.9
.530
.510
26.02
24.94
Dressers______________________________
48.9
48.4
48.8
.355
.463
.374
17.36
22.41
18.25
16.32
21.52
18.50
24.40
17.16
Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Sex and State
The figures in Table 3 show average full-time hours per week,
earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week. The averages
are for all males, for all females, and also for both sexes combined
in all occupations in each State and in all States in 1928 and 1930.
It is seen that average full-time hours per week of males ranged
by States from 46.8 to 53.1 in 1928 and from 45.9 to 52.9 in 1930; of
females ranged from 47.6 to 53.2 in 1928, and from 46.5 to 53.1 in
1930; and of all males and females combined, or the industry, ranged
from 47.1 to 53.1 in 1928, and from 46.1 to 53.0 in 1930. Also that
the averages for all males in all the States were 49.0 per week in
1928 and 48.8 in 1930; and for all females were 49.2 in 1928 and 48.9
in 1930.
T a b l e 3 . - AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 AND 1930, BY SEX AND STATE
Average full-time
hours per week
Sex and State
Total...................................................
* No data for this State prior to 1930.
Average full-time
earnings per week
1928
1930
1928
$0,613
.597
$0,624
.434
.511
.490
.671
.554
.498
.548
.505
.711
.666
.590
.512
.440
.602
$30.34
49.4
48.8
52.4
52.9
48.8
48.2
49.6
50.0
49.0
49.0
45.9
47.6
48.2
51.1
51.8
49.7
29.49"
$30.45
22.74
27.03
23.91
32.34
27.48
24.90
26.85
24.75
32.63
31.70
28.44
26.16
22.79
29.92
49.0
48.8
.625
.604
30.63
29.48
1928
Males
Illinois________________________________
Kentucky1____________________________
Maine_____ _____ _____________________
Maryland and Virginia_________________
Massachusetts_______ ____ ______ _______
Michigan______________________________
M in n esota ..____ _____ ________________
Missouri______________________________
New Hampshire_______________________
New Jersey____________________________
New Y ork__ ______ ______ _____________
Ohio.............................. ...............................
Pennsylvania__________________________
Tennessee1____________________________
Wisconsin........ ............................................
Average earnings
per hour
49.5
53.1
49.0
48.1
49.6
50.1
49.6
49.2
46.8
47.9
49.9
50.0
1930
.516
.511
.723
.558
.506
.549
.575
.657
.670
.607
.542
27.40
25.04
34.78
27.68
25.35
27.23
28.29
30.75
32.09
30.29
27.10
1930
741
CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
T a b l e 3 . - AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 AN D 1930, B Y SEX AND S T A T E - Con.
Sex and State
Average full-time
hours per week
1928
Females
Illinois.............................
Kentucky1.....................
Maine........................ .
Maryland and Virginia.
Massachusetts................
Michigan........................
Minnesota......................
Missouri______________
New Hampshire........... .
New Jersey.....................
New York_____ _______
Ohio...................... .........
Pennsylvania.................
Tennessee1.....................
Wisconsin.......................
Total.
Males and females
Illinois................................... .
Kentucky *........... ............... .
Maine_______ _______________
Maryland and Virginia_______
Massachusetts...........................
Michigan____ _______ ________
Minnesota......... ....................
Missouri________ ___________
New Hampshire................... .
New Jersey.............. .................
New York........................ .........
O h io.................... ............ ........
Pennsylvania....... ....................
Tennessee1____ _______ ______
Wisconsin.................... ..............
Total.
Average earnings
per hour
1928
1930
$0,367
.412
$0,376
.273
.360
.311
.446
.318
.321
.321
.349
.483
.411
.361
.331
.268
.409
.397
.382
491
.499
.353
.442
.418
.579
.456
.422
.451
.437
.1
49.0
52.3
53.0
48.8
48.1
49.6
49.9
49.1
49.0
46.1
47.9
48.1
50.7
51.6
49.4
49.1
48.9
530
50.1
53.2
48.9
47.9
49.6
50.0
49.8
49.3
47.6
48.5
48.7
49.1
52.2
53.1
48.8
47.9
49.6
49.9
49.2
49.1
46.5
48.4
48.0
50.0
51.4
49.1
49.2
49.8
53.1
48.9
48.1
49.6
50.0
49.7
49.2
47.1
48.1
49.8
49.9
.”375
.288
.473
.325
.303
.336
.430
.355
.343
Average full-time
earnings per week
1928
$18.39
1930
20.06
$18.46
14.25
19.12
15.18
21.36
15.77
16.02
15.79
17.14
22.46
19.89
17.33
16.55
13.78
20.08
19.53
18.68
24.45
"i9.~95
14.08
22.66
16.12
15.15
16.73
19.37
20.90
20.86
17.68
17.05
.477
.443
24.16
20.93
30.11
23.26
20.70
22.96
24.50
27.27
27.66
24.35
23.20
.513
25.24
24.45
18.46
23.43
20.40
27.85
22.62
21.06
22.14
21.41
28.95
27.26
22.94
22.46
18.52
25.34
.510
26.02
24.94
i No data for this State prior to 1930.
Brass and Copper Sheet, Rod, Tube, Wire, and Shape Mills
See Brass and copper sheet, rod, tube and shape mills: Wages and
hours of labor, 1927, Handbook (Bui. No. 491), pages 783 and 784.
Cigarette Manufacturing Industry: Hours and Earnings, 1930
This report presents the results of a study in 1930 by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of wages and hours of labor of wage earners
in the cigarette manufacturing industry in the United States. The
data cover all employees—6,187 males and 8,079 females—engaged
in the preparation of the tobacco and the manufacture, packing, and
shipping of cigarettes in the establishments covered in the study.
The figures were obtained directly from the pay rolls and other
records of the 13 establishments studied, and are for representative
pay-roll periods in March, April, and May, of this year.
Average full-time hours per week, average earnings per hour, and
average full-time earnings per week are presented in Table 1 for each
of the principal occupations in the industry, for a group of miscel
laneous workers listed as “ other employees,” and for the industry as
a whole. The group designated as “ other employees” includes wage
742
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
earners in occupations whose number was too small to warrant tabu
lation as an occupation.
Average full-time hours per week for males in all occupations, for
females, and for both sexes, that is, for the industry, were 49.9.
Average earnings per hour for males in all occupations were 37.8
cents, for females 26.8 cents, and for both sexes combined 31.8 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week for males in all occupations were
$18.86, for females $13.37, and for both males and females together
$15.87.
The range in average full-time hours per week for males as between
the several occupations was from 49.8 to 50, or only two-tenths of
an hour between the lowest and the highest, and for females from
49.7 to 50.7, making 1 hour difference between the lowest and the
highest occupation.
Average earnings per hour for males ranged from 22.1 cents for
hand stemmers to 69 cents for mechanics, and for females from 19
cents for laborers to 41.8 cents for glassine wrapping-machine
operators.
Average full-time earnings per week for males ranged from $11.05
for hand stemmers to $34.36 for mechanics, and for females from
$9.48 for laborers to $20.90 for glassine wrapping-machine operators.
Because of the narrow range in full-time hours, the lowest and the
highest average full-time earnings per week for both males and females
occurred in the same occupations as average earnings per hour.
T able
1.—AVERAGE FULL-TIME HOURS AND EARNINGS, BY OCCUPATION AND SEX
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Occupation
Stemming-machine feeders.
Stemmers, hand.................
Strip searchers.
Turkish pickers.. . ..............
Wetters, casers, and dryers..
Cutter feeders----------------- Knife changers....................
Knife grinders....... .............
Making-machine operators..
Hopper feeders................... .
Catchers_____
Machine fixersInspectors........
Packing-machine operators..
Packers, hand____________________
Glassine wrapping-machine operators.
Carton packers----- -----------------------Carton banders or wrappers................
Case packers------------ -------------------Carton making machine operators____
Mechanics...........................................
Laborers..............................................
Other employees.
All employees.............................
All employees, male and female.
Female .
Male—
Female.
Male__
Female.
...do___
Male__
.do___
.do.
-do.
-do.
Female..
Male__
Female..
...do___
Male__
...d o ....
Female..
Male__
Female..
...do___
—do___
—do___
Male__
Female..
Male__
...do___
—do___
...do___
Female.
Male__
Female .
49.7
50.0
49.8
50.0
49.7
49.7
49.9
49.8
50.0
49.9
Male__
Female.
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
weekly
earnings
.221
.192
.286
.198
.195
.484
.326
.374
.398
.429
.372
.311
.245
.298
.573
.423
.367
.415
.381
.363
.418
.390
.354
.322
.344
.415
.690
.301
.190
.427
.290
$10.04
11.05
9.56
14.30
9.84
9.69
24.15
16.23
18.70
19.86
21.41
18.53
15.52
12.42
14.93
28.59
21.15
18.31
20.71
19.01
18.08
20.90
19.42
17.63
16.07
17.17
20.71
34.36
15.02
9.48
21.35
14.53
49.9
.378
.268
18.86
13.37
49.9
.318
15.87
50.7
50.1
49.9
50.0
49.9
49.9
49.9
49.8
50.0
49.8
49.8
49.9
49.9
49.9
49.8
49.9
49.9
50.0
50.1
1.202
743
CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Average Hours and Earnings by States
Average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full
time earnings per week are presented in Table 2 for wage earners of
each sex and for both sexes combined in each of the three States
covered, and for all States.
Average full-time hours by States for males were 49.9, 50.0, and
51.7; for females, 49.8, 49.9, and 51.6; and for both sexes, 49.8, 49.9,
and 51.7.
Average full-time earnings per week by States for males were
$17.86, $21.25, and $23.89; for females, $12.95, $14.09, and $14.67;
and for both sexes, $15.09, $17.91, and $18.41.
T a b l e 3.—A V ERAG E HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1930, B Y SEX A N D STATE
Average
full-time
hours per
Sex and State
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
Males
North Carolina..
Kentucky..........
Virginia_______
49.9
51.7
50.0
Total-
$0,358
.462
.425
$17.86
23.89
21.25
49.9
.378
18.86
51.6
49.9
.260
.273
.294
12.95
14.09
14.67
Females
North CarolinaKentucky.........
Virginia.............
TotalNorth Carolina..
Kentucky......... .
Virginia.......... .
Average
earnings
per hour
49.9
13.37
Males and females
Total-
49.8
51.7
49.9
.303
.356
15.09
18.41
17.91
49.9
.318
15.87
Growth of the Industry
T a b le 3 shows the number of cigarettes manufactured in each
of the specified calendar years, 1900 to 1925 and the fiscal year 1930.
These figures were taken from the reports of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue.
The production of cigarettes increased very little between the
years 1900 and 1905, but doubled from 1905 to 1910. It more
than doubled again from 1910 to 1915 and also between 1915 and
1920. The production steadily increased to 82 billions in 1925 and
to approximately 120 billions in 1930.
T a b l e 3.—PRODUCTION OF CIGARETTES, BY W EIGH T, IN SPECIFIED YEARS, 1900
TO 1930
[From reports of Commissioner of Internal Revenue]
Calendar year
1900.......................................................................... ......
1905. .............................. .............- ................................
1910_______ ____ _________________________________
1915...... ......................................................... ................
1920____________________________________________
1925-................. - ..........— ............................................
19301- ................. .........- .......................... ...................
i For fiscal year ending June 30, 1930.
47767°—31----- 48
Weighing more Weighing not
than 3 pounds
more than 3
per 1,000
pounds per 1,000
Cigarettes
4,585,675
6,913,138
19,374,077
15,816,210
28,038, 552
17,428,807
9,041,735
Cigarettes
3,254,130,630
3,666,814,273
8,644,335,407
17,964,348,272
47,430,105,055
82,247,100,347
119,935,433,267
Total
Cigarettes
3,258,716,305
3,673,727,411
8,663,709,484
17,980,164,482
47,458,143,607
82,264,529,154
119,944,475,002
744
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Common Labor: Earnings
See Common Labor: Earnings: Handbook (Bui. No. 491), pages
787 and 788.
Common Labor: Entrance Wage Rates, July 1, 1929, and July 1,
1930
T he term “ common labor” has many interpretations among dif
ferent industries and even among different localities or plants in the
same industry. Also, many employers make a practice of increasing
the rate of pay of a laborer after a stated length of service, provided a
sufficient degree of fitness for the job has been developed; otherwise
the employee is dropped. Owing to these difficulties in the way of
securing comparable data as to wage rates for common labor, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics has confined these statistics to entrance
rates alone—that is, to rates of pay per hour for unskilled adult male
common laborers when first hired.
This survey is limited to 13 important industries, which require
considerable numbers of common laborers. The number of common
laborers employed at entrance rates in the establishments reporting
were 155,328 on July 1, 1929, and 116,001 on July 1, 1930. The in
dustries included in the surveys were as follows:
Automobiles.
Brick, tile, and terra cotta.
Cement.
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies.
Foundry and machine-shop products.
Iron and steel.
Leather.
Lumber (sawmills).
Paper and pulp.
Petroleum refining.
Slaughtering and meat packing.
Public utilities.
General contracting.
The weighted average entrance rate per hour for common labor for
the several industries combined on July 1,1929, was 43.7 cents and on
July 1, 1930, was 43.1 cents. The general-contracting industry
reported the highest rate, $1,188, on July 1,1929, and $1.25 on July 1,
1930, in the Middle Atlantic division; while the lowest rate, 15 cents,
for both years, was paid in general contracting in the South Atlantic
division.
The table following shows, for each industry included, the high, low,
and average common labor entrance rates per hour on July 1, 1929,
and July 1,1930, in each geographic division and in the United States
as a whole;
745
COMMON LABOR
HOU RLY EN TRAN CE W AGE RATES FOR AD U LT M ALE COM M ON LABOR, JULY 1,
1929, AN D JULY 1, 1930
Geographic division
United
States
Industry
1929
Automobiles:
Cents
L o w .................................................... 32.0
High.................................................... 65.0
Average............................................... 49.9
Brick, tile, and terra cotta:
Low..................................................... 18.5
High.................................................... 53.0
Average............................................... 37.8
Cement:
Low__................................................. 25.0
High.................................................... 56.0
Average........................................... . 37.8
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and
supplies:
Low..................................................... 35.0
High.................................................... 55.0
Average..................................—......... 45.9
Foundry and machine-shop products:
Low................ - .................................. 17.5
High.................................................... 56.0
Average............................................... 39.8
Iron and steel:
Low__............................................... - 20.0
High.................................................... 55.0
Average............................................... 42.5
Leather:
Low..................................................... 25.0
High.................................................... 54.2
Average.................- ............................ 42.2
Lumber (sawmills):
L o w -.................................................. 17.5
H ig h .......................... - ..................... 62.5
Average.........- .................................... 32.0
Paper and pulp:
Low---------------- ------------- — ......... - 20.0
High.................................................... 55.0
Average................................. ............. 44.0
Petroleum refining:
Low........ ........... - ............................... 25.0
High.................................................... 62.0
Average............................................... 45.7
Slaughtering and meat packing:
L o w -.......................... - ..................... 27.5
High.................................................... 50.0
Average............................................... 42.0
Public utilities:5
Low..................................................... 15.0
High.................................................... 64.0
Average............................................... 42.8
General contracting:6
L o w .-................................................. 15.0
High....................................................118.8
Average............................................... 48.3
1930
New Eng
land 1
East North West North
Middle
Atlantic2 Central *
Central *
1929
1929
1930
1930
1929
1930
1929
Cenis Cents Cents Cents
35.0
40.0
75.0
62.5
48.2
49.5
Cents Cents Cents
35.0 35.0 35.0
75.0 65.0 75.0
46.4
48.7
Cents Cents
32.0
35.0
62.5
75.0
55.6
45.2
17.5
53.0
38.0
35.0
52.5
45.9
35.0
52.5
44.5
30.0
47.5
38.5
25.0
47.5
43.1
27.0
35.0
34.4
27.0
45.0
34.6
35.0
45.0
42.5
38.0
45.0
43.2
35.0
51.0
38.0
35.0
45.0
39.1
33.0
44.0
35.7
35.0
44.0
37.0
40.0
50.0
45.1
40.0
50.0
43.0
25.0
50.0
37.9
35.0
57.0
44.8
35.0
48.0
44.9
35.0
48.0
41.7
38.0
55.0
44.6
38.0
57.0
43.2
38.0
53.0
48.4
39.0
55.0
47.5
35.0
35.0
35.0
35.0
35.0
35.0
17.5
56.0
39.0
33.0
50.0
39.6
33.0
50.0
40.2
30.0
55.0
42.0
30.0
51.0
41.0
35.0
55.0
43.5
35.0
50.0
43.0
33.0
50.0
40.3
33.0
50.0
41.1
20.0
50.0
42.1
40.0
45.0
41.8
40.0
45.0
41.3
30.0
50.0
41.8
30.0
50.0
41.9
35.0
50.0
43.6
35.0
50.0
44.6
35.0
40.0
36.8
35.0
40.0
37.4
25.0
60.0
41.9
45.0
54.2
50.0
43.0
54.2
46.9
33.0
50.0
44.2
33.0
50.0
44.7
31.6
54.0
43.4
28.0
60.0
42.0
13.5
75.0
31.6
30.0
36.0
32.1
33.3
38.0
35.8
30.0
40.0
30.0
35.0
34.1
30.0
62.5
34.9
27.5
75.0
35.1
30.0
32.5
31.8
30.0
37.5
34.9
20.0
33.3
53.0
47.4
36.7
53.0
47.8
35.0
55.0
41.6
35.0
50.0
41.5
31.5
55.0
44.4
31.5
54.0
44.5
35.0
45.0
39.2
35.0
45.0
38.7
45.0
53.0
46.3
45.0
53.0
47.5
44.4
56.0
51.4
45.0
50.0
49.5
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
50.0
54.0
43.2
25.0
62.0
48.1
25.0
50.0
41.8
38.0
50.0
44.8
38.0
40.0
39.1
40.0
45.0
41.9
42.5
45.0
44.2
40.0
45.0
42.0
40.0
45.0
42.3
37.5
45.0
42.1
37.5
45.0
41.9
20.0
67.5
44.6
35.0
59.5
45.9
35.0
61.5
48.5
40.0
61.3
45.5
37.5
61.3
46.1
32.5
60.0
47.6
32.5
67.5
50.3
30.0
40.0
36.0
30.0
38.0
35.3
15.0
125.0
47.0
40.0
90.0
53.8
40.0 30.0 35.0
85.0 118.8 125.0
56.7 54.3 53.4
35.0
90.0
30.0
97.5
53.6
30.0
95.0
42.2
25.0
87.5
40.8
Total: Low...................................... 15.0 13.5
High.....................................118.8 125.0
Average................................ 43.7 43.1
30.0
90.0
48.0
i.O i.O 30.0
33.0
85.0 118.8 125.0 90.0
49.5 46.4
,1 48.4
25.0
97.5
47.0
27.0
95.0
41.8
25.0
87.5
40.6
1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
2 New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
3 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin.
4 Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Includes street railways, gas works, waterworks, and electric power and light plants.
e Includes building, highway, public works, and railroad construction.
746
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
HOU RLY EN TRAN CE W AGE RATES FOR A DU LT M ALE COM M ON LABOR, JULY 1,
1929, AND JULY 1, 1930—Continued
Geographic division
Industry
South
Atlantic7
1929
1930
East South West South Mountain10
Pacific u
Central»
Central8
1929
1930
1929
1930
1929
1930
1929
1930
Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents
Automobiles:
45.0
Low_____________________________
45.0
High
_ _
55.0
55.0
52.9
49.7
Brick, tile, and terra cotta:
Low.................................................... 20.0 17.5 18.5 17.5 25.0 25.0 38.5 38.5 39.0
39.0
High............... ................................... 50.0 40.0 37.0 37.0 37.5 30.0 40.0 40.0 53.0
53.0
Average............................................... 27.7 25.8 26.2 26.8 27.8 27.4 39.2 38.7 46.3
46.5
Cement:
34.0
Low
__________________________
26.0 26.0 25.0 25.0
34.0
High....................................................
56.0
40.0 36.0 28.0 28.0
50.0
47.2
Average__________________________
31.0 31.3 27.3 27.3
46.9
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and
supplies:
Low_____________________________ 40.0
!
High____________________________ 45.0
Average__________________________ 42.4
Foundry and machine-shop products:
Low_____________________________ 17.5 17.5 27.5 27.5 20.0 22.5 30.0 40.0 44.0
50.0
High.................................................... 43.8 43.8 40.0 40.0 31.3 30.0 56.0 50.0 56.0
56.0
Average— ........................................ 27.5 27.7 32.6 33.4 29.5 25.9 40.5 42.3 51.4
52.0
Iron and steel:
Low _______________________ _
44.0 49.0 42.5
20.0 20.0 23. 5 23.5
45.0
High.................................................... 44.0 44.0 31.0 31.0
49.0 49’ 0 55! 0
50! 0
Average________________________
35.4 37.7 28.5 26.1
48.7 49.0 48.6
47.0
Leather:
Low_____________________________ 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0
43.5
43.0
High------- ------ ----------------------------- 40.0 40.0 35.0 33 0
54 0
54.0
Average....... ........... ......... .................. 34.6 35.8 33.7 31.7
52.4
52! 6
Lumber (sawmills):
Low..................................................... 17.5 16.0 17.5 13.5 20.0 20.0 40.0 35.0 2. 5
32.0
High.................................................. . 35.0 35.0 25.0 25.0 27.5 25.0 42.5 45.0 50.0
50.0
Average...........................................
19.7 18.2 21.6 19.0 24.2 23.2 41.2 4 .
40.9
41.7
Paper and pulp:
Low_____________________________
38.3 20.0 20.0 25.0 25.0
40.0
40.0
High................................................... 38.3 38.3 36.5 30.0 32.5 30.0
51.3
5l! 3
Average..... ......... ............ ............... . 38.4 38.3 27.1 24.6 25.4 26.6
42.8
43! 3
Petroleum refining:
Low__................................................ 30.0 28.0 32.5 32.5 25.0 25.0 45.0 45.0 53.0
53.0
High........................................... ........ 50.0 50.0 32.5 32.5 51.0 51.0 56.3 60.0 62.0
62.0
Average.............................................. 40.3 41.8 32.5 32.5 42.5 45.2 51.9 54.7 57.4
58.0
Slaughtering and meat packing:
Low_________________ -________
40.0 40.0
27.5 25.0 42.5 40.0 40.0
40.0
High.................................................... 40.0 40.0
42 5 37 5 42! 5 40.0 42* 5
50.0
Average............................................. 40.0 40.0
40.9 34.5 42! 5 4o! o 4l! 9
42! 7
Public utilities:10
L o w _ .................................................. 15.0 20.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 35.0 35.0 33.0
28.0
High.................................................... 50.0 50.0 40.0 40.0 50.0 40.0 42.0 42.0 64.0
60.0
Average............................................... 37.3 37.3 30.3 32.7 33.0 31.1 38.5 37.9 50.4
51.6
General contracting^
L ow -.................................................. 15.0 15.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 22.0 35.0 30.0 43.8
40.0
High.................................................... 60.0 60.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 62.5 62.5 100.0
75.0
Average............................................... 28.7 30.9 28.0 28.8 34.5 32.9 45.2 45.5 52.7
52.2
Total: Low...................................... 15.0
High..................................... 60.0
Average................................ 30.2
15.0
60.0
32.1
17.5
50.0
26.8
13.5
50.0
26.7
20.0
51.0
35.6
20.0
51.0
33.0
30.0
62.5
44.9
30.0 32.5
62.5 100.0
45.2 47.9
28.0
75.0
47.6
7 Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, West Virginia.
8 Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee.
• Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.
10 Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada. Utah, Wyoming,
n California, Oregon, Washington,
747
COMMON LABOR
Common Street Laborers: Wages and Hours, 1928
T h e entrance wage rates and regular hours of labor of unskilled
street laborers directly hired by more than 2,600 cities and towns
in the United States have been compiled by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The full compilation, giving details by individual com
munities, will appear in bulletin form. A brief summary of this
report is given in this article.
The rates shown are those paid by the municipalities to common
laborers when first engaged on the construction, repairing, or cleaning
of streets. Higher rates may be paid for greater skill or after a period
of service.
The questionnaires for this inquiry were sent out by the United
States Bureau of Labor Statistics, under date of October 31, 1928, to
all cities and towns having a population of 2,500 or over according to
the 1920 census. About 93 per cent of these municipalities replied.
Classified Hourly Wage Rates
I n T a b l e 1 are given classified entrance wage rates for common
street labor, the number of municipalities in each State paying each
classified wage rate, as well as the percentage of all municipalities
paying each classified wage rate being shown. Of the 2,626 munici
palities reporting, 593, or 23 per cent, were paying 40 and under 45
cents per hour and 553, or 21 per cent, were paying 50 and under 55
cents per hour. While 896, or about 34 per cent, paid under 40 cents
per hour, only about 15 per cent paid 55 cents or more:
T a b l e 1 .— CLASSIFIED HOU RLY RATES OF WAGES OF UNSKILLED COM M ON LABOR
HIRED B Y CITIES FOR W ORK IN CONSTRUCTING, REPAIRIN G, OR CLEANING
STREETS
Number of cities in which hourly wage rates of street laborers
State
Alabama__________
Arizona____________
Arkansas...................
California.................
Colorado___________
Connecticut________
Delaware__________
District of Columbia.
Florida......................
Georgia____________
Idaho......... .........
Illinois.......................
Indiana............ .........
Iowa______________
Kansas______ _____ _
Kentucky....... ...........
Louisiana................. .
Maine.......................
Maryland..... ............
Massachusetts..........
Michigan__________
Minnesota.................
Mississippi............... .
Missouri................... .
Montana....................
Num
ber of
cities
re Un
port der
ing 15
cts.
15
and
un
der
20
cts.
20
and
un
der
25
cts.
25
and
un
der
30
cts.
30
and
un
der
35
cts.
33
4
9 14 6
15
3
38
1
10 20
4
103
26
30
1
3
1
26
4 6
6
7
54 ~~2 23 19
6 2
20
1 10
166
90
2 16
79
2 12
58
41 .... 1
15 11
2 i r 11
2
30
25
5
1 4
18
165
92
6
56
8
1
29
2 11 13
58
3 15
17
35
and
un
der
40
cts.
40
and
un
der
45
cts.
4
2
3
7
2
1
4
1
9
11
3
1
1
1
2
2
4 8
16 32
26 31
17 34
16 29
4
3
1
2
10 10
4
4
4 14
14 36
15 15
2
11 21
1
45
and
un
der
50
cts.
50
and
un
der
55
cts.
2
2
3
2
6
38
4
12
20
1
4
21
1
1
1
2
10
4
5
4
1
3
39
9
8
8
4
2
12
2
1
14
10
1
1
1
3
8
12
3
2
73
17
10
19
3
4
27
3
1
19
1
4
4
5
4
6
1
55
and
un
der
60
cts.
60 |65
and and
un un
der der
65 70
cts. cts.
7
70
and
un
der
75
cts.
75
and
un
der
80
cts.
1
80
and
un
der
85
cts*
1
1
3
1
1
17
2
748
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—CLASSIFIED HOU RLY RATES OF WAGES OF UNSKILLED COM M ON LABOR
HIRED B Y CITIES FOR W ORK IN CONSTRUCTING, R EPAIRIN G, OR CLEANING
ST RE ETS—Continued
Number of cities in which hourly wage rates of street laborers
were—
Num
ber of
cities
re
port
ing
State
15 20 25 30
and and and and
un un un un
der der der der
20 25 30 35
cts. cts. cts.
35
and
un
der
40
cts.
40
and
un
der
45
cts.
45
and
un
der
50
cts.
50
and
un
der
55
cts.
55
and
un
der
60
cts.
and
un
der
65
cts.
11
15
65
and
un
der
70
cts.
70
and
un
der
75
cts.
75
and
un
der
80
cts.
80
and
un
der
85
29
Nebraska.............
Nevada.-............
New HampshireNew Jersey..........
New Mexico........
New York...........
North Carolina..
North Dakota—
Ohio.....................
Oklahoma—.........
Oregon.................
Pennsylvania----Rhode Island----South Carolina__
South Dakota___
Tennessee______
Texas..............—
Utah....................
Vermont......... .
Virginia...............
Washington_____
West Virginia___
Wisconsin______
Wyoming............
2
26
114
11
162
52
15
12
20
30
139
58
42
13
22
292
21
30
14
39
106
15
14
38
33
34
Total-
19
17
64 119 195
2,626
Per cent............................ .........
100
(0
7
201 313
8
12
593 198 553 154 137
23
8 21
5
57
2
3
(i)
1 (i)
1 Less than 1 per cent.
Classified Weekly Hours of Labor
I n T a b l e 2 , classified working hours per week of unskilled street
laborers are presented. The number of municipalities in each State
whose laborers work each classified number of hours per week are
shown, and the percentage of all municipalities whose street laborers
work each specified number of hours per week are also set forth. Of
the total cities and towns reporting, 1,053, or 40 per cent, had a 48hour week and 13 per cent a working week of less than 48 hours. On
the other hand, 46 per cent had a working week of over 48 hours.
While the street laborers in 9 per cent of the cities worked 44 hours or
less a week, in 13 per cent of the cities such laborers had a 60-hour
week.
749
COTTON GINS, COTTON COMPRESSES
T a b l e S .—-CLASSIFIED HOURS PER W EE K W ORKED B Y UNSKILLED COM MON LABOR
H IRED B Y CITIES FOR W O R K IN CONSTRUCTING, REPAIRIN G, OR CLEANING
STREETS
Number of cities having working week of—
jnum
State
AlabamaArizona ____ _________
Arkansas,, ......... .................
California . , . . . . __
Colorado__
_
__ _ _ _
Connecticut
., - ..... - .......
Delaware
^ ^
District of Columbia Florida___________________
Georgia.__________________
Trjaho
Illinois
Indiana
__ _
Iowa______________________
Transas
Kentucky_________________
Louisiana_________________
Maine_________________ __
Maryland_________________
Massachusetts— __________
M ic h i g a n ____________________
Minnesota________________
Mississippi________________
Missouri__________________
Montana__________________
Nebraska_________________
Nevada___________________
__
New Hampshire . . .
New Jersey_______________
New Mexico______________
New York________________
North Carolina____________
North Dakota_____________
Ohio____ _________________
Oklahoma _______________
Oregon____________________
Pennsylvania_____________
Rhode Island______________
South Carolina____________
South Dakota_____________
Tennessee_________________
Texas_____________________
Utah............ .............. ..........
Vermont_________________
Virginia__________________
Washington_______________
West Virginia_____________
Wisconsin_________________
Wyoming_________________
ber of
cities
report
ing
33
15
38
103
26
30
3
1
26
54
20
165
90
78
58
41
30
25
17
164
92
55
30
58
17
29
2
26
114
11
161
52
12
139
58
22
290
21
30
14
39
106
15
14
38
33
34
82
8
44
hours
Over 44
Over 48
and
and
54
48
under hours
under hours
54
48
hours
hours
1
1
25
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
1
i 26
2
3
1
i6
2
1
2
i 43
1
1
1
3
5
2
27*
2
31
1
1
12
6
1
1
13
11
25
a1
1
14
2
16
1
1
19
1
4
2
2
1
43
1
2
2
2
1
15
1
3
15
7
73
25
9
1
5
1
20
68
18
19
55
7
2
5
5
93
12
19
5
23
16
16
2
7
36
8
89
1
6
72
54
21
74
3
1
2
3
75
14
2
2
29
9
13
8
2
55
hours
5
6
7
9
8
1
5
2
14
1
1
1
6
5
19
9
1
7
3
8
6
3
18
21
14
3
29
19
19
1
10
10
17
2
6
31
8
6
15
1
9
5
2
2
7
9
17
1
3
5
Over 55
and
60
under
hours
60
hours
1
1
15
25
32
1
12
2 10
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
4
1
23
24
9
11
1
11
2
5
29
1
5
3
14
8
1
18
1
29
7
8
4
70
6
4
58
8
33
9
1
4
6
6
5
6
17
12
1
2
1
2
11
9
6
9
1
5
5
12
12
17
4
3
5
29
7
16
6
8
2
2
16
1
7
6
2 12
4
Total—...........- ......... .
2,619
5 245
109
1,053
282
378
154
49
6 349
Per cent_______ __________
100
9
4
40
11
14
6
2
13
i Including 1 with less than 44 hours per week.
* Including 1 with more than 60 hours per week.
8 Less than 44 hours per week.
4Including 2 with less than 44 hours per week.
5 Including 7 with less than 44 hours per week.
6 Including 2 with more than 60 hours per week.
Cotton Gins, Cotton Compresses, and Cottonseed-Oil Mills
See Cotton gins, cotton compresses, and cottonseed-oil mills:
Wages and hours of labor, 1927, Handbook (Bui. No. 491), pages 788793.
750
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Cotton-Goods Industry: Wages and Hours of Labor, 1930
This article presents the results of a study in 1930 by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of hours and earnings of employees in the cottongoods manufacturing industry in the United States.
While this study was being made a similar study was carried on in
the textile dyeing and finishing industry (see p. 754). The dyeing
and finishing departments found in connection with the manufacturing
plants are included in the dyeing and finishing report.
Summaries of average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour,
and full-time earnings per week in 1930 are given in Table 1, with
averages for employees in selected occupations only for each year from
1910 to 1914, and for all employees in all occupations for each of the
specified years from 1914 to 1930. The selected occupations in the
earlier period were and are the principal occupations of the industry.
Averages for selected occupations are comparable one year with
another, as are those for all occupations, but averages for selected occu
pations should not be compared with averages for all occupations.
The reason is evident from an inspection of the two sets of averages
for 1914. Average earnings per hour for employees in the selected
occupations were 16.5 cents as compared with 15.3 for those in all
occupations. Index numbers of these averages, with the 1913 average
as the base or 100 per cent, are also shown in the table. The indexes
furnish comparable figures, one year with another, from 1910 to 1930.
The 1930 averages were computed by the bureau from the hours
actually worked and earnings actually made in one representative
week by each of the 90,053 wage earners of 162 representative cotton
mills in the 11 States that were included in the study.
The earnings in the table include earnings at basic rates and also
bonuses earned in the week based on production, efficiency, attend
ance, or length of service, etc. The hours and earnings of the wage
earners were taken directly from the pay rolls and other records of the
mills for a representative pay period in March, April, and May
(except for a very few mills in other months) and therefore reflect
the condition in those months. Based on the United States Census
of Manufactures for 1927, the number of wage earners in the 11 States
was 90 per cent of the total in the industry in all States and the
number covered in the study was 19 per cent of the total.
Average full-time hours per week decreased from an index of 102.1
in 1910 to 100 in 1913, and to 89.7 in 1920, and then increased to
92.5 in 1928 and 1930.
Average earnings per hour increased gradually from an index of
87.5 in 1910 to an index of 323.5 in 1920, the peak year. The increase
in 1920 over 1913 was 223.5 per cent. The decrease between 1920 and
1930 was 32.3 per cent.
Average full-time earnings per week increased from an index of
89.5 in 1910 to an index of 291.8 in 1920, the peak year. The increase
in 1920 over 1913 was 191.8 per cent and the decrease between 1920
and 1930 was 30.2 per cent. Average full-time earnings per week did
not change in proportion to average earnings per hour because of the
change in average full-time hours per week.
COTTON-GOODS INDUSTRY
751
T able 1.—AVERAGE HOURS A N D EARNINGS, W ITH IN D E X NUM BERS, 1910 TO 1930
Index numbers (1913=100)
Average Average Average
full-time
full-time
earnings earnings
Year
hours
Full-time
Full-time
per week per hour per week hours Earnings earnings
per week per hour per week
Selected occupations.........................
1910
1911
1912
1913
11914
All occupations.................................. 11914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
68.5
68.4
67.4
57.3
56.4
66.8
56.9
56.0
51.8
52.8
53.0
53.3
53.4
53.4
$0,140
.144
.158
.160
.165
.153
.179
.267
.480
.330
.372
.328
.324
.325
102.1
$8.16
87.5
8.36
101.9
90.0
100.2
9.00
98.8
9.12
100.0
100.0
9.24
98.4
103.1
8.63 __ ____ _ ________
10.08
98.6
120.6
14.95
97.0
179.9
24.86
89.7
323.5
17.42
91.5
222.4
19.72
91.8
250.7
17.48
92.3
221.0
17.30
92.5
218.3
17.36
92.5
219.0
89.5
91.7
98.7
100.0
101.3
118."3
175.5
291.8
204.5
231.5
205.2
203.1
203.8
12 sets of averages are shown for 1914 for the industry, one for selected occupations and the other for all
occupations in the industry. The 1910 to 1914 averages for selected occupations only are comparable 1
year with another, as are those for all occupations 1 year with another from 1914 to 1930.
Average Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Occupation and Sex
T a b l e 2 shows 1928 and 1930 average full-time hours per week,
earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week. The averages
are for males and females separately in each of the specified occupa
tions, and also for a group designated in the table as “ Other em
ployees.” This group includes all employees in other occupations,
each having too few employees to warrant separate tabulation as an
occupation.
Average full-time hours per week of males in 1928 by occupations
ranged from 48.3 for mule spinners to 57.8 for frame spinners, and
of females from 49.6 for slubber tenders to 54 for creelers. In 1930
averages of males ranged from 48.5 for mule spinners to 55.5 for
frame spinners, and of females from 49.8 for drawing-in machine
tenders to 53.9 for creelers.
Average earnings per hour of males in 1928 by occupations ranged
from 22.4 cents for spooler tenders to 62.7 cents for mule spinners,
and of females from 23.9 cents for creelers to 44.2 cents for beamer
tenders. In 1930 averages of males ranged from 21 cents for spooler
tenders to 67.4 cents for mule spinners, and of females^ from 24.8
cents for trimmers or inspectors to 40.8 cents for drawing-in machine
tenders.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in 1928 by occupa
tions ranged from $12.30 for spooler tenders to $30.28 for mule
spinners, and of females from $12.72 for trimmers or inspectors to
$22.67 for beamer tenders. In 1930 averages of males ranged from
$11.61 for spooler tenders to $32.69 for mule spinners, and of females
from $13.04 for trimmers or inspectors to $20.32 for drawing-in
machine tenders,
752
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 2,—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 AND 1930, B Y OCCUPATION AND SEX
Occupation
Sex
Average full
time hours
per week
1928
1930
Average earn
ings per hour
Average full
time earnings
per week
1928
1930
1928
1930
Male_____
...d o ..........
...d o ..........
__ do_____
Female___
Slubber tenders________________ _______ Male.........
Female___
Speeder tenders_____ ______ ____ _______ Male........
Female___
Spinners, m ule
. _ Male_____
Spinners, frame_____________: __________ ...d o ..........
Female___
Doffers................. - --------------------- --------. Male.........
Female___
Spooler tenders------------------------------------ Male.........
Female___
Creelers---------------------------------------------- Male.........
Female___
W arper tenders.----------------------------------- Male.........
Female___
B earner tenders ______________ ____ __ Male ___
Female___
Slasher tenders___________ ____________ Male____
Drawers-in, hand________________ •_____ __ do. ___
Female___
Drawing-in machine tenders____________ Male ___
Female___
Warp-tying machine tenders____________ Male_____
Loom fixers___________________________ ...d o _____
Weavers____ ____________________ ____ ...d o _____
Female___
Trimmers or inspectors----------- -- ----------- Male_____
Female___
Other employees_______________________ M a le ____
Female___
54.5
54.2
53.9
54.9
52.5
54.5
49.6
55.1
51.2
48.3
57.8
52.9
54.6
51.4
54.9
53.7
55.2
54.0
55.4
52.8
54.7
51.3
53.7
55.2
52.5
53.3
52.7
54.1
53.7
53.4
52.2
54.7
52.8
53.7
52.5
53.8
53.8
53.7
54.3
52.6
54.1
50.7
54.8
51.3
48.5
55.5
53.5
54.1
51.5
55.3
53.5
55.2
53.9
55.1
52.4
54.6
53.3
53.6
53.5
52.7
52.7
49.8
53.7
53.5
52.7
52.0
54.0
52.6
53.8
53.3
$0,282
.314
.407
.282
.272
.365
.403
.345
.359
.627
.339
.276
.311
.325
.224
.243
.298
.239
.332
.329
.441
.442
.396
.299
.359
.441
.414
.407
.482
.392
.371
.278
.241
.302
.256
$0,284
.314
.403
.280
.278
.365
.390
.343
.349
.674
.322
.266
.315
.313
.210
.251
.279
.252
.354
.328
.464
.373
.384
.320
.352
.444
.408
.412
.483
.400
.381
.326
.248
.312
.253
$15.37
17.02
21.94
15.48
14.28
19.89
19.99
19.01
18.38
30.28
19.59
14.60
16.98
16.71
12.30
13.05
16.45
12.91
18.39
17.37
24.12
22.67
21.27
16.50
18.85
23.51
21.82
22.02
25.88
20.93
19.37
15.21
12.72
16.22
13.44
$15.28
16.89
21.64
15.20
14.62
19.75
19.77
18.80
17.90
32.69
17.87
14.23
17.04
16.12
11.61
13.43
15.40
13.58
19.51
17.19
25.33
19.88
20.58
17.12
18.55
23.40
20.32
22.12
25.84
21.08
19.81
17.60
13.04
16.79
13.48
All employees____________________ Male ___
Female__
53.9
52.9
53.7
52.9
.345
.296
.346
.293
18.60
15.66
18.58
15.50
All employees, both sexes_________
53.4
53.4
.324
.325
17.30
17.36
Picker tenders_________________________
Card tenders and strippers_____________
Card grinders___________ _____________
Drawing-frame tenders_________________
i
Average Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Sex and State
T a b l e 3 shows for males and females separately, and for both
sexes combined, average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour,
and full-time earnings per week in each State, in 1928 and 1930.
The purpose of this table is to make easy the comparison of averages
of each State, one year with another, and also of the averages of one
State with any other State in 1928 or 1930.
Average full-time hours per week of males in Alabama increased
from 55 m 1928 to 55.3 in 1930, average earnings per hour increased
from 26.5 cents in 1928 to 27.9 cents m 1930, and average full-time
earnings increased from $14.58 in 1928 to $15.43 in 1930.
Males in Connecticut earned an average of 42.3 cents per hour in
1928 and 41.7 cents in 1930, and females earned an average of 35.2
cents per hour in 1928 and 34.1 cents in 1930.
Average full-time hours per week of males in 1928 in the different
States ranged from 48.6 to 56.2, and of females from 47.9 to 56.
Averages of both sexes combined, or the industry as a whole, ranged
from 48.5 to 56.1 hours. In 1930 the averages of males ranged from
48.1 to 56.5 hours, of females from 47.7 to 56.5 hours, and of males
and females combined ranged from 47.9 to 56.5 hours.
753
COTTON-GOODS INDUSTRY
Average earnings per hour in 1928 of males by States ranged from
26.5 to 45.5 cents^and of females from 21.6 to 38.1 cents; for males
and females combined from 24.4 to 41.9 cents. In 1930 averages of
males ranged from 27.9 to 49.2 cents per hour, of females from 21.7
to 40 cents per hour and of males and females combined from 25.5 to
45 cents per hour in the several States.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in 1928 by States
ranged from $14.58 to $24.52, of females from $11.88 to $20.31,
and of males and females combined from $13.42 to $22.46. In 1930
averages of males ranged from $15.43 to $24.38, of females from
$11.98 to $20.12, and of males and females combined from $14.10
to $22.43 as between the States.
Between 1928 and 1930 average full-time earnings per week of
both sexes combined decreased in 4 and increased in 7 of the 11 States
covered. The decreases by States ranged from 3 cents to $1.98 per
week and the increases from 3 cents to $1.97 per week. For all the
States combined the increase was 6 cents per week.
T a b l e 3.—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 A N D 1930, B Y SEX A N D STATE
Average full-time
hours per week
Average earnings
per hour
Average full-time ,
earnings per week
Sex and State
1928
1930
1928
1930
1928
1930
Males
Alabama.............
Connecticut........
Georgia................
Maine..................
Massachusetts. _.
New Hampshire.
New York...........
North Carolina..
Rhode Island___
South Carolina__
Virginia...............
55.0
50.9
56.2
54.1
49.7
53.9
48.6
55.8
52.1
55.0
55.2
55.3
50.8
56.5
53.7
49.0
53.7
48.1
55.0
51.8
54.8
54.7
$0,265
.423
.281
.370
.427
.455
.439
.312
.443
.281
.345
$0,279
.417
.286
.372
.431
.454
.492
.322
.440
.292
.307
$14.58
21.53
15.79
20.02
21.22
24.52
21.34
17.41
23.08
15.46
19.04
$15.43
21.18
16.16
19.98
21.12
24.38
23.67
17.71
22.79
16.00
16.79
Total..........
53.9
53.7
.345
.346
18.60
18.53
Alabama.............
Connecticut........
Georgia................
Maine..................
Massachusetts. _.
New HampshireNew York...........
North Carolina. .
Rhode Island___
South Carolina__
Virginia...............
55.0
50.7
56.0
54.0
47.9
53.3
48.4
55.8
52.2
55.0
55.1
55.2
50.7
56.5
53.8
48.0
53.1
47.7'
55.0
51.3
54.8
54.8
.216
.352
.228
.291
.353
.381
.375
.262
.373
.224
.272
.217
.341
.232
.304
.353
.379
.400
.257
.367
.240
.246
11.88
17.85
12.77
15.71
16.91
20.31
18.15
14.62
19.47
12.32
14.99
11.98
17.29
13.11
16.36
16.94
20.12
19.08
14.14
18.83
13.15
13.48
Total.
52.9
52.9
.296
.293
15.66
15.50
55.0
50.8
56.1
54.1
48.8
53.6
48.5
55.8
52.2
55.0
55.1
55.3
50.8
56.5
53.8
48.5
53.4
47.9
55.0
51.6
54.8
54.7
.244
.391
.260
.327
.392
.419
.404
.295
.410
.260
.316
.255
.383
.268
.340
.395
.420
.450
.301
.406
.274
.282
13.42
19.86
14.59
17.69
19.13
22.46
19.59
16.46
21.40
14.30
17.41
14.10
19.46
15.14
18.29
19.16
22.43
21.56
16.56
20.95
15.02
15.43
53.4
53.4
.324
.325
17.30
17.36
Females
Males and females
Alabama..............
Connecticut........
Georgia................
Maine..................
Massachusetts. _.
New HampshireNew York...........
North Carolina..
Rhode Island___
South Carolina__
Virginia...............
Total_____
754
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Dyeing and Finishing of Textiles: Wages and Hours of Labor,
1930
T h i s report is the result of a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
of hours of labor and earnings of employees in the dyeing and finishing
of textiles in the United States in 1930.
The information used in compiling the report was collected by
agents of the bureau for 17,739 males and 3,743 females of 109 repre
sentative establishments in 8 States. The work of the establishments
included in the report consisted mostly in the dyeing and finishing
of cotton textiles. In some plants mixtures of rayon and silk were
dyed and finished.
The wage figures in the report are for the dyeing and finishing de
partment of 37 cotton mills that produce and finish cotton goods and
for 72 plants that do nothing but dye and finish textiles. Nearly
all of the data were taken from pay rolls for pay periods in March,
April, and May, 1930, and therefore represent conditions in the
ndustry as of those months.
Average Hours and Earnings, 1930, by Occupations
A v e r a g e full-time hours per week, average earnings per hour, and
average full-time earnings per week are shown in Table 1 for each of
45 selected occupations, and also a separate group of “ Other em
ployees” made up of employees in all other occupations in the indus
try, each too few in number of employees to warrant tabulation as an
occupation.
Full-time hours per week of males in the various occupations ranged
from 48.7 for die makers to 56.9 for pressmen, and of females from
48.0 for steamer tenders to 55.0 for mercerizers. The average for all
males and females combined, or the industry, was 50.9 hours per week.
Average earnings per hour of males in the various occupations
ranged from 27.4 cents for pressmen to $1,247 for machine engravers,
and of females ranged from 24.9 cents for dyeing-machine tenders to
43.8 cents for batchers. The average for all males and females
combined, or the industry, was 45.2 cents per hour.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in the various occupa
tions ranged from $15.59 for pressmen to $61.85 for printing-machine
tenders, and of females from $12.33 for dyeing-machine tenders to
$21.44 for truckers. The average for all males and females combined,
or the industry, was $23.01.
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS IN THE DY E IN G AN D FINISHING OF
T E X T ILE S IN 1930, B Y OCCUPATION
Occupation
Sex
Male_____
— do..........
...d o ..........
__ do_____
Female___
Bath mixers................................................... .................. Male_____
Calender tenders.............................................................. ...d o ..........
Color mixers...................................................................... L__do..........
Die makers........................................................................ !—.do..........
Ager tenders _______________________________________
Back tenders, printing....... .............. .............. ................
Balers____ _______________ _____ ______________ ____
Batchers (cloth winders)___________________________
Average
full-time
hours
per week
51.4
51.3
51.7
49.9
48.3
50.1
51.4
52.1
48.7
Average
earnings
per hour
$0,435
.466
.362
.443
.438
.473
.431
.489
1.240
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
$22.36
23.91
18.72
22.11
21.16
23.70
22.15
25.48
60.39
755
DYEING AND FINISHING OF TEXTILES
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAG E HOURS AN D EARNINGS IN THE DYE IN G AND FINISHING OF
T E X T ILE S IN 1930, B Y OCCUPATION—Continued
Occupation
Sex
Dryer tenders______________________________________ Male____
Female___
Male.........
Female___
■Rngravptrs, hand
..... ...........
-- Male_____
__ do..........
Engravers, machine..
- ........ - _____
Etchers_____________ _____________ ______ __________ __ do_____
Floormen_____________________ _____ ______________ ...d o ..........
Folders .............................................................................. ...d o ..........
Female___
Inspectors.......................................................................... Male.........
Female___
Male_____
.Tackmen, p r in tin g .^ ____ . .. . . . . . ...............
Kettlemen, color mixing____
__ „ _
___do..........
Kettlemen’s helpers______________________ ________— ...d o ..........
Kier boilers________________________________________ —_do__.......
Knotters....... ..................................................................... Female__
Mangle tenders................................................................. Male.........
Female___
Measurers_________________________________________ Male____
Female__
Mercerizers........................................................................ Male.........
Female__
Openers___________________________________________ Male_____
Packers____ _____ ________________ _______ ____ _____ ...d o ..........
Female___
Pilers....................................................... ...................
Male____
Plaiters.............................. ........................ ...................... ...d o ........ .
Female___
Polishers, metal___________ _. _ _______ __________ Male____
Pressmen______________________ ________ _____ _____ ...d o _____
Printing-machine tenders.............. ...... ........... ................ ...d o _____
Roller turners_______ ____ ___ _____ _____ __________ __ do..........
Scutcher tenders....... ........................ ................. ........... __ do_____
Sewers............ ................... ......................... .................... __ do_____
Female___
Singers___ ____ ___________ ____ ____________________ Male_____
Soaper tenders____________________ _____ __________ __ do....... .
Soap mixers___________ *.___ ____ ________ _____ _____ ...d o ..........
Sprinkler tenders_________________________ ______ __ do_____
Steamer tenders____________________________________ ...d o ..........
Female___
Swing tenders______________________________________ Male_____
Female___
Tenter-frame tenders_______________________________ Male____
Female___
Truckers............................................................................. Male.........
Female___
Tub washers______________________________________ Male_____
Washer tenders____________________________________ __ do..........
Yarn winders______________________________________ .. d o ____
Female___
Other employees ...................... ...................................... . Male____
Female___
Dyeing-machine tenders. ................................................
All employees..........................................................
All employees, male and female.............................
Male.........
Female___
Average
full-time
hours
per week
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
51.2
48.5
50.6
49.5
49.1
49.4
50.3
52.3
51.3
49.4
50.1
51.8
51.2
51.8
49.9
53.0
51.0
51.2
50.4
50.8
50.5
52.7
55.0
49.6
51.8
50.4
49.4
51.1
50.3
50.9
56.9
51.5
50.5
50.6
51.2
51.4
50.7
51.2
51.1
51.4
48.8
48.0
50.6
49.2
51.0
50.4
50.6
54.0
52.9
51.3
56.2
51.9
51.0
50.1
$0.435
.299
.465
.249
1.235
1.247
.938
.466
.587
.368
.459
.295
.483
.485
.475
.433
.298
.424
.310
.457
.423
.434
.387
.487
.423
.313
.337
.374
.281
.490
.274
1.201
.570
.409
.389
.312
.415
.410
.429
.379
.438
.340
.373
.310
.435
.353
.405
.397
.404
.447
.290
.350
.475
.336
$22.27
14.50
23.53
12.33
60.64
61.60
47.18
24.37
30.11
18.18
23.00
15.28
24.73
25.12
23.70
22.95
15.20
21.71
15.62
23.22
21.36
22.87
21.29
24.16
21.91
15.78
16.65
19.11
14.13
24.94
15. 59
61.85
28.79
20.70
19.92
16.04
21.04
20.99
21.92
19.48
21.37
16.32
18.87
15.25
22.19
17.79
20.49
21.44
21.37
22.93
16.30
18.17
24.23
16.83
51.0
50.5
.473
.335
24.12
16.92
50.9
.452
23.01
Average Hours and Earnings, by Sex and State
Table 2 shows by States average full-time hours per week, earnings
per hour, and full-time earnings per week in 1930 for males and females
separately and for both sexes combined.
Average full-time hours per week of males ranged in the various
States from 48.9 to 55.0; of females from 48.0 to 55.0; and of both
sexes combined from 48.8 to 55.0. The average for males in all States
was 51.0, for females was 50.5, and for all males and females com
bined, or the industry, was 50.9.
756
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average earnings per hour of males ranged in the various States
from 32.0 to 57.2 cents; of females from 22.3 to 38.6 cents; and of both
sexes combined from 31.0 to 55.4 cents. The average for males in all
States was 47.3 cents, and for females was 33.5 cents per hour.
Average full-time earnings per week of males ranged in the various
States from $17.60 to $30.60; of females from $12.27 to $20.61; and
of both sexes combined from $16.96 to $29.58. The average for males
in all States was $24.12, and for females $16.92.
T a b l e 2 ,— AVERAGE HOURS A N D EARNINGS IN THE D Y E IN G AN D FINISHING OF
T E X T ILE S IN 1930, B Y SEX AND STATE
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Sex and State
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
Males
53.5
48.9
49.8
48.9
55.0
53.3
52.5
55.0
$0.572
.433
.523
.520
.320
.546
.511
.332
$30.60
21.17
26.05
25.43
17.60
29.10
26.83
18.26
51.0
.473
24.12
53.4
48.0
48.6
48.5
54.0
51.7
52.5
55.0
.386
.313
.377
.343
.288
.352
.377
.223
20.61
15.02
18.32
16.64
15. 55
18.20
19.79
12.27
50.5
.335
16.92
Massachusetts_________________________________________________
New Jersey___________________________________________________
New York— __________________ _____________________________
North Carolina________________________________________________
Pennsylvania_________________________________________________
Rhode Island— _______________________________________________
53.4
48.8
49.6
48.8
54.7
53.0
52.5
South C arolina
55.0
.554
.417
.502
.497
.310
.512
.497
.321
29.58
20.35
24.90
24.25
16.96
27.14
26.09
17.66
50.9
.452
23.01
________________________________________________
Massachusetts
______ _________________________________
New Jersey________
New York_____________________________________________ _______
North Carolina________________________________________________
Pennsylvania_________________________________________________
Rhode Island_____________________________ _____ ______________
Smith H am lina
Total..............
Females
Massachusetts_________ _ ___________________________________
New Jersey___________________________________________________
New York______________________________ ____ ___________ __
North Carolina
________________________________ _
Pennsylvania_- _____________________________________________
Rhode Island_________________________________________________
Smith Carolina
_
Total..............
Males and females
Connftrtifiiit
T o t a l_________
_
_
_________ ________ __
Factory Workers: Average Weekly Earnings in New York State,
1917 to 1930
The New York Department of Labor publishes monthly in its
Industrial Bulletin data on average weekly earnings in the factories
of the State. The following table, taken from the January, 1931,
issue of the Industrial Bulletin, shows such earnings, by months,
from 1917 to 1930, inclusive.
757
FARM LABOR
AVERAG E W E E K L Y EARNINGS IN REPRESEN TATIVE N E W Y O R K STATE FACTORIES
[Includes all employees in both office and shop. The average weekly earnings are obtained by dividing the
total weekly pay roll by the total number of employees on the pay roll for the given week. Reports cover
the week including the 15th of the month.]
Month
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1927
1926
1928
1929
1930
January______ $15.28 $16.81 $23. as $26.52 $27.61 $24.43 $26.21 $27.81 $28.30 $29.05 $29.52 $29.21 $29.71 $29.80
February____ 15.31 17.66 22.07 26.47 26.77 24.17 25.87 27.73 27.96 28.61 29.39 29.16 29.99 29.46
March_______ 15.79 18.71 22.20 27.87 26.97 24.57 26.92 28.16 28.45 29.04 29.78 29.64 30.35 29.90
April________ 15.50 19.25 22.11 27.80 26.20 24.15 27.00 27.70 27.67 28.85 29.17 28.79 30.07 29.44
May------------- 16.08 19.91 22.23 28.45 25.86 24.59 27.63 27.56 28.07 28.69 29.18 29.19 30.03 29.10
June.............— 16.20 20.44 22.51 28.77 25.71 24.91 27.87 27.21 27.94 28.99 29.17 29.48 30.02 28.96
July........ ........ 16.17 20.78 23.10 28.49 25.26 24.77 27.54 27.06 27.98 28.81 28.95 29.15 29.80 28.50
August............ 16.44 21.23 23.85 28.71 25.43 25.10 27.12 27.40 28.16 28.86 29.29 29.38 30.09 28.59
September___ 16.97 22.31 24.83 28.73 25.07 25.71 27.41 28.05 28.33 29.31 29.57 29.72 30.47 28.94
October........... 17.33 22.34 24.41 28.93 24.53 25.61 27.72 27.53 28.57 29.35 29.28 29.78 30.08 28.03
November___ 17.69 21.60 25.37 28.70 24.32 26.04 27.64 27.66 28.67 29.15 28.75 29.62 29.54 27.42
December....... 17.71 23.18 26.32 28.35 24.91 26.39 27.98 28.25 29.05 29.47 29.57 30.12 29.75 27.52
Average__ 16.37 20.35 23.50 28.15 25.72 25.04 27.24 27.68 28.26 29.02 29.30 29.44 29.99 28.81
i
Farm Labor: Wages, 1910 to 1931
The United States Department of Agriculture compiles and pub
lishes, quarterly, average wage rates of fired farm labor in the United
States. The compilations show both monthly and daily rates, with
and without board. The daily rates without board are, of course,
more nearly comparable with wage rates in industrial establishments.
Table 1 presents average farm wage rates and index numbers
thereof, by years, from 1910 to 1930, inclusive, and for the months
of January, April, July, and October of 1929 and 1930 and January,
1931.
T a b l e 1.—FA RM WAGE RATES AND IN D E X NUM BERS, 1910 TO JANUARY 1931
Average yearly farm
wage i
Year
1910.
1911.
1912.
Index
num
bers
of farm
Per month
Per day
wages
(19101914=
With With
With With
out
out
board board board board 100)
$19.58 $28.04 $1.07 $1.40
19.85 28.33 1.07 1.40
20.46 29.14 1.12 1.44
Average yearly farm
wage1
Year
Index
num
bers
Per month
Per day of farm
wages
(19101914=
With With
With With
out
out
board board board board 100)
97
97
101
1925................... $33.88 $47.80 $1.89 $2.46
1926................... 34.86 48.86 1.91 2.48
1927................... 34.58 48.63 1.90 2.46
168
171
170
1913.
1914.
1915.
21.27
20.90
21.08
30.21
29.72
29.97
1.15
1.11
1.12
1.48
1.44
1.45
104
101
102
1928................... 34.66
1929................... 34.74
1930................... 31.14
48.65
49.08
44.59
1.88
1.88
1.65
2.43
2.42
2.16
169
170
152
1916.
1917.
1918.
23.04
28.64
35.12
32.58
40.19
49.13
1.24
1.56
2.05
1.60
2.00
2.61
112
140
176
1919.
1920.
1921.
40.14
47.24
30.25
56.77
65.05
43.58
2.44
2.84
1.66
3.10
3.56
2.17
206
239
150
1922.
1923.
1924.
29.31
33.09
33.34
42.09
46.74
47.22
1.64
1.91
1.88
2.14
2.45
2.44
146
166
166
1929—January..
April
July____
October. _
1930—January..
April. .
July____
October..
1931-January___
47.24
49.00
50.53
50.00
46.80
47.81
47.24
44.28
39.04
1.78
1.79
1.89
1.92
1.73
1.72
1.72
1.61
1.38
2.34
2.34
2.43
2.46
2.27
2.27
2.23
2.12
1.87
162
167
173
174
159
162
160
150
129
33.04
34.68
36.08
35.90
32.29
33.83
33.47
31.23
26.03
1 Yearly averages are from reports by crop reporters, giving average wages for the year in their localities,
except for 1924-1930, when the wage rates per month are a straight average of quarterly rates, April, July,
and October of the current year and January of the following year, and the wage rates per day are a
weighted average of quarterly rates.
7 58
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Table 2 shows the average wages paid to hired farm labor in the
different States and geographic divisions on October 1 of 1929 and
1930.
T a b l e 3.—AVERAGE WAGES PAID TO H IRED F A RM LABOR, B Y STATE, OCTOBER
1, 1929 A N D 1930
Per month,
with board
Per month,
without board
Per day, with
board
Per day, with
out board
State and division
1929
Maine____________________________
__________________
New
Vermont__________________________
Massachusetts____________________
Rhode Island...................... ................
. _ ..
New York________ ______ _________
New Jersey_______________________
P en n sylva n ia
1930
$49.00 $45.00
49.00
45.00
Hampshire
49.00
44.00
51.00
48.75
66.00
52.50
64.00
47.00
60.50
45.00
51.00
45.25
40.25
36.00
1929
1930
1929
1930
1929
$71.00
72.00
72.00
80.00
85.00
86.00
70.75
76.00
60.00
$66.00
73.00
67.75
78.50
81.00
77.25
64.75
71.25
54.25
$2.80
2.60
2.60
2.80
2.80
3.10
3.05
2.75
2.60
$2.60
2.35
2.30
2.35
2.70
2.45
2.70
2.70
2.25
$3.45
3.50
3.45
3.80
3.85
4.00
3.85
3.65
3.30
$3.20
3.20
3.10
3.45
3.60
3.55
3.50
3.40
2.90
1930
47.72
42.89
69.90
64.65
2.83
2.50
3.63
3.27
O h io ____________________________
Tndvvna
........
Tllinois
- Miohigfvn _
. ...... .
Wisconsin________________________
38.75
37.25
43.00
44.25
49.25
32.75
32.25
38.00
32.50
40.25
54.50
50.00
55.25
61.75
67.60
48.25
43.25
49.25
47.75
56.25
2.50
2.30
2.40
2.75
2.55
2.05
1.85
1.90
1.95
2.00
3.15
2.85
2.90
3.35
3.15
2.70
2.40
2.45
2.60
2.65
East North Central__________
North Atlantic____ __________
42.51
35.50
57.55
49.13
2.49
1.95
3.06
2.56
Minnesota
Iowa_____________________________
Missouri________________________ .
North Dakota_____________________
South Dakota__________ - ____ _ _
Nebraska_________________________
Kansas___________________________
46.25
48.75
34.50
47.75
46.50
44.00
39.00
40.25
47.25
31.25
37.50
43.00
41.00
34.50
63.00
60.25
45.75
63.75
66.75
57.75
54.75
54.75
68.00
41.50
53.50
57.00
54.25
49.00
2.60
2.55
1.75
2.45
2.80
2. 50
2.50
2.15
2.35
1.55
1.85
2.20
2. 25
2.00
3.40
3.20
2.15
3.75
3. 55
3. 30
3.20
2.85
2.95
2.00
2.70
2.90
2. 90
2.70
West North Central__________
43.07
38.96
57.28
51.68
2.38
2.03
3.07
2.65
Delaware_________________________
Maryland_________________________
Virginia__________________________
West Virginia_____________________
North Carolina ___________________
South Carolina________ __________
Georgia___________________________
Florida________________ ___________
35.50
35.25
31.00
33.50
28.75
19.50
19.50
23. 75
33.25
34.25
26.75
28.50
22.25
16.50
17.00
20.50
53.50
50.75
43.00
48.50
39.25
27.50
27.75
36. 25
45.00
49.00
38.50
43.25
31.25
24.25
24.50
35.00
2.40
2.20
1.60
1.65
1.40
.95
1.05
1.15
2.05
1. 85
1.40
1.35
1.10
.80
.85
1.00
3.05
2.85
2.00
2.30
1.80
1. 20
1. 35
1.60
2.55
2.40
1.85
1.90
1.45
1.05
1. 10
1.50
South Atlantic......................... .
25.52
21.75
36.02
31.65
1.32
1.10
1. 71
1.46
Kentucky__________ _____ _________
Tennessee_________________________
Alabama__________________________
Mississippi________________________
Arkansas_________________________
Louisiana_________________ _____ _
Oklahoma_____________ _________
Texas____________________________
27.50
25.00
21.00
22.50
24.60
24.60
30.50
29.00
24.25
21.50
17.00
17.75
21.00
20.50
25.00
25.50
38.75
34.75
27.00
32.25
35.25
37.75
42.50
42.00
34.25
30.25
25.00
25.75
26.25
30.25
36.25
36.75
1.40
1.20
1.10
1.15
1.30
1.25
1.70
1.45
1.20
1.05
.85
.85
1.00
1.00
1.30
1.20
1.80
1.50
1.40
1.60
1.70
1.55
2.20
1.90
1.55
1.30
1.10
1.15
1.40
1.30
1.70
1.60
South Central_____ ________
25.86
21.96
36.70
3L23
1.32
1.07
1.72
1.40
Montana_________________________
Idaho____________________________
Colorado__________________________
New Mexico______________________
Arizona_____________________ _____
Utah_____________ ________________
Nevada___________________ _______
Washington_______________________
Oregon___________________________
California_______ _______ ________
57.25
58.00
53.00
45.50
36.00
50.00
64.75
65.00
54.50
54.00
64.00
45.00
52.50
47.75
40.50
37.75
48.50
56.25
54.00
43.75
48.00
60.00
77.00
80.75
75.75
66.50
52.00
66.60
82.50
91.00
78.00
74.00
90.00
60.00
73.00
67.50
57.00
52.00
70.00
75.00
84.50
69.75
69.50
88.00
3.05
2.90
2.65
2.45
1.90
1.90
2.55
2.75
2.80
2.70
2.60
2.20
2.50
2.35
2.15
1.70
2.10
2.40
2.35
2. 25
2.40
2.60
3.80
3.80
3.45
3.00
2.30
2.60
3.25
3.75
3.65
3.40
3.60
3.05
3.15
3.25
2.90
2.10
2.50
3.00
3.00
3.40
3.40
3.40
Western_____________________
56.54
51.23
78.93
73.97
2.57
2.36
3.39
3.14
United States................. ...........
35.90
31.31
60.00
44.36
1.92
1.61
2.46
2.12
W y o m in g _____________________________
759
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Farm Labor: Perquisites and Wages
The United States Department of Agriculture has published as
Technical Bulletin No. 213 (January, 1931) a study entitled “ Per
quisites and wages of hired farm laborers.” Both noncasual and
casual workers were covered in the survey. The data presented
below, taken from the report, relate only to noncasual workers.
The importance of the perquisites granted to farm laborers in
raising real farm wages is shown in Table 1, reproduced from the
report, which gives average monthly cash wages and the farm values
of perquisites of noncasual hired farm laborers, by States and geo
graphic divisions, in 1925.
T a b l e 1.-A V E R A G E M O N TH LY W AGES AN D F A R M VALUES OF PERQUISITES O F
NONCASUAL H IRED FA RM LABORERS, B Y STATE, 1925
Wages of all laborers
Wages of laborers receiving—
Perquisites and wages
State and geographic
division
Perqui
sites
Wages
Maine. ______
New Hampshire ....... ______
Vermont................... ..........
Massachusetts—______________
Rhode Island.................. - .........
Connecticut...............................
$26.38
28.91
34.45
15.84
29.74
22.97
$53.75
63.39
49.14
77.46
65.33
66.06
Total
Wages
only
$80.13
92.30
83.59
93.30
95.07
89.03
$78.00
78.33
Perqui
sites
Wages
Total
78.50"
$28.67
34.32
34.45
23.77
29.74
30.63
$51.64
60.60
49.14
76.84
65.33
61.92
$80.31
94.92
83.69
100.6J
95.07
92.55
78.67”
New England......... ............
25.08
63.07
88.15
78.50
30.04
60.02
90.06
New York_________ ____ _____
New Jersey__________________
Pennsylvania___________ _____
32.19
25.58
32.48
56.26
70.31
48.25
88.45
95.89
80.73
69.38
65.50
55.92
33.55
28.99
34.30
55.71
70.95
47.82
89.26
99.94
82.12
Middle Atlantic__________
31.84
53.36
85.20
62.00
33.60
52.88
86.48
Ohio.________ _______________
Indiana___ _______ ___________
Illinois_______________________
Michigan____________________
Wisconsin___________________
29.90
33.61
34.06
31.79
30.82
43.68
41.63
49.16
48.10
48.16
73.58
75.24
83.22
79.89
78.98
52.50
47.00
51.00
31.90
34.54
35.79
31.79
33.53
43.08
41.47
49.07
48.10
47.96
74.98
76.01
84.8<>
79.89
81.49
East North Central_______
32.37
46.23
78.60
50.70
34.01
46.01
80.02
Minnesota___________________
Iowa________________ _ _____
Missouri...... ..............................
North Dakota________________
South Dakota............................
Nebraska....................................
Kansas______________________
29.12
32.45
28.16
32.75
30.76
30.14
33.36
48.08
50.44
38.24
49.50
50.05
46.98
44.24
77.20
82.89
66.40
82.25
80.81
77.12
77.60
47.50
49.43
38.33
49.00
42.50
51.00
37.50
31.39
33.79
29.26
35.79
32.69
32.42
34.27
48.12
50.49
38.23
49.54
50.52
46.68
44.41
79.51
84.28
67.49
85.33
83.21
79.10
78.68
West North Central............
31.15
47.06
78.21
46.87
32.85
47.07
79.92
Maryland____________________
Delaware____________________
Virginia....................... ..............
West Virginia________________
North Carolina_______________
South Carolina_______________
Georgia______________________
Florida______________________
32.27
25.18
27.96
30.91
22.79
24.30
26.33
23.06
38.20
51.58
33.83
41.52
35.12
22.55
24.97
46.50
70.47
76.76
61.79
72.43
57.91
46.85
51.30
69.56
21.50
26.00
26.00
50.00
34.42
25.18
28.46
30.91
22.79
25.17
26.85
27.67
39.32
51.58
33.28
41.52
35.12
22.43
24.95
45.80
73.74
76.76
61.74
72.43
57.91
47.60
51.80
73.47
50.44
65.00
26.97
32.81
59.78
35.00
27.68
32.75
60.43
Kentucky____________________
Tennessee_____ ______________
Alabama_____________________
Mississippi________ _____ ____
27.35
20.67
24.82
30.58
33.21
31.02
25.83
33.00
60.56
51.69
50.65
63.58
37.50
27.35
20.67
24.82
32.19
33.21
31.02
25.83
32.77
60.56
51.69
50.65
64.96
East South Central.............
24.71
31.01
55.72
37.50
24.87
30.97
55.84
South Atlantic___________
47767°— 31-
-49
760
WAGES AND
houks
of
labor
T ab MS 1.—AV ERAG E M O N T H L Y W AGES A N D F A R M VALUES OF PERQUISITES OF
NONOASUAL H IR E D F A R M LA B O R E R S, B Y ST A T E , 1925—Continued
Wages of all laborers
State and geographic
division
Wages of laborers receiving—
Perquisites and wages
Perqui
sites
Wages
Wages
only
Total
Arkansavs........................
Louisiana.......................
Oklahoma......................
Texas..............................
$22.46
19.25
30.23
32.92
$34.14
33.64
35.45
38.51
$56.60
52.89
65.68
71.43
$43.67
35.00
West South Central
27.63
35.84
63.47
Montana........................
Idaho........ .....................
Wyoming.......................
Colorado......... ..............
New Mexico..... ......... .
Arizona........ .................
Utah...............................
Nevada..........................
36.36
38.13
39.71
29.47
26.57
93.30
100.51
92.91
81.99
64.57
64.88
56.94
62.38
53.20
52.52
38.00
72.50
63.00
73.74
93.90
138.62
"moo'
Mountain......... ......
35.13
55.81
Washington...................
Oregon...........................
California................. .
33.04
33.54
32.70
62.22
62.39
82.81
100.00
(9
30.90
Perqui
sites
Wages
Total
$22.46
24.50
31.14
32.92
$34.14
30.91
35.47
38.51
$56.60
55.41
66.61
71.43
41.50
28.48
35.65
64.13
80.00
38.18
38.13
39.71
29.47
37.20
55.79
62.38
53.20
52.52
35.00
93.97
100.51
92.91
81.99
72.20
38.62
64.88
61.26
73.74
99.88
138.62
90.94
36.78
55.60
92.38
95.26
95.93
115.51
33.04
35.14
40.39
62.22
60.60
78.45
95.26
95.74
118.84
105.41
45. 50
0)
101.33
Pacific.....................
33.00
71.98
104.98
101.19
16.72
68.69
Umted States_____
30.34
46.44
76.78
58.68
31.99
45. 78
i The values of perquisites given noncasual laborers in Arizona were not included here because they were
not fully reported.
The nature of the perquisites granted and the percentage each
group formed of the total remuneration received by noncasual hired
farm laborers in 1925 are shown, by geographic divisions of the
country, in Table 2.
T a b l e 3.—PERCEN TAGE OF T O T A L R E M U N E R A TIO N OF NONCASUAL H IR E D F A R M
LABORERS FORM ED B Y PERQUISITES, B Y GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION, 1925
Groups of perquisites
Board, room, washing............
House rent or fuel...................
Dairy or poultry products—
Meats or meat products.........
FlOUr Or rrtPfll_____ _________
Vegetables or fruit..................
Miscellaneous foods-_______
For laborers’ livestock:
Feed..................................
Pasture or range..............
Use of employers’ horses or
mules...................................
Use of employers’ tools or
vehicles......................... —
Miscellaneous.........................
Total........... .............. .
East West South East West
New Middle North North
Eng Atlan Cen Cen Atlan South South Moun Pacific United
Cen Cen tain
States
tic
land
tic
tral
tral
tral
tral
14.3
5.9
2.4
.1
.1
1.2
19.5
7.0
2.5
.4
.1
1.9
.1
19.8
6.2
4.3
1.5
26.3
3.9
2.3
.4
1.2
.1
.5
.4
.1
1.0
.3
3.1
.9
1.6
1.8
1.9
.4
1.6
1.7
28.4
37.4
14.2
9.6
2.3
1.3
1.0
1.6
.3
13.8
7.3
2.5
1.2
.5
1.2
.3
17.8
6.8
2.3
.3
.1
.7
.4
26.6
3.2
1.4
.1
19.0
5.2
1.1
.1
20.7
5.8
2. 7
.8
.1
1.0
.1
.4
.1
.3
1.5
.7
2.7
2.5
3.2
3.8
2.8
2.2
1.2
.4
.4
.4
1.3
1.2
3.5
4.8
3.9
1.7
.9
1.8
1.9
.9
2.0
1.0
4.2
1.9
4.1
1.6
4.8
1.4
2.7
.8
1.5
2.5
2.3
1.2
41.2 j! 39.8
45.1
44.3
43.5
38.6 | 31.4
39.5
2.0
1.0
FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS
761
Table 3 gives the average monthly farm values of these perquisites,
by geographic divisions, in 1925.
T a b l e 3.—AVERAGE M O N TH LY FA RM VALUES OF PERQUISITES GIVEN TO NONCAS
UAL F A RM LABORERS, B Y GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION, 1925
New
Eng
land
Items furnished
i
Mid East West South East i West
dle North North At South South Moun Pa
Cen Cen lantic Cen Cen tain
At
cific
tral
tral
tral
lantic tral
Board, room, washing-........... ($30.55 $29.83 $27.77 $27.99 $17.88 $16.48 $21.85 $31.69 $33.69
6.91
8.78 12.35 16.76
House rent or fuel................... I 17.67 15.49 12.62 12.87
9.81
7.39
6.78
Dairy and poultry products. _i 7.73
6.18 12.50 12.67
8.78
8.18
9.40
4.32
4.62
4.38
4.86
4.53
4.86
4.83
Meats and meat products— 1 4.63
9.00
1.74
1.04
Flour or meal.......................... 4.28
1.95
3.40
2.53
2.07
2.62
4.74
2.97
3.15
2.46
3.30 ’Toi* 2.78
3.43
Vegetables or fruits................ 3.70
.67
1.50
1.79
1.29
1.63
3.87
9.05
2.75
Miscellaneous foods................
For laborers’ livestock:
5.34
5.77
5.64
Feed.................................
5.43
7.18
4.50
4.96
5.67
4.61
3.21
Pasture or range..............
2.16
1.79
3.78
2.70
2.93
2.68
2.74
3.84
Use of employers’ horses or
mules................................... 3.06
2.54
2.17
2.48
2.80
3.43
3.62
3.62
3.46
Use of employers’ tools or
3.37
3.49
3.84
3.64
3.69
4.97
vehicles................................ 3.91
4.49
5.90
Miscellaneous......................... 4.13
5.02
3.87
4.34
4.29
5.35
4.75
3.85 13.80
Space for garden..................... 1.53 1.51 1.70 1.91 1.79 1.91 1.81 1.80 1.44
United
States
$26.65
12.12
9.75
4.69
2.66
3.50
2.68
5.89
2.98
2.77
3.83
4.77
1.75
1 Acres.
Fire and Police Departments of Principal Cities: Salaries, 1929
In August, 1929, the Bureau of Labor Statistics sent questionnaires
to the fire and police departments of all cities in the United States
haying a population of 100,000 or over according to the latest census
estimate, asking for the salary scale of their employees, by occupa
tions, with the number of persons receiving each specified annual
salary. All but two of the cities made a report on the police depart
ments and all but one made a report on the fire departments.
Data for all occupations in the fire departments were given in the
December, 1929, issue of the Labor Review, and for all occupations in
the police departments in the January, 1930, issue.
The table following gives the number and salary of firemen (privates)
and patrolmen only. Some cities have several grades of privates
and patrolmen. For example: Akron, Ohio, reported four grades of
privates. The first-year men receive $1,953; the second-year men,
$1,953; third-year men, $2,016; and after the third year of service
they receive the highest salary, $2,079 per year. The lowest, or
entrance salary, and the highest salary are reported for each city in
this table.
762
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
HIGHEST A N D LOW EST SALARIES OF F IR EM E N (PRIVATES) AN D PA TR O LM E N , BY
C ITY
Firemen (privates)
City and State
Popula
tion, 1928
(estimated
by Census
Bureau)
Akron, Ohio................................................
Albany, N. Y .............. ...............................
Atlanta, Ga................... ...... ................... .
Baltimore, M d ................. - ........... - ......... Birmingham, Ala.......... . . . ........... .......... .
Boston, Mass............. ........................ ........
Bridgeport, Conn.......................................
Buffalo, N. Y _________ ________________
Cambridge, Mass............. ..........................
Camden, N. J............................................
Canton, Ohio.......... ................................
Chicago, 111............. ...........- .......................
Cleveland, Ohio_______________________
Columbus, Ohio____ ____________ _____
Dallas, Tex.................... ....... - ...................
Dayton, Ohio____ ______ __________ ____
Denver, Colo---------------- ---------------------Des Moines, Iowa....... ...... ........... .............
Detroit, M ich---------- --------------------------Duluth, Minn............. ...............................
El Paso, Tex--------------------------------------Erie, Pa.............. ................................ ........
Fall River, Mass..................................... .
Flint, M ich___________________________
Fort Wayne, Ind------ --------------------------Forth Worth, Tex_____________________
Grand Rapids, M ich___ _______________
Hartford, Conn.................. - ......... -........ —
Houston, T ex ...----------- -------------------Indianapolis, Ind__________________
Jacksonville, Fla......................................
Jersey City, N. J.................... ................ .
Kansas City, Kans....................................
Kansas City, M o....... ...... .............-...........
Knoxville, Tenn....................... ......
.....
Long Beach, Calif------- ..---------- -----------Los Angles, Calif----------------------------- .
Louisville, K y............... ...... ......................
Lowell, Mass..................... ...... .................
Lynn, Mass_____________ ____ _________
Memphis, Tenn------ --------------------------Miami, Fla______ _____________________
Milwaukee, Wis---------------------- ---------Minneapolis, Minn.................. ....... ..........
Nashville, Tenn_______ _______ ________
Newark, N. J--------- ----------------------------- '
New Bedford, Mass------------------------------ i
New Haven, Conn.....................................
New Orleans, La______________________ i
New York, N. Y ______________________ ;
Norfolk, Va.............. ....................... ...... .
Oakland, Calif............. .......... ............ . .
Oklahoma City, Okla---------- ---------------Omaha, Nebr................ - - ............ ..........
Paterson, N. J............................... .............
Philadelphia, Pa.......................... ..............
Pittsburgh, Pa----------------------- ----------Portland, Oreg------ ----------------------------Providence, R. I---------- ---------- -----------Reading, Pa__----------------------------- ------ Richmond, Va............................................ 1
i 208,435
120,400
255,100
830,400
222,400
799,200
1 143,555
555,800
125,800
135,400
116,800
3,157,400
413,700
1,010,300
299.0C0
217,800
184,500
294,2C0
151,900
1,378,900
116,800
117,800
i 102,053
134,300
148,800
105,300
170,6C0
164,2C0
172,300
.138, 276
382, ICO
140,700
324, 700
118,300
391,000
105,400
110,700
1 576,673
329,4C0
« 110,296
105,500
190,200
156,700
544,200
455,900
139,600
473,600
6119, 539
187,900
429,400
6,017,500
184,2C0
274,100
104,080
222, SCO
144,900
2.064,2C0
673,800
i 2.58,288
286,300
115,400
194,400
1
j
Num
ber
Salary
j Policemen (patrolmen)
|
l Num
ber
Lowest
or en Highest:
trance
137 $1,800 $2,079
150
229
163
1,500
1,800
178
272
1,700
2,100
1,373
958
1,500
1,700
141
168
1,740
1,920
1,101
1,600
2,100
1,625
197
158 2,100
2,300
852
728
2,250
2,250
159
215
1,783
2,190
199
223
1,500
2,040
79
66
1,700
2,040
3,712
1,782
2,140
2,600
469
378
1,500 4 2,000
724
2,420
1,200
1,800
289
323
1,920
1,920
244
102
1,740
1,380
155
1,920
175
1,800
271
310
1,740
1,920
74
138
1,920
1,740
1,234
3,196
2,520
2,100
84
55
1,920
1,620
45
45
1, SCO
1,560
72
68
1,620
1,920
175
148
1,600
2,008
62
94
1,920
2,160
80
106
1,450
1,S00
1,620
200
1,260
(7)
185
1,825
1,551
157
186 2.000
2,200
358
178
215
1,470
1,260
302
2,026
2,026
246
93
112
1,650
2,160
457
2, 5C0
905
2,100
80
1,800
1,980
53
228
462
1,740
1,680
92
66
1,560
1,800
116
132
2,070
2,400
1,084
J, 928
2,040
2,400
190
1,460
1,643
(0
210
1,825
126
1,460
131
1,800
2,000
108
150
1,500
1,680
0
113
3,920
2,160
90
468
2,040
688
1,920
275
1, SCO 2,040
251
108
1,920
116
1,920
716
2,100
512
2,500
133
1,708
2; 008
196
255
1,825
2,108
318
298
1,884
1,884
412
5,349
1,769
2,500 15,143
194
1,620
199
1,890
245
2,160
2,400
289
65
1,200
74
1,8C0
294
1,800
2,ieo
95
179
1.900
2.3C0
130
1,785
1,643
2,008
4,700
584
1,800
2,040
599
329
2,232
1,920
205
1,802
2,102
372
396
(i°)
(10)
(10)
109
201
230 i 1,380
1,620
Salary
Lowest
or en Highest
trance
$1,800
1,700
1,944
1,820
1,740
2 1,600
2,200
1,950
1,783
31,500
1,700
2,140
1,500
1,800
1,800
31,380
1,800
1,740
1,740
2,000
1,440
1,560
1,620
6 1,643
1,800
1,800
(7)
1,551
(8)
1,290
2,026
6 1,916
2,150
1,980
1,500
1,440
2,040
2,040
(0
6 2,190
1,8C0
1,440
1,800
1,920
1,8C0
1,920
2,500
2,008
6 1,825
1,524
1,769
1,620
2,160
900
1,800
1,900
1,400
1,800
1,920
1,825
1,440
1,650
$2,079
1,900
2,100
2,392
1,920
22,100
2,300
2,250
2,190
3 2,040
2,040
2,500
1,860
2,420
1,920
* 1,860
1,920
1,920
1,920
2,520
1,920
1,740
1,920
6 2,008
2,160
1,800
(7)
1,825
6 2,219
1,470
2,026
6 2,109
2,500
1,980
1,800
1,920
2,400
2,400
(7)
6 2,190
2,000
1,800
2,160
2,040
2,040
1,920
2,500
2,008
6 2,108
1,824
2,500
1,890
2,400
1,920
2,160
2,300
6 2,08
2,040
2,232
2,099
1,680
1,800
1 Census of 1920.
2 Patrolmen are furnished free equipment valued at $145, with yearly replacements of about $50.
s Men are allowed $50 per year for uniforms.
4 4 former steam engineers assigned as privates at this salary—the range of regular firemen is from
$1,500 to $1,860.
* Men are allowed $25 per year for uniforms.
6 365 times daily rate.
7 Not reported.
* $5.26 per day.
,JState census for 1925.
Volunteers.
763
FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS
HIGHEST A N D LOW EST SALARIES OF F IR E M E N (PRIVATES) AND PA TR O L M E N , B Y
C IT Y —Continued
Firemen (privates)
City and State
Rochester, N. Y ........
St. Louis, M o............
St. Paul, Minn..........
Salt Lake City, Utah.
San Antonio, Tex___
San Diego, Calif.____
San Francisco, Calif..
Scranton, Pa..............
Seattle, Wash............
Somerville, Mass____
Spokane, Wash_____
Springfield, Mass......
Syracuse, N. Y ..........
Tacoma, Wash___ ...
Tampa, Fla................
Toledo, Ohio_______
Trenton, N. J_______
Tulsa, Okla........... .
Utica, N. Y ............
Washington, D. C___
Wilmington, Del____
Worcester, Mass........
Yonkers, N. Y ...........
Youngstown, O hio-..
Popula
tion, 1928
(estimated
by Census Num
Bureau)
ber
328.200
848.100
1 234,698
138.000
318.100
119.700
585.300
144.700
383.200
102, 700
109.100
149,800
199.300
110.500
113,400
313.200
139.000
170, 500
104.2C0
552,0(0
128.500
197,600
121.300
174.200
i Census of 1920.
422
566
262
85
178
72
848
154
513
113
121
273
323
123
(7)
314
193
69
121
112
681
270
138
Policemcn (patrolmen)
Salary
Salary
Num- i
j
ber i Lowest
Lowest
or en Highest
| or en Highest
trance
trance
$2,100
2,160
1,838
1,620
1,500
1,620
2,160
1,680
1,920
1,770
1,512
1,953
1,800
1,800
(7)
2,400
1,950
1,800
1,550
1,800
1,650
2,002
1,940
1,800
$2,100
2,160
1,838
1,860
1.500
2,220
2.400
1,920
2,160
2,190
1,800
2, 190
2.040
2.040
(0
2.400
2.400
2.400
2,000
2.100
1,650
2,184
2.500
2.040
265
1,550
177
86
62
04
905
84
487
CO
75
256
318
72
139
334
152
34
111
999
81
285
242
104
$1,785
1,860
1,838
1,620
1,500
1,860
2,400
1,800
i;920
0
1, 512
1,679
1,800
1,800
1,872
1,920
1.950
1.800
I) 550
1,800
1.752
1,916
1,940
1,800
$2,100
2,160
1,838
1,860
1.500
2,200
2.400
2.040
2,100
(0
1,800
2.190
2.040
2.040
2,088
2.400
2.400
1,800
2,000
2,100
1,752
2.190
2.500
2.040
7 Not reported.
Foundries and Machine Shops: Hours and Earnings, 1929
In 1929 the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Depart
ment of Labor made a comprehensive study of hours of labor and
earnings of wage earners in 399 representative iron foundries and in
508 machine shops in 28 States. The survey covered 131,882 wage
earners, of whom 40,391 were employed in foundries and 91,491 m
machine shops.
The wage data here given were taken directly from the pay rolls,
clock cards, and other records of the companies by agents of the bureau
except in the case of a very few companies which made transcripts of
their records for the bureau. In most instances the data are for rep
resentative pay periods in June, July, or August and are, therefore
representative of conditions in these months.
Table 1 shows average^ hours and earnings for all wage earners
covered in foundries and in machine 3hops in 1923, 1925, 1927, and
1929 and index numbers of these averages, with the 1923 average as
the base or 100 per cent.
Average full-time hours in foundries have decreased rather steadily
since 1923, falling from 52.4 per week in that year to 51 hours per
week in 1929. Thus, from 1923 to 1929 the decrease amounted to
1.4 hours per week, or 2.7 per cent; between 1927 and 1929 the decrease
was 0.1 hour per week, or a little less thah 0.2 per cent. In the machine
shops the average full-time hours decreased from 50.8 per week in
1923 to 50.1 in 1927, but increased a^ain to 50.3 hours per week in
1929.
764
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average earnings per hour in foundries increased from 55.8 cents in
1923 to 61 cents m 1925 and to 62.4 cents in 1927; no change took
place between 1927 and 1929. Thus, between 1923 and 1929 the
increase was 11.8 per cent. In machine shops earnings per hour
increased from 55.9 cents in 1923 to 60.2 cents in 1925, to 62.5 cents
in 1927, and to 63.8 cents in 1929. The increase between 1923 and
1929 amounted to 14.1 per cent, and between 1927 and 1929 to 2 per
cent.
Full-time earnings per week in foundries increased from $29.24
in 1923 to $31.89 in 1927, but decreased to $31.82 in 1929. Earnings
per week did not increase or decrease in the same proportion as average
earnings per hour because of the change from year to year in average
full-time hours per week.
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS AND IN D E X NUM BERS THEREOF, FOR
ALL EM PLOYEES, 1923, 1925, 1927, AND 1929
[1923=100]
Year
Foundries:
1923...........
1925..........
1927______
1929______
Machine shops:
1923............
1925______
1927______
1929______
Index numbers
Average Average Average
full-time earnings full-time Average
earnings full-time Average
hours
earnings
per week per hour per week
hours
per week per hour
52.4
51.5
51.1
51.0
$0,558
.610
.624
.624
$29.24
31.42
31.89
31.82
100.0
98.3
97.5
97.3
100.0
109.3
111.8
50.8
50.4
50.1
50.3
.559
.602
.625
.638
28.40
30.34
31.31
32.09
100.0
99.2
98.6
99.0
100.0
!
111.8
107.7
111.8
114.1
o fAverage
full-time
earnings
per week
100.0
107.5
109.1
108.8
100.0
106.8
110.2
113.0
In Table 2 data for all of the wage earners included in each occupa
tion in each industry in 1929 are presented in comparison with similar
figures for 1927. The averages in Table 2 are given separate^ for
males and for females in each of the principal occupations in foundries
and in machine shops for 1927 and 1929, for all males and for all
females in all occupations in each industry, and also for both sexes
combined—that is, for each industry as a whole.
As the table shows, full-time hours per week of males in foundries
in 1929 ranged from 49.6 for hand molders, bench, to 52.2 for crane
operators. Those of females ranged from 49.1 for core makers to 51.6
for laborers. Average earnings per hour of males in 1929 ranged from
49 cents for laborers to 83.3 cents for pattern makers, and those of
females from 38.6 cente for laborers to 46.9 cents for core makers.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in 1929 ranged from
$25.53 for laborers to $41.73 for pattern makers, and those of females
from $19.92 for laborers to $23.03 for core makers.
In machine shops the full-time hours of males in 1929 ranged from
49.4 for sheet-metal machine operators to 51.1 for boring-mSl opera
tors while those of females ranged from 47.6 for milling-machine
operators to 50.8 for laborers. Average hourly earnings of males
ranged from 46.9 cents for laborers to 88.8 cents for hammersmiths,
while those of females ranged from 34.3 cents for grinding-machine
operators to 50.4 cents for milling-machine operators. Full-time
weekly earnings of males ranged from $23.68 for laborers to $44.67
for hammersmiths, while those of females ranged from $17.36 for
grinding-machino operators to $23.99 for milling-machine operators.
FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS
T a b l e 2.—AVERAGE HOURS A N D EARNINGS INI FOUNDRIES AND M ACH INE SHOPS,
1927 AND 1929, B Y OCCUPATION AN D SEX
Foundries
Sex
Occupation
1927
Ooremakers.__________ _________________
Crane operators.............. ................- .............
Cupola tenders. . -- __ _____
Laborers.................. ................... ...................
Molders, hand, bench____ _______________
Molders, hand, floor_______ ___ _________
Molders, machine____ ______ _______ _____
Molders’ helpers, floor...................................
Pattern makers.............................................
Rough carpenters—............... ........................
Sand blasters._____ _____________ ________
Other employees___ ____ _________ _______
All occupations....................................
Male___
Female..
Male___
FemaleMale___
__ do____
___do......
Female
Male___
__ do____
__ do___
...d o ......
...d o ___
_._do......
...d o ......
— d o .....
Female. _
Male___
Female-
All occupations, male and female------
Average earn
Average fullings per
! time earnings
hour
per week
Average full
time hours
per week
51.1
(0
50.4
48.4
5j2.0
51.8
52.1
50.5
49.9
50.4
51.2
50.3
50.8
51.7
51.0
50.0
51.1
49.0
51.1
1929
5i. 4
49.«
49.1
52.2
51.0
52.1
51.6
49.6
50.0
50.4
51.1
50.1
50.7
51.9
51.2
50.5
51.0
49.7
51.0
1927
1929
1927 | 1929
$0.537 10.538 $27.44
(i)
..... . . . .
0)
.755
38.05
.491
.469
23.76
.575
.582
30.25
.620
.634
32.12
.491
.490
25.58
.386
.789
.783
39.84
.820
.828
40.92
! .753
.734
37.95
.502
i .484
24.78
i .830
.833
41.75
1 .609
.622
30.94
' .591
.592
30.55
! .587
.592
29.94
! .380
.492
19.23
.625
.626
31.99
.459
.451
22.49
.624
.624
31.89
$27.65
37. 13
23.03
30.38
32.33
25. 53
19.92
38.84
41.40
36.89
25.65
41.73
31.54
30.72
30.31
24.85
31.88
22.41
31.82
Machine shops
Assemblers...................- __________________ Male___
Female..
Blacksmiths............................. .................... Male___
Blacksmiths’ helpers........................ ........— . —do___
Boring-mill operators___ _________________ — do___
Crane operators
_ ___________________ — do___
FemaleDrill-press operators.......... .................... ... Male___
FemaleFitters and bench hands-------------------------- Male—
FemaleGrinding-machine operators........................ Male___
FemaleHammersmiths............................................. Male___
Helpers, not otherwise specified............... ... ...d o ___
Female
Laborers.......................................................... M a l e Female—
Lathe operators, engine......................- ......... Male___
FemaleLathe operators, turret--------- ------- ----------- Male—
FemaleMachinists....... ......................... ................. . Male___
Machinists’ and tool makers’ helpers......... . — do......
Milling-machine operators _______ Female..
Packers and craters....................... .............. Male—
FemaleMale___
Pattern makers......................................... .
Planer operators______________ _________ __ do____
Polishers and buffers................... ................. Male—
FemaleScrew-machine operators............................. . Male___
FemaleSheet-metal machine operators____________ Male___
Female..
Tool makers.............................. ..................... Male___
Other precision machine operators............... ...d o .......
FemaleOther skilled employees................................. Male___
FemaleOther employees........................................... Male___
Female-
50.1
49.5
50.2
50.2
50.7
51.2
51.3
50.1
49.4
49t 5
49.0
50.1
48.6
<*)
(*)
50.1
49.8
50.1
49.9
51.1
50.7
50.7
50.3
49.2
49.8
48.6
51.0
50.6
50.3
50.2
0)
50.5
50.8
50.3
$0.653
.423
.726
.525
.727
.540
.431
.605
.448
.662
.411
.668
.444
(2)
0)
50.4
(*>
50.2
48.4
50.0
50.0
49.5
50.1
49.7
48.8
50.1
49.5
49.6
50.5
49.4
49.0
49.8
48.7
50.2
48.7
49.7
50.5
49.3
50.1
47.7
50.3
49.3
50.5
48.9
49.8
50.3
50.2
47.6
50.0
49.0
49.9
50.7
50.1
0)
50.8
49.5
49.4
48.9
50.0
51.0
48.8
50.3
50.0
50.3
49.0
.456
(3)
.695
.385
.675
.549
.728
.510
.685
.489
.537
.389
.841
.742
.699
.450
.664
.435
.603
.420
.756
.659
.330
.650
.401
.526
.309
$0,657
.441
.742
.534
.750
.555
.425
.628
.410
.677
.450
.701
.343
.888
.514
0)
.469
.349
.717
____
. 700
.432
.739
.504
.697
..504
.547
.371
.846
.754
.674
0)
.707
.436
.630
.440
.780
.655
.428
.686
.375
.488
.345
All occupations..................................... Male___
Female-
50.1
48.9
50.3 | .629
49.3 | .403
.641
.399
31.51
19.71
32.24
19.67
All occupations, male and female....... i
50.1
50.3 .
.638 1 31.31
32.09
1Included in total.
-’ Included with “ Other skilled employees ” in 1927.
.625
$32.72
20.84
36.45
26.36
36.86
27. 65
22.11
30.31
22.13
32.77
20.14
33.47
21.58
(2)
(3)
22.98
(3)
34.89
18.63
33.75
27.45
36.04
25. 55
34.04
23.86
26.90
19.26
41. 71
37.47
34.53
22.05
33.07
21.18
30.27
20.45
37.57
33.28
16.27
32.57
19.13
26.46
15.23
"~35.35
21.12
36.80
25.35
34.99
23.99
27.35
18.18
42.22
38.23
33.77
0)
35.92
21.58
31.12
21.52
39.00
33.41
20.89
34.51
18.75
24.55
10.91
$32.92
21.96
37.17
26.65
38.33
28 14
21.55
31.59
20.17
33.71
21.87
35. 75
17.36
44.67
25.80
(i)
23.68
17.73
36.07
3Included with “ Other employees ” in 1927.
766
WAGES AND HOTJKS OF LABOR
It will be noted from a study of the data which are presented in
Table 3 that average full-time hours of males in foundries for 1929
in the various States ranged from 45.9 to 56.4 per week, while those
for females ranged from 45.7 to 53 hours. Average earnings per hour
of males ranged from 39.6 to 74.5 cents, while those of females ranged
from 36.6 to 52.4 cents. Average full-time earnings per week for
males ranged from $20.95 to $35.11, and those of females from $17.75
to $23.95.
In the machine shops the average weekly hours worked by males
in 1929 ranged from 45.9 to 54.1, while those worked by females
ranged from 47.1 to 51.6. Average hourly earnings of males ranged
from 43.4 to 77.9 cents, and those of females from 35.7 to 42.4 cents.
Full-time weekly earnings of males ranged from $22.70 to $35.76,
and those of females from $17.85 to $21.31.
In the case of a few large foundries and machine shops the data
cover only a representative portion of the total number of the wage
earners of such establishments, as the inclusion of the total number
would have given them undue weight and might have impaired the
representative character of the averages for the States in which these
establishments are located.
T a b l e a.—AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS IN FOUNDRIES AND M ACH INE SHOPS,
1927 AND 1929, B Y SEX AND STATE
Foundries
Average full-time
hours per week
Sex and State
i
i
1927
1929
Average earnings
per hour
Average full-time
weekly earnings
1927
1929
1927
1925)
Males
Alabama_______
California............
Colorado_______
Connecticut____
Georgia------------Illinois.................
Indiana-....... ......
Iowa...................Kansas................
Kentucky______
Louisiana............
M aine--............
Maryland______
Massachusetts. _Michigan............
Minnesota...........
Missouri..............
New Hampshire New Jersey.........
New Y ork....... .
Ohio....................
Oregon-------------Pennsylvania___
Rhode Island___
Tennessee— .......
Texas....... ...........
Washington------Wisconsin........ .
Total-
1
54.1
46.9
47.0
52.2
54.5
49. 5
50.9
53.2
53.9
48.9
49.7
50.8
52.1
49.6
51.7
53.2
51.4
49.6
52.0
50.5
52.2
45.3
51.1
51.5
49.5
51.2
46.9
52.3
53. 5
45.9
49.2
50.8
52.9
50.5
52.6
52.9
55.1
50.6
56.4
50.7
50.9
48.7
51.9
52.0
52.1
50.9
50.6
50.1
51.8
46.1
51.6
51.5
49.2
49.8
48.3
51.2
$0.453
.740
.577
. 592
.391
.669
.589
.615
.474
.500
.481
.589
.554
.677
.640
.596
.629
.635
.627
.657
.630
. 659
.625
.611
.470
.470
.693
.636
$0.456
.745
.596
.611
.396
.665
.590
.614
.480
.512
.436
. 555
.558
.681
.644
.555
.610
.599
.636
.647
.625
.677
.608
.612
.461
.488
.727
.644
$24.51
34.71
27.12
30.90
21.31
33.12
29.98
32.72
25. 55
24.45
23.91
29.92
28.86
33.58
33.09
31.71
32.33
31.50
32.60
33.18
32.89
29.85
31.94
31.47
23.27
24.06
32.50
33.26
$24. 40
34.20
29. 32
31.04
20.95
33. 58
31.03
32.48
26.45
25.91
24.59
28.14
28.40
33.16
33.42
28.86
31.78
30.49
32.18
32.41
32.38
31.21
31.32
31.57
22.68
24.30
35.11
32.97
51.1
51.0
.626
.625
31.99
31.88
Females
Georgia......................
Illinois............ ..........
Indiana......................
Iowa...........................
Kentucky...................
i Included in total.
48.8
50.0
0)
47.0
I
m
(*)
49.0
50.0
.537 i
.416 j
.447
.434
50. G
.446 i
.412
26.21
20.80
0)
2a 96
0)
21.90
21.70
20.65
767
FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS
T abus & r-A V E RA G E HOURS A N D EARNINGS IN FOUNDRIES A N D M ACHINE SHOPS,
1927 A N D 1929, B Y SEX A N D STATE—Continued
Fo undries—Continued
Average full-time I Average earnings
hours per week
per hour
Average full-time
weekly earnings
Sex and State
1927
1929
1927
1929
1927
1929
0
$0,427
$22.75
(l)
22.39
$21.99
(i)
22.19 ....... 23.ll
22.85
23.86
19.89
(9
20.41
17.75
20.49
21.62
24.25
23.95
Females—Continued
Massachusetts —........................... ..............
Michigan....... ......................... ...................
Minnesota ..........
New Jersey...................................- —.........
New York...................... ........... ..............
Ohio................................ ............ - ........—
Pennsylvania . ............................ ...............
Rhode Island..................................._.........
Wisconsin...................................................
48.0
51.6
0)
49.2
45.6
49.0
48.7
50.6
46.9
0)
51.5
49.8
48.8
0)
48.5
53.0
45.7
$0,474
.434
(i)
.451
.501
.406
.419
.405
.517
T ota l--............ ...................... ...........
49.0
49.7
.459
.451
22.49
22.41
Wisconsin.................. - ................................ 11
54.1
46.9
47.0
52.2
54.5
49.5
50.9
53.2
53.9
48.8
49.7
50.8
52.1
49.6
51.7
53.1
51.4
49.6
51.9
50.4
52.2
45.3
51.1
51.5
49.5
51.2
46.9
52.2
53.5
45.9
49.2
50.8
52.9
50.5
52.5
52.9
55.1
50.6
56.4
50.7
50.9
48.7
51.9
52.0
52.1
50.9
50.5
50.1
51.8
46.1
51.6
51.5
49.2
49.8
48.3
51.1
.453
.740
.577
.592
.391
.666
.586
.614
.474
.498
.481
.589
.554
.677
.636
. 594
.629
.635
.623
.654
.629
.659
.624
.608
.470
.470
.693
.634
. 456
.745
.596
.611
.395
.663
.587
.614
.480
.510
.436
. 555
.558
.680
.640
. 555
.610
.599
.633
.644
.625
.677
.607
.610
.461
.488
.727
.643
24.51
34.71
27.12
30.90
21.31
32.97
29.83
32.66
25.55
24.30
23.91
29.92
28.86
33.58
32.88
31.54
32.33
31.50
32.33
32.96
32.83
29.85
31.89
31.31
23.27
24.06
32.50
33.09
24.40
34.20
29.32
31.04
20.90
33.48
30.82
32.48
26. 45
25.81
24. 59
28.34
28.40
33.12
33.22
28.86
31.78
30.49
31.97
32.26
32.38
31.21
31.32
31.42
22.68
24 30
35.31
32.86
Total_______________ ____________ !
51.1
51.0
.624
.624
31.89
31.82
$0,543
.746
$0.551
.779
.619
.639
.434
.691
.564
.552
.508
.526
.489
.544
.656
.630
.639
,578
,674
.625
.685
$29.43
34.32
$27.65
35.76
29.77
32. 59
22.70
34.55
28.76
29.86
27.48
26.67
26.45
26.66
32.80
31.06
33.16
29.13
29.60
30.63
33.91
Males and females
Alabama.................................. - .............. .
California................. ......... ......... -........—
Colorado—............... .................................
Connecticut............. ...................... ............
Georgia.—............... -................... ..............
Illinois...................... ......................... .........
Indiana............................................. ...........
Iowa......................... ...................................
Kansas................... -................ ..................
Kentucky_____________________________
Louisiana....... — ---------------------------------Maine............................. ............... .............
Maryland....................................... .............
Massachusetts____ ___ ____ ____________
Michigan....................................... ........... .
Minnesota.............. ......... .............. ........... .
Missouri.................... ................. ................
New Hampshire__________________ ____
New Jersey------------- ----------------- ----------New Y ork------- ----------------------------------- j
Ohio................................ ...... ...................... !
Oregon----------------------------------------- -----Pennsylvania________ _____ ___________ S
Rhode Island_______________ _____ _____ !
Tennessee--------------- ---------------------------- !1
Texas............................................................!
.466
.489
0)
.366
.408
.524
Machine shops
Males
Alabama.......... .
California_______
Colorado..........
Connecticut........
Georgia................
Illinois......... ........
Indiana............
Iowa.....................
Kansas........... .
Kentucky______
Louisiana............
M a in e ................
Maryland............
Massachusetts...
Michigan......... —
Minnesota...........
Missouri..............
New Hampshire .
New Jersey.........
1 Included in total.
54.2
46.0
50.9
54.3
49.7
50*9
52*8
51.1
47.3
51.5
47.8
47.7
48.9
61.2
50.1
51.3
50.2
49.5 i
50.0
45.9
48.1
51.0
52.3
50.0
51.0
54.1
54.1
50.7
54.1
49.0
50.0
49.3
51.9
50.4
61.4
49.0
49.5
.639
.433
.685
.566
.515
.518
.554
.566
.555
.605
.611
.627
.593
.376
.638
.647
32.53
23.51
34.04
28.81
27.19
26.47
26.20
29.15
26.53
28.86
29.88
82.10
29.71
29.55
32.03
32.03
768
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 3.—AVERAG E HOURS AND EARNINGS IN FOUNDRIES AND M ACH INE SHOPS,
1927 AND 1929, BY SEX A N D STATE—Continued
Machine shops—Continued
Average full-time
hours per week
Average earnings
per hour
Average full-time
weekly earnings
Sex and State
1927
Males—Continued
New York......
Ohio................
Oregon..........
Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island..
Tennessee.......
Texas..............
Washington...
Wisconsin.......
T o ta l..
1929
1927
1929
1927
$32.11
31.14
31. 55
31.85
29.94
26. 57
26.44
33. 70
31. 67
48.5
50.3
45.0
51.2
50.4
49.2
49.8
47.2
52.6
48.7
50.1
47.2
51.7
50.8
50.8
47.6
47.6
51.6
$0,662
.619
.701
.622
.594
.540
.531
.714
.602
$0,683
50.1
50.3
.629
. 641
31.51 j
32. 24
C
1)
51.6
0)
0)
0)47.9
50.0
50.7
50.0
0).391
.424
.377
. 357
21.20
0)
47.1
51.6
.434
.467
(0
20.18
C
1)
0)
0)
20. 79
(l)
18.85
0)19. 85
.615
.592
.550
.583
.732
.639
$33. 26
32. 36
32. 62
31. 80
30.07
27. 94
27. 75
34.84
32.97
Females
Connecticut........
Illinois.................
Indiana................
Kentucky.......... .
Maine................ Massachusetts.. .
Michigan.............
New HampshireNew Jersey..........
New York..........Ohio.....................
Pennsylvania----Rhode Island----Tennessee______
Wisconsin............
Total..
Males and females
Alabama..............
California-..........
Colorado.......... .
Connecticut........
Georgia................
Illinois.................
Indiana................
Iowa....................
Kansas.................
Kentucky............
Louisiana............
Maine____ _____
Maryland...........
Massachusetts—
Michigan.............
Minnesota--------Missouri..............
New HampshireNew Jersey..........
New York........ .
Ohio....................
Oregon...............
Pennsylvania----Rhode Island----Tennessee............
Texas.............. .
Washington.........
Wisconsin............
Total..
i Included in total.
50.2
(050.0
48.1
49.3
48.1
43.0
(»)
0)
0)50.0
47.8
49.2
48.4
51.1
0)
8
0)
0)
QK
. 377
C1.397
)
.389
.345
.398
.445
0)
48.9
49.3
54.2
46.0
.543
.746
50.9
54.3
49.7
50.8
52.8
51.1
47.4
51.5
47.8
47.7
48.9
51.2
50.1
51.3
50.2
49.5
48.5
50.3
45.0
51.1
50.2
49.2
49.8
47.2
52.6
50.0
45.9
48.1
51.0
52.3
50.0
51.0
54.1
54.1
50.9
54.1
49.0
50.0
49.3
51.8
50.4
51.4
49.0
49.5
48.6
50.1
47.2
51.7
50.8
50.8
47.6
47.6
51.6
50.1
50.3 !
.625
.414
.411
23.44
.408
.382
.423
.417
18.71
17 01
19.14
19.14
0)
(5)
. 399
.639
.433
.684
.564
.515
.518
.540
.566
. 554
.605
.609
.619
. 593
.576
.629
.642
. 654
.614
.701
. 019
. 590
. 510
.531
.714
.602
. 551
.779
.619
.639
.434
.689
.561
.552
.508
.512
.489
. 544
.656
.628
.630
.578
.574
.610
.682
.672
.641
.691
.612
. 580
. 550
. 583
.732
I
|
I
|
19. 50
21. 21
19. 50
18. 79
20. 47
21.31
0)
19. 71
19. 67
29. 43
34.32
29.02
20. 57
26. 44
33. 70
31.6'
27. 55
35. 76
29.77
32. 59
22. 70
34. 45
28. 61
29.86
27.48
26.06
26. 45
26.66
32,80
30.96
32.63
29.13
29. 50
29.89
33.76
32.66
32.11
32.02
31.64
29.77
27.94
27.75
34.84
32.97
31.31
32.09
32.53
23.51
33.99
28.65
27.10
26.47
25.60
29.15
26.48
28.86
29.78
31.69
29.71
29. 55
31.58
31.78
31. 72
30.88
31.55
HI.63
_i_
.638
19. 11
17. 85
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
769
Furniture Industry: Hours and Earnings, 1929
The 1929 study of the Bureau of Labor Statistics covered 44,870
wage earners in 312 representative plants manufacturing household
furniture in 17 States. The study discloses the fact that in the
autumn of 1929 the employees in this industry were working average
full-time hours of 51.9 per week. The average hourly earnings were
49 cents and the average full-time earnings per week were $25.43.
Scope of Survey
The data presented cover a representative pay-roll period in the
fall of the year 1929 (mainly October and November) and were copied
by agents of the Bureau of Labor Statistics directly from pay rolls or
other records of the various companies.
The 17 States covered in the survey are, according to the United
States Census of Manufactures for 1927, the most important in num
ber of wage earners in the industry, employing 92.1 per cent of the
total number of wage earners in that year. The 44,870 employees
for which wage data were obtained in this 1929 study represent 26.1
per cent of the total number employed in the 17 States in 1927 and
24.1 per cent of the total in the United States in that year.
The establishments taken in this survey were limited to those
whose principal products were wooden household furniture, such as
bedroom, dining-room, sitting-room, and parlor suites, library and
hall pieces, tables^ chairs, radio cabinets, and office furniture, such as
desks, tables, chairs, etc. Data were not included from establish
ments whose principal products were metallic, reed, or fiber furniture,
mattresses, bed springs, refrigerators, furniture for schools, churches,
theaters, etc., or from establishments which make a specialty of
expensive made-to-order articles. Data have not been included in
this report for officials, office forces, foremen, power-house employees,
watchmen, teamsters, or chauffeurs.
Prior to 1915 data were obtained only for the principal productive
occupations. In 1915 and in 1929, however, data were taken for all
occupations found in each plant.
Trend of Wages and Hours, 1910 to 1929
Tab le 1 gives summary figures showing average full-time hours
per week, earnings per hour and full-time earnings per week for each
of the years for which there are comparable data, as well as index
numbers therefor. Direct comparison can be made between the
averages from 1910 to 1915 and as between the averages for 1915
and 1929. It is assumed that the principal occupations fairly repre
sent the trend in wages and hours in the earlier period, and index
numbers have been computed from 1910 to 1929, making easy com
parison of both selected and all occupations, one year with another.
The index numbers for selected occupations (1910 to 1915) are
simple percentages with the 1913 average as the base. Those for all
occupations in 1929 were computed by increasing or decreasing the
1915 index for selected occupations in proportion to the increase or
decrease in the averages for all occupations as between 1915 and
1929.
770
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
The average full-time hours per week, all occupations combined,
in 1915 were 67.4. In 1929 this average had dropped to 51.9, showing
a decrease of 9.6 per cent, while average earnings per hour increased
from 21.4 cents in 1915 to 49 cents in 1929, an upward trend of 129
per cent. The full-time earnings in 1915 were $12.24 compared with
$25.43 in 1929, an increase of 107.8 per cent. The average full-time
earnings per week do not show so large an increase as the average
earnings per hour, chiefly because of the reduction in working hours.
The early periods of the industry show only very moderate changes.
T a b l e 1.—AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS, W ITH IN D E X NUM BERS, 1910 TO 1929,
Y EA R
j
Year
Selected occupations only:
1910....... .........- ...................... .......... .
1911___ _______________________ ____
1912............................ ..........................
1913_____________ __________________
19151......................... .......... ...............
All occupations:
j
19151............ ......................................... 1
1929...................... ...............................;
BY
Index numbers (1913=100)
Average Average Average
full-time
full-time earnings
hours
earnings Full-time Earnings Full-time
hours
earnings
per week per hour per week
per week per hour per week
58.2
58.4
58.2
57.4
57.1
$0,217
.216
.214
.220
.227
$12.56
12.50
12.41
12.58
12.88
101.4
101.7
101.4
100.0
99.5
98.6
98.2
97.3
100.0
103.2
99.8
99.4
98.6
100.0
102.4
57.4
51.9
.214
.490
12.24
25.43
89.9
236.3
212.8
i 2 sets of averages are shown for this year—1 for selected occupations and 1 for all occupations in the
industry. The 1910 to 1915 averages for selected occupations are comparable 1 year with another, as arc
those for all occupations 1 year with another for 1915 and 1929.
Table 2 shows for 1929 average full-time hours per week, earnings
per hour, and full-time earnings per week, for males and females
separately, in each of 19 selected occupations, in the group of “ other
employees/’ and in all occupations combined.
Average full-time hours per week of males in the various occupations
ranged from 48.6 for hand carvers to 52.8 for craters and packers, and
sprayers, and those of females ranged from 49.4 for sewers to 52.5 for
polishers and rubbers. The male employees averaged 52.1 and the
female employees 50.5 hours per week. The average for the industry
as a whole was 51.9 hours.
Average earnings per hour of males ranged from 30.4 cents for
helpers to 95.6 cents for hand carvers, and those of females from 22.4
cents for helpers to 47.5 cents for spring setters. The average for all
occupations combined was 49.9 cents for males and 34.5 cents for
females. The average for the industry was 49 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week of males ranged from $15.93
for helpers to $46.46 for hand carvers, and those of females ranged
from $11.65 for helpers to $23.61 for spring setters. The average for
all occupations combined was $26 for males and $17.42 for females.
The industry average was $25.43.
Average full-time hours per week of females exceeded those of males
in four of the 15 occupations for which figures are shown for both
sexes. In all of the 15 occupations the average earnings per hour
and full-time earnings per week of males exceeded those of females.
The differences in the full-time earnings per week ranged from $1.74
for spring setters to $16 for upholsterers. There are only 4 of the 19
selected occupations in which no females are shown as working.
FUBNlTUltK 1NDU8TKY
T able
771
AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS, 1929, BY OCCUPATION AN D SEX
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Aver
age
full
time
earn
ings
per
week
52.1 $0,560
50.7
.317
$29.18
16.07
Aver
age
full
time
hours
per
week
Occupation and sex
Assemblers and cabinet
makers:
Male.................................
Female............................ .
Carvers, hand:
Male.................................
Carvers, machine:
Male....... .........................
Craters and packers:
Male.................................
Female.............................
Cushion and pad makers:
Male.—........................... .
Female..............................
Cutters (upholstering ma
terials):
Male................................
Female............................
Finishers:
Male................................
Female..........................
Gluers, rough stock:
Male................................
Helpers (excluding appren
tices):
Male................................
Female............................ .
Laborers:
48.6
.956
46.46
51.1
.765
39.09
52.8
50.3
.435
.331
22.97
16.65
50.0
50.6
.571
.353
28.55
17.86
50.0
50.1
.647
.409
32.35
20.49
52.0
50.5
.505
.371
26.26
18.74
52.5
.460
24.15
52.4
52.0
.304
.224
15.93
11.65
Male............................... 52.2
Machine hands:
Male................................. 52.4
Female............................. 51.1
.378
19.73
.512
.293
26.83
14.97
Occupation and sex
Polishers and rubbers:
Male.......................
Female....................
Sanders, hand:
Male.......................
Female....................
Sewers:
Male.......................
Female....................
Sprayers:
Male.......................
Female....................
Spring setters:
Male.......................
Female....................
Trimmers:
Male.......................
Female....................
Upholsterers:
Male....... ...............
Female....................
Veneerers:
Male.......................
Female.....................
Other employees:
Male.................. .
Female.....................
All occupations:
Male.............
Female..........
Male and female. —
Aver- Aver Aver
age
age
full
time
time earn
earn
hours ings
per
ings
per hour
per
week
week
52.7
52.5
0.507
.300
$26.72
15.75
52.5
51.6
.419
22.00
13.83
49.3
49.4
.670
.408
33.03
20.16
52.8
52.0
.527
27.83
20.07
50.0
49.7
.507
.475
25.35
23.61
52.2
50.9
.506
.314
26.41
15.98
50.1
50.3
.724
.403
36.27
20.27
52.5
51.5
.454
.290
23.84
14.94
51.6
50.3
.516
.343
26.63
17.25
52.1
50.5
51.9
.345
.490
26.00
17.42
25.43
Hours and Earnings, by Sex and State
Table 3 shows by sex and by State the average full-time hours per
week, earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week for all of the
wage earners covered in 1929.
Average full-time hours per week in 1929 ranged b j States from 47
to 56.9 for males, and from 45.4 to 55 for females m each of three
States. The average for the industry ranged in the various States
from 46.9 to 57 hours.
Average earnings per hour of males in 1929 ranged by States from
29 cents to 64.6 cents; for females from 14.5 cents to 49.2 cents; and
for both sexes combined ranged from 28.9 cents to 62 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in 1929 ranged by
States from $15.98 to $31.20; of females from $7.98 to $22.34; andfor
both sexes combined ranged from $15.92 to $30.07.
772
WAGES ANI) HOURS OF LAUOJl
T able 3.—A V ERAG E HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1929, BY SEX AND STATE
Sex and State
Aver
age
full
time
hours
per
week
Males
California.....................
Georgia-----*................
Illinois.........................
Indiana........................
Kentucky....................
Maryland....................
Massachusetts.............
Michigan.....................
Missouri......................
New Jersey..................
New York...................
North Carolina______
Ohio.............................
Pennsylvania..............
Tennessee....................
Virginia....... ................
Wisconsin....................
Total..................
Females
California.....................
Georgia........................
Illinois.........................
Indiana........................
Kentucky....... ............
Maryland— ..............
Massachusetts.............
Michigan.....................
Missouri......................
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Aver
age
fuUtime
earn
ings
per
week
47.0
55.1
50.0
52.6
56.9
51.1
48.3
51.2
51.9
49.0
51.4
55.0
53.6
53.2
54.4
55.0
53.7
$0.599
.290
.608
.443
.453
.516
.646
.555
.477
.619
.566
.333
.493
.474
.348
.298
.459
$28.15
15.98
30.40
23.30
25.78
26.37
31.20
28.42
24.76
30.33
29.09
18.32
26.42
25.22
18.93
16.39
24.65
52.1
.499
26.00
45.4
.492
(l)
.427
.272
0)
.387
.356
.340
.319
22.34
(l)
21.35
14.39
0)
19.35
16.98
17.48
15.95
C
1)
50.0
52.9
0)
50.0
47.7
51.4
50.0
AverSex and State
time
hours
per
week
Aver
age
earn
ings
per
hour
Avertime
earnper
week
New Jersey..............
New York............ .
North Carolina........
Ohio.........................
Pennsylvania______
Tennessee_________
Virginia___________
Wisconsin.......... ......
46.2
48.8
55.0
49.8
50.8
55.0
55.0
50.0
$0.404
.389
.189
.374
.363
.161
.145
.315
$18.66
18.98
10.40
18.63
18.44
8.86
7.98
15.75
Total............. Males and females
California.................
Georgia................. .
Illinois......................
Indiana............ ........
Kentucky.................
Maryland.................
Massachusetts.........
Michigan.................
Missouri__________
New Jersey________
New York_________
North Carolina........
Ohio______________
Pennsylvania______
Tennessee....... .........
Virginia....................
Wisconsin.................
50.5
.345
17.42
46.9
55.1
50.0
52.6
57.0
51.0
48.2
51.2
51.8
48.9
51.2
55.0
53.3
53.1
54.5
55.0
53.3
.591
.289
.593
.434
.453
.505
.620
.535
.467
.615
.558
.331
.485
.471
. 313
27.72
15.92
29.65
22.83
25.82
25.76
29.88
27.39
24.19
30.07
28.57
18.21
25.85
25.01
17.06
16.28
23.72
Total..............
51.9
25.43
i Data included in total.
Hosiery and Underwear Industries: Wages and Hours of Labor,
1928
and 1930
This article presents the results of the study of wages and hours of
labor of wage earners in the hosiery and underwear industries in
the United States made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1930,
together with comparative figures for certain specified years from
1910 to 1928. The 1930 data in more detail will be published later
in bulletin form.
The wage figures used in compiling the article were taken by agents
of the bureau directly from the records of 122 representative hosiery
mills in 19 States for 33,827 wage earners, and of 74 underwear
mills in 15 States for 15,155 wage earners, making a total of 48,982
employees in the two industries.
Trend of Hours and Earnings, 1910 to 1930
T ab le 1 shows average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour
and full-time earnings per week for each year from 1910 to 1914 and
for 1919, for wage earners in selected occupations only and for wage
earners in all occupations in the two industries combined for 1914
and for each even year from 1922 to 1930. Index numbers of these
averages with the 1913 average taken as a base, or 100 per cent, are
also shown in the table.
773
HOSIERY AND UNDERW EAR INDUSTRIES
The index numbers furnish comparable data, one year with another,
from 1910 to 1930. The averages for employees in selected occupa
tions are of course not comparable with those for employees in all
occupations.
The index numbers for the years from 1910 to 1919 were computed
from the averages of the combined data for selected occupations only,
with the 1913 average as the base. Those for each of the specified
years from 1922 to 1930 were computed by increasing or decreasing
the 1914 index for selected occupations in proportion to the increase
or decrease in the average for each year as compared with the 1914
average for employees in all occupations.
Average full-time hours increased from 51.3 in 1928 to 51.6 per
week in 1930. Average earnings per hour increased from 44.4 cents
in 1928 to 45.5 cents in 1930 and average full-time earnings per week
increased from $22.78 in 1928 to $23.48 in 1930. These changes
expressed in index numbers show an increase in full-time hours from
an index of 92.4 in 1928 to 92.9 in 1930, in earnings per hour from
267.2 in 1928 to 273.8 in 1930, and in full-time earnings per week
from 246.1 in 1928 to 253.7 in 1930. Between 1913 and 1930 full
time hours have been reduced 7.1 per cent, earnings per hour increased
173.8 per cent while the full-time earnings per week increased only
153.7 per cent, the difference being due to the reduction of full-time
hours.
T a b l e 1.—-AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS W ITH IN D E X NUM BERS, 1910 TO 1930
Year
Selected occupations:
1910___ ____ _______ ________________ !
1911____ ___________________________
1912— __________________________
1913__________________________ _____
1914 i........... ........................... .............
1919----------------- --------- ------ ------------All occupations:
19141______________________ ________
1922— . ...........................................—
1924......... - .......................... ................
1926....... .................................................
1928_______________________ ________
1930._____________________ _________
i
Index numbers (1913= 100) of—
Average Average Average
full-time
full-time earnings
earnings Full-time Earnings Full-time
hours
per week per hour per week hours
earnings
per week per hour per week
57.6
57.4
56.4
55.3
54.6
52.1
$0,141
.144
.153
.172
.178
.315
$8.10
8.28
8.62
9.51
9.70
16.44
104.2
103.8
102.0
100.0
98.7
94.2
82.0
83.7
89.0
100.0
103.5
183.1
85.2
87.1
90.6
100.0
102.0
172.9
54.8
51.0
50.7
51.3
51.3
51.6
.172
.354
.409
.443
.444
.455
9.44
18.05
20.74
22.73
22.78
23.48
91.9
91.3
92.4
92.4
92.9
213.0
246.1
266.6
267.2
273.8
195.0
224.1
245.6
246.1
253.7
12 sets of averages are shown for 1914—1 for selected occupations and the other for all occupations in
hosiery and underwear industries. The averages for selected occupations are not comparable with those
for all occupations.
Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Occupation and Sex
Table 2 stows for 1928 and 1930 average full-time hours per week,
earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week, by occupation
and sex.
The 1930 average full-time hours of males in the hosiery industry
ranged from 50.6 for knitters, loggers of full-fashioned hose, to 55.5
for automatic knitters, and those of females from 4.99 for boarders
to 53.8 for mock seamers. Average earnings per hour of males
ranged from 26.9 cents for winders to $1,451 for knitters, footers of
7 74
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
full-fashioned hose, and those of females from 27 cents for welters to
54.6 cents for toppers of full-fashioned hose. Average full-time
earnings per week of males ranged from $13.91 for winders to $73.57
for knitters, footers of full-fashioned hose, and those of females from
$14.50 for welters to $27.57 for toppers of full-fashioned hose.
In the underwear industry average full-time hours of males in
1930, ranged from 49.5 for press hands to 52.5 for web or tube knitters,
and of females ranged from 48.6 for press hands to 50.9 for cutters.
Average earnings per hour of males ranged from 42.4 cents for winders
to 70.4 cents for machine fixers and of females from 27 cents for inspec
tors to 45.5 cents for knitters of cuffs and ankles. Average full-time
earnings per week of males ranged from $21.33 for winders and press
hands to $35.69 for machine fixers, and of females from $13.47 for
inspectors to $23.07 for knitters of cuffs and ankles.
The number of establishments was increased in 1930. However,
with but few exceptions the same establishments were canvassed in
1930 as in 1928. In the cases of a few large plants data are used for
only a representative fraction of the employees in the plant, because
the inclusion of all employees in such plants would have tended to
distort the representative character of the averages for the States
in which these large plants are located.
T a b l e 2.—AVERAGE HOURS A N D EARNINGS, 1928 AND
SEX
1930, B Y OCCUPATION AND
Hosiery industry
Occupation
Sex
Average full
time hours per
week
1928
Boarders.................................................... .
Folders.......... - ...............................................
Inspectors........................................ ..............
Knitters:
Footers, full-fashioned....... ...... ..............
Loggers, full-fashioned.............................
Automatic__________________________
R ib.......................... ...................- ...........
Transfer..................... .........- ........... ......
Knitters’ helpers, full-fashioned....................
Loopers................................................. .........
Machine fixers............................... ............ .
Menders.................. ......................... .............
Pairers or maters_____ - __________________
Seamers, full-fashioned........... ......................
Seamers, mock_____________ ___________ _
Toppers, full-fashioned___________ _______
Welters_________________________________
Winders........................ ................... .............
Other employees............................................
Male___
Female.
...d o ___
53.8
50.0
52.4
52.3
50.1
Male—
50.7
...d o ___
__ do___
55.8
52.1
Female 54.0
Male___
51.5
Female 53.8
Male___
53.1
Female Male___
51.1
53.0
Female Male___
53.7
51.4
Female ...d o ___
52.2
...d o ___
49.8
__ do___
53.5
Male___
Female . ""4 9 .T
53.4
...d o ___
53.1
Male___
Female 51.4
Male.—
52.6
Female.
51.5
1930
Average earn
ings per hour
Average full
time earnings
per week
1928
1930
1928
$0,521
.486
.337
.313
$0,488
.498
.356
.307
$28.03
24.30
17.66
16.37
$26. 21
24.85
18.62
16.21
50.7
1.546
50.6
1.329
55.5
.414
52.8
.359
.333
53.7
.342
52.3
54.8
.317
53.7
.294
51.8
.346
53.1
.385
53.6
.760
51.7
.387
52.1
.367
.504
50.2
53.8
.306
51.4
50.5 ” ’ .’ 561’
53.7
.316
51.7
.337
51.0
.366
53.3
.411
52.0
.258
1.451
1.212
.392
.312
.399
.325
.292
.273
.340
.386
.775
.362
.363
.497
.277
.484
.546
.270
.269
.323
.392
.280
77.45
67.38
23.10
18.70
17.98
17.61
17.05
15.61
17.68
20.41
40.81
19.89
19.16
25.10
16.37
27.99
16.87
17.89
18.81
21.62
13.29
73.57
61.33
21.76
16.47
21.43
17.00
16.00
14.66
17.61
20.50
41.54
18.72
18.91
24.95
14.90
*’ 24.88
27.57
34.50
13.91
16.47
20.89
14.56
53.7
49.9
52.3
52.8
1930
All occupations..................................... Male___
Female.
52.4
51.9
52.4
52.1
.724
.360
.707
.366
37.94
18.68
37. Oo
19.07
All occupations, both sexes.................
52.1
52.2
.488
.497
25.42
25.94
775
HOSIERY AND UNDERW EAR INDUSTRIES
TABUS 3.—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 AN D 1930, B Y OCCUPATION AND
SEX—Continued
Underwear industry
Sex
Occupation
Average full
time hours per
week
1928
Average earn
ings per hour
1930
1928
$0,340
.302
.448
.344
.510
.356
.341
50.3
48.9
50.1
49.7
49.7
52.2
49.7
50.1
50.3
50.9
50.3
50.9
49.1
50.2
52.8
49.3
50.1
48.2
50.3
50.5
50.9
60.4
50.9
50.9
50.5
50.6
50.3
50.6
50.5
50.3
49.4
49.9
50.4
50.7
52.5
49.5
50.7
50.4
50.9
50.8
49.5
48.6
50.0
50.3
48.8
50.6
50.5
All occupations________ ____ _______ Male___
Female -
50.6
49.8
50.9
50.2
.453
.329
All ofiftiinations. b oth sexes
50.0
50.3
.354
Buttonhole makers______________________ Female _
Button sewers______________________ ____
do___
Cutters, hand, layers-up, and markers_____ Male___
Female.
Cutters, power................................ .............. Male___
Female Finishers..... . .....
__ do___
E dge.. -do
Face ___
do
Neck______________________ ________
do. _ Miscellaneous______________ _____
do
Folders__________________ ________ ______ __ do___
Hemmers_____ _____ ______ _____________ __ do___
Inspectors______________ ____________ _
do
Knitters, cuff and ankle_____ ____ ____ ___ Male___
Female.
Knitters, web or tube____ _______________ Male___
Female Machine fixers_____________________ _____ Male— Menders_____ ______ ____________________ Female.
Pressers________________________________ Male___
Female.
Press hands_____________________________ Male___
Female.
Seamers_______________________ _____ ___ ...d o ___
Winders________________________________ Male___
Female Other employees________________________ Male___
Female -
_
i
I
60.1
50.7
51.1
50.4
50.8
50.0
50.2
1930
Average full
time earnings
per week
1928
1930
17.25
18.39
13.93
26.74
23.31
25.58
18.79
36.47
14.99
20.41
18.91
20.77
14.44
17.82
19.27
17.45
19.84
13.59
$16.60
15.45
23.01
18.35
27.03
20.00
17.22
17.15
17.25
18.06
16.72
16.20
16.94
13.47
27.01
23.07
27.04
20.10
35.69
15.37
22.96
18.14
21.33
16.91
17.71
21.33
17.42
20.24
14.49
.458
.330
22.92
16.38
23.31
10.57
.357
17.70
17.96
$0,330
.306
.452
.364
.531
.393
.341
.339
.343
.357
.331
.322
.’ 343"
.343
.376
.278
.270
.538
.536
.469
.455
.515
.490
.406
.378
.704
.728
.298
.305
.401
.436
.376
.357
.431
.408
.294
.348
.355
.354
.365
.424
.354
.357
.396
.400
.282
.287
$17.03
15.31
22.89
17.34
25.91
17.80
17.12
Hours and Earnings, 1928 and 1930, by Sex and State
Table 3 shows for 1928 and 1930 the average full-time hours per
week, earnings per hour, and full-time earnings per week, by sex and
State, all occupations combined.
To avoid revealing the identity of any one mill, certain combina
tions of data have been made. Thus, in the hosiery industry, com
bined figures are given for Alabama and Louisiana, Maryland and
West Virginia, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and New Hampshire and
Vermont. In the underwear industry, combined figures are given
for Connecticut and Rhode Island, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and
New Hampshire and Vermont.
Hosiery industry.—As Table 3 shows, average full-time hours of
males in 1930 ranged in the various States from 47.7 to 55.8, those of
females from 47.8 to 55.8, and those of both sexes combined, from
47.8 to 55.8. The average hours of all males remained unchanged,
at 52.4, from 1928 to 1930, while those of females rose slightly, from
51.9 to 52.1; a slight increase also took place in the average for both
sexes, from 52.1 to 52.2.
The average earnings per hour of males in 1930, by States, ranged
from 33.7 cents to $1,217, those of females from 19.4 to 53 cents, and
those of both sexes from 23.7 to 83.1 cents. The average for the
47707°—31------50
776
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
whole group of males dropped from 72.4 cents in 1928 to 70.7 cents
in 1930, while that of females rose from 36 to 36.6 cents; for the entire
number of employees the average rose from 48.8 to 49.7 cents.
The average full-time earnings of males in 1930 by States ranged
from $17.76 to $58.05, those of females from $10.71 to $25.65, and
those of both sexes from $13.11 to $39.72. The average weekly
earnings of all males fell from $37.94 in 1928 to $37.05 in 1930, while
those of females rose slightly, from $18.68 to $19.07, as did also the
average for both sexes, from $25.42 to $25.94.
Underwear industry.—Average full-time hours of males in the
underwear industry in 1930 ranged in the various States from 48 to
55.1, those of females from 46.7 to 54.9, and those of both sexes com
bined from 46.9 to 55. The average working time of males in all
occupations rose from 50.6 hours in 1928 to 50.9 hours in 1930, that
of females from 49.8 to 50.2 hours, and that of both sexes from 50 to
50.3 hours.
Average earnings per hour of males in 1930 ranged from 32.6 to
61.5 cents, those of females from 24.1 to 45.9 cents, and of both sexes
combined from 26.4 to 48.8 cents. Average earnings of males in all
occupations increased from 45.3 cents in 1928 to 45.7 in 1930, those
of females from 32.9 to 33 cents, and those of both sexes combined,
from 35.4 to 35.7 cents.
Average full-time earnings per week of males in 1930 ranged from
$17.41 to $29.58, those of females from $12.87 to $21.76, and those of
both sexes combined from $14.10 to $23.18. The averages for males
in all occupations were $22.92 in 1928 and $23.26 in 1930, those for
females $16.38 in 1928 and $16.57 in 1930, and those for both sexes
combined $17.70 in 1928 and $17.96 in 1930.
T a b l e 3 . - AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS, 1928 AN D 1930, B Y SEX AN D STATE
Hosiery industry
Average full-time
houfs per week
Average earnings
per hour
•r~"W...... . ~~
' Average full-time
earnings per week
State
1928
1930
1928
l
1930
1928
1930
Males
Alabama and Louisiana..............................
Georgia.........................................................
Illinois........................................................... !
Indiana................................ .......... ..........J
Maryland and West Virginia----- -----------Massachusetts..........................................
Michigan.....................................................
Minnesota and Wisconsin................. .....
New Hampshire and Vermont.......... ..
New Jersey..................- ...............................
New York....................................... .............
North Carolina______ _____ __________ ...
Pennsylvania_ ,..........................................
Tennessee....................................... - ...........
Virginia_____________ __________- . ______
Total..............................................
54.4 j
55.4
55.9
49.9
53.2
48.5
53.8
50.8
52.4
49.2
49.5
55.8
51.4
54.6
53.1
55.6
54.3
55.0
49.5
55.1
49.0
51.1
49.7
51.4
47.7
49.7
55.8
51.9
55.1
52.7
$0.359
.347
.451
.731
.374
1.152
.563
.745
.482
1.184
1.247
.420
.869
.403
.370
$0.339
.309
.422
.953
.351
.852
.656
.793
.477
1.217
J. 116
.450
.841
.419
.337
$19.53
19.22
25.21
36.48
19.90
55.87
30.29
37.85
25.26
58.25
61.73
23.44
44.67
22.00
19.65
$18.85
20.04
23.21
47.03
19.34
41.75
33.52
39.41
24.52
58.05
55.47
25.11
43.65
23.09
17.76
52.4
52.4
.724
.707
37.94
37.05
54.6
55.1
54.1
49.6
53.6
48.0
55.2
54.6
54.8
49.7
5a 0
18.0
.204
.207
.300
.412
.238
. 436
.194
.205
.246
.452
.286
.392
11.14
11.41
16.23
20.44
12.76
20.93
10.71
11.19
33.48
22,46
15.73
18. 82
Females
Alabama and Louisiana..............................
Georgia.............. ..........................................
Illinois................................................. ........
Ind ian a-.--.-,---,-......................................
Maryland and West Virginia......... ..........
Massachusetts_________________________ i
777
HOSIERY AND UNDERWEAR INDUSTRIES
T a b l e S.— AVERAGE HOURS A N D EARNINGS, 1928 A N D 1930, B Y SEX AN D S T A T E -C on .
Hosiery industry—Continued
Average full-time
hours per week
Average earnings
per hour
Average full-time
earnings per week
State
1928
1930
1928
1930
1928
1930
Females—Contmmd
Michigan....................................
Minnesota and Wisconsin.........
New Hampshire and Vermont,
New Jersey................................
New York............................ .
North Carolina..........................
Pennsylvania_____ ___________
Tennessee............. . . .................
Virginia------------------------- -----Total-
50.8
49.7
50.1
47.4
48.1
55.5
50.5
54.1
52.8
51.0
49.5
49.6
47.8
49.7
55.8
51.0
54.7
52.1
$0,369
.408
.334
.531
.541
.286
.453
.248
.217
$0,379
.411
.338
.530
.516
.295
.456
.248
.234
$18.75
20.28
16.73
25.17
26.02
15.87
22.88
13.42
11.46
$19.33
20.34
16.76
25.33
25.65
16.46
23.26
13.57
12.19
51.9
52.1
.360
.366
18.68
19.07
54.6
55.1
54.6
49.7
53.5
48.2
51.4
50.0
50.6
48.1
48.6
55.6
50.8
54.3
52.8
55.3
54.5
54.9
49.6
55.0
48.4
51.0
49.6
50.0
47.8
49.7
55.8
51.3
54.8
52.2
.222
.244
.352
.518
.268
.722
.414
.528
.373
.796
.802
.334
.625
.292
.252
.237
.265
.292
12.12
18.57
31.75
15.86
13.31
13.11
14.44
16.03
30.95
17.00
28.75
22.39
26.88
18.85
39.72
37.18
20.03
32.01
16.55
13.78
52.1
52.2
.488
.497
25.42
25.94
Males and females
Alabama and Louisiana............
Georgia.............................. ........
Illinois............ ................ ..........
Indiana................................ —
Maryland and West Virginia...
Massachusetts........................ .
Michigan....................................
Minnesota and Wisconsin.........
New Hampshire and Vermont .
New Jersey........................ ........
New York................................
North Carolina_____ _________
Pennsylvania............ ...... .........
Tennessee...................................
Virginia------------------------------Total .
.439
.542
.377
.831
.748
.359
.624
.302
.264
13.44
19.22
25.74
14.34
34.80
21.28
26.40
18.87
Underwear industry
Males
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Illinois.................... ......... .........
Indiana........................... ...........
Massachusetts---------------------Michigan................................ .
Minnesota and Wisconsin........
New Hampshire and Vermont.
New York..................................
North Carolina.............. ...........
Pennsylvania____________—
Tennessee______ ____________
Virginia--------------------------------
50.2
46.4
50.7
48.5
51.0
48.9
49.6
49.3
54.3
53.2
55.2
52.2
51.0
48.1
48.0
48.2
51.2
48.7
49.6
49.2
53.4
54.8
55.1
52.1
$0.539
.530
.494
.578
.520
.534
.508
.448
.350
.443
.336
.413
$0,509
.615
.604
.563
.511
.572
.533
.466
.326
.456
.352
.464
$27.06
24.59
25.05
28.03
26.52
26.11
25.20
22.09
19.01
23.57
18.55
21.56
$25.96
29.58
28.99
27.14
26.16
27.86
26.44
22.93
17.41
24.99
19.40
24.17
Total................................
50.6
50.9
.453
.457
22.92
23.26
Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Illinois.............................. .........
Indiana.............................. .......
Massachusetts______________
Michigan...................................
Minnesota and Wisconsin........
New Hampshire and Vermont.
New York.................................
North Carolina.........................
Pennsylvania------ ------ --------Tennessee....................... ..........
Virginia_................. ................. .
50.9
45.6
49.4
45.9
51.4
48.6
49.3
48.7
54.0
52.0
54.8
51.6
50.9
47.4
46.7
48.0
51.9
48.5
49.4
48.6
53.4
52.7
54.9
52.4
.356
.446
.367
.370
.297
.424
.400
.315
.222
.317
.260
.261
.354
.459
.406
.379
.292
.417
.383
.305
.241
.333
.274 !
.262 j
18.12
20.34
18.13
16.98
15.27
20.61
19.72
15.34
11.99
16.48
14.25
13.47 j
18.02
21.76
18.96
18.19
15.15
20.22
18.92
14.82
12.87
17.55
15.04
13.73
Total................................
49.8
50.2
.329
.330
16.38
16. 57
Females
778
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
TABLE 3.—A V E RAG E HOURS AN D EARN INGS, 1928 A N D 1930, B Y SEX A N D STATE*—Con.
Underwear industry—Continued
Average full-time
hours per week
Average earnings
per hour
Average full-time
earnings per week
State
1928
1930
1928
1930
1928
1930
Males and females
Connecticut and Rhode Island.......... ........
Illinois..........................................................
Indiana.........................................................
Massachusetts.................................. ..........
Michigan......................................................
Minnesota and Wisconsin...........................
New Hampshire and Vermont...................
New York....................................................
North Carolina............................- .............. !
Pennsylvania..............................................
Tennessee.....................................................
Virginia............................ ......... ..................
Total..................— ---------------------
50.8
45.8
49.7
46.2
51.4
48.6
49.4
48.8
54.1
52.2
54.9
51.8
50.9
47.5
46.9
48.0
51.9
48.5
49.4
48.7
53.4
53.1
55,0
52.4
$0.390
.465
.397
.398
.327
.438
.422
.350
.257
.337
.276
.301
$0,380
.488
.433
.404
.313
.426
.417
.351
.264
.357
.294
.288
$19.81
21.30
19.73
18.39
16.81
21.29
20.85
17.08
13.90
17.59
15.15
15.59
$19.34
23.18
20. 31
19.39
16.24
20.66
20.60
17.09
14.10
18.96
16.17
15.09
50.0
50.3
. 354
.357
17.70
17. m
Iron and Steel Industry: Wages and Hours of Labor, 1929
T his article presents the results of a study of wages and hours of
labor in 10 departments of the iron and steel industry made in 1929
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Comparative figures taken from
former studies made by this bureau for certain years between 1913
and 1929 are also shown. The period covered by the 1929 survey
was in nearly all instances the first half of March.
Table 1 consists of index numbers showing the changes between
1913 and 1929 in average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour,
and full-time earnings per week for the mdustry as a whole and for
each department for the years covered by the bureau’s studies. In
one instance, puddling mills, the index number starts with 1914, as no
figures for this department are available for 1913. # In 1913 data were
collected for the principal occupations only, but since 1913 data have
been collected for all occupations in the years appearing in the table.
Although the average full-time working week was two-tenths of an
hour longer in 1929 than in 1926, nevertheless the present working
week is less than in any year prior to 1926 and almost 12 hours or 17
per cent less than in 1913. Average earnings per hour in 1929 were
less than in the peak year of 1920; as compared with 1913, however, an
increase of 122 per cent is shown. Average full-time earnings per
week amounted to $36.48 in 1929, representing an increase of 6 per
cent over 1926 and 93 per cent over 1913. Because of the reduction in
average hours per week, the weekly earnings did not increase over the
period to the same extent as hourly rates.
There was an increase in index numbers of hourly earnings in 1929
over 1926 in all 10 departments, except for Bessemer converters.
779
IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY
T a b l e 1.—IN D E X NUM BERS OP HOURS AN D EARNINGS IN THE IR O N AN D STEEL
IN D U STRY IN SPECIFIED YEARS, 1913 TO 1929
Index nuinbers (1913® 100)
Index numbers (1913=* 100)
i Full! time E a r n i n g s ^ " ®
hours
per week perhour!pS^S
Year
All departments:
191 3
191 4
191 5
1920................
1922________
1924...............
1926.........—
1929..............Blast furnaces:
191 3
........
191 4
191 5
1920________
1922...........
1924— ..........
1926________
Bessemer converters:
191 3
191 4
.
191 5
..............
1920....... ..............
1922____________
1924____________
1926.....................
1929......................
Open-hearth furnaces:
191 3
_______
191 4
.
191 5
3920____________
1922____________
1924..................
1929_______
Puddling mills:
1914...........
1915_______
1920........ ...
3922_______
1924..............
1926..............
1921).........
Blooming mills:
191 3
—.
191 4
191_________ 5
1920..............
1922...............
100
98
99
95
96
84
82
83
100
97
97
94
94
78
78
100
98
98
100
98
75
75
77
100
97
97
90
92
76
74
75
100
98
101
98
105
98
95
100
97
97
92
100
100
99
248
170
214
212
224
100
100
101
279
194
254
252
258
100
98
99
242
168
186
182
193
100
98
98
261
183
197
196
203
100
90
93
238
165
220
100
100
104
283
203
268
286
301 j
100 :
96 j
270
151
220
200
209
i
,
162
164
170
174
100
97
101
254
187
203
213
227
100
94
273
148
230
196
198
100 i
102
100
249 !
178 I
230
166
101 j
Year
Full
Full
time Earnings time
hours per hour earnings
per week
per week:
Blooming mills—Con.
1924......................
1926......................
1929......................
Plate mills:
191 3
191 4
191 5
.
1920.. .
1922____________
1924-.............
1926......................
1929— .................
Bar mills:
191 3
_______
191 4 ............. .
191 5
1920____________
1922....... ............ .
1924____________ _
1926...................... .
1929...................... .
Standard-rail mills:
191 3
.
191 4
.
191 5
.
1920____________
1922____________
1924________ ____
1926_____________
1929____________
Sheet mills:
191 3
191 4
____
1915.. .
______
1920_____________
1922_____________
1924........ .............
1926_____________
1929_____________
Tin-plate mills:
191 3
____
191 4
________
191 5
1920........ — ........
1924.
1926™
1929.
75
74
75
2.‘U
IS57
251
173
176
1S9
100
99
98
98
95
82
80
83
100
101
106
263
187
220
238
251
100
100
104
259
177
180
190
208
100
100
100
100
100
90
89
90
100
97
92
248
169
203
205
217
100
97
92
249
168
184
183
196
100
99
100
86
87
81
78
79
100
99
97
249
185
226
234
247
100
98
97
215
161
183
183
195
100
100
100
96
98
96
93 !
93
100
101
93
215
144
167
157
164
100
101
93
207
140
161
147
154
100
100
109
310
108
106
104 |
103
100
102
103
228
156
191
169
176
100
102
112
250
169
202
176
181
The number of plants and the number of employees covered in each
department in 1926 and 1929, together with the average earnings per
hour for all employees, are shown in Table 2.
T a b le 2.—NUM BER OF PLANTS AND EMPLOYEES AND AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS
IN THE IRON AN D STEEL INDUSTRY, BY D E PA RTM E N T, 1926 AND 1929
Department
Number of
plants
1926
Blast furnaces....................................... ............ 1
Bessemer converters.............................
Open-hearth furnaces......... .................. ....... -1
Puddling mills.............................. ......... .......... 1
Blooming mills........................................ ...........1
Plate mills...............................................— ....... I
Bar mills................................................. --------Standard-rail mills........................... —
Sheet mills...................... ........................ .......... !
Tin-plate mills---- -----------... -------------
37
11
31
13
27
17
35
7
14
s
1929
37
11
33
11
30
17
39
7
15
8
Number of em
ployees covered
Average earnings
per hour
1926
1929
1926
15,329
2,948
13,424
2,488
6,188
4,202
7,605
3,280
10,753
8,892
12,222
2,251
13,171
1,800
6,266
4,024
7,475
2,816
12,598
8,386
$0,517
.641
.677
.657
.627
.606
.591
.595
.759
.704
1929
$0,528
.643
.714
. 686
.666
.639
.625
.628
.793
.732
780
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
Average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time
earnings per week in 1926 and 1929 are shown in Table 3 for the
major occupations in each of the ten departments.
Blast furnaces;—It will be observed that each of the 16 blast
furnace occupations, save one, had an increase in customary full
time hours per week in 1929 as compared with 1926 and that 13 of
the 16 occupations had an increase in earnings per hour. Average
full-time weekly earnings increased in all occupations except laborers,
which shows a decrease. In 1929 the average full-time earnings
ranged by occupations from $23.80 for laborers to $53.89 for blowers.
Bessemer converters.—In 16 of the 19 occupations in this depart
ment there was an increase in full-time hours per week. There wras
a decrease in hourly earnings in 12 of the 19 selected occupations, yet
there was no decrease in hourly earnings for the department as a
whole as may be seen in Tabte 1. Average full-time weekly earnings
in the Bessemer department in 1929 as compared with 1926 show
increases in 8 occupations and decreases in 11. In 1929 the full-time
weekly earnings ranged from $26.04 for laborers to $65.96 for blowers.
Open-hearth furnaces.—Average full-time hours per week increased
in all occupations in 1929 as compared with 1926, except the occu
pation of stock cranemen, which shows a decrease of 0.5 hour per
week. Average earnings per hour increased in 1929 as compared
with 1926 in all occupations but that of locomotive engineers. Aver
age full-time weekly earnings increased in all of the 15 principal occu
pations when 1929 is compared with 1926. In 1929 average full
time weekly earnings ranged from $23.90 for door operators to $69.71
for first meltere’ helpers.
Puddling mills.—Average full-time hours per week in 1929 as com
pared with 1926 show decreases in 10 of the 17 occupations, increases
in 6, and no change in 1, Average earnings per hour show increases
in 12 and decreases in 5 occupations. Average full-time weekly
earnings show decreases in 9 occupations and increases in 8. Some
occupations which show increases in average earnings per hour show
decreases in average full-time weekly earnings, due to decreases in
average full-time hours per week. In 1929 average weekly earnings
ranged from $21.20 for laborers to $69.80 for heaters.
Blooming mills.—In blooming mills the figures show increases in
average full-time hours per week in 11 of the 12 principal occupations
when 1929 is compared with 1926, Average earnings per hour
increased in 11 occupations and decreased in 1. The highest average
hourly earnings in 1929 are found in the occupation of rollers, whose
hourly earnings were $1,542 as compared with $1,498 in 1926. In all
cases weekly earnings in 1929 were higher than in 1926. In 1929
average full-time weekly earnings ranged from $26.39 for laborers to
$82.34 for rollers.
Plate mills.—Average full-time hours per week in plate mills in
1929 as compared with 1926 increased in 13 of the 16 occupations,
decreased in 2, and there was no change in 1. Average earnings per
hour increased in 10 occupations and decreased in 6. Rollers in
sheared plate mills had average hourly earnings in 1929 of $1,595
as compared with $1,364 in 1926. Average full-time weekly earnings
show increases in 13 occupations and decreases in 3. In 1929 average
weekly earnings ranged from $24.25 for laborers to $97.30 for rollers
in sheared-plate mills.
781
IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY
Bar mitts.—Average full-time hours per week from 1926 to 1929
increased in 17 occupations and decreased in 1. Average earnings
per hour increased in 14 and decreased in 4 occupations. Average
full-time weekly earnings increased in 16, and decreased in 2 occu
pations. Weekly earnings ranged from $22.34 for laborers to $100.21
for rollers.
Standard-rail mills.—Average full-time hours per week in rail mills
from 1926 to 1929 increased in 9 occupations and decreased in 11.
Average earnings per hour increased in 12 and decreased in 9 occupa
tions. Average full-time weekly earnings increased in 16 occupations
and decreased in 5. Full-time weekly earnings in 1929 ranged from
$23.92 for laborers to $89.67 for rollers.
Sheet mills.—Average full-time hours per week in 1929 as compared
with 1926 increased in 11 occupations, decreased in 5, and there was
no change in 2. Average earnings per hour increased in all occupa
tions except laborers. Average full-time weekly earnings increased
in all occupations except that of laborers. In 1929 the range of weekly
earnings by occupations was from $26.04 for laborers to *$85.89 for
rollers.
Tin-plate mills.—Average full-time hours per week from 1926 to
1929 increased in 3, decreased in 4, and there was no change in 9 of
the 16 occupations for which comparative figures for 1926 are shown.
Average earnings per hour increased in 12 and decreased in 4 of these
16 occupations. Average full-time weekly earnings increased in 13
of these 16 plants and decreased in 3. Average weekly earnings for
males in 1929 ranged from $24.10 for laborers to $75.92 for rollers.
T a b l e 3.—AVERAGE FULL-TIM E HOURS PER W EEK, EARNINGS PER HOUR, AND
FULL-TIM E W E E K L Y EARNINGS IN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS, 1926 AN D 1929
Blast f urnaces
Average full
time hours
per week
Occupation
1929
1926
Stockers............................... ..........................................
^Bottom fillers...................... ...........................................
Top fillers.............................................. .........................
Larry men......... ...................................................... ......
Larry men’s helpers_______________________________
Skip operators...,......................... , ................................
Blowers....... ........... ................................... ..................—
Blowing engineers__________________ ______ ________
Blowing engineers, assistant__________ _____________
Stove tenders_________________ ____________________
Keepers ___
________ ________________________
Keepers’ helpers_•....................... ^ ...............................
Iron handlers and loaders..............................................
Pig machine men. _.................................................... ......
Cinder men.......................... ........................................
Laborers........................................................................... !
60.1
53.5
63.8
67.9
56.9
58.4
58.6
59.5
56.6
57.5
57.4
59.1
69,2
59.4
59.2
62.4
Average earn
ings per hour
Average full
time weekly
earnings
1926
1929
1926
$0,465
.426
.500
.551
.493
.545
.902
.658
.579
.548
.577
.471
.349
.501
.484
.389
$0,451
.629
.675
.552
.495
.547
.918
.683
.613
.557
.579
.486
.374
.494
.486
.373
$27.95
22.79
26.90
31.90
28.05
31.83
52.77
39.15
32.77
31.51
33.12
27.84
24.15
29.76
28.65
24.34
$28.23
34.15
36.72
32.29
28.46
32.00
53.89
40.78
34.45
32.14
33.41
28.92
27.38
30.48
30.38
23.80
50.7 $0,638
40.0
.888
48.0
.762
50.7
1.351
53.5
.949
49.7
.945
52. f> 1.271
$0,628
.845
.661
1.301
.910
.946
1.212
$30.82
43.69
37.57
67.14
49.16
46.21
m. 84
$31.84
33.80
31.73
65,96
48.69
47.02
m. «»
62.6
54.3
64.4
58.5
57.5
58.5
58.7
59.7
56.2
57.7
57.7
59.5
73.2
61.7
62.5
63.8
1929
i
Bessemer converters
Stockers........................................ ....... ............- .............
48.3
Cupola melters........ ............................ ......................... 1 49.2
49.3
Cupola tappers.,............................................ ..............
Blowers,................. , ......... ................ ...__________ ____
49.7
...........................
51.8
Regulators, first.............................
48.9
Regulators, second---------- ----------------.........- ................
V c^lm eri----- ------------------------ ----- . ____ ...
. ..
M.R
782
WAGES AND HOTTKS OF LABOR
T a b l e 3.—A VERAG E FU LL-TIM E HOUKiS PER W EEK, EARNINGS PE R HOUR, AND
FU LL-TIM E W E E K L Y EARNINGS IN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS, 1926 AN D 1929—Con.
Bessemer converters—Continued
Average full
time hours
per week
Occupation
1926
1929
50.9
51.4
51.3
52.3
50.6
51.2
56.6
49.5
48.0
47.7
50.0
59.4
Vesselmen’s helpers.......
Cinder pitmen...............
Bottom makers..............
Bottom makers’ helpers.
Ladle liners................... .
Ladle liners’ helpers......
Stopper makers.............
Stopper setters...............
Steel pourers............... .
Mold cappers.................
Ingot strippers...............
Laborers.........................
Average earn
ings per hour
1926
1929
51.0
52.6
53.5
55.0
51.6
51.8
59.3
50.4
49.0
51.7
53.0
57.6
$0,897
.543
.826
.647
.893
.631
.594
1.014
(0.900
.557
.713
.590
.818
.782
.801
.443
57.9
57.0
56.2
55.2
55.9
55.8
55.6
56.2
56.3
55.3
55.8
57.3
56.1
54.9
60.5
$0,535
.682
.951
.374
1.170
.827
.630
.860
.889
.620
.900
.767
.772
.616
.429
51.1
52.1
46.3
51.7
50.8
52.9
51.3
62.1
51.7
48.1
50.4
52.3
55.3
50.9
54.1
54.4
54.0
Average full
time weekly
^rnings
1929
1.036
1.162
.708
.844
.452
$45. 66
27.91
42.37
33.84
45.19
32.31
33.62
50.19
58.08
37.30
40.05
26.31
$45.90
29.30
38.15
32.45
42.21
32.79
34.57
52.21
56.94
36.60
44.73
26.04
$0,560
.706
.958
.433
1.247
.886
.687
.870
.927
.673
.941
.831
.762
.645
.433
$30.92
39.22
52.97
20.53
64.70
45.49
34.72
46.78
49.43
31.56
49.41
42.95
42.23
33.76
25.40
$32.42
40.24
53.84
23.90
69.71
49.44
38.20
48.89
52.19
37.22
52.51
47.62
42.75
35.41
26.20
$0,527 $0,524
.767
.784
.877
.880
.517
.519
1.236
1.374
. 595
.611
. 531
.479
. 574
.540
1.200
1.235
.748
.753
.698
.806
. .539
.541
.439
.479
.539
.572
.638
.573
.357
.389
.588
.464
$26.93
41.03
43.24
27.61
66.99
32.31
27.19
35.76
61.08
36.43
35.53
27.00
22.78
27.60
33.69
20.38
29.75
$26.78
40.85
40.74
26.83
69.80
32.32
24.57
33.53
63.85
36.22
40.62
28.29
26.49
29.11
31.00
21.20
25.06
1.210
Open-hearth f urnaces
Stockers..................................................................... ......
Stock cranemen................................................................
Charging machine operators..........................................
Door operators.................................................................
Melters’ helpers, first ......................................................
Melters’ helpers, second.............................. ........... ........
Melters’ helpers, third........... ................................ ........
Stopper setters........................................ ..................—
Steel pourers.................... ..............- ........-.....................
Mold cappers...................................................................
Ladle cranemen................................ - ..................... ........
Ingot strippers....... .........................................................
Engineers, locomotive.....................................................
Switchmen.............................................. - ...........- ..........
Laborers...........................................................................
57.8
57.5
55.7
54.9
55.3
55.0
55.2
54.4
55.6
50.9
54.9
56.0
54.7
54.8
59.2
Puddling mills
Stockers............................................................................
Puddlers....... ...................................................................
Puddlers, level-handed....................................................
Puddlers’ helpers.................. ..............- .............. - ........
Heaters................................ ..............- .......................
Heaters’ helpers................................ .............................
Bloom boys................................ ........... ......... ......... —
Roll engineers.................................................. - ..............
Roughers__......................................................................
Catchers...........................................................................
Hook-ups...............................................................- ........
Roll hands, other............... ............................................
Hotbed men........ ......................................................... .
Shearmen...........- ............................................... ............
Laborers..........................................................................
Shearmen’s helpers.......... ............ ..................................1
51.1
53.5
49.3
53.4
54.2
54.3
51.2
62.3
50.9
48.7
50.9
50.1
51.9
51.2
52.8
57.1
50.6
Blooming mills
Pit cranemen. ...............
Heaters...........................
Heaters’ helpers.............
Bottom makers..............
Bottom makers’ helpers.
Roll engineers............... .
Rollers........................... .
Manipulators.................
Table men......................
Shearmen.......................
Shearmen’s helpers____
Laborers................. .......
53.4
54.4
54.9
53.9
54.4
54.6
52.0
52.6
52.6
51.5
52.2
56.3
55.4
54.9
56.4
54.0
53.7
56.6
53.4
54.3
55.0
53.5
54.9
57.0
67.67
47.43
42.63
34.49
53.40
77.90
47.39
33.82
41.82
31.37
25.39
$50.91
74.55
48.11
46.44
35.60
56.94
82.34
54.84
36.08
46.22
34.15
IRON
783
AND STEEL INDUSTRY
T a b l e 3.—AVERAG E FULL-TIM E HOURS PER W EEK, EARNINGS PE R HOUR, AND
FU LL-TIM E W EE K LY EARNINGS IN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS, 1926 A N D 1929-Coil.
Plate mills
Average full
time hours
per week
Occupation
1926
Charging crane and charging machine operators...........
Heaters........................................................................
Heaters' helpers............... . ..................................... .
Roll engineers......................................................... .
Rollers, sheared plate mills____ _______ __________
Screw men, sheared plate mills._________________
Table operators, sheared plate mills______________
Hook men, sheared plate mills_____ _____________
Roll hands, other, sheared plate mills____________
Rollers, universal mills................................. .........
Screw men, main rolls, universal mills_____________
Screw men, side rolls, universal mills_____ ____
Roll hands, other, universal mills.............................
Shearmen................................................................. .
Shearmen’s helpers....................................................
Laborers......................................................................
56.4
55.6
62.4
63.0
57.0
55.0
56.1
56.1
55.5
56.3
57.1
57.5
58.2
56.3
55.1
56.1
Average earn
ings per hour
Average full
time weekly
earnings
1926
1929
1926
59.6
57.9
62.4
62.2
61.0
63.0
60.0
60.2
60.7
56.7
55.4
61.2
58.9
58.0
57.3
59.3
$0.711
1.103
.580
.651
1.364
1.088
.804
.693
.725
1.383
.937
.709
.601
.836
. 579
.425
$0,756
.671
.675
1.595
1.023
.873
.776
.821
1.323
.917
.704
.583
.863
.630
.409
$40.10
61.22
36.19
41.01
77.75
59.84
45.10
38.88
40.24
77.86
53.50
40.77
34.98
47.07
31.90
23.84
$45.0(5
70.64
41.87
41.99
97.30
64.45
52.38
46.72
49.83
75.01
50.80
43.08
34.34
50.05
36.10
24.25
53.5
56.1
55.8
56.1
55.9
60.1
55.0
55.8
55.8
54.3
53.9
55.3
55.1
54. 5
54.4
54.7
53.3
56.0
$0. 519
.957
.632
.551
.593
.582
1.699
.847
.865
.741
.848
.623
.683
.556
.616
.522
. 552
.411
$0. 530
1. 064
675
554
554
563
i ! 822
887
874
820
952
650
797
601
735
542
543
399
$28.13
52.06
34.32
29.48
32.79
33. 76
90.39
45.06
46.10
38.38
44.94
34.14
36.13
29.47
32.28
27.30
27.43
22.61
$28.36
59.69
37.67
31.08
30.97
33.84
100.21
49.49
48.77
44.53
51.31
35.95
43.91
32. 75
39.98
29.65
28.94
22.34
54.5
51.3
54.9
49.8
53.5
54.6
52.7
60.1
55.0
53.3
56.0
53.3
53.9
54.1
54.1
56.2
55.7
54.1
54.6
.56.0
59.8
$0,713
1.034
.627
.757
1.888
1.015
.747
.687
.836
.696
.509
.564
.518
1.233
.590
.695
.675
.540
.447
.591
.421
$0,718
1.073
.651
.705
1.676
.993
.770
.670
.835
.681
.519
.601
.571
1.229
.625
.741
.717
.532
.481
.617
.400
$39.07
54.91
33.61
43.45
102.33
56.13
39.96
40.05
47.57
37.93
28.81
30.51
28.02
65.35
31.68
38.43
37.40
28.73
24.41
32.62
23.83
$39.13
55.04
35.74
35.11
89.67
54.22
40.58
40.27
45.93
36.30
29.06
32.03
30.78
66.49
33.81
41.64
39.94
28.78
26.26
34.55
23.92
1929
1.220
1921)
Bar mills
Stockers.....................
Heaters......................
Heaters’ helpers........
Chargers and helpers
Drag-downs........ ......
Roll engineers.......
Rollers____________
Roughers...................
Catchers___________
Stranders......... .........
Finishers................
Hook-ups____ ______
Roll hands, other___
Hotbed men_______
Shearmen....... ...........
Shearmen's helpers...
Bundlers....................
Laborers....................
54.2
54.4
54.3
53.5
55.3
58.0
53.2
53.2
53.3
51.8
53.0
54.8
52.9
53.0
52.4
52.3
49.7
55.0
Rail mills
Charging machine operators__________________ ____ _
Reheaters............... ........................ ................................
Reheaters’ helpers___ ____ _____ _______________ ___
Roll engineers----- ------------------------ ---------------- -------Assistant rollers............... ............. ............... ................
Table lever men_______ __________________ _________
Tablemen.............................................. ........... ..............
Guide setters___________ _______ ______ ______ ______
Hot-saw men___________________________ __________
Hot-saw helpers____ _____ _______ ____ _______ _____
Hotbed lever men_________________ ____ __________
Hotbed men...................................................................
Straighteners, gag press................................ .................
Straighteners’ helpers....... ................... ..........................
Chippers_____ ______________ ___________________ _
Drillers and punchers......................................... ...........
Cold saw men.......................... ......................... ......... .
Cold saw helpers.............................................................
Inspectors..................................... .................................
Laborers..................................... ......... ........................
54.8
53.1
53.6
57.4
54.2
55.3
53.5
58.3
56.9
54.5
56.6
54.1
54.1
53.0
53.7
55.3
55.4
53.2
54.6
55.2
56. 6
784
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 3 .—AVERAGE FU LL-TIM E HOURS P E R W EE K , EARN ING S P E R HOUR, AN D
FU LL-TIM E W EE K L Y EARNINGS IN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS, 1926 A N D 1929-Con.
Sheet mills.
Average full
time hours
per week
Occupation
1929
43.
43.
43.
43.
43.
43.
43.
43.
43.
43.
42.
43.
43.
43.
44.
56.
45.
5(5.
Pair heaters.........................
Rollers.................................
Rollers, level-handed..........
Rollers’ helpers or finishers.
Roughers..............................
Catchers..............................
Matchers.............................
Doublers..............................
Sheet heaters.......................
Sheet heaters, level-handed.
Sheet heaters* helpers.........
Shearmen......................... .
Shearmen's helpers........ .
Openers............................ —
Openers, level-handed____
Picklers................................
Feeders................................
Laborers..............................
Average earn
ings per hour
1920
Average full
time weekly
1929
1926
43.4 $0,925
43.4
1.956
43.1
1.162
43.2
.787
1.037
43.4
.989
43.3
.829
43.6
.804
43.6
43.3
1.404
43.6
.978
.803
43.1
43. 5
1.222
43.5
.683
.741
43.2
44.1
. 651
.631
52.0
46.6
.647
.475
60.7
$0,953
1.979
1.381
.826
1.067
1.017
.894
.870
1.432
1.054
.841
1.227
.712
.754
$40.05
84.69
50.31
33.84
44.90
42.82
36.06
34.97
60.79
42.25
34.45
53.28
29.78
32.23
28.64
35.90
29.31
26.89
$41.36
85.89
59.52
35.68
46.31
44.04
38.98
37.93
62.01
45.95
36.25
53.37
30.97
32.57
30.25
37.08
33.04
26.04
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
$1.778
.949
1.014
.926
.691
$69.81
40.65
38.53
34.42
27.03
33.60
10.92
40. 52
43.30
39.54
29.51
.686
.713
.709
.429
1929
Tin-plate mills
Rollers......................................
Rollers, level-handed...............
Roughers..................................
Catchers...................................
Screw boys-------- ----------------Doublers...................................
Doublers, hand------ ------------Doublers, mechanical............ .
Doublers, level-handed...........
Doublers, level-handed, hand.
Doublers’ helpers.....................
Doublers’ helpers, hand--------Pair heaters..............................
Single boys................ ...... ........
Heaters...................................
Heaters, level-handed_______
Heaters’ helpers.................. .
Shearmen............... .................
Openers, male................ .........
Tinners, hand............. ............
Tinners, machine____ ____
Redippers................................
Risers..
Branners.......................................................- ..................!
Assorters, female..............................................................!
Laborers...........................................................................
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
43.1
51.8
43.5
42.9
42.9
52.2
43.4
60.3
42."7
42.7
$1.635
.952
.902
. 806
.633
.787
.800
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.7
42.9
48.3
42.7
43.4
42.9
43.0
49.6
46.1
57.1
.663
1.046
.917
.772
1.024
.795
.840
1.154
.638
.505
.384
.426
.912
.679
.824
'"".702"
.795
.732
1.159
.982
.811
1.076
.685
.907
.794
1.158
.639
.600
.369
.422
34.16
28.31
44.66
39.16
32.96
44.13
41.18
36.54
.
49.51
27.37
26.36
16.67
25.69
38.94
28.99
35.18
_29."98
33. 95
31.26
49.49
41.93
34.63
46.16
33.09
39.64
34.46
49.68
27.48
29.76
17.01
24.10
Longshoremen: Earnings
New York—A Port Which Has Not Decasualized Its Longshore Labor
A l l attempts by various agencies to determine the average earn
ings of longshoremen in New York so far have proved unsuccessful.
Upon the passage of the longshoremen's compensation act in 1927,
the union and the employers agreed on an average weekly rate of $30
as a basis for computing accident compensation under the law, but
this is merely an estimate. Short of personal accounts kept by the
individual longshoremen, there is no way of arriving at their average
earnings, and this condition will continue as long as the present system
of hiring persists in the port of New York.
785
LONGSHOREMEN
It is of interest and value, however, to ascertain the limits within
which these earnings can be expected to move, and this is made
possible by the existence in the port of New York of several big
shipping and stevedore companies with large followings of longshore
men of whom a considerable proportion are on a more or less permanent
basis. These companies may be regarded as miniature cross sections
of the port and to that extent indicative of conditions. Table 1
presents the total weekly pay rolls of three such companies for four
months in the year 1928—January and April, which may be considered
as average months, and the months of July and October, which are
the slackest and the busiest months, respectively. These pay rolls
are distributed in $5 groups, ranging from earnings of less than $10
per week to $50 and over. Company A is the largest of the three
companies and perhaps the largest in the port. The total number of
men hired by this company during any one week ranges from a low
of 542 men hired during the week ending January 25, to a high of
1,018 for the week ending October 17. Company B showed a variation
from 189 to 493, and Company C from 350 to 509.
T a b l e 1.—DISTRIBU TION OP LONGSHORE LABOR ON BASIS OF W E E K L Y EARNINGS
IN THREE LARG E COM PANIES IN N EW Y O R K IN SPECIFIED W EEKS OF 1928
January
Week ending
October
Week ending
Week ending—
i
Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. July July July July Oct. Oct.! Oct.. Oct..
4
11
18 25
4
11
10 | 17 24
11
18 25
18 25
3
4
Week ending—
Wage group
July
April
i
!
Company A
Under $10............ 135
$10 and under $15_ 70
83
38
97
60
86
135
162
80
134
80
150
50
82
79
222
80
125
118
189
60
207
37
102
43
194
63
244 j 145
257
168
150
82 i 71
232 S
| 2H9
Total
205
121
157
221
242
214
200
161
302
243
249
$15 and u n d er $20_
$20 and under $25.
$25 and under $30.
57
56
55
64
39
x06
57
90
59
65
60
65
70
72
69
99
89
106
60
95
140
102
79
126
62
63
69
53
48
55
33
46
34
28
44
59
42
41
45
89
56
49
66
45
57
32
62
74
Total
168
168
209
206
190
211
294
295
307
194
156
113
131
128
194
168
$30 and under $35. 95
$35 and under $40. 101
$40 and under $45. 76
$45 and under $50_ 23
49
$50 and over____
85
76
113
60
69
98
42
31
39
4
57
42
20
9
3
148
76
61
59
74
88
127
54
8
19
91
37
32
12
38
79
35
32
23
29
63
80
57
30
15
47
62
53
28
83
23
55
53
32
95
52
76
36
33
27
54
67
107
94
204
85
123
90
79
151
70 ' 50
120
106
148
108
88
61
183
142
344
403
214
131
418
296
210
198
245
273
258
224
526
528
618 : 473
Grand total. 717
733
577
542 .871
804
705
666
741
672
620
599
799
979 1,018; 880
35
80
41
7
71
33
27
136
24
20
99
27
86
58
31
58
53
63
85
40
35
38
91
121
163
28
137
81
59
3.3
69
31
Total......... ! 115
48
104
163
44
126
144
89
116
125
73
212
191
218
92
100
$15 and under $20_ 113
$20 and under $25- 46
$25 and under $30. 30
5
1
22
50
151
22
17
21
4 f 36
19 | 80
34
47
15
57
40
65
63
13
26
39
19
40
19
12
26
40
51
123
4
5
3
187
57
37
13
18
2i
15
3
Total.........
Company B
Under $10........
$10 and under $15.
•
66
32
7
Total.........
189
28
223
40 ! 137
96
162
102
98
57
214
9
247
68
20
105
$30 and under $35.
$35 and under $40.
$40 and under $45.
$45 and under $50.
$50 and over........
9
3
36
9
31
12
25
23
26
16
10
12
21
24
4
4
2
29
21
13
52
53
36
24
20
28
79
24
18
45
7
5
5
17
23
14
90
37
22
30
58
106
48
7
2
2
3
5
18
8
5
49
12
1
6
49
13
6
2
2
9
4
19
53
129
45
24
26
39
57
Total..........
12
113
87
55 j 122
168
187
99
149
253
62
Grand totaLj 310
189
414
258 I 303
390
m
290 |363
435
349
106
12
3
1
85
19
L 72
306 j 457 j 358
214 i i9i
326 j 390
786
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1 .— DISTRIBU TION OF LONGSHORE LABOR ON BASIS OF W E E K L Y EARNINGS
IN TH R E E LARG E COMPANIES IN N EW Y O R K IN SPECIFIED W EEKS OF 1928—
Continued
April
January
Wage group
July
Week ending—
Week ending
Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Apr.
19 26
5
12
5
T
October
Week ending
Week ending
Apr. Apr. July July July July Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct.
19 26
25
11
12
4
18
19 26
5
Company C
31
26
41
29
47
16
51
27
45
17
34
11
49
24
43
25
112
78
57
70
63
78
62
45
73
68
56
51
22
46
28
37
29
31
17
42
16
27
38
14
26
29
19
23
31
23
14
38
23
14
13
11
12
16
42
50
57
28
32
23
122
119
94
90
81
69
73
75
50
39
149
83
47
55
54
26
7
54
58
59
25
24
64
99
24
7
93
68
19
10
20
46
63
42
39
19
58
64
54
36
15
38
51
62
70
22
34
54
54
44
61
12
21
42
44
207
26
28
55
87
120
51
76
18
6
10
15
18
26
21
232
220
194
210
209
227
243
247
326
316 | 161
312
451
366 | 357
360
359
394
384
421 | 428 |378
451
29
35
40
16
112
26
90
42
19
93
Total
78
64
56
138
132
$15 and under $20.
$20 and under $25.
$25 and under $30.
34
22
37
44
29
39
40
36
65
33
35
95
33
41
48
93
112
141
163
57
53
64
30
26
60
67
50
16
2
102
38
9
3
1
88
79
35
4
2
Total_____ 230 | 195
153
208
189
Grand total. 401 ! 371
i
350
509
443
Total.........
$30 and under $35.
$35 and under $40.
$40 and under $45.
$45 and under $50.
$50 and over.........
41
15
46
32
50
28
Under $10............
$10 and under $15_
Examination of the table shows that no matter how busy or how
slack the work of a particular week may be, there are always some
men in each of the 10 groups indicated. There are always some men
earning less than $10 per week, at least as far as the company in
question is concerned, and some earning a little more, others still
more, and finally some earning as high as $50 per week and over.
This distribution, which is very different from a normal distribu
tion of earnings in a stabilized industry, suggested a regrouping of
the men into three categories—those with earnings of less than $15
per week, who may be classified as casual workers moving from
pier to pier to pick up a day’s work here and another day’s work
elsewhere; those with earnings of from $15 to $30 per week, who
may be classified as semipermanent in the sense that they prefer to
work at one pier, but would change to another pier when the oppor
tunity of getting work there presented itself; and finally those with
earnings of $30 per week and over who remain more, or less perma
nently with one company. The men in the last group are usually
given the preference by the foremen and they also know that if there
is no work for them during the first part of the week they will prob
ably get day and night work during the balance of the week. These
men rarely change to another pier.
The three subgroupings given in the table show that, no matter
how large a single companj^ may be or how anxious to give all its
work to the so-called permanent men, there will always be a need
for a very large number of casual workers and a considerable prof)ortion of semipermanent men. This condition is inherent in the
ongshore industry, and no single shipping or stevedore company
can cope with the difficulties in the way of adjusting the supply to
the demand for longshore labor. Instead, the policies of such com
787
LONGSHOREMEN
panies merely result in dividing the workers into groups, some of
which can show very high earnings of $50 or more per week, while
the others will earn $10 per week or less. The men m the low-eamings group are, of course, privileged to look for work elsewhere but
how successful they are in their search is the problem which makes
it so hard to determine the earnings of the longshoremen.
But the earnings of even the so-called permanent men are far
from being stabilized. Table 2 represents the actual earnings, by
months, of eight gangs more or less permanently employed by a
single shipping company, designated as Company D. Each gang
is supposed to consist of at least 18 men, and the data therefore
cover 144 men more or less permanently employed.
T a b l e 2.—M O N TH LY EARNINGS IN 1928 OF EIGHT GANGS i M ORE OR LESS P E R M A
N E N TLY EM PLO YE D B Y A LARGE SHIPPING COM PANY (COM PANY D) IN NEW
YORK
Monthly earnings per man in—
Month
Gang
No. 1
Gang
No. 2
Gang
No. 3
Gang
No. 4
Gang
No. 5
Gang
No. 6
Gang
No. 7
$119.47
139.10
199.22
130.72
216.67
135.00
155.44
196.75
198.38
165.60
214. 52
144.37
$146.53
163.12
186.75
129.73
226.84
149.45
166.85
214.35
195.20
211.22
245.98
139.30
$104 77
113.58
181.73
122.23
200.09
118.73
148.00
177.07
182.75
192.45
222.48
131.38
$106.23
139.05
204.83
131.80
244.83
130.03
134.27
212.47
180.82
188.60
212.30
146.82
$141.10
152.93
201.25
143.30
251.74
145.85
144 67
165.34
185.43
199.00
225.85
146.90
$135.08
123.41
197.48
127.27
228.32
131.65
145.30
187.06
165.50
185.03
214.95
117.80
$102.82
143.60
178.77
128.13
204.20
137.40
134.30
143.47
170.92
165.42
156.36
98.88
$116.58
134.83
185.80
142.98
193.20
127.95
130.29
183.99
175.68
150.85
213.20
127.87
Total—............ 2,015. 24
Average per month._
167.94
2,175.32
181.28
1,895.26
157.94
2,032.05
169.34
2, 103.36
175.28
1,958.85
163.24
1,764. 27
147.02
1,883.22
156.94
January____________
February___________
March_____________
April..........................
M ay.......... ...............
June..........................
July.... .............. ........
August— ............... .
September_________
October...................
November.............. .
December__________
Gang
No. 8
118 men in a gang.
Seattle—A Decasualized Port
S e a ttle has the distinction of being the first port in the United
States to introduce a system of decasualization for its water front,
which became effective in 1921. The men are listed at the central
employment office called the “ dispatching hall” and are classified
into longshoremen proper (those working either on the deck or in the
hold of the ship) and truckers working on the pier. The longshoremen
proper are organized into gangs of 10 men each and are subdivided
into three groups: (1) Company gangs definitely assigned to one
shipping or stevedore company; (2) hall or reserve gangs to be dis
patched from the central employment office as needed; and (3) casual
men to be called upon only when all other longshoremen are already
occupied. The truckers are also divided into registered truckers,
regularly dispatched from the hall, and casual workers, to be used
only when additional need for truckers arises.
The principle of dividing the work for the purpose of equalizing the
earnings of the men is applied to the company and hall gangs and to
the registered truckers. Thus, no company gang is supposed to earn
more than a certain maximum per week if the earnings of the hall
gangs are falling below a certain minimum. The “ casuals, ” however,
are definitely told that they will get work only in case of demand for
additional labor. They are free to work anywhere outside the water
788
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
front, but the registered men are required either to be present in the
dispatching hall, as is the case with all truckers, or to be ready for
work on very short notice.
The dispatching hall keeps a complete daily record of all the men
dispatched for work, as well as a record of the individual earnings of
the men which is used for the earnings equalization plan. #It also has
a central pay station, which enables the men to receive in one sum
their earnings from all the companies for which they worked during
the week. A strict rotation system applies to all the registered men
except the company gangs and keeps their earnings on a more or less
equal basis from month to month. Table 3 shows the actual monthly
earnings of all the hall or reserve gangs for the year 1925. While
these vary from $88, made by Gang No. 17 during January, to $244,
made by Gang No. 11 during April, the average monthly earnings of
all the gangs for the whole year, however, vary only from $153.33 to
$162.10. These variations are comparatively small, and disappear
altogether, as the scheme of earnings equalization is carried on not
only from month to month but from year to year.
T a b l e 3.—M O N TH LY EARNINGS OF HALL OR RESERVE GANGS * IN SEATTLE, 1925
Monthly earnings per man of—
Month
Gang
No. 2
Gang
No. 3
Gang
No. 4
Gang
No. 5
Gang
No. 6
Gang
No. 7
Gang
No. 8
$115.00
186.00
141.00
209.00
168.00
118.00
144.00
132.00
169.00
180.00
175.00
152.00
$111.00
164.00
169.00
189.00
149.00
126.00
158.00
127.00
167.00
162.00
188.00
130.00
$122.00
159.00
177.00
169.00
160.00
154.00
115.00
153.00
168.00
184.00
161.00
135.00
$115.00
152.00
249.00
177.00
147.00
142.00
122.00
155.00
170.00
194.00
163.00
147.00
$184.00
124.00
189.00
185.00
130.00
113.00
167.00
134.00
162.00
181.00
159.00
146.00
$120.00
156.00
193.00
183.00
159.00
116.00
160.00
132.00
166.00
163.00
142.00
166.00
$135.00
142.00
177.00
212.00
131.00
109.00
150.00
131.00
178.00
173.00
164.00
166.00
$143.00
124.00
168.00
209.00
134.00
138.00
162. CO
119.00
163.00
161. CO
185. 00
134.00
Total....... ...... 1,884.00 1, 889. 00 1,840.00 1,857.00 1,933.00 1,874.00 1,856.00 1,868.00
1, 840. 00
Gang
No. 1
January.......... ........ $149.00
157.00
February_________
March____________ 176.00
April_____________ 219.00
M a y _____________ 118.00
115.00
June____ ____ ____
July.......... .............. 138.00
127.00
August_________ _
180.00
September________
October_____ ____ _ 167.00
167.00
November________
December________
171.00
Average per month.
157.00
157.42
153.33
154.75
161.08
156.17
154.67
155.67
Gang
No. 9
153. 33
Monthly earnings per man of—
Month
Gang
No. 10
Gang
No. 11
Gang
No. 12
Gang
No. 13
Gang
No. 14
Gang
No. 15
Gang
No. 16
Gang
No. 17
Gang
No. 18
January................... $120.00
February................ 159.00
March_____ ______ 154.00
April........................ 222.00
151.00
May..... ...................
June............... ......... 168.00
130.00
July------- ------------August................... 148.00
September________
172.00
October................... 160.00
November...............
156.00
December................ 181.00
$138.00
151.00
157.00
244.00
141.00
107.00
159.00
126.00
166.00
171.00
166.00
179.00
$166.00
214.00
147.00
111.00
132.00
129.00
199.00
198.00
147.00
178.00
$151.00
133.00
208.00
179.00
148.00
120.00
117.00
159.00
164.00
195.00
144.00
159.00
$147.00
120.00
222.00
192.00
141.00
134.00
170.00
126.00
171.00
159.00
174.00
152.00
$135.00
147.00
178.00
197.00
132.00
120.00
130.00
132.00
158.00
184.00
179.00
162.00
$133.00
152.00
151.00
213.00
117.00
140.00
143.00
154.00
157.00
181.00
141.00
195.00
$88.00
145.00
177.00
196.00
151.00
144.00
129.00
130.00
184.00
168.00
156.00
182.00
$142.00
157.00
173.00
190.00
132. CO
138.00
153.00
112.00
189.00
186.00
154.00
157.00
Total................. 1,921.00 1,905.00 21,621.00 1,877.00 1,908.00 1,854.00 1,877.00 1,850.00
1,883.00
Average per month.
160.08
158.75 2 162.10
* 10 men in a gang.
156.42
159.00
154.50
156.42
>10 months only.
154.17
156.92
780
M EN ’S CLOTHING INDUSTRY
The earnings of the company gangs are somewhat higher than those
of the hall or reserve gangs, as these men have the right at any time
to be transferred back to the list of the reserve gangs. The earnings
of the truckers, on the other hand, are considerably lower, because
their rate of pay is 10 cents per hour lower than those of the regular
longshoremen. The earnings of the registered truckers for 1925
varied from $107 for the month of June to $137 for the month of
April. The casual longshoremen earned for the year 1926 an average
of $1,087.85, or a monthly average of $90.67, while the casual truckers
earned a monthly average of only $60.17. But even these lowest
figures, for the casual men, are considerably higher than the average
of the port before decasualization was put into effect.
Men’s Clothing Industry: Hours and Earnings, 1930
This article presents the results of the 1930 study of wages and
hours of labor in the men’s clothing industry in the United States.
This study was made by representatives of the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics in 12 large cities and two groups of smaller cities, one in eastern
Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia and one in northeastern New
Jersey outside of Newark. These cities represent each locality in
which the number of wage workers in the men’s clothing industry is of
sufficient importance to warrant inclusion in the study.
The data for 1930 were taken from the records of 212 establishments
and show average hours and earnings for 16,571 male and 16,833
female wage earners.
A summary of the 1930 average full-time hours per week, earnings
per hour, and full-time earnings per week with index numbers of
these averages is shown in Table 1 in comparison with like figures for
specified years from 1911 to 1928.
T a b l e 1.—-AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS W ITH IN D E X NUM BERS, 1911 TO 1930
|
Item
Year
1911
1912
1913
11914
All occupations________________ *1914
1919
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
Selected occupations....................
Index numbers (1913=100)
Average Average Average
full-time
full-time
hours per earnings
earnings Full-time Earnings Full-time
per hour per
week
week hours
earnings
per week per hour per week
54.4
54.7
52.0
51.6
51.3
47.9
44.1
44.1
44.3
44.0
44.3
$0,229
.231
.264
.263
.256
.446
.728
.760
.750
.731
.701
$12.30
12.49
13.63
13.47
13.06
21.08
31.91
33.52
33.23
32.16
31.05
104.6
105.2
100.0
99.2
86.7
87.5
100.0
99.6
90.2
91.6
100.0
98.8
92.7
85.3
85.3
85.7
85.1
85.7
173.5
283.2
295.7
291.8
284.4
272.7
159.5
241.4
253.6
251.4
243.2
234.8
* Two sets of averages are shown for 1914 for the industry—one for selected occupations and the other for
all occupations in the industry. The averages from 1911 to 1914 for selected occupations only are compara
ble one year with another, as are those for all occupations one year with another from 1914 to 1930.
Average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time
earnings per week for each occupation and for all occupations com
bined is shown by sex in Table 2 for 1928 and 1930. _Average full
time hours per week of males in all occupations combined increased
from 44.1 in 1928 to 44.3 in 1930. Those for females during the same
790
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
period increased from 43.9 to 44.2, and for all occupations, both sexes
combined, increased from 44 to 44.3.
There was a slight decrease in hourly earnings between the two
years. Average earnings per hour of males in all occupations de
creased from 92.4 cents m 1928 to 88.5 cents in 1930, of females from
53.4
cents to 50.4 cents, and of males and females together from 73.1
cents to 70.1 cents. There was also a corresponding decrease in full
time earnings per week.
Average earnings per hour in 1930 of males ranged by occupations
from 79.5 cents for examiners to $1.139 for cloth cutters, and of females
ranged from 39.7 cents for examiners to 62.1 cents for basters, vests.
T a b l e 2.—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1928 AN D 1930, B Y OCCUPATION
Occupation
Sex
Average full
time hours
per week
1928
Basters, coat-Basters, pants.
Basters, vest._
Total, basters._
Male__
Female..
...d o ___
— do-----
Operators, pants...............
Operators, vest.................
Total, operators.
Pressers, coat...
Pressers, pants.
Pressers, vest...
Total, pressers..
Shapers, coat.......
Other employees.
All occupations..............................
All occupations, male and female.
1928
1930
1928
44.3
44.5
44.1
43.9
$0,905
.557
.548
. 570
$0,834
.522
.590
.621
$40.00
24.51
24.55
25.08
.559
. 534
24.60
23.71
.558
1.139
.795
36.51
24.91
49.45
36.12
16.97
1930
$36.95
23.23
26.02
27.20
44.0
44.4
44.2
44.8
44.0
44.4
44.0
.570
1.129
.821
.383
44.2
44.4
43.9
44.1
43.9
44.1
43.9
43.4
44.1
44.2
44.4
44.2
1.037
23.40
36.42
25.00
50.12
35.30
17.47
43.87
17.66
39.16
21.92
20.07
21.83
44.0
44.2
.518
.490
22.79
21. €
Male___
Female.
M a le Female .
Male—
Female-
44.2
43.3
44.2
44.3
43.7
43.8
44.3
43.8
44.4
44.7
44.1
43.8
1.016
.632
.919
.573
1.024
.571
.958
.570
.859
.529
.965
.585
44.91
27.37
40.62
25.38
44.75
25.01
42.44
24.97
38.14
23.65
42.56
25.62
Male___
Female-
44.1
43.7
44.3
44.1
.981
.600
.930
.558
43.26
26.22
41.20
24.61
Male—
Female..
Male___
FemaleMale___
Female-
44.0
44.2
44.3
44.0
44.2
44.4
44.2
44.1
44.7
44.0
44.1
44.0
.912
.475
.870
.539
.893
.517
.867
.486
.805
.534
.889
.522
40.13
38.54
23.72
39.47
22.95
38.32
21.43
35.98
23.50
39.20
22.97
Male___
Female-
44.1
44.2
44.3
44.0
.904
.859
.503
39.87
22.01
38.05
22.13
Male___
FemaleMale.—
Female-
43.9
44.2
44.3
43.9
44.0
44.6
44.5
44.4
1.000
1.012
.455
.715
46.53
20.02
31.59
18.31
44.53
20.29
31.82
18.12
Male___
Female-
44.1
43.9
44.3
44.2
.534
.885
.504
40.75
23.44
39.21
22.28
44.0
44.3
.731
.701
32.16
31.05
Male___
FemaleCutters, cloth, hand and machine_________ Male___
Examiners, garments (shop and stock room) — do___
FemaleM a le___
Fitters or trimmers, coat.
FemaleMale___
Hand sewers, coat______
Female..
...d o ----Hand sewers, pants_________
-d o ....
Hand sewers, vest.................
Operators, coat............... .
Average full
time earnings
per week
44.1
43.7
43.8
44.0
44.3
.d o .
Bushelers and tailors.
Total, hand sewers.
44.2
44.0
44.8
44.0
1930
Average
earnings
per hour
-do-
.461
.953
.527
.454
.533
.453
.713
.417
45.84
.407
.452
20.24
42.03
23.14
20.02
21.00
Average full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time
earnings per week are given by cities in Table 3 for 1928 and 1930, for
males and females separately and for both sexes combined.
791
M EN’S CLOTHING INDUSTRY
In 1928 average full-time hours per week for males in the various
cities ranged from 42.1 to 51.3, and in 1930 from 42.1 to 51.8; for
females in 1928 from 39.6 to 49.6, and in 1930 from 39.5 to 50.7; and
for both sexes in 1928 from 40.4 to 50.1 and in 1930 from 40.4 to 51.
Average earnings per hour for males in 1928 ranged by cities from
47.4 cents to $1,023, and in 1930 from 43.2 cents to $1,029; for
females from 33.6 cents to 75.8 cents in 1928, and from 27.5 cents to
73.6 cents in 1930; and for both sexes from 38.1 cents to 91.5 cents
in 1928, and from 32.7 cents to 90 cents in 1930.
Average full-time earnings per week for males in the various cities
ranged from $24.32 to $45.01 in 1928, and from $22.38 to $45.28
in 1930; for females from $16.67 to $33.35 in 1928, and from $13.94 to
$32.38 in 1930; and for both sexes from $19.09 to $40.26 in 1928. and
from $16.68 to $39.60 in 1930.
T a b l e 3.—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS IN 1928 AN D 1930, B Y SEX AND C IT Y OK
D ISTR IC T
Sex, and city or district
Average full-time
hours per week
1928
Males
Baltimore...........................
Boston................................
Buffalo....................—........
Chicago..............................
Cincinnati..........................
Cleveland...........................
Milwaukee.........................
Newark..............................
Northeastern New Jersey2
New York...... ...................
Philadelphia......................
Eastern Pennsylvania 3.._
Rochester...........................
St. Louis............................
Total _
Females
Baltimore...........................
Boston........................ ........
B uffalo.............................
Chicago...............................
Cincinnati..........................
Cleveland...........................
Milwaukee................. ........
Newark..............................
Northeastern New Jersey2
New York.........................
Philadelphia................. .
Eastern Pennsylvania 3,_ .
Rochester..........................
St. Louis............... ............
Total _
Males and females
Baltimore.....................................
Boston..........................................
Buffalo--................................ —
Chicago........................................
Cincinnati................................
Cleveland.....................................
Milwaukee...................................
Newark.........................................
Northeastern New Jersey2.........
New York....................................
Philadelphia................................
Eastern Pennsylvania 8..............
Rochester.....................................
St. Louis......................................
Total1 No data available.
47767°—31------51
Average earnings
per hour
1928
1930
1928
$0,721
.893
.722
1.023
1.007
.796
$0,681
$31.80
38.13
31.98
45.01
42.39
35.02
0)44.1
46.3
44.2
44.4
51.3
43.1
44.0
44.3
44.0
44.0
44.0
42.1
44.0
45.1
44.0
46.4
44.3
44.2
51.8
44.0
44.3
44.1
44.3
44.4
42.2
44.1
44.0
39.6
44.0
47.2
44.7
44.2
49.6
42.8
44.1
44.3
44.0
44.0
44.0
39.5
44.0
45.2
44.0
47.0
44.6
44.1
50.7
44.0
44.3
0).560
.384
.533
.420
.336
. 575
.436
.531
.736
.588
.523
.532
.521
.345
.485
.434
.275
.580
.419
43.9
44.2
.534
.504
44.3
42.5
14.1
44.0
40.4
44.0
.467
.698
.553
.915
.731
.629
44.1
46.8
44.4
44.4
50.1
42.9
44.0
44.3
44.0
44.0
44.0
40.4
44.0
45.2
44.0
46.8
44.4
44.1
51.0
44.0
44.3
0).794
44.0 !
44.3
44.1
42.7
44.3
44.0
42.1
44.0
(*44.2
)
C
1)
2 Exclusive of Newark.
Average full-time
earnings per week
C1)
.933
.718
.983
.783
.474
.868
.801
1.029
.910
.734
.761
.934
.661
.926
.792
.432
.915
.676
.885
.371
.465
.468
.758
.593
.575
1930
41.15
33.24
43.45
34.77
24.32
40.34
31.86
$30.17
38.19
35.24
45.28
38.31
32.30
34.32
41.10
30.67
41.02
35.01
22.38
40.26
29.95
40.75
19.21
16.47
19.62
20.64
33.35
23.48
25.30
24.75
18.12
23.83
18.56
16.67
24.61
19.23
16.04
21.38
23.36
32.38
23.23
23.01
24.05
22.92
16.22
21.63
19.14
13.94
25.52
18.56
23.44
22.28
20.69
29.67
24.39
40.26
29.53
27.68
20.11
0
(x)
.542
.859
.613
.381
.707
.528
.612
.900
.712
.575
.607
.786
.484
.799
.632
.327
.711
.495
25.37
38.14
27.22
19.09
30.33
23.23
.731
.701
32.16
30.5.S
26.93
39.60
28. Hi
25.30
27.44
34.58
22.65
35.48
27.87
(*
)
35.02
16.
31.28
21.93
i
' Exclusive of Philadelphia.
31.05
792
W AGES ANI) HOURS OF LABOR
Motor-Vahicle Industry: Hours and Earnings, 1928
T his article presents the results of a study in 1928 by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of wages and hours of labor in the motor-vehicle
industry in the United States. Studies were also made in 1922 and
1925 and the details of the results were published in Bulletins 348
and 438.
The 1928 data for the industry as a whole are for 153,962 wage
earners of 94 representative manufacturers of passenger cars, trucks,
bodies or parts in 8 States in which the industry is of sufficient impor
tance in number of wage earners to warrant mclusion in the study.
This number represents 36.1 per cent of the total number in the
industry in 1925, according to the United States Census of Manu
factures, and 39.6 per cent of the total in the 8 States. The data for
1925 were for 99 representative establishments and 144,362 employees,
and for 1922 were for 49 establishments and 56,309 employees.
The average full-time hours per week for the employees in 1928 are
49.4, as compared with 50.3 in 1925 and 50.1 in 1922. Average
earnings were 75 cents per hour compared with 72.3 cents in 1925 and
65.7 cents in 1922, and average full-time earnings per week were
$37.05 in 1928, $36.37 in 1925, and $32.92 in 1922.
The averages in Table 1 for 1925 and 1928 are for all of the males
and of the females in each of the occupations in the industry and
for a group of employees designated as “ other employees.”
Average full-time hours per week for male axle assemblers, as
may be seen from the table, decreased from 50.3 in 1925 to 50.2 in
1928, average earnings per hour increased from 72.9 cents in 1925 to
75.5 cents in 1928, and average full-time earnings per week increased
from $36.67 in 1925 to $37.90 per week in 1928.
Average full-time hours per week for males in 1925 in the various
occupations ranged from 48.4 for sewing-machine operators to 53.7
for hardeners, and in 1928 from 42.4 for sewing-machine operators to
54.5 for hardeners. Averages for females in 1925 ranged from 47.8
for general painters to 51.8 for cloth and leather cutters, and in 1928
from 48.9 for paint sprayers to 52.8 for cloth and leather cutters.
Average earnings per hour for males in 1925 in the various occupa
tions ranged from 51.2 cents for apprentices to $1,037 for dingmen,
and in 1928 from 57.2 cents for apprentices to $1,128 for dingmen.
Averages for females in 1925 ranged from 36.1 cents for inspectors to
57.3 cents for drill-press operators, and in 1928 from 39 cents for
inspectors to 63.6 cents for lacquer rubbers.
Average full-time earnings per week for males in 1925 in the various
occupations ranged from $25.60 for apprentices to $52.47 for dingmen,
and in 1928 from $27.80 for apprentices to $57.53 for dingmen.
Averages for females in 1925 ranged from $17.91 for inspectors to
$28.54 for drill-press operators, and in 1928 from $19.77 for inspectors
to $33.33 for lacquer rubbers,
793
MOTOR-VEHICLE INDUSTRY
T abus 1.—AVERAG E HOURS A N D EABNINGS, 1925 AND 1928, B Y OCCUPATION
Occupation
Bex
Apprentices____ - ___ ______ „__ ___ ___ ____ ___ Male
Assemblers, axle.............................. ........... ............. ...d o _____
Female___
Assemblers, body frame, ........ ^ . .....
Male_____
Female___
Assemblers, chassis.................................................. Male.........
Female___
Assemblers, final...................................................... Male_____
Female___
Assp.mhlftrs, framfi, .... ,
Male____
Assemblers, motor___________ _____ _____ ______ ...d o ..........
Female___
Male.........
Automatic operators, lathe and screw machine,
Bench hands, machine shop........................ ........... ... do..........
Female___
Blacksmiths._____________
.
.
Boring-mill operators________ _________________ __.do..........
__ do___ . . .
Bumpers ™
,
...................
Crane operators
. ..........
...d o ..........
__ do_____
Cutters, cloth and leather.
Female___
Die setters, sheet metal....
Male_____
Dingmfin
_._do..........
Dnor ha.ngp.rs
...d o ..........
Drill-press operators_______________ . __________ ...d o ........
Female___
Forge-shop helpers____________________________ Male_____
Gear-cutter operators..... ................... .................... ...d o _____
Grinding-machine operators___________________ ...d o _____
Female___
Hardeners............ ............................ ......... ........... . Male_____
Helpers_____________________ _________________ ...d o ........ .
Female___
Inspectors____________________________________ Male_____
Female___
Laborers____ ______ . . . __ .
Male____
Female___
Lacquer rubbers_______________ __ . ________ Male_____
Female___
Male_____
Lathe operators____________
Letterers, stripers, and varnisbors......... ................ — do_____
Female___
Machinists__________________
__ __
Male____
Metal finishers_____________________ ______ __ do....... .
Metal panelers_____ _______________ __________ ...d o ..........
__ do_____
MilliTig-nnftchipe operators....... ......................
Molders, belt and drip_______________ ______ __ __ do_____
Painters, general_________________ ____________ ...d o ..........
Female___
Paint sprayers............................ ............... ............ Male.........
Female___
Planer and shaper operators____________________ Male_____
Platers________________ ^_________________ _ _ ...d o ..........
Polishers and buffers__________________________ ...d o ..........
Punch-press operators______________ _________ ...d o ..........
Female___
Sand blasters, etc_________________ ______ _____ Male_____
Sanders and rough-stuff rubbers________________ — d o ...___
Female
Sewing-machine operators_________________
. Male____
Female___
Sheet-metal workers............................ ........... ........ Male.........
Female___
Straighteners__________________________ ______ Male_____
Testers, final and road............. ........... ................... ...d o ..........
Testers, motor___. ____________ ____ _________ _ ...d o ..........
Tool and die makers.________ . _____ -__________ ...d o _____
Top b u ild e rs.* ....,. .......... ............................... __ d o .......
Fiemale.__
Trim bench h a n d s ................. ........................ M a le ......
Female...,
Varnish rubbers..*............................... ................. Male........
Welders and braziers..
..... .. _ _ d o_____
...d
o .........
.........................
.................
Welders,
spot and
butt
Woodworking-machine operators....... - ..............
Average
full-time
hours per
week
1925
1928
50.0
50.3
50.0
50.8
48.6
50.2
50.3
50.4
49.8
49.0
49.8
50.1
49.3
49.5
50.1
50.4
49.0
50.3
49.3
48.9
47.3
49.6
49.3
49.1
52.8
47.4
51.0
50.9
49.6
50.5
50.7
49.5
48.8
50.3
54.5
48.1
52.0
49.4
50.7
49.4
49.5
50.3
52.4
49.0
50.0
49.8
47.9
50.5
49.8
49.5
50.6
50.7
50.3
50.4
48.9
49.1
49.5
49.2
47.9
51.3
48.7
49.7
51.4
42.4
51.0
50.5
49.6
49.8
49.9
51.4
48.8
49.6
49.5
49.4
50.8
49.4
47.6
49.5
50. o
49.9*
50.0
50.1
49.8
50.0
49.8
50.0
49.7
50.2
49.3
49.6
50.6
49.8
49.7
50.5
51.8
49.9
50.6
51.2
50.3
49.8
51.0
50.6
50.1
49.9
53.7
50.9
50.0
50.1
49.6
50.4
50.2
50.2
50."6"
50.1
____
500
50.6
51.5
50.4
51.0
50.6
47.8
50.0
49.’ 7~
50.1
50.4
49.6
50.0
50.8
50.5
48.4
50.7
50.3
49.5
50.9
50.8
50.5
50.2
50.6
51.4
49.2
49.7
50.8
50.3
50.2
61.2
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
1928
1925
1928
$0,512 $0,572
.729
.755
.496
.451
.739
.799
.419
"~.694~ .758
.520
.529
.731
.774
.507
.507
.753
.770
.747
.762
.489
.460
.764
.806
.716
.724
.568
.538
.957
.973
.765
.808
.945 1.042
.726
.707
.803
.831
.517
.461
.797
.849
1.037 1.128
.827
.861
.712
.734
.573
.466
.753
.735
.746
.760
. 765
.792
.471
.457
.725
.749
.603
.621
.491
.463
.682
.723
.361
.390
.570
.589
.403
.465
.841
.871
.636
' . 762’ .789
.996 1.115
______ .588
.844
"".806
.851
.893
.770
.830
.737
.764
.914
.823
.776
.770
.519
.415
.824
.850
. 565
"”.786" .791
.734
.756
.908
.936
.718
.746
.491
.457
.680
.727
.843
.807
.540
.718
.833
.472
.513
.783
.807
.489
.490
.753
.780
.639
.699
.712
.726
.875
.919
.808
.840
.536
.481
.754
.770
.479
.483
.901
.836
.852
.810
.789
.792
,674
,729
$25.60
36.67
24.80
37.54
$27.80
37.90
22.69
40.27
20.87
37.14
26.34
38.78
25.00
38.12
38.18
23.18
39.49
36.42
26.52
47.58
38.22
51.68
34.86
40.80
24.34
40.24
57.53
43,82
36.41
23.53
37.26
37.62
38.65
22.99
40.82
29.87
24.08
35.72
19.77
29.10
23.02
42.30
33.33
38.66
55. 75
29.28
40.43
45.10
41.33
37.82
46.25
39.04
20.87
41.53
27.63
38.84
37.42
46.05
35.73
25.10
35.40
40.11
27.76
35.32
26.16
40.75
24.25
38.84
34.88
37.32
44.85
41.66
26.53
38.04
24.54
41.30
40.56
39.06
3&8I
1925
34."63*
26.00
36. 62
25.25
37.65
37.20
24.45
37.97
35.94
28.00
47.47
38.71
47.06
36.08
40.55
26.78
39.77
52.47
42.34
35.81
28.54
38.40
37.75
38.33
23.50
38.93
30.69
24.55
34.17
17.91
28.73
20.23
43.72
38.10
49.90
______
40^0
43.06
39.66
37.14
41.97
39.27
24.81
42.50
~39."oo"
36.77
45.76
35.61
22.85
34.54
42.57
34.75’
23.93
39.38
24.26
38.33
32.46
35.96
43.93
40.88
24.72
37.10
23.81
45.32
40,74
39.76
34.51
794
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T ablk 1.—AVERAG E HOURS A N D EARNINGS, 1925 A N D 1928, BY OCCUPATION—Contd.
Occupation
Other skilled occupations______________________
Other employees______________________________
Sex
Male_____
Female___
Male.........
Female___
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Average
earnings
per hour
1925
1928
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
1925
1928
1925
50.0
50.0
49.9
49.6
48.9 $0,774 $0,773 $38.70
.509 26.80
51.0
.536
48.8
.692
.702 34.53
49.2
.450
.506 22.32
1928
$37.80
25.96
34.26
24.90
All occupations___________________________
Male_____ 50.3
Female___ 50.1
49.4
50.3
.729
.467
.756
.487
36.67
23.40
37.35
24.50
All occupations, male and female___________
50.3
49.4
.723
.750
36.37
37.05
Average Hours and Earnings, by States, 1925 and 1928
I n Table 2 are given average full-time hours per week, average
earnings per hour, and average full-time earnings per week for 1925
and 1928 for all males and females separately, and also for both
sexes combined, that were included in the study of the motor-vehicle
industry in each State in each of these years.
The purpose of this table is to show the increases or decreases in
average hours and earnings between 1925 and 1928 in each State
and also to furnish a comparison of those of one State with another.
Average full-time hours per week for the males in Illinois decreased
from 51.4 in 1925 to 49.2 in 1928, or 4.3 per cent, average earnings
per hour increased from 68.2 in 1925 to 70.4 cents in 1928, or 3.2 per
cent, and average full-time earnings per week decreased from $35.05 in
1925 to $34.64 in 1928, the decrease in average full-time earnings being
due to a larger decrease in full-time hours than the increase in average
earnings per hour.
Average full-time hours per week for males in the various States
ranged from 48.5 in 1925 for the State with the lowest average to 53.4
for the one with the highest average, and in 1928 from 45.3 to 53.3;
for females they ranged from 48.3 to 50.9 in 1925 and from 48.4 to
54.4 in 1928; and for both sexes, or the industry, they ranged from
48.5 to 53.4 in 1925 and from 45.3 to 53.2 in 1928. The averages for
males in all States were 50.3 in 1925 and 49.4 in 1928,, for females
50.1 in 1925 and 50.2 in 1928, and for both sexes combined 50.3 in
1925 and 49.4 in 1928.
Average earnings per hour for males in the various States ranged
from 59.3 cents to 75.6 cents in 1925 and from 64.4 cents to 79 cents in
1928; for females they* ranged from 39.4 cents to 47.9 cents in 1925,
and from 44.1 cents to 51.6 cents in 1928; and for both sexes combined
or the industry, they ranged from 59.2 cents to 74.8 cents in 1925, and
from 64.3 cents to 78.2 cents in 1928. The averages for males in all
States were 72.9 cents in 1925 and 75.6 cents in 1928; for females,
46.7 cents in 1925 and 48.7 cents in 1928; and for both sexes, or the
industry, 72.3 cents in 1925 and 75 cents per hour in 1928.
Average full-time earnings per week for males in the various States
ranged from $30.90 to $37.88 in 1925 and from $32.84 to $38.55 in
1928; for females they ranged from $20.05 to $24.23 in 1925 and from
$23.03 to $25.25 in 1928; and for both sexes, or the industry, they
795
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT, TJ. S.
ranged from $30.78 to $37.47 in 1925 and from $32.75 to $38.24 in
1928. The averages for males in all States were $36.67 in 1925 and
$37.35 in 1928; for females, $23.40 in 1925 and $24.50 in 1928; and
for both sexes, $36.37 in 1925 and $37.05 in 1928.
T a b l e S .— AVERAGE HOURS AND EARNINGS,
1925 AND 1928, B Y SEX A N D STATE
Average full-time
hours per week
Average earnings
per hour
Average full-time
earnings per week
Sex and State
1925
1928
1925
1928
1925
1928
Males
Illinois...........................................................
Indiana.........................................................
Michigan......................................................
New Jersey...................................................
New York....................................................
Ohio..............................................................
Pennsylvania...............................................
Wisconsin............................................ ........
51.4
50.6
50.1
50.2
51.1
48.5
52.1
53.4
49.2
50.9
48.8
45.3
50.9
49.6
52.8
53.3
$0,682
.690
.756
.720
.685
.736
.593
.674
$0,704
.652
.790
.725
.734
.734
.644
.717
$35.05
34.91
37.88
36.14
35.00
35.70
30.90
35.99
$34.64
33.19
38.55
32.84
37.36
36.41
34.00
38.22
T o ta l.................................................
50.3
49.4
.729
.756
36.67
37.35
Females
Illinois...........................................................
Indiana............ ............................................
Michigan......................................................
New Jersey...................................................
New York...... ..............................................
Ohio.............................................................
Pennsylvania...............................................
Wisconsin....................................................
50.9
49.9
50.5
49.7
50.8
48.3
50.1
48.2
54.4
50.4
50.5
50.0
49.8
48.4
51.8
49.2
.394
.474
.464
.479
.477
.477
.420
.467
.441
. 4:7
.487
.505
.507
.516
.460
.511
20.05
23.65
23.43
23.81
24.23
23.04
21.04
22.51
23.99
23.03
24.59
25.25
25.25
24.97
23.83
25.14
Total..................................................
50.1
50.3
.467
.487
23.40
24.50
Males and females
Illinois..........................................................
Indiana___________ _______ ____________
Michigan......................................................
New Jersey..................................................
New York_______ _______________ _____
Ohio................... ................................... .
Pennsylvania...................... ........................
Wisconsin________ ____________________
51.4
50.5
50.1
50.2
51. 1
48.5
52.0
53.4
49.3
50.9
48.9
45.3
50.9
49.6
52.8
53.2
.680
.684
.748
.714
.683
.730
.592
.669
.699
.647
.782
.723
.729
.728
.643
.714
34.95
34.54
37.47
35.84
34.90
35.41
30.78
35.72
34.46
32.93
38.24
32.75
37.11
36.11
33.95
37.98
Total____ ______ ________ _____ __
50 3
49.4
.723
.750
36.37
37.05
Naval Establishment, U. S .: Wages of Civil Employees
The schedule of wages of civil employees under the United States
Naval Establishment for the calendar year 1929 was continued for the
years 1930 and 1931, except for certain administrative changes.
The following tables covering wage rates in the clothing workers'
service and in the laborer, helper, and mechanical service have been
selected, as being of the most general interest, from the schedule
published by the Navy Department.1 The figures for all occupations,
other than apprentices, are the maximum. The minimum rate is
10 cents under the maximum and there xs an intermediate rate 5 cents
under the maximum.
i United States. Navy Department. Schedule of wages for civil employees under the Naval Establish
ment for the calendar year 1929. Washington, 1928.
796
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—RATES OF WAGES PER HOUR IN THE CLOTHING W O R K E R S SERVICE
Naval Supply Depot, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Occupation
Rate per
hour
Assistant custom cutter,.
B aster............................. .
Bushelman.......................
Canvas maker_____ ____
Chopper........................ .
Cleaner________________
Cloth sponger..................
Clothing examiner......... .
Coat finisher................... .
Coat maker____ ____ ___
Coat o p e ra to r------ -----Collar maker.......... .........
Custom cutter.................
Cutting-machine operator
Cutter and marker.. .......
Die-machine operator----Double-needle operator__
Dress-coat maker.............
$0.85
.85
.80
.65
. 75
.45
.75
.75
.55
.90
1.00
.90
1.25
.90
.85
.75
.70
.95
Rate per
hour
Occupation
Embroiderer......................
Finish presser....................
Fitter.................................
General tailor............... .
Head custom cutter______
Hand buttonhole maker...
Operator (female)....... ......
Operator, sewing machine.
Operator, special machine.
Pocket maker.............. ......
Spreader...................... ......
Trimmer............................
Trouser finisher.................
Trouser maker...................
Trouser operator...............
Underpresser.....................
Vest maker........................
>.55
.95
.85
.85
i. 35
.80
.55
.67
.00
LOO
.67
.60
.80
.90
.80
.75
Depot of Supplies, United States Marine Corps, Philadelphiay Pa.
Finisher.................................... ............... !
Operator (female)............ ...... ..................*
Head operator (female)..... ......................j
Presser......................................................
Sponger............... ...... .................... ......... '
Tailor, first class..................................... j
Tailor, second class...................................i
Trimmer...................................... ........._J
Coat fitter.........................
Coat maker.......................
Coat operator...................
Custom cutter...................
Cutter................................
Cutter and marker.......... .
Cutting-machine operator
Embroideress............ .......
Examiner, clothing.......... .
$0
T a b l e 2*—RATES OF WAGES PER HOUR IN THE LABORER. HELPER, A N D M ECH AN
ICAL SERVICE OF THE U. S. NAVAL ESTABLISHM ENT
Phil Wash Nor Charles New Mare
Bos New adel
Or
Is Puget Great
ton York phia ington folk
ton
leans land Sound Lakes
Occupation
Group I
Attendant:
Building (Naval Academy)
Battery__________ ___________
Ironer, hand, laundry____________
$0.40
.53
Laborer, common............................. $0.56 $0.56
Laundress_______________________
Laundrvman____________________ .57
.65
.60
.29
Mangle hand, laundry___________
.40
Press operator, laundry__________
Group JJ
$0.40
.57
.40
1.53 $0.46
.35
.50
.34
.34
$0.36 $0.36 $0.56
$0.56
$0.57
j
Attendant, powder factory 2............
Hammer runner:
Heavy....... ................. .............. j
Others______________________ !
Helper:
BlacksmithHeavy fires .
__
Other fires_______________
Boiler maker............ .................
Coppersmith......... ................. .
Electrician............. ...................
Flange turner.............................
Forger, heavy_____________ __
General....................................... I
Laboratory________ _____ ____
Machinist...................... ........-.
Molder__________ _____ ______
Pipe fitter............................ .
.80
i
.66
.60
.66
.62
.63
.58
.66
.61
.60
.55
.57
.52
.64
.61
.61
.61
.63
.64
.64
.61
,61
.61
.61
.63
.64
.61
.61
.61
.63
.64
.64
.61
.61
.61
.63
.63
.62
.57
. 57
. 57
.59
.62
.62
.57
.57
.57
.57
.59
.62
.57
.57
.57
.59
.59
.54
.56
.54
.56
.59
.59
.54
.54
.56
.56
.55
. 56
.51
.51
.51
.51
.56
. 56
.51
.57
.57
.57
.57
.59
...........
!
.51
.51
.51
.51
.51
.51 ” .1 I'
.68
.64
.63
.63
.63
.68
.68
.63
.63
.62 !
.63 i
.65
.61
.63
.63
.63
.68
.68
.63 “’ ”
.61
.63
.62
.63
.61
.’ 60
.60
."61
* Rate for laborer, common, at naval powder factory, Indianhead, M d „ and naval proving ground,
Daliigren, Va., $0.50 per hour.
* Intermediate rates, $0.75, $0.70, $0.65, and $0.60 per hour. Minimum rate, $0.55 per hour.
797
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT, U . S.
T able 8.—RATES OF WAGES PER HOUR IN THE LABO RER, HELPER, A N D M E CH AN
IC A L SERVICE OF THE U. S. N AVAL ESTABLISHM ENT-Continuod
Occupation
Mare Puect Great.
Wash Nor Charles New
Bos New Phil
Is
Or
ton
ton York adel
leans land Sound Lakes
phia ington folk
Group IJ—Continued
Helper—Continued
Rigger.............. ........
Ropemaker..............
Sheet-metal workerShip fitter_________
Woodworker.......... .
Hod carrier................... Holder-on................. ......
Laborer, classified_____
Oiler........................... .
Rivet heater........... ........
Sand blaster...................
Stable keeper.................
Stevedore------- -----------Teamster........................
$0.61
0.57 $0 .57 $0.54
.57
.57
57
64
.65
.53
.70
.56
.72
.56
.65
.56
.56
$0.51 $0.51 $0.63
$0.60
.63
.63
.63
.65
.55
.55
.57
.56
.62
.46
.70
.45
.70
56
.53
.48
.68
.56
.70
.60
.72
.58
.71
.62
.53
71
1.01
.01
1.01
79
1.02
.92
.67
.97
.93
.65
.81
1.05
.91
.67
.97
.92
.65
.81
.92
.91
.92
.91
.57
.62
Group III
Aircraft fabric worker............
Aircraft mechanic:
General________________
Motor...............................
Angle smith:
Heavy fires______ ______
96
Other fires.................... ..
Blacksmith:
Heavy fires......................
Other fires........................
Blue printer........................ .
Boat builder...........................
Boiler maker....................................
Box maker............... ..............
Brakeman...............................
Buffer and polisher_________
Butcher......................... .........
Calker, wood..................... .
Calker and chipper, iron.......
Cement finisher....... —...........
Cement worker____________
Chain maker.................. ........
Chauffeur............... ................
Conductor, railroad.......... . .
Cooper............................... .
Coppersmith.................... ......
Craneman, electric (under 20 tons).
Crystal oscillator maker*___
Cupola tender........................
Die sinker..................... .........
Diver.............................. ........
Dredge operator.....................
Driller.............. ............ .........
Electrician..............................
Electroplater..........................
Engineman____ ___________
87
Locomotive.......... ...........
Locomotive, electric........
Hoisting and portable___
Fireman....... ..........................
Fireman, power plant______
Fireman, other fires...............
Flange turner.........................
Forger:
Drop.................................
H e a v y ............................
!l
Foundry chipper....................
Frame bender.................. ......
Furnace man:
Foundry...........................
Heater..............................
Heavy forge, heater.........
.75
Other forge....................
.65
Galvanizer...............................
.71
hardener.................................
.64
.57
.87
.87
.93
.93
.83
.93
.67
.92
.92
.65
.76
.87
.87
.95
.84
.84
.90
.61
.87
.87
.60
.76
.83
.76
.84
.84
.41
.71
.82
.76
.98
.75
.65
.82
.82
.92
.70
.92
.75
.81
.75
.98
1.90
.75
.98
1.90
.76
.98
.93
.91
.92
.70
.93
.87
.84
.70
.93
.87
.84
.92
.75
.86
.94
.87
1.02
1.90
.91
1.36
.70
.94
.56
.60
.85
’ ."84
1.90
1.90
.87
.86
.70
.87
.87
.82
1.31
.64
.82
1.31
.64
.87
.90
.81
.81
.65
.51
1.30
"‘ .’ 85
.65
.65
.70
.65
.65
.65
.70
.72
.72
.80
.75
.65
.64
.70
.64
.72
.67
.67
.63
.63
8 Rate for laborer, classified, at naval powder factory, Indianhead,
Dahlgren, Va., $0.50 per hoar.
* For use at Naval Research Laboratory, Bellevue, D. C., only.
.80
.84
1.00
.70
1.31
.64
.87
.80
.91
.03 |
.75
.84
.78
.98
.78
.75
.84
.78
.98
.78
1.03
1.90
.83
1.03
1.90
.78
.99
.99
.93
.78
.93
,93
.79
.93
.77
.94
.94
.90
1.38
.65
.94
1.38
.65
.94
.93
.’ 71
.95
.‘ 88
.75
.75
.70
.70
.75
.75
.70
.70
,83
.80
.64
. 63
.73
.73
.63
.63
Md., and naval proving ground,
.70
798
T able
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
RATES OF WAGES PER HOUR IN THE LABORER, H ELPER, A N D M ECH AN
IC A L SERVICE OF THE U. S. N AVAL ESTABLISHM ENT—Continued
New Mare Puget
Wash Nor Charles Or
Great
Bos New Phil
Is
ton York adel
ton
leans land Sound Lakes
phia ington folk
Occupation
Group III—Continued
Glass apparatus maker....................
Instrum ent m aker
_ _
Joiner___________________________
Ladle Tnan, fnnndrv
_____
Lead burner3...................... ............
Leather worker__________________
Letterer and grainer______________
Leveler________ ______ __________
Linotype or monotype operator, or
compositor.....................................
Loftsman_______________________
M a ch in e operator
__
M achinist..,
$0.92 $0.95 $0.91
.88
.90
.93
.64
.65
.70
.72
.94
.75
.97
.66
.94
.68
.88
.96
.71
.92
Marker and sorter, laundry_______
Mason, brick or stone...................... 1.14
Mechanic, bomb sight___________
Melter__________________________ .79
Electric___________ __________
Open hearth_________________
Metallic cartridge case maker_____
MiHnnan
.
. . ......
.90
M o d e l m aker, w o o d
_ _ _
M older_________________________
.96
Optical glass plate and gauge maker.
.70
.92
.90
.93
.67
.88
1.14
1.14
.82
1.05
.77
1.10
.93
.88
Group IVb
Apprentice:
First class
__ _____ __
Second class
______
Third class
_________ __
Fourth class.............................
.60
50
.40
.30.
.67
.88
.55
1.14
1.10
.77
1.15
.68
.88
1.03
.98
.92
.84
.92
.82
.82
.74
.82
.75
.70
.88
.90
1.04
.88
.93
1.14
.93
.90
$0.92
1.00
.76
.95
.97
.76
.93
.90
1.17
1.14
.82
1.14
1.14
1.17
.83
1.05
.77
1.15
.87
.99
.99
.98
.90
1.02
1.01
.75
.65
.88
.75
.65
.81
.80
.77
.96
.80
.77
.96
.72
.90
1.04
.88
.93
1.14
.93
.90
.64
.84
.94
.85
.90
1.14
.90
.87
.60
.81
1.10
.91
.99
1.17
.99
.97
.70
.94
.94
1.12
.94
.84
.61
.80
.61
1.13
.93
.99
1.17
.99
.97
.72
.94
1.04
.90
.63
.84
.95
.94
1.05
.58
.99
.93
.99
.92
1.00
.57
.99
.91
.97
.50
.94
.98
.63
1.00
.92
.98
.63
.95
. 63
.93
.90
.99
.93
.90
.99
.60
.50
.40
.30
.60
.50
.40
.30
.88
1.06
.91
.98
1.14
.98
.73
.92
1.04
.88
.93
1.14
.93
.90
.64
.84
.91
.62
.86
.61
.90
1.04
.58
.98
.91
.93
.84
.95
.55
.93
.87
.88
.84
.95
.55
.93
.87
.88
.90
.84
1.00
.55
.93
.87
.88
.90
.97
.63
.92
.93
.61
.87
.93
.61
.87
1.05
.73
.93
.56
.87
.89
.82
.85
.81
.87
1.14
.89
.80
.83
.83
.87
.56
.73
.70
.91
.89
.92
.86
.84
.88
.86
.84
.88
.86
.84
.88
.83
.83
.85
.60
.50
.40
.30
.60
.50
.40
.30
.60
.50
.40
.30
.60
.50
.40
.30
.60
.50
.40
.30
"”.79~ ".*7§'
$0.97
.99
.70
.80
.82
.75
.65
.88
* For use at Naval Powder Factory, Indianhead, Md., only.
• For use at Naval Observatory, Washington, D, C., only,
.78
1.14
.75
.70
.92
.61
.76
$0.97
.99
.95
.97
.76
.93
.98
.84
$0.85 $0.85
.90
.93
.67
.88
1.03
O ptical instru m en t finisher ____
O ptical instrument, m aker ,
Optical glass grinder and polisher. _
Optical parts inspector___________
Optical instrument assembler.........
Optical polish and wax mixer_____
Ordnanceman___________________
.75
Packer__________________________ .68
Painter_______________ __________ .89
Painter, coach___________________
Patternmaker___________________ 1.02
Pipe coverer and insulator. ............ .88
Pipe fitter_______________________ .95
Plasterer________________________ 1.14
Plumber_________ _______ _______ .95
Printer, job_____________________
.90
Puncher and shearer_____________ .65
Rigger__________________________ .90
Rigger, antennae_________________
Riveter_________________________
.88
Rodman. ______________________ .61
Roller, brass and copper_____ ____
Ropemaker___________ ________... .77
Sailmaker_______________________ .88
Saw filer________________________
.97
Sewer_______________________ ____ .57
Sheet-metal worker. ................. ...... .95
Ship fitter......................................... .88
Shipwright______________________
.90
Temperer_______________________
Tile and plate setter_______ ____
.88
•Toolmaker____________________
.93
Trackman____ _____ ____________
.63
Upholsterer_____________________
.89
Watch and chronometer repairer6. .
Water tender
_________ "."76"
Welder:
Electric
. ___ _______ .88
Gas.
.... ................ .............. .86
Wharf builder___________________
.90
$1.20
.91
.88 $0.88
.58
.67
1.07
.68
.92
.92
.83
.80
.85
.90
.63
W AGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
799
Office Workers: Earnings in New York State Factories, October,
1930
Since 1914 the New York Department of Labor has been col
lecting data on the earnings of office workers in New York State
factories for the month of October. The tabulation for October,
1930, shows that the average weekly earnings in that month—$37.48—
were the highest recorded since this study of office workers7 earnings
was initiated. The details of the report for October, 1930, as given
in the Industrial Bulletin for November, 1930, issued by the State
industrial commissioner, are reproduced below:
Average weekly earnings for factory office workers stood in October, 1930.
at $37.48. This is the highest figure recorded since the study of office workers
earnings was begun in 1914 and represents a gain of 54 cents over October, 1929.
The average earnings of all factory employees over the same year decreased by
more than $2.
These statements are based upon reports of office forces and pay rolls submitted
regularly by firms on the fixed list for the monthly labor market analysis. The
tabulation of factory office earnings is made each October and includes only
office help within the manufacturing plant. The increase shown in these earnings
this year illustrates well a statement made in the Industrial Bulletin in November,
1925: “ A year to year comparison shows a gradual but steady increase (in average
earnings) "among these workers as compared with the wage fluctuations reported
for factory people who are largely time workers with hours changing with business
conditions.” Since the firms do not report as to the kind of work done by their
office people, it is impossible to judge how much of the rise in average earnings
is caused by an actual increase in wage rates and how much is due to an increase
in the proportion of the more skilled technical workers.
As is indicated in the note to the accompanying table, the employees represented
in this tabulation are chiefly office clerks, stenographers, bookkeepers, account
ants, cashiers, stock clerks, office managers, superintendents, etc. High-salaried
officials are not knowingly included. There is inevitable, nevertheless, a wide
variation in the distribution of the different types of workers among the indus
tries, which makes it unwise to attempt to draw conclusions about salaries in
these industries from the differences which appear in averages.
Only two groups of industries failed to show an increase in office workers'
earnings—wood manufactures and clothing. The increase of $2.60 shown in
textile firms was caused by the report of a large firm whose report was not included
last year. Other industries to show large gains for the year were printing and
paper goods manufacture and furs, leather, and rubber goods.
The tabulation of the separate earnings of office men and women (which is
not on a fixed list basis and is therefore not comparable with the tabulation of
total office workers’ earnings) shows that office men were still earning approxi
mately twice as much as office women in every industry. The average earnings
for men continued to range between $40 and $60, those for women between $20
and $30. This may be due partly to the fact that more of the positions requiring
experience, executive ability, or technical skill were held by men. Men's earnings
had increased in every industry except furs, leather, and rubber goods, the largest
increase occurring in printing and paper goods firms. Women’s earnings, however,
had increased in only three industrial divisions—stone, clay, and glass; printing
and paper goods; clothing and millinery.
Women working in New York City received an average wage of from $2 to
$10 greater than up-State office women. In a few industries men received higher
salaries up-State than in New York City. This may be due to a greater prepon
derance of male clerical help, etc., in the city.
In all industries, with the possible exception of the public-utility group, factory
office workers were earning more than shop workers. A glance over the year's
reports shows further that their work was more steady and that their regular
working hours were generally shorter.
800
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b u s 1 .— AVERAGE W E E K L Y EARNINGS OF OFFICE EM PLOYEES IN REPRESEN TA
TIVE N EW Y O R K STATE FACTORIES IN OCTOBER OF EACH Y EA R , 1921 TO 1930
[The employees represented in this table are those who appear on factory office pay rolls, such as office clerks,
stenographers, bookkeepers, accountants, cashiers, stock clerks, office managers, superintendents, etc.]
Industry group
1921
1922
1923
1924
1926
1925
1927
1928
1929
Stone, clay, and glass............... $29.66 $29.95 $30.35 $32.65 $32.78 $34.06 $34.40 $36.10 $34.70
Metals and machinery. _......... 32.83 32.08 33.36 34.63 35.75 36.31 36.88 37.63 37.72
W ood manufactures.......... ...... 33.77 33.62 34.29 35.06 36.94 39.19 39.52 37.22 37.56
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods...................................... 27.33 28.22 28.92 29.41 28.75 29.64 29.62 29.82 29.34
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc----- 26.02 26.43 27.83 28.80 29.45 31.10 32.64 33.38 34.07
Paper and pulp............... ........ 0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0)
Printing and paper goods........ 34.20 34.24 36.41 37.48 38.90 39.91 40.49 41.37 42.68
Textiles..................................... 26.54 26.87 28.08 28.83 29.36 29.96 29.85 30.81 30.87
Clothing and millinery............ 28.52 28.62 29.68 30.29 30.92 31.41 31.45 31.82 33.30
Food and tobacco..................... 32.27 32.19 33.98 34.31 34.86 35.86 35.86 35.03 36.04
30.38 31.97 32.78 32.53 31.79 31.60 30.77
Water, light, and power.......... 0
0
Total............................... 31.27
31.20
32.56
33.58
34.49
35.38
35.88
36.37
36.94
1930
$35. 52
38.29
36.74
30.58
34.74
0
43.94
33.47
32.60
36.49
33.01
37.48
i Separate earnings not computed because of small number of employees.
A comparison of the average weekly earnings of men and of women
in factory offices in New York State in October, 1930, is given in
Table 2, reproduced from the Industrial Bulletin, November, 1930.
T a b l e 3-— AVERAGE W E E K L Y EARNINGS OF M EN AND W OM EN IN N EW Y O R K STATE
FA CTO R Y OFFICES, OCTOBER, 1930
[Tabulation of office men and women not on fixed list basis as in case of main tabulation)
Men
Industry group
Total
State
New
York
City
Women
Up-State
Total
State
New
York
City
Up-State
Stone, clay, and glass..................................
Metals and machinery............................. —
Wood manufactures.................................
Furs, leather, and rubber goods.................
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc..........................
Pulp and paper............................................
Printing and paper goods............................
Textiles.........................................................
Clothing and millinery............. .......... ......
Food and tobacco.......................................Water, light, and power..............................
0)
$47.28
52.31
45.78
50.05
0
59.43
43.90
47.49
45.74
0
0
$48.03
46.74
46.63
46.43
0
64.99
40.84
48.64
48.51
0
0
$47.12
54.93
44.47
51.68
0
49.55
44.85
44.70
41.83
0)
0
$23.00
23.87
22.77
22.45
0
26.67
23.46
27.66
25.13
0
0
$25.49
27.83
27.10
23.68
0
28.44
24.35
30.41
26.74
0)
^22.34
22.60
18.78
21.94
0
24.07
23.16
20.39
23.85
0
Total...................................................
49.34
52.80
47.45
24.42
27.57
22.37
i Separate earnings not computed because of small number of employees.
Oil Wells and Pipe Lines: Hours and Earnings, 1929
T he Bureau of Labor Statistics made a study of wages and hours
of labor of wage earners in the petroleum industry in the spring
and summer of 1929.2 It was limited to employees of representative
plants engaged in the drilling and operation of oil wells and the con
struction and operation of pipe lines. No information was obtained
for refineries. The data wei’e copied by agents of the bureau directly
2 A study of wages and hours of labor in the petroleum industry was made by the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics in the latter part of 1920. At that time, data were obtained from a representative number of com
panies in every State in which petroleum was produced to any considerable extent. Wage data for retinery workers as well as the production and pipe-line employees were inemded in this former report wliidi
was published as Bill. No. 297.
801
OIL WELLS AND PIPE LINES
from the pay rolls or records of the various companies and cover
30,655 wage earners employed by oil-well companies and 12,322 em
ployed by pipe-line companies located in California, Louisiana, Okla
homa, and Texas. These four States produced in 1928 slightly more
than 84.4 per cent of the entire production of petroleum in the United
States. All of the employees covered are male workers. The report
does not include officials, office forces, foremen, or watchmen. A
large proportion of the pay-roll data covers a half-month period,
including from 13 to 16 working days, depending on the particular
month or part of month selected. In order to present these figures
on a more uniform plan and on the same basis as that shown for other
industries, data were also obtained for days and hours worked in one
week of the half-month pay period scheduled. This made it possible
to present all figures on a 1-week basis.
^Table 1 shows for each of the four States covered the average full
time hours and earnings per week, and average earnings per hour
in each of the divisions of the industry studied.
As the table shows, the average full-time hours of oil-well employees
ranged from 48 to 69.9, while those of pipe-line employees ranged
from 48 to 60.4.
The average earnings per hour of oil-well employees ranged from
52.2 cents in northern Louisiana to 91.7 cents in California, and
average full-time earnings per week from $34.62 in Oklahoma to
$44.02 in California. For employees of pipe lines, average hourly
earnings ranged from 57.7 cents in the Gulf district of Texas to 80.3
cents in California, and average full-time earnings from $31.85 in
the Gulf district of Texas to $38.54 in California.
T a b l e 1 .— AVERAGE FULL-TIM E HOURS AND EARNINGS PER W EE K AND AVERAGE
EARNINGS PER HOUR, 1928, B Y DISTRICTS
Pipe lines
Wells
i
r
SAverage Average Average Average Average
I full-time earnings full-time full-time earnings
hours per per hour earnings hours per per hour
week
per week
week
District
California............... .....................................
Louisiana, northern......... ...........................
Louisiana, southern____________________
Oklahoma_____________________________
Texas, Gulf___ ______________________
Texas, other___________________________
48.0
69.9
66.7
62.6
62.5
67.4
$0.917
.522
.572
.553
.585
. 535
$44.02
36.49 }
38.15
34.62
36.56
36.06
48.0
i 55.5
56.3
55.2
60.4
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
$0,803
1.612
.590
.577
.591
$38.54
i 33.97
33.22
31.85
35.70
i Northern and southern Louisiana districts combined to avoid disclosing the identity of establishments.
Table 2 presents similar information by districts for selected occu
pations and for a miscellaneous group of “ other employees.”
T a b l e 2. - AVERAGE FULL-TIM E HOURS AND EARNINGS PER W EE K AND AVERAGE
EARNINGS PER HOUR, 1929, B Y OCCUPATION AND D IST R IC T
Oil wells
Occupation and district
Carpenters:
California...................
Louisiana, northern..
Louisiana, southern..
Oklahoma.................
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other...........
Aver
Aver
age
Aver agefull
age
full
time
earn
time
earn
hours ings per ings
per
per
hour
week
week
48.0
68.9
59.3
56.8
66.2
63.9
$0
$47.18
37.56
36.83
39.76
41.93
44,15
i Aver
age
Aver Aver
full
I fullage age
time
Occupation and district ! time
earn
earn
ings
per
! hours
per
hour ings
i per
week
| week
Derrick men:
California.............. ......
Louisiana, northern.. _
Louisiana, southern...
Oklahoma....................
Texas, Gulf............... .
Texas, other................
48.0
70.5
65.9
84.0
60.4
76.2
1.991
.511
.562
.602
.582
.505
$47.57
36.03
37.04
50.57
35.15
38. 48
802
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 2 .—A V E R AG E FU LL-TIM E HOURS A N D EARN ING S P E R W E E K A N D A V ERAG E
EARNINGS P E R HOUR, 1929, B Y OCCUPATION A N D D IST R IC T —Continued
Oil wells—Continued
Occupation and district
Drillers:
California...................
Louisiana, northern.
Louisiana, southern...
Oklahoma....................
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other..... ...........
Drillers’ helpers and clean
outs’ helpers:
California....................
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern...
Oklahoma................
Texas, Gulf..............
Texas, other.............
Engineers and pumpers:
California-...............
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern. __
Oklahoma________
Texas, Gulf............
Texas, other______
Firemen:
California-..............
Louisiana, northern. __
Louisiana, southern.._
Oklahoma...............
Texas, Gulf............
Texas, other______
Gaugers:
California...............
Louisiana, northern. __
Louisiana, southern. _
Oklahoma..................
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other................
Laborers, roustabouts, and
connection men:
California....................
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern.._
Oklahoma..............
Texas, Gulf............
Texas, other...........
Machinists:
California.....................
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern..
Oklahoma..................
Aver
age
Aver age fallfull
age
time
time earn
earn
hours ings per ings per
per
hour
week
week
48.0
75.6
68.2
74.5
61.1
80.3
$1.369
.819
.954
1.080
.969
.881
$65.71
61.92
65.06
80.46
59.21
70.74
48.0
76.5
66.9
66.5
59.2
77.4
42.62
33.51
33.18
40.96
31.55
38.78
48.0
71.3
72.2
73.8
76.2
81.5
38.97
35.22
37.26
33.51
36.50
35.45
48.0
79.8
70.3
78.0
69.8
82.1
36.91
37.35
36.63
37.91
35.74
39.32
40.99
39.73
41.30
34.03
40.38
37.65
48.0
60.2
81.0
62.1
71.1
74.4
854
48.0
67.3
63.6
56.5
58.8
65.0
.734
.472
.488
.522
.519
35.23
31.77
31.04
29.49
30.52
31.92
48.0
59.3
51.0
52.9
1.025
.850
.704
.802
49.20
50.41
35.90
42.43
506
AverOccupation and district
Machinists—Continued.
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other................
Mechanics, not otherwise
specified:
California....................
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern...
Oklahoma.................. .
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other................
Mechanics’ helpers:
California...................
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern. __
Oklahoma..................
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other...............
Rig builders:
California..................
Louisiana, northern..
Oklahoma..................
Texas, Gulf................
Teamsters:
Louisiana, northern..
Oklahoma..................
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other...............
Tool dressers:
California.....................
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern...
Oklahoma...............
Texas, G u lf..........
Texas, other...........
Truck drivers:
California...............
Louisiana, northern...
Louisiana, southern—
Oklahoma..................
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other...............
Other employees:
California...................
Louisiana, northern—
Louisiana, southern...
Oklahoma..............
Texas, Gulf............
Texas, other...........
Aver
Aver age
full*
age
time
time
earn
earn
hours ings per
per
per
hour ings
week
week
61.7
57.3
$0,690
.811
$42.57
46.47
48.0
58.8
60.5
55.2
59.0
61.4
.976
.709
.750
.689
.711
.727
46.85
41.69
45.38
38.03
41.95
44.64
48.0
59.5
56.1
55.4
56.7
60.2
.787
.521
.522
.555
.554
.554
37.78
31.00
29.28
30.75
31.41
33.35
48.0
63.9
55.1
56.5
1.293
.822
.884
1.046
62.06
52.53
48.71
59.10
70.0
60.9
55.3
66.3
.351
.531
.511
.464
24.57
32.34
28.26
30.76
48.0
70.3
59.0
77.4
72.2
81.4
1.015
.549
.757
.872
.808
.713
48.72
38.59
44.66
67.49
58.34
58.04
48.0
67.9
68.7
57.9
64.8
65.3
.857
.467
.473
.574
.532
.531
$41.14
31.71
32.50
33.23
34.47
34.67
48.0
67.2
67.1
61.6
61.2
67.7
.605
.536
.602
.659
.610
42.96
40.66
35.97
37.08
40.33
41.30
48.0
59.5
64.1
53.9
61.5
$0,900
.726
.698
.694
.661
$43.20
43.20
44.74
37.41
40.65
48.0
55.1
55.4
55.5
61.9
.704
.437
.456
.479
.493
33.79
24.08
25.26
26.58
30.52
48.0
56.8
56.3
.853
.622
.706
40.94
35.33
39.75
Pipe lines
Carpenters:
California....................
Oklahoma...................
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other................
Engineers and pumpers:
California....................
Louisiana1..................
Oklahoma.................. .
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other.............. .
Firemen:
California....................
Louisiana1..................
Oklahoma.................. .
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other...............
48.0
54.5
57.4
58.7
$1,017
.790
.776
.769
$48.83
43.06
41.54
45.14
48.0
57.4
58.3
55.5
57.1
.871
.673
.691
.666
.681
41.81
38.63
40.46
36.96
38.89
48.0
53.6
51.1
55.4
55.3
.799
.630
.711
.605
.629
38.38
33.77
36.33
33.52
31.78
Gaugers:
California....................
Louisiana1............... .
Oklahoma....................
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other................
Laborers, roustabouts,
and connection men:
California....................
Louisiana1..................
Oklahoma....................
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other................
Linemen:
California....................
Louisiana1..................
Oklahoma....................
Northern and southern Louisiana districts combined to avoid disclosing the identity of establishments.
803
OIL WELLS AND PIPE LINES
T a b l e 2 . - AVERAGE FULL-TIM E HOURS AND EARNINGS PER W EE K AN D AVERAGE
EARNINGS PER HOUR, 1929, B Y OCCUPATION AND D IS T R IC T - Continued
Pipe lines—Continued
Occupation and district
Linemen—Continued.
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other,.............
Line walkers:
California...................
Louisiana1...............
Oklahoma............. —
Texas, Gulf................
Texas, other________
Machinists:
California....................
Oklahoma.................. .
Texas, Gulf................ .
Texas, other................
Mechanics, not otherwise
specified:
California....................
Louisiana1................. .
Oklahoma.................. .
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other.............. .
Mechanics’ helpers:
California....................
Louisiana1..................
Oklahoma.................. .
Texas, Gulf.................
Texas, other................
Aver
Aver
age
Aver age
full
full
age
time
time earn
earn
hours ings per ings per
per
hour
week
week
56.1
61.8
$0,706
.622
$39.61
38.44
48.0
57.1
56.5
56.4
69.8
.745
.604
.613
.632
.565
35.76
34.67
34.63
35.64
39.44
48.0
516
61.2
60.4
.956
.833
.791
.756
45.88
45.48
48.44
15.66
18.0
50.0
54.5
55.5
58.0
.933
,792
.752
44.78
39.60
45.18
44.84
43.62
48.0
53.5
54. i
56.3
62.5
.772
.583
.555
.549
.529
37.06
31.19
30.19
30.91
33.06
Occupation and district
Oilers:
Louisiana1____
Oklahoma..........
Texas, Gulf.......
Texas, other___
Teamsters:
Louisiana1........
Telegraph operators:
Louisiana1........
Oklahoma..........
Texas, Gulf.......
Texas, other......
Truck drivers:
California..........
Louisiana1.........
Oklahoma_____
Texas, Gulf.......
Texas, other......
Other employees:
California..........
Louisiana1.........
Oklahoma........ .
Texas, Gulf.......
Texas, other____
Aver
Aver
age
Aver age
full
full
age
time
time earn
earn
hours ings per ings per
per
hour
week
week
54.8
54.2
50.2
52.6
$0,571
-666
.668
.641
$31.29
36.10
33.53
33.72
28.25
53.5
50.1
48.4
50.1
52.6
.720
33.47
34.85
34.57
35.03
18.0
64.9
55.8
57.3
.o il
.503
.632
.560
.566
38.93
32.64
35.27
32.09
33.73
48.0
58.7
55.8
55.8
61.9
.817
.700
.778
.581
.622
39.22
41.09
43.41
32.42
38.50
.668
1Northern and southern Louisiana districts combined to avoid disclosing the identity of establishments.
Allowances or Additions to Wages
Housing accommodations.—Oil is often discovered in farming com
munities or other isolated districts where housing accommodations are
very limited. At first the workers generally erect tents or frame shacks
at their own expense on the land controlled by the oil companies, but
as the new oil fields are developed the companies usually erect houses
for their permanent employees. This is true of the pipe-line as well
as the producing companies. A nominal rent is usually charged for
these company houses, but in some instances the workers occupy them
rent free. In the present study an estimated rental value was ob
tained for all houses occupied rent free by employees, and this sum
was added to the earnings of each worker occupant.
Many of the companies maintain bunk houses for their unmarried
employees, in some cases charging a small sum for their use, while in
others all permanent employees are at liberty to use them free. No
satisfactory figures could be obtained as to the value of such free
accommodations.
A few employees, such as gaugers and line walkers, who are required
to be away from their homes at specified times, are given extra allow
ances for board. In the tabulation of figures in this study all allow
ances for board have been included with the wages of the workers who
received them.
Some employees were also given allowances for the maintenance of
automobiles, but these were not included in the earnings.
804
WAGES AND HOU11S OF LABOR
Table 3 shows the number of houses occupied rent free by the oilwell and pipe-line employees included in this study. The number of
free houses provided by the^ oil-well companies ranged from 22 in
northern Louisiana to 2,946 in Oklahoma, no rent-free houses being
supplied by the companies in southern Louisiana and the Gulf dis
trict of Texas; those provided by the pipe-line companies ranged from
5 in Louisiana to 110 in Oklahoma. The estimated rental value of
these houses ranged from $2 to $50 per month, a very large pro
portion being in the group $10 to $12.50 per month. The rental
values given were based on the number of rooms, improvements, and
location of the house.
T abus
3.—N U M BE R AN D ESTIM A TE D R E N TA L VALUE OF HOUSES OCCUPIED RENT
FREE B Y OIL-W ELL AND PIPE-LINE EM PLOYEES, 1929, B Y DISTRICTS
Number of houses with estimated rental value per month
D istrict
Total
num
$20
$25
$2
$5 $7.50 $10 $12.50 $15
$40
ber of
and and and and and and and and and and $50
houses under
under under under under under under under under under
$25
$7.50 $10 $12.50 $15
$40
$50
Wells
California.................
Louisiana, northern..
Oklahoma................
Texas, other.............
35
22
2,946
275
25
4
194
129
2
15
421 1,044
61
55
188
5
1
1
511
2
388
Pipe lines
California_________
Louisiana 1________
Oklahoma..... ......... .
Texas, Gulf............ .
Texas, other.............
18
o
110
14
9
1 Northern and southern districts of Louisiana combined to avoid disclosing the identity of establish
ments.
Importance and Characteristics of the Industry
The importance and growth of the petroleum industry may be
gauged to a large degree by a recent report of the Bureau of Mines,3
from which the following data are taken and in which production by
States is traced from 1859 when oil was produced in only two States
(New York and Pennsylvania) through 1928 when on was being
produced in 19 of the 48 States. For the first 16 years of the period
the average production was only 4,629,500 barrels per year. Inl890
(only 15 years later) oil was being produced in 13 States and reached
an aggregate production in that year of 45,824,000 barrels. In 1900
the production for the United States reached 63,621,000 barrels; in
1910, 209,557,000 barrels; in 1920, 442,929,000 barrels, and in 1928,
900,364,000 barrels.
Table 4, taken from the report above noted, shows, by States, the
number of barrels of petroleum produced in 1928. The production
of Texas (256,888,000 barrels) was greater than that of any other
State in that year. Oklahoma stood next, with 249,558,000 barrels,
and California third, with 231,982,000 barrels. These three States
produced, in 1928, 82.0 per cent of the entire oil production of the
United States.
3 United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Mines. Mineral Resources of the United States,
1927, Pt. II, pp. 520, 521, 527, and the Annual Petroleum Statement for 1929.
805
OIL W ELLS AND PIPE LINES
T a b l e 4 .—PRODUCTION OF PETROLEU M IN 1928, B Y STATES
State
Production
(in 42-gallon
barrels)
New York________________________
Pennsylvania_____________________
Ohio____ _________________________
West Virginia....... ........... .............. . . .
California_________ ____ __________
Kentucky_____ ______ _____ ______ _
Tennessee____________ ____ ________
Colorado_________ __________ _____
Indiana
Illinois.................................................
Kansas___________________________
2.573.000
9.876.000
7.030.000
5.704.000
231,982,000
7.325.000
47,000
2.722.000
1.053.000
6.459.000
38,332,000
Production
(in 42-gallon
barrels)
State
Texas___________________________
Oklahoma_______________________
Wyoming_____________ _ __ ____
Michigan................. .........................
Louisiana.--________ ____________
New Mexico_____________________
Montana............................... .............
Arkansas________________________
256.888.000
249.558.000
21.415.000
595.000
21.626.000
959.000
3,925,000
32,295,000
Total........... .......... .................
900,364,000
Number of producing wells.— The approximate number of producing
wells and the average production per well per day, by States, in 1928,
is shown in Table 5. There were in the United States in 1928,
327,800 producing wells with an average production of 7.6 barrels
per day per well.
The average production in the various States shows a very wide
range. In the old producing States, like New York and Pennsylvania,
the average was only 0.3 or 0.4 of a barrel per well per day. Some of
the wells in Pennsylvania were drilled more than 40 years ago and
have been producing over that entire period. The average for
California was 57.6 barrels per well per day. The Gulf coast district
of Louisiana, however, led in production with 67.6 barrels per well
per day.
T a b le
5.—A P PR O X IM A TE N U M BER OF PRODUCING OIL WELLS AND AVERAGE
PRODUCTION PER W ELL PER D A Y , 1928, BY STATES
Approxi
mate
number
of wells
State
Average ;
produc- 1
tion per
well per
day
(barrels)1
Arkansas_____ _____________
California___ . ___ . . '
Colorado________ _______
Illinois______________ ____ __
4,520
10,710
210
16,340
19.3
57.6
39.9
1.1
Indiana:
Southwestern___________
Northeastern..... ......... ......
1,140
900
2.3
.3
Kansas_______ _____________
Kentucky......................... ........
2,040
19,800 j
13,740 ,
1.4
5.4
1.5
Iyouisiana:
Gulf coast.......... ................
Northern..... ......................
320
3,500
67.6
10.8
3,820
400
1,100
260
14.8
4.6
10.5
10.1
Total, Louisiana............
__
Montana......................... .........
New Mexico................... - ........
i Revised figures.
State
Average
Approxi produc
mate
tion per
number well per
of wells
day
(barrels) *
New York..............................
16,500
0.4
Ohio:
Central and eastern
Nnrt.hwAstprn
20.950
16.950
.3
Total, Ohio.
Oklahoma___________
Pennsylvania
37.900
62.900
78,600 j
liio
•o9
Texas:
Gulf coast........ .......... ..
T?Aftt /yf fifofu
2,850
32,900
39.6
19.1
Total, Texas _ .
West Virginia.........................
Wyoming
Other....... ...............................
35,750
19,600
3,520
2 90
20.8
.8
16.6
327,800
7.6
United States......... .
r
2Alaska, Tennessee, and Utah.
Oil m ils and dry holes.—Table 6 shows the number of wells com
pleted in selected periods and years from 1859 to 1928 and the per cent
of them that produced no oil. Earlier years are grouped to save
space. Approximately 25,000 wells are now drilled each year.
806
WAGES AND HOUKS OF LABOR
The financial hazards of the oil-producing industry are forcibly
portrayed by the large number of wells drilled per year that produce
no oil. Some of these wells cost as much as $50,000 to $100,000 each.
The number of dry wells has materially increased in recent years,
showing a gradual upward trend from the period 1908 to 1914 when
17 per cent were dry, to 1928 when 32 per cent, or nearly one in every
three, proved to be a complete loss. It is estimated that these dry
holes cost the oil industry an average of $200,000,000 per year.
T able 6.—A P PR O X IM A T E N U M BER OF WELLS DR ILLE D FOR OIL A N D GAS AND
N U M BER AND PER CENT OF D R Y HOLES, 1859 TO 1928
Period
i*59-1907 ....... ......
J908-1914...................
1915-1922
..........
______
1923
1924__________ ____
Total
wells
com
pleted
287,922
129,851
197, 580
24,438
21,888
II
!
1!
Dry holes
Period
Number
54,940
22,682
41,326
5,883
5,044
Per cent I
of total !
»
17
21
24
23
i
1925.........................
! 1926.........................
1927........................
!
i 1928.........................
!
i
Total
wells
com
pleted
25,623
29,319
24,143
22,331
Dry holes
ceiit
Number Per
of total
6,734
7,965
7,210
7,078
26
27
30
32
Transportation oj oil.— When once petroleum has been brought to
the surface by either flowing or pumping wells, it is usually placed in
near-by temporary storage tanks and later transported to a “ tank
farm” (a field containing many tanks) or to a refinery. The three
principal means of transportation are the pipe lines, tank railway
cars, and ocean tank ships. The railway tank cars range in capacity
from 150 to 300 barrels, and are used in petroleum fields where the
flow of oil is so small that it will not justify the expense of the con
struction of a pipe line.
The pipe lines form the principal means of crude petroleum trans
portation. They generally range in size from 4 to 12 inches in diam
eter, although some are as large as 18 inches. They are usually
buried 2 feet or more underground, the depth depending on the
extent of cold weather encountered in each locality. Pumping
stations are located along the pipe lines at intervals of 15 to 50 males,
depending on the gravity of the oil and the topography of the country.
Storage tanks, ranging in size from 10,000 to 50,000 barrels, are
maintained at each pumping station. The oil is forced into them by
means of powerful pumps and from these tanks is again pumped to
the next station. Leaks in the pipe lines frequently develop. These
are detected by pressure gauges located at each pumping station and
by line walkers or riders who are constantly traveling over the lines.
All stations are connected by telephone or telegraph. Whenever
leaks are discovered, the pumper who is forcing the oil over the leaky
line is directed to reverse his pumps and the one at the next station
continues pumping. The oil is thus carried back into the storage tank
from one end and drawn out into tanks at the forward end of the line.
In 1926, the latest year for which figures are available, there were
44,470 miles of trunk lines in the United States, and 45,700 miles of
gathering lines. Texas had 9,470 miles of tnmk lines; Oklahoma,
8,220; California, 3,210. Oklahoma had 10,960 miles of gathering
lines; Texas 6,060, and California 1,800 miles. Louisiana came
below several other States with 1,890 miles of trunk lines and only 720
miles of gathering lines.
PORTLAND CEMENT INDUSTRY
807
Paper Box-Board Industry
See Wages and hours of labor in the paper box-board industry,
1925, Handbook (Bui. No. 439), pages 775-777.
Portland Cement Industry: Wages and Hours, 1929
T his report presents the results of the first comprehensive study
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of wages and hours of labor of
wage earners in the Portland cement industry in the United States
by occupations.
The statistics in the report were computed from wage data for
20,544 males and 157 females, which were collected by agents of the
bureau from the pay rolls and other records of 102 Portland cement
plants in 28 States.
The wage data covered the actual hours worked, wage rates, and
amount earned by each wage earner in a representative pay period in
1929 and other pertinent information. Most of the information was
taken from pay rolls in the last four months in 1929 and consequently
is representative of the conditions of that period.
Average Hours and Earnings, 1929, by Occupations
T able 1 shows for all occupations in the industry, and also for each
of the specified occupations in each department of the industry, sum
maries of average full-time hours, average earnings per hour, and
average full-time earnings per week. The group designated in the
table as “ other employees” includes wage earners in other occupa
tions, each too small in number to warrant tabulation as an occupation.
Average full-time hours per week for males in all occupations were
60.8, for females 52, and for both sexes, or the industry, 60.8. Average
earnings per hour for males were 51.8 cents, for females 38.9 cents,
and for both sexes, or the industry, 51.7 cents. Average full-time
earnings per week for males in all occupations were $31.49, for females
$20.23, and for both males and females, or the industry, $31.43.
Average full-time hours per week for males range from 54.5 for
“ sack cleaners” in the cement department to 80 for “ elevator tenders”
in the coal-mill department, and for females from 48.8 for “ sack tiers ”
in the cement department to 52.2 for the group designated “ other
employees” in the same department. Average earnings per hour
for males range from 36.3 cents for “ laborers” in the coal-mill
department to 87 cents for “ packers (sackers)” in the cement depart
ment, and for females from 31.2 cents for “ laborers” in the cement
department to 49.2 cents for “ sack tiers” in the same department.
Average full-time earnings per week for males range from $21.78
for “ laborers” in the shops and miscellaneous departments to $48.81
for “ packers (sackers)” in the cement department, and for females
from $16.10 for “ laborers” in the cement department to $24.01 for
“ sack tiers” in the same department.
47767°—31----- 52
808
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e 1.—AVERAGE HOURS AN D EARNINGS, 1929, FOR THE IN DU STRY AN D FOR
EACH OCCUPATION IN EACH D E P A R T M E N T, B Y SEX
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Department and occupation
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
Industry
All occupations _
Do....... ........
Male....... !
Female.- |
60.8
.32.0
$0.518
.389
$31. 4tt
20. 23
Male and j
female.
m.s
.517
31.43
^
56.9
55. 9
57. o
57.1
58.7
57.3
57.5
57.4
58.2
. 525
.534
.730
.595
,461
.532
.471
.395
.499
29.87
29.85
41.98
33.97
27.06
30.48
27.08
22.67
29.04
Male..
..d o._
...d o ....do._
-_do_..-do_...do_..d o ...d o .—do_.
--do_--do._
..d o ._
00.4
01.7
56.9
03.2
06.9
06.1
64.6
69.6
66.8
64.9
68.6
63.5
64.6
.411
.506
.503
.423
.428
.479
.461
.438
.503
.505
.406
.403
.500
24.82
31.22
28.62
26. 73
28.03
31.66
29.78
30.48
33.60
32.77
27.85
25. 59
32.30
Laborers........................... ............................................ J M ale..
Elevator tenders..............................................................'—.d o .
Conveyor tenders________ _____ ____ _____________ ;-. -do _
Dryer tenders____________ ____ ____________________ ! . -do.
Dryer firemen..____ _______ ______ - ................. ........... ...d o .
Crusher operators.......... ............. .......... ........... .............!.. .d o.
Grinder operators______ _____ ______ _____ __________i-. .do.
Other employees.......... .................................... .............. i--.do_
71.2
80.0
69.7
64.2
69.1
65.7
68.3
68.3
.363
.373
.427
.472
.450
.463
.519
.458
25.85
29.84
29.76
30.30
31.10
30.42
35.45
31.28
56.0
61.3
58.7
57.4
.651
.572
.371
.562
36.46
35.06
21.78
32.26
Male..
..-do...
...d o ....do-_
...d o._
...d o -.
.--d o....dO-_
...d o ..
...d o_.
64.2
65.3
69.3
65.7
09.8
69.4
66.3
69.4
07,2
67.7
.628
.534
.456
.456
.366
. 445
.498
.449
.422
.497
40.32
34.87
31.60
28. 59
25.55
30.88
33.02
31.16
28.36
33.65
Male........
...d o ..........
...d o ..........
...d o ..........
Fem ale...
Male.........
...d o ..........
Female-. .
Male........
Female.. .
M ale...
...do.w -
57.8
00.0
56.1
55.2
48.8
57.2
57.2
51.6
54.5
51.4
58,3
%|!
hi. 0
sa.2
.437
.434
.870
.495
.492
.560
.416
.312
.427
. 42f
.420
.466 i
.532
.n*2
25.26
26.04
48.81
27.32
24.01
32.03
23.80
16.10
23.27
21.85
21.49
26.52
3Q.32
m «4
Do..
quarry
j
Drillers............................................................................. i Male.
Blasters.................. ......... .............. ........ ... ........................do
Shovel engineers____ ___________ ____ ___ ____________ do.
Shovel cranemen__________ _____________
_ ........... do.
Shovel firemen............................................... . . . ....... .. -_.doLoeomotive engineers...................... ..................... .. ..........do. _
Locomotive firemen..... ..........................................................do Laborers................. ..................................... . ....................... do.
Other employees............ ............... - ...................................... do .
I'atc
Unloaders, hand_________
Unloaders, mechanical----Crusher operators............ Elevator tenders..............
Conveyor tenders....... —
Mixer tenders....................
Dryer tenders............... .
Dryer firemen___________
Grinder operators_______
Raw-finish mill operators _
Oilers...................... - ..........
Laborers......... .................
Other employees...............
Coal mill
Shops and miscelluneous
j
Machinists.................- ............................. ........... ............ Male..
Repairmen_______ _____ ___ _______________________ I—.do. _
Laborers....................................... ........................ .......... ;...d o —
Other employees....................... ......................... .................. do_
Clinker
Burners, first.........
Burners, second.. .
Cooler tenders----M ixers............... Elevator tenders...
Conveyor tenders..
Clinker grinders...
Oilers....................
Laborers................
Other employees..
Cement
Conveyor tenders.
Elevator tenders...
Packers (sackers)..
Sack tiers..............
D o...................
Loaders.................
Laborers................
D o ..................
Sack cleaners.........
D o...................
Inspectors_______
Oilars.-....... ..........
Other employees.D o _ _ ..........
.--do_____
FemaJp---i]
809
PORTLAND CEMENT INDUSTRY
T a b l e 1.—A VERAG E HOURS A N D EARNINGS, 1929, FOR THE IN D U STRY A N D FOR
EACH OCCUPATION IN EACH D E P A R T M E N T, B Y SEX—Continued
Department and occupation
Power
Laborers............................................................. ..............
Firem en................. ............... .......... .............................
Engineers....... ......... ................................................. ......
Pumpmen...... ......................................................
Sex
Male_____
___do_____
— do .........
...d o __ _
Oilers.......... .................................. ............................... ...d o _____
Other employees____ _______ _________ _____ _ ______ ...d o ..........
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Average
earnings
per hour
63.2
61.9
60.7
69.3
70.5
67.3
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
$0,395
.523
.587
.450
.461
.557
$24. 96
32,37
35.63
31.19
32. 50
37. 4*>
Average Hours and Earnings, 1929, by Districts
A v e r a g e full-time hours per week, earnings per hour, and full-time
earnings per week are presented in Table 2 for wage earners of each
sex and for both sexes combined in each of 12 geographic districts
in the United States. The districts are those shown by the Bureau of
Mines in Portland cement in July, 1929, except that no data are
shown in this table for Maine in district 2; for Louisiana in district 6;
for Minnesota and South Dakota in district 7 ; nor for Wyoming and
Idaho in district 10. The districts are as follows:
No. 1_____ Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland.
No. 2_____ New York.
No. 3_____ Ohio, western Virginia, and western Pennsylvania.
No. 4_____ Michigan.
No. 5_____ Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.
No. 6_____ Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
No. 7_____ Iowa and eastern Missouri.
No. 8_____ Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and western Missouri.
No. 9_____ Texas.
No. 10____ Utah, Montana, and Colorado.
No. 11____ California.
No. 12------- Oregon and Washington.
Average full-time hours for males range from 53.9 per week in dis
trict No. 12 to 67.9 in district No. 9, and for females from 45.1 in
one of the districts for which averages are not shown separately to
57.8 in district No. 8. Averages for females are not shown for dis
tricts 2, 9, and 12 because data for each are for one plant only.#
Average earnings per hour for males range from 37.3 cents in district
No. 9 to 60.9 cents in district No. 12, and for females from 23.4 cents
in one of the districts for which averages are not shown separately
to 52.8 cents in district No. 11.
Average full-time earnings per week for males range from $25.33 in
district No. 9 to $35.02 in district No. 4, and for females from $13,34
in one of the districts for which averages are not shown separately
to $25.24 in district No. 11.
Average full-time hours per week for males and females combined,
or the industry, range from 53.9 in district No. 12 to 67.8 in district
No. 9; average earnings per hour range from 37.3 cents in district
No. 9 to 60.8 cents in district No. 12; and average full-time earnings
per week range from $25.29 in district No. 9 to $34.84 in district No. 4.
WAGES AND HOUKS OF LA BOB
810
T a b l e £•—N U M BE R OF ESTABLISHM ENTS AND OF W AGE EARNERS AN D AVERAGE
HOURS A N D EARNINGS, 1929, B Y SEX A N D D IST R IC T
Number
of estab
lishments
Number
of employ
ees
Average
full-time
hours per
week
Males
No. 1............................................. ...............
No. 2..............................................................
No. 3..............................................................
No. 4.............................................................
No. 5..............................................................
No. 6............ .................................................
No. 7.................................................... .........
No. 8.............................................................
No. 9..............................................................
No. 10............................................................
No. 11............................................................
No. 12............................................................
16
6
10
9
10
13
6
7
3
6
9
7
4,566
1,230
2,194
1,409
2,708
2,043
1,892
1,292
607
617
1,416
570
61.2
60.7
61.5
62.1
00.2
64.0
61.6
60.0
67.9
56.8
55.2
53.9
$0,554
.551
.558
.564
.495
.427
.479
.446
.373
.526
.587
.609
$33.90
33.45
34.32
35.02
29.80
27.33
29.51
26.76
25.33
29.88
32.40
32.83
Total....................................................
102
20,544
60.8
.518
31.49
Sex and district
Average
earnings
per hour
Average
full-time
earnings
per week
Females
11
.356
No. 2..............................................................
No. 3..............................................................
No. 4.............................................................
No. 5..............................................................
No. 7..............................................................
No. 8_>_....................................................................
No. 9..............................................................
No. 10.......... ................... .............................
No. 11...........................................................
No. 12............................................................
2
1
2
4
5
2
3
1
5
2
1
Total....................................................
28
157
52.0
.389
20.23
1.............................................................
2............................ ................................
3............................ ................................
4............................................. ...............
5................. ......... ........... ......................
6............................................................
7.............................-..............................
8.............................. .............. . ..............
9................... ...........................................
10................. — .......................... - ........11................. ........................ ..................
12............... ...........................................
16
6
10
9
10
13
6
7
3
6
9
7
4,577
1,241
2,204
1,420
2,739
2,043
1,931
1,300
609
627
1,438
572
61.1
60.6
61.4
62.0
60.2
64.0
61.5
60.0
67.8
56.7
55.1
53.9
.553
.550
.558
.562
.494
.427
.476
.446
.373
.525
.586
.608
33.79
33.33
34.26
34.84
29.74
27.33
29.27
26.76
25.29
29.77
32.29
32.77
Total....................................................
102
20,701
60.8
.517
31.43
0
0
10
11
31
39
8
10
22
0
53.6
0
0
50.4
56.7
51.7
54.6
57.8
48.8
47.8
0
0
0
.448
.348
.370
.331
.399
.416
.528
0
19.08
0
0
22.58
19.73
19.13
18.07
23.06
20.30
25.24
0
Males and females
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
i Included in *‘total.”
plant separately.
Not shown here as it is the policy of the bureau not to publish data for any one
Growth of the Industry
I n 1927 the production of Portland cement in the United States was
173,206,513 barrels, or approximately 33,000,000 barrels more than in
the 16 years from 1890 to 1905 combined. The tremendous growth
was due primarily to the trend to permanency of building construc
tion, to the increasing scarcity of wood, and to the increase in the use
of cement in the construction of the extensive network of concrete
highways everywhere.
RAYON AND OTHER SYNTHETIC TEXTILES
811
TABIK 3.—PRODUCTION, IN NXJMBEE OF BARRELS, EACH Y EAK FROM 1890 to 1929
Year
1891.
1892.
1893.
1894.
1895.
1896.
1897.
1898.
1899.
Barrels
335,600
454,813
547,440
590,652
798,757
990,324
1,543,023
2,677,775
3,692,284
5,652,266
Year
1900.
1901.
1902.
1903.
1904.
1905.
1906.
1907.
1908.
1909.
Barrels
8,482,020
12,711,225
17,230,644
22,342,973
26,505,881
35,246,812
46,463,424
48,785,390
51,072,612
64,991,431
Year
1910.
1911.
1912.
1913.
1914.
1915.
1916.
1917.
1918.
1919.
Barrels
76,549,951
78,528,637
82,438,096
92,097,131
88,230,170
85,914,907
91,521,198
92,814,202
71,081,663
80,777,935
Year
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1929.
Barrels
100,023,245
98,842,049
114,789,984
137,460,238
149,358,109
161,658,901
164,530,170
173,206,513
170,646,036
Pottery Industry
See Wages and hours of labor in the pottery industry, 1925, Hand
book (Bui. No. 439), pages 777-784.
Radio Receiving Sets
See Radio receiving sets, speakers, and tubes, manufacture o f: Wages
and hours of labor, 1927, Handbook (Bui. No. 491), pages 813-818.
Rayon and Other Synthetic Textile Manufacturing: Wages and
Hours, 1930
T h i s report presents the results of a study in 1930 by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of wages and hours of labor of wage earners in
rayon and other synthetic textile manufacturing in the United States.
Data covering individual hours and earnings of 18,743 males and
13,549 females for a representative pay period, by occupations, were
collected by an agent of the. bureau directly from the pay rolls and
other records of 21 representative establishments. The pay period,
except for a few plants, was in February, March, April, or May.
The manufacture of rayon or other synthetic textiles is compara
tively a new industry. Accord
@FedFRASER