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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
FRANCES PERKINS, Secretary

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ISADOR LUBIN, Commissioner

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1931

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C o n ten ts
Special articles:
Operation of local consumers’ cooperative societies in 1933, by
Florence E. Parker_________
Dismissal compensation in American industry, by Everett D. Haw­
kins-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Industrial accidents to employed minors in California in 1932, by
Marian Faas Stone___________________________________________
National Recovery program:
Basic code for grocery manufacturing industries___________________
Bonus to be considered as part of wage__________________________
Sheltered workshops not to exceed work quota in strike periods____
Reorganization of N. R. A. Advisory Council_____________________
Summary of permanent codes adopted under National Industrial
Recovery Act during September 1934__________________________
Employment conditions and unemployment relief:
Activities of United States Employment Service, July and August
1934-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Resident schools and camps for unemployed women_______________
Labor standards for domestic employees__________________________
Priority in jobs given to certain classes of unemployed in Austria___
Changes in Belgian unemployment-insurance system______________
Industrial and labor conditions:
Labor information service of Bureau of Labor Statistics___________
Report of Board of Inquiry for the Cotton Textile Industry________
Inquiries into conditions in the textile industries__________________
Meeting of International Association of Governmental Labor
Officials, 1934________________________________________________
Labor laws and court decisions:
Norris-LaGuardia Act held constitutional________________________
Laws relating to prison labor in the United States enacted in 1933
and 1934____________________________________________________
Registration of labor contracts in Cuba__________________________
Workmen’s compensation:
Compensation award held permissible, lacking evidence that unem­
ployment of injured was due to business conditions_____________
Meeting of the International Association of Industrial Accident
Boards and Commissions, 1934________________________________
Cooperation:
Status of building and loan associations, 1933____________________
Labor organizations:
Union control of actors’ salary reduction_________________________
Reorganization of labor unions into smaller units in the Soviet Union...
Industrial disputes:
Industrial disputes in the United States in September 1934________
Conciliation work of the Department of Labor in September 1 9 3 4 ...


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in

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1115
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1122
1131

1132
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1148

IV

CONTENTS

Labor agreements, awards, and decisions:
Page
Recent decisions of National Labor Relations Board_______________ 1152
Decision of Petroleum Labor Policy Board on provision of uniforms
for filling-station employees___________________________________ 1158
Increased wages for printers in Syracuse, N. Y_________ __________
1159
Award of wage increase to printers in Kansas City, Mo____________ 1160
Labor turn-over:
Labor turn-over in manufacturing establishments, third quarter of
1934________________________________________________________
1162
Labor turn-over in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry, 1932
and 1933-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1164
Housing:
Building operations in principal cities of the United States, September
1934__________________________________________
1168
Construction from public funds..________________________________
1183
Regulation of building contractors on public w orks._______________ 1187
Federal aid to housing in the United States_______________________ 1190
Rent-relief program in Leeds, England___________________________
1194
Wages and hours of labor:
Wages and costs in the cigar industry of York County, P a________
1195
Average wage and salary payments in various industries in Ohio,
1916 to 1932 (part 1), by Fred C. Croxton and Frederick E. Croxton. 1197
Wage-rate changes in American industries________________________ 1226
Colorado— Employment and earnings of heads of families in Denver,
1929 and 1933 . ______________________________________________
1230
British Columbia— Wages and working hours in 1933______________ 1232
Mexico— Minimum-wage decisions_______________
1234
Switzerland— Wages in 1933_____________________________________ 1234
Trend of employment:
Summary of employment reports for September 1934______________ 1236
Trend of employment in August 1934: Revised figures:
Employment in manufacturing industries____________________
1241
Employment in nonmanufacturing industries_________________
1252
Employment in building construction________________________ 1256
Employment and pay rolls in cities of over 500,000 population.. 1259
Employment on class I steam railroads m the United States____ 1260
Employment and pay rolls in the Federal Service_____________ 1262
Employment created by construction projects of the Public Works
Administration fund_____________________________________
1263
Emergency work relief program_____________________________
1270
Emergency conservation work_______________________________ 1270
Employment on public roads other than P. W. A. projects_____
1271
Employment on construction projects financed by the Recon­
struction Finance Corporation_____________________
1273
Retail prices:
Retail prices of food, September 1934____________________________
1275
Retail prices of coal, September 15, 1934_________________________
1285
Wholesale prices:
Wholesale prices, 1913 to September 1934________________________
1291
Publications relating to labor:
Official—United States__________________________________________ 1303
Official— Foreign countries______________________________________
1304
Unofficial______________________________________________________ 1306


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T h is Issu e in B rief

Net savings of $1,985,996 were made in 1983 by the more than 500
local consumers’ cooperative associations covered by the recent survey
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These societies had a business
during that year amounting to more than $40,000,000. Their aggre­
gate membership at the end of the year was over 225,000. Refunds
to members on the basis of patronage—the outstanding characteristic
of the consumers’ cooperative movement—on the 1933 business of
265 societies amounted to $1,229,975. During the 4-year period 1929
to 1933 the sum of nearly 4}£ million dollars was returned to the
members in such rebates. The largest expansion during the past few
years has taken place among the societies dealing in gasoline and
motor oils. Page 1041.
A recent study of dismissal compensation plans shows that 212 plants
have paid compensation to dismissed employees up to April 1934. These
212 plants normally employed before the depression about 2,300,000
persons, but not all employees were eligible for compensation, as in
most cases various factors enter into eligibility. In many cases
information was not available concerning the amount paid to dis­
missed workers, but it was estimated that in 60 plants the total paid
to more than 81,000 workers was approximately $8,820,000. Formal
dismissal-compensation plans have the largest representation among
public utilities, department stores, oil refineries, paper manufacturers,
and financial institutions. Page 1067.
A study of accidents to employed minors under 18 in California in 1932,
based on 618 cases reported to the State industrial accident com­
mission, shows that vehicles constitute the most serious hazard to
minors, particularly to children under 16. Four of the six fatalities
reported during the year occurred in this younger group, all due to
vehicles. Among the nonfatal accidents from all causes the most
serious permanent disabilities occurred to minors between 16 and 18
years old. A sharp decline since 1927 in accidents caused by ma­
chinery is ascribed to the greater decline in manufacturing employ­
ment compared with other occupations in which minors are engaged.
Page 1078.
Earnings of workers employed in the cigar industry of York County,
Pa., in August 1934 ranged from 23.3 cents to 58.4 cents per hour,
according to a study recently made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics


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VI

THIS ISSUE IN BRIEF

for the National Labor Relations Board. In the manufacture of 5cent cigars all of the hand wrapper strippers and half of the machine
wrapper strippers earned less than 30 cents per hour during the pay
period covered by the survey. In the manufacture of 3-for-10-cerit
cigars the workers .earning less than 30 cents an hour included all of
the hand wrapper strippers, 40 percent of the machine wrapper
strippers, and 50 percent of the machine binder strippers. Page 1195.
A review of recent legislation relating to prison labor in the United
States brings up to November 1, 1934, the information on this subject
contained in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 596, published
in 1933. A complete compendium of prison labor laws is thus avail­
able by the combined use of this supplement and the bulletin. Page
1122 .

Twenty-eight resident camps and schools for unemployed women have
been conducted under various State relief administrations since such
projects were authorized in the spring of 1933. These interesting
educational experiments met the relief needs of 1,800 women and
offered them constructive opportunities for training. Twenty-four
States have tentatively requested Federal assistance from relief funds
to continue such schools the coming winter. Page 1110.
Bonuses paid to workers in the cotton-textile industry prior to adoption
of the National Industrial Recovery Act are to be considered as a
part of wages. This position was taken in an administrative ruling
of the National Recovery Administration in September 1934 in con­
nection with an order under the cotton-textile code that wages as of
July 17, 1933, be raised by a fixed percentage. Page 1096.
Labor turn-over in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry is
much greater than in most other lines of manufacturing. Thus, the
turn-over rates for the slaughtering and meat-packing industry were
73.89 in 1932 and 68.75 in 1933, as compared with rates of 40.50 in
1932 and 38.27 in 1933 for all manufacturing industries covered by
the Bureau’s survey. Page 1164.
Minimum wage rates have now been fixed in practically all of the
municipalities in Mexico, in conformity with the provisions of the
Federal labor code. The rates range from 0.50 peso to 3.50 pesos
per day Page 1234.


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MONTHLY

LABOR REVI EW
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
vol

. 39, n o .

5

WASHINGTON

N o v e m b e r 1934

O peration of Local C o n su m ers’ C ooperative S o cietie s in 1933
By

F lorence

E.

P a rk er, of the

U n it e d

States B u rea u of

L a b o r S t a t is t ic s

REMARKABLE resistance to unusually adverse conditions is
revealed by the returns from the local consumers’ cooperative
societies in a study recently made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
At the time when the Bureau’s last previous survey was made
(covering the year 1929 *) the societies were just recovering from the
losses sustained during the depression of 1921. Even in 1929, how­
ever, societies in the textile, mining, and railroad centers were report­
ing difficulties caused by unemployment of their members, with its
accompanying loss of buying power. Discord over political questions,
notably communism, was causing considerable trouble and resulting
in loss of membership and business in some places; this came to a
head in 1930, causing a schism in a number of societies and the for­
mation of several new organizations by dissenting minority groups.
The reports received in connection with the present survey show
the now-familiar conditions of sudden and unexpected losses by both
societies and their members from bank failures, the consequent
unusual demands upon the societies for credit, the continuously
increasing unemployment, and the loss of purchasing power of mem­
bers due to short-time work or total unemployment or to wage cuts.
These conditions have caused the failure of a considerable number
of the societies. Nevertheless, the sounder and more stable societies
have survived, and these, it is worthy of note, have even been able to
effect substantial savings for their members. In spite of or perhaps
because of the depression, which has necessitated recourse to any
measures which promise a way out, many new societies have been
formed.

A

1
T he 1933 stu d y is the fourth such stu d y made by the Bureau, th e 3 others covering the years 1920,1925,
and 1929. T h e results of those surveys were published in B ulletins Nos. 313, 437, and 531.


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1041

1042

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The present report covers only the local consumers’ organizations,
i.e., those carrying on a retail distributive or service business. Most
of these societies are owned and operated by individual consumers.
A recent development has been the cooperative society owned by
other local cooperative organizations, such as a gasoline and oil asso­
ciation, a burial association, a sausage factory, etc., operated as the
joint enterprise of a number of cooperative stores or other associa­
tions. Many of the local consumers’ organizations are federated into
district, regional, and national organizations, either educational or
commercial, which will be covered in a future article.2
All the data were obtained by questionnaire. Tabulatable replies
were received from 695 societies.3 Most of the data relate to the
year 1933, but information for the intermediate years since 1929 was
requested as regards business done, net earnings, interest returned on
share capital, and amounts returned as patronage refunds.
The returns show a combined membership of 225,441 at the end
of 1933, some 90 percent of the membership being in the retail store
societies and the associations retailing gasoline and motor oil. While
the average membership per society was 389 persons, over two-fifths
of the societies had fewer than 200 members and only 38 had 1,000 or
more members. As compared with 1929, the average membership
per society showed a considerable rise, that of the store societies
having risen by one-third. Of 142 societies for which membership
data are available for both 1929 and 1933, there were 65 which added
to their membership, 73 whose roster fell, and 4 in which it remained
unchanged. Notwithstanding the fact that the societies which had
been able to expand in size were fewer than those which had lost
members, the gains made were so great that the total membership
for all 142 societies showed a 9.5 percent increase.
Total resources of $19,907,569 were reported at the end of 1933, or
about $40,000 per society reporting. More than half of the societies
had assets of less than $25,000 each and 85 percent less than $50,000;
2 societies, however, each had resources amounting to a million
dollars or more. The share capital of the societies totaled $6,867,951,
or slightly over $12,000 per society, and $37 per member. Reserves
to cover unexpected losses amounted to $3,882,805, or $9,956 per
society.
The business done in 1933 by the local consumers’ societies aggre­
gated $40,431,308, nearly three-fourths of which was done by organi­
zations in the North Central States. The store societies and the oil
2 D ata on the operations of cooperative credit societies (credit unions) were given in the M onthly Labor
Review for September 1934, p. 551.
3 This n um ber does no t include either the insurance or housing societies or a cooperative hospital which,
because they do no t lend themselves to the same tabulation as th e other consumers’ societies, will be treated
separately. T he B ureau takes this oppo rtu n ity of acknowledging w ith gratitude the assistance rendered
by M r. R. H . Elsw orth, of the Farm C redit A dm inistration, in making available data for the cooperative
oil associations.


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OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

10 4 3

associations, being the two largest groups, naturally accounted for the
greatest proportion of sales (about 88 percent of the total). While
there were 5 societies each of which had sales of more than half a
million dollars, nearly 60 percent of the organizations reporting had
a business for the year amounting to less than $50,000. During the
4-year period 1930-33, the local consumers’ societies covered by the
study had total sales of more than $158,000,000. As might be
expected during this depression period, average sales per society
decreased each year, falling from $109,000 in 1930 to $60,000 in 1933.
Of 534 societies which reported the results of their trading opera­
tions for 1933, 449 had a gain of $2,072,302, while 85 sustained a loss
of $136,306. There was therefore a net saving of $1,935,996, which
represented 5.5 percent if figured on sales and 23.5 percent if figured
on capital stock. The importance of the oil associations is shown by
the fact that whereas their business formed 52 percent of the total
consumers’ cooperative business, their net earnings formed about 87
percent of the total earnings. In spite of the adverse business condi­
tions the societies were able to effect, during the 4-year period, trading
gains amounting to $7,419,999; of this amount $5,609,601 was
accounted for by the oil associations.
Many societies paid no interest on share capital for 1933; 259, how­
ever, were able to do so, but of these 56 failed to report the amount
paid in interest. The 203 societies reporting paid the sum of $157,186.
During the period 1930-33 interest paid on stock amounted to
$631,423.
Refunds on patronage—the outstanding feature of the consumers’
cooperative movement—were paid on the 1933 business by 265
societies, in the .sum of $1,229,975. During the 4-year period
$4,438,619 was paid in this way.
Thus, as the figures show, during the worst depression that the
present generation has known, when most investments have made little
or no return, the cooperative societies have been able to save for their
members, in interest and patronage rebates, more than 5 million
dollars.
During 1933, the societies reporting employed 3,252 full-time and
41 part-time workers, and had a pay roll for the year of $3,423,973.
The per capita earnings varied considerably according to the line of
cooperative business in which employment was had, ranging from
$814 in general merchandise societies to $1,753 in the one creamery
society reporting. The average earnings during 1933, all types of
societies combined, were $1,129.
j# That working hours required by the societies in 1933 were long,
and in one case shockingly so, is shown by the returns on that point.
While the average weekly hours in the bakeries and miscellaneous
group 4 were 48 or under, the average in the store societies was 56.1
‘ Including a creamery, a laundry, a water-supply society, and a publishing association.


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1044

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

hours and that for all types combined was 54.0. The lowest weekly
hours reported by any society were 36, found in the oil group, while
the highest were 101.5, required in a general store. Classification of
the societies by weekly hours shows that two-fifths of the associations
had a 48-hour week or shorter, while 28 percent worked their employees
10 hours or more per day.
Characteristics of Consumers’ Cooperative Societies

T he consumers’ society in its organization varies little from coun­
try to country. The following fundamentals laid down by the
Rochdale weavers have been adopted as guiding principles wherever
the movement has spread:

1. Unrestricted membership, with capital shares of low denomina­
tion which may be paid for in installments.
2. Limitation of the number of shares to be held by any one mem­
ber.
3. Democracy in government, with officers elected by and respon­
sible to the members, and each member entitled to one vote only,
irrespective of the number of shares he holds.
4. Sale of goods at prevailing market prices.
5. Cash sales to avoid the loss attendant upon the extension of
credit and to enable the society to make the best use of its capital.
6. Return of dividends to each member, not on the stock held, but
in proportion to the amount of his patronage with the store.
Types of Societies Included in Study

T he great majority of the societies reporting were either retail
store societies or associations selling gasoline and motor oil. Reports
were received from 35 associations whose principal business is the
marketing of the members’ farm produce, livestock, etc.; in addition
to the marketing business, however, these organizations have a store
department which supplies the members with groceries, work clothing,
general farm supplies, etc. There are many farmers’ marketing
organizations which have a retail department dealing in supplies used
for the business (i.e., production) of the farm, but as such goods can­
not be regarded as consumers’ goods, nor such societies as consumers’
societies, the associations in this category were therefore excluded
from this study.5 The statistics in the present report relate only to
organizations handling consumers’ goods (groceries, clothing, house
furnishings, notions, etc.); in the case of the distributive departments
of the marketing associations, the figures cover only the retail, not
the marketing, business.
The other societies are classified in table 1 according to their main
business activity. Thus, an organization which runs a store business
s T he Federal Farm Board statistics cover such associations.


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OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

1045

may also operate a bakery, a dairy, a restaurant, etc., but if the mer­
chandising business is the principal line the organization is here
classed with the retail store societies; notations are made, however,
where several lines of activity are carried on.
Some data were received from 695 societies 6 classified (on the
above basis) according to type as follows:
Retail store societies___________________________________
Distributive departmentsof marketing associations________
Gasoline and oil associations____________________________
Bakeries_____________________
Creameries_____________________________
Restaurants and boarding houses________________________
Laundries_____________________________________________
Burial associations_____________________________________
Water-supply societies__________________________________
Publishing associations_________________________________
Trucking associations__________________________________

235
35
398
4
1
8
1
9
2
1
1

Total___________________________________________

695

In addition, returns were received from 7 insurance societies, 22
housing associations, and a cooperative hospital. These are also con­
sumers’ societies, but as they do not lend themselves to the same
computations as the other consumers’ societies they will be treated
separately.
The gasoline and oil associations are a development of the past
decade. They are found mainly in the Middle West, and chiefly in
the rural and farming sections where the cost of gasoline and motor
oils forms a considerable factor in the cost of crop production. The
cooperative boarding houses are formed among single men and are
found particularly in towns on the Mesabi Range, in the copper dis­
trict of Michigan, and in the Great Lakes ports. Both of the watersupply associations reporting are on the Pacific coast in a region where
water is scarce and the supply must be piped in from a distance.
The burial associations, a comparatively recent development and
one mainly in the Middle West States, have some interesting features.
In most cases the membership certificate entitles the member’s entire
family to burial service. Some societies provide that the certificate
becomes void upon the death of the person to whom it was issued
but in others it becomes void only when all the single children under
30, the parents, and all other dependent relatives have died. Prac­
tically all of the societies have a “ free burial fund” from which
assistance can be given in cases in which the member’s family is
unable to pay the cost of burial. The sources of revenue for this
fund consist of lapsed membership fees and an assessment of 25
cents per member per year. One organization which increased its
6 Reports were also received, b u t too late for use, from 5 store societies and a creamery.


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1046

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

membership from 273 to 313 members from 1932 to 1933 reports
that it is handling some two-thirds of the funerals in its territory;
1933 was regarded as a poor year, however, because of “ the low death
rate and low-cost funerals. ” Another reports that it conducts about
85 funerals a year at an average cost of $220 per burial.
Table 1 shows, for the 458 societies which reported regarding
business carried on, the number of establishments operated in the
society’s main and auxiliary lines of business. As the table shows,
the 211 store societies reporting operate a total of 284 stores and 42
other establishments. Altogether the 458 societies covered in the
table run 894 establishments, including 284 stores, 499 gasoline filling
stations, 12 fuel yards, 19 restaurants or boarding houses, 10 bakeries,
9 undertaking establishments, and 8 dairies. Other enterprises oper­
ated by these societies include a pasteurizing plant, a garage, a trucking
business, a printing plant, a laundry, a bar, a dance hall, a club room,
an ice-cream parlor, a bean-cleaning plant, a tailor shop, a huckster
truck, and a workers’ center.
In addition to the usual lines of goods generally carried in their
particular line of business, 4 societies carry dairy products, 1 society
carries delicatessen goods, 6 bakery goods, 1 beverages, 2 ice cream,
1 medicine, 30 dry goods, 15 shoes, 4 clothing, 4 men’s furnishings,
2 notions, 2 furniture, 1 rugs, 2 crockery, 34 hardware, 18 machinery
and/or implements and tools, 44 farm supplies, 7 building materials,
4 paint, 4 “ forest products”, 1 explosives, 12 produce, 2 wool, 4
tires, 30 coal and/or wood, and 30 gasoline and oil.
Very little production is engaged in by the consumers’ societies.
Only 24 societies reported any activities in this line. Of these, 8
manufacture poultry and/or stock feeds, 1 does wheat and rye milling,
7 manufacture bakery goods 7, 3 make sausage or smoked meats, 1
makes ice cream, 1 butter and cheese 8, 1 biscuits and rye hardtack,
1 bread, and 1 custom-made clothing.
7 Doss not include the bakery societies whose m ain line of business is the m anufacture of bakery p roducts.
8 Doss not include the cream ery society in which the m anufacture of these products is one of the main
lines of business.


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OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

1047

T able 1.—L IN E S OF B U SIN E S S E N G A G E D IN B Y C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E
S O C IE T IE S
E stablish­
m ents
N um ber of
societies
operated in
reporting m ain line of
business

T ype of society

R etail store societies dealing in—
Groceries_________ ___________________________ . _______
Groceries and m e a t . . . _________ _________ ______ ______
General m erchandise____ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____________
Fuel .
............................................................
S tudents’ supplies______________________________ _______

O ther es­
tablish­
ments

54
26
126
l
4

i 58
252
3 164
1
<9

9
17
15

...

211

284

42

D istributive departm ents of m arketing associations_____________
Gasoline and oil associations_______ _________ _______________
B akeries..______
______
__
. . . .
. ______ _______ .
Creameries. . . . . . .
____________ ____ _______ _______
R estaurants and boarding houses
.... ..............................................
Laundries_____
. . . __ _
. . . . __ ___ ____ _____
Funeral associations
__ _ _
_.
____ _ _____________
Publishing societies ..
________________ __ ______ _ ________
T rucking associations

30
192
4
1
8
1
9
1
1

« 40
« 486
4
71
17
1
9
1
1

5
1
1
1

G rand to ta l_____ . . . . ____________ ____________ ... . .

458

844

50

Total

_

.

.

.

1

1 In addition to groceries, 3 societies handle coal, 22 dry goods, 12 shoes, 1 rugs, 6 produce, 21 one or more
items of farm supplies (such as feed, seed, fertilizer, etc.), 12 hardw are, 5 gasoline and oil, 2 m achinery, 1
building materials, 2 crockery, 1 medicine, 1 clothing, 1 paint, 1 delicatessen goods, 1 notions, and 1 m en’s
furnishings.
2 In addition to groceries and m eat, 4 societies handle 1 or more item s of farm supplies (such as feed,
seed, fertilizer, etc.), 4 dairy products, 1 paints, 5 hardw are, 3 fuel, 1 m en’s furnishings, 4 d ry goods, 1 notions,
5 bakery products, 2 m achinery and/or im plem ents, 1 building materials, 2 gasoline and oil, and i beverages.
s In addition to general merchandise, 1 society handles paint, 19 handle 1 or more item s of farm supplies
(such as feed, seed, fertilizer, etc.), 11 m achinery and/or im plem ents, 12 hardw are, 4 dry goods, 6 coal, 11
gasoline and oil, 1 m en’s furnishings, 2 shoes, 1 bakery goods, 6 produce, 4 forest products, 2 building
materials, 3 clothing, 1 furniture, 1 explosives, and 1 society does trucking.
4 In addition to stu d en ts’ supplies, 1 society handles m en’s furnishings and clothing, and 1 furniture.
8 Stores operated; in addition, 18 societies handle coal, 12 gasoline and oil, 3 lum ber and/or other building
m aterials, 3 farm m achinery and/or im plem ents, 1 shoes, 1 paint, and 5 hardw are.
6 Includes both bulk and retail stations, b u t does not include 25 truck routes. 1 society also handles
merchandise, 2 wool, 4 tires, and 1 society operates a garage.
7 This society also m anufactures b u tte r and ice cream.

Membership

I n t h e consumers’ cooperative movement the aim is to reach as
many persons as possible, open membership being one of the funda­
mental tenets of consumers’ cooperation. In the cooperative society
the more members the more business, the greater the savings effected,
and the greater the returns to the purchasers. For these reasons
limitations on membership are very uncommon. There are many
societies whose membership is mainly of one nationality, but this is
almost always due not to a definite limitation on membership but to
the natural tendency of persons to associate with those from their
own country of origin.
Of the societies which made returns in the present study only 39
had any membership restrictions. Of these the farmers’ organizations
were most numerous; G of these societies restricted their membership
to “ producers”, 8 to farmers, and 7 to members of the Farmers’
Union. The only other restrictions on the occupational basis were
those of 4 students’ supply societies whose membership is limited to
the students and faculty of the university, and 1 society which
accepts into membership only railroad men.

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1048

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Numerical restrictions were reported by 2 societies, one of which
limits its membership to 32 members and the other to 200 members.
Three others are accepting no new members.
Nationality or race restrictions were reported by 4 societies, 2 ac­
cepting whites only, 1 Finns only, and 1 only Italian-speaking persons
of good character.
To qualify for membership in 2 societies the applicant must reside
in the locality or trading area, and one society also requires that the
member must give the cooperative business his patronage.
One society reports that it regards persons with “ extreme left
wing” views as not “ desirable” for membership purposes, but does
not say definitely that admission is refused to such persons. Another
organization which is the joint enterprise of several local cooperative
store societies accepts into membership only “ genuine cooperative
organizations.”
At the end of 1933 the 579 consumers’ societies which furnished
reports had a combined membership of 225,441, an average of 389
persons per society. Some 76,000 persons were members of store
societies and about 127,000 were members of gasoline and oil associa­
tions. There is probably some duplication in these figures, as the
same person may be a member of several different societies.
T able 2 .—T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E M E M B E R S H IP O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E
S O C IE T IE S , E N D O F 1933
M em bership
T y p e of society

N u m b er of
societies
reporting

Retail store societies dealing in—
Groceries_________ . ____ . . ____ _____ _____
Groceries and m eat...... ...................................................
General m erchandise______________
F u el_____ ______ _____________
S tu d en ts’ supplies____________________________
T o tal....................... ................. ..............
D istrib u tiv e departm ents of m arketing associations____
Gasoline and oil associations______________ __________
Bakeries______________ _______ ______
R estaurants and boarding houses_________________
W ater-supply societies..............................
Funeral associations. __________
O ther societies— ____________ _______ ______
G rand to tal......... ......................................................

Total

Average per
society

45
25
112
1
4

8,857
12,671
23,532
100
31,000

197
507
210
100
7,750

187

76,160

407

33
336
4
7
2
7
13

6,590
127,243
2,618
4, 752
368
3,321
» 4,389

200
379
655
679
184
474
» 1,463

579

225,441

389

1 N ot including 1 society whose members are 14 retail societies.

That the largest proportion of the societies have a small member­
ship is shown by table 3. Over two-fifths of the societies reporting
had fewer than 200 members, and over 80 percent had fewer than 500
at the end of 1933. Only 38 (6.6 percent) were what would in Europe
be considered fair-sized societies, i.e., with 1,000 members or more;
over half of these were oil associations.

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1049

OPERATION OF CONSUMERS* COOPERATIVES IN 1933

Among the gasoline and oil associations the largest in point of
membership were the following:
Number of
members

McLean County Service Co., Bloomington, 111___________2, 720
Montgomery County Farm Bureau Oil Association, Inc.,
Crawfordsville, Ind__________________________________ 2, 000
Consumers Oil Cooperative, Inc., Greeley, Colo__________ 1, 745
Cooperators’ Union Oil Co. of Boise Valley, Caldwell, Idaho. 1, 688
Knox County Oil Co., Galesburg, 111____________________ 1, 597
Consumers Oil Co., Maryville, Mo______________________ 1, 500

Among the other associations the largest organizations (omitting
the students’ societies) were the following:
Num ber of
members

Franklin Cooperative Creamery, Minneapolis, Minn_____ 3, 950
Cooperative Trading Association, Brooklyn, N .Y _________2, 800
Cooperative Trading Co., Waukegan, 111_________________ 2, 096
Cloquet Cooperative Society, Cloquet, Minn_____________ 1, 725
Newmanstown Cooperative Association, Newmanstown, P a. 1, 589
Tamarack Cooperative Association, Calumet, Mich______ 1, 516
Rockingham Cooperative Farm Bureau, Harrisonburg, Va__ 1, 400
Workingmen’s Cooperative Co., Cleveland, Ohio__________ 1, 150
Minnesota Valley Burial Association, New Ulm, Minn___ 1, 030
Cooperative Bakery of Brownsville & East New York,
Brooklyn, N .Y ______________________________________ 1, 000
T able 3 .—D IS T R IB U T IO N O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S A C C O R D IN G
TO M E M B E R S H IP A T E N D O F 1933
N um ber of societies having classified num ber of
members
T y p e of society

50
100
200
300
500
750
U n­ and
and and and and
and
der under under
under
under
under
under
50
100
200
300
500
750 1,000

R etail store societies dealing in
Groceries................................
Groceries and m eat.............
General m erchandise_____
F uel.........................................
S tuden ts’ supplies_______

7

12

2
12

30

T o tal............... ...................

21

Total

and
over

45
25

4

112
1

46

52

D istributive departm ents of m arketing asso­
ciations...............................................................
Gasoline and oil associations............... ..............
Bakeries........... ................. ...................................
R estaurants and boarding houses.....................
W ater-supply societies___________________ ..
Funeral asso ciatio n s................................1........
O ther societies 2______________ 1 .____ _____
G rand total.

1,000

30

15

8

4

4

4

11

187

6

23

71

1
1
1
1

1

1
35

91

136

98

28

38

33
‘ 336
4
7
2

7

23
<579

1 N ot including 7 societies owned by 41 retail societies.
2 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.
2 N ot including 1 society owned by 14 retail societies.
* N ot including 8 societies owned by 55 retail societies.

Table 4 shows, by States and by geographic divisions, the member­
ship of the principal groups of societies. The table shows that
over 70 percent of the membership is in the North Central States.

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1050

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 4 .—M E M B E R S H IP OF C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S AT E N D O F 1933,
BY ST A T E S A N D G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S

Store socie­
ties

D istributive
departm ents
of m arketing
associations

Gasoline and
oil associa­
tions

Other socie­
ties

Total

State and geographic division
N um ­
N um ­
N um ­
N um ­
N um ­
ber M em ­ ber M em ­
ber M em ­ ber M em ­ ber
M em ­
re­
re­
re­
re­
re­
bers
bers
bers
port­ bers
p ort­
p o rt­
port­ bers p ort­
ing
ing
ing
ing
ing
1
1
2
i
i
2
10
2
3
14
1
6
11
16
39
2
1
8
1
3

238
150
12, 000
33
180
237
3, 976
240
376
2, 067
' 200
908
13, 723
6, 368
8, 543
300
60
730
56
1,399

1
1
4
8

2,800
75
359
10,139

1
8
5
2
i
2
13
15
]

145
2, 086
703
557
54
1,466
2,418
3, 382
192

187

76,160

New Engl and
M iddle A tlantic
E ast N o rth C en tral_________
W est N o rth C entral__ . ___
South Atlantic
Ea<d South Central
W est South O entnd
M ountain
Pacific...................................

19
12
51
75
3
3
2
5
16

14, 867
6, 285
24| 105
13, 078
1, 541
757
204
522
14, 563

T o ta l_________________
Alaska

186
1

75,922
238

Ala ska
Arkansa^
California
Colorado
C no ooct-icil t
Tllinois
________
Indiana
Iowa - _________ _______ —
Kansas
K entucky
M aine
AT^ssachusctt^
M ichigan
M innesota
Mi <5<?nnH
ATontana
N ebraska______________ -- New H am pshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
N orth Carolina
N orth D akota
Chin ----------------------------------v/IIiU
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South D ak o ta---- ----------------Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
W ashington
W isconsin... ________ ____
W yoming
T o ta l------ -------------------

1

500

2

218

2
8

595
1, 269

4

576

4

478

4

578

8

4, 005

l
36
11
38
26
1

1,688
29,048
5,337
15, 504
4. 037
500

i 51
3
22
53

i 18,967
2, 293
2,902
16, 665

2

478

19

5,264

1

20

1
3

50
1,563

1,618
3
5
1
2 5 2 5, 738
1

65

2

4,959

1

45
6
3

816
370

1

220

1
2

230
955

13

5,408

1

350

2

787

17

5, 544

2

359

1
4 23
2

500
4 7, 572
345

1
3

148
712

33

6,590

1
9
20

230
1,198
3,875

70
203

41,957
68,138

2
1

787
500

1
23
35
4

500
6,360
9,418
870

2

368

33

6,590

336

127, 243

23

15,448

«336 5 127,243

2 23 2 15,448

238
1
150
1
12, 000
2
4, 538
10
200
2
1,925
3
33, 242
48
5, 627
14
18,038
46
7,373
48
700
2
908
6
15, 341
14
6, 949
21
3 95 3 33, 248
3,071
9
2,962
23
66
18, 038
56
1
1,399
3
478
2
7, 759
3
75
1
5, 623
23
9
10,184
816
6
735
5
2,316
9
7,416
21
2
557
6, 385
20
2
1,466
15
3, 066
4 43 4 12,025
537
3
8 579 « 225,441

Oeographic division 7
4
2
5
10

1,638
4.959
767
7,716

23
15
135
308
3
4
27
41
22

16, 505
11,474
68,027
92, 807
1, 541
1,257
7,351
10,440
15,801

578
1

225, 203
238

1 N ot including 4 societies owned by 24 retail stores.
2 N ot including 1 society owned b y 14 retail stores.
3 N ot including 5 societies owned b y 38 retail stores
4 N ot including 3 societies owned b y 17 retail stores.
5 N o t including 7 societies owned by 41 retail stores.
6 N ot including 8 societies owned b y 55 retail stores.
.
,
.... .
i In all cases in this report th e census classification as to geographical districts has been used. 1 his
classification is as follows: New England division includes M aine, New H am pshire, V erm ont, M assachu­
setts, R hode Island, and Connecticut. M iddle A tlantic division includes New Y ork, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania. E ast N orth C entral division includes Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, M ichigan, and W isconsin.
W est N o rth C entral division includes M innesota, Iowa, M issouri, N o rth D akota, South D akota, N ebraska,
and K ansas. South A tlantic division includes Delaware, M aryland, D istrict of Colum bia, Virginia, W est
Virginia, N o rth Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. E ast South Central division includes
K entucky, Tennessee, Alabam a, and M ississippi. W est South C entral division includes A rkansas,
Louisiana, O klahoma, and Texas. M ountain division includes M ontana, Idaho, W yoming, Colorado,
New Mexico, Arizona, U tah, and N evada. Pacific division includes W ashington, Oregon, and California.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1051

OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

Age of Societies
T h e great majority of the 516 societies which reported the year of
establishment were formed since the war, 82.7 percent being in this
category. The gasoline and oil associations have been of especially
recent growth, about 85 percent having been started since 1926, and
considerably over one-third since the depression began. The store
societies are considerably older, about 30 percent having been
inaugurated before the war and more than half in the period 1916-20.
The oldest societies reporting in the present study are the Harvard
Cooperative Society formed in 1882, and the Associated Students of
the University of California formed in 1884. Other societies of long
standing are the following:
Year of
formation

Tamarack Cooperative Association, Calumet, Mich______
Washingtonville Cooperative Society, Washingtonville,
Ohio__________________________
Nelson and Albin Cooperative Mercantile Association, St.
James, Minn________________________________________
Lily Creamery Co., Lake Crystal, Minn__________________
Germania Fruit Growers’ Union and Cooperative Society,
Cologne, N .J________________________________________
Union Mercantile Co., Isanti, Minn_____________________

1890
1891
1894
1895
1896
1897

Table 5 shows the distribution of the societies according to the
period in which established.
T able 5 .—D IS T R IB U T IO N OF C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S A C C O R D IN G
TO P E R IO D IN W H IC H E S T A B L IS H E D

Year in which established

R etail
store
socie­
ties

D istrib u ­
tive de­ Gasoline
p a rt­
and oil
m ents of associa­
m arket­
tions
ing asso­
ciations

1881-85______________________ ________
. .
1886-90_______________________________ ________
1891-95................................................................................
1896-1900_________ ___________ ______ __________
1901-05.................... ......................................................
1906-10.... .......................................................................
1911-15_______________________________________
1916-20_______________________________ ______
1921-25....................................... . ...................... ..............
1926-29___________ ____________________________
1930-33...................... .........................................................

2
1
4
3
5
12
43
120
24
7
7

1
2
9
15
6
1
1

1
1
4
4
23
no
83

T o t a l . . ............................................. .....................

228

35

226

Total
Other
types
of so­
cieties

N um ­ Percent
ber

1
12
4
3
7

2
1
4
3
7
15
57
151
57
121
98

0.4
.2
.8
.6
1.4
2.9
11.0
29.3
11.0
23.4
19.0

27

516

100.0

Table 6 shows the distribution of the societies by age groups.

91302—34---- -2


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

10 5 2

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 0 .—D IS T R IB U T IO N O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S A C C O R D IN G
TO A G E G R O U P S
N um ber of societies of classified age
30
40
10
15
20
25
5
T o ta l
Under and and and and and and and y e50
a rs
5 under under under under under under under and
40
50
15
20
25
30
years 10
years years years years years years years over

T ype of society

R etail store societies...................... ..............
D istributive departm ents of m arketing
associations_______________ ________
Gasoline and oil associations...........- ........
Bakeries________________________ ____
R estaurants and boarding bo u ses...........
W ater-supply societies..............................
Funeral associations...................... .............
O ther societies 1______________________
T o tal.

83

1

106

1

35
226
4

100

8
2

9
4

123

110

107

516

36

i Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.

Resources
T otal resources of nearly $20,000,000 were reported by 494 socie­
ties. These funds are built up by members’ subscriptions for the
capital stock of the society and by appropriations from the net earn­
ings of the society from year to year. One of the purposes for which
appropriations are thus made is the reserve fund designed to protect
the society against unexpected losses. The reserves thus built up by
the 390 societies reporting aggregated nearly 4 million dollars, or an
average of $9,956 per society. A reserve fund larger than the amount
of share capital was reported by 116 societies; 4 societies have
reserves of more than $100,000 each.
Share capital amounting to nearly 7 million dollars was reported
by 556 societies. This was an average of $12,352 per society and $37
per member.
T able 7.—S H A R E C A P IT A L , R E S E R V E S , A N D T O T A L R E S O U R C E S A T E N D O F 1933, BY
T Y P E O F S O C IE T Y
Share capital

T ype of society

Reserves

um ­
N um ­
A ver­ N
ber of
ber of
age socie­
socie­ A m ount Average
per
per
ties A m ount
ties
society m em ­ report­
report­
ber
1
ing
ing

Retail store societies____ ____ _____ 214 $2,774,664 $12,966
D istributive departm ents of m arket32
635, 826 19,870
ing associations-........... ............ .........
8,406
Gasoline and oil associations_______ 285 2,395, 677
4
33,845
8, 461
B akeries______ __________________
R estaurants and boarding houses___
8
92,233 11,529
1
14,800 14,800
W ater-supply societies.............. ...........
29,001
3,625
Funeral associations.............................
8
4
891,905 225,976
Other societies3........ ...........................
T o tal.............................................. * 556 6,867,951 12,352

$43

149 $1,865, 751

98
23
13
19
100
28

19
240,728
208 1,378,571
3
19, 701
214,262
4
(2)
(2)
4
7,451
3
156,341
«390 «3,882,805

37

T otal resources
N um ­
ber of
socie­ A m ount
ties
report­
ing
214 $10,881,422
29
227
4
6
2
8
4
494

1,224,170
5,710,907
228,825
324, 350
19, 631
58,334
1,399,930
19, 907,569

t 1 Based on societies reporting both m em bership and capital.
* 1 society had a deficit of $3,250.
8 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.
4 N ot including 2 nonstock associations.
• N ot including 7 societies which reported deficits am ounting to $42,630 and 2 societies which had deficits
b u t did not report am ount.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1053

OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

Table 8 classifies the societies according to the amount of their
assets. As it shows, more than half of the societies had resources of
less than $25,000, while 85 percent had resources of less than $50,000.
On the other hand, 2 societies had assets of $1,000,000 or more.
T able 8 .—D IS T R IB U T IO N O P C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S B Y A M O U N T
O F A SSE TS A T E N D O F 1933
U Ni
N um ber of societies w ith classified am ount of assets, 1933
T ype of society

$25,000 $50,000 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $500,000
$1,000,000 Total
U nder and
and
and
and
and
and
and
$25,000 under under under under under
under
over
$50,000 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $500,000 $1,000,000

R etail store so cie tie s_____
D istributive departm ents of
m arketing associations,- _
Gasoline and oil associations.
Bakeries_____________
R estaurants and boarding
houses_____________
W ater-supply societies_____
Funeral associations______
O ther societies i ..............
T o tal______________

111

71

20

9

12
142

8
59
1

7
21
3

2
5

5
2
8
2
282

1

1

214
29
227

1

6

1
139

51

16

1

1

4

2

494

1 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.

Business Done by Cooperative Societies
T h e business done by the consumers’ societies in 1933 amounted
to somewhat over $40,000,000, nearly three-fourths of which was
done by societies in the East and West North Central States. Here
the Minnesota societies lead, that State accounting for about onefifth of the total sales. Table 9 shows the amount of business done
by the different types of societies in 1933, by State and geographic
division.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1054

MONTHLY LABOK REVIEW

T able 9 —A M O U N T OF B U SIN E S S OF C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN 1933,
B Y ST A T E S A N D G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S

State and
geographic
division

D istributive
R etail store so­ departm ents of Gasoline and oil
cieties
m arketing asso­
associations
ciations

O ther societies

Total

N u m ­ A m ount N u m ­ A m ount N um ­ A m ount N um ­ A m ount N um ­ A m ount
ber
ber
ber
ber
ber

1
1

A laska. ...............
A rkansas---------California______
Colorado_______
C onnecticut____
Id a h o __________
Illinois_________
In d ia n a ________
Iow a__________
K ansas----- ------K e n tu ck y______
M ain e_________
M assach u setts...
M ichigan........ .
M innesota_____
M issouri----------M o n tan a---------N eb rask a---------New H am pshire.
N ew Jersey____
N ew M exico___
N ew Y o rk _____
N o rth C a ro lin a ..
N o rth D a k o ta ...
O hio__________ _
O klahom a.......... .
Oregon------------P ennsylvania__
R hode Is la n d __
South D ak o ta__
Tennessee______
Texas------ -------V irg in ia ........... .
W ashington____
W est V irginia__
W isconsin______
W yom ing______

$13,109
16,428
362,380
28, 538
86,411
188,880
882, 742
77, 776
106,476
612,112
36, 926
184, 688
1.818, 505
1,776, 335
2.818, 974
246,266
32, 516
291, 273
33, 581
251,670

Total .

14,372,118

2,325,434

New E ngland__
M iddle A tlantic..
E ast N o rth Cen­
tra l______ ____
W est N o rth Cen­
tra l__________
South A tla n tic ...
E ast South Cen­
tra l.......... ..........
W est South C en­
tra l__________
M o u n tain ______
Pacific........ r - - —-•

2,167,609
730,455

4,000

T o ta l..........
A laska................. .

181,026
18,600
228, 587
715,386
64, 000
297, 759
44,424
206,138
23, 593

$51,133
241,455
439, 746
574,473

' 9Ì. 934

3,250

18

1,304, 606
49, 907

72,817

57
3

2, 715,901

669

40,431,308

$503,364
92, 242
4,058,872
1, 723, 583
2, 086, 963
793, 701
28, 542

$8,005
30,675

11, 000

28, 744

143, 575
131, 901
205,"732

19, 751
3,712, 212
107, 575
685,119
2, 550, 273
1,155, 291
168, 000

1,807,900

15
29
134
12

22

72
21

3
583, 315

150, 001
99, 266

3,275

754, 587

"2,"824

4,000

162, 233

4
55
17
50
48
6

19,000

""55," 455

10
2

2

162, 346

"296,"731
448,900
1,185,183
52,189
957,001
83, 746

$13,109
16,428
362,380
583,035
94,416
281,122
213, 744
812,359
661,929
980, 286
65,468
184, 688
980,851
939,661
339, 086
485, 742
717, 635
049, 028
188,872
251, 670
168,000
764,341
18, 600
228,587
734,386
150,001
166, 541
301, 759
44,424
019,004
23, 593
178, 797
448,900
280,367
52,189
496,657
133,653

3

2

3

1

4
9
5
5
9

1

21
2

19

882, 066

2

1

Geographic divi­
sion 1
1,155,291

3,493,251
1,317, 770

170, 351
583, 315

4,409,240

566, 263

7,106,812

114,492

167

12,196,807

4, 509,826
519,689

1,407, 307

215 10,005, 311

1,841,218

341
4

17, 763,662
519,689

28, 542

89, 061

16,428
333,680
1,611,563

296, 731
51,133

1,032,067
1,498, 632
191, 200

6, 525

1,345, 226
1,883,445
1, 809,288

228 14,359,009
13,109

2,325,434

384 21,017,855

25 2, 715, 901

60, 519

1

668

:

40,418,199
13,109

1 For States included in the respective geographic divisions, see footnote 7 to table 4.

That the business done by the individual cooperative societies is
generally on a moderate scale is shown in table 10, Thus 400 of the
669 societies had sales of less than $50,000 during 1933. Five socie­
ties, however, did a business of $500,000 or more. These societies
were the following:

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1055

OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

Franklin Cooperative Creamery, Minneapolis, M in n .. $1, 773, 582
Harvard Cooperative Society, Cambridge, Mass_____
947, 744
Montgomery County Farm Bureau Oil Association,
Inc., Crawfordsville, Ind________________________
872, 776
Cloquet Cooperative Society, Cloquet, Minn________
566, 006
Cooperative Trading Co., Waukegan, 111____________
534, 478
T able 1 0 —D IS T R IB U T IO N O F C O N S U M E E S ’ C O O P E E A T IV E S O C IE T IE S A C C O E D IN G
TO A M O U N T OF B U SIN E S S D O N E IN 1933
N um ber of societies w ith classified am ount of business, 1933
T ype of society

$25,000 $50,000 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000
$500,000 Total
U nder
and
and
and
and
and
and
$25,000 under under
under
under
under
over
$50,000 $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $500,000

Eetail store societies dealing in—
G roceries... ______
Groceries and m eat__________
General m erchandise______
Fuel .
__
S tudents’ supplies....... ..........
T o tal_____________
D istributive departm ents of m ar­
keting associations___ ______
Gasoline and oil associations.........
B akeries____
. .
Eestaurants and boarding houses..
W ater-supply societies_____ _
Funeral associations...
O ther societies 1____
G rand to ta l_____________

24
2
47

19
5
45
1

6
8
37

5
6
12
2

1

1

54
25
145
1
4

73

70

51

25

5

2

3

229

6
104
1
4
2
9
2

7
121

10
117
2

6
35

2
5
1

1

1

201

199

1

2
2

2

2

1

31
384
4
6
2
9
4

5

669

1
1
181

66

13

4

>Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.

Comparative sales figures for the 4 years 1930 to 1933 are given in
table 11.
T able 1 1 .—A M O U N T OF B U SIN E S S D O N E B Y C O N S U M E E S ’ C O O P E E A T IV E S O C IE T IE S
1930 TO 1933
1930

T ype of society

Eetail store societies dealing
in—
Groceries______ . . .
__
Groceries and m eat______
General m erchandise.........
F uel___________________
Students’ supplies_______
T o ta l________________
D istributive departm ents of
m arketing associations . . _
Gasoline and oil associations..
B akeries___ _______ __ _____
Eestaurants and boarding
houses___________________
W ater-supply societies............ .
Funeral associations_________
O ther societies 1________ ___
G rand to ta l__________
Average per society_________

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties
A m ount
re­
p ort­
ing

1931
N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties
A m ount
re­
p o rt­
ing

1932
N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties
A m ount
re­
p ort­
ing

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties
A m ount
re­
port­
ing

43
21
114
1
4
183

$2,993,308
4, 652, 997
10,143,913
36, 779
1,990, 074
19,817, 071

45
22
114
1
4
186

$2, 462, 322
3,970,964
7, 641,836
34,920
1,965,715
16,075, 757

50
25
131
1
4
211

$2,025, 346
3,409, 625
7,202, 203
29, 056
1,747, 343
14,413,573

54
25
145
1
4
229

$2,006, 765
3, 289, 256
7,662, 768
35, 290
1, 378,039
14, 372,118

21
164
4

4, 652, 482
12,999, 550
457,373

22
229
4

4, 064, 540
15,281,571
461, 748

26
314
4

2,178,477
17, 574,237
384,418

31
384
4

2,325,434
21,017,855
408, 366

5
707,472
2
7, 386
1
2,200
3
3, 260,533
383 41, 904,067
109,410

6
2
2
3
454

641,824
7, 599
17,940
2, 732, 064
39,283,043
86, 527

6
2
5
3
571

489,836
7,332
32,633
2, 075, 596
37,156,102
65,072

6
2
9
4
669

398, 942
6, 525
56,276
1,845. 792
40,431,308
60,435

' Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1933

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1056

Operating Expenses
D e t a i l e d reports as to operating expenses for 1933 were furnished
by 173 societies—83 store societies, 89 gasoline and oil associations,
and a bakery. Table 12 shows the expense (in percent of net sales)
incurred for specified items.
T able 1 2 .—O P E R A T IN G E X P E N S E S O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN 1933
Percent of sales spent for specified item by—
R etail stores handling—
Item

Total,
stores
(83)

Gaso­
line
and
oil
asso­
cia­
tions
(89)

19.04
1.45

9.15
.38
.23

9.87
. 19

42.04
. 17
. 54

11.96

20.49

9.76

10. 03

42. 76

.04
.45
. 24
1.09

2. 23

2.09
.96

.65
.51
.67
1.27
.34
. 15
. 13
.23
1.28
.38
. 10
.02
1.02
1. 15

.98
.26
.24
.91
.13
.28
.13
. 15
1.47
.25

2. 37
1.87

.98
.57
.93
1.25
.39
. 12
.18
.35
1.54
.53
.09
.04
.97
1.36

1. 72

1.08

38. 52

21.25

28. 75

17.66

16. 60

56.15

G en­
eral
m er­
chan­
dise
(52)

Gro­
ceries
(19)

Gro­
ceries
and
m eat
(10)

S tu ­
dents’
sup­
plies
(2)

Sales expense:
W ages, -- . -------------- --- ---------------A dvertising________________ _________
W rappings
_____________

7. 54
.30
.21

21.47
.37
. 14

11.12
.48
.36

T o tal_______________________________

8. 05

21.98

.57
.48
.57
1.22
.31
. 12
.10
.20
1.17
.37
.09
.02
.98
1.12

.76
1.18
1.64
4. 00
1. 08
.54
.23
.23
2.01
.31
.32

15. 36

M iscellaneous delivery expense (except wages).
R en t
________ _______ _______ ____
Light, heat, power, and w ater__________ . . .
Insurance and taxes________________ _____
Interest on borrowed m oney________________
Office supplies and postage_________________
Telephone and telegraph---------------------------R epairs------- ------------ -------------------------------D epreciation______________________________
B ad d e b ts ...---------- ---------------------------------A uditing
______________________ _______
__________ _____________
Legal service
Freight, drayage, and express _
M iscellaneous___ _____ ____________________
G rand to tal......... ......................................

.71
.20
.05
2. 09
.13
.21

B ak­
eries
g)

3.10
2.64
.65
.07
. 15
.73
2.16
.07
. 12
.35

Net Savings or “ Profits”

L osses aggregating $136,306 were reported by 85 societies, while 10
other societies reported that they had sustained a loss but did not
give the amount. The trading operations of 449 societies, on the
other hand, resulted in combined savings of $2,072,302. For the
534 societies which reported on this point, therefore, there was a net
saving of $1,935,996, which represented 5.5 percent figured on sales
and 23.5 percent figured on share capital. As consumers’ cooperative
societies almost universally sell their goods at the current prices,9
the net saving is affected by the prevailing margin of profit in the line
of business carried on, as well as by the efficiency of the individual
society. It is evident that the margin is considerable in certain lines,
'Of 435 societies which reported on this point, only 21 did not operate on the current-price basis.
Of these, 6 made a practice of selling th eir goods a t prices slightly lower than the m arket price, 1 sold a t 5
percent below the current prices, and 1 allowed a discount of 10 percent on all cash purchases; 1 operated on
the “ cost-plus” basis, and 1 set its prices a t cost plus 2 percent.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1057

OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

notably in the students’ supply stores and in the gasoline and oil
associations. Of the 293 oil associations which reported, only 13 had
a loss, while the net profit of the others aggregated more than 1%million
dollars.
T able 1 3 .—N E T LOSS OR SA V IN G S ON 1933 B U SIN E S S OF C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E
*
S O C IE T IE S

Loss

Savings

T otal net savings

T y p e of society
N um ber of
socie- A m ount
ties
having

R ate of
total net
gain based
on—

1
N um ber of
societies
having

N um ber of
A m ount societies
having

A m ount Sales

Share
capita l2

R etail store societies dealing in—
Groceries.............. .........................
Groceries and m eat__________
General m erchandise.................
S tudents’ supplies............ ..........

11
9
34
2

$11,38627,423
23,130
11,156

31
14
93
2

$33.182
70. 587
135,446
58,047

42
23
127
4

$21, 796
43.164
112,316
46,891

Pet
1.2
1.3
1.7
3.4

Pet.
5.0
8.5
6.6
109.5

T o t a l............. .......................... .

56

73,095

140

297, 262

196

224, 167

1.7

8.9

D istributive departm ents of m ar­
keting associations_____________
Gasoline and oil associations______
B akeries________________________
R estaurants and boarding houses ..
W ater-supply societies......................
Funeral associations...........................
O ther societies 5................................ .

8
13
2
1
2

3,459
23,822
8, 538
146
603

19
40, 711
280 1,722, 799
2
571
2
7,307

37.252
1.5
1,698,977
9.8
3 7.967 4 1.9
7,161
1.9

4. 2
59.4
4 23.5
8.7

3

26, 643

27
293
4
3
2
5
4

G rand to ta l................................

«85 «136, 306

5
1

2,496
1,156

449 2,072,302

2,496
3 25,487

7.1
4 1.4

1T 3
4 2.9

6 534 61,935, 996

5.5

.23.5

I C alculated on basis of societies reporting both sales and net loss or gain,
s LossU at6d ° n baS1S ° f societies ^ P o rtin g both share capital and net loss or gain.
4 Percent of loss.
« includes a. creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.
N ot including 10 societies which reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.

Table 14 shows for 1933 the combined gains or losses of the societies,
by States and by principal society groups.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1058

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1 4 .—N E T E A R N IN G S O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN 1933, BY
STATES

Retail store
societies

D istrib u tiv e
departm ents
of m arketing
associations

State

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties A m o u n t
re­
p ort­
ing

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties Amount
re­
p o rt­
ing

A laska___ _ _________
A rk an sas... . _________
California .
C o lo ra d o .__ ___________
C onnecticut__ _________
Idaho _________________
I llin o is ________________
In d ia n a ________________
Iow a__________ ________
K ansas . . . .
______
K en tu ck y .
M aine
M assachusetts
M ichigan
M innesota_____________
M issouri _____ _______
M o n tan a . . . . _______
N eb rask a.
_____ ____
N ew H am pshire . .
N ew Jersey.
New Mexico
N ew York
N o rth C a r o lin a ________
N o rth D akota . . . ___
O hio__________________
O klahom a_____________
Oregon . . _ ________
Pennsylvania
South D ak o ta__________
Tennessee - .
Texas__________________
V irginia.. .
W ashington
W est V irginia__________
W isconsin.. . ________
W yoming

1
i $67
1
i 711
3 i 8,155
(2)
(2)
1 i 1,072
3 2
3 2,325
14,122
9
5,736
2
3
1, 520
12
16,683
1
200
3 3 3 1,015
3 11 3 69,554
24
10,187
49
67,249
5
3, 212
1
141
4 458
37
1
i 261
3
560
1
1
3
6

i $465

2

4,659

3
7

2, 300
18, 684

i

2,654

4

695

3

1,403

i 9,719
306
3,306
8,115

3 6 3 16, 301
2
i 376
2
i 765
(2)
15
1
19
1

1

(2)
8,540
237
14,657
1,785

T o ta l....................... .. « 196 3224,167

Gasoline and
oil associations O ther societies

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties A m ount
re­
port­
ing

6

$9,997

1
34
12
31
22

8,136
500, 820
89,941
145, 961
32, 665

1
72
3
8
41

540
343, 010
5, 705
25, 288
128, 069

1

498

14

131,309

4
1

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties Amount
re­
p ort­
ing

1

i $140

1

766

2

334

3 >6, 456
5 122,493

2

5,029

7,301
637

1

i 584

1

65

2

5,858

12

164,742

1

i 685

5

15,208

1

6,119

1

i 18

22
2

78, 233
4, 798

1

i 903

3

2,149

27

37, 252

293 1,698,977

T otal

N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties A m ount
re­
p ort­
ing
1
1
3
37
2
33
46
14
39
41
1
33
3 14
26
126
12
9
3 51
1
3
1
3
1
17
6
4
2
36
17
2
6
(2)
17
1
45
3

i $67
i 711
i 8,155
3 9, 532
i 1, 212
3 10,461
520,367
95, 677
150,115
68,032
200
3 1,015
3 63,098
13,381
387,766
9,612
25,429
3 129, 014
i 261
560
498
i 4. 690
306
134, 615
8,115
7,301
53
3 16,301
170, 289
i 765
14, 523
(2)
14,641
237
94,136
6,583

18 124, 400 3 534 «1,935,996

1 Loss.
2 Society reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.
3 N o t including 1 society which reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.
4 Loss; does not include 1 society which reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.
5 N ot including 7 societies which reported a loss b u t did no t state am ount.

The net savings or “profits” made by the consumers’ cooperative
societies for their members in each of the 4 years 1930 to 1933 are
shown in table 15. During this period the societies reporting made
savings through their trading operations amounting to $7,419,999.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

1059

T able 1 5 .—N E T SA V IN G S O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S , 1930 TO 1933
1930

T ype of society

1931

1932

1933

NumNumN um N um ber
ber
ber
ber
of
of
of
of
socie­
socie­
socie­
socie­
A m ount ties A m ount ties
A m ount ties A m ount
ties
rererereportportportporting
mg
ing
ing

Retail store societies dealing in—
Groceries___________________
Groceries and m eat_________
General m erchandise________
F u e l_______________ ____
S tudents’ supplies............ .........

39
20
104
1
4

$52,153
160,378
230, 373
9,110
197,670

36
21
97
1
4

$30, 854
86, 524
132,662
264
155, 685

42
22
104
(')
4

$1,981
13, 203
20,012
(0
88,800

42
23
127
(0
4

$21,796
43,164
112,316
(0
46,891

T o ta l__________ ____ _____

168

649, 684

159

405,989

172

123,996

196

224,167

D istributive departm ents of marketing associations________ . . .
Gasoline and oil associations.. . . .
B akeries______________
R estaurants and boarding houses..
W ater-supply societies________
Funeral associations..
O ther societies 3_______ _____

22
127
4
3
1
1
3

83,832
1, 429,858
11,178
33,100
1,027
2 125
120,125

22
173
4
3
2
2
3

80, 057
1,326,865
1,900
26, 531
909
1,919
49,025

22
185
4
3
2
3
3

11,894
1,153,901
2 11,562
16, 877
256
2,438
2 35, 671

27
293
4
3
2
5
4

37, 252
1, 698, 977
2 7,967
7,161
2 603
2,496
2 25, 487

«368 «1,893,195

5394

Grand! to ta l_______ ______

4 329 4 2,328,679

5 1,262,129 « 534 8 1,935,996

1 Society reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.
2 Loss.
3 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.
4 N ot including 3 societies which reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.
5 N ot including 12 societies which reported a loss b u t did no t state am ount.
6 N ot including 10 societies which reported a loss b u t did not state am ount.

Division of Earnings

I t i s characteristic of the consumers’ cooperative movement that
a moderate fixed rate of interest is paid on capital, while the remainder
of the net earnings, after, provision is made for reserve, educational
fund, etc., is returned to the purchasers in proportion to their business
with the society. The more money spent at the cooperative store,
therefore, the greater the amount of refund at the end of the year.
There are, however, some exceptions to the above statement. Some
societies pay no interest on share capital, and others, instead of
returning patronage dividends, use any earnings for social or general
welfare purposes.
Interest on share capital.-—Interest on share capital, amounting to
$157,186, was paid in 1933 by the 203 societies reporting; 56 other
societies paid interest at varying rates but failed to report the amount
paid. The sum so paid during the 4-year period 1930 to 1933
amounted to $631,423. Table 16 shows by type of society the amount
paid as interest on share capital for the 4 years.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1060

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1 6 .—IN T E R E S T P A ID ON SH A R E C A P IT A L B Y C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E
S O C IE T IE S , 1930 TO 1933

T y p e of society

R etail store societies______ ____ ____
D istributive departm ents of m arketing associations__________________
Gasoline and oil asso ciatio n s........ .
Bakeries
R estaurants and boarding houses___
O ther societies____________________
T o ta l.............. ................................

1930

1931

1932

1933

N um ­
ber of
socie­ A m o u n t
ties
rep o rt­
ing

N um ­
ber of
socie­ A m o u n t
ties
rep o rt­
ing

N um ­
ber of
socie­ A m o u n t
ties
report­
ing

N um ­
ber of
socie­ A m ount
ties
report­
ing

80

$81,404

75

$69,628

53

$43,580

61

$46,381

13
82
(0
3
1

20, 265
59, 048
(0
3,614
1, 524

10
108
1
3
1

14,051
78,078
1,679
3,812
1,404

8
115
0)
3
1

9,965
80,879
0)
4,017
1,289

11
127

13,698
91,806

3
1

4,016
1,185

4 180 4139,730

«203

» 157,186

2 179 2 165,855

2 198 3 168,652

1 1 society paid 5 percent b u t did no t report am ount.
2 N ot including 1 society which paid lVé percent, 3 which paid 3 percent, 2 which paid 4 percent, 19 which
paid 5 percent, 20 w hich paid 6 percent, 4 which paid 7 percent, and 26 w hich paid 8 percent b u t did not
report am ount.
2 N ot including 1 society which paid 1V£ percent, 1 which paid 2 percent, 1 which paid 3 percent, 3 which
paid 4 percent, 10 which paid 5 percent, 13 which paid 6 percent, 3 which paid 7 percent, 31 w hich paid
8 percent, and 1 which paid 10 percent b u t did not report am ount.
4 N ot including 2 societies which paid 1 percent, 1 which paid 3 percent, 5 which paid 4 percent, 6 which
paid 5 percent, 6 which paid 6 percent, 2 which paid 7 percent, 30 which paid 8 percent, and 1 w hich paid
10 percent b u t did not report am ount.
*N ot including 1 society which paid 1 percent, 4 which paid 3 percent, 3 which paid 4 percent, 7 w hich paid
5 percent, 11 w hich paid 6 percent, 4 w hich paid 7 percent, and 26 which paid 8 percent b u t did not report
am ount.

Patronage refunds.—Table 17 shows the amount returned in pur­
chase rebates in each of the 4 years 1930 to 1933. As is shown,
nearly 4}4 million dollars was thus returned, a most welcome addi­
tion to the incomes of the members during these depression years.
In addition, many societies returned rebates but failed to state the
amount so returned. The gasoline and oil associations’ showing is
particularly gratifying, some 85 percent of the total rebates in 1933
having been returned by them.
One general-store society points out that it has been able to return
a patronage dividend in every year but one since 1920, and another
states that it has never missed paying a patronage rebate since its
formation in 1920. A third has paid rebates on purchases every year
since it was started in 1921 and in addition has accumulated reserves
more than eight times the amount of its capital stock.
An eastern society reports that in spite of the depression it has made
progress every year and has been able to pay patronage dividends;
these have, during the 4 years 1930 to 1933, amounted to $27,891.
A Michigan society which pays its employees a bonus on wages at
the same rate as the patronage refund to members, has, since its
organization in 1913, returned in dividends, interest, and wage bonuses
the sum of $341,102.
A Kansas association has paid 8 percent interest on stock and from
2 to 12 percent as purchase dividend every year since its formation
in 1919.

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OPERATION OF CONSUMEES’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

1061

One Massachusetts society which operates a grocery store has
arrangements with clothing, furniture, and shoe merchants in a
nearby town whereby its members are allowed a 10 percent dis­
count on their purchases. Another, which has paid no dividends
since the depression began, reports that the savings have been placed
in a “ surplus fund” to cover outstanding accounts. This was done
as a measure of protection. A record is being kept of each member’s
business with the society, however, so that when conditions improve
each patron will receive his pro rata share.
The record of some of the oil associations is truly remarkable.
Thus, one association which started business with $4,000 in capital
in 1927 has, since that time, returned more than $25,000 in dividends.
Another has paid dividends amounting to $101,548, in 8 years’ opera­
tion. Two others which have been in business 7}{years each have paid
in rebates on purchases $134,236 and $162,450, respectively.
T able 1 7 .—P A T R O N A G E R E F U N D S O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S , 1930
TO 1933
1930

T ype of society

1931

1932

N um ­
N um ­
N um ­
ber of
ber of
ber of
socie­
socie­
socie­
ties A m ount
ties
A m ount
ties A m ount
re­
re­
re­
p o rt­
port­
port­
ing
ing
ing

1933
N um ­
ber of
socie­
ties A m ount
re­
p ort­
ing

R etail store societies dealing in—
Groceries______________
Groceries and m eat___________
General m e rc h a n d ise ______
S tudents’ supplies_____________

17
11
35
3

$30,428
107,108
107, 721
118,174

13
12
35
3

$15, 706
73,356
82,522
110,910

10
10
26
3

$10,403
46,546
39,787
92,235

12
9
35
2

$10, 667
37,327
62,140
59,567

T o ta l_____ ___________

66

363,431

63

282,494

49

188,971

58

169, 701

D istributive departm ents of m arket­
ing associations............ ....... .........
Gasoline and oil associations____ _
R estaurants and boarding houses

7
97
1

24, 557
773,912
7,669

6
124
1

56,324
775, 501
6,680

6
134
1

14,077
710. 664
4, 364

5
4,302
201 1,054, 590
1
1, 382

i 171 ' 1,169, 569 2 194 21,120,999

3 190

918, 076

< 265 41,229,975

G rand to ta l______ ______ _

3

1 N ot including 1 society which returned 2 percent, 1 which returned 6 percent, 1 which returned 9 per­
cent, and 1 which returned 10 percent b u t did not report am ount, and 1 society which allowed 2 U percent
on cash purchases, and l which allowed 10 percent.
2 N ot including 2 societies which returned 2 percent, 1 which retu rn ed 5 percent, 1 which returned 5.3
percent, 1 which returned 8 percent, 1 which returned 9 percent, 1 which returned 10 percent, 1 which re­
turned 14 percent, and 1 which returned 17 percent b u t did not report am ount, and 1 society which allowed
2y> percent on cash purchases, and 1 which allowed 10 percent.
3 N ot including 1 society which returned 2 percent, 1 which returned 3 percent, 2 which returned 4 per­
cent, 1 which returned 5 percent, 1 which returned 10 percent, 1 which returned 12 percent, and 1 which
returned 15 percent b u t did not report am ount, and 1 society which allowed 2y> percent on cash purchases,
and 1 which allowed 10 percent.
4 N ot including 2 societies which returned 2 percent, 1 which returned 3 percent, 1 which returned 4 per­
cent, 3 which returned 5 percent, 2 which returned 6 percent, 1 which returned 7 percent, 1 which returned
9 percent, 3 which returned 10 percent, and 1 which returned 20 percent b u t did not report am ount, and 1
society which allowed 2 \i percent on cash purchases, and 1 which allowed 10 percent.

The practice as regards purchase refunds to nonmembers varies
considerably. There were 301 societies which reported on this point.
Of these, 95 pay no rebates whatever to nonmember patrons; 2 of
these put into the reserve fund any earnings from business with them;

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1062

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1 puts such earnings into an educational reserve fund, and another
society retains such earnings in the company treasury. Four socie­
ties report that they do no business with nonmembers. Nonmembers
receive the same rate of dividend as the members in 179 societies,
but in 2 societies the dividend must be traded out and in 107 the
dividend is not paid in cash but is applied toward the purchase of a
share of stock in the patron’s name, so that when the share is paid
for he becomes a member of the organization. Twelve associations
pay dividends to nonmembers at half the members’ rate, while 2
societies pay 2 percent, 3 pay 2 percent on cash purchases, 1 pays 2
percent on accounts paid within 30 days and 1 on accounts paid with­
in 90 days, 2 pay 3 percent, and 2 pay 5 percent.
Wages and Working Hours in Consumers’ Cooperative Societies
E a c h society was requested to report the number of employees,
the amount spent in wages in 1933, and the weekly working hours
of the employees.
Employment and pay roll.—In addition to 41 part-time workers,
456 societies reported the employment of 3,252 employees.
T arli : 1 8 .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LL OF C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S
IN 1933
Em ploym ent

T ype of society

Wages paid, 1933

N um ber N um ber N um ber
of
of full­
of
societies
societies
tim e
report­ em ploy­ report­
ees
ing
ing

A m ount
paid

Average
annual
wage per
em­
ployee 1

Retail store societies dealing in—
G roceries.-- - ----------- ------ ------ ------------- -----Groceries and m e a t..------ -- ------------- - -- —
General m erchandise_________ ______ ______
S tu d en ts’ s u p p lie s ---------- ----------- - - - ----------

50
26
118
3

177
370
661
106

48
24
113
4

$165,250
366, 747
504,176
196,170

$955
1,057
814
1,526

T o tal-------------- ---------------------------------------------

197

1,314

189

1,232, 343

962

32
202
4
6
2
9
4

139
1,117
116
133
(2)
13
420

30
173
4
6
2
8
4

121,760
1, 047, 088
161,578
132, 693

922
1,110
1,393
998

14,185
714, 326

1,182
1,701

456

4 3, 252

416

3, 423,973

1,129

D istributive departm ents of m arketing associations. __
Gasoline and oil associations. --------------------- --------B akeries-.. .
- -------............R estaurants and boarding houses______ - ------ ----Waf.pr-snpply societies
___ ____ _ _
Funeral associations..
. ------------- - - ----------O ther societies 3___________________________________
G rand to ta l----- ---------------------------------------------

i Based on societies reporting both employees and wages.
* 4 part-tim e employees, paid $1,400.
3 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a publishing association, and a trucking association.
4 N ot including 41 part-tim e employees.

A pay roll of $3,423,973 was reported by 416 societies, or an average
of $1,129 per worker during 1933. It is evident from table 18 that
the average annual wage varies considerably according to type of
society. The miscellaneous group has the highest average wage, due
to the high scale (average $1,753) of a creamery society in that group.
The students’ societies come next, and the bakeries third.

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OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

One society reports that wages were cut in half in 1932 and 1933 in
the attempt to lower overhead expenses, but in spite of this action a
loss was incurred in both years.
One Michigan society pays to its employees a bonus on wages at
the same rate as the patronage refund to members. This is the only
cooperative association of which the Bureau has knowledge, which
follows this practice.
Working hours.—The weekly hours worked by employees were
reported by 326 societies. As table 19 shows, the hours so reported
ranged in the various societies from 36 to 101.5 per week, and averaged,
for all societies reporting 54 hours. The lowest average hours were
those in the laundry and water-supply societies, but 4 of the 10 classes
of societies shown in the table had average weekly hours of 48 or under.
It is seen that the average in the store societies was somewhat above
the average for all societies.
T4BI.E 1 9 .—A V E R A G E A N D R A N G E O F W O R K IN G H O U R S IN C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A ­
T IV E S O C IE T IE S IN 1933

N um ber of
societies
reporting

T ype of society

R etail store societies dealing in—•
Groceries.- ________ _______
Groceries and m eat___ . . . _______
General m erchandise__ __________
. . . ..
Fuel___________ _____
S tudents’ supplies__________ _______ ____________
T otal____________ ____ _______________

.

W eekly working hours
Range

Average

47
26
100
1
4

44-86
42-66
43H-101H
48
40-44%

57.2
52.8
57.0
48.0
43.2

178

40-101H

56.1

D istributive departm ents of m arketing associations_________
Gasoline and oil associations_____ . . ..........
Bakeries______________
____________
R estaurants and boarding houses__________________________
_______________
Other societies

29
106
3
6
4

40-79
36-86
48
41-56
40-48

54.0
51.2
48.0
49.5
43.3

G rand to ta l......................... ............................ .............

326

36-101H

54.0

1 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a w ater-supply society, and a publishing association.

The distribution of societies according to their weekly working
hours is shown in table 20. Although in 1933 over two-fifths of the
societies had working hours of 48 or less, unduly long hours were
reported in a number of cases. 10 As the table shows, 20 of the soci­
eties (6.1 percent) worked their employees 12 hours or longer per
day, and 90 (27.6 percent) 10 hours or longer per day.
10

T he code for retail trade, providing for working hours ranging (according to store hours) from 40 to 48
per week, did not go into effect until Oct. 30, 1933.


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1064

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able ^ . - D I S T R I B U T I O N O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S A C C O R D IN G
TO W E E K L Y W O R K IN G H O U R S O F E M P L O Y E E S IN 1933
N um ber of societies in which weekly working hours were—

T ype of society

R etail store societies dealing in—
Groceries __ ________________
Groceries and m eat
General merchandise-..______
Fuel
St.ndp.nts’ snpplifts
T o ta l____________________
D istributive departm ents of marketing associations
_ ____ _
Gasoline and oil associations. ___
Bakeries
R estaurants and boarding houses.
Of her societies i
G rand total . ____________

Under
48

48

Over
48
and
under
54

Over
54
and
under
60

54

Over
60
and
under
72

60

Total
Over
72

72

2
1
5

11
4
29

1

3

11

7
5
11

1

4

47
26
100
1
4

40

13

23

8

44

2

7

178

4
6

2
2

3
4

4
8

4
2

1

1
9

1
3

10
55
3
3
i

29
106
3
6
4

36

101

50

20

50

3

17

326

6
10
12
1

12
5
23

12

29

1
19

3
1
4
4

2

2
17

32

1 Includes a creamery, a laundry, a w ater-supply society, and a publishing association.

Cooperative Policies

Policy as regards credit.—Because of the fact that the granting of
credit has been one of the most frequent and potent causes of business
failure among cooperative societies, each association was asked
regarding its credit policy. On this point 440 societies responded,
of which 117 replied flatly that they extend no credit whatever; 2
other societies stated that they “ try not” to give credit. Credit
is extended by 321 societies, but 5 societies report that this is “ re­
stricted”, 2 grant it only in certain departments, 2 only to certain
members, 1 only when the account is guaranteed, 2 societies only
occasionally, and 1 society which operates 7 stores runs 3 of these
on a cash basis.
One society, now operating on the cash basis, reports as follows:
Since 1929 the business has steadily declined until it had become practically
nonexistent last year. This was caused through failure of the two banks, one
closing in August 1931 and the other in August 1932. One payment of 18 percent
was made by the first bank, but the money was deposited in the second bank,
and there have been no dividends paid by either since, with no prospects of any
unless a Government loan can be had. These banks closing with nearly a million
dollars of deposits has bankrupted this entire community, and as this is a farming
town, there has been no opportunity for the people to recuperate. I am making
this statement in order that you can get an idea of the impossibility of adhering
to a sound credit policy when a community finds itself without funds suddenly,
and the danger a business of this type runs at such a time. The usual thing
happened in this case, credit was given to any and all, without limit, until the
already meager funds of the society were exhausted; stocks were depleted, debts
accumulated, until the directors finally awakened to the fact that their business
was practically bankrupt, the manager having concealed the true condition as
long as possible.

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OPERATION OF CONSUMERS’ COOPERATIVES IN 1933

1065

Another society reports that it put its business on a cash basis
September 15, 1932. This resulted in a falling off in sales at first,
but after a year’s trial the society has found the new policy to be to
its advantage.
A third states: “ We are selling to quite a few of the unemployed,
hoping for prosperity. Result: We are in the red. ” Another with the
same policy states: “We have extended credit to our members during
the depression and have helped many of our unemployed members. ”
A Middle West society reports: “ While we do some credit busi­
ness, there is no open account to anyone. Credit is given only if
secured by timber, cream, etc. ”
An eastern society keeps down its credit accounts by a rule that
dividends are denied to members owing accounts of over $25, and
interest on share capital is withheld if the account goes over $50.
Voting.—Reports as to their voting methods were received from
447 associations. Of these, 396 allow only 1 vote per member regard­
less of the number of shares owned, but 1 of these societies makes an
exception to this general policy in the election of directors, and
another allows a single vote to members who contribute “ loan
capital” to the association, but denies voting privileges to the socalled “ customer members” who pay only a $3 fee each year for the
trading privilege. Of the 51 societies in which voting is by shares,
1 society restricts the votes to a maximum of 5 per member.
Reports as to proxy voting were received from 413 societies, of
which 268 prohibit such voting, 142 allow it, 1 allows proxy voting
“ at times”, and 2 limit the number of proxies voted to 1 per person.
Development Since 1920
T ap .le 21 gives comparative data for each of the years in which
the Bureau has made a general survey of the consumers’ cooperative
movement. As the remarkable development of the gasoline and oil
associations since 1925 affects the averages decidedly, the table
shows separately data for all types of societies (including the oil
associations) and for retail store societies which form the other most
important group of organizations.
Average membership per society has, as the table shows, shown a
steady increase. A considerable rise is shown from 1929 to 1933.
Whether this was due to the hard times of the past few years, impress­
ing upon purchasers the need of making the family income stretch as
far as possible or to increased efforts by societies to bring in new
members, the data at hand do not indicate. Tiie store societies
showed a particularly gratifying increase, the average membership
increasing by one-third during the 4-year period.
Share capital per society shows a continuous fall since 1920, for all
societies combined. That of the store societies, however, increased

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1066

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

somewhat from 1929 to 1933. A decline was also registered in share
capital per member. For both groups of societies shown in the table
average reserve funds increased during the period 1929-33, due
possibly to the desire of the societies to insure the business stability
of the organization in these uncertain times.
While average volume of business in dollars decreased from 1929
to 1933, this was to a large extent due to a lower price level. It is
seen that the high point of sales occurred in 1925.
For all societies combined the peak of net earnings occurred in
1929. The earnings per society of the store societies fell very con­
siderably in 1933 as compared with 1929. A decrease was shown for
all types combined, but the savings effected by the oil associations
resulted in keeping up the average for the whole group, so that the
decrease was not so great.
The average amount returned in patronage refunds has not varied
greatly since 1925 for all societies combined. That it was the
dividends of the increasingly important oil associations, however,
which operated to keep up the average is shown by the fact that the
average for the retail store societies alone fell from $4,564 in 1929
to $2,926 in 1933.
T a b l e 2 1 —D E V E L O P M E N T O F C O N S U M E R S ’ C O O P E R A T IV E S O C IE T IE S , 1920 TO 1933

R etail store societies

All societies
Item

1920
1925

1929

1933

1925

1929

1933

235
422
431
695
479
656
1,009
M em bership:
123,317
76,160
119, 760
204,368
225,441
139,301
260,060
T o tal----------------------------407
303
293
389
336
269
310
Average per society--------Share capital:
$2,
774,664
$4,
653,197
$5,255,534
$7,987,090
$6,867,951
T o tal___________________ $11,290,973 $6,499,574
12, 966
12,149
14, 518
12,352
13, 607
17, 056
16,455
Average per society--------43
46
63
37
45
68
59
Average per m em ber 1........
Reserve funds:
2,875,296
1,865,751
2,168,190
1, 614,483 2,407,676 4,324,375 3,882,805
T o tal---------- -----------------12, 522
7, 261
9,956
9,266
7,379
9,442
5,142
Average per society--------A m ount of business:
80,104,935 49,710,788 64,665,369 40,431,308 40,745, 610 37,697,560 14,372,118
T o tal_____________ ____
62,760
90, 619
96,647
60,435
100,964
100, 725
103, 751
Average per society--------N et earn in g s:2
224,167
446,824 1,582,100 2,980,481 1,935,996 1,291,309 1,305,671
T o ta l..-------------------------1,144
4, 262
3, 637
5,257
3,625
4, 753
2,828
Average per society--------R ate (percent) com puted
on—
1.7
3.8
4.0
5.5
3.0
0
0
Sales________ _______ _
8.9
26.8
23.5
0
Share cap ital________
0
0
0
Interest paid on share capital:
$46,381
$173,217
$337,587 $157,186
0
A m o u n t________________
0
0
760
568
774
895
0
Average per society--------0
0
Patronage refunds:
169,
701
693,777
$350,354 $753,791 1,408,879 1, 229,975 $683,726
T o tal----------------- ----------4,564
2,926
4,641
4,440
4,943
4,562
5,092
Average per society............
Employees:
2,222
1,314
4 4,046
13,252
0
N u m b e r...............- ...............
0
0
5
7
7
7
Average per society........... .
0
0
1 Based on societies which reported b o th capital and m em bership.
2 After deducting losses of ¿those societies which sustained a loss.
3 No data.
4 A nd 7 part-tim e employees.
« A nd 41 p art-tim e employees,


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D ism issa l C o m p en sa tio n in A m erican In d u stry 1
By

E verett

D.

H a w k in s , P r in c e t o n U n iv e r s it y

WO hundred and twelve companies in this country have been
reported as paying dismissal compensation at some time before
April 1934. These firms, together with their subsidiaries, normally
employed before the depression between 2 / and 2){ million men.
Although most of the companies have not announced the number of
dismissed employees or the amount of compensation, reports from
60 firms definitely state that they have compensated more than
80,000 men. On the basis of actual reports and a conservative esti­
mate of the amount of compensation in relation to the terms of the
particular plans, over 8)2 million dollars have been paid to these
80,000 employees permanently laid off. Individual payments have
sometimes been as large as 1 or 2 years’ pay. A few factory workers
have received compensation up to $3,000, while the amounts paid
to salaried employees and executives have at times been even larger.

T

Number of Dismissal-Compensation Plans
I n s t a t in g that at least 212 companies have at some time
before April 1934 paid dismissal compensation to employees for
permanently terminating the employment relationship, primarily for
reasons beyond the control of the employee, the attempt has been
made to eliminate all subsidiary companies except where a real dif­
ference in plans exists. Thus 16 subsidiary, affiliated, or merged
companies are not included in this list of 212 firms, although there
has been some public discussion of their experience.
These 212 companies have used 221 plans. This number does not
include changes in their procedure from time to time, but includes
only those cases in which a company operates two separate schemes
to meet different situations; for example, a general policy for salaried
employees, and a special plan for all employees when closing a plant.
Table 1 classifies 182 plans last used by 175 firms about which
complete information is available. Approximately 30 percent of
these plans provide for small payments, in lieu of notice, ranging
from only a few days’ pay to 2 weeks’ wages. Another 15 percent
1 T he information for this article has largely been secured through interview s or correspondence w ith
officers of the firms which have paid dismissal compensation. V isits to 111 companies were made during
the sum m ers of 1932 and 1933. Letters from 32 additional firms reported their plans. These sources have
been supplem ented b y published statem ents and information gathered b y the Industrial Relations Sec­
tio n of Princeton U niversity. T he B ureau of Labor Statistics aided in securing certain d ata incorporated
in this article. Jo in t trade-union plans are no t included in this article.

1067
91302—34----- 3


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1068

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

are informal plans without definite eligibility requirements or scales
of compensation. Over half the plans, however, can be classified as
formal plans, with rather definitely formulated rules, which are
designed to meet all contingencies or such particular problems as
the closing of a plant, lay-offs due to depression conditions, and
separations because of individual obsolescence. Over a fifth of the
plans have been adopted as standard procedure for meeting all
dismissal contingencies.
T able 1.—D IS T R IB U T IO N O F D IS M IS S A L -C O M P E N S A T IO N P L A N S A C C O R D IN G TO
T Y P E OF PL A N
N um ber of
plans

T ype of plan

Form al plans used for—
Standard procedure, ----------------- ------------------------------------ -----Closing a p lan t _ _________________________ _____ ______ ________
Business depression,_
----------------- -------------------------------- , ,
Individual obsolescence----------- ------- ------ --------------------------T otal

___ ___ _____________________________________________

Informal plans .............................................................
-,
Small notice p ay m en t__________________________ _________ ____
G rand to ta l______________________ _____

-

- _____ _

Percent of
total

39
25
26
8

21.4
13.7
14.3
4.4

98

53.8

28
56

15.4
30.8

182

100.0

Type and Size of Companies Paying Dismissal Compensation
T h e adoption of dismissal-compensation plans by companies in
this country has been concentrated in certain industries and usually
in the larger firms of these industries. Table 2 classifies, by indus­
tries, not only the 212 companies paying dismissal compensation,
but also the 93 firms with formal plans. Public utilities, department
stores, oil refiners, paper manufacturers, and financial institutions
head the list of industries having formal dismissal-compensation
plans. The companies in these industries deal rather directly with
the public, and so are especially desirous of maintaining good public
relations through progressive industrial relations. Food and meat
packers, textile, chemical and drug, and machinery manufacturers
also stand high in the total number of plans, but many of their
schemes are unconfirmed, informal, or offer only small payments, so
that few remain among the formal plans.
[^Dismissal compensation, like other industrial-relations practices,
is used comparatively infrequently in the great number of small
plants, and relatively more often applied in the large corporations.
The median number of employees in the 212 plants which have used
some form of dismissal compensation is 2,563. The average is 11,912
workers, but this figure is influenced largely by the 9 large corporations
(see table 3) which employed over 50 percent of the total number of
employees. Only 16 firms with fewer than 250 employees and only
50 firms with between 251 and 1,000 employees have used dismissal

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DISMISSAL COMPENSATION IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY

1069

compensation. The employees of these small firms form only 1.5
percent of the 2,372,697 workers in companies paying compensation.
The modal class includes the companies with from 1 to 5,000
employees.
T able 2 .—N U M B E R O F C O M P A N IE S W H IC H H A V E U SE D D IS M IS S A L C O M P E N S A T IO N ,
BY IN D U S T R IE S

Companies

Companies

In d u stry

Automobiles- . .
________
Chemicals and drugs_________
Clothing and sh o es,_______
D epartm ent and other stores____
Electrical p ro d u c ts ........................
Financial in s titu tio n s ...............
Food and m eat packers_________
M achinery__________
O il________________
P aper_________ ______

In d u stry

Total
num ­
ber

N um ­
ber
w ith
formal
plans

6
11
8
18
8
15
15
11
12
14

2
4
5
9
5
7
5
4
8
8

Total
num ­
ber

N um ­
ber
w ith
formal
plans

Plum bing supplies___
Public utilities_______
Publishing__________
R u b b er...... ............ ........
Steel________________
Textiles_____________
Tools and instrum ents
M iscellaneous.............. .
T o tals_________

212

T able 3.—D IS T R IB U T IO N OF C O M P A N IE S W H IC H H A V E U SE D D IS M IS S A L C O M P E N ­
SA T IO N , A N D OF T H E IR E M P L O Y E E S , A C C O R D IN G TO N U M B E R OF W O R K E R S
EM PLO YED
All plans
Companies

Form al plans

Employees

Companies

Em ployees

N um ber of workers

U nder 250 employees_____________
251 to 1,000 employees______ _____
1,001 to 5,000 employees.......... ...........
5,001 to 50,000 employees__ _______
50,001 employees and over________
T o ta l______ ______________

N um ­
ber

Per­
cent
of
total

N um ber

Per­
cent
of
total

N um ­
ber

Per­
cent
of
total

N um ber

16
50
80
57
9

7.6
23.6
37.7
26.9
4.2

2,732
32, 213
210, 794
840,148
1,286,810

0.1
1.4
8.9
35.4
54.2

4
12
42
27
8

4.3
12.9
45.2
29.0
8.6

504
8, 461
111,660
465,484
1,053,524

0.0
.5
6.8
28.4
64.3

212

100.0

i 2,372, 697

100.0

93

100.0

2 1,639, 633

100.0

Per­
cent
of
total

1 Includes an estim ate of 24,200 employees in companies for which exact records were not available.
2 Includes an estim ate of 6,500 employees.

If the informal, small-payment, and unconfirmed plans are elim­
inated, there is an increase both in the average and median size of
companies, to 17,630 and 3,500 employees respectively, indicating
very clearly that it is the larger plants which have adopted formal
plans for dismissal compensation. The modal group again contains
from 1 to 5,000 employees. Only 16 firms with formal plans, however,
have fewer than a thousand employees. Of the employees in com­
panies with formal plans, 99.5 percent are in firms with over a thou­
sand employees.

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1070

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Coverage of Dismissal-Compensation Plans
N ot all the 2,300,000 employees normally employed by the 212
firms before the depression are eligible for compensation. Although
a degree of flexibility is sometimes allowed, most plans definitely
specify the factors—class of employment, the length of service, the
reason for termination, and possibly the age of the employee—which
are required in order to be eligible for compensation. Practically all
plans state or follow the rule that no payment shall be made in case
of voluntary quits, discharges for cause, or temporary lay-offs. Em­
ployees receiving workmen’s compensation are usually excluded, as
are also those eligible for other employee benefit plans.2
Although a few of the older plans have been broadened to include
all employees, and a fair proportion of the newer standard-procedure
plans include both factory and salaried workers, many firms pay
compensation only to office and salaried employees. The figures in
table 4 for 182 plans, about which information is available, indicate
that 60.4 percent of the plans include all employees in the company,3
7.2 percent cover only wage earners, and 32.4 percent only salaried
employees. Of the 98 formal plans 70.4 percent include all employees,
11.2 percent only wage earners, and 18.4 percent only salaried em­
ployees.
T able 4 —N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F C O M P A N Y PL A N S F O R D IS M IS S A L C O M P E N S A ­
T IO N C O V E R IN G V A RIO U S T Y P E S OF E M P L O Y E E S
All plans
Em ployees covered
N um ber

Form al plans

Percent
of total

N um ber

Percent
of total

Wage earners only ______ I _____________________ .
All employees in the com pany. _ . ______ . . . . .
All in th e com pany (b u t no wage earners employed >)-Salaried (office) employees only______ ____ __________

13
79
31
59

7.2
43.4
17:0
32.4

11
52
17
18

11.2
53.0
17.4
18.4

T o ta l.................................................................................

182

100.0

98

100.0

1 Financial institutions and m ercantile establishm ents employ clerks. Factory wage earners have been
sharply contrasted w ith clerks in the past, although m any of the old distinctions have been breaking down.

Practically all the more definitely formulated plans require a
certain length of service in the employ of the firm before a worker
becomes eligible for dismissal compensation. A few companies,
however, starting with small payments, have no service requirement.
2 Exceptions, however, can be found to all these generalizations. U nder 2 plans pay is given even to those
who voluntarily leave; in 3 cases, the companies, instead of themselves choosing men to dismiss, have asked
for volunteers. In 5 cases dismissal p ay is given even for discharge for serious cause, although in one com­
pany such paym ents are discretionary. Several plans providing for very short notice, or paym ents in
lieu thereof, m ake no distinction betw een tem porary and more perm anent lay-offs. A nother plan defi­
nitely supplem ents a sick-benefit scheme. A few firms make paym ents to women who resign or are dis­
missed because of marriage.
8 Sometimes all employees are eligible for compensation, except those hired tem porarily or for a specific
undertaking. N ine plans definitely exclude tem porary workers while 2 state th a t they are included.
M ost plans do no t m ention tem porary workers, since their length-of-service requirem ent ordinarily solves
the problem. In a few plans contributions to a savings or insurance fund are necessary eligibility require­
ments.


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1071

DISMISSAL COMPENSATION IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY

In the case of informal plans, no rule is announced but usually
only employees of some service, especially in the case of hourly paid
workers, are considered. Short-service requirements may be con­
sidered as trial periods in which both the employer and the employee
are discovering whether the relation should be continued.
Table 5 shows that service requirements tend to be considerably
higher for wage earners than for salaried employees. Over one-half
of the plans for salaried employees have service requirements of a
year or less, while less than one-third of those for wage earners have
such a short period. In the long-service group are found 38.4 percent
of the plans for wage earners and only 14 percent covering salaried
workers.
T able 5 .-L E N G T H -0 F - S E R V IC E R E Q U IR E M E N T S F O R W A G E E A R N E R S A N D SALA R IE D E M P L O Y E E S IN D IS M IS S A L -C O M P E N S A T IO N PL A N S
N um ber w ith
specified length
of service
requirem ents
Length of service

Plans
Plans
cover­ cover­
ing
ing
wage salaried
em­
earners
ployees

Long period
20 years__ _
20 years, b u t only 10 if over 40
years old______ _
18 years ___________
15 y e a rs.. ___ _
15 years, b u t only 10 if over 45
years old _
10 years__ ._____
10 years, b u t only 5 if over 50 years
old_________
10 years b u t only 5 if over 45 years
old _________
Period not specified-.
T o ta l... ..
M edium period
5 years _. _________________
4-5 years______ . . . _______
4 y e a rs._ __. ____ _____ _

4
4

2
3

Plans Plans
cover­ cover­
ing
ing
wage salaried
em­
earners ployees

i
3

1

20

6

9

6

1

3 years_______ _____ ______
2 years
1 ^ years

2
3

T o t a l ______________

16

12

14
1

15
1
1

Short period
............... . . . . ___

i

1
1

Length of service

M edium period—C ontd.

i
i
i
4

N um ber w ith
specified length
of service
requirem ents

1 year.
1 season
6-8 m o n th s. _ _____________ . ..

fi m onths

3 m onths _
2 m onths

G rand total

4

i

1

6

1
i

16

25

52

43

These service and position requirements greatly limit the coverage
of dismissal-compensation plans. Records from 60 companies, how­
ever, showed that 81,434 employees had been paid dismissal compen­
sation up to 1934. The number compensated by the remaining 152
firms would probably equal the number of announced payments.
Amount of Dismissal Compensation
M o s t companies have hesitated to make any announcement about
the amount of money paid in dismissal compensation. Twenty
companies, however, which compensated 50,710 employees paid
$4,616,927.81. Although the average was $91.05 per person, this

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1072

MONTHLY*LABOR REVIEW

figure is of little significance, since there was a tendency for payments
to be quite small or to amount, at the other extreme, to several
hundred dollars.
For 40 additional companies, information is available concerning
30,724 dismissal payments. Using a conservative estimate of the
average payments given by each company in the light of the terms
of its plan, about $4,202,725 was paid in compensation by these
companies. This gives a higher average, $136.79, than the average of
the 20 plans above mentioned.
For all 60 companies the average payment to the 81,434 workers
who received $8,819,652.81 in compensation is $108.30. Since some
individual payments were well over a thousand dollars, probably
more than half the dismissal payments in these 60 companies were
less than $100.
Use of an over-all average does not reveal the fact that in certain
companies as the depression deepened the average amount of compen­
sation increased because employees of longer service were displaced.
In other companies, cuts were made in the scale of compensation or
weekly earnings were lowered to such an extent that the average pay­
ments actually declined. The comparison of average payments made
by any two companies is not a satisfactory guide of the relative
effectiveness of their plans, since the averages may be raised or
lowered because of the service requirements. Thus under a plan in
which only long-service older workers are eligible to compensation,
fewer employees may be assisted than under one having only a 1-year
service requirement and a lower average compensation. The eligi­
bility requirements and scales of compensation are more trustworthy
measures for comparing plans.
In determining the amount of dismissal benefits, scales of compen­
sation are used which consider, as a rule, earnings and length of
service. Age, type of position, reason for separation, and number of
dependents are sometimes used as factors in determining the amount
of compensation. Several ways have been developed to combine
these various factors.
The easiest method of figuring dismissal compensation is a simple
service rule such as 1 week’s pay for each year of service. Fifteen
firms utilize the 1-week rule. If combined plans using both service
classes and rules are considered, the 1-week rule and its minor variants
are found in at least 30 plans. Since there is such a wide variety of
scales of benefits, 30 plans with practically the same benefits form by
far the most numerous class of plans arranged according to scales of
payment. Of course, minimum service requirements or maximum
payments may modify either end of the scale, but the simplicity of
the rule has converted more industrialists to this scale than any other.

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DISMISSAL COMPENSATION IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY

1073

Because of its wide adoption, the 1-week rule for each year of service
is the modal class of payments.
More complex than service rules are mathematical formulas which
combine service, earnings, age, and sometimes need. Table 6 compares
the amount of compensation given at definite ages and years of
service in the two plans using formulas.
T able 6 —D IS M IS S A L C O M P E N S A T IO N A T V A R IO U S A G ES A N D Y E A R S OF S E R V IC E
IN TW O S E L E C T E D P L A N S U S IN G F O R M U L A S
N um ber of weeks’ pay given as dismissal compensation
after service of—
Age a t dismissal
1 year

5 years 10 years 15 years 20 years 25 years 30 years

Formula 1 1
30 years______________ ____ ____________
40 years_________________________________ .
50 years_____ ____________ _______________
60 years__________ ________ ________________

0.6
1.0
1.4
1.8

3.0
5.0
7.0
9.0

6.0
10. 0
14.0
18.0

9. 0
15 0
21.0
27.0

20 0
28.0
36.0

25 0
35.0
45.0

42.0
54.0

Formula 2 2
30 years___ ________ ____
__ _____ __
40 years_____ _ . _________________ .
50 years____ - ______
_____ _ . . . . .
60 years_________ ____ ____________________

2.1
2.1
2.2
2.3

3.8
5.1
6.9
9.0

9. 0
14. 5
21.5
30.1

17.8
30 1
45.9
52.0

52 0
52.0
52.0

52 0
52.0
52.0

52.0
52.0

(Age 15) X years of service .,

1 Form ula 1: ---------------- 25 -----------------X week’s pay.

- 4 Q -) X (years of service ) 2
2 Form ula 2 : ------------------- o------------------- plus 2 weeks’ pay; maxim um , 52 weeks.

Other firms, instead of using a formula or a service rule, have
adopted certain service classes or steps which combine several years
of service and offer a fixed amount of compensation to any employee
within the group, for example:
Service of—
Pay for_
Less than 2 years________________________________ 2 weeks
2 to 5 years--------------------------------------------------------- 3 weeks
6 to 10 years------------------------------------------------------- 4 weeks
11 to 15 years-------------------- :_____________________ 6 weeks
16 to 20 years----------------------------------------------------- 12 weeks

Although the variety in steps and the amounts of compensation make
generalization difficult, a comparison is afforded in table 7, in which
the number of weeks’ wages at various years of service is given for 20
plans using service classes as a basis for compensation.
A few plans combine both service rules and classes, but the num­
ber is relatively small in comparison with those using either service
rules or service classes alone. More plans use service classes than
service rules or formulas, as is shown in table 8. Some companies
give flat or equal payments to all eligible workers, but in all but
seven cases the payments are rather small.


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1074

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 7.— D IS M IS S A L C O M P E N S A T IO N A T V A R IO U S Y E A R S O F
S E L E C T E D PL A N S U SIN G S E R V IC E CLA SSES

S E R V IC E IN 20

N u m b er of weeks’ pay given as dismissal compen­
sation after service of—
Plan coverage

Plan

25
30
20
15
5
10
2
1
year years years years years years years years
All in store__________
____ do_ ...........................
A IL ._______________
Office employees_____
All_____*____________
Office em ployees_____
H ourly employees___
Salaried employees___
P lan no. 8 _________________ U nder 45 years:
H ourly employees.
W eekly employees
M onthly em ploy­
ees _____
. ..
Over 45 years:
H ourly employees.
W eeklv employees
M onthly employ­
ees . .
______
Forem an___
______
P lan no. 9 .............
Superintendent _____
Plan no. 10__ ______ _______ All in store_________
P lan no. 11.... ....................
Lay-off_____________
M onthly employees,
single.
M o nthly employees,
m arried.
Plan no. 12................... ............. A l l . .. . ............................
Plan no. 13________________ ____do ___________ - H ourly and weekly
Plan no. 1 4 .........................
employees.
M o n th ly em ployees.—
Plan no. 15________________ Salaried employees——
Plan no. 16. .
___ d o . . ___________
Plan no 17
All _______________
Plan no. 18 . . . . . . .
____do
___________
Plan no. 19 . . . . .
...
All in office
Plan no. 20 ______________ Salaried employees___
Plan
Plan
Plan
Plan
Plan
Plan
Plan

no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.

1_____ __________
2 _________________
3 _________________
4_________________
5
6
7_________________

0.3

0.7

2 .0

3.0

1 .0

2 .0
1 .0
1 .6
2 .0

4.0
5.6
6.5

3.0

3.0
3.0
2.4
4.0
4.0

1 .0
2 .2

4.3

(>)

1 .6
1 .0
2 .0
1 .0
2 .2

2 .0

4.0

6 .0

1 2 .0

4.0
8.7

6.5
14.1

(2)
9.0
19.5

c2)
11.5
24.9

5.0

(2)
14.0
30.4

0)

0)

1 .0

2 .0

I1)

«

3.0

4.0

6 .0

8 .0
8 .0

1 0 .0
1 0 .0

(')

0)

6.5

8.7

13.0

17.3

21.7

6 .0
8 .0

1 0 .0
1 0 .0

1 2 .0
1 2 .0

14.0
14.0

17.3

21.7

26.0

30.3

(0
(‘1

2 .0

3.0

w

4.0

6 .0

(>)
0)
<>)

0)
(>)
(>)

8.7
4.3
6.5
4.0

13.0
6.5
8.7
8.3

6 .0

8 .0

4.3

8.7

13.0

15.0
13.0

2 0 .0

4.3

13.0

17.3

17.3

17.3

8.7
8.7

13.0

(3)
(4)

(3)
(4)
(4)
55.0

(4)
75.0

(0

1 .0
2 .0

8.7

2 .0
2 .0

8.7

13.0

4.3
0)
(>)

4.3
(>)

6.5
4.3
4.0

1 0 .0

2 0 .0

(■)

2 .2
2 .0

5.4.
5.0
7.2
5.3
5.0
5.0
17.3

1 0 .8
1 0 .0

2 0 .0

(4)
35.0

14.4
15.0
15.0
15.0
826. 0

21.7
22.5
30.0
30.0

30.0

37.5

45.0

45.0

65.0

85.0

1 .0
2 .2
1 .0
1 .0
1 .0

8.7

1 .0

3.1
2 .0
2 .0
2 .0

8.7

21.7

(3)
(4)

1 No compensation paid.
2 D iscretionary—m axim um , 26 weeks.
8 M axim um , 34.7 weeks.
1 Special consideration.
8 A dd 13 weeks if over 45 years.
T a b l e ' 8 — D IS T R IB U T IO N

OF C O M P A N IE S W H IC H H A V E PL A N S W IT H D E F IN IT E
P A Y M E N T S , BY M E T H O D OF C A L C U L A T IN G D IS M IS S A L C O M P E N S A T IO N
Companies
M ethod of calculation
N um ber

Servi pe mips
_ ____________________________________________
Form ulas
_ ________________________________________________________
Servi ee classes
___________________________________
Combiner) mips and classes
____________________________________
Small paym ents
_____________________________________________________
Large paym ents
_____________________________________________________
'Total

___________________ _ ______________________

Percent
of total

25
7
35
14
26
7

21.9

114

10 0 .0

6 .1

30.7
12.3
22.9
6 .1

Method of Financing Dismissal Compensation
D is m i s s a l c o m p e n s a tio n p a y m e n t s h a v e b e e n fin a n c e d r a th e r
la r g e ly o n a p a y - a s - y o u - g o b a s is . A fe w o f th e c o m b in e d p la n s h a v e
s a v in g s or p r o fit-s h a r in g fu n d s w h ic h a lso se r v e fo r d is m is s a l p a y ­
m e n t s in c a s e o f p e r m a n e n t la y - o ff, b u t a s y e t s u c h p la n s are th e

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1075

DISMISSAL COMPENSATION IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY

exception and not the rule. The most common method of account­
ing is to include the dismissal payments in the same account with
the salary or wages of the department or unit. In some companies
other funds of the department are charged with the dismissal pay­
ments. Over 70 percent of the companies whose plans were studied
(see table 9) debit the unit dismissing the employee, while the re­
maining companies charge the cost to general operations or special
company dismissal accounts or funds. The reason for charging
dismissal compensation to the operating unit is to make the super­
visors careful in keeping at a minimum the number of employees
dismissed.
Serious accounting problems may arise, however, if many lump­
sum payments have to be made at one time. In such cases some
companies spread the cost of compensation over a number of weeks
equal to that used in calculating the amount of dismissal payments.
In a few cases costs have been allocated over several years, and one
company set up an account to be amortized in 20 years.
T able 9 .—N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O F C O M P A N IE S U S IN G S P E C IF IE D M E T H O D S OF
A C C O U N T IN G FO R D ISM IS SA L C O M P E N S A T IO N

Companies
M ethod of accounting
N um ber

Percent of
total

Salary or pay-roll account____________
O ther departm ent accounts. . . .
General operations of com pany..
Special company accounts......... .......
Special funds___________

25
15
3
10
3

44.6
26.8
5.4
17.8
5.4

T o tal___________________

56

100.0

Method of Paying Dismissal Compensation
T he most debated feature of dismissal compensation is the relative
advantages of granting benefits in a lump sum or in periodic payments.
The major contention of those favoring the periodic method is that
payments should be spread over a period of time so that they will
really help carry the worker during the period between jobs. The
advocates of lump-sum payments emphasize the desirability of def­
initely terminating the employment relationship; the employees
should know that their jobs are over and not be encouraged to stay
around the plant to collect weekly payments in the vain hope of
securing work again.
A combination of the two methods, which recognizes certain ad­
vantages of each, seems to be growing. A study of 94 companies
which have plans (see table 10) with medium or large payments
shows that 33.3 percent use both methods, 42.9 percent the lump­
sum method, and 23.8 percent, periodic payments The group using

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1076

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW'

both methods is divided into three almost equal parts: Those def­
initely utilizing both methods, depending on the individual case and
the size of compensation; those usually giving lump sums, but using
periodic payments where the money might quickly be dissipated; and
those normally following the periodic method but allowing a lump
sum if an employee needs it. These plans which recognize differences
in individuals and circumstances better meet the needs of employees.
T a b l e 1 0 .—N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T O P C O M P A N IE S W H IC H H A V E PL A N S W IT H

M E D IU M A N D L A R G E P A Y M E N T S , U S IN G S P E C IF IE D M E T H O D OF P A Y IN G D IS ­
M ISSA L C O M P E N S A T IO N
Companies
M ethod of paym ent
N um ber

L um p sum __________________________________________
L um p sum, a few p e rio d ic -.____ ___ _____ ____________
B oth lum p sum and periodic_________________________
L um p sum for small am ounts, periodic for large amounts.
Periodic, a few lu m p su m ____ ______ __________________
Periodic 1______________________________ ____________
T o tal___ _______ ________ ____ ______ ___________

Percent of
total

20

42.9
13.1
7.1
3.6
9.5
23.8

94

100.0

36
11

6
3
18

1 In plans using periodic paym ents, th e usual period is the norm al pay period, a week, 2 weeks, or twice
a m onth. Often the full am ount of th e wages is given, while in seven plans one-half the wages are paid.
In a few others less th a n one-half p ay is used for periodic paym ents.

Recent Changes in Dismissal-Compensation Plans
T h r o u g h 1929 the aim of most dismissal-compensation plans was
to assist those squeezed out by mergers, consolidations of offices and
plants, or changes in working rules. As the depression deepened,
various activities and units were decreased in size, or abandoned.
Forces had to be pared, including in many instances officials and longservice workers. The depression greatly accelerated the growth of
plans. The largest number of new plans was adopted in 1931. By
1933 the rate of growth had slackened, as employment and pay-roll
indexes began to move upward.
In addition to the great increase in the number of plans adopted
since the start of the depression, important changes were made in
dismissal-compensation plans. A number of informal schemes have
been converted into formal plans with definite requirements and
scales of compensation. Ten existing plans increased their coverage
to include hourly or wage workers, and a large share of the newly
adopted plans compensate all classes of employees. As a rule, the
newer plans have shorter service requirements. Although during
1931 and 1932 five plans raised short-service requirements from 6
months to 4 years, none of these plans went beyond 5 years in their
new requirements. All the new plans and 10 others raised their
scales of compensation during the depression because of greater need.
Three plans, none of which was definitely formulated, have been

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DISMISSAL COMPENSATION IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY

1077

discontinued and two others changed from a formal to an informal
status. Fifteen companies, because of financial conditions, reduced
compensation for some or all classes of employees, while two reduced
the maximum benefit from 1 year to 6 months. Over half of these
reductions were made in informal plans.
The comparatively good record of dismissal compensation in rela­
tion to other industrial relations plans4 during the depression can be
explained by their relative newness. Since many of the plans were
not started until the depression was well under way, they were adopted
after a careful examination of their cost in relation to the financial
condition of the company. The need for some or higher payments
became more apparent as the depression deepened and it took longer
for the worker to find a new position. Probably the large size of the
corporations paying dismissal compensation may also have accounted
for the continuance of payments in spite of worsened business
conditions.
Although the number of dismissal-compensation plans will tend to
increase in cases of rationalization or another depression, unless a
wide-spread plan for unemployment protection becomes law, some
companies will probably be forced to decrease the dismissal payments
previously established, as they have reduced other types of benefits
in the past 4 years.
1 E. S. Cowdrick, in a paper on the “ S tatus and T rends in Industrial R elations” , presented in September
1933 a t the T h ird Conference Course in Industrial R elations a t the G raduate College, Princeton, N . J.,
reported no com pany th a t had given up a dismissal-compensation plan (pp. 3-4) or was likely to discontinue
it (p. 12 ), b u t “ lay-off allowance” headed the list of plans adopted since the beginning of the depression
(pp. 5-6).


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In d u stria l A ccid en ts to E m p loyed M inors in C alifornia in 1932 J
By

M a k ia n F a a s S t o n e

ACH year minors in considerable numbers are injured in the
course of their employment, with resulting loss of health, time,
and wages, and even of life. When an injury to a minor results
in permanent disability he suffers a lifelong handicap which may
affect him not only physically and financially, but psychologically.
Efforts to protect minors against occupational hazards through im­
proved child-labor legislation must be based on information concern­
ing industrial hazards and the severity of injuries. As late as 1930
only about a dozen States published any reports concerning injured
minors, and still fewer published the information concerning occupa­
tions of the injured and causes and types of injury which is essential
to a real knowledge of conditions; since that time economy programs
have cut down still further the statistical material published. In the
present study, based on records of accidents filed with the California
Industrial Accident Commission, information was obtained concern­
ing minors under 18 years of age who were injured in the course of
employment in California during the calendar year 1932—age, sex,
occupation, cause of injury, nature and severity of injury, cost of
medical care, and amount of compensation paid.
California offers an especially interesting field for a survey of this
kind for several reasons: The compensation law requires detailed
reports of all accidents (including agricultural accidents) causing
disability lasting beyond the day of injury, or requiring medical
treatment other than first aid. California is one of the few States in
which minors who sustain permanent injuries receive compensation
based upon what they would probably have earned in the future had
they not been injured, rather than upon their earnings at the time of
their injury. Finally, California accident statistics show what
happens to minors between 16 and 18 years in a State in which the
child-labor law fails to protect this group from hazardous employ
ment. Although the California child-labor law prohibits minors
under 16 from employment in a fairly comprehensive list of dangerous
occupations and processes, once a child is past 16 years of age any
occupation, no matter how dangerous, is open to him.

E

1 This stu d y was made in consultation w ith th e In d u strial Division of the U. S. C hildren’s B ureau,
which has also condensed and prepared the report for publication in its present form.

1078


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ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

1079

Provisions of California Compensation Law

I f a n employee in California sustains “ any injury or disease
arising out of his employment”, he is entitled to medical and surgical
treatment and hospital care at the employer’s expense up to an
amount deemed reasonable by the industrial accident commission
which administers the workmen’s compensation act. If his disability
lasts more than 7 days, he is entitled to compensation—65 percent of
his average weekly wages (but not less than $4.17 nor more than $25
a week) for a period varying according to the nature and duration of
the injury. In certain cases of permanent and severe disability the
pajunents continue for life. No distinction is made by the law be­
tween injuries sustained by minors in the course of legal employment
and those sustained in the course of illegal employment.
In California, therefore, the illegally employed minor who is injured
is in a better position than he would be in those States in which the
compensation laws exclude him, but in a worse position than he would
be in those States in which provision is made for extra compensation
in such cases.
If injury to a minor results in a permanent disability—loss of
fingers, toes, arms or legs—or results in impairing the use of a mem­
ber, compensation is based upon the degree to which his future
earning power is impaired. “ Average weekly earnings” in such cases
are deemed to be the weekly sum that under ordinary circumstances
the injured person would probably earn at the age of 21 in the occupa­
tion in which he was employed at the time of the injury or in any
occupation to which he would reasonably have been promoted if he
had not been injured. Although an injured minor is never fully
compensated for his loss, the “ probable future earnings” clause often
results in doubling or tripling the amount he would otherwise have
received.
In case of a fatal accident the employer is required to pay burial
expenses, not over $150, and if the deceased person has dependents
these are to receive a death benefit proportionate to his earnings, but
not, in any case, less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. The families
of some of the minors fatally injured in 1932 failed to obtain this death
benefit because, as decided in two of the cases here reported, the young
worker’s earnings were so small as to indicate that his parents were
not dependent on his wages.
The California workmen’s compensation law is broader in coverage
than many State compensation laws. It is compulsory upon all em­
ployers, irrespective of the number of their employees, except em­
ployers of farm labor and of domestic servants. However, employers
of farm labor whose yearly pay rolls amount to $500 or more are
presumed to come under the law unless they file or post a written
notice of rejection. Watchmen, casual employees, and “ independ
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1080

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

ent contractors”, including persons engaged in selling or delivering
newspapers and periodicals “ when the title to such newspaper,
magazine, or periodical has passed to the person so engaged ”, are ex­
cluded. Under this provision a number of boys who were killed or
injured while engaged in newspaper distribution in 1932 were declared
ineligible for compensation.
Number, Age, and Sex of Injured Minors

T he total number of accidents reported to minors under 18 in 1932
was 618. All but 10 of the 618 cases reported during the calendar
year 1932 were closed by April 1 , 1933, and it is the 608 closed cases
that are considered in the accompanying tables. In six of these cases
compensation was denied on grounds that the accident was nonin­
dustrial, and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the compensation
law.
Of the 608 injuries to minors, 535 were sustained by boys and 73 by
girls. Of these injuries, 76 percent occurred to young people 16 or 17
years of age, 15 percent to children 14 or 15, 7 percent to children 12
or 13, and 3 percent to children under 12. (See table 1.) Four of the
injured children were less than 10 years old; the youngest was a girl of
8 years.
T able

1

.— IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S S U S T A IN E D B Y BOYS A N D G IR L S OF S P E C IF IE D

A G ES IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932
Boys injured

Total

Girls injured

Age of m inor
N um ­
ber
U nder
12 and
14 and
16 and

12 years________ __________________________
13 y e a r s . ______________________________
15 years____________________________________
17 years___________ ____ __________________

8

35

Per­
cent

N um ­
ber

11

16
40
92
457

3
7
15
76

605
3

100

8
6

53

74

72

100

404

T o tal_______________________________________
Age not reported____________ _ _______ ________

533

100

G rand to ta l___________ ________ _____ ________

535

2

Per­
cent

1
6

16
76

86

N um ­
ber

5

1

73?

7

8

Per­
cent

608

The chief dangers to girls seemed to be in manufacturing industries,
in which 63 percent of all the injuries to girls occurred, followed by
domestic and personal service with 12 percent of the total and trade
with 11 percent. It is probable that not all the accidents occurring
in domestic service were reported. (See table 2.) As far as is known,
none of the girls suffered permanent disability. Among the boys there
were 6 deaths and 13 cases of permanent partial disability ranging
from a 1-percent to a 37-percent disability.


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1081

ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

T able 2 .—IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S S U S T A IN E D B Y BOYS A N D G IR L S E M P L O Y E D IN
S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S OR O C C U P A T IO N A L G R O U P S IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932
Boys injured

Girls injured

Total

In d u stry or occupational group
N um ­
ber

P er­
cent

N um ­
ber

P er­
cent

A griculture___________________________ __________
M anufacturing and m echanical____________________
T rad e_________________________ ___________________
Clerical, messenger, and delivery service, and transporta tio n .. ______________________ _________________
Public and professional service_______ ________ _____
Personal and domestic serv ice ..____ _____ __________

21

84

4
46

16

8

168
24
18

32
5
3

1

1

5
9

12

T o ta l..___ ________________ ______________ _
In d u stry no t re p o rte d ...________ _____ ___________

530
5

100

73

G rand to ta l........ .................................................. .......

124
112

23

535

N um ­
ber

5
63

P er­
cent
21

128
158
92

26
15

7

169
29
27

28
5

100

603
5

100

11

73

4

608

Of the 504 temporary disabilities 48 percent lasted more than 1
week; 34 percent longer than 2 weeks; 19 percent longer than 4
weeks; and 6 percent 8 weeks or more. (See table 3.) In 85 cases
the degree or duration of disability was not reported.
T able 3 —E X T E N T A N D D U R A T IO N OF D IS A B IL IT Y F R O M IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S
S U S T A IN E D B Y M IN O R S O F S P E C IF IE D A G ES IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932
In d u strial accidents to minors—
E x ten t and duration of disability

F a t a l _______________ _______ ________ ___
Perm anent partial disability_______________
Tem porary disability:
Less th a n 8 days........... .............................. .
8 and less th a n 15 days________________
15 and less th a n 28 days________________
28 and less th a n 56 day s________________
56 days or m ore____ I __________________
T o tal_______________________________
E x ten t of disability no t reported____________
G rand to ta l_________________________

U nder 16 years

16 and 17 years

N um ­
ber

N um ­
ber

P er­
cent

2
10

4
3

1
1

21

12
6

264
72
74
63
31

52
14
15
13

380

100

2

504

100

48
16
13
14

204
51
58
46

10

8

122

100

20

6

13
54
13
15

16
17

59

P er­
cent

Total
Age not
report­
ed
N um ­
Perber
. cent

19

65

1

85

148

457

3

608

6

In spite of the greater legal protection afforded to the boys and
girls under 16 than to those of 16 and 17, accidents to minors under 16
were often more serious than those to the older ones.2 Four of the 6
deaths occurred in the younger group. The proportion disabled for
more than 7 days was somewhat higher for those under 16 than for
those over 16. Evidently there are still gaps in the measures designed
to protect the younger group. The most serious permanent dis­
abilities, however, occurred in the older group.
2 A similar conclusion was reached in a stu d y of accidents to m inors in Illinois. See C hild Labor: R eport
of Subcom m ittee on C hild Labor, W hite H ouse Conference on C hild H ealth and Protection, p. 330 (New
York, C entu ry Co., 1932).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1082

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Causes of Accidents

T h e most serious accidents, judged by the fatalities, permanent
disabilities, duration of temporary disabilities, and amounts paid for
medical service and for compensation, were attributed to the following
causes: Vehicles, machines, “ explosions, burns, etc.”, handling
objects, and falls of persons. (See table 4.) Although fewer serious
injuries resulted from hand tools, stepping on or striking against
objects, falling objects, animals, and miscellaneous causes, a third of
all the accidents reported as occurring to minors during the year were
ascribed to these causes, and one of these accidents left a permanent
partial disability. Taken together, this group of hazards should not
be dismissed lightly.
T able 4 .—C A USE O F IN JU R Y A N D E X T E N T A N D D U R A T IO N OF D IS A B IL IT Y F R O M
IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S S U S T A IN E D B Y M IN O R S IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932
N um ber of industrial injuries resulting in—
Tem porary disability of—

PerCause of injury

nent
D eath partial
Less 8 and 15 and 28 and 56
less
days
less
less
disa­ th8an than
or
than
bility days 15 days 28than
days 56 days more

M achinery:
W orking machines:
Food products______
W ood working
Paper products
M etal working
O ther .

4
1

2

4

8

6
1
1

4
1
1

8

T otal, m achinery_____
4
2

2
1
1
1

6

13

i

12

3

19

9
3
5

1

i

1

11
6
6
2

44

i

2

4

11

6

3

31

5

1

1

2

2

6

2

7

5

12

8

5

37

50
48

17
5
3

16
15
9
3

23

20
12

12
1
6
1

118
83
49
23

57
39
4
9
7

7
13

5
4

2

2
1

5

11

73
60
5
23
13

264

7

All other machines_____

G rand to ta l__________

3

1

Total, working m a­
chines_________

Vehicular accidents__ ______
H andling objects. _________
Falls of persons................ .........
Explosions, burns, etc______
Stepping on or striking against
objects_________ ____ ____
H an d tools________________
Falling objects_____________
A.nimals____ ______ _______
M iscellaneous................ ...........
Causes not reported

2
2

3

Disa- G rand
bility, total
extent
not re­
Total ported

11

8

9
4
3

3

5

4
3
3

1
2
2
1

72

74

63

31

1

8

52
16
14
11

9
9
8
1

5
3

138
99
61
35
82
69
6

28
16

20

2

22

504

85

608

Information on causes of injuries and age of minors injured is given
in table 5. It will be seen that vehicles constitute the outstanding
hazard to the younger children and also cause a large percentage of
the accidents occurring among the older group.


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1083

ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

T able 5 .—C A USE OF IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S S U S T A IN E D B Y BO YS 4 N D G IR L S OF
S P E C IF IE D A G ES IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932 ° A
Industrial injuries to—
Age of minor and cause of injury

T otal
Boys

Girls
N um ber

M inors under 16 years:
M achinery........................................__..........
Vehicles......... .................................................
H andling o b je c ts.............................. ..........
Falls of persons...................................... ......
Explosions, burns, etc....................... ........
Stepping on or striking against objects..
H and tools....................................................
Falling objects...............................................
A n im als........................................................
M iscellaneous........ .......................................

-

54
11

15
3

1
1
1

8

54
12

Percent

6

37
8
11
2
11
12
1

8

16
3
16
18

4

2
2

1
10
6

T otal rep o rted............ ............................. .
N ot reported.................................................

125
4

19

144
4

19

148

8

44
84
85
45
32
65
51
5
18

10

10

2
100

12
10
1
8

4

T otal under 16 years.............. .................

129

M inors 16 and 17 years:
M a c h in e ry ...................................................
Vehicles................................................... ......
H andling objects_____________________
Falls of persons......................... ..................
Explosions, burns, etc____ _____ ______
Stepping on or striking against o b jects..
H and tools__________________________
Falling objects...............................................
A nim als.______ _______ ______________
M iscellaneous.............................................

36
84
74
38
25
58
45
4
17

T otal reported............................................
N ot re p o rte d .................................................

391
13

48
5

439
18

T otal, 16 and 17 years.......... ...................
Age not reported.................................................

4C4

53
1

457
3

G rand to ta l.................................................

535

73

608

11

7
7
7
6
1
1

10

2

7
4
100

19
19
10

15
12
1

4

Occupational Distribution of Injured Minors
I n d i s c u s s i n g accident statistics for 1932 the abnormally low
volume of employment in that year must be borne in mind, together
with the fact that certain industries were affected more than others
by the decline. Thus, employment in construction work and in
manufactures declined more than did employment in agriculture, or in
trade, or in clerical, messenger, and delivery service. Again, certain
manufacturing industries, such as machine shops, metal manufactures,
and lumber mills suffered more than canneries and clothing factories.
When comparison is made with accident statistics in the more prosper­
ous year ending June 30, 1927, it is at once obvious that the depression
has produced a distorting effect. The total number of accidents in
1932 was only two-thirds of the total number in 1927 and furthermore
certain industries in which the accident rate appears to be very low
are industries in which employment also declined sharply. It cannot
be expected that the present low accident rate in certain industries
known to be very hazardous will continue when employment in those
industries increases.
91302—34

-4


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1084

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Tlie five principal hazards that have been enumerated occurred in
1932 chiefly in the following occupations: Clerical, messenger and
delivery service and transportation, manufacturing and mechanical
industries, agriculture, and trade. (See table 6.)
T a b l e 6 .—C A USE O P IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S S U S T A IN E D B Y M IN O R S IN S P E C IF IE D

IN D U S T R IE S OR O C C U P A T IO N A L G R O U P S IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932
N um ber of industrial injuries to m inors in—

Cause of injury

Cleri­
cal,
M an u ­
messen­
Indus­
factur­
ger,
and Public Person­ try or
and
al and occupa­
Agri­ ing and
delivery profes­
Trade
m
e­
domes­
culture chani­
service, sional
tion not Total
tic
and
re­
cal in­
service
service
tran s­
ported
dustries
porta­
tion

M achinery:
W orking m achines_____________
O ther ______________ _______

3

T o ta l_______________________
Vehicles
-- ___________________
H andling objects__________________
Falls of persons____________________
Explosions, burns, etc_________ ._
Stepping on or striking against objects.
H and tools ______________________
Falling objects___________________
A n im als.- __________________ ___
M iscellaneous_____________________
Cause not reported_________ _____
G rand to ta l---------- ----------------

2G

9

4

4

1

2

4

30

10

6

19

7
31
7
15
24
27

5
26
4

103

16

1
2

4

5
9

3
6

2

128

158

92

169

1

22

16
7

22

15
2
1

12

2

44

2

52

8

2
1

1

17
4

9
5

15

11

20
2

8

3

2

7
5
3

3

2

4

6

1

7
4

3
1

9

29

27

138
99
61
35
82
69
28
16

l

22

5

608

Clerical, messenger, and delivery service, and transportation.—Of the
169 accidents in the clerical, messenger, delivery, and transportation
group, 70 happened to newspaper carriers, 47 to “ outside” messen­
gers, and 32 to boys working on trucks. (See table 7.) Four news­
paper carriers, all under 16 years of age, were killed. Two were hit
by trains and two by automobiles. Three were riding bicycles at
the time. All four of these cases were declared ineligible for death
benefits, and the reasons are worth noting, for they point to signifi­
cant weaknesses in the compensation law. One case was barred
under a clause in the law that exempts independent contractors,
including persons engaged in selling or delivering newspapers and
periodicals, when the title to such newspapers and periodicals has
passed to the person so engaged. Three cases were declared ineligible
on the ground that the minor left no dependents. The decision in
one of these cases was protested by the mother of a 13-year-old boy.
This mother testified at the hearing that the boy had turned over to
her $8 monthly out of his salary of $13. Since this amount was
declared insufficient to cover the boy’s board, the decision was up­
held, and the mother received nothing. (The provision in the com­
pensation law that takes into consideration probable future earnings
has never been interpreted to apply to fatal cases.)


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN

1085

1932

T able J . - E X T E N T A N D D U R A T IO N O P D IS A B IL IT Y F R O M IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S
I N S( J \ L ^ ^ N ^ ^ IU RINSGI i 932P E C I F IE D IN D U S T R IE S 0 R O C C U P A T IO N A L G R O U P S

N u m b er o f in d u strial injuries to m inors, resulting in —
Tem porary disability of—
Permanent
8 and 15 and 28 and
D eath partial
56
Less
less
less
less
dis­
days
abil­ th an th a n th a n th an
or
8
days
15
28
56
ity
days days days more

In d u stry or occupational
group

1

A griculture_______________

__________

M anufacturing and m echan­
ical:
B uilding and han d trades.
Food products:
Canning and packing.
All o t h e r __________
L um ber and allied prod­
u c ts_________________
M etal ind u stries________
P rinting and publishing _
All other____________

1

3

51

T otal, m anufacturing
and m echanical. . .
T rad e______ ____ ____
—

2

2

3

6

4

4
3

i

4
4

9
1

4

1
8

1
6

1

104

23

7

3

10

7
2

55
19

11

7

2
1

13

41

3

45
158

68

18

27

17

3

133

18

11

9

12

i

73

17

1

22

T otal, clerical, etc_____

4

2

1

128

47
14

40

5

5

5

3

8

8

10

0

46
54

1
11

47
70

15

6

3

2
2

28
4
13

32

2

2
2
1

4

2
8

2

15

75

21

16

19

14

145

18

169

1

11

2

3

3

1

20

1

17

3

1

1

1

24
5

2

2

3
i

264

72

74

63 «

31

504

85

i

6

1

a

7

4

G rand total _ ________

2
2
22

11

ity,
extent G rand
total
not
Total
re­
ported

2

Clerical, messenger, and de­
livery service, and tran s­
portation:
O utside messenger______
News c arrie rs.. . . ..........
T ruck drivers and helpers
on trucks ___ ______
C artage and tru ck in g ___
All other_______ ______ _

Public and professional serv­
ic e .. . . _ .............................
Personal and domestic serv­
ice______ ________________
N ot reported_____________ .

15

28
5
7

2
1

16

Dis-

13

28

29
27

Four newsboys wlio received serious injuries in the course of their
employment were declared ineligible for compensation on the ground
that they were independent contractors, not employees. The acci­
dents happened as follows:
A 10-year-old newsboy, jumping from the running board of a
delivery car, fell, and the rear wheel passed over his right leg, break­
ing it. A 15-year-old boy, delivering newspapers on a bicycle,
collided with a truck, fracturing his right ankle and left knee. A
17-year-old newsboy riding a bicycle was struck by a truck and
received internal injuries. Another 17-3^ear-old newsboy was struck
by an automobile when he was running across an intersection to sell
a paper.
One 13-year-old newsboy sustained a permanent partial disability,
and this, curiously enough, was due to a machine accident. While
waiting in the pressroom for his papers, he caught his foot in an

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1086

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

unguarded drive-wheel gear, which resulted in his losing two toes.
His permanent disability was rated at 6% percent. He received
surgical treatment and other medical care costing $260, and 25
weeks’ compensation at $11.70 per week. The “ probable future
earnings” clause had the effect of more than doubling his compensa­
tion benefits. This boy probably was illegally employed, because a
safety order requiring guards on drive wheels had been violated.
Had the California law required double compensation for minors
injured during illegal employment, the boy would have received
close to $600 in compensation instead of $292.
A large number of the temporary disabilities lasting more than 8
days occurred in the clerical, messenger, and delivery group, involving
newspaper carriers, outside messengers, and truck helpers. Of the
disabilities lasting 8 weeks or longer, about half (14 out of 31) occurred
in this occupational group.
A large number of accidents occurred to boys riding bicycles. Of
27 telegraph messengers who were injured, 23 were injured while
riding bicycles and 2 while riding motorcycles. Of 20 delivery boys
employed by stores, offices, etc., who were injured, 11 were riding
bicycles at the time of the injury and 3 were riding motorcycles; of
70 newspaper carriers reported injured, 33 were riding bicycles when
the accident occurred. Of a total of 138 vehicular accidents reported
65 happened to boys who were riding bicycles at the time of the
accident. Three deaths resulted, and 10 temporary disabilities last­
ing more than 4 weeks. Twenty-eight of the 65 boys in bicycle
accidents were under 16, and 40 were 16 or 17 years old. The 5
motorcycle accidents all happened to 17-year-old boys.
Manufacturing and mechanical industries.—In spite of sharply
reduced employment in manufacturing and mechanical industries,
the group still ranked second among the major occupational groups
in the number of accidents occurring to minors in 1932. But whereas
in 1927, 44 percent of all reported accidents occurred in manufac­
turing or construction industries, in 1932 only 26 percent occurred
in these industries. Although the decline is due in large measure to
decreased employment, some of it is no doubt due to an order of the
California Industrial Accident Commission made effective May 1,
1928, excluding children under 16 from all occupations in which they
may come in close proximity to moving machinery, and from all
building and construction work.
It is significant that in the food-products industries—which in
general have been affected relatively little by unemployment about
the same number of minors were injured in 1932 as in 1927. In
1932 most of these accidents occurred in canneries.
In 1932, four of the injuries in food industries left permanent partial
disabilities. The most serious of these, rated as a 14% percent dis
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ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

1087

ability, happened to a 17-year-old apprentice in a bakery while he
was cleaning a dough mixer in motion. His weekly wage at the
time of injury was $11.50. He was awarded compensation at $25
a week for 59 weeks; this was more than three times what he would
have received if the law had not contained the “ probable future
earnings” clause.
Another 17-year-old boy, working as laborer and box maker in a
dried-fruit packing establishment, lost parts of two fingers when his
right hand was caught in the gears of a nailing machine that he was
operating. He received compensation of $10.84 a week for 19 weeks.
His compensation was almost 40 percent greater than it would have
been in the absence of the “ probable future earnings” clause.
Most of the cases of occupational disease reported were forms of
dermatitis caused by handling fruit or vegetables in the process of
canning.
Whereas in 1932 food processing ranked as the most dangerous
manufacturing industry for minors in California, in 1927 it was
outranked by woodworking, machine-shop work, and building and
construction work.
The small number of accidents occurring in building and hand
trades in 1932 (10) contrasts sharply with the large number occurring
in 1927 (122). Thirteen accidents occurred in work on lumber and
allied products in 1932, and 141 in 1927; 8 injuries occurred in metal
industries in 1932, compared to 135 in machine-shop work alone in
the earlier year. There is no reason to suppose that, given increased
employment opportunities, metalworking and woodworking machines
will not again exact a toll similar to that of former years unless
protective measures are taken.
The most serious disability to any minor whose injury was reported
in this study occurred to a printer’s apprentice, aged 16. While
operating a printing press the boy caught his right hand in the
press, crushing the hand and rendering it almost useless. After a
formal hearing, requested by the minor, he was given a permanentdisability rating .of 37% percent and was paid compensation for
149 weeks. The total amount paid to the boy, $3,389.75, was
two-thirds greater than what he could have received if his earnings
at the time of injury had formed the basis for the award. In addi­
tion to the compensation award, this case necessitated one of the
largest bills reported for surgical and hospital treatment, $612.
Apparently this boy was incapacitated for further press-room work,
for there is no record of his having returned to work.
Agriculture.—Agriculture, an important occupation in California,
is an occupation for which accident statistics are available in few
States. The number of accidents reported in 1932 (128) shows some
decline when compared with those in 1927 (188). In point of num
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

ber of accidents agriculture was in 1932 the third most dangerous
industry; for boys alone it ranked second. In 1932 no permanent
partial disabilities were reported in agriculture, but a large propor­
tion of the minors who lost more than 8 weeks’ working time were
injured in agriculture, and there was one fatality a 16-year-old boy
fatally burned when the gasoline tank of a farm tractor exploded.
This case was declared outside the jurisdiction of the compensation
law and neither burial expense nor death benefit was allowed.
Agricultural hazards were varied, as is shown by the fact that
among the principal causes of injury were handling objects and
stepping on and striking against objects (44 cases), vehicles (19),
falls of persons (16), animals (16), hand tools (15), explosions,
burns, etc.” (7). Machines caused 4 accidents. Agriculture includes
a large number of distinct occupations, and the reported accidents
occurred in connection with such diverse activities as herding cattle,
picking fruit, cultivating cotton, sawing wood, and felling trees.
Typical of the more serious injuries that may be sustained in agri­
cultural employment are the following cases:
A 16-year-old boy employed as a cotton-field laborer developed
blisters on his feet and legs as the result of irritation from alkali
mud and dust. He was disabled for 40 days; he received $27 in
compensation and his medical treatment cost $31.25.
A 14-year-old boy employed as an agricultural laborer was thrown
from a horse; his thigh bone was fractured and he was disabled for 8
weeks. The cost of medical care, $58.50, and the disability indem­
nity, $40.75, were paid.
A 14-year-old chore boy on a farm fell from a horse while at work,
fracturing both bones in the left forearm. He was disabled for 9
weeks. Disability indemnity of $46.96 and medical bills amounting
to $67.25 were paid.
While riding a horse to drive cattle, a 16-year-old boy was thrown
and trampled by the horse. He was disabled for 4 months and appar­
ently failed to receive compensation.
A 17-year-old peach picker was bitten by a spider and the swollen
bite became infected. The case was contested by the employer, but
the industrial accident commission ruled in favor of the injured worker
and ordered payment of medical cost and of compensation.
Trade.—Ninety-two accidents, 15 percent of all those reported in
1932, occurred to minors employed in trade. Although mercantile
establishments are commoniy thought of as safe, it is a curious fact
that the chief hazards in manufacturing also occur with marked
frequency in trade. Handling objects, hand tools, stepping on oi
striking against objects, and machinery caused the most numeious
and most serious accidents. A boy aged 16 lost several fingers through
catching them in a meat grinder. The injury was rated as a 13

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ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

10 8 9

percent permanent disability, and tbe boy was awarded $1,350, or
$25 a week for 54 weeks. He was earning only $7.50 a week when
injured, and but for the “ probable future earnings” clause he would
have received only $264.
“ Outside” delivery boys employed by stores have been classified
as employed in messenger, delivery, and clerical service, not in trade.

Public and professional, personal and domestic service.—Although the
accidents occurring in public and professional, personal and domestic
service for the most part caused disabilities of short duration, they
were responsible for 1 fatality and for 2 permanent partial disabilities.
A 17-year-old boy employed in a municipal water and power depart­
ment sustained multiple injuries in a powder explosion, resulting in his
death. The insurance company denied the claim; a hearing was re­
quested by the boy’s parents, resulting in a compromise settlement for
$1,000, which was approved by the commission.
Both of the permanent disabilities were due to gross negligence on
the employers’ part. The first of these cases was that of a boy aged
10 years, a resident of an industrial home for boys, where he worked
in a kitchen in return for board and lodging, who cut off a part of the
index finger on the left hand while operating a bread-slicing machine.
The second case was that of a 16-year-old boy, employed as general
helper around a theater, who was severely injured in a fall from the
roof. In order to reach a sign that he was repairing he had to jump
from a fire escape to an adjoining building. In this case the compensa­
tion award was increased 10 percent because of serious and willful
misconduct on the part of the employer. The extent of permanent
disability had not been determined finally by the disability rating
commission at the time the records were obtained.
Cost of Accidents
T he total number of cases covered by this study for which expen­
ditures for medical, surgical, and hospital care were reported was 493;
the total expenditure was $16,105.13, or $32.66 per child. (See table
8.) Accidents caused by machinery cost the most for treatment—
$51.71 per case. Next came accidents caused by vehicles, with an
average expenditure of $46.61 per case. It should be borne in mind,
however, that in a number of cases of serious accident caused by
vehicles no compensation was paid because it was held that they were
not covered by the law. Accidents caused by hand tools and by falls
also necessitated per capita expenditures slightly above the average
for accidents as a whole.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1090

T able 8 .—CA U SE O F IN J U R Y A N D CO ST O F M E D IC A L A N D H O S P IT A L C A R E F O R
M IN O R S S U S T A IN IN G IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S IN C A L IF O R N IA D U R IN G 1932
M edical and hospital ex­
penditures reported
Cost

Cause of injury
N um ­
ber of
cases

________________________________
Mardi in pry
Vehicular accidents________________________________
H andling objpots
________ - ______ ______
Falls of persons
______________________
Explosions burns etc
- ________ ___
Stepping on or striking against objects_______________
TTand tools
______________________ __ _________
Falling objects
- ______
Animals
- ____________________
M isoellanoops
_________ _____________
Oause not reported
__ __________________
T otal _____________________________________

Total

Aver­
age per
case 1

M edical or
hospital
expenses
not report­
ed

$51.71
46. 61
22.35
33.96

13
28
18

19.43
35.37

10

19

$2,016.87
5,127. 66
1,811.01
1,698. 22
666 95
1, 402. 57
2,122. 71
174.34
537 75
308. 75
238. 30

493

16,105.13

32.66

39
1 10

81
50
22

72
60
6
22
12

11

13
9

Total
cases

52
138
99
61
35
82
69
6

6

28
16

115

608

4
3

22

1 Averages not show n where num ber of cases was less th a n 50.

Fifty-two percent of all the reported injuries in employments cov­
ered by the law were compensable injuries; that is, the disability lasted
longer than 7 days. However, in the case of 44 minors, the amount
of compensation was not reported. It may be that some of these
minors failed on technical grounds to receive compensation due them.
In the 222 cases for which the amounts paid in compensation were
reported, a total of $13,874.22 was paid, or $62.50 per case. (See table
9.) The largest amounts were paid in compensation for 31 injuries
caused by machines—close to $8,000, or more than half the total
disability indemnities. Minors injured in accidents caused by vehi­
cles received less in compensation, a total of $2,000 distributed over
67 cases, but this is in part due to the fact that the law permitted
many accidents to carriers to go uncompensated. “ Explosions,
burns, etc.”, occasioned compensation payments totaling $1,288 for
12 cases.
Accidents causing permanent partial disabilities involved the largest
expenditures, as 5 of the fatal accidents, in which cases payments under
the law would have been large, were declared ineligible for death
benefit. Eight of the permanent partial disabilities were caused by
machinery. One such disability resulted from a slipping knife, 1
from a fall, 2 from handling heavy objects, 1 from a bottle’s burst­
ing under pressure.


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ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

T able 9 .—C A U SE O F IN JU R Y A N D A M O U N T O F C O M P E N S A T IO N A L L O W E D FO R
C O M P E N S A B L E IN D U S T R IA L IN J U R IE S S U S T A IN E D BY M IN O R S IN C A L IF O R N IA
D U R IN G 1932

Compensable industrial injuries
Cause of injury

Reporting compensation
N um ber of
cases

M achinery___ _____
Vehicular accidents..............
H andling objects_____
Falls of persons...........
Explosions, burns, etc_______ .
Stepping on or striking against objects____________
H and tools_______ __________ .
Falling objects___ _
A nim als_____________
M iscellaneous_______ ____
Cause not reported_______ .
T o tal.............................................

31
67
29
30

A m ount

Amount of
compensa­
tion not
reported
7
9
9

Total

4
4

38
76
38
31
13
17
23

5
7

$7. 986. 07
2,019. 03
889. 68
654.96
1,288. 36
338 18
257. 96
57. 60
161 12
104. 96
116.40

6

14

1
2

6

222

13.874.22

44

266

12

13
19
1
8

1
1

1

9

Minors Injured While Illegally Employed

As h a s been pointed out, no distinction is made by the California
workmen’s compensation act between injuries sustained by minors in
the course of legal and of illegal employment. Since no extra com­
pensation is paid in cases of minors injured while employed illegally,
no investigation is made to determine the legality of the minor’s
employment, and the accident records do not yield information suffi­
ciently full to show accurately whether the employment of the injured
minors was legal in all particulars. It is possible to say, however,
that some accident cases probably involved violations of the minimumage or hazardous-occupations provisions of the law.
Fifteen boys under 16 years of age were injured while driving or
cranking motor vehicles or delivering goods from them—employment
which is prohibited by an order of the industrial commission under the
child-labor law. Of these 15 boys, 5 were employed by farmers or
ranchers, 7 by dairies, 2 by grocery stores, and 1 by a distributor of
magazines.
Five minors who were injured by machinery appear to have been
illegally employed. A 15-year-old printing-trades apprentice had his
hand crushed while operating a press; a 13-year old newspaper carrier
fractured a toe while repairing a paper folder; a 15-year-old helper in
a bakery was cleaning pie rolls when his left hand was pulled into the
rolls; an 8-year-old girl, employed by a brickmaking plant, caught her
right hand in a cable sheave. A 10-year-old boy, a resident of an
industrial home for boys and employed in the kitchen of the home for
3 hours a day, was injured while slicing bread by machine; he lost part
of his left index finger—a disability rated at 2% percent. His employ­
ment in the kitchen was legal, because domestic service is exempted
from the minimum-age provision of the California law, but it is

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

questionable whether domestic service is also exempted from the ruling
prohibiting employment of children under 16 from work "in close
proximity to moving machinery.’’ It is at least arguable that a boy
of this age is prohibited from operating a machine in any employment.
In addition to these 20 cases, in which violations seem fairly well
established, several accidents occurred which appeared to involve
illegal employment but cannot be satisfactorily classified as such, as
the necessary facts are not fully established.
Cases Pending Decision
T e n accidents occurring to minors under 18 years of age during the
year 1932 have been excluded from the tables because the cases had
not been closed by April 1, 1933. None of these minors was employed
in an occupation prohibited in California, but all sustained serious
injuries involving prolonged temporary disability or permanent partial
disability. Since all but one of these minors were between 16 and 18
years of age, these cases illustrate the need for raising the age limit for
hazardous employment. The working time lost by these minors
ranged from 4 weeks to more than a year. Details of some of these
cases follow:
A 16-year old boy, employed by a wood-turning company at $14
weekly, was sawing wood on a ripsaw when the wood "kicked back”,
drawing his hand into the saw. He suffered compound fractures of
two fingers and an amputation was necessary. At the time of the
last report he had received $267.84 disability indemnity and $113.10
had been paid for medical care. He was still disabled and was re­
ceiving treatment, and the percentage of permanent disability had
not been determined.
Another boy, 17 years old, was employed at $3 a week to pick up
balls on a golf range, and was paid $3 a week. While he was taking
balls from the top of the net that served to catch them, the net broke.
The safety rope that was tied about the boy’s waist broke, and he
fell through the net 25 feet to the ground, sustaining multiple injuries.
The probable period of disability has been estimated at 18 months
and the permanent disability at about 30 percent. He was still dis­
abled when the last search was made; at that time he had received
compensation totaling $129.27 and medical costs of $1,501.40 had
been paid.
A newsboy 11 years of age slipped and fell down a staircase while
delivering papers. He sustained a contusion of the scalp, fracture of
the base of the skull, and concussion of the brain. He was reported
to have returned to work 1 month later, having received $16.68 dis­
ability indemnity and $152.50 for medical costs. Shortly afterward
he discontinued work and requested a hearing before the commission,


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ACCIDENTS TO MINORS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1932

10 9 3

citing a continuance of disability and requesting further benefits and
compensation for permanent disability.
A 17-year-old messenger boy working for a telegraph company at
$10.08 per week ran his bicycle into a parked truck. He was thrown
to the pavement and suffered a fracture of the right radius. He re­
turned to work approximately 2 months later, but continued to
receive treatment. Disability payments totaling $62.20 and medical
cost of $110.90 had been paid when the last search was made.
A 17-year-old boy employed as a ranch hand at $6 a week was
wiring trees when he fell from a ladder, spraining his right ankle and
foot. When the last search was made he had received $29.19 dis­
ability indemnity and $363.07 medical costs had been paid. A year
after the accident he was still disabled.
Conclusions

T his study of accidents occurring to minors reenforces the findings
of earlier studies to the effect (1) that prohibition of employment in
occupations shown by experience to be hazardous should be extended
up to age 18, (2) that more attention should be paid to safety work in
connection with nonmeclianical as well as mechanical hazards, and
(3) that compensation laws should be made more inclusive as to types
of employment.

The number of accidents to minors caused by machinery was rela­
tively small in 1932—one-fifth of what it had been in 1927—mainly
on account of reduced employment in mechanical and manufacturing
industries. The proportion of such accidents was almost twice as
large among the 16-to-18 group in 1932 as among the group under 16.
This difference is due chiefly to the fact that by an order of the indus­
trial commission children under 16 are kept out of employment in
which they would come in contact with machinery; it points to the
need for extending this protection up to age 18. The present, when
few minors between 16 and 18 hold jobs that would be affected, is a
favorable time for raising the age limit for hazardous employment,
since few workers will be actually displaced.
Machines have often been regarded as the principal industrial
hazard, and insufficient attention has been paid to other causes of
accidents. The present study should serve to focus attention upon
vehicular accidents, since it showed that vehicles constituted the larg­
est and most serious hazard to employed minors, particularly to
children under 16. Thirty-seven percent of the accidents that
occurred to children under 16, and 19 percent of the accidents that
occurred to persons between 16 and 18, were due to trains, automobiles,
and bicycles. It should be emphasized that 4 of the 6 fatalities and
a large proportion of the serious temporary disabilities were caused by
vehicles. Newspaper carriers, messengers, and delivery boys com­
prise the group most exposed to vehicular accidents.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Other hazards which are both wide-spread and difficult to guard
against include handling objects, stepping on or striking against
objects, falling objects, falls of persons, explosions, burns, and hand
tools. In order to reduce accidents from these causes, greater atten­
tion should be paid to the construction and arrangement of work places
whether in industry, trade, or transportation, and to their maintenance
in a safe condition.
Accidents, whether due to machines or to nonmechanical causes,
can be reduced, and their seriousness mitigated, by closer attention to
the upkeep of tools and equipment, the provision of guards, protective
clothing, and other safety devices, proper methods of handling and
storing materials, and adequate first-aid treatment of minor injuries
to prevent secondary infections.
The study also points to the need of making certain that workmen’s
compensation laws cover commercialized agriculture and newspapercirculation work. Large numbers of minors are engaged in these
occupations, and this study has shown that they run considerable risk
of injury.


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NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM
B asic Code for G rocery M a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries

BASIC code was drawn up by the National Recovery Admin­
istration in September 1934, under which all uncodified grocery
manufacturing industries and those already having individual codes
have the option of operating.1 The introduction of the grocery
manufacturing code is in line with the Administration’s policy of
simplification that started with the proposal for a basic code for
all uncodified industries,2 and takes the place of the latter basic
code insofar as manufacturing of groceries is concerned. Adoption
of the grocery code will mean not only a reduction in cost of code
administration but will also obviate many of the difficulties that
arise when kindred industries operate under more than one code.
Industries are not compelled to apply for coverage under the
grocery manufacturing code, but if they do not do so the order
approving the code states that hearings will be held within 30 days
to determine the need for codification.
The maximum hours under the grocery code include provisions for
a 40-hour week for employees in general; one of 44 per week for
engineers and firemen; one of 48 per week for deliverymen, outside
truck drivers, and chauffeurs; and one of 56 per week for watchmen.
Overtime of 6 hours per week during 8 weeks in any calendar year
is permissible provided the compensation for the extra work is at the
rate of time and a third. Wages for clerical workers range from
$14 to $15 per week according to population in the place where
operations are carried on. A $2 per week differential below the
minimum is allowed for office boys. For watchmen the weekly
wage is $18. Other employees are authorized to receive 35 cents
per hour in 13 Southern States and 40 cents per hour elsewhere,
except those employed in light work, who may be paid 5 cents per
hour less than the applicable rate.
Industries electing to come under the code preserve autonomy
through their respective code authorities. The order provides for
a National Food and Grocery Manufacturing Advisory Board made
up of one representative each from the respective industries operating
under individual codes.

A

1 N ational Recovery A dm inistration. Blue Eagle, voi. I, no. 16, Sept. 24, 1934, p. l.
* See M onthly Labor Review, Septem ber 1934, p. 621.


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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

B on u s to be C onsidered as Part of W age

Y AN administrative ruling of the National Recovery Admin­
istration made in September 1934 1 bonuses paid to workers in
the cotton-textile industry prior to adoption of the Recovery Act
are to be calculated as a part of the employee’s wages. The question
arose in connection with an prder requiring a certain mill to raise
wages as of July 17, 1933, by a fixed percentage. In complying,
the mill did not take into consideration the 5 and 10 percent bonuses
allowed to employees in addition to the fixed rate of pay.
The National Recovery Administration ruled as follows:

B

1.
By wage is meant the total compensation received for the class of work
performed by the employee. Hence the bonus must be included in the calcu­
lation of the wage.
2.
The week immediately prior to July 17, 1933, is to be used in determining
the wage received for the longer work-week. The wage for that week should
be taken to mean the total compensation the employee received that week, or
would have received that week had he worked the full number of hours cus­
tomarily worked in said mill.

S h eltered W orkshops n o t to Exceed W ork Q u ota in Strik e
P eriods

HELTERED workshops, in which contract work is done for
manufacturers involved in labor disputes, will hereafter not
undertake to produce more than their average quota of work during
periods of industrial conflict. This agreement was reached between
the National Sheltered Workshop Committee, representing 200 insti­
tutions and 25,000 mentally or physically handicapped workers, and
the National Recovery Administration in the fall of 1934.2
It will be remembered that “ sheltered workshops” are those
operated by welfare or charitable institutions to give employment
to persons handicapped physically, mentally, or socially. Such estab­
lishments are exempt from code provisions, and while the employees
are paid for their labor the workshops are not operated for profit.3

S

R eorgan ization of N . R. A. A dvisory C ou n cil

HE reorganization of the Advisory Council and an extension of
its duties were announced by the National Recovery Adminis­
tration on October 7, 1934.4 The council, originally formed to bring
together the views of the National Recovery Administration’s three

T

1 N ational Recovery A dm inistration. Press release no. 7757, Sept. 12, 1934.
2 Idem , Press release no. 8054, Oct. 2 , 1934.

s See M o n th ly L abor Review, A pril 1934, p. 804, and Ju ly 1934, p. 44.
4 N ational Recovery A dm inistration. Press release no. 8142, Oct. 7, 1934.


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NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM

1097

advisory boards—the Industrial, Labor, and Consumers’ Advisory
Boards 5 was composed of three representatives from each. The
new council retains the same total membership of nine, but each of
the advisory bodies is allowed one representative less and the three
positions left open are filled by one representative chosen from the
legal division, one from the research division, and a third, known as a
special assistant, designated by the National Industrial Recovery
Board. The special assistant is designated as chairman and transmits
to the Board the recommendations of the Advisory Council.
The duties of the Advisory Council are to act in an advisory
capacity, as the name of the council implies, and to make specific
recommendations on matters of policy, the latter having formerly
come within the province of the Assistant Administrator for Policy.
Special committees may be formed to expedite action and to handle
cases on reference. If it is sought to hasten the handling of a case,
the special assistant in charge and two or more executive secretaries
may dispose of a matter or refer it to either the Advisory Council or a
special committee. If a special committee is named, it must have at
least five members of whom at least one is chosen from each of the
divisions or boards represented on the Advisory Council. Among
the five persons so chosen there must be members of boards as well as
experts on the staffs of these bodies.
Minorities have the right to make reports. It is also provided that
majority views sponsored by the Advisory Council or its committees
do not bind the boards or divisions of the National Recovery Admin­
istration included in their membership.

S u m m a ry of P er m a n en t C odes A dopted U nder N a tio n a l In d u s­
tria l Recovery A ct D u rin g S ep tem b er 1934

n P H E piincipal labor provisions of codes adopted during September
A 1934 under the National Industrial Recovery Act are shown in
summary form in the following tabular analysis. This summary is
in continuation of similar tabulations carried in the Monthly Labor
Review since December 1933.
In presenting the code provisions in this manner the intention is
to supply in readily usable form the major labor provisions, i. e.,
those affecting the great bulk of employees in the industries covered.
Under the hours provision in every instance the maximum hours
permitted are shown for the industry as a whole or for factory workers,
office workers, or the principal groups in service industries, where the
codes provide different schedules of hours. There has been no
attempt to enumerate the excepted classes of which one or more are
« See M onthly Labor Review, Septem ber 1934, p. 618.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1098

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

allowed for in practically all codes, such as (under the hours provisions)
executives, and persons in managerial positions earning over a stated
amount (usually $35), specially skilled workers, maintenance and
repair crews, and workers engaged in continuous processes where
spoilage of products would result from strict adherence to the hours
as established. Similarly, the existence of specific classes exempted
from the minimum-wage provisions is not indicated here, as for ex­
ample, apprentices, learners, and handicapped workers. For com­
plete information relative to the exempted classes under the hours
and wages sections, special provisions for the control of home work,
sale of prison-made goods, and studies of occupational hazards, it is
necessary to refer to the original codes. Provisions for overtime
rates of pay and employment of minors lend themselves to fairly
complete analysis within a restricted space and code limitations
thereon are described in the accompanying tabular analysis.
A special section at the end of the table is devoted to amended codes
that have already been printed in original form.


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T A B U L A R A N A LY SIS OF L A B O R P R O V IS IO N S IN C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L IN D U S T R IA L R E C O V E R Y A C T D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R 1934
91302—3<

M axim um hours

Provisions for overtim e pay

32Yi cents per hour for employees on light
work, and 40 cents per hour for others,
general. $14 per week, office. $12 per
week, office and laboratory boys and
messengers (not to exceed 10 percent of
plan t employees, b u t each employer en­
titled to 1 such em ployee).

40 per week (in peak periods 64 additional in 26
weeks), 8 per day, general. 56 per week, 6
days in 7, watchm en. 44 per week, firemen
and engineers. 48 per week, chauffeurs and
deliverymen. 6 days in 7.

Alloys (Sept. 15)

30 cents per hour in South and 40 cents per
hour elsewhere, general. $15 per week,
office. $12 per week, office boys and
girls and messengers (not to exceed 5
percent of to tal office employees, b u t
each employer en titled to 1 such em­
ployee).

A utom otive chemicaUspecialties
m anufacturing
(Oct. 7).

35 cents per hour, employees on light work,
and 40 cents per hour, others. $15 per
week, office.

40 per week (in peak periods 48 per week during
6 weeks in 6 m onths), 8 in 24, general. 10 per­
cent tolerance, preparation, m aintenance, stock
and shipping, chauffeurs, and truckm en. 40
per week (48 per week in 1 week in 4 or 5 weeks
corresponding as nearly as possible w ith calen­
dar m onth) (in peak periods 48 per week d u r­
ing 6 weeks in 6 m onths), 8 per day, office. 84
in 2 weeks (maximum 56 in 1 week), w atch­
men. 45 per week, 9 per day, power-house
operators, engineers, firemen and pum pm en.
48 per week, skilled w orkers in continuous
processes. 6 days in 7.
40 per week, 8 per day (in peak periods, 48 per
week, 9 per day, during 12 weeks in 1 year),
general. 56 per week, w atchm en. 6 days in 7.

IA regular rate after 8 hours
per day and 40 per week,
general. 1A regular rate
after 44 hours, emergency
w ork, firemen and engi­
neers. 1A regular rate
after 40 hours per week
(but 10 hours in 24 perm is­
sible), employees process­
ing perishable raw m a­
terials.
1A regular rate after 8 hours
per day and 40 per week,
general, preparation, etc.,
office, emergency work,
skilled w orkers in continu­
ous processes.

C h in a c la y p r o d u c in g
(Oct. 2).

24 cents per hour in South and 35 cents per
hour in N orth, general. $15 per week,
office. $12 per week, office beys and
girls and messengers (not to exceed 5
percent of office employees, b u t each em­
ployer entitled to 1 such employee).

T¿, -Adhesive
- - - - - a-n-d -in-k- (Oct.
- - - 1)_.
-

U nder 16, general. U n­
der 18, hazardous or
unhealthful
occupa­
tions.

U nder 16, office, sales,
service, technical and
engineering
depart­
m ents.
U nder
18,
others.

1A regular rate after 8 hours U nder 16, general. U n­
per day and 40 per week,
der 18, hazardous or
general, batch workers on
unhealthful
occupa­
continuous
operations,
tions.
emergency w ork.
V /i regular rate after 40 hours U nder 16, office, sales,
per week, employees en­
service, technical and
gaged in open-pit m ining,
engineering
dep art­
1Yi regular rate after m ax­
m en t office duties.
im um hours specified,
U nder 18, others.
emergency w ork.

1099


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40 per week, 8 in 24, general. 40 per week aver­
aged over 4 or 5 weeks corresponding to calendar
m onth insofar as possible (m axim um 48 in 1
week), employees engaged in open-pit mining.
40 per week averaged over 5 weeks (maximum
48 per week during 1 week in 5 weeks), office.
56 per week, w atchm en, 6 days in 7.

M inors of specified age
excluded from em ploy­
m ent

NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM

M inim um wages (excluding apprentices
a n d learners)

In d u stry a n d date effective

M inors of specified age
excluded from employ
m ent

M inim um wages (excluding apprentices
and learners)

M axim um hours

Provisions for overtim e pay

Flavoring products (Sept.
17).

27)4 cents per hour in South and 32)4 cents
per hour in N orth for females; 35 cents
per hour in South and 40 cents per hour
in N orth for males, general. $14-$16per
week, according to population, office.
$ 12-$ 14 per week, according to popula­
tion, office boys and messengers (not to
exceed 5 percent of office employees if
more than 1 employee is so rated). $18
per week, w atchm en.
30-40 cents per hour, according to popula­
tion and geographic area.

40 per week (in peak periods 46 per week during
16 weeks in 1 year), 8 in 24, general. 56 per
week, w atchm en. 44 per week, 8 in 24, engi­
neers and firemen. 44 per week, 9 in 24, cooks
and cooks’ helpers. 48 per week, chauffeurs
and deliverymen. 6 days in 7.

1)4 regular rate after 44 hours
per week, general. 1)4
regular rate after specified
hours, emergency work.
1)4 regular rate for work on
Sundays and specified hol­
idays (w atchm en, p h ar­
macists, etc., receiving
above certain weekly sal­
aries excepted).
1)4 regular rate after 8 hours
per day or 48 per week,
emergency work.
1)4 regular rate after 8 hours
per day and 40 per week,
general. 1)4 regular rate
after 40 hours per week,
emergency work.
1)4 regular rate after 8 hours
per day and 40 per week,
general, emergency work,
m aintenance crews, etc.

U nder 16, general. U nder
18, hazardous or unhealthful occupations.

1)4 regular rate after 40
hours per week.

U nder 16, general. U nder 18, hazardous or
unhealthful
occupa­
tions.

R ing traveler m anufactur­
ing (Sept. 17).

Shuttle m a n u f a c t u r i n g
(Sept. 17).

40 per week averaged over 3 m onths (maximum,
48 in 1 week), 8 in 24, 6 days in 7, general. 56
per week, 6 days in 7, watchm en.
35 cents per h o u r_____________ ____ _____ 40 per week (in peak periods 54 per w eek)----------

35 cents per hour, general.
office.

$14 per week,

40 per week (in peak periods 48 per week during
6 weeks in 26 weeks), 8 in 24, 6 days in 7,
general. 56 per week, w atchm en. 45 per
week, m aintenance crews, firemen, truckm en,
shipping clerks, and delivery employees. 40
per week, 9 (normal 8) per day, office.

A m e n d e d codes
K nitted outerwear (Jan. 1,
1934; am ended Sept. 25,
1934).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

32)4 cents per hour, South; 35 cents per
hour, N orth.

U nder 18.
U nder 16, general. U n­
der 18, hazardous or unhealthful occupations.
Do.

1

40 per week, 8 in 24, general. 40 per week average, 480 in 12 weeks (maximum 48 in 1 week),
office. 44 per week, 9 in 24, repair shop and
shipping crews. 66 per week averaged over 2
weeks, IS days in 1 4 , firemen and watchmen. 10
percent tolerance over m aximum for department,
supervisory employees earning less than
per
week. ? shifts of 40 per week, productive ma­
chinery, and 1 shift of 40 per week, other machin­
ery: or 1 shift of 40 per week, all machinery. Un­
der latter option Code Authority may authorize
S? additional in 6 months (m aximum 48 per
week, 10 in 24).

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

In d u stry and date effective

N atu ral cleft stone (Sept.
21).

1100

T A B U L A R A N A LY SIS OF LA B O R P R O V IS IO N S IN C O D E S A D O P T E D U N D E R N A T IO N A L IN D U S T R IA L R E C O V E R Y A C T D U R IN G S E P T E M B E R 1934—
C ontinued

Silk textile (Oct. 16, 1933;
am ended Ju ly 17, 1934).

Textile processing (Feb. 5,
1934; am ended Sept. 25,
1934).

W holesale tobacco trade
(June 25, 1934; am ended
Sept. 5, 1934).

NATIONAL RECOVERY PROGRAM

Used textile bag (Feb. 18,
1934; am ended Aug. 29,
1934).

$12 per week, South; $13 per week, N o r th .. 40 per week; productive employees. 10 percent
IK reeular rate after 40 U nder 16.
tolerance, repair-shop crews, etc., outside crews
hours, r e p a i r - s h o p
0truck drivers excepted). 40 per week or 480 in
crews, etc., outside crews
any 12 weeks (maximum 48 in 1 week), others.
(truck doners txcepUd).
Operation lim ited to 2 shifts.
30 cents per hour in South and 32K cent 40 per week averaged over 12 m onths (48 per week
No provision__________ ___ U nder 16, general. U n ­
per hour elsewhere, cotton and rayon
during 20 weeks), general. 4 per week toler­
der 18, w et processing.
yarn processing; 32K cents per hour in
ance, supervisors, receiving and shipping
South and 35 cents per hour elsewhere,
crews, etc. 56 per week, firemen and w atch­
other processing.
men. Cone w inding machines used in pro­
ducing cotton mercerized yarn subject to m a­
chine lim itations of cotton textile code. M a ­
chine operation limited to 80 per week, winders,
warpers, coppers, or quitters, section bearners,
and/or slashers when used in commission wind­
ing, warping, slashing, and/or beaming of yarns
made of silk, rayon, and/or other synthetic yarns
and/or combinations thereof in preparation for
use on looms 16 inches wide or over.
22K cents per hour for females and 27K 40 per week (in peak periods in 8 consecutive
IK regular rate after hours U nder 16, general. U n ­
cents per hour for males in South; 27K
weeks in 1 year 48 per week), 8 in 24, general.
specified, general, em er­
der 18, hazardous or
cents per hour for females, and 32)4 cents
44 per week, engineers, firemen, etc. 48 per
gency m aintenance and
unhealthful
occupa­
per hour for males in N orth.
week, truck drivers and shipping crews. 40
repair.
tions.
per week averaged over 2 m onths (maximum
48 in 1 week), office.
20 -percent increase over rate as of June 1, 40 per week, 8 in 24 (10 on 1 day in 7), (in peak
IK regular rate after maxi­
Do.
1933, but not less than $10 nor over $10.50
periods, 48 per week, 9 per day, during 2 weeks
m um hours specified, gen­
to $15 per week, according to population,
in 1 year), general. 48 per week, outside deliv­
eral.
in South, and 20 percent increase over rate
ery, billing and shipping clerks, and cashiers.
as of June 1, 1933, but not less than $11,
40 per week, 8 per day, office. 56 per week,
nor over $11.50 to $16 per week, according
w atchm en. 6 days in 7. 6 consecutive days
to population, elsewhere, general. 80
per week, outside salesmen. No sales or serv­
percent of rates, delivery helpers (not to
ice operations on Sundays.
exceed 1 for each delivery vehicle). $25
per week, outside salesmen. $16 per
week w atchm en, office. $14 per week,
office boys and messengers (not to ex­
ceed 1(' percent of office employees when
more th an 1 such employee).

1A m endm ents given in italics.

11 01


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
A ctiv ities of th e U n ited S ta te s E m p lo y m en t Service, J u ly and
A u g u st 1934

SUMMARY report of activities of the United States Employ­
ment Service for the year ended June 30, 1934, was published
in the October issue of the Monthly Labor Review. The present article
summarizes the activities of the Service during the months of July
and August 1934. Subsequent articles appearing monthly will present
a picture of current activities in the National Reemployment Service,
the District of Columbia Employment Center, and the State emplo37ment services in 21 States.
The National Reemployment Service is a federally supported
placement service which operates in localities not served by a regular
State employment service. Although the National Reemployment
Service operates in every State, in no locality does it duplicate or
compete with a State employment service.
A uniform system of statistical reporting is now in effect through­
out all units of the United States Employment Service. For each
applicant detailed information is recorded concerning age, sex,
length of unemployment, color, veteran status, and occupation and
industry in which last employed. Information for openings and place­
ments covers the same details, with the exception of length of unem­
ployment, and also includes initial wage rates and hours of work.
Reports on the industrial and occupational classification, veteran
status, sex and color of applicants, openings, and placements will be
published from time to time. In addition, detailed reports covering
length of unemployment, the ages of applicants and persons placed,
hours of work, initial wage rates, and similar data will be available
from the United States Employment Service. Current reports, how­
ever, will be confined to significant major operating totals.

A

Operations During July and August 1934
O perating totals for the offices of the United States Employment
Service for July and August reveal continued pressure by the unem­
ployed upon public placement facilities and reflect a slight decline
in employment opportunities coincident with the midsummer months.
1102

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1103

Applications from persons registering with the Service for the first
time continued the moderate upward trend which has been evident
since May. The volume of renewals and reregistrations also rose.
Increases in original applications were confined to 12 States, being
largest in Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, and New Jersey. Re­
newals and reregistrations, on the other hand, increased in 23 States
and the District of Columbia. Contrary to this sustained volume of
current applications, a 2 -percent decline in the total number of appli­
cations in active file occurred in August. Aside from placement
through the public employment service, cancelations of active appli­
cations are generally caused either by notification by the applicant
that employment has been secured elsewhere or by his failure to get
in touch with the office.
Placements in employment again declined moderately in both
months. Declines were general, being reported in 36 States. During
July there were rouglily 5% new registrations for every 5 placements
made. During August there were approximately 6 new applications
for each 5 placements. In 30 States July placements exceeded new
applications. Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Utah reported approxi­
mately 3 placements per new application during this month. During
August the number of placements exceeded new applications in 28
States. Montana reported over 4 placements per new application in
this month, while Idaho and South Dakota approximated 3 place­
ments per new application. These figures are exclusive of placements
made on relief projects.
The high level of placements of veterans through the public em­
ployment system continued during the summer. In both July and
August veteran placements exceeded new veteran registrations by a
large margin. In the former month, 44 of the 47 States for which
reports are available recorded an excess of placements over new
veteran registrations, while in the latter month this condition pre­
vailed in 41 States. Nine States reported July veteran placements
exceeding new registrations by a ratio of from 4 or 5 to 1 . Veteran
placements for the country as a whole in both months averaged nearly
twice the number of veterans registering for work with the United
States Employment Service.
In an effort to increase employment opportunities in private
industry, offices of the employment system have conducted an active
campaign to locate new openings. Toward this end over 100,000
visits to employers were reported in both July and August. These
efforts have been reflected by a rise in private placements to a major
position in public employment office totals.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1104

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1. -P L A C E M E N T S M A D E B Y O F F IC E S O F S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S A N D
N A T IO N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E , JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
New applications
per placement

Placem ents

Active file per
placem ent

State
July

Percent of
A ugust j change1

July

August

July

A ugust

A labam a___________
A rizona____________
A rkansas...... ..............
California__________
Colorado___________

5,146
1,792
9,950
14, 527
4, 256

4,238
1,312
5, 358
13,886
3,217

-1 7 .7
-2 6 .8
-4 6 .2
- 4 .4
-2 4 .4

1.34
.62
.87
.65
.80

1.27
.67
1. 15
.89
1.01

22.8
15.2
4.0
14.0
17.2

26.2
25.9
7.5
15.1
21.7

C onnecticut____ ____
D elaw are___________
Florida_____________
Georgia_______ _____
Id a h o ______________

4,489
'954
7, 235
5,396
4,877

3,755
954
5,685
6, 271
2,983

-1 6 .4
0.0
-2 1 .4
16.2
-3 8 .8

1.40
.84
.62
1.57
.31

1.65
.70
.68
1.28
.36

10.7
15.5
19.0
37.7
6.9

13.2
13.7
24.7
25. 6
9.9

I llin o is .....................
In d ia n a ________ ____
Iow a_______________
K ansas_____________
K e n tu ck y __________

15, 784
5,074
7,834
6,452
4, 061

13,137
5,768
7,935
5,409
3,900

-1 6 .8
13.7
1.3
-1 6 .2
- 4 .0

1.15
1.49
.65
.60
1.07

1.83
1.40
.67
.70
.85

11.9
45.6
9.7
22.7
62.3

14.1
39.0
9. 2
26.6
59. 3

Louisiana__________
M aine_______ ______
M ary lan d ...................
M assachusetts______
M ichigan___________

4,137
2,489
3,908
6,345
8, 690

3,447
748
3,962
5,879
6,199

-1 6 .7
-6 9 .9
1.4
- 7 .3
-2 8 .7

1.18
1.23
1.31
1.71
.95

.81
3.82
1.28
1.63
1.46

36.4
6.5
24.8
48.8
37.2

43.3
26.8
21.9
52.3
52. 5

M innesota__________
M ississippi-------------M issouri___________
M o n tan a ___________
N ebraska___________

14,011
5,262
8,941
8,628
5,144

15,114
4, 361
9,848
<6, 919
6,100

7.9
-1 7 .1
12.4
-1 9 .9
18.6

.74
.72
2. 24
.33
.82

.66
.63
2. 25
.24
.75

11.6
17.8
23.6
5.7
13.2

9.9
20.4
22.4
7.1
11.0

N e v ad a ____________
New H am pshire____
New Jersey_________
New Mexico________
N ew Y ork__________

1,610
2.406
3,937
2,055
14,604

1,377
1,888
3,292
1,235
13, 661

-1 4 .5
-2 1 .5
-1 6 .4
-3 9 .9
- 6 .5

1.23
.69
1.79
.61
1.78

1.19
.81
2. 78
.98
2. 33

5.9
7.5
24.5
17.0
59.5

5.0
9.0
28.9
14.9
64.3

N o rth C arolina........ .
N orth D a k o ta ......... .
Ohio........... .................. .
O klahom a__________
Oregon____________

8, 508
2,374
13,350
4,033
7,086

7,288
2,866
13,191
3,740
4,245

-1 4 .3
20.7
- 1 .2
- 7 .3
-4 0 .1

.93
.83
1.53
.84
.39

.90
.64
2. 00
.85
.56

9.9
15.2
19.8
61.9
13.4

11.5
9. 5
21.5
66.8
21.1

Pennsylvania_______
Rhode Island.............
South C arolina........ .
South D ak o ta______
Tennessee....................

21,575
993
6, 586
3,857
3,977

42, 701
843
4, 739
4, 726
2,934

98.0
-1 5 .1
-2 8 .0
22.5
-2 6 .2

2.03
1.42
.73
.55
.96

1.63
1.33
.75
.36
1.15

44.1
51.3
22.1
26.0
43.5

20.3
60.5
19.5
20.4
61.4

Texas_____________
U ta h ______________
V erm ont..... .............. .
V irginia_____ ______
W ashington........... .

24,432
3,991
1,760
8,314
6,073

16, 725
3,833
1,421
6,323
5, 592

-3 1 .5
-4 .0
-1 9 .3
-2 4 .0
- 7 .9

.68
.39
.60
.78
.68

.71
.54
.55
.78
.71

7.3
7.8
7.8
14.0
25.1

9.7
8.4
9.3
12.5
27.4

W est Virginia______
W isconsin_________
W yom ing__________
D istrict of Columbia.

4,476
8,813
1,858
1,306

3,753
7,603
1,467
1,312

-1 6 .2
-1 3 . 7
-2 1 .0
.5

.91
1.08
.53
2. 63

1.14
.89
.65
2.21

23.3
9.6
5.8
32.5

26.8
11.4
7.3
33.1

323,356

303,140

- 6 .3

1.10

1.21

23.1

23.2

T o tal________
1

.

Increase except where m inus sign (—) denotes decrease.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1105

T able 3 .—R E G IS T R A T IO N S W IT H O F F IC E S O F S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T SE R V IC E S A N D
N A T IO N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E , JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
New applications
State

T otal applications 1

Ju ly

Per­
August cent of
change

A labam a______________
A rizona_______________
A rk a n s a s ......................
C alifornia...........................
Colorado______________

6,919
1,118
8,613
9, 394
3,425

5,388
884
6,157
12, 297
3,254

-2 2 .1
-2 0 .9
-2 8 .5
30.9
- 5 .0

25,912
3,419
21, 373
21,107
9,046

19,839
2,607
17,588
20, 399
8,953

C o n n e c tic u t................... .
D elaw are______________
F lorida__________ _____
Georgia_______________
Idaho ____ ___________

6,274
806
4,485
8,457
1,501

6,190
672
3,858
8,005
1,077

- 1 .3
-1 6 .6
-1 4 .0
- 5 .3
-2 8 .3

10,836
1,719
15, 764
3 8,457
4,354

Illinois________________
In d ian a__ ___________
Iow a__________________
K ansas_____ ________
K e n tu ck y _____________

18,141
7, 566
5,098
3,846
4,346

24,041
8,100
5,280
3,786
3,320

32.5
7. 1
3.6
- 1 .6
-2 3 .6

Louisiana......... ................. 4,879
M aine________________
3,064
M ary lan d _____________ 5,115
M assachusetts.................. 10,842
M ichigan_______ ______ 8, 277

2,789
2,855
5,064
9,562
9, 040

M innesota....................... . 10, 376
M ississippi____________
3, 795
M issouri______________ 20,070
M o n tan a__________ ___ 2,882
N ebraska________ _____ 4,240

Per­
August cent of
change

Active file

Ju ly

August

Per­
cent of
change3

-2 3 .3
-2 3 .7
-1 7 .7
- 3 .4
- 1 .0

117,532
27, 200
40,006
202, 670
68,936

111,171
26,008
47, 767
209,127
69,940

- 5 .4
- 4 .4
19.4
1.4
1.4

9,795
2,279
9, 350
21,245
3,938

- 9 .6
32.6
-4 0 .7
- 9 .6

48, 247
14, 746
138,956
203,532
33,557

49,543
13; 077
140,152
160,313
29,508

2. 7
-1 1 .3
.9
-2 1 .2
-1 2 .1

43,180
29, 364
18,126
13,494
8,683

59,163
20,142
19, 446
15, 999
6,481

37.0
-3 1 .4
7.3
18.6
-2 5 .4

188,387
231,391
73, 628
146,327
252,978

185, 559
225,040
72,875
144,009
231,365

- 1 .5
-2 . 7
- 1 .0
-1 . 6
- 8 .5

-4 2 .8
- 6 .8
- 1 .0
-1 1 .8
9.2

9, 576
11,171
8,913
16,628
18, 647

6, 271
9, 928
10, 292
15, 799
20,341

-3 5 .0
-11. 1
15.5
- 5 .0
9.1

150,734
16,203
97,019
309, 719
323,208

149,129
20,061
86,824
307,711
325,426

- 1 .1
23.8
—10. 5
-, 7
.7

9,999
2,760
22,145
1,649
4,586

- 3 .6
-2 7 .3
.10. 3
-4 2 .8
8.2

26, 704
9, 139
40, 733
9, 345
14,055

30, 273
8,259
42,132
9,461
15,416

13.4
- 9 .6
3.4
1.2
9.7

163,139
93,896
211, 307
48,912
67,812

149, 564
88,870
220, 766
49,460
66,959

- 8 .3
—5.4
4.5
1.1
- 1 .3

N evada_______ ________ 1,974
New H am pshire_______
1, 660
New J e r s e y .. _________ 7,062
New Mexico___________ 1,245
New Y ork_____________ 25,988

1, 635
1,527
9,158
1, 205
31,807

-1 7 .2
- 8 .0
29.7
- 3 .2
2.2

3,335
4,269
12,890
6,462
57,821

2,969
3,847
17,329
3,939
67,647

-1 1 .0
- 9 .9
34.4
-3 9 .0
17.0

9,573
18,151
96, 629
35,006
868,394

6,881
16,955
94, 962
30, 734
878,579

—28.1
- 6 .6
- 1 .7
-1 2 .2
1.2

N orth C arolina________
7,889
N orth D akota_________
1,959
Ohio__________________ 20, 448
O klahom a____________
3,318
Oregon________________ 2,741

6, 556
1,836
26, 350
3,161
2,395

-1 6 .9
- 6 .3
28.9
- 4 .7
-1 2 .6

20, 754
7,028
47,024
17, 052
5, 500

18,483
5,803
58, 522
19,050
6,293

-1 0 .9
17.4
12.4
11.7
14.4

84,039
36, 080
263,911
249,811
94,994

83,828
27,117
283, 778
249,995
89, 697

-.3
-2 4 .8
8.0
.1
-5 .6

Pennsylvania__________ 43, 798
R hode Island_____ ____
1,414
South C arolina...... .......... 4, 782
South D akota_________
2, 125
Tennessee_____ ________ 3,830

69, 542
1,118
3,576
1,693
3,387

58.8 124, 383 143,941
-2 0 .9
2,092
1,873
-2 5 .2 11,571
6,901
-2 0 .3
4,281
5,406
-1 1 .6 13, 728 14,113

15.7
-1 0 .5
-4 0 .4
26.3
2.8

951,037
50,966
145, 503
100, 259
172,908

996,952
51,037
92,515
96,517
180,147

4.8
.1
-3 6 .4
- 3 .7
4.2

Texas_____ ____ _______ 16, 560
U ta h .. _______________ 1,546
V erm ont _____________
1,051
V irginia__________ ____ 6,455
W ashington_____ _____ _ 4,150

11,884
2, 073
787
4,902
3,976

-2 8 .2
34. 1
-2 5 . 1
-2 4 . 1
-4 .2

60, 784
12, 290
2, 569
15, 302
10, 595

45, 273
11,741
2,103
15, 594
10,044

-2 5 .5
- 4 .5
-1 8 .1
1.9
- 5 .2

178,306
31,185
13, 661
116, 668
152,347

161,795
32,166
13,198
78, 710
153,117

- 9 .3
3. 2
- 3 .4
- 3 .3
.5

4, 270
6, 799
959
2,899

4.3
-28. 2
- 3 .2
-1 5 .7

11,641
26,126
3,067
5,517

9,876
27, 226
3,649
4, 300

-1 3 .7
4.2
19.0
-2 2 .0

104, 321
84,540
10, 787
42,396

100,715
86, 928
10, 757
43, 396

-3 .5
2.8
-.3
2.4

* 1.4 7,181,514 7,040, 700

- 2 .0

W est V irginia__________
W isconsin___________ _
W yom ing_____________
D istrict of C olum bia___

4,094
9,474
991
3,440

T o tal...... .................. 341,523 366, 253

Ju ly

7.2 385,826 911,318

1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
3 Increase except where m inus sign ( —) denotes decrease.
3 Incomplete.
• Excluding States w ith incomplete reports.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1106

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b l e 3 —V E T E R A N A C T IV IT IE S O F O F F IC E S OF S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S

A N D N A T IO N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E , JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934

New veteran
N ew veteran
applications Veteran
applications
per placement active
Veteran
active
file per
file,
place­
August
P
er­
m
ent,
P
er­
Au­ cent of
A u­ A ugust July
Au­ cent of Ju ly
gust
gust
gust change»
change»

V eteran placements
State
Ju ly

743
234
473
3,244
638

627
169
389
2, 532
447

-1 5 .6
-2 7 .8
-1 7 .8
-4 0 .0
-2 9 .9

0. 43
.85
.99
.40
.38

0.49
.45
.80
.68
.66

10.3
15.7
8.6
4.4
18.5

321
199
469
1,300
241

310
76
310
1,724
299

- 3 .4
-6 1 .8
-3 3 .9
32.6
24. 0

6,476
2,654
3, 335
11, 227
8,297

C onnecticut________ — _
___ __
D elaw are__ _
F lo r id a _________ . __
------ --------- -- _
Georgia
Id a h o __ . .
-

439
73
762
561
428

374
90
451
644
257

-1 4 .8
23.3
-4 0 .8
16.9
-4 0 .0

1.40
.27
.26
. 66
.23

1.10
.27
.38
.53
.37

11.7
7.3
22.2
16.9
10.0

614
20
195
366
100

396
25
170
340
95

-3 5 .5
25. 0
-1 2 .8
- 7 .1
—5. 0

4,360
fiöl
10,029
10. 922
2, 580

Illinois _ ____
I n d i a n a . ______ - ____
Iow a. _
_
K ansas _____ __ _ K en tu ck y —

1,652
1,273
1,457
1,062
602

1,239
1,189
1,271
858
704

-2 5 .0
- 6 .6
-1 2 .8
-1 9 . 2
16.9

.95
.50
.25
. 19
.43

1.40
.38
.26
.32
.34

15.9
15.5
4.8
11.5
23.6

1,571
632
364
205
258

1, 732
456
332
277
240

10.2
-2 7 .8
- 8 .8
35.1
- 6 .9

19,704
18,482
6, 110
9,861
lö, 582

L ouisiana..
.
______ 1,133
246
M ain e___ ____ — _ .
476
M a ry lan d ..
___ _____
. . 1,090
M assachusetts__
799
M ich ig an .........
. .. .

564
130
564
774
662

-5 0 .2
-4 7 .2
18. 5
-2 9 .0
-1 7 .1

.95
.72
.54
.69
.76

.34
1.17
.51
.90
1.09

19. 2
39.1
9.2
29.2
12.5

1,073
178
256
748
605

190
152
286
695
724

-8 2 .3
-1 4 .6
11.7
—7.0
19.7

10,808
5,086
5, 208
22,592
8, 288

M in n eso ta .. . _____ ___ 1,505
532
M ississippi___ __ 1,508
M issouri________ _ .
581
M ontana______ _______
848
N ebraska___
__ — .

1,575
477
1,700
573
959

4.7
-1 0 .3
12. 7
- 1 .4
13. 1

.35
.26
.81
.36
.31

.33
.34
.73
.29
.25

6.4
14. 2
8.8
4.8
4.7

512
527
136
101
1,221 1,234
210 . 166
243
267

- 2 .8
18.4
1.1
-2 0 .9
- 8 .9

10, 077
6, 778
14,94.6
2, 751
4,493

0)
232
624
706
1,757

405
173
373
338
1,658

-2 5 .4
-4 0 .2
-5 2 . 1
-5 .6

.41
1. 12
.21
.92

.61
2. 17
.36
1.01

1.1
9.4
17. 2
9.0
39.8

2 446
96
698
150
1,609

105
809
120
1,681

9.4
15.9
-2 0 .0
4.5

453
1,632
6,415
3,052
66,015

N o rth C arolina. . ___ . 1,088
200
N orth D ak o ta____ ______
1,866
O hio___ . .
666
Oklahom a _ ____ ___ .
630
O regon..
_ __________

1,011
258
2, 053
747
781

- 7 .0
29.0
10. 2
12. 2
24.0

.38
.36
.63
.52
.32

.29
.28
.73
.38
.29

5.5
6.1
10.3
26.8
9. 1

414
72
1,172
349
202

296
71
1,503
282
228

-2 8 .5
- 1 .4
28.2
-19. 2
12.9

5,560
1, 576
21, 225
20, 001
7,109

4, 078
P e n n sy lv an ia.______
160
Rhode Island . . _. _ .
522
South C arolina____ _____
649
South D ak o ta___ . ___
440
T ennessee___ ________

3,061
135
366
751
587

-2 4 .9
-1 5 .6
-2 9 .9
15.7
33.4

.61
. 56
.39
.20
1.08

.92
.48
.41
. 16
.36

16.5
17.8
13.0
8.9
21.4

2,506
90
202
129
474

2,817
65
151
121
211

12.4
-2 7 .7
-2 5 .2
- 6 .2
-5 5 .5

50, 617
2,405
4, 772
6,681
12,590

T exas. .
...
. . ... 3,195
459
U ta h ___________________
144
V e rm o n t..______ _______
766
Virginia.
Wnshinp-ton
983

2, 669
402
95
618
956

-1 6 .5
-1 2 .4
-3 4 .0
-1 9 .3
- 2 .7

.38
. 19
.39

5.2
6.1
8.5
7. 9
12.8

1,208
83
56
2 60
356

704
94
40
286
324

-4 1 .7
9.3
-2 8 .6

.36

.26
.23
.42
.46
.34

- 9 .0

13,812
2,458
809
4,879
12, 229

543
..
_. 1,488
206
176

492
1,142
205
181

- 9 .4
-2 3 .3
- .5
2.8

.54
.58
.38
1.31

.65
.50
.34
1.11

13.4
6.6
5.5
20.7

293
864
79
231

322
567
70
195

9.9
-3 4 .3
-1 1 .4
-1 5 .6

6,589
7,489
1,133
3,740

43,927 38, 676 3 -1 2 .9

3.53

3.58

3 12.6 23,918 22, 207

3- 6 . 4

485, 558

___
A labam aA rizona.
A rk an sas... __ . _____
California
Colorado-------- --------

Nevada
New H am pshire__ . . .
____
New Jersey__ _ .
New M exico______
New Y o rk ___ . . . ______

W est V irginia. ____
W isconsin...
__
W yoming
D istrict of Columbia
T o tal___________

“ Increase except where m inus sign ( —) denotes decrease.
1 N ot reported.
2 State em ploym ent service figures only.
2 Excluding States w ith incom plete reports.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

__

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1107

T able 4 .—P L A C E M E N T S M A D E B Y O F F IC E S O F S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E S ,
JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
New applications
per placem ent

Placem ents

A ctive file per
placem ent

State
Ju ly

A ugust

Percent
of
change °

Ju ly

August

July

A ugust

Arizona____ ____ ____________
Colorado___ _____ ________
C onnecticut_________________
Illinois_________ ______ ____ _
In d ia n a ...____ _______________

351
1,189
3,173
7,132
2,372

308
753
2,865
6,326
2,699

-1 2 .2
-3 6 .7
- 9 .7
-1 1 .3
13.8

1.12
.80
1.49
1.82
1.92

1.28
1.57
1.72
2. 66
1.66

27. 80
26.67
8. 46
8. 40
37. 69

29. 31
43. 37
10. 02
10. 93
33. 35

Iow a_____ ______ _ _______
Kansas (not affiliated)________
M assachusetts______________
M ichigan____________________
M innesota________ ______ _

2,860
1,395
2,245
3,192
3, 755

2,080
1,447
1,975
1,995
4,400

-2 7 .2
S.7
-1 2 .0
-3 7 . 5
17.2

.82
.86
2. 51
1. 58
1. 62

1.05
.83
2. 58
2.89
1.10

7. 44
27. 16
69. 43
74.04
20.33

10. 60
21. 78
77. 74
120. 77
15. 09

M issouri_____________________
N evada____ _________ . . .
New Jersey__________________
New Mexico L . ______________
New Y ork_________________

1,991
563
2, 275

L 810
978
1,968
61
6,289

- 9 .1
73.7
-1 3 .5

2.81
2. 29
2. 20

21.03
7.54
24.81

- 9 .8

2. 37

3. 39
1. 47
3. 68
1. 40
2.86

19.68
4. 42
38.83
84 09!
82. 09

8.2
-2 0 .4
131. 5
8.6

2.15
.86
2. 52
1.39

- 9 .4
2 17.8

6,974

Ohio________________________
Oklahom a_________ ____ ____
Pennsylvania________________
Virginia.............................. ............
W est Virginia 1_______________
W isconsin___________________

5,333
1,323
11,226
594
4, 012

5,768
1,053
25,991
645
583
3,632

T o tal............. ................ .......

61,955

73,626

73. 71
14. 27
9. 48
46.24
37.10

1.64

2. 60
1.28
1.42
1.14
1. 43
1.05

9.68

15. 45
8. 53
20. 60
28.20
28 38
10. 83

2 1.95

2 1.88

232. 78

2 28. 38

« Increase except w here m inus sign ( —) denotes decrease.
1 F irst m onth of operation as aifiliated State em ploym ent service was A ugust.
2 Excluding States w ith incom plete reports.
T a b l e 5 —R E G IS T R A T IO N S W IT H

O F F IC E S O F S T A T E E M P L O Y M E N T
JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934

N ew applications
State
Ju ly

A u­
gust

Total applications 1

Percent
of
Ju ly
change“

A u­
gust

Percent
of
change 0

S E R V IC E S,

Active file

July

A u­
gust

*

Percent
of
change 0

A rizo n a.............................
396
956
Colorado______________
C onnecticut___________ 4,752
13,011
Illinois_______ ______ _
4,577
In d ian a_______________

395
1,185
4,943
16,881
4,482

- 0 .3
23.9
4.0
29.7
-2 .1

1,044
2,581
8,172
24,522
14,101

692
2,999
7, 664
30,050
9, 860

-3 3 .7
16.0
6.0
22.5
-3 0 .0

9, 759
31, 715
26,846
59,978
89,409

9,028
32, 660
28, 723
69,161
90,018

- 7 .5
3.0
7.0
15.3
.7

2,359
1, 206
5,656
5,063
6,103

2,186
1,205
5.110
5,764
4,880

- 7 .3
-.1
- 9 .6
13.8
-2 0 .0

8,673
2,417
8,142
8, 223
10,481

8, 291
2,997
7,886
8,479
10,850

- 4 .4
24.0
- 3 .1
3.1
3.5

21,295
37,891
155,882
236, 354
76,342

22,065
31,527
153, 553
240,943
66,424

-1 6 .8
- 1 .5
1.9
-1 2 .0

M isso u ri...____________ 5, 602
N evada............................... 1,290
N ew Jersey....................... 4,996
New Mexico 2_.
N ew Y ork_____________ 16,551

6,145
1,436
7,244
86
18,049

9.7
11.3
45.0

14,339
1,315
8,536

1.5
61.3
51.7

41,878
4, 256
56,440

42, 541

10.6

514,118

35,626
4,330
76,408
5,125
516; 318

-1 4 .9
1.7
36.4

9.1

14, 560
2,122
12, 949
203
47,043

O h io ..____ ___________ 11,498
O klahom a_____________ 1,147
P ennsylvania_________ 28,262
829
Virginia____ _____ _____
W est Virginia 2
W isconsin._____ _______ 6,583

15,042
1,346
36,846
741
837
3,819

30.8
17.3
30.4
-1 0 .6

28,245
4,376
65,671
1,494

32.6
10.0
29.6
-1 8 .0

76,119
12,544
519,172
22,043

15,101

-1 0 .7

38,857

89,124
8,992
535,512
18,186
16,543
39; 333

17.1
-2 8 .3
3.1
-1 7 .5

-4 1 .9

37,454
4,815
85,110
1,225
1,865
13! 472

3 15.0 2,030,898 2,089,599

3 1.8

Iow a__________________
Kansas (not affiliated). . .
M assachusetts............. .
M ichigan.. .......................
M innesota_____________

T o tal________ ___ 120, 837 138,622

3 14.0 269,974 310, 586

° Increase except where m inus sign (—) denotes decrease.
1 Includes new applications, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 F irst m onth of operation as aihiiated State em ploym ent service was A ugust.
3 Excluding States w ith incom plete reports.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3.6

.4

1.2

1108

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b l e 6 .—P L A C E M E N T S M A D E B Y N A T IO N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E O F F IC E S ,

JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
New applica­ Active file per
tions per place­
placem ent
m ent

Placem ents
State
Ju ly

August

P er­
cent of July
3hange1

August

July

August

A labam a...................................... .................... .
Arizona—___________ __________________
A rkansas.............................. .........................
C alifornia_____________________________
Colorado--------------------------------------------

5,146
1,441
9,950
14, 527
3,067

4, 238
1,004
5, 358
13,886
2,464

-1 7 .7
-3 0 .3
-4 6 .2
- 4 .4
-1 9 .7

1.34
.50
.87
.65
.81

1.27
.49
1.15
.89
.84

22.80
12.10
4.00
13.95
12.14

26.20
16.91
8.92
15.06
15.13

C onnecticut_____________ _____________
D elaw are_____________________________
Florida........................................................
Georgia— ........ —......................... ..................
Id ah o ........... ............. .......................................

1,316
954
7, 235
5,396
4,877

890
954
5,685
6, 271
2,983

-3 2 .4
0.0
-2 1 .4
16.2
-3 8 .8

1.15
.84
.62
1. 57
.31

1.40
.70
.68
1.28
.36

16. 26
15. 50
19. 20
37. 70
6.90

23.40
13.71
24.65
25.56
9.89

Illinois. _______ - ---------------------------In d ia n a ______________ - - ----------------Io w a_________________ . . . ----------- --K a n sa s.------- ------------ ------------------------K e n tu ck y ..........................................................

8,652
2,702
4, 974
5,057
4,061

6,811
3,069
5,855
3,962
3,900

-2 1 .3
13.6
17.7
-2 1 .7
-4 .0

.59
1.11
.55
.52
1.07

1.05
1.18
.53
.65
.85

14.84
52. 55
10. 52
21.44
62.30

17.09
44.00
8. 68
28.39
59.32

Louisiana...........................................................
M a in e ...............................................................
M a ry la n d ......................................................
M assachusetts............. ......................— .........
M ichigan_____________________________

4,137
2, 489
3,908
4,100
5,498

3,447
748
3,962
3,904
4,204

-1 6 .7
-6 9 .9
1.4
- 4 .8
-2 3 .5

1.18
1. 23
1.31
1. 26
.58

.81
3. 82
1.28
1.14
.78

36.43
6. 50
24. 82
37. 52
15. 80

43. 30
26.82
21.91
39.49
20.10

M in n eso ta.____ ______________________
M ississippi-------- --------------------------- ----M issouri— -------------------------------- -------M o n tan a ..................... .............................. .......
N ebraska_____________________________

10, 256
5,262
6,950
8, 628
5,144

10. 714
4, 361
8,038
6,919
6,100

4.5
-1 7 .1
15.7
-1 9 .9
18.6

.42
.72
2.08
.33
.82

.48
.63
1.99
.24
.75

8.46
17.80
24.37
5.70
13.20

7.76
20.38
23.03
7.15
10.98

N ev ad a_______________________________
New H am pshire_______________________
New Jersey___________ ________________
New Mexico____ _____________________
New Y ork____________________________

1,047
2, 406
1,662
2,055
7,630

399
1,888
1,324
1,174
7,372

-6 1 .9
-2 1 .5
-2 0 .3
-4 2 .9
- 3 .4

.65
.69
1.24
.61
1.24

.50
.81
1.45
.95
1.87

5.08
7. 50
24.18
17.03
46.43

6. 39
8.98
14. 01
21.81
49.14

N o rth Carolina___________ . . . . ______
N o rth D ak o ta_________________ ____ _
Ohio___ ____ _________________________
O klahom a____________________________
Oregon........ ............. ------------------------------

8,508
2,374
8,017
2,710
7,086

7, 288
2,866
7,423
2, 687
4,245

-1 4 .3
20.7
7.4
-.9
-4 0 .1

.93
.83
1.12
.80
.39

.90
.64
1. 52
.68
.56

9. 90
15. 20
23. 42
87. 55
13.40

11.50
9. 46
26. 22
89. 70
21.13

Pennsylvania____ ___________________
R hode Island_________________________
South C arolina____ _____ ______ _______
South D ak o ta_____ ______________ ____
Tennessee________________ ___________

10, 349
993
6,586
3,857
3,977

16, 710
843
4, 739
4,726
2,934

61.4
-1 5 .1
-2 8 .0
22.5
-2 6 .2

1.50
1.42
.73
.55
.96

1.96
1.33
.75
.36
1.15

41. 70
51.30
22.10
26.00
43.50

27.61
60.54
19. 52
20.42
61.40

Texas___ ______________ _____________
U ta h __________ __ _____ _____ _________
V erm o n t______________________________
V irginia____________
____ _________
W ashington . . ___ ________ ...
___

24,432
3, 991
1,760
7, 720
6,073

16,725
3,833
1,421
5, 678
5,592

-3 1 .5
-4 .0
-1 9 .3
-2 6 .4
- 7 .9

.68
.39
.60
.73
.68

.71
.54
.55
.73
.71

7.30
7.80
7. 80
12. 26
25.10

9. 70
8. 39
9.29
10. 66
27.38

W est V irginia____ ____________________
W isconsin___________ _______________
W yom ing______________ . ............. .
D istrict of C olum bia....................................

4, 476
4,801
1,858
1,306

3,170
3,971
1,467
1,312

-2 9 .2
-1 7 .3
-2 1 .0
.5

.91
.60
.53
2.63

1.08
.75
.65
2.21

23.31
9. 52
5. 80
32. 50

26.55
11.99
7.33
33.08

T o tal....................................................

261,401

229,514

-1 2 .2

.84

.97

19.70

21.57

1 Increase except where m inus sign (—) denotes decrease.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1109

T a b l e 7.—R E G IS T R A T IO N S W IT H O F F IC E S O F N A T IO N A L R E E M P L O Y M E N T S E R V IC E ,

JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
New applications
State
Ju ly

P er­
A ugust cent of
change0

T otal applications 1

Ju ly

P er­
A ugust cent of
change“

A ctive file

July

A ugust

P er­
cent of
change“

A la b a m a ..,- _________
Arizona______________
A rkansas_____________
California . ________
C olorado____________

6,919
722
8,613
9,394
2,469

5, 388
489
6,157
12, 297
2,069

-2 2 .1
-3 2 .3
-2 8 .5
30.9
-1 6 .2

25,912
2,375
21,373
21,107
6,465

19,839
1,915
17, 588
20, 399
5,954

-2 3 .3
-1 9 .4
-1 7 .7
- 3 .4
- 7 .9

117, 532
17,441
40.006
202, 670
37, 221

111, 171
16. 980
47, 767
209,127
37, 280

-5 .4
-2 .6
19.4
3.2
.2

C onnecticut__________
D elaw are____- - - - - - - F lorida_______________
Georgia_______________
Id a h o ._______________

1,522
806
4,485
8,457
1,501

1,247
672
3,858
8,005
1,077

-1 8 .1
-1 6 .6
-1 4 .0
- 5 .3
-2 8 .3

2,664
1,719
15,764
2 8,457
4; 354

2,131
2, 279
9,350
21, 245
3; 938

-2 0 .0
32.6
-4 0 .7
-9 .6

21,401
14, 746
138,956
203,532
33,557

20,820
13,077
140,152
160,313
29, 508

- 2 .7
-1 1 .3
.9
—21 2
- 12.1

Illin o is.......... .................. .
In d ia n a ______________
Io w a ................... ..............
K a n sa s__________ ____
K e n tu c k y ____________

5,130
2,989
2, 739
2, 640
4,346

7,160
3,618
3, 094
2, 581
3, 320

39.6
21.0
13.0
-2 .2
-2 3 .6

18, 658
15, 263
9, 453
11,077
8,683

29,113
10, 282
11,155
13, 002
6,481

56.0
-3 2 .5
18.0
17.4
-2 5 .4

128,409
141,982
52, 333
108,436
252,978

116,398
135,022
50, 810
112,482
231, 365

- 9 .4
- 4.9
- 2.9

Louisiana_____________
M aine__________ . . . .
M a ry la n d ____________
M assachusetts________
M ich ig an .........................

4,879
3, 064
5,115
5,186
3,214

2,789
2,855
5, 064
4,452
3, 276

-4 2 .8
- 6 .8
- 1 .0
-1 4 .2
1.9

9, 576
11, 171
8,913
8,486
10, 424

6, 271
9,928
10, 292
7,913
11,862

-3 5 .0
-1 1 .1
15.5
- 6 .8
13.8

150, 734
16, 203
97,019
153,837
86,854

149,129
20,061
86,824
154,158
84,483

- 1.1
23.8
-1 0 .5
.2
- 2 .7

M innesota......................
M ississippi___________
M issouri_____ _____
M o n ta n a _____________
N ebraska_____________

4, 273
3, 795
14, 468
2,882
4, 240

5,119
2, 760
16,000
1,649
4,586

19.8
-2 7 .3
10.6
-4 2 .8
8.2

16,223
9, 139
26,394
9, 345
14, 055

19, 423
8, 259
27, 572
9,461
15,416

19.7
- 9 .6
4.5
1.2
9.7

86, 797
93,896
169,429
48,912
67,812

83,140
88,870
185,140
49, 460
66, 959

- 4 .1
- 5 .4
9.3
- 1 .3

N evada______________
N ew H am pshire_____
New Jersey__________ _
New Mexico__________
New Y ork__________ _

684
1, 660
2,066
1,245
9, 437

199
1,527
1,914
1,119
13, 758

-7 0 .9
-8 .0
- 7 .4
-1 0 . 1
45.8

2,020
4, 269
4, 354
6, 462
15, 280

847
3,847
4, 380
3,736
20, 604

-5 8 .1
- 9 .9
-.6
-4 2 .2
34.8

5,317
18,151
40,189
35,006
354,276

2, 551
16, 955
18, 554
25, 609
362, 261

-5 2 .0
- 6 .6
-5 3 .8
-2 6 .8
2.3

N orth Carolina_______
N orth D ak o ta________
Ohio_________________
O klahom a____________
Oregon------ ----------------

7,889
1,959
8,950
2,171
2, 741

6,556
1,836
11,308
1,815
2,395

-1 6 .9
-6 .3
26.4
-1 6 .4
-1 2 . 6

20, 754
7,028
18, 779
12, 676
5, 500

18,483
5,803
21,068
14, 235
6,293

-1 0 .9
17.4
12.2
12. 3
14.4

84,039
36,080
187, 792
237,267
94,994

83,828
27,117
194, 654
241,003
89, 697

-.3
-2 4 .8
3.7
1.6
- 5 .6

P ennsylvania_________
R hode Islan d _________
South C arolina_______
South D a k o ta ________
Tennessee____________

15,536
1,414
4,782
2,125
3,830

32, 696
1,118
3, 576
1,693
3, 387

110.5
-2 0 .9
-2 5 .2
-2 0 .3
-1 1 .6

58, 712
2, 092
11,571
4,281
13, 728

58,831
.2
1,873 -1 0 .5
6,901 — 40. 4
5,406
26.3
14,113
2.8

431,865
50,966
145,503
100, 259
172,908

461,440
51, 037
92, 515
96,517
180,147

6.8
.1
-3 6 .4
- 3 .7
4.2

Texas________________
U ta h ________________
V erm ont. ___________
V irginia______________
W ashington__________

16,560
1,546
1,051
5,626
4,150

11,884
2, 073
787
4,161
3,976

-2 8 .2
34.1
-2 5 .1
-2 6 .0
-4 .2

60, 784
12, 290
2, 569
13,808
10, 595

45,273
11,741
2,103
14,369
10,044

-2 5 .5
- 4 .5
-1 8 . 1
4.1
-5 .2

178, 306
31,185
13, 661
94, 625
152, 347

161, 795
32,166
13,198
60, 524
153,117

-9 .3
3.2
- 3 .4
-3 6 .0
.5

W est V irginia________
W isconsin___________
W yom ing ____ ___
D istrict of C o lu m b ia .-.

4,094
2,891
991
3,440

3, 433
2,980
959
2,899

-1 6 .2
3.1
-3 .2
-1 5 .7

11, 641
11,025
3,067
5,517

8,011
13, 754
3, 649
4,300

-3 1 .2
24.8
19.0
-2 2 .0

104, 321
45,683
10, 787
42, 396

84,172
47, 595
10, 757
43, 396

19.3
4.2
-.3
2.4

3- 4 . 6 5,150, 616 4, 951,101

-4 .0

T o tal___________ 220, 686 227, 631

3.1 2 615,852 600, 732

®Increase except where m inus sign (—) denotes decrease.
1 Includes new registrations, reregistrations, and renewals.
2 Incom plete.
3 Excluding States w ith incom plete reports.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3 .7

- 8.5

1. 1

1110

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

R esid en t S ch ools and C am p s for U n em p loyed W om en

HE resident schools and camps authorized in the spring of 1933
by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration proved an
interesting educational experiment last summer, according to a
circular letter of October 3, 1934, from the Federal Administrator,
addressed to all State relief administrators.
Under the various State relief administrations 28 schools and camps
have been conducted. These educational undertakings have met
the relief needs of 1,800 women and have also offered them construc­
tive opportunities for training. Reports received at the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration from various States indicate that
20 percent of these woman students have been placed in positions.
General improvement in the health of this group is also reported, as
well as a change in mental attitude. The vocational-counseling
program, the classes in home economics, and the discussion groups
have been appreciated by these students, who will, no doubt, the
Federal Administrator states, put their recent training to good use
in their homes and communities.
Twenty-four States have made tentative requests for Federal
assistance from relief funds to continue these schools for unemployed
women this coming winter. While the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration believes that such schools are needed and should be
extended, it cannot at present appropriate special “ ear-marked’’
funds for these projects. However, “ in States where the need for
resident schools for unemployed women has been ascertained, and
there is interest in the continuation of the program this winter,
general relief funds allocated to the States may well be used for
this purpose, with the approval of the State relief administration.”
The circular letter above referred to also announces that the
Division of Emergency Education of the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration will be pleased to render advisory services, on request,
as it did last summer, on school organization, the selection of personnel,
and plans for curriculum and teaching.

T

Labor S tan d ard s for D o m e stic E m p loyees

OMESTIC service has always been peculiarly unresponsive to
movements to improve standards of labor. Besides being a
wholly unorganized occupation, it is almost universally excluded
from the benefits of protective labor legislation. Practically the only
step toward introducing standards of wages, hours, and working con­
ditions for domestic employees has been taken by some of the place­
ment agencies which deal with employers of household labor. This
effort is the entirely informal and advisory one of making recommen-

D


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1111

dations to prospective employers as to conditions they should maintain
and to applicants for work as to minimum provisions for wages,
hours, and living arrangements which they should accept.
The Women’s Bureau of the United States Department of Labor
has recently completed a survey,1 the purpose of which was to find
out just what standards are recommended by these placement agen­
cies. The Women’s Bureau addressed its request for information
about the standards used in placing domestics to a selected list of
placement workers in colleges, universities, and secondary schools; to
employment secretaries of the Y. W. C. A., and to placement workers
of several other social agencies; to State and other public employ­
ment agencies; and to a few fee-charging agencies. Replies were
received from 217 agencies in 10 States, but only 15 agencies were
found to have standards for placing adult workers whose regular
occupation is housework. Much of the data received refer to stand­
ards set for girls and young women working their way through
secondary schools and colleges.
Summary of Standards

A m i n i m u m wage was set by most of the standards for full-time
workers, both adult and junior. For adult workers this commonly
ranged from $13 to $40 a month, with board and room furnished the
employee in most cases. Hourly rates ordinarily varied from 35 to
50 cents. Other provisions frequently occurring were definite speci­
fications as to the amount of time the worker should have off, the
payment of carfare if the worker does not live in, and the furnishing
of a private room if she does stay at the home of her employer.
For full-time adult workers a definite limit to the hours of work
expected is included in only two sets of standards. For part-time
workers, however, the standards deal largely with the number of
hours of work, since they generally apply to girls working in return
for their board and room. In most of the standards set for college
students 21 to 28 hours of work in a week is considered equivalent to
board and room. Between 21 and 28 hours is set by 7 of the 9 place­
ment agencies for girls attending secondary schools, and several
require in addition a cash pajmient of about $10 a month.
With reference to standards specifically for regular workers in house­
hold occupations, two commercial agencies covered by the study make
definite efforts to improve working conditions for their applicants.
One of these, by charging a fee to both employer and employee,
assumes the responsibility of supplying reliable help to employers and
i
U .S. D epartm ent of Labor. W om en’s B ureau.
for household employees. W ashington, 1934.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

B ulletin N o. 112: Standards of placem ent agencies

1112

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

secures work at a certain wage for employees. The hourly wage scale
for various jobs which this agency requires is—
Hourly rate
(cents)

General houseworker_________________________________ 40
Expert cook (not to be employed less than 6 hours)_____ 60
Expert waitress (not to be employed less than 4 hours) __ 50
Cook and serve (1 worker)____________________________ 50
House opening; heavy cleaning________________________
50
Dressmaking________________________________________
50

The second commercial agency not only aids household employers
to solve their household problems but sets the following employment
standards, and follows up placements by talks with the employer and
the employee, separately, about 2 weeks after placement and by a
further check about 3 months later.
1. Wage
A living wage for every employee” with additional compensation
for skilled workers.
2. Time off At least 1 hour a day and 1 whole day or 2 half days or the
equivalent a week. (A 54-hour week is recommended.)
3. Living conditions A private room and access to a modern bathroom.

Among State employment agencies, two reported that they inves­
tigate the homes of prospective employers before making a placement,
and others reported that they make specific recommendations, while
many of them undertake some follow-up work. In some cases this
takes the form of personal interviews in which inquiries about wages
and working conditions are made.
Conclusions

As in ter pr eted by the Women’s Bureau, the study indicates that
in spite of the lack of legal regulations for household employment,
some placement agencies are helping to improve the terms and con­
ditions of employment of household employees, and that in some
communities a number of employment agencies are cooperating in this
respect. At the same time the Bureau points out that most of the
standards which have been formulated are inadequate for the protec­
tion of domestic workers.
One of the most difficult of their problems—the length of the working day and
week—is not even mentioned in several of the standards for full-time workers.
However, the existence of standards of any sort is of itself encouraging and the
fact that standards are used by various types of placement agencies in many
parts of the country suggests that more such agencies could take action of this
kind. The cooperation of several agencies in a community in the use of standards
is an especially promising development. Finally, conditions in this employment
show the need of legislative regulation for household employees.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

1113

P riority in Jobs G iven to C ertain C lasses of U n em p loyed in
A u stria

GOVERNMENT order issued to the district industrial commis­
sions in Austria on June 16, 1934, provides for preferential treat­
ment, by the public employment offices, of the unemployed workers
seeking employment on public works or with private concerns.1
Public works.—Preference for employment on all public works is to
be given to the following classes of the unemployed workers in order of
priority:
1.
Members of the Defense Corps, when not in actual military
service and when in the possession of a registry card for employment.
2.
Workers receiving unemployment relief, including those who are
receiving emergency relief and those who have exhausted their unem­
ployment insurance benefit, and among these:
(a)
Members of the Patriotic Front and of the Federation of Trade
Unions.
(b)
Members of the Patriotic Front, but not members of the
Federation of Trade Unions.
(c) Unorganized persons.
3.
All other workers not classified above are to be treated in the
same order of priority.
In cases of work requiring special qualifications, however, such qual­
ifications form the deciding factor for preference.
Private employ ment.—Vocational qualifications are to be the decid­
ing factor for preference in private employment, but members of the
Defense Corps having registry cards for employment shall have the
right of priority up to 4 percent of the workers employed by the
establishment. For all other workers, their qualifications being equal,
employment is to be given in the same order of priority as in the case
of public works—paragraphs 2 (a), (b), and (c).

A

C h an ges in B elgian U n e m p lo y m e n t-In su r a n c e S y stem

REORGANIZATION of the unemployment funds and claims
commissions in Belgium was provided for in a royal decree 2
dated July 27, 1934. Changes made in the unemployment-insurance
system by four decrees 3 promulgated in 1933 provided that further
amendments should be made in order to insure more satisfactory oper­
ation of the system and its extension to include the placement of unem­
ployed workers. The present decree, therefore, provides for the
termination of the existing unemployment funds and their replacement
by new administrative entities.

A

i

Austria.

B undesm inisterium fur Soziale V erwaltung.

A m tliche N achrichten. Vienna, Ju ly 1934,

pp 153 154
2 R eport from M anson Gilbert, A merican vice consul, Brussels, Belgium, Aug. 3,1934; B ulletin du

C entral Industriel de Belgique, Aug. 8, 1934, p. 806.
» See M onthly Labor Review, A ugust 1934, p. 280.


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Comité

1114

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The system as reorganized will function through bureaus of employ­
ment and unemployment, the costs of which will be borne by the
State. These offices, which may not exceed three in any Province,
will be set up by the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, and
auxiliary bureaus may be set up in the communes in addition to those
in the principal city of the Province.
The duties of the bureaus of employment and unemployment are to
insure insofar as possible the employment of available labor either
directly or through the employment offices created by or endorsed
by the Government, and to control the operation of the insurance
funds, especially upon questions of the insurability of members of
accepted funds, the continuation of unemployment among members
receiving benefits, declarations of a state of need, the failure of unem­
ployed persons to accept work offered them, etc. Each bureau of em­
ployment and unemployment is authorized to allocate to the accepted
unemployment funds and their local branches the amounts allotted
by the National Crisis Fund and is held responsible for unlawful
payments to the unemployed.
The official free employment offices of the country are placed under
the jurisdiction of the employment and unemployment office of the dis­
trict in which they are established, and the latter office is required to
report to the Minister of Labor each week the demands for and offers
of employment and the number of placements effected in the preceding
week. A central employment office will be created to coordinate the
work of all the offices.
A claims commission, consisting of the employer and three worker
members and a chairman appointed by the Minister of Labor, will be
established in connection with each employment and unemployment
office.


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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS
Labor In fo rm a tio n Service of B ureau of Labor S ta tistic s

EGINNING with the September number, which is now available
for distribution, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish each
month a Labor Information Bulletin which will attempt briefly to
summarize current labor and economic conditions in the country.
This publication has been inaugurated in response to the everincreasing demand from workers and labor organizations for informa­
tion on labor and business conditions in the industry in which they
are engaged and on general labor and economic conditions in the
country. Commenting upon the new labor service, in the September
issue of the Labor Information Bulletin, the Secretary of Labor says:
“ Workers must have unbiased and scientific information which covers
not only conditions in their own particular industry, but also on the
larger issues affecting the welfare of all labor and the Nation as a
whole. As the Secretary of Labor, one of my duties is to make such
information available to the 40,000,000 wage earners of the country.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics hopes in the course of time to be
able to supply copies to every union local, to every shop or plant com­
mittee, to all workers’ colleges and other institutions devoted to the
interests of labor. In the meantime, distribution of the Labor
Information Bulletin will be on a request basis only.
Suggestions and requests for information should be sent to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor,
Washington, D. C.

B

R eport of Board of In q u iry for th e C o tto n T extile In d u stry

HE creation of a permanent impartial board of three members,
to be known as the “Textile Labor Relations Board”, with all the
power of the National Labor Relations Board and the Steel Labor
Relations Board in their respective fields, was proposed by the Board
of Inquiry for the Cotton Textile Industry in its report to the Presi­
dent of the United States, on September 17, 1934. The Board also
proposed that a Textile Work Assignment Control Board be ap­
pointed to deal with the stretch-out, this board to be composed of a
representative of labor, a representative of the employers, and an
impartial chairman.

T

91302—3'

•6


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1116

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

This Board of Inquiry was appointed on September 5, 1934, 2 days
after the beginning of the textile strike.
The strike had been formally voted at the convention of the
United Textile Workers in New York about the middle of August.
Later in August the Cotton Textile National Industrial Relations
Board offered its services as mediator. This offer was rejected by
the union, which stated it had no further confidence in the ability
of that Board to meet the situation. The National Labor Relations
Board undertook to bring about an agreement before the strike was
called, and invited representatives of the union and of the Cotton
Textile Institute to a joint conference in Washington. The union
accepted the invitation, but the Cotton Textile Institute declined.
Later the National Labor Relations Board held a series of conferences
with each side separately in the hope of finding a means of averting
the strike. In tins it was unsuccessful.
The fundamental issues involved in the strike were as follows:
(1)
(2)
labor
(3)
(4)

Recognition of the union and methods of collective bargaining.
Machinery for handling complaints of violation of section 7 (a) and other
provisions of the code.
Hours and wages.
The stretch-out.

The Board of Inquiry, composed of John G. Winant, chairman,
Marion Smith, and Raymond V. Ingersoll, was “ authorized and di­
rected to inquire into complaints of the workers and the problems of
the employers in the cotton, wool, silk, rayon, and allied textile
industries; to consider ways and means of meeting such problems and
complaints; and, upon request by the parties, to act as a board
of voluntary arbitration.”
The Board organized and held its first meeting on September 7.
On September 8 , the United Textile Workers offered to submit all
issues in controversy to arbitration by the Board on certain terms and
conditions. The Board immediately called the heads of the Cotton
Textile Institute to Washington to consider the possibilities of this
proposal. On September 11 and 12 , the Board conferred with a
group of representative employers, and urged them to agree to arbi­
tration and offered to attempt to work out mutually satisfactory
terms for such arbitration. The employers, however, refused to
arbitrate, whereupon the Board proceeded to complete its inquiry of
the basic issues involved.
The Board conferred with representatives of parties to the contro­
versy and received from them such statistical and other information
as they desired to submit, and also conferred with officials of the
National Recovery Administration, the Cotton Textile National
Industrial Relations Board, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and other
governmental agencies. A committee of technical experts was

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INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS

1117

engaged by the Board to make an independent study of the technical
features of the stretch-out system.
Following is a summary of the recommendations of the Board:
1. For the more adequate protection of labor’s rights under the collective
bargaining and other labor provisions of the code, there shall be created under
Public Resolution No. 44 an impartial board of three to be known as the Textile
Labor Relations Board which shall be provided with an adequate staff and other
facilities. This board shall have powers and duties in the textile held similar
to those exercised by the National Labor Relations Board and the Steel Labor
Relations! Board in their respective fields, and shall have authority to administer,
in addition to section 7 (a), other labor provisions of the cotton, silk, and wool
codes.
2. In order to obtain necessary data upon the ability of the cotton, silk, and
wool textile industries to support an equal or a greater number of employees
at higher wages, it is recommended that the President direct the Department of
Labor and, in accordance with section 6 (c) of the Recovery Act, the Federal
Trade Commission to investigate and report on these matters at the earliest
possible time.
3. For the purpose of regulating the use of the stretch-out system in the
cotton, wool, and silk industries it is recommended that the respective codes
be amended to provide that a special committee be created under the Textile
Labor Relations Board to supervise the use of the stretch-out; that until February
1, 1935, no employer shall extend the work load of any employee, except in special
circumstances with the approval of the stretch-out committee; that the stretch­
out committee shall have power to investigate present work assignments and
where it finds improper speeding up of work require reduction accordingly; that
the stretch-out committee shall recommend to the President not later than
January 1, 1935, a permanent plan for regulation of the stretch-out, under which
employers shall be required to secure approval of an impartial agency prior to
increasing the work load of the employees, which plan when approved by the
President after such notice and public hearing as he may prescribe shall become
effective as part of the code.
4. To aid in the enforcement of code provisions relating to wages above the
minimum and to serve as an aid and guide in making collective agreements,
it is recommended that the Department of Labor be directed to study definitions
and classifications of occupations and existing wages for such occupations, and
that the information thus collected be made available to labor and management
of the industry.

In q u iries In to C on d ition s in th e T extile In d u stry

PON the report of the Winant Board, described in the preced­
ing article, the United Textile Workers called off the strike and
U
the President initiated action to carry out the recommendations of
the board. The steps taken were as follows:
1 . A Textile Labor Relations Board was named by the President,
and was given the authority to investigate alleged violations of sec­
tion 7 (a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act, to arbitrate ques­
tions voluntarily submitted, and to exercise such functions as may be
granted by code provision. (See Monthly Labor Review for October
1934, p. 871.) This board appointed a special committee to investi­
gate the subject of the stretch-out.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1118

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics on October 1 began a survey of
hours of labor, earnings, and occupations in the principal textile
industries—cotton, woolen and worsted, and silk and rayon.
3 . The Federal Trade Commission initiated a survey of the finan­
cial condition of the textile plants in order to throw light on the
question of the ability of such plants to meet the requests of the
workers for shorter hours and higher wage rates.
M e e tin g o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l A s s o c ia tio n of G o v e r n m e n ta l L a b o r

Officials, 1934
HE twentieth annual meeting of the International Association of
Governmental Labor Officials was held in Boston, Mass., on
September 27 to 29, 1934.
Following the appointment of the usual convention committees and
the reading of the secretary-treasurer’s report, three reports of com­
mittees on uniform labor laws were presented by the chairmen as
follows: Child Labor, by Clara M. Beyer; Minimum Wage, by Ethel
M. Johnson; Women in Industry, by Mary Anderson. Elmer F.
Andrews, of the New York Department of Labor, reported for the com­
mittee on enforcement of N. ft. A. and State labor regulations.
The afternoon session of the first day was a joint one with the In­
ternational Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commis­
sions, and the subjects of accident prevention, statistics, occupational
diseases, and safety were discussed. Janies L. Gernon, director of
inspection, New York State Department of Labor, in outlining the
progress made in the prevention of industrial injuries, stated that
while progress in industrial legislation has been advancing slowly in
many States, in some States little progress had been made, and
“ even in the States with the most advanced industrial regulations
there is still necessity for considerable improvement if we hope to
prevent or reduce industrial injuries to the lowest possible number.”
Sidney W. Wilcox of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the
great value of statistical analysis and technique in their relation to the
prevention of industrial injuries. Dr. J. Newton Shirley, of Duxbury,
Mass., presented the problem of occupational diseases, and two
experts in the field of safety engineering, David S. Beyer, chief engi­
neer, Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., and John H. Vogt, Department
of Labor of New York, discussed the efforts being made to control
dangerous dusts and fumes.
On the second day of the meeting, Governor Ely, of the Massachu­
setts Commonwealth, made an address in which he advocated inter­
state compacts to make secure such reforms as minimum wages and
abolition of child labor, temporarily made under N. It. A. codes.
The problem of administrative personnel was considered by Leonard

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR CONDITIONS

1119

D. White, United States Civil Service Commission, while Joseph M.
Tone of Connecticut discussed the problem of financing a State labor
department.
The afternoon session of the second day was devoted to considera­
tion of the N. R. A. and the administration of State laws. The
Second Assistant Secretary of Labor, A. J. Altmeyer, considered the
principles and implications of N. R. A. as social legislation. He told
of the difficulties which would be encountered if code enforcement were
turned over to 48 separate State departments and pleaded for better
and more effective cooperation by State labor departments. A. L.
Fletcher, Commissioner of Labor of North Carolina, discussed the sub­
ject of what would follow if the codes adopted under N. R. A. were
abandoned.
The subject of social legislation was reserved for the last day of
the meeting. United States Senator Robert F. Wagner, though
unable to be present, submitted a paper dealing with the place of
the State in social legislation. Senator Wagner emphasized his belief
that “ above all, we must preserve and stimulate the initiative of the
States themselves in social legislation.”
The subject of “ Federal-StateCooperation under the Wagner-Peyser
Act” was also considered prior to the adjournment of the meeting.
W. Frank Persons, Director, United States Employment Service,
delivered an address on the development of that Service during the
preceding 15 months, and stated that 21 State employment services
have become affiliated with the Service and are operating 168 employ­
ment offices in 140 cities.
The officers elected for the ensuing year were: President, Joseph
M. Tone, commissioner, department of labor and factory inspection,
Connecticut; first vice president, A. W. Crawford, deputy minister,
department of labor, Ontario; second vice president, William E.
Jacobs, commissioner, department of labor, Tennessee; third vice
president, Gerard Tremblay, deputy minister, department of labor,
Quebec; fourth vice president, A. L. Fletcher, commissioner, depart­
ment of labor, North Carolina; fifth vice president, Beatrice McCon­
nell, director, bureau of women and children, department of labor
and industry, Pennsylvania; secretary-treasurer, Isador Lubin, Com­
missioner, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington,
D. C.
The time and place of the next meeting were left to the determina­
tion of the executive committee.


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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
N orris-L aG uardia A ct H eld C o n stitu tio n a l

HE Supreme Court of the United States has denied a petition for
the review of a case in which the Norris-LaGuardia Act was held
constitutional. The case originated in the District Court for the
Southern District of New York, which by a decree issued October 14,
1933, enjoined members of the International Association of Bridge,
Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers from—

T

* * * inducing or attempting to induce owners, architects, or general con­
tractors to let no subcontracts to plaintiffs for the erection of structural iron and
steel on buildings now being or to be erected in the Metropolitan District of New
York by sending to them circulars or other writing, stating, threatening, warning,
or intimating •* * * that members of the unions associated with the Inter­
national may or will refuse to work on buildings upon which plaintiffs have or
may have subcontracts, or by ordering, instigating, carrying on, or supporting
sympathetic strikes, on buildings upon which plaintiffs have or may have sub­
contracts, or from otherwise attempting by coercive pressure, threats, or intimi­
dation, or such other unlawful means, to compel or influence owners, architects,
and general contractors not to patronize the plaintiffs.

An appeal was taken to the Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Cir­
cuit, which rendered the opinion discussed below. (.Levering & Garrigues Co. et al. v. Morrin et al., 71 Fed. (2 d) 284.) A master found
that the dispute arose from the workers’ effort to gain union recogni­
tion and the closed shop. This struggle had been going on for a
period of years and had resulted in a number of strikes, as well as
several sympathetic strikes. Owners, architects, and contractors in
the building business were notified that union members would not
work for employers who let subcontracts which did not provide for the
closed shop, and that they would also urge others to leave their employ­
ment. It was developed during the case that members of the Inter­
national Union were not employees of the appellees in the case and
that the controversy had involved no fraud or violence.
The circuit court held that the instant case arose from a labor dis­
pute within the meaning of section 113 (c) of the Norris-LaGuardia
Act which reads:
(c) The term “ labor dispute” includes any controversy concerning terms or
conditions of employment, or concerning the association or representation of per­
sons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing, or seeking to arrange terms or
conditions of employment, regardless of whether or not the disputants stand in
the proximate relation of employer and employee.
1120

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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

1121

The Court then went on to say:
Now, under the statute, a district court cannot restrain the notifying of parties
by interested individuals (sec. 104 (g)) 1 of an intention to refuse to work; nor can
the court prevent, in the absence of fraud or violence, the giving of publicity to
the facts in the controversy (sec. 104 (e)) 2 or encouraging others to refuse to
work (sec. 104 (i)).3 The fact that the notification and the publicity will result
in coercing the parties informed and cause them to refrain from contracting with
the appellees cannot be taken into consideration, for the court is without the
power to prevent such notification. The court has not the power or authority
to issue an injunction against these appellants who are engaged in a controversy
arising out of an attempt to establish a closed shop by notifying general con­
tractors and architects of an intention of members of a union to refuse to work,
nor can these appellees prevent these appellants from refusing to work or inciting
sympathetic strikes.

Then the constitutionality of the act was considered and upheld.
Congress under the Constitution may give entire or limited jurisdic­
tion to the district courts. The statute which the Supreme Court in
Traux v. Corrigan (257 U. S. 312, 42 Sup. Ct. 124) held invalid as a
violation of the due-process clause was distinguished on the ground
that it granted complete immunity from both civil and criminal
process, while the act in the present case merely restricts the use of
the injunction and limits remedial rights but does not infringe upon
property rights. Although an inseparable attribute which inheres on
a grant of power cannot be nullified, the court pointed out that “ the
power to issue an injunction is not necessarily within the class of
inherent attributes.” Finally, the opinion stated that—
Since Congress may curtail this remedy or withdraw the jurisdiction of the
district court, no constitutional rights based upon the withdrawal of remedial
rights can be successfully raised, since the litigant never had an absolute con­
stitutional right to have a Federal court take jurisdiction.

The decree granting the injunction was reversed in accordance with
this reasoning.
(&) Advising or notifying a n y person of an intention to do a n y of th e acts heretofore specified.
2
(e) G iving publicity to the existence of, or the facts involved in, any labor dispute, w hether by adver
tising, speaking, patroling, or by a n y other m ethod no t involving fraud or violence.
2
(i) Advising, urging, or otherwise causing or inducing w ithout fraud or violence the acts heretofore
specified, regardless of a n y such undertaking or promise as is described in sec. 103


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Laws R ela tin g to P rison Labor in th e U n ited S ta te s E nacted in
1933 and 1934

INCE the publication, in the fall of 1933, of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics Bulletin No. 596, relating to prison labor in the United
States, several changes have been made in the laws. The purpose of
the present article is to bring the material in Bulletin No. 596 up to
November 1 , 1934.“

S

California
A cts o f

1933— C h a p t e r 102

[Section 4 amends section 1586 of the penal code so that it reads as follows:]1
S e c t i o n 1586. All convicts may be employed by authority of the board of
directors, under charge of the wardens respectively and such skilled foremen as
they may deem necessary in the performance of work for the State, or in the manu­
facture of any article or articles for the State, or the manufacture of which is
sanctioned by law. Such needlework as the female prisoners may make from
time to time may be sold. The money received from the sale of said needlework
shall be paid to the warden and placed to the credit of the female who made the
same. Upon the release of such female the money shall be paid to her. The
convicts at the female department of the State prison at San Quentin at the
California Institution for Women may perform such work as authorized by sec­
tion 13 of the act establishing the said California Institution for Women and for
that purpose the State board of prison directors are authorized to cause such
work to be done within a radius of 3 miles from such female department at the
California Institution for Women of the State prison at San Quentin.
At Folsom after the completion of the dam and canal, the board may commence
the erection of structures for jute manufacturing purposes. The board of direc­
tors are hereby authorized to purchase from time to time such tools, machinery,
and materials, and to direct the employment of such skilled foremen as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, and to dispose of the articles
manufactured, and not needed by the State, for cash, at private sale, in such
manner as provided by law.

Florida
[On page 25, Bulletin No. 596, chapter no. 16182 (Acts of 1933) should be inserted.]

Georgia
A cts o f

1933— A c t

N o.

135 (p. 122) 2

[This act prohibits the use on public works of convicts sentenced for either
felonies or misdemeanors in certain counties of the State whenever recommended
by two successive grand juries. It provides for the resumption of use of con­
victs whenever recommended by two successive grand juries.]
a W est Virginia, ch. 22, Special Session 1933-34, received subsequently, am ends ch. 4, Acts of 1933 (Bui.
No. 596, p. 124) and authorizes th e S tate road commissioner instead of th e commission to m anufacture road
signs, etc., a t penitentiary.
1 See B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 596, p. 14.
2 To be considered in relation to Georgia act, p p. 26-29, B ureau of L abor Statistics B ulletin N o .-596.

1122

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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

1123

Kentucky 3
S p e c ia l S e s s io n ,

1934— C h a p t e r 5

[The department of public welfare is charged with the duty of providing em­
ployment for all State prisoners. A prison revolving fund is established, and
the department is required to sell all products of prison labor to State depart­
ments, and such departments are required to obtain their supplies through the
department of public welfare.]

Minnesota
A c t s of

1933—Chapter 342

[th is act provides that, during the years 1933 and 1934, the maximum price
charged for agricultural machinery manufactured in the State prison shall not
exceed 80 percent of the price charged for similar items in the year 1932. Dur­
ing the same years the prices of similarly manufactured binder twine shall not
exceed 1 cent per pound less than the price charged for such twine in the year
1932.] 4

Mississippi
A cts o f

1934— C h a p t e r 147

[This chapter repeals chapter 145 (secs. 5717-5806) Code, 1930, and chapters
242, 321, and 327, Acts of 1932, and enacts a new chapter. Sections 5717-5804
(see Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 596, pp. 60—62) are therefore super­
seded by new sections which are given below.]
S e c . 2. P e n ite n tia r y .—The plantation known as Parchman owned by the
btate, in Sunflower County, and such other places as are now or may be hereafter
owned or operated by the State in the enforcement of penal servitude, shall
constitute the penitentiary for the custody, punishment, confinement at hard
labor, and reformation of all persons convicted of felony in the courts of the State
and sentenced thereto.
S e c s . 3-20. [These sections provide for the appointment of a board of prison
commissioners by the Governor and specify their duties, compensation, qualifica­
tions, and terms of office. The Governor is also authorized to appoint a superin­
tendent of the penitentiary who may appoint certain employees of the peniten­
tiary.]
S e c . 21. S h o p s esta b lish e d .— The superintendent, in his discretion, for the use
of the penitentiary, may establish and maintain a blacksmith shop for doing iron
work, and also a wood shop for the manufacture of wagons, carts, plows, harrows,
singletrees, hames, and other wooden implements and structures; a shoe and
harness shop for making and mending shoes and harness; a laundry for washing
and ironing the clothes of the convicts; a sawmill and grist mill for sawing lumber
and grinding meal and hominy and chops; a tailoring shop for cutting, making,
and mending clothes; a brick and tile factory; all of which shall be operated by
convicts, in case competent foremen can be found among the convicts.
S e c . 23. F e m a le co n victs .— The superintendent shall have on the Sun­
flower farm a suitable building in which to house the female convicts, in which
building the said convicts shall live and shall manufacture from stripes and other
cloth the necessary clothing for the convicts, and shall perform such other duties
as may be required by the superintendent.
3 See B ureau of Labor_Statistics B ulletin No. 596, pp. 43-45.
* Idem , pp. 57, 58.


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1124

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

S e c . 25. P la c e o f e m p lo y m e n t. — It shall be unlawful for any State convict to
be leased or hired out or worked on any land not owned by the State of Mis­
sissippi in fee simple and operated by it as a State farm, except they may be
worked on public roads, public levees, or other public works as provided in section
224 of the constitution: P ro v id e d , how ever, They may be worked, but not
by contract, on lands other than State land for the purpose of procuring firewood
and other timber for the exclusive use of the State farm, and for no other pur­
pose.
Any employee who shall work or allow to be worked any convict contrary
to the above prohibition shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by im­
prisonment in the State penitentiary for a term of not less than 1 year nor more
than 5 years.
S e c . 26. R o a d w o rk . — Those having charge of convicts on farms owned and
operated by the State are authorized and required to keep the road through such
farms leading to the railroad depots from which supplies for such farms are ob­
tained in good condition; and also to work on the roads, if any, leading from such
farms to such depots, though through land not owned by the State, where such
roads are used in hauling merchandise or agricultural products to or from such
depots.
S e c . 27. S a m e . —It shall be lawful for the respective boards of supervisors of
Hinds, Holmes, Sunflower, and Quitman Counties, and of any other counties
where State convict farms may be located, at their discretion, to require annually
all of the able-bodied male convicts over the age of 21 years and under the age
of 50 years on each of said farms to work for a period of 6 days on the public roads
in the counties in which the said farms are situated. The convicts in each county
shall work only upon the roads of the county where they are held as prisoners.
Said work shall be laid out and designated in each of said counties respectively
by the board of supervisors therein, and the said work shall be performed under
the supervision and direction of the superintendent of the penitentiary and his
assistants, and is made their duty so to do, as other work is done by them on the
said farms.
S e c . 42. S ta te -u s e sy s te m . — The convicts shall be worked in the penitentiary
and under the sole control of the officers and employees thereof. The word
“ penitentiary” , wherever used in this chapter, shall be understood to embrace
the State farm in Sunflower County and other penitentiary farms owned by the
State, and it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State that it shall be selfsupporting, and to that end the superintendent is required in the administration
of its affairs to produce on the State farm all foodstuffs, both for man and beast,
that the soil will produce, in sufficient quantities to supply the needs of the con­
victs, including beef, pork, bacon, milk, and butter, and to breed and raise all
work animals as far as practicable, such as horses, mules, and oxen needed in carry­
ing on the State farm; and all land not required for the production of foodstuffs
as herein provided shall be devoted to the production of cotton and such other
salable products as may seem practical. The superintendent shall also, as far as
practicable, have manufactured all farm implements, tools, clothing, and shoes
by the convicts.
S e c . 75. S eed offered to cotton p la n te rs o f the S ta te . — The seed from the cotton
produced as provided in last section shall be offered to such of the cotton planters
of the State of Mississippi as may want them, but no sale of such seed shall be
made to any person who is not an actual planter of cotton, until after May 1,
in any year.


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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
C hapter

1125

296 5

[This act was approved on March 15, 1934, and amends section 5735, Code
of 1930. While it would appear that this act was repealed by a law (ch. 147)
approved at a later date, nevertheless it also appears that the legislature intended
to authorize the State to take advantage of the Federal convict-labor law (HawesCooper Act). It is for this reason that the text is included in this supplement.]
S e c t i o n 1. E s ta b lish m e n t o f sh o p s, etc. — The superintendent, with the approval
of the trustees, for use of the penitentiary, may establish and maintain a black­
smith shop for doing ironwork, and also a wood shop for the manufacture of
wagons, carts, wheelbarrows, plows, harrows, singletrees, hames, and other wooden
implements and structures; a shoe and harness shop for making and mending
shoes and harness; a laundry for washing and ironing the clothes of the con­
victs; a sawmill and gristmill for sawing lumber and grinding meal and hominy
and chops; a tailoring shop for cutting, making and mending clothes; a brick and
tile factory; all of which shall be operated by convicts, in case competent fore­
men can be found among the convicts. The sale of all goods manufactured in any
penal and/or reformatory institutions to other than agencies purchasing in whole
or in part with tax money is hereby prohibited, but agricultural products are
exempt from this restriction.
S e c . 2. G oods d ivested o f in te rs ta te ch aracter. — All goods, wares, and merchan­
dise manufactured, produced, or mined, wholly or in part, by convicts or prisoners,
except convicts or prisoners on parole or probation, or in any penal and/or reform­
atory institution transported into the State of Mississippi, and remaining therein
for use, consumption, sale or storage, shall, upon arrival and delivery in the State
of Mississippi, be subject to the operation and effect of the laws of the State of
Mississippi, to the same extent, and in the same manner as though such goods,
wares, and merchandise had been manufactured, produced, or mined in the State
of Mississippi and shall not be exempt therefrom by reason of being introduced
in the original package, or otherwise.

Montana
S p e c ia l S e s s io n

1933— C h a p t e r 9

[Amends sec. 1, ch. 172, Acts of 1933, by providing that “ where farm
machinery now owned in this State requires repairs, and repairs for such machin­
ery is manufactured in whole or in part without the State of Montana, the sale
and transportation into the State of such repairs shall not be prohibited by this
act.”] »

New Jersey a
A cts o f

1934— C h a p t e r 118

S e c t i o n 1. S a le o f p ris o n -m a d e p ro d u cts o f other S ta te s re stric te d . — All goods,
wares, and merchandise manufactured and produced, wholly or in part, outside
of this State by convicts or prisoners, except convicts or prisoners on parole or
probation, or in any penal or reformatory institution, transported into this
State, and remaining herein for use, consumption, sale or storage, shall upon
arrival or delivery in this State be subject to the operation and effect of the
laws of this State to the same extent and in the same manner as though such
goods, wares, and merchandise had been manufactured or produced in the penal
institutions of this State, and shall not be exempt therefrom by reason of being
introduced in the original package or otherwise.
* Should be added to list of States w ith such laws a t end of p. 139, B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin
No. 596.
6 See B ureau of L abor Statistics B ulletin No. 596, p. 140.
®Idem , p. 142.


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S e c . 2. P e n a lty . — Any person, firm, or corporation violating the provisions of
this act shall be deemed and adjudged to be a disorderly person, and upon con­
viction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than
$500 or by imprisonment of not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days or
both.
S e c . 3. F o rm o f p ro ced u re. — All proceedings for violations hereof shall conform
to the procedure and practice obtained in an act entitled “An act concerning
disorderly persons” (Revision of 1898), and the acts amendatory thereof and
supplemental thereof.
[This act supplements chapter 235, Acts of 1931. See Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics Bulletin No. 596, page 142.]

New York
A cts o f

1934— C h a p t e r 326

[This act amends section 69, chapter 136, Acts of 1930, as amended by chapter
26, Acts of 1933 so as to read as follows:] 7
S e c t i o n 69. S a le o f co n vict-m a d e goods f o r b id d e n . — No goods, wares, or mer­
chandise, manufactured, produced, or mined wholly or in part by convicts, or
prisoners, except convicts or prisoners on parole or probation, shall be sold in
this State to any person, firm, association, or corporation except that nothing
in this section shall be construed to forbid the sale of such goods produced in
the prison institutions of this State to the State, or any political division thereof,
or to any public institution owned or managed and controlled by the State, or
any political division thereof as provided in section 184 of the correction law.
A violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Rhode Island 8
A cts o f

1934—-Chapter 2106

S e c t i o n 1 . T itle . — This act shall be known as “ an act to promote the Stateuse system of industries in the public welfare institutions” and shall be so inter­
preted as to encourage the production of goods and merchandise in the public
welfare institutions of this State.
S e c . 2. D e fin itio n . — The words “ public welfare institutions” as used in this
act shall mean the Rhode Island State Prison, Providence County jail, and the
State reformatory for men and State reformatory for women.
S e c . 3. S a le on o p en m a rk e t p ro h ib ite d . — The sale on the open market in this
State of all goods, wares, or merchandise manufactured or mined, wholly or in
part, by convicts or prisoners (except prisoners on parole or probation) or in
any penal and/or reformatory institution is hereby prohibited. The provisions
of this act, and all other regulations and laws in this State in effect at that time
and not inconsistent with this act, shall apply to all goods, wares, and merchan­
dise manufactured or mined, wholly or in part, by convicts or prisoners (except
prisoners on parole or probation) or in any penal and/or reformatory institution
and transported into the State for use or distribution, to the same extent and
in the same manner as if such goods and merchandise were so manufactured,
produced, or mined within the State.
S e c . 4. C o n tra cts f o r b id d e n . — It is hereby declared unlawful for the State or
any of its officers or agencies or any of the towns or cities thereof, to enter into
7 See Bureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 596, p. 142.
8 Idem , pp. 103 and 104.


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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS

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any contract or other arrangement for the labor of any of the several penal
and/or reformatory institutions of this State, except as herein provided.
S e c . 5. G oods p ro d u ce d in p u b lic w e lfa re in s titu tio n s . — For the purposes of
this act the provisions of section 3 relating to sales on the open market shall not
include the sale and/or the exchange of convict-made goods produced in the
public welfare institutions of this State to or with other reformatory and/or
custodial institutions for their own consumption or use nor the sale of goods,
wares, and merchandise to any department, institution, or agency of any State
or its political subdivisions.
S e c . 6. K in d s o f a rticles p ro d u ce d . — The State public welfare commission shall
cause such articles and materials as are used in the offices, departments, or in­
stitutions of the State and of the several cities and towns to be produced by the
labor of inmates in the public welfare institutions and from time to time shall
notify the State purchasing agent, managing officer of any State office, depart­
ment, or institution having the duty of purchasing articles and materials for
any city or town, what articles and materials are being produced in the public
welfare institutions. This notification shall describe in detail such articles and
materials, giving the style, size, design, or quality and any other information
necessary to properly describe such articles and materials.
S e c . 7. R e q u is itio n s . —-When the State purchasing agent or managing officer
of any State office, department, or institution, shall have had occasion to pur­
chase any article or materials similar to those produced in the public welfare
institutions and notification of such production had been given him, he shall
make requisition therefor to the State public welfare commission, the provisions
of any statute, resolution, rule, or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding.
The requisition shall conform to specifications and description previously sub­
mitted by the commission unless it appears that special style, design, or quality
is needed, and shall be on forms provided by the commission. If said articles
or materials are needed immediately and are not on hand the commission shall
forthwith notify the requisitioner and he may purchase elsewhere.
S e c . 8. B ill to be a cc o m p a n ie d b y certificate. — No bill for any such articles or
materials purchased for the use of State offices, departments, or institutions,
otherwise than from a public welfare institution, shall be allowed or paid unless it
is accompanied by a certificate from the commission showing that a requisition
therefor has been made and that such goods cannot be supplied by it, the pro­
visions of any statute, resolution, rule, or regulation to the contrary notwith­
standing.
S e c . 9. P r ic e o f a rticles s u p p lie d by p u b lic w elfare in s titu tio n s . — The price of all
articles and materials supplied by the public welfare institutions shall conform as
nearly as practicable to the wholesale market rates for similar goods manufactured
elsewhere. Any difference of opinion in regard to price shall be submitted for
arbitration to a representative of the commission, a representative of the requisi­
tioner, and the State commissioner of finance, and the decision of a majority of
them shall be final.
S e c . 10. C o m m ittee to be a p p o in te d . — The governor shall appoint in pursuance
to this act, a committee on prison industries, consisting of 2 representatives of
industry, 2 of labor, and 2 of the public to serve without pay and at the
pleasure of the governor of the State, the chairman of the State public welfare
commission, or agent delegated by him, shall be a member ex-officio, their duties
and responsibilities to be as the governor shall from time to time designate, but
shall always be for this general purpose:
To find ways and means of employing prisoners without increasing the tax
burden and without unfair competition with free labor and free industry; and


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To provide through such employment, practical training in the industrial,
farm, and maintenance activities, with proper emphasis upon the necessity for
coordination with the general program of the prison for rehabilitation of the in­
mates.
S e c . 11. P u rc h a se o f c o m m o d itie s by su b d iv is io n s o f the S ta te . — The committee
on prison industries shall call from time to time meetings of the purchasing agents
of subdivisions of this State with the State purchasing agent and the State public
welfare commission to develop standards for commodities manufactured and
produced by penal industries and to prepare and secure compacts or agreements
as to the purchase of commodities by them from the penal institutions so as to aid
the service afforded them in the conduct of the institutions under the State public
welfare commission.
S e c . 12. S ta n d a r d s o f p ro d u c tio n . — The State public welfare commission and
the committee on prison industries shall cooperate in establishing certain standards
of production and shall by consultation and meeting with the managing officers and
purchasing agents of State and municipal offices, departments, and institutions,
determine the style, design, and quality of articles and materials to be made.
S e c . 13. S p e c ia l o rd ers. — If articles or materials of a different design, style, or
quality than those produced are needed, by any State department or institution,
the State public welfare commission may, if a sufficient quantity is needed, arrange
for the manufacture thereof on special order.
S e c . 14. P e n a lty . — Any officer who willfully neglects or refuses to comply with
the provisions of this act relative to the purchase of articles and materials from
the public welfare institutions shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100
for each violation.
S e c . 15. E ffective d a te. — [July 1, 1934.]

South Carolina
[The act number assigned to session laws of South Carolina 1933, as shown on
page 105, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 596, should read no. 380 instead
of 582, the latter number being merely for use of the clerk of the State senate.]

Virginia
S p e c ia l S e s s io n ,

1933— C h a p t e r 32 9

S e c t i o n 1. P u r c h a se o f m a c h in e ry . —The State prison board be, and it is hereby,
authorized and empowered subject to the approval of the governor to expend not
in excess of $75,000 of the funds heretofore appropriated for per diem allowance
to prisoners and not yet expended therefor, for the purpose of purchasing equip­
ment and machinery for the manufacture and production of articles, pursuant to
the provisions of section 2073 of the Code of Virginia, but no money shall be used
in the purchase of machinery or equipment for the manufacture of brooms or
mattresses. For the purpose of repaying any money expended under the pro­
visions of this act the State prison board may, subject to the approval of the
governor being first obtained, and for such length of time as may be necessary for
said purpose, include as a part of the charge allowed to be made for articles manu­
factured and produced under the provisions of the aforesaid section of the Code of
Virginia, an amount sufficient to defray the cost of such machinery and equipment,
purchased pursuant to the provisions of this act and used in manufacturing and
producing such articles. That part of all charges allowed and collected pursuant
to this act shall, until all sums used by the State prison board under this act have
been repaid to the fund from which expended, be used for the payment of the per
diem allowed prisoners, for which purpose it is hereby appropriated.
8 See B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 596, note, pp. 115 and 144.


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[The blank chapter number used for Virginia, Acts of 1933, as shown on pages
144, 145, 146, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 596, should read “ 62” .]
A cts of

1934— C h a p t e r 319

S e c t i o n 1. S a le o f co n vict-m a d e goods 'proh ibited. — It shall be unlawful for any
person within this State to buy or acquire by exchange on the open market, either
for his own use or for the purpose of resale, or for any person to sell or exchange on
the open market, within this State, any goods, wares, or merchandise prepared in
whole or in part, or manufactured, by convicts or prisoners, other than convicts
or prisoners on parole or probation, of any other State.
S e c . 2. P e n a lty f o r v io la tio n . —Any person, or any agent or manager for any
person, who shall violate any provision of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $500
or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both in the discretion of the court
or jury trying the case.

Wisconsin
[In lieu of Acts of 1933 (Wisconsin) as shown on pages 126, 127, Bureau of
Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 596, the following should be substituted and con­
sidered as the present law in this State]
Statutes,

1931

132.13. L a b els on p ris o n -m a d e goods. — Ail goods, wares, and merchan­
dise made by convict labor in any penitentiary, prison, reformatory, or other
establishment in which convict labor is employed in any State except this State,
and imported, brought, or introduced into this State shall, before being exposed
for sale, be branded, labeled, or marked as herein provided, and shall not be
exposed for sale in this State without such brand, label, or mark. Such brand,
label, or mark shall contain at the head or top thereof the words “ convict-made” ,
followed by the year and name of the penitentiary, prison, reformatory, or other
establishment in which it was m ide, in plain English lettering, of the style and
size known as great primer roman condensed capitals. The brand or mark shall
in all cases, where the nature of the article will permit, be placed upon the same,
and only where such branding or marking is impossible shall a label be used, and
where a label is used it shall be in the form of a paper tag, which shall be attached
by wire to each article, where the nature of the article will permit, and placed
securely upon the box, crate, or other covering in which such goods, wares, or
merchandise may be packed, shipped, or exposed for sale. Said brand, mark, or
label shall be placed upon the outside of and upon the most conspicuous part of
the finished article and its box, crate, or covering.
S e c . 132.14. E n fo rce m en t o f la w . — It shall be the duty of the commissioner of
labor statistics and the district attorneys of the several counties to enforce the
foregoing section, and when upon complaint or otherwise, such commissioner has
reason to believe that the same has been violated he shall advise the district
attorney of the county wherein such alleged violation has occurred, of the fact,
giving the information in support of his conclusions, and such district attorney
shall at once institute the proper legal proceedings to compel compliance there­
with.
S e c t io n

United States 10
Compact of Fair Competition for the Prison Industries
P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t on April 19, 1934, by Executive order,
approved the compact of fair competition for the prison industries of
the United States.
10See also B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 596, pp. 131-134.


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The compact has been signed by the governors or prison executives
of 30 States and by the proper authorities of the District of Columbia
and the Department of Justice of the United States. It covers
products mined, manufactured, produced, or distributed by prison
labor in the signatory States, limiting the hours of labor in prison
industries to not more than those prescribed in the code adopted for
each industry, and providing that in no case shall prison labor be per­
mitted to work more than 40 hours per week. It forbids the employ­
ment of persons under 16 years of age in prison industries, and oi
persons under 18 years of age in hazardous occupations or those dan­
gerous to life. It also provides that prison products shall be sold at
prices not lower than the fair current prices prevailing in the market
in which the product is customarily sold.
On November 1, 1934, the following States had become signatory to
the compact: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hamp­
shire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia
and the United States Department of Justice.
Federal Prison Industries

The Seventy-third Congress passed a law (Pub. No. 461) which
became effective on June 23, 1934, authorizing the creation of the
“ Federal Prison Industries.’’ The act supplements an act of Congress
approved on May 27, 1930 (46 Stat. L. 391), providing for the diver­
sification of employment of Federal prisoners and for their training
and schooling in trades and occupations. The Federal Prison Indus­
tries Corporation shall have the duty of determining in what manner
and to what extent industrial operations shall be carried on in Federal
penal and correctional institutions, diversifying as far as practicable
prison industrial operations so that no single private industry shall be
forced to bear an undue burden of competition from the products of
prison workshops.
The Corporation is authorized to use the “ Prison Industries Fund”
for the purposes enumerated in the act of May 27, 1930, and also for
the payment of compensation to inmates of penal institutions or their
dependents for injuries suffered in any industry. Compensation paid
shall not be greater than that provided in the Federal Employees’
Compensation Act of September 7,1916.
Other Prison Labor Provisions

By an act of June 30, 1932 (47 Stat. L. 382) the legislative appro­
priations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1933, provides that no

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Government department, etc., shall place any orders for material,
supplies, equipment, work, or services where such is furnished or
performed by convict labor.
All contracts under the Federal Emergency Relief and Construction
Act of 1932 (47 Stat. L. 709) also stipulate that no convict shall be
directly employed on any such project.
A similar provision is also carried in the National Industrial Recovery
Act of June 16, 1933 (48 Stat. L. 195) as follows:
All contracts let for construction projects pursuant to this title shall contain such
provisions as are necessary to insure (1) that no convict labor shall be employed
on any such project: * * *

R e g i s t r a t i o n o f L a b o r C o n t r a c t s in C u b a 1

LL labor contracts between employers and employees in Cuba
A
L must hereafter be registered in the Department of Labor, accord­
ing to a decree-law no. 446, signed by the President of Cuba on August
24, 1934. A period of 30 days is granted for the registration of agree­
ments already in effect on the date of the promulgation of this measure.
A preamble to the law expresses the hope that the relations between
employer and laborers will be adjusted by labor contracts fixing the
salaries and hours of work and incorporating the rights and duties
already obtained by the working classes and any others mutually
agreed upon by the contracting parties.
The law requires that until labor courts are established, the Depart­
ment of Labor shall report to the correctional courts any violations of
labor contracts. Infringements of this law are punishable by a fine
of from $50 to $500 or by imprisonment of from 31 to 180 days, or
both, according to the seriousness of the offense or of the damage
caused.
The amounts collected by reason of the application of this law are
to be placed in the Working Women’s Maternity Fund, created by
decree-law no. 152.
Contracts which have no fixed duration may be amended by either
of the contracting parties on 30-day notice to the other party. A
signed copy of this notice is to be filed in the proper office of the
Department of Labor. Parties executing a labor contract for a defi­
nite term may, before its expiration, in an affidavit signed before the
proper chief of office or bureau of the Department of Labor, agree to
amend or annul the agreement. If, 30 days after the expiration of
the period of the agreement, neither of the contracting parties expresses
a desire to withdraw from the agreement, the latter automatically
continues in force.
1 R eport of Septj 3,1934, from H sFreem an M atthew s, first secretary of the A merican E m bassy a t H abana.


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WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
C o m p en sa tio n Award H eld P erm issib le, L ack in g E vidence th a t
U n e m p lo y m e n t of In ju red w as D ue to B u sin ess C o n d ition s

N A case recently before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachu­
setts, the industrial accident board and the superior court, Suffolk
ICounty,
agreed that the employee had been totally incapacitated for
work since December 9, 1932, through an injury which occurred on
December 15, 1931. The insurance carrier had appealed from a deci­
sion of the county court finding that the employee was totally disabled
and ordering the payment of compensation. The question presented
to the supreme court for its determination was whether, upon the evi­
dence submitted, it was possible to find that the claimant’s present
condition resulted from the injury and that he was totally incapaci­
tated thereby.
Testimony was presented showing that the fall of a steel beam upon
his foot had caused a fracture of the first metatarsal of the claimant’s
left foot. Since then, with the exception of 2 days, he was unable to
practice his occupation of blacksmith. The impartial physician, after
an examination of the employee’s foot on December 1, 1932, stated
that “ the fracture has long since healed, but there still remains a
tenderness over this metatarsal below the fracture. * * * It
probably represents a nerve ending that was caught in the callus
from adhesions.” He added that neurological factors might cause the
symptoms of which complaint was made.
Three orthopedic surgeons testified that there was some restriction
of motion in the great toe joint of the left foot. One of them, called
by the insurer, stated that on July 26, 1932, when he examined the
employee there still was disability. Another examination on October
13, 1932, indicated that “ at that time the examination differed slightly
from July 26 in that there was little or no sensitiveness under the first
metatarsal and no complaints when rising on the ball of the foot or
rolling to the outer border.” He added, however, that he could not
contradict the employee’s statement that he could not stand all day
and do the heavy work of a blacksmith. Another witness testified
that he did not think that the then condition of the employee was a
“ proximate result of the broken bone above the toe. There is a possi­
bility, because of the fracture, that the nerves coming along the
metatarsal bone would become adhered to the joint that would cause
1132

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trouble, but not a probability.” The third surgeon testified that the
great toe joint of the left foot was enlarged as much as one-fourth
inch and that there was “ a good deal of local tenderness throughout
the joint.” Further, he stated that he doubted whether the claimant
“ can do hard work at the present time” though “ he might be able
to do some light work” since he is probably not totally disabled.
The court resolved the conflict in the testimony by stating that “ the
evidence must be considered in its aspect most favorable to the
employee.” With this in mind, it was held that the industrial accident
commission and the superior court were warranted in finding a causal
relation between the injury and the disability, and further that the
condition of claimant’s foot “ at the time of the hearing was a con­
tinuance of the previous condition.”
The court also held, in the face of conflicting medical opinion as to
whether the employee should be operated upon to improve his con­
dition, that the industrial accident board was not compelled as a
matter of law to find that the employee had unreasonably refused to
submit to an operation for his physical benefit.
Testimony showed that the employee had looked for light jobs
which he could perform despite his disability. It was held that, in
the absence of evidence of business conditions during the period in
question and in view of claimant’s disability, the board could find his
inability to obtain work was attributable to the injury rather than to
business conditions. The decree of the lower court was therefore
affirmed. {Sheppard’s Case, 192 N. E. 4.)

M eetin g of In ter n a tio n a l A ssociation of In d u stria l A c cid e n t
Boards and C o m m issio n s, 1934

HE twenty-first annual meeting of the International Association
of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions opened a 4-day
meeting at the Statler Hotel in Boston on September 24, 1934.
Joseph A. Parks, chairman, Department of Industrial Accidents of
Massachusetts, as president of the association opened the meeting,
and traced the development of workmen’s compensation, with par­
ticular reference to the growth of the system in Massachusetts.
After the appointment of convention committees and the presentation
of the report of the secretary-treasurer, the reports of the following
regular committees were presented: Statistics and costs, medical,
safety and safety codes, electrical safety code, forms, rehabilitation,
and workmen’s compensation legislation. A special committee report
on constitutional changes was also presented.
The afternoon session of the first day was devoted to discussing the
effect of N. R. A. codes on workmen’s compensation administration, and

T


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special attention was given to tlie question as to the extent to which
the Federal Emergency Relief Program places the responsibility for
compensation on the locality.
In the absence of Hal M. Stanley, of Georgia, who was to have
discussed the subject of whether beneficiaries under the made-work
relief programs are employees within the workmen’s compensation
act, Charles F. Sharkey, of the United States Bureau of Labor Statis­
tics, presented the legal status of such workers in the light of the
court decisions recently rendered in the various States.1
A report on the American Remarriage Table was presented by
Swen Kjaer, United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The conven­
tion later adopted a resolution approving the American Remarriage
Table compiled and published by the Casualty Actuarial Society,
based on data collected by the National Council on Compensation
Insurance, as a basis for remarriage rates. It was also the opinion of
the members that the association should take steps to obtain additional
data on remarriage of widows for the purpose of establishing a larger
exposure record.
At the evening session the delegates were addressed by Governor
Ely of Massachusetts, United States Senator David I. Walsh, and
Miss Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor. Miss Perkins stressed
the need of accident prevention measures in factories and. urged a
greater cooperation between the Federal Department of Labor and
the State industrial accident commissions.
The morning session of the second day consisted of group discus­
sions on problems of exclusive State fund and private and competitive
insurance. The afternoon program was devoted entirely to the sub­
jects of the control of medical and hospital fees, the selecting of the
employee’s own physician, and merit rating as an incentive for accident
prevention.
The third day was set aside as medical day. The early morning
session consisted of a clinic at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
The medical program for the balance of the day was conducted by
well-known medical men of Massachusetts and included papers on
the cause of increasing disabilities in fracture cases; shortening the
period of disability in intracapsular-type fractures of the hip; low
back strains and their treatment; the crippled shoulder; curing the
crippled hand ; kidney and urinary conditions simulating back trouble ;
the effect of work on the diseased heart; and the importance of patho­
logical examinations.
At the closing day of the meeting, the reports of the convention
committees were received and adopted. The special committee on
constitutional changes, headed by Ethelbert Stewart, also reported
several amendments to the bylaws of the association. A report was
1 See M onthly Labor Review, Septem ber 1934, pp. 660-671.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION

1135

also made of the results of a study, authorized by the 1933 meeting,
of the methods of the various States for determining the average
weekly wage, used as a basis for compensation payments. A recom­
mendation that the committee on workmen’s compensation legislation
prepare a uniform provision for adoption by all of the States was
approved.
After electing J. Dewey Dorsett, North Carolina Industrial Com­
mission, as president for the coming year, and George T. Watson,
commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation Department of West Vir­
ginia, as vice president, the convention adjourned to join the meet­
ing of the International Association of Governmental Labor Officials.1
The next annual meeting will be held in North Carolina in Septem­
ber 1935.
1 See p. 1118 of this issue.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

COOPERATION
S ta tu s of B u ild in g and L oan A sso cia tio n s, 1933

ATA furnished to the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the United
States Building and Loan League (Cincinnati) show that at the
D
end of 1933 there were in the United States 10,727 building and loan
associations with a combined membership of 9,224,105, and resources
aggregating $6,977,531,676. From 1932 to 1933 there was a decline
of 270 societies, 890,687 members, and $772,959,408 in assets.
The following table shows the number of associations and their
membership and resources in 1933:
M E M B E R S H IP A N D A SSE TS OF B U IL D IN G A N D LO A N A SSO C IA T IO N S IN 1933, BY
ST A T E S

State

Slum­
ber of N um ber
of
asso­
cia­ members
tions

39
A labam a__________
2
A rizona___________
55
A rkansas__________
182
C alifornia......... .........
52
Colorado__________
44
C onnecticut_______
43
Delà w are. . . _____
28
D istrict of Colum bia.
59
F lo rid a____ _______
40
G eorgia___________
11
H aw aii____________
14
Id a h o _________ . . .
889
Illinois_____ ______
380
In d ia n a ___________
74
Iow a_______ ____ _
150
K ansas____________
164
K e n tu ck y _________
9E
L ouisiana_________
36
M ain e____________
M aryland 1.............. 1,000
227
M assachusetts_____
65
M ichigan_________
75
M in n eso ta________
44
M ississippi________
233
M issouri ________
27
M o n tan a.....................
N ebraska_____ ____
83
1 Figures estim ated.

1136


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T otal assets

33,480 $23,843, 533
600,000
1,600
25,794, 298
30,213
350,000 359,894,896
35,340,471
50,000
31,534
25, 607,678
19,430
15, 257,369
96,785
90,533,000
13,129, 227
10, 370
6,891,548
18,443
5, 288,989
28,012
6,272,313
9,550
782, 300 394,648,000
341,700 246,333,779
60,072
41,789,377
155,152 106,960,685
170, 30C 110,937,465
166,241 143,656,771
23,967,428
25,930
283,000 185,000,000
436,92C 502,873,869
185,267 142,693,028
39,038, 245
96,179
10,943, 600
6,274
207,95C 169, 255,761
15,026,454
25,80C
176,500 111, 876,652

State

N um ­
ber of N um ber
T otal assets
of
asso­
cia­ members
tions

$1, 246,345
5
2 , 281
N ev ad a.....................
Ì3 ,761,730
16,152
New H a m p sh ire.. .
29
970,000 1,050,000,000
New Jersey 1 ______ 1,532
4,316,562
4,500
16
New M exico______
481,928 394, 643,465
New Y o rk ________
293
68 , 439,937
74,182
N o rth C arolina___
209
12, C54,641
22
22,251
N orth D a k o ta ____
737 1,968,129 895, C28,774
O hio. ___________
99,238,441
90
129,339
O klahom a________
18,228, 564
22
31,400
Oregon___________
884, 065 957,791,288
P en n sy lv ania_____ 2,908
33, 691,232
R hode Isla n d _____
8
47,898
20 , 000,000
South Carolina i __
98
18,000
5,844,910
20
9, 650
South D akota_____
18,993,047
42
25,640
Tennessee.............
137,700 100,393, 588
139
T e x a s .......................
34,000
23,029,669
21
U ta h . ................... .
5,418,676
14
5, 600
V erm ont_________
53, 652,977
89
59,100
V irginia....................
61,510,158
66
200,000
W ashington______
33,612,941
60
50, 200
W est V irginia_____
184
238,238 245,291,106
W isconsin________
7,889,189
14,850
W y o m in g.. ............
8
T otal, 1933__ 10,727 9,224,105 6,977,531,676
T otal, 1932... 10,997 10,114,792 7,750,491,084

LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
U n io n C ontrol of A ctors’ Salary R ed u ction s

HEATRICAL managers and producers who seek to cut salaries
of actors below the scale provided in their agreement with the
Actors’ Equity Association must prove their inability to pay the
scale, under regulations recently adopted by the association.
One of the measures taken to meet the acute depression in the
theater business has been to reduce salaries, and because this prac­
tice has in some instances enabled a production to continue and has
thus meant longer employment it has been accepted by the actors and
their association as the less of two evils. But abuses have developed,
according to the September 1934 issue of Equity, the official organ of
the Actors’ Equity Association. Temporary cuts have not been
rescinded when business improved, and some companies which have
had long, successful runs have reduced salaries as soon as patronage
diminished, even though that may have been a passing occurrence.
The Actors’ Equity Association has now adopted measures to
control this situation and to enforce its contracts. It has instituted
a permanent “ cuts board” at the headquarters of the union in New
York City, to which any theatrical manager or producer desiring
reduction in salaries for a current production must apply. The
burden of proving the necessity for reducing expenses rests upon the
management, and must be substantiated by books and written state­
ments. Members of the association are prohibited from agreeing to
salary reductions without the consent of Equity. While cuts are in
operation, weekly statements of box-office receipts must be delivered
to Equit}^ by the management.
In no case may the salaries of actors having speaking or individual
parts be cut below $50 a week, and no decrease will be permitted in
the case of performers of that grade who receive $50 or less a week.
No actor is required to accept a salary reduction, even though the
association has approved, “ since it is not the policy of Equity to
order a member to reduce his salary.” On the other hand no member
may accept a decrease which the cuts board of the union lias refused
to sanction.
These regulations apply immediately in New York, and will be
extended to Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as soon as
machinery is devised to cany them into effect.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1137

1138

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

R eo rg a n iza tio n of Labor U n io n s in to S m aller U n its in th e S oviet
U n ion

ORDER was issued by tlie All-Union Central Committee of
Labor Unions on September 9, 1934, providing for reorganiza­
tion, into smaller units, of the labor unions in the Soviet Union
(U. S. S. R.).
The labor unions are a part of the Soviet Government. In addi­
tion to the improvement of labor conditions, they perform the func­
tions which in other countries are usually assigned to the labor and
industrial departments or ministries.
There have been 47 of these labor unions. These are now being
reorganized into 154 unions. The purpose of this step is to bring
them closer to actual production activities in the establishments and
occupations for the purpose of better technical training, so as to
improve the quantity and quality of output and decrease the cost
per unit. It is also thought that the smaller unions will be better
able to improve labor conditions, raise wages, improve the provision­
ing and feeding, raise the level of care for health, social insurance
against sickness, disability, and old age, etc., and be more effective
in the struggle against short weights and measures, bureaucracy, and
other factors directly affecting the interest of the workers and their
productive activities.
The central committee of each union is divided into 7 divisions
dealing, respectively, with social insurance, wages, technical instruc­
tion, inspection, education, recreation, and statistics, bookkeeping,
and general administration.
The intermediary or district committees are being abolished alto­
gether in a number of the unions. Those remaining are to deal
principally with wages and the technical instructors attached to
definite groups of establishments.
The paid personnel of the central committees and the remaining
intermediary committees is to be decreased from 20,393 to 13,075
persons, that is, by 36 percent. The sums saved through this change
are to be used for the improvement of the educational and material
condition of the members of the unions. The setting up of new
provincial or district committees or the increasing of the personnel
of the existing administrative organizations without specific permis­
sion by the All-Union Central Committee of Labor Unions, in each
particular case, is strictly prohibited.
For the purpose of improving the service in certain important
leading trades, special sections are to be formed—for instance, in the
union of coal miners, a section of machinists; in the metal trades, a
section of miners, a section of rollers, etc.
1

Soviet Union (U. S. S. R .).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

C entral Executive Com m ittee.

Izvestiia, Moscow, Sept. 9, 1934, p. 1.

LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

1139

In addition to the paid workers of the central and intermediary
committees, volunteers are to be appointed from the workers of the
corresponding trades and occupations. All members of the sectional
staffs are to be volunteers elected by the members.
The All-Union Central Committee is to concentrate its activities
principally upon a systematic control over the enforcement of the
decisions of the party and Government and upon regulation of the
work of the central committees of the unions. The All-Union Central
Committee consists of the following divisions: (1) Responsible tech­
nical instructors, (2) wage-scale planning, (3) social insurance,
(4) labor inspection, (5) recreation inspection, (6) accountancy
statistics, (7) finances, (8) general administration, and (9) recreation.
The order provides for a decrease of the paid personnel of the staff
of the All-Union Central Committee from 502 to 388 persons, that is,
by 33 percent.
The Soviets of the locals are to consist of the representatives of
their members, elected by their convention. These Soviets are to
exercise the control over the fulfillment of the decisions of the party,
Government, All-Union Central Committee, and central committees,
and over financial transactions by the local unions.


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INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
In d u stria l D isp u tes in th e U n ited S ta te s in S ep tem b er 1934

ATA concerning industrial disputes in the United States for
September 1934 with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Preliminary figures regarding industrial disputes for
August and September 1934 with final figures for preceding months
and years are shown in table 1. Subsequent tables give more detailed
data for July, this being the latest month for which verified data
are available. In all of these tabulations disputes involving fewer
than 6 workers and lasting less than 1 day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning in each year from
1927 to 1933, the number of workers involved and man-days lost for
these years and for each of the months, January 1933 to September
1934, as well as the number of strikes carried forward from preceding
months and the number in progress during each month.
Table 2 shows in detail by city and industrial group, the number
of strikes in July 1934, the number of workers involved, and the
man-days lost.

D

T a b l e l.- I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S , W O R K E R S IN V O L V E D , A N D M A N -D A Y S L O ST, BY

Y E A R S, 1927 TO 1933, A N D B Y M O N T H S , JA N U A R Y 1933 TO S E P T E M B E R 1934
N um ber of workers involved in N um ber of
disputes
m an-days
lost in
disputes
In
Carried
In
Carried
Begin­
Begin­ forward
forward progress existing
progress ning
in
ning in
during in m onth
to
during m onth
to
m onth m onth
or year
m onth
m onth
m onth
N u m b er of disputes

Y ear and m onth

1927
192&
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1933
Jan u ary ________________________
F eb ru ary _ _ __ _________________
M arch
_____________________
A pril ______ - ______ ______ ___
M ay
_________________________
June
_______ - _______
J u ly _____________________________
A ugust
_
___________________
Septem ber ________ ____________
October
__ __ _____ ___ ____ N ovem ber
________ - _______
December
___
____ _______ ___
1934
Jan u a ry ___________________ _____
F e b r u a r y ________________________
M arch __ ________ ______________
A pril . _ _ ______________ ______
M ay
________________________
Ju n e _______________________ ____
Ju ly
- ______ ______________
A u g u st 2 - ______________________
S e p te m b e r2. . .
--------1 Revised.

1140


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

75
67
98
80
140
137
240
246
223
129
67
60
70
73
134
174
182
126
116
134
99

37, 799, 394
31, 556,947
9, 975, 213
2,730, 368
6,386,183
6,462,973
14,818,847

349, 434
357,145
230,463
158,114
279,299
242,826
812,137

734
629
903
653
894
808
1, 562

21,169
19, 989
47,463
36,874
64, 891
61,330
139, 099
211,524
298,480
219, 846
139, 208
45,612

251,829
113, 215
348,459
551,930
664, 689
576, 535
1, 505,408
1,570, 512
3,873, 662
3,659, 502
1, 298,113
404, 993

51,463
13.152
38,311
100,452
30, 618
69,834
106,124
18,627
87,497
170, 296
37, 700
132, 596
228, 749
155, 714
73, 035
110,619
73,355
37,264
220
215,967
67,859
219
148,108
121, 004
54,697
66 , 307
217
530, 901
69, 198
461, 703
200
101
2 Prelim inary figure subject to revision.

> 616,465
789,553
1,091,023
2,280,164
2, 221,390
1,903,450
2,076, 334
1, 775,814
8,133,859

12

32
35
39
47
50
52
84
99
125
98
52
30
31
39
54
81
94
103
83

87
99
133
119
187
187
292
330
322
254
165
112

100

104
173
228
263

20,172
11,114
40, 548
23, 793
44, 589
42, 233
111,051
157, 953
244, 636
56,164
38, 062
2 1 , 822

997
8,875
6,915
13, 081
20,302
19,097
28, 048
53, 571
53,844
163, 682
101,146
23, 790

1141

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
T a b l e 3 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D

O F JU L Y 1934 A N D
M A N -D A Y S L O ST, B Y C IT Y A N D IN D U S T R Y O R O C C U P A T IO N
N um ber of work­
ers involved in
disputes

N um ber of dis­
putes
In d u stry or occupation and city
Begin­
ning in
Ju ly

In effect
a t end of
Ju ly

Begin­
ning in
July

In effect
at end of
Ju ly

6

6

32

16
17

N um ber
of mandays lost
in Ju ly

Bakers:
M assachusetts: L o w ell,. __________________
Ohio:
C incinnati__________ ______ ___________
C leveland_____________________________
Pennsylvania: A llentow n_____________ ______
W isconsin:
Janesville__________ ________ . . .
M ilw aukee_____________________
D o _____________________________
.

2

2

171

171

1,503

T o tal_________________________________

6

5

209

210

2, 729

1

42

1,050

1

son

2

842

21,982

40

11 125
80

100

2 inn

9, 000
24

9,000

18,000
72

16

16

64
1 1 400

1 341
1

3

Chauffeurs and team sters:
California: A lameda, Berkeley, Oakland, and
San Francisco_____ ___________ ____ ________
M aryland: B altim ore ____________ ______ ____
M ichigan: D etro it............................ ........................
M innesota: M inneapolis..... ............................... .......
New York:
Buffalo . . ______ __ ____ ________________
New York C ity ___________________ ___ _
Rochester
__________ _____ _ _________
Tom pkins ville__ ___________________ ____
Yonkers___ ______________________________
Ohio:
Cleveland.................................... ....................... .
Colum bus, M arion, and Toledo___________
Oregon: P o rtla n d _____________________ _______
T o tal__________________ . . . _____________
Clothing trades:
California: Los Angeles_______________________
Connecticut: D a n b u ry ____________ _____ _____
M assachusetts:
M iddleboro. ____________________________
W hitm an________________________________
W orcester............ ............................... ................. .

54
252
425

i 432

T o tal_________________________ __ ____

T o ta l.. ______ ________________ ______ _ _

1
1
1

l 32

Brick and tile workers:
Ohio: U hrichsville________ . . .
Pennsylvania:
K itta n n in g _________________________ . .
P a tto n . . . . .
_____________
Interstate: Ohio (M idvale) and Pennsylvania
(Clearfield)____________________ _____ ____

Building trades:
D istrict of Columbia: W ashington_____________
Indiana: South B end and M ishaw aka______. . .
M assachusetts:
Holyoke_________ _ __________ _____ . . .
Quincy and W ey m o u th________ ______. . .
Missouri:
C arthage_______________________________
Kansas C ity_________________ ______ _____
New York:
New York C ity and v ic in ity ...........................
R o ch ester.. _____________________________
Pennsylvania:
Fort M ifflin_________ _______ ____________
S cranton_______
______________________
R hode Island: P a w tu c k et___________ _____ ___
Texas: E ast Texas field_______________________
W ashington: Coulee D a m ..._________________
Wisconsin: M ilw aukee. _______ ______ _______
Interstate: N ew York (New Y ork C ity) and
New Jersey (W ehaw ken)__________________

*

1

i

1
1

40
10

400
i

1

5,200

443

1
1

i

1

i

1
1
1

20

*SKfi

20

4 500
153
i 333

500
51

1

i

244

244

1,708

11

5

10, 748

9, 400

35, 661

1
1
1
1

1

1,250
18

18

252

1

10
6 , 000

6,00 0

84,000

16

36
54
400
714
150

1
1

6
1

1

18
102

1

50 *...... .........

1
3

8 , 054

20

1 9, 500

150
450

1

10

10 000

2, 550
’ 450
6 , 034

108,126
1 2 , 000
i 9,100

1
1

1
1

30
456
20

20

570
11,400
420

1 1. e., in strikes which began prior to Ju ly and continued into th a t m onth, b u t were not in effect a t the
end of the m onth.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1142

T a b l e 2 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O F JU L Y 1934 A N D

M A N -D A Y S LO ST, B Y C IT Y A N D IN D U S T R Y OR O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

N um ber of dis­
putes

N um ber of work­
ers involved in
disputes

In d u stry or occupation and city
Begin­
ning in
Ju ly
Clothing trades—C ontinued.
M innesota: M inneapolis.............. ........
New Jersey: W oodbine.--------------- •
New York:
A lb a n y ............................. ...............
B rooklyn-------------------—
Long Island C ity ........................
New York C ity ----------------------D o ________________
R o c h e s te r........... ..........................
Ohio:
A kron________________________
C incinnati____________________
D o ------ ---------------------------Pennsylvania:
M o u n t C arm el----------------- ------Q uakertow n---------- ------ ----------W ashington: Seattle-------- ------------Wisconsin:
M ilwaukee.
Sheboygan.
Total-

In effect
at end of
July

Begin­
ning in
Ju ly

N um ber
of mandays lost
In effect in July
at end of
July

2,000

2,000

1,200

150

1 200

600
1 539
1 12,000

208
1 600

200

60
90
172
1 1, 440
1 686

48, 700

2, 342

Coopers:
Pennsylvania: R eading-----------

35

Electric and gas appliance workers:
Illinois: Belleville---------- ------M issouri: St. L o u is....................

127, 600

T otal

1,500
1 1,200

600

15,000
17, 700

T o ta l..------ ----- ------------- --------------------

72
1 4,270
450

150
110

1,210

300

600
1 253

150

2,100

106
18
119

85
190
106

2,125
3,990
424
54
476
1 386
1 725

T o tal__________________________ _
F u rn itu re workers:
Indiana: M ario n______ _______ ________ _
N ew York: A lb a n y .______ ___________...

875
1 3, 600
1 24,000

Farm labor:
California: A rv in ..------- -----------------------New Jersey: B ridgeton------- ----------------Ohio: M cG u ffey .------ -------------- -----------

Food workers:
Illinois:
E ast St. Louis................. ........................
P e k in ..------ ----- ----------------------------Indiana:
South B end and M ishaw aka________
V incennes...... .............. ............... .—
M ichigan: D etro it—........ ...............................
M innesota: D u lu th ------------ -----------------M issouri: St. Louis.......................... ...............
New York:
B rooklyn____‘----------- ------------- ------N ew York C ity and v ic in ity ________
Ohio: Toledo and Rossford_____________
Pennsylvania: U niontow n______________
Tennessee: C hattanooga---- ------------ ------Wisconsin:
M ilw aukee, H artford, and Green B ay
R acine___ «_____________ _____ _____

1 375
1 840
4,200

33

531

17,135

33

132
1 297
429

T o tal................................................ .............
Hotel and restau ran t workers:
California: Los Angeles................................ .
Indiana: Indianapolis.....................................

92

T o tal................................................................ .

92

356
150

1 1. e., in strikes which began prior to Ju ly and continued into th a t m onth, b u t were not in effect a t the end
of the m onth.


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INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

1143

T a b l e 2 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D

O F JU L Y 1934 A N D
M A N -D A Y S LO ST, BY C IT Y A N D IN D U S T R Y OR O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

N um ber of dis­
putes

N um ber of w ork­
ers involved in
disputes

In d u stry or occupation and city
Begin­
ning in
Ju ly
Iron and steel workers:
Wisconsin: M ilw aukee,

In effect
at end of
July

Begin­
ning in
July

118

L aundry workers:
M ichigan: D etro it______
Pennsylvania: Jean n ette.

35

T o tal.
Light, heat, power, and w ater employees:
Illinois: E ast St. Louis_____________

In effect
at end of
July

N um ber
of mandays lost
in July

70
1 98

35
30

30

120

Longshoremen and freight handlers:
A labam a: M obile___________________________
M assachusetts: New Bedford________ ________
Interstate: California, Oregon, and W ashington

1 240,000

T o tal_____________________________________

245,100

15, C00

100

Lum ber, tim ber, and mill workers:
A labam a: Green Pond and Yolande.
M etal trades:
A labam a:
B irm ingham _______________________
B ridgeport_________________________
G adsden___________________________
H o lt_______________________________
Georgia: R om e_______ _________________
Illinois:
Chicago____________________ . . . . ___
Peoria_____________________________
Indiana: E ast Chicago________ __________
M aryland: B altim ore_______ *.__________
M ichigan:
D etro it____________________________
M ilan ________________________ i ____
Owosso____________________________
New York: Long Island C ity and Corona.
Ohio:
A shtab u la__________________________
C incinnati_________________________
C leveland__________________________
D o _____________________________
P o rtsm o u th ________________________
Pennsylvania: L atro b e_________________
West. Virginia:
H u n tin g to n ________________________
M oundsville________________________
Parkersburg________________________
Wisconsin:
K ohler_____________________________
M ilw aukee and W est A llis__________
T otal.

1 260

14

150

350
2,250

170
541

1,360
4, 328

i 210

170
541

1,100

220

750

5, 250

100

1,100

396

66

i 2,190
i 1, 0 0 0

40
330

330
403

3C0
31

174
155
100

280
6,930
10,075
i 1,170
3,654
1,915
124
2, 500

19
133
600

19

304
2,261

600

6,000

1, 005
177

1,005
177

12,060
3,009

4,712

4,158

69, 816

M iners:
Alabam a:
B irm ingham ________
i 105, 300
4,000
500
N auvoo____________
W infield____________
1,890
210
30
30
California: Grass V alley ..
Colorado: R ug b y _______
1, 250
M ontana:
117,925
4,717
B u tte ______________
19,950
950
B utte and A naconda.
Pennsylvania:
840
280
E xpo rt_____________
3,304
236
236
Jeddo______________
8, 943
813
813
L attim er m ines-------22,000
Locust G ap_________
9,750
1,950
N anticoke__________
1 1. e., in strikes which began prior to Ju ly and continued into th a t m onth, b u t were not in effect at the
end of the m onth.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1,100

1,100

1144

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b l e 2 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D

OF JU L Y 1934 A N D
M A N -D A Y S LO ST, BY C IT Y A N D IN D U S T R Y O R O C C U P A T IO N —Continued
N um ber of w ork­
ers involved in
disputes

N um ber of dis­
putes
In d u stry or occupation and city
Begin­
ning in
Ju ly
M iners—C ontinued.
Pen n sy lv an ia—C o n tin u ed .
Pringle
- ____

-

-

1

___ -

In effect
a t end of
July

1

T otal

____

__

____ -

M usical in stru m en t workers:
Ohio* Cjnp.irmati

__ -

___ -

11

6,899

8, 576

308, 724

250

6,250

1

620

1

620

•

3,100
i 1,408
i 6,456

_ ___

Total

-

-

___- - -

Printing and publishing trades:
Illinois* Ohjoao-o
____
Montana* "FTp! fina,
_ ___ . .
Total

- - -

1

- - __

__ __________________

R ubber workers:
Ohio:
Akron
________ ___ _
Massillon
_____ ___________ ______
Sandusky
_ __________________ Wisconsin: P a Crosse __ _ - _______ ____
_____________ __ _____ _

Shipbuilding workers:
California: San P ed ro .

10,964
254

3,048

1

45

i 560
945

1

45

1,505

1
1

28
100

i 16,800
588
2, 500
i 2, 700

2

128

22, 588

1

254

i 15, 000

_______ ___________

Slaughtering and meat-packing employees:
Illinois:
Chicago ________________________________
M adison
________ __ ___ __________
Indiana:
Terre H aute
______
___
___ ___
D o . ______________ __________________
Iowa* Cedar R a p i d s . . ____________ _______ _ _
____________ _______
New Jersey: N ew ark
New York*: New York C ity and B rooklyn-------Ohio: Toledo ____________________ ___ _ Texas: H ouston . ______________ ______ _____
U tah: Salt Hake C ity
__
___
Interstate: New Jersey (New ark) and New York
(New York C ity )________________________
Total

8
1

_________ ____ _

Paper and paper-goods workers:
M ichigan: W aterv liet-. - - - - -

Total

6,440
i 4,400
2,640
i 62

__ _

Oil and chemical workers:
Oklahoma* Unid

460

460
1,320

1
Washingt-fm* C edar M ountain

Begin­
ning in
July

N um ber
of mandays lost
In effect in July
at end of
July

_________________

_____________

Steam boat men:
California: San Francisco and v ic in ity ._________
W isconsin: M ilw aukee __________ - _______
Interstate: G reat Lakes district, New Y ork,
Ohio, and Pennsylvania_____________ _____

1
1

1
1

1,200
60

1

90

1

50

1
1
2
1

8,400
660

262
600

1,260
1 1,843
50
6, 550
15,000
i 765
2,500
300

100
50

1
5

1,200
60

7

1,450

500

12,500

2,722

49,828
i 360,000
1 500

1

2,000

50,000

. . _______________ ______________

1

2,000

410, 500

Stone workers:
Ohio:
C arey___________________________________
F o rest___________________________________

1

44

924
i 1,300

T o tal__________________________________

1

44

2, 224

T o tal.

11. e., in strikes which began prior to July and continued into that month, but were not in effect at the
end of the month.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1145

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

T a b l e 2 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D O F JU L Y 1934 A N D

M A N -D A Y S LO ST, BY C IT Y A N D IN D U S T R Y O R O C C U P A T IO N —C ontinued

N um ber of dis­
putes

N um ber of w ork­
ers involved in
disputes

In d u stry or occupation and city
Begin­
ning in
Ju ly

In effect
at end of
Ju ly

Begin­
ning in
Ju ly

In effect
a t end of
July

N um ber
of mandays lost
in July

Street-railw ay workers:
California: San Francisco___ _____
N ebraska: O m aha_______________

1,200

331

14,400
1,655

T o tal------------------- ------------------

1,531

16,055

M unicipal workers:
Arizona: Bisbee_________________
D istrict of Columbia: W ashington.
Illinois:
B uckner_____________________
D anville_____________________
Venice and M adison C ounty__
New Jersey: P erth A m boy...............
N ew York: G ra n v ille -..................

51
600
250
35
180

T o tal.............................. ....................

1,116

Textile workers:
A labam a__________ _____________
Connecticut:
K illingly____ ________________
N orw ich............. .............................
P o rtlan d __ ____ _____________
Georgia:
C olum bia________________—
D o _____ _____ ___________
M assachusetts:
Fall R iver............... ................... .
D o ______________________
N o rth B ellingham ........ ................
New H am pshire: T ilto n __________
New York: Long Island C ity _____
N o rth Carolina:
G astonia____________________
D o ____________ _________
L aurinburg.....................................
M o n ro e .........................................
Selm a........ ................ .................. .
Ohio: L ockland........ ...........................
Pennsylvania:
L atro b e..........................................
M auch C h u n k ____ ____ ______
W eissport________________ ___
Y ork________________________
R hode Island:
Peace D ale_________ ______ _
Stillw ater_______ _____ _____ _
South Carolina:
P ied m o n t_____________ ______
Rock H ill............ ...........................
W alhalla______________ ______
Tennessee: K noxville________ ____
Verm ont: B urlington..................... .
Virginia: H opew ell_______ _____ _

1 900
1 1,000

11,550

250
180

255
2,400
3, 500
105
1,080
,240

11, 550

161, 700

400
58

4,800
290
672

125

1,250
1,375
45

1,350
175
330
50

"330'

1,125
13, 500
350
3,300
150
1 1,500

1,100

275
41
140

41
140

1 4,800

820
140
1 2,808
1 1, 035

104
1 2,400

i 85
1,422
340
1 6, 000

240

80

1 5, 225

"423'
1,850

2,115
1 11,500
46, 250

15, 213

14, 038

276, 396

Tobacco workers:
Pennsylvania: P h ilad elp h ia_______
Y ork, R ed Lion, and v ic in ity_____

202

3.000

3,000

4, 242
63,000

T o tal_____________ ____ ________

3.000

3,202

67,242

T o tal........ .....................................

O ther occupations:
B asket workers:
New Jersey: V in e la n d .......... .
Caddies:
Pennsylvania: John sto w n------R hode Island: E ast ProvidenceCreosote workers:
160
160
M ississippi: H attiesburg.............
Filling-station workers:
45
45
Oklahoma: T u lsa..........................
1 1. e., in strikes which began prior to Ju ly and continued into th a t m onth, b u t were not in effect a t
end of the m onth.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

180
75
800
450
the

1146

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 2 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A N D IN E F F E C T A T E N D OF JU L Y 1934 A N D
M A N -D A Y S LO ST, B Y C IT Y A N D IN D U S T R Y OR O C C U P A T IO N —Continued
N um ber of work­
ers involved in
disputes
N um ber
of mandays lost
In effect
Begin­ In effect in July
at end of ning in at end of
July
July
July

N um ber of dis­
putes
In d u stry or occupation and city
Begin­
ning in
Ju ly
O ther occupations—Continued.
Fishing-tackle workers:
Ohio: A k r o n ______ ________ _____ ______
Light-fixture workers:
New York: New Y ork C ity ____ __________
Refrigerator workers:
Wisconsin: C u d ah y__ . . . . . . _________
Wooden ware workers:
W isconsin: M en ash a___ . . . . . . _______ . . .
All trades:
California: O akland and San Francisco_____
T o tal.
..... . . . . .
. . . ___
G rand t o t a l . .. _ .
___________

i 4,970
i 540
i 380
i 2, 200
1
6
116

3
83

90, 000
90, 375
148,108

270,000
279, 745
2, 076, 334

250
54, 697

1 1. e., in strikes w hich began prior to Ju ly and continued into th a t m onth, b u t were not in effect a t the
end of the m onth.

Occurrence of Disputes
T able 3 gives the number of disputes beginning in July 1934 by
States and classified number of workers.
T able 3 .—T O T A L N U M B E R O F D IS P U T E S A N D W O R K E R S IN V O L V E D . C L A S S IF IE D BY
S T A T E S A N D SIZE F O R T H E M O N T H OF JU L Y 1934
N um ber of disputes beginning in Ju ly 1934
involving—
State

Total
T otal
num ber num ber
6
20
100
500
1,000
5.000
of dis­ of workers and
and
and
and
and
putes involved under under under under under workers
and
20
100
500
1,000
5,000
workers workers workers workers workers over

A la b a m a ...-----California--------C onnecticut___
G e o rg ia ..--------Illinois------------In d ian a_______
Iow a__________
M ary lan d _____
M assach u setts..
M ichigan____ _
M in n eso ta .........
M ississippi.........
M iss o u ri...------N eb rask a______
New H am pshire.
New Jersey____
New Y ork_____
N orth C arolina..
Ohio__________
Oklahom a_____
O re g o n ...-------Pennsylvania__
Rhode Islan d___
South C arolina..
Tennessee______
Texas__________
U ta h __________
W ashington___
W est Virginia__
W isconsin__ . . .
In te rsta te ______

6
7
2
2
9
7
1
2
7
5
2
1
2
1
1
3
10
3
9
1
1
14
4
1
2
1
1
2
3
5
1

12,580
92,822
458
666
3,185
1,143
50
84
2,035
639
8,000
160
593
331
330
235
9, 786
456
705
45
450
9, 320
259
80
542
500
50
137
752
1,471
243

T o tal.........

116

148,108


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3
1

1
1
1

2
4
4

4
3
1
1
3
2

2
4
1
1
1
2
4
1

5
1
i
1
2
3

1
2
1

1

i

2
2

1

1
2
1
1
1
3
2
4
1
3

1
1

2

1

1

1

4

2

1
1
15

1
2

37

1
1
3
1

1

43

7

1
10

4

1147

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Size and Duration of Disputes

T able 4 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning in July
1934 classified by number of workers and by industrial groups.
T a b l e 4 .—N U M B E R OF D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN JU L Y 1934, C L A S S IF IE D B Y N U M B E R

OF W O R K E R S A N D BY IN D U S T R Y OR O C C U P A T IO N
N um ber of disputes beginning in Ju ly 1934
involving—
In d u stry or occupation

100
1,000
500
5,000
and
and
and
under under under w orkers
and
20
100
1,000
500
5,000
workers workers workers workers workers over
6

20

and
under

and
under

B akers...... ...........- .............................__
Building trad es__________________
Chauffeurs and te a m s te rs ..-........ .
C lo th in g .._________ ____________
F arm labor............................ .............
Food w orkers.......................................
F u rn itu re -........ ................................ .
H otel and restau ran t w orkers..........
Iron and steel........ ...............................
L a u n d ry ..................................... .........
Light, heat, and power___________
Longshoremen and freight handlers.
M etal trades........ ................................
M iners____________________ ____ _
Oil and chemical w orkers.............. .
Paper and paper-goods w orkers___
Slaughtering and m eat packing___
Street-railw ay w orkers_____ ____ _
M unicipal workers...... ........................
T extiles.................. ............... .............
Tobacco________________________
O ther occupations.................... ...........
T o tal.......................................... .

Table 5 gives by industrial groups the number of disputes begin­
ning in July 1934 and the number of workers involved.
T a b l e 5 .—D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN JU L Y 1934, B Y IN D U S T R Y OR O C C U P A T IO N

In d u stry or occupation

__________
B ak ers.. ___ _________________ _ ___________________ _____
Building trad es___ ____________ _______ ____________ _________________________
Chauffeurs and team sters____
. _ _. _______________________ . . ___________
C lothing___________________ .
. . . . . __________ _________________
Farm labor__________________
___ _ _ ___ . _________ __________________
Food w orkers_______________ ___ ____ ____ ____ ____________ _______________
F u r n itu r e .________ _ . . .
...
_ ____ ____ ___
__ ________
H otel and restau ran t w orkers____ ___________________________ ___ ___________
Iron and s t e e l . _____ ___ ___ ______________ ___ ___ .
L a u n d ry ___________________ _ _ _ ______ . . . ._ ._ ________________________
Light, heat, and pow er..
_
__ _____ _ . .
___ _ _____________ _______
Longshoremen and freight handlers_______. ____________________________________
M etal trades___________ . . _______________________ _ _
M iners____________ _______________________________
______ ______ ________
Oil and chemical workers ____________________ _____________________________
Paper and paper-goods w orkers____________ ________ _______________________
Slaughtering and m eat packing_______________ _____________________________
Street-railw ay w orkers______ ________ _____________ _________________________
M unicipal workers_________________ _______________ _______ _______________
Textiles_______ _ .
__ ____________________ ____ ___ . _______________
Tobacco___ ______________ _______________________________________ _______
O ther occupations_____ ____________ _________________ _____ ______ ____________
T o tal______ ________________ _____ ___
_____ ____ _____ ________ .
91302°—3'


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ber
work­
N um ber ofers
in­
of dis­
volved
putes be­ in dis­
ginning putes be­
in July
ginning
in July
6
11
10
8
1
8
1
2
1
1
1
1
17
11
1
1
5
2
5
16
1
6
116

209
10, 748
8,054
2, 342
250
977
33
92
118
35
30
50
4,712
6,899
620
254
1,450
1,531
1,116
15,213
3,000
90, 375
148,108

1148

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

In table 6 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
July 1934 by industrial groups and classified duration.
T a b l e 6 .— N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S E N D IN G IN JU L Y 1934, BY IN D U S T R Y

A N D C L A S S IF IE D D U R A T IO N
Classified duration of disputes ending in July 1934
In d u stry or occupation

One-half
m o n th or
less

B akers__ ____
- -.... ..................
Brick and tile w orkers_____________________ ____
Building trades _____
._
................... ............
Chauffeurs and team sters ____
_
_ _
C lothing_________
__
Electric and gas appliance w o rk ers... ______ __ __
F arm labor.
._
_____________ _____ __________
Food workers___ _____________ _________ . . .
F u r n itu r e ___
.
_ _
H otel and restau ran t workers_____________________
L au n d ry
___ _______
Longshoremen and freight handlers_______ _ ___
L um ber, tim ber, and m ill w o rk ..
. __ ________
M etal trades___ . . .................................................. .......
M iners _________ _________ ____________ ____
Oil and chemical workers ________
_______
Prin tin g and publishing_____________________ . .
R u b b e r _____ ____ __
____ . . .
.
....
Shipbuilding____
___ _
. . . ___
_____
Slaughtering and m eat p a c k in g ___
S team boatm en___ _ _ ____
__ ___ __________
Stone
. .
. . .
. . .
Street-railw ay w orkers_____ _.
______ . ______
M unicipal w orkers_________________ . . _____
Textiles____ _____ ____ __________ . . . .
._
___
O ther o c c u p a tio n s ._____
T o tal_________________________

_ _______

4
1
6
7
9
2
8
1
2
1
1
5
9
1

Over one- 1 and less 2 and less 3 and less
half and
than 2
than 3
than 4
less than m onths m onths m onths
1 m onth
1
2
1
2
1
1

1
2
3

1
2

1

Ï
1

1
2

1
2

1
1

2
1

1

1
1
2
1

2

3

2
3
12
3

1
I

1
5
3

1
3

80

19

24

12

1
1

1

C o n cilia tio n W ork of th e D e p a r tm en t of Labor in S ep tem b er
1934
By

H ugh

L.

K e r w i n , D ir e c t o r o f C o n c il ia t io n

HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer­
cised her good offices in connection with 55 labor disputes during
September 1934. These disputes affected a known total of 30,716
employees. The table following shows the name and location of the
establishment or industry in which the dispute occurred, the nature
of the dispute (whether strike or lockout or controversy not having
reached the strike or lockout stage), the craft or trade concerned,
the cause of the dispute, its present status, the terms ,of settlement,
the date of beginning and ending, and the number of workers directly
and indirectly involved.
In addition to the cases shown, the commissioners of conciliation
also assisted in handling 16 violations of the National Industrial
Recovery Act; also elections were held among the employees of 12
railroads and 20 oil companies to determine the manner of representa­
tion among their employees.

T


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H O F S E P T E M B E R 1934

C om pany or in d u stry and location

N atu re of
controversy

Craftsmen concerned

C ontroversy. M achinists
and
building laborers.
F uller Shirt Co., K ingston, N . Y — Strike______ Pressers___________

N a v y Y ard, B rem erton, W ash___

West Virginia Stove & Foundry
Co., Huntington, W. Va.
W est Virginia A rm ature
Bluefield, W. Va.

Co.,

.do.
T h reaten ed
strike.

Wages and nonunion m en em­
ployed.
Asked 20 percent increase and
recognition
Wage increase, union recognition,
and seniority rights.
W orking conditions___________ _

Present status and terms of settle­
ment

A djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent;
arbitration for future disputes.
Wages and w orking conditions___ A djusted. Increase of 15 percent;
returned to work w ithout dis­
crim ination.
do.
do.
A djusted. Increase of 28 percent;
returned to work w ithout dis­
crim ination.
Electrical w orkers... Asked union recognition and col­ A djusted. A greement signed cov­
lective bargaining.
ering collective bargaining and
seniority rights; wages under ne­
gotiations.
L um ber w orkers___ Refused to m eet for conference Pending________________________
w ith workers.
Packing-house w ork­ Wages, working conditions, and A djusted. Signed agreem ent for 3
ers.
closed shop.
m onths.
Em ployees................. W orking conditions__________ _ P ending________ _______________

Bruce L um ber Co., L ittle Rock, Strike_____
Ark.
C olum bus Packing Co., Colum ­ T h reaten ed
bus, Ohio.
strike.
Am erican Vitrified Pow er Co., Strike_____
A kron, Ohio.
Landers, F ray & C lark Co., New T h reaten ed Molders.
B ritain, Conn.
strike.
T aylor D ep artm en t Store, Cleve­ S trik e ........... W rappers and pack­
land, Ohio.
ers
C otton pickers, Phoenix, A riz____ ___ d o ..____ C otton pickers____

Asked wage increase
W ages..................... .........................

Unclassified. Referred to regional
board.
A djusted. Allowed $2 per week
increase.
A djusted. Agreed to arbitration;
board of 3 selected.
P ending....... .......................................

Aug. 31

Ending

D i­
In d i­
rectly rectly

1934'
25
Sept. 25

Aug. 30

60

360

414

ion

Aug. 31

Sept. 14

140

5

Ju ly 24

Sept. 22

50

200

. .. d o -----

Sept. 23

48

192

Sept. 7

Sept. 11

125

500

101

59

Oct.

600

Sept. 6
Sept. 1

3

(i)

Sept. 9
Sept. 12

Sept. 25

Sept. 13

Sept. 29

16

Sept. 4

Sept. 13

1,000

90

10,000

(!)

Sept. 10
__do___

Sept. 20

(1)

Sept. 13

Sept. 30

400

Sept. 5

1,687

100

Sept. 4

Sept. 6

12

Sept. 13

Sept. 20

8

59

1149

Wages, and nonresident workers
employed.
Smallwood Lowe Stone Co., T h reaten ed Q uarry w orkers____ Violation of wage agreem ent; dis­
Flaggy M eadow, W . Va.
Strike
charges.
P aram o u n t, Pathe, and Fox Cos., C ontroversy. News-reel camera­ N onunion cam eramen em ployed Unclassified. Settled b y parties
N ew England.
men.
to take news-reel pictures of
a t interest.
striking textile workers.
Ind u strial R ayon Corporation, T h reaten ed R ayon w orkers......... Wages, hours, and conditions........ A djusted. Recognition of shop
Cleveland, Ohio.
strike.
com m ittee and seniority rights.
C urtis B ay Towing Co., B alti­ ___ d o .......... T ow boat and har­ Alleged violation of agreem ent Pending________ ____ ___________
more, M d.
bor workers.
w ith International Longshore­
m en’s Association.
B altim ore Casing Co., Baltimore, Controversy. M eat-packing work- A sked wage increase........... ............ A djusted. Increased 5 cents per
M d.
hour.
Scrap-rubber truck drivers, B ro o k -____ do........... T ruck drivers.
D rivers not unionized; union Unable to a d ju st_______ ______ _
lyn, N . Y ., and N ew ark, N . J.
team sters object.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Begin­
ning

1934
P en d in g ................ ................... ........... Sept. 1
A djusted. Allowed wage increase
and union recognition.
Pending....... .............. .....................

W orkers in ­
volved

D uration

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

A m erican H a rd R ubber Co., Ak- ____do_____ R ubber workers.
ron, Ohio.
H igh School project, Helena, M o n t. Controversy. All building crafts
except laborers.
H u n tin g to n Stove & Foundry Strike.
F o u n d ry w orkers__
Co., H u n tin g to n , W . Va.

Cause of dispute

1150

L A B O R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D BY T H E C O N C IL IA T IO N S E R V IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF S E P T E M B E R 1934—C ontinued
W orkers in­
volved

D uration
C om pany or in d u stry and location

N atu re of
controversy

C raftsm en concerned

Filling-station atten d an ts, In d i­ C ontroversy. Filling-station a t­
ten d an ts.
anapolis, Ind.
Shell Petroleum Co., Houston, ___ d o ......... - Oil w orkers..........
Tex.
Strike.

W ilderness L um ber Co., Nallen,
W . Va.
Carpenters, New H aven, C onn--

___ d o ........... Tim ber w orkers.

Painters, Knoxville, T e n n —
M orrell Packing Co., Sioux Falls,
S. D ak.
Des M oines Electric Light Co.
and Iowa Power & Light Co.,
Des Moines, Iowa.
R ed R iver Barge Line, Lake
Charles, La.
School building, Independence,
M o.
B oulevard garden housing project,
New York C ity, N . Y.
Public buildings, W ashington,
D . C.
N orthw est Brewing Co., Portland
Oreg.
U nited D ry Dock, Staten Island,
N . Y.
H addon Press, Philadelphia, P a .
C arpenters, M iam i, F la -------------


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Controversy- C arpenters_____

Present status and term s of settle­
m ent

Asked increase and vacations A djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent.
w ith pay.
settle­
Renewal of working agreem ent... A djusted. Satisfactory
m ent; provision for handling fu­
ture disputes w ith D epartm ent
of Labor as arbiter.
Asked increase and union recog­ Adjusted. P a rt returned to work
accepting 5 percent as offered by
nition.
company; 50 and 45 cents per
hour.
Adjusted. Increased 3H cents per
Wages and living quarters.
hour; all returned.
Effort to m aintain $8.50 per day; A djusted. R ate fixed a t $1.06}4
per hour.
contractors offered 87H cents
per hour.
W ages________________________ A djusted. Increased $2 per w eek..

In d i­
D i­
rectly rectly

Begin­
ning

Ending

1934
Sept. 15

1934
Sept. 18

600

Sept. 13

Sept. 14

517 ............

. .. d o ___

Sept. 25

65

8

Sept. 14

Sept. 27

200

800

100

500

Sept. 17
Sept. 14

Sept. 29

16

A djusted. Increased to 70 cents Sept. 5
per hour Oct. 1; 75 cents Jan. 1,
1935; and 82J4 cents Apr. 1, 1935.
A
djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent. Sept. 17
T h reaten ed Packing-plant w ork­ Wages and working conditions...
ers.
strike.
-----d o ........... Electric-light w ork­ W orking conditions____________ A djusted. Satisfactory working Sept. 19
conditions.
ers.

Sept. 20

115

U nable to a d ju st________________ Ju ly 15

Sept. 27

300

100

Sept. 22

Sept. 28

8

15

T h reaten ed Packers and w rap­
pers.
strike.
Controversy. P ain ters........... .........

Strike___

Longshorem en____

C ontroversy. B uilding w o rk ers...

Wage scale.

.do.
U nion or nonunion builders.

----- d o ......... - Steam fitters v. car­ Jurisdiction of certain w o rk ..
penters.
Strike........... L athers and iron­ ----- do____________________
workers.
W orking conditions; jurisdiction
Controversy. Team sters________
of team sters and brew ery work­
ers.
Wage increase and conditions—
Strike--------- W elders..........
___ do______ B ookbinders.

Wage increase—. ---------- ------ ---

___ do______ C arpenters. ..

Fixing of wage scale for this area.

Adjusted. Satisfactory agreement;
union m en to be employed.
P ending_______________________

9

0)

Sept. 29

Oct.

0)

30

............

0)

A djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent. Sept. 12

Sept. 15

10

Sept. 25

100

Adjusted. All returned pending
decision as to jurisdiction.

Sept. 1

P ending----- --------- --------------------

Sppt 20

Adjusted. Recognition; wage ne­
gotiations continued.
A djusted. Agreed on 75 cents per
hour until Oct. 15; then 87H
cents which will be used as base
wage for area.

Sept. 25

Sept. 27

130

Sept. 22

Sept. 25

200

1,100
—

107

800

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

M etal w orkers.

U . S. Reduction Co., E ast C hi­
cago, Ind.

Halle Bros., Cleveland, Ohio.

Cause of dispute

Printing companies, Fo rt W ayne,
Ind.
W ashington, B altim ore & A nnap­
olis R y.

T h reaten ed
strike.
Strike_____

Allanna K n ittin g Co., Quakertow n, Pa.
Building, W inston-Salem, N . C .. .
Shelbourne Shirt M anufacturing
Co., Fall R iver, Mass.
New Bedford U nderw ear M an u ­
facturers, N ew Bedford, Mass.
T rucking companies, Boston,
Mass.
Am erican Record Corporation,
Scranton, Pa.
M ontgom ery W ard Co., D enver,
Colo.

____do.........

K nitters

______.

Controversv. Building w o rk ers...
Strike . . _ Shirt workers

------ do............ U nderw ear w orkers. Recognition and im proved condi- ___do__________ _______
tions.
Threatened
T ruck d r iv e r s ___ . Asked employers to sign an A djusted. Em ployers agreed to
strike.
am ended arbitration award.
sign aw ard as asked.
Controversy. W orkers
. . . . . Asked 54 cents per hour________ Pending___ .
Threatened
strike.

Em ployees_____ . . .

Strike.

Silk workers

Threatened
strike.

S t r e e t - r a ilw a y
workers.

School building, Bloomington, Ilk Controversy. C a rp e n te rs _______
Autom obile mechanics, Denver,
Colo.
Lincoln F u rn itu re Co., E lite F u r­
niture Co., and L inn F u rn itu re
Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
Street railw ay and bus men,
B eaum ont, Tex.
Babcock Coal & Coke Co., Glade,
W . Va.
New R iver L um ber Co., Longbottom , W . Va.
Painters, T am pa, Fla
K aufm an Packing Co., Baltimore,
M d.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Threatened
strike.
Strike___
Threatened
strike.
Strike_____

M echanics___ _____
Upholsterers

Asked increase in compliance
w ith findings of Industrial
Commission of Colorado.
Wages, working conditions, and
reinstatem ent of discharged
workers.
Asked 15 percent in c re a se ........ ..

Jurisdiction of carpenter and iron
work.
Wages, working conditions, and
union agreement.
Mrages, closed shop, and improved conditions.

U nable to adjust. C om pany refused to com ply w ith findings of
commission.
Pending_____ __ ____________

Sept. 19

Oct.

4

200

Sept. 21

Sept. 25

115

Sept. 24

Sept. 20

80
(1)

Rent, ofi

-

Rppt 97
Sept. 13
Sept. 30

315

200

Oct.

4

800

100

40
Sept. 18

Sept. 26

Sept. 28

1,141

35

1.0 0 0

A djusted. Two-year agreem ent -..d o ___
providing 4 cents per hour increase for first year; 1 J4 cents for
second year.
P e n d in g _______________________ Sept. 24

Oct.

6

627

8

15

U nable to a d ju st___

Sept. 29

154

70

P e n d in g .___ ________

__________
.. ...

Street-r a i 1 w a y Asked collective bargaining; ___do_______ ________ ___________
workers.
wages and hours.
L um ber w orkers___ Signed agreement providing col- A djusted. All increased 3ji> cents
lective bargaining and wage inper hour; all returned; signed
crease.
agreem ent.
_ .d o _____ ___do_________ ____ Wages and working conditions.. . A djusted. All increased 3H cents
per hour; arbitration provided
for future disputes; D epartm ent
of Labor as final arbiter.
Threatened P ain ters. _________ Wage scale for this area____ ____ A djusted. Present rate continued
strike.
u n til area rate is approved,
which will be 80 cents per hour.
C ontroversy. M e a t - p a c k i n g
Asked check-off system _________ A djusted. Local w ithdrew reworkers.
quest for check-off as not being
usual in this industry.

Sept. 15
Sept. 24

64

Sept. 20

97

23

Sept. 28

150

600

Oct.

2

125

500

1

Oct.

3

110

300

Sept. 24

Oct.

2

375

Aug.

6

- ..d o -----

Ju ly

1151

T otal

A djusted. Signed label agreem ent; closed shop for all trades.
A djusted. Increased 2 J4 cents per
hour, overtim e pay, and pay for
tim e used going to assigned work.
M ages and cond itio n s... ______ A djusted. R eturned to workwage negotiations to continue.
Violation of agreem ent_____ . . . P e nding.. _.
________
Asked union recognition. _____ A djusted. Satisfactory agreem ent

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

M arietta Silk Co., W averly, N .
Y .; and A thens, M arietta, and
Colum bia, Pa.
B irm ingham street railw ay, B ir­
m ingham , Ala.

Printing and book- Asked recognition; working conbinding.
ditions.
R ailw ay w orkers___ Wage increase, hours, and eonditions.

LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND
DECISIONS
R ecen t D ecision s of th e N a tio n a l Labor R ela tio n s Board

EINSTATEMENT of discharged employees in their former
positions was ordered in 13 of 21 decisions rendered by the Na­
R
tional Labor Relations Board between August 18, 1934, and October
2, 1934, while in 3 decisions it ruled that the complaint of the unions
that discharges were made in violation of section 7 (a) of the National
Industrial Recovery Act was not adequately supported by the evidence.
Companies should recognize the union or organization receiving
the majority vote as the exclusive bargaining agency for the whole
group of employees eligible to vote in the election, the Board declared
in three decisions.
In two cases where the companies had formed company unions and
the union complained that the companies had interfered with the
self-organization of the employees, the Board ordered that elections
by secret ballot be held under the supervision of the Board for the
purpose of determining what person or organization the workers
desire to represent them for the purpose of collective bargaining.
Brief summaries of the decisions of the Board follow.
Maujer Parlor Frame Co. et al. and Furniture Workers Industrial Union
T he Maujer Parlor Frame Co., which had a collective labor agree­
ment with the Furniture Workers Industrial Union, ceased doing
business in Brooklyn, N. Y., in December 1933. At about the same
time, Sam Miller, the nature of whose connection with the Maujer
Co., is disputed, organized a New Jersey corporation called the Miller
Parlor Furniture Co., and began in Jersey City the same sort of
business as that formerly conducted by the Maujer Co.
The union contended that Miller abandoned the Brooklyn business
and transferred operations to Jersey City for the purpose of destroying
self-organization of his employees; and that Miller, through the Miller
Parlor Furniture Co., denied employment to former employees of the
Brooklyn plant because they would not agree to abandon their union
membership, or employed them only upon their promise to abandon it.
The Board, in its decision rendered August 8, 1934, held that
section 7 (a) was violated by the discharge of certain employees of
1152

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS

1153

the Brooklyn plant because of their union membership and activities;
that the discharge was effected by Miller through the instrumentality
of the Maujer and Miller companies, and that each company, as
well as Miller, is accountable. The Board further held that section 7
(a) was violated by requiring certain employees, as a condition to
■their employment in Jersey City, to relinquish their union affilia­
tions and activities, and by denying employment there to others
because they would not do so.
The Board ruled that unless the Miller Parlor Furniture Co. rein­
stated all persons who were employed by the Maujer Parlor Frame
Co. during the last 3 months of 1933, and who established their
previous employment and their desire for reinstatement before the
regional labor board, within 5 days after the receipt of the list of
such employees from the Board and notified the Board accordingly,
the case would be referred to the Compliance Division of the National
Recovery Administration and other agencies of the Government for
appropriate action.
American Federation of Government Employees ex rel. John L. Donovan and
Administrator for National Recovery
O n J u n e 18, 1934, John L. Donovan, who had been serving as
president of the National Recovery Administration Union which was
affiliated with the American Federation of Government Employees,
was discharged by Gen. Hugh S. Johnson from liis position as technical
adviser to the Labor Advisory Board. The Government maintained
the discharge was because of inefficiency and other sufficient reasons,
while Donovan and the union contended it was because of union
activity.
The decision of the Board, on August 21, 1934, was that John L.
Donovan had been discharged for union activity, and that he should
be immediately reinstated in his former position.

United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co. and Mine, Mill, and Smelter
Workers’ Local No. 91
F o u r members, three of them officers of the International Union
of Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers’ Local No. 91, were discharged
by the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co., on June 5,
1934. Neither the seniority nor the efficiency of the men seem to
have been considered, as 2 of the men had service of 11 years, 1 of
4 years, and the other of more than 2 years.
The company had expressed its readiness to reinstate 2 of these
men in their old posts at their former rate of pay, but offered the
other 2, who had been employed as engineers at $5 a day and who
hold ratings as such, jobs as muckers at $3.90 per day.
The Board decided, on August 23, 1934, that the four employees
were discharged for union membership and activity in violation of

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1154

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

section 7 (a), and ordered their reinstatement in their former positions
with the same rights as previously enjoyed within 10 days from the
date of the decision, or enforcement measures would be taken.
Tubize-Chatillon Co. and Textile Workers Local No. 2170
T h r e e principal issues arose out of a strike which occurred at thq
Hopewell plant of the Tubize-Chatillon Co., on June 29, 1934:
(1)
Whether the company had violated section 7 (a) in the dis­
charge of certain employees prior to the strike; (2) by what formula
the strikers should be restored to their positions upon resumption of
business; (3) by whom the workers should be represented for the
purpose of collective bargaining in the event of such resumption.
With respect to discrimination, nine cases were presented. The
Board held that eight employees had been discharged because of
union activity. The discharge of the other, while suspicious under
the circumstances, was not proven to the satisfaction of the Board to
have been due to union activity. With respect to the restoration of
the strikers to their former positions upon the resumption of any
part of the company’s business, the company agreed to a formula
which the Board regarded as satisfactory.
The issue of the representation of the workers was decided by an
election held on August 13, 1934, which was conducted under the
joint supervision of representatives of the United Textile Workers
of America, the Tri-City Progressive Association, and the Board.
The United Textile Workers of America received the majority of the
votes and was duly selected to represent the company’s workers for
purposes of collective bargaining.
The decision of the Board on August 23, 1934, made no order
concerning enforcement, stating that if the company upon resuming
operations fails to comply therewith an appropriate order would
be entered.

Fischer Press and Fischer Press, Inc., and Printing Pressmen’s Union No. 51 et al.
T h is case arose out of complaints that Leon Fischer, proprietor of
the Fischer Press, had discharged certain employees because of their
affiliation with the Printing Pressmen’s Union No. 51 and New York
Typographical Union No. 6. Fischer claimed to have made a bona
fide transfer of his business, and that two of the discharged employees
had wrongfully utilized plant equipment and supplies to do printing
work for their private profit.
The Board found that Fischer discharged one of the employees in
question because of his union membership or activity in violation of
section 7 (a), and that the others struck in protest against this viola­
tion. The transfer of the business was brought about by Fischer and
others, acting in his behalf, for the purpose of evading reinstatement
of the employees involved. Fischer Press, Inc., was controlled by

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS

1155

Fischer and those acting in his behalf and was utilized by them for
the purposes of the transfer.
On September 22, 1934, the Board ordered the immediate reinstate­
ment of the discharged employees within 10 days from the date of the
decision, with all rights previously enjoyed, or the case would be
referred to the Compliance Division of the National Recovery Admin­
istration and other agencies of the Government for appropriate action.
Other Cases Involving Discharge of Employees in Violation of Section 7 (a)
T h e following cases, upon which the National Labor Relations
Board held hearings, involved the discharge of employees because of
union membership or union activities: Jos. S. Wernig Express Co.
and International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen,
and Helpers, Local No. 355—decision, September 7, 1934; Venus
Shoe Co. and Wilfred Therrein—decision, September 8, 1934; David­
son Transfer & Storage Co. and International Brotherhood of Team­
sters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen, and Helpers, Local No. 355—decision,
September 8, 1934; Kawneer Co. and Federal Labor Union No.
19319—decision, September 8, 1934; K. O. Lee & Son Co. and three
employees—decision, September 8, 1934; International Furniture Co.
and Upholsterers, Carpet and Linoleum Mechanics International
Union—decision, September 11, 1934; Kugler’s Restaurant and Hotel
and Restaurant Employees’ International Alliance, Local No. 59—
decision, September 11, 1934; Emery Bird Thayer Drygoods Co. and
Department and Furniture Store Drivers’ Union, Local No. 6—
decision, September 22, 1934.
The Board held in each case that the discharges were in violation of
section 7 (a), and ordered the reinstatement of the employees in their
former positions within a given number of days, or the cases would be
referred to the Compliance Division of the National Recovery Admin­
istration and other agencies of the Government for appropriate action.
The Board’s decisions in the following three cases held that the com­
plaint of the unions that discharges were made in violation of section
7 (a) was not adequately supported by the evidence: Baltimore
Transfer Co. and International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauf­
feurs, Stablemen, and Helpers, Local No. 355—decision, September 7,
1934; Coleman Bronze Co. and Federal Labor Union No. 19103—
decision, September 8, 1934; Century Electric Co. and employees of
the company—decision, September 17, 1934.

Columbian Steel Tank Co. and Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, and Helpers
Local No. 83
T h e main point at issue in this case related to an election conducted
in the plant of the Columbian Steel Tank Co. by the Kansas City
Regional Labor Board on July 10, 1934. The National Labor Rela
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1156

tions Board, after reviewing the evidence, found that 91 out of 172
employees eligible to vote had voted for Lodge No. 83 of the Inter­
national Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, and Help­
ers as their representative for collective bargaining and none had
voted for any other representative.
The Board, on October 1, 1934, applying the majority rule, declared
that the union was the exclusive bargaining agency of the employees
eligible to participate in the election.
Ames Baldwin Wyoming Co. and Federal Labor Union No. 18658
E m p l o y e e s of the Ames Baldwin Wyoming Co., of Parkersburg,
W. Va., in September 1933 formed a local labor union and secured a
charter from the American Federation of Labor. In June 1934, the
local union presented to the company a request for recognition, that
its members be granted seniority rights as of September 1, 1933, and
that it be permitted to have a bulletin board in the factory.
The president of the company, in discussing the union requests,
stated that he did not care about the bulletin board, but that under the
law he could not recognize the union unless it represented 100 percent
of the employees in the plant. Employees were handed a ballot which
contained, among other things, the question, “ Do you wish to be
represented for the purpose of collective bargaining under the N. It. A.
by Employees’ Representation Plan (A. B. W. Company Pinion)?”
The Board found that the company had interfered with the self­
organization of its employees in violation of section 7 (a); and ordered
on September 15, 1934, an election to determine by what person or
organization the employees desired to be represented.

Kohler Co. and Federal Labor Union No. 18545
E m p l o y e e s of the Kohler Co. of Kohler, Wis., in August 1933, ob­
tained charter no. 18545 from the American Federation of Labor. The
next month the Kohler Workers Association was formed in the Kohler
plant. Representatives of the union met with the management of the
Kohler Co. on four occasions for the purpose of endeavoring, through
collective bargaining, to arrive at an agreement with the company
concerning wages, hours, and conditions of employment. No agree­
ment resulted from these conferences and on July 16, 1934, the union
declared a strike.
At a hearing before the National Labor Relations Board the union
presented three complaints against the company: (1) Certain employ­
ees were discharged by the company for union activity; (2) the company
failed and refused to bargain collectively with the representatives of
the union; and (3) the company interfered with the self-organization
of its employees. The union also petitioned that an election be ordered,
and that the Kohler Workers Association be dissolved.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS

1157

On September 15, 1934, the Board ordered that an election be held
under its supervision by a secret ballot of those employees who were
on the pay roll of the company on September 7, 1933, to determine by
what person or persons or organization they desire to be represented
for the purpose of collective bargaining.
Ely & Walker Dry Goods Co. and Wholesale House Workers Local No.

8316

T h e employees of Ely & Walker Dry Goods Co., in July 1933,
organized Local No. 18316 of the Wholesale House Workers Union,
which by September represented all but 8 or 9 of the 134 employees
in the cooper shop and the packing, shipping, and receiving rooms of
the company’s plant in St. Louis.
Following a very brief strike, the St. Louis National Recovery
Administration mediation board negotiated on September 6 an
agreement prescribing the rates of pay and certain conditions of work
in the four departments concerned, effective for 6 months beginning
September 15. On September 27, the company issued, as approved, an
employee representation plan by the name of the Ely & Walker
Employee and Management League. A copy of the plan of this
organization was sent to each employee, together with a letter
expressing the hope that “ We may see enrolled on the membership
list * * * the name of every employee in our organization.”
On September 25, 1934, following testimony, the Board recom­
mended that the company withdraw all financial support from the
company organization and cease from soliciting the employees to join
it, and to withdraw recognition thereof as a collective bargaining
agency; that the company recognize the Wholesale House Workers
Union as the exclusive agency for collective bargaining in the four
departments; and that notice be given the employees of such action
and that no discrimination will be shown against members resigning
from the company organization. In case of notice by the company
within 7 days of the decision of intention to take such steps, enforce­
ment measures would not be taken. The decision of the Board stated
that a petition for modification of the decision might later be enter­
tained if the company organization be shown to be a bona fide associa­
tion for welfare activities and not to represent the employees for
purposes of collective bargaining.

North Carolina Granite Corporation et al. and Granite Cutters International
Association
I n t h is case the Board found that the North Carolina Granite Cor­
poration had failed to bargain collectively with the Mount Airy branch
of the Granite Cutters International Association when it represented
a large majority of its employees, had discriminated against the mem­
bers of the union, bribed one of its officers, and by these and other

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1158

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

unlawful tactics had induced a large number of the employees to join a
company union.
The Board ruled in its decision on September 24, 1934, that the
company union be disqualified to serve as an agency for collective
bargaining and that the company recognize the Granite Cutters
International Association as the representative of the employees for
the purpose of collective bargaining until such time as the employees,
without the interference, restraint, or coercion of the company or
its agents, choose some other representative. The Board also ordered
that four employees who had been discharged because of union activity
be reinstated in their former positions within 7 days of the date of the
decision. Unless the company complied with these requirements the
case would be transmitted to the Compliance Division of the National
Recovery Administration and to the enforcement agencies of the
Federal Government for appropriate action.
D ecisio n of P etro leu m Labor P olicy Board on Provision of U n i­
fo rm s for F illin g -S ta tio n E m p loyees

HE Gasoline Filling Station Employees’ Union No. 18617 entered
into an agreement with several oil companies of Milwaukee, Wis.,
concerning working conditions. The following provisions of the
agreement became the subject of controversy between the union and
the Shell Petroleum Corporation of Milwaukee:

T

A r t i c l e . 11. Employers asking service-station employees to wear uniforms
must furnish and launder same at no expense to employees.
Art. 16, P ar. 2. All local controversies as to policy changes involving general
working conditions and additions to or deletions from existing or future general
rules for employee conduct, which cannot be amicably settled first between the
company and representatives of the employees concerned, shall be submitted for
conciliation to the Petroleum Labor Policy Board.

The union took the position that since the Shell Petroleum Cor­
poration required its employees to wear uniforms prior to the agree­
ment and did not now do so, thus avoiding the necessity of furnish­
ing uniforms and the expense of laundering, this was a change in
policy as contemplated by article 16.
The company maintained that it was not acting counter to the
agreement; that even if prior to the agreement it required the men to
wear uniforms, it was not bound to continue or be liable for the ex­
pense since the article in question clearly states that such respon­
sibility attaches when the company makes its men wear uniforms;
and that the company gave its employees due notice that from the
date of the agreement they would not be required to wear standard
uniforms.
The Board found that under the provisions of the agreement the
company had the right to refrain from asking its employees to wear

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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS

1159

uniforms and thus avoid an expense which both sides agreed need not
be assumed. If the company, or any other company bound by the
agreement, should adopt a policy of exerting pressure on employees
to wear uniforms in spite of the fact that the company was on record
as not asking them, the Board would hold that the action had been
improper. The Board found, however, that there was no evidence
of such impropriety in this case.
The Board’s decision on September 4, 1934, was as follows:
A consideration of the contract and the surrounding circumstances compels
this Board to rule that the complaint was not justified; that the company is not
under a duty to continue to require its employees to wear uniforms; and that the
company’s present procedure is not in violation of the agreement.

Increased W ages for P rin ters in Syracuse, N. Y.

HE wage scale of members of Typographical Union No. 55
employed by three newspapers of Syracuse, N. Y., was increased
by the award of Fred C. Gause, on July 18, 1934. Other questions
submitted to arbitration were the expiration date of the new con­
tract, number of work hours per week, pay for work performed on
holidays, ratio of apprentices, and pay of apprentices.
The publishers proposed September 30, 1936, as the date of expira­
tion, and the union September 30, 1934. The arbitrator, however,
decided that the date of expiration should be September 30, 1935.
The union asked that the wage scale be increased for daywork to
$44 for 40 hours’ work, an hourly rate of $1.10; and for nightwork to
$47 for 40 hours’ work, an hourly rate of $ 1 . 1 7 The publishers
asked that the present scale be retained, as follows: Day scale, $44
for 48 hours’ work, an hourly rate of 91% cents; nightwork, $47 for
48 hours’ work, an hourly rate of approximately 97Ti2 cents.
The contract, prior to April 1932, provided a scale for daywork of
$49 for a 48-hour week, the night scale being $3 per week more. In
April 1932 a reduction of $3 per week was made as a result of arbitra­
tion. On October 1, 1932, effective to October 1, 1933, a further
reduction of $2 a week was made through conciliation. Since Janu­
ary 1933, as a result of a law of the International Typographical
Union, the purpose of which is to furnish work to a greater number
of union members, the journeymen have worked and drawn pay
only for 40 hours per week.
The chairman, in awarding an increase in the wage scale, said
that the evidence disclosed the following facts which tended to
justify some increase in the wages agreed to in the contract of October
1932:

T

(1) There has been an increase in the cost of living since that time.
(2)
There has been an increase in the advertising lineage of the publishers
during 1934, which apparently will exceed 1932.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1160

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

(3) There has been no decrease in the advertising rates charged by the Syra­
cuse publishers.
(4) The wages paid the members of the union in Syracuse are lower, with one
exception, than in any other city in New York of over 50,000 population. In
that one other city the wages are the same.

The chairman, therefore, awarded a day scale at the rate of $1 per
hour and a night scale at the rate of $1.06% per hour; 8 hours, exclu­
sive of 30 minutes for lunch, to constitute a day or night; and 48
hours to constitute a week’s work. He explained that he favored
defining the work week as 48 hours, but only as a means of defining
the term “ week”, and that it would not have the effect of compelling
the men to work to exceed the 40-hour limit set either in the code or
by the International Typographical Union law. The wage increase
was made retroactive to July 1, 1934.
Under the contract of October 1, 1932, when a member was called
to work on Sundays or holidays on which no regular edition was
issued he was paid at double the time rate. The chairman awarded
time and one-half rate for such work.
By the terms of the award the pay of apprentices during the first
2 years of their apprenticeship is to be fixed by the employers. Dur­
ing the third year apprentices are to receive 40 percent, during the
fourth year 55 percent, and during the fifth year 75 percent of the
prevailing journeymen’s scale; provided that apprentices now em­
ployed shall be governed as to rate of pay by the terms of the 1932
contract. The award made no changes in the ratio of apprentices to
journeymen.
Award of W age Increase to P rin ters in K ansas C ity, Mo.

EMBERS of Typographical Union No. 80, employed on the
Kansas City newspapers, were awarded an increase in their
hourly rates of 6% cents for daywork, and 6%cents for nightwork, by
Brown Harris, chairman of the local board of arbitration.
Only the question of wages was involved in the controversy, as the
5-day (40-hour) week had been in force since February 1, 1933, and
both parties had agreed upon hours and conditions.
The 1929 scale for Kansas City newspapers was $52 for daywork,
and $55 for nightwork, for a week of 48 hours, or $1.08 per hour for
daywork and $1.14% per hour nightwork. The 1933 contract pro­
vided $39.20 for daywork and $41.70 for nightwork, for a week of 40
hours, or 98 cents per hour for daywork, and $1.04% per hour for
nightwork.
The award was as follows:

M

Journeymen working nights shall be paid a scale of $1.11 per hour from March
1, 1934, to February 28, 1935, both inclusive.


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LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS, AND DECISIONS

1161

Journeymen working days shall be paid a wage scale of $1.04J4 per hour from
March 1, 1934, to February 28, 1935, both inclusive.
We are making this award retroactive and effective as of March 1, 1934.
True, employees made an excessive demand, but just as true is it that publishers
did not make what we think a just counter-proposal. If the publishers had
made a proposal in keeping with the award here made, or had since yielded to
that extent, it would be our opinion that the award should not be made retro­
active beyond the date when a fair counter-proposal was made.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

LABOR TURN-OVER
Labor T urn-O ver In M a n u fa ctu r in g E sta b lish m e n ts,
T hird Q uarter of 1934

HE total accession rate for manufacturing as a whole for the
third quarter of 1934 was 10.31. The total separation rate for
the same period was 13.09.
The all-industry quit rate for the third quarter of 1934 was higher
than for the second quarter of the same year but lower than for the
third quarter of the previous year. The discharge and accession rates
were lower than for the second quarter of 1934 or the third quarter of
1933. The lay-off rate, while lower than for the second quarter of
1934, was higher than for the third quarter of 1933.
Table 1 shows for manufacturing as a whole the total separation
rate, subdivided into the quit, discharge, and lay-off rates, together
with the accession rate and the net turn-over rate for each quarter of
1933 and the first three quarters of 1934.

T

T a b l e 1 .— Q U A R T E R L Y

T U R N -O V E R R A T E S IN R E P R E S E N T A T IV E F A C T O R IE S IN
144 IN D U S T R IE S
Separation rates

Period

F irst q u arter.
Second qu arter____
T hird q u a rte r.. .
F ou rth quarter .

Quit

Discharge

Lay-off

1933

1934

1933

1934

1933

1. 56
2. 23
4.16
2.18

2. 73
2. 97
3.00

0. 38
.52
.78
.62

0. 61

10. 14
4. 46
6.31
11.34

.69
.56

1934

Total sepa­
ration
1933

6. 65 12. 08
11.00 7. 21
9. 53

11.25
14.14

Accession
rate

N et tu rn ­
over rate

1934

1933

1934

1933

1934

9.99
14. 66
13.09

8. 50
20.86
22.88

19.79
13.07
10.31

. 50
7.21
11.25
11.31

8

9. 99
13. 07
10.31

11.31

The rates shown herein represent the number of changes per 100
employees that took place during the quarter ending September 30,1934.
These rates are compiled by reports made to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics by more than 5,000 establishments in 144 industry classifi­
cations, employing more than 1,000,000 people. In the industries for
which individual indexes are shown in table 2, reports were received
from representative plants employing at least 25 percent of the workers
in each industry, as shown by the Census of Manufactures of 1929.
In addition to the separation rate and the accession rate, the net
turn-over rate is shown. N et turn-over means the rate of replacement ;
that is, the number of jobs that are vacated and filled per 100 employ­
ees. For a plant that is increasing its force, a net turn-over rate is the
same as a separation rate, because while more people are being hired
1162

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1163

LABOR TURN-OYER

than separated from their jobs, the number hired over those leaving is
due to expansion and cannot be charged to turn-over. On the other
hand, in a plant that is reducing its force, the net turn-over rate is the
same as the accession rate, because while more people are separated
from their jobs than are hired, the excess of separations over accessions
is due to a reduction of force, and therefore, cannot be logically
charged as a turn-over expense.
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn­
over rates for 10 industries for which the Bureau’s sample covers a
sufficiently large number of firms to justify the publishing of separate
industry figures.
T able 2 .—Q U A R T E R L Y T U R N -O V E R R A T E S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
Automobiles

.

T hird Second T hird T hird Second T hird T h ird Second T hird
qu ar­ quar­ q u ar­ qu ar­ quar­ quar­ quar­ quar­ quar­
ter
ter
ter
ter
ter
ter
ter
ter
ter
1934
1934
1933
1933
1934
1934
1933
1934
1933

Class of rates

Q uits________________
- __ - -Discharges
_
__- _____ Lay-offs
_ ____ ____ ____ ____
T otal separations
_____ _ ______
Accessions
_ _ _ __
N et turn-over
__ _ _
______

4. 82
1. 74
12. 05
18.61
28. 76
18.61

6.91
1.59
25. 83
34. 33
20. 62
20. 62

2. 49
28.12
31.28
8. 34
8. 34

C otton m anufac­
turing
Q uits________ __ _
_________ 5. 53
1.25
Discharges_____ ____
9. 68
Lay-offs ___
T otal separations
_ __ _ _ _____ 16. 46
21.30
A ccessions________
N et turn-over. _ ___
__.. 16.46

3. 19
.79
13.07
17. 05
8.18
8.18

8.10
.96
6. 72
15. 78
9. 85
9. 85

Iron and steel
Q uits_____________ Discharges ____ _
Lay-offs
. . .
T otal se p a ra tio n s _____
Accessions .
. .. .
N et turn-over

Brick

Boots and shoes

____...
...
__. .
..

2.51
.33
2. 33
5. 17
22. 70
5. 17

2. 77
.29
2. 60
5. 66
14.44
5. 66

1.86
.32
10. 82
13.00
3. 23
3. 23

5. 35
1.16
4. 27
10. 78
15.20
10. 78

2. 70
.56
6. 22
9. 48
7. 98
7. 98

2.23
.69
5. 71
8. 63
7. 47
7. 47

2. 58
.73
22. 05
25. 36
29. 32
25. 36

Foundries and m a­
chine shops
2.42
.72
5. 84
8. 98
27. 14
8. 98

2. 34
.84
9. 28
12. 46
15. 12
12.46

1.59
.47
12. 46
14. 52
9. 14
9.14

2. 87
.36
7. 46
10. 69
7. 68
7.68

2. 76
.25
9. 63
12.64
7. 60
7.60

3.15
.36
30. 38
33. 89
18. 47
18. 47

Furniture

2.23
1.09
5. 56
8.88
36. 56
8.88

M e n ’s clothing
3.10
.58
6. 85
10. 53
13. 26
10. 53

4. 44
.43
15. 09
19. 96
28. 38
19. 96

1.61
.73
13. 50
15.84
16. 76
15.84

2. 55
.72
10. 16
13. 43
16. 85
13. 43

Sawmills
3. 00
1. 26
10. 38
14.64
27.05
14. 64

3.46
1.16
21.83
26. 45
25.20
25.20

3. 53
1.10
22.15
26.78
20. 24
20.24

Slaughtering and
m eat packing
Q u its

"Discharges
L a y -o ffs
T o t a l s e p a r a tio n s
\ e e essio n s
N e t tu r n - o v e r

4. 21
1.11
13. 96
19. 28
36.99
19. 28

3. 30
.92
17. 76
21. 98
30. 19
21.98

5. 03
1.51
18.17
24. 71
46. 37
24. 71

The cotton-manufacturing industry showed the highest quit rate
for the third quarter of 1934. This was caused by the large number
of strikes in this industry during the month. More than 60 percent
of the workers who had gone on strike were back on their jobs by
the last day of September,
91302°—34----- 9


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1164

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The lowest quit rate was shown by the foundry and machine-shop
industry. The highest discharge rate occurred in the slaughtering
and meat-packing industry and the lowest in men’s clothing. The
brick industry showed the highest lay-off rate and boots and shoes
the lowest. The highest hiring rate occurred in the slaughtering and
meat-packing industry where nearly twice as many people were
hired as were separated from their jobs. The lowest hiring rate was
shown by the iron and steel industry. The slaughtering and meat­
packing industry had the highest and the iron and steel industry the
lowest net turn-over rate.

Labor T urn-O ver in th e S la u g h ter in g and
In d u stry, 1932 and 19331

M eat-P ack in g

HE annual turn-over rate for the slaughtering and meat-packing
T
industry was 73.89 in 1932 and 68.75 in 1933. For manufac­
turing as a whole, the corresponding rates were 40.50 for the year 1932
and 38.27 for the year 1933. It will be seen, therefore, that the turn­
over rate for the slaughtering and meat-packing industry was approxi­
mately 80 percent higher in each of these years than the turn-over
rate for manufacturing generally.
Table 1 shows, by rate groups, for the years 1932 and 1933, the
number of employees and the number of quits, discharges, lay-offs,
and accessions in 141 identical slaughtering and meat-packing plants,
from which reports were received by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
These firms had an average of 57,811 employees for the year 1932 and
an average of 65,805 employees during the year 1933.
T able

1 .— C H A N G E S IN P E R S O N N E L IN 141 ID E N T IC A L F IR M S IN T H E S L A U G H T E R ­
IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1932 A N D 1933, BY R A T E G R O U P S

Q u its
N um ber of
firms

N um ber of
employees

N um ber of
quits

R ate group
1932
U nder 2.5 percent
2.5 and under 5 percent___
5 and under 7.5 percent .
7.5 and under 10 percent10 and under 15 percent - 15 and under 20 percent20 and under 25 percent - - - - - - - ____
25 and under 30 percent_
30 and under 35 percent
____ _ _- _
35 percent and o v er--- _____ _ . . .
T otal __

________

1933

1932

1933

1932

1933

38
22
30
15
16
15
3
1
0
1

35
21
23
14
22
10
7
3
1
5

2,903
7, 351
23,347
5, 201
4, 995
12,847
319
684
0
164

3,966
6,420
11,354
4, 925
28, 298
5,889
3, 899
232
30
792

26
271
1,483
427
625
2,334
70
187
0
87

22
232
769
437
3,543
996
804
65
10
401

141

141

57,811

65,805

5,510

7, 279

1 This is the seventh of a series of articles on labor turn-over in m anufacturing industries. Previous
articles dealt, respectively, w ith the autom otive in d u stry (M onthly Labor Review, June 1933, p. 1316),
boot and shoe in d u stry (October 1933, p. 893), cotton m anufacturing indu stry (N ovem ber 1933, p. 1152),
foundries and m achine shops (F ebruary 1934, p. 347), iron and steel indu stry (June 1934, p. 1393), and
furniture (August 1934, p. 400).


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1165

LABOR TURN-OYER

T able 1.—C H A N G E S IN P E R S O N N E L IN 141 ID E N T IC A L F IR M S IN T H E S L A U G H T E R ­
IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1932 A N D 1933, BY R A T E G R O U P S —Con.

D isc h a rg es
N um ber of
firms

N um ber of
employees

N um ber of
discharges

R ate group
1932
U nder 0.5 percent . .
... . . . ___ _________ _.
0.5 and under 1 percent . . . . .
1 and under 2 percent
2 and under 3 p ercen t_____ . . _
. ----3 and under 4 percent___________ . ___________
4 and under 5 percent . ---------. . . __________ .
5 and under 7 percent . __________________ _
7 and under 9 percent
9 and under 11 percent
11 percent and over.
Total

________________________________

1933

1932

1933

1932

1933

40
9
14
11
14
9
11
11
11
11

37
5
16
21
5
11
18
9
6
13

4, 273
7,179
9, 462
7, 568
10, 471
8, 290
3, 776
2, 327
3, 226
1,239

7, 037
3,932
8, 199
11,093
2,195
4, 608
14, 897
2, 962
8, 452
2,430

2
47
130
178
349
365
224
181
323
250

10
21
127
286
71
201
873
214
839
446

141

141

57,811

65,805

2,049

3, 088

L a y -o ffs
N um ber of
firms

N um ber of
employees

N um ber of
lay-offs

R ate group.
1932
U nder 5 percent _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___
---5 and under 10 percent. 10 and under 20 percent .
20 and under 30 percent. - . . .
_ . _ _ . . . ___
30 and under 40 percent - .
40 and under 60 percent .
60 and under 90 percent __ _ . . _
_ _ _ _ .
90 and under 120 percent _____________ ___ _ _
120 and under 150 percen t_____ ___ _ _ _ ___ _ __
150 percent and over . - .
T otal

_______ __________

...

1933

1932

1933

1932

1933

36
20
31
12
8
13
7
4
5
5

41
16
19
21
6
15
9
5
4
5

3, 399
3, 097
8, 228
3,953
2,376
12, 835
6,997
3, 272
3, 507
10,147

69
3,281
3,009
248
1,062
4, 949
7,412
974
8,229
847
6, 625
6, 649
5,104
11,369
6, 276
3, 253
8, 942
4,956
5, 713 • 20, 229

72
191
637
1,815
3, 076
3,087
8, 539
6, 616
12, 749
11, 298

141

141

57,811

65,805

48, 080

43,391

T o ta l s e p a ra tio n s
N um ber of
firms

N um ber of
employees

T otal separa­
tions

R ate group
1932
U nder 10 p e rc e n t___________________________ _
10 and under 20 percent--------------------------------20 and under 30 percent___ _ . . . ------------------ _
30 and under 40 percent___ _ _ _ __. ______ _ 40 and under 60 percent. _ _ . . _ _ ________ 60 and under 90 percent___ - - ---- _______ - 90 and under 120 percent __ _ . ------- -- . . . _ __
120 and under 150 percent
- 150 and under 180 percent
.
180 percent and over . .
. Total _

-


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-_ _

_ _

1933

1932

1933

1932

1933

21
37
18
12
25
13
4
4
2
5

22
23
22
12
28
15
9
3
2
5

1,296
4,956
5,179
4,240
8, 510
15, 766
3,859
1,672
2,186
10,147

1,659
3, 037
7, 964
1,271
15, 086
10, 556
10,039
2, 426
8, 054
5,713

61
706
1,351
1,408
4, 200
11, 182
4, 008
2, 350
3,416
22, 268

88
457
1,950
433
7, 698
8, 039
10, 863
3,284
13, 262
12, 373

141

141

57,811

65, 805

50, 950

58,447

1166

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1.—C H A N G E S IN P E R S O N N E L IN 141 ID E N T IC A L F IR M S IN T H E S L A U G H T E R IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G IN D U S T R Y , 1932 A N D 1933, BY R A T E G R O U P S —Con.

A c c e ssio n s
N u m b er of
firms

N um ber of
employees

N um ber of
accessions

Rate group
1932
U nder 5 percent _
_ . _ ... .
5 and under 10 p ercen t-. ____- . . .
10 and under 20 percent
....
20 and under 30 p e rc en t.. __________ - - - _
30 and under 40 percent __ _ . 40 and under 50 p e rc e n t,.
----50 and under 70 percent 70 and under 110 percent
110 and under 150 percent . .
150 percent and o v e r._ ________ _ -

Total _____ ______ ... _

____ _

1933

1932

1933

1932

1933

25
17
21
15
17
8
18
9
5
6

2
6
13
21
16
16
20
27
8
12

2,780
2,003
2, 254
6, 508
6, 905
1,473
13, 738
8,123
3, 821
10, 206

87
222
715
3,299
4, 767
3,700
4, 778
20,921
10, 245
17,071

62
166
337
1,613
2,518
789
7,895
6,872
5, 225
21,193

21
17
100
841
1,656
1,688
2, 793
18, 363
13, 680
36,807

141

141

57,811

65,805

46, 670

75,966

N e t tu rn -over
N u m b er of
firms

N um ber of
employees

N et tu rn ­
over

R ate group
1932
Under 10 percent
- ____
_
10 and under 20 percent______ 20 and under 30 percent _
- ___
30 and under 40 percent _______
40 and under 50 percent . ______ - 50 and under 60 percent. _ _____ _
60 and under 70 percent
__________
.
70 and under 100 percent____ _
100 and under 130 percen t_________ . _
130 percent and over_____ _ . _____
T o ta l.

___

______

-, . _

1933

1932

1933

1932

1933

42
25
16
16
9
10
6
5
3
9

26
21
24
13
14
11
7
8
9
8

4,481
3, 022
5, 971
6, 877
2,410
9,898
3, 852
6, 131
2,188
12, 981

1,833
2,960
8, 160
1,673
6, 269
8, 368
4,096
8, 566
9, 300
14, 580

222
442
1,462
2,434
1,046
5, 390
2, 508
5, 001
2, 360
25,043

99
447
1,990
590
2,837
4, 633
2, 568
7, 551
10, 695
26,853

141

141

57,811

65, 805

45,908

58, 263

The annual quit rate for the slaughtering and meat-packing indus­
try was 10.64 in 1932 and 11.35 in 1933. However, in 1932, 38 firms,
employing approximately 3,000 workers, and in 1933, 35 firms, em­
ploying nearly 4,000 workers, had a quit rate of less than 2.5 percent.
At the other end of the scale, 5 firms in 1932 and 16 firms in 1933 had
a quit rate of over 20 percent.
In 1932, 40 firms and in 1933, 37 firms had a discharge rate of less
than one-half of 1 percent. However, 22 firms in 1932 and 19 firms in
1933 had discharge rates of over 9 percent.
Fifty-six firms had an annual lay-off rate of less than 10 percent in
1932, while in 1933, 57 firms were in that group. In contrast, there
were 10 firms in 1932 and 9 in 1933 having annual lay-off rates of
over 120 percent.
Comparing accession rates during 1932 and 1933, 11 firms during
the former year had an annual hiring rate of over 110 percent; in 1933,
20 firms exceeded this rate. As further indicating better conditions,
comparing 1933 with 1932, only 8 firms in 1933 had accession rates

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1167

LABOR TURN-OVER

of less than 10 percent, while in 1932, 42 firms showed accession rates
of less than 10 percent.
Of the 141 firms from which reports were received for the years
1932 and 1933, 67 had a net turn-over rate of less than 20 percent
during 1932, while 12 firms had a net turn-over rate of over 100 per­
cent. In 1933, 47 firms had a net turn-over rate of less than 20 per­
cent and 17 firms had a net turn-over rate of over 100 percent.
Table 2 shows the comparative turn-over rates in 141 identical
firms in the slaughtering and meat-packing industry for the years
1932 and 1933, by size of establishment.
T able 2 .—C O M P A R A T IV E LA B O R T U R N -O V E R R A T E S , 1932 A N D 1933, IN S L A U G H T E R ­
IN G A N D M E A T -P A C K IN G F IR M S H A V IN G F E W E R T H A N 100 E M P L O Y E E S A N D IN
T H O S E H A V IN G 100 OR M O R E E M P L O Y E E S
Firm s having—
Item

Q uits________________________________
_ _______
Discharges. ___. . .
. .
. . . . . . . -----------. . . .
Lay-offs_______ _________________ . . . _ ---------------T otal separations. . . . _____________ . . . . . .
Accessions___________ ____ . ------------- -------------N et tu rn -o v er..
____ _ - - - - - - - - - - -

U nder 100 100 or more U nder 100 100 or more
employees, employees, employees, employees,
1932
1932
1933
1933
5.49
4.84
11. 59
21.92
19.09
16. 18

9.74
3.48
78. 27
91.49
83. 85
82.61

8.61
4. 80
12.90
26.31
42.51
25. 21

11.18
4. 69
76.06
91.93
119. 08
91.70

Of the 141 firms from which reports were received for the years 1932
and 1933, 66 firms in 1932 had fewer than 100 employees on their pay
rolls. The total employment of the 66 firms was 2,787 in 1932 and
3,126 in 1933. The 75 firms having 100 or over employees employed
55,024 in 1932 and 62,679 in 1933.
The turn-over experience of the smaller firms was much better
than that of the larger firms for both the years under discussion. The
net turn-over rate for the larger firms was nearly four times as great
in both 1932 and 1933 as that for the smaller firms. The lay-off rate
for the larger firms for both 1932 and 1933 was more than five times
as great as that for the smaller firms. Only in discharges has the
experience of the larger firms bettered that of the smaller firms.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

HOUSING
B u ild in g O p eration s in P rin cip al C ities of th e U n ited S ta te s,
S ep tem b e r 1934

HERE was a decrease of eight-tenths of 1 percent in the number
and a decrease of 12.6 percent in the value of buildings for which
permits were issued, comparing September with August.
The information shown in the following tables is collected from
local building officials on blank forms mailed by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, except in the States of Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, where the State de­
partments of labor collect and forward the data to the Federal Bu­
reau. The following tables include the value of contracts awarded
by Federal and State Governments for buildings to be erected in
these 776 cities. The estimated cost of these buildings in August was
$2,662,580 and in September $3,753,165. The cost figures shown
in the following tables are the estimates made by prospective builders
on applying for their permits to build. No land costs are included.
Only building projects within the corporate limits of the cities
enumerated are shown.

T

Comparisons, August and September, 1934
T a b l e 1 s h o w s th e e s t im a t e d c o s t o f n e w r e s id e n tia l b u ild in g s , o f
n e w n o n r e s id e n tia l b u ild in g s , o f a d d it io n s , a lt e r a tio n s , a n d r e p a ir s,
a n d o f t o t a l b u ild in g o p e r a tio n s in 776 id e n t ic a l c it ie s h a v in g a p o p u ­
la t io n o f 1 0 ,0 0 0 or o v e r , b y g e o g r a p h ic d iv is io n s .
T able 1 . — E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 776 ID E N T IC A L
C IT IE S AS SHOW N BY P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
New residential buildings (esti­
m ated cost)

New nonresidential buildings (esti­
m ated cost)

Geographic division
Percent­
age
A ugust 1934
change

Percent­
age
change

A ugust 1934

September
1934

N ew E n g lan d _______________
M iddle A tlan tic__ _________
E ast N o rth C en tral__________
W est N orth C e n tr a l________
South Atlantic^
__________
E ast South C e n tr a l_____ ____
W est South C entral__________
M o u n tain_______ _______
Pacific___________ _______ _

$1, 267,363
2,980,794
1,212, 486
735,918
966,207
119,030
707,679
128, 406
956, 204

$828, 240
3,623, 591
1,711,650
650,091
879,460
168,862
431,542
161,350
1,205,357

-3 4 .6
+21.6
+41.2
-1 1 .7
-9 .0
+41.9
-3 9 .0
+25. 7
+26.1

$1,798,423
6, 687,970
3, 617, 683
1,368,490
2,197, 382
850,613
765,810
387,026
2, 694,131

$1, 345,318
2,979, 338
2,919,462
1,574,445
3,269, 343
436,319
875,682
132,336
1,532,850

-2 5 .2
-5 5 .5
-1 9 .3
+ 15.0
+48.8
-4 8 .7
+14.3
+241. 9
-4 3 .1

T o tal__________________

9,074,087

9, 660,143

+ 6 .5

20, 367, 528

15, 065,093

-2 6 .0

1168


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

September
1934

1169

HOUSING

T able I . —E S T IM A T E D C O ST O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D O F T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 776 ID E N T IC A L
C IT IE S AS SH O W N BY P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S —C ontinued
A dditions, alterations and re­
pairs (estim ated cost)
Geographic division
August
1934

P er­
September centage
1934
change

Total construction (estimated
cost)

August
1934

Per­
September centage
1934
change

N um ber
of cities

New E ngland_________ ____ $1, 600,171
5, 787, 265
M iddle A tlantic ._ _______
E ast N orth C entral . . . _____ 2, 253,484
798, 379
W est N orth C entral_______
South A tlantic-------------------- 2,002, 718
396,011
E ast South C entral-------------773,107
W est South C en tral____ . . .
261,817
M o u n ta in .. _______________
Pacific_____________________ 1,621,166

$1,819, 322
4,341,952
2, 281, 392
814,656
2, 283,529
487, 464
637,139
279,680
1, 602,014

+13.7
-2 5 .0
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .0
+ 14.5
+23. 1
-1 7 .6
+ 6 .8
- 1 .2

$4, 665,957
15, 456, 029
7,083, 653
2,902, 787
5,166,307
1,365, 654
2, 246, 596
777, 249
5, 271,501

$3,992,880
10,944,881
6,912,504
3,039,192
6, 442, 332
1,092, 645
1,944, 363
573, 366
4, 340, 221

-1 4 .4
-2 9 2
- 2 .4
+4 7
+24.7
-2 0 .0
-1 3 .5
-2 6 .2
-1 7 .7

111
171
179
74
74
33
50
23
61

T o t a l...______________ 15, 494,118

14, 557,148

- 6 .1

44,935, 733

39, 282, 384

-1 2 .6

776

There was an increase of 6.5 percent in the value of residential
buildings for which permits were issued comparing September with
August. Increases were shown in 5 of the 9 geographic divisions.
The estimated cost of new nonresidential buildings decreased 26
percent, comparing these 2 months, with only 2 divisions showing
increases.
The indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs
decreased 6.1 percent. Six of the nine geographic divisions, howmver,
showed increases in this class of structure. The decrease in the
value of additions, alterations, and repairs was caused entirely by the
falling off in New York City wThere the September totals for repairs
were $1,400,000 less than the August totals.
Table 2 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new non­
residential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of total
building operations in 776 identical cities, by geographic divisions.
T able 2 .—N U M B E R O F N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D
R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 776 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S ,
AS SH O W N BY P E R M IT S IS SU ED IN A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC
D IV IS IO N S
New residential
buildings

New nonresidential Additions, altera­
tions, and repairs
buildings

Total construction

Geographic division
August
1934

Septem­
ber 1934

August
1934

Septem ­
ber 1934

August
1934

Septem ­
ber 1934

August
1934

Septem ­
ber 1934

New E ngland______
M iddle A tla n tic . . .
E ast N orth C en tra l..
W est N orth C en tral..
South A tla n tic .------E ast South C e n tra l..
W est South C en tral..
M o untain__________
Pacific . . . ----

272
371
286
224
258
55
301
42
292

188
341
271
212
237
69
195
54
327

787
1.120
1,374
684
463
114
320
173
1,006

769
1,189
1,466
741
481
188
350
169
958

2,841
6,666
4,158
1,606
3, 540
1,268
1,621
633
3,933

2,651
6,153
3,805
1,725
3,318
1,264
1,740
785
4,475

3,900
8,157
5,818
2,514
4, 261
1,437
2,242
848
5, 231

3,608
7,683
5,542
2,678
4,036
1,521
2,285
1,008
5,760

T o ta l.. _____

2,101

1,894
-9 9

6,041

6,311
+ 4 .5

26,266

25,916
- 1 .3

34,408

34,121
- 0 .8


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1170

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Comparing September and August, there were decreases in the
number of new residential buildings and of additions, alterations, and
repairs. There was, however, an increase in the number of new
nonresidential buildings.
Table 3 shows the estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and the
number of families provided for in such dwellings for which permits
were issued in 776 identical cities, by geographic divisions.
T able 3 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R O F F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R IN T H E
D IF F E R E N T K IN D S OF H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E
IS SU E D IN 776 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, B Y G E O ­
G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
2-family dwellings

1-family dwellings

Geographic division

E stim ated cost

Families pro­
vided for

Septem ­ August Septem ­
1934 ber 1934
ber 1934

August
1934

E stim ated cost

A ugust
1934

Septem­
ber 1934

Families pro­
vided for
Sep­
August tem
ber
1934
1934

New E ngland__________ $1,213, 863
M iddle A tlan tic________ 1,598, 094
E ast N orth C en tral_____ 1,142,386
709, 218
W est N orth C entral - . .
889,472
South A tlan tic_________
E a st South C en tral_____
119,030
W est South C entral____
622.080
M o u n tain ______________
115, 270
790, 079
Pacific____ ____________

$773,940
1,291, 691
1,267,850
634,991
831, 664
135, 362
378, 792
158,850
1,020,844

264
340
279
217
239
55
286
39
270

179
295
261
206
223
66
183
53
301

$44, 500
164, 200
41,000
9,900
28,235
0
30, 600
2,000
89, 635

$48,300
166,800
66,800
15,100
37,296
0
20,250
2, 500
108, 513

14
41
8
8
23
0
19
2
34

15
56
13
12
21
0
14
1
36

7,199,492

6,493,984
- 9 .8

1,989

1,767
-1 1 .2

410, 070

465, 559
+13. 5

149

168
+12.8

T o ta l____________
Percentage change _ __

T otal, al

M ultifam ily dwellings

Geographic division

Estim ated cost

August
1934

Families pro­
vided for

Septem­ A ugust Septem ­
ber 1934
1934 ber 1934

New E ngland__________
$9, 000
M iddle A tlan tic________ 1,218, 500
12, 000
E ast N o rth C en tral_____
W est N o rth C e n tra l.. . .
16, 800
South A tlan tic______ _
48,500
E ast South C entral_____
0
W est South C entral____
34,000
M o u n tain ______________
0
P acific._______________
64,140

$6, 000
1, 664, 500
0
0
10,500
20, 000
32,500
0
61,000

4
367
4
6
28
0
26
0
41

Total __________ 1,402, 940
Percentage change. ___

1, 794,500
+'27.9

476

E stim ated cost

August
1934

4 $1,267, 363
521 2,980, 794
0 1,195,386
0
735,918
4
966, 207
14
119,030
32
686,680
0
117, 270
943,854
28
603
+26.7

kinds of housekeeping
dwellings

9,012,502

Families pro­
vided for

Sep­
Septem ­ August tem
ber
1934
ber 1934
1934
828,240
3,122,991
1,334, 650
650,091
879,460
155,362
431, 542
161, 350
1,190,357

282
748
291
231
290
55
331
41
345

198
872
274
218
248

8,754,043
—2.9

2,614

2,537
—2.9

80

228
54
365

One-family dwellings decreased both in number and estimated
value comparing September with the previous month. However,
there was a decided increase in the number of families accommodated
in two-family dwellings as well as for indicated expenditures for this
type of dwelling.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

11 7 1

HOUSING

The value of apartment houses and the number of families provided
therein increased by more than 25 percent, comparing September with
August.
Table 4 shows the index numbers of families provided for and the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for new residential buildings,
for new nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations, and re­
pairs, and for total building operations.
T able 4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R A N D O F IN D IC A T E D E X ­
P E N D IT U R E S F O R B U IL D IN G O P E R A T IO N S AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS S U E D IN
P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S O F T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S
[M onthly average, 1929=100]
Indicated expenditures for
Families
provided
for

M onth

New resi­ New non­ Additions,
residential alterations,
dential
buildings and repairs
buildings

Total
building
construc­
tion

1929
S eptem ber.. . . . . . . --------------------------

70.2

63.7

81.3

95.0

73.7

1930
A ugust__________________ _ -- ---------- S eptem ber.. . . . . ---------- ----------- -

48.7
51.3

43.4
44.4

67.2
73.8

58.6
64.2

54.4
58.2

1931
----------- .
----------. -------------- . . . . ------

36.6
30.1

33.5
24.8

63.9
41.8

48.3
41.0

47.3
33.5

1932
A u g u s t------- --------------- . . ------- S eptem ber..
----------- . ------- . . .

9.7
10.8

6.8
7.5

15.7
11.4

24.9
21.7

12.6
10.7

1933
A ugust. ----------- ---------- . . . ----------Septem ber------- -----------------------

8.9
11.8

7.1
8.6

10.4
12.8

29.4
25.5

11.9
13.1

7.6
7.4

5.4
5.7

17.0
12.6

34.1
32.0

14.1
12.3

A u g u s t-----Septem ber__ __

A u g u s t .----------Septem ber----- --

1934
--------------------

----------------------- -

The index numbers of families provided for, of new nonresidential
buildings, and of total building construction, were lower than for
either August 1934 01 September 1933.
The index number of new residential buildings, while higher than
for August, was lower than for September of the previous year.
The index number of additions, alterations, and repairs, while lower
than for August, was higher than for either September 1933 or
September 1932.
Comparisons, September 1934 with September 1933
T a b l e 5 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations during September 1933 and Septem­
ber 1934, with percentage change, in 768 identical cities having a
population of 10,000 or over, by geographic divisions.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1172

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 5 .—E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , OF A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S ,
A N D R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 768 ID E N T IC A L
C IT IE S , AS SH O W N B Y P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R
1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
N ew residential buildings (esti­
m ated cost)
Geographic division

N ew nonresidential buildings
(estim ated cost)

September
1933

September
1934

P er­
centage
change

September
1933

September
1934

New E n g lan d --. _________ . . .
M iddle A tlantic______ ________
E ast N orth C en tral___________
W est N orth C entral____
South A tlantic
__________
E ast South C en tral___________
W est South C en tral.. _____
M o u n tain____________________
Pacific________ ___________ .

$1, 530, 626
7,466,498
1,121, 848
631, 205
808,987
164, 005
336,104
164,175
1,432,092

$826,025
3, 629, 691
1, 698,150
586,591
879, 460
168,862
430,542
161, 350
1, 205, 357

-4 6 .0
-5 1 .4
+51.4
- 7 .1
+ 8 .7
+ 3 .0
+28.1
- 1 .7
-1 5 .8

$2,096, 788
7,276, 083
2,852,415
673, 681
1, 006, 739
384,055
376, 451
80,033
1,411,071

$1, 338, 593
2,985,473
2,915,882
1, 572,945
3, 269,393
436,319
851,117
132, 036
1, 532,850

-3 6 .2
-5 9 .0
+2. 2
+133.5
+224.8
+ 13.6
+126.1
+65.0
+ 8 .6

T o ta l___________________

13, 655, 540

9, 586, 028

-2 9 .8

16,157, 316

15,034, 608

-6 .9

Additions, alterations, and re­
pairs (estim ated cost)
Geographic division

T otal construction (estim ated
cost)

N um ber of
Per­ September September
Per­ cities
September September centage
centage
1934
1934
1933
1933
change
change

New E n g lan d -. ___________ $1,127,338
M iddle A tla n tic ____________ 4, 006,118
E ast N orth Central ___ _____ 2, 230,893
W est N orth C entral_________
650,844
1,133, 777
South A tla n tic .. - _____
______
E ast South C entral
232,049
W est South Central . . .
504,020
M o u n tain __________________
186, 795
1, 406, 028
Pacific____________ .
T o tal__________

Per­
centage
change

. 11,477,862

$1,804,972 +60.1
4, 343,427
+ 8 .4
2, 271,142
+ 1 .8
810,936 +24.6
2, 291,752 +102. 1
487,464 +110.1
626,904 +24.4
275, 585 +47.5
1, 602,014 +13.9

$4, 754, 752
18, 748, 699
6, 205,156
1,955,730
2,949, 503
780,109
1, 216, 575
431,003
4, 249,191

$3, 969, 590 -1 6 .5
10,958, 591 -4 1 . 6
6,885,174 +11.0
2,970,472 +51.9
6,440, 605 +118.4
1,092, 645 +40.1
1,908, 563 +56.9
568,971 +32.0
4,340, 221
+2.1

109
175
177
71
74
33
46
22
61

14, 514,196

41, 290,718

39,134,832

768

+26.5

-5 .2

There was a decrease of nearly 30 percent in the permit valuation
of new residential buildings, comparing September 1934 with the
same month of the previous year. The value of new nonresidential
buildings for which permits were issued decreased 6.9 percent during
the same period.
The indicated expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs
showed an increase of 26.5 percent. Increases occurred in each of the
nine geographic divisions, ranging from 1.8 percent in the East North
Central States to 110.1 percent in the East South Central States.
This increase probably represents the stimulation to repairs caused by
the Federal Housing Administration. Total construction decreased
5.2 percent in value comparing September 1934 with September 1933.
Table 6 shows the number of new residential buildings, of new non­
residential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs, and of
total building operations during September 1933 and September 1934
in 768 identical cities, by geographic divisions.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1173

HOUSING

T able 6 .—N U M B E R OF N E W B U IL D IN G S , O F A D D IT IO N S , A L T E R A T IO N S , A N D
R E P A IR S , A N D OF T O T A L B U IL D IN G C O N S T R U C T IO N IN 768 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S ,
AS SH O W N BY P E R M IT S IS SU E D IN S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
New residential
buildings

New nonresidential
buildings

Additions, altera­
tions, and repairs

Total construction

Geographic division
Septem ­
ber 1934

Septem­
ber 1933

Septem ­
ber 1934

Septem­
ber 1933

Septem ­
ber 1934

Septem ­
ber 1933

Septem ­
ber 1934

Sepember 1933

New E ngland______
M iddle A tlantic____
E ast N orth C en tra l..
W est N orth C entral..
South A tlantic_____
E ast South C entral.
W est South C entral..
M ountain ____ . . . .
Pacific_____________

297
408
233
203
197
38
121
46
378

186
343
268
199
237
69
194
54
327

860
1,347
1,438
733
474
141
377
223
876

762
1,204
1,455
736
482
188
341
167
958

2, 545
6,229
3,018
1,459
2,885
757
1,394
617
3, 765

2,628
6,168
3, 797
1,692
3,312
1,264
1,717
776
4, 475

3, 702
7,984
4, 689
2,395
3, 556
936
1,892
886
5,019

3, 576
7,715
5, 520
2, 627
4,031
1,521
2, 252
997
5,760

T o tal_________

1,921

1,877
-2 . 3

6,469

6,293
- 2 .7

22,669

25,829
+13.9

31,059

33,999
+ 9 .5

Decreases were shown in the number of new residential buildings
and the number of new nonresidential buildings. The number of
additions, alterations, and repairs for which permits were issued
during the month increased by nearly 14 percent as compared with
the corresponding month of last year.
The total number of building construction projects increased by
nearly 10 percent comparing the two periods under discussion.
Table 7 shows the estimated cost of housekeeping dwellings and
the number of families provided for in new dwellings for which
permits were issued in 768 identical cities during September 1933
and September 1934, by geographic divisions.
T able 7.—E S T IM A T E D C O ST A N D N U M B E R O F F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R IN D I F ­
F E R E N T K IN D S O F H O U S E K E E P IN G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E
IS S U E D IN 708 ID E N T IC A L C IT IE S IN S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
2-family dwellings

1-family dwellings

E stim ated cost

Families pro­
vided for

E stim ated cost

Families pro­
vided for

Geographic division

New E ngland__________
M iddle A tlantic— -----E ast N orth C en tral------W est N orth C entral____
South A tlantic_________
E ast South C en tral_____
West South C entral------M ountain______________
Pacific_________________
T o tal____________

Septem ­
ber 1933

Septem­
ber 1934

$1,417, 326
1, 779, 348
1,085,548
612,205
783,087
160,005
308,304
160,175
1, 294,902

$771,725
1,292, 291
1,254,350
571,491
831,664
135,362
377, 792
158,850
1,020,844

7, 600,900

6,414, 369
—15. 6


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1934

Septem ­
ber 1934

Septem ­
ber 1933

Septem ­
ber 1934

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1933

279
374
228
199
190
37
114
45
360

177
296
258
193
223
66
181
53
301

$79,300
146,850
36,300
19,000
17,900
4,000
20,300
4,000
61,390

$48,300
172,300
66,800
15,100
37, 296
0
20, 250
2, 500
108, 513

22
42
9
8
11
2
10
2
22

15
57
13
12
21
0
14
1
36

1,826

1,748
- 4 .3

389, 040

471,059
+21.1

128

169
+32. 0

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1933

1174

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

J ; - E S T IM A T E D C ° S T A N D N U M B E R O P F A M IL IE S P R O V ID E D F O R IN D I F ^ ? T ^ TTx?iSroDTS^ S ? T mH5 U S E K E E P 1 N G D W E L L IN G S F O R W H IC n P E R M IT S W E R E
G IT IE S IN S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY
G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S —C ontinued

Total, all kinds of housekeeping
dwellings

M ultifam ily dwellings

Geographic division

E stim ated cost

Families pro­
vided for

Septem ­
ber 1933

Septem ­
ber 1934

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1933

N ew England- . . . . . . .
$34,000
M iddle A tlantic__ _____ 5, 540, 300
E ast N orth C en tral. . . .
0
W est N o rth C entral__
0
South A tlan tic_______ _
8, 000
E ast South C en tral_____
0
W est South C entral____
7,500
M ou n tain_____
0
P a c i f i c .. __________
75, 800

$6,000
1,664, 500
0
0
10, 500
20, 000
32,500
0
61,000

T o ta l___ _ _____
Percentage change___ _

1,794,500
-6 8 .3

5, 665, 600

E stim ated cost

Families pro­
vided for

Septem ­
ber 1933

Septem­
ber 1934

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1933

15
1,802
0
0
4
0
4
0
33

4 $1, 530, 626
521 7,466,498
0 1,121,848
0
631, 205
4
808,987
14
164,005
32
336,104
0
164,175
28 1,432,092

$826,025
3,129, 091
1, 321,150
586, 591
879,460
155,362
430, 542
161,350
1,190, 357

316
2, 218
237
207
205
39
128
47
415

196
874
271
205
248
80
227
54
365

1,858

603 13, 655, 540
-6 7 .5

8,679,928
-3 6 .4

3,812

2, 520
-3 3 .9

Septem ­
ber 1934

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1934

Decreases were shown in both the estimated cost and the number
of families provided for in 1-family dwellings and apartment houses,
comparing September 1934 with the same month of last year, and
there was a decided increase in the estimated cost of 2-family dwell­
ings and the number of family-dwelling units provided therein in
comparison with the same periods.
Detailed Estimated Cost of Building Operations by Cities, September 1934
T a b l e 8 shows for the month of September 1934 the estimated
cost of new residential buildings, of new nonresidential buildings,
and of total building operations, together with the number of family­
dwelling units provided, in all cities of the United States having a
population of 10,000 or over for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics
receives reports.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1175

HOUSING

T a b l e 8 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934

N e w E n g la n d S ta te s

State and city

New B"am- New
T otal
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
ings
for
ings

MASSACHUSETTS—

CONNECTICUT

B ridgeport- ____
B r is to l___ - --D a n b u ry _______
D erby__________
E ast H artfo rd ___
Fairfield - ___
Greenwich _
H am den_____ _
M anchester ---M eriden____ - _
M iddletow n------M ilford___ - --N au g atu ck ___
New B ritain____
New H aven .
N orw alk
.
N orw ich________
Stam ford____
Stratford - ------T o rrin g to n ______
W allingford_____
W a te rb u ry .-. . . .
W est H artford__
W illim antic__

C ontinued
$8,000
0
1,000
0
8, 000
12,300
32,500
12, 500
0
0
14,000
0
0
2,000
26,000
13, 700
0
0
5,800
0
0
7,000
47, 500
1,000

3 $104,430
8,605
0
1
1,805
0
0
2
625
4
1,375
3 48,800
4
7,930
0
4, 000
0
1,635
1
1,046
0
775
4,895
0
1 2,875
6 25.811
5,100
3
5,155
0
0 11,090
2 11,175
2, 840
0
0
0
3 13, 200
9
1,823
1 6, 805

$121,155
23,100
12, 205
2, €00
14, 795
29,481
128,950
24,180
15, 785
8,655
18,396
6,050
6,150
19,547
82,891
27,324
18,299
30,085
18, 798
5,335
1,445
27,450
82,102
7,955

9, 500
12,000
2,000
2,215
3,200
0

3
4
1
2
3
0

1,825
1,200
21, 091
225
351
175

13, 225
14, 200
38,354
4, 890
8, 726
400

2 20,425
2
320
2
1,725
2
2,750
11 401,820
1,975
3
1,200
3
5
925
0 22, 350
2
0
2
6,600
2,775
0
85
0
C 39,000
720
c
1
6,480
1,275
0
1,025
0
1 2, 500
900
6
4,250
0
425
0
0 19,324
( 4,725
f 5, 700
1 40, 640
2
200
1,175
1
5,000
6

30, 445
3,720
30,005
13,720
973, 743
23,110
30, 555
48,075
47,391
7,925
22,900
8,305
85
40,475
11, 976
14,930
2,425
4, 445
11,125
14,875
154,600
17, 235
22, 719
16,425
128, 500
48, 650
4,700
10,150
40,225

MAINE

A uburn ___ ____
L ew iston_____ P ortland- _____
Sanford_____
South P o rtla n d -..
W estbrook ____
MASSACHUSETTS

A rlington----------A ttleboro_______
Belmont ________
Beverly -----------Boston L
---B raintree--- - -B rockton_______
B ro o k lin e ___ .
C am bridge______
Chelsea_________
Chicopee_______
D edham -----------E astham pto n ___
E v e re tt......... _
Fall R iv e r.. .
F itch b u rg ______
F ram ingham .
G a r d n e r .------- .
Gloucester______
H a v e r h ill...-----Holyoke---- . . .
Lawrence_______
Leominster . . . .
Lowell ___
L ynn _______ M alden _______
M arlborough____
M edford________
M elrose. -------

S tate and city

New F a m ­ New
T otal
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
b uild­ vided build­ repairs)
ings
for
ings

8,000
2,300
25, 000
8,500
34, 900
14,800
13, 700
40, 500
0
4, 000
4, 500
0
0
0

c

2, 400

0
c

4 ,00C
8, 075

C
c
c
c

8, 750
2, 50C
4, 500
5 ,50C
32,400

i Applications filed,


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

0
M eth u e n ____- $50, 800
M ilton ___
N a tic k . _______
5,000
N eedham _______
13,000
New Bedford
0
N ew b u ry p o rt___
0
68,000
N e w to n ..
.4,000
N orth A dam s___
N o rth am p to n ___
0
0
N orth A ttleboro..
5,000
N orw ood_______
4, 500
Peabody-----------0
P ittsfield___
0
P ly m o u th ______
7, 500
Q u in c y ... . . . . . .
0
Revere _____
3,500
Salem __________
2, 500
Saugus_________
0
Som erville... . .
Southbridge_____ 14,000
4, 000
Springfield. . . . .
0
S to n e h a m .. . . .
0
Swampscott
1,500
T au n to n _______
11,000
W altham ____ . . .
4,200
W atertow n_____
Wellesley_____ - 54, 200
0
W estfield
____
W est Springfield..
0
0
W ey m o u th____ .
8, 500
W in c h este r... . . .
0
W inthrop ..........
5,000
W o b u rn ..
31,300
W orcester______

0
10
1
2
0
0
7
2
0
0
2
1
0
0
2
0
2

$3,685
3, 775
550
2,250
4,050
23, 000
1,650
2,900
975
0
485
1,285
12,975
600
6.300
63, 000
5,100

1
350
0 16, 700
3
1,250
1 37, 990
0
1,300
0
0
1
5,350
3
1,355
1 3,625
7
5,700
0 27, 300
0 93,195
0
1,950
1
0
0
200
1 16,510
7 10, 672

$4,495
59,035
7,150
17, 650
18, 600
26, 700
107,366
10,120
4, 625
0
7, 550
6,735
24,300
600
27,460
67, 500
31,685

6,650
24, 002
15,950
118,885
3, 500
100
14, 279
20, 760
12,945
64, 500
28,013
95, 010
9, 535
13, 846
1,000
23,103
83,698

NEW HAMPSHIRE

B e r l i n . ___
K eene__________
M anchester____
P o rtsm o u th . ___

4, 400
2,500
8, 500
0

2

0
11,000
2 ,00C
6,000
0
10, 70C
15,500
10, 200
2,000
900
1,500

0
3

4,000
7,000
0

1
2
0

0
975
2,985
6,500

7,310
8,325
34,306
18,400

60
12,275
39,410
1,800
0
0
2
2, 260
4 20, 25C
6
3,500
1 2,025
1
100
1 2,000

710
25,475
55, 990
46,260
170
29,420
155, 700
20,300
7,650
1,050
4,620

1,600
0
600

12,425
7, 000
4,450

1
4
0

RHODE ISLAND

Central F a lls____
C r a n s to n .--------E ast Providence .
N ew p o rt________
N orth Providence
Paw tucket ____
P r o v id e n c e .____
W arw ick_______
W esterly_____. .
W est W arw ick__
W oonsocket_____

2
2

VERMONT

B arre___________
B ennington_____
B u rlin g to n______
T o tal_____

1

828, 240

198 1,345 318 3, 992,880

1176

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 8 . -E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934—Continued

M id d le A tla n tic S ta te s

State and city

New F am ­ New
residen ilies nonresi
tial
pro­ dential
build­ vided build­
ings
for
ings

Total
(includ­
ing
repairs)

NEW JERSEY

A sbury P a rk ____
A tlantic C ity ___
B ayonne__ _____
B elleville.. _____
Bloomfield _____
Bridgeton ______
B u rlin g to n ... . . .
C am den. . _____
C a rta re t2. . ______
C lifton__
D over. _____ .
E ast O range.. . .
Elizabeth . . .
Englew ood______
G arfield .. . . . .
H ackensack__ _
H a rriso n 2_______
Hillside T _______
Hoboken .
___
Irv in g to n ..
Jersey C ity . _ . . .
K earny_________
Long B ran ch___
L yn d h u rst T _. . .
M aplewood T___
M o n tclair. . .
M orristow n___ _
N ep tu n e T _____
N ew ark__ . . . _.
New B runsw ick..
N u tle y _______ _
O range__ _____
Passaic_____ . . .
Paterson ..
P e rth A m boy__
P h illip sb u rg ____
Plainfield ..
Pleasant ville____
R ed B ank _____
Ridgefield P a r k 2.
Ridgewood. . . .
R uth erfo rd . ____
South Orange__
S u m m i t . . ____
Teaneck T
T ren to n _____ _.
U nion C ity .. _ _
U nion T .
W eehawken T ._
W estfield.. . ___
W est New York
W est O range___

State and city

new

(
$5, 00C
4, 00C
15, 00C
3, 30C
C
C
(
22, 500
0
0
0
(
7, 50(
0
5, 500
0
0
C
C
0
85C
0
0
12, 500
5, 000
0
9, 500
0
0
0
0
5, 750
500
3, 000
10, 200
0
0
0
8, 500
3, 500
0
11, 000
28, 800
0
0
15, 300
0
0
0
24,000

2
C
0
0
9
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
5
0
0
4
0
0
0
4

$1,160
$80C
24,156
14 170
2 20C
G, 80C
1L 415
(
22, 000
1 ,17£
4, 625
5, 40C
7, 358
11, 70C 103,856
C
50
14,975
44, 330
0
1, 200
20, 275
60, 623
7, 575
26, 720
200
3, 400
8, 650
18, 000
1,050
14, 444
4, 000
10, 250
7, 300
11,210
0
10, 323
3, 750
8, 475
800
19, 325
4, 900
6,800
600
10,865
21, 550
23,125
1,850
5, 050
4, 820
29, 519
500
12,182
0
0
5,490
65, 565
900
5, 325
17, 690
20,878
470
83, 770
5, 430
33,154
14, 070
53, 585
21, 478
42, 261
950
3, 950
2,290
20, 628
400
990
400
400
950
1, 650
1,170
15, 015
2, 375
9, 956
2, 600
3, 600
1,250
16, 650
15,000
47, 520
55, 690
98, 400
38, 480
50, 689
3, 475
18, 775
0
33, 685
545
3,100
0
1,125
1,150
26,916

91, 000
14, 000
0

6
3
0

11, 250
300
5, 250

YORK—con,

Batavia_____
Binghamton__
Buffalo______
Cohoes______
Corning_____
Dunkirk_____
Elmira______
Endicott_____
Freeport_____
Fulton______
Glen Cove____
Glens Falls___
Hempstead___
Herkimer2____
Irondequoit___
Ithaca______
Jamestown___
Johnson City__
Kenmore_____
Kingston_____
Lockport___
Lynbrook____
Mamaroneck__
Massena_____
Middletown__
Mount Vernon..
New Rochelle...
New York City:
The Bronx1_
Brooklyn 1__
Manhattan L..
Queens 1____
Richmond 1__
Niagara Falls__
North Tonawanda2___
Ogdensburg___
Oneonta______
Ossining_____
Oswego______
Peekskill_____
Plattsburg____
Port Jervis____
Poughkeepsie__
Rensselaer____
Rochester_____
Rockville Center.
Saratoga Springs..
Schenectady___
Syracuse______

NEW YORK

A lbany ______
A m sterdam __ _.
A u b u r n __ ____

A pplications filed,


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

New F am ­ New
residen ilies nonresi Total
tial
pro­ dential (includ­
ing
build­ vided build­
repairs)
ings
for
ings

143, 902
22,100
11, 050
2

$2, 75C
8, 30i
10, 50i
3, 00C
19, 675
5, 00C
C
5, 000
10, 200
17, 000
0
16, 500
12, 300
0
4, 000
0
5, 200
0
3, 500
0
0
1, 500
17, 500
0

$72.
1, 62(
66, 55'
i
2.
l,90i
1, 77.
981
46,175
:
77
30C
:
6, 32:
2
6, 19C
: 15,195
(
50(
3
1,500
1, 050
0
2, 670
] 78, 67c
(
20(
]
7, 30(
(
2, 25C
1
710
0
C
t
c
1
25
2
495
0 11, 300

1

41, 900
625, 750
1,556,600
527, 000
21, 950
1,000

13
242
268
179
8
1

600
800
8, 000
0
0
0
4, 000
0
0
0
9, 780
54, 000
2, 000
0
18, 000
0
0
11, 000
1,900
1,900
0
31,986

1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
9
1
0
3
0
0
2
1
2
0
3

N ot included in totals.

$5,425
39, 209
127, 298
1, 746
5, 850
4, 888
8, 860
78, 720
15,100
725
16, 296
17, 095
34, 380
500
18, 325
18,175
8,160
84, 673
200
50, 550
7, 760
8, 575
3, 475
0
3, 425
22, 725
23, 075

41, 700 406, 695
214, 660 1, 522, 042
175,100 2, 496, 680
345, 301 1, 281, 300
15, 748 110, 963
174,125 195, 785
685
1,040
7, 500
1,100
7, 525
1,300
20, 800
0
350
8, 790
22, 525
200
2, 750
3, 279
43, 785
0
41, 460
21,140
9,879
1, 515
650
6,100

2, 470
1,965
51, 453
1,800
8,065
4, 700
28, 400
0
6, 220
13, 401
77, 214
60, 990
6, 250
41,168
73, 890
705
68, 448
38,870
12, 225
12,310
1,115
75, 099

1177

HOUSING

T a b l e 8.— E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934

M id d le A tla n tic S ta te s —Continued

State and city

New F am ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
pro­ dential
tial
ing
b u ild ­ vided build­ repairs)
ings
ings
for

New F am ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
pro­ dential
tial
ing
b u ild­ vided build­ repairs)
for
ings
ings

PENNSYLVANIA—

PENNSYLVANIA

A bington T . ----- $26, 400
A11fin town
7, 000
0
A ltoona_____ _
Ttp.llp.VllA
0
Rfi.rwip.k
0
Rfit.hlfihfi.Tn
0
0
B ra d d o c k ______
Rrfldfnrd
3,000
0
Bristol
Clfinrvnshnrg
o
Carlisle.
800
0
C ham bersburg
Charleroi
0
Oh p.st,or
0
Olairton
2, 000
Coatesville
0
0
Oon n fil1s vi 11o
Conshohoeken .
0
c
Cnrfl.npolis
Oonorfi
0
Rnhnis
0
Pliqilfisno
0
0
F, fist on
Frie
4,000
Orfionsbiirg
0
0
H arrisburg ______
TTaverford
6, 000
Hazleton
0
0
Jeannette
0
Johnstow n
___
6, 500
K ingston. . . . . .
Tifi.nnfistfi.r
10, 500
Tvflt.roho
0
Lower M erion T .. 20, 500
TVTpTCfifispnrt
0
0
M cKees Rocks.
6, 300
M eadville______

State and city

C ontinued
2 $3, 325 $32,466
1 11, 900
29,925
32,734
0
0
o
0
250
o 16, 600
16, 600
o
1,805
'800
500
500
0
1 531, 280 549,678
1,500
800
0
o
50
1,050
6,975
i, 805
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,974
5,699
0
1
45
3,335
2,000
0
2,000
o
0
0
350
1,850
0
C
0
0
2,800
o
0
0
0
7, 000
1,300
0
50
14, 244
0
35
1 19, 600
37,362
0
0
5, 600
4,000
16,461
0
1
11,751
1,585
200
0
0
0
450
300
19, 309
555
0
7,880
2
1,180
24, 545
2
850
0
0
0
1 7,805
84,158
c
1, 51C
10,664
0
0
0
10,030
2
1,050

M onessen ------M o u n t Lebanon T
M unhall________
N an tico k e.. ____
New Castle.
New' K ensington.
N orristow n..
N orth B raddock..
Oil C ity .. ____
Philadelphia____
Phoenixville..
Pittsb u rg h P i t t s t o n . . _____
P ly m o u th . ____
P o ttsto w n .. . . . .
P o ttsv ille ...
. .
R eading___
Scranton .. .
Sharon____ _
Steel to n .. . . . .
S u n b u ry__ . . . .
Swissvale..
. .
T am oqua___ . .
U niontow n ____
U pper D arb y ___
Vandergrift ___
W arren . . . .
W ashington . .
W aynesboro
W est C h este r... .
W ilkes-B arre.. . .
W ilkinsburg------W illiam sport. . . .
York .
_ . . _

$4, 500
47, 000
0
C
0
5,500
0
0
0
35, 300
0
31, 400
0
0
4,000
0
0
2, 500
0
0
0
0
0
0
14, 000
t
0
0
0
0
12,60(
5, 600
0
8 ,00(

T o tal_____ 3,623,591

Ô
4
0
C
0
1
0
0
0
5
0
8
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
t
0
0
0
0!
6
1
0
1

0
$4,850
$1, 250
49,825
200
410
0
3, 200
1,145
1,875
600
6,100
225
5,150
0
300
0
2,500
187,460 463,990
500
5, 500
67, 428 348, 422
150
3,150
0
0
2, 550
12, 300
5, 750
23, 250
240,950 270, 790
16,905
48, 305
0
0
0
225
1,800
1,850
100
0
11,437
11,437
14, 554
327
26, 070
42,610
0
C
0
1,750
0
0
f.
0
500
0
35, 501 104, 548
0
9, 200
11,082
2, 255
3,711
20, 374
—

872 2,979,33'- 10,944,881

E a s t N o rth C en tra l S ta te s
ILLINOIS—contd.

ILLINOIS

A thol___________ $3, 625
0
A urora_________
1. 500
Belleville _____
0
B e r w y n . . --------1,000
B loom ington___
0
Blue Island___ _
0
B ro o k fie ld .____
0
C airo___________
0
C alum et C ity ----5,000
C anton _________
0
C entralia____. . .
C ham paign. . . . . 10,000
57,000
C hicago____ ____
0
Chicago H eig h ts..
0
Cicero---- --------.
c
D anville— . . . .
0
D ecatur. _ ------ -1,200
E ast St. Louis---0
Elgin___________
0
E lm h u rst_______
(
Elmwood P ark __
(
E vanston----------0
Forest P a rk ..........
Freeport---------- . 13, 500


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2
$175 $11,536
60, 247
0 49, 575
24, 432
3 22, 932
1,650
0
850
6,300
1
2,000
12, 758
0
7,340
0
8, 375
8, 250
150
150
0
450
0
0
5, 820
1
285
0
0
0
1
0
13, 225
785,
375
10 400, 481
970
120
0
28,470
0 23,970
0
8, 256
0
91, 050
0 88, 550
9,990
865
1
5,710
1,
625
0
3, 482
3, 482
0
300
0
0
36, 250
0 16,250
720
195
0
1,016
15,066
2

0
G ranite C ity ____
0
H arv ey -----------H ighland P a rk __ $16, 200
0
J o lie t,. -----------0
K a n k ak e e .. . . . .
0
La G range___. . .
0
M aywood . . . .
0
Melrose P ark ____
0
M oline _ . . ____
M o u n t V e rn o n .. _ 8, 600
Oak P a rk ..............
0
4,000
O ttaw a. . . . . . . .
0
P ark Ridge-------7, 000
Peoria . _____ .
5. 500
Q uincy. ----------35,000
R ockford_____
6,500
Rock Islan d . _. ._
4,000
Springfield ____
2,000
Sterling____ . . .
c
S treator________
12,800
U rban a-----W aukegan____ .
C
2, OOf
W ilm ette.. . . . . .
31,000
W in n e tk a ----------

0
0
0
$450
1
550
0
3, 366
0
0
0
300
0 68, 795
0
1,070
300
0
4
0
0
9, 025
1
0
0
0
2
8,715
1 19 ,1IC
1
80C
1
395
2
35C
î
10C
3, 50C
0
4,800
2
0
0
1
3.225
2
680

0
$2, 275
28,275
15,174
3, 900
500
71,395
1,470
6, 220
8, 600
11,850
5,000
3. 750
27, 550
24, 660
45,125
20,848
12, 682
7,485
5,000
20, 420
6, 101
10, 560
32, 805

1178

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b l e 8.—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934—Continued

E a s t N o rth C en tra l S ta te s — Continued

State and city

New F a m ­ New
residen ilies nonresi
tial
pro­ dentisi
build­ vided b u ild ­
ings
for
ings

Total
(includ­
ing
repairs)

INDIANA
Anderson_____
B edford. ____
Connersville ___
Crawfordsville__
E lk h a rt.
Elw ood. .
___
Evansville______
Fo rt W ayne Fran k fo rt___ . . .
G a ry ___________
G o sh e n ___ . . . .
H am m ond H u n tin g to n -In d ian ap o lis.. - _
Jeffersonville- _ .
K okom o.. . .
La F a y e tte _____
L a Porte . . .
.
Logansport. .
.
M a r io n ______ .
M ichigan C ity __
M is h a w a k a .____
M uncie . ____ .
N ew castle..
. .
P e ru .................. _
R ichm ond
Shelbyville_____
South B e n d ____
Terre H a u te .. . .
\in c e n n e s _____
W h itin g _______

o m o —continued
$2, 50C
(
(
(
(
2, 50C
70C
f
(
0
27, 700
0
(
(
1,00(
0
(

1
(
0
(
0
(
1
c
1
c
(
0
0
s
0
c
0
1
0

0
1
1, 050
0
c
2
6, 900
0 41,285
0
400
0
0

$14, 830
2,000
0
2, 564
17, 455
4, 700
161,108
16,717
1,425
34, 225
650
10, 385
340
73,365
6, 500
2, 905
850
2,005
2,815
7,100
5, 630
4, 030
44,879
0
0
9, 900
0
31, 010
46, 697
4,160
850

0
900
3 17, 075
0
2,100
2
1,750
0
0
2
2, 590
35 330, 489
2 11,300
1 41,595
0
8,020

1,900
53, 615
169, 580
21, 636
1,015
19,190
790, 584
16, 800
80, 430
31,100

c

1,500

1

0

0
c
c
c

f
c

(

4, 50C
f

10, 20(
0
0
0

$2,08C
1, OOf
1,165
840
30C
83, 340
4, 205
25
1,915
50(
3, 835
100
9,912
(
75
450
125
400
5, 70(
3, 145
1,085
38, 64!
(

MICHIGAN

A d rian _________
0
A nn A rb o r...
17, 50C
B attle C r e e k __
0
B ay C ity .. _____
5,000
Benton H a rb o r..
0
D e a r b o r n ..____
6, 500
D etro it. . _____ 213, 230
Ferndale ___ ..
4, 500
F l i n t .. . .
1,200
G rand R a p id s..
0
Grosse P o i n t e
P a rk _________
12, 750
H am tram ck . . . .
0
H ighland P a r k ..
5,000
H o lla n d .. _____
0
Ironwood_____
0
J a c k s o n ____
0
Kalam azoo. . . . _
3, 800
L ansing_______ _ 4, 300
Lincoln P a rk .
5,200
M a r q u e tte __ .
1, 500
M onroe . . . . .
6, 680
M uskegon____
2,800
M u s k e g o n
H eights_______
"0
Pontiac________
0
R iver Rouge____
1,900
Royal O a k ______
0
Saginaw _____
0
Traverse C ity ___
0
W y an d o tte_____
11, OOC

1
0

0
0
0
1
1
1
3
2
1

0
2, 550
150
285
8,000
5, 235
1,775
1, 600
660
200
12,135
6, 475

14, 050
8,283
8,045
4, 225
9,812
10, 638
13, 356
20,835
7, 500
2,075
19, 215
17, 025

0
0
1
0
0
0
2

178
21, 620
250
500
12, 945
800
250

1,288
45, 570
2, 425
4,125
27,880
800
14, 600

6
0
3
1

32,410
100
11,200
475

76,484
100
48, 700
6,053

2

OHIO

A k ro n ... _______
Alliance_____. . .
A shland------------A shtabula______

State and city

New F am ­ New
Total
residen ilies nonresi (includ­
pro­ dential
tial
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
for
ings
ings

22, 500
0
12,000
2, 000


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Barberton__
Bucyrus__
CambridgeC anton____
CincinnatLCleveland..
Columbus-----Cuyahoga Falls.
Dayton_____
Elyria__
Euclid_
Findlay..
Fostoria..
Fremont.
Hamilton____
Ironton_____
Lakewood----Lima______
Lorain______
Mansfield___
Marion_____
Massillon____
Middletown__
Newark_____
Norwood____
Parma..T____
Piqua.-.____
Portsmouth__
Salem______
Sandusky___
Shaker Heights.
Springfield___
Steubenville__
Struthers____
Tiffin______
Toledo_____
Warren_____
Wooster_____
Youngstown__
Zanesville___

$5, 50C
(
(
4, 00(
190, 555
46, 000
39, 00(
20, 70(
0
3, 000
10, 000
(
21,801
(
(
(
(
0
(
(
0
(
44, 50(
C
1,000
c
6, 50C
0
18,20C
C
0
0
0
43,000
0
15, 000
0
0
384, 000
■0
3,000
0
0

$10C
$8, 000
C
7
75
(
0
j
6,835
23,100
4( 268, 00C 617,265
8 39, 20C 292, 550
<
79C
40,440
22, 35(
69, 200
0
1, 25(
1,250
2 265, 882 280, 225
!
12, 350
125
0
471
3, 350
4
22, 400
(
0
45(
1,050
(
15(
3, 350
2, 700
(
3,100
(
(
0
0 272, 920 274,845
(
786
1,846
( 24,11(
26, 310
0 11, 72C
12,195
0
1, 645
5, 061
7
975
49, 265
c
9, 50C
10, 700
1
45C
13, 276
c
2, 65C
5, 470
4
70C
8, 500
C
80C
5, 615
5
2, 680
22, 950
C
C
150
C 1,115
9,611
C
0
1,000
0
1,085
75
4
600
45, 010
0
3, 220
11,178
4
450
17, 500
0
400
400
0 60, 275
63, 275
1 34, 780 491, 605
0
6,030
16, 390
1
1,650
4, 750
0
5,470
29, 790
0
575
7, 775

WISCONSIN

Ashland______
Beloit_______
Cudahy______
Eau Claire..__
Fond du Lac__
Green Bay____
Janesville_____
Kenosha_____
Madison_____
Manitowoc____
Marinette____
Milwaukee____
Oshkosh__ ___
Racine--_____
Sheboygan____
Shorewood____
South Milwaukee.
Stevens Point__
Superior______
Two Rivers___
Waukesha____
Wausau______
Wauwatosa____
West Allis_____
Total.

11, 000
0
0
26, 500
2,400
23, 350
0
0
22, 000
3, 600
2,810
54,050
6, 800
0
0
5,000
0
3, 500
3, 000
4, 500
4, 500
0
59, 500
6,000
,711,650

2
1,500
0
1,020
0
3,900
7
9,495
1 20, 275
7 59, 121
0
1,200
0 10, 730
4 58, 517
2 95,910
2
300
10 81, 625
3
4, 775
0
4,425
0
200
1
0
0
0
1 3,785
1
2,890
2
75
1
4,450
0
0
9
200
1
5, 389

12, 500
24,460
5, 400
48, 395
27, 230
86, 046
2, 500
21,965
105, 233
108,410
3,175
219, 752
12, 675
16, 651
6, 541
6,280
0
16, 735
10, 624
8,140
11,040
2,300
63,145
19, 794

274 2,919,462 3,912,504

1179

HOUSING

T a b l e 8 —E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S F O R "WHICH P E R M IT S W E R E IS S U E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934—Continued

W e st N o rth C e n tra l S ta te s

S tate and city

New F am ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
b u ild ­ vided build­ repairs)
for
ings
ings

3 $5, 700
0
0
0
786
3
4, 275
0 14, 053
3,802
0
6 29,665
7, 480
0
0 155, 015
7
525
6,785
0
4
5,480
2
850
0
0
0
4, 700
8
5, 875
5 22, 702

$8, 700
0
0
19, 400
0
0
30, 700
0
0
19, 500
0
7,966
1,150
0
0
12, 450
20, 300

$17,750
' 350
1,136
45, 571
22, 260
28,356
77.480
13,876
156,454
20,025
8; 285
53, 729
4,033
0
13, 700
19i 325
52,417

KANSAS

0
1,400
0
0
0
0
2,000
10, 800
0
0
0
3,000
0
c
0
4, 600
0
0

0
2
0
0
0
0
1
12
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0

A lbert L ea_____
D u lu th
___ _
F a rib a u lt______
H ibbing ________

6, 000
0
0
4, 000

1
0
0
1

M inneapolis_____

24, 350

A rkansas C ity ___
A tchison _____
Coffey ville______
Dodge C ity _____
E ldorado _______
E m poria________
Fort S cott___
H utchinson___
Independence___
K ansas C ity ____
L a w re n c e .._____
Leavenw orth____
M a n h a tta n _____
N ew ton ___ . . .
Pittsburg .
Salina_
. ____
Topeka . . __
W ichita________

New F am ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
ings
for
ings

MINNESOTA— COn.

IOWA

Ames . _ ____
Boone__________
B urlington ____
Cedar R ap id s-_ _
Council Bluffs___
D avenport- ____
Des M oines_____
D u buque____ _
F o rt Dodge___ .
Iow a C ity ______
M arshalltow n .- M ason C ity ___ _
M uscatine______
Oskaloosa_______
O ttum w a_______
Sioux C ity . _
W aterloo ______

State and city

510
845
0
1,400
875
3, 520
250
250
0
285
0
150
0
3, 600
350
14, 541
0
0
21,970
26, 510
' 500
2, 460
300
5,000
0
0
370
4, 388
2,000
3,300
' 420
8| 270
2, 650 • 5,220
16,855
3i; 874

MINNESOTA

$4, 700
4,780
21, 600
8,000
3,500

1
0
3 $14,390
5 266, 274
4
1,100
1
250

$7,100
21, 320
466,800
11,600
8, 750

Cape G ira rd e a u .. 14, 300
0
C olum bia_______
4, 250
H annibal. _______
3,300
Independence___
32, 600
Jefferson C ity
1,000
Jo p lin .
- _ __
29, 500
Kansas C ity .. .
0
M aplewood _____
0
M oberly________
6,185
St. C harles_____
St. Joseph. ____
1,500
St. Louis_______ 153, 550
5,000
Springfield______
U niversity C ity -. 63, 500

431
5
0
0
2
2, 300
3 177, 000
9 32, 076
1
650
9
4,500
0
8,800
0
7, 700
2
1,200
1 8,080
37 90, 031
6
4, 576
13
625

15, 615
0
6, 550
182, 300
67, 701
12, 700
74, 600
8,800
8,900
7, 385
13,880
321, 353
27,807
65, 200

R ochester______
St. C lo u d ____
St. P a u l ___ _South St. P a u l__
W inona___ _____
MISSOURI

NEBRASKA

B eatrice________
Frem ont
____
G rand Island____
H astings________
Lincoln ______
O m aha_________

17, 500
8,400
3, 000
0
6, 500
44, 200

5
3
1
0
3
12

0
1,000
1,300
' 700
22,924
12; 630

17,500
16,104
5, 530
'950
57, 519
81,967

4 373, 745
2
' 200
0
100
0
0

385,445
12,465
1,150
5,150

NORTH DAKOTA

Bism arck ____
Fargo —
_____
G rand F orks____
M in o t___ _____

8, 400
9, 770
0
0

SOUTH DAKOTA

0
10, 750
100
2, 350

7, 000
3lj 346
1,100
10,925

9 196,510

366, 370

A berdeen______
H uron _ - . ____
R apid C ity ____
Sioux Falls ____
T o tal_____

0
0
7, 690
11,050
650,091

0
0
12
7

550
0
2,805
1,455

1,255
0
12,925
29,420

218 1,574,445 3, 039,192

S o u th A tla n tic S ta te s
DELAWARE

GEORGIA

W ilm ington .- _ . $38, 000

7

$500

$56,303

DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA

W ashington____

284, 240

52 2,439,124 3, 588, 340

FLORIDA

G ainesville______
1,800
Jacksonville- . _ 35, 800
M ia m i___ . . . 101, 425
O r l a n d o .. - ____
7, 000
Pensacola______
8, 560
0
St. A ugustine___
St. Petersburg___
6, 800
Sanford
0
Tallahassee_____
15, 075
T a m p a .- . _____
0
W est Palm Beach.
9, 871
91302°—34— 10 .

'


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1
16
23
4
7
0
2
0
7
0
4

1, 500
17, 365
27, 360
4, 150
30, 760
0
7,100
75
10, 685
10, 265
200

9,130
167,719
222, 790
50, 678
67, 728
7, 365
45, 600
75
32, 839
34, 281
14, 716

A thens_____ - A tlan ta_________
A u g u sta.. _- .
B runsw ick___ .
Lagrange.. _____
M acon. _______
S a v a n n ah ..
V aldosta_______

$6, 500
14, 773
0
0
800
31, 750
0
0

1
0
13 $21, 965
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
5,100
0 13, 675
0
0

$13,045
87, 747
11, 214
4, 520
3,800
72, 004
34, 305
2,177

2, 500
15,000
0
6, 000
0
6,800

1
0
4 154,000
0
1, 515
1
1,310
0 258,198
5
7,775

27, 220
577, 600
8,890
9, 225
295,423
15, 575

MARYLAND

A nnapolis______
B altim ore. _____
C um berland____
Frederick____ _
H agerstow n.
..
Salisbury_____ .

1180

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b i e 8 .— E S T IM A T E D COST OF 'B U IL D IN G S F O R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S . S E P T E M B E R 1934—C ontinued

S o u th A tla n tic S ta te s — Continued

State and city

New !F am ­ New . Total
resident ilies nonresi- (includ­
pro­ dential
tial
ing
b u ild ­ vided build­ repairs)
ings
for
ings

I

; New 1i* am- New
Tota i
1residen-; iiies nonresi- (includ­
i tial ! pro­ dential
ing
i build- vided build repairs)
for
ings
, ings

VIRGINIA

NORTH CAROLINA

$2, 500
4, 000
2,800
lOj 616
D u r h a m .______
0
G astonia---------0
G oldsboro-------17,000
G reensboro-----0
H igh P o in t... . .
0
K in sto n ---------0
New B ern------1,050
R aleigh----------7,000
Rocky M o u n t._
0
Salisbury-------0
Shelby________
0
Statesville------1, 800
W ilm ington----Wilson 2---------- /
0
10, 700
W inston-Salem—

Asheville______
C harlotte____
Concord-----------

1 $18, 490 $25, 565
11, 390
625
3
6, 425
2,000
3
17, 441
5, 750
4
8, 300
8, 000
0
4, 250
3, 500
0
81,
442
3 57, 355
4,120
4,120
0
4,
300
4, 300
0
1,050
0
0
7, 940
4, 840
2
7, 325
275
1
470
350
0
1,150
1,000
0
3,
350
3,150
0
17, 005
1
0
450
50
0
4, 965
25, 208
3

SOUTH CAROLINA

A nderson----------C harleston--------C olum bia______
Florence----------- Greenville--------Greenwood-------R ock H ill---------S p artanburg-----Sum ter-------------

Stale and cit.v

10, 65C
2, 20C
9, 20C
1, 50(
8, 60(
19, 60C

7
2
4
:

2, 400
22,835
100
1()(

i

15, 590
25,12C
40C

10,00(

13, 250
33, 321
14, 643
4, 300
15 790
271,471
47, 835
5, 049
10,000

$2,100
0
0
5,000
0
16, 550
0
4, 000
59, 200
7, 400
10, 500
0
11, 200

2
0
0
2
0
7
0
2
5
4
3
0
4

$900
3, 840
0
0
375
2, 225
1,180
15, 692
24, 755
1, 550
0
125
400

$8,821
7, 480
10
12,896
24, 881
58,489
2, 330
141,311
156, 450
15, 570
11,135
2,075
11, 600

B luefield-----------C harleston ----C larksburg, —
Fairm ont- _ - H u n tin g to n -----M artin sb u rg------M organtow n-----W heeling ------

6, 500
25, 800
0
0
6,800
6, 000
0
0

2
8
0
0
4
2
0
0

425
825
2, 455
2, 500
2,853
350
286
10,045

8,165
50,831
26, 445
5, 850
14, 728
6, 980
3, 546
14, 040

T o tal_____

879, 460

C harlottesville—
D anville-----------H opew ell-..
- L yn ch b u rg---- -N ew port N ew s—
N orfolk.. Petersburg------ -P o rtsm o u th ------R ichm ond -- -R oanoke. Stau n to n........
Suffolk - W inchester WEST VIRGINIA

24S 3,269,343 6, 442, 332

E a s t S o u th C en tral S ta te s
MISSISSIPPI

ALABAMA
A n n is to n .---- Bessemer . . . . .
B irm ingham
D ecatu r------- . . .
Fairfield— . . . .
G adsden-----------M obile
------M ontgom ery____
Selm a_____ . . . T u s c a lo o sa --------

0
0
0
0
0
$1, 462
7,600
17, 600
0
19, 750

0
0
0
0
0 $2,980
0
0
0
0
4, 250
3
8,400
5
800
10
100
0
3,150
1

$5, 071
6,913
73, 014
0
3,242
7,148
36,976
53, 625
4, 402
40,900

KENTUCKY
A s h la n d ----- . . .
C ovington______
F o rt T h o m a s ----F rankfort_______
H enderson-------Lexington_______
Louisville
N ew p o rt___ ____
Owensboro______

650
3,000
C
3, 500
(
10, 000
38,90(
0
0

2 N ot included in totals.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1,000
1
1 19, 300
0
0
0
3
0
0
6 52, 656
20 301, 265
275
0
985
0

1,950
28, 025
0
4,500
0
107, 482
360,818
3, 775
5,026

0
C larksdale--. . . .
0
Colum bus - - - - G reen w o o d ------- $1, 525
0
G ulfport. _ ------H attiesb u rg. __ — 1,500
45, 325
Jackson—
...
0
L aurel___. . . . .
0
V ic k sb u rg ______

0
0
0
3 $2, 250
1,500
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0

$2, 000
0
4, 541
1, 500
1,800
65, 315
0
0

400
0
1,500
2,820
15,860
16,828

49,889
4,400
2, 700
18,675
102, 700
96, 258

TENNESSEE

C hattanooga---Jackson. ------ .
K ingsport______
K noxville----------M em phis ______
N ashville-----------

6,000
600
1,200
c
3, 250
7,000

T o tal--------

168,862

7
1
2
0
5
8

80 436, 319 1,092, 645

1181

HOUSING

T a b l e S.—E S T IM A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D IN G S FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934—Continued

W est S o u th C en tra l S ta te s

State and city

New Fam ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
for
ings
ings

0
0
$4, 000
4, 000
0

0
0
1
2
0

$465
0
2,352
0
7, 400

$5, 708
4,815
21,879
8,100
38,868

0

0

0

4,485

2
350
5
0
4
2, 300
5 121,416

9,646
35, 538
42,348
273, 628

LOUISIANA

A lexandria.........—
L afayette_______
N ew Orleans____
S hreveport______

1,000
21, 729
6, 850
10, 729

OKLAHOMA

A d a ____________
A rdm ore................
E n id —...................
M cA lester______
M uskogee_______
O klahoma C ity ...
Ponca C ity _____
Sapulpa________
Seminole________
Shawnee________
T ulsa___________
W ew oka___ ____

New F a m ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi­ (includ­
pro­ denti al
tial
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
for
ings
ings

TEXAS

ARKANSAS

B lytheville______
E l D orado—..........
F o rt S m ith______
H ot Springs_____
L ittle R ock_____
N o rth L ittle
R ock _________

State and city

3, 300
0
0
0
0
15, 500
0
0
0

c

2, 500
0

2
0
0
0
0
10
0
0
0
0
2
0

1,600
40
1,493
0
1,375
11, 73C
34C
C
300
15C
74,475
1,000

4,900
3,040
7,023
0
5, 557
38,915
15, 460
0
300
4,350
99,171
1,000

A m a rillo ----------A u s t in _________
B e a u m o n t___ —
Big Spring— --C leburne_______
Corpus C h risti__
Corsicana_______
D allas__________
Del R i o - ___ -D enison.
. E l Paso_________
Fort W o rth _____
G a lv e s to n ___
Greenville - --H arlingen_______
H ouston________
L ubbock__ _____
P alestine, ___
P a m p a . . - ______
P aris. ______
Port A rth u r 2___
San Angelo
_
San Antonio - Sherm an________
Sw eetw ater_____
Tem ple______ —
T y ler___________
W aco________ _
W ichita Falls___
T o tal_____

$15,000
23, 532
500
0
0
1,000
1,000
46, 785
2,125
C
2, 50C
22,90C
18, 073
C
0
104, 306
C
4, 55C
10, 400
C
2, 900
1,925
19, 326
C
0
C
73,112
4, 900
10, 000
431, 542

2
24
1
0
0
1
1
24
2
0
1
8
9
0
0
26
0
3
8
0
2
2
14
C
0
c
6C
8
1

$2, 775
122, 764
3, 388
141
0
22,190
0
26, 727
9,200
0
1,012
17,800
2, 836
150
3, 500
188, 650
0
500
5, 350
1,500
1, 64C
0
107, 861
21, 365
C
10, OOC
3, 057
5, 060
93, 070

$28,160
164, 634
13, 309
1, 207
2,055
27,913
2, 425
136, 666
13,400
1,330
21, 111
84, 200
55,975
150
4, 447
319, 801
9,770
8, 866
15, 750
7,410
10,855
4, 825
153,949
24, 650
2, 150
10, 500
83,833
10,885
110, 261

228 875, 682 1, 944, 363

M o u n ta in S ta te s
ARIZONA

P h o e n ix .. _ _ _
T u c s o n .______ -

MONTANA
$800
0

1
0

$6, 500
3, 548

$14, 840
92, 994

COLORADO

B o u ld e r..
____
Colorado Springs.
D e n v er.. . . . .
Fo rt Collins
. .
G rand J u n ctio n ...
G reeley_________
P u eblo____

0
2, 500
87, 300
6, 900
1,600
0
0

0

450
465
20, 380
250
145
300
20, 745

1
23
3
1
0
0

6, 025
4, 730
155, 565
11, 760
3,095
4, 640
24, 563

9, 100
1,000

4
1

2,610

0

27, 589
4,411

2 N ot included in totals.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3
1

$150
2, 000
100
26, 680
1,230
3,135

$150
19, 000
5, 690
31,395
7, 805
10, 405

4

150

27,620

13, 000

3

0

0

40, 673
300

68, 318
4,395

0

0

0

1, 200

C
2

1, 675
850

925
3, 175
44, 276

54 132,336

573, 366

1

19, 500

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

Ogden__________
Provo___ _______
Salt Lake C ity ___
1

0
6
0

NEVADA

R eno. . . _____

A lbuquerque____
Roswell _______

IDAHO

Boise. . . . ______
Pocatello . . . . . .

A naconda___ _
0
B illings... . . . . . $10, 000
B u tte __ ______
0
Great Falls______
1,050
2, 900
H elena_________
M issoula________
4, 500

T o tal_____

c

161, 350

1182

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 8 .—E S T IM A T E D CO ST OF B U IL D IN G S FO R W H IC H P E R M IT S W E R E IS SU E D

IN P R IN C IP A L C IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1934—Continued

P a c ific S ta te s

State and city

New F am ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
for
ings
ings

CALIFORNIA—COn.

CALIFORNIA
Alameda -- - Alhambra.
A naheim . _
Berkeley
Beverly H ills____
Brawley
B urlingam e----- -C om pton_______
E u rek a____- . . .
Fresno----- --------Fullerton.- .
G ardena
Glendale
H u n tin g to n P ark
Tn^lewnod
Long B each. . . .
Los A ngeles.. . . .
M odesto___ ___
M onrovia . . . . .
Oakland
O ntario
Palo Alto
Pasadena
Pomona
Riverside
Sanra.me.nto
Salinas
San B ern ard in o ...
San Diego
San Francisco___
San Jose. . . . . . .
Sail L ean d io ------San M ateo . . .
Santa A na — . —

New Fam ­ New
Total
residen­ ilies nonresi- (includ­
tial
pro­ dential
ing
build­ vided build­ repairs)
ings
for
ings

State and city

$2,850
19,987
4, 000
7,000
25, 725
109, 350
0
9, 500
0
5,150
29, 545
0
0
33, 200
0
8, 750
28, 500
429, 405
6,800
3, 700
19, 485
1, 075
8, 50C
17, 700
1,000
3, 000
3, 000
39, 270
0
31, 550
105, 225
10, 985
18, 950
6,000
0

1
6
i
2
5
16
0
2
0
3
8
0
0
11
0
4
9
119
3
2
8
2
1
4
2
1
1
9
0
7
29
3
6
2
0

$850 $15,070
1,100
29, 831
0
6, 905
23, 186
1, 250
6,060
60, 550
28, 000 170, 350
750
350
15, 926
0
22, 270
21, 560
23, 250
11,850
60, 782
9, 295
2, 575
5, 756
3, 393
925
55, 863
11,161
15,627
5, 370
46, 008
33, 353
5,845 116, 530
219, 274 1,086, 518
47, 650
38, 657
7, 472
0
38, 958 149,898
5, 400
3, 100
14, 300 106, 005
277, 20C 328,836
1,00C
8,014
79, 685
97, 021
19,015
63, 031
17,211
59, 031
44, 320
29,370
10, 785
91, 637
167, 407 422, 254
51, 965
80, 255
21, 468
700
0
6, 000
0
10,367

Santa B arbara___
S an ta Cruz ____
Santa M onica----Santa Rosa ____
South G ate.. . . .
South P a s a d e n a ..
Stockton . ___
V allejo ..
-----W h ittie r_____ .

0
$6,850
11, 500
3, 000
12, 350
9,000
1,000
19, 300
5, 000

0 $29,125
3
3, 970
5 176, 614
1
1,600
800
7
1 2,000
1 10, 624
2,400
5
0
1

$56, 590
14, 445
194,004
8, 900
16,194
15,181
40, 346
33, 775
8, 302

0
18,000
0
0
55, 550

0
175
1,200
1
0
6, 500
0
1, 25C
13 128, 575

5, 696
28,389
15, 203
7, 094
266, 417

0
3, 250
15, 795
0
2,800
7, 20C
3, 500
17,835
11,325
6 ,10C
6,800
0

C
370
2
65
12
540
0
0
2
675
9
9,195
2
415
18 31, 700
9 14, 276
2, 400
2
6C
150
0

4, 790
7, 470
42, 936
5,815
4, 275
19, C44
3,915
114,416
61, 651
26, 909
29, 290
1, 950

OREGON
A storia_________
E ugene.. ____ .
K lam ath F alls__
M ed fo rd ... . . .
P o rtla n d -----------WASHINGTON
A berdeen..
.. .
Bellingham _ .
Brem erton ___
H oquiam . ______
___
Longview
O lym pia. ______
Po rt Angeles
Seattle
. . .
S p o k an e... . . . . .
Tacoma . . .
W alla W alla____
W enatchee_____

T o tal_____ 1,205,357

365 1,532,850 4, 340, 221

H a w a ii

C ity

New residential
buildings
50,868

Families
provided
for
37

New nonresidential
buildings
81,289

Total (ineluding repairs)
161,423

Permits were issued during September for the following important
building projects: In Boston, Mass., for mercantile buildings to cost
over $350,000; in Brooklyn, N. Y., for apartment houses to cost
nearly $600,000; in the Borough of Manhattan for apartment houses
to cost over $1,000,000; in Bradford, Pa., for school buildings to cost
over $500,000; in Bismarck, N. Dak., for a school building to cost
nearly $400,000; in Washington, D. C., for a junior high-school build­
ing to cost nearly $400,000; in Hagerstown, Md., for a hospital to
cost over $250,000; in Louisville, Ivy., for a school building to cost
over $200,000; and in Pasadena, Calif., for school buildings to cost
over $250,000. Contracts were awarded by the Procurement Divi­
sion of the United States Treasury Department for an annex to the

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HOUSING

1183

Internal Revenue Building in Washington, D. C., to cost over $1,300,000, for an addition to the Interior Department building to cost
nearly $500,000, and for miscellaneous changes in the new Depart­
ment of Agriculture extensible building to cost over $550,000.
C o n str u c tio n from P u b lic F u n d s

ABLE 1 shows for the months of August and September the
value of contracts awarded for Federal construction projects to
be financed from the Public Works Administration fund, by geographic
divisions.

T

T a ble 1 .—V A LU E OF C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R A LL F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C T IO N

P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D S D U R IN G
A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S i

Building construction

River, harbor, and floodcontrol projects

Public roads

Geographic division
August
1934

September
1934

A ugust
1934

September
1934

August
1934

September
1934

New E n g la n d - -________ .
M iddle A tlantic________ .
E ast N orth C entral-- ____
W est N orth C en tra l..
South A tlantic _________
E a st South C entral _ .
W est South C entral_____
M ountain
____
Pacific - .

$35, 484
228,650
636,148
276,307
807,553
386,165
101, 681
180,839
86,603

$60, 380
182, 512
518, 667
203, 596
2, 372, 263
31,314
53, 917
80,036
109,833

0
$669, 076
813,776
401, 622
1,138, 205
1, 350,154
836,475
1,454, 338
450, 560

$93,491
4,143,649
1,013, 549
4, 544,341
2,439,881
795, 209
193,875
4,115,410
649,457

$981, 010
724, 337
178,773
12,713, 731
6,893
376,400
942,153
209, 664
124, 229

0
$58,999
1, 506,108
852, 072
2,839, 272
12,000
1,136, 380
138, 295
853, 247

Total ______________
Outside continental United
S ta te s-.. ___________

2, 739,430

3, 612,518

7,114, 206

17,988,862

16, 257,190

7, 396, 373

52, 957

755,846

0

0

32,192

0

Streets and roads 2

Reclam ation
projects

N aval vessels

Forestry

Geographic division
August
1934
N ew E ngland. __________
M iddle A tlantic__________
E ast N orth C en tral______
W est N orth C entral___ _
South A tla n tic __________
E ast South C e n tra l-.. . . .
W est South C entral______
M ountain____ . _ _____
P acific._____ ____________
T o tal______________
Outside continental U nited
S tates_________________

$4, 210
1,050
0
22, 824
117, 746
85, 563
2, 600
89, 396
35, 751
359,140

Septem ­
ber 1934

August
1934

0
$3,972
39, 182 $1,084,011
0
4, 980
0
0
224,193
208, 628
0
0
1,291
0
282,475
0
147,758
0
688, 286 1, 308, 204

102, 341

W ater and sewage
system s

N ew E ngland. . . _______
M iddle A tlantic____ ____
E ast N orth C en tral_______
W est N orth C en tral____ _
South A tlantic____________
E ast South C e n tra l.. .
W est South C entral—. . . .
M ou n tain ______________ _
P a c ific ..
______ _______
T o ta l. ____________
O utside continental U nited
States________________

Au­
Sep­
gust tem ber
1934
1934

Septem­
ber 1934

°

120, 600

A ugust
1934

September
1934

0

3, 500

0

Total

Miscellaneous

September
1934

A ugust
1934

August
1934

0
0
0
0
$3, 010
0
0
0
0
63,295
0 $6, 734 $41,861
0
$1, 500
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
24, 309
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$600
0
42,899
0
0
0 1,702,987 3,802,775
0
0 5,179,772 29,684,032 3,105
90,614 6, 927,158 33,487,377 9,839 41,861

0

34,350

Geographic division

Septem ­
ber 1934

A ugust
1934

September
1934

0
0
0
$1,977
9,788
0
6,802
41,537
2,080
62,184

$3,125
1, 200
0
39,-413
8,050
0
0
1,000
0
52, 788

$62,453
12, 663
143,426
22, 503
177,988
36, 381
175, 259
32, 075
362, 767
1, 025,515

$22,490
95, 660
87,970
3,789
194,089
25, 712
24,322
28,214
42,653
524,899

$1,083,157
2, 719,787
1,780, 357
13,438, 964
2,482,366
2, 234, 663
2,107,869
3, 710,836
6,244,867
35,802,866

$186,468
4, 584,497
3,173,135
5, 643, 211
8,086,492
864, 235
1,410, 385
8,448, 205
31,486,950
63,883,578

2, 000

0

29, 716

46,895

339,806

840, 591

i Prelim inary—Subject to revision.

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2 O ther th a n those reported by th e B ureau of Public Roads.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1184

During September, contracts valued at nearly $65,000,000 were
awarded for Federal construction projects to be financed from the
public-works fund. This is an increase of nearly $30,000,000 as
compared with August awards. Reclamation projects accounted
for more than half of the September contract valuation, a contract
having been awarded for the Grand Coulee Dam and power plant in
the Columbia River Basin. The value of the contract awarded for
this project was over $29,000,000.
Comparing September with August there were increases in the value
of contracts awarded for the following types of construction: Building
construction, road building, street paving, reclamation projects, and
forestry. Contracts awarded totaled $5,000,000 or over in each of
the following geographic divisions: The West North Central, the South
Atlantic, the Mountain, and the Pacific.
Table 2 shows the value of contracts awarded from Public Works
Administration funds for all non-Federal projects during August and
September 1934, by geographic divisions.
m

sy
v a t ttp o f P O N T P ACTS A W A R D E D F O R ALL N O N F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C ­
T IO N *P R O JF C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D S
D U R IN G A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S *

Streets and roads 2

B uilding construction
Geographic division
A ugust
1934

W ater and sewage
systems

September
1934

August
1934

September
1934

August
1934

September
1934

Ney? Fìngi and
_____ - A/Tjddla At,latitici
___ ___ __
East N nrth C fin t r a i ________ W est N nrth C entral___ - __
Ponti* Atlantici ______ _____ E ast Smith C en tral_______- ___
W est Smith C entral _ ____- M ountain
__________- -----Pacific________________________

$1,146, 330
10, 574, 707
1, 024, 220
783, 204
965,932
80, 974
1,005, 254
755,412
1, 390,192

$2,918, 265
4, 527,897
1,713,777
3, 600, 735
948, 514
504,848
531,438
54,500
408,093

$1,009,018
1,119,952
116, 832
1,108, 646
1,924, 304
56, 690
8, 970
0
256, 786

$600,107
510,076
860, 694
541, 252
350. 000
142,950
124,198
0
155, 930

$1,143, 726
583, 6 6 1
1, 878, 612
1,784,865
825,873
609, 424
381,096
2, 276,821
2, 400, 653

$195,127
823,056
1,661, 284
1,163,260
310,694
361,489
992,881
449,017
3,884,445

T otal
______________
O utside C o n t i n e n t a l U nited
States
________________

17, 726, 225

15, 208, 067 5, 601,198

3, 285, 207

11,884, 737

9,841, 253

0

0

0

0

0

0
Railroad construction
and repair

Total

M iscellaneous

Geographic division
September
1934

August
1934

August
1934

September
1934

A ugust
1934

September
1934

New E n gl and
_____ -- - - _____ _
M iddle Atlantici
E ast N nrth C entral _ _ __ ___
W est N nrth C en tral________
Soliti* Atlantic __ ______
- E ast South C entral
__ ____
W est Soilth C e n tr a l___________
M ountain
_________ ___
Pacific________________________

$934, 364
1, 462, 910
528, 227
162,133
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
$9, 400
17, 524
719, 019
411,190
2, 200
8, 624
0
0

$158,908
34, 200
388, 257
658, 493
638,586
0
13,487
8, 685
9,980

$4, 233, 438
13, 750, 636
3, 565,415
4, 557,867
4,127, 299
749, 288
1, 403,944
3,032, 233
4, 047, 631

$3,872, 407
5,895,229
4,624,012
5,963, 740
2, 247, 794
1,009,287
1,662,004
512, 202
4,458,448

T otal
_______________
O utside C o n t i n e n t a l U nited
S tates----------------- -----------------

3, 087, 634

0 1,167, 957

1,910, 596

39,467, 751

30, 245,123

0

0

0

0

0

1 Prelim inary—Subject to revision.
^
,
2 O ther th a n those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.


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0

HOUSING

1185

Non-Federal public-works construction projects are financed from
loans and grants awarded by the Public Works Administration. For
the most part these awards are made to State governments or to
political subdivisions thereof. In a few cases loans are made to
private firms. By far the larger number of private loans have been
made to railroad companies. In the case of allotments to States,
cities, and counties the Federal Government grants outright not more
than 30 percent of the cost of construction. Loans made to private
firms must be paid in full within the time specified in the loan contract.
Interest is charged for all loans.
The value of construction projects for which awards were made
from non-Federal Public Works Administration funds during Sep­
tember totaled over $30,000,000. This is a decrease of over $9,000,000, as compared with August.
Contracts were awarded during the month for the following large
projects: In Rochester, N. Y., for a memorial building to cost nearly
$1,000,000. In New York City for work on the new subway to cost over
$4,200,000, and for pier and bulkhead sheds to cost over $1,600,000.
Table 3 shows the value of contracts awarded or force account
work started on Federal construction projects financed from appro­
priations made by Congress direct to the Federal departments,
August and September 1934.
T able 3. V A LU E OF C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C T IO N p r o t .
E G T b F IN A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N M E N T A L A P P R O P R IA T IO N S ATTCTTST
A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934 BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S i A1 ™ P R 1 A i i,ONS, A U G U ST
Building construction

River, harbor, and floodcontrol projects

Public roads

Geographic division
A ugust
1934
New England______ . .
M iddle A tlantic_______
E ast N orth C entral. .
W est N orth C entral ..
South A tla n tic .. .
E a st South C en tral__
W est South C en tra l...
M o u n ta in .._______
Pacific . . . .
T o tal__ . .
O u ts id e c o n tin e n ta l
U nited States____

September
1934

N ew England_______
M iddle A tlantic_______
E ast N orth C entral .
W est N orth C entral____
South A tlantic___. . . . .
E a st South C en tral__ _
W est South C entral___
M ou n tain _____________
Pacific ___________
T o ta l___________
O u ts id e c o n tin e n ta l
U nited States______

September
1934

$9, 397
132.965
760, 655
110, 638
924, 310
13, 600
115, 271
37, 475
39, 073
2,143, 384

$121,662
70,996
445, 571
19.397
1,139, 500
56. 425
22, 200
3, 140
39, 324
1,918, 215

0
0
0
$2,982
0
144,005
0
0
0
146,987

0
0
$461, 255
46, 642
0
54, 270
0
381, 072
423, 013
1, 366, 252

0

8. 475

0

0

Streets and roads 2
Geographic division

A ugust
1934

August
1934
0
0
0
0
$80, 522
4, 563
0
6,785
0
91,870

September
1934
0
0
$2, 670
3,088
115, 934
0
0
0
50, 834
172, 526

N aval vessels
A ugust
1934

A ugust
1934

September
1934

0
0
$5,160
3, 696
25, 674
327,935
129,061
0
6,356
497, 882

$50, 749
39, 543
283,138
36,617
3,126
190,129
883, 084
3,178
121, 656
1,611,220

0

0

R eclam ation projects

September
1934

A ugust
1934

September
1934

$24,143. 700
23, 574, 600
0
0
22,993,000
0
0
0
16,742,370
87, 453, 670

$7,161
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7,161

0
0
0
$14, 000
8, 200
0
13.000
88.000
45,700
3 175,800

0
0
0
$13, 000
7, 700
0
11,000
84, 987
52,279
‘ 175,166

0
3,614
75, 000
1 Prelim inary—subject to revision.
2 Other than those reported by the Bureau of Public Roads.
3 Includes $6,900 not allocated by geographic divisions.
4 Includes $6,200 not allocated by geographic divisions.

0

0

0


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1186

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T arte 3 . —V A L U E OF C O N T R A C T S A W A R D E D F O R F E D E R A L C O N S T R U C T IO N P R O J ­

E C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M R E G U L A R G O V E R N M E N T A L A P P R O P R IA T IO N S , A U G U ST
A*rn ST CPTRMRER 1934. BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S —C ontinued
W ater and sewage
systems
Geographic division

September
1934

A ugust
1934

New E ngland--------------M iddle A tlantic-----------E ast N o rth C en tral------W est N orth C entral------South A tlan tic-------------E ast South C en tral-------W est South C entral------M o u n tain — ------ ---------Pacific _______ ________
T o ta l____ ______ _
O u ts id e c o n tin e n ta l
U nited States-------------

T otal

Miscellaneous
August
1934

September
1934

August
1934

Septem ber
1934

0
0
0
0
$2,400
0
0
0
0
2,400

0
0
0
0
$58,594
0
0
0
0
58, 594

$7,691
0
0
0
29,358
0
0
0
1, 625
38, 674

$5,115
0
1,577
0
165, 833
0
7,880
0
6, 455
186,860

$24,160,788
23, 707, 565
765,815
131,316
24,063,464
490,103
257,332
132,260
16,835,124
90, 550, 667

$184,687
110, 539
1,194, 211
118,744
1,490,687
300,824
924,164
472,377
693, 561
♦ 5,495, 994

0

6, 450

68,500

15, 570

143,500

34,109

« Table includes $6,200 no t allocated b y geographic divisions.

Contracts awarded during September totaled nearly $6,000,000.
This compares with the more than $90,000,000 contract valuation
shown in August.
Exclusive of building construction, reclamation projects, and naval
vessels there was an increase in the value of all types of construction
projects, comparing September with August. Nearly $87,500,000
of the August total was to be spent for naval vessels. Contracts
shown in table 3 are in additoin to work financed from the Public
Works Administration fund. (See tables 1 and 2.)
Table 4 shows the value of public-building and highway-construc­
tion awards as reported by the various State governments September
1933 and August and September 1934.
T able 4 —V A LU E O F P U B L IC -B U IL D IN G A N D H IG H W A Y -C O N S T R U C T IO N A W A R D S

AS R E P O R T E D BY T H E S T A T E G O V E R N M E N T S , S E P T E M B E R 1933 A N D A U G U ST A N D
S E P T E M B E R 1934, b y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S
Value of awards for public
buildings
Geographic division

New E n g lan d -.- — -- --- M iddle A tlantic------------------E ast N orth C en tral-------------W est N orth C entral------------South A tlantic--------------------E ast South C e n tra l-.. — —
W est South C entral-------------M o u n tain ................ - ..................
Pacific-------------------------------T o tal_________________

September
1933
$308,750
366, 542
237, 626
61,420
201, 518
6, 697
496,037
0
626,093
2,304,683

A ugust
1934
$77,064
518,370
334, 578
155,446
117,129
5,680
188, 475
5,801
4,984
1,407,527

Value of awards for highw ay
construction

September September
1933
1934
$237,191
840, 235
167,096
182,087
321,268
200, 747
412, 647
2,811
264, 702
2, 628,784

$381, 605
513,291
240.440
877, 699
392.441
67,373
815,426
51,606
1,901,332
5, 241, 213

August
1934
$571, 751
1,146, 746
3,038,877
1,199, 277
164,882
94,393
3,615,375
137,340
1, 601,733
11, 570,374

September
1934
$639, 544
3, 522,968
4,462,838
281,544
446, 959
258,267
1,015,147
349,104
852, 302
11,828,673

The value of contracts awarded by the various State governments
for public buildings totaled over $2,600,000. This was an increase
of more than 50 percent as compared with August, with a slight
increase as compared with September 1933. Contracts awarded for
road building by the State governments totaled over $11,800,000, a
slight increase as compared with August and an increase of over
100 percent as compared with September 1933. The values shown
in table 3 do not include projects financed from Public Works
Administration funds.

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1187

R e g u la tio n of B u ild in g C on tractors on P u b lic W orks

r P H E serious consequences of irresponsibility and inexperience on
A the part of some building contractors who have been awarded
contracts on public works have brought the financial integrity and
trade practices of builders under official review in Massachusetts.
Several bills dealing with the subject, introduced into the General
Court in 1933, proposed measures for control. One house bill
called for the licensing of all building contractors doing business
within the Commonwealth, while two senate bills would have confined
the field to public improvements and established means of determining
responsibility and fitness. As the result of the movement thus started
a special commission was created (ch. 33, Resolves of 1933) “ to
investigate the advisability of licensing contractors and builders
and relative to certain matters relating to contracts for and the em­
ployment of persons on public works.”
This commission was composed of four State officials representing,
respectively, the office of the attorney general, the department of
labor and industries, the department of public works, and the depart­
ment of public safety, and three persops appointed by the Governor—
a contractor, an architect, and a representative of labor. The com­
mission held public hearings and assigned to subcommittees detailed
investigation of various aspects of its problem. Its report,1 covering
findings and recommended remedial legislation, was submitted in
December 1933, in accordance with the instructions in the resolution
creating the commission.
The commission reached the conclusion from the evidence adduced
that the problem presented in the bills which had been introduced
was a very real and vital one, and that “ the customary procedure of
bidding and awarding public works contracts has created a situation
permitting the use in some instances of unsound and questionable
methods, which it appears has not only seriously crippled the con­
struction industry, but has also brought about an economic loss that
is reflected in retarded business recovery and affects directly or in­
directly every taxpayer living in the Commonwealth.”
Failure on the part of officials awarding contracts on public works
to require definite and standard information concerning the financial
resources, integrity, ability, and experience of bidders was held re­
sponsible for the fact that awards frequently go to contractors who
cannot live up to the terms of the agreement. Insufficiently financed,
organized, and equipped, these contractors “ take work at prices so
low that they find themselves unable to meet payment of wages at
1 M assachusetts. Special Commission to Investigate the A dvisability of Licensing C ontractors and
B uilders and Relative to C ertain M atters Relating to Contracts for and the E m ploym ent of Persons on
Public W orks. R eport. [Boston], Jan u ary 1934. (House No. 1250.)


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1188

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

the accepted local scale, abandon the project, or leave behind a trail
of unpaid bills for labor and materials.”
Surety companies were also charged with a considerable degree of
responsibility because of the practices of some of them. The tendency
to bond contractors of doubtful financial reliability or trade standing
and the efforts made by some bonding companies to discount legiti­
mate claims when contracts are forfeited are practices specifically
mentioned in the report.
In the opinion of the commission, one of the most serious of the un­
sound and questionable methods followed by some contractors is the
“ shopping” of subcontractors’ bids by the general contractor after
the award is made. This practice involves bringing pressure to bear
upon a subcontractor to lower his price by securing from other sub­
contractors offers to handle the job at a figure lower than the original
price. Frequently that means that the original bidder, in order to
hold the work he had expected to get, will reduce his price below the
margin of safety, and by so doing place both his workers and his
material dealers in danger of loss.
On the question of licensing contractors and builders the commis­
sion, with the exception of the labor member, took a negative stand.
Its position was that poor or faulty construction already comes within
the province of building codes which, since they provide penalties,
can and should control; and that a licensing system would require
the creation of a special board. Because of the increased public
expenditure involved, the commission felt that any increase in the
number of administrative agencies at the present time would be un­
warranted. The labor representative, in a supplemental report,
dissented from this position and expressed the belief that a licensingsystem under an administrative State bureau should be created in
the interest of the Commonwealth and its citizens.
Proposed Remedial Legislation
T h e c o m m it t e e , a s p a r t o f it s r e p o r t, d r a fte d a b ill w h ic h , in it s
ju d g m e n t, e m b o d ie s th e n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e s fo r th e c o r r e c tio n o f th e
c o n d it io n s i t fo u n d in th e c o u r se o f it s in v e s t ig a t io n .

Dealing with the point of financial responsibility, the bill provides
that each bidder on public works involving more than $1,000 shall
submit with his proposal a certified check, a certificate of deposit, or
cash, in accordance with a schedule incorporated in the bill. This
collateral is to be returned to all except the successful bidder within
5 days after the award is made. His money is to be held in a special
fund and is to be forfeited if he fails to execute and deliver the job in
accordance with the terms of his contract. A contractor receiving a
public works award who fails to fulfill the terms of the agreement,
including the payment of all claims for labor and material, is to be
debarred from further bidding on public jobs for a period of 3 years.

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HOUSING

1189

Sworn statements are called for on forms which are part of the bill
itself, setting forth detailed information on assets, liabilities, equip­
ment, and qualifications for the performance of the work sought,
previous building record, both public and private, and pending judg­
ments, lawsuits, or liens for labor or material. Any contractor mak­
ing a fraudulent statement in these affidavits is to be prohibited from
submitting bids on any public work in the State for a period of 3
years.
The problem of “ bid shopping” would, under the proposed legisla­
tion, be controlled by requiring all bidders on public works who intend
to sublet any part of the job to submit with their proposals a list of
subcontractors with whom they expect to deal, the type of work to be
done by each one so listed, and the amount of money to be paid for
that work, “ and thereafter no change in subcontractors or prices shall
be made except with the previous written consent of the awarding
authority.”
Ibis bill did not become law, but the legislature left the whole
subject open for further action by instructing the special commission
to continue its study.
Regulatory Legislation in Other States
A l t h o u g h the Massachusetts commission definitely rejected the
policy of licensing building contractors for either private or public
construction, that plan is followed in a few States for purposes of
regulation.
A California law (acts of 1929, ch. 791; amended, 1931, ch. 578, and
1933, ch. 5/3) places the contracting business under the jurisdiction
of the State department of professional and vocational standards,
the contractors license bureau of which issues licenses to all contrac­
tors subject to the law. Before the license is granted the bureau must
be satisfied that the applicant is of good reputation and that he has
never been refused a license. Refusal to issue a license is subject to
review. Complaint may be entered against a licensed contractor on
the grounds (1) that he abandoned the project without legal excuse;
(2) that he diverted the funds from the specific contract; (3) that there
was a fraudulent departure from specifications; or (4) a willful dis­
regard of the building code, building or labor laws. A contractor
operating without a license is subject to a fine not to exceed $500,
imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
Utah has a law (acts of 1933, ch. 58) very similar to that of Cali­
fornia, administered by the department of registration. North
Carolina (acts of 1925, ch. 318) and Tennessee (acts of 1931, ch. 70)
require applicants for license as building contractors to submit to an
examination to determine qualifications. Licenses may be revoked
for fraud, gross negligence, or incompetency.

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1190

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Federal Aid to H o u sin g in th e U n ited S ta te s 1

ITHIN the past several years Congress has passed three
W
measures designed to improve housing conditions, relieve
distressed home owners, and stimulate building. These are the
Home Loan Bank Act, the Home Owners’ Loan Act, and the Federal
Housing Act.
Home Loan Bank A ct2
T h e Home Loan Bank Act created a new method of financing
home building and home loans. Under this act a home owner wanting
a loan to pay off a debt on his house could obtain one from specified
associations, provided the debt did not exceed 40 percent of the
value of the property. These two restrictions—the fact that only
specified types of loan associations were authorized to make these
loans and that the debt already existing on the property must not
exceed 40 percent of its value—seriously reduced the benefits of the
act to the individual home owner and it was partly to remedy this
situation that the Home Owners’ Loan Act was passed. Other
important modifications were made by the Federal Housing Act of
1934. Advances on amortized home loans of 8 years’ maturity or
more may now be made up to 65 percent of the unpaid principal of
the loan and 60 percent of the value of property securing the loan.
Under the original act, advances on such collateral were limited to
60 percent of unpaid principal and 40 percent of property value.
On other home-mortgage collateral under the new act, advances,
while still restricted to 50 percent of unpaid principal, may be made
up to 40 percent of underlying property value, instead of 30 percent
as under the original act. Moreover, if a mortgage furnished as
collateral for an advance from a Federal home-loan bank has been
insured under the National Housing Act, the bank may now lend
up to 90 percent of the unpaid principal, contrasted with a maximum
of 60 percent under the earlier act.
A statement issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, July
13, 1934, reports that, up to July 7, loans authorized by the 12 Federal
home loan banks to building and loan associations, insurance com­
panies, Federal savings and loan associations, and other financing
institutions amounted to $128,053,333. At that date loans had been
repaid in the amount of $30,945,982.
1 T his article is based upon reports and press releases of the Federal Home Loan B ank Board, the
Home O w ners’ L oan C orporation, and the Federal H ousing A dm inistration.
2 A sum m ary of this act was given in the Septem ber 1933 issue of the M o nthly Labor Review (p. 551).


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h o u s in g

1191

Home Owners’ Loan Act 3
T h e Home Owners’ Loan Corporation was set up under authority
of an act signed June 13, 1933. The Corporation was given $200,000,000 in cash, appropriated by the Government, and $2,000,000,000
in bonds to be issued by the Corporation, bearing 4 percent interest,
which interest was to be guaranteed by the Federal Government for
18 years. This money was to be used to make loans to distressed
home owners unable to meet the obligations on the home properties
being purchased by them.
Within the year after the signing of the Home Owners’ Loan Act,
on June 13, 1933, the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation had advanced
in bonds and cash for distressed home owners the sum of $923,416,733,
on 306,887 dwellings. At the end of the first full year of operation
(Sept. 7, 1934) the Corporation had closed 505,070 loans, and had
advanced $1,513,100,612, of which about $150,000,000 was paid in
cash in the various communities. Some $103,300,000 had been paid
into local treasuries to liquidate arrears of taxes and assessments,
and the Corporation pointed out, in a statement issued September 19,
1934, that “ these sums have reduced tax delinquencies which were
serious in some instances, permitting countless communities to meet
their pay rolls for schools, police, and other services and to take
care of other obligations.” More than $20,274,000 had been ex­
pended for the repair and remodeling of the homes on which loans
were made, “ providing employment for thousands of men in the
building trades and stimulating transportation and the manufacture
and sale of construction materials of many kinds.” More than
$200,000,000 of the loans closed represented mortgages taken over
from closed and restricted banks and building and loan associations
in exchange for bonds of the Corporation. “ This operation has
placed those institutions in a position to make substantial payments
to depositors and in many instances to reopen.”
The passage of legislation guaranteeing the principal as well as the
interest of the bonds, early in 1934, facilitated the work of the Cor­
poration and during the late spring and early summer loans were
concluded at the rate of about 15,000 per week.
Under the National Housing Act, approved June 27, 1934, an
additional $900,000,000 in bonds for the refunding of past mortgages—•
making a total of $3,100,000,000 in resources of the Corporation—
was made available.
The following table shows, for the year ending June 15, 1934 (i. e.,
the year immediate^ following the signing of the Federal Home
Owners’ Loan Act), and for subsequent weeks as specified, the number
of homes on which loans were closed and the amount advanced;
cumulative data are also shown.
3
A sum m ary of the provisions of this act was given in th e J u ly 1933 issue of the M o n th ly L abor
Review (p. 92).


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1192

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

H O M E -F IN A N C IN G A C T IV IT IE S OF H O M E O W N E R S ’ LO A N C O R P O R A T IO N IN
S P E C IF IE D P E R IO D S
D uring specified
period

D uring whole period of operation (cum ulative)

Period
N um ber
of homes
financed

Year ending June 15, 1934---W eek ending—
June 22, 1934
_______
June 29, 1934
____
Ju ly 6, 1934 _
Ju ly 13, 1934
_ ...
Aug. 10, 1934 _
Sept. 7,'1934___________

A m ount
advanced

306, 887 $923, 416, 733
16, 765
17, 510
16, 576
18, 233
16,146
0)

52, 663,142
51,911, 690
50, 353, 406
56,110, 571
46, 936, 940
0)

N um ber
of appli­
cations

Applications granted
A m ount ap­
plied for

N um ber

A m ount

1, 465, 941 $4, 702,441, 796

306, 887

$923, 416, 733

1, 488, 473
1, 510, 750
0)
(>)
1,601,008
(>)

323, 652
341,162
0)
375, 971
447, 848
505,070

976, 079,875
1, 027,991, 565
0)
1,134, 455, 542
1, 346, 382, 489
1, 513,100, 612

0)
4,856, 269, 830
0)
(0
0)
(0

i No data.

The peak of applications for loans—146,989—occurred during the
4-week period February 9 to March 9, 1934. The lowest rate occurred
during the week ending August 10, when the number dropped to
14,091.
The average amount of loan per dwelling, up to July 1934, was
$3,013.
Federal Housing Act 4
T h e Federal Housing Act, signed June 27, 1934, provided for Gov­
ernment assistance in two new fields: (1) In the making of loans for
property improvements, and (2) in the development of a program of
mutual mortgage insurance. Thus far the Federal Housing Admin­
istration has taken action only on modernization loans.
Loans for repairs, alterations, and additions.—Under the act the
Government does not itself make loans. It merely insures lending
institutions against any losses incurred up to 20 percent of the total so
loaned by any one lending institution. The underlying idea is that
such Government insurance will take the place of the property security
ordinarily demanded by financial organizations, thus reducing the cost
to both borrower and lender. The total liability that may be incurred
by the Federal Housing Administration is limited to $200,000,000.
The home-modernization credit plan depends primarily on the per­
sonal character and earning power of the would-be borrower. The
procedure, from the point of view of the borrower, is simple. Having
obtained an estimate from the contractor as to the cost of making the
repairs, etc., he desires to make on his house, he may go to any lending
institution (bank, building and loan association, finance company,
etc.) and fill out a statement giving information about the ownership
of the property involved, his income, etc. The lending institution
is not required to make any loan, but the Federal Housing Adminis4
A sum m ary of the provisions of this act was given in the A ugust 1934 issue of the M o n th ly Labor Review
(p. 369).


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HOUSING

1193

tration will insure the lending agency against loss on such loans, pro­
vided the following requirements are met:
(1) The borrower must own the property on which the improvements
are to be made.
(2) There must be no liens against the property. As regards tax
hens the original regulation was amended in a ruling of September 6,
permitting the lending agency to use its own judgment as to whether
unpaid taxes should bar the making of the loan.
(3) Any mortgage on the property must be in “ good standing”,
i. e., the property owner must be fulfilling the terms of the mortgage!
Exceptions are permitted, even in case of delinquent owners, however,
pio\ided there is written agreement between mortgagor and mortgagee
that foreclosure will not take place during the term of loan.
(4) The prospective borrower’s annual income must be at least
five times the amount of the annual payments which he agrees to
make.
(5) The borrower must agree that the money will be used entirely
for repairs, alterations, and improvements to his property and that
he will lepay the loan in monthly installments. (A farmer borrower
may anange to pay off the loan when he receives the proceeds of the
sale of his crops, livestock, etc.)
No security is required. The term of the loan runs from 1 to 3
years, and in exceptional cases to as long as 5 years. A maximum
finance charge is set by the Administration, which may not exceed
$5 for each $100 of a 1-year loan, $9.19 for each $100 of a 2-year loan,
and $13.03 for each $100 of a 3-year loan. Loans insured may not
exceed $2,000 each.
The Federal Housing Administration announced on October 5,
1934, that up to that time more than 8,000 lending institutions had
signed contracts of insurance with the Administration, and that loans
were being made at the rate of $1,500,000 per week. Up to that
date 10,480 loans had been made, aggregating $4,600,000. The
average loan was $443.
Mutual mortgage insurance.—A mutual insurance fund was created
under the Housing Act, for the purpose of insuring first mortgages
on dwelling houses for not more than four families. Its purpose is
to induce private capital to make loans on already existing properties
and to supply funds to those who wish to borrow for the purpose of
constructing homes. The Administrator is authorized to insure any
mortgage eligible for insurance which is offered to him within 1 year
of the date of its execution, the whole not to exceed $1,000,000,000.
The Administrator may also insure, up to the amount of $10,000,000,
first mortgages on low-cost housing projects of Federal, State, or
municipal corporate bodies, or private limited-dividend corporations.

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1194

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

In a statement issued October 5, 1934, it was announced that
regulations governing the insurance of loans for new construction
and the set-up of a new Federal mortgage corporation would be
ready November 1.
R e n t - R e l i e f P r o g r a m i n L e e d s, E n g la n d

HE city council of Leeds, England, has evolved a plan by which
it hopes to overcome the most serious obstacle in the way of its
slum-clearance and rebuilding program. That difficulty, encoun­
tered in most workers’ housing projects, is the practical one of finding
means by which decent living quarters may be provided at a cost
that will make it possible to fix rental charges at a price that workers
can pay.
According to an account of the Leeds housing experiment given in
the September 11, 1934, issue of “ Planning”, that city has made a
courageous attack on what is “ perhaps the most difficult housing
problem to be found in any English provincial town. ” It has under­
taken to demolish 30,000 houses within the next 6 years and to rehouse
their occupants on new housing estates and in multiple dwellings.
The most important and novel feature of its program, however, is
the system of differential rents it has adopted to meet the needs of the
low-income tenant. This system applies to the municipal houses
already erected under various Government housing subsidies, and
will be extended to the new projects as they are completed.
The scale of rents for municipal houses and flats has been fixed
as “ the average economic rent of each type of house and flat, esti­
mated by the city treasurer on April 1 each year.” Government and
municipal building subsidies for housing purposes have been pooled
to provide a fund to be used as rent relief for tenants who cannot pay
the standard rent. This fund is administered by a rent assessment
committee which grants rent relief according to the results of a needs
test. A recent review of the plan showed that 12 percent of the
tenants were paying the normal fixed rent, 81 percent were receiving
partial relief, and 7 percent were receiving full relief—that is, they
paid no rent at all, but met the taxes and water charges assessed by
the city. Compared with the position of these tenants before the
plan was introduced, 53 percent were paying more, 30 percent were
paying the same, and 17 percent were paying less.
As a further encouragement to good housing and living standards,
the city government of Leeds is now trying to inaugurate a plan
whereby tenants from clearance areas will be offered the opportunity
to buy new furniture for their new homes on a time-payment basis.

T


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages and C osts in th e Cigar In d u stry of York C ou n ty, P a .1

MMEDIATELY following the adoption of the code of fair com­
petition for the cigar industry on July 2, 1934, the workers con­
tended that the manufacturers in York County, Pa., endeavored to
employ only the cigarmakers who could make the code minimum.
In an effort to settle the dispute, a bipartisan board, composed of a
representative of labor and a representative of the manufacturers,
was chosen by the code authority to investigate the cost of manu­
facturing 2-for-5-cent cigars. Attempts to establish wage rates on
the basis of the findings and recommendations of this board, however,
were unsuccessful. When no agreement could be reached, arbitration
by the National Labor Relations Board was agreed to by the em­
ployees and employers.
Before attempting to settle the controversy, the National Labor
Relations Board requested the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics to make a study of the cost of manufacturing 5-cent and 3for-10-cent cigars and to obtain data on the hourly earnings of
employees engaged in the manufacture of these two types of cigars.
Although this study covered only a small branch of the cigar-manu­
facturing industry, the results of the survey are believed to be of
general interest.
Coverage of survey.—The plants included in the study made by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics were selected by representatives of
labor and the cigar manufacturers of York County in a conference
with the agents of the Bureau. All of the factories selected produced
cigars by what is known as the “ hand method.” The number of
workers covered in the survey included 728 employees making 5-cent
cigars and 162 making 3-for-10-cent cigars. The number of em­
ployees in the different plants varied considerably, ranging from 26
to 164 on 5-cent cigars and from 25 to 74 on 3-for-10-cent cigars.
The 6 months ending June 30, 1934, was used in determining the
cost of manufacture. However, since the most active period of the
year in the cigar business is the Christmas holiday season, the results
cannot be accepted as representative of annual operations.
The wage data are based on records kept for 1 week since August
13, 1934, when work was resumed after the strike. Previously no

I

1 From an unpublished report prepared by the U nited States B ureau of Labor Statistics for th e N atio n a
L abor R elations Board.
91302°—34

11


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1196

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

record was maintained of hours of work and, consequently, hourly
earnings could not be calculated.
Average Hourly Earnings
I n c o m p u t in g average hourly earnings of employees, supplemen­
tary payments to meet code minimums and wages earned in the manu­
facture of cigars other than 5-cent and 3-for-10-cent cigars were excluded.
A few cellophaners and banders had their piecework earnings sup­
plemented by additional payments in order to bring their wages up
to the minimum rates prescribed by the code. Such instances,
however, were exceptional and because of the difficulty in prorating
these supplemental payments between the different types of cigars
produced they were omitted entirely.
Earnings of workers making 5-cent cigars.—Table 1 gives the average
hourly earnings for the major occupations in the manufacture of 5-cent
cigars. Earnings of employees in each occupational group are shown
for the 9 factories separately, as well as an average for all 9 factories
combined. It will be noted that factory no. 6 has all stripping done
at the workers’ homes and that factory no. 9 has binder stripping done
in the same way.
T able 1.—A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S OF W O R K E R S E M P L O Y E D IN T H E M A N
U F A C T U R E OF 5-C EN T C IG A R S A T 9 F A C T O R IE S IN Y O R K C O U N T Y , PA ., BY
O C C U PA T IO N S *

Occupation

W rapper strippers, hand- ----W rapper strippers, machine - B inder strippers, hand - . - _ B inder strippers, m achine-.
_ ____
Bunchers
.
. ........... . .
Rollers- ____ .
Packers. . . .
....
Cellophaners, banders, and toilers, hand
and m achine, . . .

Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Fac­ Avetory tory tory tory tory tory tory tory tory age,
no. 1 no. 2 no. 3 no. 4 no. 5 no. 6 no. 7 no. 8 no. 9 9 fac­
tories
Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents
25. 6
29.5 44.0
30. 5
33. 0 36.1
29.2
23. 3 39. 2
37.6 39.4 41.0 49.4 47.0
29.8 36 8 28.9 38.9 37.2
33.5 50.0 58.4 45.6 38.0
26.7

32.7

33.9

42.8

39.0

Cents Cents
(2)
34.3
(2)
30. 7
42.4 43.2
32.4 37.8
34.1 44.8

Cents Cents Cents
25 e
27.1 25. 0 31 4
33 6
(2)
27. 5
29 4
40.5 47.0 44.3
33.2 41.0 36.3
41.6 32.9 42.3

30.2

35.3

35.1

32.8

34.5

1 Excludes supplem entary paym ents made in order to m eet code m inim um s and wages earned in the
m anufacture of cigars other th an th e 5-cent type.
2 W ork done a t w orkers’ homes.

During the pay period covered by the survey approximately 98
percent of the bunchers employed by the factories included earned
30 cents or more per hour, while about 80 percent of the rollers earned
30 cents or more per hour. On the other hand, all of the hand wrap­
per strippers and half of the machine wrapper strippers earned less
than 30 cents per hour.
Earnings of workers making 3-for-10-cent cigars.—The average hourly
earnings of workers engaged in the manufacture of 3-for-10-cent
cigars are given in table 2. This table shows that the average earn­
ings in this branch of the industry ranged from 25 cents per hour
for machine wrapper strippers at factory no. 3 to 43.6 cents per hour
for bunchers at factory no. 2.

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1197

WAGES AND HOTTES OF LABOE
T able 2 —A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S OF W O R K E R S
F A C T U R E OF 3-FOR-lO-CENT C IG A R S A T 3 F A .'OCT .. >.
O C C U PA T IO N S
Fac tor:'
no. 1

Occupation

W rapper strippers, hand ..................................
__ _
W rapper strippers, m achine
Binder strippers, hand
_
............... _ ____
Binder strippers, m achine
. . .
B unchers__
- _ _ _ ............... .
. _
Rollers____ _ ____
- __
__ _
Packers_____
_
_ . _ __
.........
Cellophaners and banders, hand and m achine- - ___

Cents
25.7

L O Y E D IN T H E M A N U ­
F O R K C O U N T Y , PA , BY

Factory
.io. 2

Factory
no. 3

Cents

Cents

34.7
41.7
31.9
36.9
40.3

33.5
29.4
43.6
36.0
35.6
30.3

Average of
3- factories

25.0

Cents
25.7
30.6

30.9
29.7
29.2
33.4

30.8
36.6
32.9
33.7
33.4

(')

1 W ork done a t workers’ homes.

In the manufacture of 3-for-10-cent cigars the hourly earnings of
88 percent of the bunchers and 82 percent of the rollers amounted
to 30 cents or more. The workers earning less than 30 cents per hour
included all of the hand wrapper strippers, 40 percent of the machine
wrapper strippers and 50 percent of the machine binder strippers.
Cost of Manufacture

I n t h e manufacture of 5-cent cigars during the first half of 1934,
the difference between the total cost and selling price at the 9 fac­
tories ranged from a profit of $2.20 to a loss of 79.4 cents per 1,000
cigars. The average profit was 55.7 cents per thousand. All 3
plants covered showed a loss in the manufacture of 3-for-10-cent
cigars. This loss ranged from 23.2 cents to $5.368 per 1,000 cigars.
Average W age and Salary P a y m e n ts in V arious In d u stries in
O hio, 1916 to 1932: Part 1
By

F red

C.

C r o x t o n , C o l u m b u s , O h io , a n d F r e d e r ic k
U n iv e r s it y

E.

C r o x t o n , C o l u m b ia

HIS study covers the following industry groups: Manufacture of
paper and printing, of rubber products, of stone, clay, and glass
products, and of vehicles, and transportation and public utilities.
These five industry groups have been combined, due to the necessity
of economizing space in publication. This study is a continuation of
the series published in the Monthly Labor Review, beginning in
January 1934.
As explained in previous studies, changes in average wage and
salary payments do not provide any measure of changes in wage or
salary scales or rates of pay, nor do the average wage and salary pay­
ments show full-time earnings for any year. Full-time earnings may
be either greater or less than the computed average wage and salary
payment.

T


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1198

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Source and Scope of Study
T h e reports made annually, as required by law, to the Division of
Labor Statistics, Department of Industrial Relations of Ohio, form
the basis of this study, and of others published in recent issues of the
Monthly Labor Review. The reports were furnished by Ohio employ­
ers immediately after the close of each calendar year and show,
among other items, the number of persons employed on the 15th of
each month and total wage and salary payments during the year.
Employers are not requested to furnish, in connection with such
reports, information concerning full-time, part-time, and overtime
work and reduction of hours and other plans for spreading work
during slack periods.
Prior to 1924, reports were requested of all employers of five or
more persons, and beginning with 1924 reports have been requested
of all employers of three or more. Some reports were received each
year from employers of fewer than the minimum indicated and all
such reports are included in the compilations. The number of estab­
lishments reporting varied from year to year, but the returns were
from identical establishments throughout the 12 months of each
year. Reports are not requested concerning government employ­
ment and interstate transportation.
Employers in their annual reports to the Ohio Division of Labor
Statistics show the number of persons employed on the 15tli of each
month. The average was computed by dividing by 12 the sum of the
numbers employed on the 15th of each month.
In their annual returns, employers were requested to report for the
year total wage and salary payments in dollars, including bonuses and
premiums and value of board and lodging furnished. Employers were
instructed not to include salaries of officials.
Average wage and salary payments were computed by dividing
total wage and salary payments by average number of persons em­
ployed.
M a n u fa c tu r e o f P a p er a n d P r in tin g

I n t h e manufacture of paper and printing in Ohio during the 17
years, 1916 to 1932, the highest average wage and salary payment for
all occupation groups combined was $1,605 in 1928, the second highest
was $1,545 in 1929, and the lowest was $735 in 1916. The average
in 1932 was $1,250, which was the lowest since 1919.
The decline in average wage and salary payments from 1929 to
1932 was $321, or 21.2 percent, for wage earners; $194, or 12.5 per­
cent, for bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks; $310, or 13.4
percent, for salespeople (not traveling); and $295, or 19.1 percent,
for the three general occupation groups combined.
The average number of persons reported employed in each of the
general occupation groups is shown in table 1.

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WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR

1199

The year 1929 shows the highest average number employed of
wage earners, of salespeople (not traveling), and of the general
occupation groups combined. The highest average number of book­
keepers, stenographers, and office clerks was employed in 1930. The
lowest average number of wage earners was employed in 1918, of
salespeople (not traveling) in 1917, and of bookkeepers, stenogra­
phers, and office clerks, and of the general occupation groups com­
bined in 1916. In 1932 the average number of wage earners employed
was the lowest since 1923 and the average for the general occupation
groups combined was the lowest since 1924.
T able 1.—A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF P E R S O N S (B O T H SE X E S) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D
IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF P A P E R A N D P R IN T IN G , 1916 TO 1932, BY G E N E R A L O C C U P A ­
T IO N G R O U PS
N um ber of employees
N um ber of
establish­
m ents

Year

1916____________________________
1917____________________________
1918____________________________
1919____________________________
1920____________________________
1921____________________________
1922__________________________
1923____________________________
1924____________________________
1925____________________________
1926____________________________
1927________________ ___________
1928____________________________
1929____________________________
1930________ _________ ________
1931____________________________
1932____________________________

928
930
939
924
977
869
886
913
980
1,037
1, 075
1,110
1,130
1,158
1, 151
1,160
1,139

Wage
earners

Bookkeepers, Salespeople
stenogra­
(not travel­
phers, and
ing)
office clerks

29,339
29, 627
29,032
31, 230
34,862
29,946
32, 207
34, 766
37, 182
38, 851
40, 540
41, 352
41, 004
43, 871
42, 022
39, 933
36,817

4, 367
4,383
4,685
5,072
5, 605
5, 776
5,787
6,096
6, 936
7, 292
7, 676
8,005
6,439
8, 651
9, 462
7,866
7,696

All em­
ployees

820
764
951
903
1,029
1,061
1,047
1,235
1,357
1, 451
1,518
1,591
1,508
1, 764
i 968
1,596
1,726

34, 526
34, 774
34, 668
37, 205
41,496
36, 783
39, 041
42,097
45,475
47, 594
49, 734
50,948
48,951
54, 286
52, 451
49,395
46, 238

1 In accord w ith tabulations of Ohio Division of Labor Statistics, b u t possibly some error in reporting
or tabulating.
T able 2 .—F L U C T U A T IO N IN E M P L O Y M E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H SE X E S) IN
M A N U F A C T U R E O F P A P E R A N D P R IN T IN G , 1930 TO 1932 i

M onth

January
_
_
F e b ru a ry _____
__ _ _
M arch __ _
A p rils _______________
M a y ___ _______________
June
_ . J u ly ___________________
August
September
October.. - - - ___

N um ber of wage earn­
ers (both sexes) em­
ployed in—
1930

1931

1932

42, 267
42,352
42,999
43,142
42, 708
42, 597
41, 966
41,514
41,410
41, 341

40,899
40, 956
40, 936
40,809
41, 035
40, 701
39,425
38, 935
39, 225
38, 954

38,172
38,115
38,074
37, 735
37,198
36,425
35, 781
35,447
36,196
36,159

M onth

19?0

1931

N ovember
December

41,072
40, 892

38, 934
38, 389

36, 530
35, 968

M axim um __
M inim um ___ - ___ __
Variation from maxi­
mum:
N um ber
Percent
N um ber of establish­
m ents

43,142
40,892

41,035
38,389

38,172
35,447

2,250
5. 2

2, 646
6. 4

2, 725
7.1

1,151

1,160

1,139

1 For years 1916 to 1929, see B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 553.


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N um ber of wage earn­
ers (both sexes) em­
ployed in—
1932

1200

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

In 16 of the 17 years covered in this study more than 80 percent of
the employees were classified as wage earners. Table 2 shows for
that occupation group fluctuation in employment from 1930 to 1932.
Maximum employment for the 17-year period was 45,024 in October
1929, and minimum employment was 27,881 in January 1916.
Table 3 shows average wage and salary payments in the manu­
facture of paper and printing.
The highest average wage and salary payment to wage earners was
made in 1929 and to each of the other occupation groups and to the
three groups combined in 1928. The lowest average was paid in
1916 to each classification except salespeople (not traveling), where
the lowest average was paid in 1918. The 1932 average payment to
wage earners and to the occupation groups combined was the lowest
since 1919, the 1932 payment to bookkeepers, stenographers, and
office clerks the lowest since 1922, and to salespeople (not traveling)
the lowest since 1921. Chart 1 shows graphically the trend of
average payments to wage earners.

F i g u r e 1 .—A v e r a g e W a g e a n d S a l a r y p a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s
UFACTURE OF PAPER AND PRINTING, 1916 TO 1932


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in

Ma n u -

1201

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

T able 3 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S IN M A N U F A C T U R E O F P A P E R
A N D P R IN T IN G , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S
Average wage and salary paym ents to—
N um ber of
establish­
Bookkeepers,
m ents
stenogra­
Wage earners phers,
and
office clerks

Year

1916__________________________
1917___________________
1918___________________________
1919_____________________ .
1920____ ______________________
1921__________________________
1922_______________________
1923_____________ ______________
1924____________________________
1925____________________________
1926____________________________
1927___________________________
1923____ _______________________
1929___________________________
1930____________________________
1931____________________________
1932____________________________

i 928
930
939
924
977
869
2 886
913
980
1,037
1,075
1,110
1,130
1,158
1,151
1,160
1, 139

$720
781
909
1,100
1,412
1,292
1,328
1,376
1,420
1,282
1, 478
1,464
1,508
1,513
1,473
1,362
1,192

Salespeople
(not travel­ All employees
ing)

$741
833
835
1,052
1,295
1,323
1,319
1,476
1,446
1,309
1,466
1,554
1,979
1, 550
1,621
1,536
1,356

$1,204
1,478
1,200
1,707
1,939
1,790
2,002
2,075
2, 116
2,334
2, 354
2, 341
2, 637
2, 307
2, 354
2,112
1,997

$735
803
907
1,109
1,409
1,311
1, 345
1,411
1,445
1,319
1,503
1,506
1,605
1,545
1,516
1,414
1,250

1 N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees;' the num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
was less by 7.
2 N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; the num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
was less b y 1.

Industries in Manufacture of Paper and Printing

I n t h is study the following industries have been combined under
“ Paper and printing, other”: Card cutting and designing, engraving
and die sinking, type founding and printing materials, wall paper, and
paper and printing, not otherwise classified.
Table 4 shows average wage and salary payments to wage earners
in each of the 8 industries and in the group “ Paper and printing,
other.” These averages should not be taken as exact measures but
as approximate figures.
T able 4 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN
M A N U F A C T U R E OF P A P E R A N D P R IN T IN G , 1916 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S

Year

1916______
1917______
1918______
1919______
1920______
1921______
1922______
1923______
1924______
1925______
1926______
1927______
1928______
1929______
1930______
1931______
1932______

Bags,
paper

$534
659
770
940
1.107
941
(')
1,122
1,117
1,041
990
1,047
993
1,111
1,099
1,038
874

Boxes,
fancy
and
paper,
and
drinking
cups

E nvel­
ops

Labels
and tags

Paper,
includ­
ing sta­
tionery

Photo­
engrav­
ing

$469
516
635
766
918
941
0)
1,037
1,094
1,124
1,130
1,143
1,158
1,237
1,149
1,103
900

(0
$607
726
863
1,024
970
(0
983
1,012
1,000
1,046
1,028
1,043
1,085
1,061
1,011
907

0)
(0
$803
905
1,311
1,367
0)
999
1,246
1,386
1,330
1,367
1,282
1,147
1,167
1,317
1, 204

$666
775
1,010
1,182
1, 564
1,244
0)
1,308
1,343
1,345
1,345
1,318
1,371
1,386
1,337
1,240
1,027

$1,015
1,172
1,232
1, 569
1,920
1,862
(0
2,017
2,124
2,115
2,298
2,394
2,491
2,610
2, 384
2,158
1,960

Stereo­
P rinting typing
and p u b ­ and eleelishing
trotyping

Paper
and
printing,
other

$842
983
1,068
1,239
1,482
1,606
0)
1,741
1,840
1,828
1,926
1,980
2,012
2,001
1,915
2,000
1,730

$564
705
835
895
1,194
1,186
0)
1,245
1,241
1,336
1,328
1,270
1,399
1,331
1,431
1,338
1,018

$790
822
930
1,156
1,489
1,393
0)
1,518
1,545
C)
1,631
1,593
1,648
1,622
1,580
1,436
1,289

1D ata not available.
2 O m itted due to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.


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1202

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The highest average wage and salary payment to wage earners was
made in 1920 in 1 industry, in 1923 in 1, in 1925 in 1, in 1928 in 2, in
1929 in 3, and in 1930 in 1. The lowest average payment was made
in 1916 in 7 industries, in 1917 in 1, and in 1918 in 1.
Indexes of Employment and of Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown in
table 5. The base is 1926. The indexes cover the period during
which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics requested reports from
all employers of 3 or more persons. Indexes are shown for manufac­
ture of paper and printing as a whole and for each of 8 industries.
T able 5 .—IN D E X E S O F A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D
T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN
M A N U F A C T U R E OF P A P E R A N D P R IN T IN G , 1924 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S
[1926=100.0]

Year

1924______
1925______
1926
1927
1928______
1929
1930
1931______
1932______

T otal
Average
Average
T otal
Average
Total
Wage
Wage
Wage
wage and wage and
wage and wage and earners
and wage and earners
earners wage
salary
salary
salary
salary
salary
salary
(average
(average
(average
pay­
pay­
pay­
p ay ­
pay­
p ay ­
num
ber)
num
ber)
num ber)
m
ents
m ent
m ents
m ent
m ent
m ents
91.7
95.8
100.0
102. 0
101.0
108. 2
103. 7
98.5
90.8

88.1
83.1
100. 0
101. 0
103.2
110. 7
103. 3
90. 8
73.3

96.1
86.8
100. 0
99.1
102.0
102.4
99. 7
92. 2
80.6

95.1
97.3
100. 0
102.7
98. 9
96. 6
98. 6
90.9
84.4

92. 0
93.0
100.0
101.0
98. 6
100.2
100.1
87.9
73.3

96. 7
95. 6
100. 0
98.3
99. 7
103. 7
101. 4
96.7
86.7

83.1
94.3
100.0
120.5
125.5
144.9
142.5
138. 2
111.0

76.8
86.8
100.0
125. 5
136.0
164. 6
147.8
129.8
94.7

88.5
86.4
100.0
103.6
108.1
101. 5
103.2
115. 6
79.9

112. 8
105.2
100.0
105.8
100.3
112. 2
111.0
104.8
88.3

95. 6
97.6
100.0
98.6
109.1
114.1
96.4
38.9
35.1

89.6
101. 7
100.0
101.3
105.1
98.4
84.7
38.7
31.8

92.4
92.0
100. 0
104.2
108.4
113.6
103.7
93.9
85.3

90.6
95.1
100.0
103.7
100.5
111.2
110.3
109.1
101.5

85.8
(>)
100.0
101.2
101. 6
110.6
106.8
96.0
80.2

93.6
96.3
100.0
93.8
90.5
111.6
89.8
86.8
82.4

90.6
95.7
100.0
94.9
92.7
122.2
91.3
84.7
65.6

93.7
101. 2
100.0
102.8
96.4
86.2
87.7
99.0
90.5

94.7
0)
100.0
97.7
101.0
99.4
96.9
88.0
79.0

95.1
98.7
100.0
101.4
104.8
101.5
98.3
84. 5
77.5

94.9
98.7
100.0
99.4
106.9
104.6
97.7
77.9
59.2

99. 9
100.0
100.0
98.0
101.9
103.0
99.4
92.2
76.4

Stereotyping and electrotyping
91.8
104.0
100.0
108.4
116.1
105.3
99.8
80.7
78.4

87.7
98.7
100.0
111.4
121.3
109.4
99.2
83.8
70.4

1O m itted d a s to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.


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96.8
99.5
100.0
101.2
102.5
109.5
101.7
97.6
79.6

Paper, including stationery

Prin tin g and publishing

Photo-engraving

1924
1925______
1926. . ..
1927
1928
1929 _____
1930 _____
1931
1932______

78.5
82.1
100.0
98.0
107. 7
90. 4
93. 0
110. 2
90.4

Labels and tags

Envelops
1924. ___
1925______
1926______
1927______
1928
1929______
1930 _____
1931
1932._.

Boxes, fancy and paper, and
drinking cups

Bags, paper

Paper and printing

95.5
94.9
100.0
102.8
104.5
103.9
99.4
.103.8
89.8

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1203

Considering the industry group as a whole, the index in 1932 was
90.8 for average number of wage earners employed, 73.3 for total
wage and salary payments to wage earners, and 80.6 for average
wage and salary payments.
Labels and tags show the lowest 1932 index for average number of
wage earners employed and for total wage and salary payments, and
manufacture of paper the lowest 1932 index for average payments.
Two of the 8 industries show a higher average number of wage earn­
ers employed in 1932 than in the base year (1926). The 1932 index
for average wage and salary payments to wage earners was above 85
in 5 of the 8 industries.
Chart 2 shows graphically the indexes for the industry as a whole.

F i g u r e 2.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e E a r n e r s E m p l o y e d a n d T o t a l a n d
W a g e a n d S a l a r y P a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c t u r e
A N D P R I N T I N G . 1924 T O 1932 (1 9 2 6= 100)

average
o f Paper

M a n u fa c tu r e of R u b b er P r o d u c ts

I n t h e manufacture of rubber products in Ohio, according to reports
from practically all establishments employing three or more persons,
the average number of persons employed declined 28,510, or 40.9
percent, from 1929 to 1932; the total wage and salary payments
decreased $66,306,184, or 59.2 percent; and the average wage and
salary payment decreased $495, or 30.7 percent.
During the 17 years covered by this study the average number of
employees (wage earners; bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks; and salespeople, not traveling) reached the highest point in
1919 and both total and average wage and salary payments reached
the highest amount in 1920. The average number employed reached
the lowest point in 1921 and both total and average wage and salary
payments were lowest in 1916.

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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1204

The average number of persons reported employed in each of the
three general occupation groups is shown in table 6.
The highest average number of wage earners was employed in 1919
and the highest average number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and
office clerks in 1920. The average number of wage earners employed
reached the lowest point in 1921 and the average number of book­
keepers, stenographers, and office clerks the lowest point in 1932.
T able 6 .—A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF P E R S O N S (B O T H SE X E S) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D
IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF R U B B E R P R O D U C T S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N
G R O U PS
N um ber of employees
N um ber of
Bookkeepers, Salespeople
establish­
stenograph­
m ents
Wage earners ers, and office (not travel­ All employees
ing)
clerks

Year

78
82
93
108
114
107
109
119
120
113
112
128
133
127
113
104
95

1916____________________________
1917____________________________
1918____________________________
1919 ___________________________
1920- __________________________
1921- __________________________
1922- __________________________
1923____________________________
1924____________________________
1925 ___________________________
1926____________________________
1927____________________________
1928____________________________
1929____________________________
1930____________________________
1931____________________________
1932____________________________

5, 702
6,942
7,835
9, 213
9,598
5, 458
5,314
5,311
5,040
5,614
5, 994
6,450
6,897
7,138
6,515
5, 252
4, 937

42,401
55,418
49, 236
66,367
61,671
31, 270
43,617
46,864
47, 207
55,929
55,021
57,311
59,114
62,358
45, 755
38,870
36,048

48,216
62, 788
57,124
75,653
71, 343
36,789
48,985
52,175
52,343
61,605
61,072
63, 761
66, Oil
69,496
52, 270
44,122
40, 986

113
428
53
73
73
61
53
(0

96
62
57

0)
(*)
(>)
0)
(0
(')

1 C arried w ith “ M anufactures, not otherwise classified” , in tabulations of the Ohio Division of Labor
Statistics.
T able 7.— F L U C T U A T IO N IN E M P L O Y M E N T O F W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H SE X E S) IN
M A N U F A C T U R E O F R U B B E R P R O D U C T S , 1930 TO 1932 1

M onth

Jan u a ry ___________ ___
February ________ _ M arch
____
A pril---- --------------------M a y ,..
__________
June__ -----------------------Ju ly — ........................ .........
August.. _________
Septem ber-. __________
O ctober---------- -------------

N um ber of wage earners
(both sexes) employed
in—

1930

1931

1932

49, 561
48, 696
48, 073
48, 9S0
49, 928
49,254
46, 954
45, 354
42, 347
40, 617

39, 734
39, 019
39, 248
38,759
39, 950
40, 428
39, 789
39,003
38,154
37, 602

37, 427
37, 706
37,497
37,191
36, 904
37, 488
36, 599
35,086
33, 544
34,149

M onth

N um ber of wage earners
(both sexes) employed
in—

1932

1930

1931

39, 759
39, 540

37,487
37, 267

34, 586
34,404

M axim um - - - - - 49,928
M inim um .
39, 540
V ariation from maxi­
mum:
N um ber — — ___ 10, 388
20.8
P ercent. N um ber of establish113
m ents____________

40,428
37,267

37, 706
33, 544

3,161
7.8

4,162
11.0

104

95

N ovem ber_____________
D ecem b er.._ ______

i For years 1916 to 1929 see B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin N o. 553.

More than 85 percent of the employees in the manufacture of
rubber products were classified as wage earners except in 3 of the 17
years covered. Table 7 shows for that general occupation group
fluctuation in employment from 1930 to 1932. Maximum employ
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1205

ment for the 17-year period was 82,063 in April 1920, and minimum
employment was 23,240 in January 1921, with a reduction of 58,823,
or 71.7 percent, in a period of 9 months.
Table 8 shows average wage and salary payments to wage earners,
to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks, and to all occupation
groups combined.
The average wage and salary payments to wage earners reached the
highest amount in 1920. The average declined each year following
1928 and in 1932 it was the lowest since 1916. The average payment
to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks reached the highest
amount in 1919, with 1920 second in order. The lowest average pay­
ment to that group was in 1916, with 1917 second in order.
T able 8 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S IN M A N U F A C T U R E OP R U B B E R
P R O D U C T S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U PS
Average wage and salary paym ents toYear

1916_______________________
1917 __________________________
1918_________________________
1919___________________
1920____________________
1921______________
1922 ___________________
1923____________________
1924___________________
1925___________________________
1926- _____________________
1927- ____________________
1928________________
1929_________________________
1930________________
1931. _____________
1932__________________

N um ber of
establish­
Bookkeepers, Salespeople
m ents
stenogra­
Wage earners phers,
(not travel­
and
ing)
office clerks
78
82
93
108
114
107
2 109
119
120
113
112
128
133
127
113
104
95

$810
1,042
1.233
1,288
1,710
1, 465
1,433
1, 589
1,540
1,553
1,562
1, 583
1,611
1,562
1,450
1,254
1,011

$844
1,032
1.235
2,463
2, 089
1,817
1,681
1,717
1,896
1,906
1,857
1,936
2,014
2,033
2,008
1,985
1,873

(')
0)
0)
(>)
(>)
(0
(>)
(3)
(>)
(>)
(>)
(3)
(»)
(3)
(3)
(3)
(3)

All em­
ployees

$815
1,041
1,236
1,434
1,762
1,520
1,462
4 1, 602
1, 576
1, 586
1.593
4 1,619
4 1, 653
4 1,610
4 1. 520
4 1,341
4 1,115

1 N ot com puted, owing to small num ber involved.
2 N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
greater by 2.
3 Carried w ith “ M anufactures, not otherwise classified” , in tabulations of Ohio Division of Labor Statis­
tics.
4 Total wage and salary paym ents to salespeople (not traveling) deducted before com puting this aver­
age, as average num ber in th a t group could not be determ ined from detailed tabulation.

Chart 3 shows graphically average wage and salary payments to
wage earners.


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1206

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

F i g u r e 3.—A v e r a g e W a g e

a n d S a l a r y p a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in
f a c t u r e o f R u b b e r P r o d u c t s , 1916 t o 1932

Ma n u ­

Industries in Manufacture of Rubber Products
D a t a for industries classified under manufacture of rubber products
were not tabulated separately by the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics
for 1916 to 1918. In this study, manufacture of rubber garments and
of rubber products not otherwise classified have been combined under
“ Rubber products, other.”
Average wage and salary payments to wage earners in each of the
industries and in the group “ Rubber products, other”, are shown in
table 9. These averages should not be taken as exact measures but
as approximate figures.
T able 9 —A V E R A G E

W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S
M A N U F A C T U R E OF R U B B E R P R O D U C T S , 1919 1 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S

Year

D ru g ­
gists’
sundries,
and toys,
ru b b er

1919______________
1920______________
1921______________
1922______________
1923_________
1924______________
1925______________

$981
1,094
1,061
(2)
1,163
1,162
1,238

Tires
and
tubes

$1, 299
1,727
1,488
(2)
1,629
1.580
1.580

R ubber
products,
other

(2)
(3)
$1,297
1,395

1 D ata by industries not available for 1916 to 1918.
2 D ata no t available.
3 N ot com puted, owing to small n um ber involved.


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Year

1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932

D rug­
gists’
sundries,
and toys,
rubber
$1,227
1.194
1.195
1, 215
1,101
968
808

Tires
and
tubes

$1, 594
1,619
1,659
1,600
1,492
1,294
1,040

IN

R ubber
products,
other

$1,379
1,195
1,186
1,306
1,152
978
801

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1207

In the manufacture of druggists’ sundries and toys, rubber, the
highest average payment to wage earners was $1,238 in 1925 and the
lowest $808 in 1932. In the manufacture of tires and tubes the highest
average payment to wage earners was $1,727 in 1920 and the lowest
$1,040 in 1932.
Indexes of Employment and of Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown
in table 10 for 1924 to 1932. The base is 1926. The indexes cover
the period during which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics re­
quested reports annually from all employers of three or more persons.
Indexes are shown for the manufacture of rubber products and for
each of the industries classified thereunder.
In 1932, the indexes of employment of wage earners and of average
wage and salary payments were above 60 and the index of total wage
and salary payments to wage earners fell below 50 except for druggists’
sundries and toys, rubber.
T a ble 1 0 .—IN D E X E S OF A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D

T O T A L A N D A V ER A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN
M A N U F A C T U R E OF R U B B E R P R O D U C T S , 1924 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S
[1926=100]
D ruggists’ sundries and toys,
rubber

R ubber products
Year

1924______
1925______
1926______
1927______
1928______
1929______
1930______
1931______
1932______

Tires and tubes

Wage
Total
Wage
T otal
Average
Average
Wage
Total
Average
earners wage and wage and earners wage and wage and earners wage and wage and
(average
salary
(average
salary
salary
salary
(average
salary
salary
num ber) paym ents paym ent num ber) paym ents paym ent num ber) paym ents paym ent
85.8
101. 7
100.0
104. 2
107.4
113.3
83. 2
70.6
65.5

84. 6
101.0
100. 0
105. 6
110.8
113.3
77.2
56.7
42.4

98.6
99.4
100.0
101.3
103. 1
100.0
92.8
80.3
64.7

103.0
99.2
100.0
97. 7
117. 1
115. 2
102.9
85.8
76.3

97.5
100.0
100.0
95.0
114.0
114.0
92.3
67.7
50.2

94.7
100. 9
100.097.3
97.4
99.0
89.7
78.9
65.9

85.6
102.8
100.0
105.9
106.8
112.3
82.3
68.8
63.7

84.8
101.9
100.0
107. 5
111.2
112.7
77.0
55.8
41.6

99.1
99.1
100.0
101.6
104. 1
100.4
93.6
81. 2
65.2

Chart 4 shows graphically the indexes for the manufacture of
rubber products.


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1208

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

F i g u r e 4.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e E a r n e r s E m p l o y e d a n d T o t a l a n d A v e r a g e
W a g e a n d s a l a r y P a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c t u r e o f R u b b e r
P r o d u c t s , 1924 t o 1932 (1 9 2 6= 100)

The total amount of wage and salary payments to the three general
occupation groups in the manufacture of rubber products during the
9 years, 1924 to 1932, formed 8.9 percent of the total reported paid
in manufactures in Ohio.
In the manufacture of rubber products, in which the manufacture
of tires and tubes employs more than 85 percent of the total wage
earners employed, the peak in employment and also in total and
average wage and salary payments was reached prior to the depres­
sion in 1921. The peak year for employment and total wage and
salary payments during the latter part of the period covered was
1929, but in that year the average number of employees (the three
general occupation groups combined) was below 1919 and 1920,
total wage and salary payments were below 1920, and average wage
and salary payments were below 1920, 1928, and 1927. The average


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1209

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

number of persons employed in 1932 did not reach so low a point as
in 1921. The reduction in number of employees since 1929 has
continued for a longer period but the reduction was not so rapid nor
so great as occurred beginning in midsummer of 1920.
M a n u f a c t u r e o f S t o n e , C la y , a n d G la s s P r o d u c t s

I n t h e manufacture of stone, clay, and glass products in Ohio
during the 17 years, 1916 to 1932, the highest average wage and salary
payment to all occupation groups combined was $1,483 in 1920, the
second highest was $1,381 in 1926, and the lowest was $697 in 1916.
The average in 1932 was $878 which was the lowest since 1917.
The decline in average wage and salary payments from 1929 to 1932
was $485, or 36.8 percent, for wage earners; $364, or 20.3 percent, for
bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks; and $470, or 34.9 per­
cent, for the three general occupation groups (including salespeople,
not traveling) combined.
Certain of the figures for 1932 in this study will not be in agreement
with the study of “ Average wage and salary payments in manufac­
tures”, published in the Monthly Labor Review for March 1934,
due to correction of an error in the tabulations of the Ohio Division
of Labor Statistics after the publication of that study.
The average number of persons reported employed in each of the
three general occupation groups is shown in table 11.
The year 1925 shows the highest average number employed for
wage earners and for the occupation groups combined. The highest
average number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks was
employed in 1930, and of salespeople—not traveling (a very small
group) in 1929. The year 1932 shows the lowest average employ­
ment for wage earners and for the occupation groups combined.
T a ble 1 1 —A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF P E R S O N S (B O T H SE X E S) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D

IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF S T O N E , CLA Y , A N D GLASS P R O D U C T S , 1916 TO 1932, BY
G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S
N um ber of employees
Y ear

1916____________________________
1917____________________________
1918____________________________
1919____________________________
1 9 2 0 ...________________________
1921____________________________
1922____________________________
1923____________________________
1924____________________________
1925____________________________
1926____________________________
1927____________________________
1928____________________________
1929____________________________
1930____________________________
1931____________________________
1932_____ ____ __________________


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N um ber of
establish­
m ents

712
702
683
693
713
637
664
674
711
762
763
768
772
770
747
708
622

Wage earn­
ers

44, 096
43, 591
35,192
36. 916
40,168
32, 054
34, 909
43,053
42, 898
45, 871
44, 665
43, 328
42,805
41,128
33, 670
28. 068
20, 603

Bookkeepers,
stenogra­
phers, and
office clerks
1,329
1,287
1,323
1.361
1,532
1,443
1, 471
1,827
1.816
1,971
2,099
2, 077
2, 173
2, 091
2, 262
2,089
1,460

Salespeople
(not travel­
ing)
84
84
83
88
101
61
65
93
94
145
160
133
147
174
139
78
81

All employ­
ees

45, 509
44, 962
36,598
38, 364
41,802
33, 557
36, 445
44,973
44, 808
47, 987
46,924
45, 539
45, 126
43, 393
36,071
30. 234
22,144

1210

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

More than 90 percent of the employees in the manufacture of stone,
clay, and glass products were classified each year as wage earners. T able
12 shows for that general occupation group fluctuation in employment
from 1930 to 1932. Maximum employment for the 17-year period was
47,603 in October 1925, and minimum employment was 18,323 in
July 1932.
T a r ie 1 2 .-F L U C T U A T IO N IN E M P L O Y M E N T OF W A G E E A R N E R S (B O T H SE X ES)
IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF S T O N E , CLA Y , A N D GLASS P R O D U C T S , 1930 TO 1932 1

M onth

N um ber of wage earners
(both sexes) employed
in—
1930

33, 670
34, 589
M arch ------ -- --- ------- 35, 322
35, 930
35, 806
M ay
_ _ _____ - —
35,
795
Ju n e-- ------ ---------- - 32, 329
July
33, 384
32, 876
Septem ber.- -- 32,887

1931

1932

26, 713
28,401
29! 516
30, 680
31,108
30, 219
27, 623
28,199
27,454
27,030

21,516
22,482
22, 567
21,818
21, 192
20, 581
18, 323
18, 672
20, 202
20, 321

N um ber of wage earners
(both sexes) employed
in—

M onth

1930

1931

1932

25, 795
24,076

20, 054
19, 504

M a x im u m ------------------ 35,930 31,108
M in im u m ----- ------------- 29, 515 24, 076
Variation from maximum:
7, 032
6,415
N um ber 22. 6
17.9
Percent N um ber of establish­
708
747'
m en ts---------- - ---

22, 567
18, 323

N ovem ber-------------------- 31,937
D ecem ber— - ----------- 29, 515

4, 244
18.8
622

i For years 1916 to 1929, see Bureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 553; certain figures have been
revised since publication of this bulletin.

Table 13 and chart 5 show average wage and salary payments in the
manufacture of stone, clay, and glass products.
The highest average payment to wage earners and to the occupation
groups combined was in 1920 with 1924 second in order for wage
earners and 1926 for the groups combined. The highest average
payment to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks was in 1930.
The lowest average payment in each classification was in 1916. The
1932 average payment to wage earners and to the occupation groups
combined was the lowest since 1917.
T a ble 1 3 —A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF ST O N E ,

CLA Y , A N D GLASS P R O D U C T S , 1916 TO 1932, BY G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U PS

Year
1916
_________________
1917
_____ __________
1918
__________________
1919
_________________
1920
___________________
1921
_________________
1922 . ____________________
1923
__________________
1924 . ___________________
1925
_______________
1926 4
______________
1927
__________________
1928
___________________
1929
- _________________
1930
- -- --- ___________
1931
. __________________
1932_______________________

Average wage and salary payments to—
Number of
Bookkeepers, Salespeople
establish­
(not trav­ All employ­
ments Wageearners stenographers
and office
ees
eling)
clerks
712
702
683
693
713
637
s 664
674
711
762
763
768
772
770
747
708
622

$689
829
971
1,145
1, 453
1,209
1,117
1,188
1, 363
1,359
1,360
1, 330
1, 314
1,319
1,187
1,096
4 834

0

$891
1,003
1, 043
1, 252
1,421
1, 436
1, 533
1,577
1,624
1,716

1,686
1,757
1, 796
1, 909
1,780
1,432

0
0
«
0
0
0

0

0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0

$697
836
976
1,151
1, 483
1, 220
1,132
1,204
1, 374
1,374
1,381
1,351
1, 341
1,348
1, 241
1,145
4 878

1 N ot com puted, owing to small num ber involved.
.
2 Om itted, owing to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.
a N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; the num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
4
N ot in' agreement w ith stu d y of “ Average wage and salary paym ents in m anufactures” , M onthly
Labor Review, for M arch 1934, due to correction in tabulations of Ohio Division of Labor Statistics after
publication of M arch study.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1211

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Industries in Manufacture of Stone, Clay, and Glass Products
I n t h is study the following manufacturing industries have been
combined under “ Stone, clay, and glass products, other Burial
vaults, concrete; crucibles; emery wheels and other abrasives, includ­
ing sand and emery cloth; glass cutting, staining, and ornamenting;
lime; mirrors; statuary and art goods; stone and clay crushing and
grinding; and stone, clay, and glass products, not otherwise classified.
Average wage and salary payments to wage earners in each of the
7 industries and in the group “ other” are shown in table 14. These
averages should not be taken as exact measures but as approximate
figures.
T a ble 1 4 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LARY P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN M A N U ­

F A C T U R E OF S T O N E , CLA Y , A N D G LA SS PR O D U C T S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y IN D U S T R IE S

Year

1916________________
1917_____ _____
1918________
1919_ _ _ _
1920 ___ ____
192L. _____
1922________
1923____________ „
1924 _
1925 __
1926_______________
1927_______________
1928______________
1929-_____________
1930________
1931_____
1932________

Brick
and tile,
clay

C em ent

Concrete
products

$681
796
973
1,235
1, 770
1,203
(2)
1,341
1,385
1,364
1,480
1,302
1,314
1, 291
1,154
947
693

$819
1,070
1, 467
1, 473
1,652
1, 524
(2)
1,518
1,696
1,557
1, 578
1,873
1,792
1, 739
1, 620
1,455
1,136

$691
822
861
1, 479
1,344
1,238
(2)
1, 403
1,392
1, 401
1,491
1, 401
1,355
1, 333
1, 225
1,061
916

Glass

$738
833
981
1, 136
1,400
1,109
(2)
1, 262
1,355
1,332
1,329
1,344
1,344
1,346
1,190
1,109
959

M arble
and stone
work,
stone
yards
$818
912
1,109
1,353
1, 755
1,743
(2)
1,808
1,834
1,807
1,789
1,876
1,893
1,953
1,888
1,686
1, 335

Pottery,
Wall
Stone,
terra
plaster, clay, and
cotta, and including
glass
fire-clay hydrated products,
products
lime
other
$651
780
937
1, 104
1, 372
1,201
(2)
1,043
1,342
1, 320
1,257
1,250
1, 231
1, 227
1,085
1,123
734

$735
927
1,362
1, 399
1, 717
1,789
(2)
1,653
(i)
1, 519
1,647
1,632
1, 379
1,527
1,443
1,302
901

1 O m itted owing to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible
2 D ata not available.
91302°—34----- 12


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$698
(i)
1,002
1,080
1, 361
1, 189
(2) ’
1, 266
1, 282
1, 303
1, 372
1, 327
1,326
1, 332
1,293
1,092
776

1212

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The highest average wage and salary payment to wage earners was
made in 1920 in 3 industries, in 1921 in 1, in 1926 in 2, in 1927 in 1,
and in 1929 in 1. The lowest average payment was made in 1916 in
each of the 8 industries and the average in 1932 was second lowest in 4.
Indexes of Employment and of Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown in
table 15. The base is 1926. The indexes cover the period during
which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics has requested reports
from all employers of three or more persons. Indexes are shown for
manufactures of stone, clay, and glass products as a whole and for
each of seven industries.
T a ble 1 5 .—IN D E X E S O F A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D

T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN
M A N U F A C T U R E OF S T O N E , C LA Y , A N D GLASS P R O D U C T S , 1924 to 1932, BY IN D U S
T R IE S
[1926 = 100.0]
Stone, clay, and
glass products 1

Year

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)

1924— ______ 96.0
___ 102. 7
1925
100.0
1926
— -1927
- - 97.0
95.8
1928
92. 1
1929
75.4
1930
1931
___ 62.8
46. 1
1932__________

A ver­
Total
age
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
p ay ­
ay ­
m ents mp ent

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)

100.2
99.9
100.0
97.8
96. 6
97.0
87.3
80.6
61.3

69.5
115.1
100.0
105. 6
109. 9
127.4
94.4
81.3
39.5

96. 2
102. 6
100.0
94.9
92. 6
89.3
65.8
50.6
28.3

94.0
99.9
100.0
95.1
100.5
110.8
75. 1
72.6
55. 1

65.0
106.2
100.0
92.9
97.5
111. 1
73.6
52.0
18.5

93.6
92.2
100.0
88.0
88.8
87.2
78.0
64 0
46.8

M arble and stone
work stone yards

Glass

92.2
1924
99. 7
1925
100.0
1926
94.0
1927
99.3
1928
109.3
1929
83.9
1930
1931
___ 87.0
76.3
1932__________

ver­
Total Aage
w-age ■wage
and
and
salary salary
p ay ­ pay­
m ents m ent

102.0
100.2
100.0
101. 1
101. 1
101.3
89.5
83.4
72.2

114.3
114.1
100.0
122.3
93.2
112. 2
101.5
89.5
59.2

117. 2
115.3
100. 0
128. 3
98.7
122. 6
107. 2
84.3
44. 1

102.5
101.0
100.0
104.9
105.8
109.7
105. 5
99.8
74.6

Concrete products

C em ent

Brick and tile, clay

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)
64.7
105.9
100.0
90.1
83.6
77.6
64.4
45.3
37. 1

ver­
T otal Aage
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
pay­ pay­
m ents m ent
69.5
104.5
100.0
106.9
95.0
85.1
66.1
41.8
26.7

107.5
98.7
100.0
118.7
113.6
110. 2
102.7
92.2
72.0

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)
78.9
96.9
100.0
103.8
104.6
96.6
76.1
61.3
30.3

ver­
Total Aage
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
p ay­ p a y ­
m ents m ent
73.7
91.1
100.0
97.5
95. 0
86.4
62.5
43.7
18.6

93.4
94.0
100.0
94.0
90. 9
89.4
82. 2
71. 2
61.4

P otterv, terra cotta. W all plaster, includand fire-clay products ing hydrated lime
112.8
98.9
100.0
95.6
89.3
69. 0
60.1
42.1
36.7

120.4
1C3. 9
100.0
95.1
87. 5
67.4
51.9
37.6
21.4

106.8
105.0
100.0
99.4
97.9
97.6
86.3
89.3
58.4

100.2
99.8
100.0
62.8
61.7
55.4
45.0
33.8
25.8

67.2
92.1
100.0
62.3
51.6
51. 4
39. 5
26.7
14.1

(2)
92. 2
100.0
69.1
83. 7
92. 7
87. 6
79.1
54. 7

1 Indexes no t in agreem ent w ith stu d y of “Average wage and salary paym ents in m anufactures” , M onthly
L abor Review for M arch 1934, due to corrections in tabulations of Ohio Division of Labor btatistics alter
publication of M arch study.
, ,
, ,,
^
2 O m itted owing to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1213

Considering stone, clay, and glass products as a whole, the index
in 1932 was 46.1 for average number of wage earners employed, 28.3
for total wage and salary payments to wage earners, and 61.3 for
average wage and salary payments. The indexes for the industry
group are not in agreement with the study of “Average wage and
salary payments in manufactures”, published in the Monthly Labor
Review for March 1934, due to corrections in the tabulations of the
Ohio Division of Labor Statistics after the publication of that study.

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

F i g u r e 6.— I n d e x e s o f W a g e E a r n e r s E m p l o y e d a n d T o t a l a n d A v e r a g e
W a g e a n d S a l a r y P a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in M a n u f a c t u r e o f S t o n e ,
C l a y , a n d G l a s s P r o d u c t s , 1924 t o 1932 (1926 = 100)


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1214

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The 1932 index fell below 40 in 5 of the 7 industries for average
number of wage earners employed and for total wage and salary
payments to wage earners. The 1932 index for average payments fell
below 75 in each of the 7 industries and in 1 it fell below 50.
Chart 6 (p. 1213) shows graphically the indexes for the industry
group as a whole.
M a n u fa c tu r e o f V e h ic le s
/
I n t h e manufacture of vehicles in Ohio, the average number of
persons employed declined 49,921, or 63.6 percent, from 1929 to 1932;
total wage and salary payments decreased $98,395,656, or 77.3 per­
cent; and the average wage and salary payment decreased $614, or
37.9 percent.
During the 17 years covered by this study the average number of
employees (wage earners; bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks; and salespeople, not traveling) reached the highest point in
1919, total wage and salary payments reached the highest amount in
1920, and the average wage and salary payment reached the highest
amount in 1927. Employment and total wage and salary payments
reached the lowest point in 1932 and average wage and salary pay­
ments in 1916.
The Ohio Division of Labor Statistics classifies airplanes and ship
and boat building under “ Vehicles” beginning with 1919. In this
study, therefore, those industries have been transferred for the earlier
years from “ Miscellaneous manufactures” to “ Manufacture of
vehicles” and the figures for 1916, 1917, and 1918 will not be in agree­
ment with the summary for manufactures published in the Monthly
Labor Review for March 1934.
The average number of persons reported employed in each of the
three general occupation groups is shown in table 16.
The highest average number of wage earners was employed in 1929.
The average in 1919, however, was only one-half of 1 percent less.
The lowest average number was employed in 1932 and the second
lowest in 1921. The highest average number of bookkeepers, stenog­
raphers, and office clerks was employed in 1920, the lowest average in
1932, and the second lowest in 1916.


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1215

T able 1 6 .—A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF P E R S O N S (B O T H SE X E S) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D
IN M A N U F A C T U R E O F V E H IC L E S , 19ICTO 1932, BY G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S
N um ber of employees
N um ber of
establish­
m ents

Year

1916 i _________
1917 L.
1918 4_______
1919__ _
1920____________
1921........ _ . . .
1922___ . . . _
1923____
.
1924 _.
. . .
.
1925____ _
192o____
1927_______
1928____ . .
1929____
1930.._ . . . .
1931__ .. ..
1932________

Bookkeepers,
Wage earn­ stenograph­ Salespeople
(not
ers
ers, and office
traveling)
clerks

376
383
374
390
416
363
320
331
328
319
318
319
304
304
297
265
228

58,144
68,821
71,487
72,340
63, 283
31,942
46, 090
64, 520
46, 952
57, 584
57, 066
52, 174
65,484
72, 727
51,144
39, 613
25, 684

3, 663
4, 681
4 5,584
6, 982
7,287
4,315
4,510
5,732
5, 083
5,012
4, 711
4, 897
5,186
5,617
5, 375
4,022
2,858

All em ploy­
ees

2 101
s 54
5 71
88
98
85
65
(fl)

61,907
73, 556
77,142
79,410
76, 668
36,342
50, 664
70, 252
52,132
62, 711
61, 867
57,166
70, 786
78,463
56, 630
43, 635
28, 542

97
115
90
95
116
120
111

C)
(6)

»Shipbuilding and boat building classified by Ohio Division of Labor Statistics under “ M anufacture of
yeh]Cles beginning in 1919 and therefore transferred in this stu d y from “ M iscellaneous m anufactures”
for 1916 to 1918. M anufacture of airplanes and parts also transferred for the same reason for 1917 and 1918
bu t no data for th a t in d u stry are available for 1916.
2 N um ber of salespeople (not traveling) in shipbuilding and boatbuilding not known. T otal wage and
salary paym ent, $7,200.
3 N um ber of salespeople (not traveling) in shipbuilding and boatbuilding not known. T otal wage and
salary paym ents, $2,600.
4 N um ber of bookkeepers, stenographers, and oflice clerks in m anufacture of airplanes and parts not
known. T otal w’age and salary paym ents, $46,627.
5 N um ber of salespeople (not traveling) in shipbuilding and boatbuilding not known. T otal wage and
salary paym ents, $2,700.
6 T abulated by Ohio Division of Labor Statistics w ith “ M anufactures, not otherwise classified.”

More than 90 percent of the employees in the manufacture of
vehicles were classified as wage earners in 11 of the 17 years covered
in this study and more than 85 percent in the other 6 years.
Table 17 shows fluctuation in employment of wage earners from
1930 to 1932. Maximum employment for the 17-year period was
86,400 in February 1929, and minimum employment was 21,179 in
October 1932.
T able 1 7 . —F L U C T U A T IO N IN E M P L O Y M E N T OF W A G E

E A R N E R S (B O T H
IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF V E H IC L E S , 1930 TO 1932 i

M onth

J a n u a ry ...
F e b ru a ry .
M a rc h .. __
A p ril____
M a y _____
June.-____
J u ly _____
A ugust__
September
O ctober.. .

N um ber of wage earners
(both sexes) employed
in—
1930

1931

1932

54, 365
56, 553
56, 809
58, 691
57,343
54, 558
50, 023
47, 622
45, 225
44, 010

41, 062
41, 079
43, 231
46, 022
45, 637
43, 096
41, 081
37, 582
35, 621
32, 024

29,137
30, 890
28, 855
27, 379
27,119
25, 626
25,169
22, 712
22,179
21,179

M onth

N um ber of wage earners
(both sexes) employed
in—
1930

1931

43,430
45,100

35, 207
33, 710

23, 353
24, 610

M axim um .
58, 691
M inim um
....
43,430
Variation from maximum:
N um ber
15, 261
P ercent___
......
26.0
N um ber of establishm en ts____ . . .
297

46, 022
32, 024

30,890
21,179

13,998
30.4

9,711
31. 4

265

228

N ovem ber____ _ . .
D ecem ber.. _____

1 For years 1916 to 1929 see Bureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 553.


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SE X ES)

1932

1216

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Average wage and salary payments to wage earners, to bookkeepers,
stenographers, and office clerks, and to the general occupation groups
combined are shown in table 18.
The average wage and salary payment to wage earners reached the
highest amount in 1920. The average in 1927, however, was only
$11, or six-tenths of 1 percent less. Following 1927, the average de­
clined each year, and in 1932 it was the lowest since 1916. Average
wage and salary payments to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks and to the general occupation groups combined reached the
highest amount in 1927 and the lowest in 1916.
T a ble 1 8 —A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S IN M A N U F A C T U R E OF

V E H IC L E S , 1916 TO 1932, BY G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U P S
Average wage and salary paym ents to—
Year

1916 i ___________________________
1917 1___________________________
1918 i ___________________________
1919____________________________
1920. __________________________
1921. __________________________
1922____________________________
1923_ __________________________
1924____________________________
1925____________________________
1926____________________________
1927____________________________
1928____________________________
1929____________________________
1930____________________________
1931. __________________________
1932____________________________

N um ber of
Bookkeepers,
establish­
stenogra­
m ents
Wage earners phers,
and
office clerks
2 376
383
374
390
416
363
3 320
331
328
319
318
319
304
304
297
265
228

$789
952
1,246
1,394
1,698
1,364
1,342
1, 538
1,656
1,631
1,394
1,687
1,666
1,609
1,331
1,174
934

$969
1,148
3 1, 204
1,383
1,629
1,611
1,618
1,719
1,874
1,842
1,836
2,004
1,583
1,647
1,744
1,910
1,667

Salespeople
(not travel­
ing)

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(6)
0

•

All em ploy­
ees

* $800
* 967
3 1,244
1,394
1,693
1,401
1,370
71, 552
1,677
1,650
1,430
1,731
1,661
1,622
1,374
7 1, 242
7 1,008

1 See note 1 to table 16.
2 N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
less by 2.
3 N ot com puted, owing to small num ber involved.
1 A m ounts indicated in notes to table 16 deducted before com puting averages.
3
N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; n um ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
greater by 8.
.
3 Carried w ith “ M anufacturers, not otherwise classified” in detailed tabulation.
2 T otal wage and salary paym ents to salespeople (not traveling) deducted before com puting this aver­
age as average num ber in th a t group could no t be determ ined from detailed tabulation.

Chart 7 shows graphically average wage and salary payments to
wage earners.


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

F i g u r e 7 .— A v e r a g e W a g e

and Salary Pa y m en ts to
f a c t u r e o f V e h i c l e s , 1916 t o

W a g e Ea r n e r s
1932

1217

in

Ma n u ­

Industries in Manufacture of Vehicles
I n this study manufacture of bicycles, motorcycles, and parts,
and manufacture of vehicles, not otherwise classified, have been
combined under “ Vehicles, other.”
Table 19 shows average wage and salary payments to wage earners
in each of the six industries and in the group “ Vehicles, other.”
These averages should not be taken as exact measures but as approxi­
mate figures.
The average wage and salary payment to wage earners reached the
highest amount in 1920 for automobiles and parts, steam and street
railroad cars, and ship and boat building, in 1921 for airplanes and
parts, in 1926 for carriages and wagons, in 1928 for children’s carriages
and sleds, and in 1929 for the group “ Vehicles, other.” The lowest
average was paid in 1916 for all industries except airplanes and parts
for which industry data for 1916 are not available and the lowest
average was paid in 1917. In 4 of the 6 industries the highest aver­
age for the 17 years was paid prior to the depression in 1921.


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1218

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a ble 1 9 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN M A N U ­

F A C T U R E O F V E H IC L E S , 1916 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S

Year

Airplanes
and parts

1916____________
1917____________
191«____________
1919____________
1920____________
1921____________
1922____________
1923____________
1924____________
1925. __________
1926____________
1927____________
1928____________
1929____________
1930____________
1931____________
1932- _____ ____

(')

$989
i, 2l4
1,740
1,600
1,899
0)
1, 735
1,816
1,791
1,602
1, 601
1,578
1,604
1, 718
1,761
1,527

A uto­
mobiles
and parts

$801
958
1,184
1,380
1,727
1,565
(0
1, 567
1,700
1,659
1,380
1,719
1,687
1,621
1,309
1,153
916

Carriages
and sleds,
children’s

$684
733
892
1,001
1,208
1,015
«

1,080
1,226
1, 172
1,282
1,259
1,293
1,272
1,133
1,143
845

Carriages,
wagons,
steam
and m a­ Cars,
and street
terials,
railroad
including
repairing
$691
828
956
1,030
1. 386
1,279
(>)
1, 205
1,196
1.280
1,437
1,356
1,331
1,236
1,144
943
759

$836
1,036
1,189
1,483
1,750
1,380
0)
1,496
1,561
1,562
1,491
1, 657
1,613
1, 725
1, 605
1. 264
1, 076

Ship and
boat
building

$780
1,058
i, 791
1,633
1,806
1,478
0)
1, 579
1,654
1,664
1,642
L, 660
1,702
1,628
1, 549
1,305
1, 240

Vehicles,
other

$759
772
973
1, 210
1,444
1,280
(0

1,312
1,422
1,457
1,385
1,370
1, 504
1,580
1,344
1,282
981

1 D ata not available.

Indexes of Employment and of Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of total
and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are shown in
table 20. The base is 1926. The indexes are for the period during
which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics requested reports an­
nually from all employers of three or more persons. Indexes are
shown for manufactures of vehicles as a whole and for each of six
industries.
In 1932, the employment index for airplanes and parts was con­
siderably above the base year. In all other industries except chil­
dren’s carriages and sleds the index was below 50. The 1932 index
of total wage and salary payments to wage earners, also, was con­
siderably above the base year for airplanes and parts and it was
below 50 in all other industries. The 1932 index of average wage and
salary payments to wage earners was above 65 for all industries except
carriages and wagons.
Two industries show extreme declines since 1926. In 1932 the in­
dexes for manufacture of carriages and wagons were 17.4 for employ­
ment and 9.2 for total wage and salary payments to wage earners and
the indexes for steam and street railroad cars were 13.8 for employ­
ment and 9.9 for total wage and salary payments to wage earners.


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1219

T able 2 0 .—IN D E X E S OF A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S E M P L O Y E D A N D

T O T A L A N D A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S IN
M A N U F A C T U R E O F V E H IC L E S , 1924 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S
[1926 = 100.0]

Vehicles

Year

1924__________
1925__________
1926__________
1927__________
1928__________
1929__________
1930__________
1931__________
1932__________

Automobiles and
parts

Airplanes and parts

Carriages and sleds,
children’s

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)

Total A ver­
age
wage wage
and
and
salary
p ay ­ salary
ments pay­
m ent

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)

Total A ver­
age
wage wage
and
and
salary
p ay ­ salary
p ay ­
ments m
ent

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)

ver­
Total Aage
wage wage
and
and
salary salary
p ay ­ pay­
ments m ent

Wage
earn­
ers
(aver­
age
num ­
ber)

Total
wage
and
salary
pay­
m ents

82.3
100.9
100.0
91.4
114.8
127.4
89.6
69.4
45.0

97.7
118. 1
100.0
110.6
137.2
147. 1
85.6
58. 5
30.2

92.4
171.9
100.0
117. 1
222.0
248.4
257. 9
230.2
126.8

104.7
192.1
100.0
117.1
218.6
248.7
276.5
253. 0
120.9

81.6
102.6
100.0
92.8
121 9
134.7
93. 1
73.3
47.2

100. 6
123.3
100.0
115.6
149.1
158.3
88.4
61.3
31 3

94.3
96.0
100.0
101.1
93.1
106.4
55.0
64.4
72.7

90.2
87.8
100.0
99.3
93.9
105.5
48.6
57.4
47.9

118.8
117.0
100.0
121.0
119.5
115.4
95.5
84.2
67.0

Carriages, wagons, and
m aterials, including re­
pairing
Year
Wage
earners
(average
num ber)

1924. ______
1925..
........
1926____________ .
1927____________ .
1928____ ___ .
1929. ____________
1930_______
1931 _ __
1932. _______

106.7
104.8
100.0
79. 1
88.0
57.2
35.8
26.0
17.4

113.3
111.8
100.0
99.9
98.5
100. 1
107.2
109.9
95.3

Cars, steam and street
railroad

Total
wage Average
Wage
wage
and
earners
and
salary
(average
salary
pay­
num ber)
m ents paym ent
88.8
93.3
100.0
74.6
81.5
49.2
28.5
17.1
9.2

83.2
89. 1
100.0
94.4
92. 6
86.0
79.6
65.6
52.8

104. 2
73.7
100.0
45. 5
43.6
53.8
48.2
21. 3
13.8

Total
wage
and
salary
p ay ­
m ents
109.1
77.1
100.0
50.6
47.2
62.2
51.9
18.1
9.9

123.2
120.2
100.0
124.6
122.2
117.5
94.9
83.6
66.4

95.6
91.4
100.0
98.2
100.9
99.2
88.4
89.2
65.9

Ship and boat building

Average Wage
wage
earners
and
(average
salary number)
paym ent

104.7
104.8
100.0
111. 1
108.2
115.7
107. 6
84.8
72.2

A ver­
age
wage
and
salary
pay­
m ents

36.6
86. 1
100.0
124. 7
62.4
111.5
105. 5
41.5
27.0

Total
wage
and
salary
p ay­
m ents
36.8
87.2
100.0
126.0
64.6
110.5
99.5
32.9
20.4

Average
wage
and
salary
paym ent
100. 7
101.3
100.0
101.1
103. 7
99. 1
94.3
79.5
75.5

Chart 8 shows graphically the indexes for the manufacture of
vehicles.


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1220

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

C L E S . 1924 TO 1932 ( 1 9 2 6 = 1 0 0 )

T r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d P u b lic U t ilit ie s

I n t r a n s p o r t a t io n and public utilities in Ohio during the 17 years,
1916 to 1932, the highest average wage and salary payment to all
occupation groups combined was $1,438 in 1928, the second highest
was $1,429 in 1929, and the lowest was $727 in 1916. The average
in 1932 was $1,241 which was the lowest since 1919. This study
does not include reports from companies engaged in interstate
transportation nor from activities owned by Government units.
The decline in average wage and salary payments from 1929 to
1932 to wage earners was $207, or 14.7 percent; to bookkeepers,
stenographers, and office clerks $122, or 8.2 percent; to salespeople
(not traveling) $331, or 15.1 percent; and to the three general occu­
pation groups combined $188, or 13.2 percent.
Table 21 shows the average number of persons reported employed
in each of the three general occupation groups as far as covered by
reports to the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics.

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1221

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

The year 1930 shows the highest average number of persons em­
ployed during the 17 years in each of the general occupation groups.
The lowest average number of wage earners was reported in 1932.
The lowest average number of bookkeepers, stenographers, and office
clerks and of persons in all groups combined were reported in 1916.
T a ble 2 1 .—A V E R A G E N U M B E R OF P E R S O N S (B O T H S E X E S ) R E P O R T E D E M P L O Y E D

IN T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S , 1916 TO 1932, BY G E N E R A L O C C U P A ­
T IO N G R O U P S

N u m b er of employees
N um ber of
establish­
m ents

1916
1917.
1918.
1919.
1920.
1921.
1922.
1923.
1924.
1925.
1926.
1927.
1928.
1929.
1930.
1931.
1932.

1,137
1,149
1,134
1,081
1,146
1,048
1,071
1,129
1,271
1,353
1,453
1,561
1,625
1,674
1,741
1,776
1,742

Wage
earners

Bookkeepers,
stenograph­ Salespeople
(not travel­
ers, and
ing)
office clerks

50,098
53,084
52,037
53, 357
56,115
51,368
51,462
56,877
59,320
59, 345
67, 671
66,999
68,126
66, 862
68, 358
54, 303
47, 021

5,439
6,257
7, 205
7,633
7, 915
7,372
7,830
8,701
9,331
9, 584
11,728
12,546
12,999
14, 297
14,969
13,231
12,279

All em ploy­
ees

191
236
205
181
224
179
181
298
446
498
609
617
725
978
1,123
847
803

55, 728
59,577
59,448
61,172
64,254
58,919
59,473
65,876
69,096
69,426
80, 008
80,162
81,849
82,137
84,450
68,382
60,103

Table 22 shows for the three occupation groups combined the
fluctuation in employment from 1930 to 1932. Maximum employ­
ment during the 17-year period was 87,540 in July 1930, and minimum
employment was 49,143 in February 1916.
T a ble 2 2 —F L U C T U A T IO N IN E M P L O Y M E N T (B O T H SE X E S) IN T R A N S P O R T A T IO N

A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S , 1930 TO 1932 i
[Includes three general occupation groups—Wage earners, bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks,
and salespeople (not traveling)]
N um ber (both sexes) em­
ployed in—
M onth

Jan u a ry . . . .
...
F e b r u a r y ___ _
_____
M arch
April
___
_ _ _ ...
M’a y __________________
J u n e ..
_ _____ _ . . .
J u ly ___________________
A ugust. .
. _____
S e p te m b e r...
_ ____
October

N um ber (both sexes) em­
ployed in—
M onth

1930

1931

1932

84,419
83,465
83,182
84,716
86, 730
87, 217
87, 540
87, 131
85,843
84,083

70, 325
69, 255
68, 532
69, 515
69, 703
69, 767
68, 948
68,831
68, 579
67, 482

62, 758
62,122
61, 401
61, 562
60j 913
60, 599
60,144
59, 245
58, 813
58, 789

1930

1931

80,966
78,107

65, 491
64,154

57, 664
57, 231

M axim um
87, 540
M inim um
78,107
Variation from maximum:
N um ber
9,433
P e r c e n t . . ___
. ..
10.8
N um ber of establishm ents
1,741

70, 325
64,154

62, 758
57,231

6,171
8.8

5, 527
8.8

1, 776

1,742

Novem ber
December

1932

1 For years 1916 to 1929 see B ureau of Labor Statistics B ulletin No. 553.

Table 23 and chart 9 show average wage and salary payments in
transportation and public utilities as far as covered by reports to the
Ohio Division of Labor Statistics.

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1222

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

The highest average wage and salary payment to wage earners, to
bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks (omitting 1924), and to
the general occupation groups combined, was made in 1928. The
lowest average was paid in 1916. The 1932 average payment to wage
earners and to the occupation groups combined was the lowest since
1919, and to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks the lowest
since 1923.
T able 3 3 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S IN T R A N S P O R T A T IO N A N D
P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y G E N E R A L O C C U P A T IO N G R O U PS
Average wage and salary paym ents to—
Y car

1916____________________________
1917____________________________
1918____________________________
1919____________________________
1920____________________________
1921____________________________
1922____________________________
1923____________________________
1924____________________________
1925____________________________
1926____________________________
1927____________________________
1928____________________________
1929____________________________
1930____________________________
1931____________________________
1932____________________________

N um ber of
Bookkeepers,
establish­
stenog­
m ents
Wage earners raphers,
and
office clerks
i 1,137
3 1,149
1,134
1,081
1,146
1,048
< 1, 071
1,129
1,271
1,353
1,453
1,561
1,625
1,674
1,741
1,776
1,742

$718
814
969
1, 144
1,401
1,318
1,252
1,316
1,350
1, 341
1,385
1,374
1,413
1,406
1, 402
1,343
1,199

$790
817
879
971
1,183
1,309
1, 444
1,298
(5)

1,436
1,424
1,423
1,526
1,485
1,461
1,479
1,363

Salespeople All employees
(not travel­
ing)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
$2, 203
2,243
2, 210
2,199
1,997
1,909
1,868

$727
814
959
1,124
1,385
1,318
1,281
1,316
1,417
1,359
1,397
1,388
1,438
1,429
1,420
1,377
1,241

1 N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; the num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
was greater by 8.
2 N ot com puted owing to small num ber involved.
2 N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; the num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
was less b y 7.
* N um ber of establishm ents reporting employees; the num ber reporting total wage and salary paym ents
was greater b y 1.
5 O m itted due to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.

F i g u r e 9.—a v e r a g e W a g e a n d s a l a r y P a y m e n t s t o W a g e E a r n e r s in T r a n s PO R T A T IO N AND PUBLIC U T I L I T I E S , 1916 TO 1932


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1223

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Industries in Transportation and Public Utilities
I n t h is study the following transportation and public utility
industries have been combined under “ Transportation and public
utilities, other”: Gas, illuminating and heating; steam railroads;
stock yards; water works; and transportation and public utilities, not
otherwise classified.
Table 24 shows average wage and salary payments to wage earners
and to bookkeepers, stenographers, and office clerks, by industries.
These averages should not be taken as exact measures but as approxi­
mate figures.
Considering wage earners only and omitting 1921 data for drayage
and storage and 1920 data for transportation by water (see notes to
table 24), the highest average wage and salary payment was made in
1920 in 2 industries, in 1927 to 1, in 1928 to 3, in 1929 in 1, in 1930 in 1,
and in 1932 in 1. The lowest average payment was made in 1916 in
8 industries and in 1917 in 1.
T able 2 4 . A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA LA R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E EARISTET?^ atvta rr n
B O O K K E E P E R S , S T E N O G R A P H E R S , A N D O F F IC E C L E R K S IN T R A N S P O R T A T IO N
A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S , 1916 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S
R A N S P O R T A T IO N
Drayage and
storage, in­
cluding liv­
ery stables
Year

1916_________
1917 _
1918___
1919_ _ _
1920_____
1921.__ . _
1922.. _ .
1923-- ._ ._
1924 ___
1925-______ _
1926_____ .
1927________
1928. ____
1929_____
1930______ .
1931_
1932_________

Electric light
and power

Electric rail­
roads

N atu ral gas

Pipe lines (pe­
troleum)

Book­
Book­
Book­
Book­
Book­
keepers,
keepers,
keepers,
keepers,
keepers,
stenog­
stenog­
stenog­
stenog­
Wage
stenog­
Wage
Wage
Wage
Wage
earners raphers,
earners raphers, earners raphers, earners raphers, earners raphers,
and
and
and
and
and
office
office
office
office
office
clerks
clerks
clerks
clerks
clerks
$693
791
926
1, 100
1,411
(4)
(5)
1,338
1, 340
1,412
1,490
1,547
1,422
1,487
1, 506
1,365
1, 190

$781
778
922
1,139
1,434
1,627
(5)
1,451
1,547
1,511
1,633
1,649
1,681
1,648
1,681
1,608
1,392

$796
836
(2)
1, 292
1,618
1.457
(5)
1,523
1,588
1,576
1,533
1,563
1,539
1,589
1,580
1,538
1,413

$784
$742
940
926
3
1,115
(2)
1,035
1,345
1,777
1,570
1,529
1,482
(5)
(5)
1, 316
1,435
1,455
1,492
1,463
1,467
1,411
1,588
1,409
1,647
1,519
1, 660
1,466
1,589
1,427
1,600
1,449
1,498
1,355
1, 344

$702
795
3 899
964
1, 240
1,316
(5)
1,417
1,416
1,458
1,425
1,425
1,466
1, 296
(<)
1,126
1, 050

$731
932
1,083
1,115
1,470
1, 367
(5)
1,442
1,454
1, 228
1,182
1, 229
1,240
1,338
1, 307
1, 358
1,159

1,079
1,183
1,263
1, 512
1,549
(5)
1,489
1,570
1, 630
1,562
1,481
1,840
1,709
1,443
1,384
1,429

$857
933
1,034
1,234
1,407
1,079
1,230
1, 217
1, 278
1,369
1,294
1,339
1, 256
1, 501
1,518
1, 595

1 N ot com puted owing to small num ber involved.
Included w ith electric railroads in tabulations of Ohio Division of Labor Statistics
62 Includes
electric light and power.
4 O m itted due to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.
5 D ata not available.


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( 5)

(0
0)

(0

(D

(0

0)
( s)
«
0)
(>)
0)
(')
(*)
0)
(>)
(0
(>)

1224

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a ble 2 4 .—A V E R A G E W A G E A N D SA L A R Y P A Y M E N T S TO W A G E E A R N E R S A N D TO

B O O K K E E P E R S , S T E N O G R A P H E R S , A N D O F F IC E C L E R K S IN T R A N S P O R T A T IO N
A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S , 1916 TO 1932, B Y IN D U S T R IE S —C ontinued
Taxicab and bus
service

Year
Wage
earners

1916________________
1917________________
1918________________
1919________________
1920________________
1921_______________
1922_______________
1923________________
1924________________
1925________________
1926________________
1927________________
1928________________
1929________________
1930________________
1931________________
1932________________

(6)
$749
978
1,049
1,123
1,208
(5)
1,166
1,151
1,344
1,422
1,364
1,430
1,364
1,072
1,067
760

Book­
keepers,
stenog­
raphers,
and
office
clerks
(6)
0)
(0
0)
(0
0)
(5)
(0
(>)
0)
(0
(0
(0
0)
0)
(>)
(>)

Telegraph and tele­ T ransportation by
phone, including
w ater, including
messenger serv­
stevedoring
ice

Wage
earners

$614
616
684
819
1,002
1,033
(5)
1, 065'
1,094
1,108
1,117
1,016
1,166
1,195
1,206
1,194
1,114

Book­
keepers,
stenog­
raphers,
and
office
clerks$766
694
742
861
794
1,079
(5)
1,127
(4)
1,317
1, 270
1,287
1,333
1,391
1,442
1, 520
1,368

Wage
earners

$984
1,175
1,511
1,648
(»)
1,387
(s)
1,640
1,831
1,824
1,856
1,819
1,829
1,931
1,855
1,627
1,256

Book­
keepers,
stenog­
raphers,
and
office
clerks
0)
(>)
0)
(0
0)
(0
(s)
0)
(•)
0)
0)
(0
0)
(>)
(0
0)
(>)

T ransportation and
public utilities,
other

Wage
earners

7 $762
982
1,256
1,333
1,731
1,443
(5)
1,651
1,701
1,703
1,691
1,655
1,770
1,710
1,551
1,500
1,213

Book­
keepers,
stenog­
raphers,
and
office
clerks
(0
(0
(0
(0
0)
(>)
(5)
0)
(■)
0)
(0
(0
0)
(0
0)
0)
(>)

1 N o t com puted owing to small n um ber involved.
* O m itted due to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible,
s D ata no t available.
6 D ata tabulated by Ohio Division of Labor Statistics w ith transportation and public utilities, not
otherwise classified.
7 Includes taxicab and bus service.

Indexes of Employment and of Wage and Salary Payments
I n d e x e s of average number of wage earners employed and of
total and average wage and salary payments to wage earners are
shown in table 25. The base is 1926. The indexes cover the period
during which the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics has requested
reports from all employers of three or more persons (except Govern­
ment employment and interstate transportation). Indexes are
shown for transportation and public utilities as a whole, as far as
covered by reports to the Ohio Division of Labor Statistics, and for
each of eight industries.
Considering the general industry as a whole, the index in 1932 was
69.5 for average number of wage earners employed, 60.1 for total
wage and salary payments to wage earners, and 86.6 for average
wage and salary payments.
Of the industries covered, electric railroads show the lowest 1932
index for average number of wage earners employed and for total
wage and salary payments to wage earners, and taxicab and bus
service the lowest index for average payments to wage earners. The
1932 index of average wage and salary payments to wage earners was
above 100 in 1 of the 8 industries and above 90 in 3 others. Chart
10 shows graphically the number employed and total and average
wage and salary payments to wage earners in transportation and
public utilities.


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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1225

T mB^ ? T5,U l i rD E X E S F 0 R a v e r a g e n u m b e r o f w a g e e a r n e r s e m p l o y e d a n d
£ 2 T £ totA N D A V E R A G E w a g e a n d s a l a r y p a y m e n t s t o w a g e e a r n e r s i n
T R A N S P O R 1 A T IO N A N D P U B L IC U T IL IT IE S IN O H IO , 1924 TO 1932, BY IN D U S T R IE S
[1926 = 100.0]

1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1924
19251925
1927
1928
19291930
1931
1932

1924.
1925.
192619271928.
192919301931 _
1932-

T ransportation and public I Drayage and storage, in­
Electric light and power
utilities
cluding livery stables
Wage
Total Average Wage
Total Average Wage
Total Average
Year
earners wage and wage
earners wage anc wage
earners wage anc wage and
(average salary
and
(average salary
and
(average salary
salary
num ­
pay­
num ­
salary
pay­
salary
num ­
pay­
pay­
ber)
m ents paym ent ber)
ments paym ent
ber)
ments
m ent
___________ 87.7
85.5
59.9
97.5
53.8
89.9
72.8
75.4
103.6
_
87.7
84.9
65.9
96.8
62.4
87. T
94.8
90.2
102.8
_
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
___________ 99.0
98. 2
105.4
99.2
109.4
103.8
97.7
99.6
101.9
_
100.7
102.7
138.0
102.0
95.4
131.7
100.6
101.0
100.4
_
98.8
100.3
111.2
101.5
111.0
99.8
108.9
112.9
103.7
_
101.0
102.3
101.2
107.1
108.2
101.1
98. 1
101.1
103. 1
___________ 80.2
77.9
98.2
97.0
90.0
91.6
91.7
92.0
100.3
___________ 69. 5
60.1
86.6
89.5
71.4
79.9
79.5
73.3
92.2
Electric railroads
N atu ral gas
Pipe line petroleum
_
104.0
97.7
94.0
76.7
94.3
142.1
123.0
126.3
88.9
..
87.6
80.9
92.4
89.1
92.5
103.9
117.3
109.5
93.4
___________100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
___________ 92.1
95.5
103.7
102.7
106.8
104.0
115.0
108.7
94.5
___________ 89.1
93.2
104.5
108.7
114. 1
104.9
119.5
116.9
97. 8
..
100.0
)
119.0
)
134.7
113.2
137.6
126.3
91. 7
___________ 80. 5
81.1
100.8
115.7
128.0
109.9
120.4
109.6
___________ 41. 6
39.3
94.3
78.4
90.0
114.9
95.6
106.1
110.9
_
34. 4
29.1
84.6
70. 2
68.9
69.4
98.1
80.9
116. 5
Telegraph and telephone,
Taxieab and bus service
including m e s s e n g e r T ransportation by w ater,
including stevedoring
service
76.1
61.6
80.9
93.8
91.9
97.9
105.8
104.3
98.7
74.0
70.0
94.5
95.4
94.6
99.2
90.1
88.5
98.3

100.0

0

100.0
102.1

100.0

0

100.0

110.6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

98.0
95.9
99.7
90.6
91.0
106.3
104.2
93.6
100.6
92.7
96.7
104.4
97.7
96.3
109.8
95.9
110.4
118.1
107.0
108.8
113.1
118.5
75.4
104.2
112.4
108.0
97.0
97.0
106.0
75.0
89.3
95.4
106.9
76.3
66.9
67.9
53.4
75.3
75.0
.7
56.1
38.0
1 O m itted due to probable error in reporting or tabulating; no further verification possible.
93.1
114.5
157.2
141.3
127.2


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100.0

98.0
98.5
104.0
100.0

87.7
67.7

1226

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

W a ge-R ate C h an ges in A m erican In d u stries
Manufacturing Industries

HE following table presents information concerning wage-rate
adjustments occurring between July 15 and August 15, 1934, as
shown by reports received from 25,016 manufacturing establishments
employing 3,749,639 workers in August.
One hundred and fifty-three establishments in 42 industries
reported wage-rate increases averaging 7.7 percent and affecting
17,344 employees. Fourteen establishments in 10 industries reported
decreases which averaged 8 percent and affected 354 workers.
The outstanding wage-rate adjustment was an average increase
of 5.8 percent received by 4,262 wage earners in 4 establishments in
the engine, turbine, tractor, and water-wheel industry.
Nine establishments in the paper and pulp industry gave an
average increase of 8.6 percent to 1,919 workers, while a like number
of electric-railroad repair shops reported an average increase of 4
percent to 1,207 employees. An average increase of 5 percent was
received by 1,091 workers in 2 leather plants, one of 9.9 percent to
935 employees was reported by 9 establishments in the radio and
phonograph industry, one of 5.2 percent was given to 921 wage earners
in the petroleum-refining industry, and one of 8.9 percent was received
by 847 workers in 15 establishments in the newspaper and periodical
industry. The increases in each of the remaining industries affected
622 employees or less.

T

T a ble 1.— W A G E -R A T E

C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S D U R IN G
M O N T H E N D IN G A U G . 15, 1934

In d u stry

E sta b ­
Total
lish­
ber
ments num
of em­
report­ ployees
ing

All m anufacturing industries____ 25,016 3,749, 639
100.0
100.0
Percent of to ta l____________
Iron and steel and their products,
not including machinery:
B last furnaces, steel works,
and rolling mills
Bolts, n u ti, washers, and
rivets
Cast-iron pipe
C utlery (not including silver
and plated cutlery) and
edve tools_____________
Forgines. iron and steel
H ardw are
P lum bers’ supplies
Steam and hot-w ater heating
apparatus and steam fittings___ ___________ _____
S to v e s ___________________
Structural and ornam ental
metalwork _
T in cans and other tin w are,—
1 Less th a n Ho of 1 percent


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ber of establish­
m ents reporting—

N um ber of employees
having—

No
Wage- Wage- No wage- Wage- Wagewage- rate
rate in­ rate de­
rate
in­ rate de­
rate
creases
creases changes creases creases
changes
24,849
99.3

153
.6

14 3, 731, 941
.1
99.5

.

17,344
.5

232

259,133

232

259,133

59
53

8,883
10,849

59
53

8,883
10,849

182
93
120
92

14,124
9,049
29, 712
9,436

180
90
120
92

2
3

13, 562
8,507
29,712
9,436

562
542

98
230

20,065
26,105

96
229

2
1

20,016
26,101

49
4

304
64

21,416
12, 578

301
63

3
1

21,376
12,540

40
38

354
(>)

...... .

1227

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a ble 1.—W A G E -R A T E

C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S D U R IN G
M O N T H E N D IN G A U G . 15, 1934—C ontinued

In d u stry

E stab ­
Total
lish­
ber
ments num
of
em­
report­ ployees
ing

Iron and steel and th eir products,
not including m achinery—Con.
Tools (not including edge
tools, m achine tools, files,
and saw s).________ ____
W irew ork_________ ________
M achinery, not including tran s­
portation equipm ent:
A gricultural im plem ents____
Cash registers, adding m a­
chines, and calculating m a­
chines___________________
Electrical machinery, appara­
tus, and supplies...................
Engines, turbines, tractors,
and w ater wheels_________
Foundry and machine-shop
products_________________
M achine tools______________
Radios and phonographs____
Textile m achinery and p a rts .
Typew riters and p a rts______
T ransportation equipm ent:
A ircraft___________________
Automobiles__________ ____
Cars, e l e c t r i c - and steamra ilro ad .. ............. ............... ..
Locomotives_______________
Shipbuilding_______ _______
Railroad repair shops:
Electric railroad____________
Steam railroad___ ___________
N o n f e r r o u s metals and their
products:
A lum inum m anufactures___
Brass, bronze, and copper
products_________________
Clocks and watches and tim e­
recording devices_________
Jew elry___________________
Lighting eq u ip m en t________
Silverware and plated w a re ..
Smelting and refining—cop­
per, lead, and zinc_______
Stam ped and enameled ware.
Lum ber and allied products:
F u rn itu re _________________
Lum ber:
M illw ork....... .............. .......
S aw m ills............................
T urpentine and ro s in .............
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Brick, tile, and terra co tta__
C em ent___________ ____ ___
Glass__________________ _
M arble, granite, slate, and
other products___________
P o ttery ........ .... ............ ............
Textiles and their products:
Fabrics:
Carpets and rugs_______
Cotton goods___________
C otton small w ares_____
D yeing and finishing tex­
tiles_________________
H ats, fur-felt___________
K n it goods_______ _____
Silk and rayon goods-----Woolen and worsted
g o o d s ..------- -------------

91302—34-----13


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

138
113

9,577
8, 761

85

10, 292

N um ber of employees
having—

N um ber of establish­
m ents reporting—

No
Wage- Wage- No wage- Wage- Wagewage- rate
rate
rate in­ rate de­
in­ rate de­
rate
creases changes creases creases
creases
changes

9, 577
8, 761

138
113

10,292
16, 649

28

16, 649

28

442

126, 577

437

5

126, 403

174

105

25,986

101

4

21,724

4,262

677
216
60
91
13

154,148
20,636
39,063
11,810
11,870

1,668

9
7

154,010
20, 636
38,128
11,810
11,870

935

30
326

7,040
300,268

30
324

2

7, 040
300, 256

12

113

1

19, 390
4, 881
32, 586

371
573

9

18,878
76,216

2

40, 624

4

1

10,444
9,436
4,031
9, 226

6

61
10
115
380
573

19, 390
4,881
33,244
20,085
76, 216

216
53
91
13

61
10

1

138

622

6, 515

37

6,515

37

312

40, 628

310

30
196
74
68

10, 444
9,436
4,037
9, 226

30
196
73

44
224

15,865
24, 625

222

1
2

15, 273
24, 598

592
27

614

56, 503

609

5

56, 241

262

709
758
35

29, 607
90,744
2,672

707
754
34

2
3
1

29, 589
90,316
2, 392

18
408
280

632
123
173

20,459
16,920
49, 507

630

2
1

20, 266
16,814
49, 507

193
106

260
141

5,116
18, 894

258
141

2

5,031
18,894

85

30
717
128

16,413
287,366
10,868

30
717
128

180
41
496
304

41, 705
7,842
115,587
51,054

479

99,451

43

122

1

173

20

16,413
287, 366
10, 868
4
2

477

36

1,207

2

41, 705
7,585
115, 587
50,932

257

99, 330

121

122

1228

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a ble 1. —W A G E -R A T E

C H A N G E S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S D U R IN G
M O N T H E N D IN G A U G . 15, 1934—Continued

E stab ­
Total
lish­
num ber
m ents
of em­
report­ ployees
ing

In d u stry

Textiles and th eir products—Con.
W earing apparel:
Clothing, m en’s.................
Clothing, w omen’s ...........
Corsets and allied gar­
m ents________ _______
M en ’s furnishings.............
M illinery........................ ..
Shirts and collars_______
L eather and its m anufactures:
Boots and shoes........................
L e a th e r ...................... ..............
Food and kindred products:
Baking____ _______________
Beverages_______ _______ _
B u tte r---------- ------ ------------C anning and preserving..........
Confectionery______________
F lo u r...........................................
Ice cream __________________
Slaughtering and m eat pack­
in g ........................ ..................
Sugar, beet________________
Sugar refining, c an e ......... .......
Tobacco m anufactures:
Chewing and smoking tobac­
co and snuff— ......................
Cigar and cigarettes________
Paper and printing:
Boxes, p ap er_______________
Paper and p u lp ____________
Printing and publishing:
Book and jo b __________
N ewspapers and periodi­
cals.......... ..........................
Chemicals and allied products,
and petroleum refining:
Other th a n petroleum refin­
ing:
Chemicals....... .....................
Cottonseed-oil, cake, and
m e a l.,_______________
D ruggists’ p reparations...
E x p lo siv e s................. .......
Fertilizers________ _____
Paints and varnishes.........
R ayon and allied products.
Soap____________ ______
Petroleum re fin in g .................
R ubber products:
R ubber boots and shoes_____
R ubber goods, other th an
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tubes______________
R ubber tires and inner tu b e s..

N um ber of establishm ents reporting—

N um ber of employees
having—

No
Wage- Wage- No wage- Wage- Wagewage- rate
rate
rate in ­ rate de­
in ­ rate de­
rate
creases
creases changes creases creases
changes

96,521
38, 406

42

1,307
675

96, 563
38,490

1,306
671

43
95
142
174

6,575
8,937
7,985
25, 731

43
94
142
174

370
174

128,399
32,404

370
172

1,168
568
332
758
352
444
385

76,165
35, 232
5,653
112,399
33,991
17,739
14,181

1,154
560
332
758
351
437
385

75,625
35,017
5,653
112,399
33,862
17,567
14,181

503
172

314
67
16

121,490
7,651
9,719

311
67
16

121,334
7,651
9,719

156

41
255

10, 376
53,923

41
254

10,376 .............
53,916
7

432
465

30, 534
112,106

431
456

18
30,516
110,187 : 1,919

1,535

62, 807

1,527

62,626

169
847

1
...
2

6,575
8,923
7,985
25,731
128,399
31, 313

609

59, 266

594

58,419

156

30,966

156

30,966

102

102

202

3, 735
9,130
4, 111
6,042
9,441
45, 575
16,194
67,029

2

3,735
9,080
4,111
6,019
9,326
45,575
16,194
66,108

7

11,354

7 .......... ..................

11,354

145
33

25,917
52,502

73
27
208
397
31
119

71
27
207
394
31
119
200

142
3
33 ...........

84

25,865
52,502

14

1,091
37
43

129
172

12

50
110

23
5

921

52

Nonmanufacturing Industries

D ata concerning wage-rate changes occurring between July 15 and
August 15, 1934, reported by cooperating establishments in 17 non­
manufacturing industries, are presented in table 2.
Increases averaging 4.7 percent and affecting 12,144 employees were
reported by 58 laundries. One hundred ninety-two retail trade
establishments gave an average raise of 6.5 percent to 7,314 workers,


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Wa ô e s

and

houes

122Ö

of labor

vvliile 37 establishments in the electric light and power and manufac­
tured gas industry gave one of 3.6 percent to 6,013 employees. Nine
establishments in the electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and
maintenance industry reported increases which averaged 5.5 percent
and affected 5,949 workers,while 40 wholesale trade establishments gave
an average increase of 10.7 percent to 425 employees. The increases
in each of the remaining industries affected less than 100 workers.
The decreases reported were negligible.
T a ble 2 .—W A G E -R A T E C H A N G E S IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S D U R IN G

M O N T H E N D IN G A U G . 15, 1934

Industrial group

A nthracite m ining______ _____ _____
Percent of to ta l...............................
Bituminous-coal m ining........................
Percent of to ta l........ .......................
M etalliferous m ining..............................
Percent of to ta l______ ____ _____
Q uarrying and nonmetallic m ining___
Percent of to ta l................ ................
Crude-petroleum producing.................
Percent of to ta l________ ____ ___
Telephone and telegraph.......... ............
Percent of to ta l...............................
Electric light and power and m an u ­
factured g a s ..________ ___________
Percent of to ta l.................................
Electric-railroad and motor-bus opera­
tion and m a in te n an c e .......................
Percent of to ta l................................
Wholesale trad e________ __________
Percent of to ta l______ __________
Retail trade_________ ____ _______ _
Percent of to ta l................................
H otels____ _____ _____________ ____
Percent of to ta l____ ___________
Laundries_______ ____ ____________
Percent of to ta l_____ ___________
D yeing and cleaning_____________ _
Percent of to ta l________________
B anks____ ______ ____ _____ _______
Percent of to ta l.................................
Brokerage............. ................... ................
Percent of to ta l________________
Insurance___________ _____ ________
Percent of to ta l................ ...............
Real estate......................................... .......
Percent of to ta l.................................
'Less than Mo of 1 percent.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N um ber of establish­ N um ber of employees
m ents reporting—
having—
E stab ­
Total
lish­
ments number
No
No
report­ of em­
ployees wage- Wage- Wage- wage- Wage- Wageing
rate in­ rate de­
rate rate in ­ rate de­ rate
changes creases creases changes creases creases
160
100.0
1,442
100.0
269
100.0
1,122
100.0
241
100.0
8,083
100.0

68, 799
100.0
232,469
100.0
28,228
100.0
36,151
100.0
33, 913
100.0
264,410
100.0

268
99.6
1,121
99.9
241
100.0
8,083
100.0

i
.4
1
.1

3,018 246, 746
100.0
100.0

2,981
98.8

37
1.2

240, 733
97.6

6,013
2.4

543
98.4
15, 396
99.7
53, 908
99.61
2, 555^
99.8
1,297
95.5
691
99.4
2,894
99.8
382
99.7
1,010
100.0
736
99.3

9
1.6
40
.3
192
.4
3

132,917
95.7
4 274,685
99.8
(i)
29 760,389
.1
99.0
1 142,887
100.0
(>)
3 63, 596
.2
83.8
16,352
99.6
1 94,816
99.9
(>)
1 12, 655
.3
99.6
66, 707

5,949
4.3
425
.2
7,314

552
100.0
15, 440
100.0
54,129
100.0
2, 559
100.0
1,358
100.0
695
100.0
2,900
100.0
383
100.0
1,010
100.0
741
100.0

138,866
100.0
275,127
100.0
767,896
100.0
142,947
100.0
75,864
100.0
16,418
100.0
94,891
100.0
12,700
100.0
66,707
100. 0

13,967
100.0

160
100.0
1,442

68,799
:

100. 0

.

1

58
4.3
4
.6
5
.2

5
.7

100. 0

232,469
100.0
28,196
99.9
36,071
99.8
33,913
100.0
264,410
100.0

32
.1
80
.2

1.0

58
(>)
12,144
16.0
66
.4
24
(>)

193

(0
(')

2
124
.2
51
.

1

45
4

100. 0

13,951
99.9

17
0)

16
.1

1230

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

E m p lo y m en t and E arnings of H eads of F a m ilies in D enver, 1929
and 1933

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE canvass in Denver, Colo., in December 1933
disclosed several significant facts on employment and earnings
A
of heads of families. In November 1933 only 67.6 percent of the
male and female heads of families had full-time employment as con­
trasted with 86.7 percent in November 1929. At both periods the
employment record was in general best for those who in November
1933 were from 30 to 39 years of age. The median monthly earnings
of heads of families at the earlier date were $116.08 and in November
1933, $95.04, a reduction of $21.04 or 18.1 percent. The value of
college training in connection with full-time employment was brought
out.
The survey was made, at the request of the Denver Committee of
the Federal Civil Works Administration, by the Bureau of Business
and Social Research of the University of Denver as a project for the
utilization of the services of the “ white collar” unemployed. The
results of this investigation are published in the September 1934
issue of the University of Denver Reports.
Employment records were obtained for 60,018 heads of families
(approximately an 80-percent sample), and records of earnings were
secured in 55,262 cases, It is explained that the difference of 4,756
between the number reporting employment and the number reporting
earnings may be accounted for by lack of information on the part of
the individual interviewed or by his or her unwillingness to give the
data. In most instances data on age and scholastic training were also
reported.
The findings presented are only for persons whom the investigators
were able to interview in December 1933 and for the sections of the
city according with the addresses given at that time. The number of
persons for whom information is available is larger for recent than for
earlier periods: (1) Because some had recently assumed family
responsibilities, and (2) because many could not remember their
employment status or earnings over a period of years. However,
according to the report, the doubtful group contributed both to “ the
employment and the unemployment record, and for that reason is not
considered important in its effect upon the record as compiled.”
Other elements doubtless have greater or less effect upon the data. In line
with the foregoing discussion, however, it is felt that the net result of the basis
of compilation used has been to obtain a record w7hich is somewhat better through­
out the period of the data than that of the actual or eligible heads of families.
Even though this may be the case, the picture of change both as to employment
and earnings is considered trustworthy.

Table 1 shows the percent of male and female heads of families
employed full time November 1929 and November 1933 by age

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1231

groups and scholastic training. It will be noted that on the whole
in both years the employment record is best for those who were from
30 to 39 years of age in November 1933.
The decline in the proportion of those employed full time who
were 70 years and over in November 1933 is quite striking for both
periods covered. The fact, however, that the population during the
earlier period included a number from the older age groups who later
disappeared as gainful workers “ means that the data reflect a situa­
tion somewhat better from this point of view than actually existed
at the time.”
College graduates have been able to maintain full-time employ­
ment better than any other group. This is particularly true in the
advanced-age groups. For example, the proportion of college grad­
uates in the age group, 60 to 69, who were employed full time in
November 1929 was 89.4 percent; in November 1933, 76.8 percent.
In the same age group the proportion of those who had not gone
beyond the sixth grade having full-time employment showed a much
greater decline—72 percent having such employment in November
1929, and only 42.1 percent in November 1933.
T a ble 1 — P E R C E N T

OF M A L E A N D F E M A L E H E A D S OF F A M IL IE S IN D E N V E R
E M P L O Y E D F U L L T IM E IN N O V E M B E R 1929 A N D N O V E M B E R 1933 BY A G E A N D
SC H O L A ST IC T R A IN IN G >
Percent employed full time, by age groups
Scholastic training group and year
and
60-69 70
over

All
ages

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

74.3
85.7

79.8
87.6

78.3
88.4

78.6
85.6

72.0
80.1

55.8
63.2

75.9
85.3

90. 1
92.0
90. 1
80.3

91.2
93.2
96.2
83.8

92.1
93.2
95.3
87.6

89.2
91.4
93.5
84.7

85.9
84.7
89.4
77.6

73.0
68.4
73.4
56.7

90.0
91.5
93.4
80.7

87.7

89.6

89.2

86.5

80.8

64.2

86.7

44.7
65.4

47.2
68.7

52.0
67.0

49.8
62.3

42.1
53.0

24.8
33.4

46.7
63.3

77.0
83.1
87.5
66.7

77.4
80.6
88.7
69.2

75.1
77.8
85.6
63.7

70.5
74.5
83.2
63.1

65.8
61.8
76.8
51.9

43.1
46.2
56.4
36.4

73.9
77.6
84. 4
59.6

72.8

73.3

70.0

65.3

56.4

36.3

67.6

NOVEMBER 1929

G roup I. N o t beyond the sixth grade.- . . . . ___
G roup II. Beyond the sixth grade b u t not the n in th .
G roup III. B eyond the n in th grade b u t not beyond
high school______________________ _
G roup IV . College w ith o u t graduation. _______
G roup V. College graduates_______ . ___________
All others 2______________ _____ ____ _____________
All groups_____

..

____

______ _____

NOVEMBER 1933

G roup I. N o t beyond the sixth grade. .
____
G roup II. Beyond the sixth grade b u t not the n in th .
G roup III. Beyond the n in th grade b u t not beyond
high schoool . . . .
G roup IV . College w ithout graduation______ _ _
G roup V. College graduates. . ________________ _
All others 2___________ _. ______ _________ ____
All groups_____

__ _________________

____

1 Age and scholastic training classifications as of N ovem ber 1933.
2 Includes foreign educated and unknow n.

In table 2 the median monthly earnings of full-time employees are
given for November 1929 and November 1933, by age groups and
scholastic training. As noted above, the decline between these two
periods was 18.1 percent. At both of these dates for all scholastic
training groups combined earnings were higher among those in the
40 to 49 age group.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1232

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 2 .—M E D IA N M O N T H L Y E A R N IN G S O F M A L E A N D F E M A L E H E A D S OF F A M I­
L IE S IN D E N V E R (F U L L -T IM E E M P L O Y E E S ) C L A S S IF IE D B Y A G E A N D T R A IN IN G r
N O V E M B E R 1929 A N D N O V E M B E R 1933 1
Earnings b y age groups
Scholastic training group and year
20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

and
60-69 70over

All
ages

$65. 33

$79. 57

$87.17

$86. 56

$82.13 $75.80

$82.24

86. 98

108.95

116.36

113. 38

100. 24

90.11

106. 61

97.85
113. 78
128. 75

131.40
142.16
171. 22

140. 28
149. 52
198. 00

139. 77
142.19
191. 60

126.44 114. 29
136.81 80. 00
164. 63 146.43

126. 70
137. 70
175. 63

94.19

122.99

126. 20

121. 37

105. 39

91.61

116.08

G roup I. N ot beyond the sixth g r a d e _________ 51.99
G roup II. B eyond th e sixth grade b u t not the
n in th ______________________________________ 70. 25
G roup III. Beyond the n in th grade b u t not beyond high school_____________ _____ _ ____ 81.11
G roup IV . College w ithout graduation______ — 91.36
G roup V. College graduates- _________________ 113. 85

66.10

72. 05

70.78

68.18

69.44

67.66

87.21

93. 00

93.09

85. 59

71.80

86. 51

106. 55
120.49
146.11

118.18
132. 78
169. 82

118. 86
128.13
170. 52

113.39 97.16
109. 38 72. 50
141.07 122.92

100. 27
113.99
145.93

All groups_____________________ ________ 80.12

99. 47

103. 71

100.46

80.02

95. 04

NOVEMBER 1929

G roup I. N ot beyond the sixth grade__________
G roup II. B eyond the sixth grade b u t no t the
n in th _______________________ _______ ____
G roup III. B eyond the n in th grade b u t no t beyond high school___________________________
G roup IV. College w ith o u t grad u atio n________
G roup V. College graduates________ __________
All groups_______ _____________________
NOVEMBER 1933

91.11

1 Age and scholastic training classification as of N ovem ber 1933.

W ages an d W orking H ours in B ritish C o lu m b ia , 1933

N 1933 the average industrial weekly wage of 61,891 adult males
in British Columbia was $22.30, or 5.6 percent, below the average
Iweekly
wage reported for 1932 and $9.21, or 29.2 percent, below that
of the peak 3rear, 1920.
These figures are taken from the annual report of the department
of labor of the Province for the year ended December 31, 1933.
Table 1 shows average weekly wages of adult males in various indus­
tries in British Columbia for the week of greatest employment in
1933 which would ordinarily mean a full week’s work.
T able 1.—A V E R A G E F U L L W E E K ’S W A G E S O F A D U L T M A L E S IN S P E C IF IE D
IN D U S T R IE S IN B R IT IS H C O L U M B IA IN 1933
Average wage,
1933

Average wage,
1933
In d u stry

In d u stry
A m ount

$25. 70
Breweries _
- __________
B uilders’ m aterials
20.54
Cigar and tobacco m anufaetur14. 67
in g -------------------- ----------------26.80
Coal mining
27.62
Coast shipping
____________
23.37
Contracting
_________ _____
20. 66
Explosives and c h em ica ls______
21.12
Food products’ m anufacture........
G arm ent m aking
25.29
18.91
H ouse furnishings
.
______
30. 55
Jew elry m anufacture__________
L aundries, cleaning and dyeing— 21.78
Leather and fur goods manufac20.73
tu re .................... - .........................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Change
from
1932
+$0.05
-1 .4 1
+ .3 9
-1 .2 4
+1.12
-1 .4 1
-2 .6 8
- .7 6
+1.22
-1 .1 4
+7.15
-1 .4 8
- .8 9

A m ount

L um ber industries_____________ $18. 00
25.62
M etal m ining_________________
22.70
M etal trad es__________________
M iscellaneous trades and indus22.13
tries ______________________
23. 78
Oil refining___________________
22.53
P ain t m anufacture_______ _____
32.82
Prin tin g and publishing___ ____
21.21
Pu lp and paper m anu factu rin g -.
25.25
Shipbuilding__________________
Sm elting______________________
23.83
Street railw ays, gas, w ater, pow24.51
er, telephones, e tc___________
18.05
W ood m anufacturing (n. e. s.)_—

Change
from
1932
-$ 0 . 73
+ . 12
-1 .5 4
- .6 5
-5 .5 6
-2 .4 7
-4 .2 3
-3 .4 2
- .9 2
+ .8 5
-4 .3 8
- 2 . 56

1233

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

The returns for 1933 disclose that the percentages of adult males
receiving less than $19 per week in various industries were as follows:
T able 3 .—N U M B E R O F A D U L T M A L E S E M P L O Y E D IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S IN
B R IT IS H C O L U M B IA IN 1933 A N D P E R C E N T R E C E IV IN G LESS T H A N $19 P E R W E E K
Per­
cent
N um ­ receiv­
ber
ing
em­
under
ployed $19
per
week

In d u stry

Cigar and tobacco m anufacturing__
L um ber in d u stry _________________
W ood m anufacture (n. e. s .)_______
H ouse furnishings________________
B uilders’ m aterials______ _________
Food products_________ ________
L eather and fur goods__ ________
G arm ent m anufacture___________
Explosives and chem icals_________
P ain t m anufacture__ _________ . . .
_____ _
M etal trades____ . . .
Laundries, cleaning and d y e in g ___
C ontracting_____ ______ . . . . .

63
16, 627
985
313
772
8,151
156
115
424
63
2,750
418
5, 777

87.3
64.1
63.7
57.5
52.7
45. 3
42.3
40.9
39. 6
36. 5
36.4
33.5
32.2

In d u stry

M iscellaneous___________________
Street railways, e t c _________ ____
Oil re fin in g _____________________
P u lp and paper
Breweries . . . _____________ _____
Printing and publishing
Shipbuilding
Jewelry m anufacture
Coal mining __
Smelting
Coast shipping. .
M etal m ining!_______ ___ ________

Per­
N u m ­ cent
receiv­
ber
ing
em­
under
ployed $19
per
week
1,003
2,989
1,067
2, 220
'470
849
653
46
2,716
2,307
5,341
5,508

28.7
26. 0
25.8
25. 5
19.0
17. 3
17.0
15. 2
12. 9
12. 5
10. 5
9.2

Average weekly hours worked in 1933 by all employees in various
industries are reported in table 3:
T able 3 .—A V E R A G E W E E K L Y H O U R S O F W O R K IN B R IT IS H C O L U M B IA , BY IN D U S ­
T R IE S , 1933
H ours per
week, 1933
In d u stry

H ours per
week, 1933
In d u stry

N u m ­ Change
from
ber
1932
Breweries........... ................................
B uilders’ materials, e tc _________
Cigar and tobacco m an u factu rin g ..
Coal m in in g ........................................
Coast shipping_________________
C ontracting............ ............................
Explosives, chemicals, etc_______
Food products m anufacture______
G arm ent m ak in g.......... ................. .
House furnishings................ ............ .
Jew elry m anufacture____________
Laundries, cleaning and dyeing___
L eather and fur goods m anufacture.
Lum ber industries:
L o g g in g ......................................
Logging railw ays____________
L um ber dealers_____________


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

45. 81
42.19
42. 71
47.93
51. 82
43.42
42. 00
47. 83
43. 68
43.33
42.00
44.40
41.33

-0 .3 6
+1.55
-3 .2 9
+1.49
+ .71
- .5 5
-7 .7 0
-1 .4 2
-2 .9 0
+1.80
+2.84
-2 .0 4
- 5 . 36

48.41
50. 36
45.28

+ . 13
+1. 02
- .5 2

N um ­ Change
from
ber
1932
L u m b er industries—C ontinued.
Planing m ills_______ ____ Sawmills_______________ ____
Shingle m ills_______________
M etal m ining___________________
M etal trades!____________ ______
Miscellaneous trades and indus­
tries____________ ____________
Oil refining................... ........................
P ain t m anufacturing_____ __ _
Printing and publishing_________
P u lp and paper m anufacturing____
Shipbuilding___________________
Smelting _ ___ _________________
Street railways, gas, w ater, power,
etc_________ _______ ___ _______
Wood m anufacture (n. e. s .)........ ..

48. 26
49.15
45. 50
52.11
45.85

-0 .2 9
+ . 67
—1 62
+1. 77
+ .1 5

44.96
46.29
43. 68
44.09
48. 30
43. 53
46.47

—1. 55
- .7 4
- . 39
—. 52
+3.51
+ . 72
—6 77

44. 87
45. 33

f —. 56
+ . 61
r >M

1234

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

M in im u m -W a g e D ecision s in M exico

INIMUM-wage rates have now been fixed in practically all of
the municipalities of the various Mexican States, in conformity
with the provisions of the Federal labor law of Mexico. A report
from the American vice consul, John S. Littell, at Mexico City, dated
July 28, 1934, gives the schedule of rates fixed in the different locali­
ties, together with the minimum recommended by the President of
the country for each State. The minima recommended by the Presi­
dent ranged from 1 peso to 3 pesos per day for workers hired by the
day, while the rates as finally determined upon range from 0.50 peso 1
to 3.50 pesos per day, the rate for city workers, where specified in
the report, being higher than for farm workers. Payments to home
workers and for work done on a piece-rate basis must be such that
the workers will earn in an 8-hour day the amount fixed as the mini­
mum for their particular localities.
Workers receiving less than the established minimum have a right
to claim the difference to which they are entitled within 1 year from
January 1, 1934, the date on which the minimum rates which had been
fixed by that time went into effect.
Violations of the minimum-wage regulations are punishable by
fines ranging from 5 to 100 pesos for each violation. If an employer
prevents the inspectors from visiting his establishment, he may be
fined from 20 to 100 pesos for each offense.
A dispatch from Vice Consul Andrew E. Donovan at Mexico City,
dated August 20, 1934, states that the Mexican press has reported a
decision by the minimum-wage commission that true apprentices
need not be paid the minimum wage, as they are partially compen­
sated by the instruction they receive, but that employed minors who
are not apprentices in the legal sense of the word must be paid the
minimum wage.

M

W ages in S w itzerlan d , 1933"

HE annual report of wages in certain industries in Switzerland
made by the Federal Bureau of Industry, Arts and Trades, and
Labor, is based on statistics of wages of workers injured in industrial
accidents. The statistics for 1933 relate to reports by 77,187 injured
workers who were insured under the Federal workmen’s compensation
law, the average daily earnings being reported for 14,850 workers and
average hourly earnings for 62,337 workers. The following table
shows the average daily and hourly earnings reported for these
workers:

T

1 P rio r to 1933 th e par value of th e peso was approxim ately 50 cents in U. S. currency.
2 Switzerland. D épartem ent Fédéral de l’Économie publique. La Vie Économique, Berne, A ugust
1934.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

1235

A V E R A G E D A IL Y A N D H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S OF W O R K E R S IN S P E C IF IE D IN D U S T R IE S
IN S W IT Z E R L A N D IN 1933
[Franc a t p a r=19.3 cents.

Average exchange rate for 1933 was 24.8 cents]
Average daily earnings

In d u stry

M etals and machines.
B uilding___________
W ood______________
Textiles____________
W atch _____________
Stone and e a rth _____
Shoes___________________
P a p e r____________________
Graphic a rts______________
C hem ical________________
Food, drink, and tobacco-. .
C onveyances_____________
Commercial establishm ents.
Electrical light and p o w er..
Gas and w a te r ..._________
M ining and q u arrying____
F orestry_________________
Average, all occupations.

Foremen
and mas­
ter w ork­
men

Francs
17. 61
18. 02
16. 42
- 14.98
16.15

17. 77
17. 77
16. 38
18. 66

Young
Skilled
W omen
and semi­ Unskilled 18 years persons
under
18
skilled
workers
of age
of
workers
and over years
age
Francs
12. 43
13. 06
10.12

11.03
11. 77
12.27
12.60
15. 92
13.78
13. 95
11.30
13. 29
16. 04
16. 96
11.22

9.40

Francs
10.14
11.08
8.34
9.19

Francs

Francs
4. 95

6. 42

3. 72

9.68
9. 57
11.32
12. 34
10.13
11.70
13. 05
14.83
7.71
7. 77

16. 95

6.08
5.83
7. 66

6. 32

4. 26

Average hourly earnings
M etals and m achines_____
B uilding_________________
W ood____________________
Textiles__________________
W atch ___________________
Stone and e a rth __________
Shoes____________________
P a p e r____________________
G raphic a rts______________
C hem ical________________
Food, drink, and tobacco.. .
C onveyances_____________
Commercial establishm ents.
Electrical light and p o w e r..
Gas and w ater____________
M ining and quarrying____
F orestry_________________
Average, all occupations.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1.72
1. 68

1.54

1.41
1. 50
1.34
1.11

1.44
1.38
1.17
1.33
1.94
1.51
1.50
1.49
1.49
1.71
1.26
.99
1.63

1.43

1.13

0. 73

1.10

.98
1.03
1.08
.91
1.08
1.16
1.24
1.30

.64
.72
.84

.66

.62
.49
.43

.68

.52

.75
.81
.79

1. 20

1.18
1.17
1.36
1.00

.89

1.09

0. 52
.78
.51
.47

.72

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a r y o f E m p lo y m e n t R ep orts for S ep tem b er 1934
Comparison of September 1934 with August 1934 and September 1933

HE four tables presented below summarize the reported data
T
regarding trend of employment in comparison with similar data
for August 1934 and September 1933, insofar as the information is
available. In addition to employment and pay rolls, per capita
weeldy earnings, average hours worked per week, and average hourly
earnings are shown for manufacturing and for most of the nonmanu­
facturing groups.
The principal changes shown in these tables are briefly as follows:
Factory employment decreased 4.7 percent from August to Septem­
ber and factory pay rolls declined 6.8 percent over the month interval.
While 44 of the 90 manufacturing industries surveyed each month
reported gains in employment from August to September and one
industry reported no change, the increases in employment in these
industries were not sufficient to offset the declines in the remaining 45
industries. Forty-three industries showed gains in pay rolls and the
remaining 47 had decreases.
Normally there is a seasonal expansion in employment and pay rolls
between August and September. Labor disturbances in September,
however, in certain textile industries, combined with recessions in
employment in such important industries as automobiles, hardware,
boots and shoes, blast furnaces-steel works-rolling mills, and foundries
and machine shops contributed largely to these contra-seasonal
decreases.
Dividing the manufacturing industries into “ durable” and “ non­
durable” goods groups, the former group showed decreases in employ­
ment and pay rolls from August to September of 2.9 percent and 8.8
percent, respectively. The latter group showed losses of 6.2 percent
in employment and 4.9 percent in pay rolls.
In nonmanufacturing, 7 of the 18 industries covered showed em­
ployment increases. Six showed pay-roll gains. The most pronounced
gains in employment and pay rolls (15 percent and 18.4 percent, re­
spectively) were in the anthracite mining industry, reflecting seasonal
activity and the resumption of operations in a number of mines which
had previously been affected by labor troubles. The gains of 7 percent
1236

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1237

in employment and 5.2 percent in pay rolls in retail trade were due
in large part to seasonal gains in the general merchandise group, which
is composed of department stores, variety stores, general merchandise
stores, and mail-order houses.
Among the 11 nonmanufacturing industries in which decreased
employment was reported, the most pronounced decrease (3.7 percent)
was in brokerage establishments, which (with the exception of a small
increase in February 1934) have reported declines each month since
September of last year.
The estimated decrease in factory employment of 315,000 offset the
gains in nonmanufacturing industries sufficiently to cause a net
decline of approximately 133,000 workers in all reporting groups
shown in table 1, other than class I steam railroads. The net esti­
mated loss in weekly pay rolls in these groups was over $7,800,000.
In public employment, there was a decline of 3.0 percent from August
to September, the principal cause being a falling off of 8.7 percent in
construction projects financed from the Public Works Administration
fund.
In the relief work created by Federal agencies, there was a continued
sharp increase in the number of persons employed under the emergency
work program, the number increasing from 1,908,993 to 1,949,000.
Enrollment in the Civilian Conservation Corps showed a marked
decrease, falling from 385,340 in August to 335,785 in September.
This decline wTas caused by the termination of an enlistment period
and is of a periodic nature. The total number of persons employed in
September in the various activities of the Federal Government, includ­
ing relief work, was 3,811,625.
Private employment— Table 1 shows the September employment
and pay-roll indexes, and per capita weekly earnings for all manufac­
turing industries combined, for various nonmanufacturing industries
and for class 1 steam railroads in September 1934 with percentage
changes over the month and year, except in the few cases, referred to
in footnotes, for which certain items cannot be computed. Table 2
shows for the same industries as in table 1, as far as data are available,
average hours worked per week and the average hourly earnings.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1238

T able 1 .— E M P L O Y M E N T A N D

PA Y -R O L L IN D E X E S A N D P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y
E A R N IN G S IN A LL M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D A N D IN N O N M A N U ­
F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN S E P T E M B E R 1934 A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S
F R O M A U G U ST 1934 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1933 (P R E L IM IN A R Y F IG U R E S )

In d u stry

Percent of
change from—
Index
Septem­
ber 1934

A u­
gust
1934

Sep­
tem ­
ber
1933

75.8
57.3

- 4 .7 - 5 .2
- .9 . -.7

B uilding construction. ---------1 N o t available.
‘ No change.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

56.9 +15.0
78.2 + 1 .4
42.3
-.9
53.3
81.8

Percent of
Percent of
change from— Aver­ change from—
age in
Sep­
Sep­
Sep­ tem ­ A u­
A u­ tem
tem ­
­
ber
gust
gust
ber
ber
1934
1934
1934
1933
1933

57.9
(•)

- 6 .8
(>)

- 2 .0 $18. 57
(>)
(0

- 2 .2
0)

+ 3.4
(>)

(1929 =
100)

(1929 =
100)
Coal m ining:
A nthraciteB itum inous - --------- -------M etalliferous m ining. ----------Q uarrying and nonmetallic
mining- --------------- ---------C rude-petroleum producing----P ublic utilities:
Telephone and te le g ra p h ...
Electric light and power
and m anufactured gas___
Electric-railroad and motorbus operation and m ainte­
- - ------- nance__
Trade:
W holesale------- -- -- -- -R e ta il.. ---- ------------- -----Hotels (cash paym ents o n ly ) ...
Laundries. _ .
---- -- ----------Dyeing and cleaning-------------- ------B anks_____- -----Brokerage
..
--------Insurance.............
- -- ---

Index
Septem ­
ber 1934

(1923-25
= 100)

(1923-25
= 100)
All m anufacturing industries
com bined.-- -- Class I steam railroads, . .

Per capita weekly
earnings

P a y roll

E m ploym ent

+. 2
+ 8 .9
+ 8 .7

- 2 .6 + 1. 3
- 1 .1 +23.6

47.0 +18.4 -2 2 .6
51.4 + 1.9 +16.6
25.9 - 4 .2 + 8.4

24.05
17. 02
19. 73

+ 3 .0 -2 2 .7
+ .6 + 7 .0
- 3 .3
- .3

32.4
59.7

- 4 . 8 + 10.6
- 2 .4 +34.5

15. 65
27. 27

- 2 .3
- 1 .3

+ 9 .2
+ 8 .8

70.9

-. 1

+ 3 .8

72.2

- 2 .4 +11.8

26. 96

- 2 .3

+ 7 .6

85.8

+ .2

+ 6 .8

79.3

+10.4

29.26

-.9

+ 3 .4

- .5

+ 4 .0

62.4

+ 8 .0

27.46

-. 1

+ 3.9

+ 1.2 + 3 .9
+ 7 .0 + 1 .9
- 2 .1 + 7 .2
- 1 .0
+• 4
+ 1.8 - 2 .3
-.9
+ 1 .7
- 3 .7 -2 6 .2
- . 1 + 1.4
— 6 + 3 .7
+ 1.8 - 9 .3

67.4
70.8
64.3
65.9
59.0

+ 1.5 + 8 .2
+ 5 .2 + 2.3
- . 4 +15.6
- 1 .0 + 3.8
+ 4.1 + 3.3
+ 2 .2
- .6
- 4 .9 -2 7 .0
- 1 .5 + 4.1
—1. 3 + 3 .2
+ 1 .8 - 4 .8

26. 34
19.85
13.08
15.06
18.16
31.32
34. 44
34.14
21. 32
23.17

+ .3
- 1 .7
+ 1.6
-. 1
+ 2.3
+ .3
-1 . 2
- 1 .4
—. 6
«

+ 4.1
+ .4
+ 7 .9
+ 3.4
+ 5.9
+ .4
-1 . 1
+ 2.7
—. 4
+ 5 .0

72.5
85.3
87.6
84.4
82.9
80.0
«
(>)
0)
0)
0)

0)
0)
(0
(>)
0)

- .6

1239

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T a b l e 2. —A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S

IN S E P T E M B E R 1934 IN A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D A N D IN
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S , A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S F R O M A U G U ST
1934 A N D S E P T E M B E R 1933 (P R E L IM IN A R Y F IG U R E S )
Average hours worked Average hourly earnings
per week
Percent of
Percent of
Aver­ change fro m 1— Aver­ change from 1—
age in
age in
Sep­
Sep­
tem ber A ugust Sep­ tem ber August Sep­
1934
ber
tem
ber
1934
1934 tem
1934
1933
1933

In d u stry

All m anufacturing industries com bined-------------------Coal mining:
A nthracite ___--- -- ----------- - -------------B itum inous-- _______ - ___________ _______
________ _______ - M etalliferous m ining Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining-------------------------C rude petroleum producing-- ---------- . ----------------Public utilities:
.- - --Telephone and telegraph-- ------- --------Electric light and power and m anufactured gas---Electric-railroad and m otor-bus operation and
maintenance.. _____ --------------Trade:
W holesale-.- - --- -. - ----------- - -----------R etail_____ ___ _________ ____________________
Hotels
_________________ _____________________
L aundries_____ _____ . - ________________________
D yeing and cleaning ----------- ------------------------------B anks - _______ - __________ __________________
B ro k e ra g e--____ - - - - ------------------------------------ -Insurance _______________ - Real estate _____ -.
- -----Building construction -. - . . - - -_ - -------------------

Cents
55.9

+ 0 .7

+ 9 .4

-2 6 .4
-2 3 . 5
- 9 .8
- 3 .0
- 9 .4

83.2
71.7
56.7
47.8
80. 5

+ •1
(2)
+ 1.1
+ •^
(2)

+2. 1
+39.7
+ 9 .7
+13.1
+16.6

- 1 .5
- 2 .9

+ 3.6
—4. 4

72.8
79.8

+1. 0
+ 3.6

+6. !
+10. 6

44. 5

- .9

- 3 .1

61.2

+ .8

+11. 8

40. 6
40.1
46.9
39.4
40.8
0)
(4)
0)
0)
29.0

-.5
+ 1 .5
-.2
-.8
+ 1 .2
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
- .3

(2)
+ 1 .0
- 5 .9
+ 2.8
- 1 .1
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)

63.8
51.4
3 27.5
37.6
44.5
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
80.1

+ .8
-1 .2
+ 1.5
+ .8
+ 1 .4
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
+ .6

+4. 5
+L 6
+13.4
+ 1 .6
+ 7 .4
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)
(4)

33.3

- 2 .1

- 6 .7

29. 2
23.6
34.6
33.0
34.4

+ 4.3
+ 1.3
- 4 .2
- 2 .9
-.9

38.4
37.2

1 Percentage changes over year com puted from indexes.
2 No change.
, .
.,
, ,
3 Cash paym ents only. T h e additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be com puted.
4 N ot available.

Public employment.—Employment by the Federal Government is of
two general classes: (1) Employment either in the executive, judicial,
legislative, or military service, and on various construction projects
financed by the Federal Government; and (2) employment on relief
work, where the work itself and the system of payment is of an
emergency-relief character. These two types of Federal employment
are shown separately in tables 3 and 4.
T a b l e 3 .— E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS IN V A RIO U S SE R V IC E S O F T H E U N IT E D

ST A T E S G O V E R N M E N T D U R IN G A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934 (P R E L IM IN A R Y
FIG U R E S )
P ay rolls

E m ploym ent
K in d of service

A ugust
1934

Per­
cent of
Septem ­ change
ber 1934

681,837
i 676,837
ecu five service
_
__
1,777
1, 690
Judicial service
___ _
____
3, 721
3, 723
T/epislat,ive service
_ _ _
269,
489
268, 712
M ilitary service
__
Construction projects financed by P. W.
602,
581
549,
910
\
____ _____________
17,088
Construction projects financed b y R. F. C_ i 17,149
3,018
3, 933
R oad building (other th a n P. W. A .)-----T o ta l................ ...................................... 1, 574, 625 1, 526,840
1 Revised.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

A ugust
1934

Per­
cent of
September change
1934

+ 0 .7 i $97,919,636 $98, 604,611
486, 410
439,014
+ 5 .2
976, 516
-. 1
977, 966
20, 501, 900 20, 855, 093
+ .3

+ 0 .7
+10.8
—. 2
+ 1 .7

35,142, 770 31, 720, 317
1, 648, 618
i 1,688,012
165, 295
224,041
154,456,860
156,893, 339

- 9 .7
-2 . 3
-2 6 .2
- 1 .6

- 8 .7
-.4
-2 3 . 3
-3 .0

1240

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 4 . - E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S ON R E L IE F W O R K O P V A R IO U S F E D E R A L
A G E N C IE S D U R IN G A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934 (P R E L IM IN A R Y F IG U R E S )
E m ploym ent
K ind of service
A ugust
Emergency work program 1.........
Emergency conservation work (C.
C. 0 . ) _________________
T o ta l_____________________

Percent
of
September change

P ay rolls
A ugust

Per-

of
September change

2 1,908,993

1, 949,000

+ 2 .1

385, 340

335, 785

-1 2 .9

16,363,826

15,022,969

- 8 .2

2, 294, 333

2, 284, 785

- .4

71,156,314

65,136,969

- 8 .5

2$54,792,488 $50,114, 000

- 8 .5

1 Wage earners in this report represent the num ber th a t w orked any p a rt of m onth. These employees
are allowed to work each m onth u n til a specified m axim um am ount is reached, and then they are relieved
b y other workers taken from the relief rolls.
2 Revised.

Coverage of Reports
M o n t h l y r e p o r ts o n tr e n d o f e m p lo y m e n t a n d p a y r o lls a re now
a v a ila b le fo r th e fo llo w in g g r o u p s: (1 ) 9 0 m a n u f a c tu r in g in d u s tr ie s ;

(2) 18 nonmanufacturing industries, including building construction;
(3) class I steam railroads; and (4) Federal services and agencies.
The reports for the first two of these groups—manufacturing and nonmanufacturing—are based on sample surveys by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, but in practically all cases the samples are sufficiently large
to be entirely representative. The figures on class I steam railroads
are compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission and include
all employees. The data for the various Federal services and agencies
also cover all employees on the pay rolls of such organizations.
In total, these four main groups include a majority of the wage and
salary workers in the United States. Unfortunately, however, no
such complete information is available as yet for certain other large
employment groups—notably, agricultural work, professional service,
and domestic and personal service.
Changes in Method of Publishing Trend of Employment Data

As E X P L A I N E D in the preceding issue of the Monthly Labor Review
a change has been made in the form of publication of the trend-ofemployment reports by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Previously
these reports were published each month in pamphlet form and, in
addition, for the purpose of a convenient permanent record, the con­
tents of the pamphlet were reprinted, without change, in the follow­
ing issue of the Monthly Labor Review. Under the modified plan
each issue of the Mon tidy Labor Review will contain a summary of
employment data for the second month preceding the date of the
Labor Review and figures in detail for the third preceding month.
Thus, under this procedure, the present (November) issue of the
Monthly Labor Review carries in this article a summary of the
September trend-of-employment figures and in the following article
the revised figures in detail for August. As a result of this change, it

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT

1241

will be possible to incorporate in the permanent trend-of-employment
record, as printed in the Monthly Labor Review, certain revisions and
corrections which at times are made necessary in the monthly pam­
phlet. At the same time those who wish the detailed information as
early as possible may secure the pamphlet, which will be published as
formerly and distributed, without charge, upon request.
T rend of E m p lo y m en t in A u g u st 1934: R evised F igures

HIS article presents the detailed figures on volume of employ­
ment, as compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the
month of August 1934. The tabular data are the same as those pub­
lished in the Trend of Employment pamphlet for August except for
certain minor revisions and corrections.

T

E m p l o y m e n t i n M a n u f a c t u r i n g I n d u s t r i e s i n A u g u s t 1934

I n c r e a s e s of 1.1 percent in factory employment and 2 .8 percent
in factory pay rolls were shown in August as compared with July.
Employment and pay rolls in manufacturing industries normally
increase in August, reflecting seasonal activity in certain industries
and a recovery from July shut-downs. During the preceding 15-year
period, 1919-33, inclusive, for which data are available in the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, increases in employment from July to August
were shown in each year except 1930 and in pay rolls in each year
except 1930 and 1931.
The general indexes of factory employment and pay rolls for August
1934 are 79.5 and 62.1, respectively. A comparison of these indexes
with those of August 1933 shows gains over the year interval of 4.1
percent in employment and 9.3 percent in pay rolls.
The indexes of factory employment and pay rolls are computed
from reports supplied by representative establishments in 90 important
manufacturing industries of the country. In August, reports were
received from 25,298 establishments employing 3,762,201 wage earners,
whose weekly earnings during the pay period ending nearest August 15
totaled $71,053.170. More than 50 percent of the wage earners in all
manufacturing industries of the country are covered in these monthly
employment surveys.
Fifty-two of the ninety manufacturing industries surveyed reported
gains in employment and 51 reported increases in pay rolls.
Comparing the level of employment and pay rolls in the 90 separate
industries in August 1934 with August 1933, 52 industries showed in­
creased employment over the year interval and 60 showed increased
pay rolls.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1242

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Dividing the manufacturing industries into “ durable” and “ non­
durable” goods groups, the former group showed a decrease in em­
ployment from July to August of 1.9 percent and no change in pay
rolls. I he latter group showed gains of 3.7 percent in employment
and 5.3 percent in pay rolls. The “ durable” goods group is composed
of the following subgroups: Iron and steel, machinery, transportation
equipment, railroad repair shops, nonferrous metals, lumber and
allied products, and stone-clay-glass.
Per capita weekly earnings for all manufacturing industries com­
bined increased 1.7 percent from July to August and 5.1 percent from
August 1933 to August 1934. Gains from July to August were shown
in 48 of the 90 individual manufacturing industries surveyed and
ranged from less than one-tenth of 1 percent to 20.6 percent.
The per capita earnings shown in the following table must not be
confused with full-time weekly rates of wages. They are per capita
weekly earnings, computed by dividing the total amount of pay roll
for the week by the total number of employees (part-time as well as
full-time workers).
Man-hour data supplied by identical establishments in July and
August 1934 showed an increase over the month interval for all manu­
facturing industries combined of 1.8 percent in average hours worked
per week and a decrease in average hourly earnings of 0.2 percent.
Thirty-nine of the industries covered showed increases in average
hours worked and 49 reported increased hourly earnings. As all re­
porting establishments do not furnish man-hour information, the
Bureau’s figures on average hours worked per week and average hourly
earnings are necessarily computed from data furnished by a smaller
number of establishments than are covered in the monthly survey of
manufacturing industries. Average hours worked per week and aver­
age hourly earnings are presented for only those manufacturing in­
dustries for which available information covers at least 20 percent
of all the employees in the industry.
In table 1, which follows, are shown indexes of employment and pay
rolls in August 1934 for each of the 90 manufacturing industries sur­
veyed, for the 14 major groups and 2 subgroups into which these
industries are classified, and for manufacturing as a whole, together
with percentage changes from July 1934 and August 1933. Per capita
weekly earnings in August 1934, together with percentage changes
fiom the previous month and from August of the previous year for each
of the 90 manufacturing industries and for manufacturing as a whole,
are also presented in this table. Average hours worked per week in
August 1934 and average hourly earnings, together with percentage
of changes from July 1934 and August 1933, are likewise presented
for manufacturing as a whole and for each industry for which
man-hour data covering at least 20 percent of the total employees in
the industry were received.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

T able 1.—E M P L O Y M E N T , W E E K L Y PA Y R O LLS, P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K A N D AVER An p
H O U RLY E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S IN A U G U ST 1934 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H JU L Y 1934 A N D A U G U S T 1*933
91302—34-

E m ploym ent

In d u stry

Per capita weekly
earnings 1

P ay roll

Percentage
Percentage
Index
Index
A ugust change from— A ugust change from—
A ver­
1934
1934
age in
(3-year
(3 year
August
average Ju ly
average
1934
1923-25 1934 August 1923-25 Julv August
1933
1934
1933
= 100)
= 100)

Average hours worked
per week 1

Average hourly earn­
ings 1

Percentage
change from—

Percentage
change from—

Percentage
change from—

Ju ly
1934

July
1934

Ju ly
1934

A ugust
1933

A ver­
age in
A ugust
A ugust
1934
1933

A ver­
age in
A ugust
A ugust
1934
1933

See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

+ 1.1

+ 4.1

62.1

+ 2.8

+ 9.3

$18. 89

+ 1 .7

+ 5.1

2 33.9

+ 1 .8

-1 0 .1

2 55.7

- 0 .2

+15.7

68. e
69.7
77. 7
53.8

-2 .4
- 3 .8
-2 . 7
+ 3 .7

+ .3
-, 1
- 7 .7
+22.0

45.5
44.0
53.3
29.2

- 4 .4
-8 .1
- 3 .7
+6.5

- 9 .0
-1 7 .1
—_2
+25. 3

17. 23
17. 59
14. 70

- .4
-1 . 1
+ 2 .7

-1 6 .9
+8. 5
+ 3.1

27. 5
32.2
29.7

- 3 .6
+ .6
+ 2 .8

-3 1 .9
-7 .3
-1 4 .1

64. Ò
54. 6
49.6

+ .8
- 1 .3
«

+22.8
+15. 6
+18.9

77.7
51.9
51. 3
60. 5

+ 3 .0
+ .9
- .8
—5. 4

+13.3
+10.9
-1 8 .6
-1 2 . 2

53.0
34.7
37.9
34.0

-.8
+ 1.1
+ 8.7
- 6 .6

+13.2
+ 8.8
-1 4 .3
-1 3 .0

18. 56
19. 61
17. 73
16.81

- 3 .6
+. 3
+ 9 .6
- 1 .2

-. 1
- 1 .4
+ 5 .2
-.7

34.8
32.9
32.3
31.4

- 2 .8
- 1 .2
+ 8 .0
- 2 .5

- 9 .9
-1 4 .4
- 8 .5
-1 6 .7

53.3
59. 5
55.0
53.0

-, 4
+1. 5
+ 2 .0
+ .2

+11.0
+17.6
+16. 5
+18.2

48.6
87.7
59. 0
99.1

+ .5
+1. 3
+w
—. 5

-1 5 .9
+9.1
+19. 7
+10.4

30.3
57.7
41.8
93.6

- 2 .7
+2.1
+ 3.0
- 1 .0

-1 0 .1
+7. 2
+40.7
+15.8

20.18
17. 85
20.19
19. 54

-3 . 1
+. 9
+ 3 .0
- .5

+ 7 .0
-1 .2
+17.1
+ 4 .7

33.6
33.1
34.1
37.1

-4 .0
-.9
+ 3 .0
- 1 .3

-1 4 .4
-16. 6
- 3 .7
-1 2 .3

59. 3
54.1
59.6
51.8

-. 5
+. 6
+ .3
-.4

+15.8
+17.0
+15.1
+16.8

57.4
116. 3

- 3 .3
—5. 9

+ 4 .6
- 1 .3

49.0
90.1

+0)
-6 . 2

+17.5
-1 2 .9

19. 66
17.06

+ 3 .4
-.3

+12.7
-1 2 .0

36.0
31.3

+ 2 .9
- 1 .9

- 6 .2
-1 7 .8

54.5
54.1

+ .9
+ 1.9

+20.4
+21.1

78.6
66.8

(3>
- 3 .6

+21.9
+53.6

57.8
68.3

—. 5
- 2 .7

+32. 9
+84.6

19. 69

+ 1 .0

+19.7

35.4

+ 1 .1

+4. 2

56.7

+ .9

+19.4

105.7
65.3
/1. 8
69. 0
66.1
217.5
66. 5
80. 1

+ 1 .0
+ .3
+. 5
—. 7
- 4 .3
+ 6.1
-6 . 7
~\~2. ô

+22. 3
+18. 7
+65.1
+16.2
-j-50. 2
+37.1
-1 2 .4
+20.5

81.0
50.2
47.9
50.3
49.0
123.1
49.3
70.6

+35.5
+33.9
+99.6
+26.1
+60.1
+46.2
-2 0 .1
+44 4

25.91
21.16
23. 76
20. 16
21.99
18.04
19. 33
21.99

- 3 .7
+. 7
+ 4 .6
-.9
-.7
+ 1.4
-5 .9
+ (4)

+10.7
+12.7
+21.2
+ 9 .0
+ 6 .8
+ 6 .6
-9 .0
+20.1

38.3
33.6
37.4
34.2
35.4
33.4
32.6
38.6

- .8
(3)
+ 4 .2
-.9
- 1 .9
+ 4 .4
- 6 .1
-.3

-1 . 2
- 1 .0
+ 8 .2
+ 2 .5
+ .6
-6 .2
-1 5 . 6
+ 3.4

68. 4
62.0
63.6
59.2
61.8
53.9
61.9
56.9

- 3 .3
+ 1 .0
+. 5
(J)
+ .8
+ .4
+ 1 .8
+ .4

+12.1
+14.2
+11.3
+ 7 .9
+5. 6
+20.2
+ 10. 3
+ 15.7

- 2 .7
+ .9
+5.1
- 1 .6
- 4 .9
+ 7.6
-1 2 .2
+ 2.5

1243

I r o n a n d steel a n d th e ir p ro d u c ts , n o t in c lu d ­
in g m a c h in e r y ______________________________
B last furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills__
Bolts, n u ts, washers, and riv e ts ..____________
Cast-iron p ip e__________ ____ _______________
C utlery (not including silver and plated c u t­
lery) and edge tools......... ................. ..................
Forgings, iron and steel................ ............. ............
H ard w are.............. ....................................................
Plum bers’ supplies______________ _______” 1”
Steam and hot-w ater heating apparatus and
steam fittings__________ __________________
Stoves_________________________ ____________
Structural and ornam ental m etal w ork________
T in cans and other tin w a re .____ _____________
Tools (not including edge tools, m achine tools,
files, and saw s)..................... ..................................
W irew ork_____________ ____ ___________
M a c h in e ry , n o t in c lu d in g t r a n s p o r ta tio n
e q u i p m e n t __________________________________
A gricultural im plem ents______________ _____ _
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating
m achines________ ____ _____________ ______
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and su p p lies..
Engines, turbines, tractors, and w ater w heels...
F o u n d ry and machine-shop p roducts_________
M achine tools______________________________
R adios and phonographs. .......................................
Textile m achinery and p arts...............................
T ypew riters and p arts______________________I

79.5

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

t
Total m anufacturing___________________________ -

H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN A U G U ST 1934 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H JU L Y 1934 A N D A U G U ST 1933—C ontinued

Percentage
Index
August change from— Aver1934
age in
(3-year
average Ju ly August August
1934
1923-25 1934
1933
= 100)

Percentage
change from—

July
1934

August
1933

Average hours worked
per week 1

AverAugust
1934

Average hourly earn­
ings 1

Percentage
change from—

July
1934

Average in
A ugust
1934
August
1933

Percentage
change from —

July
1934

A ugust
1933

Cents
T ra n sp o rta tio n e q u ip m e n t ------------------------------

A ircraft....................... ....................- ................ ...........
A utom biles----------------- ------ -------------------------Cars, electric- and steam -railroad...........................
Locomotives.... .............. - -------------------------------Shipbuilding................................................................
R ailroad repair sh o p s—

.......... - ..................... ......

Electric railroad---------- ------ ------- -----------------Steam railroad___________________ ____ ______
N on ferrous m e ta ls a n d their p rod u cts 5-----------

A lum inum m anufactures s........................................
Brass, bronze, and copper products.......................
Clocks and watches, and time-recording devices.
Jew elry...............- --------- --------- ------ ---------------Lighting eq u ip m en t------- ---------------------------- Silverware and p lated w are......................................
Smelting and refining—copper, lead, and zinc—
Stam ped and enam eled w are-------------------------L u m b e r a n d allied p r o d u cts-----------------------------

F u rn itu re ------------ ---------- -------- -------------------Lum ber:
M illw ork_________ ______________ _______
Sawmills_______________________________
T urpentine and ro sin .---------- ------------- ----------S to n e, clay, a n d glass p rod u cts—

-------------------

Brick, tile, and terra co tta__________ _______
C em ent__________________ ____ - .................. .......
G la ss ............................................................................
M arble, granite, slate, and other products...........
P o ttery ----------- -------- --------- --------------------------


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

333.4
92.5
48.1
38.5
71.2
66] 0
'54.4
67.7
72.7
68.9
65.7
61.9
69.3
70.5
87.1
62.9

- 5 .1
+ 6 .4
-1 0 .5
- 6 . 0 +34.6
- 6 . 2 +63.6
+ 8 .3 +120.0
+ 2 .8 +23.8
+ 1.8
+ 2 .0
—, 4
-5 .8
+ 2.1
+ 6 .1
+ .3 -1 5 .7
- 4 .6
-3 .0
+ 1 .0 +23.5
+ 6 .3 +12.3
+ .4 +11.5
+13.1 +38.9
+ 2 .7 +27. 9
-3 .5
- 2 .5
- 2 .8
- 8 .4
+ 1.5

36.2
33.9
98.3

+ 1 .0

53.1

- 2.0

31.8
55.0
87.6
31.3
63.4

- 2 .1
+ .4

+ .4

- 5.8

-1 .6
-5 .7
-1 .0

- 9 .0
+• 9
+10.0
+ .6
-1 0 .7
+ 3 .6
+12.6
-1 7 .2
- 2 .6

69.9
301.8
76.5
47.0
17.7
56.4
48.5
58.5
47.9
53.2
40.8
51.2
54.3
49.7
48.2
48.3
42.8
70.8

+ 6.9 +40.6
+ 6 .9
- 7 .1
+ 8 .2 +37.3
+ 1 .6 +94.2
+ 7.8 +200.0
+ 1 .3 +41.0
+ 5.7
- 5 .1
+ 9 .6
-.5
- 5 .3
+ 5 .3
7 +10.1
-6 ! 8 -3 1 .1
- 3 .2
-5 .8
+ 7.9 +38.5
+ 9.8 +21.8
- 2 .0 +14.8
+10.9 +46.8
- 1 .0 +26.6
- 3 . 0 +13.6

33.5

+ 6 .0

+ 3.4

42.7

+ 8 .7

- 2 .7

23.1
22.1
51.3

- 0)

+ 5 .9
+ 2 .0

- 2.9

+10.0
+41.3

34.9

- 3.3

+ 2.9

16.8
35.4
68.2
20. 1
37.8

- 1 .4
- 9 .6
- 1 .8
- 6 .4
-1 .5

-3 .4
+10.6
+14.4
-1 6 .2
-1 1 .9

- 7 .8
-1 5 .6
+Ö. 1
+26.6
+ 2 .0

61.2
72.7
59.8
63.2
73.9

-0 .3
+• t
+ 2 .9
+ 1 .4
- .9

+ 7 .9
+19.0
+14.7
+7. b
+18.6

$26.39
23.06
20. 94
22. 52
23.16

+ 3 .8
+15. 1
+ 8 .4
-.4
-1 .5

+ 0 .2
+ 2 .2
+18.6
+34.0
+14.3

41.9
31.9
35.2
35.6
31.3

+ 3 .2
+14.3
+ 5.1
- 1 .9
- .9

26. 36
24.48

-.2
+ .5

+ 7.6
+ 3 .3

44.1
38.6

(3)
+ 1.0

-1 .2
+ .6

59.4
63.2

(3)
-. 2

+ 9.1
+ 3 .9

15.02
19.58
17.85
18. 78
18.17
19.14
20.14
16.99

- 7 .1
-2 .8
+ 6 .8
+ 3 .3
- 2 .4
- 1 .9
- 3 .6

26.7
34.4
36.4
34.9
35.3
33.6
36.9
33.8

- 6 .0
- 2 .3
+ 6.4
+ 4.8
- 3 .0
- 2 .0
- 4 .4

-1 8 .4
-7 .7
-9 .5
-8 .7
- 3 .0
- 4 .9
-1 3 .9
-2 .7

56.0
57.0
49.1
53. 6
52.5
56.7
54.2
50.6

- 1 .1
-.7
+ .4
-1 . 1
+• 2

+ .5

-1 7 .9
+ 1 .6
+11.8
+ 8 .6
+ 3.1
+ 5.8
-.9
+16.4

+ 1 .0

+27.1
+11.9
—
j—
21.1
+23.7
“[-6.3
+12. 6
+13. b
+23.2

15. 79

+ 7.1

+ 5 .8

34.8

+ 6.4

-1 1 .7

44.9

(3)

+17.9

15. 52
14. 58
12.53

+ 2.1
+ 5 .6
+ 1 .0

+ 6 .3
+ 8 .2
+28.3

34.3
33.3

+ 2 .4
+ 2.8

-1 3 .9
-2 2 .9

45.3
44.1

+. 4

+ 1 .6

+21.4
+36.3

13.91
19.14
18.16
20. 60
15. 29

- 1 .8
- 4 .0
-.2
-.7
-.5

+ 7 .3
+ 6 .6
+ 1 .5
+ 1 .0
-9 .8

31.5
33.0
32.3
31.1
30.3

-2 .2
- 5 .2
- .3
+ .3
- 1 .3

-1 1 .6
- 5 .9
-1 0 .6
+ 4 .7
-2 4 .6

43.6
57.8
56.4
65.8
49.7

-.9
+ 1 .4
(3)
-2 .4
+ .4

+20.3
+15.7
+14. 2
+ 7 .9
+18.3

+ .6

(s)
+• 4

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Percentage
Index
A ugust change from—
1934
(3-year
average Ju ly August
1923-25 1934
1933
= 100)

In d u stry

Per capita weekly
earnings 1

P a y roll

E m ploym ent

1244

T a ble 1 .— E M P L O Y M E N T , W E E K L Y PA Y R O L L S , P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K , A N D A V E R A G E

+ 2 .7
- 1 .6
-2 .8
-3 .8
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .2
+ 7 .7
+ .7
+ .7
- 2 .5
+12.9
+ 8 .6
+22.8
+ 1 .2
+ 5 .3
+30.7
+ 3 .8
+ 1 .9
+ 3.3
- 3 .4
+10.9
- .4
- 1 .6
- 1 .6
+61.1
+ 7 .7
+ .9
- 2 .3
+ 8 .6
+34.6
+ 6 .3
+ 6 .5
+ .9
+ 7 .4
+• 4
+ 1 .2
~ ( 4)

- 9 .8
-1 3 .8
- 8 .1
-1 2 .7
-1 6 .2
- 6 .6
- 8 .1
- 2 .5
-1 7 .7
-3 0 .8
-.2
-.2
+11.3
- 2 .3
-1 5 .0
-1 9 .0
- 9 .2
- 1 .9
- 1 .4
- 4 .1
+15.8
+12.8
+14.2
+ 4.4
+37.2
-14. 1
+ 18.1
+21.5
+ 19.3
-.7
+ 6.8
+ 4.7
- 2 .9
+ 6 .0
+ 5.7
- 1 .3
+ 7.4

68.1
64.7
47.9
63.3
60.8
76.9
90.8
89.4
59.7
48.0
70.6
65.6
85.2
75.6
62.9
59.4
90.7
78.7
79.1
76.1
105. 1
97.8
185.0
62.7
195.4
60.8
64.8
68.8
99.0
56.7
74.0
49.3
66.6
47.1
78.4
74.5
78.8

+ 9.0
+ .5
- 1 .0
- 4 .2
+ 2 .6
+ 8 .8
+ 9.1
+ 4 .0
+ 6 .8
- 4 .3
+27.7
+20.5
+39.9
+ 8 .9
+10.9
+57.6
+10.3
+ 1 .9
+ 3 .8
- 3 .9
+ 9.9
- .4
-4 .4
- 5 .8
+88.6
+ 9 .8
- .3
- 5 .1
+ 8.3
+39.2
+12.4
+ 4.2
- .6
+ 5 .2
+ 1 .4
+ 4.0
+ 2 .2

85.0
96.6

+ 1 .6
- .2

+ 7.5
+ 6.4

71.6
84.9

+ 1.8
+ .2

106.9
105.3
110.9
72.4
98.6
90.5
72.5
99.1

+ 1 .5
+ 1 .4
- 1 .3
+32.0
+ 5 .1
- 1 .6
+ 2 .0
- 2 .1

+ 7 .9
+ 6 .3
+14.6
- 9 .7
+11.2
+ 13.3
+12.9
+ 6 .0

90.0
87.8
96.5
68.4
89.9
72.9
57.5
77.9

8.1

-

-1 8 .3
-1 5 .5
-2 3 .0
-1 8 .7
-7 .3
+ 8 .7
-2 .5
-1 5 .6
-3 5 .0
+18.7

+ 11.8

+49.7
- 3 .6
-2 0 .5
-1 0 .7
+ 3 .0

+. 6

+

1.8

- 3 .2
+28.0
+17.7
+20.3
+ 2 .3
+87.9
- 4 .1
+31.4
+22.4
+37.3

17.11
11.46
15.31
17.41
24.20
14.61
15. 13
15.93

+ 1 .8
- .4
+ 1 .0
+ 7 .5
+ 1 .2
+ 3 .3
+ 6.1
- 1 .8

-8 .2
-1 1 .9
-3 .0
- 1 .0
+17.9
-.1
+ 2 .2
-5 .9

29.7
29.7
32.9
32.5
33.3
32.2
33.9
31.9

+ 1 .7
- 1 .7
- 1 .5
+ 5 .9
-1 .5
+ 4.9
+ 6 .3
- 1 .8

-1 7 .3
-1 8 .1
-9 .3
-1 2 .0
+11.2
- 9 .1
-7 . 1
-2 1 .9

17.51
19.46
14. 79
13. 38
20. 94
12.83

+11.0
+13.9
+ 7 .6
4*5. 3
+20.6
+ 6.3

+12.3
+34.9
- .8
- 6 .3
+10.5
+13.3

25.9

+ 8 .4

30.9
30.7

+ 4 .7
+ 1 .7

32.8

18.14
19. 84

+ .6
-.5

+ 2 .7
+ 1 .2

35.5
35.9

55.9
37.8
46.1
53.2
72.2
45.9
44.5
49.9

+ .2
+ .3
+ 1.1
+ .4
- .3
(3)
+ .2
+ .2

-1 4 .0

68.6

+ 1.9

+37.5

-1 5 .7
-7 .5

46.1
41.3

+ .2
-.5

+10.4
+15.1

+ 6 .8

+ 3 .2

39.1

+ .5

+14.1

- 1 .9
-.6

-2 9 .4
-1 1 .8

50. 1
54.0

+ 1 .2
+ .6

+28.6
+17.6

+14.7
+ 6 .0
+ 9 .4
+ 9 .9
+19.5
+12.2
+ 9 .7
-5 .8

21.88
30.05
20. 47
13.52
15.10
21.05
24.17
22.34
20.61
22.25

-(* )
- 2 .8
- 4 .2
+17. 1
+ 2.0
- 1 .1
- 2 .9
-.3
+ 3 .4
+ 5 .8

+ 4 .5
+ 5.3
- 1 .8
+58.6
+11.4
+11.1
+1. 4
+15.0
+ 2.8
-.6

40. Ò
39.9

- 2 .7
-.2

- 7 .1
-1 4 .1

54.3
75.5

+ 2 .5
- 2 .5

+14.4
+24.1

37.0
34.3
37.9
45.4
42.0
44.0
39.7

+31.7
+ 1 .2
-1 .6
- 1 .9
-.5
+27.2
+10.0

+12.2
- 1 .3
- 4 .6
- 5 .8
+ 4 .8
-1 0 .4
-1 4 .4

37.0
43.1
54.6
52.9
53.0
47.6
55.2

- 6 .6
+ .2
-.5
- 1 .7
-.2
-1 8 .4
-2 .0

+21.6
+17.5
+15.3
+ .8
+11.0
+13.7
+18.5

14.10
13.22

- 1 .4
- 2 .1

+ 1 .0
+ 6 .8

34.3
35.5

-.6
- 1 .9

-1 0 .1
-4 .0

38.8
36.9

0>)
-1 .6

+13.1
+ 5 .8

18.23
18. 76

+ 2 .7
+ 2 .2

+ 6 .6
-3 .4

35.8
36.1

+ .8
+ 1 .4

-1 1 .7
-1 8 .9

50.5
51.9

(3)
+ .6

+19.2
+20.0

+ 11.1

26.29
31.92

+ .2
+ .4

+ 9 .9
+ 4 .5

35.8
36.8

+ .6
+ .3

-5 .0

72.8
84.5

-.4
+ 1 .0

+ 7 .3
+12.0

+ 1 .5 +15.5
+ 1 .4 | + 14.6
- . 1 + 19.1
+27.3
- 4 .3
+ 4 .4 + 1 1 .0
+ 2 .7 +20.9
+ 1.1 +23.9
- 1 .2 + 11.6

24.02
10. 51
19. 65
23.50
13.03
21.18

+ 1 .2
- 3 .6
-.6
+ 4 .4
- .8
+ 1 .0

+ 4 .6
+ 6 .3
- .2
+ 6 .9
+ 10.0
+ 5 .3

38.8
38.5
38.0
35.7
32.6
37.7

-.5
- 8 .1
+ 2 .2
+ 1.4
+ .6
+ .3

- 5 .5
-4 .0
+ 3 .8
-1 1 .6
-2 6 .1
- 6 .1

61.8
27.6
49.4
63.6
39.9
56.2

+ 1.0
+ 2 .6
+ .4
-2 .0
-.7
+ .5

+12.2
+10.5
+ .8
+ 9 .7
+47.8
+11.5

+ 2 .0
+ 6.2
+ 10.8
-

2.1

+13.2
+10.4
+ 4 .8
+ 3 .4
+18.2

1245


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

88.2
85.6
65.5
88.7
77.4
100.6
82.8
102.6
73. 9
68.4
90.1
88.4
110.0
87.8
94.3
65.4
97.3
91.1
91.9
88.4
122.1
115.8
185.8
85.5
194.3
71.5
78.2
88.7
112.4
73.4
87.5
65.1
73.6
64.0
93.8
84.1
104.8

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

Textiles and their products.
Fabrics............... ....... ....................
Carpets and rugs................................
Cotton goods_________ _________ _
Cotton small wares........ ......................
Dyeing and finishing textiles...... ...........
Hats, fur-felt.......... ..............................
Knit goods________________ ___
Silk and rayon goods______________
Woolen and worsted goods_____ ___ __
Wearing apparel__ ___ ______________
Clothing, men’s______ _____ ____
Clothing, women’s______ ____ ____
Corsets and allied garments....................
Men’s furnishings....... .........................
Millinery__________ ___________
Shirts and collars_________ ____ ___
Leather and its manufactures___________
Boots and shoes____________________
Leather__________________________
Food and kindred products____ _________
Baking_________ ________________
Beverages.................... ....... .......... ..........
Butter_______ _______ ____________
Canning and preserving_______________
Confectionery......................
Flour_____ ________ _________ ___
Ice cream______ ____ ______________
Slaughtering and meat packing.—............
Sugar, beet___ ______ _____________
Sugar refining, cane__ _______________
Tobacco manufactures_______
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff.____
Cigars and cigarettes______ ___ _______
Paper and printing___________________
Boxes, paper..............................
Paper and pulp_________ ___ ____ ___
Printing and publishing:
Book and job................... ...................
Newspapers and periodicals....................
Chemicals and allied products, and petroleum
refining__________________________
Other than petroleumrefining___________
Chemicals........ ........ .........................
Cottonseed—oil, cake, and meal........... .
Druggists’ preparations..........................
Explosives—........................................
Fertilizers............................ ...........
Paints and varnishes...................... .
See footnotes at end of table.

H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN A U G U ST 1934 A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H JU L Y 1934 A N D A U G U S T 1933—C ontinued

E m ploym ent

In d u stry

Per capita weekly
earnings 1

P ay roll

Percentage
Index
August change from—
1934
(3-year
average Ju ly August
1923-25 1934
1933
= 100)

Percentage
Index
A ugust change from— Aver1934
age in
(3-year
average Ju ly August August
1934
1923-25 1934
1933
= 100)

Percentage
change from—

A ugust
1933

- 0 .3
+ 1 .2
0

+ 11.8
+12.0
+ 2 .9

Aver-

Percentage
change from—

August
1934

July
1934

A ver­
age in
A ugust
1934
A ugust
1933

C h e m ica ls a n d allied prod u cts, a n d pe tro le u m
refin in g— Continued.

O ther th an petroleum refining—C ontinued.
R ayon and allied products_________ ____
Soap__ ___________ . _________________
Petroleum refining____________ _________ - _
R u b b er prod u cts

R ubber boots and shoes___ __________________
R ubber goods, other th an boots, shoes, tires,
and inner tu b es__________________ _______
R ubber tires and inner tu b es_________________

304. 2
98.6
113. 4
80. 7
55. 2

+ 2 .5
+ .9
+ 1 .5
-3 8
+ 3 .4

-3 .8
+ 2.1
+14.7
- 6 .8
+ 4 .0

213.2
86.1
97.2
58.8
50.5

+ 2 .2
+ 2.1
+ 1 .5
- 5 .0
+ 2 .2

+ 7 .8
+14.3
+18.2
- 5 .0
+ .4

$18. 32
21. 34
27.14
18. 29

- 1 .1

-.3

115.9
73.9

- 5 .1
- 4 .6

-1 1 .9
- 5 .3

89.4
49.9

+ 2 .2
-1 0 .7

- 5 .0
- 6 .4

17.86
21. 66

+ 7 .8
- 6 .4

+ 8 .2
- 1 .1

Average hourly earn­
ings 1
Percentage
change from—

Ju ly
1934

A ugust
1933

+ 1 .0
+ .7
+ .9

+ 18.2
+ 16.8
+23.9

- 1 .4
+ 1.1
-.9

-7 .4
-5 .4
-1 2 .9

Cents
51.3
55.6
76.3

34.9

- 3 .6

-1 1 .3

48.4

-.6

+ 18.4

34.6
27.4

+ 8.8
- 7 .4

- 2 .8
-1 7 .5

50.4
80.0

+. 4
+ 1 .3

+ 9 .4
+22.9

35.7
37.9
34.7

1 Per capita weekly earnings are com puted from figures furnished by all reporting establishm ents. Average hours and average hourly earnings are com puted from d ata furnished
by a smaller num ber of establishm ents as some firms do not report m an-hour inform ation. Figures for groups not com puted. Percentages of change over year on per capita weekly
earnings, average hours worked per week, and average hourly earnings com puted from indexes. Percentage change over m onth on per capita w eekly earnings in “ All in d u stries”
also com puted from indexes.
2 W eighted.
3 No change.
4 Less th a n Ho of 1 percent.
3 M ore complete d ata have m ade necessary a revision of the Ju ly indexes, averages, and percentage changes for nonferrous m etals and their products and alum inum m anufactures.
The revised figures follow:

In d u stry


N'nnfarrnns mpt^ds and t.hp.ir products
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
A lum inum m anufactures........ .................. ................... ......................... .
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Index July
1934
73.1
67.5

P er capita weekly earnings

P a y roll

E m ploym ent
Percentage change
from—
June 1934

Ju ly 1933

- 3 .7
-1 1 .2

+ 18.5
- 6 .6

Index Ju ly
1934

53.6
43.8

Percentage change
from—
June 1934

Ju ly 1933

-7 .4
-2 5 .8

+24.4
-1 7 .5

Average in
July 1934

$15. 57

Percentage change
from—
June 1934

-1 6 .4

Ju ly 1933

-1 1 .4

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

July
1934

Average hours worked
per week 4

1246

T able 1 .— E M P L O Y M E N T , W E E K L Y PA Y R O L L S , P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K , A N D A V E R A G E

TUEND OF EMPLOYMENT

1247

Estimated Total Number of Wage Earners and Weekly Pay Rolls in
Manufacturing Industries
I n the following table are presented the estimated number of wage
earners and weekly pay rolls in all manufacturing industries combined
and in the 14 groups into which these manufacturing industries have
been classified, for the years from 1919 to 1933, inclusive, and for the
first 8 months of 1934. These estimates have been computed by
multiplying the weighting factors of the several groups of industries
(number employed or weekly pay roll in the index base period 1923-25)
by the Bureau’s index numbers of employment or pay rolls (which
have been adjusted to conform with census trends over the period
(1919-31) and dividing by 100. Data are not available for all groups
over the entire period shown. The totals for all manufacturing
industries combined, however, have been adjusted to include all
groups. The estimated total employment and weekly pay rolls for
all manufacturing industries combined do not include the manufactured-gas industry (which is included in the Bureau’s electric light
and power and manufactured-gas industry) or the motion-picture
industry.
a .—E S T IM A T E D N U M B E R OP W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S IN
IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D A N D IN IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S—
Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S 1919 TO 1933, A N D M O N T H S , JA N U A R Y TO A U G U ST 1934

table

Year and m onth

Total m an u ­
facturing

Iron and
steel and
their
products

M achinery,
not includ­ T ranspor­
ing tran s­
tation
portation equipm ent
equipm ent

Railroad
repair
shops

Nonferrous
metals and
their prod­
ucts

E m p lo y m e n t
1919 average-..
.
1920____________
1921____________
1922____________
1923______________
1924,_ __________
1925______ __ _
_
1926_____________
1927______________ 1928____________
1929_________________
1930________________
1931_________ _ __
1932___________________
1933_________________
1934: J a n u a ry .,.
F e b ru a ry ..- ___
M arch___
___ . . .
A pril_____ ___
M a y __________ ____
J u n e ............
........
J u l y .. . --------------------A ugust______________

8,983,900
9,065,600
6,899, 700
7,592, 700
8,724,900
8, 083, 700
8,328, 200
8,484,400
8,288,400
8,285,800
8, 785,600
7,668,400
6,484,300
5,374,200
- 5, 778,400
6,146, 000
6, 514, 200
6, 770,100
6,897,800
6,904,300
6, 791,700
6, 585, 200
6, 666, 200

858,600
926,300
572,400
722, 500
892,400
833, 700
851,200
880,200
834,900
829,800
881,000
766, 200
598,400
458,100
503,400
545, 500
572,200
601,400
623, 700
646,000
656,400
603,900
589, 300

1 Com parable d ata not available.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1,026,800
1,131,700
680, 700
717,400
928,600
835,400
870, 500
946, 700
897,800
922, 500
1, 105, 700
918,700
687,000
494, 600
517,100
614, 700
640,100
674,400
705,100
713,900
709,500
690,200
690, 200

C1)
(0
(0
0)
606,200
524,500
559,600
558.600
495,100
541,900
583,200
. 451,800
373,800
315, 700
305, 600
401, 200
477,300
526,300
558,400
560,100
535,900
494,800
469,400
2 Revised.

(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
523, 700
464,900
458,100
460, 700
428,900
404,000
398,200
353,800
309,000
257,400
250,600
254, 500
257,400
267,600
278, 700
287.300
288, 300
281,100
266,100

(i)
(!)
0)
(i)
(i)
(i)
(i)
(!)
(1)
(1)
(«)
(1)
209,000
164, 200
175, 200
190, 200
200, 40C
212,200
217,300
219,900
214, 500
2 206, 600
207,400

1248

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a ble 2 . —E S T IM A T E D

N U M B E R O F W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S IN
A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D A N D IN IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S—
Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S 1919 TO 1933, A N D M O N T H S , JA N U A R Y TO A U G U ST 1934—C ontinued

T otal m anu­
facturing
Y ear and m onth

Iron and
steel and
their
products

M achinery,
not includ­ Transpor­
tation
ing tran s­
portation equipm ent
equipm ent

Railroad
repair
shops

Nonferrous
metals and
their prod­
ucts

W eekly p a y rolls
0)
1919 average_______________ $198,145,000 $23,937,000 $24,534,000
0)
0)
1 9 2 0 ____: _______________ _ 238,300,000 30, 531,000 31,982,000
0)
155,008, 000 14,049,000 16, 450,000
1921 _____________________
(')
0)
165, 406,000 17,400,000 16, 982, 000
1922 _____________________
0)
(0
1923........... ............ .................... 210,065, 000 25,442, 000 24, 618, 000 $18,532, 000 $14,856,000
1924______________________ 195,376,000 23,834, 000 22, 531,000 15, 636,000 12,972,000
204, 665,000 24,680, 000 23,843, 000 17,478, 000 12, 847, 000
1925 _____________________
211,061,000 25,875,000 26, 310. 000 17,126, 000 13,025,000
1926 _______ ______________
1927................... .......................... 206,980, 000 24, 289,000 25, 095,000 15,450,000 12,475, 000
1928............................... ............. 208, 334,000 24,740,000 26, 334,000 17, 494,000 11,817,000
1929......................................... . 221.937.000 26,568,000 31,761,000 18,136,000 12, 255,000
180, 507,000 21,126, 000 24,197,000 12,076,000 10.316, 000
1930._____________________
8, 366,000
9,008,000
137, 256,000 13, 562,000 15,135,000
1931_________ ____________
5, 793,000
7,012,000
7.164.000
8, 546,000
93. 757,000
1932................... .........................
5,652,000
6,799,000
8.925.000
8,975,000
98, 623,000
1933 ........ .............................. .
5, 710,000
9,072,000
1934: J a n u a ry ______________ 109.806.000 10,134,000 11, 260,000
6,185,000
123.395.000 11,269, 000 12, 253,000 12,394.000
F e b ru a ry ____________
6,577,000
M arch _______________ 131.852.000 12,650, 000 13,199, 000 14, 546,000
7,188,000
136,962, 000 14.006.000 14,311,000 15.871.000
A p ril__ _____________
7, 297,000
M a y _________________ 136.575.000 15.115.000 14, 713,000 15.148.000
7, 297,000
131,839, 000 15.436.000 14,571,000 13,444,000
J u n e ______________
6,931,000
J u ly . _______________ 122.809.000 11,737,000 13, 744, 000 11,258,000
6,578,000
126.401.000 11,219,000 13, 673,000 12,033,000
A ugust______________

Y ear and m onth

L um ber
and allied
products

Stone,
clay, and
glass
products

Textiles and their products

Fabrics

W earing
apparel

T otal

(0
(>)
(>)
(')
(>)
(')
(>)
0)
0)
(>)
(■)
(>)
$4, 622, 000
2,865,000
3,039,000
3,452,000
3,826,000
4,163,000
4,317, 000
4,441,000
4, 243,000
23,928,000
3,899,000

Leather
and its
m anu­
factures

E m p lo y m e n t
1, 609, 400
1,612,400
1, 509, 400
1, 585, 500
1, 714, 300
1, 545, 500
1,627, 400
1,628,000
1, 694,400
1, 651,300
1, 706,900
1, 513,000
1,421, 000
1,250,300
1,432, 700
1,437,100
1, 577, 300
1,629,400
1,614, 700
1,565,900
1,481,100
1, 399,700
1,437,100

349, 600
318, 600
280,100
314,600
344,800
311,700
314, 200
312,700
316.000
309,400
318, 600
295,100
272,800
255, 500
269, 400
268,200
292,100
299,900
298,600
295,700
283, 700
289,200
294,700

$16, 549,000 $6,397,000 $17,494,000 $10,121,000 $28,440,000
20.358.000
8, 239,000 21.005.000 12,124,000 34,115,000
1920
. “................................
5,907, 000 17.235.000 10,266,000 28, 284,000
13.161.000
1921........ ............ .................. .
6,442, 000 17, 747,000 10,438, 000 28,962, 000
15, 234,000
1922 ________ ___________
18,526, 000
8,726, 000 21,590,000 10,919,000 33,511,000
1923 _________ ______ _____
9,804,000 29.712.000
8,926, 000 19,014,000
18,228,000
1924 _______ ________ _____
8,985,000 20,497,000 10, 284,000 31.795.000
18,824, 000
1925 ........................... ..............
9, 257, 000 20, 241,000 10, 297,000 31,731,000
18,997,000
1926______________________
i Com parable d ata no t available.
1 Revised.

$6,978,000
7,437,000
6,040, 000
6,711,000
7,472, 000
6,654,000
6,831,000
6,909,000

1919 average_______________
1 9 2 0 _____: ________________
1921.............................................
1922 ...........................................
1923 ...........................................
1924___________ _____ _____
1925............................................
1926 _____________________
1927.......................... .................
1928...................... ......................
1929 ______ ______________
1930...........................................
1931...... .......................... ...........
1932....................... ......................
1933............................................
1934: Jan u ary ______________
F eb ru ary ____________
M arch _______________
April . . ____________
M a y _________________
J u n e .. ______________
J u ly _________________
A ugust______________

863,800
821, 200
703,000
894.300
932.100
901.300
921,600
922.300
864.100
848.100
876,500
699,400
516,900
377.800
406,100
418.800
432, 600
445.400
453,700
468.400
459,200
448, 200
450,000

302,700
314, 500
253, 000
299,600
351,400
346, 400
352,700
363, 500
349,800
334,900
328,500
280, 800
222,800
156,000
157, 500
165, 700
174, 400
182,500
193,700
202,100
200,000
189,900
186,000

1,052,600
1,045, 300
994,300
1,054,900
1,164, 400
1, 041,900
1,109,500
1,095,700
1,119, 200
1,062,400
1,095,900
950, 400
886,700
794,100
952, 600
988, 400
1,065,800
1,087,900
1,070, 200
1,049, 200
993,900
961,900
946,400

507, 800
519,400
473, 900
487,800
499,300
455,800
466, 500
472,800
501,400
513,100
536,700
497,700
472,000
401,800
418,100
385,900
442,800
471,300
474,100
449,000
423, 400
378, 300
427, 200

W eekly p a y rolls


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1249

T able 2 .—E S T IM A T E D N U M B E R OF W A G E E A R N E R S A N D W E E K L Y W A G E S IN
A L L M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S C O M B IN E D A N D IN IN D U S T R Y G R O U P S—
Y E A R L Y A V E R A G E S 1919 TO 1933, A N D M O N T H S, JA N U A R Y TO A U G U ST 1934—Continued

Y ear and m onth

Lum ber
and allied
products

Stone,
clay, and
glass
products

Textiles and their products

Fabrics

W earing
apparel

T otal

Leather
and its
m anu­
factures

W eekly p a y rolls
1927
_______________
_________ _____
1928
1929
_______________
1930
_______________
1931
_______________
1932
_______________
1933
_______________
1934: Jan u a ry ______________
F ebruary ___________
M arch _______________
A pril________________
M ay _________________
Ju n e _________________
J u ly _________________
A u g u st..
_________

$17,916,000
17.454.000
18.062.000
13,464,000
8,641, 000
4,656, 000
4,900, 000
5, 075, 000
5.650.000
5.909.000
6.168.000
6.409.000
6, 279,000
5.853.000
6.205.000

Year and m onth

$8,929,000 $21,135,000 $11,123,000 $33,817,000
8, 541,000 19, 510,000 11.114.000 32.199.000
8.323.000 20, 251,000 11.476.000 33.321.000
6,828, 000 16.167.000
9.680.000 27.115.000
4.786.000 14, 308,000
8.338.000 23, 799,000
2.588.000 10.367.000
5.733.000 16.947.000
2.455.000 12, 664,000
5, 757,000 19.394.000
2, 655,000 13.647.000
5,850, 000 20, 526,000
2.956.000 15.948.000
7.473.000 24.676.000
3,081, 000 16.457.000
8.414.000 26.164.000
3.445.000 16.152.000
7.866.000 25, 277,000
3.507.000 15.256.000
7.039.000 23.472.000
3.445.000 13.626.000
6.377.000 21.033.000
3.205.000 13.117.000
5.716.000 19,798, 000
3.098.000 13.178.000
7.297.000 21.571.000

Foods and
kindred
products

Tobacco
manufac­
tures

Paper and
printing

Chemicals
and allied
products

$7,009,000
6.696.000
6.915.000
5.748.000
5.035.000
4,060, 000
4, 394,000
4, 716,000
5.708.000
5,896, 000
5, 736,000
5.512.000
5.093.000
5.393.000
5,498, 000
R ubber
products

E m p lo y m e n t
1919 average_____________ _•____
1920 ___________________
1921. _________ ____
1922. ________________
1923_____________________
1924____________________
1925________________________
1926___________________
1927_____ ___________
1928____________________
1929___________________
1930______________________
1931 ___________ ■_________
1932_________________
1933----------------- -------------1934: Jan u ary __________________
F e b ru a ry .. _____ ______
M arch _____________ ____
A pril____________ .
M ay ___________ ______
J u n e _______ _______
J u ly -------------------------------A ugust ________ ______

733,600
713,000
626, 400
651,400
681,900
657,800
664,400
664,400
679,400
707,100
753,500
731,100
650,500
577,100
631,000
628, 700
627,800
643,100
649,500
665, 400
702, 600
735,800
816,100

157,000
154,000
149, 900
146, 400
146, 300
136, 700
132,100
125. 700
129, 300
125,600
116,100
108, 300
99,700
88,600
82, 700
75,400
85,900
89,100
89, 500
84,800
86,400
84,600
90,100

$14,879,000
16, 698,000
14,333,000
14,142,000
15, 296,000
15,155,000
15,268,000
15. 503,000
15,838, 000
16, 388,000
17,344,000
16, 593,000
14,173,000
11,308,000
11,604,000
12, 301,000
12,352,000
12,522,000
12,663,000
13, 296,000
14,008,000
14, 571,000
16,022,000

$2, 386,000
2,772, 000
2, 325,000
2,206,000
2, 317,000
2, 213,000
2,147, 000
2,049,000
2,025,000
1,916,000
1,819,000
1, 617,000
1,336, 000
1,052, 000
944,000
886,000
1,012,000
1,019,000
1, 028,000
1, 030, 000
1,057,000
1,052,000
1,097,000

510,100
549,100
467,100
489,400
527, 400
529,200
537,100
553, 600
553,500
558, 300
591, 500
574,100
511,800
451, 700
458, 400
490, 700
494, 500
497, 600
505,100
509,300
503,000
496, 000
498,200

0)
(0
(0
«
342, 700
322,200
334,200
355,100
346,700
342, 500
384,800
364, 700
316,800
279, 700
315,400
359, 200
368,300
375, 600
377,400
353,500
348,100
350,800
356,000

(0
0)
0)
«
137,800
123,200
141,800
141, 200
142,000
149, 200
149,100
115,500
99,200
87,800
99,300
110,100
113, 600
117,000
120,900
119,700
115,000
112,700
108,400

(0
(0
(>)
(0
$8,499,000
8,013,000
8,444,000
9, 055, 000
8,978, 000
8,997,000
10, 068,000
9,334,000
7, 643,000
5,861,000
6,179,000
7,035,000
7, 257,000
7,417,000
7, 683, 000
7,352,000
7,333,000
7, 381,000
7,487,000

0)
0)
(’)
0)
$3. 500,000
3, 223,000
3, 676, 000
3, 707,000
3,810, 000
4,069,000
3, 986, 000
2, 934,000
2,165,000
1, 555,000
1,740,000
2,036,000
2, 261,000
2,445,000
2, 546,000
2,438, 000
2,306,000
2,147,000
2,039,000

W eekly p a y rolls
1919 average__________________
1920___________________________
1921___________
1922__________________________
1923___________________________
1924___________________________
1925___________________________
1926___________________________
1927___________________________
1928___________________________
1929___________________________
1930___________________________
1931___________________________
1932___________________________
1933___________________________
1934: J a n u a ry ..________________
F e b ru a ry .. ______________
M arch___________________
A pril.........................................
M ay ........................ ............... .
Ju n e _____________________
J u ly _____________________
A ugust. _________ _ _ _
1 Com parable d ata not available.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

$10,873,000
14, 729,000
12, 259,000
12, 762,000
14,304,000
14, 797,000
15,506,000
16,478,000
16, 501,000
16,691,000
17, 771,000
17, 036, 000
14,461,000
11,126, 000
10, 299, 000
11,045,000
11,297,000
11,550.000
11,847,000
11,981,000
11,728, 000
11,491,000
11, 654, 000

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1250

Index Numbers of Employment and Pay-Roll Totals in Manufacturing
Industries
G eneral index numbers of factory employment and pay rolls by
months, from January 1919 to August 1934, inclusive, together with
average indexes for each of the years from 1919 to 1933, inclusive, and
for the 8-montli period, January to August 1934, inclusive, based on
the 3-year average, 1923-25, as 100, are shown in the following table.
A chart of these indexes also follows.
T able 3 .—G E N E R A L IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y -R O L L T O T A L S IN M A N U ­
F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S B Y M O N T H S —JA N U A R Y 1919 TO A U G U ST 1934
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
E m p lo y m e n t
M onth

J a n u a ry ..
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch
A pril...............
M a y ___ ___
June _ ____
J u ly -----------August..— . .
September
October ___
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber___

1919

1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934

105.3
102.0
102.4
102.5
103.1
104.3
106.9
109.7
111.7
111. 3
112.6
114.4

114.9
113.7
116.0
114.5
112.0
111.1
108.5
108.8
107.5
103.7
97.4
89.7

81.0
82.6
83.2
82.1
81.9
81.0
79.8
81.2
83.4
84.1
84.2
83.3

82.5
84.6
85.9
85.8
87.9
89.8
88.2
91.4
94.5
97.0
99.0
100.5

100.7 100.2 96.3
102.5 101.5 98. 1
104.6 101.7 98.8
105.0 99.9 98.7
105.3 96.8 98.1
106.0 93.8 98.0
104.9 91.0 97.8
105. 2 92. 1 99.5
105.7 94.4 101.5
104.5 95.3 102.2
103.2 94.8 101.8
101.4 96.1 101.5

100.5 98.2 95.0 100.8
101.5 99.7 96.5 102.9
102. 1 100.2 97.6 104.1
101.4 99.6 97.1 105.3
100.4 99.1 97.0 105.3
100.3 99.1 97.8 105.6
99.4 98.1 97.7 106.1
107.9
101.4 99.3
.
103.4 100.5 102. 2 109.0
103.1 99.6 102. 6 107.7
101.4 97.4 101.7 103.6
100.0 96.1 101.2 99.8
1 0 0

1

97.3
97.4
96.9
96.3
94.8
92.9
89.5
88.8
89.6
87.7
84.6
82.3

79.6
80.3
80.7
80.7
80. 1
78.4
77.0
77.1
77.4
74.4
71.8
71.0

68.7
69.5
68.4
66.1
63.4
61. 2
58.9
60.1
63.3
64. 4
63. 4
62. 1

60.2 73.3
61. 1 77.7
58.8 80.8
59.9 82.3
62.6 82.4
66.9 81.0
71.5 78.6
76.4 79.5
80.0
79.6
76. 2
74.4 —

A v e ra g e .. . 107.2 108.2 82.3 90.6 104.1 96.5 99.4 101.2 98.9 98.9 104.8 91.5 77.4 64.1 69.0 >79.5
P a y rolls
Jan u a ry ____
F e b ru a ry ___
M arch
A pril____ ..
M ay . . . .
Ju n e
___
J u ly -----------A ugust_____
Septem ber. __
O ctober.
N ovem ber__
D ecem ber—
A v e ra g e ...

95.3
89.6
90.0
89.2
90.0
92.0
94.8
99.9
104.7
102.2
106. 7
114.0

117.2
115.5
123.7
120.9
122.4
124.2
119.3
121.6
119.8
115.8
107.0
98.0

82.8
81.3
81.7
79.0
77.3
75.4
71.7
73.9
73.4
72.6
71.7
73.3

69.6
72.4
74.9
73.8
77.2
80.5
78.5
83.0
87.0
89.5
93.4
95.7

94.6 98.8
97.9 104.1
102.5 104.1
103.8 101.8
107.3 97.5
107.5 92.4
103. 3 85.7
103.8 89.3
104. 3 92.5
106. 6 95.1
104.5 93.7
102.9 97.6

95.4
100.8
102.4
100.0
100.7
98.7
96.8
99. 3
98.8
104.6
104.6
105. 2

100.9 98.4
105.0 104.4
106.5 105.7
104.4 104.5
103.1 104.0
103.3 102.4
99. C 98.5
103.4 101.9
104.4 101.4
107.6 102.1
104.1 98.5
103.5 99.5

96.0 102.3
101.2 109.3
102.5 111.6
100.5 112.6
101.3 112.9
101.7 111. 2
99.0 107.2
103.3 112.0
104.7 112.9
108.2 112.4
105. 0 104.1
105.6 100.7

95.9
98.8
98.8
97.7
95.4
92.3
84.3
83.3
84.1
82.2
76.8
75.2

70.0
74.3
75.6
74.4
73.4
69.7
66.2
65.9
63.4
61.3
58.1
57.6

53.5
54.6
53.1
49.5
46.8
43. 4
39.8
40.6
42. 9
44. 7
42.9
41. 5

39.5 54.0
40.2 60.6
37.1 64.8
38.8 67.3
42. 7 67.1
47. 2 64.8
50.8 60. 4
56.8 62.1
59.1 —
59. 4 —
55. 5 —
54. 5 —

97.4 117.1 76.2 81.3 103.3 96.1 100.6 103.8 101.8 102.4 109.1 88.7 67.5 46.1 48.5 162.6

Average for 8 months.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

E mployment e Payrolls ¡„ the Manufacturing Industries
3 y e a r average 1() 3 3 1^23 100
U .S.D epartm ent of Labor
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
W ashington

Index
Numbers

ilo120-

-

110 -K
100 -

-

•

-

130-

Index
Numbers

1

J J
r

Em e h i y me

is V
M
«1

/

J
1

90-

/A

-

-

A

/

-

< JA
/ /

>

80-

A

r i i

-

-120
-110

-100

90
80

-

-

70
60

}

-

> a ,h

oil

, A

\

(Vs

-

A

-

50-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

110-

70
60

50
40

30

30

20 -

20

10 -

0

140

-130

minim i

lim im i. : 11i N i ; ! 1M m u m m

1919 1920


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1921

1922

mimmi

.......

1923 1924

10
iiiimiiii im m il li im m ill i iii m m ii lllllllllll lllllllllll m i m m i ii im m ii

1929

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

immilli

1933

immilli

1934

iiiiimm

1935

0
to

Cn

1252

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E m p l o y m e n t i n N o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g I n d u s t r i e s in A u g u s t 1934

G a in s in employment from July to August were shown in 9
of the 17 non manufacturing industries surveyed monthly by the
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics and increases in pay rolls
were reported in 6. Data for the building-construction industry are
not presented here, but are shown in detail under the section
“ Building construction.”
The most pronounced gains in employment and pay rolls (7 percent
and 7.5 percent, respectively) were in the metalliferous-mining indus­
try. These gains were due in part to the resumption of operations
in a number of plants which were shut down in July, although
increased employment was general throughout the industry.
The most pronounced decrease in employment from July to August
was shown in the anthracite-mining industry (7.6 percent), and was
due largely to labor troubles. Reports from brokerage concerns con­
tinued to show declines in employment and pay rolls, employment in
August being 1.9 percent below the level of the preceding month.
Employment in retail trade, based on reports received from 54,129
retail trade establishments employing 767,896 workers in August,
showed a decline of 1.7 percent over the month interval. The
decrease in employment in the general merchandise group (composed
of department stores, variety stores, general merchandise stores, and
mail-order houses) was 2.3 percent. The remaining 49,446 retail
establishments showed a falling off of 1.3 percent from July to August.
The laundry and the dyeing and cleaning industries reported seasonal
losses of 1 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively, and the quarrying
and nonmctallic-mining industry reported a decrease of 1.5 percent
in employment. The decreases in employment in the remaining two
industries, electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and mainte­
nance, and hotels, were 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively.
Table 1 shows indexes of employment and pay rolls, per capita
weekly earnings, average hours worked per week, and average hourly
earnings in August 1934 for 13 of the nonmanufacturing industries
surveyed monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, together with
percentage of changes from July 1934 and August 1933. Similar
percentage changes in employment, pay rolls, and per capita weekly
earnings, as well as average per capita weekly earnings, are likewise
presented for banks, brokerage, insurance, and real estate. Indexes
of employment and pay rolls for these last-named industries are not
available.


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T a ble 1 .— E M P L O Y M E N T , W E E K L Y PA Y R O LLS, P E R C A P IT A W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S W O R K E D P E R W E E K , A N D A V E R A G E

H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN A U G U ST 1934, A N D C O M P A R IS O N W IT H JU L Y 1934 A N D A U G U S T 1933

Em ploym ent

In d u stry

Percentage
Index
change from— A ugust
1934
(aver­
age
Ju ly August 1929
1934
1933
= 100)

Percentage
change from—

July
1934

A ugust
1933

AverAugust
1934

Average hours worked
per week 1

Average hourly
earnings 1

Percentage
change from—

Percentage
change from—

Percentage
change from—

Ju ly
1934

Ju ly
1934

Ju ly
1934

A ver­
age in
A ugust
A ugust 1934
1933

A ver­
age in
August
1934
A ugust
1933

A ugust
1933

+ .6

-2 1 .3
-3 1 .2
- 6 .8
-1 1 .3
-1 7 .4

Cents
83.0
71.8
55.7
47.9
82.4

+ 0.1
-.3
-.5
-1 .0
(2)

+ 0 .2
+45. 2
+12.5
+20.3
+25.3

+ 2 .4
+ .3

+ 2 .6
- 7 .9

71.9
77.2

+ .1
- 2 .6

+ 5 .2
+12.5

49.5
77.1
42.7
54.7
82.7

- 7 .6
+ .2
+ 7 .0
- 1 .5
+ 1 .4

+ 3 .8
+12.4
+ 16.0
+ 6 .0
+36.0

39.7
50.4
27.0
34.0
61.2

- 6 .1
+ 1.4
+ 7.5
- 2 .8
+ 2.0

-1 4 .8
+ 16.4
+23.3
+13.7
+44.0

$23. 35
16. 75
20.43
16.05
28.43

+ 1 .7
+ 1.1
+ .5
- 1 .4
+ .6

-1 7 .9
+ 3 .6
+ 6 .2
+ 7 .4
+ 5 .9

27.7
23.4
36.0
33.7
35.1

+ 0 .7
+ 1 .7
+ 1 .4
-.6

71.0
85.6

+ ( 3)
+ .7

+ 4.3
+ 9 .6

74.0
79.9

+ 2.3
- 1 .5

+12.0
+12.7

27. 60
29.64

+ 2 .3
- 2 .1

+ 7 .3
+ 2 .8

39.0
38.3

72.8

- .4

+ 4 .7

62.8

- 1 .6

+ 7 .9

27. 52

-1 .3

+ 3.1

44.9

- 1 .5

- 3 .9

60.7

+ .2

+11.8

84.3
81.8
86.2
83.7
78.6
(5)
(5)
(s)
(s)

+ .3
- 1 .7
-. 1
- 1 .0
-2 .4
+ .2
- 1 .9
+ .1
+ .3

+ 5.8
+ 4 .7
+11.8
+ 3.2
+ 2.3
+ 3.5
-27. 1
+ 1 .4
+ 7 .3

66.4
67.3
64.5
66.6
56.7
(5)
(5)
(5)
(5)

- 1 .8
- 3 .2
- 1 .6
- 2 .4
- 3 .8
+• 3
- 2 .6
- 1 .5
+ .3

+ 9 .2
+ 7.3
+19.4
+10.4
+ 13.4
+ 4 .2
-2 5 .1
+ 4 .4
+ 8 .6

26. 47
20. 17
12. 95
15.08
17. 67
31.47
35.18
34.61
21.38

- 2 .1
- 1 .5
- 1 .4
-1 .4
-1 .5
+ .1
-.7
-1 .6
+ (3)

+ 3 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 6 .9
+ 7 .0
+10.8
+• 6
+ 2 .7
+ 3 .0
+ 1 .3

40.7
40. 1
46.7
39.7
40.2
(5)
(5)
(5)
(5)

-.7
- .8
(2)
- .8
(2)
(5)
(5)
(5)
(5)

- 4 .1
-2 .5
-6 .2
-.2
-.7
(s)
(5)
(5)
(5)

64.3
52.7
27.1
37.5
43.9
(5)
(5)
(5)

-1 .7
- .7
- 1 .1
-.3
-.5
(5)
(=)
(5)
«

+ 7 .9
+ 5 .0
+ 14.7
+ 7 .3
+11.3
(5).
(5>
(«)
(5)

(5)

TREND OE EMPLOYMENT

Coal mining:
A n th r a c ite ____ __________________ _____ ____
B itu m in o u s_____ _____ _____________________
M etalliferous m ining____________________________
Q uarrying and nonm etallic m ining_______________
C rude-petroleum producing __________ _________
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph _____________
___
Electric light and power and m anufactured gas. _
Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation and
m aintenance................................. ...........................
Trade:
W holesale......................... ....... .............. ......................
R etail____________________ _______________
Hotels (cash paym ents only) 4______ _____________
L aundries_______________ ______________________
D yeing and cleaning_______ ____________________
B anks______________________________ __________
B ro k e ra g e .._____ ______ ________ ______________
Insurance_____ ______________ __________________
Real esta te ____________________________________

Index
August
1934
(aver­
age
1929
= 100)

Per capita weekly
earnings 1

P a y roll

1 Per capita weekly earnings are com puted from figures furnished b y all reporting establishm ents. Average hours and average hourly earnings are com puted from d ata furnished
b y a smaller num ber of establishm ents as some firms do no t report m an-hour information. Percentage changes over year com puted from indexes.
2 No change.
* Less th an Mo of 1 percent.
4 T h e additional value of board, room, and tips cannot be computed
5 N ot available.

1253


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1254

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Indexes of Employment and Pay-Roll Totals for Nonmanufacturing Industries
I n d e x numbers of employment and pay-roll totals for 13 nonmanu­
facturing industries are presented in table 2. These index numbers
show the variation in employment and pay rolls in these industries,
by months, from January 1931 through August 1934.
A revision of the indexes, similar to that made for the manufactur­
ing industries, was made for the laundry and the dyeing and clean­
ing industries in March 1934. The indexes of employment and pay
rolls in these industries were adjusted to conform with the trends
shown by the 1929 and 1931 census reports and this new series will
be continued until further adjustments, if necessary, are made when
1933 census data become available.
T able 2 — IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G

IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y 1931 TO A U G U ST 1934
[12-month average, 1929=100]
B itum inous coal mining

A nthracite mining
M onth

P ay rolls

Em ploym ent

Em ploym ent

Pay rolls

1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934
Jan u a ry _____
F e b ru a ry ____
M arch ______
A pril________
M a y ________
J u n e ________
J u ly ------------A ugust______
Septem ber___
O ctober_____
N ovem ber___
D ecem ber___
Average

90.6
89.5
82.0
85.2
80.3
76.1
65.1
67.3
80.0
86.8
83.5
79.8
80.5

76.2
71. 2
73.7
70.1
66.9
53.0
44.5
49.2
55.8
63.9
62.7
62.3
62.5

52.5
58.7
54.6
51.6
43.2
39.5
43.8
47.7
56.8
56.9
61.0
54.5
51.7

64.1
63.2
67.5
•58.2
63.8
57.5
53.6
49.5

89.3
101.9
71.3
75.2
76. 1
66.7
53.7
56.4
64.9
91.1
79.5
78.4
—
i 59.7 75.4

61.5
57.3
61.2
72.0
58.0
37.4
34.5
41.4
47.0
66.7
51.0
56.2
53.7

43. 2 73.2
56.8 65.8
48.8 82.4
37.4 51.7
30.0 64.0
34.3 53.3
38.2 42.3
46.6 39.7
60.7
61.6
47.8
44.3 —
45.8 i 59.1

M etalliferous mining
Jan u a ry _____
F e b ru a ry ____
M arch ______
A pril............. .
M a y ________
J u n e ................
J u ly ------------A ugust--.........
Septem ber___
O ctober_____
N ovem ber___
December___
Average

68.3
65.3
63.5
63.9
62.4
60. C
56.2
55.8
55.5
53.8
52.8
51.2
59.1

49.3
46.9
45.0
43.3
38.3
32.2
29.5
28.6
29.3
30.5
31.9
33.3
36.5

32.4
31.5
30.0
29.4
30.0
31.5
33.0
36.8
38.9
40.7
40.6
40.6
34.6

39.6
40.3
39.8
41.7
40.8
41.0
39.9
42.7

55.0
54.6
52.8
51.4
49.3
46. 1
41.3
40.2
40.0
37.4
35.1
34.3
—
i 40.7 44.8

29.7
27.8
26.5
25.0
23.8
20.1
16.9
16.5
17.0
18.0
18.7
18.7
21.6

93.9
91.5
88.8
85.9
82.4
78.4
76.4
77.0
80.4
81.3
81.1
81.2
83.2

74.8
73.2
72.2
69.8
67.8
65.0
65.3
62.4
61.2
60.4
57.6
58.2
65.7

54.9
54.4
51.4
54.9
54.5
54.2
55.4
57.4
56.2
56.8
56.5
57.2
55.3

See footnotes a t end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

57.2 73.2
57. C 72.4
56.5 72.8
56.8 74. C
56.9 76.7
58.0 80. C
59.5 81.6
60.8 82.7
66.2
70.6
72.2
75.0 —
62.2 i 76.7

71.5
70. C
73.2
66.3
64.7
62.7
59.2
56.3
55.2
54.4
52. (i
54.9
61.7

46.5
46.9
43.2
44.5
47.1
44.8
44.6
42.9
41.9
42.5
42.4
41.7
44.1

69.8
69.3
67.6
63.7
61.2
61.3
63.2
68.6
71.8
68.0
74.8
75.4
67.9

75.8
76.1
77.8
72.2
76.7
76.7
77.0
77.1

73.3
68.3
65.2
58.6
54.4
52.4
50.4
50.6
53.6
56.2
54.6
52.3
—
i 76.2 57.5

47.0
47.0
46.8
33.9
30.7
27.3
24.4
26.4
30.2
37.8
38.0
37.7
35.6

36.1 51.3
37.2 54.6
30.7 58.9
26.6 51.4
26.9 54.4
29.2 55.1
33.6 49.7
43.3 50.4
44. 1
44. 1
50.7
50.8 —
37.8 i 53.2

Quarrying and nonm etallic m ining
18.1
17.8
17.4
16.4
17.0
18.3
19.0
21.9
23.9
25.9
25.6
26.2
20.6

25.4
26.0
25.9
27.2
25.6
26.7
25.1
27.0

64.4
66.6
70.0
76.1
75.0
72.3
71.0
68.9
66.6
64.5
59.3
53.9
—
i 26.1 67.4

Crude-petroleum producing
Jan u a ry ..........F e b ru a ry ____
M arch_______
A pril________
M a y ...... ...........
J u n e ________
J u ly _________
A ugust—........ Septem ber___
O ctober...........
N ovem ber___
December____
Average___

80.8
77.4
75.2
65.5
62.6
60.5
58.6
59.4
62.4
67.0
69.4
70.0
67.4

39.9 53.0
41.7 50.5
42.5 52.5
40. 1 53.4
41.6 56.4
40.6 56.9
42.2 60. C
42.5 61.2
44.4
50.1
50.3
53.2 —
44.1 i 55.5

48.9
47.4
46.0
48.6
50.6
49.5
49.5
51.1
52.4
52.4
49.4
42.3
49.0

35.1
34.8
35.1
39.3
43.4
47.3
49.5
51.6
52.6
53.2
51.1
45.3
44.9

50.4
54.4
58.2
62.6
62.3
60.1
57.3
55.1
51.2
48.7
43.3
—
36.9
i 48.8 53.4
39.7
38.8
42.0
48.7
54.3
56.6
55.6
54.7

30.2
29.6
28.7
30.0
32.3
30.0
29. 1
29.7
30.5
30.1
27.1
22.1
29.1

18.1
17.4
17.8
20.2
23.8
27.5
28.4
29.9
29.3
31.2
28.3
24.4
24.7

21.3
21.0
24.1
29.9
35.0
37.0
35.0
34.0

—

>29.7

Telephone and telegraph
90.5
89.2
88.6
88.1
87.4
86.9
86.6
85.9
85. t
84.1
83.5
83.1
86.6

83.0
82. C
81.7
81.2
80.6
79.9
79.1
78.1
77.4
76.2
75.5
74.8
79.1

74.6 70.2
73.9 69.8
73.2 70. C
72.3 70.2
70.1 70.2
69.2 70.4
68.5 71. C
68. 1 71. C
68.3
68.7
68.9
69.4 —
70.4 i 70.4

96.3
94.8
97.9
95. C
94.1
95.0
93.3
92.3
92.1
91.6
89.7
92.7
93.7

89.1
89.6
88.2
83.4
82.8
82.1
79.6
79.1
75.9
75.7
74.3
73.5
81.1

71.7 69.0
71.9 67.9
71.6 70.4
67.8 68.8
68.5 71.4
66.6 71.3
66.7 72.3
66.1 74.0
64.6
67.0
67.7
67.7 —
68.2 i 70.6

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1255

T able 2 .—IN D E X E S OP E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O LLS F O R N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G

IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y 1931 TO A U G U ST 1934—Continued
Electric light and power and manufactured gas
M onth

Em ploym ent

Pay rolls

Electric-railroad and motor-bus operation
and m aintenance 2
E m ploym ent

P ay rolls

1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934 1931 1932 1933 1934
Jan u a ry ________
F ebruary ______
M arch _________
A pril___ _______
M a y ___________
J u n e . .. _______
J u ly ____________
A ugust_________
Septem ber______
October________
N ovem ber______
D ecem ber______

99.2
97.8
96. 7
97.1
97.6
97.2
96.7
95.9
94.7
92.7
91. 3
90.3

89.3
87.2
85.5
84.8
84.0
83.2
82.3
81.5
81.0
79.9
79.1
78.4

77.7 82.2
77.4 81.2
76.9 81.7
76.9 82.4
76.9 83.1
77.3 84.0
77.5 85.0
78.1 85.6
80.3
82. 2
82.6
81.8 -----

98.6
99.7
102.4
97.6
98.7
98.3
97. 4
96.2
94.3
93.2
93. 3
91.2

88.4
86.1
85.4
82.4
84. 2
80.5
78.7
76.7
74.7
74.4
73.2
73.2

73.0 73.8
71.6 74.4
71.9 75.6
69. 4 76.8
69. 9 77.6
69.9 77.8
70.0 81. 1
70.9 79.9
71.8
76.2
74.5
74.4 —

86.9
86.6
86.4
86.8
85.9
85.3
85.6
84.8
84.0
82.7
81.5
79.9

79.5
78. 9
77.6
78.0
76.9
76.5
75.6
74.1
73.5
72.3
71.8
71.4

70.6 70.5
70.4 71.0
69.8 71.7
69.5 72.2
69.1 72.6
69.3 73.2
69. 4 73. 1
69.5 72.8
69.7
70.6
71.0
70.8 —

85.6
87. 1
88.1
86.6
85. 1
84.8
83.3
81.9
81.2
79.0
79.7
77.8

75.4
74.8
73.6
71.8
72.2
70.2
66.4
63.8
62.5
61.5
61.7
61.9

60.9 59.2
60.6 60.1
59. 1 62.2
58. 1 62.9
58.2 63.0
58.1 63.2
57.1 63.8
58.2 62.8
57.8
59.8
59.4
59.6 —

Average___ 95.6 83.0 78.8 183.2 96.7 79.8 72.0 ‘ 77.1 84.7 75.5 70.0 ‘ 72.1 83.4 68.0 58.9 ‘62.2
W holesale trade
J a n u a ry ________
F e b ru a ry _______
M a rc h .. _______
A pril___________
M a y _____ _____ _
Ju n e ___________
J u ly ____________
A ugust-------- --.
Septem ber______
October. _
_ .
N ovem ber______
December______

89.5
88.2
87.4
87.4
87.1
87. 1
86.8
86.5
86. 1
85 2
84 1
83.7

81.8
80.9
79.8
78.9
77.9
77.0
76.6
76. 4
77. 1
77. 8
77.6
77.0

75.3 82.4
74. 1 83. C
73. 1 83.6
73.3 83 9
74.0 84.6
75. 7 84. 1
76.9 84.0
79.7 84.3
82.1
83. 5
83.4
83.3 —

87.5
88.4
89.1
85.2
84.7
84. 1
83. 3
82. 1
81.4
79. 9
79.7
77.8

74 1
72.5
71.3
68.9
69.7
66. 2
64.7
63. 2
63. 1
63. 9
63 3
62.6

R etail trade
61.7 63.9 90.0
58.6 64.6 87.1
57. 1 65. 7 87.8
56.0 66.8 90. 1
57.4 66.3 89.9
57.3 66.5 89. 1
59. 1 67.6 83.9
60.8 66.4 81.8
62.3
86.6
66. 0
89. 8
64. 1
90.9
64.5 —
106.2

84.3
80.5
81.4
81.6
80.9
79.4
74.6
72.6
77.8
81. 3
81.7
95.2

76.9 84.6
73.4 83.8
71.4 87.2
78.6 88.2
77.0 88.8
78.3 88.2
74.6 83.3
78. 1 81.8
86.0
89. 6
91.6
105.4 —

89.4
86.7
87.5
88.3
88.0
87.6
83.3
80. 3
83.5
84 6
85.4
94.1

78.0
73.7
73.4
72. 7
71. 1
68.2
63.3
60. 7
64.6
67 1
66.9
73.6

62.7
58.4
55.1
60.4
59.5
60.5
58.1
62.7
69.2
72 3
72.6
80.3

68.8
67.7
69.5
71.5
71.8
71.6
69.5
67.3

—

Average___ 86.6 78.2 77.9 183.7 83.6 67.0 60.4 ‘ 66.0 89.4 80.9 81.7 ‘85.7 86.6 69.4 64.3 ‘69.7
Laundries 3
Jan u a rv ________
F e b ru a ry _______
M a rc h .. ______
A pril___________
M a y ___________
Ju n e ____ _______
Ju ly ____________
A ugust________
Septem ber______
O ctober________
N ovem ber______
D ecember______
Average___

94.3
93.7
93.2
94.3
94.1
94.8
95.6
94.0
93.0
91.8
89.8
88.8
93.1

88.2
86.3
85.4
85.4
84.8
84.4
83.6
82.2
81.9
80.7
79.4
79.1
83.5

78.6 78.5
77.5 78.4
76.1 79.2
76.5 80.5
76.6 82.1
79.2 84.0
79.5 84.6
81. 1 83.7
82.6
81.3
78.4
78.4 —
78.8 181.4

90.7
89.6
89.6
90.9
90.5
91.2
91.5
88.6
88.0
85.6
82.6
81.0
88.3

Dyeing and cleaning 3
80.0
76.7
75.1
74.7
73.9
71.8
69.4
66.9
65.8
64. 1
61.9
61.4
70.1

60.7 61.7
58.1 61.7
55.4 62.7
56.6 64.4
57. 1 66.9
59.4 68.3
58.7 68.2
60.3 66.6
63.5
62.5
60.7
61.1 —
59.5 ‘ 65. 1

73. 9
73. 9
72.4
69.6
67.0
63.8
61.8
59. 6
59. 1
58.6
57.5
56 6
64.5

55. 7 60.8
55.9 65. 2
53.5 66.6
51. 7 66.5
51.8 65.9
52.3 66. 2
53.3 65.6
54.0 64. 5
55.6
56. 2
55. 2
57 6
54.4 ‘65. 1

82.1
80.7
81.3
88.4
89.3
91.4
91. 1
86.4
88.0
87.0
83.2
78.4
85.6

75.8
74.4
74.4
76.9
78.0
78.6
76. 1
73.4
76.9
76.0
72.0
69.5
75.2

67.4 68.1
65.6 68.1
65.8 72. 4
74.9 79.9
75.7 84.3
79.1 84.9
76.6 80.5
76.8 78.6
81.9
81.6
76.1
70.5 —
74.3 ‘ 77.1

73.7
71.2
71.7
81.9
82. 1
84.5
81.8
75.9
78.3
77.2
70.8
64.4
76.1

62.4
59.0
58.5
62.5
63.8
62.4
56.9
53.4
57.9
55.8
49.6
45.9
57.3

44.2 46.8
40.2 46.3
38.9 51.7
51.7 60.8
51.0 65. 1
53. 7 64. 1
50.0 58.9
50.0 56.7
57.1
57.4
52.5
47.3 —
49.5 ‘ 56.3

H otels
January _______
F e b r u a r y _____
M a r c h . . __ _
A p r i l . . _____
M a y ______ .
J u n e _______
J u ly — ..........
A u g u s t.____ .
September
O c to b e r__
N ovember
December
Average___

95.0
96.8
96.8
95. 9
92. 5
91.6
93.3
92.8
90.6
87. 4
84.9
83.1
91.7

83. 2
84. 3
84.0
82.7
80. 1
78.0
78. 4
77. 6
77.0
75. 4
74. 3
73 o
79.0

73.8 81. 5
73.8 84.8
72. 4 86.4
71.9 86.6
71. 9 85. 7
73.6 86. 2
75. 6 86. 3
77. 1 86. 2
78. 7
77.0
75.8
77 6
74.9 185.5

91.0
93. 7
93. 4
89. 9
87. 7
85. 4
85. 2
83.8
81.9
79. 7
77. 1
75 4
85.4

1 Average for 8 months.
2 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see transportation equipm ent and railroad
repair-shop groups, m anufacturing industries, table 1.
3 Revised to conform w ith average shown by 1931 Census of M anufacturer.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

e

1256

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E m p l o y m e n t i n B u i l d i n g C o n s t r u c t i o n i n A u g u s t Î9 3 4

T he following table is based on returns made by 10,949 firms en­
gaged in public and private building-construction projects not aided
by Public Works Administration funds. These reports include all
trades, from excavation through painting and interior decoration,
which are engaged in erecting, altering, or repairing buildings. Work
on roads, bridges, docks, etc., is omitted. The reports cover building
operations in various localities in 34 States and the District of Co­
lumbia.
For purposes of comparison in this study, all reports were reduced
to a 1-week basis if not originally so reported.
In August the average weekly earnings were $23.06 as compared
with $23.27 for July. These are per capita weekly earnings, computed
by dividing the total amount of the weekly pay roll by the total
number of employees—part time as well as full time.
The average hours per week per man—29 in August and 29.5 in
July—were computed by dividing the number of man-hours by the
number of workers employed by those firms which reported man­
hours.
The average hourly earnings—79.7 cents in August and 78.6 cents in
July—were computed by dividing the pay roll of those firms which
reported man-hours, by the number of man-hours.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1257

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

E M P L O Y M E N T . PA Y R O LLS, A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S P E R
W E E K P E R M A N . A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E B U IL D IN G -C O N ­
S T R U C T IO N IN D U S T R Y IN A U G U ST 1934, A N D P E R C E N T A G E S O F C H A N G E F R O M
JU L Y 1934
[Figures in italics are not compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics b u t are taken from reports issued
by cooperating State bureaus]

All localities_______ ____ 10,949 83, 533
A labam a: B irm in g h am ...

91

California:
Los Angeles_________
San Francisco-Oakla n d .. ___________
O ther localities______

27
26

552 +41.9

19 1,067

T he S ta te _________

+ 1 .2 $1,926,461

- 4 .8

954
+. 5
289 +29.6

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

A ugust 1934

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

N um ber A ugust
1934

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

Average
hourly
earnings 1

29.0

- 1 .7

Cents
79.7 *4“1. 4

18.11

+ 4.4

29.4

+ 7.7

61.7 - 2 .5

22.23

- 2 .5

30.8

- 7 .2

72.1 +5.1

21,687 +11.7
5,400 +46.2

22.73 +11.1
18.69 +12.1

25.7

+ 2.0
+ 8.8

88.3 + 8.9
76.0 + 3 . 1

- 7 .2

2 4.6

72 2,310

+ .7

50,806

+4- 4

21.99

+ 3.6

28.0

-3 .1

78. 7 +7.1

487

- 9 .5

10,179

- 1 .0

20.90

+ 9.4

25.0

+ 5 .0

83.6 + 4 .2

- 1 .4
- 4 .5
- 1 .3

31.0
31.4
34.5

0
- 4 .3
- .9

73.3 - 1 . 2
70.6 0
72.3 - . 6

Colorado: D enver_______

212

Connecticut:
B ridgeport...................
H artford___ ____ ___
N ew H a v en ________

466 -1 1 .7
113
253 1,046 + 1 .5
983 + 7 .8
167

10,461 -1 3 .0
23,162 - 3 .1
24,478 + 6.4

22.45
22.14
24.90

533 2,495

T he S ta te ____ ____

Average
hours per
week per
m an 1

- 0 .9

+ 0.3 $23. 06

9,999 +48.3
23,719

Average
weekly
earnings
A m ount A ugust
1934

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

a
3
¡3

P ay rolls

A m ount A ugust
1934

a
t-4
«a
o
<D

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

Locality

N um ber A ugust
1934

bJD E m ploym ent
.9
uo
Qh
M

+ 1 .0

58,101

- 1 .4

23. 29

- 8 .3

32.5

- 2 .1

71.8

Delaware: W ilm in g to n ...
D istrict of C olum bia_____

100 1,012 +12.7
397 4,361 + 4.1

19, 288
120,506

+ 8 .4
+ 6 .5

19.06
27. 63

- 3 .8
+ 2 .3

29.2
31.0

- 4 .6
- 1 .6

65.4 + 1.1
88.4 + 4 .2

Florida:
Jacksonville________
M iam i________ ____

209 +18.8
47
- .2
70 1,022

3, 333 +13.4
20,063 + 8.6

15.95
19. 63

- 4 .4
+ 8 .8

26.5
30.1

- 4 .7
+ 6 .7

60.3 ~K 3
65.2 + 1 .9

T he S ta te _________

- .4

117 1,231

+ 2 .6

23, 396

+ 9.3

19.01

+ 6 .6

29.5

+ 5 .0

64.4 + 1.6

970

+ .6

15,564

+ 2 .4

16. 05

+ 1 .8

27.0

- 3 .6

58.9 + 5 .0

1S9 2,455 -1 5 .2
93 1,504 - 9 .0

64,736 -1 9 .5
32,994 - 7 .4

26.37
21.94

- 5 .1
+ 1.8

0

0

(3)
«

(3)
(3)

0
0

T he S ta te _________

232 3,959 -1 2 .9

97,730 -1 5 .8

24.69

- 3 .2

(3)

(3)

(3)

0

Indiana:
Evansville__________
F ort W ay n e ._______
Indianapolis_____ _
South B en d ________

281 +12.4
63
209 -1 4 .0
79
154 1,077 +13.1
197 -1 2 .1
37

4,821
3,720
23,642
3, 739

+12.9
-1 7 .8
+19.2
-2 9 .7

17.16
+ .5
17. 80 - 4 .5
21.95 + 5.4
18. 98 -2 0 .0

23.5
24. 3
29.5
27.3

+ 4 .0
- 2 .8
- 1 .0
+ 5 .0

72.9
73.2
74.4
70.4

333 1,764

35,922

+ 5 .8

27.7

+ .7

Georgia: A tla n ta _______

139

Illinois:
Chicago____________
Other localities______

T he S ta te _________

+ 5 .7

Iowa: Des M oines______
K ansas: W ichita________
K entucky: Louisville___
Louisiana: New O rleans..
M aine: P o rtla n d _______
M aryland: B altim ore___
M assachusetts: All localitie s ... _______________

683 4,911

M ichigan:
D etro it...... ....................
F lin t_______________
G rand R apids.............

480 3,396 +1.1
188 -2 6 .6
49
92
286 -2 2 .7

T he S tate_________

610 -2 0 .3
95
260
-.8
64
713 - 5 .4
139
109 1, 099 +34.4
86
370 - 7 .7
107 1,215 - 1 .2

621 3,870

See footnotes'at end of table.

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

- .7

- 2 .9

12, 580 -3 7 .5
4, 507 - 5 .4
13, 963 - 6 .6
19,490 +34.8
8,233 - 4 .9
23,181 - 8 .0
123,324

- 3 .9

20. 36

+ .1

73.7 + 2.5

20. 62 -2 1 .6
17. 33 - 4 .7
19. 58 - 1 .3
17. 73
22.25 + 3.1
19.08 - 6 . 9

27.8 -1 3 .1
27.8 - 3 .5
30.4 - 2 .6
28.3 - 3 .4
31.6 + 2.9
32.3 + 1.3

73.9
62.8
64.6
62.7
70.3
62.1

25.11

31.0

80.9

- 3 .3

- 4 .6

- 3 .6
- 1 .9
+ 6 .3
-6 . 1

-1 1 . 2
- .9
+ 1.4
+ 3 .8
-. 1
+ 3 .8

77, 304
-.9
3, 562 -3 5 .2
4,982 -2 5 .2

22. 76 - 1 .9
18. 95 -1 1 .8
17.42 - 3 .3

30.6
-.6
26.2 -1 7 .1
27.8 - 5 .1

74.5 - i . i
72.3 + 6 .5
62.6 + 1 .8

85,848

22.18

30.2

73.6

- 4 .8

- 1 .9

- 1 .6

0

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1258

E M P L O Y M E N T PA Y R O L L S , A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S P E R
W E E K P E R M A N , A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y E A R N IN G S IN T H E B U IL D IN G -C O N ­
S T R U C T IO N IN D U S T R Y IN A U G U ST 1934, A N D P E R C E N T A G E S OF C H A N G E FR O M
JU L Y 1934—C ontinued

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934 j

+ 8 .3
- 9 .6
+ 8 .6

$3,316 +19.3 $21.12 +10.2
37,373 -1 1 .0 23. 36 - 1 .6
19, 596 +13.6 22.24 + 4 .6

T he S tate..................

420 2,638

- 3 .2

60, 285

- 2 .8

22.85

+ .4

32.1

+ 1.3

Missouri:
Kansas C ity 4_______
St. Louis.......................

285 1,649
586 2, 691

+ 8 .6
+ 5 .6

40,596
72,474

+ 6 .5
+ 7 .5

24. 62
26. 93

- 1 .9
+ 1.8

27.9
25.6

-1 .1 89.0 - . 7
- 1 .5 104.9 + 3 .0

871 4,340

+ 6 .7

113,070

+7.1

28.05

+ .4

26.5

- 1 .1

98.6 + 1 .5

14,860 -2 7 .0

20.03

- 5 .0

28.7

- 4 .7

69.8

T he S ta te ..

_____

N um ber A ugust
1934

|

August 1934

157
53
210 1,600
881
157

S
o
u
Jq
a
0
55

N um ber A ugust
1934

M innesota:
D u lu th _______ _____
M inneapolis________
St. P a u l... _ ____

*-l
a

Locality

A m ount August
1934

A m ount A ugust
1934

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

Average
hourly
earnings 1

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

Average
hours per
week per
m an 1

Average
weekly
earnings

Pay rolls

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

Em ploym ent

bß
.2
o

Cents
70.6 - 3 .4
75.0 - . 4
65.0 + 1.1
71.2

-.7

- .3

N ebraska: O m a h a _____

161

New York:
New York C ity . 1 . . .
O ther localities______

476 7,961
352 8,958

+3.3
+ 8 .4

246,389
207,174

+ 3.2
+ 7.5

30.95
23.13

-.1
-.8

28.7
29.6

5
+ .3 108.0
•4
- 2 .6 78.0 + 1 . 7

The S ta te _________

828 16,919

+ 6.0

Co

742 -2 3 .1

30.1 +15.8
31.1 - 1 .3
34.2 + 3.3

+5.1

26.81

- .8

29.2

-1 .0

91.9

+• 4

338

- 8 .6

5, 553 -1 7 .6

16.43

- 9 .8

29.5

- 8 .7

55.8

-.9

299
88
435 1,595
2,368
592
438
135
426
88

+2.0
+ .3
- 5 .2
- 5 .2
+ 7 .8

5,965 - 9 .5
36, 756 + 1 .2
63, 757 —7. C
9,004 - 5 .3
10, 540 +23.4

T he S ta te _________ 1,338 5,126

-2 .1

N orth Carolina: Charlo tte ..................................
Ohio:
A kron_____ ________
C in c in n ati5_________
C leveland- _______
D ay to n ___ ____ ____
Y oungstow n________

. 49

Oklahoma:
Oklahoma C ity _____
T u lsa______________

99
51

556 +23.8
286 - 2 .4

T he S ta te . ______

150

842 +13.5
+ 8 .2

Oregon: P o rtlan d -----------

179 1,015

P e n n sy lv an ia:6
Erie a r e a ..- - ______
Philadelphia area___
Pittsb u rg h area_____
Reading a r e a . - _____
Scranton area_______
O ther areas_________

491 +24.3
25
+ 2.5
401 3,479
231 1,721 +3.4
- 5 .7
281
44
33
- 4 .3
+6.2
2,925
297

201

T h e S ta te _________ 1,031 9,098
Rhode Island: Providence.
Tennessee:
C hattanooga________
Knoxville.
M em phis___________
N ashville___________
T h e S tate-------------

34
42
72
83

183 +5.8
39f +36. :
361 +6.8
763 + 10.4

231 1,705 +14. C

See footnotes a t end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

+4- ‘

242 1,395 -3 9 .8

19.95 -1 1 .4
23. 04
+ .8
26. 92 - 1 .9
20. 56
-. 1
24. 74 +14.4

26.0 -1 1 .6 76.7 + . 4
- . 4 • 82.6 + 1 . 0
27.9
26.8 - 3 .9 100.5 + 1 . 8
28.2 + 1.8 73.0 - 1 . 6
28.5 + 4.8 86.7 + 9 . 2

- 2 .7

24.58

-.6

27.3

- 2 .2

89.8 + 1 . 4

10, 997 +23.8
5, 603 - 3 .5

19. 78
19.59

(2)
- 1 .2

30.1
30.2

+ 6.7
+ 3.1

66.0 - 5 . 6
66.5 - 2 . 4

126,022

16,600 +13.0

19.71

- .5

30.2

+ 5.6

66.2 - 4 . 3

20, 246

+ 7 .8

19. 95

-.3

24.4

- 3 .6

82.6 + 4 . 0

5,089
70,598
5,630
4, 786
55,536

+ 5.8
+2.1
+1.3
+■ 8
+1.7
+7.7

10.36 - 1 4 . 9
20.29
-■4
27.16 - 2 .0
20.04 +6.9
23. 81 +6.3
18.99 +1.3

13.6 -1 7 .6
27.7 - 1 .4
28.7 - 4 .0
29.9 +4-2
32.4 +5.6
29.1
+ .7

69.5 + 2 . 4
74.8 + . 5
95.7 + 1 . 6
67.1 + 2 . 6
73.6 + • 8
64.7 + .3

188,382

27.9

-1 .8

74+

31.2

-7 .4

69.1 + 6 .8

23.8
24. (
26.2
25.9

-8 .8
+7.1
—3.
-9 .1

60.1
59.9
65. (
61.5

+ 2 .9
-3 .3
- 7 .1
+ 6 .2

25.5

-5 .1

61.

+ .7

4 6 ,743

-.8

+3.1

20.71

30,021 -4 0 .5

21.52

2,651
+•
5, 772 +41.1
6,158 -4 .4
12,161 + 6."

14.49 -4 .5
14. 58 +3.1
16. 9C -10.5
15. 94 -3 .4

26, 744

15.69

+8.1

-1 .

-4 .5

1-------

+• 4

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1259

E M P L O Y M E N T PA Y R O L L S , A V E R A G E W E E K L Y E A R N IN G S , A V E R A G E H O U R S P E R
W E E K P E R M A N ’ A N D a v e r a g e h o u r l y e a r n i n g s i n t h e b u il d in g - c o n IN D U S T R Y IN A U G U ST 1934, A N D P E R C E N T A G E S OF C H A N G E F R O M
J U L i 1934—C ontinued

T he State ___ ____

Percentage change
from July 1934

N um ber A ugust
1934

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934
+ 4 .3
- 6 .7
+ 3 .8
+ 3 .7

24.1 - 3 .2
24.6 -1 4 .3
27.2 + 5.4
26.6 +10.4

Cents
62.9
76.0
67.3
54.8

+ 7 .9
+ 8 .6
- 2 .5
- 5 .4

+ 9 .2

39,117 +13.1

16. 82

+ 3 .6

25.9

+ 2.0

64.4 + 1.1

_

139

265 +38.0

6,012 +49.8

22.69

+ 8 .5

28.7 +12.5

79.2 - 3 .6

Virginia:
N orfol k-Portsm out h _.
R ichm ond_________

77
128

373 -1 5 .4
953 + 7.6

6, C75 -2 1 .3
19, 675 + 6 .8

16. 29
20.65

- 7 .0
-.7

26.9
31.6

- 4 .3
+ .6

59.7 - 3 .6
66.0 + .6

25, 750

19. 42

- 1 .4

30.2

(2)

64.3

Utah: Salt Lake C ity

The State ______ _
W ashington:
Seattle- __________
Spokane.
_____
T acom a___________
The State

______

W est Virginia: W heeling.
Wisconsin: All localities..

512 2, 326

$11,377 + 9 .2 $15.13
1,627 -2 8 . 2 18. 70
21, 595 +21. 2 18. 35
4,518 +10.5 14. 57

Average
hourly
earnings 1
Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

752 +4. 7
194
87 -2 3 .0
25
191 1,177 +16.8
310 + 6 .5
102

Average
hours per
week per
m an 1

A ugust 1934

Texas:
D allas______ _______
LI Paso__ __________
H ouston____________
San A ntonio________

Average
weekly
earnings
A m ount A ugust
1934

a
a

Percentage change
from July 1934

a
o
Sh
<
x>

P ay rolls

A m ount August
1934

Locality

Percentage change
from Ju ly 1934

B
uO
uo>

N um ber August
1934

Em ploym ent

205 1,326

-. 1

- 1 .5

-.2

915 +27.1
230 + 7.5
179 + 1.1

20,810 +31.1
6,019 + 9 .0
3,635 -1 2 . 2

22.74 + 3.1
26.17 + 1 .5
20.31 -1 3 .2

25.5 + 9.0
31.0 - 4 .3
22.8 -1 7 . 1

89.2 - 5 .5
84.4 + 6 .2
89.0 + 4.7

288 1,324 + 19.2

30,464 +19.3

23. 01

26.1

+ 1.2

88.2 - 1 .1

81 -1 9 .8
19
156 1,864 + 3.6

1,332 -3 6 . 5
35,823 + 7.3

16.44 -2 0 .9
19.22 + 3 .6

27.5 -1 5 .9
32.6 + 3.8

60.5 - 6 .1
60.6 + .5

165
52
71

+ .1

1 Averages com puted from reports furnished by 10,479 firms.
2 No change.
3 D ata not available.
4 Includes both Kansas C ity, M o., and K ansas C ity, Kans.
5Includes Covington and N ewport, Ky.
6 Each separate area includes from 2 to 8 counties.

E m p l o y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls i n A u g u s t 1934 i n C it ie s o f O v er 5 00,000
P o p u la tio n

F l u c t u a t i o n s in employment and pay-roll totals in August 1934
as compared with July 1934 in 13 cities of the United States having
a population of 500,000 or over are presented in the following table.
These changes are computed from reports received from identical
establishments in each of the months considered.
In addition to reports received from establishments in the several
industrial groups regularly covered in the survey of the Bureau,
excluding building construction, reports have also been secured from
other establishments in these cities for inclusion in these totals.
Information concerning employment in building construction is not
available for all cities at this time and therefore has not been included.
91302°— 34------15


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1260

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

F L U C T U A T IO N S IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y R O L L S IN A U G U ST 1934 AS C O M P A R E D
W IT H JU L Y 1934

N um ber of
establishCities

reporting
in both
m onths

New York C ity ______
Chicago, 111___ _____
Philadelphia, Pa_ __- .
D etroit, M ich ___ ______
Los Angeles, Calif______
Cleveland, Ohio________
St. Louis, M o __________
Baltimore, M d _________
Boston, M ass______
P ittsburgh, P a . ______San Francisco, Calif. . . .
Buffalo, N .Y ___________
M ilwaukee, W is________

11,804
3,771
2,741
1,729
2,434
1,988
2,594
1,217
2,972
1,423
2,122
842
779

Per­
centage
change
from
July
Ju ly 1934 A ugust 1934 1934
N um ber on pay roll

534,692
312,876
197,381
282,937
117, 702
120,985
116,904
82.011
137,310
118,453
75,216
60, 788
54,822

536,493
313,778
197,981
271,340
119,624
119, 709
116,077
80,134
137,991
118, 763
77,093
58, 762
54,654

A m ount of pay roll
(1 week)

P er­
centage
change
from
July
Ju ly 1934 August 1934 1934

+ 0 .3 $14,121,987 $14,193,333
7,493,032
7,532,899
+ .3
4,444,129
4,432,713
+ .3
6,516,245
5,879,917
- 4 .1
2,843,882
2, 776,413
+ 1 .6
2, 612, 285
2, 652,587
- 1 .1
2, 496, 987
2, 522,136
-.7
1, 604, 485
1, 739, 071
- 2 .3
3,141,119
3,160,949
+ .5
2,
506, 753
2,425,622
+ .3
1,909,570
1,822, 506
+ 2 .5
1,254,860
1,363,
206
- 3 .3
1,188,402
1,193,877
-.3

+ 0 .5
- .5
+■ 3
+10.8
+ 2 .4
-1 .5
-

1.0

- 7 .7
+■ 6
+ 3.3
+ 4 .8
- 7 .9
- .5

E m p l o y m e n t i n C la s s I S t e a m R a ilr o a d s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

R e p o r t s of the Interstate Commerce Commission for class I
railroads show that the number of employees, exclusive of executives
and officials, decreased from 1,020,113 on August 15,1934, to 1,011,333
(preliminary) on September 15,1934, or 0.9 percent. Data are not yet
available concerning total compensation of employees for September
1934. The latest pay-roll information available shows an increase
from $126,989,749 in July 1934, to $128,261,020 in August 1934,
or 1 percent.
The monthly trend of employment from January 1923 to August
1934 on class I railroads—that is, all roads having operating revenues
of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by index numbers published in the
following table. These index numbers, constructed by the Inter­
state Commerce Commission, are based on the 3-year average,
1923-25 as 100.
T able 1.—IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I ST E A M R A IL R O A D S IN T H E
U N IT E D ST A T E S , JA N U A R Y 1923 TO A U G U ST 1934
[3-year average, 1923-25=100]
1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

98.4
98.6
100.4
101.9
104.8
107.1
108.2
109.2
107.7
107.1
105. 0
D ecem ber...... ................ 99.1

96.7
96.9
97.3
98.8
99.1
97.9
98.0
98.9
99.6
100.7
98. 9
96.0

95.5
95.3
95.1
96.5
97.7
98.5
99.3
99.5
99.7
100.4
98.9
96.9

95.6
95.8
96.5
98.6
100.0
101.3
102.6
102.4
102.5
103.1
101.0
98.0

95.2
95.0
95.6
97.1
99.1
100.7
100.7
99.2
98.8
98.5
95.5
91.7

89.1
88.7
89.7
91.5
94.4
95.8
95.4
95.5
95.1
95.2
92.7
89.5

88.0
88.6
89.8
91.9
94.6
95.8
96.3
97.1
96.5
96.6
92.8
88.5

86.1
85.2
85.3
86.7
88.3
86.3
84.5
83.5
82.0
80.2
76.9
74.8

73.5
72.6
72.7
73.4
73.8
72.7
72.3
71.0
69.2
67.6
64.4
62.5

61.1
60.2
60.5
59.9
59.6
57.7
56.3
54.9
55.7
56.9
55.8
54.7

54.1
53.0
52.7
54.6
55.9
51.5
56.9
51.8
58.5
52.5
59.0
53.6
55.4 1 58.7
56.8 i 57.8
57.7 ___
57.4 ___
55.8
54.0

104.0

98.2

97.8

99.8

97.3

92.7

93.1

83.3

70.6

57.8

54.4

M onth

1923

J a n u a r v ___________
F e b ru a ry ......................
M arch ______ ____ ___
A pril_______________
M a y ________________
Ju n e ________ _____J u ly ________________
A ugust_____________
Septem ber . . --------O ctober_____________

Average_______


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1 Prelim inary.

2 Average for 8 m onths.

1934

2 56.9

1261

TKEND OF EMPLOYMENT

Table 2 shows the total number of employees by o c cu p atio n s on
the 15th day of July and August 1934, and by group totals on the
15tli day of September 1934; also, pay-roll totals for the entire months
of July and A u g u st 1934. Total compensation for the month of
September is not yet available. Beginning in January 1933 the
Interstate Commerce Commission excluded reports of switching and
terminal companies from its monthly tabulations. The actual
figures for the months shown in the following table therefore are not
comparable with the totals published for the months prior to January
1933. The index numbers of employment for class I railroads shown
in table 1 have been adjusted to allow for this revision and fu rn ish a
monthly indicator of the trend of employment from January 1923 to
the latest month available. In these tabulations data for the occu­
pational group reported as “ executives, officials, and staff assistants”
are omitted.
T able 2.—E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I ST E A M R A IL R O A D S, JU L Y TO S E P T E M B E R
1934, A N D PA Y R O LLS FO R JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
[From m onthly reports of In terstate Commerce Commission. As d ata for only the more im portant occu­
pations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the item s under the respective groups.
E m ploym ent figures for September 1934 are available by group totals only at this time]
N um ber of employees at
m iddle of m onth

Total earnings

Occupation

Professional, clerical, and general.......... ................ __
C lerks____________________________________
Stenographers and ty p ists_________________
M aintenance of w ay and structures_____________
Laborers, extra gang and work tra in ________
Laborers, track and roadw ay section________
M aintenance of equipm ent and stores__________
C arm en_______________________________ . . .
Electrical w orkers_________________________
M achinists_______________________________
Skilled trades helpers______________________
Laborers (shop, engine houses, power plants,
and stores)______________________________
Common laborers (shop, engine houses, power
plants, and stores)_______________________
Transportation, other th a n train, engine, and yard.
Station agents____________________________
Telegraphers, telephoners, and tow erm en___
Truckers (stations, warehouses, and platforms).
Crossings and bridge flagmen and gatemen.
T ransportation, yardm aster, sw itch tenders, and
hostlers____________________________________
T ransportation, train and engine_______________
Road conductors__________________________
R oad brakem en and flagmen_______________
Y ard brakem en and yard helpers___________
Road engineers and m otorm en_____________
R oad firemen and helpers__________________

Ju ly
1934

A ugust
1934

166, 911
87, 444
15, 591
236,425
33,195
116,163
283, 953
59,073
8,739
39, 539
63, 221

166,480
87,110
15, 579
231, 792
30,138
113, 775
273, 864
56, 721
8,615
38, 277
60, 379

21, 424

21,081

1, 680, 370

1, 657, 824

19, 054
126, 246
23, 913
14,833
17,832
16,873

17,973
125, 568
23, 839
14, 837
17, 725
16, 867

1,183, 793
14,441, 111
3,439, 930
2,124,323
1, 356, 997
1,147,480

1,178, 211
14, 652, 103
3, 540,939
2,128,403
1,442,185
1,145, 996

12, 642
210, 577
23, 384
48, 463
36, 094
28,459
31, 203

12, 529
209,880
23,368
48, 371
35, 689
28, 358
30, 905

2, 226, 363
35, 472, 551
5,084, 276
6,872, 276
4, 695, 301
6, 749,139
4,869, 424

2,210,129
36,194, 664
5,191, 283
7,043, 811
4, 756,454
6, 901,371
4, 984, 852

Septem ­
ber 1934

Ju ly
1934

August
1934

165, 556 $23, 292,116 $23, 574, 285
11,567,766 11, 772,026
1, 931, 024
1, 959, 542
224, 688 19, 425, 579 19, 707, 458
1, 983, 242
1,857, 742
7, 001, 378
7,131,955
272, 567 32,132, 029 31,922,381
7, 515,140
7, 505,990
1, 214, 228
1, 224, 736
5, 244, 544
5,191,871
5,972, 329
5,899,182

125,975

12,396
210,151

All employees_____ _________________ ____ 1,036, 754 1, 020,113 1,011,333 126, 989, 749 128, 261,020


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1262

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
E m p l o y m e n t a n d P a y R o lls i n t h e F e d e r a l S e r v ic e , A u g u s t 1934

C omparing August with July there was an increase of 5,328 em­
ployees in the executive service of the United States Government.
Comparing August 1934 with the corresponding month of the previous
vear there was an increase of 101,858 employees or 17.7 percent in
this service throughout the United States.
Data concerning employment in the executive departments are
collected by the United States Civil Service Commission from the
various departments and offices of the United States Government.
The figures are tabulated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Infor­
mation concerning the legislative, judicial, and military branches of
the Government are collected and compiled by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Table 1 shows the number of employees in the executive depart­
ments of the Federal Government.
Data for the District of Columbia are shown separately. Approxi­
mately 13 percent of the employees in the executive branches of the
United States Government work in the city of Washington.
T able 1 .—E M P L O Y E E S IN T H E E X E C U T IV E S E R V IC E OF T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S
A U Q U ST 1933 A N D JU L Y 1934, A N D A U G U ST 1934

Item

D istrict of Columbia

Outside the D istrict

E n tire service

T em ­
Perm a­ po­
Total
nent
ra ry 1

Perm a­ T em po­ Total
ra ry 1
nent

Perm a­ T em po­ Total
rary 1
nent

N um ber of employees:
62, 774 5, 034 67,808 460,520 46, 651 507,171 523,294 51,685 574’, 979
A ugust 1933____________
Ju ly 1934_______________ 79, 582 8, 396 87, 978 496, 529 87,002 583, 531 576, 111 95, 398 671,509
81,811 9, 254 91,065 498, 299 87,473 585,772 580, 110 96, 727 676,837
A ugust 1934____________
Gain or loss:
A ugust 1933-A ugust 1934. +19, 037 J- 4, 220 +23, 257 +37, 779 +40,822 +78,601 +57. 816 +45,042 + 101,858
+471 +2, 241 +3, 999 +1, 329 +5,328
Ju ly 1934-August 1934___ +2, 229 +858 +3, 087 +1,770
Percent of change:
+ 8 .2 +87.5 +15.5 + 10.9 +87.1 +17.7
A ugust 1933-August 1934. +30.3 +83.8 +34.3
+ 1.4
+ 0 .8
+ 0.7
+ 0.4
+ 3 .5
+ 0.5
+ 0.7
+ 2 .8 + 10.2
Ju ly 1934-August 1934___
Labor turn-over A ugust 1934:
38,512
11,361
27,151
32,
613
24,
618
7,995
5,899
2,
533
3, 366
A dditions 2_____________
7, 437 25, 584 33, 021
2,784
6, 276 23,961 30, 237
1,161 1,623
Separations2........... ..........
4. 90
1. 29
26. 63
5.17
1 .2 0
27. 47
3. 11
1.44 18. 39
Turn-over rate per 100---1N o t including field employees of the Post Office D epartm ent.
2 N ot including employees transferred w ithin the G overnm ent service as such transfers should not be
regarded as labor turn-over.

Table 2 shows employment in the executive departments of the
United States Government, by months, January to August 1934,
inclusive.
T able 2 .—E M P L O Y M E N T IN T H E E X E C U T IV E D E P A R T M E N T S O F T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S BY M O N T H S , 1934, F O R D IS T R IC T O F C O L U M B IA , O U T S ID E D IS T R IC T OF
C O L U M B IA , A N D T O T A L

M onth

Jan u a ry ___________
F e b ru a ry __________
M arch ____________
A pril______________


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

D istrict
of Co­
lum bia

Outside
D istrict
of Co­
lum bia

78,045
79,913
81,569
83, 850

530,094
531,839
541,990
560, 258

T otal

608,139
611,752
623, 559
644,108

M onth

M ay _____________
Ju n e ______________
Ju ly ____________
A ugust____________

D istrict
of Co­
lum bia

Outside
D istrict
of Co­
lum bia

85, 939
87,196
87,978
91,065

573,147
573, 898
583, 531
585, 772

T otal

659,086
661,094
671, 509
676,837

1263

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

There were over 13,000 more employees in the executive depart­
ments of the United States Government working in Washington, D.C.,
in August than in January 1934. The number of such employees
outside of the District of Columbia increased 55,678 over this period.
Table 3 shows the number of employees and amount of pay rolls
in the various branches of the United States Government during
July and August 1934.
T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S OF PA Y R O LLS IN T H E V A R IO U S
B R A N C H E S OF T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S G O V E R N M E N T , JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
N um ber of employees

A m ount of p ay roll

Branch of Service
Ju ly
Executive Service_________. ________________
M ilitary Service..- . . . ___________________
Judicial Service . . . . .
. ________________
Legislative Service_______ . . . . . . _________
T o ta l.

________

. . . _______________

A ugust

July

August

671, 509
268, 257
1,750
3, 713

676,837
268, 712
1,690
3, 723

$94, 636,232
20, 391, 629
434, 736
978,908

$97, 919,636
20, 501,900
439,014
977,966

945, 229

950,962

116, 441,505

119,838, 516

Table 4 shows the number of employees and amount of pay rolls
for all branches of the United States Government, by months,’ from
December 1933 to August 1934, inclusive.
T a ble 4 . —N U M B E R

O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S OF PA Y R O L L S F O R A LL
B R A N C H E S O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S G O V E R N M E N T BY M O N T H S , D E C E M B E R
1933 T H R O U G H A U G U ST 1934

Executive service
M onth

M ilitary service

Judicial service

Legislative
service

N um ­
N um ­
N um ­
N um ­
ber of A m ount of ber of A m ount of ber of A m ount ber of A m ount
pay employ­ of pay
employ­
pay roll
employ­ pay roll employ­ ofroll
roll
ees
ees
ees
ees

1933
D e c e m b e r.._____ ____ 608, 670 1$82, Oil, 601

263, 622 $17, 656, 909

1,872 $432, 435

3,864

$886, 781

1934
January _____________
F eb ru ary . ________ . . .
M a rc h ..
. . .
_____
A p ril...
. _________
M ay . _____________ _
June . ______
Ju ly --------------------------August ______________

262, 942
263, 464
266, 285
266, 923
266, 864
267, 038
268, 257
268, 712

1,780 417, 000
1,742 1430,843
1,854 1443, 505
1,904 432,401
1,913 442,896
1,881 439,170
1, 750 434, 736
1,690 439, 014

3,845
3,852
3,867
3, 865
3, 862
3,878
3,713
3, 723

871, 753
926,363
928,368
926,484
940, 666
944, 758
978,908
977,966

608,139
611, 752
623, 559
644,108
659, 086
661,094
671, 509
676, 837

1 77, 450,498
1 83, 524, 296
i 84,837, 493
1 85, 090, 283
89, 577,479
91, 540, 629
94, 636, 232
97, 919, 636

18, 499, 516
19, 532,832
19, 050,158
18,816, 636
19, 216,150
19, 539, 020
20, 391, 629
20,636,460

1 Revised.

E m p lo y m e n t

C r e a te d b y C o n s tr u c tio n P r o je c ts o f t h e
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n F u n d , A u g u s t 1934

P u b lic W o rk s

D u r i n g the month ending August 15, 1934, over 602,000 em­
ployees were working at the site of Public Works Administration
construction projects. This construction is financed wholly or in
part from the Public Works Administration fund. These workers
were paid more than $35,000,000 for their month’s work.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1264

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Table 1 shows by type of project employment, pay rolls, and man­
hours worked during the month of August 1 1934 on Federal projects
financed by the Public Works Administration fund.
T able 1.—E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O L L S , A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D ON F E D E R A L
P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D ,
D U R IN G A U G U ST 1934, B Y T Y P E O F P R O JE C T
[Subject to revision]

T ype of project

Building construction_____________ _______
Public roads . .
_ -- ____________________
River, harbor, and flood control______ _______
Streets and roads
______________ _______
N aval vessels. _________________ _____ ____
R eclam ation_____________________ _____ ____
Fo restry .. ____ _________________ ____ _____
W ater and sewerage________________________
M iscellaneous_________ ____________________
T o tal.

.

. . ______________ ______

N um ber A m ount of N um ber of Average
an-hours earnings
of wage
pay rolls mworked
per hour
earners

Value of
material
orders
placed

34, 504
280, 247
50, 231
19,681
16,425
15,304
15,093
1,688
17, 706

$2,168,310
12,706,450
3,416,809
1,123,918
2,004,023
1, 592,809
1,060, 419
80, 351
1,531,555

2,803,020
25,486, 773
5,400, 769
1, 986,464
2,418,104
2, 536,430
1,624,844
124, 345
2,620,477

$0. 774
.499
.633
.566
.829
.628
.653
.646
.584

$3, 556,221
13, 725,000
4, 583, 636
713,925
2,930,955
1, 795,833
215,373
147,338
1,959, 302

450,879

25,684,644

45,001,226

.571

29, 627, 583

1 O ther th a n those reported by the B ureau of Public Roads.

Federal projects are financed entirely by allotments made by the
Public Works Administration to various departments and agencies of
the Federal Government. The construction work is done either by
commercial firms to whom contracts are awarded by the Federal
agencies or by day labor hired directly by such agencies.
There were over 450,000 people working at the site of Federal con­
struction projects. This is a decrease of nearly 40,000 as compared
with the month of July. The decrease was caused by the completion
of many of the public-roads projects. Employment on public roads
decreased by more than 39,000. All other types of construction,
except naval vessels, forestry, and building construction showed an
increase comparing these 2 months.
Although employment on road building showed a large decrease,
more than 60 percent of the workers on Federal construction projects
were working on this type of work. More than 50,000 were engaged
in river, harbor, and flood-control work and over 30,000 in building
construction.
1 W henever the m onth of A ugust is spoken of in this stu d y it is assum ed to m ean the m onth ending
A ugust 15.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1265

TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT

Table 2 shows, by type of project, employment, pay rolls, and
man-hours worked during the month of August on non-Federal con­
struction projects financed from the Public Works Administration
fund.
T able 2 —E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O LLS, A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D ON N O N F E D E R A L
P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D D U R ­
IN G A U G U ST 1934, B Y T Y P E OF P R O JE C T
[Subject to revision]

N um ber A m ount of N um ber of Average
of wage
earnings
p ay rolls man-hours
earners
per hour
worked

T ype of project

B uilding construction____ _____________ ____
Streets and roads. __________ _____________
W ater and sewerage_______________ . ______
Railroad construction-.
______
_ ____
M iscellaneous___________________________ . .
Total _ _____ __________

______

Value of
material
orders
placed

34, 955
19, 086
28, 436
34, 347
847

$2,188,059
965, 256
1,576,443
1,820, 735
57,953

2,692,492
1,514, 646
2, 270, 299
3, 779, 289
89, 420

$0.813
.637
.694
.482
.648

$4, 546,583
1, 337, 672
3,657, 206
988, 742
49, 050

117, 671

6,608, 446

10, 346,146

.639

10,579, 253

Non-Federal projects are financed by allotments made from the
Public Works Administration fund to a State or political subdivisions
thereof, or in some cases to commercial firms. In the case of allot­
ments to States and their political subdivisions, the Public Works
Administration makes a direct grant of 30 percent of the total con­
struction cost and the public agency to whom the loan is made
finances the other 70 percent. In some cases, this 70 percent is
obtained as a loan from the Public Works Administration; in other
cases, the loan is obtained from outside sources. Where the loan is
made by the Public Works Administration it bears interest and must
be paid within a given period. No grants are made to commercial
firms. Commercial allotments consist entirely of loans. By far
the largest part of the commercial allotments have been made to rail­
roads. Railroad work falls under three headings: First, construction,
such as electrification, laying of rails and ties, repairs to buildings, etc.;
second, building and repairing of locomotives and passenger and
freight cars in railroad shops; third, the building of locomotives and
passenger and freight cars in commercial shops.
Data concerning employment created by railroad construction is
shown in table 2. Employment in railroad shops is shown in table 5,
page 1267.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1266

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Table 3 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked dur­
ing August 1934 on Federal construction projects financed from the
Public Works Administration fund, by geographic divisions.
T able 3 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O LLS, A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D ON F E D E R A L
P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D ,
D U R IN G A U G U ST 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Geographic division

um ber of Average
A m ount of N
man-hours earnings
N um ber W eekly pay rolls
per hour
worked
em­
ployed average

Value of
m aterial
orders
placed

20,433
46,841
66,581
62,073
62,457
44, 111
54, 800
53, 937
31, 786

20, 084
45, 609
65,157
60,192
59, 563
42,327
52, 324
53, 067
30, 761

$1,456, 289
2, 740,150
3, 575, 442
2,917,817
3, 486,868
2,171, 836
2, 293, 588
4,195, 669
2, 415,069

2,400,413
4,745,383
5,763,497
5,266, 374
6, 323,450
4, 683,824
5,152, 629
6, 476,120
3,372,859

$0. 607
.577
.620
.554
.551
.464
.445
.648
.716

$1, 038,888
2,036, Oil
1,360,130
1, 638,726
3, 698, 513
920, 994
1, 026,743
2, 689,369
1,040,932

Total continental U nited States L 443,164
7,715
Outside continental U nited States__ _

429,229
6,796

25, 273,800
410,844

44, 205,325
795,901

.572
.516

2 29,179, 520
448, 063

G rand to ta l___________ ______ 450,879

436, 025-

25, 684, 644

45,001,226

.571

29, 627, 583

New E ngland---------------------------------M iddle A tlantic__ __________ ____
E ast N orth C en tral.
----------W est N o rth C en tral.— .
---------—
South A tlantic
..
..............
E ast South Central
. . . . . ------W est South C entral---- ------------- -M o u n tain .. —
----Pacific_______
______ ____ ______

1 Includes data for 145 wage earners which cannot be charged to any specific geographic division.
2 Includes $13,725,000 estim ated value of m aterial orders placed for public-roads projects which cannot be
charged to any specific geographic division.

Table 4 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked during
August 1934 on non-Federal construction projects financed from the
Public Works Administration fund, by geographic division.
T able 4 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y RO LLS, A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D ON N O N -F E D E R A L
P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D FR O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N F U N D
D U R IN G A U G U ST 1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]
Wage earners
Geographic division

N um ber W eekly
em ­
ployed average

um ber of Average
A m ount of N
earnings
pay rolls man-hours
per hour
worked

Value of
m aterial
orders
placed

16, 542
18,112
18, 590
15, 294
23, 719
5,216
4,047
6,794
8,607

13,339
16,057
15, 334
12,511
20, 527
4, 440
3.274
5, 730
7, 238

$968,723
1,108, 261
1, 226,190
691,120
1, 474,064
242, 662
161, 477
329,732
374, 836

1, 584, 840
1, 656, 516
1, 616,082
1,047, 634
2, 478,449
452,196
309, 699
577, 464
564, 610

$0. 611
.669
.759
.660
.595
.537
.521
.571
.664

$1,107, 697
2, 219,335
1,930, 588
1, 414,004
1, 769, 327
253, 425
446, 084
522,741
832,016

T otal continental U nited States. 116,921
750
Outside continental U nited S ta te s .. .

98, 450
602

6, 577,065
31.381

10, 287, 490
58, 656

.639
.535

10,495, 217
84, 036

G rand t o t a l . - . ------- --------------- 117, 671

99,052

6, 608, 446

M), 346,146

.639

10, 579, 253

N ew E n g la n d ___ _ . . _______ _
M iddle A tlan tic---- ------------- — -----E ast N o rth C en tra l_______ .
——
W est N o rth C en tral____________ . .
South A tlantic . . — -------------------E ast South C e n tra l-.. . ----------------W est South C entral.
---- ---------M o u n tain .. _ - - ---------------------P acific.. ------------------------------------ .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1267

Table 5 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked in
railroad shops on work financed from the Public Works Administra­
tion fund during August 1934, by geographic divisions.
T able 5 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O LLS, A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D IN R A IL R O A D
SH O PS ON W O R K F IN A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN IS T R A T IO N
F U N D D U R IN G A U G U ST 1934, B Y G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]

N um ber A m ount of N um ber of Average
of wage
an-hours earnings
pay rolls mworked
earners
per hour

Geographic division

Value of
m aterial
orders
placed

N ew E n g lan d ________________
M iddle A tla n tic ________________
E ast N orth C en tral_____________
W est N o rth C entral _________
South A tla n tic . . . _______
E a st South C entral ____________
W est South C e n t r a l . . . ______________
M o u n tain _______
______
_. _
Pacific________

591
5, 641
3, 529
1,611
181
2,743
2,463
907
3, 387

$66, 535
433, 384
323, 561
92,476
8,151
291, 407
149, 520
45, 420
232,115

102, 631
653,281
503, 590
143,393
15, 610
475,098
250, 888
71, 863
372,381

$0. 648
.663
.643
.645
.522
.613
.596
.632
.623

$328,440
3,194,885
247,855
64,101
11,161
55,993
71,876
28,130
91,031

T o tal. _____________ ____ _

21,053

1, 642, 569

2, 588, 735

.635

4, 093, 472

Table 6 shows expenditures for materials from the beginning of the
Public Works Administration program in July 1933 to August 15,
1934.
T able 6 .—V A LU E OF M A T E R IA L O R D E R S P L A C E D ON P U B L IC W O R K S P R O JE C T S ,
B Y T Y P E OF M A T E R IA L
[Subject to revision]
Value of m aterial orders
placed
T ype of m aterial

Aircraft (new)___________________ ____ ________________________________
Airplane p a rts___ _______________________________________________ _____
A lum inum m anufactures_________ ____ ________________________________
A m m unition and related p roducts__________________________ ___________
Asbestos_____________________________________________________________
Awnings, tents, canvas, etc____________________________________________
Belting, miscellaneous__________________________ ______________________
B oat building, steel and wooden (small)________________________________
Bolts, nuts, washers, etc________________ _____ _________________________
C arpets and rugs________________________________________________ _____
Carriages and wagons_________________________________________________
Cast-iron pipe and fittings_____________________________________________
C em ent______________________________________________________________
Chemicals________________________________________ ______ _____________
Clay products________________________________________________________
C oal_________________________________________________________________
Compressed and liquefied gases_____________________________________ ____
Concrete products____________ ' _______________________________________
Copper products______________________________________________________
Cordage and tw ine____________________________________ _______ ________
Cork products_________________ ____ _______ . ___ . _____________________
C otton goods---------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------Creosote_____________________________________________________________
Crushed stone_____________________________________________ __________
Doors, shutters, and window sash and frames, molding and trim (m etal)___
Electrical m achinery, apparatus, and supplies_____________________ ______
Elevators and p a r ts ._____________________________. ____________________
Engines, turbines, tractors, w ater wheels, and w indm ills_________________
Explosives__________________ _________________________________________
F elt goods----------------------- ----- --------- ----------------------------------------------------


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

From begin­
D uring
ning of pro­
gram to Ju ly m onth ending
Aug.
15, 1934
15,1934
$4, 284,890
4, 243,243
43,359
75, 726
42, 292
136,451
13, 019
529,702
1, 596,404
30, 391
15,854
5,185,095
49,062,654
145,865
3, 709,642
420, Oil
120,130
5, 035, 379
248,847
160, 781
25, 857
59,437
445,821
15, 558,604
1, 719,842
16, 730,915
2, 522,164
1, 760, 687
86, 747

$143, 569
51,849
503, 074
8,450
5, 264
1,549
246,800
108, 598
114
1,094
1,035,849
5,402, 351
18,342
852, 703
93,179
23,095
1,371,429
69,952
13,104
10,094
6, 531
927
1,815,790
88, 292
3, 251,038
32, 965
139,319
189,213
62,921

1268

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 6 —V A LU E O F M A T E R IA L O R D E R S P L A C E D ON P U B L IC W O R K S P R O JE C T S ,
B Y T Y P E OF M A T E R IA L —C ontinued
[Subject to revision]
Value of m aterial orders
placed
T ype of material

F ire a rm s...------ ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------Forgings, iron and steel--------------------------------------------- -------------- ----------F oundry and machine-shop products, not elsewhere classified.......... ................
Furniture, including store and office fixtures-------------------------------------------Glass---------------------------- -------------------------- -----------------------------------------Hardw are, miscellaneous------------------------------ ---------------------------------------Instrum ents, professional and scientific.— --------------------------------------------Ju te goods------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lighting equipm ent-------------------------------------------------------------- ------ -------Lim e----- --------- ------- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------Linoleum __________________ ____ ______________ _______ ______________ Locomotives, oil-electric------------------------------------------------------------- -----Locomotives, steam ---------------------- -----------------------------------------------------L um ber and tim ber products---------------------------------------------------------------M achine tools-----------------------------------------------------------— ..............................
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone products--------------------------------------M attresses and bed springs-------------------------------------------- --------- ----- ------M eters (gas, w ater, etc.), and gas g en erato rs...---------------------------------------M inerals and earths, ground or otherwise treated ------------------------------------M otor vehicles, passenger----------------------------- ------ - ------ -----------------------M otor vehicles, tru ck s_________________________________________________
Nails and spikes------------------------------------- ------ ----------------------- --------------Nonferrous-inetal alloys, nonferrous-metal products, except alum inum , not
elsewhere classified---------------------------------------------------------------------------P aints and varnishes______________________________________ ____ _______
Paper products_________________________________ l ----------------------- ------ Paving materials and m ixtures--------------------------------------—---------------------Petroleum products----------------------------------------------------------- ------ ---------Photographic apparatus and m aterials------------------ --------------------------------Planing-mill products-------------- ----------------- -----------------------------------------Plum bing supplies______________________ ____ _______________ _____ ____
Pum ps and pum ping equipm ent--------------------------------------------------- --------Radio apparatus and supplies------------------------- -------------------------------------Rail fastenings, excluding spikes_________________ ____ ____________ _____
Rails, steel__________________________________________ ____ ______ ______
R ailw ay cars, freight---------------------------------------------------------------------------Railw ay cars, mail and express------------------ ------------ ------------ —.............. .......
R ailw ay cars, passenger______________________________ ____ ____________
Refrigerators and refrigerator cabinets, including mechanical refrigerators----Roofing, built-up and roll; asphalt shingles; roof coatings, other th a n p a in t----R ubber goods_________________________________________________________
Sacks and bags----------------------- ------------- ----------------------- ------ ---------------Sand and gravel------------ ------------- ------------------------------ --------- ---------------Sheet-metal w ork--------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------Smelting and refining, lead _______________________ ____ ________________
Smelting and refining, zinc____________________________________ ______ _
Springs, steel--------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------Steam and hot-w ater heating a p p aratu s______________________ __________
Steam and other packing, pipe a n d boiler covering, and gaskets----------------Steel-works and rolling-mill products, other th a n steel rails, including struc­
tu ral and ornam ental m etal w ork_____________________________________
Stoves and ranges (other th an electric) and warm -air furnaces)____________
Switches, railw ay_____________________________________________________
Theatrical scenery and stage equipm ent------------------------------------------------Tools, other th a n m achine tools________________________________________
U pholstering materials, not elsewhere classified-------------------------- ------ -----W all plaster, wall board, insulating board, and floor composition--------------W aste_______________________________________________________________
W indow and door screens and w eather strip ------------------------------------------W indow shades and fixtures..--------------------------------------------------------------Wire, draw n from purchased rods______________________________________
W ire work, not elsewhere classified_____________________________________
W rought pipe, welded and heavy riv e te d __________________________ ____
O th er_______________________________________________________________
Total


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

From begin­
M onth
ning of pro­ m onth ending
gram to July Aug. 15, 1934
15,1934
$306,637
2,479,670
45, 087,048
403,172
249.329
1,596,662
1,129, 586
23, 620
975,810
78,967
7,920
330,923
5, 707,369
21,099,251
2,177,363
5, 542,297
7, 779
67,692
72,482
145,983
348,022
466,594

$442,152
277,140
5,844,454
291,774
38,434
231,163
159,349
9, 754
88, 557
17, 821
2,293
181,843
1,129, 695
2,149,025
719,323
584,769
5,139
43, 741
7,897
7, 204
49,152
13,103

721, 740
911,770
15,993
6, 741,192
11,811,255
9, 856
1,850, 316
3, 385,116
4, 760, 356
238,813
4, 757, 927
17, 368,805
34, 522, 560
219,157
5, 661,773
462, 648
986, 023
166, 552
12,897
26, 307, 293
1, 567, 035
80, 746
3,853
536, 260
2,194, 690
304, 200

35,867
154,117
3,344
950,368
1, 522,834
719
336,704
582,948
611,577
329, 243
31,178
7, 821
1,341
210, 286
1,140, 662
65, 941
182, 551
29, 23!
2,413
3,197, 754
118, 359
22, 585
13, 556
1,764
314, 321
54,888

63,138, 507
72,171
752, 021
23, 651
2, 377,112
67, 477
671, 535
15, 657
41, 219
22,921
2,158,494
327, 739
177,902
16, 399,908

5, 047, 616
24,138
15, 627
2,050
288, 790
14, 361
125, 017
1,014
19, 322
6, 790
65, 863
122, 697
50, 721
3, 414, 026

414,159,125

46,961, 648

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

1269

During the 12-month period ending July 15, purchase orders were
placed for materials to cost over $414,000,000. The total purchases
of steel-works and rolling-mill products amounted to over $63,000,000;
foundry and machine-shop products, over $44,000,000; railroad
freight cars, over $34,000,000; and cement, over $49,000,000.
During the month of August orders were placed for materials valued
at nearly $47,000,000. It is estimated that the fabrication of the
materials for which orders were placed during August will create
approximately 130,000 man-months of labor.
Table 7 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked by
employees since the inception of the Public Works Administration
program in August 1933 to August 1934, inclusive.
T able 7 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O LLS, A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D D U R IN G A U G U ST
1933 TO A U G U ST 1934, ON P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D F R O M T H E P U B L IC W O R K S A D M IN ­
IS T R A T IO N F U N D , B Y M O N T H S
[Subject to revision]
N um ber of
wage earners

A m ount of
pay rolls

N um ber of
m an-hours
worked

1933
A ugust________ ___________ _____
Septem ber_____
_ _______ . . .
October 1_________________________
N ovem ber 4____ _ . . _ _ ______
D ecember L _________________ .

4, 699
33,836
121,403
254, 784
270, 408

$280, 040
1,961, 496
7, 325,313
14, 458, 364
15, 424, 700

539,454
3,920, 009
14, 636, 603
27, 862, 280
29,866, 249

$0.519
.500
.500
. 519
.516

$202,100
1, 622, 365
2 22, 513, 767
24, 299, 055
24,850,188

1934
J a n u a ry .. ___. . . . __________ . . .
F ebruary 1______________________ .
M arch 1____________________ . . . .
A p ril4. . . . _____ . . ___________
M ay 4. . ___________ . . ______
June 4____________________________
Ju lv 4____________________________
A u g u st4________ . . . . __________

273,583
295, 741
292, 696
371, 234
491,166
592, 057
624, 286
602, 581

14, 574,960
15, 246, 423
15, 636, 545
17, 907, 842
25, 076,908
32, 783, 533
33,829, 858
35,142, 770

27, 658,591
28, 938,177
29,171, 634
31, 559, 966
44, 912,412
58, 335,119
59,436,314
59,943,828

.527
.527
.536
.567
.558
. 562
.569
.586

23, 522,929
24, 565,004
3 69, 334, 408
3 66, 639,862
3 49, 720, 378
3 57, 589, 895
3 49, 299,174
3 46,961, 648

229, 648, 752

416, 780,136

.551

461,120, 773

M onth

T o t a l . ____ _. ____________

Average Value of m a­
earnings terial orders
per hour
placed

1 Revised.
2 Includes orders placed for naval vessels prior to October.
3 Includes orders placed b y railroads for new equipm ent.
4 Includes d ata for commercial car and locomotive shops.

The total earnings over the 13-month period amounted to nearly
$230,000,000. This construction program has provided at the site
of the construction projects over 400,000,000 man-hours of labor.
The earnings have averaged over 55 cents per hour over the 13-month
period.
It is estimated that the manufacture of materials for which orders
have been placed will create nearly 1,240,000 man-months of labor.
This only accounts for the labor in fabricating the material in the
form in which it is to be used. For example, only labor in manu­
facturing bricks is counted, not the labor in taking the clay from the
pits or in hauling the clay and other materials used in the brick
plant. In fabricating steel rails, only the labor in the rolling mill
is counted, not labor created in mining and smelting the ore, or labor
in the blast furnace, the open-hearth furnace, or the blooming mill.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOE EEVIEW

1270

E m e r g e n c y W o r k R e lie f P r o g r a m

O y e r 1,200,000 people are now given employment by the emer­
gency work program of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.
Table 1 shows the number of employees and the amounts of pay
rolls for the workers on the emergency work program for the weeks
ending July 26 and August 30.
T able 1. -N U M B E R O F E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S OF PA Y R O L L S F O R W O R K E R S
ON E M E R G E N C Y W O R K P R O G R A M , JU L Y 26 A N D A U G . 30, 1934
N um ber of employees
week ending—

A m ount of pay roll
week ending—

Geographic division
Ju ly 26
New E ngland. ___________ _____ __________
M iddle A tlantic------------------------------------------E ast N orth C en tral.-----------------------------------W est N o rth C entral---------------- ------ ------------Smith A tlantic
_____________ __________ E ast South C entral— ---------- ------ --------- -----W est South C en tra l-------- ---------------------------M ountain
____________________ ____
Pacific_____________________________________
Total

________ ___

____

Aug. 30

Ju ly 26

Aug. 30

95,836
232,549
205,812
179,238
148,468
99,170
110,287
62, 665
60, 415

93, 500
167,227
217,179
185,973
143,851
118,074
141,010
61,177
83,843

$1,173,810
3, 746, 204
2,014,773
1, 247,098
954,964
538,185
806,752
688,640
723,Oil

$1,080, 328
2,774,873
2,199,905
1,352,122
938,941
627,996
971,873
694,546
976,921

1,194,440

1,211,834
+ 1.5

11,893, 437

11,617, 505
-2 .3

Table 2 shows the number of employees and amounts of pay rolls
for those given jobs on the emergency work program of the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration, by months, from the inception
of the program in March to August 1934.
T able 2 . -N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S A N D A M O U N T S OF PA Y R O L L S F O R W O R K E R S
ON E M E R G E N C Y W O R K P R O G R A M , BY M O N T H S

M onth

M arch
_ _ ...... ................
A pril______ ____________
M a y . __________ _______

N um ber of A m ount of
pay roll
employees
22,934
786,829
866,779

$842, 000
42, 558, 711
39, 067,337

M onth

N um ber of A m ount of
pay roll
employees

969,466 $42,438, 091
Ju n e ------ ------------------- -46,466,611
1,136,563
Ju ly ___________________
A ugust_______ _______ i 1, 251, 529 i 61,093,001

1 Subject to revision.

There were less than 23,000 workers on this program in March
and by August the number of employees had increased over 1,200,000.
E m e r g e n c y C o n s e r v a t io n W o r k

O n A u g u s t 31 there were 3 8 5 ,3 4 0 men in the Civilian Conservation
Corps camps. This is a decrease of nearly 4 ,0 0 0 as compared with July.
The decrease was entirely confined to the intermittent labor in the
camps.
Table 1 shows the employment and pay rolls for emergency con­
servation work during the months of July and August 1 9 3 4 , by
type of work.

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1271

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT

T able 1 .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y R O L L S IN T H E E M E R G E N C Y C O N S E R V A T IO N
W O R K , JU L Y A N D A U G U ST 1934
A m ount of p ay rolls

N um ber of employees
Group
Ju ly

•
Enrolled personnel________________ _______
Reserve officers____________________________
E ducation advisors___
_______________ - Supervisory and technical1- - ........ ................... .
T o tal. ____________ _

_____

____

July

August

A ugust

346,637
6,034
1,102
3 35, 331

346,805
6,092
1,095
3 31,348

$10,825,476
1,509,157
176,765
3,521,336

$10,830,714
1, 522, 675
175, 669
3,834,768

389,104

385, 340

16,032,734

16,363. 826

1 Includes carpenters, electricians, and laborers.
2 26,533 included in executive service table.

3 28,493 included in executive service table.

The pay rolls for the Emergency Conservation Work for August
amounted to over $16,300,000. In addition to their pay, the enrolled
personnel receive free board, clothing, and medical attention.
Data concerning employment and pay rolls for Emergency Conser­
vation Work are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
the War Department, Department of Agriculture, Treasury Depart­
ment, and the Department of the Interior.
The pay of the enrolled personnel is figured as follows: 5 percent
are paid $45 per month, 8 percent $36 per month, and the remaining
87 percent $30 per month.
Table 2 shows monthly totals of employees and pay rolls in
Emergency Conservation Work from the inception of the program
in May 1933 to August 1934.
T able 2 —M O N T H L Y T O T A L S OF E M P L O Y E E S , A N D

PA Y R O L L S IN T H E
G E N C Y C O N S E R V A T IO N W O R K F R O M M A Y 1933 TO A U G U ST 1934

M onth

N um ber of A m ount of
pay roll
employees

1933

TVTay
.Tiinfi

July
A^ prist

SpptpmT'ifvr

Or»tnbpr
N’nvP.TnhPT
TTppp.mhpr

191,380
283,481
316,109
307,100
242,968
294,861
344,273
321, 701

$6,388,760
9,876,780
11,482,262
11, 604,401
9,759,628
12,311,033
14, 554,695
12,951,042

M onth

1934
J a n u a r y _______________
F eb ru ary ______________
M arch .- ______
A p r il___ --- . _______
M a y _____________ _____
J u n e ___________ - _____
J u ly ___________________
A ugust________________

EM ER

N um ber of A m ount of
employees
pay roll

331, 594
321,829
247,591
314, 664
335,871
280, 271
389,104
385,312

$13,581, 506
13,081,393
10,792,319
13,214,018
14,047,512
12,641,401
16,032,734
16,360,938

E m p lo y m e n t o n P u b lic R o a d s O th e r T h a n P . W . A . P r o je c ts

T h e carry-over appropriations of the Federal- and State-aid pro­
gram are nearly exhausted. In August there were less than 4,000
men employed. Most of the Federal road building is now being
financed from the public-works fund. Workers that are paid from
this fund are shown in table 1, page 1264.
Table 1 shows the number of employees (exclusive of those paid
from the public-works fund) engaged in the building and maintenance
of Federal and State roads during the months of July and August
1934, by geographic divisions.

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1272

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 1 —N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S E N G A G E D IN T H E C O N S T R U C T IO N A N D M A IN ­
T E N A N C E OF P U B L IC R O A D S, S T A T E A N D F E D E R A L , D U R IN G JU L Y A N D A U G U ST
1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N S i
Federal
Geographic division

N um ber of em­
ployees

State

A m ount of pay*
rolls

N um ber of em­
ployees

A m ount of pay
rolls
Ju ly

Ju ly

August

Ju ly

A ugust

Ju ly

New England____________
M iddle A tlantic___________
E ast N orth C en tral_______
W est N orth C entral_____ .
South A tla n tic ................. . . .
E ast South C entral________
W est South C entral.. ____
M o u n tain________ ______
Pacific___________________

33
997
596
115
120
43
1,050
1,269
612

0
880
626
78
97
13
467
1,057
547

$1,579
62,168
39,061
5,444
5, 525
3,141
40,179
81, 286
50,455

0
$55,597
39, 776
2,883
3,355
623
14,932
55, 699
51,176

18,392
56,168
35,678
18,812
38,829
8,980
18,051
8,131
10,865

22,097 $1,024,839 $1, 323, 653
60,359 2,984,237 3,151,646
35,964 1, 914, 210 2,125,316
23,974
909,195 1,150,884
41,049 1,525,805 1,555,871
14, 094
463,894
518,858
18, 064 1,036,181 1,116,539
8,960
558, 279
626,639
839,045
857,496
9,178

T o tal______ _____ ___
Percent of change____ _____
Outside continental U nited
States. ______ ________

4,838

3,765
-2 2 .2

288,838

224,041
-2 2 .4

213,906

233,739 11, 255,685 12,426,902
+10.4
+ 9.3

155

168

8,958

12,863

A ugust

71

August

8,261

1 Excluding em ploym ent furnished by projects financed from Public W orks A dm inistration fund.

There was an increase of more than 20,000 in the number of road
workers paid wholly from State funds, comparing August with July.
Increases in pay rolls amounted to nearly $1,200,000. Of the State
road workers, 77.1 percent were employed in maintaining existing
roads, and only 22.9 percent in building new roads.
Nearly 25 percent of the State road workers were working in the
Middle Atlantic division—that is, in the States of Pennsylvania
New York, and New Jersey.
Table 2 shows the number of employees engaged in the construction
and maintenance of public roads, State and Federal, January to
August 1934, inclusive.
T able 2 .—N U M B E R OF E M P L O Y E E S E N G A G E D IN T H E C O N S T R U C T IO N A N D M A IN ­
T E N A N C E O F P U B L IC RO A D S, S T A T E A N D F E D E R A L , JA N U A R Y TO A U G U ST 19341
N um ber of employees working on—
M onth

State roads
Federal
roads
New

Jan u ary ________________________
F eb ru ary __ ________ _ ______
M arch __ _ . _______
. ...
A pril______________ ________________
M ay ______________ ________________
Ju n e __________ .
........ .
J u ly _____________________________________
A ugust____ ___ ______ _
_______

7,633
2, 382
1,396
1,932
3,941
4,678
4,993
3, 933

25, 345
22,311
19,985
21,510
27,161
37, 642
45,478
53, 540

M aintenance
136, 440
126,904
132,144
136,038
167, 274
170,879
168, 428
180, 270

Total
161, 785
149,215
152,129
157,548
194,435
208, 521
213,906
233, 810

' Excluding em ploym ent furnished by projects financed from the Public W orks A dm inistration fund


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1273

TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
E m p lo y m e n t o n

C o n s tr u c tio n P r o je c ts F in a n c e d b y t h e
F in a n c e C o r p o r a t io n , A u g u s t 1934

R e c o n s tr u c tio n

17,000 people were on the pay rolls of contractors
engaged on construction projects financed by the Self-Liquidat­
ing Division of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation during the
month ending August 15.
Table 1 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Cor­
poration, by type of project.
N early

T a ble 1 .— E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O LLS, A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D ON P R O JE C T S

F IN A N C E D BY T H E S E L F -L IQ U ID A T IN G D IV IS IO N O F T H E R E C O N S T R U C T IO N
F IN A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N D U R IN G A U G U ST 1934, BY T Y P E O F P R O JE C T
[Subject to revision]
N um ber
of wage
earners

T ype of project

A m ount
of pay roll

N um ber
of m an­
hours
worked

Average
earnings
per hour

Value of
material
purchased

Building construction_________ ________
Bridges____________ _______ - - _______
. . . ------ -R eclam ation___ - W ater and sewerage.. . . .
......... . . . . .
M iscellaneous------ -------- . . . --------------- .

2,770
4,929
2,370
5,069
2,011

$311,224
394,893
153,743
615,118
213,034

274, 568
484,839
340, 380
873,885
312,614

$1.134
.814
.452
.704
.681

$289, 542
942,854
106,431
496,777
467,912

T o tal_____________ ____ _________

17,149

1,688,012

2,286, 286

.738

2,303,516

Pay rolls for the month ending August 15 totaled nearly $1,700,000
for employees working at the site of Reconstruction Finance Corpora­
tion construction projects. These men worked nearly 2,300,000 hours
and earned almost 74 cents per hour. The hourly earnings ranged
from 45 cents for reclamation projects to $1.13 for building construc­
tion.
Table 2 shows employment, pay rolls, and man-hours worked on
contracts financed by the Self-Liquidating Division of the Reconstruc­
tion Finance Corporation, by geographic divisions.
T a ble 2 —E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O LLS, A N D

M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D ON P R O JE C T S
F IN A N C E D BY T H E S E L F -L IQ U ID A T IN G D IV IS IO N OF T H E R E C O N S T R U C T IO N
F IN A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N D U R IN G A U G U ST 1934, BY G E O G R A P H IC D IV IS IO N
[Subject to revision]

Geographic division

N um ber of A m ount of N um ber of
man-hours
wage
p ay roll
worked
earners

Average
earnings
per hour

Value of
m aterial
purchased

New E nglan d ________------------------------ .
M iddle A tlan tic_______ _____________ E ast N orth C entral_____________________
W est N o rth C entral________________ - ..
South A tlan tic. . ------------- --------- -- -E ast South C e n tra l... ------------------ - - W est South C e n tra l.. . -------------- --------M o u n tain ------------------------------------ ------P a c ific _________ _____ _______ _____

0
4,171
287
54
725
119
773
2,451
8,569

0
$449,963
36, 470
2,556
35,828
5,107
74,499
161,834
921, 755

0
435,834
36,463
3,753
83, 552
18, 039
97,506
348,387
1, 262, 752

0
$1,032
1.000
.681
. 429
.283
.764
.465
.730

0
$810,536
23, 268
0
11,741
1,550
42, 288
110,122
1,304,011

T o ta l......... ............. - ................ - .............

17,149

1,688,012

2, 286, 286

.738

2,303,516

Of the 17,000 workers, more than 8,000 were employed in the Pacific
States and over 4,000 in the Middle Atlantic States.

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1274

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Hourly earnings averaged from less than 29 cents in the East South
Central States to over $1.03 in the Middle Atlantic States.
Table 3 shows data concerning employment, pay rolls, and
man-hours worked during the months April to August, inclusive,
on construction projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation.
T able 3 .—E M P L O Y M E N T , PA Y R O L L S , A N D M A N -H O U R S W O R K E D D U R IN G A P R IL
TO A U G U ST 1934 ON P R O JE C T S F IN A N C E D BY T H E S E L F -L IQ U ID A T IN G D IV IS IO N
OF T H E R E C O N S T R U C T IO N F IN A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N
[Subject to revision]
N um ber of A m ount of N um ber of
wage
pay rolls m an-hours
earners
worked

M onth

A pril___________
____
M ay __________ ____ .
Ju n e. . . .
_____
Ju ly ______________________________ ____
A ugust _________________ _____

18. 638
19, 274
19,218
17, 760
17,149

$1, 518, 479
1, 636, 503
1, 743, 318
1, 624,924
1,688,012

2,302, 739
2, 334,060
2,412, 342
2, 183, 560
2,286, 286

Average
earnings
per hour

$0. 659
.701
.723
.744
.738

Value of
material
orders
placed
$2. 297,479
2,120,498
2,189, 538
2, 332, 554
2, 303,516

Table 4 shows by types of projects the materials purchased by con­
tractors working on construction projects financed by the Reconstruc­
tion Finance Corporation.
It is estimated that 6,000 man-months of labor were created in
fabricating this material.
T a b l e 4 .—M A T E R IA L S P U R C H A S E D D U R IN G M O N T H E N D IN G A U G . 15, 1934, FO R P R O J ­

E C T S F IN A N C E D BY T H E S E L F -L IQ U ID A T IN G D IV IS IO N O F T H E R E C O N S T R U C ­
T IO N F IN A N C E C O R P O R A T IO N , BY T Y P E OF M A T E R IA L

T ype of m aterial

Bolts, nuts, rivets, e tc __________________________________________
Cast-iron pipe and fittings______ ________________________
C em en t_____________________________________________
____
C lay products__________________________________
.1 '"
C oal___________________________________________________________ I I I I I I I I
Compressed and liquefied gases___________ ____ ___________________Y 1 Y Y --Y Y Y Y
Concrete products____________________
C opper products______________________ ___________ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ”
Cordage and tw in e_________ _______ ______________ _________ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
Electrical m achinery and su p p lie s............................ .............
""
Explosives________________________________________________
F o u n d ry and machine-shop products, not elsewhere classified
1
Fuel o il.._________ ____________________________________________________
Gasoline____________________________________________ I I I I I I ”
1
H ardw are, miscellaneous_____ _____________________I . I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
........
L ubricating oils and greases___________________________________ Y.Y".
L um ber and tim ber products____________________________________ I I I I I I I I I I I I . I
M arble, granite, slate, and other stone p roducts_____________
M otor v e h ic le s ..______ _______________________________
Nails and spikes_______________________ ______________ .
P ain ts and varnishes_________________________________ ~ "
Plum bing supplies_________________________________________ ........................................ .
P um ps and pum ping eq u ip m en t______________________
Roofing_________ _____ __________________________
R u b b er goods__ ____ _______________________ . . I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ..........
............
Sand and g ra v e l..________________________________________
Sheet m etal w o rk .................. ____________________________ ""
Steel-works and rolling-mill products, including stru ctu ral and ornam ental m etal work
Tools, other th an m achine tools_______ ____ _________________
W ire___ _____ _____ _______________________________________
W irework, not elsewhere classified__________________ k k . I f i k L k ' I I
M iscellaneous m aterials________________ ____ ________________ H I
T o tal.
1 Subject to revision.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Value of
m aterials
purchased 1
$3,805
33, 281
118,149
25,018
2,331
4, 273
134,119
215,298
2, 269
133, 790
102,970
198,921
8, 767
37, 067
51,057
4,832
155,114
3,124
9,822
2,253
1,022

40, 560
4,098
1,044
4,111
53,797
5,695
779,082
8,611
42, 442
2,117
114, 677
2,303, 516

RETAIL PRICES
S cop e of R eta il Price R eports

INCE 1913 the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States
Department of Labor lias collected, compiled, and issued retail
prices of food. From time to time the work has been expanded by
including additional cities and articles. The Bureau now covers 51
localities well scattered throughout the continental United States and
also the Territory of Hawaii. Retail prices are secured for 78 of the
principal articles of food.
In order that current information may be available more often
the Bureau, since August 15, 1933, has collected these prices every 2
weeks. Prior to this time prices related to the 15th of the month.
Retail prices of coal were collected on January 15 and July 15 for
the years 1913 through 1919 from the cities covered in the retaibfood
study. Beginning with June 1920 prices have been collected on the
15tli of each month. No further change has been made in the dates
for the collection of retail prices of coal. A summary of prices and
index numbers for earlier years and for current months is shown in a
section of this publication.

S

R e ta il P rices of Food, S ep tem b er 1934

ETAIL prices of food were collected by the Bureau for two
periods during the month, namely September 11 and 25. Prices
were received from the same dealers and the same cities were covered
as have been included in reports of the Bureau for former periods.
For August 29, 1933, however, a representative number of reports
was not received from some of the cities, and average prices for the
United States as a whole for this date are not strictly comparable
with average prices shown for other dates. The index numbers, how­
ever, have been adjusted by using the percent of change in identical
cities and are, therefore, comparable with indexes of other periods.
Three commodities were added to the Bureau’s list of food items
beginning with August 29, 1933. These items are rye bread, canned
peaches, and canned pears. Thirty-one food commodities were added
beginning January 30, 1934. These items are lamb chops, breast of
lamb, chuck or shoulder of lamb, loin roast of pork, whole ham, picnic
ham, salt pork, veal cutlets, canned pink salmon, lard compound,
whole-wheat bread, apples, lemons, canned pineapple, dried peaches,
fresh green beans, carrots, celery, lettuce, sweetpotatoes, spinach,
canned asparagus, canned green beans, dried black-eyed peas, dried

R

91302°— 34------16


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107c

1276

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

lima beans, corn sirup, molasses, peanut butter, table salt, tomato
soup, and tomato juice. Two food commodities, cream and pound
cake, were added beginning March 13, 1934. Only average prices
can be shown for these articles as corresponding prices for the year
1913 are not available for the purpose of index numbers.
Data for the tabular statements shown in this report are compiled
from simple averages of the actual selling prices as reported to the
Bureau by retail dealers in the 51 cities. Comparable information
for months and years, 1913 to 1928, inclusive, is shown in Bulletins
Nos. 396 and 495; and bjTmonths and years, 1929 to 1932, inclusive,
in the March, April, and June 1933 issues of the Monthly Labor
Review.
Indexes of all articles combined, or groups of articles combined,
both for cities and for the United States, are weighted according to
the average family consumption. Consumption figures used since
January 1921 are given in Bulletin No. 495 (p. 13). Those used for
prior dates are given in Bulletin No. 300 (p. 61).
For a number of years the Bureau has issued an index number of
retail food prices for the groups of cereals, meats, and dairy products
in addition to the index for all foods. These three groups did not
include all the items covered by the Bureau and comprising the index
for all foods. An index has been computed for the group of “ Other
foods” which includes the remainder of the items not incorporated
in the three former groups.
The groups of items, together with the list of the items included
in each group, are:
Cereals.—White bread, flour, corn meal, corn flakes, rolled oats,
wheat cereal, macaroni, and rice.
Meats.—Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, sliced bacon, sliced ham, leg of lamb, and hens.
Dairy products.—Fresh milk, evaporated milk, butter, and cheese.
Other foods.—Lard, eggs, potatoes, sugar, tea, coffee, canned red
salmon, oleomargarine, vegetable lard substitute, navy beans, onions,
cabbage, pork and beans, canned corn, canned peas, canned tomatoes,
prunes, raisins, bananas, and oranges.
The index numbers for each of the groups and for all foods are
based on average prices for the year 1913 as 100, and are comparable
throughout the period. The indexes have been computed by the
same method and based upon the same weighting factors as those
appearing in former reports of the Bureau.
Table 1 shows index numbers of the total weighted retail cost of
important food articles and of four groups of these items, namely,
cereals, meats, dairy products, and other foods in the United States,
51 cities combined, by years 1913 to 1933, inclusive, and on specified
dates of the months of 1933 and 1934.

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1277

RETAIL PRICES

T a b l e 1 — IN D E X N U M B E R S OF T H E T O T A L W E IG H T E D R E T A IL C O ST OF FO O D A N D

O F C E R E A L S , M E A T S , D A IR Y P R O D U C T S , A N D O T H E R FO O D S IN T H E U N IT E D
S T A T E S , BY Y E A R S, 1913 TO 1933, IN C L U S IV E , A N D ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S O F E A C H
M O N T H , JA N . 15, 1933, TO S E P T . 25, 1934, IN C L U S IV E
[1913 = 100]

Y ear and
m onth

All
foods

airy
Cere­ M eats D
prod­
als
ucts

1913________
1914________
1915. ______
1916________
1917________
1918________
1919________
1920________
1921________
1922________
1923________
1924________
1925________
1926________
1927________
1928________
1929________
1930________
1931________
1932________
1933________

100.0
102.4
101.3
113.7
146.4
168.3
185.9
203.4
153.3
141. 6
146.2
145. 9
157.4
160.6
155. 4
154.3
156.7
147.1
121.3
102.1
99. 7

100.0
106. 7
121.6
126.8
186.5
194.3
198.0
232.1
179.8
159.3
156.9
160.4
176. 2
175. 5
170. 7
167.2
164.1
158.0
135.9
121.1
126. 6

100.0
103. 4
99.6
108.2
137.0
172.8
184.2
185. 7
158.1
150.3
149.0
150.2
163. 0
171.3
169.9
179. 2
188.4
175.8
147.0
116.0
102.7

100.0
97.1
98.1
103. 2
127.6
153.4
176.6
185.1
149.5
135. 9
147.6
142.8
147.1
145. 5
148.7
150. 0
148.6
136. 5
114.6
96.6
94.6

100.0
103.8
100.1
125.8
160. 4
164. 5
191.5
236.8
156. 1
147.0
154.3
154. 3
169. 8
175.9
160.8
152.4
157.0
148. 0
115.9
98. 6
98.3

1933
J a n . 15. ____ 94.8
F e b . 15____
90.9
M ar. 15_____ 90.5
90.4
A pr. 15____
M ay 15_____ 93.7
96.7
June 15_____
Ju ly 15......... 104.8
Aug. 15_____ 106. 7

112.3
112.0
112.3
112.8
115.8
117.2
128.0
137.8

99.9
99.0
100.1
98.8
100.1
103.7
103. 5
105.7

93.3
90.3
88.3
88.7
92.2
93.5
97.7
96.5

94.1
84. 8
84.3
84.3
89.0
94.9
110.3
110. 2

Other
foods

All
foods

airy
Cere­ M eats D
prod­ Other
als
ucts foods

Sept. 26
Oct. 10 ____
Oct. 24
N ov. 7 ____
Nov. 21
Dec. 5______
Dec. 19 .

107.1
107. 0
107. 4
107. 3
106. 6
106. 7
106. 8
105. 5
103. 9

138 8
140. 2
142. 7
143.8
143. 3
143. 4
143. 5
142.5
142.0

106.9
104. 4
107.8
107. 3
106 3
105.9
104 1
101.2
100.4

97. 5
97 8
97. 9
98. 6
98 4
98. 6
98 5
98.7
94.7

109. 2
109 4
107. 2
105. 9
104 7
105. 2
106 5
105.0
103.8

1934
J a n . 2 ____
J a n . 16
Jan. 3 0 ... .Feb. 13
Feb. 27_____
M ar. 13
M ar. 27_____
Apr. 10 _
Apr. 24 _
M ay 8______
M ay 22_____
June 5
June 19
Ju ly 3- Ju ly 17_____
Ju ly 31
Aug. 14
Aug. 28_____
Sept. 11
Sept. 25_____

104.5
105. 2
105.8
108. 3
108.1
108. 5
108.0
107. 4
107. 3
108.2
108.4
108. 4
109.1
109. 6
109.9
110. 4
111. 8
115.3
116. 8
116.4

142. 4
142. 5
142.8
143. 3
143.4
143. 4
144.7
144. 7
144 0
144. 2
144.4
145. 7
146 5
146. 6
147.7
149 0
149 6
150.8
151. 6
151.7

100. 8
102. 3
103. Ò
106. 7
107.8
109.1
109.7
110. 5
112. 6
114.9
115.3
116 1
117. 8
120.0
120.5
120 2
121 1
129. 2
133.8
131.7

95. 7
96 0
95.9
102 6
101.8
102. 3
101.1
99 7
99 0
99.9
99.9
100 4
101 1
101 1
100.8
101 6
103 4
105.6
105. 4
105.3

104 6
105 8
106.7
106 5
105. 7
104 8
104.1
102 7
102 1
102.4
102.7
101 2
101 2
101. 2
101.4
101 9
103 8
107.2
108 8
108.7

Y ear and
m onth

1933
Aug. 29

Table 2 shows index numbers of the total weighted retail cost of
all foods and of the groups, cereals, meats, dairy products, and other
foods in the United States based on the year 1913 as 100, for specified
dates, and changes on September 25, 1934, compared with September
26, 1933, and August 28 and September 11, 1934.
T able 2 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF T H E T O T A L W E IG H T E D R E T A IL CO ST O F FO O D A N D
O F C E R E A L S , M E A T S , D A IR Y P R O D U C T S , A N D O T H E R FO O D S F O R T H E U N IT E D
ST A T E S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S , A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S E P T . 25, 1934, C O M ­
P A R E D W IT H S E P T . 26, 1933, A N D A U G . 28 A N D S E P T . 11, 1934
Percentage change Sept. 25,
1934, compared w ith—

Index (1913=100)
Article

1933

1934

1933

1934

Sept. 12 Sept. 26 Aug. 14 Aug. 28 Sept. 11 Sept. 25 Sept. 26 Aug. 28 Sept. 11
All food_____ _ . Cereals___________
M eats. ______ --.
D airy products____
O ther fo o d s _____.-

107.0
140. 2
104.4
97.8
109.4

107.4
142.7
107.8
97.9
107.2


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

111.8
149.6
121.1
103.4
103.8

115.3
150.8
129.2
105.6
107.2

116.8
151. 6
133.8
105.4
108.8

116.4
151.7
131.7
105.3
108.7

+ 8.3
+ 6.3
+22.2
+ 7 .6
+ 1 .4

+ 0 .9
+ .6
+ 1 .9
- .3
+ 1 .4

-0 . 4
+. 1
- 1 .6
-. 1
-. 1

1278
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1279

RETAIL PRICES

The accompanying chart shows the trend in the retail cost of all food
and of the classified groups, cereals, meats, dairy products, and other
foods in the United States (51 cities) from January 15, 1929, to
September 25, 1934, inclusive.
The 51 cities covered by the Bureau have been divided into five
geographical regions. Index numbers of retail food prices have been
calculated for these regions to meet the many requests for this type
of information.
The regional divisions and the cities included in each are:
North Atlantic.—Boston, Bridgeport, Buffalo, Fall River, Manches­
ter, Newark, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Port­
land (Maine), Providence, Rochester, and Scranton.
South Atlantic.-—Atlanta, Baltimore, Charleston, Jacksonville,
Norfolk, Richmond, Savannah, and Washington (D. C.).
North Central.—Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit,
Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha, Peoria,
St. Louis, St. Paul, and Springfield (111.).
South Central.—Birmingham, Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, Louis­
ville, Memphis, Mobile, and New Orleans.
Western.—Butte, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland (Oreg.), Salt Lake
City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Table 3 shows index numbers of retail food prices for these regions
by years, 1913 to 1933, inclusive, and on specified dates of the months
of 1933 and 1934. These index numbers are based on the average for
the year 1913 as 100.
T a b l e 3 .— IN D E X N U M B E R S O P T O T A L W E IG H T E D R E T A IL FO O D P R IC E S BY G E O ­

G R A P H IC A L S E C T IO N S BY Y E A R S, 1913 TO 1933, IN C L U S IV E , A N D ON S P E C IF IE D
D A T E S OF T H E M O N T H S OF 1933 A N D 1934
[1913=100]

Y ear and m onth

1913_____________ ______ ______________
1914__________________________________
1915................................................ ................ —
1916........................................... .........................
1917_____________ ____________________
1918 ______________________ _________
1919
.
. _______________ ____ ___
1920 __________________________________
1921 __________________________________
1922 _____________ ____ ________________
1923 . . . ______ ________________________
1924
___________ _____ - .........
1925 ________ ___________________ ______
1926 ___________ _____________________
1927 _____________ ______________ _____
1928 _____________________ _____ _______
1929
____________ ______
1930
______ ___________
1931
.
_____________________
1932 ...................................................................1933 __ .............................................................
Feb. 15....................................... .................
M ar. 15____________________________
A nr. 15..........................................................
1 Revised


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

N orth
N orth
South
A tlantic A tlantic 1 Central
100.0
101.9
101.0
112.7
146.1
169.3
184. 7
203.2
154.9
143.1
149. 7
146.8
156.7
160.9
156.5
156.2
157. 5
147.8
123.9
105. 1
101.9
97.9
93.0
91.9
91.9

100.0
102.0
100.6
110.6
146.2
174.3
191.7
204.5
155.8
142.9
146.4
146. 0
159.1
164.7
157.8
156.1
157.5
147.9
122.8
102. 5
98.7
95.1
89.8
88.7
88.8

100.0
102.4
100.9
113.6
149.9
167.2
187.2
206.9
151.2
139.1
143.8
144.6
156.2
160.8
155.1
153.4
156. 6
146. 1
120.4
99. 1
97.2
90.8
87.6
87.1
88.0

South
Central

W estern

100.0
102. 5
101.3
111.8
147.6
169.0
188.5
201.3
149.8
138.4
141.9
142.9
155.8
157.6
152.7
152.4
155.0
144.9
116.1
96.6
94.5
89.1
85. 5
86.0
86.2

100.0
100.9
99.7
106.7
134.8
157.0
171.6
187.0
139.4
130.2
134.3
134.9
144.4
142.7
140.1
139.7
143.1
133.7
111.6
95.6
93.0
90.6
86.3
86.3
86.2

United
States
100.0
102.4
101.3
113.7
146. 4
168.3
185.9
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
145.9
157. 4
160. 6
155.4
154. 3
156.7
147. 1
121.3
102.1
99.7
94.8
90.9
90.5
90.4

1280

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 3 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F T O T A L W E IG H T E D R E T A IL FO O D P R IC E S B Y G E O ­
G R A P H IC A L S E C T IO N S B Y Y E A R S, 1913 TO 1933, IN C L U S IV E , A N D ON S P E C IF IE D
D A T E S O F T H E M O N T H S O F 1933 A N D 1934—C ontinued
[1913=100]
Y ear and m onth
1933:
M ay 15............ .................. - .............. .........
Ju n e 15____________________________
July 15____________________ - _______
Aug. 15____________________________
Aug. 29____________________________
Sept. 12____________________________
Sept. 26........ ............ ......................... .......
Oct. 10 ___________________________
Oct. 24.__________ ________ _________
Nov. 7_____________________________
Nov. 21____________________________
Dec. 5_____________________________
Dec. 19 _________ _______________
1934:
Jan. 2 ________________________________
J a n . 16____________________________
Jan. 30____________________________
Feb. 1 3 -________ __________________
Feb. 27________________ ____ - .............
M ar. 13____________________________
M ar. 27...................................... ..................
A pr. 10-_- _________________________
Apr. 24____________________________
M ay 8_____________________________
M ay 2 2 _____ _______________ _______
June 5_____________________________
June 19__ ___ ___________________
Ju ly 3_ ____________________________
Ju ly 17—__________________________
Ju ly 31__________ _____ ___ _________
Aug. 14___________________ _______
Aug. 28._ _ _____________________
Sept. 11_____________ ____ _____ ____
Sept. 25___ ______ __________________

N orth
N orth
South
A tlantic A tlantic 1 C entral

South
C entral

W estern

U nited
States

95.1
98.4
107.6
109.0
110.0
109.4
110.3
110.3
109.5
109.5
109. 4
108.4
106.6

92.2
94.8
101.8
105.3
106.1
106. 8
107. 4
107. 6
107. 3
107. 2
106.8
106.1
105.2

91.1
94.7
105.0
106.1
106.1
104.9
105.2
104.5
103.6
104.0
104.3
101.7
101. 2

89.2
91.7
98.1
101.7
101.8
102.2
102.1
101.5
101.3
101.4
101.7
101.0
100.7

89.7
92.1
97.4
98.4
97.8
98.5
98.1
97.8
98.0
97.8
97.3
96.7
94.5

93.7
96.7
104.8
106.7
107.1
107.0
107.4
107.3
106.6
106.7
106.8
105.5
103.9

107.7
108.1
108.9
111. 1
111.4
111. 6
110.8
110.2
110. 4
111.3
112.0
111.3
112.6
113.3
113.7
113.6
115.0
117.4
118.8
118.2

104.9
105.1
105.1
107.4
107.9
108.4
107.8
107.3
107. 6
108.1
108.5
108.1
108.5
109.3
109. 7
110.0
111. 6
114.8
117. 4
117.4

102.3
103.7
104.1
106.0
106.2
106.7
106.5
105.8
106.0
106.3
106. 4
107.2
108.1
108.8
109.4
109.1
111. 1
114.8
115.8
114.8

100.2
101.4
102.4
102.8
103.4
103.6
103.5
103.1
102.9
103.3
102.9
103.1
103.1
103. 6
104.4
105.7
107.5
111. 7
113.5
113.2

95.4
94.5
95.9
97.6
97.4
97.7
97.2
96.9
97.0
96.6
97.1
98.0
98. 7
99.7
100.0
100.5
101.8
103.9
105.9
106.8

104.5
105.2
105.8
108.3
108.1
108. 5
108.0
107.4
107.3
108.2
108.4
108.4
109.1
109. 6
109.9
110.4
111.8
115.3
116.8
116. 4

1 Revised.

Table 4 shows index numbers of 23 food articles for tlie United
States based on the year 1913 as 100, for September 12 and 26, 1933,
and August 14 and 28, and September 11 and 25, 1934.
T able 4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D
F O R T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S ON S E P T . 12 A N D 26, 1933, A N D A U G . 14 A N D 28, A N D S E P T .
11 A N D 25, 1934
1933

1934

Article
Sirloin steak _______________ ____p o u n d ,.
R ound steak ______________ ............do
R ib ro ast____________ ____ - ______do ___
Chuck ro ast............................... ______do___
P late beef— ................. ............ ______do___
Pork ch o p s,.............................. ___ ___do___
Bacon, sliced____ __________ ______do___
H am , sliced_______________ ______do
Lam b, leg of_______________ _____ do . . .
H en s_____________________ ........ __do _ _
M ilk, fresh_________ ____ — _____q u a rt..
B u tte r._____ _____________ ____p o u n d ..
Cheese_______ ____ ________ ______do___
L a rd ______________________ ..........-do___
Eggs, fresh________________ ____dozen..
Bread, w hite, w h eat_______ ____p o u n d ..
F lo u r_____________________ ______do___
Corn m eal_________________ _ -do___
R ice_____________ _________ ........ _.do___
Potatoes__________________ ______do___
Sugar, granulated____ ____ _ _____ do___
T ea.............................................. ---------do___
Coflee.......................................... ............do___


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sept. 12

Sept. 26

Aug. 14

Aug. 28

Sept. 11

118.5
117.5
105.6
95.6
81.8
103.3
85.6
120.4
118.0
95.8
123.6
72.8
106.3
60.8
82.0
137.5
148.5
133.3
75.9
182.4
103.6
121.3
89.6

118.5
117.0
106.1
96.3
81.8
113.3
85.9
120.8
117.5
98.1
123.6
73.4
106.3
60.8
87.8
141.1
148.5
133.3
77.0
164.7
103.6
122.1
89.3

129. 5
130.0
114.1
103. 1
86.0
122.9
110.4
147.2
130.7
112.7
127.0
83.8
106.8
71.5
87.8
148.2
151.5
150.0
94.3
117.6
103.6
131.3
92.6

133.1
133.6
117.2
107.5
90.1
154.8
118.9
153.2
132.8
115.0
128.1
87.7
110.0
82.9
95.4
150.0
151.5
150.0
95.4
123.5
103.6
132.2
93.0

137.0
138.1
122.7
114.4
97.5
154.3
128.1
159. 1
134.9
117.8
129.2
85.9
110.4
91.1
99.4
150.0
154.5
153.3
95.4
123.5
103.6
132.5
93.0

Sept. 25
136.2
137.7
124.2
115.6
98.3
135.7
129.3
159.9
133.3
120.2
130.3
84.3
109.5
93.0
102.0
150.0
154.5
153.3
95.4
117. 6
103.6
132.9
93.6

1281

RETAIL PRICES

Table 5 shows average retail prices of principal food articles for the
United States for September 12 and 26, 1933, and August 14 and 28,
and September 11 and 25, 1934.
T a ble 5 -A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D F O R T H E

U N IT E D S T A T E S ON S E P T . 12 A N D 26, 1933, A N D A UG. 14 A N D 28, A N D S E P T . 11 A N D 25,
1934
1933

1934

Article

Beef:
Sirloin steak........ . ....... ______ p o u n d ..
R ound steak________ .......... .......do___
R ib roast___________ ________ do___
Chuck ro ast____ ____ ________ do___
P la te ............ . ................ ________ do ___
Lam b:
Leg----------- ------------- ................. do___
R ib chops__
_____ ________ do___
________ do___
Breast-.*__ _
Chuck nr shoulder
________ do___
Pork:
C hops______________ ............___do___
Loin roast__________ ________ do___
Bacon, sliced................ ................. do___
H am , slic e d ................ ..................do___
______do___
H am , whole
H am , picnic, smoked ...... ...........do___
____do___
Salt pork
Veal:
C utlets...... .................... ______ do___
Poultry:
Roasting chickens___ ................-do___
Fish:
Salmon, canned, pink
16-oz. can .
Salmon, canned, re d .. ___........ __do___
F ats and oils:
Lard, pu re__________ ______ p o u n d ..
Lard, comnnnnd
__do___
Vegetable îard s u b stitu te ______do___
Oleomargarine______ ________ do ___
D airy products:
Eggs, fresh_________ _______ dozen..
B u tte r .......................... ______ p o u n d ..
Cheese ........................ ................d o ___
M ilk, fresh_________ _______ q u a rt..
M ilk, evaporated____ -.-14H-OZ. c a n ..
C ream _____________ ______ }.<! p in t..
Cereal foods:
Flour, w heat, w hite . ........ ...p o u n d ..
Corn m eal..................... ...... ...........do___
Rolled oats.......... ......... ________ do___
Corn flakes. .............. -8-oz. package..
W heat cereal________ 28-oz. package..
R ice. ........... ................ ..............pound-M acaroni___________ ................. do___
B akery products:
Bread, w hite, w h e a t.. ............. _.do___
Bread, ry e__________ ________ do
____do___
Bread, whole w heat
_____ do___
Cake, pound
F ruits, fresh:
_____do___
Apples
B ananas___________ ........ .......dozen..
_______
do___
L em ons. _
Oranges_____ _______ ________ do
Vegetables, fresh:
__p o u n d ..
Beans, green
Cabbage____________ _______1-do___
__ .b u n ch .
Carrots
_____ stalk .
Celery
___ head .
Lettuce
____..p
o u n d ..
Onions_____________
Potatoes...... .................. ________ do___
.................
do___
Sweetpotatoes _ _
Sninach_ __________ ...... ...........do___


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sept. 12

Sept. 26

Aug. 14

Aug. 28

Sept. 11

Cents
30.1
26.2
20.9
15.3
9.9

Cents
30.1
26.1
21.0
15.4
9.9

Cents
32.9
29.0
22.6
16.5
10.4

Cents
33.8
29.8
23.2
17.2
10.9

Cents
34.8
30.8
24.3
18.3
11.8

Cents
34.6
30.7
24.6
18.5
11.9

22.3

22.2

24.7
33.2
10.3
18.2

25.1
33.8
10.5
18.6

25.5
33.8
10.8
18.8

25.2
32.7
10.7
18.5

21.7

23.8

23.1
32.4

23.2
32.5

25.8
20.6
29.8
39.6
23.9
15.6
17.2

32.5
27.0
32.1
41.2
25.0
16.4
19.5

32.4
27.0
34.6
42.8
26.2
17.5
21.6

28.5
23.5
34.9
43.0
26.0
17.5
22.1

30.5

31.6

32.6

32.6

20.4

20.9

24.0

24.5

25.1

25.6

20.4

20.6

14.1
21.4

14.0
21.4

14.0
21.4

13.9
21.3

11.3
10.2
18.9
13.4

13.1
11.0
19.0
13.4

14.4
11.8
19.1
14.2

14.7
12.3
19.3
14.3

Sept. 25

9.6

9.6

19.0
13.6

19.0
13.5

28.3
27.9
23.5
11.0
6.9

30.3
28.1
23.5
11.0
6.8

30.3
32.1
23.6
11.3
6.8
14.2

32.9
33.6
24.3
11.4
6.8
14.2

34.3
32.9
24.4
11.5
6.8
14.4

35.2
32.3
24.2
11.6
6.8
14.3

4.9
4.0
6.4
8.7
23.7
6.6
15.6

4.9
4.0
6.5
8.7
23.7
6.7
15.7

5.0
4.5
6.9
8.3
24.3
8.2
15.7

5.0
4.5
6.9
8.3
24.3
8.3
15.8

5.1
4.6
7.0
8.3
24.2
8.3
15.8

5.1
4.6
7.1
8.4
24.2
8.3
15.8

7.7
8.5

7.9
8.6

8.3
8.8
8.9
22.7

8.4
8.9
8.9
22.9

8.4
8.9
8.9
22.9

8.4
8.9
9.0
22.8

25.1

25.4

28.7

29.9

6.0
23.5
30.5
37.5

5.8
22.9
29.8
37.2

5.7
23.6
28.9
37.0

5.7
24.0
28.0
37.0

3.6

3.5

3.9
3.1

3.7
2.8

10.0
3.6
4.9
9.6
9.5
4.5
2.0
6.1
8.8

8.9
3.5
4.9
9.4
9.1
4.4
2.1
5.2
8.9

8.5
3.3
5.0
9.1
9.6
4.2
2.1
4.7
8.3

8.0
3.1
4.9
8.6
9.3
4.0
2.0
4.3
7.3

I

1282

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T able 5 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D FO R T H E
U N IT E D ST A T E S ON S E P T . 12 A N D 26, 1933, A N D AUG. 14 A N D 28, A N D S E P T . 11 A N D 25,
1934—Continued
1933

1934

Article

F ru its, canned:
Peaches. ___________ ...n o . 2J.<j c a n ..
Pears_____ ____ . . . _______ do___
Pineapple. ______
______ _do____
Vegetables, canned:
A sparagus___________ __.no. 2 can .
Beans, green_________ _______ do___
Corn _______ ______ _
_ .d o ___
P e a s ... ___________ _______ do___
Tom atoes________ . . . . ----------- do . . .
Pork and beans______ . . .16-oz. c a n ..
F ru its, dried:
Peaches_____________ ______pound
P ru n es. __________ ---------l_do___
R aisin s.. . _ _______ ----------- do___
Vegetables, dried:
Black-eyed peas______ _______ do__ _
Lim a beans______ . . . _______ do__
N avy beans _______ ----------.d o ___
Sugar and sweets:
Sugar, granulated____ --------- do___
C orn s ir u p ____ _____ . ,.24-oz. c a n ..
M olasses____________ ___ 18-oz. c a n ..
Beverages:
Coffee_____ ____ _____ _____ p o u n d ..
T e a _________________ ---------_do____
Miscellaneous foods:
P ean u t b u tte r_______ _______ do___
Salt, ta b le ___________ _______ do___
Soup, tom ato________ -.lOV-oz. c a n ..
Tom ato juice________ --13H-0Z. c a n ..

Sept. 12

Sept. 26

Aug. 14

Aug. 28

Sept. 11

Cents
17.0
20.5

Cents
17.1
20.4

Cents
18.6
21.4
22 4

Cents
18.7
21.6
22.5

Cents
18.9
21.8
22.6

Cents
19.1
22.1
22.6

24 3

10.6
13.3
9.8
6.9

23 8
11. 6
11.3
16.8
10.4
6.6

24 2

10.5
13.3
9.6
6.8

11 7
11.4
17.0
10.4
6. 7

11 7
11.5
17.1
10.3
6. 7

94 4
11 7
11.6
17.1
10.3
6.8

10.1
9.4

10.3
9.4

15 3
11.7
9.7

15 5
11.7
9.7

15 5
11.5
9.7

15 7
1L5
9. 7

7 5
Q7
5.8

8 n

6.3

7. 5
9 7
5.8

7 fi

6.3

g! ò

6.2

5.7

5.7

5.7
12 7
14.1

5.7
12 7
13.9

5.7
12 Q
13.9

5.7
19 Q
14. Ò

26.7
66.0

26.6
66.4

27.6
71.4

27.7
71.9

27.7
72.1

27.9
72. 3

lfi 8

lfi 8

lfi Q
4 3
8 1
8.7

8.7

4 3

8 0
8.7

¿7

Sept. 25

Table 6 shows index numbers of the weighted retail cost of food
for the United States and 39 cities, based on the year 1913 as 100.
The percentage change on September 25, 1934, compared with Sep­
tember 26, 1933, and August 28 and September 11, 1934, are also
given for these cities and the United States and for 12 additional
cities from which prices were not secured in 1913.
T ™

6 . - I N D E X N U M B E R S O F T H E T O T A L W E IG H T E D R E T A IL CO ST OF FO O D BY
T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S, A N D P E R C E N T A G E
C H A N G E S E P T . 25, 1934, C O M P A R E D W IT H S E P T . 26, 1933, A N D A UG. 28 A N D S E P T . 11,

Percentage change Sept. 25,
1934, compared w ith—

Index (1913=100)
C ity

1933

1934

1933

1934

Sept. 12 Sept. 26 Aug. 14 Aug. 28 Sept. 11 Sept. 25 Sept. 26 Aug. 28 Sept. 11
U nited States.

107.0

107.4

111.8

115.3

116.8

116.4

+ 8.3

+ 0.9

- 0 .4

A tla n ta ___________
B altim ore_________
B irm ingham ______
Boston ._ _______
B ridgeport________
Buffalo___________
B u tte _____________

105.4
110.5
103.0
108.6

104.6
110.8
102.9
108.5

108.9
118.7
110.0
113.2

113.5
123.0
113.9
115.8

114.8
124.3
117.0
115.9

116.9
123.6
117.8
114.6

112.6

113.0

116.7

120.5

121.4

120.9

+11.7
+11.5
+14.5
+ 5.6
+ 6 .8
+ 7 .0
+12.9

+ 2.9
+ .4
+ 3.4
- 1 .1
+ 1 .3
+. 3
+ 2 .0

+ 1 .8
- .6
+ .7
- 1 .1
+ .2
-.4
0)


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

RETAIL PRICES

1283

T able¡ 6 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F T H E T O T A L W E IG H T E D R E T A IL CO ST O F FO O D BY
C IT IE S A N D FO R T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S ON S P E C IF IE D D A T E S. A N D P E R C E N T A G E
Fn?*A1^ G E -S E ? T - 25, 1934’ C O M P A R E D W IT H S E P T . 26, 1933, A N D A U G . 28 A N D S E P T 11
1934—C ontinued
* *

Percentage change Sept. 25,
1934, compared w ith—

Index (1913=100)
C ity

1933

1934

1933

1934

Sept. 12 Sept. 26 Aug. 14 Aug. 28 Sept. 11 Sept. 25 Sept. 26 Aug .28 Sept. 11
Charleston, S. C ___
Chicago__________
C incinnati. . _____
C leveland,.
...
C olum bus.. ___
D a lla s.. _________
D e n v e r... ___. . .
D etroit _________
Fall R iver________
H ouston__________
Indianapolis ______
Jacksonville.. . . . .
K ansas C i t y ........
L ittle Rock. . . . . _
Los Angeles_______
L ouisville._______
M anchester_______
M em phis_____ . .
M ilw a u k e e _____
M in n ea p o lis______
M obile _ ______
N ew ark__ . . .
New H a v e n .______
New O rleans___ _
New Y ork________
N orfolk... _____
Omaha _______ .
Peoria. __________
P hiladelphia_____
P ittsb u rg h ___ ____
Portland, M aine__
Portland, Oreg__ .
Providence. _ _____
R ichm ond________
Rochester_________
St. Louis_________
St. P a u l . ___ ___
Salt Lake C ity ____
San Francisco____
Savannah_________
Scranton______
Seattle____ ______
Springfield, 111____
W ashington_______

108.0
111.0
106.1
105.6

108.5
111.0
106.9
106.0

109.7
115.9
111.6
109.8

112.1
119.6
115.9
113.0

114.6
120.0
115.9
114.5

114.8
119.0
115.9
113.0

103.8
101.2
108.8
105.5

103.7
100.1
109.4
106.9

107.6
104.0
114.4
110.9

114.4
106.6
118.1
113.3

114.7
110.4
118.3
116.2

114.4
110.5
118.1
115.1

104.4
99.8
105.7
96.9
101.9
105.8
108.5
98.9
109.8
104.4

101.9
101.5
105.0
97.9
102.1
104.2
108.5
100.3
108.8
106.8

105. 6
105.0
114.4
103. 2
99.4
109.4
114. 7
107.2
112.7
115.2

108.6
106.6
116.1
109.3
100.4
111.7
117.1
110.4
119.1
119.3

109.8
109.2
118.1
111.1
103.5
112.3
116.9
112.1
118.9
120.5

108.9
110.0
116.4
109.6
104.1
111.7
116.2
110.5
119.0
119.0

106.5
112.3
107.4
112.4

109.1
113.1
107.0
115.2

113.0
118.2
109.8
117.3

115.6
120.7
113.5
120.0

116.0
123.3
116.3
121.0

116.7
121.8
116.6
121.1

98.6

101.9

109.3

112.5

114.5

113.5

110.1
103.9

111.0
105.2

118.9
110.7

120.9
113.1

123.4
113.4

121.9
113.4

96.7
109.0
110.9

95.9
110.4
111.1

101.4
112.9
117.4

103.3
115.4
120.5

104.9
118.2
124.0

106.9
117.7
122.8

110.2

109.1

115.4

120.3

121.6

120.0

90.1
110.2

91.0
109. 1

96.1
113.9

99.0
116.1

100.2
117.1

101.9
117.4

113.4
105.3

114.5
104.1

118.2
106.6

118.3
108.8

120.6
109.8

119.2
111.2

113.3

114.3

117.5

122.8

125.6

125.0

1 No change.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

+ 5 .8
+ 7 .2
+ 8.4
+ 6 .7
+ 8.5
+10.3
+10.4
+ 8 .0
+ 7.7
+15.1
+ 6.9
+ 8.4
+10.9
+12.0
+ 1.9
+ 7 .2
+ 7.1
+10.2
+ 9.4
+11.4
+ 8 .2
+ 7 .0
+ 7 .6
+ 9 .0
+ 5.1
+ 8.5
+11.4
+ 9.5
+ 9.8
+ 7 .8
+ 9 .0
+11.5
+ 6 .6
+10.5
+ 7 .2
+10.0
+12.4
+11.9
+ 7.6
+ 8 .2
+4.1
+ 6.8
+ 7 .3
+ 9 .3

+ 2.5
-.5
«
0)
-.3
0)
+ 3 .7
(>)
+ 1 .6
+ 2 .5
+• 3
+ 3 .2
+ .3
+ .3
+ 3.7
+ •1
-.7
+ .1
-. 1
-.2
+1.1
+ 1 .0
+ .9
+ 2.7
+ .9
+ 2 .0
+ .9
-.9
+ .8
+ .2
-.5
+ 3 .5
+ 2 .0
+ 1.9
+ .6
- .3
+. 6
+ 2.9
+. 8
+ 3 .0
+. 8
+ 2 .2
0)
+1-7

+ .2
- .8
(')
- 1 .3
-.5
- .2
+ .1
-.2
- 1 .0
-. 1
-.8
+ .7
- 1 .4
- 1 .4
+ .6
-.6
-.6
- 1 .5
+ .1
-1 .2
+ .2
+ .6
- 1 .3
+ .2
+ .1
- 1 .5
- .9
- 1 .7
- 1 .2
(■)
- 1 .4
+ 1 .9
-.4
-.9
-.8
- 1 .3
+ .1
+ 1.7
+ .2
+ .3
- 1 .1
+ 1 .3
- 1 .4
-.5

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1284

Retail prices of food for Hawaii were first secured in February 1930
and are shown separately for Honolulu and other localities in the
islands.
On September 1, 1934, retail prices of foods as a whole showed
an increase of 5.3 percent for Honolulu and 2.7 percent for other
localities in Hawaii compared with September 1, 1933. As com­
pared with August 1, 1934, an increase of 0.7 percent was shown
for Honolulu and 1.3 percent for other localities.
Table 7 shows average retail prices of important food commodities
on July 1, August 1, and September 1, 1934, for Honolulu and other
localities in Hawaii.
T a ble 7 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S O F P R IN C IP A L A R T IC L E S O F FO O D F O R H A W A II

ON JU L Y 1, A U G . 1, A N D S E P T . 1, 1934
Other localities

Honolulu
Article
Ju ly

Sirloin s t e a k ______ - - ___...p o u n d ..
R ound steak____________ _______ do ___
R ib ro ast______ ______ ________ do___
Chuck ro ast_____________ _ _____ do ___
P late beef_____ ________ ________ do___
Pork chops_____________ ________ do___
______ _do___
Bacon, sliced__
H am , sliced___
- ----- ________ do
L am b __________________ ________ do___
H en s__ _______ - -------- ________do____
____16-oz. c a n ..
Salmon, red, canned.
M ilk, fresh____ ________ _____ .q u a rt .
1416-oz. can .
M ilk, evaporated----------B u t t e r _________________ _____ pound __
______.-d
o ____
Cheese________ _______
L a rd __
_______ ___ _______ do _ Vegetable lard su b stitu te. ________ do___
Eggs, strictly fresh. ------ ______ d o zen ..
Bread, w hite, w h eat------- ______ p o u n d ..
F lour__________________ ________ do ___
__ _do
Corn m eal________ _____
Rolled oats_____________ _____ _ _do__ _
C om flakes_____________ ____8-oz. pkg .
W heat cereal----------- ........28-oz. p k g ..
M acaroni________ ______ . . . . ..p o u n d ..
R ic e.. ------------------ ________ do___
Beans, n a v y ________ --- ________ do.
Potatoes. -------------------- ________ do ___
O n io n s.. . . ----------------- ________ do ___
C abbage---- ------------------- ________ do ___
Pork and beans-------------- ____16-oz. c a n ..
Cora, canned___________ _____no. 2 c a n ..
Peas, canned__ . -- -------- ______ _do___
Tomatoes, canned_______ _____ ___do __
Sugar, granulated_______ ___. . . p o u n d ..
T ea____________________ ________ do ___
C o ffe e ------ ------------------- ________ do
P ru n es. _______________ ________ do___
R aisins___________ _____ ________ do___
B ananas. ______________ ............___do___
Oranges________________ ..............d o z e n ..


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Cents
31.4
26.0
25.6
16.9
15.5
27.4
36.3
45.7
32.0
33.4
21.5
19.0
7.3
32.3
26.2
16.8
22.3
43.3
9.6
5.0
9.0
11.1
12.9
27.4
18.5
5.4
9.9
3.2
4.2
4.6
6.7
15.6
17.0
14.1
5.6
82.9
30.6
11.6
10.2
3.8
37.6

August

Cents
30.3
26.0
26.1
17.3
14.7
28.4
36.2
47.1
31.4
32.0
21.0
19.0
7.0
32.4
26.0
16.3
21.9
49.7
9.6
5.5
8.7
11.0
12.6
27.1
18.2
5.3
9.5
3.0
4.0
4.9
6.3
15.1
16.1
13.8
5.6
82.2
29.5
11.6
10.0
4.2
38.7

Septem ­
ber
Cents
32.3
26.9
25.9
17.6
14.9
29.3
37.6
48.6
31.3
31.7
20.9
19.0
7.0
34.2
26.3
17.0
21.6
51.9
10.3
5.5
8.7
11.0
12.4
27.1
18.0
5.2
8.9
2.9
3.8
4.7
6.4
15.2
16.9
13.5
5.5
82.6
31.5
12.2
10.0
4.2
37.9

July

Cents
24.0
22.4
19.4
17.6
14.9
26.4
33.7
34.1
32.5
30.0
19.8
15.0
7.8
35.5
24.0
22.5
18.2
39.9
9.7
5.1
10.8
11.1
13.1
27.6
18.6
5.1
6.7
3.0
3.4
2.7
7.4
15.4
16.7
14.2
5.9
84.3
31.3
11.4
10.4
3.5
52.0

August

Cents
23.9
22.1
19.8
18.0
15.2
26.7
34.7
33.7
33.0
30.0
20.1
15.0
7.8
35.3
24.1
22.5
18.1
44.5
9.7
5.3
10.5
11.2
13.3
27.6
19.1
5.2
7.1
3.0
3.7
2.8
7.6
15.8
16.8
14.2
6.1
84.3
31.4
11.4
10.4
4.0
54.1

Septem ­
ber
Cents
23.9
22.1
. 19.8
17.8
15.2
28.1
36.1
34.0
33.0
31.3
20.1
15.0
7.9
37.4
24.1
22.5
18.1
47.9
10.0
5.6
10.7
11.5
13.3
28.0
19.1
5.1
7.5
2.9
3.5
3.2
7.4
15.8
16.6
14.3
6.1
86.4
31.4
11.6
10.4
4.3
52.9

RETAIL PRICES

1285

R eta il P rices of C oal, S ep tem b er 15, 1934

ETAIL prices of coal as of the 15th of each month are secured
from each of the 51 cities from which retail food prices are
obtained. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers but
do not include charges for storing the coal in cellars or bins where an
extra handling is necessary.
Average prices for the United States for bituminous coal and for
stove and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite are computed
from the quotations received from retail dealers in all cities where
these coals are sold for household use. The prices shown for bitumi­
nous coal are averages of prices of the several kinds. In addition to
the prices for Pennsylvania anthracite, prices are shown for Colorado,
Arkansas, and New Mexico anthracite in those cities where these
coals form any considerable portion of the sales for household use.
Table 1 shows for the United States both average prices and index
numbers of Pennsylvania white-ash anthracite stove and chestnut
sizes, and of bituminous coal on January 15 and July 15, 1913 to
1932, and for each month from January 15, 1933, to September 15,
1934. 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 index number.
The accompanying chart shows the trend in retail prices of stove
and chestnut sizes of Pennsylvania anthracite and of bituminous coal
in the United States. The trend is shown by months from January
15, 1929, to September 15, 1934, inclusive.

R


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

to

00

O

1287

RETAIL PRICES

T a ble 1 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S P E R 2,000 PO U N D S A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF

C O AL FO R T H E U N IT E D ST A T E S B A SED ON T H E Y E A R 1913 AS 100, ON T H E 15TH OF
S P E C IF IE D M O N T H S F R O M JA N U A R Y 1913 TO S E P T E M B E R 1934
Pennsylvania an th ra­
cite, white ash—
C hestnut

Stove
Year and
m onth
A v­
erage
price,
2,000
lb.

1913: Yr. av.
J a n __
J u ly ...
1914: J a n —
Ju ly —
1915: J a n __
J u ly ...
1916: J a n ....
J u ly ...
1917: J a n __
J u ly ...
1918: J a n __
J u ly ...
1919: J a n —
J u ly ...
1920: J a n __
J u ly ...
1921: J a n __
J u ly ...
1922: J a n ....
J u ly ...
1923: J a n — .
J u ly ...
1924: J a n __
J u ly ...
1925: J a n __
J u ly ...
1926: J a n __
J u ly ...
1927: J a n — .
J u ly ...

Stove

Av­
In ­
Av­ In ­ erage
dex
price, (1913
In ­ erage
.
dex
dex 2,000
(1913 price,
(1913 lb. = 100)
2,000
= 100) lb. = 100)

Dol.
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
15. 99
14. 90
14. 98
14. 87
15. 43
15. 10
15. 77
15. 24
15. 45
15. 14
<')
15. 43
15. 66
15.15

Pennsylvania a n th ra ­
cite, w hite ash—

B itum inous

100.0
103.4
96.6
100.9
98.3
101.3
97.6
102.7
105.2
120.2
117.5
127.9
128.9
149.6
157. 2
162.9
184.9
207. C
192.8
193.9
192.4
199.7
195.5
204. 1
197.2
200. C
196. C
(')
199.7
202.7
196. 1

Dol.
7.91
8.15
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
16.13
14. 95
15 02
14.92
15.46
15. 05
15. 76
15.10
15. 37
14. 93
(>)
15.19
15. 42
14. 81

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. 81
161. 3
181. 1
203.8
188.9
189.8
188.5
195.3
190.1
199.1
190. 7
194. 2
188.6
(>)
191.9
194.8
187.1

Dol.
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
11.82
10.47
9.89
9. 49
11.18
10. 04
9. 75
8. 94
9. 24
8.61
9. 74
8. 7C
9. 96
8.91

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
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

C hestnut

Y ear and
m onth

1928: J a n —
J u ly ...
1929: J a n ---J u ly ...
1930: J a n —
Ju ly —
1931: J a n —
Ju ly —
1932: J a n —
Ju ly —
1933: J a n —
Feb —
M ar—
A p r ...
M a y ..
J u n e ..
J u ly —
Aug—
Sept—
O ct__
N o v ...
D pC—

1934: J a n __
Feb —
M ar—
A p r—
M a y ..
J u n e ,.
July....
Aug —
Sept—

Bitum inous

A v­ In ­
erage dex
price,
2,000 =(1913
100)
lb.

Av­ In ­
erage dex
A v­ In ­ price,
erage dex 2,000 (1913
price,
lb. = 100)
2,000 =(1913
100)
lb.

Dol.
15. 44
14.91
15. 38
14.94
15. 33
14. 84
15. 12
14.61
15. 00
13. 37
13.82
13. 75
13. 70
13. 22
12. 44
12.18
12.47
12. 85
13. 33
13. 44
13.46
13. 45
13.44
13. 46
13. 46
13.14
12. 53
12. 60
12. 79
13. 02
13.25

Dol.
15.08
14. 63
15. 06
14. 63
15.00
14. 53
14.88
14. 59
14.97
13.16
13.61
13. 53
13. 48
13.00
12.25
12. 00
12.26
12. 65
13. 12
13. 23
13. 26
13. 24
13. 25
13. 27
13. 27
12. 94
12. 34
12. 40
12. 60
12.83
13.05

199.8
192.9
199. 1
193.4
198.4
192.1
195.8
189. 1
194.2
173.0
178.9
178.0
177.3
171. 1
161.0
157.6
161.3
166.3
172.5
174.0
174.3
174.0
174.0
174. 3
174.2
170. 1
162. 2
163.0
165.5
168. 5
171.4

190.6
184.9
190.3
184.8
189.5
183.6
188.1
184.3
189.1
166.2
171.9
171.0
170.4
164.3
154..8
151.6
155.0
159.8
165.8
167.1
167.5
167.2
167.4
167.7
167.6
163. 5
155.9
156.7
159.2
162.1
164.9

Dol.
9. 30
8. 69
9. 09
8. 62
9.11
8. 65
8.87
8. 09
8. 17
7. 50
7. 46
7.45
7. 43
7. 37
7.17
7.18
7. 64
7. 77
7.94
8.08
8.18
8.18
8.24
8. 22
8. 23
8.18
8.13
8. 18
8. 23
8. 30
8.31

171.1
159.9
167.2
158.6
167.6
159.1
163.2
148.9
150.3
138.0
137.3
137.0
136.7
135.6
132. 0
132. 1
140.7
143.0
146.0
148. 7
150.6
150.6
151.6
151.3
151. 5
150.5
149. 5
150.5
151. 5
152.6
153.0

1 Insufficient data.

Table 2 shows average retail prices per ton of 2,000 pounds and
index numbers (1913 = 100) for the United States on September 15,
1933, August 15, 1934, and September 15, 1934, and percentage change
over the year and month periods.
T able 2 — A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S

A N D IN D E X N U M B E R S OF C O AL F O R T H E
U N IT E D ST A T E S , A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E S E P T . 15, 1934, C O M P A R E D W IT H
S E P T . 15, 1933, A N D AU G . 15, 1934
change
Average retail price and index Percentage
Sept. 15,1934, com­
num ber
pared w ith—
Article

Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove:
Average price per 2,000 pounds _ - — ..
Index (1913 = 100)_________________________
C hestnut:
Average price per 2,000 pounds___________
Index (1913=100)_______________ ____ _____
Bitum inous:
Index (1913 = 100)_____ _

__________________


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sept. 15,
1933

Aug. 15,
1934

Sept. 15,
1934

Sept. 15,
1933

Aug. 15,
1934

$13. 33
172.5

$13. 02
168.5

$13. 25
171.4

- 0 .6

+ 1 .7

$13.12
165.8

$12.83
162.1

$13. 05
164.9

- .5

+ 1.7

$7. 94
146.0

$8. 30
152.6

$8.31
153.0

+ 4.8

+ .3

1288

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Table 3 shows average retail prices of coal for household use by
cities on September 15, 1933, August 15 and September 15, 1934, as
reported by local dealers in each city.
T able 3 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF C O AL P E R T O N OF 2,000 P O U N D S F O R H O U S E ­
H O L D U SE, S E P T . 15, 1933, A N D A U G . 15 A N D S E P T . 15, 1934, BY C IT IE S
1933

1934

1933

C ity and kind of coal

A tlanta, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Baltimore, M d.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C hestnut . . . ________
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
Low volatile______ . . .
R u n of mine:
H igh v o la tile _____. . .
Birm ingham , Ala.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Boston, Mass.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove___ _ . . . ______
C hestnut ____________
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__ _______________
C hestnut _____ _______
Buffalo, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove_____ . _ _ . . . .
C h estn u t____ ._ _____
B utte, M ont.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Charleston, S. C.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Chicago, 111.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C h e s t n u t __ __________
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile___ _____
Low volatile________.
R u n of mine:
Low volatile _______
C incinnati, Ohio:
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_________
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove _____. . .
_____
C h estn u t. ___ _________
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile ...........
Colum bus, Ohio:
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_________
D allas, Tex.:
A rkansas anthracite, e g g ...
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
D enver, Colo.:
Colorado anthracite:
Furnace, 1 and 2 m ix e d ..
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed........
B itum inous, prepared sizes.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Sept.
15

Aug.
15

Sept.
15

$6. 52

$7. 02

$7. 02

13.00
12. 75

12. 75
12. 50

13.00
12. 75

9.06

9.19

9. 38

7. 39

7. 29

7.36

5. 38

6. 29

6. 27

13. 75
13. 50

13. 25
13.00

13.75
13.50

13. 75
13.75

13.50
13. 50

13. 50
13. 50

12. 85
12.60

12. 65
12.40

12.90
12.65

9.70

9. 77

9.79

8. 59

9.92

9.92

13.91
13.70

13.48
13. 23

13. 73
13. 48

7.99
10. 44

8.12
9.89

8. 21
9.90

7. 70

7.71

7. 71

5. 54
7.38

5.85
7. 50

5.85
7. 50

12. 44
12.19

12.11
11.86

12.29
12.04

5.82
8.82

6.98
8. 84

6. 81
8.79

5. 50
6.88

6. 22
7. 47

6. 44
7.72

13. 50
10.00

13. 50
10. 00

13. 50
10. 25

14. 75
14. 75
7. 39

15. 50
15. 50
8. 22

15. 50
15.50
7.90

1934

C ity and kind of coal
Sept.
15

Aug.
15

Sept.
15

D etroit, M ich.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__ _______________ $12. 02 $12.10 $12.10
C hestnut _____________ 12.02 12.10 12. 06
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
6. 30
7.15
7.17
8.52
Low v o la tile .. ______
7.42
8. 52
R u n of mine:
Low volatile ________
6. 70
7. 98
7. 98
Fall River, M ass.:
Pennsylvania, anthracite:
Stove___ ______________ 14. 50 14. 00 14.17
C h estn u t______________ 14. 25 13. 75 13.92
H ouston, Tex.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes 10.60 10. 83 10. 83
Indianapolis, Ind.:
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
5. 64
6. 34
6. 38
7. 70
Low volatile______ _
8.45
8. 49
R u n of mine:
Low volatile____ . . .
6. 50
7. 50
7. 65
Jacksonville, Fla.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 10.75 10. 63 11.00
K ansas C ity, M o.:
A rkansas anthracite:
Furnace__ _
______ 10. 38 10. 80 10.71
Stove, no. 4____________ 12. 33 11.68 11.35
6. 27
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 5.61
6. 29
L ittle Rock, Ark.:
A rkansas anthracite, egg . 10. 50 10. 50 10. 50
Bitum inous, prepared sizes. 8.17
8.17
8.17
Los Angeles, Calif.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes 17. 30 16. 27 16. 78
Louisville, K y.:
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
6.16
H igh volatile_____ . . . 5. 20
6.16
Low volatile________
7. 44
7.98
7.98
M anchester, N . H .:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
S to v e ... ________
15. 00 15.00 15. 50
C h e s tn u t.. ___ . . . . . _ 15.00 15.00 15.50
M em phis, Tenn.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 6.69
7.17
7.17
M ilw aukee, W is.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove______________ . . 13. 25 13.16 13.41
C hestnut _____________ 13.00 12.91 13.16
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_________
7. 27
8. 00
7.98
Low volatile_________
9. 37 10. 39 10.44
M inneapolis, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
S t o v e ____ ___________ _ 15. 50 15.30 15.55
C h estn u t_____
_____ 15. 25 15.05 15.30
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________ 10. 09 10.28 10. 25
Low volatile_________ 12.24 12.96 12.94
M obile, Ala.:
B itum inous, prepared sizes. 7. 77
8.10
8. 60

RETAIL PRICES

1289

T able 3 .—A V E R A G E R E T A IL P R IC E S OF C O AL P E R T O N OF 2,000 PO U N D S F O R H O U S E ­

H O L D U SE , S E P T . 15, 1933, A N D A UG. 15 A N D S E P T . 15, 1934, B Y C IT IE S —C ontinued
1933

1934

C ity and kind of coal
Sept.
15
N ew ark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C hestnut ______ ______
N ew H aven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C h estn u t. ____________
N ew Orleans, La.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
New York, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C hestnut _____________
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove___ ___________ ..
C hestnut ________ _____
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_______ . . .
R un of mine:
Low volatile_________
Omaha, N ebr.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
Peoria, 111.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
S to v e .. _______ _____
C hestnut ____________
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
S to v e ... ________ ____
C h estn u t______________
B itum inous, prepared sizes.
Portland, M aine:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C h e stn u t. ____________
Portland, Oreg.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove. _____ ________
C hestnut _____________
R ichm ond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove___ ____ __________
C h estn u t. ____________

Aug.
15

Sept.
15

$12. 60 $12. 55 $12. 90
. 20 12. 30 12. 65

12

13.50
13. 50

13. 55
13. 55

13. 55
13.55

9. 07

9. 60

9.60

12. 65
12. 40

11.70
11.45

12. 50
12.25

13. 50
13. 50

13. 00
13.00

13. 00
13.00

7.00
. 50

8. 00 8.00
9. 00

9.00

7. 00

7. 50

7. 63

8

8. 52 8. 64 8. 64
6. 59 6. 66

6.39

12. 25

11.25

11.25

12. 38
4. 64

12. 75
12. 75
4.10

12. 75
12. 75
4. 22

14. 50
14. 25

14.00
13.63

14. 50
14.25

12.99

12. 67

12.08

114. 50
114. 25

14. 75
14. 50

14. 75
14. 50

13.75
13. 75

13. 00
13.00

13. 00
13.00

12.00 11.00 11.00

1933

1934

C ity and kind of coal

R ichm ond, V a.—C ontd.
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
High volatile_________
Low volatile.......... .........
R u n of mine:
Low volatile...................
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C hestnut . ___________
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove____ _____________
C h estn u t.............. ..... .
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
St. Paul, M inn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C hestnut ____________
B itum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh volatile_________
Low volatile_________
Salt Lake C ity, U tah:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
San Francisco, Calif.:
N ew Mexico anthracite:
Ceriilos egg ___________
Colorado anthracite:
Egg--------------- ------------Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Savannah, Ga.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove______ ___________
C h estn u t. . _________
Seattle, W ash.:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes
Springfield, 111:
Bitum inous, prepared sizes.
W ashington, D. C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite:
Stove__________________
C hestnut .......... ..............
Bitum inous:
Prepared sizes:
H igh v o la tile ... _____
Low volatile____ ____ _
R u n of mine:
M ix e d .. ______________

Sept.
15

Aug.
15

Sept.
15

$7.33
8.40

$7. 50
8.83

$7. 50
8.83

6.75

7.25

7.50

13.23
12.98

12.85
12. 60

13.10
12.85

13.91
13. 72
5.61

13. 77
13. 53
6.21

13.81
13. 63
5. 56

15. 50
15. 25

15.20
14. 95

15.55
15.30

9.98
12. 33

10.15
13.16

10.11
13.10

7.79

7. 40

7. 38

25. 63

25. 63

25.63

25.11
15.98

25.11
15.04

25.11
15.04

29 .94 29. 70 2 9.70
8. 81
8. 56

8.69
8.44

8.94
8. 69

9. 73

9.84

9.78

3. 73

4.09

4.54

214.45 314. 00 314. 30
314.15 313. 70 314.00
3 8. 33 3 8. 56 3 9 .00
3 9.97 310.00 310. 47
3 7.70

3 8.02 3 8.02

1 T he average price of coal delivered in bins is 50 cents higher th a n here shown. Practically all coal is
delivered in bins.
2 Ail coal sold in Savannah is weighed b y the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made.
T his additional charge has been included in th e above price.
Per ton of 2,240 pounds.

3


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WHOLESALE PRICES
Scope of Wholesale Price Reports
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department
of Labor collects prices of important commodities at wholesale.
An index number is compiled from 784 of the individual price series to
show the trend of wholesale commodity prices. Each item is weighted
according to its relative importance in the country’s markets and the
average for the year 1920 is used as the base in calculating this index.
The list of articles is classified into 10 major groups of related commod­
ities, which in turn are broken down into subgroups of closely related
items. The method used in the compiling of the data and in calcu­
lating the index is explained in the introduction to Bulletin No.
493, Wholesale Prices 1913 to 1928, issued by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Yearly and monthly indexes by groups of commodities have been
constructed for a period since January 1890. To this series has been
spliced the index of wholesale prices extending back to the year 1840,
taken from the report of the Committee on Finance of the United
States Senate on Wholesale Prices, WTages, and Transportation, other­
wise known as the “ Aldrich report.” The series of indexes used for the
years 1801 to 1840 is that compiled by Prof. Alvin H. Hansen, Uni­
versity of Minnesota. A combination of these series gives an index
number of wholesale prices by years since 1801 and by months since
1890.
The number of commodities included in the index has varied con­
siderably from time to time. Since January 1926, 784 individual price
series have been included, 234 of which were added during the revision
in 1931. Detailed monthly data for the added individual items for
the years 1926 to 1930, inclusive, have not been published. Annual
averages for the 234 added items, however, will be found in Bulletin
No. 572. Monthly statistics for all items for the year 1931 are con­
tained in Bulletin No. 572.
For monthly and yearly statistics prior to 1931 reference is made to
previous reports of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.1 Monthly prices
and indexes since January 1932 are shown in the monthly reports
entitled “ Wholesale Prices.” Averages for the years 1932 and 1933
will be found in the December issues for these years.
i B ulletins Nos. 27, 39, 45, 51, 57, 63, 69, 75, 81, 87, 93, 99, 114, 149, 181, 200, 226, 269, 296, 320, 335, 367, 390,
415, 440, 473, 493, 521, and 543.

1290

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WHOLESALE PRICES

1291

Since January 1932 the Bureau has calculated and issued a weekly
index number of wholesale prices. Indexes are published only for the
10 major groups of commodities and the special group, “ All commodi­
ties other than farm products and foods.” Weekly prices of individual
items are not published in any form.
The apparent discrepancy between the monthly index and the
average of the weekly indexes is caused partly by the fact that the
months and weeks do not run concurrently, and partly by the necessity
of using “ pegged” prices when current weekly information is not
available.
W h olesale P rices, 1913 to S ep tem b er 1934

ABLE 1 presents index numbers of wholesale prices by groups
of commodities, by years from 1913 to 1933, inclusive, by months
from January 1933 to September 1934, inclusive, and by weeks for
September 1934.

T

T a ble 1 .— IN D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S

[1926=100]

Period

B y years:
1913, ___________
1914 ____________
1915_____________
1916_____________
1917. ___________
1918_____________
1919_____________
1920_____________
1921. _____
1922 _____ _______
1923_____________
1924_____________
1925. ___________
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929 ____________
1930_____________
1931_____________
1932_____________
1933___________
B y months:
1933:
Jan u a ry ______
F ebru ary ____
M arch_______
A p ril...............
M ay ........... .......
J u n e .—.............
J u ly ,................
A ugust. ____
Septem ber___
O cto b er......... .
N o v e m b e r___
D ecember___

Hides
etals
Tex­ Fuel Mand
B uild­ C hem ­ HouseMisFarm
and
furand metal
ing
icals nishcelprod­ Foods leather tile
prod­
light­
m
ate­
and
laneucts
prod­ ucts
prod­ rials
ing
ing
drugs goods
ous
ucts
ucts

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
64.8
48.2
51.4

64.2
64.7
65.4
75.7
104.5
119. 1
129.5
137.4
90.6
87.6
92.7
91.0
1011. 2
100.0
96.7
101.0
99.9
90.5
74.6
61.0
60.5

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
107.7
121.4
109.1
100.0
86. 1
72.9
80.9

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
95.6
95.5
90.4
80.3
66.3
54.9
64.8

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
88.3
84.3
83.0
78.5
67.5
70.3
66.3

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
96.3
97.0
100.5
92. 1
84. 5
80.2
79.8

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
94. 7
94. 1
95.4
89.9
79.2
71.4
77.0

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
96.8
95.6
94.2
89.1
79.3
73.5
72.6

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
97.5
95. 1
94.3
92.7
84.9
75.1
75.8

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
91. 0
85.4
82.6
77.7
69.8
64.4
62. 5

42.6
40.9
42.8
44. 5
50.2
53.2
60.1
57.6
57.0
55.7
56.6
55.5

55.8
53.7
54.6
56. 1
59.4
61.2
65. 5
64.8
64.9
64.2
64.3
62.5

68.9
68.0
68. 1
69.4
76.9
82.4
86.3
91.7
92.3
89.0
88.2
89.2

51.9
51.2
51.3
51.8
55.9
61.5
68.0
74.6
76.9
77.1
76.8
76.4

66.0
63.6
62.9
61.5
60.4
61.5
65.3
65.5
70.4
73.6
73.5
73.4

78.2
77.4
77.2
76.9
77.7
79.3
80.6
81.2
82.1
83.0
82.7
83.5

70. 1
69.8
70.3
70.2
71.4
74.7
79.5
81.3
82.7
83.9
84.9
85.6

71.6
71.3
71.2
71.4
73.2
73.7
73.2
73.1
72.7
72.7
73.4
73.7

72.9
72.3
72.2
71.5
71.7
73.4
74.8
77.6
79.3
81.2
81.0
81.0

61.2
59.2
58.9
57.8
58.9
60.8
64.0
65.4
65.1
65.3
65. 5
65.7

9130 2 °— 34------ 17


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All
com­
m odi­
ties

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
.0
95. 4
96. 7
95. 3
86. 4
73. 0
64.8
65 9

100

61. 0
59.8
60.2
60.4
62.7
65.0
68.9
69. 5
70.8
71.2
71.1
70.8

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1292

T a ble 1 —I N D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S —C ontinued

Period

B y m onths—Contd.
1934:
Jan u a ry — —
F eb ru ary _____
M arch_______
A pril— _____
M a y __ ______
Ju n e_________
J u ly _________
A ugust. _ _ -Septem ber___
B y weeks ending:
September 1,1934-,
8,193415,193422,193429,1934,.

Hides Tex­ Fuel M etals B uild­ C hem ­ House- M isfurand
and
Farm
icals nishceling
and
tile
prod­ Foods leather prod­ light­ metal m ate­ and
laneing
prod­ rials drugs
prod­ ucts
ucts
ing
goods ous
ucts
ucts

All
com­
modi­
ties

58.7
61.3
61.3
59.6
59.6
63.3
64.5
69.8
73.4

64.3
66.7
67.3
66.2
67.1
69.8
70.6
73.9
76.1

89.5
89.6
88.7
88.9
87.9
87.1
86.3
83.8
84.1

76.5
76.9
76.5
75.3
73.6
72.7
71.5
70.8
71.1

73.1
72.4
71.4
71.7
72.5
72.8
73.9
74.6
74.6

85.5
87.0
87.1
87.9
89.1
87.7
86.8
86.7
86.6

86.3
86.6
86.4
86.7
87.3
87.8
87.0
85.8
85.6

74.4
75.5
75.7
75.5
75.4
75.6
75.4
75.7
76.5

80.8
81.0
81.4
81.6
82.0
82.0
81.6
81.8
81.8

67.5
68.5
69.3
69.5
69.8
70.2
69.9
70.2
70.2

72.2
73.6
73.7
73.3
73.7
74.6
74.8
76.4
77.6

73.5
74.3
73.7
73.6
72.8

76.6
77.2
76.2
76.7
76.0

84.5
84.6
84.8
84.9
84.9

71.3
70.6
70.6
70.8
70.7

75.1
75.4
75.5
75.5
75.5

85.9
85.9
85.9
85.7
85.7

86.3
86.3
85.9
85.4
85.3

76.3
76.3
76.5
76.8
77.0

82.9
82.9
83.0
83.1
83.1

70.3
70.6
70.7
70.4
70.3

77.5
77.8
77.5
77.5
77.2

Purchasing Power of the Dollar at Wholesale, 1913 to September 1934
C h a n g e s in the buying power of the dollar expressed in terms of
wholesale prices from 1913 to September 1934 are shown in table 2.
The figures in this table are reciprocals of the index numbers. To
illustrate, the index number representing the level of all commodities
at wholesale in September 1934 with average prices for the year 1926
as the base is shown to be 77.6. The reciprocal of this index number
is 0.01289 which, translated into dollars and cents, becomes $1,289.
Table 2 shows that the dollar expanded so much in its buying value
that $1 of 1926 had increased in value to $1,289 in September 1934 in
the purchase of all commodities at wholesale.
The purchasing power of the dollar for all groups and subgroups of
commodities for the current month in comparison with the previous
month and the corresponding month of last year will be found on
page 1302.


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WHOLESALE PRICES

1293

T a ble 2 .—P U R C H A S IN G P O W E R O F T H E D O L L A R E X P R E S S E D IN T E R M S O F W H O L E ­

SA LE P R IC E S
11926=$1J

Period

B y years:
1913
............
1914
............
1915.........................
1916_____________
1917...................
1918....................
1919___________
1920_________
1921__________
1922.....................
1923................
1924_________
1925__________
1926_____________
1927.........................
1928..................
1929____ _________
1930__________
1931___________
1932_________
1933_____ ____ _
B y m onths:
1933:
J a n u a ry ......... .
F eb ru ary _____
M arch............. .
A pril________
M a y . . ........ .
Ju n e _____
J u ly _________
A ugust______
Septem ber___
October _____
N ovem ber____
D ecem ber____
1934:
J a n u a ry ...........
F ebru ary _____
M a r c h .............
A pril........ .........
M a y __ ______
June_______
J u ly ..................
A ugust______
Septem ber___
B y weeks ending:
September 1,1934..
8,1934..
15,1934..
22,1934..
29,1934..

Hides Tex­
etals
Fuel Mand
B uild­ C hem ­ HouseMisFarm
and
furand m etal
ing
icals nishcelprod­ Foods leather tile
prod­
light­
m ate­ and
laneucts
prod­
prod­
ing
ucts
ing
rials
drugs
ous
ucts
ucts
goods

All
com­
m odi­
ties

$1.399 $1. 558 $1. 468 $1. 745 $1. 631 $1.101 $1.764 $1. 247 $1. 776 $1.074
1.404 1. 546 1.410 1.832 1.767 1. 247 1.898 1.229 1.761 1.112
1.399 1.529 1.325 1.848 1.931 1.159 1.869
.893 1.786 1.151
1.185 1.321 1.071 1. 420 1.346
.858 1.479
.622 1. 629
.994
.775
.957
.808 1.013
.949
.664 1.134
.606 1.348
.819
.676
.840
.796
.729
.916
.733 1.014
.549 1.072
.744
.635
.772
.574
.739
.959
.764
.865
.637
.944
.719
.664
.728
.584
.607
.611
.669
.666
.607
.705
.597
1.131 1.104
.916 1.058 1.033
.851 1.027
.870
.885
.916
1.066 1.142
.956
.998
.932
.972 1. 028
.997
.966 1.078
1.014 1.079
.960
.898 1.028
.915
.920
.989
.918 1.003
1.000 1.099
.985
.937 1.087
.941
.978 1.011
.953 1.068
.911
.998
.950
.923 1.036
.969
.983
.982
.970
.917
1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000
1.006 1.034
.929 1.046 1.133 1.038 1.056 1.033 1. 026 1.099
.944
.990
.824 1.047 1.186 1. 031 1.063 1.046 1.052 1.171
.953 1.001
.917 1.106 1.205
.995 1.048 1. 062 1. 060 1.211
1.133 1.105 1.000 1.245 1. 274 1.086 1.112 1.122 1.079 1.287
1. 543 1.340 1.161 1.508 1.481 1.183 1.263 1. 261 1.178 1.433
2. 075 1.639 1. 372 1.821 1.422 1. 247 1.401 1.361 1.332 1.553
1.946 1. 653 1.236 1.543 1.508 1.253 1.299 1.377 1.319 1.600

$1.433
1.468
1.439
1.170
.851
.762
.722
.648
1.025
1.034
.994
1.019
.966
1.000
1.048
1.034
1.049
1.157
1.370
1.543
1.517

2. 347
2.445
2. 336
2.247
1.992
1.880
1.664
1.736
1. 754
1.795
1.767
1.802

1.792
1.862
1.832
1.783
1.684
1.634
1.527
1.543
1.541
1. 558
1.555
1.600

1.451
1.471
1.468
1.441
1.300
1. 214
1.159
1.091
1.083
1.124
1.134
1.121

1.927
1.953
1.949
1.931
1.789
1. 626
1.471
1.340
1.300
1.297
1.302
1.309

1.515
1.572
1.590
1. 626
1.656
1. 626
1.531
1.527
1.420
1.359
1.361
1. 362

1.279
1.292
1. 295
1.300
1.287
1.261
1. 241
1.232
1.218
1.205
1. 209
1.198

1.427
1. 433
1.422
1.425
1.401
1.339
1. 258
1.230
1.209
1.192
1.178
1.168

1.397
1.403
1.404
1.401
1. 366
1.357
1.366
1.368
1.376
1.376
1.362
1.357

1.372
1.383
1.385
1. 399
1. 395
1.362
1.337
1.289
1. 261
1. 232
1.235
1.235

1. 634
1.689
1.698
1.730
1.698
1.645
1.563
1.529
1.536
1.531
1.527
1.522

1.639
1.672
1. 661
1.656
1.595
1.538
1.451
1. 439
1.412
1.404
1. 406
1. 412

1.704
1.631
1. 631
1.678
1.678
1.580
1. 550
1. 433
1.362

1.555
1.499
1.486
1.511
1.490
1.433
1.416
1.353
1.314

1.117
1.116
1.127
1.125
1.138
1.148
1.159
1.193
1.189

1.307
1.300
1. 307
1.328
1. 359
1.376
1.399
1.412
1.406

1.368
1. 381
1.401
1. 395
1.379
1.374
1. 353
1.340
1. 340

1.170
1.149
1.148
1.138
1.122
1.140
1.152
1.153
1.155

1.159
1.155
1.157
1.153
1.145
1.139
1.149
1.166
1.168

1.344
1.325
1. 321
1.325
1.326
1.323
1.326
1.321
1.307

1.238
1.235
1. 229
1. 225
1.220
1.220
1.225
1. 222
1.222

1. 481
1.460
1. 443
1.439
1. 433
1.425
1. 431
1. 425
1.425

1. 385
1. 359
1.357
1. 364
1. 357
1.340
1. 337
1. 309
1.289

1.361
1.346
1.357
1.359
1.374

1.305
1.295
1.312
1.304
1.316

1.183
1.182
1.179
1.178
1.178

1.403
1.416
1.416
1. 412
1.414

1.332
1.326
1.325
1.325
1.325

1.164
1.164
1.164
1.167
1.167

1.159
1.159
1.164
1.171
1.172

1.311
1.311
1.307
1.302
1.299

1.206
1.206
1.205
1.203
1.203

1.422
1.416
1.414
1.420
1. 422

1. 290
1.285
1.290
1.290
1.295


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1294

Index Numbers and Purchasing Power of the Dollar of Specified Groups of
Commodities, 1913 to September 1934

I n table 3 the price trend since 1913 is shown for the following
groups of commodities: Raw materials, semimanufactured articles,
finished products, nonagricultural commodities, and all commodities
other than farm products and foods.
In the nonagricultural commodities group all commodities other
than those designated as “ Farm products’’ have been combined into
one group. All commodities with the exception of those included in
the groups of farm products and foods have been included in the
group of “ All commodities other than farm products and foods.”
T a ble 3 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S O F S P E C IF IE D G R O U P S OF C O M M O D IT IE S

[1926=100]

Year

1913
_
1914
_
1915________
1916
1917
1918
1919________
1920
1921________
1922________
1923.............
1924________
1925________
_
1926
1927
_
1928________
1929________
1930
1931________
1932
..........
1933

All
com­
Non- modi­
Semities
anu- F in ­ agriother
culRaw mfacished tural
th
an
m ate­ tured
prod­ com­ farm
rials
a rti­ ucts modi­
prod­
cles
ties
ucts
and
foods
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
65.6
55.1
56.5


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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
94.3
94.5
93.9
81. 8
69.0
59.3
65.4

69.4
67.8
68 9
82.3
109.2
124. 7
130.6
149.8
103.3
96.5
99.2
96.3
100.6
100.0
95.0
95.9
94.5
88.0
77.0
70.3
70.5

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
94.6
94.8
93.3
85.9
74.6
68.3
69.0

70.0
66.4
68.0
88.3
114.2
124.6
128.8
161.3
104.9
102.4
104.3
99.7
102.6
100.0
94.0
92.9
91.6
85. 2
75.0
70.2
71.2

M onth

1933:
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ____
A p ril_____
M a y ______
J u n e ______
J u ly ______
A ugust___
Septem ber.
October___
N o v em b er.
D ecem ber..
1934:
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ..
M arch ____
A pril_____
M a y ______
J u n e .. __
J u ly ______
A ugust___
Septem ber.

All
com­
Nonmodi­
Semities
F in ­ agrieul- other
Raw manuished tural
facthan
m ate­ tured
prod­ com­ farm
rials
ucts modi­ prod­
a rti­
cles
ucts
ties
and
foods

50.2
48.4
49.4
50.0
53.7
56.2
61.8
60.6
61.7
61.8
62.4
61.9

56.9
56.3
56.9
57.3
61.3
65.3
69.1
71.7
72.9
72.8
71.4
72.3

66.7
65.7
65.7
65.7
67.2
69.0
72.2
73.4
74.8
75.4
75.2
74.8

64.9
63.7
63.8
63.7
65.4
67.4
70.7
72.0
73.7
74.4
74.2
74.0

67.3
66.0
65.8
65.3
66.5
68.9
72.2
74.1
76.1
77.2
77.2
77.5

64.1
66.0
65.9
65.1
65.1
67.3
68.3
71.6
73.9

71.9
74.8
74.3
73.9
73.7
72.9
72.7
72.6
71.8

76.0
77.0
77.2
77.1
77.8
78.2
78.2
79.2
80.1

75.0
76.1
76.2
76.2
76.6
76.9
76.9
77.8
78.4

78.3
78.7
78.5
78.6
78.9
78.2
78.4
78.3
78.3

WHOLESALE PRICES

1295

Table 4 shows the purchasing power of the dollar in terms of the
special groups of commodities as shown by index numbers contained
in table 3. The period covered is by years from 1913 to 1933, in­
clusive, and by months from January 1933 to September 1934,
inclusive. The method used in determining the purchasing power of
the dollar is explained on page 1292.
T a ble 4 .—P U R C H A S IN G P O W E R OF T H E D O L L A R AS D E T E R M IN E D B Y IN D E X N U M ­

B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y S P E C IA L C O M M O D IT Y G R O U P S
[1926=$!]

Period

1913________
1914________
1915.................
1916________
1917________
1918............. .
1919________
1920________
1921________
1922.................
1923________
1924________
1 9 2 5 -,...........
1926________
1927________
1928________
1929________
1930________
1931________
1932________
1933________

All
com­
Non
modi­
Semiagri­
ties
Raw m anu- F in ­
cul­
other
ished tural
facm ate­ tured
than
rials prod­ prod­ com­ farm
ucts modi­ prod­
ucts
ties
ucts
and
foods
$1.453 $1.335 $1,441 $1.449
1.479 1.429 1.475 1.497
1.488 1.232 1.451 1.460
1.211
.845 1.215 1.172
.816
.665
. 916
.884
.736
.650
.802
.799
.685
.633
. 766
. 760
.659
. 505
.668
.646
1.133 1.041
.968
.999
1.042 1.011 1.036 1.028
1.015
.843 1. 008
.991
1.025
.920 1.038 1.030
.994
.937
.950
.986
1. 000 1.000 1.000 1.000
1. 036 1.060 1.053 1.057
1. 009 1. 058 1.043 1. 055
1 026 1. 065 1 058 1 072
1.186 1.222 1.136 1 164
1. 524 1. 449 1. 299 1.340
1.815 1. 686 1.422 1.464
1.770 1.529 1.418 1.449

$1,429
1.506
1.471
1.133
.876
.803
.776
. 620
.953
.977
.959
1.003
.975
1.000
1.064
1.076
1 092
1.174
1.333
1. 425
1. 404

Period

1933:
Jan u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry ..,
M arch
April
M a y ______
.Tunc
.July
August
Septem ber.
O ctober___
N ovem ber.
D ecem ber..
1934:
Ja n u a ry ___
F e b ru a ry .,
M arch
April
M ay_
June
Ju ly
A ugust___
Septem ber-

All
com­
Nonm
odi­
Semities
Raw manu- F in ­ agriother
culm ate­ facished
than
rials tured prod­ tural
com­ farm
prod­ ucts modi­
prod­
ucts
ties
ucts
and
foods

$1,992 $1. 757 $1. 499 $1,541
2. 066 1.776 1. 522 1.570
2 024 1. 757 1 522 1 567
2 000 1 745 1 522 1 570
1.862 1.631 1.488 1. 529
1 779 1 531 1 449 1 484
1 618 1 447 1 385 1 414
1 650 1 395 1 362 1 389
1. 621 1.372 1.337 1.357
1.618 1.374 1.326 1.344
1.603 1.401 1.330 1. 348
1.616 1.383 1.337 1.351
1.560
1.515
1 517
1 536
1. 536
1 486
1 464
1.397
1. 353

1.391
1.337
1 346
1 353
1. 357
1 372
1. 376
1.377
1. 393

1.316
1. 299
1 295
1 297
1 285
1 279
1 279
1 263
1.248

1. 333
1.314
1 312
1 312
1 305
1 300
1 300
1.285
1.276

$1. 486
1.515
1 520
1 531
1.504
1 451
1 385
1 350
l! 314
1. 295
1. 295
1.290
1.277
1. 271
1 274
1 272
1 267
1 279
1 276
1.277
1. 277

Wholesale Price Trends During September 1934
W h o l e sa l e commodity prices increased by 1.5 percent from
August to September. The index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
of the United States Department of Labor advanced to 77 6 percent
of the 1926 average, as compared with 76.4 percent for August.
The September index stands at the highest point reached during the
year and is the highest level attained since January 1931.
The index as a whole, after a steady rise for the past 5 months, regis­
tered an advance of nearly 10 percent over September 1933, when the
level was 70.8 percent of the 1926 average. The increase since Sep­
tember 1932, when the index was 65.3, amounts to 19 percent. As
compared with September 1930, when the level was 84.4, present
prices are lower by 8 percent. As compared with September 1929,
when the index was 96.1, they are down by 19.3 percent. The general
level in September was 29.8 percent above the low point of 1933

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1296

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

(February), when the index was 59.8, and 19.5 percent below the high
point reached in 1929 (July), with an index of 96.5.
The upward trend in prices from August to September was for the
most part confined to farm products and foods. Nearly two-thirds of
the 182 items showing advances were in these groups. Of the 784 items
included in the index 477 remained unchanged. Declining prices were
reported for 125 items. Changes in prices by groups are as follows:
T a b l e 5 .— N U M B E R O F IT E M S C H A N G IN G IN P R IC E F R O M A U G U ST TO S E P T E M B E R
1934

G roup

Increases

Decreases

No change

15
25
11
23
5
15

12
34
24
65
11
110
66
69
51
35
477

F arm products______________________________ _________________
Foods
- _______ ________________________________________
H ides and leather p roducts_____________________________________
Textile p r o d u c ts .___ __________________ ______________________
Fuel and lighting m aterials_____________________________________
M etals and m etal p roducts___________ ________________________
Building m aterials . . _____________________ __________________
Chemicals and drugs__________________________________________
House-furnishing goods.. ______________________________________
M iscellaneous _______________ _______ ________ ________________

40
63

7

9
5
10

T o ta l.. . _______________________________________________

182

125

6

24
8
5
13
11
5

7

Raw materials, including farm products, raw silk, crude rubber, and
other similar commodities, registered an advance of 3.3 percent and
are 20 percent above the September 1933 level. Semimanufactured
articles, including such items as leather, rayon, iron and steel bars,
wood pulp, and other similar goods, declined by 1 percent. The
present index, 71.8, compares with 72.6 for August and 72.9. for a year
ago. Finished products, among which are included more than 500
manufactured articles, rose 1 percent over the August level and are
over 7 percent above a year ago. The combined index for all com­
modities, exclusive of farm products and processed foods, showed no
change between August and September but was higher than a year
ago by 3 percent. The nonagricultural commodities group, which
includes all commodities except farm products, advanced approxi­
mately eight-tenths of 1 percent in the general average to a point 6.4
percent higher than a year ago.
The greatest advance from August to September was recorded by
the farm products group, with the average rising over 5 percent.
Important articles in this group contributing to this rise were calves,
with a 24 percent increase; dried beans, 21 percent; hogs, 18.5 per­
cent; cows and tobacco, 13 percent; eggs and steers, 9 percent;
barley, 8 percent; hay and live poultry, 7 percent; and peanuts and
seeds, 6 percent. Hops, on the other hand, declined 14 percent;
lemons, 7 percent; and cotton, 1.5 percent. The present level of farmproducts prices is approximately 28.8 percent above that of a year
ago, it being 49.5 percent higher than September 1932. As compared
with September 1929, however, farm products are down by 31 percent.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

WHOLESALE PRICES

1297

The foods group advanced 3 percent to 76.1 percent of the 1926
average, showing an advance of 17 percent over September 1933, when
the index was 64.9, and it is 23 percent over September 1932, when the
index registered 61.8. The wholesale food price index, however, is
15 percent lower than September 1930 and 26 percent below that of
September 1929, when the indexes were 89.5 and 103.3. Important
price advances in this group were reported in September for wheat
flour, hominy grits, corn meal, macaroni, canned and dried fruits,
canned vegetables, fresh and cured beef, bacon, ham, fresh pork, veal,
lard, oleo oil, edible tallow, and most vegetable oils. Lower prices
were reported for butter, cheese, lamb, cocoa, raw sugar, and olive oil.
During September chemicals and drugs, with an index of 76.5,
reached the highest level since August 1931, when the index was 76.9.
Oleic and stearic acid, inedible tallow, denatured alcohol, and palm
and palm-kernel oils were in the main responsible for this increase.
Textile products recovered part of the drop of the previous month
and rose about one-half of 1 percent, due to advancing prices of
clothing, cotton goods, and knit goods. Slight decreases were shown
for the subgroups of silk and rayon, woolen and worsted goods, and
other textile products.
An advance of over 5 percent in hides and skins more than offset
decreases in leather and other leather products, causing the group of
hides and skins to increase four-tenths of 1 percent. Shoes were
unchanged from the August level.
The groups of metals and metal products and building materials
registered slight decreases, due to a decline of 4.5 percent in average
prices of plumbing and heating fixtures. Continued advances in
prices of anthracite and bituminous coal and electricity were offset
by decreases in certain petroleum products. The fuel and lighting
materials group remained unchanged. The index for the group, 74.6,
compared with 70.4 for September 1933, shows an increase of 6 per­
cent during the year.
Advancing prices of cylinder oil and paraffin wax counterbalanced
a drop of 3 percent in cattle feed and one-half of 1 percent in crude
rubber and resulted in the group of miscellaneous commodities remain­
ing at the August level. No change was shown for the group of
house-furnishing goods.
The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s index number, which includes 784
price series weighted according to their relative importance in the
country’s markets, is based on average prices in 1926 as 100. Index
numbers for groups and subgroups of commodities with the percent­
age change for September 1934 in comparison with July 1929, Feb­
ruary 1933, and September 1933 are contained in the accompanying
table.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

to

o

00

WHOLESALE PRICES

1926 =100

Index

N um bers


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

U .S .D e p a rtm e n t of L a b o r
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
W ashington

ofSELECTED

GROU

Index
N um bers

o

3
a

3
t-<
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a
a

<

3

3

WHOLESALE PRICES

1299


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1300

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a b i e 6 —IN D E X N U M B E R S A N D P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S

B Y G R O U P S A N D SU B G R O U P S O F C O M M O D IT IE S
[1926=100]

Groups and subgroups

Sep­
tem ber
1934

77.6
All commodities---------------------------------------73.4
Farm prodiio.ts _ ________________________
88.1
G rains
__________________
64.1
Livestock and p oultry _ __ ___________
74.4
O ther farm products
_________- _____
76.1
Foods
- _____________________
76.2
B u tte r cheese, and milk __
________
91.9
Cereal products
____________________
66.0
F ru its arid vegetables
____________
76.6
TVTeats
_________________________
70.0
Other foods _ ________________________
84.1
Hides and leather p roducts_________________
97.9
Boots and shoes _ - _________________
60.4
Hides and skins _____________________
70.6
L eather
_______________________
86.5
O ther leather p ro d u cts. _______________
71.1
Textile products
______________ - _______
79.7
Clothing
___________________
87.8
Gotton goods
______________________
59.9
TCnit goods
________________
24.3
Pilk and rayon
.
________________
78.0
Woolen and worsted goods_____________
69.1
O ther textile products ________________
74.6
Fuel and lighting m aterials ____ ___________
81.3
A nthracite coal_______________________
96.3
B itum inous coal
__________________
85.6
Coke
__________________________
3 92.6
"Electricity
______________________
3 99.2
Gas
_________ ________________
51.3
Petroleum products
_______________
86.6
M etals and m etal products _ ______________
92.0
Agricultural im plem ents
____
86.5
Tron and steel __ ___________________ 94.7
TVTotor vehicles
__________________
68.4
Non ferrous m etals
________________
71.6
Plum bing and heating________________
85.6
Building m aterials________________________
91.3
Brick and tile _____________________ - 93.9
C em ent _ _ __________________________
82.3
L um ber
_ _______________
P ain t and p ain t materials
79.5
71.6
Plum bing and heating__ ______________
92.0
Structural steel
__________ _____
89.8
O ther building m aterials _
76.5
Chemicals and drugs______________________
80.3
Chemicals
_______ ______________
"Drugs and pharm aceuticals
___
72.7
66.4
Fertilizer m aterials
_ _____________
73.0
Mixed fertilizers
_________________ 81.8
House-furnishing g o o d s___________________
84.8
_______________________
Furnishings
78.8
F u rn itu re
__________________________
70.2
M iscellaneous __ _________________________
44.7
A utomobile tires and tubes_____________
C attle feed ________________________ -- 100.7
82.4
Paper and p u lp _______________________
31.5
R ubber, crude___________ ___ _________
81.4
O ther miscellaneous___________________
73.9
R aw m aterials..
__ _______________ -71.8
Sem im anufactured articles________________
80.1
Finished products ______ ______________
78.4
N onagricultural co m m o d itie s______- ____
All commodities other th a n farm products and
78.3
foods
______________________________
* Increase.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

3 Decrease.

Ju ly
1929

Per­
centage
de­
crease F eb ru ­
ary
July
1933
1929
to Sep­
tem ber
1934

Per­
centage
ncrease
F ebru­ Sep­
tem ber
ary
1933
1933
to Sep­
tem ber
1934

Per­
centage
change
Sep­
tem ber
1933
to Sep­
tem ber
1934

96.5
107.6
102.2
114.9
104.5
102.9
103.2
91.2
105.8
116.7
93.0
109.1
106.1
114.5
112.1
106.1
89.6
89.2
98.2
87.9
78.3
87.7
92.2
83.3
89.1
89.9
84.7
94.1
94.4
73.3
101.0
99.0
95.3
107.8
105.7
93.6
95.1
92.9
94.6
93.3
94.5
93.6
99.6
97.4
93.3
98.2
70.8
90.7
97.1
94. 3’
93.3
95.5
82.8
54.5
120.5
88.9
43.9
98.8
99.1
93.4
95.6
94.1

19.6
31.8
13.8
44.2
28.8
26.0
26.2
1.8
37.6
34.4
24.7
22.9
7.7
47.2
37.0
18.5
20.6
10.7
10.6
31.9
69.0
11.1
25.1
10.4
8.8
i 7.1
i 1.1
1.6
i 5.1
30.0
14.3
7.1
9.2
12.2
35.3
23.5
10.0
1.7
.7
11.8
15.9
23.5
7.6
7.8
18.0
18.2
i 2.7
26.8
24.8
13.3
9.1
17.5
15.2
18.0
16.4
7.3
28.3
17.6
25.4
23.1
16.2
16.7

59.8
40.9
32.7
40.1
44.2
53.7
52.4
60.4
52.4
50.2
54.1
68.0
83.3
40.9
55.3
77.9
51.2
61.2
49.1
48.3
25.6
53.2
66.2
63.6
88.7
79.4
75.2
102.9
96.6
34.3
77.4
83.1
77.3
90.9
46.2
59.4
69.8
75.1
81.8
56.4
68.0
59.4
81.7
78.5
71.3
79.0
54.8
61.5
62.4
72.3
72.9
71.9
59.2
42.6
40.6
72.1
6.1
73.3
48.4
56.3
65.7
63.7

29.8
79.5
169.4
59.9
68.3
41.7
45.4
52.2
26.0
52.6
29.4
23.7
17.5
47.7
27.7
11.0
38.9
30.2
78.8
24.0
3 5.1
46.6
4.4
17.3
3 8.3
21.3
13.8
3 10.0
2.7
49.6
11.9
10.7
11.9
4.2
48.1
20.5
22.6
21.6
14.8
45.9
16.9
20.5
12.6
14.4
7.3
1.7
32.7
8.0
17.0
13.1
16.3
9.6
18.6
4.9
148.0
14.3
416.4
11.1
52.7
27.5
21.9
23.1

70.8
57.0
63.9
46.7
61.2
64.9
65.8
84.7
66.8
51.5
64.5
92.3
98.9
84.1
85.4
84.6
76.9
81.1
91.3
74.8
34.5
82.7
76.5
70.4
82.0
84.7
79.7
90.4
101.5
49.6
82.1
83.2
80.3
90.4
68.5
74.7
82.7
82.6
90.8
82.0
77.3
74.7
82.4
85.9
72.7
78.8
56.8
66.6
67.8
79.3
80.5
78.4
65.1
43.2
64.2
82.2
14.9
78.1
61.7
72.9
74.8
73.7

+9. 6
+28.8
+37.9
+37.3
+21.6
+17.3
+15.8
+ 8 .5
-1 .2
+48. 7
+8. 5
-8 .9
-1 .0
-28.2-1 7 . 3
+2. 2
-7 .5
-1 . 7
- 3 .8
-1 9 .9
-2 9 . 6
- 5 .7
- 9 .7
+ 6 .0
-.9
+13.7
+ 7 .4
+ 2 .4
-2 .3
+ 3 .4
+ 5 .3
+10. 6
+ 7 .7
+ 4 .8
- .1
-4 .1
+ 3 .5
+10.5
+ 3 .4
+• 4
+ 2 .8
- 4 .1
+11.7
+ 4 .5
+ 5 .2
+ 1 .9
+28.0
-.3
+ 7 .7
+ 3 .2
+ 5 .3
+ .5
+ 7 .8
+ 3 .5
+ 56.9
+ .2
+111.4
+ 4 .2
+ 19.8
-1 .5
+ 7 .1
+ 6 .4

91.7

14.6

66.0

18.6

76.1

+ 2 .9

3 A ugust 1934.

WHOLESALE PRICES

1301

T a ble 7 . - I N D E X N U M B E R S O F W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S B Y G R O U P S A N D S U B G R O U P S

O F C O M M O D IT IE S
[1926=100]

Groups and subgroups

Sept.
1934

Aug.
1934

Sept.
1933

Sept.
1932

Sept.
1931

Sept.
1930

Sept.
1929

All com m odities.

77.6

76.4

70.8

65.3

71.2

84.4

96.1

Farm products.....................
G rains_____ _____ ___
Livestock and p o u ltry .
O ther farm products—.

73.4
88.1
64.1
74.4

69.8
86.0
56.2
73.1

57.0
63.9
46. 7
61.2

49.1
37.4
51.2
52.1

60.5
44.2
61.0
65.4

85.3
77.0
88.0
86.3

106.6
101.6
106.6
108.3

F oods........................................
B utter, cheese, and m ilk.
Cereal products________
F ru its and vegetables___
M eats...... ............................
O ther foods____________

76. 1
76.2
91.9
66.0
76.6
70.0

73.9
77.3
91.0
65.6
69.4
68.9

64.9
65.8
84. 7
66.8
51.5
64.5

61.8
60.6
65.8
52.5
60.9
64.6

73.7
84.6
70.3
71.0
73.6
68.5

89.5
99.3
78.6
91.0
99.2
77.6

103.3
106.2
89.6
109. 3
113.1
96.1

Hides and leather products.
Boots and shoes..............
H ides and skins..............
L eath er.............. ..............
O ther leather products..

84.1
97.9
60.4
70.6
86.5

83.8
97.9
57.4
71.3
86.8

92.3
98.9
84.1
85.4
84.6

72.2
84.4
48.2
63.2
81.5

85.0
93.5
58.6
83.4
101.1

99.2
100.5
94.2
98.2
105.4

110. 6
106.1
121.3
112.4
106.7

Textile p ro d u c ts .........................
C lothing________ ________
C otton goods_____________
K n it goods_______________
Silk and rayon___________
Woolen and worsted goods..
O ther textile p roducts..........

71.1
79.7
87.8
59.9
24.3
78.0
69.1

70.8
79.5
86.4
59.3
24.4
78.9
69.7

76.9
81. 1
91.3
74.8
34.5
82.7
76.5

55.6
61.8
57.9
50.4
32.6
56.7
68.6

64.5
75.5
61.5
59.2
43.5
65.7
74.1

76.2
84.6
78.6
76.7
51.2
75.9
82.0

89.8
89.3
98.4
87.5
81.1
86.7
93.5

Fuel and lighting m aterials.
A nthracite coal_______
B itum inous coal.............
Coke_________________
E lectricity____________
G a s ..._______________
Petroleum p roducts___

74.6
81.3
96.3
85.6
0)
(')
51.3

74.6
79.9
96.2
85.6
92. 6
91.2
51.6

70.4
82.0
84.7
79. 7
90.4
101.5
49.6

70.8
87.7
81. 1
76.7
103.4
107.6
46.7

67.4
94.3
83.9
81.5
100.6
103.4
38.9

79.0
89.1
89.2
83.9
99.9
101.3
62.0

82.7
90.6
91.3
84.4
95.2
94.3
70.2

M etals and m etal p ro d u c ts..
Agricultural im plem ents.
Iron and steel.....................
M otor vehicles................ .
N onferrous m etals______
Plum bing and h eatin g ....

86.6
92.0
86.5
94.7
68.4
71.6

86.7
92.0
86.6
94.6
68.9
75.0

82.1
83.2
80.3
90.4
68.5
74.7

80. 1
84.9
79.7
92. 7
51.6
66.8

83.9
94. 1
82.3
95.4
59.0
82.6

89.0
94.5
87.6
97.5
73.2
83.4

100. 3
99.0
95.0
106.2
105. 2
93.4

Building m aterials.................... .
Brick and tile .....................
C e m e n t.................................
L u m b er..................................
P ain t and p ain t m aterials.
Plum bing and heating___
Structural steel__________
O ther building m aterials...

85.6
91.3
93.9
82.3
79.5
71.6
92.0
89.8

85.8
91.3
93.9
81.8
79.9
75.0
92.0
90.0

82.7
82.6
90.8
82.0
77.3
74.7
82.4
85.9

70.5
75.4
79.0
56.3
68.2
66.8
81.7
79.9

77.0
82.6
75.8
66.9
77.6
82.6
81.7
82.6

87.1
87.5
91.7
81.1
86.8
83.4
81.7
92.3

95.8
94.8
86.0
94.9
99.1
93.4
99.6
97.2

Chemicals and drugs....................
C hem icals_____ ____ _____
D rugs and pharm aceuticals.
Fertilizer m aterials_______
M ixed fertilizers.....................

76.5
80.3
72.7
66.4
73.0

75.7
79.2
72.7
64.8
73.0

72.7
78.8
56.8
66.6
67.8

72.9
79.8
56.6
63.6
66.9

76.3
79.8
61.7
74.2
77.6

87.2
91.6
67.4
83.1
92.5

93. 7
99.9
71.2
89.9
97.8

H ouse-furnishing goods.
F u rn ish in g s.............
F u rn itu re _________

81.8
84.8
78.8

81.8
84.6
78.9

79.3
80.5
78.4

73.7
74.7
72.7

82.7
81.2
84.6

92.3
91.2
93.5

94. 3
93. 3
95.5

70.2
44. 7
100.7
82.4
31.5
81.4

70.2
44. 7
104.0
82.4
31.7
81.0

65. 1
43.2
64. 2
82.2
14.9
78.1

64.7
42.7
45.9
75.5
8.2
83.2

68.2
46.0
44.4
80.7
10.6
86.7

75.2
50.1
93.6
85.1
17.1
92.8

83.1
54.5
132.5
88.9
41.9
98.8

73.9
71.8
80. 1
78.4

71.6
72.6
79.2
77.8

61.7
72.9
74.8
73.7

56.2
60.7
70.4
68.7

62.7
66.7
75.9
73.4

82.1
77.7
86.4
84.2

98. 9
94.5
95. 0
93.9

78.3

78.3

76.1

70.4

73.9

83.2

91.6

M iscellaneous__ ______ _______
A utomobile tires and tu b es.
C attle f e e d .. . .........................
Paper and p u lp .....................
R ubber, crude........................
O ther miscellaneous..............
Raw m aterials............... .........................................
Sem im anufactured articles.________________
Finished products__________________ ______
NonagricUltural com m odities_______ ________
All commodities other than farm products and
foods.......... ........................... ................................
1 D ata not yet available.


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1302

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

T a ble 8 —P U R C H A S IN G P O W E R O F T H E D O L L A R , E X P R E S S E D IN T E R M S OP W H O L E ­

SALE P R IC E S , BY G R O U P S A N D SU B G R O U P S O F C O M M O D IT IE S , S E P T E M B E R 1933
A N D A U G U ST A N D S E P T E M B E R 1934
[1926 = $1]

Groups and subgroups

Septem ­
ber 1933

A ugust
1934

Septem­
ber 1934

All commodities........ .................................. •-......................

$1,412

$1. 309

$1. 289

Farm products______________________ _____ ______
G rains..........................................................................
Livestock and p o ultry___.........................................
Other farm products____________________ - .........

1. 754
1. 565
2.141
1.634

1.433
1.163
1.779
1.368

1.362
1.135
1. 560
1.344

F oods...... ............................. .......................- ........................
B utter, cheese, and m ilk............. ......................... .
Cereal products......... ....................-............................
F ru its and vegetables................................................
M eats.............................................................................
Other foods____________ ________________ _____

1.541
1. 520
1.181
1.497
1.942
1.550

1.353
1.294
1.099
1.524
1.441
1.451

1.314
1.312
1.088
1.515
1. 305
1.429

H ides and leather p ro d u c ts .._____________________
Boots and shoes............ ............................ .................
H ides and s k in s............................................ ..............
L eather....... ............................. .....................................
O ther leather products.................................. ............

1.083
1.011
1.189
1.171
1.182

1.193
1.021
1.742
1.403
1.152

1.189
1. 021
1.656
1.416
1.156

Textile p ro d u cts......... ..................................... .................
C lothing.............................................. .............. ............
C otton goods........ ....................................... ................
K n it goods_____ ______________ ____ __________
Silk and ra y o n ..._____________________ ______ _
Woolen and worsted go o d s.................. ...................
Other textile products________________________

1.300
1. 233
1.095
1.337
2.899
1.209
1.307

1.412
1. 258
1.157
1.686
4.098
1.267
1.435

1. 406
1. 255
1.139
1.669
4.115
1.282
1.447

Fuel and lighting m aterials_________ ____ _________
A nthracite......................................................... ............
B itum inous coal........ ......................... ..........................
Coke___________ ______ _______________ ____ _
E lectricity______________ _____ ______________
Gas____ ______ _____________________________
Petroleum products____ ____ ______________ _

1.420
1.220
1. 181
1. 255
1.106
.985
2. 016

1.340
1.252
1.040
1.168
1.080
1.008
1. 938

1.340
1. 230
1.038
1.168

M etals and metal p ro d u c ts......................... ....................
Agricultural im plem ents............................... ............
Iron and steel____________________ ____________
M otor vehicles_______ _______________________
Nonferrous m e ta ls ...________________ _____ _
Plum bing and heating________ _______________

1. 218
1.202
1.245
1. 106
1.460
1. 339

1.153
1.087
1.155
1.057
1.451
1.333

1.155
1.087
1.156
1.056
1.462
1.397

Building m aterials_______________________________
Brick and tile________________________________
C em ent__________________________ _________
L u m b er_______________ _____________________
P ain t and paint m aterials_______________ _____
Plum bing and heating_______ ____ ________ ___
Structural steel_____________ _____ ____________
Other building m aterials........................................

1.209
1.211
1.101
1. 220
1.294
1.339
1.214
1.164

1.166
1.095
1.065
1.222
1.252
1.333
1.087
1. I l l

1.168
1. 095
1.065
1.215
1.258
1.397
1.087
1.114

Chemicals and drugs___ _____ ______________ _____
Chem icals_________________________ _____ ____
D rugs and pharm aceuticals_______ ___________
Fertilizer m aterials___ _____ ________________ _
M ixed fe rtilize rs...______________________ ____

1.376
1. 269
1.761
1.502
1.475

1.321
1.263
1.376
1.543
1.370

1.307
1.245
1.376
1. 506
1. 370

House-furnishing goods................. ....................................
Furnishings_________________________________
F u rn itu re ............ .........................................................

1.261
1.242
1.276

1. 222
1.182
1.267

1.222
1.179
1. 269

M iscellaneous___________________________ ____ ___
Automobile tires and tu b e s.______ ___________
C attle feed_______________ ____ ______________
Paper and p u lp ____________________ _________
R ubber, crude________ ____ ___ ____ _________
O ther miscellaneous__________________________

1.536
2.315
1.558
1.217
6. 711
1.280

1.425
2.237
.962
1.214
3.155
1.235

1.425
2. 237
.993
1.214
3.175
1.229

R aw m a te ria ls ___________________ ,...........................
Semimanufactured articles_______________________
Finished products_______ ______ ___________ _____
N onagricultural com m odities.____________________
All commodities other th an farm products and foods.

1.621
1.372
1. 337
1. 357
1.314

1. 397
1.377
1. 263
1. 285
1. 277

1.353
1.393
1. 248
1. 276
1.277

1 D ata no t y et available.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

0)
(■)

1.949

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
O ffic ia l— U n i t e d S t a t e s
I ow a.

Bureau of Mines.

1988.

R e p o rt f o r the b ie n n ia l p e r io d e n d in q D ecem ber 81
D es M o in e s , 1 9 3 4 . 4 8 p p .
*

General statistics on the coal-mining industry in the State, covering produc­
tion, number of mines, employment, accidents, distribution, etc. The report
shows a reduction in fatal injuries of 68.42 percent in 1933 as compared with 1932
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .— Department of Labor and Industries.
A n n u a l re p o rt, f o r the
y e a r e n d in g N o vem b er 8 0 , 1 9 3 3 ; B o sto n , [19341]. 1 6 2 p p ., ch arts.
Presents the report of the commissioner of labor and industries and reports on
the work of the various sections of the department—the divisions of industrial
safety, statistics, public employment offices, standards, and necessaries of life,
board of conciliation and arbitration, minimum wage commission, and thé
an<^ development commission (discontinued by State legislation of
Special Commission to Investigate the Advisability of Licensing Con­
tractors and Builders and Relative to Certain Matters Relating to Contracts
for and the Employment of Persons on Public Works. R e p o rt. [B o sto n ]
J a n u a ry 1984.

24 p p .

(H o u se N o . 1 2 5 0 .)

Reviewed in this issue.
N ew

J e r s e y .— Department of Institutions and Agencies.
P u b lic a tio n 2 5 :
s u m m a r y re p o rt, 1 9 2 3 - 8 8 , a n d h an dbook o f in s titu tio n s a n d agen cies.
T ren ton
1 9 3 4 . 1 2 9 p p ., ch a rts, illu s.

Contains summary data on the operation of the New Jersey Old-Age Relief
Act and regulations relating to that act.
N e w Y o r k .—

Board of Housing.

R e p o rt.

A lb a n y , 1 9 8 4 .

6 2 p p ., illu s .

(L e g is­

la tiv e d o cu m en t (1 9 8 4 ) no. 4 1 .)

Lists as the outstanding development of the year the increasing participation
ot the Lederal Government in low-cost housing projects. Federal loans for three
such projects in New York City and Brooklyn were approved during the year.
Pointing out that the sums involved in slum-clearance projects were prohibitive
for private capital, the board recommends the enactment of an amendment to
the New York Housing Act, to permit the establishment of municipal housing
authorities to finance housing enterprises by the issue of bonds to be sold to the
public.
The report gives tables showing cost of construction, maintenance costs per
room, distribution of the rent dollar, etc., in projects constructed under the
board s supervision.
U n i t e d S t a t e s .— Congress.

House of Representatives. Committee on Immi­
gration and Naturalization. A c to rs u n d er con tract labor p ro v isio n s o f the-

im m ig r a tio n la w s : H e a r in g s (7 3 d C on g., 2 d sess.) on H . R . 3 6 7 4 , F e b ru a ry
2 0 - 2 8 , 1984•
W a s h in g to n , 1934• 1 6 8 p p .

Senate. R e p o rt N o . 5 5 5 (7 8 d C on g., 2d s e s s .): F ederal cred it u n io n s y s ­
tem . R e p o rt [to a c c o m p a n y S . 1639] o f M r . B a n k h e a d , C o m m ittee on B a n k in g
a n d C u rren cy.
W a sh in g to n , 1934■ 9 p p .
---------------------Committee on Banking and Currency.

C red it u n io n s : H ea rin g
(7 3 d C on g., 1 st se ss.) on S . 1 6 3 9 , S . I 64O, a n d S . Ï 64I , J u n e 1, 1 9 3 3 .
W a sh ­
in g to n , 1 9 3 8 . 3 2 p p .

------ Department of Agriculture.

M isc e lla n e o u s P u b lic a tio n N o . 1 7 2 : B ib lio g ­
r a p h y on la n d se ttlem en t w ith p a r tic u la r referen ce to sm a ll h o ld in g s a n d su b s is­
tence h o m estea d s.
W a sh in g to n , 1 9 3 4 . 4 9 2 p p .

The material in this volume is classified under general land settlement; land
settlement in the United States, by State; and land settlement in foreign coun­
tries, by country. There is a comprehensive index.
1303

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1304

U n i t e d S t a t e s .— Department

.___

of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. B u lle tin
N o . 6 0 0 : U n io n scales o f w ages a n d h ou rs o f labor, M a y 15, 1 9 3 3 .
W a s h in g ­
ton, 1 9 3 4 . 1 39 p p .
_ _____ ____ _ B u lle tin N o . 6 0 1 : W a g es a n d h ou rs of labor i n b itu m in o u s -c o a l
m in in g , 1 9 3 3 .
W a sh in g to n , 1 9 3 4 . 6 7 p p .

______________B u lle tin N o . 6 02: D is c u s s io n s o f in d u s tr ia l a ccid en ts a n d d ise a ses
a t the 1 9 3 3 m eetin g o f the In te r n a tio n a l A s s o c ia tio n o f I n d u s tr ia l A c c id e n t
B o a rd s a n d C o m m is s io n s , C h icago, III.
W a sh in g to n , 1 9 3 4 . 2 1 6 p p .
____

__________ S e r ia l N o . R . 1 4 1 : L abor le g isla tio n en acted b y S e v e n ty -th ird C on­
gress.
W a sh in g to n , 1 9 3 4 .
A u g u s t 1 9 3 4 .)

_________ Women’s Bureau.
f o r hou seh old em p lo yees.

36 p p .

(R e p r in t fro m M o n th ly L abor R eview fo r

B u lle tin N o . 1 1 2 : S ta n d a r d s o f pla cem en t agen cies
W a sh in g to n , 1 9 3 4 . 6 8 p p .

Reviewed in this issue of the Monthly Labor Review.
____ Department of the Interior. Bureau of Mines. In fo r m a tio n C ir c u la r 6 7 9 3 :
A m illio n ton s o f a n th ra cite m in e d w ith o u t a f a ta lity , b y R . D .
W a sh in g to n , 19 3 4 . 16 p p ., d ia g ra m s .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)

C u rrie.

Describes methods used by one company to obtain a safety record five times
better than the average for the industry, proving that anthracite mine accidents
can be reduced.
----- --------------- I n fo rm a tio n C irc u la r 6 8 0 3 : V a lu e o f the cooperative m eth od in fir s ta id tr a in in g , by J . J ■ F orbes.
W a sh in g to n , 1934• 21 p p .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
Explains the benefits from first-aid training for all employees and outlines the
cooperative plan of training used successfully by the Bureau of Mines.
------------- Office of Education. B u lle tin , 1934, N o . 4: T he w elfa re o f the teacher,
b y J a m e s F red erick R ogers, M . D .

W a sh in g to n , 1934•

69 p p .

Includes reports on health services, sick leave, sabbatical leave, and insurance
for teachers in cities classified by size of population.
------------- -------- S ta te c o m p u lso ry school a tten d a n ce s ta n d a r d s affectin g the e m p lo y ­
m en t o f m in o rs;
(M im e o g r a p h e d .)

S ta te ch ild -la b o r sta n d a r d s.

W a s h in g to n ,

1934■

64 PP-

.
A revision to January 1934, in different form, of the material m two charts
which the Federal Board for Vocational Education (functions now assigned to
the United States Commissioner of Education) has for a number of years been
reprinting by permission of the United States Children’s Bureau.
---------------------V o c a tio n a l E d u c a tio n B u lle tin N o . 1 7 6 : A p p r e n tic e s h ip i n E n g la n d ,
F ra n ce, a n d G erm a n y .

W a sh in g to n , 1934-

35 p p .

A compfiation of reports received from American consuls and made available
through the Department of State.
------ Interstate Commerce Commission. Bureau of Statistics. A c c id e n t B u l­
le tin N o . 1 0 2 : S u m m a r y a n d a n a ly s is o f a ccid en ts on ste a m r a ilw a y s i n the
U n ite d S ta te s su b ject to the I n te r sta te C om m erce A c t, ca len d a r y e a r 1 9 3 3 .
W a s h in g to n , 1934■ 5 5 p p ., ch arts.

O fficial— Foreign C ou n tries
A u s t r i a .— Zentral

V ie n n a , 1934-

Gewerbe-Inspektorat.

D ie

A m ts tä tig k e it

im

J a h re

1933.

1 1 6 p p ., illu s.

Annual report on the activities of the factory inspectors in Austria during 1933,
and information on legislation for labor protection and on general economic
conditions of workers.
B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a ( C a n a d a ) . — Department of Labor.
A n n u a l re p o rt, f o r the
y e a r en d ed D ecem ber 3 1 , 1 9 3 3 .
V ic to r ia , 1934- 1 0 0 p p ., ch arts. _
Data on wages and hours from the report are published in this issue of the
Monthly Labor Review.
D e n m a r k .— Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Statistical Department.
D e n m a rk , 1934■

C open h agen , 1934-

3 5 8 p p ., m a p , illu s .

( I n E n g lish .)

The 1934 edition of this yearly handbook contains data on handicrafts, co­
operation, protection of workers, child welfare, housing, social insurance, public
assistance, etc., in Denmark.


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PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR

1305

D e n m a r k .— [Socialministeriet.]

B e re tn in g om a rb e jd s- o g fa b r ik tils y n e ts v irk so m h ed
i a a re t, 1 9 8 8 . C o p en h agen , 1984• 1 0 3 p p ., U lu s.
(S sertryk a f S o c ia lt T id s s k r ift, J u l i 1 9 3 4 )

Report on factory inspection in Denmark in 1933. In Danish with table of
contents and some table heads also in French.
E s t o n i a .— Teedeministeerium.
T o o k a itse E e s tis , 1 9 8 8 : T ó ó in s p e k to rite 1 9 3 3 a.
a ru a n n e te k o kku vote.

T a llin n , 1 9 3 4 .

6 0 p p ., U lu s.

Annual review of labor protection in Estonia during 1933, based upon the
reports of factory inspectors, which include data on industrial disputes, industrial
accidents and diseases, etc.
G r e a t B r i t a i n .— Department

of Overseas Trade.

N o . 5 8 4 : E c o n o m ic co n d i­
L o n d o n , 1984■ 6 9 p p .

tio n s in J u g o sla v ia , b y H . N . S tu rro c k .

Includes a brief discussion of unemployment, cost of living, public works, and
the cooperative movement.
------ Mines Department.

Safety in Mines Research Board.

A n a u to m a tic f ir e d a m p
d ia g ra m s , illu s.

recorder,

by

H.

L lo y d .

London,

P a p er N o. 86:
1 9 3 4 . 1 6 p p .,

Description of an elaborate instrument, specially designed for research purposes.
— ------ P a p e r N o . 8 7 : T h e ro u tin e m eth od f o r d e te r m in in g the in fla m ­
m a b ility o f m in e d u sts— a modified- f o r m o f the test, b y A . L . G odbert.
1 9 3 4 . 1 2 p p ., d ia g ra m s , illu s.

London,

Outlines a modification of the routine test, and describes the forms of apparatus
■used.
------.-------------- T w elfth a n n u a l re p o rt, 1 9 8 3 .

L ondon, 1984.

1 2 9 p p ., d ia g ra m s ,

illu s.

The report records the progress of safety researches covering coal-dust and
firedamp explosions, spontaneous combustion of coal, mine-rescue work, mine
ventilation, etc., and the results of health researches regarding mine tempera­
tures, treatment of burns, and dust inhalation.
------ Ministry of Health. P e rs o n s in re ceip t o f p o o r re lie f (E n g la n d a n d W a le s).
L ondon, 1934.

87 pp.

Statistical analysis of the number of persons receiving outdoor and institu­
tional poor relief in England and Wales on January 1, 1934.
------ Ministry of Labor. U n e m p lo y m e n t b ill: E x p la n a to r y m e m o ra n d u m on
cla u ses. L o n d o n , 1 9 8 4. 5 2 p p .
( C m d . 4 6 0 2 .)
A digest of the unemployment bill enacted June 28, 1934, is given in the
September issue of the Monthly Labor Review (p. 571).
------ Oversea Settlement Committee. R e p o rt f o r the p e r io d A p r i l 1, 1 9 8 3 , to
M a rc h 8 1 , 1 9 3 4 .

L o n d o n , 1984 .

8 pp.

(C m d . 4 6 8 7 .)

Gives a statistical summary of assisted migrations from Great Britain to the
colonies, 1922 to 1933.
L a b o r O f f i c e .— R e p o rt o f the D ire cto r [to the In te r n a tio n a l
L a b o r C on ference, eigh teen th se ssio n , G eneva, 1 9 8 4 1- G eneva, 1934. 9 6 p p .

I n t e r n a t io n a l

Appendixes to the Director’s report include “ Wages in Japan and in European
countries” , and a report of the representatives of the International Labor Or­
ganization at the World Monetary and Economic Conference.
J a p a n .— Cabinet Imperial. Bureau de la Statistique Générale. R é su m é s ta tis tiq u e de V E m p ir e d v J a p ó n . T o k yo , 1 9 3 4 . 161 p p ., charts.
Section IX of this volume deals with various labor matters, and includes
wages in certain industries in 1932, by sex.
L i t h u a n i a .— Finansu Ministerija.
Centralinis Statistikos Biuras. L ie tu vo s
sta tis tik o s m e tra s tis, 1988.

K a u n a s, 1984.

292 pp.

Statistical yearbook for Lithuania containing data, for 1933 and earlier years,
on prices and cost of living, wages, number of employees in various industries,
social insurance, consumers’ and credit cooperatives, etc.
M e x i c o .— Departamento del Trabajo.
D ire cto rio de a so c ia cio n e s s in d ic a le s de
la R e p ú b lic a M e x ic a n a .

M ex ico C ity , 1 9 8 4 .

Directory of labor unions of Mexico.


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196 p p .

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

1306

M exico.— D irección General de Estadística.

P r im e r censo in d u s tr ia l de 1 9 3 0 ^
'
_„
. . , „„

M ex ico C ity , 1 9 3 3 .

The results of an industrial census undertaken by the General statistical Office,
in Mexico in 1930, by Provinces and industries. Employment figures are included.
N e w Z e a l a n d .— National Provident Fund.
T w e n ty -th ir d a n n u a l re p o rt, f o r th ey e a r en ded D ecem ber 3 1 , 1 9 3 3 .

W e llin g to n , 1934■

4 PP-

A financial statement covering receipts and expenditures.
N orway.— Chefinspektpratet for Fabrikktilsynet. Á rsb e re tn in g e r f r a a rbeidsr& det
og fa b r ik k tils y n e t, 1 9 3 3 . O slo, [1934). 8 3 p p .
.
Annual report on factory inspection in Norway in 1933, including information;
on industrial accidents and diseases, welfare work, working hours, woman and
child labor regulation, etc. The table of contents and some table heads are in
both Norwegian and French, and there is a résumé in French.
O n t a r i o ( C a n a d a ) . — Department of Public Welfare.
S eco n d a n n u a l re p o rt P
1 9 3 1 -3 2 .

T o ron to, 1 9 3 3 .

1 1 2 p p ., U lus.

Includes data on mothers’ allowances, old-age pensions, neglected children*
training schools, etc.
-------Minimum Wage Board. T h irte e n th a n n u a l re p o rt, 1 9 3 3 . T o ro n to , 1 9 3 4 ,
53 pp.
O slo

( N o r w a y ) . —Arbeidskontor.

Á r s b e r e tn in g , 1 9 3 3 .

O slo, 1934•

2 7 P P-r

chart.

Annual report of the employment service of the city of Oslo, Norway, for 1933,
------Trvgdekasse. Á rsb e r e tn in g , 1 9 3 3 . O slo, 1934- 4 9 VPAnnual report on the operations of the sickness insurance fund of the City of
Oslo, Norway, for the year 1933.
S h a n g h a i , G r e a t e r .— Bureau of Social Affairs. I n d u s tr ia l d is p u te s in S h a n g h a i
sin c e 1 9 2 8 .

S h a n g h a i, 1 9 3 4 .

2 5 2 p p ., ch arts.

S o u t h A u s t r a l i a ( A u s t r a l i a ) . - —Industrial

re p o rts, 1 9 3 2 —3 3 .

A d e la id e , [1934?]-

( I n E n g lish a n d C h in ese.)

Court. S o u th A u s tr a lia n in d u s tr ia l

427 pp.

Awards made in individual cases are shown and the report of the board o£
industry as to the living wage is also given.

U n official
T he d esig n o f r e s id e n tia l a re a s— b a sic c o n sid e ra tio n s, p r in c ip le s P
C a m b rid g e, H a rv a rd U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1934•
2 9 6 p p ., d ia ­
( H a rv a rd C ity p la n n in g s tu d ie s , vol. V I .)
A l s b e r g , H e n r y G., Editor.
A m e r ic a fig h ts the d e p r e ss io n : A p h o to g r a p h ic
reco rd o f the C iv il W o r k s A d m in is tr a tio n . E d ite d a n d co m p ile d f r o m p h o to ­
g ra p h s a n d m a te ria l f u r n is h e d by the F e d era l E m erg en cy R e lie f A d m in is tr a tio n
a n d the S ta te E m erg en cy R e lie f A d m in is tr a tio n s . N e w Y o rk , C o w a r d -M c C a n n „
1934. 160 pp.
A m e r i c a n M i n i n g C o n g r e s s . 1 9 3 4 yea rb o o k on c o a l-m in e m e c h a n iza tio n , p r e ­
p a re d u n d er d ire c tio n o f G len n B . S o u th w a rd .
W a sh in g to n , 1934• 2 9 7 p p . r
d ia g ra m s , illu s ..
'
.

A dam s, T h om as.

a n d m eth ods.
g ra m s, illu s .

Trends in coal-mine mechanization, a statistical summary of mechanization
through 1933, convention proceedings, and a number of technical papers make
up this volume.

P o o r re lie f la w s: A d ig e st o f existin g)
S ta te le g isla tio n , p r e p a re d a s a n a id to sta tu to r y re v isio n .
C h icago, P u b l i c
A d m in is tr a tio n S erv ice ( P u b lic a tio n N o . 3 7 ), 1934- 2 5 p p .
B a u e r , J o h n , and G o l d , N a t h a n i e l . P e r m a n e n t p r o s p e r ity a n d how to get i t ,
N e w Y o rk a n d L o n d o n , H a r p e r & B r o s., 1934• 2 5 3 p p .

A m e r ic a n P u b l ic W e l f a r e A s s o c ia t io n .

A detailed plan for public employment of workers not absorbed by private
enterprise, with discussions of modifications in the financial system required to>
put the plan into effect and of the constitutionality of the proposed measures,
B eatty, J ohn

D ., a n d

A lle g h e n y C o u n ty.
p p ., ch a rts.

O t h e r s . O c c u p a tio n a l ch an ges a n d r e lie f a c tiv itie s i n
P itts b u rg h , P itts b u rg h P e rs o n n e l A s s o c ia tio n , 1934• ^

_
.
.
Presents statistics on occupational changes in the United States, Pennsylvania*,,
and Pittsburgh, as reported in the Federal Census. Topics on relief and reem­
ployment activities are also included for Allegheny County.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR

1307

T he evolving house.
V ol. 11: T he econ om ics o f sh elter.
M a ssa c h u se tts I n s titu te o f T ech n ology, 1 9 8 4 . 6 0 5 p p ., ch arts,

B e m is , A l b e r t F a r w e l l .

C a m b rid g e,
d ia g ra m s.

Individual chapters deal with the economic importance of housing, the pres­
ent-day house, the annual cost of shelter, disabilities (general, architectural, con­
structional, managerial, labor, financial, legislative, and consumer) in the housing
industry, the financing of the home, and Government intervention in housing.
B i n g h a m , A l f r e d M., and R o d m a n , S e l d e n , Editors.
C h allen ge to the N e w D ea l.
N e w Y o rk , F a lco n P re s s, 1 9 3 4 .

8 8 4 PP-

A series of articles and essays by 35 collaborators on various aspects and prob­
lems of present-day public policies, with an introduction by John Dewey.
C a l i f o r n i a , U n i v e r s i t y o f . Heller Committee for Research in Economics.
N u tr itiv e valu e o f fo o d s p u rch a sed b y d ep en d en t f a m ilie s : A s tu d y o f grocery
o rd ers o f 2 3 3 f a m ilie s on re lie f i n A la m e d a C o u n ty, C a lifo rn ia , p r e p a r e d by
R u th O k e y a n d M a r y G orrin ge L u c k . B e rk eley, C a lif., 1 9 8 4 .
17 PP-, ch arts.
C ole,

G. D. H.

1 934-

S tu d ie s i n w o rld econ om ics.

L o n d o n , M a c m illa n & C o., L td .,

285 pp.

C o n n e c t ic u t

State

C ollege.

Storrs

Agricultural

Experiment

Station.

B u lle tin 1 9 4 : T h e re crea tio n a l u ses o f la n d i n C on n ecticu t, by N a th a n L .
W h etten a n d V icto r A . R a p p o r t. S to rr s, C o n n ., 1 9 3 4 . 8 0 p p ., m a p s , ch arts.

This study was undertaken to ascertain the importance of recreation as a use
for land in Connecticut, with a view to establishing a basis for future regional
planning for recreational needs.
T he d eclin e o f A m e r ic a n c a p ita lis m .
6 2 2 p p ., ch arts.

C o r e y , L e w is .

1984■

N e w Y o rk , C o vici F ried e.

A detailed economic and statistical analysis of recent American history from
the point of view of a socialist. Portions which deal most extensively with
labor include part 2 on “ Prosperity, profits, and wages”, part 5 on “ Unemployployment, technology, and capitalism”, and part 6 on “ Concentration of income
and wealth.”
C o r p o r a t i o n . S u rv e y o f s a la r y
R a v en sw o o d A v en u e [1984]. (L oose leaf.)

D artnell

in c e n tiv e

p la n s .

C h icago,

4660

This survey describes methods and practices used in more than 300 lines of
business to compensate executives, salesmen, and employees.
D a v i s , J. M e r l e . M o d e rn in d u s tr y a n d the A f r ic a n .
L o n d o n , M a c m illa n &
C o., L td ., 1 9 8 8 .

4 2 5 p p ., m a p s.

. An analysis of the impact of European civilization upon the African native
m the copper belt of Northern Rhodesia.
D e n v e r , U n i v e r s i t y o f . Bureau o f Business and Social Research.
B u s i­
n ess S tu d y N o . 74- E m p lo y m e n t a n d e a rn in g s o f h eads o f f a m ilie s i n D en ver.
D en ver, 1 9 3 4 . 3 6 p p ., ch arts.

Reviewed in this issue.
E. B r itis h p u b lic u tilitie s a n d n a tio n a l d evelo p m en t.
d o n , George A lle n & U n w in , L td ., 1 9 8 8 . 3 4 9 p p .

D im o c k , M a r s h a l l

Lon­

An analysis of the economic, social, and political importance of the develop­
ment, management, and control of British public-service undertakings.
D a s F re ize itle b e n d er G ro ssta d tju g en . B e r lin [19821]. 1 2 5
(S c h rifte n re ih e des D eu tsch en A r c h iv s f u r J u g e n d w o h lfa h rt, H eft 10.)

D in s e , R o b e r t .

pp.

A study of the life of youth in their free time in the large cities of Germany
based upon replies to questionnaires sent to 5,000 boys and girls.
F i l e n e , E d w a r d A.
T he c o n su m er’s d o lla r. N e w Y o rk , J o h n D a y C o., 1 9 8 4
29 p p .

An argument by an employer for higher wages, shorter hours, and economic
security, not by savings and investments from working-class income, but by
social insurance.
F. G overn m en t ru les in d u s tr y : A s tu d y o f the N . R . A .
N e w Y o rk , O xford U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 8 4 • 241 p p .

G a l l a g h e r , M ic h a e l
H a m il t o n , M a r y

S id n e y a n d B e a trice W ebb.
814 pp.

A gnes.

M ifflin C o., 1 9 8 8 .

N ew

Y o rk , H ou ah ton

A biographical history of the relation of the Webbs to the British labor move­
ment.
91302°—34----- 18


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1308

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

H a r v a r d U n iv e r s it y .

Schools of Landscape Architecture and City Planning.

A la n d use b ib lio g ra p h y , by K a th e r in e M c N a m a r a , L ib r a r ia n .
[C a m b rid g e,
Mass.?], 1934- 8 p p . (R e p r in te d f r o m C ity P la n n in g , J a n u a r y 1934-)
T he m ig ra to r y w orker a n d f a m il y life: T he m ode o f liv in g
a n d p u b lic p r o v isio n f o r the n eeds o f the f a m il y o f the m ig ra to r y w o rk er i n
selected in d u s tr ie s o f the S ta te o f W a sh in g to n .
C h icago, U n iv e r sity o f C hicago
P re s s, 1934■ 2 4 0 p p ., m a p s, illu s .
(S o c ia l S erv ice M o n o g ra p h s, N o . 2 1 .)

H a t h w a y , M a r io n .

A study of 100 migrant families, including data on family composition, occupa­
tions and earnings of chief wage earners, the area of migration, housing, school
attendance of children, and participation of these people in community life.
I n s t i t u t e F o r S c i e n c e o f L a b o r (Kurasiki, Japan).
A n n u a l re p o rt o f the
d irecto r f o r 1 9 3 3 .

K u r a s ik i, 1934-

28 p p .

Among the studies published in 1933 in the Journal of the Science of Labor, the
organ of the Institute, and reviewed in its annual report, were those on the fol­
lowing subjects: Comfortable air conditions in cotton spinning and weaving fac­
tories; Clinical study of the influence of high temperature upon workers in me­
chanical industry; Cooling power in coal mines; Physical injuries of employees
working in high temperature; Illumination and ventilation of a department
store; Cardiac output of man in a state of rest; Alimentary standard of the food
supplied in factories; Fatigue study of shop girls; and Nervousness of female em­
ployees in a department store.
J o h n s o n , C h a r l e s S. S h a d o w o f the p la n ta tio n .
C hicago,
U n iv e r s ity o f
C h icago P r e s s , 1934■

2 1 5 p p ., ch arts, illu s.

A portrayal of the life of the Negro peasants on southern plantations.
part of the material presented is in the Negroes’ own words.

A large

D ie E n tw ic k lu n g der L a g e der A rb e ite rsc h a ft in E u r o p a
u n d A m e r ik a , 1 8 7 0 -1 9 3 3 : S ta tistisc h e S tu d ie n zu r E n tw ic k lu n g der R eallöh n e
u n d R ela tivlö h n e in E n g la n d , D eu tsc h la n d , U . S . A ., F ra n k reich u n d B elg ien .
B a sel, P h ilo g ra p h isc h e r V erlag, 1934■ 7 0 p p .

K u c z y n s k i, J ü r g e n .

L e g g e , S ir

1934.

T h o m a s . I n d u s tr ia l
2 3 4 p p -, ch arts, illu s .

m a la d ie s.

L o n d o n , O xford

U n iv e r s ity P re s s,

This posthumous work of the writer, who was formerly senior medical inspector
of factories in England, covers most of the important industrial diseases. There
is a review of the development of interest in hazardous working conditions and of
the regulations requiring notification of industrial disease. A chapter is devoted
to compensation for industrial diseases.
L e v e n , M a u r ic e , a n d O t h e r s .

B ro o k in g s I n s titu tio n , 1934-

A m e r ic a ’s c a p a c ity to con su m e.
2 7 2 p p ., ch arts.

W a sh in g to n ,

D. H . ) . T he labor m ovem en t a n d labor le g is­
S h a n g h a i, C h in a , U n ite d P r e s s , 1 9 3 3 . 2 5 2 p p .

L in T u n g -H a i (L a m b, J e f f e r s o n

la tio n i n C h in a .

An account of the social, economic, and political conditions under which the
wage earners in China lived in the period 1912-1931.
L u n d b e r g , G e o r g e A., a n d O t h e r s . L e isu re — a su b u rb a n s tu d y .
N e w Y o rk ,
C o lu m b ia U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1934-

8 9 6 p p ., ch a rts, d ia g ra m s .

The writers discuss the whole problem of the use of leisure time from the point
of view of present economic conditions and the probable increasing amount of
leisure for all elements of the population. A special study was made of facilities
for the use of leisure time as developed in Westchester County, New York.
T he n ew p h ila n th r o p y : A s tu d y o f the re la tio n s betw een
the sta tu to r y a n d v o lu n ta ry so c ia l services. L o n d o n , George A lle n & U n w in ,
L td ., 1934- 3 2 0 p p .

M a c a d a m , E l iz a b e t h .

A comprehensive description and discussion of the relations between the public
social services and the innumerable forms of private charitable and social effort
in Great Britain. The author makes practical suggestions for developing and
improving such relations, and points out that for State action to be effective the
value of personal contacts which the official machine cannot provide must be
recognized. In such contacts, in experimentation and research, and in watching
over the interests in the community the author believes that voluntary association
will play an important part in both national and international social progress.
M il l o w n e r s ’ A s s o c ia t io n ( B o m b a y ) .
R e p o rt f o r the y e a r 1 9 3 3 . B o m b a y , 1 9 3 4 •
[V a r io u s p a g in g .]

Contains some discussion on fortnightly payment of wages, immunity from
attachment of mill operatives’ wages, and the amendment of the Indian Factories
Act.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO LABOR
W.

T ra d e u n io n s a n d the S ta te .
395 pp.

M il n e -B a il e y ,

L td ., 1 9 3 4 .

1309

L o n d o n , George A lle n & U n w in ,

A history and analysis, confined largely to Great Britain, of industrial disputes
involving the element of challenge to State authority, and of the relation between
organized labor and organized government.
M in e h a n , T h o m a s .

h a rt, I n c ., 1 934-

B o y a n d g irl tr a m p s o f A m e r ic a .
%67 p p ., U lu s.

N e w Y o rk , F a r ra r & R in e ­

An account based on personal encounters with wandering American youth,
by a young university professor who turned “ hobo” for purposes of research.
Colonization projects on unused lands are suggested as a means of training for
these youth.
W o m e n a n d th eir careers. N e w Y o rk , N a tio n a l
F e d era tio n o f B u s in e ss a n d P r o fe ss io n a l W o m e n ’s C lu bs, I n c ., 1 9 3 4 . 1 8 5 p p .

M o r r is o n , A n n e H e n d r y .

A case study of the business and professional experience and achievements of
306 self-supporting women. This study is part of the research project initiated
by the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, one
phase of which was published by the Women’s Bureau of the United States De­
partment of Labor as its Bulletin No. 117, “ The age factor as it relates to women
in business and the professions.”
N a t i o n a l L e a g u e o f W o m e n V o t e r s . Department o f Women in Industry.
A m e m o ra n d u m on a s y s te m o f F ed era l, S ta te , a n d local u n e m p lo y m e n t re lie f,
b y E d ith R o ck w o o d . ( M a rc h 1 9 3 4 re v isio n .)
W a sh in g to n , 1 9 3 4 . 14 p v .
( M im e o g r a p h e d .)
D ea th ra te s by o c c u p a tio n , based on d a ta
o f the U n ite d S ta te s C en su s B u r e a u , 1 9 3 0 , e d ite d by J e s s a m in e S . W h itn e y .
N e w Y o rk , 5 0 W e st 5 0 th S tre e t, 1 9 3 4 . 3 2 p p ., chart.

N a t io n a l T u b e r c u l o s is A s s o c ia t io n .

A n a d ven tu re i n ed u ca tio n f o r the u n e m p lo y e d .
43 P P U l u s .

O h io S t a t e U n iv e r s it y .

bus, 1 9 3 3 .

C o lu m ­

A report and comment on two six-week sessions of a free school for the un­
employed—the Ohio State University Emergency School.
P a l m e r , A l b e r t W.
O rie n ta ls in A m e r ic a n L ife . N e w Y o rk , F r ie n d s h ip
P r e s s , 1934-

212 pp.

L.

D e p re ssio n jo b s: A s tu d y o f jo b o p e n in g s in the P h ila d e lp h ia
e m p lo y m e n t office, 1 9 3 2 - 1 9 3 3 . P h ila d e lp h ia , 1 9 3 4 . 18 p p ., m im eo g ra p h ed .
( U n iv e r s ity o f P e n n s y lv a n ia , W h a rto n Sch ool o f F in a n ce a n d C om m erce,
I n d u s tr ia l R esea rch D e p a r tm e n t, S p e c ia l R e p o rt A - l . )

P a lm er, G ladys

The largest proportion of job orders for men in 1933 was for semiskilled and
skilled occupations (47 percent) and for women, in domestic and personal service
(71.5 percent).
G. St. J . , a n d O t h e r s . M e d ic a l care d u rin g the d e p re ssio n . R e p rin te d
f r o m T he M ilb a n k M e m o ria l F u n d Q u a rterly, A p r i l 1 9 3 4 . 16 p p ., ch arts.

P errott,

A preliminary report of the medical care received bv a group of nearlv 7,000
wage earners’ families during a 3-month period in 1933. The changed economic
status of many of the families is discussed in relation to the extent of medical care
received.
T he sta tu s o f the m a rr ie d w o m a n teacher. N e w Y o rk ,
1934. 97 p p .
( T each ers C ollege, C o lu m b ia U n iv e r sity , C o n trib u tio n s to
E d u c a tio n N o . 6 0 3 .)

P e t e r s , D a v id W i l b u r .

A survey of school-board employment policies, legislation, and court decisions
as they affectthe married woman teacher. One chapter deals with the relative
teaching efficiency and success of comparable groups of married and single
woman teachers in Virginia.
P h il a d e l p h ia

H o u s in g

B e rn a rd J .
p la n s , U lu s.

N ew m an.

A s s o c ia t io n .

P h ila d e lp h ia ,

H o u sin g i n P h ila d e lp h ia , 1 9 3 3 , by
1 6 0 0 W a ln u t S tree t, 1 9 3 4 . 3 8 p p .,

Reviews the housing situation in Philadelphia with special reference to the
effect of the Federal housing program.
B. M o r e p o w e r to y o u ! A w o rk in g tech n iqu e f o r m a k in g the
m o st o f h u m a n en erg y. N e w Y o rk , S im o n & S ch u ster, 19 3 3 . 2 9 8 p p .

P it k in , W a l t e r


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1310

M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W

E d u c a tio n a l o p p o r tu n itie s o f G reater
B o sto n f o r w o rk in g m en a n d w om en . C atalog N o . 12, 193 4 —1 9 3 5 . C a m b rid g e,
M a s s ., 6 7 8 M a ssa c h u se tts A v en u e , 1 9 3 4 • 1 6 9 p p .
_

P r o s p e c t U n io n E d u c a t io n a l E x c h a n g e .

All the schools listed in this pamphlet have been investigated by the Exchange
and have given evidence of serious educational purpose.
G.
A s s ic u r a z io n e p riv a la e sociale— m a n u a le
U . H o e p li, 1 9 3 4 . 5 7 9 p p .
(2 d ed .)

R occa,

teo ric o -p ra tic o .

M ila n ,

Library. B u lle tin ÀTo. 1 2 6 : C h ild labor— selected
lis t o f referen ces ( 1 9 3 0 - d a te ) , co m p ile d by C on stan ce B e a l. N e w Y o rk , ISO
E a s t 2 2 d S tree t, A u g u s t 1934- 4 PP-

R u s s e l l S a g e F o u n d a t io n .

S a l t e r , S ir A r t h u r .

M o d e rn m e c h a n iza tio n a n d its effects on the stru ctu re o f
so c iety, b ein g the secon d M a s s e y lectu re, delivered before M c G ill U n iv e r sity cn
A p r i l 1 8 , 1 9 3 3 . L o n d o n , O xford U n iv e r s ity P r e s s , 1 9 3 3 .
4% PPN S B O u n d D eu tsch e A r b e itsfro n t.
2 6 4 p p ., U lu s.
(2 d ed.)

St a r c k e , G e r h a r d .

B e r lin , R e im a r H o b b in g ,

.
Describes the organization and history of the National Socialist Industrial
Cell Organizations (NSBO) in Germany, purposes and methods of the Ceiman
Labor Front, its organization and leaders, etc.
1 934-

S y n d ic a t G e n e r a l d e G a r a n t ie d e s C h a m b r e s S y d ic a l e s d u B a t im e n t e t
d e s T r a v a u x P u b l ic s .
P ré v e n tio n des a ccid en ts d u tra v a il d a n s les tra v a u x

de m a ço n n erie.

P a r is , [no d a te].

1 2 2 p p ., illu s .

Deals with the prevention of accidents in the building industry.
T aw ney, R . H .

P re s s, 1 9 3 4 .

J u v e n ile e m p lo y m e n t a n d e d u c a tio n . L o n d o n , O xford U n iv e r s ity
PP- ( B a r n e tt H o u se P a p e r s , no. 17.)

T r a v e l e r s I n s u r a n c e C o.

55 p p .,

T he great A m e r ic a n g am ble.

H a rtfo rd , C o n n ., 1 9 3 4 .

ch a rts, illu s .

A detailed statistical report on automobile accidents during 1933, showing
number of persons killed and injured, by age group and type of accident; nature
of injuries suffered; causes of accidents; days and hours of occurrence, etc.
W a lk er, G eorge

F r e d e r ic k , a n d

J o h n W rig h t & S o n s, L td ., 1 9 3 3 .

Others.

T h e in ju r e d w o rk m a n .

B r isto l,

190 p p .

A compact presentation of medical problems arising from traumatic injuries to
industrial workers in connection with the Workmen’s Compensation Act of Great
Britain.
W alter, K arl.

L td ., 1 9 3 4 -

C o o p e ra tio n i n ch a n g in g I t a l y .
81 p p ., illu s .

L o n d o n , P . S . K in g & S o n ,

A very vivid and interesting account of the various phases of the cooperative
movement under Fascism, together with the latest statistics as to membership,
business, etc.
Y o s h i s a k a , S ., a n d K i t a o k a , J. S o m e f a c ts w ith re g a rd to in d u s tr ia l a n d so c ia l
c o n d itio n s o f J a p a n ,


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

[n. p ., 1934*1]

o

1 8 p p ., ch art.