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C E R T IF IC A T E
T h is p u b lica tio n is issu e d p u r su a n t to th e
p rovision s o f th e su n d ry c iv il a c t (4 1 S ta ts.
1 4 3 0 ) ap p roved M arch 4, 1921.
C o n te n ts
Special articles :
Pase
M echanization of a g ricu ltu re as a fa c to r in lab o r d isp lacem en t--------C olonization of im m ig ran ts in B razil, b y C . It. C am eron, A m erican
C onsul G eneral a t Sao P a u lo ____________________________________
1
36
Employment conditions and unemployment relief:
N oncom petitive w ork as u n em p lo y m en t relie f--------------------------------O ccupational experience of 100 u n em ployed persons in B loom ington,
I n d _____________________________________________________________
U nem ploym ent in foreign c o u n trie s------------------------------------------------N orw ay— G overnm en t bill fo r com pulsory unem p lo y m en t insurance^
47
51
54
57
Industrial relations and labor conditions :
G ainful w orkers in th e U n ited S tates, b y in d u stry g ro u p s-------------- In te rn a tio n a l C onference of L ab o r S ta tis tic ia n s------------------------------C onference on personnel w ork in in d u s try --------------------------------------L ab o r in s titu te a t R u tg ers U n iv e rsity --------------------------------------------R ecom m endations of 1931 In te rn a tio n a l M an ag em en t C onference—
M exican lab o r colony a t B ethlehem , P a ------------------------------------------
59
61
64
71
72
74
Cooperation:
C ooperative b u rial associations in th e N o rth C e n tra l S ta te s -------------
79
Health and industrial hygiene :
R h eu m atic disease am ong in d u stria l w o rk ers----------------------------------Skin disease from B razilian w a ln u t w ood----------------------------------------Sickness am ong m ale in d u stria l em ployees--------------------------------------C alifornia— Los Angeles city em ployees’ h e a lth clin ic---------------------M assachusetts— O ccupational diseases in v estig ated in 1930-------------G reat B ritain — In d u s tria l diseases a n d poisoning in factories, 1930—
83
84
85
86
87
88
Industrial accidents :
A ccident experience of estab lish m en ts rep o rtin g to N atio n al Safety
Council, 1930___________________________________________________
92
Labor laws and court decisions :
C o u rt u pholds com m on-law m arria g e in w orkm en’s com pensation
case_______________________________________________ _____________
Mexico— E n a c tm e n t of F ed eral L abor C o d e---------------------------------------
94
v
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Workmen’s compensation:
R ecent com pensation re p o rts—
C olorado________________________________________________________
Illin o is__________________________________________________________
M ich ig an _______________________________________________________
M issouri________________________________________________________
N e v a d a _________________________________________
P en n sy lv an ia---------------------------------------------------------U ta h _________________________________________________________
W yom ing_____________________________________________________
B ritish C o lu m b ia --------------------------------------------------------------------
97
97
98
99
100
191
102
1 AO
194
Workers’ education and training:
V ocational a d ju s tm e n t w o rk sh o p----------------------------------- - — -— - - Illinois—C om m ission on establishing a S ta te tra d e -tra in in g in s titu
tio n ____________________________ : ----------------------------------------------N eth erlan d s— M unicipal in stru c tio n fo r u n em ployed skilled w orkers
in R o tte rd a m ______________________________________________
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IV
CONTENTS
Care of th e b lin d :
A rkansas— Pension law for in d ig en t blin d citizen s__________________
In d ian a— U tilizing b lind w o rk ers__________________________________
C anada— N atio n al In s titu te fo r th e B lin d __________________________
In d u stria l d is p u te s :
S trikes a n d lockouts in th e U n ited S tates in A ugust, 1931____________
C onciliation w ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in A ugust, 1931_____
Labor ag reem en ts, aw ard s an d d e c is io n s:
Provisions for em plo y m en t of union m em bers, in collective agree
m e n ts__________________________________________________________
A w ards an d decisions—
R ailroad teleg rap h ers— Illinois C en tral R a ilro a d _________ _____
Decisions of In d u s tria l Com m ission of C olorado__ _____________
France— C ollective agreem ents in 1930____________________________
Labor tu rn o v e r:
L ab o r tu rn o v er in A m erican factories, A ugust, 1931________________
H o u sin g :
B uilding p erm its in principal cities in A ugust, 1931________________
A ttitu d e s to w a rd hom e ow nership a n d te n a n c y __________________
G reat B ritain — R e n t co n tro l_______________________________________
Wages and h ours of la b o r:
H ours an d earnings in bitum inous-coal m ining, 1929 a n d 1931______
R ecent changes in w ages a n d h o u rs of la b o r________________________
W ages of civilian em ployees of th e U n ited S ta te s N av al E sta b lis h m e n t.
D ism issal com p en satio n___________________________________________
A lgeria— W ages a n d cost of liv in g _________________________________
B elgium — W ages in Brussels, 1931_________
C an ad a— W ages a n d h o u rs of w ork in B ritish C olum bia, 1929 an d
1930______________________________________________
G erm any—
T rade-unio n re p o rt on hours an d earnings in th e tex tile in d u s try .
W ages an d h o u rs of lab o r in th e p ap er in d u stry , 1930__________
E m ergency ta x on w ages______________________________________
Japan-—W ages in T okyo in Ju n e, 1931_____________________________
T rend of em ploym en t:
S um m ary for A ugust, 1931________________________
E m p lo y m en t in selected m an u factu rin g in d u stries in A ugust, 1 9 3 1 ...
E m ploym ent in n o n m an u factu rin g in d u stries in A ugust, 1931_______
E m p lo y m en t in building co n stru ctio n in A ugust, 1931______________
E m p lo y m en t on C lass I steam railroads in th e U n ited S ta te s_______
C hanges in em plo y m en t a n d p ay rolls in v arious S ta te s ____________
W holesale an d re ta il p ric e s :
R etail prices of food in A ugust, 1931_______________________________
R etail prices of coal in A ugust, 1931_______________________________
C om parison of retail-p rice changes in th e U n ited S ta te s a n d in fo r
eign co u n trie s___________________________________________________
Index num bers of wholesale prices in A ugust, 1931__________________
Index num bers of w holesale prices in S hanghai, C h in a ______________
Im m igration and em ig ratio n :
S tatistics of im m ig ratio n for Ju ly , 1931____________________________
P ublications relatin g to la b o r:
Official— U n ited S ta te s ____________________________________________
Official— Foreign co u n trie s________________________________________
U nofficial______ _______
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T h is Issue in B rief
Technological displacement in the farming industry has been con
tinuous since the first settlement of the country, but owing to the
expansion of markets for farm products and to the continued draft
upon labor for the development of new farms, there was no actual
shrinkage in farm employment before 1910, and but little shrinkage
until after 1920, in spite of the fact that there was an increase in
production per farm worker of 183 per cent between 1850 and 1924,
as measured in crop-acres cultivated per worker. An article beginning
on page 1 reviews the history of agriculture in the United States from
the standpoint of mechanization and attempts to measure the effects
of mechanical changes upon the employment of labor.
The Brazilian Government has encouraged the immigration of Euro
peans since early in the nineteenth century. Largely because of the
development of Brazil’s coffee plantations, agriculturists have been the
most greatly desired class of immigrants. Some of the inducements
offered to immigrants were the payment of their traveling expenses,
free land (or the right to purchase land on favorable terms), remission
of taxes for a specified period, etc. Special attempts have been made
toward the colonization of the immigrants, and altogether many such
colonies have been formed. In general, however, these colonies have
not proved to be a greatly successful method of introducing immigrants
into Brazil. Page 36.
The high cost of funerals has led to the formation of a number of
cooperative funeral associations in the North Central States. Reports
from 13 such associations to the Bureau of Labor Statistics show
that these societies generally operate at cost, plus an amount suffi
cient to cover overhead expenses, and therefore are able to effect a
considerable saving for the members. Nearly 7,000 families are in
membership with the societies reporting, the average per society
being 524. The organizations are operated on a democratic, coopera
tive basis, all members having an equal voice in the society. Although
the business done in 1930 was small—about $36,000 altogether
most of the reports express complete satisfaction with the assocation.
Page 79.
The average number of days worked per half month by miners and
loaders in bituminous-coal mines declinedfrom 9.1 in i 929 to 7.0 in i 931,
with a corresponding drop in average earnings during the half month
from $49.85 to $33.82, according to a survey of wages and hours in
this industry made in the first quarter of 1931 by the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, summarized on page 162. For all workers
other than miners and loaders, the average number of days worked
per half month dropped from 10.2 in 1929 to 8.3 in 1931, average
earnings per half month declining from $52.57 to $41.58.
Practically the whole subject of industrial relations was covered during
the 10-day session of the industrial institute held at Silver Bay, N. Y.,
during the latter part of August, 1931. The personnel section of the
institute, an account of which is given in this issue, page 64, was
intended as an opportunity for study and serious discussion, particu
larly for those engaged in personnel work. The topics covered in
cluded employment, accident prevention, industrial health, educa
tion and training, wages, stabilization of employment, benefits and
insurance, added incentives, group relations, etc.
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TH IS ISSU E IN B R IE F
_Plans for the payment of dismissal compensation are of compara
tively recent origin in the United States, but a recent study lists 49
companies which have adopted the principle of payment of compen
sation to workers who are dismissed through no fault of their own.
The details of the plans vary but they are alike in accepting the prin
ciple of the employer’s responsibility for the prevention of perma
nent lay-offs or the lessening of hardships when such lay-offs can not
be prevented. Page 179.
Accident frequency rates decreased 28 per cent and accident severity
rates 8 per cent between 1928 and 1930, according to figures published
by the National Safety Council and covering identical establishments.
Page 92.
The union shop, or the employment only of union members in good
standing, is usually provided for in collective agreements. The union
agrees to endeavor to furnish a sufficient number of competent mem
bers to perform the work provided the employer gives advance notice
of the number he requires. _ The agreements usually specify the con
ditions under which nonunion men may be employed if union mem
bers are not available. Examples of provisions for the employment
of union members, contained in collective agreements received by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, are given on page 121.
The working-life history of 100 unemployed persons in Bloomington,
Ind., was the subject of a recent study under the auspices of the
Indiana State University. According to this study, the average
number of jobs which had been held by these persons was 7.21 and
the average time spent on a job was approximately 3 years. In 29
selected cases it was found that time was lost upon over 50 per cent
of the occasions where jobs were changed, the average time lost per
job being reported as 1.4 months. Page 51.
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind expanded some of its
services in the fiscal year 1930—31, despite the industrial depression.
One of its progressive steps was the organization of the merchants’
association of the institute, the members of which are blind men and
women who are carrying on small businesses. In the year under
review more than $2,800 was divided among the association’s mem
bers after they had received their regular retail profits. Page 111.
A study' of attitudes toward home ownership and tenancy among
representatives of various social classes in the Chicago region, made with
a view to finding a possible explanation of the apartment-house
movement, is summarized on page 155. Although no very definite
conclusions were developed, it is stated that “ among the quasi-stable
classes of persons in the Chicago region, the cost and economy con
siderations seem clearly to be the major group of forces contributing
to the multifamily-house movement.”
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MONTHLY
LABOR R E V I E W
U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
vo l .
33, n o . 4
W A S H IN G T O N
Oc t o b e r , 1931
M ech an izatio n of A g ricu ltu re as a F a c to r in L ab or D isp lacem en t
HE rapid progress that has been made in the invention and
installation of labor-saving machines, and the improvement in
methods of operation that during recent years has taken place in the
agricultural industry of the United States, constitute one of the most
important economic developments of modern times. Owing to this
development, the area of cultivated land has been vastly increased,
the quality of farm products has been greatly improved, and produc
tion per worker engaged and per capita of population materially
raised, notwithstanding the constantly increased expenditure of labor
that in this industry is necessary to counteract the effects of soil dete
rioration and the progressively greater utilization of poorer land. So
great has been the progress in agricultural efficiency that, in this
country at least, the world-old fear of famine has practically disap
peared.
Yet, as in other industries, there are many problems arising out of
this development that remain unsolved. Not the least important of
these problems is that of providing for the workers who are displaced
as a result of the increasing output per worker on the farms. This
problem, however, did not become acute until very recently. In fact,
though the machine has been an important factor in the production of
farm crops in the United States for more than three-quarters of a cen
tury, and though there have been many other improvements tending
to reduce the labor requirements in agricultural industry, the number
of workers engaged, taking the industry as a whole, showed no de
crease prior to 1910 and no considerable shrinkage until after 1920.
The fact that increased output per worker has not until recently
resulted in a surplus of agricultural labor may be explained by three
principal causes:
1.
During the greater part of the era of machine production m
agriculture, new farms were being developed, calling for a relatively
increased expenditure of man labor per unit of output;
2.
On the older farms, the quantity of man labor necessary to turn
out a given unit of product was progressively increased on account of
the relative exhaustion of the soil; and,
3.
The total output of agriculture was increased, in order to meet
the needs of a growing population, and the demands of an expanding
foreign market.
During recent years these conditions have been greatly changed.
Owing to the slowing up of the rate of increase in population, the total
demand for farm products has been relatively curtailed, thus rendering
T
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MONTHLY LABOE E E V IEW
unnecessary the bringing into cultivation of new farm lands. At the
same time there has been a considerable falling off in the foreign de
mand for farm products. Meanwhile, developments in agricultural
science—new methods of soil treatment, improved seeds, new ferti
lizers more scientifically applied, etc.—have apparently been more
than sufficient to counteract the natural process of soil depletion, even
without the aid of mechanization.
Under these conditions, it is apparent that the industry can not
continue to absorb completely the labor displaced by the" improve
ment of machines and by better methods in the operation of farms.
That such labor has not been wholly absorbed during the last 10 years
is indicated by the unusually heavy movement of population from the
farms to the industrial centers. Estimates of the United States
Bureau of the Census show that there was a decrease of 3,301,000 in
farm population between 1920 and 1928. During these years there
was a natural increase in farm population of approximately 2,500,000
persons, assuming the same ratio between births and deaths as is
shown by the census figures for total rural population.
It is apparent that this overflow of labor from the farms is not in
itself detrimental to agricultural industry. I t follows from the fact
that the labor requirement for producing farm crops has been and is
being reduced, that workers are leaving^ the farms because they are
no longer needed there. Nor would the influx of the workers released
from the farms be injurious to other industries if they could be fur
nished with employment profitable both to themselves and to their
employers. But during the last 10 years there has been technological
displacement in most major nonagricultural industries, as well as in
agriculture. Even before the beginning of the present depression the
effect of such displacement was being shown in a net decrease in the
volume of employment in manufacturing industries and on the rail
roads, which, during earlier years, were the most effective absorbents
of labor released from the farms.
It appears, therefore, that the ill effects of technological displace
ment in agriculture are likely to be felt more in other industries than
in agriculture itself. Unless the nonagricultural industries can be
expanded sufficiently to provide for the workers who come from the
farms, these workers will become competitors for the jobs now held
by nonagricultural workers, or will be added to the ranks of the unem
ployed. In the latter case, since they must in some fashion be fed,
clothed, and housed, they will become a burden upon the community
at large.
It is the recognition of this situation that has led the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics to compile from more extended studies of
technological displacement which it has recently undertaken the data
bearing upon the development and the effects of agricultural mechani
zation which are here presented. These data, garnered from a mass
of information assembled by the United States Department of Agri
culture, State agricultural colleges, and experiment stations, Patent
Office records, agricultural periodicals, and various other official and
unofficial sources, have been arranged to show :
1. Conditions and progress in American agriculture prior to the
installation of machines;
2. The beginnings of agricultural mechanization in this country;
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LABOR DISPLACEM ENT IN AGRICULTURE
3
3. Labor displacement due to the substitution of machine for hand
methods in the several main operations of crop production;
4. The effects of the introduction of automotive power upon
agricultural labor requirements;
5. Agricultural mechanization as a whole, and its culmination in
the present agricultural situation;
6. The effect of agricultural mechanization upon the employment
situation as a whole; and
7. The probable development of agricultural mechanization in the
near future.
Early Agriculture in the United States
B e f o r e the beginning of the nineteenth century there had been
but little improvement in the methods of agricultural production, or
of the tools or implements with which it was accomplished, since the
beginnings of recorded history. While the early settlers in America
encountered conditions which imperatively demanded changes in
primitive methods, looking to the economizing of labor and the
utilizing of maximum acreage, most of the colonies began with a farm
equipment even more inadequate than that which was commonly in
use in the countries of the Old World. While it appears that the Dutch
settlers in the New Netherlands were supplied with farm tools and
implements superior to those generally in use in European countries,
in most instances the English colonies at first did not even have farm
animals. Their hand tools were of the crudest models, and their
equipment always meager. For more than a century after the land
ing of the Pilgrims, on many New England farms the soil was pre
pared for planting by digging with spades, mattocks, or hoes, or even
with old axes. The plows available were usually made entirely of
wood, and power to draw them was nearly always inadequate. Grain
was sown by hand, and covered with a brush drag, or a rude wooden
harrow, drawn by oxen or by hand. Corn was planted by hand in
check rows, in the Indian fashion—an improvement upon European
methods of planting similar crops—and dug in with a spade, hoe, or
mattock; or, where none of these was available, with a sharpened
stick or an Indian tomahawk. Grain was cut with a sickle, a scythe
or a “ sith, ” or, if these tools were lacking, was pulled up by the
roots. Threshing was done with a flail, by tramping with oxen or
horses, or by beating handfuls of the straw over a smooth boulder.
In the coastal regions of the middle and southern colonies the land
was easier to cultivate, and yielded more readily to large-scale oper
ations. Arable land was more plentiful, and less skill was required
to work it. The situation invited cheap labor, which was at first
supplied in the South by bringing over bound servants, “ redemptioners,” and apprentices; and later by the importation of African
slaves. So effective was the combination of cheap land and cheap
labor in the growing of commercial crops in the South that there
was little change in farm equipment and methods until after the
Civil War. In fact, the existence of a labor supply that is nominally
cheap, but economically extremely costly, is still the main factor in
the retardation of agricultural progress in the old South.
On the other hand, the early commercial development of New
England and the middle colonies brought them into close touch with
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
the rapid industrial movement that began with the first successful
utilization of mechanical power in England. The industrial develop
ment in the New England colonies, which followed that in England,
was necessary mainly to supplement their meager agriculture; and
the development naturally reacted upon their agricultural methods.
At the same time, the ever-expanding westward movement was open
ing up new lands, and demanding more labor. Under these conditions
it was imperative' that some means be found whereby the supply of
labor could be economized. The exigencies of pioneer life developed
among the colonists an unusual adaptability and inventiveness.
Many causes were converging toward an agricultural development
m this country unparalleled in the history of mankind.
Beginnings of Agricultural Mechanization
T h e first decided tendencies toward the mechanization of agri
culture m America appeared during the last decade of the eighteenth
century, with the invention of the cast-iron plow and the cotton gin.
These were followed, about 30 years later, by the first reaping ma
chines. Inventions of plows, cultivators, seeders, and harvesting
machines followed in rapid succession from 1830 to 1850, but few of
the machines were brought into successful operation until a quarter
of a century later. The process of mechanization was at first retarded
but afterwards accelerated by the Civil War. By 1870 a considerable
percentage of hand labor had already been released by the perfection
of agricultural implements and machines. In 1900 the process was
well under way. The Thirteenth Annual Report of the United States
Commissioner of Labor in 1898, giving the results of a survey author
e d by Congress,_and made under his direction, concludes (p. 93)
that “ one man with the improved machinery in use to-day [18961
can cultivate and harvest nearly twice as large a crop as was possible
under the primitive method.”
Hand and Machine Labor Requirements in Different Farm Operations
Plowing
F r o m piimitive times to the end of the eighteenth century there
was little development in the plow. Egyptian bas-reliefs show how
the primitive plows in use in ancient times in the Nile Valley were
evolved from the forked stick with which primitive peoples dug up
the soil preparatory to planting their crops. In one of the earlier
representations, a slave is shown digging with a fork, the prongs of
which appear to be about 3 feet long, the man grasping one of the
prongs near its end, and digging with the other. In another figure one
ot the prongs is much longer than the other, and the slave is harnessed
to the longer end, while the shorter prong is dragged through the soil,
otill another picture shows a wooden plow being drawn by two slaves
and guided by a third, the implement still bearing a close resemblance
to its tree-prong ancestor. In a later representation two oxen have
taken the place of the slaves at the end of the beam, and a slave is
driving the team and another is guiding the plow.
In other ancient countries the development was similar, though
olten more retarded. Though plows are mentioned many times in
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LABOR DISPLACEMENT IN AGRICULTURE
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Herodotus and in the early Greek legends, contemporary evidence
shows that fields were often dug with spade or mattock, or even with
a sharpened stick, as late as the time of Pericles. Though plows
drawn by oxen were used in ancient Rome, probably the greater part
of the land was tilled by hand up to the beginning of the Christian era
In many instances the serfs of the Middle Ages had no plows; and
where plows were used they were often drawn by man power. Con
temporary writings show that huge wooden plows, sometimes having
iron shares and braces, and drawn by oxen, were cooperatively owned
and operated on manorial and village farms in England in the four
teenth and fifteenth centuries.
I t is, of course, impossible to make any close estimate of the labor
saved by the first rude plows. It will readily be seen, however, that
each step portrayed in the Egyptian pictures represented a consider
able increase in labor efficiency. While there are no data showing
the labor requirements, when land was dug with a forked stick, and
when it was rooted up with the first tree-prong plow, frontier experi
ence in this country furnishes some material showing the gain made
by ox or horse drawn plows over hand tools—the spade, the mattock,
and the hoe. After the land had been brought into cultivation one
man could spade up about an eighth of an acre a day, or an acre in
eight 12-hour days. This is a labor requirement of 96 man-hours per
acre. The first plows used by the colonists were usually drawn by
from two to four oxen, with one man to drive, another to hold the
plow, and a third man or a boy to ride the beam and cut “ balks.”
In land under cultivation this group could plow from an acre to an
acre and a half a day, which was at the rate of half an acre per man
or two man-days per acre. This is a labor requirement of 24 man
hours per acre, or one-fourth of the requirement when the land was
dug with a spade.
,,
In general these figures hold good for all the colonies up to the
beginning of the nineteenth century. Though heavier plows and a
Greater number of animals were sometimes used, it does not appear
from the observations of contemporaries that there was a correspond
ing gain in efficiency. The “ old colony” plow, which was in use m
New England at the time of the Revolution, had a 10-foot beam and
a 4-foot landside, and required from 6 to 8 or even more oxen to draw
it. In the West a prairie-breaking plow, having a 30-inch share, and
drawn by from 8 to 16 oxen, represented the highest development
of the single-bottom plow. With a man to guide it, a driver on
the beam, and another walking alongside the team, this plow could
turn over from 2 to 5 acres of prairie sod in a 12-hour day. With the
exception of the share, these plows were usually made entirely ot
wood, though sometimes reinforced with strips of iron. According
to a writer in the Rhode Island American, similar plows were m use
in the eastern States as late as 1820.
.
,
The first cast-iron plow was made by Charles Newbold and patented
in 1797. In the same year Thomas Jefferson spared time from the
affairs of state to work out a mathematical demonstration of a theo
retically most efficient moldboard. Jefferson’s figures seem to have
been of considerable assistance to inventors; but an Ohio fanner im
proved on Jefferson’s method by hewing out a “ block plow” from the
trunk of a tree, attaching to it handles and a beam, and shaping the
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
moldboard by experiment, adzing down the places that showed most
wear until the moldboard assumed a smooth and even surface. He
then had an iron mold cast in the same pattern.
The Newbold plow, being cast in one piece, proved to be too expen
sive to repair. It was followed in 1808 by a steel and wrought-iron
plow, in which this defect was partly remedied. In 1819 Jethro Wood
patented a plow cast in sections, so that parts exposed to wear could
be replaced by others cast from the same pattern. This was followed
in 1833 by John Lane’s plow, which was of wood sheathed with saw
steel. From that time inventions followed each other in rapid suc
cession, there having been 186 patents in all issued previous to 1870.
In 1839, writing in the Farmers’ Companion, Judge Buell said that a
plow which had just come into use “ saved the work of one man and
two cattle.” Somewhat later a blacksmith named John Deere made
a plow out of mill-saw blades. In 1855 James Oliver patented the
“ Oliver Chilled” plow.
Since 1855 many new plows have come upon the market. There
have been many variations in the proportion of the parts, in size and
weight, and in the contour of the moldboard. Disk plows, and,
finally, the “ duck-foot” of the Montana prairies, have come into use,
with marvelous results in the saving of money and labor cost. Appar
ently the duck-foot is simply a huge cultivator, while the modern
disk plow developed out of earlier cultivating implements. But the
moldboard plow is still essentially the same as the first “ Oliver
Chilled” implement. It differs not at all in principle from Newbold’s cast-iron plow. It is still, as Jefferson said, “ a compound
wedge,” one wedge acting vertically and the other horizontally.
Thomas J . Campbell, probably the most successful large-scale farmer
in the world, says that no one yet knows what shape a plow ought to
be to do the best work.
Since 1855, however, when the Oliver plow came into use, labor
saving in the operation of plowing has been not so much a matter of
improvement in the plow itself as a matter of power to draw the plow,
and of what is now called the “ hook-up.” It is a problem of increas
ing the amount of power and the number of units that can be handled
in the same operation, with a given quantity of man labor. There
are gang plows having two, three, or up to a dozen or more moldboard or disk “ bottoms,” drawn by tractors, or by from 3 to 30 or
more horses. The working width of the duck-foot may be anywhere
from 8 or 10 to 50 or 60 feet. Under most conditions there is a con
siderable labor saving by using tractors in the place of horses, but
thus far the greater part of the economy realized has been due to
the size of the hook-up. In New York it requires 5.8 man-hours per
acre to plow stubble with a 2-horse plow; 5.3 man-hours for a 3-horse
outfit; and 2.4 man-hours for a 2-bottom plow drawn by a Fordson
tractor.1 In Iowa the following results were achieved with different
sized plowing outfits: 2
1 New
York State College of Agriculture. Farm Economics Bulletin, No. 47, September, 1927
Iowa State College of Agriculture. Iowa Cost Boute, 1926, Beport N o. 9.
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7
T able l.-M A N -H O U R S OF LABOR PE R ACRE R E Q U IR E D W ITH SP E C IF IE D PLO W IN G
U N IT , IN IOWA
Man
Working
hours
width
required
of plow per acre
M otive power
In ch es
3 hnrsftS
4 horses
4 horses
5 horses
Trant or
Trantor
__________ _______
_ ______ ______ -- ______ ___ ______ - - —
________ - - - - __ _ _ _
- _____________________
16
24
28
28
28
42
4.12
3.11
2. 47
1.67
1.67
1. 18
In the large wheat fields of the State of Washington a still further
economy of labor is effected, chiefly by the operation of larger units,
as is shown in the following table :3
T able 2.—M AN-HOURS OF LABOR PE R A CRE R E Q U IR E D W ITH SP E C IF IE D PLOW ING
U N IT S, IN W A SH IN G TO N
M otive power
0 7 horses
8 horses
8 10 horses
1 horses
20 horses -- --- -
Number and size
of plows used
Two 14-inch
Two 16-inch___ Three 14-inch . Three 16-inch ___
Six 14-inch______
Acres
plowed
per day
5
6
8
9
12-15
Man-hours
per acre
2.00
1.67
1. 25
1.11
. 83-. 67
These results show a difference between the 6 or 7 horse team and the
20-horse outfit of 1.25 man-hours or a 63 per cent reduction in the
labor requirement, due entirely to the size of the hook-up and the
amount of horsepower utilized. Experiments with tractor-drawn
plows have shown that even this record can be lowered.^ One man,
driving a 15-30 horsepower tractor, has plowed 110 acres in five and a
half 10-hour days, reducing the labor requirement per acre to 0.5
man-hour.4
.
. ,
There have been similar results from trials m many parts of tne
country, under widely varying conditions. Experts in the State
agricultural experiment stations and in the Federal Department of
Agriculture are predicting further developments along this line.
It would seem, however, that under most conditions a 20-horse
plowing outfit, or its equivalent in mechanical power, with a working
width of 7 feet—six 14-inch bottoms—is likely to be near the maximum
limit where moldboard or ordinary disk bottoms are used. Largei
units may be possible by substituting the duck-foot or the one-way
disk. It appears that these implements require relatively less power,
and that they are easier to operate. It has been noted that the largest
of these implements has a working width of 60 feet. This is more
than 8 times as wide as the largest of the plows included m Table 2.
Taking 0.75 man-hour per acre as the average labor requirement
with the largest horse-drawn plowing set-up of the older types, and
assuming that the large duck-foot or the one-way disk will have equal
s Washington State College of Agriculture. Popular Bulletin No. 135, October, 1926.
4 Agricultural Engineering, April, 1928, p. 103.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
speed and that it can be operated by the same man power, the peracre labor requirement would be reduced to 0.088 man-hour.
This would mean an almost total elimination of man labor in the
actual field work of plowing. It must be remembered, however, that
these huge, complicated machines require a great deal of care. So
also did the horses. It is in fact altogether likely that in the long
run the labor required for servicing and repairing the machines will be
less than was formerly required to feed, care for, and harness the horses
necessary to do an equal amount of work. This will certainly be true
as between the most efficient machine hook-up that has thus far been
demonstrated and the 2-horse teams with which formerly the greater
part of the plowing was done. Moving at equal speed, it would re
quire sixty 2-horse teams (or 120 horses) drawing 12-inch plows, to do
the same work as is done by the 60-foot machine. It is obvious
that the care of these horses would require more man labor than the
care of the single machine. It is equally obvious that the expense
would be greater. It may be noted that the increased labor efficiency
of the 60-foot duck-foot cultivator, as compared with the 1-man, 2horse plow, is 5,900 per cent and the labor displacement 98.3 per cent.
As a final example of the future possibilities of labor savings in plow
ing operations, there has recently been invented a “ manless” plow,
that guides and turns itself, after the first furrow has been run. This
invention, worked out by a student of the Agricultural College of
New Jersey,5is a fitting climax to the work begun in that State by the
inventor of the all-metal plow a century and a quarter earlier. More
over this invention works. It appears almost as though we may
look forward to a practical elimination of man labor in the actual
field work of plowing, in all sections where land is fairly level.
Harrowing, Disking, Seeding
Following the plowing, there are a number of operations, varying
according to the nature of the crop, that in current discussions are
usually brought under the head of “ preparation of the seed bed.”
The most important of these are harrowing, disking, weeding, and
leveling. In the large Western wheat fields and the Corn Belt, and
more recently in the South, one or more of these operations have been
hooked up with the seeder. In most localities and for most crops,
they are coming to be more or less combined. For this reason it is
difficult to determine what has been the recent development for any
one process. Taking all seed-bed preparation and seeding operations
together, the labor requirement for an acre of wheat where the methods
and appliances of 1850 were used, was 10.4 man-hours. When the
machines available in 1894-1896 were used, the requirement per acre
was 1.45 man-hours.6 A modern tractor-driven disk and drill hook
up, operated by one man, has seeded 92.7 acres in one day.7 The
labor requirement is 0.13 man-hour per acre, a reduction of 10.27
man-hours, or 98.7 per cent, from the method of 1850, and of 1.32
man-hours, or 91 per cent from the machine methods of 1895.
These figures, of course, represent the extremes for the period
1850-1920. Even yet there are very few localities where the maxi5 C. B. Davidson, in Power Farming, November, 1925.
8 Thirteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, Vol. II, pp. 472-473.
7 International Harvester Co. Muscles and Motors.
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LABOE
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AGKICTJLTUEE
mum record for these operations has been approached. On the other
hand, the harrowing and seeding methods generally in use in this
country in 1850 were far superior to the most primitive methods.
Even the brush harrow of colonial times had been improved, and its
working width extended, until one man could cover several times as
much ground as was covered in the same time with the earlier
implements.
These operations have always given a great deal of trouble to agri
cultural producers. Crop failures are often due to improper or
insufficient preparation of the seed bed, or to wrong methods of plant
ing. From earliest historical times there were inventions and devices
designed to overcome these difficulties and to economize labor.
The ancient Assyrians had a wheeled seeder, drawn by oxen, in 504
B. C. There was an Italian ox-drawn seeder in 1605.8 In 1870,
41 patents had been issued for seeders in the United States.9 Since
1870 a bewildering variety of harrows, disks, rollers, packers, pul
verizers, and drills have been put upon the market. There are machines
adapted to almost every condition of surface, soil, or climate. The
greatest labor saving that has been effected, however, has been
due chiefly to the combination of the several processes, made possible
by improved technical service and more and better power.
Naturally, the saving effected by machinery has been less for the
planting of row crops than for the seeding of small grains. In 1850
the labor cost of preparing the seed bed and planting corn was 13.8
man-hours per acre. The standard requirement for planting corn
with a motorized planter, worked out by the Ohio Agricultural
Experiment Station in 1924, is 3.6 man-hours. This is a gain in
production per unit of man labor of 289 per cent over 1850 and a
labor displacement of 60 per cent.
Table 3 shows the man-hours per acre required in the production
of specified crops, by the use of various methods of cultivation.
T able 3 .—LABOR R E Q U IR E M E N T S FO R P R O D U C IN G PR IN C IP A L CROPS BY H A N D
A N D B Y M A C H IN E M ETH O D S
Man-hours per acre required by—
Crop
Horn
_ _____ _______________
Hotton
_________ _____ —
IIqy (harvesting)
________________
Potatoes
________ _______
W heat____________________________
1924 compared with 1850
Per cent of
and
Machine Hand
Hand
machine Machine gain in pro
method, method, methods, method, ductivity
1924
1850 <* 1894-1896“ 1924'«
per worker
182.68
167. 80
21.08
108. 92
62. 42
27.5
78.7
3.9
38.0
3.1
37.8
118.5
10.7
90.4
15.5
»30.0
<<45.0
1.6
“50.0
« 1.6
508
273
1,217
118
3,801
1,185
a Data
b Data
Per cent
of labor
displace
ment
83.6
73. 2
92. 4
54.1
97. 4
80.2
-----------
from Thirteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, vol. I, pp. 24-25.
from U . S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 1348, July, 1925, p. 59.
“ Average for States in which most modern methods are used.
.
d With horse or tractor gang plow, 4-row cultivator, and sled stripper, on 200-acre farm in Texas.
( I exas
Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 362, July, 1927.)
___
« With tractor or horse drawn gang plow, hook-up of disk, drill and harrow for seeding in one operation,
and “ Combine” harvesting and threshing.
s Butterworth, Benj.: Growth of Industrial Art. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1892.
* Report of Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1870.
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Harvesting
Primitive methods: Sickle and scythe.—The oldest known harvesting
implements are the sickle and the scythe. Both of these tools are
frequently mentioned in the literature of the Babylonians and
Assyrians, the Ancient Egyptians, the Hebrews, the Phoenicians,
and the Greeks and Romans. A comparison of descriptions and
pictures of the sickle shows that there was little change in shape or
size over a period of six or seven thousand years. Such differences
as appear were evidently due, in the earlier centuries, chiefly to the
kind of material available for making the tool. After the discovery
of metals, the most important difference between the ancient and the
more modern tool was that in the ancient models the blades were
thicker and less curved than the blades of the sickles that were in
use during the later Middle Ages and early modern times.
Probably the highest development in the fashioning of the sickle
took place in England during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The English sickle of that period had a slim curved blade, the cutting
edge of which was serrated on one side, and a short handle, set almost
at right angles with the heel of the blade. In using the sickle the
reaper grasped a handful of the grain in his left hand, and, with a
quick, sweeping motion, encircled the grain so held with the sickle,
from 4 to 8 inches from the ground, according to the length of the
straw. He then bent the grain forward and to the left, and at the
same time drew the sickle, held in the right hand, toward him and
to the right. As the process was repeated, the reaper rolled each
handful of grain back into the curve of his left arm, until he had all
that he could conveniently hold.
Successful reaping with the sickle required a great deal of manual
skill. The reapers usually took great pride in their work, vying with
each other as to number of sheaves cut, neatness of execution, and
absence of waste. Reaping was hard work. The bent position of the
reaper, together with the weight of grain carried on the left arm,
rendered maximum performance impossible except on the part of
men of exceptional strength and endurance. Yet much reaping was
done by women—sometimes even by children—both in Europe and
in this country.
It is usually assumed that the sickle and the scythe were the only
grain-harvesting tools in this country prior to the introduction of the
grain cradle. While it is undoubtedly true that the sickle was used to
a greater or less extent in all the colonies—English, Dutch, and
French—there was another tool that may have been more widely
used, in both the English and the Dutch colonies. This was the
“ sith.” The word is an old English variant of the word “ scythe” ;
and the implement is, in fact, a one-handed scythe. It was used in
connection with a device for gathering and holding the grain, called a
“ mathook.”
As to the prevalence of the use of the sickle in the colonies, Mr.
Jared Van Wagenen, jr., who drew his information from original sources,
says: “ I do not know of any evidence that the sickle was ever com
monly used as a harvesting tool in America.” 10 In general, however,
the same thing may be said of the sith. But the fact that the sith,
“ New York. Department of Agriculture and Markets.
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L A B O R D IS P L A C E M E N T I N A G R IC U L T U R E
11
and not the sickle, appears to have been the forerunner of the cradle,
would seem to indicate a general knowledge and wide use of the sith
in those States in which the cradle later supplanted both of the more
primitive tools. However this may be, it is probable that in most of
the colonies—and later in the States—before the advent of the cradle
more grain was cut with the scythe than with either the sickle or the
sith, especially where threshing was done by tramping.
Authorities differ widely as to the acreage per day that could be cut
with the sickle. While there are many persons still living who have
seen grain cut with it, or have even used it themselves, there are few
who can remember how much was usually cut in a day when the tool
was in general use. Mr. Van Wagenen says that a good reaper could
cut one-half acre a day. Some writers place the average for a 12-hour
day as low as one-fourth acre. But even at the higher figure, the
man-hour requirement of harvesting grain with the sickle was 24
man-hours per acre. With the sith and mathook the labor require
ment was doubtless somewhat less, while with a scythe a first-class
man could cut 3 acres a day. The average, however, for the scythe
was probably not more than 2 acres per day, giving a labor require
ment of 6 man-hours per acre. But cutting grain with a scythe left
it in bad shape for hauling and threshing, so that the advantage of
the scythe over the sickle or the sith was not so great as it seems.
Grain cradle— The grain cradle was introduced into the United
States sometime during the first half of the nineteenth century,
probably from Scotland. The American type of the implement was
invented by Charles Vaughn, of Hallowell, Me., in 1837.11 Before the
appearance of Vaughn’s cradle there had been numerous experiments
with devices apparently suggested by the sith; but this was the first
implement that promised any considerable advantage over the older
methods of harvesting. After 1850 there were several types of grain
cradle in use—the grapevine, half grapevine, “ mooley,” and others,
the names designating different designs of the snath—all following
closely the Vaughn model. The cradle is essentially a scythe, with
fingers parallel to the blade for holding the grain and laying it con
veniently for raking and binding.
The cradle is a marvellous tool, representing the highest develop
ment in hand grain-harvesting methods that mankind has ever
achieved. In fact, with the exception of the self-binder and the com
bine, there has been no other implement or machine that, taken by
itself, marks so great a labor saving in the harvesting of grain. A
very good man could cradle 4 acres of wheat in a day, and another
good man could bind the same amount; 12that is, the labor cost for
cutting and binding an acre of grain was 6 man-hours, as against 24
man-hours for the sickle, representing an increased labor efficiency of
300 per cent. The lowest estimate of the daily cut of a cradler that
has come down to us is 2 acres per day. At this figure, the labor re
quirement was 12 man-hours, as against 60 man-hours for the sickle,
with a daily cut of one-fifth acre, which is the lowest estimate for the
sickle, representing an increased labor efficiency of 400 per cent.
Reaping machine.—Like most other mechanical inventions, the
creation of a successful harvesting machine was the work of many
ii Maine Farmer, 1837, p. 178.
ii Washington’s letters to Young and Sinclair, quoted by Leo Rogin in University of California Publica
tions in Economics, vol. 9, p. 126.
77459°—31----- 2
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
men in many lands. The known history of the reaping machine
covers 19 centuries. The Roman historian, Pliny, described a device
used in Gaul, which was propelled from behind by an ox hitched
between shafts, the operator walking by the side of the machine
and leading the ox, at the same time raking back the grain as it
fell from the sickle.13 During the seventeenth and eighteenth centu
ries there were a dozen or more inventions, in Germany, Holland,
Scotland, England, and the United States, before the first really
successful reaper was put into operation. There were several types
of cutting devices—straight smooth edged, V-shaped, rotary, scis
sors, and reciprocating. The first machine with, a reciprocating
knife and stationary fingers—the modern type—was invented by
Henry Ogle, an English schoolmaster, in 1822. The first McCormick
patent was issued in 1831 and the Hussey machine appeared a year
later. The improved McCormick self-rake reaper, patented in 1858,
was the first successful power harvester. In all there were 9 patents
issued for reciprocal-action harvesting machines in this country
between 1831 and 1870, according to the report of the Commissioner
of Agriculture for the latter year. The Marsh harvester was patented
in 1858, but was not generally used until 15 or 20 years later. John E.
Heath patented a self-binder in 1850 and there was a picture of a
“ grain-binding wheel rake” in the Cultivator for August, 1850 (p.
273). The Appleby machine appeared in England in 1858 and the
Gordon brothers, of Rochester, N. Y., patented their wire binder in
1867. The first successful mechanical knotter was patented by
S. D. Locke, of Wisconsin, in 1867, thus making possible the modern
self-binder, using twine instead of wire, which was patented by
McCormick in 1870.
Labor requirements of reapers.—The earliest reaping machines used
in the United States represented little, if any, labor saving over the
grain cradle. The machines that were in use just after the Civil
War would cut an average of 12 acres a day and required 8 men to
operate—2 on the machine and 6 to bind and shock the grain. Oper
ating 12 hours a day, it took 96 hours of man labor to cut 12 acres of
grain, or 8 man-hours per acre, which exactly equals the labor required
for harvesting with a cradle at the rate of 3 acres per day.
The self-raking device dispensed with the labor of 2 men, thus
reducing the labor requirement to 6 man-hours per acre. The
Marsh harvester, with about the same capacity, required only 4
men—a driver, 2 binders sitting on the machine, and a shocker—thus
reducing the labor requirement per acre to 4 man-hours. Finally,
the self-binder, operated by 1 man, with another to shock the grain,
reduced the per-acre labor requirement to 2 man-hours, representing
an increased labor efficiency of 300 per cent and a labor displacement
of 75 per cent as compared with the best results with the cradle and
the accomplishment of the self-rake reaping machine. As compared
with the maximum acreage of the sickle, the self-binder represents
an increased efficiency of 1,100 per cent and a labor displacement of
91.7 per cent.
Header and combine.—The combined harvester and thresher is the
latest and, in many ways, the greatest development in agricultural
machinery. Technically, the combine is a “ hook-up” of the header
13 Bohn’s Classical Library, Voi. IV, p. 102.
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13
and the portable thresher. Though modern headers were first suc
cessfully operated on the Pacific coast of the United States toward
the end of the nineteenth century, the invention is not original with
us. The rude machine described by Pliny was a header. -There were
six patents for machines designed to cut and thresh grain in a single
operation issued in this country between 18.36 and 1883, and one as
early as 1828.14 Combines were used in California and in eastern
Oregon between 1900 and 1910, but they did not appear east of the
Rockies until during or after the World War. The first machine used
east of the Mississippi was in 1926. Even yet the use of combines is
confined mostly to large farms in regions where climatic conditions
are especially favorable. It appears, however, from recent develop
ments, that windrowing and drying devices, and the construction of
smaller machines to meet the needs of the smaller farms, may render
the combine practicable for the harvesting and threshing of all small
grains on most of the farms throughout the entire country.
Labor requirements of header and combine.—It is difficult to compare
either the header or the combine with any of the earlier harvesting
tools or machines, with regard to labor requirements, on account of
the fact that the header eliminates the binding and shocking of the
grain and the combine includes also the threshing. Obviously, a
considerable part of the advantage derived from either the header
or the combine is due to the fact that the costs from the field to the
bin are greatly reduced. But regarding the delivery of the grain
from the header into the wagon or truck as no more than equivalent
to the grain in the shock, there is a tremendous difference between
the labor cost of the header and that of the self-binder. A header,
drawn by from 16 to 32 horses, or by equivalent mechanical power,
will cut from 20 to 40 acres in a 10-hour day, the smaller machines
being operated by 1 man, while in some cases 2 men are required
for the larger outfits. At an average of 30 acres per day the labor
requirement per acre is 0.4 man-hour. This is a maximum increase
in efficiency of 400 per cent over the self-binder and of 5,900 per cent
over the sickle. The labor displacement, as between the maximum
performance of the sickle and the maximum performance of the
header, is 98.7 per cent.
Threshing
In order to appreciate fully the tremendous labor saving accom
plished by the combine, it is necessary to have the labor require
ments for threshing by the several earlier methods. The oldest
threshing tool known to human history is the flail, though relics of
prehistoric times show rude implements of a still more primitive
character. Before there were threshing tools of any kind, men sep
arated the grain from the head by grasping a handful of the straw
and beating the heads against a smooth boulder or other hard sur
face. The flail is, in fact, a compound tool, and as such represents a
considerable advance in human ingenuity. It was used in all ancient
countries, and is found in rude form among the relics of many pre
historic peoples.
The flail in use in medieval and modern England consisted of a
wooden handle, or handstaff, about 5 feet long, to which was attached
i* Ohio State University.
1929.
Department of Rural Economics.
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Mimeographed Bulletin No. 18, July,
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
by a thong a “ swingle,” “ swipple,” or beater, also made of wood,
and about 30 inches in length by one-fourtli inch in diameter. The
thong was preferably of eelskin, but where this was unobtainable, of
leather. The eelskin thongs often lasted more than a generation.
In England and in the American colonies the handle of the flail was
usually made of ash and the beater of thorn or of other relatively
hard and heavy wood; and both the handle and the beater became
highly polished with use. The end of the handle to which the beater
was attached was larger than the other and was flattened for about
4 inches and a hole bored through to receive the thong. There was a
similar attachment to the end of the beater. Some of the more mod
ern flails in this country had a swivel at the end of the handle to
prevent the twisting of the thong.
Estimates of the capacity of the flail vary as widely as those for
the sickle. From various English sources it appears that in the
early years of the nineteenth century a first-class man threshed 10
bushels of wheat in a day. On the Van Wagenen farm in New York
John Brown and James Barker flailed rye for “ the tenth bushel,”
averaging about 10 bushels a day each.15 Another contemporary
writer, S. Edwards Todd, states: “ An ordinary laborer will thresh
and clean about 6 or 7 bushels of wheat in a day, taking the country
through.” 16 On the whole, it seems that the flailing and winnowing
of 8 bushels of wheat in a 12-hour day was at least a full average day’s
work. Assuming a yield of 16 bushels, it required 24 hours of man
labor to thresh the grain from one acre.
Tramping—men, horses, or oxen.—Threshing grain by tramping
has also been practiced since earliest times. For oats, barley, and
rye this seems to have been the prevailing method in the American
colonies, and in the middle and southern colonies wheat, also, was
probably more often threshed in this manner than with the flail.
Tramping was the most usual method of threshing in the western
States until the introduction of the first successful threshing machines.
According to McMaster’s history of the United States, grain was
tramped out in southern Maryland later than 1800, one man, man
aging a number of horses, threshing as much as 3,000 bushels in 10
days. This was at the rate of 0.033 man-hour per bushel, or 0.528
man-hour per acre. The grain had then to be winnowed. An aver
age of contemporary estimates for winnowing by hand gives a figure
of 7.5 man-hours per acre, making a total labor requirement of 8.028
man-hours, where grain was tramped out with horses and winnowed
by hand. This is slightly more than one-third of the requirement for
threshing with the flail.
The example given above, however, can not be taken as represen
tative of the efficiency of this method for the country as a whole. A
comparison of a number of estimates cited in a recent study indi
cates that, on the average, the labor requirement for threshing by
tramping with horses or oxen was about half the requirement for the flail.
Where fanning machines were used, as was sometimes the case, the
total labor requirement for either of the above methods was greatly
reduced. It appears that fanning mills, available as early as 1830,
had a capacity of a bushel a minute and could be operated by three
N ew York. Department of Agriculture and Markets. Bulletin No. 203, June, 1927.
16U . S. Department of Agriculture. Report, 1866, p. 230.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[762]
15
L A B O R D IS P L A C E M E N T I N A G R IC U L T U R E
men. This was at the rate of 20 bushels per man per hour, and the
labor requirement per hour was therefore 0.05 man-hour per bushel, or
0.8 man-hour per acre, where the yield was 16 bushels. As the aver
age hand-labor requirement for winnowing was 7.5 man-hours, this
would mean a reduction of 6.7 man-hours by the use of the fanning
mill, bringing the total man-labor requirement for the flail down to
17.3 man-hours per acre and the requirement for tramping to 5.3
man-hours.
Threshing machines— Although there is reference, as early as 1732,
to a threshing machine in Scotland, “ where bye one man may do as
much work as six men heretofore,” the first threshing machine of
which there is any record was invented by a Scotchman named
Meikles in 1789. This device consisted of a horizontal shaft, to which
were attached a number of flails that beat out the grain as it lay on
the threshing floor, in the same manner as it was beaten by the hand
flail. The machine could be operated either by hand or by horse
power. Somewhat earlier there was used in some of the American
colonies a rude device called a “ nigger,’’ which consisted of a section
of a tree, the branches of which had been trimmed down to about
3 feet in length at the outer end and tapered down until they were
smooth with the trunk at the inner end, which was attached to a post
set in a socket in the center of the thresliing floor. A horse, or a team
of horses, was hitched to the outer end, and the device was pulled
round and round over the grain. Obviously, this was designed as an
improvement on the method of tramping. Just how much was
gained by this device is not known, but it is apparent that, crude as
the implement was, it embodied the principle of the toothed cylin
der, which is the essential part of the modern threshing machine.^
In the United States there were two patents issued for threshing
machines between 1834 and 1883. The first successful machine was
the Pitts thresher, which, when first patented in 1840, was a small
machine, designed to be operated either by hand or by horse power.
When operated by 4 men, its hourly capacity was from 20 to 25
bushels. At the rate of 24 bushels per hour, the labor requirement
per bushel was 0.167 man-hour, and the requirement per acre 2.667
man-hours. This did no t includ e winnowing. Adding the time neces
sary for winnowing, the labor requirement was brought up to 3.47
man-hours. This was 13.8 man-hours less than for the flail, and 1.8
man-hours less than the average requirement for tramping. _
In 1850 the daily capacity of the Pitts machine had been increased
to 300 bushels, and could still be operated by 4 men. In 1849, a
writer signing himself “ Agricola,” described in the June, 1849, issue
of the Cultivator (Albany, N. Y.), a machine that he operated on
his own farm, and gave the following statement of operating costs:
Cost per day
One
One
One
One
One
m an
m an
m an
m an
m an
to
to
to
to
to
feed m ach in e----------------------------------------------- $0. 39
su p p ly feed er-------------------------------------------• 38
p itc h from m o w ----- ---------------------------------• 34%
deliver th e s tra w --------------------------------------• 32
a tte n d fan n in g m ill-----------------------------------. 50
P er day fo r la b o r________________________________
F o u r horses an d d riv e r_______________________ _________
T o ta l cost p er d a y _______________________________
[763]
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1- 93%
2. 50
4. 43%
16
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
The writer gave the daily capacity of the machine as 200 bushels,
and figured his average cost per bushel at 2.002 cents. As he em
ployed 6 men, working 12 hours per day, the labor requirement was 72
man-hours for threshing 200 bushels, or 0.36 man-hour per bushel.
This gave a labor requirement of 5.76 man-hours per acre, where the
yield was 16 bushels, which is 2.2 man-hours more than for the
smaller machine.
This difference in favor of the smaller threshers was noted by the
agricultural writers of the time, and there seems to have been a
widespread opinion, for some years after the first threshers came into
use, that a small machine that could be set up in the barn and oper
ated either by hand or by horse power would prove to be more
efficient than the larger outfits. There is mention of one type of
thresher that could be operated by one man with one horse, that
threshed 100 bushels in a day, or 8^ bushels per hour, which is 5.5
bushels per man per hour better than the accomplishment of the
200-bushel capacity machine. The performance of these smaller
types of threshers, however, is less adequately substantiated than
the performance of the larger machine.
Estimates for later periods show a progressive increase in the
efficiency of the threshing machines generally in use. A survey made
by the statistical division of the Department of Agriculture in the
season of 1869 indicated that the 8 to 10 horsepower contract thresher
then “ in common use” in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa,
Minnesota, and other States threshed 300 bushels of wheat per day
with a crew of 9 men. In this case the labor requirement was 4.8
man-hours per acre, assuming a yield of 16 bushels and that the
crews worked 10 hours per day. Better results were obtained where
steam threshers were used. According to the survey mentioned
above, the steam-threshing outfits which were at that time just
coming into use did nearly twice the work that was done by horse
power threshers operating under similar conditions. It appears that
in California and in the Great Plains States, in some instances the
per-acre requirement for threshing wheat with large steam-power
threshers had been reduced to a small fraction over 1 man-hour
before the close of the last century.
More recent studies show less favorable results in States east of the
Mississippi. A survey made by the Agricultural Experiment Station
of the University of Illinois, the results of which were given in its
Bulletin No. 267, shows that in 1921 the average labor requirement
for threshing oats in the east-central part of the State was 3.4 man
hours and for wheat 4.6 man-hours per acre. In Indiana, in 1921, the
labor requirement for threshing wheat was 5.2 man-hours per acre when
threshed from the shock and 6.2 man-hours when threshed from the
stack.17 In some localities where climatic and other conditions are
especially unfavorable the modern requirement is even higher.
Table 4 shows the number of man-hours per acre required by
different methods of harvesting and threshing wheat. As the figures
in this table are approximate averages of data gathered from a
number of sources and are employed only for the purpose of indicat
ing the general effects of the substitution of one method for another,
they are therefore not to be taken as exact or authoritative.
17 Purdue University.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Agricultural Experiment Station.
[764]
Bulletin N o. 272, June, 1923.
L A B O R D IS P L A C E M E N T I N
17
A G R IC U L T U R E
T able 4 .—LABOR R E Q U IR E M E N T S FOR H A R V ESTIN G A N D T H R E SH IN G W H E A T B Y
D IF F E R E N T M ET H O D S
Combine compared
w ith sickle and flail
Man-hours per acre required with -
State
California___ . . . ____________
Dakotas
Indiana
Kansas _ _ ____
. ----------Missouri
Montana . _ _ _
___
Ohio ______
__ Oklahoma____
---------- -- Dragon
Pan n syl van i a,
Texas _
___
Washington _____ . -------
SelfHeader
Gain in Per cent
binder
Sickle or Cradle
sta
and
efficiency of labor
and sta and
sith, and threshing
tionary Combine
displace
per
mathook, floor—■ tionary threshing
worker
ment
and flail tramping threshing machine
machine
62.6
60. 0
62. 6
60. 0
60 0
62. 6
60.0
62. 6
60. 0
60 0
62. 6
60.0
60.0
20
24
24
20
24
24
20
24
24
20
24
22
22
4.5
4.5
6.4
4.6
6.1
5.9
8.5
4.6
3.7
0. 50
3.8
2.03
.69
2.3
4.8
4.0
4.3
3.5
1.03
1.00
1. 00
.67
1. 50
1. 50
.75
.69
12, 000
1,333
3,125
8, 333
8, 333
5, 900
5, 900
6,250
9, 090
4,000
4,167
8, 333
8, 333
99.2
i 92. 5
96.8
98.8
98.3
98.3
98.4
98.9
97. 5
97.6
98.8
98.8
i Self-binder and stationary thresher as compared with sickle and flail.
Labor requirements jor harvesting and threshing with combine.—It is
only when harvesting and threshing are combined in a single operation
that the greatest saving of labor is achieved. The results that are
reported from the employment of this method are almost beyond
belief. Combines operated by 5 men have cut as high as 100 acres
per day. At this rate, the labor requirement for cutting, threshing,
and delivering the wheat, sacked or in the bin, is only 0.5 man-hour
per acre. Estimating an average of 50 acres per day for the larger
combines, the labor requirement for both harvesting and threshing is
only 1 man-hour per acre. This is less than one-fourth the require
ment for threshing alone in Illinois during the period 1913—1923. It
is about one-fifth of the requirement for cutting with a header and
threshing with a stationary thresher in the Great Plains region.18
Contrasting with the methods of the pre-machine age, the labor
requirement for harvesting and threshing with a combine having an
average daily capacity of 50 acres, operated by 5 men, is one-twentieth
of the average requirement for harvesting with a cradle and tramping
on a threshing floor, and one-forty-eiglith of that for cutting and
threshing with the sickle and the flail. Using the sickle and the flail,
it would take 200 men to cut and thresh 50 acres of wheat in a 12hour day. With the larger-type combine the same work is accom
plished in 10 hours, and the machine is operated by 5 men. The saving
in labor per acre is 19 man-hours over the cradle-and-threshing-floor
method, and 47 man-hours over the sickle-and-flail method. The
gain in efficiency per unit of labor of the most modern method over
the most primitive is 4,700 per cent, and the labor displacement 98
per cent.
Labor requirements for the smaller combines, operated by fewer
men, are in many cases even lower than the figures given above.
They range all the way from 0.67 man-hour per acre in Oklahoma,
is
u. S. Department of Agriculture.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Bulletin N o. 1198. Washington, April, 1924.
[765]
18
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
to 2.03 man-hours in Indiana. The average for 12 States is 1 man
hour, which is exactly equal to the requirement for the larger machines.
Table 5 shows the number of workers required to cut and to harvest
50 acres of grain in one day, with different tools or machines. As in
Table 4, the data in this table are averages of data gathered from a
number of sources and are employed only for the purpose of indicating
the general effect of the substitution of one method for another. The
figures, therefore, are in no sense to be taken as exact or authoritative.
T able 5 .—N U M B E R OF W OR K ER S R E Q U IR E D TO CUT A N D TO H A R V EST A N D T H R E SH
50 ACRES OF G R A IN IN ONE D A Y W ITH D IF F E R E N T TOOLS OR M A C H IN E S
Cutting
Workers dis
placed
Per
cent of
labor
dis
U n Skilled
Un
place
Skilled skilled
skilled ment
Total workers
Name of tool or machine
Sickle___________ _____ _ ______ _ ____ ___________
________
_
_ _______ _
Cradle___ _
Reaper (hand rake)_______________________________________
__________
Reaper (self-rake) 1 _ _________ _ _ _ ____
Harvester__________ __
Self-binder__________ ____
___ _
_
___
Header__________ _ _ _
___
.....................................
200
50
40
32
16
8
2
75 Ofl
20. 00
20 00
50 on
50 00
75.00
150
10
8
16
8
6
Harvesting and threshing
Sickle and flail________________
_ ___________________
Cradle and flail___ __________________________ __ _
Cradle and stationary thresher _ _ _
_
_______
Reaper (hand rake) and thresher______ __ _ _______
Reaper (self-rake) and thresher________ _ ______ _______
Harvester and stationary thresher
_ _ __
Header and stationary thresher____
__
____
_______________ _
Combined harvester and thresher___ _
150
50
56
46
38
22
8
2
170
170
33
35
35
35
10
3
100
18
8
16
14
6
137
31.25
62. 27
9.00
25
7
21.92
68.42
72.22
Corn-harvesting methods.—Between 1850 and 1875 there were 11
patents issued in the United States for corn-harvesting machines.19
These included 2 cutters, 2 ear-strippers, 2 huskers and shellers, a
picker, a husker and shocker, and several other combinations. None
of these proved successful, however. Later a machine was perfected
for cutting and binding that reduced the labor requirement per acre
by about 20 per cent. But com can be husked from the stalk and
cribbed by hand cheaper than it can be cut by the machine and then
husked and cribbed by hand. This is not counting the value of the
stover. There is a more recent invention, called a shredder, for
stripping the corn from the stalk. Since the shredder also leaves the
stover in the field, a comparison may be made between the hand cost
of picking, husking, and cribbing, and the machine cost for the same
processes where the shredder is used.
The Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station gives the per-acre labor
requirement (1920-1924) for husking and cribbing from the stalk by
hand as 8.66 man-hours, while with the shredder it is 6.13 man-hours,
a gain in efficiency of 71 per cent, and a labor displacement of 29
per cent.20
19 Report of Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1870.
20 Calculated from figures given in Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 396, September.
>26.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[766]
LABOR DISPLACEM ENT IN AGRICULTURE
19
In a study made in 1926 by the divisions of farm management,
public roads, and agricultural engineering, of the United States
Department of Agriculture, it was found that one man could pick
by hand 59 bushels of corn in a day. With a mechanical picker, oper
ated by one man, from 69 to 102 bushels were harvested in a day. An
average of these figures shows a gain for the machine of 26 bushels
per day, or 44 per cent. The labor requirement is 0.17 man-hour per
bushel where the corn is picked by hand, and 0.118 man-hour where
the machine is used. The labor displacement is 0.052 man-hour per
bushel, or about 30 per cent.
Corn shelling.—Before the coming of machines, corn was shelled
by rubbing one ear against another, or by scraping the ear against
the blade of a shovel or a spade. The handle of a frying pan or the
edge of the bowl was commonly used as a corn sheller in the American
Colonies, even as late as 1800. By these primitive methods not more
than 7 or 8 bushels of corn could be shelled by one person in a day.
According to the tables given in Vol. II of the Thirteenth Annual
Report of the Commissioner of Labor (p. 441), it required 66.67 man
hours of labor to shell by hand 40 bushels of corn. This is at the rate
of 0.6 bushel per hour.
From the beginning of the nineteenth century onward, there were
many devices invented for lightening the laborious task of corn
shelling. Sixteen patents for corn shellers had been issued before 1870.
The first successful sheller was a small affair, with a daily capacity
of 40 bushels. Even with this machine, one man, working 12 hours
a day, shelled more corn than 5 men could shell by hand. There is
now a power corn sheller with which one man can shell a bushel a
minute, or 720 bushels in a 12-hour day. This is 712 bushels more than
the maximum that could be shelled by hand. The labor requirement
for shelling 100 bushels of corn by hand in 1895 was 166.67 man
hours, with the hand machine it was 33 man-hours, and with the
power machine 1.67 man-hours. The gain in efficiency per unit of
labor is therefore 9,800 per cent, and the labor displacement 99
per cent.
Methods of harvesting cotton.—Until quite recently the only effec
tive machine employed in the production of cotton was the gin,
which revolutionized the industry at the beginning of the nineteenth
century. Many attempts were made to devise a machine that
would reduce the slow and difficult labor of picking the bolls from the
stalk, but with little success. Hand picking was a very slow process
and extremely costly, even where cheap labor was available. _The
figure given in the Thirteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner
of Labor is 77 man-hours for picking one acre (one 750-lb. bale) of
cotton. Between 1850 and 1863, 11 patents for cotton pickers were
issued, none of which was successful. Up to the beginning of the
World War in 1914, practically all cotton was harvested by hand.
In that year the crop was poor, and many of the bolls had been
frosted, so that they would fall to the ground at a touch, rendering
picking even more than ordinarily slow and difficult. To meet this
situation, a Texas farmer conceived the idea of gathering the fallen
“ hollies ” with a horse-drag, at the same time stripping from the
plants the bolls that had not fallen. His first drag was a section of
picket fence, or what is called in the western States a “ combination”
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[767]
20
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
fence, being constructed of wooden slats bound together with inter
woven horizontal wires. This section of fence was dragged over the
cotton rows in such manner that the wires caught the bolls, stripped
them off the stems, and left them lying on the wooden strips of the
drag. But the drag gathered up so much rubbish that the cotton
could not be ginned. Not to be discouraged, the farmer ran the stuff
through his threshing machine, thus cleaning out enough of the rub
bish to enable the gin to separate the fiber from the remainder.
The idea was taken up by other farmers, and the experts of the
agricultural experiment stations got to work on it. First a rude
wooden sled was constructed, with a V-shaped slot for catching the
stalks and stripping off the bolls. The bolls were worked backward
by the forward motion of the sled into a wooden box placed on the
body of the sled. The first cotton sleds stripped only one row at a
time, but were soon widened to cover two, three, and finally four
or more rows. With a 4-row sled, one man can strip 4.4 acres of
cotton in a 12-hour day.21 The labor requirement per acre is 2.7
man-hours, as against 77 man-hours for hand picking. The labor
displacement is 83.5 per cent. Meanwhile the gins have been adapted
to the new method of harvesting, so that sledded cotton costs no more
for ginning than that which is picked by hand. The loss in quality
that at first resulted from sledding has also been eliminated, so that
the labor saving represented above is a net gain.
Hay-harvesting methods.—The primitive tools for harvesting hay
were the scythe, the hand rake, and the pitchfork. In one form or
another all these tools were in use from primitive times, and before
the middle of the last century constituted practically the entire equip
ment for harvesting this crop. In fact, both in this country and in
the old world, there are many localities where the greater part of the
forage is still harvested with these tools. There were scythes made of
stone, copper, or bronze long before men learned any practicable
method of reducing iron from its ores. The earliest forks and rakes
were forked sticks or bones of animals. As in the case of the
scythe, mankind had to wait for the coming of the age of iron for
the perfection of these tools. The scythe has reached its highest
perfection in Germany and in the United States, and the forks and
rakes now made in this country are marvels of strength, lightness,
and balance. We have no way in which to measure the saving in
labor due to the perfection of these tools, but it must have been
very great.
Machines for harvesting and handling hay began to appear in this
country toward the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century.
According to a writer in the Pittsfield (Mass.) Sun, a mowing machine
of the disk type was invented in 1822. Between 1833 and 1884,
11 patents for mowing machines were issued. In 1858, a writer in
the Country Gentleman told of a mowing machine with which 1
man could cut 10 acres in a day, while a man with a scythe could
cut only 1 acre.
Stacking and loading machines, slings, etc., came into general use
considerably later. In fact, there are many of these devices that are
still of so doubtful advantage that farmers sometimes junk them in
disgust, and go back to the more primitive methods. But taking
21 Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Bulletin N o. 362, July, 1927.
[768]
LABOR DISPLACEM ENT IN AGRICULTURE
21
the situation as a whole, machines and devices are available that,
under most conditions, greatly reduce the labor requirements for
handling this crop. According to the study of hand and machine
labor costs made by the Commissioner of Labor in 1894-1896, the
per-acre labor requirement for harvesting hay by hand was_ 21.08
man-hours, while with the machines available at that time it was
only 3.94 man-hours. This was an increase of more than 400 per
cent in efficiency per unit of labor applied, and a labor displacement
of more than 80 per cent. Later investigations show a still further
increase in machine efficiency since the earlier study was made. The
1927 Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture places the average
hand-labor requirement for harvesting hay at 11 man-hours, and the
average for the machines then available at 1.6 man-hours. These
figures represent a 60 per cent gain in efficiency over the machine
methods of 1895, and of 1,200 per cent over the hand methods of
1850, indicating the improvement in the efficiency of liay-harvesting
machinery that was achieved during the last 30 years. The labor
displacement of the 1927 machines, as compared with the hand
methods of 1850, is approximately 84 per cent.
Summary
The increases in efficiency in the growing of farm crops, obtained
by the substitution of machine for hand methods, vary all the way
from 80 per cent in the husking and cribbing of corn to more than
9,000 per cent in the shelling of corn. The labor displacement varies
from 31 per cent to 99 per cent. In the production of small grains,
the increased efficiency and the resulting labor displacement are, on
the whole, greatest in the operations of plowing, seeding, and harvest
ing, and greater in the plains States and the far Northwest than in
the older farming sections. During recent years, notable gains in
efficiency have been made in the harvesting of cotton, and labor
costs have been reduced in the production of all row crops, though
far less than in the production of the small grains.
But increased efficiency has not been due wholly to the invention
and use of new machines. Other causes are: (1) The improvement
of hand tools, (2) the development of larger and more effective com
binations of machines and power, and (3) the increased substitution
of mechanical for animal power. The results of the comparisons
made in this section are summarized in Table 1, which shows that
the average increase in efficiency per unit of labor applied in the
growing of five principal crops—corn, cotton, hay, potatoes, and
wheat—by the substitution of the most efficient machines and
methods for the earlier hand tools and hand methods, is approxi
mately 1,200 per cent, and the labor displacement 80 per cent.
Effects of Introduction of Automotive Power Upon Agricultural Labor
Requirements
W h i l e the increasing substitution of mechanical for animal power
in the operations involved in the production of farm crops constitutes
the most important development in the agricultural industry during
recent years, the greater part of the labor saving thus far achieved
in this industry has been accomplished with animal power. While
considerable economies have already been effected by the substitution
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[769]
22
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
of tractors and trucks for horses and mules, and while the results
achieved tend strongly to show that under most conditions motor
farming will require less man labor than farming with horses, it can
hardly be said that the superiority of power farming, under all con
ditions, has yet been completely proved. Though tractors, trucks,
and stationary engines have been adapted to farms of all sizes and to
all processes on all kinds of farms, 61 per cent of all power utilized on
farms in the United States in 1924 was supplied by animals.22 Trac
tors supplied only 16 per cent, and trucks less than 4 per cent.
Many of the largest field operations are still carried on by horses.
Huge machine units for plowing, seeding, and harvesting and thresh
ing are horse-operated in the State of Washington, and thus far there
seems to be little disposition to change to the tractor and the truck.
This is doubtless due largely to the fact that horses can be fed cheaply
under the existing conditions, and can be turned out to graze when
not at work, and to the fact that hilly fields and sandy soil render
tractor operations relatively difficult. In New England, the middle
States, and the old South, there are localities where there are many
conditions under which the motorizing of farms would be of doubtful
economy. In the prairie States, the Great Plains region, and the
Southwest, conditions are more favorable, and the process of motori
zation is going on much more rapidly. Nevertheless, considerable
progress has been made in localities where the conditions are rela
tively unfavorable. Studies recently made in Pennsylvania have
demonstrated that the use of tractors is both practicable and profit
able under most conditions in that State; and, according to one
authority, all Michigan farmers use tractors to a greater or less
extent. In Indiana farming is 82 per cent motorized, and in Illinois
66 per cent.23
As to the saving effected by the tractor, it has been estimated that
in the State of Oregon the average reduction in labor requirements
that may be effected by the substitution of tractors for horses in all
the operations of wheat farming is 2.3 man-hours per acre. The
figures upon which this estimate is based are given in the following
table.
T able 6 .- L A B 0 R R E Q U IR E M E N T S IN W H E A T F A R M IN G IN OREGON, U SIN G TR AC
TOR A N D U SIN G HORSES
[Source: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 1447, Washington, 1926.]
W ith tractor
Saving
in labor
per acre
when
M an Acres per M an
Acres per hours
done
per
hours per with
day
day
acre
acre
tractor
Operation
Plowing______________ ___
Harrowing (spike-tooth harrow)_____.
Harrowing (spring-tooth harrow)____ _______
Disking before p lo w in g .___ . . _
Other disking ________
Weeding. ______
D rilling________
Cutting and threshing with combine................
..
12U . S. Department of Agriculture. Bulletin No. 1348.
22 G. W. MeCuen, in Ohio Farmer, Feb. 26, 1927.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W ith horses
[770]
18.0
85.7
45.6
56.5
40.5
72.3
72.4
32.8
0.56
. 12
.22
.18
.25
.14
. 14
.30
Washington, 1925.
M an
hours
7. 6
43. 9
18. 7
20.2
17.4
24.0
22. 5
17.6
1.32
. 23
.53
. 50
.57
.42
.45
.57
0.6
.l
.3
.3
,2
.3
,1
.4
23
LABOR DISPLACEM ENT IN AGRICULTURE
A study in Pennsylvania, averaging all conditions, gave the fol
lowing results :
T able 7.—LABOR SAVING E F F E C T E D B Y SU B ST IT U T IO N OF TR ACTORS FOR HORSES
IN P E N N SY L V A N IA
Man-hours per
acre
Operation
Man
hours
released
Horses Tractor
Plowing
___
Drilling grain _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Harvesting grain __ ______ _ _
___ ____ _____
Planting corn
Planting potatoes_____ ______
Cultivating corn __
Cultivating potatoes. __ _ _____
Spraying potatoes
____
Mowing hay______ ______ _____ -Raking hay____ ____ _____ - - "Loading and hauling ha,v
Digging potatoes_______
__
5.00
1.00
1.00
.70
6. 70
1.20
1.80
.57
.73
.53
3. 00
4. 40
2.72
.57
.50
.67
3. 40
.57
1.00
.60
.37
.37
2.28
.43
.50
.03
3.30
.63
.80
3.90
.50
.36
.16
Though conditions in Pennsylvania are relatively unfavorable to
tractor farming, itis estimated, on the basis of these figures, that under
all conditions the saving effected by substituting tractors for horse
power is from 33 to 50 per cent.24
In particular cases much more striking results have been achieved.
In South Carolina a tractor mower, having a 7-foot sickle, cuts from
25 to 30 acres per day, and is operated by one man, replacing from 2
to 3 men and from 4 to 6 mules.25 A 15-30 horsepower tractor,
hitched to a 2-bottom plow and driven by one man, can plow 15 acres
of stubble in a day, or something like 10 times as much as can be
plowed by one man and two horses. It will do twice as much as a
2-bottom plow drawn by three horses and operated by one man. The
lowest labor requirement for a 20-horse plowing outfit is 0.66 man
hour per acre, while the record for a 15—30 horsepower tractor outfit
is 0.5 man-hour.
Table 8 shows the labor displaced by the utilization of various
agricultural machines.
T able 8.—LABOR D ISPL A C E M E N T OF D IF F E R E N T A G R IC U L T U R A L M A CH IN ES
Number of workers Number of workers displaced
Machine
Hand
method
Corn harvester
______________
Corn shelter
- _____ Cotton harvester
______ -- -Combined harvester and thresher-------------------------H ay stacker
____ _
M owing TYi«pbina
__ _
Potato planter
- __________ —
Potato digger
__ ____ 'T'rGrx Hi crcrcr
___ _ ____ ;
Sfilf-bindGr
- __- __ ___ - Tractor gang plow
- ___ _________
SpgH drill
___ _ _ __ _ _ _ _
lifter
M ilking tt)pppipp
-
-
-
-- ______ —
_ ___________
10.0
166. 6
77.0
320. 0
2. 5
7.0
13.0
20. 0
375.0
24. 0
55.0
14. 5
24.0
6. 6
10.0
Machine
method
4.0
1.6
2. 7
5.0
9. 0
1.0
1.4
1. 6
24.0
2.0
o. 0
. 13
1.0
2.8
4.0
21 H. B . Josephson in Agricultural Engineering, July, 1928, pp. 219-223.
25 Manufacturers’ Record, N ov. 10,1927, pp. 84-86.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1771]
Skilled
Ï45. 0
6. 5
6.0
22.0
• 50. 0
14. 37
23.0
3.8
6.0
Unskilled
6.0
165.0
74.3
170.0
11.6
18.4
351.0
Per cent
of dis
placement
60.0
99.0
96.5
98.0
72. 6
85. 7
89.2
92.0
93.6
91.7
90.9
99.1
95.8
57.6
60.0
24
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Year-round Advantages of Motorized Farming
It is only when the year-round operation of the farm is considered
that the full advantage of mechanical over animal power becomes
apparent. The adjustment of power and labor to seasonal require
ments has always been one of the farmer’s most serious problems.
On the horse-equipped farm it is nearly always necessary to keep and
feed through the slack seasons more animals than there is profitable
work for, and often more hands are kept than ordinarily can be
profitably employed, so that the farmer will not be short-handed dur
ing the planting and harvesting seasons. When mechanical power
is installed the machines can be put in storage when not in use, and
meanwhile will not have to be fed and cared for. In the rush of
planting or harvesting, tractors or trucks can be worked 24 hours a
day, if necessary. At the same time, the peak of the seasonal labor
requirement is lowered, owing to the fact of the higher per-man
accomplishment of the tractor.
There are many examples which show the advantages of motor
equipment in these respects. In Iowa one man and a boy, using
tractor and truck equipment, do all the work on a 238-acre farm,
tilling 100 acres of corn and 60 acres of oats. One man does all the
work in the cultivation of 160 acres on another Iowa farm. Still
another farmer cultivates 170 acres, with no help.
On the other hand, in the Big Bend country of Washington State,
one man, using a horse hook-up with cultivator, rod weeder, and drill,
can do all the work prior to harvesting in producing 517 acres of wheat.
With weeder, drill, and “ duck-foot,” he can take care of 775 acres.26
And the labor requirement for harvesting and threshing will be about
1.2 man-hours per acre.
On a wheat farm in Montana all the work prior to seeding is done
by one man, and the labor requirement for seeding, harvesting, and
threshing totals only 2.5 man-hours per acre.27 Similar results have
been accomplished on many other farms in that State. According to
Prof. M. L. Wilson, of the Department of Agricultural Engineering
of the University of Montana, the average farm family in the wheat
growing areas of that State can take care of from 600 to 1,000 acres
of wheat, cropped once in two years, or alternated with corn.
These results, however, do not depend upon the use of the tractor.
They are due chiefly to the introduction of three machines especially
adapted to Montana conditions—the one-way disk, the duck-foot
cultivator, and the combined harvester and thresher—and to the big
“ hook-up.”
The relation of power and machinery in use in the different States
to per capita production and net income is shown in the following
table, compiled from U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin
No. 1348:
26 Washington State College of Agriculture. Popular Bulletin No. 135.
27 Agricultural Engineering, January, 1929, p. 3: “ Research studies in the economics of large scale farm
ing in M ontana,” by Prof. M. L. Wilson.
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LABOR DISPLACEM ENT IN AGRICULTURE
T able 9 .—R E LA T IO N OF PO W ER A N D M A C H IN E R Y TO CROP-ACRES P E R U N IT OF
M A N LABOR A N D TO N E T IN C O M E P E R F A R M OPER A TO R , 1924
Average
primary
horsepower
Average horsepower-hours
utilized an
nually
State
Per
worker
__ __________
__
M a in e ____
New Hampshire _ _ _
____
V e rm o n t____
Massachusetts . _____
____
Rhode Island
Connecticut__ _____ _ ______
N ew York______ ____ - ___
__
____
N ew Jersey ______ .
____
Pennsylvania
Delaware __
Maryland
Virginia___
. ___ ____ _
West Virginia _ __1__
______
North Carolina
_____
South Carolina__
_____
Georgia__
Florida___
. ____ ___ ._
___
Kentucky__ - _____ __ ___
Tennessee,.
..............
Alabama _
_ .
M ississippi..
. __
Louisiana ...................
.... ....... _
Arkansas . . . . . .
Texas. .
.
. . .
Oklahoma . ____
Ohio
Indiana. . . .
I llin o is ___ _
M ichigan..
W isconsin.
Minnesota. _
...
______
Iowa____ ____
- ____
_____ _
Missouri. . . .
North Dakota _
_
South Dakota___ _
...............
Nebraska _
Kansas._ . .
_ _ ____ .
M ontana..
.
. . .
Wyoming
_
_ ..........
....
Colorado........................
_ _____
New Mexico _____ _ __ _ _ _ ___
__
.
....
Arizona
. . .
Utah
___
.
_
____
Nevada _
Idaho
_
_
Washington.
.
Oregon
. . . .
_
California____________ ___ _______
United States _ . . . __
__
Per
farm
Per
man
hour
Per
im
proved
acre
Average
cropacres
per
worker
Average Average
value of
net inmachin come per
ery per
farm
worker operator
4.0
4.5
4.2
6.0
4. 7
5.0
5. 4
6.0
5.9
4.2
4.6
2.4
2.5
1.4
1.3
1.3
2.2
2.0
1.9
1.0
1.1
1.9
1.6
3.3
4.3
5. 6
5.4
7.6
5.3
5.6
7.0
9.8
4.7
14. 1
14.1
11.0
10.4
13.0
10.4
8.4
4.1
6.1
5. 4
8.1
8.8
7.4
7. 2
8.9
5.0
5. 6
6.1
9. 6
8.9
7.8
8.5
11. 7
8.0
7.1
8. 7
3.8
3.2
2.5
2. 7
2.5
4.4
2.9
3.0
2.0
2.0
4.0
2.8
6.0
7.0
7. 8
7.7
12.1
7.3
8.6
11.5
14.8
7.0
21.8
22.0
16.4
14.6
18.4
17.0
13.8
7. 4
21.4
9.0
21.5
14.0
11.4
11.3
19.8
0.41
.44
.45
.40
.35
.37
.51
.46
.53
.46
.44
.27
.30
. 16
. 14
.15
.18
.25
.23
. 12
.14
.27
.22
.37
.48
.60
.62
.88
.59
.63
.78
1.07
.53
1.52
1.43
1.13
1.08
1. 37
.93
.82
.69
.50
.56
.75
.98
.93
.90
1.51
38
47
33
67
60
58
36
51
37
36
38
25
19
26
28
21
26
21
25
19
23
40
29
28
25
35
32
36
37
44
32
36
25
22
27
27
25
29
34
32
65
74
42
32
44
40
43
100
26.92
21.40
28. 34
12.74
9. 66
13.94
28. 76
19. 06
30.79
30. 22
23. 68
17.81
18.18
13. 38
13.44
19. 96
16. 76
17.51
18. 26
16. 02
13.21
14.41
16. 74
32. 31
49.01
35. 70
42. 77
55. 70
35. 74
33.86
57. 37
65. 23
40.95
163. 33
128. 51
103.09
96. 21
47.46
46.40
53.50
21.73
13.15
24.78
46.54
41.59
42.01
37. 89
26. 34
$436
374
509
379
316
363
557
438
594
391
320
172
155
117
115
105
126
123
135
69
80
117
108
196
258
411
437
591
451
572
622
954
353
953
963
821
668
673
461
504
180
249
314
431
572
543
528
524
$1, 532
811
1,280
913
797
953
1,807
1,736
1.482
1, 780
1,379
1,119
858
1,454
1, 712
1, 338
' 915
968
S62
949
1,008
1,069
1,162
2, 030
2, 227
1,819
1,834
2,657
1,539
1,863
1,982
2,985
1,504
2, 218
2, 657
2, 928
2,417
137
1,493
2, 255
1,205
3,133
1,875
3, 354
2,192
2,490
1,813
3,485
4.5
7.4
.50
32
34.28
338
1,682
Development in Agriculture as a Whole, and the Present Agricultural Situation
W h i l e it is indicated in the preceding sections that there has been
an average labor displacement of 80 per cent where modern machine
methods have been substituted for hand methods in the principal
operations of growing farm crops, it does not follow that there has
been any such displacement in the agricultural industry as a whole.
The results for the industry as a whole will, of course, depend upon the
extent to which the labor-saving machines are utilized in all sections,
and under all conditions. On the other hand, there are many other
things besides farm machinery that since the settlement of the coun-
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26
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
try have operated, to increase output per unit of man labor, and to
cause labor displacement. Before the appearance of any of the mod
ern farm machinery a great deal had been accomplished by the im
provement of hand tools and implements. Among the more
important instances of this development are the substitution of the
grain cradle for the sickle and the scythe, and the substitution of the
metal plow, with an improved moldboard design, for the clumsy and
ineffective wooden plows that had been in use since earliest times.
The improvement in hand implements and tools has continued
throughout the period of mechanization, and has been no unimportant
factor in producing the increased efficiency that usually is ascribed
to machines alone. Furthermore, there has been a rapid develop
ment in methods of soil treatment, in the production of new and
better seeds, in adaptation of crops to conditions of soil and climate,
and in the management of the farms, all of which have contributed
to the aggregate gain in the output per worker. For the industry as a
whole, therefore, the final result can not be expressed in terms of
any one of these causes. It will be a resultant of the operation of all
of them.
Unequal Development of Agricultural Mechanization
One of the most striking features of the development of agriculture
in this country is the way in which primitive methods of cultivation
have persisted side by side with the most modern methods. Though
many of the agricultural machines that are now familiar made their
appearance early in the nineteenth century, but few came into any
thing like general use until after the Civil War. Though a large
saving in man labor is shown by many of the machines included in the
1894-1896 survey by the Commissioner of Labor, elsewhere referred
to, many of these machines did not come into general use until 20
years later.
This is not difficult to explain. On many of the farms of the coun
try the necessary power was lacking. Farmers experienced the
greatest difficulty in accumulating the capital with which to buy the
new equipment. For many years there was no effective organization
for selling or servicing the new machines or for educating the farmers
in their use and care. Low prices for farm products often discouraged
any increase in farm equipment. These causes, combined with the
age-old prejudice against “ new-fangled notions,” affecting agriculture
even more seriously than other industries, have tended to prevent
the immediate utilization of the machines and methods which the
genius of a progressive nation have provided. Even as late as 1924,
power was utilized to replace human labor in but little more than half
of the work done on farms.28
Moreover, it was naturally to be expected that a considerable time
would be required in making the shift from hand to machine methods.
This is especially true of farming, in which, on account of the great
number of independent enterprises, and the wide difference in local
conditions, coordination is always difficult. There has been, neces
sarily, a great deal of experimentation, much of it extremely costly.
Machinery can not be serviced on scattered farms as promptly and
28 U . S. Department of Agriculture.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Bulletin No. 1348: Washington, 1925.
[774]
L A B O R D IS P L A C E M E N T I N A G R IC U L T U R E
27
effectively as in manufacturing centers. Better rail transportation;
the institution of the parcels post; the coming of the automobile;
improved, highways 5 the org&niza-tion of service departments by
manufacturers of and dealers in agricultural machinery; the work of
the Federal Department of Agriculture, the agricultural experiment
stations, and the State agricultural colleges in the development of
methods; and the education of the farmers—all these and many other
things characteristic of recent economic development have gone a long
way toward removing the impediments to mechanization.
The survey made by the Commissioner of Labor in 1894-1896 shows
that there was at that time a wide variation in the results achieved by
the use of different machines in the several farm operations, and in
the production of different crops. (See Table 3.) In the units com
pared, it was found that by the hand method 62.42 man-hours of labor
were required to take care of an acre of wheat, while by the machine
method only 3.1 man-hours were required. For corn the figures were
182.68 by the hand method, and 27.5 where machines were used._ For
wheat the labor displacement was 95 per cent, while for corn it was
only 85 per cent. The substitution of machine for hand cultivation
resulted in a labor displacement of 53 per cent in the growing of cotton,
and of 50 per cent in the growing of potatoes. In the growing of
five principal crops—corn, cotton, hay, potatoes, and small grains
an average of the figures given in the report shows a labor displacement
of 73 per cent, as between “ primitive” methods and the machine
methods employed in 1896. In the production of tobacco there was
practically no difference.
The report of the Commissioner of Labor does not disclose what
proportion of all crops were produced by machine methods in 1894—
1896. It is evident that there would be at that time no method of
ascertaining such information. But if power equipment was utilized
for no more than half of the work done on farms in 1924, it may
safely be inferred that only a small percentage of the industry had
been successfully mechanized 30 years earlier. The survey indicates
what could have been accomplished at that time, with a full utiliza
tion of the machines and methods then available, rather than what
had actually been accomplished. Figures recently compiled by the
Department of Agriculture show that more than a quarter of a century
later the average labor requirement for producing farm crops had not
been reduced to the level for “ modern methods” shown in this report.
These data are given in the following table:
77459°—31---- 3
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
T able 1 0 .—A PP R O X IM A T E AVER A G E M A N-HOU R S OF LABOR P E R ACRE R E Q U IR E D
FOR CROP PR O D U C T IO N IN VARIOUS PA R T S OF T H E U N IT E D STATES, IN 1924
[Source: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 1348, Washington, 1925, p. 59]
Small grains
Corn
Area
New England
N ew York
N ew Jersey
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia.
Kentucky
South Carolina
Georgia
Louisiana
Arkansas
Texas
Missouri
Ohio
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota.
Indiana
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Eastern Nebraska
W ester n N ehra ska
Dakotas
Colorado:
Dry
Irrigated
Utah, irrigated
Northwest:
Irrigated
Dry
Cut
For For with
grain silage bind
er
100
66
69
50
50
57
46
100
58
42
24
49
24
23
23
12
57
60
CowHay
per Pota To Cot Rice Sugar Truck Fruit peas
and
Cut cut
beets crops
with ting toes bacco ton
soy
com
beans
bine
10
10
10
12
8
15
40
37
38
48
48
24
48
30
30
26
26
20
18
16
16
12
13
30
51
32
30
32
30
28
28
26
26
23
23
100
100
100
106
82
16
15
20
19
15
12
15
15
8. 5
10
7
7
5
7
25
5
24
17
7
5
170
378
363
11
20
12
16
16
116
115
137
94
47
10
120
80
82
58
14
12
12
8.4
7.5
4
6
5
8
5
12
13
190
400
300
42
18
136
125
100
112
64
19
37
46
37
140
110
110
25
150
140
40
32
124
129
352
41
119
400
30
155
69
32
75
114
15
As a matter of fact, in nearly every case the actual labor require
ment in 1924 was greater than for the machine methods of 1894-1896.
In the production of corn 37.8 man-hours per acre were required in
1924, while it was only 27.5 by the machine methods of the earlier
period. The machine requirement for small grains was only 3.1 man
hours per acre in 1894-1896, as against 15.5 man-hours in 1924. The
average per-acre requirement for five principal crops was 30 man-hours
by the machine methods of the earlier period and 54 man-hours by
the methods actually employed in 1924.
Even when the machine methods now generally in use are compared
with the machine methods of 1896, the difference is not startling. For
the five principal crops named above, the average per-acre labor
requirement with the machines now generally in use is 25.6 man-hours,
as compared with 30.2 man-hours in 1896. This is a gain in efficiency
of 31 per cent, and a labor displacement of 24 per cent.
Production 'per worker and labor displacement as shown by index
numbers.—An approximate estimate of the results of the combined
operation of all the factors making for increased output per worker
may be made in terms of crop-acres cultivated, or in terms of the phys
ical quantity, or the total value in dollars of constant purchasing
power, of the output of the industry as a whole. In 1850 the average
farm worker could care for only 12 acres of farm crops, while in 1924
the average crop-acres cultivated per worker were 34, an increase of
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29
183 per cent.29 In 1870, census figures show, the average production
of grain per worker was 11,530 pounds, while in 1920 it was 24,820
pounds, a gain of 115 per cent.
Crop-acres per worker, however, taken alone, are not a thoroughly
sound basis for computing output per worker, since, owing to differ
ence in yields, the number of acres cultivated does not always indicate
the quantity produced. There are many conditions under which
more intensive cultivation, requiring a greater expenditure of labor,
will increase the quantity or the value of the crop, with no increase
in the number of acres cultivated. On the other hand, unfavorable
conditions may cut down the yield per acre, or conditions favoring a
larger acreage, with less intensive cultivation, may result in an in
creased acreage per worker, with even a loss in quantity or in value of
output. For these and other reasons, the total physical quantity, or
the total value of the output forms a better basis for computing output
per worker than do crop-acres cultivated.
Indexes published in the Commerce Yearbook, 1930, based on data
assembled by the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of the
Census, indicate an increase of 61 per cent in production per worker
between 1899 and 1927. The same report shows an increase in output
per worker in the agricultural industry of 29.5 per cent between 1919
and 1927. The yearly average for the entire period is 2.3 per cent,
on the basis of 1899 = 100 , and the yearly average for the last eight
years of the period, 3.8 per cent.
Postwar development in agricultural efficiency.—The figures given
in the last preceding section, however, do not sufficiently indicate the
rapid increase in agricultural efficiency that has taken pi ace since
1919, for the reason that the increase for 1919-1927 shown in the
Department of Commerce index is computed on a higher basis than
is the increase for the entire period, 1899-1927. The index of the
mass of crop production is 78 for the years 1895-1899, while the index
for the years 1915-1919 is 108.30 The increase in production per
worker from 1919 to 1927 is, therefore, on the basis of 1899 = 100,
approximately 40 per cent, and the yearly average increase 5 per cent.
This acceleration in the rate of increase of production per worker
is characteristic of the postwar period in agriculture as in other indus
tries. This is explained by the fact that practically all of the forces
that since the beginnings of the industry had at different times oper
ated to increase the output per worker have been working together
during the last 10 years. The improvement of farm tools, which,
before the machine age, was the chief cause of increased performance
per worker, continues alongside of the perfection of farm machinery.
Where horse power is still used, larger and more effective “ hook-ups;”
greatly increase the results per worker engaged. Improvements in
farm management and in methods of operating equipment, advances
in the agricultural sciences, and improvements of the public sei vices
in aid of agriculture, each has added its quota. And most important
of all, the process of motorization has been very greatly accelerated.
Yet, all things considered, it appears that the process of agricul
tural mechanization in this country has only barely begun. While
machines have come into use that presage an almost total displace2®U . S. Department of Agriculture. Bulletin No. 1348. Washington, 1925.
30 Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1930, p. 674.
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m o n thly la bo r r e v ie w
ment of man labor in the production of principal crops, where condi
tions are most favorable, the extremely wide variation in the results
which have been achieved, even under similar conditions, is evidence
that the industry is still largely in the experimental stage. This is
even more apparent when it is remembered that many primitive
methodsstill survive alongside of the most efficient modern methods.
When it is added that even yet mechanical power is utilized to replace
man labor in but little more than half of the work done on farms, and
that the power that is installed is operated at only a fraction of maxi
mum efficiency, it is apparent that the process of agricultural mechani
zation has still a long way to go. In short, the outstanding fact of the
present agricultural situation is not the magnitude of past accomplish
ments—great as they have been in many respects—but the vastness
of the field yet to be occupied.
Technological Labor Displacement in Agriculture, and the Unemployment
Situation
I t is evident, from the fact that there was between 1920 and 1927
a shrinkage of more than 3,000,000 in the number of persons living
on farms, that there has been a large shift of labor from agriculture
to other industries during these years. Furthermore, when it is
remembered that during this period there has been a net decline in
employment in most nonagricultural industries, it is apparent that
the release of labor on the farms has contributed largely to the
volume of unemployment that has developed during recent years.
It does not follow, however, that there has been a shift from agri
culture in any way proportionate to the displacement that has
occurred as a result of increased output per worker. In fact, from the
beginning of agricultural mechanization until the year 1910, there was
no net decrease in the number of farm workers, taking the country as a
whole, though there was continuous labor displacement.
Between 1880 and 1910, there was, in fact, an increase of approxi
mately 3,000,000, or 37.6 per cent, in the number of farm workers.
During this same period there was a technological displacement, as
measured in terms of crop-acres cultivated per worker, of approxi
mately 40 per cent. This would have resulted in the release from the
industry of 3,400,000 workers during these years, except for the fact
that conditions favoring the expansion of the industry enabled it
to absorb the whole of the displacement. Not only was this absorp
tion accomplished, but the industry took on an additional 3 ,000,000
workers.
Between 1900 and 1927, the technological displacement, computed
from the Department of Commerce index of increased output per
worker, was 38 per cent, while the decline in employment was less
than 3 per cent. If none of the farm workers displaced during this
period had been reemployed in the industry, more than 4 ,000,000
workers would have been shifted to other industries or would have
remained unemployed. Instead of this, only approximately 200 ,000 were shifted out of the industry. From 1919 to 1927, the tech
nological displacement was approximately 23 per cent, and the
decline in agricultural employment 7 per cent. If none of the agri
cultural workers technologically displaced during this period had
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been reemployed in the industry, there would have been 2,530,000
who would have had to find employment elsewhere or remain unem
ployed. The actual number who were shifted out of the industry was
When the migration of farm labor indicated by the shrinkage m
total farm population between 1920 and 1927 is taken into con
sideration, it appears that a much larger number of workers must
have left the farms. If it is assumed that three out of five of the more
than 3 000,000 persons who left the farms during these years were in
search of employment, or would have been unemployed if they had re
mained on the farms—not a high estimate, when it is remembered
that a large percentage of the migrants were between the ages ol 18
and 25 years—it will appear that the shrinkage m farm employment
between 1920 and 1927 was approximately 2 ,000,000 workers
This figure does not represent the whole extent ol the shitt ot
workers from the farms during the last 10 years. According to
estimates of the Bureau of the Census there was an absolute s™ k a g e
in total farm population during this_period of more than 3 ,000 ,000 .
The estimate of the shift of workers given above is made on this basis.
But this takes no account of the natural increase m farm population,
which computed on the returns for census years, is found to be more
than 2 500 000.31 In 1920, 35 per cent of all persons living on farms
were employed. At this ratio, the 2,500,000 increase m farm popu
lation represents an increase of 875,000 in the number of workers.
This gives a total of 2,875,000 workers leaving the farms between
1920 and 1927, who either found employment in other industries or
remained unemployed, a figure somewhat larger than that for the
total technological displacement.
Probable Development of Agricultural Mechanization in the Near Future
T h e wide difference between what has already been accomplished by
improved machines and methods in agricultural production, and
what could be accomplished with a full utilization of the best methods
and the most efficient machines available, may be shown by comparing
the average results achieved by the most efficient combinations witn
the highest estimate of actual accomplishment for the industry as a
whole. A rough average of the results of mechanization m the pro
duction of five principal crops, based on the data assembled in pre
ceding sections, indicates an increased efficiency of approximately
1 200 &per cent .32 The highest estimate of the actual increase m
production per worker from 1850 to 1920 is 300 per cent. If we add
another 100 per cent on the same base to cover the increase since 19-0
(which will correspond fairly closely with the results on the basis ol
“ value produced per worker”)» the total will still be only one-third
of the possible increase if the best machines and methods were
utilized throughout the industry.
, „
„
Furthermore, the increased efficiency of 1,200 per cent, wheie
modern machines and methods have been used, has been achieved m
many instances without the aid of mechanical power. I t appears
from investigations recently made by various Federal and btate
31 Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1930, p. 84.
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33 See Table 3, p. 9.
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
agencies that, even where the most economical horse equipment is
used, at least 50 per cent of the labor now required in the several
farm operations could be saved by the substitution of mechanical
power. Taking into consideration also the improvements in farm
machinery that are constantly being made, and the saving that would
be effected if the most scientific methods of soil treatment, etc., were
universally adopted, it will be fairly safe to conclude that the farming
industry in the United States is at the present time operating at no
more than 25 per cent of possible maximum efficiency.
The main reasons for this condition may be summarized as fol
lows: ( 1) Inadequate markets for farm products (during the last 10
years, and over a considerable part of the entire period of mechaniza
tion, farmers have been able with the existing equipment to produce
more than they could profitably sell); (2 ) low farm wages in many
parts of the country, especially in the old South; (3 ) absence of effi
cient planning of farm work; (4) failure to utilize all the power
available for farm production; and (5) the cost of changing from horse
to motor equipment.
While it is obvious that in the long run overproduction and low
prices will operate as a check upon mechanization, it is to be noted
that during the last several years the combination of low prices for
farm products and comparatively high wages for farm workers has
tended to stimulate the adoption of modern methods and the installa
tion of labor-saving machines. There was no other way in which to
widen the margin between costs and selling prices, so as to avoid com
plete bankruptcy. Yet, if there had been sufficient demand for farm
products at profitable prices, it is entirely likely that the improved
methods would have been adopted even more rapidly than they were.
But with regard to the probable rate of progress in mechanization in
the future, the important fact is that the process continues alike
during periods of depression and periods of expansion.
In agriculture, as in other industries, low wages have always been a
prime cause of slow development in efficiency. As long as man labor
is cheap and plentiful, little attention is apt to be given to the possi
bility of higher production and larger profits through the adoption of
better methods and improved machines. As in other industries, it
took the farmers a long time to discover that low wages do not always
mean low production costs. But in agriculture as in other industries
many employers are now coming to realize that exactly the opposite
of this may be true. The highest unit labor cost in agricultural pro
duction is, on the whole, in the localities where wages are lowest.
For example, the per-acre labor requirement for producing corn ranges
all the way from 13 man-hours in the Dakotas to 50 in Virginia and
100 , or even more, in the New England States .33 Though wages are
lower in Virginia than in the Dakotas, the labor cost per acre is con
siderably higher. Texas and Oklahoma cotton growers pay higher
wages than are paid in the old South, but their unit labor costs are
lower. This is true even where similar methods are employed. And
with the modern methods now in use in the Southwest the labor cost
is still further reduced, while wages are advanced on account of the
training and experience that are necessary in caring for and operating
machines. When the farmers of the old South come to realize these
33 See Table 10, p. 28.
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facts, the mechanization of agriculture in the southern States, other
things being equal, will go forward as it has in the middle and western
States during the last 10 years.
The definite planning of the work of the farm is a comparatively
new thing in the United States, as it is in all other countries. A
proper placing of farm buildings, an economical arrangement of fields,
and an effective relating of one process to another are as important
on the farm as in the factory. The modernization of farm operations
promises as valuable results to the farmer as have been achieved by
the now famous assembly lines in the Ford factories. Through the
concerted efforts of the Department of Agriculture and the State
agricultural colleges and experiment stations, there is now develop
ing in this country a real science of farm management, the application
of which on many of the more progressive farms has already resulted
in very considerable economies in money and labor expenditure.
With the increased installation of machinery, calling for larger
capital investment, the need for scientific planning is bound to be
more widely recognized in the near future. It is certain that this
development will greatly increase the efficiency of the farm plant.
It is in part due to the relative absence of effective farm manage
ment that the power available for farming is not fully utilized. Mal
adjustment with regard to seasonal and other requirements in many
cases prevents maximum utilization even of the power already
installed. It often happens that the installation of a tractor or a
truck on a farm merely duplicates the whole or a part of the former
power equipment instead of replacing it. The necessary adaptation
of labor to the new equipment is difficult and often costly. Farm
workers must become machinists and machine operators, instead of
merely hired hands. The farmer himself must become a business
man, and, to a great extent, an engineer, or he must employ technical
service. All this, however, promises to work out as a part of the proc
ess of mechanization, and, provided the necessary economic adjust
ments can be made, it promises greater profit to the farmers and
higher wages and better working conditions for hired farm workers.
From an immediately practical point of view, the cost of changing
from horse to motor equipment is perhaps the most important factor
tending to retard progress in agricultural efficiency. I t is not merely
the fact that where many farmers are making the change at the same
time there is no profitable market for the animals displaced, but a
considerable part of the horse-equipped farm is always reserved for
pasture and for the growing of forage and feed crops. The farmer
is apt to think that his horse feed costs him nothing, while he has to
pay out good money for oil and gasoline; and there may be consider
able truth in this. When a farmer is already facing the necessity of
cutting down his commercial crop acreage on account of general
overproduction, the land that would be released by getting rid of
his horses will be of little use to him.
Yet, all things considered, the change from horses to tractors is
going on very rapidly. Between 1920 and 1929, according to the
census reports, the number of horses and mules on farms in the United
States decreased from 25,199,552 to 19,476,000, while the number of
tractors increased from 246,083 to 852,989. If the change continues
at this ratio there will be nearly 3 ,000,000 tractors on the farms of
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
the country 10 years from now, and the number of horses and mules
will have been reduced to less than 15,000,000. And, of course, there
will be a corresponding increase in efficiency and in the displacement of
farm labor.
There is no better indication than these figures of the momentous
changes in agricultural conditions that are likely to come within the
next 10 years, especially when they are taken in connection with
data showing the present condition of the industry. In the matter
of power utilization the present situation is best described by Dr.
C. D. Kinsman in Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 1348:
P resen t available in fo rm atio n w ould in d icate t h a t pow er e q u ip m en t is utilized
to replace h u m a n lab o r in b u t little over one-half of th e w ork now done on farm s.
Pow er e q u ip m en t is av ailab le fo r a considerable p a r t of th e rem aining w ork b u t
for various reasons is n o t now utilized. In som e are a s w ages h a v e been so low
t h a t i t h as been m ore econom ical to hire h u m a n la b o r th a n to use th e av ailab le
m achinery; in o th e r cases th e reason h a s been t h a t m ach in ery can n o t o r has
n o t been developed to do th e w ork econom ically w here only a sm all a m o u n t is
to be done o r th e p ro p e r k in d of pow er a n d th e p ro p er m eans of ap p ly in g th e
pow er h ave n o t been av ailab le to do th e w ork efficiently.
While great progress has been made in the substitution of machine
for man power in such regions as the Great Plains, the Northwest
Pacific Coast States, and in Texas and Oklahoma, in many parts of
the country comparatively primitive methods of farm production are
commonly employed. Surveys made by the Ohio Agricultural Ex
periment Station show that most fields in that State were still plowed
with the 1-man, 2 -horse walking plow in 1922-23.34 I t was found by
the same investigators that the grain cradle is still used for harvesting
on some Ohio farms. The 1-man, 1-mule, 8 -inch plow is still popular
throughout the old South. This same implement, or one hardly
more efficient, is used on many of the tobacco and truck farms in
Southern Maryland; in this region one may find in use every kind of
farm power, from ox teams to the most recent types of trucks and
tractors.
As noted at the beginning of this study, a comparison of the latest
labor-requirement figures compiled by the Department of Agriculture
with the machine requirements of 1895, as shown in the report of
the survey made by the Commissioner of Labor, shows that the
average requirement by the methods prevailing in 1924 was higher
than for the machine methods of 1895.35 The labor requirement, as
well as the unit money cost, is always highest in the regions where
there has been least mechanization.36 In the old South the labor
requirement for producing a bushel of grain in 1924 was 2.5 man-hours
and in the Pacific Northwest 0.3 man-hour; for corn the labor re
quirement per bushel in the same year was 2.5 man-hours in certain
Southern States, while in the corn belt it was 0.5 man-hour.37 The
per-acre requirement for producing potatoes varies all the way from
32 to 137 man-hours in the different States, and is, on the whole,
greatest where machinery is least used.38 In the eastern cotton States
it takes from 100 to 125 hours of man labor to handle one acre of
cotton, while in the Texas black belt only from 50 to 60 man-hours
84 Ohio State University. Agricultural Extension Service Bulletin, N o. 5, Vol. X V III, 1922-23.
85 See Table 3, p. 9.
86 See Table 9, p. 25.
37 Year Book of Agriculture, 1926, pp. 466, 467.
88 U. S. Department of Agriculture. Bulletin N o. 1348. Washington, 1925.
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are required. In the old South one man plants from 10 to 20 acres
of cotton in a day, while in Texas and Oklahoma one man plants 100
acres.
General Results of Agricultural Mechanization
It is, of course, not to be expected that agricultural mechanization
will go forward at a uniform rate in all sections and for all farm
operations. Conditions of soil, surface, and climate will always
tend to limit the use of machines. In many localities there are per
sistent prejudices tending to resist strongly all changes in methods
of production. There are large geographical areas in which economic
conditions are relatively unfavorable to any expansion in production;
and it may be expected that general market conditions will continue
to have a great deal to do with advancing or retarding the movement
of mechanization.
.
. . . .
But the results thus far achieved are sufficiently definite to indicate
the probability of certain developments in the near future:
1 . It is likely that within the next few years practically all wheat
produced in this country will be grown under conditions existing in
the industry in the Great Plains region and in the Northwest; that is,
on large farms, with big hook-ups of the most modern machinery,
a maximum of mechanical power, and a minimum of man labor.
2 . I t is probable that the same will be true of the other two main
commercial field crops—corn and cotton—though in a somewhat
lesser degree.
3 . Because of these developments, a great deal of land in the Middle,
Southern and Eastern States may be released for the growing of other
crops, and a considerable acreage of the less profitable land will
probably go out of cultivation entirely.
4 . The adaptation of types of machines and units of power to
different conditions and purposes, and to smaller farms, will result in
the mechanization of fruit, vegetable, and general truck farming, as
well as of the animal and dairying industries, though at a slower rate
than in the production of field crops.
5 . There will be a great change in the kind of labor required on
farms, tending, on the whole, to the replacement of unskilled by
skilled or semiskilled workers. This change will probably be accom
panied by an increase in the wages of hired farm workers.
6 . I t is likely that farming will come to be regarded more as a
business, and less as a manner of living. In the future farmers will
live on their farms only when conditions there are favorable for home
making.
7 . It is to be expected that the displacement of farm labor will
continue, at varying rates throughout the industry, but more rapidly
in the areas most favorable to large-scale machine operations. Owing
to the fact that, under existing economic conditions, the limit of
profitable expansion in agriculture has been reached, it is not to be
expected that in the near future the industry will be able to absorb
any considerable portion of the labor that will be technologically
dispensed with through the continued installation of new and better
machines and the more effective utilization of the machines.
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m o n thly labor r e v ie w
C olon ization of Im m ig ra n ts in B razil
B y C. R. C a m e r o n , A m e r i c a n C o n s u l G e n e r a l
at
S ao
P aulo
Immigration Policies and Legislation
RAZIL, that is, southern Brazil, was discovered by the Portuguese
navigator, Cabral, in 1500, and its active development as a
Portuguese colony began about 30 years later.
Although African slaves were regularly imported into Brazil from
the earliest_times until about 1850, during the greater part of the
colonial period (1500-1821) the Portuguese Government discouraged
other immigration into Brazil, even from Portugal, and that from other
countries was practically prohibited. Many restrictions and pro
hibitions were imposed upon those immigrants who were permitted
to enter. Generally they were prohibited from trading, from possess
ing real estate, and often also from even residing in the colonies.
Nevertheless, an intermittent stream of Portuguese continued to
arrive. Some Spanish came during the years of the union of the Spanish
and Portuguese Crowns (1580-1640), but other European immigra
tion was negligible. The racial intermixtures resulting from the
Dutch occupation in Pernambuco (1630-1654) and the French occupa
tion of Rio de Janiero (1555-1567), were almost nil, but the mixture
of Portuguese with Indian and African went on rapidly.
In 1747, 4,000 married persons from the Azores and Madeira were
contracted for Santa Catharina. This measure marked the beginning
of the relaxation of the extreme restrictions on immigration. When
the Prince Regent of Portugal moved to Brazil in 1807, a great number
of Portuguese followed, and when he opened the ports of Brazil to
international commerce in 1808, specific restrictions on foreign
immigrants were practically abolished.
With the rise of the independence movement early in the nineteenth
century^ the Brazilian Government began to promote European immi
gration into the country. This was effected primarily through the
system of colonization, i. e., the establishment of small settlements
of a few hundred individual immigrants with Government assistance
of various kinds for the first few years. The Swiss, who arrived in
1820, to settle Nova Friburgo, were granted their traveling expenses,
provisional residence, free land, wages during the first two years*
immediate citizenship, freedom from taxes for 10 years, and various
other favors. After Brazil became independent (in 1822) this policy
was continued and in 1824 a German colony, Sao Leopoldo in Rio
Grande do Sul, was founded with similar assistance. In 1827, addi
tional German immigrants were contracted for Brazil, 336 of whom
founded the colony of Santo Amaro near the City of Sao Paulo, and
232 founded Rio Negro, in territory now within the State of Parana.
Various other colonies followed, notably Petropolis, near Rio de
Janeiro, founded in 1845 by 2,000 German immigrants.
Private persons and companies also brought in settlers. Thus the
famous Campos Vergueiro of Sao Paulo introduced (with some finan
cial assistance from the Province) Portuguese and German families
which were employed under a system of share farming. These private
enterprises, also, were subsidized by the Government. One such
B
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37
immigration company, organized in 1886 and dissolved in 1895,
introduced into the Province of Sao Paulo 126,145 immigrants.
Policy of the Republic
After the accession of the Republican Government in 1889, a number
of laws were passed relative to immigration, the first being Decree
No. 528 of June 28, 1890. This decree recognized that colonization
under the Empire had not been entirely satisfactory from the stand
point of the immigrant, prohibited the entry of “ natives of Asia and
Africa/ ’1 provided for the requisitioning of immigrants by planters
and others (the requests to be filled by the Government through
approved transportation companies), and made provision lor private
colonization with Federal Government subsidy. Law No. 6455,_ of
1907, developed the matter still further, devoted considerable attention
to the manner of establishing colonies, either by the Federal or
State Governments, or in cooperation, and defined the term “ immi
grant ” much as at present; that is, a third-class passenger not criminal
or diseased or unfitted to gain a livelihood.
Present Federal requirements regarding immigration are contained
principally in Law No. 4247 of January 6 , 1921, and Federal Decrees
No. 1676i of December 31, 1924, No. 18384 of September 11, 1928,
and No. 19482, of December 12 , 1930.
Present restrictions on immigration.—During the last century there
was little or no restriction on the kind or class of immigrants coming
to Brazil, except that immigrants must be able bodied and not subject
to penal action in their own countries, although for two years (18901892) the natives of Asia and Africa were barred, as was noted above.
The legislation of recent years, however, has imposed further restric
tions. Thus the decree of December 31, 1924, provided that immi
grants could be brought into Brazil only by authorized navigation com
panies, and all entries must be made through the nine Brazilian ports
of Para, Pernambuco, Bahia, Victoria, Rio de Janeiro, Santos,
Paranagua, San Francisco, and Rio Grande. The decree of Septem
ber 11, 1928, required passports for nationals and visas for foreigners,
and that of December 12, 1930, limited immigration for the year 1931.
Immigrants—that is, second and third class passengers bound for
Brazil—must present to the Brazilian consul certificates of vaccination,
good health, and good conduct, as well as documents showing identi
fication and occupation. Unaccompanied women and minors under
18 years of age must prove that they are being called to Brazil by duly
authorized persons there.
Entry is denied to the following classes of foreigners: (1) Persons
expelled from another country (except in cases in which expulsion
was due to “ political reasons of internal import”); (2 ) persons re
garded by the police of another country as an element detrimental
to public order; (3 ) persons who, during the past five years, have
provoked acts of violence in order to impose any religious or political
views; (4 ) persons considered dangerous to the public order or harmful
to the interests of the Republic; (5) persons fleeing from another
country because convicted for homicide, theft, robbery, commercial
failure, falsification, smuggling, defalcation, counterfeiting, or white
i This provision was repealed in 1892.
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
slavery; (6 ) foreigners convicted by a Brazilian jury for any of the
above crimes; (7) persons mutilated, crippled, blind, insane, indigent,
or suffering from an incurable disease or a serious contagious disease;
(8 ) persons coming to Brazil to practice prostitution; and (9 ) persons
over 60 years of age. Persons in classes 7 and 9 may be admitted if
they prove that they have sufficient income for their support, or if
they have parents or others who will accept responsibility for them.
On July 2 , 1930, the principal manufacturers’ association of Sao
Paulo requested the State president to take up with the Federal
Government the matter of officially restricting immigration into the
State. This was an epoch-making request, since for the last century
the desire and interest not only of Sao Paulo but of Brazil as a whole
has been to increase immigration as much as possible. After the
revolution was completed, in October, 1930, the matter was given
attention and by Federal Decree No. 19482, the entry of immigrants
into Brazil was strictly limited during the year 1931, exceptions being
made in favor of returning aliens already domiciled there, and those
immigrants, expecially agriculturists or artisans, whose services
might be shown to be necessary. The same law provided that within
90 days#(since extended by another 90 days) from the date of the
publication of the decree all individuals and firms which have any
dealings with, or perform services for, any branch of the Government
must have Brazilian-born employees up to at least two-thirds of the
total. The law also levied a tax of from one-half of 1 per cent to 2
per cent, depending upon the amount of the salary, upon the com
pensation of all Federal functionaries. This tax forms a fund to be
employed in the colonization of workers.
Federal Immigration Machinery
As provided in the above-mentioned laws, the Federal Government
supervises matters of immigration through the General Directorate
of the Service of Settlements operating, in Bio de Janeiro, through
the Immigration Service, and in the other ports through the immi
gration inspectors. The Service of Settlements also administers the
Federal colonies.
Immigration into State of Sao Paulo
. The State of Sao Paulo has always done its share in promoting
immigration. Probably, indeed, it has been more directly interested
than the Federal Government, and its rapidly expanding coffee plan
tations caused its statesmen to send propagandists abroad and to
devote large appropriations to stimulate immigration. In 1888 the
great immigrant receiving station in the city of Sao Paulo was com
pleted, with capacity for 4,000 immigrants at one time. Federal
legislation is of course supreme in all matters concerning the entry of
immigrants into Brazilian territory, but Sao Paulo, which has received more than half of all the immigrants entering Brazil, has also
a considerable body of laws dealing with assistance to be rendered to
immigrants and their settlement in the State.
The State law permits the establishment of colonies on public or
expropriated lands, to be managed by a director until a local gov
ernment is formed. Urban plots of 2,500 square meters (0.62 acre)
and rural plots not to exceed 50 hectares (123.5 acres) may be sold
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39
at a low price to be determined in each case—in practice the price
has not exceeded 40 milreis to 60 milreis per hectare ($2 to $3 per
acre)—payable in from 5 to 10 annual installments. In the case of
newly arrived immigrants, the State government will also build a
house and furnish agricultural animals, tools, and seed for the first
year, to be paid for in the same way. Medical attendance is furnished
for a year, and the State maintains in the colony an agricultural sta
tion for demonstrations, a mill for grinding cereals, etc. The colony
becomes self-governing when the lots are paid for (in practice, this
frequently happens before all the lots are sold).
Agricultural colonies may also be established by private persons
with State supervision, the immigrants still enjoying certain favors,
such as payment of passage. A prize of 10,000 milreis may be offered
for each group of 50 families so colonized. Municipalities and railway
companies may also establish colonies.
After an immigrant has occupied and cultivated public land for
five years or more, the Government gives him preference in the pur
chase of the occupied tract (which, however, must not exceed 500
hectares of arable land, 4,000 hectares of pasture land, and 50 hectares
of arable land, 4,000 hectares of pasture land, and 50 hectares of
suburban land). The law also permits “ homesteading,” whereby,
when public land is obtained, either by cession or sale, the recipient
and his wife secure a title to a maximum of 10 hectares, worth a
maximum 5,000 milreis ($600), which, with its improvements, will be
exempt from execution for debt. This right is transmitted by law to
the surviving husband or wife, and the possession may be transmitted
by the latter, through a written instrument, to the eldest son.
A State decree (No. 4837) of January 19,1931, creates a Directorate
of Colonization, charged with the foundation and organization of
agricultural colonies. The directorate will examine and pass upon the
suitability for colonization of the public land sites indicated by the
Directorate of Lands. Decree No. 4894 of February 13,1931, provides
for a credit of 1,000 contos ($100,000 ) for the “ creation, installation,
and support of colonial nuclei in various zones of the State destined
for the colonization in productive services of the unemployed from
urban centers. ” Some new agricultural colonies may therefore be
shortly founded by the State of Sao Paulo.
Statistics of Immigration
No s t a t i s t i c a l records of immigration are available for the most
of the colonial period, data having been published beginning only
with the year 1820. In that year came the Swiss immigrants,
already mentioned, who founded the colony of Nova Friburgo. No
more immigrants entered Brazil until 1824, and the statistics show the
arrival in Sao Paulo of no immigrants whatsoever until 1827. Accord
ingly, with the exception of 1,682 Swiss, all Brazilian and Sao Paulo
immigration recorded occurred after independence was won in 1822.
The abolition of slavery in 1888 created, in Brazil as elsewhere, an
era of vagrancy on the part of the newly freed slaves, but at the same
time caused labor to be regarded with less aversion by the European
immigrant. These conditions coincided with the rise of coffee cul
ture, especially in Sao Paulo, making heavier immigration an eco
nomic necessity. Indeed, the whole economic and political fabric of
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Brazil was modified at this time, the Republic being proclaimed in
1889. Consequently, Brazilian immigration naturally falls into two
distinct periods, the first beginning with the first recorded Brazilian
immigration in 1820, or practically with the Empire, whereas the sec
ond period, contemporaneous with swarming Europe, was inaugurated
with the Republic. The Imperial period corresponds to the years
1822-1889, including some data for 1820, and the Republican period
to the years 1890 to date.
The following table shows, by decades, the number of immigrants
during each period.
T able 1 . -IM M IG R A T IO N IN T O BRAZIL A N D IN T O SAO PA U LO , B Y D E C A D E S,
1820 TO 1930
Number of immigrants
Period
Imperial period:
1820-1829________
1830-1839___
1840-1849_________
1850-1859 ________
1860-1869
1870-1879_______
1880-1889
Total_______ _
Whole of
Brazil
9,105
2, 569
4,992
108, 045
108, 187
193, 931
453, 787
880, 616
Number of immigrants
Period
State of
Sao Paulo
955
304
649
6,310
1, 681
11, 730
183,979
Republican period:
1890-1899
1900-1909
1910-1919
1920-1930 __
205, 608
Whole of
Brazil
1, 211, 076
649,945
835, 768
941,153
State of
Sao Paulo
735, 076
388, 708
480, 509
752, 080
Total
3, 637,942
2, 356,373
Grand total_______
4, 518, 558
2, 561,981
Immigration by Races and Nationalities
In 1824 there arrived 126 persons of “ various” nationalities,
that is, not Austrian, Belgian, English, French, German, Italian,
Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Swiss, or Turkish, into which
the official classification of that period divided immigrants. The
first arrivals credited to Sao Paulo were 226 “ various” in 1827, the
first entering Sao Paulo for which nationality was specified being 80
Portuguese in 1841. _ The first Spaniards arrived in Sao Paulo in 1856,
the first Austrians in 1872, and the first Italians, the nationality
destined to furnish by far the most numerous contingent of Sao
Paulo immigrants, in 1874. Indeed, during the first 50 years of the
Empire, immigration was negligible, amounting from 1820 to 1869
to only 9,899 persons. When, however, the limitation of slavery was
effected by suppression of the traffic about 1850, and its abolition
assured by the “ law of free birth” in 1871, immigration increased
rapidly.
From 1820 to 1930, the total number of immigrants entering
Brazil reached 4,518,558, those having nationality other than Brazil
ian numbering 4,460,868. During the same period, 2,561,981 immi
grants entered the State of Sao Paulo, 2,272,312 of this total being
non-Brazilian. The figures for Sao Paulo, however, include not
only immigrants entering the port of Santos directly from foreign
ports of embarkation, and therefore included in the figures given for
Brazil, but many Brazilians and others arriving in Sao Paulo from
other States, both coastwise (through Santos) and overland. It
should be noted that during the past century, before the days of
convenient overseas steamship service to Santos, many immigrants
bound for Sao Paulo disembarked in Rio de Janeiro.
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CO LO NIZATIO N OF IM M IG R A N T S I N BRA ZIL
41
There has been a great preponderance of Latins in the immigration
into Sao Paulo. During the nineteenth century Sao Paulo main
tained no statistics as to immigration by nationalities, except as to
Latins. Indeed, total immigration into this State by nationalities is
available only from about 1920, although accurate figures for all
nationalities entering and leaving through the port of Santos are
available since and including 1908.^ The following table shows the
total recorded Latin immigration into Brazil and into Sao Paulo
State from 1820 to 1930, Rumanians being classed as Latin:
T able 3 .—L A T IN IM M IG R A N T S E N T E R IN G BRAZIL A N D SAO PAULO, 1820 TO 1930
Number of immigrants
Nationality'
Whole of
Brazil
Sao Paulo
(including
interstate)
1,489, 964
1,341, 926
686, 527
36,461
36,968
935, 540
395,151
382,035
1 2, 696
1 22,601
-------- ------
3,491,846
1,738,023
Immigrants of all nationalities, excluding
Rrazilian
__
_______
Per cent Latins form of all foreigners-------
4,460,868
78
2,272,312
77
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
French
Rumanian
_ _ _ ________ - -_ _ ____
__ __
_
- ____
__ __
Total, L a tin -
i Entered through port of Santos from 1908 to 1930, and therefore less than the figures for the other
nationalities.
Many circumstances have worked together to cause Latin national
ities to predominate in European immigration to Brazil. Race, the
common Latin tradition, religion, language, and climate, undoubtedly
make the Latin immigrant more assimilable in the Brazilian body
politic. A Spaniard and a Brazilian can converse readily without
any previous study of the other’s language, and an Italian and a
Brazilian have little more difficulty. Although Brazil, even southern
Brazil, is closer to the Equator—;Sao Paulo is 23°, Madrid 41°, and
Rome 42°—the elevation of Brazil from Sao Paulo south produces a
climate not unlike that to which Spaniards, Portuguese, and Italians
are accustomed.
Moreover, emigration to Brazil has generally enjoyed greater favor
in Latin than in Germanic countries. In his message to the State
congress on May 7, 1897, the President of Sao Paulo gave the result
of an investigation carried on by Brazilian representatives abroad as
to the possibilities of augmenting immigration into Sao Paulo. He
stated that the Governments of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the
Scandinavian countries all frankly opposed and made difficult emigra
tion to Brazil, but that the Latin countries placed no such difficulties
in the way. At least one of the reasons for this divergence of policy
was to be found in the fact that Sao Paulo desired, above all, agri
cultural laborers, especially for its coffee plantations. The Latins in
general were content at least to begin in this way, whereas the Ger
manic Governments were reported to desire that their emigrants
have the position of proprietors.
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Racial Composition of Brazil
T h e last and the most complete of the Brazilian censuses which
endeavored to enumerate by races, was that of 1890. After that date,
racial enumeration was not attempted on accoimt of inaccuracies due
to misstatements of the persons enumerated. The following table
shows the numbers and percentages of the various races in accordance
with the data obtained in the 1890 census, to which are added for the
purposes of comparison, the percentages for 1830 and 1872:
T able 3 .—RACIAL COM POSITION OF BRAZIL IN SP E C IFIE D YEAR S
1830: E sti 1872: Per
mated
cent
per cent
Race
White
- ___________________________________
Black
____________________________ In d ia n ,, --------- - ------- ------------- ----------M ixed -....................... - -------------------------------- ------------------T o ta l-.________________________________________
1890
Number
Per cent
25.2
37. 8
4. 3
32. 7
38.1
19. 7
3. 9
38.3
6,302,198
2,097,426
1,295, 796
4,638, 495
44. 0
14.6
9.0
32.4
100.0
100.0
14,333, 915
100.0
Thus it is seen that in 1890, Brazil had a population 44 per cent
white, the remainder being black, Indian, and mixed. From 1890 to
1930, the number of non-Brazilian immigrants entering Brazil reached
3,580,253 (including 100,653 Japanese). In the meantime, the total
population of the country has increased to 40,272,650,2 but it is im
possible to calculate the proportion of the various elements making
up the present Brazilian population, owing to the fact that only about
half of the foreign immigrants remained, to the differing rates of
increase of the various races, to a considerable mixing of the new
arrivals with the other ethnic elements already in Brazil, and to the
fact that the immigration during the Republican period has been
spread irregularly over a period of 41 years.
By no means all of the immigrants to Brazil remain, and there is a
heavy return current of those who go back either to remain in their
native country, to visit friends, to bring their families to Brazil, etc.,
or who seek to better their fortune by moving on to other countries,
often the United States or Argentina.
Figures for the port of Santos, covering immigration and emigra
tion during the period since 1908, show that from the standpoint of
“ fixation,” the Japanese lead, with 92 per cent remaining. The vast
majority of this nationality, when they leave their distant homes,
leave with the fixed determination to end their days in the country to
which they go. Somewhat over half (53 per cent) of the Spaniards
remained and 46 per cent of the Portuguese. Of the Germans only
one-fifth, and of the Italians only about one-eighth remain.
Literacy of Immigrants
As t o the literacy of immigrants, the Germans are far in the lead,
with but 14.5 per cent of immigrants unable to read. The Brazilians
come next, with but 20.1 per cent of illiterates, although this is far less
2 Estimate for Dec. 31, 1929.
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CO LO NIZATIO N OP IM M IG R A N T S I N BRA ZIL
43
than the Brazilian population as a whole which, in 1920, had 75.5 per
cent unable to read and write; Brazilians who travel are apparently
especially well educated. The most illiterate immigrants are the
Syrians, Lithuanians, Italians, Portuguese, Turks, and Spanish, in
that order, the Spanish with a percentage of 73.8 being the most
illiterate of all. The illiteracy of the total immigrant mass was 48.7
per cent, but if the Brazilians are removed, the percentage of illiteracy
rises to 50.6 per cent unable even to read.
Occupations of Immigrants
T h e great desire of Brazil, as with most immigrant-receiving coun
tries, has been for agricultural labor, especially on the coffee planta
tions, and the conditions for the granting of subsidies and other in
ducements have frequently included the stipulation that the immi
grants must be farmers. Data in regard to occupation are available
only for the immigrants entering the port of Santos from 1908 to 1926,
but these show that 59 per cent of the immigrants who entered
Santos during that period were agriculturists, 6 per cent were artisans,
and 35 per cent were of various occupations.
The Japanese immigrants head the list as regards percentage of
agriculturists, with 97.9 per cent, closely followed by the Yugoslavs
and Rumanians. The Turkish and Syrian immigrants include the
lowest percentages of agriculturists, but the Spanish show a good
percentage (81.4), and about half of the Portuguese, Italians, and
Russians are farmers. Many of the skilled workmen in the factories
of Sao Paulo are Germans, Austrians, and Italians. The Turks and
Syrians are predominantly traders and merchants.
Government-Assisted Colonization
M ost of the European immigration into Brazil has been induced
through propaganda, subsidies, and assistance of various kinds, one
of the5earliest methods of promoting the settlement and agricultural
conquest of the vacant places being to bring out families and groups
of the same nationality, often from the same villages in Europe, and
locate them in a small agricultural settlement, or colony. In this
way were overcome some of the unpleasant features attendant upon
the breaking of home ties and taking up residence in a new country.
The colony method naturally caused some delay in the acquisition
of the Portuguese language and the assimilation of the new arrivals,
but, practiced on a small scale, was not seriously objectionable. _
There is no comprehensive compiled information as to colonies
founded in Brazil, although the matter was studied by Grossi. He
states that up to 1885, the Imperial and provincial Governments and
private enterprises had established throughout Brazil 144 colonies
with a total population (apparently in 1885) of 101,066 inhabitants,
65 per cent of whom were in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catharma.
He states elsewhere that from 1827 to 1877, 100 colonies were founded
in the State of Sao Paulo, 7 by the Imperial Government, only 1 by
the State government, and the remaining 92 by private enterprise.
During the latter years of the Empire and the first years ol the
Republic, Sao Paulo became somewhat more active m the matter
and founded various colonies.
77459°—31 ---- 4
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
The Annuario Estastistico of Brazil, covering the period 1908 to
1912, gives interesting statistics as to Government colonies in existence
during the years 1908 to 1912. In 1912, there were 44 colonies,
Federal and State, located in the five States of Minas Geraes, Parana,
Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catharina, and Sao Paulo, occupying a total
of 523,687 hectares (2,022 square miles), and having a total popu
lation of 37,731.
The nationality of the colonists in these 12 colonies, numbering in
1912 a total of 37,731, was as follows:
B razilians_______________________________________________
A u strian s_______________________________________________
R u ssian s__________________________________
Ita lia n s _________________________________________________
G erm an s________________________________________________
P oles___________________________________________________
S p an ish _________________________________________________
P o rtu g u ese______________________________________________
O ther n a tio n a litie s______________________________________
T o ta l____________________________________________
7,
7,
5,
5,
4,
4,
587
397
969
039
345
105
990
959
1, 340
37, 731
During recent years very few of the European immigrants have
settled in colonies, either Federal, State, or private, preferring to
work on the plantations, obtain farms for themselves (if possessed
of sufficient funds), or to remain in the cities. The one exception to
this rule is constituted by the Japanese immigrants, who regularly
aim to obtain farms through the instrumentality of private Japanese
colonization companies. No Japanese are in Government colonies.
The report of the Federal Minister of Agriculture for 1929 gives a
list of 23 colonies, with a population of 54,473, still under the direction
of the Federal Government, that is, still paying for the land purchased.
The report of the State secretary of agriculture for 1927 contains a
list of 10 former State colonies, all now self-governing, which, in 1927,
had a total population of 26,449, four times that of 1911. There is
to-day only one such colony, that in the municipality of Itaporanga,
near the Parana border. The present revolutionary Government,
however, is planning to establish some of the unemployed in colonies
on various of the large estates which were mortgaged to the State bank,
and the possession of which has passed to the State through fore
closure. Three colonies are now in process of formation.
In general it may be said that colonies have not proved to be a
greatly successful method of introducing immigrants into Brazil.
Many of the colonies, in order to be near existing settlements and mar
kets, were located upon abandoned plantations, where, in many cases,
the land was exhausted. Other colonies were located on virgin land
but were handicapped by being distant from transportation routes
and other settlements. Moreover, the arriving immigrant has many
things to learn, he must become acclimated and learn methods of
defense against the diseases and dangers of the new country. Es
pecially in the case of Latins, language is not a great handicap, and
the new arrival can learn these preliminary lessons more satisfactorily
in a community of Brazilians or, at least, of persons who have resided
in the country for some time. In the meantime, he can preserve his
small capital for investment when a suitable opportunity arises,
whereas in a colony he would be obliged to expend it at once. As a
result, most immigrants, especially those of Latin origin, destined for
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CO LO NIZATIO N OF IM M IG R A N T S I N BRA ZIL
agricultural occupations, have preferred to work first upon one of the
large plantations to gain experience and acquire savings sufficient to
justify an independent establishment. About half of the total number
of colonies founded have been abandoned by the colonists for what
they considered better opportunities elsewhere. German immigrants
have shown a preference for colonies, provided the latter are satis
factory from the standpoint of soil, location, communication, etc.
Nevertheless, the balance has not been entirely unfavorable and
many flourishing and important Brazilian cities of to-day owe their
origin to colonization. Such are Sao Leopoldo, and Santa Cruz of
Rio Grande do Sul; Blumenau of Santa Catharina; Nova Friburgo and
Petropolis of Rio de Janeiro; and Rio Negro of Parana; and in the
vicinity of Sao Paulo, such cities as Sao Bernardino, Santo Amaro,
Guarulhos, and the suburb of Santa Anna.
Subsidized Immigration
Q u it e apart from the system of colonization, the immigration of the
Imperial and Republican periods was largely subsidized, at least to
the extent of paying passage. In 1828 the State of Sao Paulo agreed
to pay a small daily subsidy or wage (160 reis, or about 9 cents) to
adult colonists sent to this State by the Imperial Government, and a
smaller sum to minors. The local government continued inter
mittently to subsidize immigration either independently or in con
junction with the central Government up to the year 1929, though no
immigrants were subsidized during 1930.
Precise data as to the number of immigrants entering Sao Paulo who
received subsidies, usually limited to passage money, are available
only from 1889, the year in which the Republic was proclaimed. How
ever, the immigran ts included in the statistics as subsidized may have
been so assisted by either the State or Federal Government or both.
The figures in the following table, showing the number of subsidized
and nonsubsidized immigrants entering the State of Sao Paulo _from
1889 to 1930, have been compiled principally from a table given m the
report of the State secretary of agriculture for 1928 and data given
in the Boletim do Trabalho, Nos. 62 to 65.
T able 4 —N U M B E R A N D P E R C E N T OF SU B SID IZ E D A N D N O N SU B SID IZ E D IM M I
GR A N TS INTO BRAZIL, BY Y E A R S, 1889 TO 1930
Subsidized immi
grants
Total
Year
Number
]R8Q
1KQ0-1KQQ
1QQO-1Q09
1Q10-1Q1Q
IQPO-iQ^Q
____________ __________ ___
___
- __
__ _______
______ - - - - - ----- _________ ____ —
____- ----- ------ ------ --------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Nonsubsidized im
migrants
Per
cent of
total
Number
Per
cent of
total
22, 886
596, 004
164, 384
186, 383
181, 732
82
81
42
39
26
5, 007
139,072
224, 324
294,126
530,704
39, 644
18
19
58
61
74
100
27, 893
735,076
388, 708
480, 509
712, 436
39, 644
1,151,389
48
1,232, 877
52
2, 384,266
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46
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
The peak of subsidized immigration into the State occurred in 1895
when the number of subsidized immigrants reached 114,769. During
the early years of the Republic, indeed, few Europeans emigrated
to Brazil without such assistance, the percentage of subsidized in 1891
reaching 99. Comparing the totals of the table it is seen that 48 per
cent of the total immigration into Sao Paulo from 1889 to 1930, was
subsidized. Exceedingly few of the 288,795 Brazilians entering during
this period received a subsidy, and none of the 98,749 Japanese (at
least by the Brazilian authorities, although Japan subsidizes through
its emigration organizations). If, therefore, the sum of the Brazilian
and Japanese immigrants, 387,544, is removed from the totals, it is
seen that of the remaining grand total of 1,996,722 immigrants, the
number of subsidized (1,151,389) is about 63 per cent. This therefore
represents about the percentage of European immigrants to Sao
Paulo who have received a subsidy.
No figures are available as to total amounts expended for subsi
dizing immigration by either the Federal or Sao Paulo State Govern
ments. A report of a Senate committee of the Brazilian National
Congress in 1927 placed the total expenditures of the Federal Govern
ment for the introduction of immigrants since the establishment of
the Republic (1889) to date, at 200 ,000,000 milreis, including both
direct expenditures and expenses of the official agencies engaged in
immigration services. Making allowance for difference in exchange,
this amount is equivalent to $40,000,000 or $50,000,000. The State
of Sao Paulo expended nothing for subsidization during 1930 and 1931,
but a few years ago its expenditures for this purpose were considerable.
From 1920 to 1929 the State of Sao Paulo paid 80,540,382 milreis
(almost $10,000,000) for the 181,732 subsidized immigrants who
entered the State, or at the average rate per capita of $54.87. In 1924,
the rate per capita reached $82.87, falling to $21.72 in 1928. Due to
economic conditions, no subsidies have been granted since 1929.
The governmental machinery formerly devoted to immigration is
now being utilized to further colonization and the placement of unem
ployed nationals on the plantations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[7941
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS AND
UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF
N o n com p etitive W ork as U n em p lo y m en t Relief
URING the winter of 1930-31 a number of American cities
developed plans whereby noncompetitive work was furnished
to unemployed persons in lieu of other forms of relief. This method
of meeting the unemployment problem was sufficiently successful to
lead certain communities and unemployment committees to make
public the results of their experience and to lay plans to use at least
a part of the relief funds raised for 1931-32 to pay wages to unem
ployed persons for noncompetitive work. _ Publicity has recently been
given to this phase of unemployment relief by the President’s Emer
gency Committee for Employment1 and the Joint Committee on
Unemployment Relief of the State Board of Social Welfare and the
State Charities Aid Association of New York.2 The studies of these
two organizations are here reviewed.
D
Value of Work Relief
N o n c o m p e t i t i v e work is assigned among the applicants primarily
on the basis of their need. The Joint Committee on Unemployment
Relief of the State Board of Social Welfare and the State Chanties
Aid Association committee states that such work is more advan
tageous than direct relief for the following reasons:
1. I t safeguards th e n orm al a n d desirable relu ctan ce of a person able to w ork
to receive assistance.
.
..
2. I t safeguards th e m orale of th e w orker b y affording him n orm al occupation
for a p o rtio n of his tim e, in ste a d of h aving n o th in g to do except w alk th e stre e ts
fruitlessly looking for a jo b w hich he is p ractically c ertain he can n o t find, or
sittin g a t hom e w ith little or n o th in g to occupy his tim e except brooding upon
his m isfortunes.
„ ,,
. .
, ,
_
3. I t avoids th e danger th a t some of those receiving su b sta n tia l assistance
over a considerable tim e w ith o u t re tu rn m ay in some degree lose th e ir n orm al
in itiativ e, independence, a n d desire for self-support.
4 I t aids in discovering ju s t th o se cases of ex trem e need w hich a n y com
m u n ity w ould p a rticu la rly desire to help— those who are in extrem e distress for
th e first tim e a n d can n o t b ring them selves to a p p ly for ch a rity u n til th e e n u re
fam ily h as undergone a n extrem e degree of d ep riv atio n a n d suffering, b u t who
w ill ap p ly for w ork long before th e y will app ly for relief.
.
.
5.
I t utilizes th e otherw ise w asted cap acity lab o r of th e unem ployed in w ork
of constructive a n d p erm a n e n t v alue to th e com m unity.
It is further stated, that relief workeven though it is more costly
than would ordinarily be the case, owing to hurried planning, use of
i President’s Emergency Committee for Employment.
Community plans and action, No. 8. Five
State Charities Aid Association. Work relief: A memorandum on work as a means of providing unem
ployment relief. N ew York, 105 East 22d Street, 1931.
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47
48
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
hand labor instead of machinery, etc., is less costly than direct relief
besides having the advantage of greater benefit to the individual
worker.
The essentials of a work relief program are quoted from the same
source:
1. C areful p lannin g of all w ork to be done.
2. A v ariety of ty p e s of work.
3. A dequate supervision of those p u t to work.
4. C o m p eten t in q u iry as to each a p p lic a n t’s need.
5. W ork relief to be given only to th o se w ho w ould otherw ise need d irect relief.
6. Preference to be given to th o se w ith dependents.
7. C areful selection of in d iv id u als fo r v arious ty p e s of w ork.
8. A sufficient nu m b er of d ay s w ork for each in d iv id u al to m ak e d irect relief
g ra n ts unnecessary.
9. P ro tectio n of those w orking by w orkm en’s com pensation insurance.
Finally, in urging the adoption of work relief, the committee states
that advance planning is necessary to success and that work relief
may be carried on by a city through its department of public welfare
or other branches of government and also by private relief agencies.
In planning relief for 1931-32, careful consideration is advocated of
the following factors that were found important in the work carried
on during 1931-32:
1. R eview of th e c ity ’s experience in unem p lo y m en t relief du rin g p a st w inter.
2. E stim a te of n u m b er needing relief.
3. E stim a te of necessary expenditures.
4. M ethods of financing.
5. O pp o rtu n ities for city w ork.
6. W ork relief th ro u g h d e p a rtm e n t of public w elfare.
7. W ork relief th ro u g h p riv a te relief funds.
8. C om m ittee on w ork relief.
9. R eg istratio n a n d in v estig atio n of ap p lican ts for w ork relief.
10. Selection of applicants.
11. W age ra te an d n u m b er of days work
12. Supervision.
13. W orkm en’s com pensation.
14. In d u s tria l aid bureau.
City Programs.
T h e President’s Emergency Committee for Employment states
that its description of the “ made work” programs of Rochester,
Chicago, Wilmington, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee is published in
response to widespread interest in this type of emergency action.
Attention is called to the fact that local conditions determine the
methods of applying the “ made work” principle.
Rochester.—When, in the fall of 1930, it was found that the need
for relief was increasing, the city manager of Rochester recommended
that a system of work relief be adopted in order to reduce the cost of
relief, to enable persons who had not sought help to get through
the winter without relief, and to assure to the community a tangible
return for increased expenditures. A total of $800,000 was appro
priated for work relief, to be administered by a bureau of depart
mental heads.
A total of 12,000 persons applied for work. Of this number, 7,917
men were given work in varying amounts on 77 different projects
up to June 1, 1931. Men were selected for jobs on the basis of need
primarily, but physical fitness was also taken into account. The
policy adopted was to give two-thirds of the jobs to men who had
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[796]
E M P L O Y M E N T C O N D IT IO N S — U N E M P L O Y M E N T R E L IE F
49
not yet applied for relief. The remaining one-third of the jobs were
allocated to the public and private family-caring agencies, to be
assigned by them.
The prevailing scale of wages was paid. In the beginning unskilled
workers were given four days on and four days off, averaging eight
hours per day for three days a week over a 4-week period. Skilled
workers averaged one day in eight, bringing their earnings to approxi
mately the same weekly level as the unskilled workers received. As
time passed, however, unskilled workers were given only two days of
work per week in order that more men might be employed.
Work undertaken included clearing parks, building, grading,
removing old buildings, surveying, electrical work, painting, and a
variety of other projects. The writer of the Rochester report states
that in comparing the cost of these projects with the cost on a com
mercial basis it was found that the city received approximately a
52 per cent return. It is further stated that social work executives esti
mate that the cost of home relief would have been higher than the
amount spent for work relief had the latter work not been undertaken.
Chicago.—Expenditures in Chicago for work relief amounted to
approximately a million dollars between October 22 , 1930, and April
27, 1931. A total of 203,670 days of work was furnished to heads of
over 8,228 families. The program adopted provided that the work
undertaken should be necessary and useful, that it should be done in
cooperation with public and semipublic institutions and agencies,
and that only work for which no provision had been made in current
budgets should be undertaken.
The jobs created were given to men who were in distress owing to
unemployment, the persons being selected according to their fitness,
on a quota basis, through the six leading relief agencies of the city.
The social agency was held to be the employer and the special work
fund committee acted only as a clearance and employment agency.
The current rate of wages was paid. Special arrangements were
made with trade-unions whereby, for every union member employed,
a certain number of nonunion workers would be given temporary
union cards and sent to work. This held true in all occupations.
Wilmington.—The city of Wilmington raised approximately $300,000
for its relief program in 1930-31. Of this amount $191,622 was used
for direct payment of wages to workers and the remainder was used
for relief. An engineering survey has subsequently been made where
by it has been determined that $700,000 worth of noncompetitive
work may be done in 1931-32 if the mayor’s relief committee approves
and the necessary funds are raised. The projected work outlined
includes beautifying the city, improving playgrounds, upbuilding
boy life, and safeguarding health.
Indianapolis.—“ Made work” in Indianapolis has been promoted
by the Emergency Work Committee (Inc.), an organization set up
especially to furnish employment to unemployed persons without
profit to the organization. The committee began to function in the
fall of 1930, and during the 24 weeks ending May 16, 1931, a total of
3,854 different persons was given “ made work” from the Emergency
Work Committee funds, and 435 from funds furnished by the Red
Cross. Cash payments were made to the amount of $48,020 and
food of the value of $67,113 was supplied.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[797]
50
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Under the original plan, needy, unemployed men recommended
by social agencies, the public schools social service, and the churches,
were given three days of work each week. They were employed
on public projects not provided for in current or prospective budgets.
In January the plan was expanded so that persons applying for poor
relief from the townships were employed. These applicants for work
were simply taken from the lines of applicants in township offices
until such time as a plan was developed for intelligent selection of
men through the welfare agencies.
With the coming of spring, that is at the close of April, the decision
was made to require all able-bodied applicants for relief to work for
two days a week on “made work” in order to secure relief. Supple
mental cash payments that had beffn allowed in special cases during
the winter were done away with at that time also.
Various estimates of the success of the “ made work” plan are in
cluded in the report of this scheme printed by the President’s Emer
gency Committee for Employment, and, although there has been
some criticism of the system, its usefulness appears to outweigh
the drawbacks.
The Emergency Work Committee (Inc.) is now working out a pro
gram for the future, as follows:
1. T h a t a skeleton o rganization be m ain tain ed .
(a) T o serve a n y p ublic o r p riv a te relief agency th a t w an ts certain of its
clients to w ork fo r relief given th em .
(ib) T o ascertain how m u ch service th e E m ergency W ork C om m ittee has
rendered every b o d y concerned.
(c) T o advise v o cationally certain clients an d help th e m p lan th e ir occu
p atio n a l fu tu res.
(d) T o find o u t w h a t im p ro v em en ts can be m ade in order to m ak e our
p ro ject m ore effective, and
(e) T o collect, exam ine, a n d re p o rt to th e com m ittee th e experiences and
fu tu re p lan s of o th e r cities now using or co n tem p latin g using ‘‘m ade
w o rk ” ;
2. T h a t th e E m ergency W ork C om m ittee determ in e how m uch, an d th e source
of th e funds, it w an ts to spend for “ m ade w o rk ” th is com ing fall and
w in ter; and
3. T h a t serious consideration be given to th e a d v isab ility of a long-tim e plan
w hereby “ m ade w o rk ” will be utilized th ro u g h o u t th e whole 12 m o n th s
of th e year.
Milwaukee.-—Shortage of work in private, employment led the city
of Milwaukee to rearrange its program in order to make available
more jobs on public work in 1930-31. The “ made work” was han
dled by the city through its civil service system, as a city function.
Expenditures for public work aggregated about $600,000, and an addi
tional $75,000 to $100,000 was allocated for snow removal.
In all, 11,021 men registered for city work, and of this number
8,470 were accepted by the medical examiner of the civil service com
mission; 883 were employed by the fire and police alarm bureau with
out registration and physical examination; 853 were rejected by the
medical examiner; and 815 failed to meet the citizenship or residence
requirements for public employment. When men were found to
fulfill the ordinary civil service requirements they were chosen for
work according to the urgency of their need; that is, family responsi
bility. Later it became necessary to adopt a quota system whereby
the unemployed in all city wards would share equally in the available
work. The original plan was to rotate men in jobs, but this was
found not to be practicable.
q„.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
51
E M P L O Y M E N T C O N D IT IO N S — U N E M P L O Y M E N T R E L IE F
O ccu p atio n al E xp erien ce of 100 U nem ployed P ersons in
B lo o m in g to n , Ind.
the hope of casting some light on the sociological and
vocational aspects of the unemployment problem, a study was
W ITH
undertaken by Thomas W. Rogers of the industrial working-life his
tory of 100 of the 200 persons given assistance during the past winter
through the citizens committee on unemployment relief of Blooming
ton, Ind. The interviews were conducted by two senior students of
the College of Commerce and Finance of the Indiana University.
The results of this investigation have been published by the bureau
of business research of the university. The following statistics are
taken from the report.1
Persons who left the farm to go into industry were on an average
about 10 years older than those who were brought up in an industrial
community. Table 1 shows the average number of jobs held was 7.21;
and the average time spent on a job for the different groups ranged
from 1 year and 10.5 months for the 19-24 age group, to 4 years and
3.3 months for the 55-69 age group, the general average being about
3 years.2
T able 1.—SU M M A R Y OF IN D U S T R IA L CASE HISTO R IES OF 100 U N E M P L O Y E D PE R SO N S
IN BLO O M IN G TO N , IN D .
Age of subject
19 years--------------------
20years.-----------------20years_____________
22years_____________
22years_____________
22years_____________
22years____ ___ ____
22years_____________
Total
num
ber of
jobs
held
2
5
1
23 years_____________
23 years_____________
23 years_____________
23 years_____________
23 years_____________
23 years___________ _
24 years_____________
24 years------ ------------24 years........ ........ ........
Average, 19-24 years---25 years —...... ............ 25 years.-----------------26 years_________ ___
26 years.............,............
26 years....... ........ -.......
27 years..........................
29 years.............. -........
30 years........................
30 years_____________
30 years________ ____
31 years----------- ------33 years_____________
Age of subject
1
1
1
6 . 00
1.00
7.87
9.14
1.00
7.09
.83
8. 55
4.53
9.00
4.90
6.00
9.75
7.20
10.53
2.75
.77
8.50
3.33
1.27
2.44
4.00
.60
34 years.
34 years.
34 years.
Average, 25-34 years—
35 years________________
35 years________________
36 years________________
36 years________________
36 years............ .............. .
36 years_________ ______
36 years________________
36 years________________
37 years________________
37 years________________
37 years_____________ _
37 y ears.------ ---------------38 years-------------------38 years-------------- --------38 years________________
38 y e a r s ...- ------- ---------38 years-----------------------39 years_______________
39 years_______________
39 years_______________
40 years----------------------40 years_______________
41 years.............................41 years_______________
I 42 years.------ ------- ------| 42 years------------------ —
Total
num
ber of
jobs
held
12
8
6
6. 67
10
7
3
4
10
4
14
8
6
6
6
4
10
2
3
9
5
7
9
8
12
7
8
10
11
Average time
worked on each
job
Y ears Months
1
2
3
1.16
1.00
1. 50
2
3.93
2
2
4
5
2
3
1
2
3
3
3
4
2
5
6
2
2
3
2
2
3
1
3
3
2
2
1.80
3.14
8.00
6.00
1. 20
6.00
4. 71
6.12
1.16
6. 83
11.66
6. 75
5.00
5.00
8.00
8.00
3.00
8.00
9. 56
.75
11.50
8.71
1.00
8. 60
4.45
10.69
1 The occupational experience of 100 unemployed persons in Bloomington, Ind., by Thomas Wesley
Rogers in collaboration with Wallace P. Studencki and Peter Obsemca. Bloomington, 1931.
2 The average for each age group (as shown in the last column of Table 1) was computed by adding the
averages for all the individuals in the group and dividing them by the immber of persons in such group.
If the total number of jobs held by all the individuals in each age group be divided into the total time on
these jobs the results are as follows: In ages 19 to 24, 11.17 months; ages 25 to 34, 1 year 7.54 months ages
35 to 44, 2 years 6.9 months; ages 45 to 54, 3 years 1.39 months; ages 55 to 69, 4 years 4.8 months, general
average, 2 years 6.7 months.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[799]
52
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 1.—SU M M A R Y OF IN D U S T R IA L CASE H ISTO R IES OF 100U N E M P L O Y E D PE R SO N S
IN BLO O M IN G TO N , IN D .—Continued
Age of subject
42 y e a r s ____- _ ______
43 y e a r s _____________
43 years__ _ _ __ _ _
44 y e a r s ___ _______
44 years
____________
44 years..
. . . . ___
44 years _______ .
44 years
________
__
Average, 35-44 years__
45 years __ ______
45 years
_____ .
45 years
... .
45 y e a r s _______
46 years _______ . .
47 years. . ____ ___ _ _
47 years __ .
... .
49 years
. . _____ _ . .
50 years
...
50 years
. . . .
50 years.. _
.
50 years
___ . _ _
_____
50 years
51 y e a r s .__
52 years _______________
Total
num
ber of
jobs
held
Average time
worked on each
job
Y ears
Months
1
2
3
1
1
1
3
3
3.82
7. 00
2.00
5. 60
3. 33
6.31
6. 85
.62
2
11.88
1
3
3
13
5
6
1
1
3
3
2
3
5
3
7. 25
1.00
1.00
1.50
10.80
.40
8. 07
4. 65
7.00
11.00
3.35
7. 20
10.80
4.88
3.50
22
11
2
5
6
16
7
8
7. 82
8
7
3
2
5
5
13
23
8
6
15
5
5
9
4
Total
num
ber of
jobs
held
Age of subject
Average time
worked on each
job
Years Months
4
4
9
6
4
12
9
52 years. .
. ______
53 years
54 years___________ _ .
54 years__ .
_____
54 years
_ _____
54 years
54 years.. .
_______ .
Average, 45-54 years__
3
9
3
7
2
6.00
6.00
.55
5.00
10.00
10.58
9. 33
3
11.36
7
2
2
4
3
6
4.80
7. 27
5. 64
6.00
9. 33
4.75
4.00
9.00
13
10
5
5
11. 25
2.66
10.00
7. 55
55 years___
._
____
56 years ____ ______
. . .
58 years___ _
58 years__
59 y e a r s __ _ _ _
61 years . . .
.
...
61 years..
_______ _ .
61 years ._ . . . . . .
62 y e a r s __
...
. ___
65 y e a r s ___
68 years
69 y e a r s ___ _ _ ____
5
11
14
2
9
8
6
8
3
4
8
9
Average, 55-69 years__
7. 25
4
3. 31
Average, all cases. ___
7. 21
3
.80
In Table 2 various comparisons are shown between those who left
the farm to go into industry and those who did not start on the farm.
T able 2 .—COM PA R A TIV E SU M M A R Y OF AV ER A G ES FOR PE R SO N S WHO L E F T FA R M
TO W ORK IN IN D U S T R Y A N D THOSE WHO D ID NOT ST A R T ON FA R M
M obility
Age group
19 to 24 years (17):
Left farm ______ ____
Did not start on farm. __
25 to 34 years (15):
Left farm . . _ _____ _.
D id not start on farm___
35 to 44 years (34):
Left farm___ . . . . . . . .
D id not start on farm___
45 to 54 years (22):
Left farm _______ __ ._
D id not start on farm___
55 to 69 years (12):
Left farm. _ . . . ____
D id not start on farm___
Total (100):
Left farm. ______
D id not start on
farm___________
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Average Average number
age at of years worked
Number which
work
in
Average
in in
group
number
dustry
of jobs
was
held
begun
Years Months
Average time
spent per job
Average
number
of coun
ties
Months worked
in
Years
i
16
17.00
15.86
5
6
5.00
2. 63
5.00
6.06
1
1
1.00
11.12
1.00
1.56
8
7
19.00
17.00
11
10
2.50
5.43
6.98
6.43
2
2
6. 47
1.04
1.88
1.71
12
22
24. 92
15.09
15
22
2. 33
.85
5. 40
9.10
3
2
.18
11.68
1.75
1.91
15
7
29.00
17.28
20
30
1.20
4.00
7. 87
6.86
2
6
10. 42
3. 51
2.20
1. 71
10
2
29.00
15. 50
29
43
7.10
6.50
6. 40
11. 50
5
4
5. 91
1.82
2. 30
2.00
46
25.94
19
.46
6. 70
3
4.57
2.00
54
15.85
18
.11
8.04
3
[ 800]
.208
1. 80
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
53
Table 3 shows that in 29 selected cases time was lost upon over 50
per cent of the occasions when jobs were changed, the average time
lost per job being reported as 1.4 months.
T able 3 .—SU M M A R Y OF 29 SE L E C T E D CASES SHOW ING T IM E LOST B E T W E E N JOBS
time lost be Average
Number Total
Total
time lost
tween jobs
number of occa
per job
sions time
of job
change
changes was lost
Months (months)
Years
Age of subject
years
_______
______ years
_ __ _______
__ — - -- -____________ _____
years
yp.nrs
__ _______ _______ —
years
- -- -- - _______________ 24 years....................- ------ --------------------------------------
22
22
23
2-2
23
Average, 22-24 years-----------------------------------26 years
- ____- _____
26 years
______ _____
27 years
___ ___________
2 Qyears
- _____ _______ - 30 years
_______ ___ - - 33 years
___
____ ______________
34 years-------------------------------------------------- ---------Average, 25-34 years------------------------------------
11
5
3
5
4
4
4
5
2
2
1
1
1
7
5
11
6
9
7.71
3.86
8
6
9
4
3
11
1
6
9
5
2
1
13
12
9
8
8.5
- —
10
3
10
6
41 years
___
_
- 44 years
_
__
_
____
44 y e a r s --- --------------- ------------------ --------------------
7
16
7
35 years
37 years
__ _____ - — - —
____
--
-
-
Average 35—
44 years
--
8.13
_____
50 years
__
__
54 years__________ --- - ------------------------------------------Average, 47-54 years------------------ ----------------56 years.........- ................ - ................................... .....................
Total
--
- -- -- __________ ______
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6
[ 801]
1
2
2
1
1
7
3
4
3
2
6
10
4
1
1
I
2
1
5
23
8
4
12
3
5
7
3
5
10.4
4. 6
11
2
1
4.48
1
8.62
10
2 .0 0
7
3
5
2
2
1.73
.50
3. 22
1.27
2 . 80
2.43
1.89
.75
6
10
1
4.88
4. 88
1.71
1
1 .1 1
.25
.45
3.44
1. 50
1.93
1.33
5
7
3
1
4
. 13
1.35
8
7
7
4
3
5
6
7
2.00
2. 33
.70
2. 66
. 50
2. 43
1.88
1.00
1.38
1.69
4
5
5
7
.80
.22
.63
1.75
1.00
1
6.6
5
.24
.8 8
1.54
1.40
54
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
U n e m p lo y m e n t in F o reig n C ou n tries
T
HE following table gives detailed monthly statistics of unem
ployment in foreign countries, as shown in official reports, from
January, 1930, to the latest available date.
ST A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN FO R E IG N C O U N TR IE S i
Australia
Date (end of
month)
1930
January...............
February______
March..................
A pril...... ..............
M ay ..................
June___________
July........ ..............
A ugust____ ____
September_____
October________
November_____
December........ ..
1931
January________
February______
March_________
April__________
M ay___________
June___ . . . .
July___________
August________
1930
January________
February______
M arch.............
A p r il-...............
M ay......................
June___________
J u ly .....................
August...... ...........
September_____
October________
November_____
Decern Der______
1931
January ..............
February______
March____ ____
April__________
M a y ................... .
June___ _______
July----------------August________
Belgium
Canada
Trade-unionists Compul
Trade-unionists
Unemployment insurance societies
sory in
unemployed
unemployed
surance,
number
unem
W holly unem
Partially unem
ployed
ployed
ployed
Per
Number cent
in re
Num ber Per cent
ceipt of
benefit N um ber Per cent Number Percent
0
0)
63,144
0)
"ïi'ë"
80,595
18.5
(2)
(2)
C2)
90,379
20.5
0
0
104,951
23.4
0
0
113, 614
0
0
118, 424
25.8
27.6
Czechoslovakia
D ate (end of
month)
Austria
273,197
284,543
239,094
192,477
162,678
150,075
153,188
156,145
163,894
192,778
237,745
294.845
22,542
16,085
14,030
13,715
12,119
12,226
15, 302
17,747
23,693
27,322
38,973
63,585
3.5
2.6
2.2
2.2
1.9
1.9
2.4
2.8
3.8
4.3
6.1
9.3
25,782
31,222
28,469
36, 605
38, 761
41,336
48,580
51,649
61,623
54,804
76,043
117,187
4.0
4.9
4.5
5.8
6.1
6.5
7.7
8.2
9.9
8.5
12.0
17.0
22,795
24,175
22,912
18,581
20,424
21,380
18,473
318, 232
M9,356
322,403
328,408
337,339
10.8
11.5
10.8
9.0
10.3
10.6
9.2
9.3
9.4
10.8
13.8
17.0
331,239
334,041
304,084
246.845
208,852
191,150
194,364
196, 321
77,181
81,750
81,305
70, 377
56,250
62,642
11.1
11.7
11.3
10.0
7.9
8.9
112,734
121,906
125,972
110,139
97,755
101,616
16.2
19.4
17.7
15.6
13.8
14.4
333,664
3 31,617
332, 300
330,778
332,086
«32,682
16.0
15.6
15.5
14.9
16.2
16.3
332,388
16.2
Finland
France
Germany
N um
ber of
unem
ployed
regis
tered
N um
ber of Number
unem of unem
ployed
ployed
in reregisceipt of
tered
benefit
Danzig
(Free
City of)
Trade-union in
surance funds— N um
unemployed
ber of
in receipt of
unem
benefit
ployed
regis
tered
Per
Number cent
Denmark
Estonia
Trade-union unem Number
unem
ployment funds—
ployed
unemployed
remain
ing on
live
Num
register
Per cent
ber
39,199
40,550
45, 567
42, 664
41,098
37,853
46.800
52,694
57,542
61, 213
65,904
93,476
3.6
3.6
4.0
3.7
3.8
3.4
4.1
4.7
5.3
5.5
5.9
8.3
19,282
21,153
20, 376
18,371
16, 232
14, 975
15,330
15, 687
16,073
17,307
20,272
24,429
55,876
59,363
47,109
33,471
27,966
24, 807
26,200
26, 232
27, 700
32,880
44, 200
71,100
20.3
21.0
15.6
11.8
9.4
8.7
9.3
9.0
9.0
11.4
15.3
24.6
5,608
4,580
3,575
2,227
2,065
910
762
1,039
1,414
3,282
5, 675
6,163
12,696
11,545
10,062
7,274
4,666
3,553
4,026
5,288
7,157
10,279
10,740
9,336
1,484
1,683
1,630
1 ,203
859
1,019
856
964
988
1,663
4,893
11,952
104,580
117,450
119,350
107, 238
93, 941
82, 534
9.5
10.0
10.0
8. 9
7.6
6.6
27,081
28,192
27,070
24,186
20, 686
19,855
20, 420
70,961
73,427
67,725
45, 698
37,856
34, 030
36, 369
24.4
25.6
23.6
15.9
13.1
11.6
12.4
5,364
4,070
2,765
2,424
1,368
931
634
11,706
11,557
11,491
12, 663
7, 342
6, 320
6, 790
28, 536 4,887,000
40,768 4, 972,000
50, 815 4, 756; 000
49, 958 4, 358,000
41, 339 4, 053, 000
36, 237 3, 954,000
35, 916 3,976, 000
37, 673 44,195,000
—
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 802 ]
3,217,608
3, 365,811
3' 040; 797
2, 786’ 912
2, 634| 718
2, 640; 681
2 ; 765; 258
2, 883; 000
3,004,000
3 ; 252 ; 000
3 ; 683 ; 000
4; 384; 000
55
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS— UNEMPLOYMENT R E L IE F
ST A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN FO R E IG N C O U N TR IE S—Continued
Date (end of
month)
1931
January...
February._
March___
April____
M ay_____
June_____
July_____
August----
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Trade-unionists
Compulsory insurance
Partially unem
ployed
Wholly unem
ployed
Number
1930
Jan u ary...
February..
March........
April_____
M ay....... .
June_____
July______
August___
September,
O ctober...
November,
December .
Germany
1, 004, 787
1,076, 441
995, 972
926,831
895, 542
896, 465
930, 777
984, 384
1, Oil, 820
1, 061, 570
1,167, 930
0
Per
cent
N um
ber
22.0
501,950
593, 380
576,153
553, 098
552,318
578,116
631,903
670,466
677,627
693,379
721,658
(2)
23.5
21.7
20.3
19.5
19.6
20. 5
21.7
22.5
23.6
26.0
31.7
0
( 2)
0
( 2)
0
(2)
( 2)
Great
Britain
Date (end of
month)
Number
of persons
registered
with em
ployment
exchanges
2,482,648
2, 655, 723
2, 347,102
2,081,068
1,889, 240
1, 834, 662
1,900, 961
1,947, 811
1, 965,348
2, 071, 730
2,353, 980
2,822, 598
1,183, 974
1, 211, 262
1, 284, 231
1, 309,014
1, 339, 595
1,341,818
1, 405, 981
1, 500,990
1, 579, 708
1, 725,731
1, 836, 280
1,853,575
9.8
10.0
10.6
10.8
11.1
11.1
11.6
12.4
13.1
13.9
14.8
14.9
336,474
371, 840
409, 785
451, 506
516, 303
569,931
664,107
618, 658
608, 692
593, 223
532, 518
646, 205
2.8
3.1
3.4
3.8
4.2
4.7
5.5
5. 1
5.0
4.8
4.3
5.3
19.2 3, 364,770
19.5 3,496,979
18.9 3, 240, 523
18.0 2, 789, 627
17.4 2, 507, 732
17.7 2, 353,657
19. 1 2, 231, 513
2.044,209
2, 073, 578
2, 052,826
2, 027,896
2,019, 533
2, 037,480
2, 073,892
2,142,821
16.5
16.7
16.5
16.3
16. 3
16. 4
16. 7
17.3
618, 633
623, 844
612,821
564, 884
558,383
669, 315
732, 583
670, 342
5.0
5.0
5.0
4.6
4.5
5.4
5.9
5. 4
11.0
13.0
12.6
12.1
12.0
12.6
13.9
14.8
15.1
15.4
16.1
16.9
I
Per cent Number Per cent
Latvia
Hungary
Irish Free State
Italy
Trade-unionists un
employed
Compulsory in
surance—unem
ployed
Number of un
employed regis
tered
Social-demo
cratic
Chris
tian
(Buda
Per
pest) N um
cent
ber
1930
January---February. ..
M arch........
April_____
M ay______
June______
July---------August____
September..
October___
November..
December..
1,491, 519
1, 539, 265
1, 677, 473
1, 698, 386
1, 770, 051
1, 890, 575
2,011, 467
2,039, 702
2,114, 955
2, 200, 413
2, 274, 338
2,392,738
1,161
1931
January___
February...
March____
April_____
M ay_____
June_____
July_____
August___
2, 613,749
2, 627, 559
2, 581,030
2, 531, 674
2, 596, 431
2,629, 215
2, 662, 765
2,732, 434
983
906
875
829
920
847
874
999
975
935
21, 533
21,309
21,016
20,139
19,875
18, 960
19, 081
21,013
22, 252
22, 914
23, 333
24,648
14.5
14.8
14.6
13.7
13.6
13.0
13.2
14.5
16.0
16.7
17.0
17.9
953
965
996
1,042
26,191
27, 089
27,092
27,129
19.1
19.8
1,120
(2)
(2)
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Temporary stoppages
Number
Per
cent
34.2
34.5
33.6
31. 2
29.9
29. 7
31.0
W holly unemployed
Number
unem
ployed
in receipt
of benefit
[803]
Number Per cent
31, 592
( 2)
( 2)
26,027
11.1
9.2
(2)
( 2)
23,393
( 2)
( 2)
20, 775
22,990
25,622
(2)
26,167
28, 681
26,825
25, 413
23,970
23, 016
21, 427
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
( 2)
Wholly
unem
ployed
Par
tially
unem
ployed
N umber
unem
ployed
remain
ing on
live
register
9,263
8, 825
6,494
3,683
1,421
779
607
573
1,470
6,058
8,608
466, 231
456, 628
385,432
372, 236
367,183
322, 291
342,061
375, 548
394.630
446, 496
534,356
642,169
23,185
26, 674
28, 026
24, 305
22, 825
21,887
24, 209
24, 056
22, 734
19,081
22,125
21,788
10, 022
722, 612
765, 325
707,486
670, 353
635, 183
573, 593
637, 531
27,924
27,110
27, 545
28, 780
26, 059
24, 206
25, 821
9,207
8,303
8,450
6, 390
1,871
1,584
2,169
56
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
S T A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN FO R E IG N C O U N TR IE S—Continued
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Unemployment
insurance socie Trade-unionists
Date (end of month) ties—unemployed
unemployed
Number
Per
cent
Number
56, 535
50,957
34, 996
28,421
26, 211
23, 678
29, 075
32, 755
35,532
41,088
46, 807
72,191
13.9
12.5
8.6
6.9
6.3
5.5
6.7
7.6
8.2
9.6
11.8
16.5
(2)
7,197
(2)
(2)
8,119
(2)
1931
January____
February___
March_____
A p r il............
M ay...............
June_______
July................
103, 728
99, 753
80, 525
68, 860
* 52,830
* 56, 028
‘ 64,863
23.4
22.2
17.7
14.3
12.4
13.1
14.8
«
(2)
5 29,434
« 37, 598
5 36,921
5 42, 523
46, 359
Per
cent
00
^O
rî<
O
^CVD^^OO^
1930
January—.
February..
March___
April_____
M ay_____
June_____
July_____
August___
September.
O ctober...
November.
December.
Trade-unionists (10
unions) unemployed
Poland
Number Number
unem
unem
ployed
ployed re registered
maining with em
on live
register ployment
offices
Number
Per cent
7,786
7,851
7,503
6, 701
5,239
4, 700
4, 723
5,897
7, 010
8,031
9,396
11, 265
19. 0
18. 9
17. 8
15. 8
12. 2
10. 8
10. 8
13. 4
15. 7
18. 0
21. 4
25. 5
22,549
22,974
22, 533
19,829
16, 376
13,939
11,997
12,923
17,053
20, 363
24, 544
27,157
241,974
274, 708
289,469
271, 225
224, 614
204, 982
193, 687
173, 627
170, 467
165,154
209, 912
299,797
26.3
28,596
29,107
29, 095
28,477
25, 206
22, 736
20,869
340,718
358,925
372, 536
351, 679
320,109
276, 378
261,059
8.5
10.9
13.5
15.5
11, 692
(2)
(2)
11, 213
Poland
......
24.9
.......
Rumania
Saar Ter
ritory
Sweden
Industria 1 workers
Date (end of month)
Extractive and
manufacturing
industries—
wholly unem
ployed
Number
1930
January........................ __
February___________ .
March________________
April______________ . . .
M ay. ________ ________
June__ ______ _______
July______________ _
AUgUSt_______________
September_________ . .
October ______________
November__ _ ______
December_____________
1931
January — ____________
February . __________
M a r c h ..____________
April____ _ _ ____ .
M ay. ___ ___________
June_______. . . . ____
July._________________
219, 333
251, 627
265,135
246, 670
201, 116
182, 600
170, 665
150, 650
146, 642
141,422
(2)
«
«
Per
cent
24.3
27.5
28.7
27.0
23.0
21.6
20.5
18.3
17.8
17.5
Manufacturing
industries—par
tially unem
ployed
Number
Per
cent
Trade-unionists
unemployed
Number
Per
cent
108,812
120, 058
120, 844
113, 594
104, 469
94, 375
70, 597
74, 289
74, 285
91,854
106, 835
95,637
24.8
28.4
28.9
26.9
24.2
22.2
17.0
17.1
16.5
14.8
23.6
23.1
12, 622
15, 588
13, 045
13,412
25,096
22, 960
23, 236
24, 209
39,110
36,147
42,689
36, 212
11,307
11, 949
8,882
7,522
7, 362
6, 330
7,095
7,099
7, 527
9, 013
12,110
15, 245
45, 636
45,460
42, 278
38, 347
28,112
28, 956
27,170
28, 539
34, 963
43, 927
57, 070
86,042
14.2
13.2
12.5
11.1
8.3
8.1
7.8
8.1
9.8
12.2
15. 3
22.9
82, 717
92,838
23 8
27.1
38, 804
43, 270
48', 226
41,' 519
33', 484
28| 093
29, 250
18, 921
20,139
18, 292
18| 102
14' 886
15,413
17, 685
69,437
66,923
72, 944
6L 534
49', 807
45j 839
46,180
19.8
18.4
19.3
17. 5
13. 2
12.1
12.4
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number
unem
Number
ployed
unem
remaining ployed
on live
registered
register
[804]
E M PL O Y M E N T C O N D IT IO N S -— U N E M PL O Y M E N T R E L IE F
57
ST A T E M E N T OF U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN F O R E IG N C O U N T R IE S—Continued
Switzerland
Yugoslavia
Unemployment funds
D ate (end of month)
Wholly unem
ployed
Number
1930
February
IVTarch
April
NTay
JllTlP
July
August
September
October
November
■niciimhpr
__ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _
__
--
— —
__ - - -- - _____
-- -___
_ _ _ _
___
___
-- - _____ — ------------ -- -- -_
__
_
1931
Uebrufuy
M areh
April
June
JUly
__
_
___
_
-_ __ ______ - — —
_________ ___ _ - - - - -
---------
------
______
Per
cent
Partially unem
ployed
Number
Per
cent
Number
of unemployed
registered
10, 523
9, 971
7,882
5, 203
5, 356
5, 368
4, 751
5, 703
7, 792
7, 399
11,666
21, 400
4.4
4.1
2.6
2.1
2.2
1. 7
1.9
2.3
2.5
3.0
4.7
6.6
10, 710
11, 445
12, 642
12, 755
13,129
17,688
15,112
19, 441
26, 111
23, 309
25, 793
33, 483
4.4
4.7
4.2
5.3
5.4
5.7
6.2
7.9
8.3
9.4
10.5
10.4
8,508
9,437
9,739
12, 052
8, 704
6,991
7,236
6,111
5, 973
6, 609
7,219
9, 989
20,551
20, 081
18, 991
10, 389
9,174
12, 577
12, 200
8.3
7.9
5.4
4.0
3.5
3.6
3.3
30, 977
30, 879
41, 880
27, 726
26, 058
34, 266
39, 000
12.5
12.2
12.4
10.6
9.9
9.7
11.3
11,903
14,424
12, 029
11, 391
6,929
4,431
6,672
i Sources: League of Nations—M onthly Bulletin of Statistics; International Labor Office—International
Labor Review; Canada—Labor Gazette; Great Britain—Ministry of Labor Gazette; Austria—Statistische Nachrichten; Australia—Quarterly Summary of Australian Statistics; Germany—Reichsarbeitsblatt, Reichs Arbeitsmarkt Anzeiger; Switzerland—Wirt. u. Social. Mitteilungen, La Vie Economique,
Poland—Wiedomosci Statystyczne; Norway—Statistiske Meddelelser; Netherlands Maandschnft,
Sweden—Sociala Meddelanden; Denmark—Statistiske Efterretnmger; Finland—Bank of Finland Monthly
Bulletin; France—Bulletin du Marché du Travail; Hungary—Magyar Statisztikai Szemle; Belgium—
Revue du Travail; N ew Z ealand-M onthly Abstract of Statistics; U. S. Department of C om m erceCommerce Reports; and U . S. Consular Reports.
3 Com^iute^by Bureau of Labor Statistics from official report covering membership of unions reporting
and per cent of unemployment.
« N ew series of statistics showing unemployed registered by the employment exchanges.
only workers wholly unemployed but also those intermittently employed.
Includes not
G overn m en t Bill for C om pulsory U n em p lo y m en t In su ra n ce in
Norway
HE Council of State has submitted to the Storting (Parliament) a
bill providing for compulsory unemployment insurance in
Norway.1
The chief features of the measure are the establishment of a State
Unemployment Commission, consisting of five members, and the
creation of a State Unemployment Fund, from money appropriated
by the Storting. Municipalities will be able to obtain either loans or
grants from this fund for the purpose of carrying on government work,
with a view to assisting the unemployed. The bill also provides lor
the establishment of communal unemployment commissions, similar
in all respects to the State commission, in all communes having more
than 200 persons who contribute to unemployment insurance.
T
i Dagbladet for M ay 9,1931, as reported by Mr. Thomas U . Bevan, U . S. Charge d’Affaires ad interim,
Oslo, M ay 22, 1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[805]
58
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
The communal unemployment funds shall be created from con
tributions collected from the insured and their employers. It is
estimated that the contributions will amount to 7,000,000 kroner
($1,876,000)2 annually.
The regulations regarding insurance against unemployment are
substantially the same as those for sickness insurance, and provide
for the exemption of persons under 20 years of age, city and Govern
ment functionaries, farm and forest workers, fishermen, and houseworkers.
It is estimated that more than 250,000 persons will be affected by
this law, while the present voluntary insurance system includes only
40,000 persons.
The unemployed covered by such insurance may collect a daily
benefit varying from 1.50 to 3.50 kroner (40 cents to 94 cents), accord
ing to their income classification, plus an additional amount for each
child. The contributions, amounting to from 40 to 80 ore (11 cents
to 21 cents) per week, will be shared equally by the insured and his
employer.
No date has been mentioned for the enforcement of the measure in
case the Parliament enacts the bill into law.
2 Conversions into United States currency on basis of krone=26.8 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[806]
INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS AND LABOR
CONDITIONS
G ainful W orkers in th e U n ited S ta te s , by In d u stry G roups
T
HE following statement, issued by the Census Bureau, shows the
number of gainful workers in the United States, as disclosed by
the Census of April 1, 1930.
Number of Gainful Workers
I n t h e population of the United States as returned for April 1,1930,
there were 98,723,047 persons 10 years of age and over. Of these,
48,832,589 were returned as gainful workers; that is, as persons usually
working at a gainful occupation. The gainful workers therefore rep
resented 49.5 per cent of the population 10 years old and over, Or
39.8 per cent of the total population (122,775,046).
Of the whole number of gainful workers, 38,053,795 were males,
forming 76.2 per cent of the male population 10 years old and over,
or 61.2 per cent of the total male population. The 10,778,794 female
gainful workers formed 22.1 per cent of the female population 10
years old and over, or 17.8 per cent of the total female population.
The percentage of the male population 10 years of age and over
gainfully employed in 1930 (76.2) was materially lower than the per
centage in 1920 (78.2), which in turn was lower than the percentage
in 1910 or 1900. The percentage of the female population 10 years
old and over gainfully employed in 1930 (22.1) was materially higher
than the percentage in 1920 (21.1) and decidedly higher than the per
centage in 1900 (18.8). The percentage of female workers shown for
1910 is not strictly comparable with the data for the other years,
mainly because of the inclusion of relatively larger numbers of females
as farm workers.
The figures showing the number of gainful workers in relation to
the population are summarized in Table 1.
table
1
.—
N U M B E R OF G A IN F U L W ORKERS IN TH E U N IT E D ST A T ES, BY SE X , 1900
TO 1930
Item
Year
Total
Male
Female
Total population________________________ ____
1930
1920
1910
1900
122, 775, 046
105,710, 620
91,972, 266
75,994, 575
62,137,080
53,900, 431
47, 332, 277
38, 816, 448
60, 637,966
51,810,189
44, 639,989
37,178,127
Persons 10 years old and over--------- ----------------
1930
1920
1910
1900
98, 723,047
82, 739, 315
71, 580, 270
57,949, 824
49,949, 798
42, 289.969
37, 027, 558
29, 703, 440
48, 773,249
40, 449, 346
34. 552, 712
28,246, 384
1930
1920
1910
1900
1930
1920
1910
1900
1930
1920
1910
1900
48,832, 589
41, 614, 248
38,167, 336
29,073, 233
39.8
39. 4
41.5
38. 3
49.5
50. 3
53. 3
50.2
38,053,795
33,064, 737
30, 091, 564
23, 753,836
61.2
61. 3
63. 6
61.2
76.2
78. 2
81. 3
80.0
10, 778, 794
8, 549, 511
8,075, 772
5, 319, 397
17.8
16. 5
18. 1
14.3
22.1
21. 1
23. 4
18.8
Gainful workers (persons reporting a gainful
occupation)........ ....................- .........................
Per cent of total population-----------------------
Per cent of population 10 years old and over.
77459°—31------5
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[807]
59
60
M O N TH LY LA B O R R E V IE W
Main Industry Groups
T h e classification of gainful workers by industry groups which is
here presented differs in many respects from the classification by
occupation,'which was presented in the Census Reports for 1920. it
is not possible, therefore, to make any very close comparisons with
the 1920 data (except for the agricultural group, which is practically
the same in the two classifications). In this industrial classification,
all persons whose services are employed in a given industry are classified under that industry. In the occupation classification, on the
other hand, all clerical workers are classified in a group by themselves
without regard to the industry in which they are employed, and certam other important occupations are likewise placed as a whole in
that general group where they are usually or most frequently found
Statistics giving the number of gainful workers in 1930, classified by
occupation, following very closely the 1920 classification, will be
presented later.
Of the whole number of male gainful workers returned in 1930,
11,901,247, or 31.3 per cent, were engaged in manufacturing and
mechanical industries; 9,568,347, or 25.1 per cent, were engaged in
agriculture; 5,820,642, or 15.3 per cent, in trade; and 3,990,875, oi
10.5 per cent, in transportation.
Of the wiiole number of female gainful workers, 3,149,391, or 29.2
per cent, wrere engaged in domestic and personal service; 2,416.288
or 22.4 per cent, were employed in manufacturing and mechanical
industries; 1,762,795, or 16.4 per cent, were engaged in professional
service, mainly m teaching; and 1,716,384, or 15.9 per cent, were
employed m trade.
n ™ eo » Umber ,of males engaged in agriculture in 1930, namely,
9,568,347, may be compared with 9,578,289 male workers returned
m agricultural occupations in 1920. Allowance must be made, how^ever, for the fact that the 1920 enumeration was made in January
when considerable numbers of farm laborers were temporarily en
gaged m other occupations, while the 1930 census was taken in April
wfiien by reason of the advancing season the number of men at work
as farm laborers was decidedly larger. The actual decline in the
number of persons employed in agriculture throughout the year is
doubtless considerably greater than the census figures taken alone
would indicate.
. The classification of male and female gainful workers bv main
industry groups is presented in Table 2.
T able 2 .—G A IN F U L W OR K ER S IN T H E M A IN IN D U S T R Y GROUPS
TH E
T T T 'tfT T 'E n
Industry group
Male
B Y SE X
Per cent
Female
Male
All in d u str ies..,..........
38, 053, 795
9, 568, 347
266, 876
1,147, 770
11,901, 247
3, 990, 875
5,820, 642
934, 581
1, 663, 049
1, 662, 707
1,097, 701
Forestry and fishing
Extraction of minerals..
Manufacturing and mechanical industries
Transportation. __
Trade_______
Public service (not elsewhere classified)
Professional service..
Domestic and personal service
Industry not specified___
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10, 778, 794
913, 976
3,249
10, 294
2,416, 288
447, 730
1, 716, 384
123, 323
1, 762, 795
3,149, 391
235, 364
100.0
25.1
0. 7
3.0
31. 3
10.5
15. 3
2. 5
4.4
4.4
2.9
Fe
male
100.0
8.5
0.1
22.4
4.2
15.9
1.1
16.4
29. 2
2.2
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IN D U S T R IA L R E L A T IO N S AND L A B O R CO N D IT IO N S
In te rn a tio n a l C onference of L ab or S ta tisticia n s
HE Fourth International Conference of Labor Statisticians was
held in May, 1931, at Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives of
23 countries were in attendance, the United States being represented
by Ethelbert Stewart, United States Commissioner of Labor Statis
tics. A detailed account of the proceedings of the conference is
contained in an article in the International Labor Review lor July,
1931.
T
Wages
B e f o r e making any comparisons it was deemed necessary to
explain the meaning of wages, and it was decided that the practice
of collecting information as to time rates and, in so far as available,
normal earnings should be continued. It was also agreed that it is
impracticable to take into account family income. This decision was
reached, even though the income of members of a family other than
the head of the household may be considerable, because such informa
tion is not always available and the amounts of supplemental income
vary so widely from country to country. As evidence of the linpoitance of earnings of the head of the family and variation in per cent
of income contributed by members of the family other than the head
of the household the following table, derived from family budget
inquiries, is reproduced:
TîFT \T I V F C OM POSITIO N OF T H E W O R K E R ’S FA M ILY IN C O M E IN VARIOUS
C O U N TR IE S
Per cent of income derived from—
Country
Date of
inquiry
Employment of members
of family
Number
of families
included
Hus
band
Czechoslovakia---------------------Denmark-----------------------------Estonia-------------------------------Finland_____________________
Germany-----------------------------Netherlands-------- ----------------Norway------- -----------------------Sweden-------------------------------Switzerland---------------------------
1925-1927
1922
1925
1920-21
1927-28
1923-24
1927-28
1923
1923
53
80
283/322
437
896
89
135
747
18
73.2
86.0
77. 1
80. 6
82.2
91. 1
87.8
87. 6
83. 1
Total
Other income
sources
Other
Total
Wife members
6.5
i 5. 4
6.0
5.6
4.4
1.4
1.0
1.9
3.6
11.2
(2)
7.4
6.9
4.9
4.2
4.2
4.3
3.9
90.9
91. 4
90. 5
93. 1
91. 5
96.7
93.0
93. 8
90.6
9.1
8.6
9. 5
6.9
8. 5
3. 3
7.0
6. 2
9. 4
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1Includes also income from employment of “ other members.”
2 Included with income from employment of wife.
Payments in kind and paid holidays were regarded as of minor
importance, except in special cases, and the decision was made to
exclude them. Family allowances, on the other hand, are considered
as part of wages and sufficiently important to be taken into account
where paid. The inclusion of payments for social msurance was
regarded as impracticable in international comparisons but desnable
for use where comparable data are available.
The discussion then turned to a consideration as to whether rates
of wages or earnings should be collected, and the decision reached
was that earnings were the most desirable form of wage data, but
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time and piece rates should be collected when earnings are not available*# The further point was made that it is undesirable to compare
earnings and wage rates, but when it becomes necessary to make use
ol both kinds of sta tistics, care should be taken to use all information
that, might clarify the relation between levels of rates and earnings.
The question was raised as to how far the statistics submitted by
the various authorities are representative of the general level of wages
m the respective countries. The recommendation made was that
statistics should be extended as far as possible.
Cost of Living
A s s u m i n g ^that satisfactory wage data are developed, the question
next arising is what may be bought in various countries with a given
money income. I t was recommended that the International Labor
Office continue to publish statistics of retail prices and that rent be
included in the statistics. In addition to the collection of retail
prices,pt was thought desirable that family budget inquiries should be
made m countries where they have not been made for 10 years, in
Older that information might be available as to the quantity of differ
ent items _used. The conference approved the compilation of a
composite international budget as a rough measuring rod but recom
mended that it be supplemented by national budgets. While it was
considered useful to make international comparisons in countries with
comparable standards, it was stated that there is no advantage in
comparing costs in countries, such as France and Russia or France and
China. A suggestion that cost of living be compared on the basis of
nutritive values was rejected, as food constitutes only part of total
living costs.
Resolutions and Recommendations
T h e re s o lu tio n s a n d re c o m m e n d a tio n s a d o p te d b y th e c o n fe re n c e
a r e a s f o llo w s :
T his conference, recognizing th e value of th e in form ation as to wages and
prices w hich has m th e p a s t been collected by th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office for
tn e purpose ol calculations rela tin g to th e pu rch asin g pow er of w ages in different
countries, a n d ta k in g a c co u n t of th e resolutions ad o p te d by th e governing body
a t its fifty-first session, w ith th e o b je c t of im proving th e bases a n d m eth o d s of
com pilation of such statistics, m akes th e following recom m endations—
1.
I he In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office should continue to collect a n d p ublish p articu ars of wages in a re p re se n ta tiv e selection of tow ns, in d u stries, a n d occupations
in those countries fo r w hich in fo rm atio n is o b tain ab le; th e sta tistic s h ith e rto
published should be extended as fa r as possible, a n d , in p ublishing th e inform ation,
j ie office should give d etailed p a rtic u la rs as to th e sources, n a tu re , a n d scope of
tlie d a ta included.
. ,2- In fo rm atio n as to earnings p e r u n it of tim e are preferable for purposes of
in te rn a tio n a l com parison b u t can generally be fu rnished only as a re su lt of special
inquiries. G overnm ents should m ak e th ese inquiries on uniform lines on th e
basis ol th e resolutions ad o p te d by th e first in te rn a tio n a l conference of lab o r
statistician s an d should su p p ly th e in fo rm atio n to th e office. C om parisons based
° o
o rm a^lon should be m ad e a n d published b y th e office.
3. T im e ra te s of wages a n d piecew ork basis tim e ra te s as estab lish ed by col
lective agreem ents o r o th e r arran g em en ts can be furnished by m an y countries
w ith o u t special in q u iry . T hese a re of value fo r purposes of in te rn a tio n a l com
parison an d should be collected a n d published.
4. In principle, i t is u ndesirable to com pare ra te s of wages in one co u n try w ith
a c tu a l earnings in a n o th e r; b u t w here, ow ing to incom plete info rm atio n , ra te s of
wages in certain countries have to be com pared w ith earnings in o th e r countries,
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63
an y available inform atio n as to th e relatio n betw een th e level of ra te s of wages
an d earnings should be used to correct th e figures of w age rates.
5. I n a d d itio n to th e d a ta as to m oney w ages referred to in th e foregoing p a ra
graphs, p artic u la rs should be supplied w ith reg ard to the«am ounts of fam ily allow
ances, if a n y , p a id to th e v arious classes of w orkpeople.
6. T h e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office should con tin u e to collect a n d p ublish s ta tis
tics of th e re ta il prices of th e articles of food consum ed b y w orking-class fam ilies
in th e to w n s fo r w hich p a rtic u la rs as to w ages are co llected ; p a rtic u la rs should
also be collected of th e prices of fuel a n d lig h t in th ese tow ns. T h e sta tistic s
h ith e rto published should be extended as fa r as possible a n d in p ublishing th e
in fo rm atio n th e office should give such in d icatio n s as can be o b tain ed as to th e
scope of th e d a ta .
.
7. In view of th e desirab ility of including, in th e d a ta relatin g to cost of living,
inform ation a s to th e relativ e level of re n ts in each c o u n try , th e In te rn a tio n a l
L abor Office should in v ite th e sta tistic a l a u th o ritie s in each c o u n try to fu rnish
reg u lar in fo rm atio n w ith reg ard to th e av erag e re n ts of th e p red o m in a n t ty p e s of
w orking-class dw ellings in th e to w n s fo r w hich sta tistic s of w ages a n d prices are
supplied, to g e th e r w ith a d escription of th e accom m odation pro v id ed a n d of th e
general ch a ra c te r of th e dw ellings covered. T h e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office should
stu d y th e possibility of o b tain in g one o r m ore sta n d a rd u n its of housing for th e
various purposes of in te rn a tio n a l com parison.
8. I n those countries in w hich no fam ily b u d g e t inquiries h av e been m ade d u r
ing th e la s t 10 years, such inquiries should be u n d e rta k e n a t the_ earliest possible
d ate, on th e lines laid dow n in th e resolutions ad o p te d a t th e th ird conference of
lab o r sta tistician s in 1926.
9. T h e w ages a n d prices in fo rm atio n referred to in th e preceding p arag ra p h s
should be collected a n d p u blished b y th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office a t a n n u al
intervals. T h e office should ad d ress each y e a r to th e sta tistic a l offices of each
co n trib u tin g G overnm en t a questio n n aire soliciting th e fu llest possible p a rtic u
lars of w ages a n d re ta il prices a n d re n ts re la tin g as n early as possible to th e m o n th
of O ctober. In view of th e fa c t t h a t th e re a re im p o rta n t seasonal v a riatio n s in th e
prices of certain foodstuffs, such prices should be obtained^ several tim es a year.
10. T h e in fo rm atio n so o b tain ed should be tabulated^ in a fo rm fa c ilita tin g
read y com parison, a n d should be published, a t th e e arliest possible d a te , in a
special a n n u a l volum e. T h is volum e w ould be, in essentials, a dev elo p m en t a n d
am plification of th e sta tistic a l tab les p ublished b y th e office a t reg u lar in te rv a ls
in th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview . I t should include, as reg ard s w ages, ta b le s
b o th of ra te s of w ages a n d of earnings. I t should include ex p la n a to ry n o tes re
garding th e source, n a tu re , a n d scope of a ll th e figures given, a n d sh o u ld s e t o u t
an d illu s tra te th e variou s possible m eth o d s of com bining th e d a ta so as to yield
an y desired indices of relativ e re a l wages. T h is conference believes t h a t such
a volum e w ould increase in scope a n d in im p o rtan ce w ith each a d d itio n to th e
range of info rm atio n o b ta in e d ; a n d w ould form fro m th e o u ts e t th e nucleus ol
w h at m u s t becom e in d u e course a n a u th o rita tiv e source book or com parable
in te rn a tio n a l in fo rm atio n regarding wages a n d re ta il prices in a ll in d u stria lly
11. Follow ing upon th e p u b licatio n of th is volum e, th e re should be p rep ared a n d
published in th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r R eview a n a rticle in w hich th e data, co n
ta in e d in th e published volum e should be discussed from th e sta n d p o in t of d e te r
m ining th e relativ e levels of purch asin g pow er of w ages in th e v ario u s countries.
In th is article th e difficulties of th e p rocedure should be fully a n d fra n k ly disclosed. Indices on various bases should be given, w ith th e purpose of in d icatin g
th e various p o in ts of view from w hich com parisons c an be m ade a n d of p re \ enting
a n y one figure being reg ard ed a s a u th o rita tiv e fo r all purposes.
In view of th e fa c t t h a t th e index n u m b ers of purch asin g pow er of wages serve
different n a tio n a l purposes, i t is im p racticab le fo r th e In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office
to com pute a ll th e com parisons w hich a re possible between^ a series ol countries
an d betw een different o ccupations a n d in d u stries. T h e series of index n um bers
com piled b y th e office should be illu stra tiv e of th e m eth o d s by w hich th e d a ta m ay
be used for co m puting fu rth e r series.
T +
+;__„i
12. In a n y sta tistic s w hich m ay in fu tu re be com piled b y th e In te rn a tio n a l
L abor Office as to th e relativ e pu rch asin g pow er of wages in different countries,
acco u n t should be ta k e n of th e d iverse circum stances a n d conditions ol th e
w orkers in different co u n tries resu ltin g , fo r exam ple, fro m differences, (a) in
svstem s of wage p a y m e n t; (b) in th e n a tu re a n d a m o u n t of p a y m e n ts supple
m en tary to wages, such as fam ily allow ances, a n d p aid h olidays; a n d (c) in sys-
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M O N TH LY LA BO R R E V IE W
terns of social insurance. A ltern ativ e series of index nu m b ers should be so fa r as
possible com puted to show th e effect of th e inclusion or exclusion of such item s.
13. T h e calculatio n of these index n u m b ers by th e use of in fo rm atio n as to
w orking-class consu m p tio n fu rn ish ed by fam ily b u d g e t inquiries should be m ade
n o t only as h ith e rto on a fixed in te rn a tio n a l b u d g et b u t also on th e basis of various
n a tio n a l o r regional b udgets.
14. T he conference realizes t h a t com parisons can n o t usefully be m ade betw een
countries of w idely differing h a b its a n d custom s; a n d th a t th e closer are th e con
su m p tio n h a b its in different countries, th e m ore tru stw o rth y a re th e com parisons
likely to be.
15. T he conference is u n ab le to recom m end th e p roposal to com pare countries
of dissim ilar conditions b y progression th ro u g h co u n tries w ith in te rm e d ia te con
ditions ow ing to th e lack of in fo rm atio n on such conditions a t th e p resen t tim e
an d to th e absence of a n y criterio n fo r m easuring th e degree of dissim ilarity
am ong th e in term ed ia te countries.
16. In all com parisons betw een tw o or m ore countries, how ever, allowance
should be m ade for th e difference in articles consum ed in each of th e co u n tries by
basing th e calculatio n s successively on th e list of im p o rta n t articles consum ed in
one c o u n try a n d th e list of im p o rta n t articles (b u t n o t necessarily th e sam e a rti
cles) consum ed in th e others.
17. I t is also desirable t h a t as regards c ertain articles of food fo r w hich direct
com parison of prices as betw een one c o u n try a n d a n o th e r is im p racticab le, th e
In te rn a tio n a l L ab o r Office should explore th e question of supplem enting th e
p resen t m eth o d of calcu latio n b y a m eth o d in w hich a c co u n t w ould be ta k e n of
th e possibilities of com parisons of prices on a basis of n u tritiv e value.
T he conference recom m ends t h a t th e governing b ody place th e q u estio n of th e
supply of th e d a ta req u ired fo r th e p u rpose of these in te rn a tio n a l com parisons of
wages an d cost of living on th e ag en d a of a fu tu re in te rn a tio n a l lab o r conference
w ith a view to th e fram ing of a convention binding th e g o vernm ents w hich ratify
i t to collect a n d su p p ly th e in fo rm a tio n a t re g u lar in terv als.
I t recom m ends t h a t a sm all co m m ittee of experts rep resen tin g th e co m p eten t
n a tio n a l sta tistic a l a u th o ritie s m ig h t be se t up. T h e fu n ctio n of th is com m ittee
w ould be to assist th e office in its w ork of developing an d publishing wage an d costof-living sta tistic s an d in p rep arin g for an y fu tu re in te rn a tio n a l conference w hich
m ig h t ap p e a r desirable in th e n ear fu tu re.
C on feren ce on P erson n el W ork in In d u stry
HE Silver Bay (N. Y.) Industrial Institute, held during the period
August 15-25, 1931, was divided into three sections—one covering
supervision and management, the second, education and training,
and the third, personnel work. The following account is limited to
the personnel division.
In attendance at the institute were representatives (mainly personnel
supervisors and employment managers) from many industrial firms,
including some of the largest companies in the United States; from
several universities and State or local educational departments;
from public utilities; from the New York Stock Exchange; and from
several insurance companies.
The institute was designed primarily as an opportunity for study and
serious discussion, especially for persons engaged in personnel work or
interested in it. The topics covered included the general subject of
employment (personnel organization and policy; sources of labor
supply; selection and placement; rating, transfer, and promotion;
termination procedure; records and turnover analysis; and job analysis
and classification), accident prevention, industrial health, education
and training, wages (methods, surveys, time study, principles of wage
determination), added incentives, stabilization of employment, bene
fits and insurance, and group relations.
T
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The keynote of all the sessions was “ not theory but practical
working.”
Employment
I n o p e n i n g the subject of employment, W. E. Yeomans, personnel
director of the Merchants’ Association of New York, pointed out that
the function of the personnel department of any plant is to man the
factory with the kind of workers needed and to focus the attention of
the management upon the waste entailed by the loss of trained workers.
In his opinion, the personnel departments have heretofore directed
too much effort toward correcting the workers after taking them on
and not enough toward selection of the right workers to start with.
This session was of the opinion that if an organization has, through
its personnel department, given proper thought to the problem, the
main source of supply for a particular job will be by promotion from
among its own workers. An important source of supply for younger
employees is the schools and colleges. It was agreed that the em
ployment departments of industrial establishments should cooperate
with public and private employment agencies and with other companies
for the improvement of employment technique.
The session on selection and placement of employees, led by Henry
C. Link, of the Psychological Corporaton of New York City, agreed
that the employment manager should avoid any one particular formula
in selection, that he should make it his business to know the men
already on the job and should find the right men by a review of their
background. Employment should be centralized, but the employ
ment policy should recognize the right of the department heads to
choose their men.
The importance of the personal interview was dwelt upon. It was
the opinion of some of the delegates that even when no positions are
open the employment manager should see the applicants personally.
By so doing he engenders good will for the company, builds up a file
of good “ prospects,” and at the same time discharges a social duty.
As to efficiency ratings, it was agreed that these fulfill the follow
ing purposes: They standardize wage rates, form a basis for promotion
and for transfer to other jobs, show the progress of the men rated,
provide a stimulus for further effort by the men, and assist the super
visor to know his workers.
The turnover analysis should show the worker’s previous history,
his progress on the job, his intelligence, and aptitude. Some of the
elements of cost in labor turnover were found to be the cost of the
employment department, cost of training (including the learner’s
wage), spoiled work, damage to machinery, loss of efficiency in the
working group, supervisory cost, accident cost, and loss of customers’
good will because of new employees’ mistakes.
The group studying job analysis worked out a guide to the procedure
in job analysis, points to be covered, and the charting of results. It
was emphasized that every precaution should be taken, during all of
the preliminary work of describing and grading jobs according to their
value to the organization, to eliminate personality and salary consider
ations. The advantages of such an analysis were declared to be that
it shows the relative values of different kinds of work and of jobs in
different departments, that it focuses attention on salaries that are
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out of line, acts as a check on the organization in different departments,
reduces favoritism, and corrects employees’ misconceptions as to their
jobs.
It was agreed by the delegates that the employment should be
terminated only as a last resort, for when a man is dismissed the
employer loses the cost of hiring and training him, while the employee
loses his seniority and his pay; he may also lose the effects of the
training given him, for he may not be able to use it on the next job.
In terminating the employment it is important that action shall not be
hasty, that the matter shall be talked over by the foreman andthe
personnel officer, that the employee shall be given some previous
warning (discipline, demotion, suspension, etc.), and that in all cases
the personnel officer, or some person other than the immediate su
perior, should interview the worker involved. This interview, and
indeed the whole termination procedure, should be such as to retain
the good will of both the worker and the remaining employees, and
should be made of as great a value as possible to the worker involved.
Stabilization of Employment
T h ese sessions dealt w ith forecasting and planning, production con
trol, guaran ties of em ploym ent, em ploym ent control, lay-off policy
and procedure, p erm an en t lay-off allowance, and unem ploym ent
benefits and loans.
In opening the discussion of stabilization of employment, Prof. J.
Douglas Brown, Princeton University, pointed out that we are be
coming increasingly conscious that in order to have stabilized industry
we must have stabilized employment and stabilized income. Expres
sing some uncertainty as to whether complete stabilization is desirable
or desired, he pointed out some of the means which have been adopted
to reduce seasonal fluctuations. These included business forecasting,
budgeting sales and production, standardization of products, manu
facture for stocks, obtaining advance orders, diversification of market,
addition of side lines and fillers, etc.
Some of the delegates present described the methods being used by
their firms. One reported the use of forecasting and budgeting,
another the pushing of sales in dull seasons and the adding of side lines
and fillers. A large shoe manufacturing company bought a large
tract of woodland and put its surplus force to work clearing it; it after
wards built houses on the land, for sale to the workers. Another
firm, which manufactures some 300,000 different items, has resorted to
standardization of products, to diversification of market, and to en
deavoring to get its customers to regularize their orders. Several
other firms have reduced the length of the working week. The repre
sentative of one of these emphasized the fact that, in his company,
in all cases of such change the employees’ views were ascertained before
the change was made.
M r. Y eom ans sta te d th a t in his opinion th ere has been an im prove
m en t in th e a ttitu d e of em ployers recently and th a t th ey are feeling
an increased sense of responsibility for th e welfare of th eir workers.
As to the spreading of work to give some employment to as large a
number as possible, it was the consensus of the group that the em
ployment so given should not fall below 50 per cent of full time. E. S.
Cowdrick, New York City, pointed out that spreading work, if carried
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too far, may have its disadvantages—the short-time and part-time
employment may not be paying a living wage, it may not be giving
adequate protection to longer-service employees, the rotation of work
may reduce efficiency, etc.
A number of delegates reported that their firms have adopted the
practice of paying an allowance—a dismissal wage—in cases of perma
nent lay-off. The representative of the Goodyear Rubber Co. re
ported that his firm pays such a wage in all cases of 5 years’ service or
more. The allowance increases with the length of service, ranging
from 1 month’s pay for 5 years’ service to 3 months’ pay for 15 years’
service; for each year of service above that amount an additional
month’s pay is given. The dismissal wage, as one delegate put it, is
the company’s “ recognition of the man’s equity in the profits made
from his services.”
In the session on unemployment benefits and insurance, the Procter
& Gamble plan was described and discussed. The advantages of a
company plan paying unemployment benefits were held to be that it
provides greater security to the employees, obviates public legislation,
exerts pressure on the management to stabilize employment, and
encourages cooperation between different departments of the com
pany. Disadvantages were held to be the expense involved, that
such a plan goes only part way in solving the problem of unemploy
ment, and that it tends to hold to the company an excessive labor
supply. The consensus seemed to be that if industry does not take
steps toward the inauguration of such plans, the State will do so.
With few exceptions the delegates were opposed to State action.
One delegate, however, pointed out the analogy between the present
situation and that when the passage of workmen’s compensation was
in contemplation. Although few employers would be willing to
abolish workmen’s compensation now, many of them opposed it at
the time. In the opinion of this delegate, employers might do better to
try to shape legislation on unemployment insurance than to oppose it.
Education and Training
T h ese sessions d ea lt w ith organization, policy, teachers, program ,
apprenticeship, cooperative education, train in g on th e job, execu
tive, supervisor, and forem an training, and background and general
education.
.
..
,
It was brought out that although, fundamentally, the problem ot
the training of workers is the job of the supervisory force, in large
organizations these persons do not have the time for training work, so
that many such firms have established a special education department
and others are cooperating with the public schools or State educational
departments. It was agreed by the delegates present that every
employee needs some training—the beginners in how to perform the
job, and the rank and file of employees in matters pertaining directly
to the present job and in those bearing on the job above. The
courses offered should cover the background relative to the firm’s
business, technique and skill required on the particular job, and the
organization of the work.
In order to be successful, the courses must be made attractive to
the workers, and the kind of program offered will be determined by
the purpose of the training.
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The representatives present from the American Telephone & Tele
graph Co., the Westinghouse Electric Co., and the New York Stock
Exchange described the educational methods used by those companies.
Accident Prevention
T h e s e s s io n s o n a c c id e n t p r e v e n t i o n c o v e r e d t h e e c o n o m ic a n d
h u m a n lo s s e s o f a c c id e n ts , s a f e t y o r g a n iz a tio n , e n g in e e r in g r e v is io n ,
c o n tr o lla b le f a c to r s in fr e q u e n c y r a te , a n d c o o p e r a tio n w ith o th e r
c o m p a n ie s a n d a g e n c ie s .
All of the discussion of plant safety and accident prevention stressed,
as the most important factor, that the management must convince
the men of its sincere and personal interest in safety; no campaign for
safety can be successful without this. The remarkable success
achieved by the larger industrial companies was pointed out, and the
fact was emphasized that the least progress in this line has been made
by the smaller employers. In this connection the cooperation of the
large companies in community safety movements was urged, and
one delegate suggested that the interest of the larger employer might
be enlisted if he realized that the accidents in small plants were costing
him money. Even large self-insurers may be affected through the
hiring of former employees of small plants who are habitual offenders
as to accidents.
It was emphasized that safety education must be a continuous
process, with management, men, and supervisors all interested. In
some cases this educational process is carried out through plant com
mittees, with a rotating representation of the employees. Other
plants carry on_ safety contests, posting the results and pitting one
department against another.
G. E. Sanford, of the General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y.,
stated that his company has been carrying on a continuous safety
competition since 1924, with striking results. He pointed out that the
duties of the plant safety man are to anticipate the accident situation
and determine means of prevention or recurrence of accidents.
Health
D u r i n g the sessions on health, the medical department of the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York was described by Dr. Mary
Crawford; the health service of a group of small plants in Philadelphia
(including 2 confectionery plants, a woolen mill, a silk mill, a bakery,
a manufacturer of elastic goods, a yarn mill, and a mill manufacturingnarrow tape) was described by Dr. G. S. Everts, of the Health Council
of that city; the medical department of the New York Stock Exchange
by Dr. F. Ii. Glazebrook; and the health service and health education
courses of the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. by Dr. C. H.
Watson.
These addresses _and th e discussion following em phasized th a t in
establishing a m edical d e p a rtm en t th e best equipm ent and the m ost
co m petent personnel should be obtained.
D o cto r C raw ford was of th e opinion th a t th e only sound basis on
which to conduct a m edical d ep a rtm en t is th a t of the in tere st of the
em ployees. T h e d ep a rtm en t is n o t there to discipline nor w arn the
em ployees of breaking h ea lth so th a t they m ay be elim inated; i t is
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there to maintain health in the plant at as high a level as possible.
In this connection she emphasized that it is important that the con
fidential ielation between physician and patient shall always be
maintained, even as respects the management.
Besides the obvious advantages of the physical examination to the
employer, it was pointed out that there are also advantages to the
employees. They receive a “ health inventory” without expense,
learn of unsuspected and preventable disabilities, receive health
education, and have the period of service prolonged by keeping fit.
The new occupational hazards that have developed within recent
years through the new processes introduced in industry were de
scribed by the medical director of the General Electric Co. In his
opinion the major industrial hazards at present are lead, mercury,
benzol and allied chemicals, and dust. Other hazards also important
are dermatitis, sulphur dioxide, and chromic acid fumes. He pointed
out that dust is one of the most common hazards, and that prevention
of the silicosis caused by siliceous dust is very expensive; the General
Electric Co., he said, has spent more than $100,000 in improving
dust conditions in its porcelain department alone. In sand blasting,
which is an occupation offering great exposure to dust, the company
hires only men past the age of 45, since it has been found they are
less susceptible than younger men to silicosis.
Wage's
. T he subject of wages—methods, surveys, time study, and prin
ciples of wage determination—was presented by Prof. W. C. Lytle,
of the College of EngineeringNew York University. He pointed
out that time study and motion study go together, their primary
purpose being to discover the one best way of doing the job. In
cidentally they also aid in setting a standard for wage rates, in setting
a definite task, and in giving an added incentive to the worker.
In fixing wage rates, he does not favor basing the rate on the cost
of living; in his opinion the latter should be used only as a check on
the adequacy of the rate.
In incentive plans the incentive should be so designed as to serve
the management’s needs, as for instance a bonus for reducing “ scrap,”
etc. In his opinion a production bonus is preferable to a straight
profit-sharing plan, as the latter may have little relation to individual
merit. In incentive plans the principle of “immediacy,” i. e., of
having the pay envelope show at short intervals the results of ’the
added production due to the incentive plan, is important. Publicity
should be given to task results.
The incentive plan should be simple and understandable by the
employee. In Professor Lytle’s opinion the plan should provide
positive incentives, not negative ones (such as penalties for poor
work); the latter he regards as bad psychology.
Benefits and Insurance
T h e s e sessions dealt w ith m u tu al benefit associations, group in
surance, annuities and pensions, th rift plans, and stock ownership
b y employees. T he advantages and disadvantages of each of these
plans, to em ployer and worker, were discussed. Some form of
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benefit and thrift plan was favored but it was emphasized that
whatever plan was adopted by the plant should be simple, safe, and
flexible.
During these sessions group life insurance and group health and
accident insurance were explained by J. C. Cole, of the Travelers
Insurance Co. He gave the legal definition of group insurance, as
follows:
G rou p life in su r a n c e c o v e r s n o t le s s th a n 50 e m p lo y e e s , w it h or w it h o u t m e d ic a l
e x a m in a tio n , w r itte n u n d e r a p o lic y is s u e d t o t h e e m p lo y e r , t h e p r e m iu m t o b e
p a id b y t h e e m p lo y e r or e m p lo y e r a n d w o r k e rs j o in t ly , a n d in su r in g a ll o f
t h e w o r k e rs or a n y c la s s or c la s se s th e r e o f fo r a m o u n ts o f in su r a n c e b a s e d u p o n
so m e p la n w h ic h p r e c lu d e s in d iv id u a l s e le c tio n , fo r t h e b e n e fit o f p e r so n s o th e r
th a n t h e e m p lo y e r , p r o v id e d , h o w e v e r , if t h e p r e m iu m is p a id j o in t ly a n d in su r
a n c e is o ffered t o a ll o f sp e c ifie d c la s se s, n o t le s s th a n 70 p er c e n t m u s t b e in su re d .
He pointed out that the present tendency is toward joint payment
of premiums. The insurance ends when the employment with the
particular employer ends, but the worker may convert the policy to
a like amount of ordinary life insurance, at the regular rate, without
having to submit to a physical examination. Indeed, one of the
advantages to the worker of group insurance—both against death
and sickness and accident—is that no physical examination is re
quired, and workers below par physically, who would not be eligible
for ordinary insurance, can thus obtain group insurance.
The advantages of building and loan associations and of credit
unions, as means of thrift and sources of credit, were described by
W. W. Stewart, of the Hunter Manufacturing & Commission Co.,
New York City.
Group Relations
T h e se sessions d ealt w ith collective dealing w ith employees, pro
cedure, problem s, and set-up of a jo in t relations plan, handling of
m eetings, etc.
The employee-representation plans of their respective firms were
described by K. L. Reynolds, of the Goodyear Rubber Co.; C. E.
French, of the Colonial Beacon Oil Co.; Grover C. Brown, of the
Bethlehem Steel Corporation; and John H. Wentzien, of the Bordens
Farm Products Co.
Dr. Don H. Taylor described the collective bargaining, on a straight
trade-union basis, between the Printers’ League (the closed-shop
branch of the New York Employing Printers’ Association) and the
printing-trades unions.
Two plans of union-management cooperation were described—that
on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (a plan which has since been
adopted by a number of other railroads), by Capt. Otto S. Beyer,
and that in the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Co., by Francis Goodell.
Essentials of Successful Personnel Work
T h e whole series of meetings and discussions was summarized at
the closing session of the institute by C. R. Dooley, of the Standard
Oil Co., New York City. In closing, he outlined what he felt are
the important factors of successful personnel work. In his opinion
the attitude of the personnel man should be one of helpfulness to
men and management. He should be sympathetic to the problems
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of management, just as he expects the management to be sympa
thetic to personnel problems. It is essential that the personnel
director, in dealing with management, should maintain his ideals
always and stand firm as regards principles; he should not, however,
emphasize the details of improvement or policy too much. In other
words, he should be yielding as regards small things, firm as regards
principles. He; should give credit, not ask for it. His goal is efficiency
for the company and fair treatment and opportunity for the workers.
Above all, in the speaker’s opinion, he shoidd never forget the broad
view, for after all, “ business is social as well as economic.”
L ab or In s titu te a t R u tg e rs U niversity
PROXIMATELY a year ago officials of the New Jersey State
L Federation of Labor, encouraged by the Workers Education
A
Bureau of America, requested the trustees of Rutgers University to
provide for a labor institute at which representatives of labor and
university men familiar with labor matters might study together
some of the outstanding economic problems of special interest to
labor. The trustees were cordial in their cooperation and the re
sponsibility of organizing the meetings was delegated to the university
extension division.
.
The department of economics and the bureau of economics and
business research were also asked to aid in developing the program
and in the collection of data which would be helpful in conducting
the conferences. The whole method of procedure was placed in the
hands of a joint committee representing, respectively, the university,
the New Jersey Federation of Labor, and the Workers Education
Bureau. A brief account of the institute is published in the American
Federationist of August, 1931, from which the information for the
present article is taken.
, ,
Selection of conference members.—It was decided to persuade the
local unions, as far as practicable, to provide for scholarships with a
stipend sufficient to meet the costs of conducting the institute.
While the conference room, dormitories, swimming pool, etc., were
put at the disposal of the delegates by the university, room service,
board, printing, etc., had to be paid for. The maximum charge was
fixed at $31.50 per person, which might be reduced if the numbers m
attendance justified it. Even at this figure there was some deficit,
as many unions were unable to pay for scholarships. Ihe university
made up this deficit.
.
,
•
Invitations were extended not only to trade-unionists but to in
terested persons on the staff of other universities in the East. How
ever, as the institute was held from June 8 to 12, during the peno
of examinations and commencement exercises, the attendance Irom
these higher educational institutions was not so large as_was antici
pated. Some representatives of industry were also invited. With
50 labor delegates and visitors at special sessions, the number oi
persons attending the discussions varied from 75 to 100Program— I t was decided that unemployment should be the main
subject of discussion. The morning sessions were selected for the
formal meetings, the afternoons for recreation, unless the delegates
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wished special meetings at that time, and the evening discussions
were held at the dinner table.
The principal topic—unemployment—was taken up under the follow
ing four heads: How do we get that way? What does it do to us?
What have we done about it? and What ought we to do about it?
Among the speakers were: Prof. Walter R. Peabody and Prof.
Thomas W. Holland, both of Rutgers University; Prof. Willard Atkins,
of New York University; Prof. J. Douglas Brown, of Princeton Uni
versity; Dr. Frank Johnson, pediatrist, of New Brunswick, N. J.; the
president of the American Federation of Labor; Matthew Woll; Dr.
Emil Frankel; and Mrs. Lillian Gilbreth.
All who participated in the proceedings agreed that the labor
institute should be made a regular feature of Rutgers summer campus
activities.
R e co m m e n d a tio n s
of
1931 In te rn a tio n a l
C onference
M an ag em en t
recommendations made in resolutions adopted at the
second international conference, organized by the International
AMONG
Management Institute, which met in Geneva, July 1 to 4, 1931,
l
were the following:1
Overproduction
T he m aking of v o lu n tary agreem ents betw een producers w ithin
each division of in d u stry or agriculture in w hich such agreem ents
m ay be possible, w ith a view to elim inating overproduction and u n
reasonable com petition; provided, however, th a t the consum ers’
interests are always protected by adequate publicity concerning these
agreem ents.
The establishment of international sources of information upon
which to base the scientific study of problems of distribution, in order
to furnish the latest possible data so that every undertaking may be
aided in adjusting its production to the consumers’ actual require
ments.
. T h e grad u al increase of consum ption by the expansion of purchasm g pow er effected through the reduction of costs and prices, in order
tlia t existing surpluses and new products m ay be absorbed by assuring
the whole com m unity an im proved and b roader stan d ard of living.
Unemployment
T hat u n d ertakings should m ake every effort by a judicious a d ju st
m e n t of em ploym ent, and particularly, in those industries where it
is possible, by a tem p o rary and coordinated reduction in hours of
work, to reduce to a m inim um the dem oralizing effects of to ta l unem
ploym ent.
1 h a t until the restoration of economic confidence results in a rede
velopm ent of business in itiativ e and an increase in th e purchasing
pow er of consum ers, those who are to tally unem ployed should be
g u aran teed th e necessary help, either by th eir professional associations
or by th e com m unity, u n til reengaged or transferred.
1 Data are from International Labor Office, Industrial and Labor Information, Geneva, July 27, 1931.
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That as far as possible the larger aspects of these questions should
be dealt with by regular discussion between employers’ and workers’
organizations. Such contacts are fruitful in mutual understanding
and in collaboration.
Mechanization
T he general adoption of system atic control m ethods in the every
d ay m anagem ent of enterprises in order to relieve from routine those
in positions of responsibility.
The full utilization of each individual’s capacity and initiative and
the provision of means by which he may procure additional technical
knowledge.
A favorable attitude toward every device tending to secure intellec
tual and cultural development and consequently the improved use
of the leisure resulting from a reduction in the hours of work and less
exhausting labor.
Economic Instability
T h e w idest possible application of the system of groups for the
exchange of experience (m anagem ent groups). T he value of such
groups has been em phasized by th e reports and discussions subm itted
to the conference and the recom m endations adopted in accordance
therew ith.
The development of professional institutions based on wider indus
trial groupings and providing a channel by which they may develop,
in the name of the profession as a whole and for the benefit of each
of its members, research, study, and statistics providing for all the
basic facts essential to direction and to reorganization.
And, above all, the practical extension of the principles of ration
alization, first to each profession and industry, conscious of the close
community of the interests of its members, and later to whole nations,
whose declarations of agreement, however emphatic, are to-day only
too often mere verbiage.
Social Consequences
T hat all those seeking for the rational organization of th eir own
enterprises should give special consideration to th e social results
of th e m easures th ey take, w ith special reference to the physical and
m oral conditions of their establishm ents, th e proper tre a tm e n t of
th eir w orkers, th e prosperity of those dependent on them , and the
provision for leisure and its use.
The congress, therefore, recommends:
That international agreements, which are the ultimate form of
rationalization, either within trades or between nations, should make
provision for the maintenance under a system of quotas or licenses—
less objectionable than the constant increase of customs duties—of
elements in production regarded as indispensable to national economic
balance, even in cases where they may not be organized to the maxi
mum efficiency.
That here, too, rationalization, by indicating the most varied and
the most elastic forms for the organization of interests, should provide
its own remedy for the inconveniences to which it gives rise and offers
most fruitful means of defense, collaboration, and of development.
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International Collaboration
T hat the International Management Institute be requested to
prepare as promptly as possible, with the collaboration of the various
national committees, a list of the official and private committees,
organizations, and technical, scientific, and educational institutions
in all countries, which are carrying on work relating to the general
field of rationalization ; and that copies of such list be issued to institu
tions for higher education, for professional and technical training,
and to schools of business; for the purpose of facilitating contact
between these schools and the different research groups.
M exican L ab or Colony a t B e th leh em , P a .
HE Mexican colony in Bethlehem, Pa., was built up mainly by
the transportation from the Southwest of Mexican workers under
contract with the Bethlehem Steel Co. In 1923 the settlement reached
its peak population of about 1,000. Since then its numbers have
rapidly declined, and in 1929 there were probably 350 or 400 in the
colony, with those arriving and leaving about balancing each other.
A monograph dealing with this colony forms the sixth of the published
researches made by Paul S. Taylor on a grant from the Social Science
Research Council and issued by the University of California.1 He
made three visits to Bethlehem—the first in the early part of 1928
and the last in the early part of 1930.
Previous to 1923 there were only a few Mexicans in Bethlehem.
In the spring of that year, however, there was an industrial revival
and the steel comp any A idle furnaces were again started up. In
order to meet the increasing demand for labor, efforts were made to
secure Mexicans, with the result that between April 6 and May 30,
1923, there were 912 Mexican men, 29 women and 7 children trans
ported from Texas to Bethlehem. Mexican workers were also sent
to other plants of the company.
The recruiting was done through Texas employment agencies,
cooperating with the Mexican consulate general in San Antonio.
One of the company’s Spanish employees was detailed to Texas to
aid in procuring and handling the desired labor. A representative
of the Bethlehem Steel Co. and the Mexican consul general in San
Antonio signed the contract covering the Mexican nationals shipped
out of that city, as the latter wished to protect his departing country
men.
T
A ccording to th e ag reem ent, th e cost of tra n sp o rta tio n w as to be deducted
from earnings in sem im onthly in stallm en ts of $3.50 each, b u t those who rem ained
in th e em ploy of th e co m p an y one y e a r w ere to receive back all deductions.
T he tra n sp o rta tio n of fam ilies w as p aid b y th e com pany w ith o u t reim bursem ent.
Q u arters a n d bo ard w ere pro v id ed in com pany houses fo r $1.10 a d ay . W ages
were to be a m inum u m of 30 cen ts p e r h o u r, fo r such h o u rs as w ere p e rm itte d
by P en n sy lv an ia sta tu te , a n d were to be th e sam e as those of m en of o th e r n a tio n
a lity doing th e sam e w ork. M exicans w ere n o t to be discharged w ith o u t ju s t
cause, a n d an y who m ig h t becom e public charges fo r w h atev er cause were to be
1 Several of these reports have already been summarized in the M onthly Labor R eview March 1929
Mexican labor in the Imperial Valley, Calif, (pp. 37-47); September, 1929, Mexican labor in the South
Platte valley, Calif, (pp. 59-65); and January, 1931, Increase of Mexican labor in certain industries in
the United States (pp. 81-83).
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retu rn e d a t com pany expense to San A ntonio. U nder th e la tte r provision th e
com pany did re tu rn som e in ju red M exicans, n o t only to San A ntonio b u t to
th e ir hom es in M ichoacan.
The boarding house at Bethlehem was run by a commissary com
pany which used Mexican cooks. Certain families did their own
cooking. A Mexican with a small store sold groceries and other
commodities which his countrymen desired, and for awhile was
protected against bad debts by company deductions from wages.
The coming of the Mexicans was without doubt a shock to the
people of Bethlehem and gave rise to exaggerated statements about
this newly imported labor. I t was rumored that these workers were
strike breakers taking the places of natives who were reported to have
left the plant demanding higher wages. Some weeks before there had
been danger of serious labor disturbances. The company represent
ative, however, regarded these reports as propaganda to keep Mexi
cans from coming to Bethlehem and denied the existence of a strike.
An investigation was made by the Mexican consul at Philadelphia,
who found conditions satisfactory to the imported laborers.
In 1929 a minor official of the company said, in reference to the
attitude of the other workers toward the newcomers: “ The other
employees knew there was a shortage of labor, so they accepted the
Mexicans.” That the Bethlehem workers were not pleased at the
advent of the Mexicans is quite obvious, however, the writer thinks,
from a newspaper item published about the time of their arrival.
The claim that there was a dearth of labor at this period is cor
roborated by the Pennsylvania State employment office report under
date of March 15, 1923, that “ in the iron and steel industry it is
impossible to supply the needs for unskilled workers.”
In order to avoid the importing of diseased workers to Bethlehem,
prospective recruits were required to submit to a physical examination
in Texas.
Labor Relations
S o m e Mexicans come to Bethlehem in search of work because they
hear of the large steel mills in that locality. If they get jobs they
stay, if not, they leave. Considerable numbers of them have come
to Bethlehem because they had relatives already employed in the
town. Frequently, money has been forwarded to Mexico or Texas
to enable them to make the long trip. A remarkable instance is that
of one of the group shipped from Texas in 1923, who has been followed
by 7 brothers and 3 sisters, together with the families of those who
were married, making a total of 30 persons.
As soon as the Mexicans reached Bethlehem in 1923 they began
to scatter to look for more attractive jobs than the steel company
offered. The greatest number on the pay roll of that company in any
month of those who were originally brought from Texas in 1923 was
790 in May of that year. By the middle of the summer there were
24 per cent less, by November the number was 53 per cent under the
maximum, and by the close of the same year 71 per cent.
In the spring of 1930 only 46 Mexicans who were known to belong
to the original group shipped in 1923 remained on the company s
rolls. Estimates of the total number of Mexicans employed in 1930
range from 90 to 150. Including Mexicans born in the United States,
the writer considers 125 a conservative figure.
77459°— 31----- 6
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U pon arriv al in B ethlehem th e original contingents of M exicans were concen
tra te d in bunkhouses in a lab o r cam p. In a little over a year, how ever, th e sc a t
terin g of M exicans to o th e r localities in th e E a st, th e ir re tu rn to th e Southw est
or Mexico, a n d th e ir dispersion to o th e r dom iciles in B ethlehem dep o p u lated
th e cam p. T he com pany th e n ceased to p rovide special arran g em en ts for
boarding M exicans. Some of th e solos w ere alread y board in g w ith M exican
fam ilies; now th e y are found b oarding w ith Polish, W endish, Slovak, Spanish,
and M exican fam ilies. Some of th e m live in groups, ren tin g an d housekeeping
for them selves, each m a n b u ying his ow n food a n d doing his own cooking. M ost
of th e M exicans live in to w n houses, b u t a num ber, b o th of fam ilies and solos,
still live in com pany-ow ned houses a t th e coke p la n t.
The greater number of the Mexicans of Bethlehem live scattered
about the southern front of the works. They are not segregated in
such clearly defined districts as characterize Mexican colonization in
the southwestern part of the country. Early in 1929, about 124
Mexican men, women, and children were living in the neighborhood
of the coke works, according to an estimate made by two Mexicans.
This group included 17 families with 56 children and 34 unattached
persons.
There are also a few Mexican workers who are not employed by
the steel company, 4 having become machinists and 3 machinists’
helpers in Allentown which is close to Bethlehem. In Bethlehem
itself there were probably only 2 or 3 Mexican men who are not em
ployees of the steel company. There are 7 or 8 Mexican girls working
in a cigar factory, while a couple of boys and a few girls are employed
in a silk factory. A 5-and-10-cent store has a Mexican clerk, and a
hotel steward employs a Mexican boy part time.
Almost all of the Mexican employees of the steel company are
laborers. There are, however, a very few skilled mechanics and semi
skilled workers among them. According to a statement of a Mexican,
there are artisans among the Mexican laborers—carpenters and
machinists—but they are not asked to follow their trades. This
informant added, however, that these men do not speak English.
On the whole, the comments of numbers of executives on the
Mexicans’ industrial qualities were favorable. One executive, who
had more direct experience with Mexican labor than some of the other
reporting officials, made the following statement:
I d o n ’t th in k th a t th e M exicans are in h eren tly different from o th e r people.
T hey are very easy to h an d le if th e y are given ju s t tre a tm e n t a n d are greeted
w ith a smile. We ru le th em , b u t we are ju s t. W e te ll th e m w h a t to do a n d expect
th em to do it; b u t we d o n ’t w orry th e m w ith w h a t n o t to do. I ta k e a personal
in terest in each M exican, an d h av e o b tain ed th e ir confidence. If th e y a re sick
or in tro u b le of any so rt, th e y usually come an d tell m e. If th ey are sick, we send
th em to th e hospital.
The Mexicans were reported as not standing the cold as well as
other nationalities, but as being especially good for hot work on the
open-hearth or blast furnaces. The rapid scattering of the Mexicans
shipped to Bethlehem in 1923 to other employment led to the
report that these workers were unreliable. Their “ steadiness,”
however, was said to have increased. Possibly this latter observation
was due to the departure of the more nomadic employees as much
as to the better adaptation of Mexicans to industrial regularity.
The following observations of a Mexican are of interest in this con
nection :
T he forem en like th e M exicans. T he A m erican people d o n ’t like to w ork;
th e M exicans do an y th in g . T h e fam ily m en are stead y a n d like stead y w ork.
[824]
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INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND LABOR CONDITIONS
T he single m en say, “ L et th e m arried fellow w ork.
are going to have a good tim e .”
77
To hell w ith th e w ork, we
The survey showed that the proportion of families has increased.
In making comments upon their employment the Mexicans noted
both favorable and unfavorable conditions. The following observa
tions were made by a group of Mexicans:
T here is no discrim ination in movies, re sta u ra n ts, b a rb e r shops, b u t th ere is in th e
work. T he bosses give p ro tectio n to th e ir own race. T h ey give th e m ost d an g er
ous w ork a n d th e low est-paid jo b s to M exicans. T h e M exicans g e t less. Yes,
if th e y are doing th e sam e w ork th e y g et eq u al pay . T he A m ericans do n o t m ake
distinctions. T he A m ericans are su p erin ten d e n ts.
Even before the steel company had recourse to Mexican labor an
attempt had been made to scatter nationalities and place a neutral,
if possible an American, in charge.
We tr y to keep th em sp lit up p re tty well; we th in k we have a little b e tte r con
tro l over th em then. If we h av e a Slavish forem an on one shift, we p u t a W endish
forem an on another. T he Slavish forem an w ould p u t m o st of th e w ork on th e
W endish, an d vice versa.
Social Relations
P r e j u d i c e against Mexicans in Bethlehem because of their color
apparently was not strong and only occasional, if it had any existence.
No color distinction was reported in the case of the few Mexican chil
dren in the schools.
In 1927 a characteristic mutual benefit society was organized but
expired. It was succeeded by another which in 1930 claimed a mem
bership of 120. The initiation fee was 50 cents and the monthly
dues $1. After a waiting period, sick benefits of $8 a week are
paid for 13 weeks and longer if the society votes approval. The
death benefit is $100 plus a collection of $1 from each member.
Only a very small percentage of the Mexicans living in Bethlehem
or in other parts of the United States have become American citizens,
most of them expecting to return to Mexico. However, in Bethlehem
they learn English more rapidly and adopt the characteristic American
urban garb more readily than in the rural Southwest. In 1929 four
Mexicans had bought homes in Bethlehem. The town also had a
Mexican grocery, a barber shop, a pool hall, and a stand for selling
Mexican newspapers. A considerable number of the Mexican workers
buy company stock.
No criticisms were made in Bethlehem concerning the cleanliness of
Mexicans, and the record of Mexican children in school, according to
the reports of teachers and school officials, “ was at least equal to that
of the other children, a large proportion of whom were of European
parentage.”
Mexicans take little part in politics. Voting is restricted to the
few, 18 in number, according to a report made early in 1930, who are
naturalized citizens or were born in this country.
Apart from their grievances against foremen of European stock,
little friction existed between Mexicans and other nationalities except
the Poles. Intermarriages of Mexican men with women of other
nationalities were reported as comparatively frequent. None of the
Mexican women had intermarried. The Mexicans have some sense
of kinship with other Latin Americans living in Bethlehem. Some
Mexicans were included among the members of a Spanish club.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[825]
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M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
Spaniards were eligible for membership in the Mexican society, al
though when the inquiry was made in the early part of 1929 none had
applied for admission.
While the northern climate has without doubt been a factor in the
departure of many Mexicans from Bethlehem, others have become
accustomed to the colder temperatures.
The Future
W h e t h e r or not additional supplies of Mexican labor from the
Southwest will be drafted for Bethlehem, the author thinks is a ques
tion not to be answered at present. The colony in that town, how
ever, has proven that it is able to maintain itself at a long distance
from its source without recurring shipments by the company. With
or without such importations it is, according to a subordinate execu
tive, “ a nucleus for the future.” 1
1The present tense has been used throughout the report in reference to the period in which the greater
part of the field work was carried on, viz. 1929. References to 1930, w hen that date is of importance, are
indicated in the text.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[826]
COOPERATION
C ooperative B u ria l A ssociation s in th e N o rth C en tral S ta te s
HE high cost of funerals has led to the formation, within the past
few years, of a number of cooperative funeral associations in the
T
North Central States. Some of these are in farming and some m
mining districts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has rccoid of 5 such
societies in Illinois, 10 in Iowa, 5 in Minnesota, and 5 in South
Dakota. The Illinois societies are those of coal miners, while those
in the other States are mainly in rural and farming districts. The
present article gives data for 13 such organizations, in the States of
Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota, which furnished reports to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
.
.
These reporting associations include m their membership nearly
7,000 families. The average society is a nonstock, nonprofit organiza
tion, with 524 members, doing business on the cost-plus basis. It
allows all members an equal voice in the society, and is reported as
saving the members from one-third to one-half the current cost ot
funerals.
_
. .
Age and Size of Associations
O f t h e 13 associations reporting, the two oldest societies are a little
over 4 years old, having been formed in 1927. Of the others, 3 were
formed in 1928, 4 in 1929, and 3 in 1930. The average age of all the
societies is 2 years and 3 months.1
These organizations range in size from 215 to 1,300 members, Six
of them have 500 members or more. The average membership is 524.
Membership Basis
T h e South Dakota associations operate on a capital-stock basis,
but the societies in Iowa and Minnesota are nonstock organizations
operating with funds obtained through the sale of membership certifi
cates. Of the nine associations reporting in Iowa and Minnesota, all
but two have a membership fee of $5; the remaining societies charge
$10 Of the associations in South Dakota, one has shares of $5 each
and the other three have shares of $10 each. Several societies express
the opinion that $5 is too low, and that $10 would have been preferable.
One Iowa society requires a membership fee of $15 in cases m which
membership is not taken out until after a death.
Each member is required to pay the membership fee (or buy one
share of stock, in the stock association), and receives m return a
membership certificate or stock certificate. The membership certifii In contrast w ith the 3 Illinois societies for which the bureau has data, which were established in 1915,
1921, and 1924.
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80
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
cate is nontransferable, but in most cases entitles the whole family of
the member to the benefits of the society. Several of the Iowa
societies provide that the certificate becomes void upon the death of
the person to whom it was issued. The Minnesota societies reporting
specify, however, that the death of the member does not bar the
surviving members of the family from benefit, and that the certificate
becomes void only when all the single children under 30, and the
husband and wife, and all other dependent relatives have died. The
membership fee is then transferred to the “ free-burial fund.”
In the South Dakota societies the shares of stock are transferable,
but only on the books of the association. As in the other two States,
the membership (obtained by the purchase of a share of stock) is a
family membership.
Nearly all of the societies provide that if a member moves from the
district in which the association operates, his membership fee shall be
refunded.
Voting
W i t h o u t exception the Iowa and Minnesota societies adhere to
the cooperative principle of one man, one vote. The South Dakota
societies, however, are evenly divided on the question, two adhering
to this method and two allowing vote by shares.
None of the Iowa societies allows proxy voting, but one Minnesota
society does so, and all but one of the South Dakota societies.
Management
I n a l l cases the society is under the charge of a board of directors—
usually seven in number—and elected for a term of one or two years.
These elect the officers from among their own number.
Business Principles, and Services Rendered
M ost of th e societies studied furnish th e m em bers com plete funeral
service, from th e em balm ing of th e body to actu al in term en t. In one
case, however, th e only business of th e society so far is th e selling of
caskets.
In one case the funeral service is supplied through a contract with
a local undertaker. The society supplies the casket and pays the
undertaker $60 for each funeral of an adult. For this sum the under
taker does the embalming, directs the funeral services, and supplies
the hearse (within a radius of 15 miles) and other equipment. The
rent of the casket showroom is the only fixed expense of the associa
tion, as the secretary of the organization is paid on a commission basis.
The secretary states: “ Most of our funerals cost from $130 to $170,2
and the average saving is over $100 per funeral.”
In another society the cost ranges from $123 to $310, the latter
figure including cost of “ good steel casket and steel vault.”
The largest society of all owns its own funeral home, two hearses,
and other equipment, and employs its own undertaker.
2Includes embalming, funeral directing, casket (and wooden box), use of hearse (within radius of 15 miles),
use of lowering device, and grave cover. Does not include digging of grave, furnishing of automobiles, or
steel or concrete cover for casket.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[ 828 ]
81
COOPERATION
Only one society operates on the basis of current prices. Tie
others try to operate as near cost as possible, with due provision lor
overhead, incidentals, etc. One society reports that its overhead is
covered by a 20 per cent profit on casket and vault.
The South Dakota associations provide that the cost ol funerals to
nonmembers shall be fixed by the board of directors on the basis of
“ the cost price of supplies and the expenses in connection with such
funeral, including wear, tear, and depreciation of vehicles used, and the
amount of salary of director or assistant, and other overhead expenses
or the costs of such funeral may be by the board of directors delegated
to the funeral director.”
. ..
,, . . , +uQT1
Only two societies have a reserve fund (m one this is less than
$100), but several societies report that they are trying to accumulate
a small reserve for emergencies.
. .
n.
The by-laws of nearly all of the societies provide that any profits
made, above the amount placed in the reserve fund shall be divided
among the members on the basis of patronage, and m a number ot
cases the by-laws provide for a regular appropriation for an educational
fund to be used for the teaching of cooperation. However, as the
societies report, almost without exception, that they made either
very small profits or no profits at all on the year s operations, these
provisions have evidently been without practical effect.
One society states that the small profits made thus far have been
used to buy equipment; it has bought a hearse which ^ being paid for
in this manner. In the future, prices will be reduced if it is found
that a profit is being made.
Special Provisions
P r a c t i c a l l y all of the societies have a “ free burial fund,” from
which assistance can be given in cases m which the members family
is unable to pay the funeral expenses. The sources of revenue for
this fund consist of lapsed membership fees and an assessment of
25 cents per member per year. In addition, the South Dakota
societies provide that a certain proportion of any profits made during
the year shall be set aside for the free burial fund.
Operations in 1930
T he
table following shows summary data as to the 1930 operations.
M E M B E R SH IP A N D BU SIN E SS OF COOPERATIVE B U R IA L ASSOCIATIONS. 1930
State
-,
r __
■
T otal-----------------------------------------i Nonstock associations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Number
of socie
ties re
porting
Number
of mem
bers
6
3
4
3, 373
1, 593
1,845
13
6,811
2 3 societies.
[829]
Paid-in
share
capital
Amount
of busi
ness, 1930
Net
profit,
1930
2 $11, 873
(')
(')
8, 075
$10, 350
3 $868
36, 448
1,619
10, 350
3 2 societies.
Reserve
fund
4 $84
4 1, 200
a 401
1, 284
82
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Results Accomplished
I t i s seen that the volume of business done in 1930 was not great.
The main criterion of success of these organizations, however, is the
saving made for the members at the time when the bereaved family
needs it most. As to this the reports are practically unanimous.
One society, which has been in operation two years and a half,
reports: “ We are sure we have saved our members at least $10,000.
based on prices charged by the regular undertakers, since we started
in business. It has brought prices down all along the line.”
The society which sells only caskets claims that it saves its members
50 per cent on this item. Another association says: “ We save our
members from $100 upwards on each funeral.” A third states:
“ We have cut down funeral expenses to less than one-half, or nearly
to one-third, of wdiat we used to pay, and we are well satisfied with
our organization.” A fourth declares that the burial association
“ has been a boon to the middle class, as we have been able to cut
the cost of funerals in two.”
The secretary of an Iowa society with 500 members remarks that
the society has saved the members from one-third to one-half of
what they formerly paid, and that the membership and business is
showing a steady increase. This official is of the opinion that a
cooperative burial association should have at least 400 members in
order to insure a fair volume of business.
The secretary-manager of a South Dakota society with 400 members
points out that in 1930 the death rate among the membership was
unusually low. “Our aim is to have a membership of 1,000 families
or more. This will cut down overhead and keep equipment and
undertaker in employment.”
The only report which expressed anything but complete conviction
as to the success of the society was a small organization of 285
members. The secretary of this society states: “Although this asso
ciation has been operating one year, it is hard to tell how it will
materialize. All earnings so far have been invested in equipment.”
And he adds the following warning for burial associations: “Avoid
one-man management.”
Difficulty experienced by the cooperative associations in obtaining
caskets and other funeral supplies, because of the opposition of pri
vate business, was pointed out by a Minnesota society. This society
also reports that representatives of the five societies in that State
met on June 26, 1931, and formed a State federation, whose main
purpose will be to look after the interests of the local associations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[830]
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
R h e u m a tic D isease A m ong In d u strial W orkers
REPORT in the Statistical Bulletin, August, 1931, published by
the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., states that although
rheumatic disease is a minor cause of death it is of great importance
from the standpoint of morbidity. Only about 4,500 deaths occur
annually in the United States from rheumatism in all its forms,
about two-thirds of which result from acute rheumatic fever and the
remainder from chronic rheumatism. In both the general population
and among the industrial policyholders of the company the death
rate from acute rheumatic fever has been declining steadily for a
long time, while that for chronic rheumatism has been small and
almost stationary.
Rheumatic disease is important, however, because of its great
prevalence, particularly in the disabling chronic forms. A survey
covering over 600,000 persons, made by the company in 1917, showed
that rheumatism was one of the most important causes of disability.
The rate for persons suffering from the disease was 164.4 per 100,000
of the persons surveyed, or about 9 per cent of all the illnesses re
ported. Disability from rheumatic disease was exceeded only by
that from accidents, which caused only 8 per cent more cases. _ Other
chronic conditions show a much lower rate, tuberculosis causing lesfe
than half as many cases of disabling sickness, heart disease and
cerebral hemorrhage each two-fifths as many, and cancer only onetenth. Although these figures probably somewhat overstate the case,
since the term “ rheumatism” may be used to describe indefinite and
undiagnosed conditions, it is considered that most of the cases were
true rheumatic conditions affecting either the joints or the muscles.
Similar figures showing the high prevalence of rheumatic disease were
compiled by the United States Public Health Service in the study of
sickness in Hagerstown, Md., made from December, 1921, to March,
i924.
..
T.,
Sickness statistics of persons insured by the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. under group contracts, for. the year 1928, show that for
illnesses lasting more than one week there were 8.5 claims per 1,000
males insured for rheumatic conditions, most of the rheumatic disa
bility being caused by the acute form.
A much higher sickness rate is shown in different surveys for women
than for men, the rate for women in the Metropolitan surveys being
one and one-half that for males, and in the Hagerstown study twice
that of men.
. .
Age is an important factor in all types of sickness, but particularly
in the chronic forms. In the Metropolitan studies the rate for rheu
matic disease was only 0.2 person per 1,000 for the group under 15
A
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[831 ]
83
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
84
years of age, increasing to 0.9 at ages 15-35; 3.1 at ages 35-54; and
11 from age 55 and over. Similar figures were shown by the Hagers
town study.
#
.
The extent of disability from rheumatic disease was shown m Metro
politan surveys of 1915 to 1917. In those studies only 12.4 per cent
of those reported to be suffering from rheumatic conditions were at
work. The illnesses from this cause were also of Jong duration. In
two localities for which the duration was studied, 35.4 per cent of
these patients had suffered from rheumatism three years or more,
while only 17.4 per cent of the illnesses from all causes had lasted that
length of time.
Rheumatic conditions are closely associated with certain occupa
tions, the sickness rates generally being highest in industries and occu
pations in which there is exposure to extremes of heat or cold or to
dampness. Excessively high rates are shown by the statistics of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for quarry workers, iron miners,
employees of steam railroads and subway and elevated roads, and
paper and pulp workers. Low rates were found among employees of
machinery and metal-working plants and in the printing industry.
The disability experience of the Boston Edison Electric Illuminating
Co. showed high sickness rates from rheumatism among repairmen,
linemen, chauffeurs, meter testers, laborers, firemen, and oilers.
The economic loss from rheumatic disability is high. It has been
estimated that rheumatic disease causes an annual loss of 7,500,000
weeks of work and of $200,000,000 in wages. There is a further in
direct loss in impaired efficiency which can not be calculated.
The importance of rheumatic disease as a public health problem
has only recently been fully recognized. Ten years ago only two or
three clinics for its study could be found in the country, while now
they are found in nearly every medical center. Recently a committee
on the control of rheumatism has been formed which is similar to those
which have been so successful in the campaigns against tuberculosis,
cancer, and heart disease. The purposes of the committee are the
promotion of research into the various forms of rheumatic disease,
the furnishing of information to the medical profession, and the de
velopment of clinical facilities for treatment.
Skin D isease fro m B razilian W a ln u t W ood
A N OUTBREAK of dermatitis early in 1931, in a cabinetmaking
X jL plant employing about 100 men, led to an investigation 1 of the
causes by the United States Public Health Service. At the time the
cases occurred the men were working on an order calling for the use
of Brazilian walnut, the wood for which had been purchased from an
importer a short time before.
The cases, which numbered 11 in all, developed in from two days to
two weeks from the beginning of exposure. The workers who were
mainly affected were those who came in contact with the sawdust and
those who sandpapered the wood. In addition to those who developed
the dermatitis, many of those working in the room developed a coryza
i United States Public Health Service.
Public Health Reports, Aug. 14,1931, Dermatitis venenata due
to contact with Brazilian walnut wood, by Louis Schwartz, Senior Surgeon.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[832]
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL H YGIENE
85
and sneezing while at work. The first symptoms were burning and
itching of the face and eyelids, which in some of the cases was limited
to those parts but in others spread to the hands, neck, and other
exposed parts of the body. In general the men were not incapacitated
for work but recovered after a few weeks so that it appeared that a
tolerance to the wood may be developed in susceptible individuals.
In some cases there was swelling of the face and eyelids and the itching
and burning was accompanied by a papular, scaly eruption. The
dermatitis was so severe in three cases that work had to be given up
for a time.
inquiry was made of other firms which had purchased the wood
from the importer. Replies were received from 10 firms, all but one
of which had had cases of dermatitis which had been attributed to the
Brazilian walnut. One firm stated that the majority of the workers
were affected, while other companies reported only one or two cases.
In one instance use of the wood had been discontinued because of the
dermatitis among those working with it.
Tests of the irritative quality of the sawdust were made on three
volunteers. For the test a small piece of gauze was moistened with
water and completely covered with sawdust. This was placed on
the skin of the back, covered by larger pieces of rubber and flannel,
and secured in place with adhesive plaster. There was a positive
reaction under the patch at the end of 24 hours in each case, which
varied from a mild redness of the skin with a few small blisters, which
lasted only one day, to a very marked erythema lasting more than
a week.
Sickness A m ong M ale In d u stria l Em ployees
STUDY of the frequency of disabling sickness among a group of
industrial employees is carried on regularly by the United States
A Public
Health Service. The study is based on the frequency of claims
for sickness and nonindustrial accident benefits among a group of
industrial sick-benefit associations covering about 135,000 male indus
trial employees. The most recent report 1relates to the first quarter
of 1931 and shows that the favorable health record of 1930 was con
tinued into this year. A widespread outbreak of influenza occurred
in the first two months of 1931, but with this exception, and possibly
that of tuberculosis of the respiratory system, respiratory diseases
occurred less frequently than in the same period in 1930 and 1929.
As influenza and pneumonia rates generally fluctuate together, the
low rate for pneumonia in the first quarter of this year is noteworthy,
although it may be accounted for by declining industrial activity,
especially in the iron and steel industry, in which an abnormal inci
dence of pneumonia appears to be associated with occupations
involving exposure to wide changes of temperature. A lower inci
dence rate is shown for all of the nonrespiratory disease groups in
1931 as compared with the same period in 1930 and 1929, the greatest
decrease having occurred in the incidence of diseases of the digestive
system and in diseases of the skin.
1 United States Public Health Service. Public Health Reports, July 31, 1931, pp. 1799, 1800. Sickness
among male industrial employees in the first quarter of 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Industrial depressions, with the resultant worry over finances and
the insecurity of jobs, may have an influence upon the rate for nervous
diseases. In 1921 the rate for cases of neurasthenia was 2.5 cases
per 1,000 males, a higher rate than has occurred in any year since
that time. In view of that fact, and also because the medical director
of a large industrial establishment has recently found an unusual
number of cases of nervous indigestion and other nervous conditions
which he ascribes to the effects of the depression, the rate for neuras
thenia is shown separately in the following table. Although thetre
is no indication in these figures of an increase in the frequency of
diseases of this type, it is considered that it is possible the remainder
of the year may show a change in this respect.
. The following table shows the frequency of disabilities lasting
eight calendar days or longer among male industrial employees in the
first quarter of 1931 as compared with the corresponding quarter in
1929 and^ 1930. _The table covers the morbidity experience of 18
identical industrial establishments in 1930 and 1931 and of 15 of
these establishments reporting in 1929. The average number of
males covered in the records in the three years, 1929 to 1931, were
131,117, 134,469, and 123,222, respectively.
FR E Q U E N C Y OF D ISA BIL IT IES LA STIN G E IG H T C A L E N D A R D A Y S OR LONGER
FIR ST QUA R TER OF 1929, 1930, A N D 1931
Disease causing disability
Number of dis
abilities per 1,000
in first quarter of—
1929
Respiratory diseases:
Influenza and grippe
Bronchitis____
Pneumonia, all forms _
Diseases of pharynx and
to n s ils ___
Tuberculosis of respiratory
sy stem ^ ___
Other respiratory diseases..
Total
______
Nonrespiratory diseases:
Diseases of stomach
Diarrhea and enteritis.........
Appendicitis_______
U ernia.. . . . _____
Other digestive diseases___
Rheumatism, acute and
chronic___ . . .
Lumbago and other dis- |
eases of organs of locomotion__________
1930
1931
82. 1
7.3
5.3
23.2
7. 3
4.8
47. 1
5 9
3.8
8.3
8.8
7.5
.S
.S
6.2 6. 1
Disease causing disability
1929
Nonrespiratory diseases—Con.
Neuralgia, neuritis, sciatica.
1
51. 1
70. 6
4.6
5.0
3. 9
.8 1. 2 . 7
4. 6
4. 4
3. 5
2.0 2.0 2. 1
3. 6
3.3
2.5
6.5
6.4
6.0
4.4
4.1
3.4
3.0
1.5
Other diseases of nervous
system ______. . . . . .
Diseases of circulatory and
genito-urinary systems
1
5. 2
no. i
Number of dis
abilities per 1,000
in first quarter of—
Epidemic and endemic diseases, except influenza. _
Ill-defined and unknown
Total cases of sickness.
Nonindustrial injuries___ . .
Total sickness and injuries________________
2. 5
1.4
1. 1
8.0
1.3
1.4
4.8
9.2
3.9
6.0
4.0
8
59
1931
2. 5
1.3
8.6
All other diseases
T otal. ______
1930
2.9
3.1
4
4 6
56 7
47 6
169. 6 107 8 118 2
11. 7 10. 9
10.0
181. 3 118. 7 128 2
Los Angeles C ity E m p lo y ees’ H ealth Clinic
COMMUNICATION from D. S. Parkes, in charge of the hos
pitalization and insurance services for employees of the Depart
ment of Water and Power, Los Angeles, Calif., gives an account of
the organization of a health clinic by the employees of that branch of
the city government.
The clinic, which was started in 1929, now occupies a 2-story
building with more than 50 rooms. It is in the charge of 2 physicians
of standing—one of whom does all the major operations—and they
A
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87
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
have associated with them 18 graduate physicians who include
various specialists. The clinic employs also 10 nurses, 2 laboratory
technicians, and 5 office employees.
There are about 2,000 employees of the water^ and power depart
ment who are members of the organization, and it is said that more
would become members if it were not for giving up their family
doctors. Other city groups have joined, also, so that the total
membership at present is approximately 6,500. The monthly fee of
$2 is deducted from the pay of the employees. The fee entitles
members to free medical care, operations, dressings, medicine, and
hospitalization, while all dependents of members are given free
medical and surgical care, but pay the actual cost of hospitalization,
nurses, and medicine. Hospital cases are not cared for at the clinic
but are sent to one of the city hospitals.
At the end of two years’ operation of the clinic a check-up of the
results was made through the various division and subdivision heads,
and it was agreed that there has been a marked increase in efficiency
on the part of the personnel, less absenteeism because of prolonged
illness, and a notable improvement in morale and esprit de corps, the
better morale no doubt being largely attributable to the fact that
employees are freed from the usual worries as to finances in the case
of illness.
O ccu p atio n al Diseases In vestigated in M a ssach u setts in 1930
HE report of the division of industrial safety of the Massachusetts
Department of Labor for the year 1930 1 shows that there were
T
389 cases of industrial disease (including four fatalities) investigated
during the year. The majority of cases occurred among men, only
41 cases being reported for women. There was one fatality during
the year due to anthrax. Other fatal cases in which the cause was
not so clear-cut or which were disputed by the insurance company
were a case of pneumonoconiosis occurring in the granite-cutting
industry; a case of pulmonary tuberculosis, this worker also having
been employed in the granite industry; and a case diagnosed as
actinomycosis but in which the attending physician stated there was
only a casual relation between injury and death.
The following table shows the number of investigated cases of
occupational disease by cause:
C A S E S O F O C C U P A T IO N A L D IS E A S E I N V E S T I G A T E D IN M A S S A C H U S E T T S I N Y E A R
E N D I N G N O V E M B E R 30, 1930
N u m b er of cases
D isease
M ale
192
70
45
“9
“8
6
“6
5
»7
« 348
° Including 1 fatality.
l M a ssach usetts. D ep artm en t of Labor and In d u stries.
ber 30, 1930. B oston, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[835]
Fem ale
31
7
1
2
41
T otal
223
77
46
®9
“8
8
“6
5
- 7
‘ 389
b Including 4 fatalities,
A n n u al report for th e year en d in g N o v e m
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
The increasing- frequency of industrial dermatitis is shown by the
fact that more than 57 per cent of the cases investigated were due to
this cause. The majority of cases resulted from contact with dye
stuffs, various oils and greases, acids, and dusts, such as soap powders.
The next most important causes of occupational disease were poison
ing from gases and fumes and lead poisoning. The largest number of
cases of gas and fume poisoning occurred in garages as a result of
inhalation of carbon monoxide, and the painting industry and the
manufacture of storage batteries were responsible for half of the 46
cases of lead poisoning.
In d u stria l Diseases and Poisoning in B ritish F a cto rie s, 1930
HE report of the chief inspector of factories and workshops in
Great Britain for the year 1930 contains the report of Dr. John
C. Bridge, senior medical inspector of factories, showing the causes and
extent of industrial diseases and poisoning among workers in British
factories.
Special investigations of health hazards made during the year
included an inquiry into sickness among operatives in card rooms,
(which showed an excess of respiratory illness among card-room
workers at the older ages) and a study of the efficiency of various
types of respirators.
Table 1 shows the number of cases of disease resulting from the
use of some of the more important industrial poisons for certain
years from 1900 to 1930.
T
T able 1.—N U M B E R OF CASES OF P O ISO N IN G A N D OF IN D U S T R IA L D ISEA SES
A M O N G FA C T O R Y W O R K E R S IN G R E A T B R IT A IN FO R S P E C IF IE D Y E A R S, 1900
TO 1930
Disease
Lead poisoning:
Cases____________________________________ .
Deaths . .
________________ . _ . _ ____
Mercury poisoning:
C a s e s ..____
________ . . . .
D e a th s.. . ______________________________
Arsenic poisoning:
Cases..
. . ________ _______ _________
D e a th s ... . . . _____ ____ ______ _ . . . . ..
Carbon bisulphide poisoning: Cases_________ . . .
Aniline poisoning:
Cases____ _____________________ _______ . _
D eaths___ ___ ________
Chronic benzene poisoning: Cases___ _______ _
Toxic jaundice:
Cases.. ______
. ...
_ ________ . . . .
D eaths. . . .
..
. . ________ . _
Epitheliomatous ulceration:
Cases . . . . . ___________ . . . .
. .
D eaths. .
.
. _________ . . .
. . . . .
Chrome ulceration: Cases__ _____________________
Anthrax:
Cases________ _____ ___ ______________ _____
D ea th s.. _________ _ . . _ . _____________
1900
1910
1920
1927
1928
1929
1,058
38
505
38
289
44
347
35
326
43
244
31
9
10
1
5
3
2
4
22
3
7
3
3
1
2
1
1
6
41
26
38
1
1930
265
32
3
i
24
1
37
7
51
9
6
3
3
6
2
1
45
1
126
174
49
65
175
59
70
165
50
109
194
36
95
48
11
31
2
45
8
40
5
43
6
Lead p o is o n in g There was a slight increase in the number of
cases of lead poisoning reported in 1930 as compared with 1929, there
being 21 more cases and 1 more death. This increase is regarded,
however, as of no great importance, since the diagnosis of lead
poisoning is a matter of difficulty and may often be based upon a
single symptom when a worker is known to have been exposed to
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[836]
HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYG IENE
89
lead. The most decided increase in the number of oases reported
occurred in the smelting of metals and the manufacture of storage
batteries. Of the cases occurring in metal smelting, the majority
were in two large works and were mild in type, the reports indicating
that dust in charging the furnaces was probably responsible. ^ As in
the previous year, several cases of poisoning or incipient poisoning
occurred in a perambulator factory among young women employed
in the dry rubbing down of a so-called Headless” filler. An analysis
of the filler showed that it contained over 27 per cent of soluble lead.
A slight decrease was noted in lead poisoning among building painters,
but there was apparently no diminution in cases of the more or less
chronic type among painters who had been subjected to the risk
before the 1927 regulations governing the hazard of lead poisoning
went into effect. Three cases showing lead absorption occurred
among men engaged in spray painting.
Arsenic 'poisoning.—Only one case of arsenic poisoning was re
ported, but this case was of interest as it occurred in a man of 61
years of age who had been employed for 46 years in the manufacture
of arsenical sheep dip. He had had one epithelioma removed 10
years and one 5 years previously, and at the present time two pri
mary growths had appeared in different parts of his body.,
Aniline.—Practically no change took place in cases of intoxication
from aniline. A reduction would have been shown had it not been
for 10 cases resulting from the inhalation of vapor from 5-chlorortho-toluidine, the first recorded from this chemical. The symptoms
in these cases were first slight headache, drowsiness, and conjunctival
or nasal irritation, followed later by strangury and hematuria. In
two cases the urine was examined seven days after the development of
symptoms and was found to contain large numbers of red corpuscles.
These workers had been exposed to the fumes of 5-chlor-orthotoluidine given out from a paste when dried in a vacuum oven. The
poisoning occurred at a time when there was an abnormally high
outside temperature. The remaining cases occurred in the making
of dye intermediates and aniline colors and in aniline black dyeing
and the handling of aniline residue.
Anthrax— The number of cases of anthrax from handling hides and
skins was slightly greater than in the preceding year. It appears that
in all the fatal cases a delay occurred either in securing treatment or
in a proper diagnosis. As anthrax is not a common disease, and as
many physicians have never seen a case of anthrax, the authorities
have issued a card stressing the necessity for full investigation of all
lesions of the skin which in any way resemble the early stage of
anthrax infection.
Epitheliomatous ulceration.—There were 97 cases of epithelioma
with 10 deaths due to pitch and tar, the largest number of these cases
occurring in tar distilling. Ninety-seven cases with 26 deaths were
caused by mineral oil, 82 cases with 21 deaths being found among mule
spinners. For the years for which epithelioma has been reported
among cotton mule spinners and until the end of 1930, 1,002 cases
have been reported. The disease was recognized in 818 persons, or
81.6 per cent of the total cases, while they were still employed in the
mule room; 48 cases, or 4.7 per cent, developed in spinners who had
retired from 1 to 16 years before the disease was recognized; and in
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90
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
136 cases, or 13.5 per cent, the workers had passed into other em
ployment which might have contributed to the disease. As this
type of ulcer is seldom reported during life, the principal source of
information as to its occurrence among cotton mule spinners is the
death certificate furnished by the registrar-general, and it seems
probable, therefore, that many such cases pass unrecognized as
industrial in origin.
Dermatitis.—Reporting of cases of skin disease is not compulsory,
but during the year there were 789 cases of dermatitis which were
voluntarily reported. This is a smaller number of cases than were
reported during the preceding year, and, although for several years
the number of cases reported had steadily increased, it is believed
that a better knowledge of dermatitis and of methods of prevention
is indicated. During 1930 there was a distinct decrease in cases due
to oil, resulting probably from the use in many large engineering
works of an alkaline antiseptic wash. The causative agents in the
reported cases were alkalies, sugar, oil, chrome, turpentine and sub
stitutes, dyes, chemicals, friction and heat, benzol, gasoline, dough,
acids, paraffin, French polish, nickel compounds, and accelerators.
Silicosis and asbestosis. By a recent arrangement the factory-inspection service receives copies of all death certificates in which death
resulted from pulmonary disease involving fibrosis of the lungs. Of
the 700 such certificates received in 1930, 241 gave silicosis as the
cause of death and in the great majority of cases it was found that
the previous occupation of the persons concerned was one in which
there was recognized exposure to silica dust. The industries furnish
ing the greatest number of such cases were the manufacture of pottery ;
the sandstone industry, the occupations including quarrymen and
stonemasons; coal mining; gold mining (ex-South African miners)refractories industries; sand blasting; and tin mining.
The recent investigations of the effects of exposure to asbestos dust
have resulted in the adoption of measures to control the dust in the
textile side of the asbestos industry. Data regarding 20 fatal cases
of asbestosis without tuberculosis show that there is a serious hazard
involved in continued exposure to heavy concentrations of asbestos
dust. Of the 20 cases, 6 occurred in mattress makers and 6 in carders
or cloth weavers, while in the remaining cases it appeared that there
was exposure to neighboring dusty processes such as carding and
cloth weaving. There is evidence, also, that although removal from
exposure to very dusty processes may greatly delay the appearance
of a disabling fibrosis or may prevent it entirely if the exposure was
not too long, exposure to heavy concentrations of asbestos dust for
a comparatively short period of years will result sooner or later in
the development of a disabling fibrosis. The average age at death
of the 20 cases was 38.9 years, and the average length of employment
was 14.9 years.
*
Poisoning from gases and fumes.—The number of cases of poisoning
from carbon monoxide was 94, with 14 deaths, which was somewhat
smaller than the preceding year. There were 26 cases, with 5 deaths,
which were caused by blast-furnace gas; 28 cases, with 3 deaths, due
to power gas; 13 cases, with 3 deaths, due to coal gas; and 27 cases,
with 3 deaths, due to various causes, such as coke rivet fires in con
fined spaces and fumes from coke-fired ovens, and exhaust fumes
from motor-bus engines.
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HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL H YGIENE
91
Table 2 shows the number of cases of poisoning from gases and fumes
for the years 1926 to 1930:
T able 2 .—N U M B E R OF CASES OF IN D U S T R IA L PO ISO NIN G FR OM GASES A N D F U M E S,
1926 TO 1930, B Y Y E A R S
Gas or fumes
Carbon monoxide:
P, f^sP-S
Carbon dioxide:
T)paths
Sulphuretted hydrogen:
C a s e s __
T>paths
Sulphur dioxide:
Cases . ________
ITpaths
Chloride* Cnn
sps
Gas or fumes
1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
113
10
94
14
101
6
88
4
81
9
4
3
8
1
3
9
9
3
7
2
5
2
5
10
6
4
17
14
5
13
7 7 4 5 9 °— 31----- 7
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
14
2
1
Nitrous fumes:
Cases____ _____ __
Deaths______ ____
Ammonia:
C a se s ______ - -Deaths______ ____
Benzol, benzine and
petrol, naphtha:
Cases___________
Deaths
_______
Miscellaneous:
Cases____________
Deaths___________
[8 3 9 ]
1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
5
7
i
5
i
6
1
11
2
5
12
1
18
2
4
1
7
2
7
2
7
7
1
17
1
23
2
17
2
36
1
9
1
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
A ccid en t E xp erien ce of E sta b lish m e n ts R ep o rtin g to N ational
S afety C ou n cil, 1930
HE 1931 report on industrial accident statistics, published by the
National Safety Council, shows that a general reduction of 28
per cent in accident frequency rates has been accomplished during
the years 1928 to 1930 in the 1,562 industrial establishments which
furnished reports for each of the three years, 1928, 1929, and 1930.
Accident severity rates were also reduced 8 per cent in these establish
ments during the same period.
The figures point to progressive improvement in this group, as
25 per cent of the reduction in frequency rates and 6 per cent of the
reduction in severity^rates was experienced from 1929 to 1930. The
improvement made in these establishments is undoubtedly greater
than has been experienced in all establishments of these industries.
Table 1 gives, by industry, the accident frequency and severity
rates for these 1,562 identical establishments for 1928, 1929, and
1930. The man-hour exposure for these three years was 2,791 269
in 1928; 3,006,957 in 1929; and 2,507,233 in 1930.
T
FR E Q U E N C Y A N D SE V E R IT Y R A TE S IN 1,562 E ST A BL ISH M EN T S
R E PO R T IN G TO N A TIO N A L SA F E T Y COUNCIL, 1928, 1929, A N D 1930, B Y IN D U S T R Y
Industry
Automobile___ _____ ______
Ceram ic.-________________
Chemical...... .............. ...........
Construction _____________
Electric railway___________
Food_____________________
Foundry__________________
Laundry______ ____________
M achinery________________
Marine______ _____ ________
M eat packing______ _______
M etal products____________
M ining____________________
Nonferrous metallurgical____
Paper and pulp____________
Petroleum________________..
Printing and publishing____
Public u tility i_____________
Railway car and equipm ent..
Refrigeration_______________
Rubber_____
ste el________________ y y y ;
Tanning and leather________
Textile____________________
Woodworking and lumDering.
T o ta l2_______________
N um
ber of
estab
lish
ments
36
14
106
146
24
93
71
17
141
5
11
181
84
18
115
28
8
136
19
18
23
73
25
66
99
1,562
Accident
frequency
rates (per 1,000,000
hours’ exposure)
Accident severity rates
(per 1,000 hours’ ex
posure)
1928
1929
1930
1928
1929
25.48
32.68
18. 87
65. 21
30. 26
19. 45
39 87
18. 27
16.16
16. 61
46. »7
25. 20
61.11
20.98
26. 16
29 36
15. 02
24. 53
17. 55
47 73
32. 63
19. 13
19. 62
10. 04
41.59
26. 60
32. 85
17. 19
56. 77
25. 42
17. 66
42.10
18. 76
18. 34
13. 57
31.61
25. 57
62. 93
25.02
25. 59
31.34
12. 82
21.17
27. 35
41.82
23. 57
17. 71
17.70
10. 94
39. 92
14. 93
28.93
15.16
56. 01
26.08
15.19
30. 09
7. 73
13. 84
13. 74
23. 15
16.31
56.18
14. 62
21.79
20. 70
9.11
16. 45
19. 80
33. 05
15. 66
11, 68
17.82
8.85
34. 49
1.32
2. 24
2.10
6.02
2. 98
1.35
1.51
.85
.96
1.82
1.97
1.39
9. 24
1.15
2. 07
2. 74
.23
3.84
1.36
2. 38
1 56
2.28
.55
.59
3.16
1.27
.89
1.53
5. 52
1. 92
1.48
1.88
1.57
1.18
1.64
1. 22
1.37
8. 83
3.08
1.60
2. 74
. 49
3. 55
.65
3.03
1.37
2. 45
1.63
.61
3.29
1.52
. 52
1.97
5.19
1.61
1 62
2.28
.78
1.09
2. 29
1.13
1.14
9. 85
1. 23
1.49
2. 21
.44
2. 88
3.15
2. 46
1.22
1.93
1.25
.98
2.93
25.10
24. 26
18.11
2.16
2.11
1.98
1930
1 Does not include gas operations.
2 Includes miscellaneous-industries and glass products. The exposure of the latter is too small to be indic
ative of injury trend. Data were not available for cement and quarry industries.
92
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[840]
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
93
A total of 4,198 establishments, with 2,236,629 employees, furnished
data for the year 1930, as against 3,603 establishments with 1,987,878
employees reporting for 1929, and 2,557 establishments with 1,828,186
employees reporting for 1928.
The reports for 1930 cover approximately 96,000 accidents, 1 per
cent of which caused either death or permanent total disability, while
4 per cent resulted in permanent partial disability and 95 per cent
involved temporary disability only. These accidents represent 18.47
accidents per 1,000,000 man-hours worked.
The temporary accidents involved approximately 1,700,000 days of
lost time. The permanent partial disabilities, computed according
to accepted standards, represented a time loss of about 2,600,000 days.
The fatalities and permanent total disabilities, likewise computed,
represented a time loss of nearly 6,000,000 days. Consequently the
total time loss was around 10,250,000 days, or 1.97 days per 1,000
hours worked.
Table 2 shows, by industry, the total number of establishments
reporting for 1930, the number of man-hours worked, and accident
frequency and severity rates.
2 _E ST A B L ISH M E N T S, E X PO SU R E , A N D A C C ID E N T R A TE S FOR ALL E ST A B
L ISH M E N T S R E PO R T IN G TO N A TIO N A L SA FET Y C O UNCIL, 1930, BY IN D U ST R Y
T abtf
Number
of estab
lishments
Industry
_________________
Automobile
nernent
_______________ -- -(Ppram in
__________ ____________ Phpmin.nl
_______ ______
Construction
____ _____- ____ —
Electric railway
_ ____ ____
____________
Food
________ - - - ------ -- - -- Foundry
____
- ---------Ola^8 products
_____ _____ ______
- T-aundry
- - ____ -- - - -JVTaohinpry
_ _______ ___ _
— -Marinp
____- -- - ----- ---- —
Meat packing
__ ___
Metal prndnpt.s
_ ____________ ___ _ -- -Mining
_ __ _____ _
-Nonfcrrous metallurgical___________________________
Paper and pulp
________ ____ —
___ ______ -- —
Petrol on m
Printing and publishing
_________________
Public utility
________ _____
Quarry
- _________
____
-----Railway car and equipment
_ _
Rafpigprfl t.inn
___
Rubber
_________ - - Tanning and loatbpr
__ -- ---------- --------Textilp
Woodworking and lumbering----------------------------------Total 1
_ _ _
______
____
i Includes miscellaneous industries, not shown separately.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[841]
Hours of ex
posure
Accident Accident
frequency severity
rates (per rates (per
1,000
1,000,000
hours’
hours’
exposure) exposure)
129
129
40
211
392
66
189
138
38
37
300
28
67
442
146
52
232
87
31
541
119
45
52
52
125
49
197
233
457, 019
69, 729
14, 583
204, 069
93, 783
118, 335
149,100
103, 464
58,446
10, 487
597,148
50, 452
150, 525
366, 535
58, 944
74, 018
209, 565
576, 677
18, 404
672, 308
17, 563
51,100
25, 392
178, 901
458, 802
34, 076
216, 308
124, 879
12. 83
6. 30
25. 85
15. 50
51. 57
22. 49
17. 72
32.11
14. 54
8. 96
14.11
36. 61
34. 38
17. 59
49. 34
17.14
23. 65
18. 05
9. 67
18. 76
23. 46
20. 23
35.17
12. 48
11. 99
16.49
9. 23
40. 53
1.04
2. 43
1. 59
1. 94
5. 49
1. 96
1. 48
2. 23
. 77
. 59
1. 02
¿5. 50
. 99
1. 26
8. 94
2.03
1. 89
2. 37
.29
2. 95
3. 30
2. 43
2.28
.83
2. 47
1.16
. 66
3. 31
4, 198
5, 206, 395
18.47
1.97
LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
C o u rt Upholds C o m m o n -L a w M arriage in W o rk m en ’s
C o m p en satio n Case
HE Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia in deciding the
rights of a widow to compensation for the death of her commonlaw husband, has held that such a marriage was binding in law, and
that a surviving widow might recover compensation. (Hoage,
Deputy Commissioner, United States Employees’ Compensation
Commission et al. v. Murch Bros. Construction Co. et ah, 50 Fed
(2d) 983.)
The case concerned the death of Turner Sutton, a resident of the
District of Columbia. Turner was employed as a laborer by the
Murch Bros. Construction Co., and was so injured on December 3,
1928, that he subsequently died. Sadie Sutton, as the surviving
common-law wife, claimed compensation under the District of Co
lumbia workmen’s compensation act. The deputy commissioner
found that the parties had lived together for a period of about three
years as_ husband and wife and had so represented themselves to
the public, and that the wife was dependent upon the husband for
her support at the time of his death. He therefore awarded her
compensation.
The construction company and the insurance carrier opposed the
award of the commissioner on two grounds: (1) The evidence did not
sustain the findings of the commissioner, and (2) that even if the
evidence did sustain the findings the common-law marriage rela
tionship did not exist in the District of Columbia, and was therefore
illegal.
The insurance company obtained an injunction in the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia, on the ground that the finding of
the commissioner that the claimant had entered into a commonlaw marriage in the District of Columbia did not entitle her to com
pensation, since no such marriage was legal under the laws of this
jurisdiction.
The deputy commissioner thereupon appealed to the . Court of
Appeals of the District of Columbia. The main question for considera
tion by the appeals court was whether or not a common-law marriage
was valid in the District of Columbia. At common law, the court
pointed out, no formal ceremony was essential to a valid marriage.
No peculiar ceremonies were even required, the consent of the parties
being the prime requisite. Even the Roman lawyers, it was stated
by Chancellor Kent of England, “ strongly inculcated the doctrine
that the very foundation and essence of the contract consisted in
consent freely given, by parties competent to contract. ”
After the year 1753, common-law marriages were forbidden in
England. The act, however, as adopted in England, the court said,
“ was never adopted in any of the States of the United States.”
T
94
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LABOR LAWS AND COURT DECISIONS
95
In this country it has been generally held that—
A m arriage according to th e com m on law is valid an d binding, in th e absence
of a s ta tu te prohibiting or declaring void a m arriage n o t solem nized in accordance
w ith its provisions, an d also i t h as been held, by th e g reater w eight of a u th o rity ,
t h a t s ta tu to ry provisions as to solem nizing m arriages, not_ containing w ords
of nullity, are d irectory m erely, a n d do n o t affect th e v alid ity of com m on-law
m arriages.
A case which was decided in Maryland (Denison v. Denison, 35
Md. 361) holding a contrary view was followed in a former decision
by the court of appeals (De Forest v. U. S., 11 App. D. C. 458), but
the court pointed to the fact that the Maryland law was continued
in force in the District of Columbia by an act of February 27, 1801
(2 Stat. 103). By a subsequent change, however (Code of 1929,
ch. 3, title 1), all references to the laws of Maryland are omitted.
Congress has enacted a complete marriage and divorce law for the
District of Columbia, and the court said:
I t is to these law s, ra th e r th a n to those preserved o u t of th e p a st relatio n sh ip
w ith th e S ta te of M arylan d , th a t we m u st look for guidance a n d co ntrol m th e
d eterm in atio n of th e q uestio n now before us, a n d hence we do n o t th in k we can
safelv follow th e decision of th e C o u rt of A ppeals of M ary lan d m D enison v
D enison, supra, in w hich i t w as held t h a t u n d e r th e M ary lan d m arria g e a c t of
1777 to c o n stitu te a law ful m arriage, “ th e re m u st be su p erad d ed to th e civil
co n tract, som e religious cerem ony,” for th is is n o t tru e u n d er th e m arriage law s of
th e D istrict.
The court referred to a case (Meister v. Moore, 96 U. S. 76), de
cided by the United States Supreme Court, in which the validity of
common-law marriage in Michigan was involved, and also to a more
recent case (Travers v. Reinhardt, 205 U. S. 423) in which the doctrine
in the former case was reaffirmed, and continuing said that
We th in k therefore, t h a t it can n o t now be c o n tro v erted th a t an agreem ent
betw een a m an a n d w om an p e r v erb a de p raesen ti to be h u sb an d a n d wife, con
su m m ated by co h ab itatio n as h u sb an d a n d wife, c o n stitu te s a valid m arriage,
unless th e re be in existence in th e S ta te in w hich th e ag reem en t is m ade a s ta tu te
declaring th e m arriage to be in v alid unless solem nized in a prescribed m an n er, a n d
we th in k i t equally tru e t h a t th e ru le now generally recognized is t h a t s ta tu te s
requirin g a m arriage to be preceded b y a license, o r to be solem nized b y a religious
cerem ony w ith o u t express w ords of n u llity as to m arriages co n tra c te d otherw ise,
are directory m erely, an d failure to p rocure th e license or to go th ro u g h a religious
cerem ony does n o t in v alid a te th e m arriage.
The court, in concluding the opinion, referred to several sections of
the 1929 Code of the District of Columbia on the subject of “ Mar
riage,” and announced that—
T here is no th in g in th e s ta tu te w hich declares th a t a m arriage shall n o t be
valid unless solem nized in th e prescribed m anner, n o r does it declare a n y p a rtic u la r
th in g requisite to th e v alid ity of th e m arriage. T h e a c t confines itself w holly w ith
providing th e m ode of solem nizing th e m arriag e a n d to th e persons au th o rized to
perform th e cerem ony. In d eed , th e s ta tu te itself declares th e pu rp o se u n d erly in g
th e req u irem en ts to be to secure reg istra tio n a n d evidences of th e m arriage ra th e r
th a n to d eny v a lid ity to m arriag es n o t p erform ed according to its term s, an d ,
since th e legislative in te n t to ab ro g a te th e com m on-law rig h t m ay n o t be p re
sum ed unless clearly expressed (M eister v. M oore, su p ra ), we are necessarily
b ro u g h t to conclude t h a t th e decision of th e low er c o u rt t h a t com m on-law m a r
riages in th e D istric t are in v alid is n o t su p p o rte d by law, a n d is w rong T h e case of
M eister v M oore w as decided in 1877, a n d T ra v e rs v. R e in h a rd t m 1907, a n d we
m u st assum e t h a t C ongress knew of th ese cases. M uch w a te r h as since passed
over th e dam , an d sta tu te s on th e su b je c t in th e D istric t h av e rem ained unchanged,
an d if, as w as said b y th e C o u rt of A ppeals of V irginia in Offield v D avis, 100 Vaj
250, 40 S. E. 910, th e doctrin e of com m on-law m arriag e is c o n tra ry to public
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96
m o nthly la bo r r e v ie w
policy a n d public m orals, it is fo r C ongress a n d n o t th e co u rts to do w h at is needful
by a p p ro p riate legislation to declare such unions n u ll a n d void.
The decree of the lower court was therefore reversed, and the award
of the deputy commissioner to the widow of the deceased workman
was allowed according to the provisions of the District of Columbia
workmen’s compensation act.
E n a c tm e n t of Fed eral L ab o r Code in M exico
August 28, 1931, the Federal Labor Code of Mexico went into
effect, making umform the application of Article 123 of the
ONMexican
Constitution of 1917 and superseding the various State
labor laws.
The Spanish text of the Labor Code appears in the Diario Oficial of
Mexico under date of August 28, 1931. A translation of this is being
prepared by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[844]
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
R e ce n t C o m p en satio n R ep o rts
C o lo ra d o
HE report of the Industrial Commission of Colorado for the 2year period ending November 30, 1930, presents a comparison of
outstanding features in the workmen’s compensation laws of the
various States and recommendations for amendments to the Colorado
compensation act. Statistical tables cover the work of the commission,
by years, since the act became effective.
Some of the statistics for the biennium are given in the following
table :
T
A C C ID E N T S A N D CLAIM S, U N D E R COLORADO W O R K M E N ’^ C O M PE N SA T IO N A C T,
YEAR S E N D IN G N O V E M B E R 30, 1929 A N D 1930
1928-29
Item
Number of accidents reported_________________________________________
Claims for compensation:
Fatal cases
- _______________________________________
Nonfatal cases
_ _ ______ ___________ ___________ —
Per pent pin,ims form of accidents _____ _____________________________
Number nf compensation agreements approved
__ __ ________ __ _ _
Number of awards made
____
_
_______ ______________
Number of cases in which compensation was denied:
Fatal eases
_ _ ____________________________
Nonfatal eases
_________________________________________
Ayerape weekly wage
_ __
___________ ________________
Average weekly rate of compensation
__________ - - _____________
1929-30
25,846
22, 973
177
5,290
21. 15
4,463
2,449
151
4,999
22.42
4.162
2, 735
31
291
$25.12
$11. 08
34
340
$26.10
$11. 56
The coal and metal industries were responsible for a large percentage
of the claims, accounting for 45.19 per cent of the fatal claims in
1928-29 and 45.03 per cent in 1929-30, and 30.98 per cent of the
nonfatal claims in 1928-29 and 27.79 per cent in 1929-30.
Figures published, by calendar years, for premium income and bene
fit payments of the insurance companies writing workmen’s compensa
tion insurance in the State show net premium income as $2,062,310
for 1928 and $2,247,314 for 1929, against net losses paid of $1,180,671
for 1928 and $1,283,488 for 1929.
Illin o is
S t a t i s t i c s of the experience under the workmen’s compensation
act of Illinois during 1928 are presented in the twelfth annual report
of the Illinois Department of Labor, for the year ending June 30, 1929.
The accident record and compensation payments are summarized in
the two tables following. Table 1 shows the number of compensable
fatal and nonfatal accidents reported to the administration, yearly
from 1917 to 1928, and distributed by industrial groups for 1928.
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97
98
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 1 .—C O M PE N SA B LE FA T A L A N D N O N FA T A L A C C ID E N T S IN ILLINO IS, 1917 TO
1928, A N D N U M B E R IN EACH IN D U S T R Y GROUP IN 1928
Number of accidents
Number of accidents
Industry group
Year
Fatal
Nonfatal
Fatal
Total
1917................. ....... 492 36,268 36, 760
1918____________ 629 37, 618 38, 247
1919____________ 535 37, 754 38, 289
1920 ___________ 597 49, 988 50. 585
1921____________ 498 43, 024 43, 522
1922 ___________ 534 46, 238 46, 772
1923 __________
675 61,135 61.810
1924____________ 655 53,529 54, 184
1925____________ >204 ' 51, 639 151, 843
57", 535
1926____________ (2)
(2)
1927____________ 720 53, 263 53, 983
1928...................... 667 54,083 54, 750
1928
Agriculture and extractive industries,Mining, quarrying, petroleum w ells.-.
Manufacturing... _______ .
„
Construction-- ___________
-- . . .
Transportation and storage. __
Communication._____
Trade and finance___ . . . . - . .
Professional service_____ ____ _______
Governmental service. . . . _______
S ervices, not otherwise classified _ . . .
Industry not renorted- ._ .
_____
Total, 1928______ ____________
1 Cases closed by Mar. 1, 1927.
1
143
184
126
82
3
46
5
19
52
6
667
Nonfatal
262
8,539
22, 567
9, 536
3, 646
352
4, 700
434
736
3.032
. 279
54, 083
Total
263
8, 682
22, 751
9, 662
3,728
355
4, 746
439
755
3,084
285
54, 750
2 Data not available.
Table 2 shows the number of compensable accident cases closed
during 1928, regardless of the year in which they occurred, by extent
of disability, the total amount of compensation paid for each class
of disability, and the average amount per case.
At least 73.2 per cent of the total amount of compensation was
paid for injuries resulting in death or in permanent disability or
disfigurement, although of the total number of accidents, 74.2 per
cent resulted in temporary disability only.
T able
2
.—C O M PE N SA B LE A C C ID E N T CASES IN ILLINO IS CLOSED D U R IN G 1928 A N D
A M O U N T OF C O M PE N SA T IO N P A ID , B Y E X T E N T OF D ISA BIL IT Y
Amount of compen
sation paid
Number
of cases
Extent of disability
Total
Fatal. _______ .
_______ ____ _
______________
Permanent total.
__________ _
_____ _
____
Permanent partial and disfigurement (with or without temporary total) _.
Temporary total only____
. . . . . . ______
Temporary partial only______________ _____ _ _______ _______ _____
N ot otherwise classified 1 ________ _______ ___________ _____ _
N ot reported______ _____________ _______________________________
Total.
- - - - - -
___________ ____
.. _
Average
per case
524
31
11,721
38, 251
185
835
33
$1,375,503
84,113
5, 715, 034
1,839, 934
18, 382
704, 044
70, 375
$2, 625
2,713
488
48
99
843
2,133
51,580
9,807,385
190
1 Includes combinations, such as temporary total combined with temporary partial.
M ic h ig a n
A c c i d e n t statistics, a s published in the initial issue of Michigan
Labor and Industry, the new quarterly report of the Michigan Depart
ment of Labor and Industry, cover compensable industrial accidents
reported to the department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929,
the time loss incurred, and the amount of benefits paid.
The total number of compensable accidents was 35,923, including
392 fatalities. An average of 58.9 days’ lost time was incurred per
injury, and the average compensation and medical cost per injury
amounted to $173.87,
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99
W O R K M E N ’S C O M P E N S A T IO N
The following table, compiled from data in the report, shows, by
industrial groups, the number of compensable fatal and nonfatal
accidents, the total compensation and medical cost, and the average
cost per injury.
C O M PE N SA B LE A C C ID E N T S, A N D C O M PE N SA T IO N A N D M E D IC A L COSTS, FISCAL
Y E A R 1928-29, BY IN D U S T R Y GROUP
Number of accidents
Compensation and
medical cost
Industry group
Fatal
Nonfatal
Total
Total
Per injury
Agriculture---------------------------------------------Mining, quarrying, and metallurgy------- -----Stone, clay, and glass products— : -------------Blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills.
M achinery.---------- ----------------------------------Fine machines and instruments-----------------M etal goods--------------------------------------------Vehicles-------------------------- -----------------------Wood products.--------------------------- ----------Logging, fisheries, and ice--------------------------Leather__________________________ ____ —
Rubber and composition goods------------------Chemicals and allied products------------------Paper, pulp, and p rinting.------ ----------------Textiles
___ __________________________
Furs, clothing, and furnishings.----------------Laundering, cleaning, and dyeing--------------Food, beverages, and tobacco--------------------Miscellaneous manufacturing--------------------Construction, not building— -------------------Building erection and demolition--------------Shipbuilding_____________________________
Transportation--------------- -----------------------U tilities_________________________________
Trâde
__________________________
Clerical and professional service----------------Care and custody of buildings and grounds..
Miscellaneous industries----------------------------
4
47
5
2
10
0
47
42
14
12
1
2
17
5
0
0
1
9
0
24
49
4
15
22
18
2
5
35
118
1,867
'367
480
1,534
77
8,409
4,867
2,098
1,137
'126
210
690
1,064
107
32
128
1.141
80
1,125
3', 495
' 108
1,801
'836
1,845
48
471
1,270
122
1,914
372
482
1,544
77
8,456
4,909
2,112
1,149
127
212
707
1,069
107
32
129
1,150
80
1,149
3,544
112
1,816
858
1,863
50
476
1,305
$29,464
402,179
73, 528
84, 533
227, 390
16, 547
1,336, 888
996, 881
281, 841
175,144
23,420
40, 905
139, 232
113,993
13, 804
2,134
19, 383
152,220
9, 429
238, 738
663, 927
18, 937
290, 260
239, 749
276,469
8, 000
57, 733
313,201
$241. 51
210.12
197. 65
175.37
147. 27
214.89
158.09
203. 07
133.44
152. 43
184.40
192. 94
196.93
106. 63
129. 00
66.68
150.25
132. 36
117. 86
207. 77
187. 33
169. 08
159.83
279. 42
148. 39
160. 00
121. 28
240. 00
Total______________________ ________
392
35, 531
35,923
i 6,245,939
173.87
i Not the correct sum of items, but as given in report.
M isso u ri
S t a t i s t i c s of a general nature for all industrial accidents, both
under and not under the State workmen’s compensation act, occurring
during the calendar year 1929, are published in the third annual
report of the Missouri Workmen’s Compensation Commission,
The report also contains statistics on cases closed, as of November 15,
1930, and revised compensable costs for all accidents under the act
occurring in the years 1927 and 1928. _
,
A total of 103,698 accidents, including 269 fatalities, was reported
to the commission during 1929, of which 101,927 were under the act.
It is shown that out of 101,303 of these cases that had been closed by
November 15, 1930, 63,721 did not disable the employee beyond the
day of the accident, but involved medical service amounting to
$357,325, an average of $5.61 per case. Accidents resulting in dis
ability beyond the day of injury but for less than three days numbered
8 880, and involved medical service amounting to $67,004, an average
of $7.55 per case. In the remaining 28,702 accidents medical aid and
other compensation amounted to $4,147,317, an average of $144.49
per case.
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100
M ONTHLY LABO R R E V IE W
Distribution of compensation cost and medical cost for the 101,303
closed cases, by type of disability, is given as follows :
C O M PE N SA T IO N A N D M E D IC A L COST I N M ISSO U R I OF A C C ID E N T CASES IN 1929,
C LOSED B Y N O V E M B E R 15, 1930, B Y E X T E N T OF D ISA B IL IT Y
Benefits
Number
of cases
Extent of disability
Noncompensable accidents resulting in disability of more
than Xbut less than 3 days________
Compensable accidents resulting in—
Temporary disability
___________________________
Permanent total disability_______ __ ___________
Dismemberment (not permanent total)______________
Loss of use (not permanent total) _ __ ___ ________
Permanent partial disability (other than dismember
ment or loss of u se)_____ _ ____________
Disfigurement _ ___ _ _
D eath____ ______
T otal__________ _
Noncompensable accidents resulting in disability of 1 day
or less_____ __
Grand total. _____
____________
Compen
sation i
8,880
Medical
aid
Total
$67,004
$67,004
26,539
7
581
1,100
$1,292, 960
47,380
399, 520
701, 990
695, 987
4,488
55, 777
143,100
1,988, 947
51,868
455,297
845,090
79
222
174
39,000
32, 200
698, 270
6,660
12,966
17, 019
45, 660
45,166
715, 289
37,582
3, 211, 320
1,003,001
4, 214,321
63, 721
101, 303
3, 211,320
357, 325
357, 325
1, 360, 326
4, 571, 646
1 Includes burial expense, disfigurement, mutilation, and excess medical.
N evad a
T h e biennial report of the Nevada Industrial Commission, for the
period ending June 30, 1930, presents the experience of the commission,
in administering the elective workmen’s compensation law and the
exclusive State insurance fund of Nevada during the biennium.
Attention is called to the increased number of severe accidents
occurring in the past two years and the diminished premium revenue
due to reduced pay rolls in many activities, necessitating an increase
in future insurance premium rates. It is also pointed out that
during the next 8 or 10 years a large number of workers will be
employed by Federal contractors in the construction of the Hoover
Dam in the southern section of the State, and that this will involve a
material increase in employment in other activities in that district.
Provisions are being made for strict enforcement of safety regulations
on this project, in an effort to reduce accidents, as it is indicated the
work will be of an extrahazardous nature.
The statistical tables in the report include tabulations of accidents,
by extent of disability and by industry, for each of the two years.
A summary of these is shown in the table following:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[848]
101
W O R K M E N ’S C O M P E N S A T IO N
N U M B E R OF A C C ID E N T S IN N E V A D A , B Y E X T E N T OF D ISA B IL IT Y A N D B Y IN D U S
T R Y , JULY 1, 1928, TO JU N E 30, 1930
Industry
1928-29
__ ______________ -Mining
____ _______ _____
Ore reduction
Nevada C o n so lid a te d Copper Co_____
Railroads
________________
___________
Utilities
State and municipal, com pu lsory__
Miscellaneous______________________
Total------------------------------------1929-30
M ining
______________ — -Ore reduction
______ ______
Railroads
_____________________
U tilities
__- ______________
State and m u n ic ip a l, co m p u lso ry
Miscellaneous______________________
T otal-------------------------------------
Temporary total
Deaths Perma
disabilities
Number and per nent
of full manent partial
total
time
disabil 7 days Under 7
workers disabil
ities and over days
ities
3,154
589
2, 656
243
462
2, 328
4, 395
13,827
17
0
9
1
1
2
4
34
58
3
27
4
0
8
33
133
2,677
347
2,105
232
497
2,161
5,097
i 12,816
14
0
4
0
1
1
3
23
63
2
19
0
1
10
36
131 |
Number of acci
dents
Per
Per 1,000 $100,000
full-time of pay
workers
roll
629
38
398
14
27
92
397
i 1,695
187
15
5
7
68
125
573
980
282. 50
96. 77
165. 28
107. 00
207. 79
77. 51
229.19
198. 31
0.15
4.8
7.1
12. 7
12. 7
5.2
13. 6
10.7
553
14
171
13
33
125
222
1,131
227
18
59
8
71
204
979
1, £66
320.10
97.98
120.11
90. 05
213. 28
157. 33
243. 28
222. 46
15.7
5.9
5.0
14.7
11.4
i N ot the correct sum of items, but as given in report.
P e n n s y lv a n ia
A c c o r d i n g to the animal report of the Pennsylvania Bureau of
Workmen’s Compensation for 1930, a decided decrease occurred m the
number of industrial accidents.
.
,
,
The total number of accidents, causing a time loss of two days or
more, reported to the bureau during the year 1930 was 144,679,
including 1,762 fatalities. Compared with 1929, this constituted a
reduction of 11.9 per cent in fatal accidents and 13.2 per cent m nonfatal accidents. I t is stated that while the business depression of 1930
was partly responsible for this reduction the intensive safety campaign
conducted by the department of labor and industry was also an
^ The following table shows the number of fatal and nonfatal acci
dents reported to the bureau during 1930, distributed according to
industrial group classification, compared with revised, similar figures
for 1929:
num ber
IN P E N N S Y L V A N IA '
of fatal a n d
Number of accidents reported
Fatal Nonfatal
Construction and contracting------ ---------------Manufacturing------- ----------------------------------Coal mining, anthracite------------------- ---------Coal mining, bituminous -----------Quarrying and mining other than coal miningTransportation and public utilities--------------State and municipal employm ent----------------T otal------------------------------------------------
20, 248
244
60,132
378
27, 543
518
23,131
408
2,033
41
8,907
205
7,720
41
1,739
13
4,190
86
9,014
66
2,000 | 16‘4 ,657
1 Revised from report reviewed in April, 1930, issue.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1930
19291
Industrial group
[849]
Total
20, 492
60, 510
28, 061
23, 539
2,074
9,112
7,761
1, 752
4, 276
9, 080
166, 657
Fatal Nonfatal
224
343
471
337
20
138
57
13
83
76
1, 762
20,485
45,108
26,036
19, 781
1,830
7,205
7, 726
1,439
4,909
8, 398
142,917
Total
20, 709
45,451
26, 507
20,118
1,850
7, 343
7, 783
1,452
4, 992
8,474
144, 679
102
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
There was also a decline in compensation liability. The total
amount of compensation awarded for the year 1930 was $15,654,583,
as compared with $16,312,007 in 1929, a decrease of 4 per cent.
Compensation payments were authorized during the year, either
by agreement or award, in 1,677 fatal cases, amounting to $5,863,056,
an average of $3,496 per case; in 3,411 permanent-disability cases,
amounting to $3,883,623, an average of $1,139 per case; and in 80,270
temporary-disability cases, amounting to $5,907,904, an average of
$74 per case; making a total of 85,112 cases, amounting to $15,617,989,
an average of $183 per case. Funeral expenses, amounting to
$36,594, were also paid in 246 fatal, no-dependency cases, not in
cluded in the above figures, an average of $149 per case.
The persistent enforcement campaign of the bureau against em
ployers of labor neglecting to carry compensation insurance, as pro
vided by the workmen’s compensation act, resulted in the securing
of new insurance policies during the year by 12,254 employers. This
action assured full benefits of the compensation law, in case of injury
happening in the course of their employment, to approximately
37,000 employees, who formerly were not properly protected under
the provisions of the act.
U ta h
An a n a l y s i s of industrial accidents in all industries subject to
the workmen’s compensation act in the State during the two years
ending June 30, 1930, is given in Bulletin No. 3 of the biennial report
of the Industrial Commission of Utah. Statistical tables present in
detail the accident cases by extent of disability; they also show the
man-hour exposure, pay rolls, premiums, compensation cost, de
pendency and cost of fatalities, and cost of permanent disabilities
by degree of impairment. Data extracted from the report, covering
the total number of accidents in each fiscal year, by extent of dis
ability, and the respective benefit costs, are shown in Table 1.
Number of accidents
Total benefit costs i
Degree of disability
1928-29
Fatal.
Permanent total disability.
Permanent partial disability.
Temporary total disability.
103
2
407
16,147
16, 659
Total.
1929-30
1928-29
1929-30
138
1
$424,674
60,000
$513,542
15.000
16, 865
1,449, 912
1, 399,415
1 Contract medical excluded.
Proportionately heavy fatality was experienced in coal mining and
metal 5lining> Tliese two groups together were responsible for half
of all deaths, although the combined man-hour exposure was only
one-sixth of the total exposure, as shown in Table 2.
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W O EK M EN ’S COMPENSATION
103
T a b l e 2 .—M AN-HOUR E X PO SU R E A N D FA T A L IT IE S IN M IN IN G IN D U S T R IE S IN U T A H
Y EAR S E N D IN G JU N E 30, 1929, A N D 1930
1928-29
1929-30
Industry group
Man-hour
exposure
Coal mining___________________________________
Metal mining _ _____________________________
Intrastate railroad______ ___ ____________________
All other groups________________________________
Total
__________________________________
Fatalities
Man-hour
exposure
Fatalities
10, 072, 442
21,066,566
(0
153,370,818
25
27
5
46
8,663,668
19,530,829
(0
156,880,220
63
26
2
47
184,509,826
103
185, 074, 717
138
i N ot available; not included in total.
W y o m in g
T h e report of the Workmen’s Compensation Department o f Wyo
ming for the calendar year 1930 contains several tables covering the
experience of the State industrial accident fund during the year.
The department received reports of 2,391 accidents, of which 37
were fatal, 43 caused permanent partial disability, 1,082 caused
temporary total disability, and 1,229 required medical service only.
Coal mining, as the leading industry and paying 44 per cent of the
total premiums received in 1930, was responsible for the largest
number of accidents and a high degree of severity. It is charged
with 23 fatalities, 18 permanent partial disabilities, and 554 tempo
rary total disabilities, but with only 52 medical-aid cases. The oil
industry ranked second, both in number of accidents and in premium
payments, which were 13 per cent of the total. It is charged with
6 fatalities, 2 permanent partial disabilities, 106 temporary total
disabilities, and 315 medical-aid cases.
The fund shows a balance of $577,209.39 on December 31, 1930, as
against $545,696.76 for the previous year, an increase of $31,512.63.
The total amount of premiums collected, including service and policing
charge, was $420,278.66, and the amount of administrative expense
during the year was $17,666.71, making the cost of administering the
State fund 4.2 per cent of the premiums paid.
The following table shows the number of claims allowed during the
year by the State courts and the total costs for these claims:
N U M B E R OF CLAIMS A N D A M O U NTS A W A R D E D U N D E R W YOM ING W O R K M E N ’S
C O M PE N SA T IO N ACT, 1930, BY E X T E N T OF D ISA BIL IT Y
Number
of cases
Compensation
awarded
Fatal
_
__ _
________________
Permanent total disability. _ ------------------Permanent partial disability----------------------Temporary total disability.......................... .......
539
92
390
1, 771
$95,740. 22
14,427. 25
76, 267. 29
123,982. 72
i $4, 300. 00
$100,040. 22
14,427. 25
76,267. 29
123, 982. 72
T otal. -------------- ------ ------------------- -
2,792
310,417.48
2 77,933. 36
2 388, 350.84
Extent of disability
Amount of
other awards
Total amount
awarded
1 Funeral expenses.
2 Includes medical and hospital service, $66,409.76; investigations and witness fees, $7,223.60.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
B r i ti s h C o lu m b ia
T h e report of the Workmen’s Compensation Board of the Province
of British Columbia for the calendar year 1930 shows a reduction of
nearly 10 per cent in the number of accidents causing a time loss of
more than three days. A total of 33,285 claims was filed in 1930, as
compared with 36,750 in 1929. Fatal accidents, however, increased
almost 10 per cent, as these totaled 277 in 1930, against 253 in 1929.
This was mainly due to a disaster in the coal-mining industry, which
was responsible for a toll of 45 lives. Reports were also received in
1930 of about 3,000 first-aid cases, for which no claims were filed, as
no lost time exceeding three days was incurred.
It is pointed out that there had been a curtailment in the number
of workers employed in certain classes of work, particularly in the
lumber and allied industries, with a resultant reduction of accidents
in these, but also that on December 31, 1930, a total of 8,958 employers
with about 175,000 workers were operating under the act, or 70
employers more than at the end of 1929 and a larger number than in
any previous year.
The following table summarizes the number of cases closed in 1930,
with amount of compensation awarded, by the industrial groups under
the act and the extent of disability.
C O M PE N SA B LE A C C ID E N T CASES CLOSED IN B R IT ISH COLUM BIA IN 1930 A N D
A M O U N T OF C O M PE N SA T IO N A W A R D S, BY IN D U S T R Y GROUP A N D E X T E N T OF
DISABILITY
Extent of disability
Fatal
Industry group
Logging, lumber, and paper____
Coal mining,..........................................
M etal mining, quarrying, stone and
clay products- ______ ______
Iron arid steel products__________
General manufacturing ______
Construction and shipbuilding __ __
Public utilities______
_____
Navigation and stevedoring_______
Canadian Pacific system _
Grand Trunk Pacific system --.
Canadian National system ,.
Provincial employees___ _ ____
M unicipal employees _..
Fishing and products _________
Explosives and chemicals- _
Trade and transportation. _
Great Northern system ..
Dominion employees________
T otal. _____________ ,
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Permanent partial
Temporary total
N um
ber of
cases
Compensa
tion awards
N um
ber of
cases
Compensa
tion awards
N um
ber of
cases
76
57
$154,430. 56
174,339. 92
404
42
$466, 553.15
73,860.83
6, 248
928
$632,751.05
89, 558.67
25
1
6
8
4
7
23
3
11
11
4
2
0
1
0
2
80,811. 48
6, 725. 91
22, 796. 02
13, 760. 55
13,453. 84
62,120. 66
81, 343. 37
5, 365. 69
41, 984.48
47, 603.16
15, 603. 20
11, 792. 27
62,364.88
20,163. 52
55, 945. 27
129, 986. 78
45, 372. 56
70,157. 35
56, 374.41
8, 334. 59
9, 354. 80
35, 402. 83
16,392. 24
12,882. 32
41, 046. 64
1 098 82
3, 537.54
769
716
1,128
1,672
509
845
1, 285
111
156
643
599
365
10
640
14
80
79,143. 00
37, 201.02
65,061. 67
193,476. 73
50, 593. 69
108, 765. 70
90, 979.15
9, 096. 93
13,153.89
56', 806. 92
46,108. 53
32, 642.49
880 M
50, 758. 67
200.00
58
24
55
103
28
58
51
6
8
39
17
16
0
26
1
4
241
732,431.11
940
1,108,828. 03
16, 718
1, 562,484.13
100. 00
[8521
Compensa
tion awards
4’ 823. 75
WORKERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
V ocational A d ju stm e n t W orkshop
HE New York City Vocational Adjustment Bureau specializes
in the study of “ problem” girls, especially in connection with
vocational guidance and employment. The maladjustment of these
girls is frequently the result of subnormal mentality or psychopathic
tendencies, which may end in social and industrial incompetence.
In order to determine by experiment what cases of mental and
nervous disability could be at least partially rehabilitated by prac
tical industrial work under therapeutic methods, the Vocational
Adjustment Bureau opened in November, 1925, a curative workroom.
A brief report on this undertaking is given in a pamphlet 1 published
by that bureau, which is here reviewed.
In the first week of the workroom’s existence, 11 girls and women
were registered. The number gradually increased, and at the time
the report was made there were 68 attending more or less regularly,
while the total enrollment since the work was begun is over 400.
Each woman receives individual attention, and for this reason only
a restricted number can be admitted. The aim of the workroom is
placement as soon as possible at some regular occupation.
Because of nervousness or personality disorders, the patients re
ferred to the bureau by a social agency or hospital are often found so
emotionally unstable that they must be rehabilitated before their
placement can even be considered. The workroom affords an
opportunity for careful study and training. The latter is not merely
a matter of teaching manual tasks but includes the giving of talks
on mental hygiene, and suggestions as to deportment, dress, recrea
tion, and various other matters having to do with maintenance of a
well-balanced life.
Certain convalescent girls who have been discharged from public
hospitals and are not able to enter at once the commercial world
find in the workroom a friendly place where they can by degrees
adjust themselves to conditions somewhat similar to those in out
side industry. The time spent in this sheltered workroom may in
some cases prevent a return of the psychotic condition which had re
quired _hospital commitment. In general, it is not easy to find
immediately the right kind of employment for paroled hospital pa
tients with peculiar temperamental and character handicaps, and
frequently with disabilities of a mental origin. The bureau’s diffi
culties are also doubled because it has to deal with discouraged persons.
The workroom, however, gives a welcome to those who are staggering
under these burdens, and attempts to develop their mental muscles
as the State rehabilitation services endeavor to strengthen and re
educate physical muscles.
T
1 [New York City Vocational Adjustment Bureau.] A Therapeutic Industrial Experiment. The Vab
Work Shop of the Vocational Adjustment Bureau. N ew York City.
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106
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
In the beginning, work for the patients was obtained from factories
on a piecework basis. This scheme, however, was abandoned, as the
girls did not earn enough to pay even a small part of the wages that
were being given them. The girls in this sheltered workroom could
not be speeded up to satisfy the demands of factory managers. No
definite date could be given for the return of the products. Experi
menting with this factory work proved, however, that bead stringing
and the making of garters, lamp shades, silk tassels, and Christmas
tinseled ornaments were within the capacity of these neurotic girls
and women, if they were given sufficient time for the tasks and were
adequately supervised. Furthermore, it was shown “ that only
through the fabrication of unique articles of more or less artistic
character could such a workroom ever become even partially selfsupporting or be able to offer the variety of tasks that this group of
girls required for their rehabilitation. ”
It was soon found that the work for these maladjusted women and
girls must not be too difficult nor must the process involved take a
very long time. The members of this group, as a rule, grow fatigued
very quickly and a variety of occupations was shown to be necessary .
Bright colors had a tonic effect and tended to soothe irritable workers.
As a result of the efforts of members of the workroom committee,
novel hampers, utility boxes, cigarette and match boxes, waste-paper
baskets, boudoir dolls, and slipper-bag dolls were made and offered
for sale at the Vab Shop, 771 Madison Avenue, which was opened
in the fall of 1927. The therapeutic effects of work on these articles
in contrast to the rather deadening influence of the homely factory
products are reported to have been immediately apparent. The
beautiful combination of colors served to dissipate the gloom which
enveloped the workers and the fact that these articles were to be
sold in a shop exclusively devoted to Vab products was a stimulant
to the downhearted.
The committee is always seeking for articles suitable for production
in the Vab workroom. Several years ago a committee member sent
to the workroom a pair of sample cushions for keeping ladies’ shoes
and slippers in shape. This was a valuable suggestion which resulted
in the evolution of the Vab velvet shoe tree, patented in 1928, and
the making of 150,000 pairs of these trees in the workshop, which
were sold to the trade. From the therapeutic angle these trees
combine in their fashioning much that is to be desired. They are
rapidly finished and colorful.
T he dem and for shoe trees still continues, b u t it is inadvisable to keep p a tie n ts
for an extended period on th e sam e article, th erefo re m an y kinds of bags, h a t
stan d s, dress hangers, stuffed anim als, a n d m aid s’ uniform s are being m ade to
order. T he p ro d u ctio n of stap le articles h as n o t been a tte m p te d , n o r should
q u a n tity prod u ctio n ever be u n d ertak en . T h e o u tp u t of th e neu ro tic can n o t
be speeded up a n d th e only possibility for a financial re tu rn for th is ty p e of lab o r
is on th e basis of th e high-grade q u a lity of th e w ork.
The workroom, it is reported, often serves to determine work
tolerance. It is frequently helpful, before endeavoring to place a
girl, to discover her mental stamina and physical endurance. In
illustration, a girl of 22 who had failed in her sophomore year at
college was sent to the vocational adjustment bureau because since
leaving college she had been continually changing jobs. She tired
easily and when fatigued would be quarrelsome and impertinent.
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W O R K ER S’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
107
She was given two hours’ work in the morning and in the afternoon,
interspersed with rest and a walk in the open. The working time was
increased by degrees until she was able to stay on her job steadily for a
whole day without marked fatigue. She was odd in appearance and
manner, and during the months spent at Vab constant efforts were
made to aid her in overcoming some of her idiosyncrasies. She
learned that certain combinations of color were more attractive than
others, and that a lace-trimmed cotton blouse worn with a velvet
skirt was not a “ smart” combination for business wear, and by de
grees she adopted less conspicuous clothes. In the Yab unit training
course she received instruction in ofiice-routine technique. TVhen
ready for a position her voice was low and well-modulated^ and she
was able to conduct herself quietly and without causing friction. She
has held a job in which her earnings have been $28 per week for more
than six weeks, thus already surpassing her previous record as to
length of time on a job.
Some individuals with an obsession of inferiority have been brought
to see that they have certain abilities which, with training, may be
of real value. The restoration of self-confidence to such persons can
frequently be affected through work graded from the simplest process
to increasingly difficult tasks.
One measure of rehabilitation is instruction in operations not pre
viously used by the patients. Without fatiguing the worker, she is
encouraged to" improve her production record. Competition with
other workers of different vitality and energy is, however, to be
avoided, as the weak might be harmed rather than helped by attempt
ing to do as much as those who are better equipped.
A fter an operation of approxim ately four years, i t h as been d em o n stra te d t h a t
certain persons suffering from h y steria, post-en cep h alitis leth arg ica, phobias,
m en tal depression, inferio rity complexes, h y perem otionalism a n d v ario u s ty p e s
of psycho-neurosis have generally been helped b y a perio d a t th e w orkroom . T h e
fa c t th a t approxim ately 24 p er cen t of th ese persons a re w orking is p ro o f p o sitiv e
th a t some im provem ent h as been m ade. T h e daily records of th e p o st-en cep h a
litic cases reveal an im pro v em en t in behavior, if n o t in p ro d u ctio n ; th e depressed,
cheered by successful accom plishm ent, t h a t p a n acea for th e d o w n h earted , te n d
to respond m ost quickly to w ork a n d to th e atm o sp h ere of friendliness w hich
prevails in th e w orkroom .
Except in pronounced cases of dementia prsecox, a period spent in
the workroom has been found effective, if not in rehabilitating the
woman or girl completely, at least in restoring to some degree her
usefulness and productivity. The conclusion that pertain of these
maladjusted individuals will never be able to fit into any actual
industrial situation where it would be necessary for them to work
daily under pressure from 8.30 a. m. to 5.30 p. m. has brought about
the organization of a permanent sheltered workroom known as the
“Vab, Commercial.”
____ ___ _____
Illinois C om m ission on E stab lish in g a S ta te T ra d e -T ra in in g
In s titu tio n
HE Governor of Illinois on June 29, 1931, approved a bill (House
bill No. 1140) creating a commission to investigate and ascertain
the feasibility of establishing a State institution in or near the city of
Chicago for the purpose of training citizens of the State in the various
T
77459°—31----- 8
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
skills required in this machine age, and of preparing them to fit into
modern industry, which is highly specialized and systematized. Tech
nological unemployment would thus be reduced to a minimum.
The act provides for a commission of nine members, three appointed
by the governor, three members of the house of representatives to be
selected by the speaker of the house, and three members of the senate
appointed by the lieutenant governor. All members of the commis
sion are to serve without remuneration, but an appropriation of $2,000
is made for necessary expenses. The report of the commission is to
be printed and submitted to the next general assembly.
The act as approved by the governor is as follows:
W hereas it is th e generally accepted th eo ry th a t one of th e causes of th e p resen t
econom ical depression is th e g re a t m ass p ro d u ctio n b ro u g h t a b o u t by th e m achine
age; and
W hereas large num bers of A m erican citizens, p a rtic u la rly in th e m e tro p o litan
d istric t of th e city of Chicago, in th e S ta te of Illinois, have been o u t of em ploym ent
for a g re a t period of tim e; an d
W hereas th e developm ents of th e m achine age have d em o n strated th e fa c t th a t
th o u san d s of th e citizens of Illinois are u n p re p a re d to cope w ith th e m achine age;
and
W hereas heretofore, skilled laborers h av e h ad to learn th e ir tra d e s as b est th e y
could in th e shops of p riv a te em ployers; an d
W hereas such persons h av e been en tirely a t th e m ercy of such em ployers, and
no citizen has h ad com plete o p p o rtu n ities to learn th e skilled tra d e s except in
p riv a te schools or in th e em ploym ent of such places as choose to em ploy inex
perienced lab o r a n d te a c h such inexperienced lab o rer th e skill of its p a rtic u la r
tra d e ; an d
W hereas various p riv a te concerns have organized, in connection w ith th e ir
industries, schools to te a c h th e ir em ployees th e p ra c tic a l side of th e various
tra d e s; an d
Wdiereas it appears th a t num erous professions are overcrow ded; an d
W hereas it ap p ears th a t th e field of unskilled lab o r is v a stly overcrow ded; a n d
W hereas i t fu rth e r ap p ears t h a t all of th e citizens of Illinois h av e n o t h ad an
equal chance in th e p riv a te schools of th e S ta te to learn various skilled trad esand
’
W hereas th e g rea t S tate, of Illinois now su p p o rts a n d m ain tain s one of th e
g reatest educational in stitu tio n s in th e co u n try for th e purpose of tra in in g th e
citizens of th e S ta te a n d o th e r citizens of th e co u n try , m en tally , cultu rally , in te l
lectually, a n d scientifically; a n d
W hereas i t is also th e d u ty of th e S ta te to tra in o th e r of its citizens along th e
lines of skilled lab o r a n d to p rep are such citizens to fit in to m odern in d u stry an d
it* highly specialized a n d sy stem atized age as i t exists to -d a y ; a n d
W hereas i t appears t h a t th e re is a g re a t need of a p ublic in s titu tio n to tra in
th e general populous [sic] of th e S ta te in various skilled labors th a t exist to -d ay
m connection w ith m odern in d u stry ; now, therefore
Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the qeneral
assembly:
S e c t i o n 1. A com m ission shall be a p p o in ted to in v estig ate an d ascertain th e
feasibility of establishing a S ta te in s titu tio n in or n e a r th e g re a t m etro p o litan
city of Chicago for th e purpose of tra in in g citizens of th e S ta te in th e skilled
tra d e s a n d vocations as exist to -d a y in th e v arious m odern in d u stries a n d in th is
highly synchronized a n d sy stem atized m achine age, in o rd er t h a t such citizens
m ay b e tte r fit in to th e schem e of th in g s a n d m ay learn from such p ublic institu tio iq such tra d e s t h a t will im prove th e ir earn in g ca p a c ity a n d th e ir living
conditions; th a t said com m ission consist of nine persons to be ap p o in te d in th e
following m anner:
T he speaker of th e house of re p resen tativ es to a p p o in t th re e m em bers of th e
house of representativ es, th e lie u te n a n t governor to a p p o in t th re e m em bers of
th e senate, th e G overnor of th e S ta te of Illinois to a p p o in t th ree m em bers of
such com m ission;
T h a t such comm ission m eet from tim e to tim e a n d w ork o u t a p rogram in
h arm ony w ith th e provisions of th is act, reduce such suggestions as said com-
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W O RK ERS’ EDUCATION AND TRAINING
109
m ission m ny m ake, to a printed, rep o rt, a n d su b m it said re p o rt to th e n ex t general
assem bly (the fifty-eighth general assem b ly ).
. i
S e c . 2. T he sum of $2,000, o r so m uch th ereo f as m ay be necessary, is hereby
ap p ro p riated to th e com m ission herein created for th e necessary expenses of
such com m ission. T he m em bers of such com m ission shall n o t be p aid for th e ir
services b u t said $2,000, or so m uch th ereo f as m ay be necessary, shall be used
for th e necessary expenses for th e trav el, board, a n d lodging of th e m em bers
of such comm ission.
M unicipal I n s tru c tio n for U nem ployed Skilled W orkers in
R o tte r d a m , N eth erlan d s
HE extent and duration of serious unemployment have induced
the burgomaster and aldermen of Rotterdam to look for measures
to prevent the loss of professional knowledge by unemployed or
irregularly employed skilled workers.1 io attain this a committee
was°appointed to investigate the matter and report. Inasmuch as
unemployment at Rotterdam is most severe in the building and metal
trades, the investigation was restricted to these trades. The com
mittee recommended the installation of day courses. After due
authorization by the burgomaster and aldermen, such courses were
immediately established for carpenters, mechanical woodworkers,
cabinetmakers, plumbers, bench workers, electricians, and copper
smiths. At these courses, which commenced on April 13, 15 hours
of instruction are given weekly. On May 4 another course was
started in autogenous and electric welding, occupying 6 hours weekly.
In the period May 13 to May 29 (later data are not available)
495 unemployed applied for admission, of whom 413 were admitted
after careful selection. Roughly 27 per cent of this total did not
join when they were given an appointment, so that courses began
with 296 members. During the period of the course, 128 persons left
the courses for various reasons, such as reemployment, etc. Most of
the instruction given is theoretical, but in a few instances practical
tuition is given.
T
1 Report of O. H. Foster, American Consul at Rotterdam, dated July 18, 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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CARE OF THE BLIND
A rk an sas Pen sion Law for In d ig en t Blind C itizens
HE State of Arkansas enacted a law (Act No. 158) at the 1931
legislative session, providing for the payment of a pension to the
indigent blind citizens of the State.
To provide funds, a license tax of $10 per year has been imposed
upon every person engaged in the business of operating billiard or
pool tables for profit, within the State. All revenues received under
the provisions of the act must be credited to the “ Indigent blind
fund ” and be used exclusively for the purpose of paying pensions to
the blind.
To be eligible for the pension the applicant must have reached the
age of 21 and have been a citizen for five years. Applications for
such a pension must be made before the chancery court or the judge
of such court for the district in which the applicant resides. Claims
for a pension must be filed not less than six months after the passage
of the act (approved, March 20, 1931) and at that time the fund shall
be distributed among the number of persons who have so applied.
The amount of pension is limited to $25 per month per person.
The State Confederate pension board is to administer the fund.
For the purpose of making the act effective an appropriation of
$20,000 is made out of the “ Indigent blind fund” for the paying of
pensions for the fiscal period ending June 30, 1932, and the like sum
for the period ending June 30, 1933.
T
U tilizin g Blind W orkers in In d ian a
the 12 months ending September 30, 1930, the indus
trial departments of the Indiana State Board of Industrial Aid
D URING
for the Blind gave 116 persons (76 women and 40 men) instruction
and employment, according to the annual report of the board for that
year. In addition to these apprentices and employees, many persons
were assisted in other ways, for example, by the purchase of broom,
rug, or basket supplies. An excellent spirit of cooperation among the
employee^ and those having charge of the work is reported. The
general depression affected to some extent the board’s industries.
The output of the shops had to be restricted and such reduction
increased the operating costs. Despite this curtailment, however,
the institution did a fair amount of business. In the year under
review 198,792 brooms were manufactured. This number was a little
below normal and resulted from reducing the daily working hours
from 9 to 8. The average hourly wage paid to the employees was
$0.3036.
The garment department operated full time, but the number of
employees had to be reduced. As a consequence the output was
somewhat below normal. The number of garments made was 13,331
and it is stated that the high-grade workmanship on them facilitated
110
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[858]
CARE OF THE BLIND
111
their sale, with the result that many purchasing them for the first
time have become regular buyers of these products of the institution.
The needle-craft department’s sales were greater than in any
preceding year. This accomplishment was largely the outcome of
the work of the cooperation for blind committee of the Indiana
Federation of Clubs. This committee’s members and the club women
throughout Indiana are reported as having been indefatigable in their
efforts to assist this department. The blind women who work in
their homes do all kinds of needlework, especially the hemming ot
towels, 36,579 being hemmed during the year covered in the report.
Sales of goods totaled $8,996.51.
The total sales of goods from all industries for the year ending
September 30, 1930, aggregated $102,618.01 and the wages paid to
the blind employees amounted to $29,563.08.
The field agents or home teachers have been very active. Every
day requests are received to assist the blind in their homes and the
greater part of the time of these teachers is given to such requests.
T hese dem ands on hom e teac h ers v a ry in accordance w ith th e need of th e
individual. T h ey m ay be for in stru c tio n , p lace m en t w ork, a id in building up a
hom e in d u stry , social a d ju stm e n t, etc. In s tru c tio n is given in needlew or ,
reading a n d w riting a n d o th e r in d u stria l w ork. T h e ag en ts h av e been successful
in establishing m an y in hom e in d u stries, such as broom m aking, c h a ir caning,
sta n d keeping, sales w ork, ru g w eaving, etc. A t th e p re se n t tim e th e re are t>8
engaged in ru g w eaving. M an y of th ese persons a re successful, th e degree ot
success depending largely on th e lo catio n of th e w eaver. T h e b o ard h a s been
m aterially aid ed in th is w ork th ro u g h th e cooperation of th e re h a b ilita tio n divi
sion of th e S ta te , th is d e p a rtm e n t h av in g p ro v id ed loom s a n d in s tru c tio n a l
m aterial for tra in in g of ap p lican ts. T h e hom e te ac h ers cover th e e n tire S ta te
an d h ave visited m ost of th e blind in th e ir homes. D u rin g th e y ear, 1,803 visits
were m ade. Of th is num ber, 1,221 were for th e purpose of in v estig atio n , 550 for
in stru ctio n , a n d 32 w ere social calls.
In accordance with the statutes, the register of the blind was
maintained, 2,264 names being listed with detailed information
regarding each person. Of the total number registered, 1,310 were
men and 954 women. In 1,043 of these cases blindness was unpreventable; in 820 cases, preventable; and in 401 cases, undetermined.
The trust fund designated “ the Home for Blind Women’s Fund
was substantially increased during the year by gifts amounting to
$5,030.
C an ad ian N ation al In s titu te for th e Blind
ESPITE the difficulties resulting from the business depression the
Canadian National Institute for the Blind not only maintained
its usual services during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1931, but m
some instances expanded them and added new lines. lhe sales of
the products of the institute’s industries and home workers compare
favorably with the high accomplishment of the preceding year.
Notwithstanding the lower average prices of the articles made, the
subsidies on these industries show fair comparison with 19-9-30.
While in some cases the subsidies were reduced, the cash benefits to
the blind have been continued or increased. _ The institute has been
energetically going forward with registration, the prevention of
D
l Labor Gazette, Ottawa, July, 1931, p. 763.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[859]
112
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
blindness, the conservation of vision, field work, home teaching,
salesroom activities, workshop employment, placement, and helpful
general services.
The report of the assistant general secretary of the institute
stressed the importance of the recent passage by the Legislature of
Ontario of the blind workmen’s compensation act, which social
workers are said to regard as “ one of the most progressive pieces of
social legislation ever passed.” This law is summarized as follows in
the May, 1931, issue of the Canadian Labor Gazette:
T he blind w orkm en’s com pensation a c t provides for th e p a y m e n t from th e
consolidated revenu e fu n d of th e Province, to th e w orkm en’s com pensation bo ard
or th e em ployer as th e case m ay be, of th e full co st of co m pensation for a n acci
d e n t to a blind w orkm an w here such cost exceeds $50. P a y m e n t is m ad e on a
certificate of th e board. T h e assessm ent on a n em ployer to be levied by th e b o ard
on th e w ages of a blind w orkm an is to be fixed a t such a m o u n t as is deem ed fair,
having reg ard to th e provisions of th e w orkm en’s com pensation a c t. T h e C an a
d ian N atio n al In s titu te for th e B lind is given exclusive ju risd ictio n as to th e n a tu re
of th e w ork a blind w orkm an shall do a n d as to his p ro p er placem ent. Upon
recom m endation of th e w orkm en’s com pensation b oard, how ever, th e lie u te n a n tgovernor in council m ay designate a n y o th e r org an izatio n or in s titu tio n to execute
th e pow ers a n d perfo rm th e d u ties assigned to th e in s titu te . An em ployer
giving em ploym ent to a b lin d w orkm an w ith o u t th e con sen t o r ap p ro v a l of th e
in s titu te or changing th e n a tu re of such em p lo y m en t w hen once ap p ro v ed , is
deem ed to h av e w aived benefit in re sp ect of su ch w orkm an. Officers of th e in sti
tu te are to have access a t all tim es to th e place of em plo y m en t of a b lind w orkm an
w ith th e know ledge a n d consent of th e su p e rin te n d e n t o r forem an.
The report of the assistant general secretary of the institute also
refers to the amendment to the Federal election act, which provides
for a new alternative method by which blind persons may vote.
H eretofore th e b allo ts of b lin d vo ters h av e been m ark ed by th e d e p u ty re tu rn
ing officer in th e presence of th e poll clerk a n d ag en ts for th e c a n d id a tes; u n d er
th e am en d m en t th e y m ay still be so m ark ed , b u t a lte rn a tiv e ly th e b lin d v o ter
m ay b rin g a friend w ith him to th e polling sta tio n , a n d upon th e v o te r a n d his
friend ta k in g th e p ro p er o a th s th e y m ay go to g e th e r in to a votin g co m p artm en t
w here th e friend m ay m ark th e b lin d v o te r’s ballot.
The measures requisite for the rehabilitation of the blind in business
and industry are reviewed in the report of the national supervision
of industrial placement. While the industrial depression has hindered
rehabilitation work, methods have now been worked out which
promise more lasting success. In the western Ontario and Quebec
divisions, detailed aftercare is at present being carried on, full-time
placement agents attending to every problem which comes up, and
each opportunity being made to serve its maximum benefit.
Another forward step in 1930-31 was the organization of the
Merchants’ Association of the Canadian National Institute for the
Blind. The members of this association are blind men and women
who are carrying on small businesses and who, with few exceptions,
have been placed by the institute. In the year ending March 31,
1931, the sum of $2,831.51 was divided among the members after
they had received their regular retail profits.
The placements of the blind from April 1, 1930, to March, 1931,
numbered 782 and the amount of earnings during that period was
slightly over $51,000. In the first 3 years of this work about $200,000
was earned by the blind as an outcome of the efforts of the place
ment department of the institute. It is estimated that there are
approximately 6,800 blind persons in Canada.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I860]
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
Strikes and L o ck o u ts in th e U nited S ta te s in A u gu st, 1931
ATA regarding industrial disputes in the United States for
August, 1931, with comparable data for preceding months are
presented below. Disputes involving fewer than six workers and
lasting less than one day have been omitted.
Table 1 shows the number of disputes beginning m 1927, 1928,
1929, and 1930, number of workers involved and man-days lost for
these years and for each of the months, January, 1930, to August,
1931, inclusive, as well as the number of disputes in effect at the end
of each month and the number of workers involved. _ The economic
loss (in man-days) involved is computed by multiplying the number
of workers affected in each dispute by the length of the dispute
measured in working-days as normally worked by the industry oi
trade in question.
D
T a b l e 1 . — I N D U S T R I A L D IS P U T E S B E G I N N I N G I N A N D I N E F F E C T A T o p d ? S P U T f F
M O N T H J A N U A R Y 1930, TO A U G U S T , 1931, A N D T O T A L N U M B E R OF D l b P U l E S ,
W O R K E R S iA N D M A N -D A Y S L O S T I N T H E Y E A R S 1927 TO 1930
N um b er of workers in
volv ed in d isputes
N u m b er of
m an-days
lo st during
In effect at B eginning In effect at m on th or
year
end of
in m onth
end of
m onth
or year
m onth
N um b er of disputes
M on th and year
1007«
B eginning
in m onth
or year
lo o n i» o u .
r P i- v lo l
J -o ta i.
1930
T o n n c iH ;
February
March
- ____ _____ ____
______ - _______
_ _ ______ - - -------------
S o p fp m L or
__
N ovem ber
TJecemhpr
____ _______
____________________ -
-
-
- ---------
mi
February
_____________ _______
IVTuv
Tune
Ju]y 1
45
52
49
64
66
TVTnv
Tnnp
J u ly
349, 434
357,145
230, 463
158,114
734
629
903
653
T a I oI
1 QOQ* nT r»fçil
______________________
59
78
51
72
47
44
26
56
52
45
60
106
81
74
67
21
40
38
41
29
34
30
33
44
36
29
7
20
34
27
39
49
51
66
76
___ -
-
9,240
37,480
15, 017
6 , 379
9, 329
14, Oil
14, 308
15, 902
16, 337
10, 858
4,390
4,863
5,316
6,683
5, 957
5,840
4.386
8, 311
4,815
7,131
13, 778
16, 007
7, 759
5,144
10,147
19, 984
26,121
26,442
27, 588
18, 437
52,884
9,130
2,927
12, 512
28,139
22, 604
15, 735
37,799, 394
31, 556, 947
9, 975, 213
2, 730, 368
184, 730
.4A
0QQ
0,
K7H
Q
/U
ozyi,
m
1iz0 /7
1 QO oQOQ
Zo
1 QK 4AQ
JLoO,
1
117
AA
141
OQQ 1 f id
qqc ; Q1 A
070
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
AQG
194 455
181, 031
OOQ QOQ
422 545
709 7?o
2’
aq 4 3 7
50e OQ7
083
150
1 304 774
i Prelim inary figures subject to change.
[861]
AA7
Mo 733
113
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
114
Occurrence of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
2 gives by industry the number of strikes beginning in
June, July, and August, 1931, and the number of workers directly
involved.
T able
T a ble 2.—IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN JU N E , JULY, A N D AUGUST, 1931
Industrial group
Number of disputes beginning Number of workers involved
in—
in disputes beginning in —
July
June
August
Auto, carriage, and wagon workers..
Bakers__________________________
Barbers_________________________
Building trades__________________
Chauffeurs and teamsters_________
Clothing________________________
Fishermen_______________________
F oodw orkers........... ............... ...........
Furniture____________ ___________
Iron and steel.....................................
Jewelry workers___________ ____ _
Leather_________________________
Light, heat, power, and water_____
Longshoremen and freight handlers.
Lumber, timber, and mill work___
Metal trades_____________________
M ining________________ _____ ____
Motion-picture operators, actors,
theatrical workers______________
Printing and publishing__________
Stone___________________________
Municipal workers. ............... ..............
T extiles._________________________
Tobacco_____ ______ _____________
Other occupations___________ _____
Total______________________
June
July
360
1,823
985
1,155
55
180
13
12, 576
August
35
150
2,427
156
35,925
350
95
145
35
680
431
3,885
600
350
12
13
450
60
380
440
60
48
679
122
2,826
100
400
19
30
10
8
67
1,159
10,209
75~
18,437
52,884
600
217
43
" " li"
9,130
Size and Duration of Industrial Disputes, by Industries
T a b l e 3 gives the number of industrial disputes beginning
1 9 3 1 , classified by number of workers and by industries.
in August,
T able 3 .—N U M B E R OF IN D U S T R IA L D IS P U T E S B E G IN N IN G IN A U G U ST , 1931, CLASSI
FIE D B Y N U M B E R OF W ORKERS A N D B Y IN D U S T R IA L GROUPS
Number of disputes beginning in August, 1931,
involving—
Industrial group
500 and
6 and
20 and
100 and
under 20 under 100 under 500 under
1,000
workers workers workers workers
Auto, carriage, and wagon workers _
___ __ _
Bakers___
__ ___ _ . .
____ _ _________
Building trades. . . . .
. ____
_ ... ... ...
Chauffeurs and teamsters
__________ _________
Clothing___ _ _________ ______
_________
Food workers __ _________ _
. _____
Furniture.. .................
____
_____
____________ _
_____
Jewelry workers
Leather
— _____ . . . .
_ .
Light, heat, power, and water
. . . .
__
Longshoremen and freight handlers
____ _
Lumber, timber, and mill work
.
_____
M etal trades
____________ _____ _
_______
M in in g ________ ____ ____________ ___ _________
Motion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical
workers
. . . . . .
. _________________
Printing and publishing.
.
________
Municipal workers
-- -- - - _____________
T extiles. ______ ____________ . . ____
. ____
Tobacco__________ . . _________ _ .
______
T o t a l..........
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
...................
[862 ]
1,000 and
under
5,000
workers
1
4
1
5
5
1
12
1
4
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
i
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
1
4
1
16
30
17
3
1
115
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
In Table 4 are shown the number of industrial disputes ending in
August, 1931, by industries and classified duration.
T able 4 .—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 A U G U ST , 1931, B Y IN D U S
T R IA L GROUP A N D C L ASSIFIED D U R A T IO N
Classified duration of strikes ending in August, 1931
Industrial group
Auto, carriage, and wagon workers---------Building trades-----------------------------------U
Lonffnnrc aim
onrl tpfim
stpr^ -------------- unauneuiis
icdmaioio
Furniture------------------------------------------ Longshoremen and freight handlers--------Mining —---------_
Motion-picture operators, actors, and theatrical workers------------------------ ----------
One-half
month
or less
Over
1 month 2 months 3 months 5 months
one-half and less and less and less and less
and less
than
than
than
than
than
3 months 4 months 6 months
1 month 2 months
1
1
8
2
10
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
3
2
1
2
2
1
Tobacco_______________________________
1
4
1
T otal------------------------------------------
37
6
5
5
1
6
2
1
1
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Beginning in August, 1931
Shirt makers, New York City.—A strike of some 500 shirt and boys’
blouse makers is reported to have begun on August 11 to resist a
reduction of wages and the sending of work by the manufacturers to
11nonunion low-paid out-of-town shops.” It is understood that this
strike ended successfully on August 29.
Clothing workers (men's), Boston.—A successful strike or stoppage
of some 2,500 men’s clothing workers for union conditions and wage
increases is reported to have begun on August 18 and to have ended
by September 4.
_
Garbage collectors, Chicago.—Some 600 members of the Sanitary
Teamsters’, Chauffeurs’, and Helpers’ Union stopped their work of
collecting city refuse on August 26, demanding 5 days’ work per week
instead of 4. This strike was unsuccessful, but the men will work 5
days temporarily until the refuse accumulated during the strike has
been cleaned up.
Principal Strikes and Lockouts Continuing into August, 1931
Bituminous coal miners, West Virginia.—The strike of July 6 in
the Kanawha district involving about 1,500 men is reported to have
ended about August 17. Some of the places were filled by outside
workers, but most of the men, it was said, would get work.
Textile workers, silk, Connecticut— The 500 operatives of the Edward
Bloom Co. (Inc.), at Putnam, who struck on July 13, demanding a
working week of 48 instead of 55 hours, voted on September 15 to
return to work under the conditions that formerly prevailed. It is
understood that the plant has resumed operations.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[863]
116
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Silk workers, New Jersey.—The strikes of July 22 and July 27
involving some 8,000 textile workers still continue, but give promise
of an early amicable settlement. On September 15 it was estimated
that approximately 4,000 workers had returned to their plants with
satisfactory readjustment of the wage schedules on the basis of a com
promise, with recognition of the union and a 44-hour week. These
settlements, it is understood, apply to the workers affiliated with
the Associated Silk Workers and the United Textile Workers.
Clothing workers, New York City.—No report has been received of
the final ending of the strike or stoppage of some 30,000 men’s cloth
ing workers which began on July 29, but it is understood that follow
ing additional settlements with other independent proprietors the
strike was practically over by August 21.
Clothing workers, New Jersey.—No report has been received of the
ending of the strike of about 2,000 workers in Egg Harbor, Hammonton, and Vineland, which began on July 29. As this strike was
in some respects identified with the larger stoppage of the same date
in New York City, its duration was probably coextensive with the
larger one and ended by August 21.
Hosiery workers, Philadelphia.—No report has been received that
the strike of some 3,000 workers which began on February 16 has
ended; but it is probable that the strike, considered as a whole, was
practically if not entirely over by the end of August, and that it was
successful only in part. Production in the industry has been at a low
ebb for several months.
Silk workers, Pennsylvania.—The strike of some 3,000 workers in
Allentown which began as of May 1, was, it is understood, practically
over by September 1. A press report of August 31 stated that there
were still only 5 mills where no settlement had been made. Beyond
recognition by a number of the mills, it is said, the strikers virtually
gained nothing.
C o n ciliatio n W ork of th e D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r in A u g u st, 1931
By H u g h L. K e r w i n , D
ir e c t o r
of
C o n c il ia t io n
HE Secretary of Labor, through the Conciliation Service, exer
cised his good offices in connection with 68 labor disputes during
August, 1931. These disputes affected a known total of 12,849 em
ployees. 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.
On September 1, 1931, there were 57 strikes before the department
for settlement and in addition 19 controversies which had not reached
the strike stage. The total number of oases pending was 76.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[864]
LA BO R D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E C O N C ILIA TIO N SERV IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N TH OF A U G U ST , 1931
Workers
involved
Duration
Nature of
Company or industry and location controversy Craftsmen concerned
Custanzo M ining Co., War wood,
W. Va.
Strike.
Officers’ quarters, Knoxville, Iowa. Controversy
Chic Sportswear Co. (Inc.), New Strike_____
York City.
T w enty shoe factories, Lynn, M ass. ____do_____
[865]
Eruit and vegetable workers, San
Jose, Calif.
Building, Grand Rapids, M ich.—
Elm Grove Mining Co., Wheeling,
W. Va.
Grace Dress Co., Bronx, N . Y -------
____do_____
____do_____
Asked recognition and checkweigh- Adjusted. Allowed checkweighman; no discrimination for union
man,
membership.
Discussion of prevailing wage Pending_______________________
rates.
Asked increase and improved con Adjusted; returned to work.
ditions.
Wage cuts and conditions----------- Pending__________________
Adjusted. Wages increased and
union recognition.
Unclassified. Settled without Gov
ernment conciliation.
Discussion of prevailing rates----- Pending_______________________
___
do------- ----- ------ -----------------Asked union recognition and checkweighman.
Adjusted.
Accepted small cut on
Change in piecework rates--------certain garments, small increase
on others.
Cut in tonnage rates for handling Adjusted. Agreement on rates
concluded.
coal.
Change in piecework rates---------- Pending_______________________
Wages, conditions, union recogni' tion.
Wages cut_____________________
Working conditions.
Unable to adjust------- ---------------
D i Indi
rectly rectly
Begin
ning
Ending
1931
June 16
1931
Aug. 8
33
July 24
Aug.
3
700
Aug. 25
50
500
35
July 30
Aug.
3
Aug. 19
Aug.
1
Aug.
4
July 29
June 16
1,000
«
800
July 24
July 29
18
Aug.
Aug.
25
3
5
40
70
July 15
Aug.
8
5
Aug. 28
50
July 31
Aug. 13
500
58
148
80
Union dispute relative to fines---Proposed wage cut---------------------
Adjusted. Miners paid fines------Adjusted. Agreed on arbitration..
July 29
Aug. 5
Discussion of prevailing wage rates.
Nonunion electricians employed;
others refused to work with
them.
S t r u c t u r a l- ir o n Jurisdiction of placing elevator
doors; recent award repudiated
workers and eleva
by ironworkers.
tor constructors.
D rivers.------ ------- Proposed decrease from $1 to $1.50
on each day’s wage.
Pending----------------------------------Adjusted. Two-year union agree
ment signed.
July 20
Aug. 3
Aug. 13
(>)
75
Adjusted. Returned pending fur
ther negotiations.
Aug. 8
Aug. 14
13
270
Unclassified. Withdrew proposal;
part of cabs laid off.
...d o ___
Aug.
300
125
____do_____ Miners__________
Controversy. S t r e e t - r a i l w a y
workers.
Building------------____do.
Building trades—
Strike..
Taxi drivers, Seattle, W ash------------------ do-------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Dressmakers.
T ea m ster s and
chauffeurs.
Knitters and ma
chine workers.
M etal polishers----
State office building, Columbus, ____do_____
Ohio.
1 N ot reported.
Garden workers..
Controversy. Bricklayers.
Strike_____ Miners____
Fleer Bros., Brooklyn, N . Y .
Rubinger Sportswear Corporation,
N ew York City.
Super M aid Cookware Corpora
tion, Chicago, 111.
R aven R un Mine, Girardsville, Pa.
Lackawanna & Wyoming R. R.
Co., Scranton, Pa.
Building, Kansas City, M o--------High-school and other buildings,
Erie, Pa.
Teamsters, engin
eers, laborers.
Cutters, knitters,
operators.
Shoe workers_____
Present status and terms of
settlement
8
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
Stateroadwork,DuPage County,111. ____do_____
Building trades—
Cause of dispute
LABOR D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E CO N C ILIA TIO N SERVICE D U R IN G T H E M O N T H OF A U G U ST , 1931—Continued
OO
Workers
involved
Duration
Company or industry and location
Nature of
controversy Craftsmen concerned
M etal polishers__
Wage cu t.___ ________
Painters
Wages cut $1 per day__
Sheet-metal work- Wages cut $2.20 per day.
ers.
Controversy Hoisting engineers _ Wages______________
Bass Construction Co., Detroit,
Mich.
D o__________________________ ___do_
Ironworkers
[866]
_ _do_
Post-office building, B ay City,
Mich.
M . Binstock & Co., Denver, Colo.. ____do_____
Laborers.
United States Assay Building, New
York City.
Strike. .
B uilding____ _
Helton ville Limestone Co., Heltonville, Ind.
Controversy
Stone workers_____
Levine & Meitzer, New York City. Strike____
Amerikar Mogyar, Nepszava, New
York City.
Clothing workers.._
M illinery workers..
Lockout... _ Linotype operators.
Becille Dress Co., New York C ity.. Strike.
Dressmakers. .
Shirt and waist factory, New York ------do_____ Shirt and waist
City.
workers.
Reniger Construction Co., Lansing, Controversy Bricklayers ____
Mich.
Clothing, Boston, M ass__________ Strike..
Clothing w orkers..
Film theater operators, Chicago,
111.
Van Houten Bros., Perkasie, P a__
Glassell Construction Co., Shreve
port, La.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Lockout. ..
Strike___
Operators________
Silk workers
Controversy Airport
tion.
construe-
Present status and terms of
settlement
Adjusted. Allowed union recog
nition; wages to be adjusted.
Pending_______________________
___ do_________________________
Adjusted. Allowed $1.25 per
hour and union conditions.
Adjusted. Allowed $1.50 per
hour and union conditions.
___ do______________
Adjusted. Increased from 35 to 40
cents per hour.
Renewal of agreement.
Adjusted. Allowed 44-hour week;
per cent wage cut of 6 months
ago restored.
Refusal to handle granite furnished Adjusted. Contractors agreed to
use no stone from Stone Moun
by Stone Mountain Granite Cor
poration.
tain, Ga., on subsequent con
tracts.
Prevailing wage not being paid__ Adjusted. Agreed to pay prevail
ing wage rates; cutters, $1.25 per
hour, carvers $1.50.
Asked union recognition and union Pending--------- --------- --------------conditions.
Change in wages and conditions in ----- do__ _____ ________________
new agreement; nonunion work
ers employed.
Asked recognition; satisfied with ___ do_________________________
wages.
Alleged violation of agreement in Adjusted______________________
sending work out of town.
Wages cut from $1.50 to $1.35 per Unable to adjust_______________
hour.
Asked wage increase and union Adjusted. Allowed as asked____
conditions.
Owners objected to hiring two op Pending. State’s attorney han
dling the situation.
erators.
Alleged abrogation of recent agree Adjusted. All returned_________
ment.
Investigation of prevailing wages Pending_______________________
in the locality.
----- do______________
10
Di- Indi
rectly rectly
Begin
ning
Ending
1931
Aug. 10
1931
Aug. 19
14
Aug. 12 ________
Aug. 7 .................
80
35
July 28
Aug.
8
4
60
Aug.
Aug. 12
35
300
8
Aug. 11 . .. d o ___
35
Aug.
3 . .. d o ___
35
15
Aug.
1
Aug. 13
165
9
Aug.
7
Aug. 20
35
65
Aug.
6
35
6
Aug.
1
12
6
Aug. 11
Aug. 11
Aug. 29
Aug. 19
Aug. 29
35
Aug. 18
Sept. 4
2,500
Aug. 14
July 20
Aug. 15
Sept. 11
30
500
no
80
120
43
4
O
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Simmons Manufacturing Co., Ke Threatened
nosha, Wis.
strike.
Painters, San Jose, Calif__________ Lockout
Fageol Motor Co., Oakland, C alif.. Strik e... .
Cause of dispute
Hi Bi Nelson Construction Co., ___ do-------- Carpenters___
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
School building, Pittsburgh, P a__ Strike______ Electricians__
Meadow Gold Dairies (Inc.), Pitts ----- do______ Wagon drivers.
burgh, Pa.
.do.
Candy makers.
Lewis Bros., Newark, N . J_______
Cumberland Coal Co., Isolene,
Tenn.
T ile setters, Portland, Oreg______
Hauser Construction Co., Twin
Rocks, Oreg.
Tampa Marine Co., Tampa, Fla.
Elco Shoe Manufacturing Co.
(Inc.), Brooklyn, N . Y.
Controversy M ining____
do.
.do.
Tile setters.
Building__
.do.
___ do_____
Shoe lasters.
Adjusted. Wages to be adjusted
later.
Pending......... .
.
_ __do___ _________ ________ _
Aug.
8
Adjusted. All parties withdrew Aug. 17
demands.
Unable to adjust________________ Aug. 9
Wages cut $2 per day
P e n d in g ___ _____ __________ Aug. 17
Wages cut from 1 2 } 4 to 20 per cent.. Adjusted. Cuts accepted_______ Aug. 1
P e n d in g ______________ ______ _
Adjusted. Company refused to
discharge foreman; workers returned.
Asked increase in piecework rates. _ Adjusted. Allowed slight increases on certain garments.
Asked increase, recognition, and Adjusted. Allowed union recognition a n d \ 2 Y i per cent increase.
improved conditions.
____do_________ ______________ Adjusted. Recognition refused;
some piecework changes; part
reemployed.
Prevailing wage rates _
Pending_____________________
Additional wage cuts
_____
Objection to new foreman_______
Aug. 10
Aug. 11
38
38
400
150
100
9
30
50
Aug. 20
54
12
61
Aug. 13
80
65
245
4
Aug. 19
Aug.
Aug. 13
Aug. 17
16
Aug.
Aug. 10
40
5
___do___ __ do____
210
20
7
[8 6 7 ]
Aug. 19
Algernon Blair, contractor, post Controversy Building______ . . .
office, Kittaning, Pa.
E. Hubschman & Sons, Philadel ___ d o .......... Leather workers__ Proposed wage cut of 10 per c e n t.. Adjusted. Company withdrew Aug. 18
proposal to cut.
phia, Pa.
Dale H at Co., Philadelphia, P a___ Lockout___ M illinery.................. Asked union recognition.................. Unable to adjust. Recognition Aug. 20
refused.
Bricklayers
Cut from $1.50 to $1.25 per h o u r ... Unable to adjust. Refused to Aug. 10
do.
North Moeller Co., Jackson, M ich.
restore wages.
Installation of squib-making ma- Adjusted. Company agreed to M ay 4
Controversy Squib makers.
John R. Powell, Plymouth, Pa.
alternate work among part of the
chine.
girl employees.
Aug. 10
Unclassified. Plant closed_____
Alfred Giantel (Inc.), N ew York Strike............ Shoe workers.......... W age cut 15 per cent_________
City.
U . S. Gypsum Co., veterans’ hospi Controversy Bricklayers......... . Working conditions_____________ Adjusted. Local bricklayers em- Aug. 15
ployed.
tal, Indianapolis, Ind.
...d o ................................................ Adjusted. Local workers em- __ do____
Veterans’ hospital, Indianapolis, ___ d o . ........ Plasterers, hod car
ployed.
riers.
Ind.
J. Narius & Sons, N ew York City— Threatened Clothing cutters__ Discharge of c u tte r ___________ . Adjusted. Agreed to reemploy June 4
discharged cutter at $65 per week
strike.
temporarily.
Objected to working under Steve- Adjusted. Company agreed to Aug. 17
Longshoremen
Holland American Steamship Co., Strike.
dore employed by the company.
change some of existing condiHoboken, N . J.
tions.
Berkshire Knitting Mills, Wyomis- ........ do_____ Hosiery knitters__ Asked 33J--S per cent increase and Unclassified. Strike called oil by Aug. 24
shorter
hours.
workers.
sing, Pa.
Lemaur Clothing Co., N ew York ------ do-------- Clothing workers.._ Asked recognition and union con- Adjusted. Allowed recognition July 29
ditions.
and unemployment insurance.
City.
i N ot reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Aug. 18
Aug. 18
Aug. 19
63
Aug. 21
375
Aug. 29
24
91
Aug. 28
10
60
Aug. 24
32
7
Aug. 20
25
6
Aug. 18
15
135
Aug. 22
40
110
Aug. 21
1
70
Aug. 25
280
Aug. 24
20
Aug. 20
125
INDUSTRIAL D ISPUTES
Clara-Dora Frocks, New York Strike______ Dressmakers______
City.
Manhattan Wood Heel Co., Brook ____do_____ Wood-heel workers.
lyn, N . Y .
Wood-heel workers, Brooklyn, ____ do_____ ___ do........................
N . Y.
Asked increase of 10 cents per
hour—to 65 cents.
Wage cuts. .
____
Asked recognition and restoration
of wage cuts.
Proposed 10 per cent cut; employees asked 8-hour day.
Asked the right to organize
CD
Duration
Company or industry and location
Ware Woolen Co., Ware, M ass.-
T otal__ __ _
_________ . _
1N ot reported.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Cause of dispute
Present status and terms of
settlement
Strike
Asked small increase __
Adjusted.
Pending_______________________
Strike
Alleged paying below prevailing
wages.
1 miner discharged -
Weavers and spinners.
Controversy Lathers __
Miners.
- _ _do _ . _ Jewelry workers___ Equal division of work and change
in piecework rates.
____do_____ ____do____________ Objected to change from piecework
to time basis.
____do_____ M illinery________ Change in piecework rates and
recognition of committees.
____do_____ Knitters
_____ Equal division of work__________
do
___do__
Begin
ning
Ending
1931
1931
Aug. 7
Allowed as asked..
Unable to adjust______
Aug. 22
_ _ _ _ July 20
Adjusted. All granted $5 to $7 per
week increase.
Adjusted. Returned; accepted
$50 to $70 weekly rates.
Adjusted. Allowed as asked; all
returned.
Adjusted. Returned; satisfactorily settled.
Road laborers, shov- Alleged failure to receive wages___ Adjusted. Laborers allowed 50
cents per hour to Jan. 1, 1932;
el men, and truck
then 60 cents to Jan. 1, 1934.
drivers.
H at workers__ __ Asked union recognition and im- Pending____________________ _
proved conditions.
Workers
involved
D i Indi
rectly rectly
70
(>)
Aug. 24
150
Aug. 21
6
3
Aug. 17 . ..d o .......
7
5
Aug. 18
Aug. 21
Aug. 22
40
7
Aug. 25
Aug. 27
50
8
Aug. 26
Aug. 31
100
Aug. 11
40
10
10, 482
2,367
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
[ 868]
Building at Fort Lewis, Tacoma,
Wash.
Goose Run Mine, Murry City,
Ohio.
Kalina Jewelry Manufacturing Co.,
New York City.
La Salle Manufacturing Co., New
York City.
Bremer & Mittelmark, N ew York
City.
H. & M . Knitting Mills, Brooklyn,
N . Y.
Westchester County road construetion, White Plains and Tarrytown, N . Y.
Security Hat Corporation, New
York City.
Nature of
controversy Craftsmen concerned
120
LABOR D IS P U T E S H A N D L E D B Y T H E CO N C ILIA TIO N SERV IC E D U R IN G T H E M O N TH OF A U G U ST, 1931—Continued
LABOR AGREEMENTS, AWARDS AND
DECISIONS
Provisions for E m p lo y m e n t of U nion M em bers, in Collective
A g reem en ts
RACTICALLY all of the collective agreements received by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the exception of the agreements
of railroad employees, make some provision for the employment of
union members. A large majority of the agreements stipulate that
only members of the union shall perform the class of work specified
in the agreement, if union members are available. The union agrees
to make every effort to furnish competent members to perform the
work if the employer notifies the union, 24 to 48 hours in advance, of
the number of workers required. If the union is unable to furnish a
sufficient number of workers the employer is usually permitted to hire
nonunion workers. Generally such workers are given permits or
working cards until the next meeting of the local union, at which
time they are required to make application for membership. _ A few
agreements provide that the nonunion workers shall be displaced
when a union member is available. Many of tlm agreements provide
that if a nonunion worker refuses to make application and join the
union within a given time, or if he proves ineligible to membership
for any reason, he shall be discharged. A few agreements provide
that when a nonunion worker is employed he must make application
for membership and pay the initiation fee in full before he starts to
work; in others such worker is required to make a deposit on initia
tion fee when making application for membership.
A large number of agreements require the employer to hire all
workers through the business office of the union, and in a few of these
agreements the employer agrees to accept any capable member sent
to him by the union office, while in other agreements it is stipulated
that the employer may select members from the “ out-of-work” list.
Advertising for help is not permissible by the terms of a number of
the agreements, while in others the employer may advertise for help
if the union, after due notice, has failed to furnish him with the
number requested, but he must advertise in the name of the local
union. One agreement provides that the employer may advertise for
help but he must use the words “ union shop.”
Many of the agreements provide that the local union shall maintain
an office with a telephone, and the business agent must be in charge
of office for certain hours during the day to answer inquiries and to
provide necessary service to the trade. Generally the agreements
which provide for the employment of union members only also pro
vide that the union will do all in its power to furnish members who
are thoroughly competent to perform the work of the trade in an
efficient and workmanlike manner. Many of these provide_ that any
work performed by members of the union, if found defective, must
be made good by the members on their own time.
P
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[869]
121
122
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
A very few agreements provide for a preferential union shop, i. e.,
one in which union men are employed in preference to nonunion men.
One street-railway agreement provides for the open shop. Many
railroads deal directly with the recognized unions in the making of
agreements, but these agreements do not provide for the employ
ment of union members only.
The following are a few provisions taken from about 1,000 collective
agreements which contain provisions for the employment of union
members:
B akery and confectionery workers.— Only m em bers of th e union a re to be
em ployed a n d th e y shall be h ired th ro u g h th e union office. If th ro u g h a scarcity
of union m en o th ers a re h ired, such m en m u s t d ep o sit fu ll in itia tio n fee w ith th e
union rep re se n ta tiv e w ith in six d ay s a fte r em ploym ent.
Local No. — shall h av e th e rig h t to su b s titu te one w orkm an for a n o th e r belong
ing to th e local pro v id ed such w orker is capable of doing th e w ork. T h e person
su b s titu te d shall be considered as being em ployed by th e boss a n d shall be p aid
o u t of th e w ages of ste a d y em ployee so t h a t he will be covered u n d er th e w ork
m en ’s com pensation in su ran ce act.
T he em ployer agrees t h a t if he should refuse to em ploy th re e m em bers e n titled
to g et em ploym ent se n t him in consecutive o rd er he shall h av e no rig h t to ask
a n o th e r w orker for a p eriod of tw o m onths.
If no m em bers of Local No. — a re av ailab le th e union shall h av e th e rig h t to
bring w orkm en from a n o th e r city a n d th e em ployer shall p ay expenses of bringing
such help.
Journeym an barbers.— E m ployer agrees to hire none b u t m em bers of union in
good standing. Said union m en m u st be hired th ro u g h th e office of th e union,
a n d m u s t p resen t a w orking card issued b y th e union before being engaged to
w ork in a n y shop.
M aster barb ers to em ploy only m em bers of Local No. — or m en signifying a
w illingness to becom e m em bers by a p a y m e n t of a t lea st one-half of th e adm ission
fees. If a m an is h ired o th e r th a n th ro u g h th e union th e em ployer m u st notify
th e union a t once.
Brewery workers (soft drink and yeast m akers).— O nly such w orkingm en shall be
em ployed b y th e firm who are good stan d in g m em bers of Local No. — , a n d who
are p rovided w ith w orking card s supplied b y th e union. Should th e union be
un ab le to fu rn ish help d u rin g th e b usy season (A pril to O ctober) e x tra h elp m ay
be em ployed as long as such em plo y m en t does n o t cause a n y lay-off to union
m en. Such m en m u st h av e p e rm it card from th e union a n d m u st be p aid th e
union scale.
Brickm akers.— All em ployees shall be m em bers of B rickm akers D istric t Council
No. — . T h e council agrees t h a t i t will a t all tim es fu rn ish a sufficient n u m b er
of capable m en. F ailu re of th e union to fu rn ish m en w ith in tw o d ay s th e m an u
fac tu re r m ay em ploy m en w ho a re n o t m em bers a n d m ay pledge such m en 30
d a y s’ w ork. Such n o n union m en m u st p ay th e sam e dues a n d be su b ject to th e
sam e check-off as th e un io n m en. A fter 30 d ay s th e y m u st be a d m itte d to th e
union if th e y w ish to join.
Broom m akers.-—An em ployer w an tin g a m an m u st n o tify th e shop stew ard.
Bookkeepers, stenographers, and accountants .— T h e em ployer agrees to em ploy
only m em bers of th e un io n to p erfo rm a ll w ork am ong em ployees know n as
“ office sta ff,” pro v id ed t h a t new em ployee m ay w ork a p ro b a tio n p eriod of tw o
weeks. T h e union agrees to fu rn ish c o m p eten t m em bers on reasonable notice,
p rovided th e ir services a re available.
B uilding service employees— window cleaners.— T h e association agrees its m em
bers shall em ploy m em bers in good sta n d in g w ho c arry card s issued by th e union.
If th e union is un ab le to fu rn ish w orkers w hen called upo n to do so o th ers m ay
be tem p o rarily h ired who shall o b ta in w orking card from th e business a g e n t of
th e union.
Asbestos workers.— C o n tra c to r agrees to h av e all asbestos w ork done by m em
bers in good stan d in g of Local No. — . T h e local shall m a in ta in a n office an d
have a g e n t in a tte n d a n c e from 8 to 9.30 a. m . a n d from 4.30 to 5 p. m. to answ er
inquiries a n d provid e necessary service to th e tra d e .
All w ork covered b y th is ag reem en t shall be perform ed b y union m en. In an
em ergency should th e local fail to fu rn ish th e n u m b er of m en req u ired others
m ay be h ired who shall w ork u n d er a p e rm it from Local No. — u n til replaced by
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8701
LABOR A GREEM ENTS, AWARDS AND DECISIONS
123
m em bers of said local. M en h ired in em ergency m u st h av e w orked four years a t
th e tra d e to receive a p erm it.
.
Bricklayers, masons, and plasterers — T h e em ployer agrees to give preference
of em ploym ent to w orkm en affiliated, w ith th is union. T h e union agrees to supp ly w orkm en to all em ployers w ho a re m em bers of th e G eneral C o n tracto rs
A ssociation. N o m em ber shall w ork w ith a nonunion m an who refuses to join
th e union a n d to deposit u su al fee or to give o rd er fo r sam e.
Carpenters and joiners.— Only m em bers of th e U n ited B ro therhood of C ar
p en ters a n d Joiners shall do a n y w ork involved in th e use of carp en ters tools.
N o m em ber p e rm itte d to w ork on a job w here o th e r th a n m em bers of th e union
w ith th e q u a rte rly card are em ployed. V iolators of th is provision shall be fined
th e sum of $10 for th e first offense a n d $25 for th e second offense, o r suspended
for th re e m onths.
, „ _
,
, T .
, •
All m em bers of th e U n ited B ro therhood of C arp en te rs an d Joiners w orking
for o th er th a n leg itim ate c o n tracto rs in th is ju risd ictio n shall charge n o t less
th a n 15 cen ts p er h our above th e scale of w ages of journeym en. W hen a con
tra c to r calls for m en th ro u g h th e office said m en shall be supplied w ith a jo b card,
an d said co n tra c to r or forem an shall recognize sam e a n d p u t th e m en to work
Cement finishers.— C o n tracto rs agree to em ploy only m em bers of th is local
a n d shall call on union h e a d q u a rte rs w hen in need of help. U nion m em bers
m ay w ork for an y c o n tra c to r giving th e m th e union conditions a n d wages as
stip u lated in th is agreem en t; b u t shall give preference to c o n tracto rs who have
signed th is agreem ent.
.
,
„
, ,,
T he em ployer is n o t req u ired to hire union m en from th e office of th e union
M em bers shall n o t be tran sfe rre d from one jo b to an o th e r w ith o u t th e consent
of th e em ployer. T h e union agrees to fu rnish a t all tim es co m p eten t m em bers
w hen requested. If th e union fails to fu rnish sufficient n u m b er of m en th e n oth ers
m ay be hired b u t m u st be laid off w ith in 48 hours a fte r th e union is able to
furnish m em bers.
,
,
.
,
Electrical workers.— T he co n tra c to r agrees to em ploy only m em bers m good
stan d in g of L ocal No. — . If th e union fails to fu rnish th e n u m b er of m em bers
required th e em ployer reserves th e rig h t to em ploy such o th e r m en as are av ail
able, i t being agreed t h a t w ages a n d hours shall be as herein p rovided, buch
m en shall be g ran ted a w orking p e rm it b y th e union, m axim um charge to be $1
per day. T h e em ployer a n d th e union are to cooperate by refusing to fu rnish
m em bers to co n tracto rs w ho h av e n o t signed th is agreem ent.
.
T he union agrees to furn ish such m en as th e em ployer m ay from tim e to tim e
d em and or need.
T h e em ployer agrees n o t to su b let th e in stallatio n of a n y w ork
unless i t is done b y m em bers of Local No. •— ; also n o t to loan or cause to be
tran sferred m em bers in his em ploy to a n o th e r co n tracto r.
All w ork of an y m em ber of th e union shall be m ade good on Ins own tim e if
it is foun d defective, unless done u n d er th e direction of th e em ployer. T he local
union will in sist t h a t its m em bers do th e ir d u ty , a n d does n o t expect an y com pam
to re ta in a n in co m p eten t m em ber.
,
, ,,
Elevator constructors.— T h e c o n tra c to r agrees to em ploy only m em bers of th e
In te rn a tio n a l U nion of E le v a to r C o n stru cto rs. In th e e v e n t t h a t th e union
is unable to supply sufficient m echanics to m e e t th e req u irem en ts of th e em
ployer he m ay em ploy m echanics or helpers w ho are n o t m em bers of th e union,
to w hom th e union w'ill issue p e rm its; th ese p erm its to be renew ed from week to
week. T hese m echanics m u st ap p ly for m em bership to th e union a fte r being
^ O v e m tin q * enqineers.—U nion m em bers shall be selected by th e em ployer from
th e union supply. T he union agrees to fu rn ish sufficient n u m b er of co m p eten t
m en w hen required. In th e e v e n t th e union fails to fu rnish n u m b er required
th e n oth ers m ay be h ired w ho will n o t be req u ired to p ay for p erm its o r to join
th e union, b u t th e y shall be dism issed a t th e end of a day s w ork w hen union
m em bers are available.
+v,Q Qn+iro
N o m em ber of th e union is p e rm itte d to w ork on a n y m achine unless th e en tire
crew are m em bers of th e In te rn a tio n a l U nion of O perating E ngineers except
in an em ergency a n d th e n only u n til a m em ber can be secured. 1 he business
ag en t has charge of placing all engineers a n d he m u st be notified before an y
m u s t find o u t if m en applying
for w ork are m em bers of th e union, a n d if n o t th e em ployer m ay of his own free
will p u t such m an in Local No. - a n d th e n give him em ploym ent, th e re b y
avoiding a dispute w ith Local No.
.
77459°—31-----9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[871]
124
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
A ny person or persons who m ay be h ired by th e boss a n d th e y are found to
be w ith o u t a m em bership card of th e aforesaid union th e p ay for th e first 10
ho u rs’ w ork shall go as e n tran ce fee to above s ta te d union a n d $3 p er d ay u n til
in itiatio n fee of $50 h as been paid.
Wood, wire, and metal lathers.— E m ployer agrees to hire only m em bers of local
union. E m ploying la th e rs shall hire on each a n d every jo b one-half A m erican
an d one-half Ita lia n speaking lath ers. E ach jo b shall have one A m erican and
one Ita lia n stew ard.
I t is agreed th a t should an em ergency arise th e co n tractin g p lastere r shall
notify th e rep rese n ta tiv e of th e local union who shall furnish th e n u m b er of
m en required provided th e m en are available. No p e rm it card m an shall be
em ployed while m em bers in good sta n d in g a re unem ployed.
P aintersK decorators, and paper hangers.— R esid en t dues-paying m em bers in
good stan d in g shall a t all tim es be given preference over out-of-tow n o r traveling
m em bers. C learance c ard m em bers o r m en on a p p licatio n p e rm its shall be em
ployed only w hen resid en t m em bers in good sta n d in g are n o t av ailable. D ealers
w hen called upon to fu rnish p ap erh an g ers shall use union m en.
E m ployers agree to em ploy none b u t union m em bers, o r such as are willing
to becom e m em bers, a n d m u st im m ed iately n o tify th e stew ard o r business ag en t
if p u ttin g such m en a t w ork. All m em bers are stric tly responsible for th eir
w orkm anship a n d shall have p ro p er tools a n d shall re p o rt for w ork on M onday
w ith clean w hite overalls.
Parquet-floor layers.— M em bers of th e union shall be em ployed on all floor
laying a n d scraping. M em bers shall n o t be requ ired to w ork w ith nonunion
w orkm en in th e building tra d e s, n o r to w ork fo r em ployers who em ploy n o n
union m en on o th e r work.
Operative plasterers.— E m ployers agree to hire none b u t m em bers of Local No. —
b u t are a t lib erty to em ploy a n d discharge a n y m em bers th e y see fit. N o m em ber
allow ed to w ork w ith a p la stere r who is n o t a m em ber, or w ho h a s n o t signed an
order for his full in itia tio n fee. N o m em ber of Local No. — shall w ork w ith
nonunion m en of an y o th e r tra d e .
A dvertising for p lastere rs is n o t perm issable w ith o u t th e a p p ro v al of th e jo in t
board. W here th e re is a sho rtag e of m en th e union agrees to m ake every effort
to furnish such skilled w orkers th ro u g h th e ir local.
Plum bers and gas fitters.— C o n tracto rs agree to em ploy only m em bers of Local
No. — to do th e ir w ork w ith in th is te rrito ry as long as th e local is able to supply
reliable, com peten t a n d otherw ise satisfacto ry plum bers. E m ployers will give
due notice to local of th e n u m b er of plum bers req uired a n d th e local shall supply
sufficient n um ber of co m p eten t m echanics a t all tim es.
E m ployers m ay h ire m em bers d irect. N o m em ber shall be com pelled to work
on an y building w ith nonunion m en of his tra d e . N o m em ber shall leave his
w ork because nonunion m en in som e line of w ork o th er th a n building co nstruction
are em ployed on th e building or th e job.
Sheet-metal workers.— If a fte r 48 h o u rs’ notice Local No. — is u nable to furnish
sufficient nu m b er of co m p eten t journeym en to m eet th e req u irem en ts of th e
em ployer, ad d itio n a l jo urneym en m ay be secured from o th e r sources, all of whom
shall be eligible to a n d m ak e a p p licatio n for m em bership in Local No. — and
becom e m em bers a n d p a rtie s to th is agreem ent.
S ig n writers.— E m ployer agrees to em ploy only m em bers in good stan d in g of
Local No. — . T h e firm shall n o t use new spaper a d v ertisin g for ad d itio n a l help
u n til a req u est for such help h as been m ade to th e local.
Slate, tile and composition roofers.— T h e em ployer agrees to em ploy only m em bers
in good stan d in g of Local No. — . In th e e v e n t th e union is unable to supply
em ployer w ith roofers he shall h av e th e rig h t to hire o th ers who shall o b ta in from
th e forem an w ith o u t charge a w orking p e rm it for th e b alance of th e c u rre n t
week. P erm it renew able w eekly in ad v an ce a t office of business a g en t by p aying
fee of $1.50 for a p eriod of n o t exceeding th re e m onths. If th e holder of th e
p e rm it joins th e union th e p e rm it fees shall ap p ly on his in itia tio n fee.
N o c o n tracto r shall hire a m echanic or ap p ren tice to a p p ly roofing m aterial
w ho does n o t h av e a w orking c ard or p e rm it from Local No. — . N o m em ber of
th is local shall w ork for o th e r th a n a b ona fide roofing co n tracto r.
Steam fitters:— E m ployers agree to em ploy only m em bers of Local No. — as long
as th e local is able to supply reliable, com petent, a n d otherw ise satisfacto ry
steam fitters. If th e local is u n ab le a fte r 48 h o u rs’ notice to supply such m en th e
em ployer for th e tim e being shall be a t lib e rty to em ploy m en necessary to co ntinue
th e work,
.'
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Structural and ornamental iron workers.— T he union upon d em and is to fu rnish
th e em ployer w ith a sufficient n u m b er of co m p eten t m en. S atisfacto ry arra n g e
m en ts as to tra n sp o rta tio n shall be m ade in ad v an ce w ith th e business ag en t.
Any m em ber who fails to go to w ork shall be fined th e a m o u n t of tra n sp o rta tio n
plus $10 w hich is to be collected by th e union a n d th e a m o u n t for tra n sp o rta tio n
to be retu rn e d to th e em ployer.
Cigarmakers.— N o m em ber shall be allow ed to w ork in a shop w ith nonunion
m en or women.
Retail clerks.— M em bers of th e union only shall be em ployed in stores ow ned
a n d controlled by th e p a rty of th e first p a rt. A tem p o ra ry w orking card shall be
issued to all new m em bers for a period of four weeks w ith o u t cost, a fte r w hich tim e
such em ployees m u st becom e m em bers of th e union. All e x tra sales people shall
carry a special w orking card issued by th e union for w hich th e y shall p ay 50 cents
p er m o n th to th e union tre a su ry .
E m ployer will em ploy only m em bers of th e union or those who if eligible will
join th e union w ithin 30 day s of em ploym ent. E x tra help who are em ployed four
consecutive S atu rd ay s shall also becom e m em bers.
Boot and shoe workers.— All help shall be hired from th e local union office. In
case th e union is unable to supply th e re q u ired help w ith in 24 hours th e com pany
has th e rig h t to hire o th ers pro v id ed th o se h ired becom e m em bers of th e union
before s ta rtin g w ork.
,
. _L1
,.
...
Cloth hat and cap m akers.— T he firm agrees to em ploy in th e operating, cu ttin g ,
blocking, an d trim m in g d e p a rtm e n ts w orkers w ho are m em bers in good stan d in g
of th e union. T h e firm will a p p ly to union w hen in need of new help. T h e tria l
period will be one w eek a fte r w hich em plo y m en t shall becom e p erm an en t.
Fur workers.— T he firm agrees to em ploy none b u t m em bers in good stan d in g
of th e union, an d th e union agrees to fu rn ish such m em bers. T h e firm agrees
w hen em ploying a new w orker to send him or h er to th e union to get a card m ade
o u t to th e firm e n titlin g said w orker to be em ployed. N o w orker to be em ployed
w ith o u t such card.
.
, , ,, ,,
_
.
, ,,
Forem en need n o t be m em bers of th e union, b u t all th o se who w ork a t th e
bench m u st be m em bers. T h e son of a n em ployer w orking as an ap p ren tice for
his fath e r shall be a regularly reg istered a p p ren tice of th e union.
.
M en’s straw hat m akers.— T h e firm agrees to em ploy only m em bers m good
standing. In th e e v en t t h a t th e union can n o t fu rn ish sufficient n u m b er ot
m em bers th e union will p e rm it 10 p er c en t ap p ren tices in order to relieve such a
SltLadfes’ garment workers.— T h e em ployer agrees to em ploy a n d re ta in m his
em ploy none b u t m em bers in good stan d in g of th e local union to p erform all w ork
req u ired in th e process of m aking a garm en t. T h e em ployer agrees t h a t w hen
ever h e w ill req u ire ad d itio n a l help he will a p p ly to th e union for such help an d
th e union agrees to furnish to th e em ployer to th e b e st of its a b ility o u t of its
m em bership such w orkers as he m ay require.
,
.
,
M en’s clothing workers.— T h e em ployer agrees to em ploy only m em bers m good
stan d in g a n d who shall id en tify them selves by show ing un io n card s d irecting
th em to said em ployer. T h e em ployer agrees to engage all new w orkers th ro u g h
th e office of th e union. All new help a fte r a tr ia l p eriod of tw o w eeks shall be
considered reg u lar w orkers a n d shall be e n title d to all th e rig h ts, privileges, and
benefits pro v id ed for in th is agreem ent.
,
,
Journeym an tailors.— All em ployees, including th e forem an, shall be m em bers in
good stan d in g of Local No. — . W hen nonunion m en a re em ployed th e y shall
becom e m em bers w ith in te n d ay s a fte r em ploym ent.
Neckwear cutters.— E m ployer agrees to em ploy only such neckw ear c u tte rs as
are in good stan d in g of local a n d agrees to call on th e union for c u tte rs w hen
needed. H e shall req u ire a w orking card signed by a re p re se n ta tiv e of th e union
show ing m em ber in good standing.
Neckwear makers, tackers, and boxers.— T h e em ployer agrees to em ploy none b u t
m em bers of th e union. If union is u n ab le to fu rn ish m em bers o th ers m ay be
h ired a n d such help m u st jo in th e union w ith in eig h t d ay s a fte r em ploym ent.
Cleaners, dyers, and pressers.— E m ployer agrees to em ploy none b u t m em bers
in good standing, except office em ployees who a re n o t perform ing w ork of th e
u n io n . T h e em ployer agrees th a t if th e person em ployed is n o t a m em ber m good
stan d in g of th e union h e or she shall w ith in tw o weeks of such em plo y m en t becom e
a m em ber of th e union or be discharged unless w ritte n perm ission is given by th e
union for th em to continue in em ploym ent. T h e union shall a t all tim es to th e
u tm o st of its ability furn ish th e em ployer w ith skilled help.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Cloth examiners and shrinkers.— E m ployer agrees to em ploy only m em bers
of th e union an d to discharge a n y m em ber a t th e e n a of th e day , or week if weekly
w orker, w hen notified t h a t such w orker is n o t in good standing. T h e union
agrees to fu rn ish m em b ers w hen possible. If th e union fails to fu rn ish m em bers
or if th e re is a n u n a u th o riz e d w alk o u t th e em ployers m ay h ire th o se who are n o t
m em bers of th e union.
Glove workers.— T h e em ployers agree to re ta in in th e ir em ploy only m em bers
of th e In te rn a tio n a l G love W orkers’ U nion in good stan d in g a n d in possession of
a p aid -u p w orking card , a n d in no case shall n o n union help be em ployed so long
as a n y co m p eten t u n io n m en are idle.
Full-fashioned hosiery workers.— T h e association agrees t h a t its m em bers will
em ploy as w inders, leggers, footers, stam p ers, boxers, a n d ap p ren tices to th e
foregoing occupations, none b u t m em bers of th e union. N in ety d a y s shall be
allow ed to th e unio n for th e unio n izatio n of such of th e foregoing w orkers as are
n o t p resen tly organized.
Leather workers.— T h e em ployer agrees to hire none b u t m em bers in good
stan d in g w ith th e union. If th e unio n is u n ab le to fu rn ish re q u ired nu m b er
needed b y th e em ployer he h as th e rig h t to hire w hom he pleases, b u t th o se hired
shall receive a p e rm it c a rd from th e rep rese n ta tiv e of th e union a n d shall become
a m em ber of th e un io n w ith in tw o weeks.
Poclcetbook workers.— T h e association agrees to give unio n preference in hiring
new help a n d th e un io n agrees to fu rn ish such w orkers as th e em ployers m ay
require. I n th e e v e n t th e unio n is u n ab le to fu rn ish sam e w ith in 48 h o u rs th e
em ployer shall be p e rm itte d to g e t h elp fro m o th er sources. _ T h e union agrees
to give a w orking card to all such help u p o n ap p licatio n to affiliate. If th e w orker
does n o t m ake app licatio n a fte r tw o weeks of em plo y m en t th e union shall have
th e rig h t to replace su ch w orker w ith one of its m em bers.
Coopers.— O nly m em bers in good stan d in g of th e coopers’ union shall be em
ployed. T h e em ployer shall h av e th e rig h t to select m en from th e “ o u t-o f-w o rk ”
list of th e union.
Glass-bottle blowers.— W hen an o p erato r is to be h ired he shall be a m em ber of
th e G lass B o ttle B low ers A ssociation. If th e union is n o t able to fu rn ish m em bers
o th ers m ay be h ired who, a t th e end of six m on th s,sh all be ta k e n in to th e association.
Glass-sign workers.— In th e e v e n t t h a t m ore w orkm en a re re q u ired th e firm
shall first ap p ly to Local N o. ■
— a n d if th e local is u n ab le to su p p ly th e req u ired
n u m b er of m en th e n th e m a tte r m ay be ta k e n u p w ith th e in te rn a tio n a l office of
th e G lass B o ttle Blow ers A ssociation fo r a d ju stm e n t. If ad d itio n al w orkers are
g ra n te d th e y m u st becom e m em bers of Local No. — .
Gold-pen makers and grinders, and fo u n tain-pen workers.— T h e com pany agrees
to em ploy none b u t m em bers in good stan d in g of union. T h is includes all
em ployees in th e p la n t of th e com pany. T h e union agrees to fu rn ish m em bers of
th e union w ith in five d ay s a fte r req u est. If u n ab le to do so th e com pany shall
h av e th e rig h t to secure help otherw ise, b u t such help will be com pelled to affiliate
w ith th e union w ithin one w eek a fte r securing such em ploym ent.
Hotel and restaurant employees.— T h e p ro p rie to r agrees to em ploy only m em bers
in good stan d in g of Local No. — . All w aitresses w orking on union jobs m u st be
booked th ro u g h th e business ag en t, otherw ise th e local will n o t be responsible for
th e ir actions.
L au n d ry workers.— N one b u t m em bers of th e un io n to be em ployed during th e
life of th is agreem en t. All m em bers of th e union em ployed by th is firm are to be
co ntinued in its em ploy during th e te rm of th is agreem ent.
Longshoremen.— M em bers, of th e union shall h av e preference of all w ork p er
tain in g to rigging u p a n d coaling, a n d discharging a n d loading. T h e em ployer
is n o t obligated to hire m en by gangs, or th ro u g h th e union office b u t reserves th e
rig h t to hire available m em bers of th e union.
M arine cooks and stewards.— T o em ploy m em bers of union in ste w a rd ’s d e p a rt
m e n t on all th e ir vessels fittin g o u t a n d un d er o peration. T h e union agrees to
fu rn ish co m p eten t a n d experienced m em bers a t all tim es. F ailing to do so, th e
stew ard in charge, w ho m u st be a m em ber of th e union, m ay em ploy others.
If satisfacto ry to th e union th e y m ay becom e m em bers o r be rep laced by union
m em bers w hen available.
M eat cutters and butcher workmen.— No em ployer shall allow a n y em ployee to
w ork over five day s w ith o u t becom ing a m em ber of Local No. — . All m inority
stockholders shall belong to th e union.
T h e union will fu rn ish m en w ho will w ork to th e b est in te re st of em ployer,
giving honest and diligent service to p atro n s. M en of clean reco rd recom m ended
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b y m em bers of th e R etail M e a t D ealers’ A ssociation will be accepted as m em bers
of L ocal No. — w ith o u t ex am ination, pro v id ed th e y have a t least th re e years
experience in retail m arket.
B lacksm iths, drop forgers, and helpers.— T h e em ployer agrees to call on th e
u n ion for m en a n d th e union agrees to fu rn ish co m p e te n t m en in tw o days.
F ailu re of th e union to fu rn ish m en th e com pany m ay hire oth ers who if satis
fa c to ry will be given 15 day s to jo in th e union.
Boilermakers and iron shipbuilders.— Only m em bers in good stan d in g of Local
N o. — to be em ployed. If th e union fails to fu rn ish sufficient capable m en th e
com pany m ay em ploy oth ers a n d th e union will n o t discrim in ate a g a in st such
em ployees.
M achinists.— All help actu a lly on w ork com ing u n d e r th e ju risd ictio n of th is
u n ion sh all be h ired th ro u g h th e office of Local No. — , a n d all forem en o r su b
forem en shall be p ractical m echanics.
M etal polishers.— T h e co m p an y agrees to em ploy none b u t m em bers of Local
No. — o r th o se w ho carry th e reg u lar w orking c ard of th is local, pro v id ed th a t th e
local w ill fu rn ish such co m p e te n t help as m a y be req u ired by com pany w ith in 48
hours a fte r notification. F ailu re to fu rn ish m em bers, oth ers m ay be hired w ith th e
a p p ro v al of local u n til co m p eten t union m en can be obtained.
Pattern makers.— N o m em b er of th e league w ith in th e ju risd ictio n of th is
association shall be allow ed to w ork w ith o th e r th a n m em bers of th e league
w ith o u t perm ission of th e executive council.
Stove mounters.— M em bers in good stan d in g of Local No!— shall be given
preference of em ploym ent. All such m em bers to be c o m p eten t w orkm en a n d
w ho shall h av e w orked for th re e or m ore y ears a t th e ir tra d e .
M otion-picture operators and stage employees.— O nly m em bers of Local No. —
to be em ployed. T h e unio n agrees t h a t its m em bers shall obey all rules a n d
directions of an y au th o rized re p re se n ta tiv e of em ployer, an d agrees to fu rn ish
co m p eten t m em bers to perfo rm th e w ork req u ired by th e em ployer.
P aper-m ill workers.— P erm a n e n t em ployees shall m a in ta in m em bership in
good stan d in g in th e ir p ro p er union an d th e com pany shall assist in bringing th is
condition ab o u t. W hen available, union m en shall be hired, a n d new em ployees
n o t union m en shall becom e so w ith in 15 d ay s from th e d a te th e y s ta r t to w ork.
Bookbinders:— E m ployers agree to hire none b u t m em bers in good stan d in g of
B ookbinders’ Local N o /— in th e ir binderies a n d stock room s o r on a n y m achine,
or on a n y w ork com ing u n d e r th e ju risd ictio n of th e In te rn a tio n a l B ookbinders’
U nion. T h e union agrees to faith fu lly a n d tru ly discharge th e obligations im
posed upon i t b y furnishing help to perform w ork as above m entioned, a n d em
ployers shall call on th e union for such help.
Photo-engravers.— Only m em bers of Local No. — of P h o to -E n g rav ers’ U nion
shall be em ployed. A ny ph o to -en g rav er financially in terested in a p h o to -en
graving estab lish m en t a n d perform ing th e du ties of a ph o to -en g rav er in such
place shall be a n activ e m em ber of th is local in good standing.
P rinting pressmen.— T h e pu b lish er agrees to em ploy only m em bers in good
stan d in g of L ocal N o. •— . If th e union fails a fte r 48 h o u rs’ notice to fu rnish
co m p eten t m en, th e forem an m ay secure m en a n d th e y m ay be re ta in e d if com pe
te n t a n d ap p ly fo r m em bership in Local No. •— . Senior ap p ren tices shall be
adv an ced w hen journ ey m en are needed before em ploying nonunion m en.
Web pressmen.— E m ployers obligate them selves to em ploy m em bers of Local
No. — an d th e union agrees to supply co m p eten t m en. If union fails a fte r due
notice o th ers m ay be em ployed a n d retain ed an d th e union agrees to a d m it th e m
to m em bership if no charges exist ag ain st them .
Stereotypers and electrotypers.— In consideration of th is agreem ent m em bers
agree to a t all tim es tru ly a n d faith fu lly discharge th e obligations im posed upon
th em b y furnishing m en capable of perform ing th e req u ired w ork, b u t if th e y fail
or neglect to supply such help th e office shall secure help needed from a n y source
a n d re ta in th e m provided th e y shall be eligible a n d shall m ake ap p licatio n for
m em bership. E m ployers m ay ad v ertise for m em bers in th e nam e of Local
No. — .
Typographical workers.— T h e union agrees to do its u tm o st to fu rnish co m p eten t
m en a t all tim es. If th e y shall fail to fu rn ish a sufficient n u m b er th e n th e p a rty
of th e first p a r t m ay em ploy a n y m em bers of th e In te rn a tio n a l T ypographical
U nion, a n d m ay ad v ertise in th e nam e of th e local, p rovided th e y give reasonable
tim e for th e local to supply m en.
Curbstone cutters.— N one b u t m em bers of th is union who are A m erican citizens
a n d residents o f ----------shall be allowed to c u t or set curbstone.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Granite cutters.— All o p erato rs of granite-w orking m achinery shall be m em bers
of th e G ran ite C u tte rs’ In te rn a tio n a l A ssociation. T h e refusal of m em bers to
w ork w ith nonunion m en shall n o t be considered as a violation of th is agreem ent.
Stonecutters.— Only m em bers of th e union to be em ployed for p n eu m atic an d
h an d sto n ecu ttin g a n d carving. If union fails to fu rn ish su fficien t n u m b er of
com petent m en th e em ployer shall h av e th e rig h t to hire such a d d itio n al m en
as are needed regardless of union affiliation an d such m en shall join a n d become
m em bers of th e union.
Quarry workers.— N one b u t union m en will be em ployed, or those who are
willing to becom e such w ith in 15 days of em ploym ent. Preference shall be given
to local union m en.
Street-railway employees.— All m otorm en a n d conductors now m em bers of th e
association are to rem ain m em bers, a n d all m otorm en a n d cond u cto rs ta k e n in to
tra in service a fte r signing of th is agreem ent are to becom e m em bers of th e associa
tio n w ithin 60 days.
T he co n tractin g p a rtie s h ereto u n d e rsta n d a n d agree th a t th e open shop shall
prevail a n d i t is m u tu a lly agreed t h a t no w ords, deeds, acts, or om issions of a
discrim inatory n a tu re shall be p racticed o r p e rm itte d in th e case of a n y em ployee.
T he com pany agrees to m e e t w ith indiv id u als or com m ittees of division N o. —
for th e discussion of q uestions of m u tu a l in te re st a n d to give due consideration of
all suggestions for im p ro v em en t of w orking conditions.
Teamsters and chauffeurs.— Only m em bers of Local No. — shall be em ployed,
a n d th e union agrees t h a t its m em bers will p erform said w ork in a good a n d fa ith
ful m anner. In case of suspension or expulsion of a m em ber th e firm agrees to
discharge such em ployee. T h e firm shall ap p ly to th e union for all help req u ired
a n d will n o t ad v ertise unless th e union fails to fu rn ish req u ired help.
F irm agrees to em ploy if possible none b u t m em bers in good sta n d in g and
carrying th e reg u lar w orking card. U nion m em bers reserve th e rig h t to refuse
to w ork in com pany w ith a n y em ployee who is in arre a rs for dues, assessm ents,
or fines, or who fails to m ak e ap p licatio n for m em bership, a n d p ay s in itia tio n fee
an d q u a rte rly dues in full before ta k in g charge of wagon.
Upholsterers.— U nion m en are to be em ployed a n d hired th ro u g h union rep re
sen tativ e. If th e union is u nable to supply sufficient help th e em ployer m ay
advertise afte r giving 16 h o u rs’ notice, b u t he m u st use w ords “ union s h o p ”
in th e advertisem en t.
All c a rp e t sewers em ployed by th is firm shall be m em bers of Local No. — .
M em bers em ployed b y th is firm shall n o t be loaned or hired to a n o th e r firm
w hen th e re are o th e r m em bers unem ployed.
W all-paper crafts.— T h e em ployer agrees th a t he will em ploy, d irectly or
indirectly, only m em bers in good stan d in g of th e union.
Awards and D ecisions
R a ilr o a d T e le g r a p h e r s — Illin o is C e n tr a l R a ilro a d
ARBITRATION board in an award made August 5, 1931, dea request of the telegraphers employed by the Illinois Cen
A NLtralnied
Railroad Co. for adjustments in the present rates of pay equiv
alent to an increase of one and one-third hour’s pay per day for each
position covered by the agreement.
The telegraphers’ organization on June 11, 1929, requested that
the rules be changed to provide a 6-day week for employees now
required to work seven days a week, and that their rates of pay be
adjusted in order that they would suffer no loss of earnings by the
change. The organization also requested adjustments in the rates
of pay of members who during past years were placed upon a 6-day
schedule. As the carrier and employees failed to agree, the services
of the United States Board of Mediation were invoked. The carrier
and telegraphers’ organization agreed during the mediation proceed
ings that the 6-day week schedule for all employees should take effect
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within 90 days after the decision of the arbitration board, regardless
of what the decision might be.
The employees selected as arbitrators E. J. Manion and F. F.
Cowley. The carrier selected as arbitrators E. C. Craig and T. J.
Quigley. The arbitrators selected by the employees and the carrier
having failed to agree on the neutral arbitrators, the United States
Mediation Board appointed Dr. Davis R. Dewey and Judge Hugo O.
Hanft, as neutral arbitrators.
File majority of the board made the following award:
T h a t th e req u est of th e em ployees for a d ju stm e n ts in p resen t ra te s of p ay
eq u iv alen t to a n increase of one a n d o n e-th ird h o u r’s p ay p e r d ay for each p o si
tio n covered by th e agreem ents be a n d th e sam e hereby is denied, a n d t h a t no
increase in p a y be aw arded.
T he provisions of th is aw ard shall become effective w ith th e beginning of th e
first pay-roll period following th e d a te on w hich said aw ard is filed, a n d shall
continue in force for th e period of one y ear from th e effective d a te thereof, a n d
th e re a fte r su b ject to 30 d ay s’ w ritte n notice by o r to th e railroads.
The neutral members of the board made the following statement
as to how they arrived at their conclusion:
In refusing an increase of wages to all em ployees, th e n e u tra l m em bers of th e
b oard were influenced by th e fa c t th a t th e re was a general depression in business
w hich m ay be prolonged a n d t h a t th is is n o t an o p p o rtu n e tim e to m ak e in
creases w hich apply w ith o u t discrim ination to all em ployees. T h ey also w ish to
record th e ir opinion th a t if th e re be a re tu rn to m ore p rosperous conditions,
th is decision should n o t be reg ard ed as necessarily adverse to a n y fu tu re dem ands
for an increase or a d ju stm e n t of wages w hich th e em ployees m ay m ake.
The arbitrators selected by the employees filed a dissenting opin
ion, the last paragraph of which is as follows:
We, th e m inority, do therefore certify, th a t in our opinion th e m a jo rity m em
bers of th is b oard of a rb itra tio n erred in arriv in g a t its decision, in t h a t i t was
sw ayed, alm ost entirely, by th e p resen t business depression, an d th a t it p e rm it
te d its sy m p ath y for th e carrier’s dollars to override its consideration for th e
em ployees’ welfare.
D e cisio n s o f I n d u s tr ia l C o m m is s io n o f C o lo rad o
Coal Miners—Clayton Coal Co.
O n July 1 , 1 9 3 1 , the Clayton Coal Co. sent the following communi
cation to the Industrial Commission of Colorado:
To p erm it th e developm ent of th e M orrison m ine, d riving of en tries a n d air
courses, to p erm it our full o p eratio n th is com ing w inter, a n d em plo y m en t of th e
largest nu m b er of m en, we have m ade an ag reem ent w ith o u r em ployees a t a
slightly reduced wage. W e have a n d are inclosing an ag reem en t signed by our
em ployees, 15 in num ber.
Shortly afterwards the commission received a protest signed by
52 employees of the Clayton Coal Co. and various petitions signed by
business and professional men of northern Colorado protesting against
wage reductions of any kind.
The findings of the commission were as follows:
From th e evidence in tro d u ced a t th is hearing i t ap p ears t h a t th is p e titio n for
a reduction in th e w age scale w as circu lated by George M orrison, general m an ag er
of th e C lay to n C oal Co. M an y of th e em ployees testified t h a t M r. M orrison to ld
th em he w an ted th em to sign th is p e titio n for a red u ctio n to p ro te c t him so t h a t
he could m eet th e com petition from th e so u th ern coal fields; t h a t th e re d u ctio n
w ould be tem p o rary an d th a t in th e fall he w ould p ay th e p revailing w age
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
of th e cam p. M any of th e em ployees who signed th is p etitio n testified th ey
signed i t because o th e r m en h a d signed it; som e of th e em ployees testified th e y
h a d n o t read it, o th ers h a d friends sign fo r th e m because th e y could n o t read or
w rite. Two w itnesses testified t h a t M r. M orrison to ld th e m t h a t “ th e y knew
w h at th e y could d o ” if th e y d id n o t sign th e p etitio n . M r. M orrison denied he
h a d m ade th is s ta te m e n t a n d said i t w as n o t tru e . H ow ever, th e m a jo rity of
th e w itnesses testified t h a t M r. M orrison d id n o t te ll th e m th e y w ould lose th e ir
jobs if th e y did n o t sign th e p e titio n , b u t th e y said th e y w ere a fra id th e y would
lose th e ir jobs if th e y did n o t com ply w ith M r. M orrison’s req u est. T his p e ti
tion w as circu lated on Ju n e 26, 1931, 10 days a fte r th e new scale w as p u t into
effect b y th e com pany.
On Ju n e 16, 1931, w hen th e new wage scale w as p u t in to effect, no notice h ad
been received b y th is com m ission n o r h ad a n y notices been p o sted n o tify in g th e
em ployees of said com pany of th e in te n d e d red u ctio n , a n d th e n 10 d a y s a fte r th e
reduction becam e effective, o r on J u n e 26, th e general m an ag er of th e com pany
circulated a p e titio n for h is em ployees to sign w hereby th e y agreed to accep t a
reduction t h a t h a d been m ad e 10 d ay s p rio r to t h a t d ate.
I t is th e opinion of th is com m ission t h a t th e em ployer v iolated th e in d u strial
com m ission law of C olorado b y reducing th e w age of its em ployees on th e 16th
day of Ju n e, w ith o u t giving th e m th e 30 d a y s’ notice as req u ired b y law and
w ith o u t giving th is com m ission th e re q u ired 30 d a y s’ notice, a n d th e n circu
latin g a p e titio n on Ju n e 26, 1931, for its em ployees to sign, 10 days a fte r th e
red u ctio n h ad been m ade.
T he com m ission h as decided in several o th e r cases th a t it is coercion an d
in tim id atio n on th e p a rt of th e em ployer for a n y su p erin te n d e n t, forem an, or
o th e r officer of th e com pany to circu late a p e titio n req u estin g his em ployees to
sign a n d accep t a red u ctio n in wages, an d to do so is n o t fair or ju s t to th e
em ployees.
On August 22, 1931, the commission rendered the following decision:
I t is th e decision of th e com m ission t h a t th e C lay to n C oal Co. v io lated th e
in d u strial com m ission law of th is S ta te by reducing th e w ages of its em ployees
in th e m an n er pursu ed by said com pany, a n d it is th e o rd er of th e com m ission
th a t th e C lay to n C oal Co. p a y its em ployees a t th e sam e w age scale in force
prior to Ju n e 16, 1931, for 30 day s from th a t date.
Coal Operators’ Request for Wage Reduction Refused
A n u m b e r of coal operators filed petitions with the Industrial
Commission of Colorado, giving 30 days' notice of their intention to
reduce the wages of their employees, and also posted a 30-day notice
for the information of their employees.
Sixty-one of the employees of the Moffat Coal Co. and 49 employees
of the^ Keystone Coal Co. filed their protest against the proposed
reduction in wages with the commission.
The commission consolidated these two cases and held a hearing
at Steamboat Springs, Colo., August 20, 1931. At this hearing the
general superintendent of the Moffat Coal Co. contended that it was
necessary to reduce wages of the employees to meet the competition
of the southern coal fields; that 75 per cent of the company’s coal
was sold outside of Colorado, where it was hard to meet eastern
competition. He further testified that under the present wage
scale, his employees had only worked about one-fourth of the time
during the last six months, and that it was necessary for his company
to establish soup houses for its men; that he employed about 240 men
and divided the work among them. The president of the Keystone
Coal Co. gave practically the same reasons for putting a reduced
wage scale into effect.
One employee of the Moffat Coal Co. who had worked for the
company for six years said that although he had worked all the time
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LABOR A GREEM ENTS, AWARDS AND DECISIONS
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that work was offered he had not made over an average of $ 4 0 a
month for the last year; that the rent of houses in Oak Creek was from
$12 for a 1-room house to $25 and $30 for 4-room and 5-room houses,
and that, with a family of five children, he found it impossible to live
for less than $80 or $90 a month. Another employee of the same
company said that his wages were a little higher than the average and
that he had worked more time than the average man, but that he
found it impossible to support a family of six children on his wages.
In order to get along he was going into debt and was borrowing money
from friends. An employee of the Keystone Coal' Co. testified that
his wages averaged $100 a month and that this was four times what
the average employee of the Keystone Coal Co. was making. This
the president of the Keystone Coal Co. denied, and made the
following statement:
I t w ould n o t be a c u t in a n y case as we are n o t p ay in g less th a n re p o rte d to
you, som etim es m ore, a n d we believe we h av e a rig h t to p a y m ore, a n d w hen we
do we p a y i t on acco u n t of c ertain conditions w h eth er we are in en tries or som e
th in g of t h a t kind, a n d we believe we h av e th e rig h t to go back to th e low est
price a t an y tim e we choose.
The findings of the commission are as follows:
T he evidence show s t h a t u n d er th e p re se n t w age th e em ployees of th ese com
panies a re n o t m aking a d ecen t living; in fact, th e y are m ak in g less th a n h alf of a
living wage. If i t w as necessary to estab lish soup k itch en s to keep th e m en an d
th e ir fam ilies alive under th e p resen t w age scale, w h a t can th e y do a t a low er
wage?
W hile i t is tru e t h a t th e com panies h av e to m e e t com p etitio n of low er w age
scale, sta rte d in th e counties of L as A nim as a n d H uerfano, of th is S tate, we w oidd
call th e ir a tte n tio n to th e fa c t t h a t th e y h a v e recen tly h a d a fav o rab le decision
on freig h t ra te s from th e In te rs ta te C om m erce Com m ission. T h is o u g h t to help
som e, a n d from th e evidence su b m itte d to th is com m ission, th e conditions
existing seem little sh o rt of econom ic slavery, a n d should n o t be to le ra te d by th e
com m ission.
T he com m ission is fu rth e r of th e opinion th a t w hen th e price of coal advances,
w hich i t alw ays seem s to do du rin g th e w in ter m o n th s, t h a t w ages should be
restored. T his is only fa ir to th e em ployees. T h e lab o rer is w o rth y of his
hire, a n d m o st certain ly is e n title d to a d ecen t living w age fo r him self an d his
fam ily w hen em ployed in such h azard o u s o ccupation as th e m ining of coal.
The commission in its decision, rendered August 27, 1931, therefore
refused to approve the reduction of wages proposed by the .companies.
Plumbers and Steam Fitters—Colorado Springs, Colo.
T h e Industrial Commission of Colorado was served with 3 0 days’
notice by Jardine & Knight Plumbing & Heating Co., Frank Priess,
and the Marden Plumbing Co., all of Colorado Springs, Colo., of a
proposed reduction, from $ 9 . 5 0 to $8 per day, in the wages of plumbers
and steam fitters in their employ. Each of the above employers also
served notice of the proposed reduction on the secretary of the
United Association of Journeymen Plumbers and Steam Fitters,
Local No. 58.
At a hearing held at Colorado Springs, August 27, 1931, the em
ployers contended that only 35 per cent of the plumbers and steam
fitters of Colorado Springs were members of the union; that other
men following this occupation were nonunion men. They further
contended that under present economic conditions it was impossible
for them to pay $9.50 a day and at the same time compete with the
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m o nthly labor r e v ie w
companies employing nonunion men at a lower wage scale. The
employees contended that $9.50 was not too large a wage, that theirs
was a skilled trade and that members of the union were entitled to
th a t_wage. ^ During the hearing it was further disclosed that the
Jardine & Knight Plumbing & Heating Co. had some time previously
reduced the wages of the laborers in its employ from $5 to $4 a day,
without giving 30 days’ notice to the commission, or 30 days’ notice
to its employees, as provided by the industrial commission law of
Colorado.
On August 29, 1931, the following decision was rendered by the
commission:
T he com m ission is of th e opinion th a t th e em ployers are m aking a m istak e in
reducing th e wages of th e ir employees. A t a tim e like th is, w hen th e whole
N atio n is in th e m id st of an econom ic a n d in d u stria l pan ic, w ages should n o t be
reduced, th ereb y destro y in g th e purch asin g pow er of th e w age earner.
T herefore i t is th e decision a n d th e aw ard of th is com m ission t h a t th e applica
tio n of th e em ployers for a red u ctio n of w ages of plu m b ers a n d steam fitters
from $9.50 per day to $8 p er d ay is n o t approved.
F u rth e r, t h a t th e Ja rd in e & K n ig h t P lum bing & H eatin g Co. re in sta te th e
wages of th e ir laborers from $4 to $5 p er day, from th e tim e such red u ctio n was
m ade, a n d give th e ir lab o rers 30 d a y s’ n otice of th e in te n d e d red u ctio n , an d
also 30 d a y s’ notice to th is com m ission, a n d t h a t no fu rth e r change be m ade
m w ages or w orking conditions u n til 30 d av s h as expired, or u n til th e aw ard of
th e com m ission is issued in th e e v en t of a p ro te st.
Decision Modifies Contract of Bakery Workers—Denver
T he Industrial Commission of Colorado received notice from eight
employers of bakery workers that after July 5, 1931, they wished to
change certain articles in the agreement between said employers and
Local No. 26 of the Bakery and Confectionery Workers’ Interna
tional Union.
The employers contended that the present agreement was unfair and
should be changed in four different particulars. The union contended
that the present agreement was fair and should not be changed; that
it had been in force for several years and had worked well for both the
employers and the employees.
On July 6, 1931, the commission rendered the following decision:
T h a t six d ay s or n ig h ts shall c o n stitu te a w eek’s w ork; th a t no wages shall
be p aid for holidays unless em ployees w ork on holidavs, in w hich e v e n t wages
shall be p aid a t one a n d one-half tim es th e reg u lar wage scale; t h a t th e holidays
shall consist of C hristm as, F o u rth of Ju ly , a n d L ab o r D av ; second, th a t all work
perform ed regularly betw een th e hours of 9 o ’clock p. m . an d 5 o ’clock a. m. shall
c o n stitu te a n ig h t’s w ork, a t th e n ig h t scale.
Culinary Workers—Pueblo, Colo.
On July 9, 1931, eight employers of members of the Culinary
Workers Union, Local No. 43, Pueblo, notified members of the union
and the Industrial Commission of Colorado that the contract between
the employers and the union would be terminated 30 days after that
date.
As the contract between the parties had contained a clause allowing
either party to the contract to abrogate or terminate the contract by
giving 30 days’ notice, the commission in its decision rendered August
13,1931, held that the employers were within their rights in terminating
the contract after giving the notice provided for. At the same time,
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LABOR AGREEM ENTS, AWARDS AND DECISIONS
133
however, it notified the employers that “ there must be no change in
working conditions, wages, or hours without giving 30 days’ notice of
intention to make such change to their employees and to this com
mission, as provided by law.”
C ollective A greem en ts in F ra n c e in 1930
HERE were 72 labor agreements reported to the French Labor
Bureau in 1930, according to an article in the Bulletin du Minis
tère du Travail for April-June, 1931 (pp. 145, 146). The agreements
were divided among the different industries as follows : Agriculture,
4; food, 16; building, 16; wood and furniture, 3; hides and skins, 3;
polygraphic industries, 6 ; metal works and mechanical construction, 3 ;
stone and brick industries, 4 ; textiles and clothing, 7 ; transportation
and warehousing, 7 ; miscellaneous, 3.
The information supplied to the labor office regarding the circum
stances under which the agreements were concluded was incomplete,
but in 30 cases the agreements were concluded as a result of a strike.
The intervention of a third party was necessary in 42 cases; 22 cases
were settled by labor inspectors, 11 by justices of the peace, and 9 by
mayors or prefects.
Thirty-four agreements were concluded between employers associa
tions and trade-unions and nine between employers or groups of
employers not belonging to an association and their organized workers.
The parties signing the agreement were not reported in the remaining
cases. The agreements are most often concluded for an indefinite
time and provide for due notice before they are given up. In 30
cases, however, the agreements specified the length of time they were
to remain in effect, the specified periods ranging from six months to
four years.
.
.
In 14 cases the agreements specified the method ol application oi
the 8-hour day and 40 established a minimum wage, while 15 dealt
with traveling expenses; 15, overtime rates; 11, regulation of vaca
tions and leave; 9, family allowances; 8, notification of dismissal;
7, hourly wage rates and production bonuses; 3, rules governing
night work; and 2, apprenticeship.
T
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LABOR TURNOVER
L ab o r T u rn o v er In A m erican F a c to rie s , A u g u st, 1931
A UGUST turnover rates for manufacturing as a whole and for 10
XJL separate manufacturing industries are presented herewith.
In working turnover rates the Bureau of Labor Statistics uses the
weighted arithmetic mean. The indexes for manufacturing as a
whole are compiled from reports mailed to the bureau by representa
tive establishments in over 75 industries, employing approximately
1.250.000 people. In the 10 industries for which separate indexes are
presented reports were received from representative plants employing
approximately 25 per cent of the employees as shown for such indus
tries by the Census of Manufactures of 1927. In the automobile
industry schedules were received from plants employing approximately
225.000 people; plants reporting for boots and shoes employed about
100.000 people; for brick, over 18,000 people; for cotton, nearly 125,000
people; for foundry and machine shops, over 150,000 people; for
furniture, about 40,000 people; for iron and steel, about 225,000 people;
for men’s clothing, about 40,000 people; for sawmills, about 50,000
people; and for slaughtering and meat packing, about 80,000 people.
In addition to the quit, discharge, lay-off, total separation, and
accession rates the bureau presents the net turnover rate. Net
turnover means the rate of replacement; it is the number of jobs that
are vacated and filled per 100 employees. In a plant that is increas
ing its force the net turnover rate is the same as the separation rate,
because while more people are hired than are separated from their
jobs, the number hired above those leaving is due to expansion and
can not be justly charged to turnover. On the other hand, in a plant
that is reducing its number of employees the net turnover rate is the
same as the accession rate, for while more people are separated from
the pay roll than hired the excess of separations over accessions is
due to a reduction of force and therefore can not be logically charged
as a turnover expense.
Table 1 shows for all industries the total separation rate subdivided
into the quit, discharge, and lay-off rates, together with accession
rate and the net turnover rate, presented both on a monthly and an
equivalent annual basis.
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LABOR TURNOVER
T
able
1 .—AVERAGE LABOR T U R N O V E R RATES
IN
SE L EC T E D
FA CTORIES IN 75
IN D U S T R IE S
A .—M o n t h ly H a te s
Separation rates
Accession
rate
Month
Lay-off
Quit
January
February_____
M arch__
_ _
April
__ - M ay
______
June
July
___
August
_____
1980
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1931
1930
1.85
1.60
1.94
2.11
2. 01
1.85
1.35
1.40
1 50
9Q
QO
.84
0.74
.74
.94
1.14
1.12
1.02
1. 10
1.05
2. 70
2.50
2.83
2. 57
2.68
3. 00
4.17
3.99
3 14
2. 88
2 77
2.74
1.95
1.75
1.75
1.96
2.43
3.84
3. 32
2.40
0.54
.62
.60
.53
.48
.46
.32
.30
.36
.32
.24
.21
0.19
.20
.26
.31
.28
.23
.25
. 22
5. 09
4. 72
5. 37
5. 21
5.17
5. 31
5.84
5. 75
5. 00
4.49
3.91
3.79
2.88
2.69
2.95
3.41
3.83
5.09
4.67
3.67
3.95
3.94
4.15
3. 55
3.28
2. 92
2.51
2. 71
3.27
2.56
2.05
2.13
2.97
2.82
3. 67
3.06
2.79
2.41
3.02
2.60
3.95
3.94
4.15
3. 55
3.28
2. 92
2. 51
2. 71
3. 27
2. 56
2.05
2.13
1
December_____
Discharge
N et turn
over rate
Total
2.88
2. 69
2. 95
3.06
2. 79
2.41
3.02
2. 60
3.08
3.08
4.97
.42
3.0»
1931
B .—E q u iv a le n t A n n u a l B a te s
..
21.8
20.9
22.8
25.7
23.7
22. 5
15.9
16.5
18.3
15. 2
11.0
9.9
A verage..
18.7
January___ -- February--------March________
April__________
M ay---------------June_______ --July___________
A ugust-------------
December
8.7
9.6
11. 1
13.9
13.2
12.4
12.9
12.4
31.8
32.6
33.3
31.3
31.5
36. 5
49. 1
47.0
38.2
33.9
33.7
32.2
35.9
23.0
22.8
20.6
23.9
28.6
46.7
39.1
28. 2
6.4
8.0
7. 1
6.5
5. 6
5.6
3.8
4. 2
4. 4
3.8
2.9
2.5
5.1
2.2
2.6
3.1
3.8
3.3
2.8
2.9
2.6
60.0
61.5
63.2
63.5
60. 8
64.6
68.8
67.7
60.9
52.9
47.6
44.6
59.7
33.9
35.0
34.8
41.6
45.1
61.9
54.9
43.2
46.5
51.4
48.8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29. 5
31.9
39.8
30.1
24.9
25.1
37.1
35.0
36.8
43.2
37.2
32. 8
29.3
35. 5
30.6
46.5
51.4
48. 8
43.2
38.6
35.5
29.5
31.9
39.8
30.1
24.9
25.1
33.9
35.0
34. 8
37.2
32. 8
29. 3
35.5
30.6
37.1
There was a decrease in the quit, lay-off, discharge, and accession
rates comparing August with July, 1931. Comparing the August,
1931, rates with the August, 1930, rates, decreases were also shown for
each class of separation rate and for the accession rate. The charts
following show in graphic form the data presented in Table 1.
Table 2 shows the quit, discharge, lay-off, accession, and net turn
over rates, for automobiles, boots and shoes, cotton, iron and steel,
foundries and machine shops, furniture, sawmills, and slaughtering
and meat packing, for the year 1930 and for the first eight months of
the year 1931, and for brick and men’s clothing for the months of
April to August, 1931, presented both on a monthly and on an
equivalent annual basis,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[883]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
00
05
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
LABOR TURNOVER
[885J
137
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
138
T able 3 —AVER A G E LABOR T U R N O V E R R A TES IN SP E C IFIE D IN D U S T R IE S
A .—M o n t h ly R a te s
Separation rates
Industry and month
Automobiles:
January_________ ____
February . ________
March_______________
April____ ____________
M ay_________ _____
June_________________
July_________________
August____________ __
September
October
November
December
______
Average
Boots and shoes:
January.
___ _____
February_ _____ ___
March_______________
April________________
May__ ______________
June...... _ _____ _ _
July_____________ ___
August____________
September _ _ _ _ _
October
November
December
Average
Quit
1931
1930
1930
1931
1930
2. 76
1. 16
1. 81
2.21
2. 20
1. 59
1. 14
1. 23
1. 29
1.19
.81
.88
0. 54
.74
1. 09
1. 46
1.40
.90
.99
1.10
0.92
.38
.56
.50
.50
.39
.24
.38
. 33
.25
. 16
. 17
0. 18
.21
.39
.44
.39
.21
.33
.30
5. 81 2. 63 9. 49 3. 35 13. 50
2.31 1. 71 3. 85 2. 66 4. 74
2.04 1. 71 4. 41 3.19 6. 92
1.97 1. 86 4.68 3. 76 7.45
5. 59 3. 07 8. 29 4. 86 3. 98
5. 90 10.57 7.88 11. 68 2.34
9. 48 6.89 10. 86 8. 21 2. 78
7.66 3. 48 9. 27 4.88 3.69
9. 04
3. 83
7. 42
4. 02
5. 39
6. 83
4. 77
3.80
4. 74
3. 43
3. 69
2. 92
4. 12
7.76
5. 21
3.41
2. 91
4.12
2. 88
9. 49
3. 85
4. 41
4. 68
3.98
2.34
2. 78
3. 69
3. 83
4. 02
4. 77
3. 43
1. 97
1. 93
2.00
2. 48
2.06
1. 94
2.04
2.19
2.01
1. 71
1.00
1. 03
. 40
1. 23
1. 27
1. 58
1.97
1. 57
1.61
2.27
2.18
.78
.70
.65
.68
.53
.47
.57
.73
. 51
. 47
. 27
.24
. 86
1. 77
.80
. 93
. 80
2.07
1. 98
2. 27
2. 40
2. 36
2.06
1. 91
1. 58
1. 88
1.41
1. 22
. 58
1. 36
1. 88
1.88
1. 87
1. 29
1. 11
1. 01
1. 07
.85
. 66
. 55
.37
.31
.50
.42
.49
.40
.53
.44
1. 00
1.00
1. 36
1. 64
1.53
1. 25
1. 48
1. 57
.61
.66
.44
. 50
.33
.65
.60
.69
.68
.55
.58
.55
.46
. 46
.48
.35
.24
.80
.88
.80
.79
.54
.43
.45
. 44
. 47
.22
. 26
.55
1.88
1.23
1. 16
1.53
2. 37
1. 85
1. 40
1. 80
2.40
.40
.34
.36
.43
.37
.46
.40
.38
. 52
.52
.55
.90
.96
.77
.69
.68
.55
1.27
1. 37
1. 34
2.13
2. 47
1.82
1. 76
2.84
2. 78
2. 73
4. 38
3. 88
4. 02
4.00
3. 99
5.29
5. 06
4. 23
4.37
5. 76
5. 30
4. 91
5. 65
5.15
4. 01
8. 65
5. 45
7. 90
7. 64
2.16
1.92
2. 20
2. 23
2.07
2. 17
3.34
3.58
2. 44
2. 09
2.18
1. 92
2.03
3. 24
2. 87
4.12
4. 52
4.58
4. 08
3. 82
4. 01
2. 87
3.10
3. 57
[ 886 ]
1931
5.22
3. 48
2. 81
3.24
3. 92
4. 43
3. 86
4.20
4. 42
4. 81
2.60
1. 87
2.00
2.52
2.30
2.24
3. 07
2.29
2. 32
2.10
2. 72
3. 29
4. 91
4. 44
4. 71
3.78
5.97
3.09
3. 18
2.76
3.19
3. 78
4.74
4.08
2. 99
2. 05
2.41
3.66
5 48
11. 08
6. 69
9.33
8. 77
4.88
4.50
5.16
5.31
4. 98
4. 81
5.80
5.62
4. 78
3. 98
3. 75
2. 74
4. 00
3. 21
3. 72
4. 59
4. 20
3.95
4. 95
4.24
4.19
6.00
5. 55
6. 78
6.35
6.12
5.54
5. 33
5.33
3. 75
3. 91
5. 35
4. 48
5. 88
4.92
4. 34
4. 95
5.18
7. 16
4.15
4. 39
4. 63
3. 95
3. 76
3. 05
2.26
2.56
2. 45
2. 27
1. 85
2. 05
3.02
2. 92
2. 66
3. 19
3. 76
3.41
2.91
4.12
2. 88
3. 48
2.81
3. 24
3. 92
4. 43
3.86
4. 20
4.15
3. 30
3. 57
3. 91
4. 47
4. 69
3. 51
2.66
4. 62
4. 70
3. 50
3. 06
2.87
3. 87
4. 61
5. 93
5. 38
5. 59
4. 55
4.02
3. 09
3.18
2. 76
3.19
3. 78
4. 37
4.08
2. 99
2.05
2.41
3. 66
8.68
7. 89
6. 67
6. 02
7. 72
4. 50
3. 33
4.17
4. 27
3. 95
3.25
2.47
2.72
4. 58
4. 34
2.93
1. 46
1931
5.22
3.49
4.69
2.36
. 22
.22
.25
.36
.25
.25
.20
.22
1930
7.01
5. 09
.55
1. 86
Average____________ 1. 23
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N et turn
over rate
1930
1. 52
1931
Accession
rate
Total
1931
Average____________ 1. 81
Foundries and machine
shops:
January______ _ _ __
February, __ _ _ ___
March_______________
April________________
M ay________________
June_________________
July_________________
August______________
September___ ________
October_____ ______
November___________
D ecem ber... _ __ _ . . .
Lay-off
1930
Brick:
April______________
M ay___________ ___ _
June._ _______ __
July_________________
August_______ _ . . . .
Cotton manufacturing:
January_____________
February_______ ____
March_______________
April___ ____ ________
M ay________________
June________________
July_________________
August______________
September____
O ctober_____ _ __ __
November____ _
December____ ____ _
Discharge
5. 48
7. 89
6. 67
6. 02
7.72
4. 50
3.33
4.17
4.27
3. 95
3. 25
2.47
2.72
4. 58
3. 98
2. 93
1. 46
3.57
3. 21
3.72
4. 59
3. 51
3.66
4. 62
4.24
3.47
2. 93
2.96
3. 38
3.08
2.44
1.95
2. 63
2. 20
4.19
4.63
3.95
3.76
3.05
2.26
2.56
2. 45
2. 27
1. 85
2. 05
3. 02
2. 93
2.87
3. 38
3.08
2.44
1. 95
2.63
2.20
139
LAB OH TURNOVER
T able 2 .—A VER AGE LABOR T U R N O V E R R A TE S I N S P E C IFIE D I N D U S T R I E S -C o n tin u e d
A .—M o n t h ly R a te s — Continued
S e p a r a tio n r a t e s
A c c e ssio n
ra te
Industry and month
D is c h a r g e
Q u it
1930
1931
1.73
1. 26
1.44
1.21
1.18
fi7
HO
.9 5
1.05
1.06
.81
1.13
Furniture:
January--------------------February-----------------March_______________
A p ril..-------- ------------M ay_________________
June_________________
July_________________
August________ ______
September----------------October----------- --------November--------- ------December----------- ------
1 03
Average-------- --------- 1.18
Iron and steel:
January_________ ____
February------------------March----------------------April________________
M ay------------------------June------------------------July_________________
August______________
September----------------October--------------------November----------------December----- -----------
1.81
1.91
1.91
2. 26
2.13
1. 87
1. 54
1.61
.71
.7 2
. 71
.8 9
.8 7
.8 6
.9 4
1. 03
.8 2
Average-----------------M en’s clothing:
April________________
M ay_________________
June------------------------July_________________
A ugust______________
Sawmills:
January______________
February------------------March----------------------April________________
M ay------------------------June------------------------July_________________
August---------------------September----------------October______________
November----------------December___________
Average___________
Slaughtering and meat
packing:
January_____________
February-----------------March---------------------April_______________
M ay------ ------ ----------June-----------------------July________________
August_____________
September---------------October-------------------November__________
December___________ .
1931
0. 25
. 34
.3 7
.5 1
.2 5
.4 3
.3 0
.3 1
1930
29
.3 5
4. 38
4 .3 9
4 .3 3
4 .5 0
3. 45
3 30
3 61
5 92
6. 66
.4 4
4. 50
0-64
.5 2
.4 1
.4 0
.41
40
. 10
1.24
1.15
1.22
1.32
1. 71
2.25
2. 29
2. 05
2 10
2 25
1 95
2. 23
.3 1
1.82
.4 5
.3 4
.4 5
.4 2
.4 0
.4 9
.2 4
.2 6
99
90
.0 9
.1 5
.1 2
.1 5
.1 5
. 11
.1 2
.1 0
. 12
15
23
. 23
. 12
1 40
1 39
1 32
1 19
1.30
1931
4 .8 4
3.8 6
4.5 2
3.31
5 .7 2
4 .8 3
3.83
3.03
1930
6. 75
6.17
6.1 8
6.11
5. 04
4.8 5
5.09
7.2 0
7.69
1931
5.64
4 .7 7
5.6 9
4. 77
7.02
6. 32
4. 94
4 .4 7
3. 50
3 .4 0
3. 58
4. 00
4. 24
4. 61
4. 07
3.92
3. 83
3 .5 8
3.19
3 .1 5
1930
3.3 4
2.8 7
3 .8 2
5 .0 9
5. 34
7.0 7
3. 72
2. 48
2. 35
2 .1 6
1 .9 0
2.21
2.9 4
3 .1 8
3. 62
2. 80
3.8 0
5 .5 2
5 .0 9
4. 06
3. 88
3.25
2. 56
2. 27
1.91
2 .3 2
1.74
1.31
1.40
6. 68
7. 70
7. 51
4 .4 7
4 .1 4
4.5 9
5.34
5 .1 4
3 79
4. 67
4 80
5 .5 9
4 .4 0 9.91
6.4 8 11.03
6. 88 10.86
5.02 8.13
7. 77
4 .1 3
3. 90 8. 19
5. 59 8. 21
4. 56 7.95
6 .7 0
7.1 0
6.48
7. 85
6. 30 10.02
8. 72 7 .3 9
8.6 6
5.23
6.91 8 .4 7
5.91 9. 01
5. 78 10.34
6.9 2
7.4 6
6. 34
6.1 3
7.3 3
7.62
7 .3 0
6.24
5. 37
8. 35
7.6 8
73
1.69
7 7 4 5 9 ° — 31-------1 0
.5 7
.49
.3 9
[887]
3 .5 0
3 .4 0
3.5 8
3 .8 8
3. 25
2. 56
2. 27
1.91
2. 32
1.74
1.31
1.40
2.9 4
—
2 .1 6
1.90
2 .0 3
1.69
1.57
1 .2 0
2. 32
. 94
—
7.4 7
7.4 7
.61
.6 8
.3 7
.4 7
.4 3
.5 2
2. 52
2 .2 4
2 .0 3
1.69
1.57
1. 20
2. 32
.9 4
9. 42
6. 28
6. 81
7. 21
7. 97
6. 41
4. 53
5. 81
10.10
.91
.9 6
.8 6
.7 5
.7 9
.8 8
.7 9
.7 2
4.01
9 .9 9 9. 39
7.4 4 8. 75
7. 07 7.91
7.21 9. 66
7 .9 7 10.09
6.41
5. 85
4. 53 6.1 7
5. 81 6. 71
6.93
8. 32
4.9 6
4.51
6. 03
1.29
1.56
1.41
1.42
1. 35
1. 36
1. 38
1.18
5. 24
4. 77
4. 78
4 .6 6
3. 81
4 .8 9
4 .9 4
4. 47
9.3 9
9 .5 0 9 .4 2
6. 28 9.1 1
8 .7 5
8 .9 0 6. 81 7.91
10.17 9. 42 9 .6 6
12.96 8. 66 10. 09
9. 24 10. 16 5. 85
10. 73 7. 02 6.1 7
10.03 8. 99 6. 71
6.93
11.58
8. 32
9. 56
4. 96
9.99
4 .5 1
9.7 4
8.0 2
4. 56
4 .5 6
7.17
6.43
8. 70
5. 35
6. 01
.9 3
2. 32
2 .3 7
2. 49
2.91
2. 84
2. 72
2. 08
2.09
3.3 4
2.87
3 .8 2
5.09
5.04
4.85
3.7 2
2. 48
2. 35
1931
3 .2 2
3. 00
2. 11
2. 32
2. 93
3. 72
3.0 0
2.11
2. 32
2 .9 3
1.06
.4 3
.5 0
.5 1
.4 6
.5 0
.3 3
.3 2
.9 5
1930
3.22
3.1 0
4. 05
4 .1 6
3.0 5
2.2 0
1.46
. 56
.9 7
1.51
1.39
1.18
1.37
1.47
.9 2
1. 35
.9 6
1. 07
.9 3
5.24
5. 51
4 .7 8
4 .6 6
3.81
4 .8 9
5 .6 2
4 .8 9
2.9 4
3. 76
3.01
.9 7
1. 22
1.74
1.79
1.73
1.13
1.35
2 .0 3
1931
4.01
6.1 2
1.36
1.03
1.38
1.90
2 .1 6
2. 65
1.74
2. 67
N e t tu r n
o v er ra te
T o ta l
4. 52
3 .9 9
3. 54
4.9 7
8 .1 0
5. 35
6. 98
6.09
7 64
6 58
7 23
7. 42
3 .8 0
3. 39
3.8 9
4 .2 8
3.51
2.93
2.6 8
3. 01
Average-----------------
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1930
L a y -o ff
9 .5 0
5 .0 2
5 .1 9
6.31
6. 92
6. 08
6. 46
5 .0 6
9.9 1
7. 39
5. 23
8 .1 3
7. 77
8 .1 9
6.9 2
6.3 4
6 .7 0
7.1 0
6.48
6.24
7.6 8
1
6. 30
5.0 2
5 . 19
6. 31
5.9 1
5. 78
6. 46
5 .0 6
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
140
T able 2 —AVER A G E LABOR T U R N O V E R R A TES IN SP E C IFIE D IN D U S T R IE S—Continued
B .—E q u iv a le n t A n n u a l R a te s
Separation rates
Industry and month
Quit
Automobiles:
January_____________
February.
_____ ...
March __ _ _________
April__ ____ _____
M ay------------------------June_________________
Ju ly _________________
August______________
September . . . . .
October
November
December
Average
Average . . . .
1930
1931
1930
32.5
15.1
21.3
26.9
25.9
19.4
13.4
14.5
15.7
14.0
9.9
10.4
6.4
9.6
12. 8
17.8
16.5
11.0
11. 7
12.9
10.8
5.0
6.6
6.1
5.9
4.7
2.8
4.5
4.0
2.9
1.9
2.0
23.2
25. 2
23.5
30.2
24. 2
23.6
24.0
25.8
24.5
20. 1
12. 2
12.1
Cotton manufacturing:
Januarv
.
.. .
February .
March...... ......
April. . . . .
M ay_______ _______
June_________________
July_________________
August_________ _____
September
October . _
November___ . . . .
D ecem b er___. . .
Average.. _____ _
Foundries and machine
shops:
January ____________
Februarv ______ _ . . .
March . ____ . . .
April________________
M a y ... ______ ______
June_________________
Ju ly_________________
August__ __________
September ___
...
October __ _ _________
N ovem ber.. ____ _ _
D ecem b er___
____
A verage___________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
14.5
16.6
18.6
24.0
18.5
19.6
26.7
25.7
___ 22.4
Brick:
A pril.. ____
. . .
M a y ___________
June___ _____
Ju ly_________________
August . ____
9.2
9.1
7.7
8.3
6.2
5.7
6.7
8.6
6.2
5.5
3.3
2.8
11.8
13.0
16.0
20.0
18.0
15.2
17.4
18.5
21.8
17.7
22.1
22.9
22.0
15.7
13. 1
11.9
13.0
10.0
8.0
14.8
6.1
7.2
10.6
11.7
9.1
8.4
8.0
6.5
Lay-off
1930
60.8
4.4
4.0
5.9
5.1
5.8
4.9
6.2
5.2
14.9
17.9
15.8
25.9
29.1
22.1
20.7
33.4
33.8
32.1
53.3
45.7
22.1
16.0
13.7
18.6
27.9
22.5
16.5
21.2
4.3
2.8
6.3
28.3
4.7
4.4
4.2
5.2
4.4
5.6
4.7
4.5
2.6
2.9
2.9
4.4
2.9
3.0
2.4
2.6
47.3
52. 2
47.0
64.4
59. 5
51.4
51.4
67.8
64. 5
57.7
68.8
60.6
1931
N et turn
over rate
1930
1930
2. 7
3.1
26.5
38.1
34.9
48.5
55.0
53.9
48.0
46. 5
47. 2
34.9
36.5
6.7
42.7
[888 ]
30.6
24.4
23. 5
30.7
27.1
27.3
36.1
27.0
41.0
36.6
38. 2
47.7
52.2
47.0
49.4
52.0
27.3
27.4
32.0
40.0
57.8
54.0
55.4
44.5
70.3
40.3
37.4
33.6
37.5
46.0
55.8
48.0
36.4
24.1
29.3
43.1
34.4 111.7
53.7 50. 2
91.3 51.9
63.4 57.0
40.1 46.8
35.4 28.5
48.5 32.7
33.9 43.4
46.6
47.3
58. 0
40.4
47.1
41.8
43. 7
55.9
49.5
48.1
58.2
49.9
52.7
76.7
57.9
52.8
58.3
63.0
84.3
48.8
47.3
40.3
37.4
33.6
37.5
46.0
51.4
48.0
36.4
24. 1
29.3
43.1
56.3
42.0
54.6
70.6
67. 5
79.8
77.3
72.1
65.2
64. 9
26. 7
45. 6
46.1
36.0
37.5 57.2
45.5 54.5
56. 1 48.1
69.8 44.3
65.4 37.1
65.8 26.6
53.6 30.1
29.8
26. 7
22. 5
24.1
64.2
36.5
34.4
34.6
37.5
45.8
40.1
35.4
48.5
33.9
41.0
36.6
38.2
47.7
52.2
47.0
49.4
48.8
41.8
105.6
92.9
81. 2
70.9
90.9
53.0
43.4
49. 1
52.0
46. 5
39.6
29.1
32.0
55. 7
51.1
35. 7
17.2
1931
62.6
41.8
60.7
130.4
81.4
109.8
103. 2
57.5
58.6
60.7
64.6
58.7
58.6
68.3
60.1
58.2
46.8
45.6
32.2
1931
62.6
57.7
48.8
101.8
66.3
93.0
89.9
25.4
25.0
25.9
27.1
24.4
26.4
39.3
42. 1
29. 7
24.6
26.5
22.6
10.4
10.4
9.7
9.3
6.6
5.1
5.3
5.4
1930
S3.8
28.7
7.4
7.8
5.4
5. 9
3.9
7.7
7.8
8.1
8.3
6.5
7.1
6.5
5.4
5.6
1931
Accession
rate
Total
2.1 68.4 31.0 111.7 39.5 158.9
2.7 30.1 22.3 50. 2 34. 6 61.8
4.6 24.0 20. 1 51.9 37.5 81.4
5.4 24.0 22.6 57.0 45.8 90.7
4.6 65.8 36. 1 97.6 57.2 46.8
2.6 71.8 128.6 95.9 142.2 28.5
3.9 111.6 81.1 127.8 96.7 32.7
3.5 90.2 41.0 109.2 57.4 43.4
90.3
110.0
46. 6
63.4
80.3
47.3
72.4
46.2
58.0
43.4
40.4
55.8
6. 6
10.5
20. 8
9.7
10.9
9.4
24.4
25.8
26.7
29.2
27.8
25.1
22.5
18.6
22. 9
16. 6
14.8
6.8
1931
4.8
18.3
Boots and shoes:
January______________
February __________
M arch___ . .. _ ____
April________________
M ay________________
June________________
July_________________
August______________
September. .
October.
November__ _ . .
December _
. . .
Discharge
42.0
51.0
52. 6
57.1
41.3
44. 5
54.4
55.3
66. 7
92.9
81. 2
70.9
90. 9
53.0
43.4
49.1
52.0
46.5
39.6
29.1
32.0
55. 7
46. 8
35.7
17.2
42.0
41.8
43. 7
55.9
41.3
44. 5
54.4
49.9
41. 7
34. 5
38.6
39.8
37.5
28.7
23.7
31.0
25.9
54.6
54.5
48.1
44.3
37.1
26.6
30.1
29.8
26. 7
22. 5
24.1
36. 5
34. 5
37.5
39.8
37.5
28.7
23.7
31.0
25.9
141
LABOR TURNOVER
T a b l e 2 . —AVERAGE LABOR T U R N O V E R R A TES IN SP E C IFIE D IN D U S T R IE S -C ontinued
B .—E q u iv a le n t A n n u a l B a te s — Continued
Separation rates
1930
Furniture:
January............................
February.........................
M arch..............................
April— ..........- ............ M ay___________ _____
June...... .......................... July...................................
August..............— ■—
Sep tem b er...— . . . . . .
O c t o b e r ........- .- - .- ..
N ovem b er..____ . . —
December______. . . . . . .
Discharge
Quit
Industry and month
21. l
14.8
17.5
14. 2
13.9
13.3
12.1
12. 0
A verage... . . . . . . . . . . .
Iron and steel:
J a n u a r y .......
F e b r u a r y .... . . . . . . . . . M a r c h .................
April.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M a y . . . - . . . . . - - - . . -----June_________________
July-------------------------August______________
September___________
October______________
November___________
December____________
A verage......................
fi 5
74
Q4
11.6
12.4
12.9
9.5
13.3
1930
7.8
6.1
5.0
4.7
4.8
5.6
5.3
3.5
4 1
13 5
9.7
5.3
4.4
5.3
5.1
4.7
6.0
2.8
3.1
2.7
24
1 fi
1.2
19.0
3.7
21. 3
24. 9
22» 5
27*5
25. 1
22.8
18.1
18. 9
17.6
1931
2.9
4.4
4 4
6.2
2.9
5.2
3.5
3.6
8.4
9.4
8.4
10.8
10. 2
10. 5
11.1
12.1
1fi 4
1930
53.3
51.6
52.7
53.0
40.6
40.2
42,5
72.0
78,4
1.1
2.0
1.4
1.8
1.8
1.3
1.4
1.2
14.6
15.0
14.4
16.1
20.1
27.4
27.0
24.1
26.3
26. 5
23. 7
26. 2
13.9
17.9
17.3
11. 2
15.9
11.7
12.6
10.9
16.4
10.9
53. 2
52.0
41.7
60.5
95.3
65.1
82.2
71.7
93 0
77. 4
88. 0
87.3
Average----------------- - 36.1
12.7
72.3
Slaughtering and meat
packing:
January_____________
February___________
March---------------------April----------------------- _
M ay________________
June________________
July________________
August_____________
September---------------- _
October_____________
November__________
December___________ .
27. 3
30. 9
29. 3
35 4
33. 4
33.1
24. 5
24.6
27.5
Average____ ____ _
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
19.9
15. 2
20. 3
16. 6
17.3
15 9
16.6
16.2
13.9
5.1
6.5
6.0
5.6
5.9
4.0
3.8
11.2
1930
82.2
72.5
75.2
71.9
59.3
59.1
59.9
87.5
90.5
1931
41.2
44.3
42.2
48.7
49.9
56,2
47.9
46.1
46.6
42. 2
38.8
37.1
45.1
94.4
59 5
53.7
87.3
75.7
105. 9
63.0
70.7
1930
1930
66.4
62.1
67.0
58.1
82.6
76.6
68.1
52.6
__,a<s
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
62.9
86.0
43,8
^_ 30.2
27.7
25.5
24.8
26.0
35,7
37.4
44.1
33.0
44,7
121.1
61. 7
71.9
56.3
56.7
44.8
59.5
66.1
57.6
______
—
110.9
81.9
80.2
114.7
102.0
123.7
82.7
105.8
40.6
33.8
46.5
59.9
50.3
59.1
43.8
30.2
27.7
- —
41.2
44.3
42.2
47.2
38.3
31,2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20.5
15.9
16.5
35.5
------
35. 5
29.7
29.2
23.9
20.6
18.5
14,6
27.3
11.1
[889]
61. 7
62. 1
56.3
56.7
44.8
59.5
58.1
52.0
B
—
26,5
24.8
23,9
20.0
18.5
14,0
27.3
11.1
39. 2
35.4
25.7
27.3
34. 6
39.2
36. 5
49.3
49.0
35.9
110.5 117.6 110.5 110.9
81.9
118.8 97.0 114.1
80. 2
93.1 83.2 93.1
87. 7
117.6 87.7 117.6
93.8
118.8 93.8 118.8
78.0
71.2 78.0 71.2
53. 3
72.6 53.3 72.6
68.4
79.0 68.4 79.0
84 3
84.3
97.9
97.9
60.4
60.4
53. 1
53.1
89.8
89.8
7.2 78.6 51.8 116.6 74.2 117.9 111.8 116.6
8.9 100.4 84.5 143.8 113.7 96.4 65.5 96.4
4.4 88.4 81.0 127.8 102.0 61.6 61.1 61. 6
5.7 54. 4 61.1 98.9 84.1 103.1 76.8 98.9
5.1 48.7 48.6 91.4 69.6 106.0 81.4 91.4
6.3 55.9 47.5 99.7 70.4 125.8 74.0 99.7
5.8 62.9 65.8 96.7 87.8 81.4 76.0 81. 4
4.6 60.5 53.7 93.6 72.2 74.6 59.6 74.6
81.5
89.2 —
46.1 ..... 81.5
—
83.6
89.7
83.6
fifi 0
78.8
88.8
fi8 4
78.8
73.4
73.4
92.4
65.8
6,7
92.3
92.3
100.4
64.6
10.7
12.5
10.1
9.1
9.3
10.7
9.3
8.5
7.9
1931
47.9
65.0
66,4
47.8
47,2
38.3
31.2
26.7
22.5
28.2
20. 5
15.9
16.5
45.3
35.4
25.7
27.3
34.5
111.8
114. 1
104.8
123.8
152.5
112.5
126.3
118.0
141. 0
112. 5
121.6
114.6
1931
47.9
73» 1
16.0
13.4
16.2
23.1
25.4
32.3
20. 5
31.4
N et turn
over rate
Total
26.8
17.2
6.8
11.4
17.8
44.7 11.4
44.2 15.9
45.8 20.5
52.1 21.8
41. 3 20.4
35. 7 13.8
31. 5 15 9
35.4 23.9
8 fi
57.0
50.3
53. 2
40.3
67.3
58.8
45,1
35.7
21.8
1.8
2.8
2. 7
1.4
13 2
15.3
1931
53,8
5.2
14.1
M en’s clothing:
April________________
M ay________________
June________________
July_________________
August.................... - —
Sawmills:
January...........................
February.................... .
M arch---------------------April________________
M ay-----------------------June------------------------July_________________
A ugust..____________
September---------------October_____________
N o v e m b e r ..------------December___________ -
1931
Lay-off
Accession
rate
—
74. 2
65.5
fil. 1
76.8
(9.6
70. 4
76. 0
59. <>
—
HOUSING
B u ild in g P e rm its in P rin cip al C ities, A u g u st, 1931
HE Bureau of Labor Statistics has received building permit
reports from 338 identical cities having a population of 25,000
or over for the months of July and August, 1931, and from 290 iden
tical cities for the months of August, 1930, and August, 1931.
The cost figures as shown in the following tables apply to the cost
of the buildings as estimated by the prospective builder on applying
for his permit to build. No land costs are included. Only building
projects within the corporate limits of the cities enumerated are shown.
The States of Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
and Illinois, through their departments of labor, are cooperating with
the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in the collection of these
data.
*
Table 1 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 338 identical cities of the United
States by geographic divisions.
T
T a b l e 1 .— E ST IM A T E D COST 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 PA IR S, A N D OF T O TAL B U IL D IN G C O N ST R U C TIO N IN 338 ID E N T IC A L
CITIES. AS SHO W N BY PE R M IT S ISSU E D IN JULY A N D A U G U ST , 1931, BY GEO
G R APHIC D IV ISIO N S
N ew residential buildings
N e w nonresidential b uild
ings (estim ated cost)
Fam ilies provided for
in new dw ellings
E stim ated cost
Geographic division
July,
1931
A ugust,
1931
Per
cent
of
change
N e w E n glan d ____ _ $3,511,885 $3, 852,075 + 9 .7
M id d le A tla n tic___ _ 13, 448, 655 20, 791,420 +54. (
E ast N o rth C entral___ 4, 935, 424 4, 914, 889 - 0 .4
W est N o rth C entral. __ 1, 934, 745 2, 332, 612 + 20.
, 822, 662 2, 453, 080 -1 3 .1
S ou th A tla n tic_____
South C entral________ 2, 285, 041 2,189, 734 - 4 .7
M ou n tain and P acific.. 5,107,083 4, 762, 688 —6.
2
T o ta l___________ 34, 045, 495 41, 296, 498 +21.
Ju ly,
1931
Ju ly, 1931
July,
1931
A ugust,
1931
- 1 4 .5 $7, 766,403 64, 318, 323
+ 3 4 .4 22, 451, 246 22, 564, 868
+ 2 .9 6,144, 035 27, 660, 450
+ 2 2 .0 2,433, 980 2, 675,185
- 1 5 .7 5, 514, 514 4,181. 403
, 772, 565 3, 677, 662
-7 .9
- 3 .2
7, 208, 022 4, 243, 052
7,785
8, 628
+ 1 0 .8 58, 290, 765 69, 320,943 + 18.9
Per
A ugust, 1931 cent of
change
6
T otal construction (^estimated cost)
Ju ly, 1931
Per
A ugust, 193i cent of
change
$2, 763,831
7,745, 956
2,907, 365
1,141, 559
1,829, 288
909, 613
2,459, 575
$2,024, 291
5,833, 330
3,050, 246
1,030, 657
2, 002, 349
933, 692
1,647, 025
- 2 6 .8
- 2 4 .7
+ 4 .9
- 9 .7
+ 9 .5
+ 2 .6
- 3 3 .0
$14,042,119
43,645, 857
13, 986, 824
5,510, 284
10,166, 464
9,967, 219
14, 774, 680
$10,194, 681 - 2 7 .4
49,189, 61S + 1 2 .7
35,625, 58, +154. 7
+ 9 .6
, 038, 454
, 63b, 837 - 1 5 .0
- 3 1 .8
6,801, OSi
- 2 7 .9
10,652, 76,
T o ta l......................
19,757, 187
16, 521, 590
- 1 6 .4
112,093, 447
127,139,031
142
- 4 4 .4
+ 0 .5
+350. 2
+ 9 .9
- 2 4 .2
- 4 5 .7
- 4 1 .1
500
3, 913
956
605
592
628
1,434
N e w E n g la n d .................
M id d le A tla n tic ...........
E ast N o rth C en tral___
W est N o rth C e n tr a l...
South A tla n tic...............
South C en tral____ . . .
M ou n tain and P acific..
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent
of
change
585
2,910
929
496
702
682
1,481
A dditions, alterations, and repairs
(.estimated cost)
Geographic division
Per
A ugust, cen t
1931
of
change
[890]
6
8
+ 1 3 .4
N um
ber of
cities
48
68
93
24
36
33
36
338
HOUSING
143
Permits were issued during August, 1931, for building operations
to cost $127,139,031, which is 13.4 per cent more than the cost of
buildings for which permits were issued during July, 1931. Permits
issued for new residential buildings during the month of August
showed an increase in estimated cost of 21.3 per cent as compared
with July. Those issued for new nonresidential buildings showed
an increase of 18.9 per cent) those issued for alterations and repairs
showed a decrease of 16.4 per cent.
New family dwelling units provided for 8,628 families m buildings
for which permits were issued during the month of August. This
is 10.8 per cent more than were provided for during July.
Increased indicated expenditures for new residential buildings
were shown in the New England States, the Middle Atlantic States,
and the West North Central States. Decreases were registered in
the other four geographic divisions.
Three geographic divisions showed increases in indicated expendi
tures for new nonresidential buildings. These increases ranged from
five-tenths of 1 per cent in the Middle Atlantic States to 3o0.2 per
cent in the East North Central States. The huge increase in the
East Central States was largely due to a new post-office building
in the city of Chicago which is to cost nearly $16,000,000. Decreases
in the estimated cost of new nonresidential buildings were shown in
four geographic divisions.
.
Projected expenditures for additions, alterations, and repairs in
creased in three geographic divisions and decreased in four geographic
divisions comparing August, 1931, permits with July, 1931, permits.
The increases ranged from 2.6 per cent in the South Central States
to 9.5 per cent in the South Atlantic States, while the decreases
ranged from 9.7 per cent in the West North Central States to 33.0
per cent in the Mountain and Pacific States.
Increases in indicated expenditures for all building construction
occurred, in the Middle Atlantic States, the East North Central
States, and the West North Central States. Decreases in estimated
cost of total construction occurred in the New England States, the
South Atlantic States, the South Central States, and the Mountain
and Pacific States.
..
.
Table 2 shows the index numbers of families provided lor and the
index numbers of indicated expenditures for new residential build
ings, new nonresidential buildings, for additions, alterations, and
repairs, and for total building operations. These indexes are worked
on the chain system with the monthly average of 1929 equaling 100.
The index number of total building operations for the month of
August, 1931, stands at 47.3, which is higher than for either June or
July, 1931, but lower than for August, 1930. The index number for new
nonresidential buildings is higher than for any month since April,
and is only surpassed by two months during the current year. The
index number for new residential buildings while higher than either
June or July, 1931, was considerably lower than for August, 1930.
The charts on pages 146 and 147 show in graphic form the information
contained in this table.
Table 3 shows the value of contracts let for public buildings by
the different agencies of the United States Government during the
months of July, 1931, and August, 1931, by geographic divisions.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[891]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
144
[Monthly average, 1929=100]
Estimated cost of—
Families
provided
for
Month
1930
February ______ - ____________ ___
______ ___ ___________
March
April
____________________________
M ay
_____________ __________
June
___. . ____ ____ ______
______________________
July
August
____ _____________________
September
_ __________________
October
______________________ ___
N o v em b er.________________________
Dppp.mber
_
New residen New nonresidential
tial build
buildings
ings
34.2
43.0
57.1
62.0
59.6
54.4
49.9
48.7
51.3
58.3
52.9
45.0
29.4
34.7
47.2
51.0
48.5
45.1
44.1
43.4
44.4
44.9
42.5
37.6
64.3
51.8
87.1
100.1
90.7
82.5
86.7
67.2
73.8
53.5
54.4
64.3
39.1
40.3
53.4
64.6
51.7
43.4
35.8
36.6
30.8
30.3
40.7
48.6
39.8
33.4
27.6
33.5
43.4
43.8
76.4
73.9
58.5
41.7
53.7
63.9
1931
February. ______________ - - ______
March__ __________________________
April . ________________ ___ _______
M ay - _____________ ______________
June____________ ______ ____ - _______
July
__________________________
A u g u s t-____- - - - - ______________
Additions, Total build
alterations, ing opera
and repairs,
tions
55.1
57.5
77.5
81.8
84.5 •
74.6
77.4
58.6
64.2
58.1
37.8
53.5
46.1
44.1
66.4
73.8
69.3
63.3
64.8
54.4
58.2
49.7
46.3
50.1
55.5
48.6
58.0
65.2
53.0
56.5
57.8
48.3
38.9
37.9
57.1
60.6
48.8
39.4
41.7
47.3
T able 3.—C O NTRACTS L E T FOR PU B L IC B U IL D IN G S B Y D IF F E R E N T A G E N C IE S OF
T H E U N IT E D STA TES G O V E R N M E N T D U R IN G JU L Y A N D A U G U ST , 1931, B Y GEO
GRAPHIC DIV ISIO N S
Geographic division
New England __ -Middle A tlantic.— _______ ..
East North Central _______ - .
West North Central_____ ____
South Atlantic_______________
South Central_______________
Mountain and Pacific______
Total
. . _________ _ .
July, 1931
August, 1931
$337, 228
659,826
569,083
254,238
2,128, 246
3,242, 303
1, 984,100
$198, 805
6, 560, 324
17,417,861
472,100
1,804, 819
1, 742, 725
265, 627
9,175,024
28, 462, 261
During August, 1931, contracts were let by the United States
Government for building operations throughout the United States to
cost $28,462,261. This is by far the greatest amount contracted for
during any month of 1931, and is over three times greater than the
July contracts. The following Federal agencies issued contracts:
United States Capitol Architect; Office of the Quartermaster General,
War Department; Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department;
Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, and United States
Veterans’ Bureau.
Table 4 shows the value of contracts awarded by the different
State governments for public buildings during the months of July,
1931, and August, 1931, by geographic divisions.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[892]
145
HOUSING
T atuf 4 —CONTR \ CTS A W A R D ED FOR PU B L IC B U IL D IN G S BY T H E D IF F E R E N T
STATE G O V E R N M EN TS D U R IN G JULY A N D AUG U ST, 1931, BY GEOGRAPHIC
DIVISIONS
Geographic division
N ew England-------------------------Middle Atlantic ------------------East North Central-----------------West North Central.......................
South Atlantic------------------------South Central—
- -------------Mountain and Pacific--------------T otal---------------------------
July, 1931
August, 1931
$3,598,023
4,542,542
167, Oil
484, 900
177,661
1, 854, 684
341,372
$554,883
4,596,483
865, 583
467,229
390,631
65,660
176,160
11,166,193
7,116,629
The amount of contracts awarded by the different State govern
ments during August, 1931, for public buildings was $7,116,629.
Whenever a contract was let by the Federal Government or by a
State government for buildings in cities haying a population of
25,000 or over the cost of such building is included in the costs
shown in the several tables.
Table 5 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings, of additions, alterations, and repairs,
and of total building operations in 290 identical cities having a
population of 25,000 or over for August, 1930, and August, 1931, by
geographic divisions.
T atutt 5 —E ST IM A T E D COST 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 PA IR S A N D OF TO TAL B U IL D IN G C O N ST R U C TIO N IN 290 ID E N T IC A L
CITIES AS SHOW N BY PE R M IT S ISSU E D IN AUG U ST, 1930, A N D A U G U ST , 1931, BY GEO
G R APHIC DIVISIO N S
New residential buildings
Families provided for
in new dwellings
Estimated cost
Geographic division
August,
1930
New England
Middle AtlanticSouth AtlanticSouth Central..
Total-
N ew nonresidential build
ings (estimated cost)
Per August, August, Per
August,
August, cent
of
of
1930
1931 cent
1931
change
change 1930
-1 7 .5
-4 9 .3
+32.0
-2 5 .7
-3 7 .1
-3 0 .3
508
4,060
1,474
507
656
983
1,966
51, 601,053 39,933, 774 -2 2 .6
10,154
$3,384, 370 $3, 783,125
25,016, 224 20, 641, 770
8, 741, 988 4,429,089
1, 734,127 2, 289, 812
3,209, 840 2, 384, 030
3, 290, 521 2,068, 532
6,223, 983 4, 337,416
+ 1 1 .8
485
3,880
859
595
573
581
1,314
Pgr
AVfoU1st- Icent of
change
- 4 .5 $10,012, 340 $4, 308,128 -5 7 .0
- 4 .4 17,742,470 22,545,923 +27.1
-4 1 .7 15, 668,594 26, 639, 148 +70.0
+17.4 3,356, 029 2, 663,410 -2 0 .6
-1 2 .7 4,624, 915 4,098, 623 -1 4 .4
-4 0 .9 7,591, 023 3, 286, 305 -5 6 .7
-3 3 .2 7, 665,036 4,135, 672 -4 6 .0
8,287 -1 8 .4 66, 660,407 67, 677, 209
Additions, alterations, and repairs Total construction (estimated cost)
(estimated cost)
Geographic division
N ew England...........
Middle Atlantic----East North Central—
West North Central.—
South Atlantic.............
South Central___ _
M ountain and PacificTotal...................
Per
Per
cent of
August, 1930 August, 1931 cent of August, 1930 August, 1931 change
change
$2,073, 391
6, 671, 289
3,461, 981
1, 344, 485
1,840, 722
1,369, 845
2, 650, 546
$2,008,521
5, 795, 303
2,816, 612
940,133
1,919, 457
839, 473
1,572, 553
- 3 .1
-1 3 .1
-1 8 .6
-3 0 .1
+ 4 .3
-3 8 .7
-4 0 .7
$15,470,101
49,429,983
27,872, 563
6,434, 641
9, 675, 477
12, 251, 389
16,539, 565
$10,099, 774
48,982, 996
33,884, 849
5,893, 355
8,402,110
6,194, 310
10,045, 641
-3 4 .7
19,412, 259
15,892, 052
-1 8 .1
137,673, 719
123,503,035
-1 0 .3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[8931
-
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+ 21 .6
- 8 .4
-1 3 .2
-4 9 .4
-3 9 .3
+ 1 .5
N um
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
146
IN D E X E S OF COST OF BUILDING O P E R A T IO N S .
M OM THL Y
AVE.RAGE.
NEW
100
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R E S ID E N T IA L .
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75
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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147
HOUSING
In comparing permits issued in August, 1931, with those issued in
August, 1930, in these 290 identical cities, there was a decrease of
10.3 per cent in the estimated cost of total building operations. New
residential buildings decreased 22.6 per cent, but new nonresidential
buildings increased 1.5 per cent. Indicated expenditures for addi
tions, alterations, and repairs decreased 18.1 per cent. The number
of family dwelling units provided in new buildings decreased 18.4
per cent, comparing August, 1931, with August, 1930.
Indicated expenditures for new residential buildings increased in
two geographic divisions and decreased in five. Only two of the
seven geographic divisions showed increases for new nonresidential
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building. The estimated cost of additions, alterations, and repairs
were greater in the South Atlantic States during August, 1931, than
during August, 1930. In each of the other six geographic divisions
there were decreases in estimated expenditures for this class of con
struction. The East North Central was the only geographic division
in which there was an increase in total b uilding expenditures comparing
August, 1931, with August, 1930. The number of families provided
for in new dwellings decreased in six of the seven geographic divisions.
Table 6 shows the estimated cost of new residential buildings, of
new nonresidential buildings and of total building operations, to
gether with the number of families provided for in new buildings in
each of the 338 identical cities for July, 1931, and August, 1931.
Reports were received from 48 cities in the New England States;
68 cities in the Middle Atlantic States; 93 cities in the East North
Central States; 24 cities in the West North Central States; 36 cities
in the South Atlantic States; 33 cities in the South Central States;
and 36 cities in the Mountain and Pacific States.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1895]
148
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Permits were issued for the following important building projects
during the month of August, 1931: In New Haven, Conn., for a
dormitory at Yale University to cost $1,300,000; in Boston, Mass.,
for two school buildings to cost nearly $1,000,000; in Newton, Mass.,
for a City Hall and memorial to cost nearly $800,000; in Worcester,
Mass., for an art museum to cost $500,000; in Auburn, N. Y., for a
school building to cost nearly $600,000; in Brooklyn, N. Y., for
apartment houses to cost over $3,000,000; in the Borough of Man
hattan for apartment houses to cost $3,600,000 and for three office
buildings to cost over $7,000,000; in Philadelphia for a church to
cost nearly_$1,300,000; in Chicago for a school building to cost
$1,500,000; in Cincinnati for factory buildings to cost over $2,000,000;
in Cleveland for an institutional building to cost nearly $1,000,000;
in Racine, A is., for a hospital to cost $850,000; in Washington for
two office buildings to cost $1,265,000; and in San Francisco for
school buildings to cost over $700,000.
Conti acts were let by the Supervising Architect of the Treasury
Department during the month of August for a parcel-post building
in New T ork City to cost nearly $5,500,000; for a post office in Chicago
to cost nearly $16,000,000; for a post office and Federal courthouse
m Fort Wayne, Ind., to cost over $500,000; for a post office in Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, to cost nearly $400,000; and for a post office and court
house in Little Rock, Ark., to cost $850,000.
No reports were received from New London, Conn.; Bangor and
Lewiston, Maine; Pittsfield, Mass.; Concord, N. H.; Kearny, N. J.;
Nanticoke, Pa.; East Cleveland, Elyria, and Zanesville, Ohio; Des
Moines, Iowa; University City, Mo.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Spartan
burg, S. C.; Lynchburg, Va.; Huntington, W. Va.; Fort Smith, Ark.;
Lexington, K y.; Baton Rouge, La.; Muskogee, Okla.; Corpus Christi,
Galveston, and Laredo, Tex.; and Riverside and Santa Barbara, Calif.
T a b l e 6 .— E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W ER E ISSU E D IN
PR IN C IP A L CITIES, JULY A N D AUG U ST, 1931
New England States
N ew residential buildings
Estimated cost
State and city
Connecticut:
Bridgeport. _ _ ___
Bristol. . . .
Greenwich.. . . .
H a r tfo r d ..____
M eriden. ____
N ew Britain___ _
N ew Haven____
N o r w a lk ._____
Stamford..............
Torrington___. . .
Waterbury______
Maine:
Portland_____
Massachusetts:
B e v e r ly ___. . .
B o sto n 1 _______
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
July, 1931
August,
1931
July,
1931
Au
gust,
1931
July, 1931
August,
1931
$126, 900
6, 000
188, 500
35, 500
52, 300
16, 500
101, 550
104, 300
65, 800
6, 000
47, 500
$130, 800
30,150
93, 500
83, 850
17,400
16, 000
1,407,100
70, 000
82, 000
2,000
18,000
34
1
11
7
7
3
15
17
6
2
12
33
8
8
23
4
4
19
14
12
1
5
$33,163
5,275
4,450
332,136
2,744
174, 200
1,506,325
7,020
1, 375
800
75, 615
$7,477
1,610
7,500
364,194
2,280
63, 810
35, 800
17
8
16, 541
4,200
101,099
67,529
107, 700
608,000
36, 800
417, 800
7
146
6
71
4.110
1,844, 789
3,150
1,376,410
121, 695
2,913,124
51,100
2,771,117
1Applications filed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
N ew nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
[896]
1,200
19, 200
5,700
14,655
5, 435
8,550
July, 1931 August,
1931
$175, 688
11, 275
219,100
466, 634
71, 029
216, 586
1, 691, 030
125, 670
77, 875
13,130
150, 615
$222,123
34,090
137, 460
507, 086
27, 290
23,439
1,479, 229
86, 020
117, 540
9,725
37,450
149
HOUSING
T a b l e 6 .— E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W H IC H PE R M IT S W ER E ISSU E D IN
PR IN C IP A L C ITIES, JU L Y A N D A U G U ST , 1931—Continued
N ew E ngland States— C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
Estimated cost
State and city
July, 1931
Massachusetts—Con.
Brockton_______
Brookline______
Cambridge_____
Chelsea________
Chicopee_______
E verett________
Fall River--------Fitchburg..........
Haverhill_______
Holyoke-----------Lawrence______
L ow ell-................
L ynn__________
M alden________
Medford_______
N ew Bedford----N ew ton________
Quincy------------Revere_________
Salem__________
Somerville_______
Springfield---------Taunton________
Waltham________
Watertown______
Worcester_______
N ew Hampshire:
Manchester______
Rhode Island:
Central Falls____
Cranston________
East Providence-Newport------------Pawtucket---------Providence______
Woonsocket..........Total______
Per cent of change -
July,
1931
August,
1931
Au
gust,
1931
N ew nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
July, 1931
August,
1931
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
July, 1931 August,
1931
265, 500
91,000
13, 500
26, 500
11, 500
104, 800
3,900
45, 800
20, 500
101, 700
48,700
100, 400
100, 900
5.000
182, 500
78, 200
5.000
32, 000
19.000
102, 775
8, 850
14, 500
37, 000
119,350
9,100
706, 250
53,135
1,715
2,975
6, 550
170,042
7,200
6,960
101, 820
15, 650
11,950
27, 225
9, 500
5,450
44, 800
2,325
27,975
3, 625
4,075
56,240
21, 510
$31, 769
12,990
32, 360
5, 645
1,500
79,450
228, 626
75
39,100
2,150
95, 726
123, 855
3, 200
6, 581
9, 725
7,000
792,156
9. 690
2,450
43,900
7,480
70, 265
4,690
1, 675
13,175
651,990
$72, 815
322,905
1,069, 990
23, 800
39, 250
743, 550
73, 905
92,195
14,440
34, 800
204, 273
29, 695
321,305
196,990
122,442
31,125
329, 855
120, 747
23, 700
100, 815
48,490
170, 234
14, 212
149, 868
91, 780
164, 515
$89, 284
110, 945
81, 895
16, 654
13, 900
87, 250
245,190
1,105
50,925
38, 900
121, 576
129, 865
89,455
115, 631
163, 875
20, 370
986, 096
113,188
12, 050
106, 506
40, 670
192,115
53, 263
20, 770
59, 715
818, 240
17, 600
15,400
3, 330
81, 550
50, 332
111, 870
2,170
8, 250
5,585
650
17,185
40,979
3, 980
7,460
63,960
3, 775
4,945
95,075
87,925
30, 860
82, 880
2,713, 366
14, 490
2,950
81,010
92, 668
40, 490
65, 080
407,910
42, 080
$47,000
265, 500
111 , 000
17.100
16.100
13, 800
0
15,750
500
8,000
9.500
9.000
267,400
64,400
102, 700
0
0
79.500
54, 775
12, 500
52, 700
130, 000
2.000
3, 511, 885
$15,025
4,000
939, 225
$43, 900
82, 000
19,000
4.000
9.500
4.000
9.500
100
0
6, 300
26, 500
11,600
0
0
49.000
34,800
33, 500
40, 700
153, 000
14, 000
3,852, 075
+9. 7
10, 200
18,910
1,451,183
3, 810
585
500
-14.5
7,766,403
4,318,323 14,042,119 10,194, 689
-2 7 .4
-4 4 .4
M iddle A tlantic States
New Jersey:
Atlantic C ity____
Bayonne......... .......
Belleville________
Bloomfield.............
Camden_________
Clifton__________
East Orange_____
Elizabeth----------Garfield.......... .......
Hoboken________
Irvington________
Jersey C ity.......... .
Montclair......... .
Newark_________
New Brunswick...
Orange__________
Passaic....................
Paterson________
Perth Amboy........
Plainfield----------Trenton_________
Union C ity ...........
West New Y o r k ..
$74,000
$2,500
50.000
53,150
50, 500
0
110,000
0
21, 500
117,300
40.000
44.000
4, 500
20,000
17, 500
36.000
79.500
74, 500
55,625
27.000
85,500
57,400
1, 500
34, 500
6,500
24,200
4,800
71, 700
15.000
0
0
21,250
24, 500
47,200
5, 500
73.500
5, 750
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
0
65, 200
50,100
30.000
14,800
0
0
0
10
0
14
26
11
21
5
8
1
0
4
13
8
12
0
2
6
8
1
10
2
0
0
[897]
1
0
14
11
9
16
8
5
5
0
12
7
8
11
1
2
1
7
1
9
2
0
0
$18,620
158, 300
3,425
17,500
5, 800
71, 350
15, 700
1,435, 500
2,050
2,000
138,110
99, 510
14, 264
740, 425
9,160
28, 500
10, 650
17,487
4,100
4, 900
9, 445
1,800
1,300
$19,850
18, 390
4,250
330, 700
113, 060
4,484
13, 725
8,000
3,000
0
11,175
33, 935
4, 675
147,450
1,250
2,525
6,100
74, 750
1,650
16,437
2,370
1,000
500
$126, 698
177, 585
53, 425
129,100
39, 665
191, 850
97,015
1,484, 500
23, 900
29, 950
310, 860
184, 035
109, 382
1,066,183
20, 226
60,006
60, 610
115, 216
25,194
120, 441
163, 294
23, 360
9,225
$65, 323
31,905
64, 400
389, 200
145, 880
74, 734
151, 264
38,000
19, 900
13,150
150,193
96, 630
109, 992
386,197
9,432
55, 275
39,123
140, 542
12, 490
107,185
34,015
19, 675
17, 725
150
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 6 . —E S T I M A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D I N G S F O R W H IC H P E R M I T S W E R E I S S U E D I N
P R I N C I P A L C IT IE S , J U L Y A N D A U G U S T , 1931— C ontinu ed
M iddle A tlantic States— C ontinued
N ew residential buildings
Estimated cost
State and city
July, 1931
New York:
A lbany.................
$119, 800
Amsterdam....... __
12,000
Auburn_________
29, 500
Binghamton_____
51,200
Buffalo__________
292, 850
Elmira__________
10, 500
Jamestown.........__
7, 700
K ingston.............
24,000
0
Lockport________
123, 500
M ount Vernon___
Newburgh______
28, 500
N ew Rochelle____
205, 380
N ew York—
The Bronx L__
976,900
Brooklyn i___ 2,934, 700
Manhattan L .
500, 000
Queens1_____ 3, 317,050
437, 980
Richmond L_.
Niagara Falls____
69, 200
44, 200
Poughkeepsie____
Rochester_______
87, 250
Schenectady.........
18,800
Syracuse.......... .
91,400
Troy-----------------79,850
U tica___________
31, 750
Watertown______
12,0C0
White Plains........
524, 337
Yonkers________
994, 775
Pennsylvania:
Allentown_______
1,200
Altoona_________
0
B ethlehem ............
11,000
Butler__________
0
Chester_________
2, 500
Easton__________
5,800
Erie_____________
43, 800.
Harrisburg______
55, 500
H a zleto n ........... .
0
Johnstown______
3,000
Lancaster...... .........
24, 000
27, 500
M cKeesport_____
New Castle______
13, 200
Norristown______
57,400
Philadelphia____
598, 500
Pittsburgh______
625, 300
Reading_________
38, 000
Scranton________
23, 433
Wilkes-Barre........
5,800
Wilkinsburg..........
0
Williamsport____
600
Y o r k ..................
34, 500
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
July,
1931
Au
gust,
1931
July, 1931
$134, 500
9,500
12,000
62, 500
159, 000
22, 800
10, 000
16,000
9,000
127, 500
6,000
252, 620
14
2
2
9
102
5
2
5
0
11
5
11
17
2
4
15
51
5
3
4
3
12
1
15
$382, 773
11,030
8,535
14,122
561, 967
10, 330
22, 475
7, 517
7,800
44, 700
42,400
3,955
3,450, 350
4, 044 400
4, 620, 000
4, 408, 738
174, 000
59,950
24,0C0
46,000
34, 800
159, 500
57,500
48,000
10, 000
258, 000
521, 300
267
631
42
736
128
15
6
16
3
17
11
6
2
144
187
42,200
6,400
20,000
0
22,300
0
90, 650
30, 000
24,187
8,100
0
8, 450
8,500
0
609, 300
352,450
72, 700
39, 850
7, 900
8,500
0
32,000
1
0
2
0
1
1
15
10
0
1
6
7
2
13
80
209
5
7
2
0
1
6
August,
1931
T otal_________ 13 448, 655 20,791,420
Per cent of change___
+54.6
2,910
August,
1931
$23,848
36,000
585, 981
5,295
254,958
4, 680
335, 075
12, 707
1, 275
66,150
6, 800
3, 600
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
J u ly ,1931 August,
1931
$605, 962
26,680
42, 715
103, 803
933,817
39,025
46,687
59, 382
11, 350
224,020
74,550
269, 305
$248,084
47,000
602, 641
119,821
495,377
40,261
380, 692
36, 667
16,930
210,115
22, 950
270,450
780 1, 613,990
608,000 2, 957,051 4, 364, 390
863 1,403, 630
919,125 5, 251,515 5, 727, 900
385
506, 300 14, 726, 466 3, 353,921 20,682,236
1,14 L
443, 454
996,875 4,151, 323 6, 499, 350
42
112,555
26, 550
996,818
339, 564
12
12,990
5, 721
121,147
80. 462
250
4
17,300
74, 750
45,400
11 1,737,915
296,110 1,959, 449
394,027
7
17, 250
16,950
103, 525
68, 200
31
187, 775
16, 280
541,015
201,980
13
3, 700
108, 410
35,450
171,301
8
18, 530
4,225
75, 455
62,175
3
1,335
2, 700
26,114
46,427
29
5,800
205, 200
588, 937
486, 830
64
90,020
31,474 1,147,825
599,174
6
2,900
3
53,997
7
51,850
0
1 0
8
6, 275
0
11,675
25
340, 997
6
15, 350
6
7,485
2
1, 950
0
1,100
2
2, 225
2
2+70
0
52, 725
88 10,452, 500
76 1,191,170
11
50, 800
9
67,935
3
6,950
1
15, 595
0
1, 703
3
30, 400
116, 350
41, 200
201,650
8,719
63, 729
30,062
700
72, 250
42, 700
0
0
4,300
1,800
11,675
24,300
2,785
20, 261
4,008
48, 395
407,642
175, 422
57,096
140, 625
96,181
14, 097
14, 484
54,155
227, 380
12, 630
253,005
6, 500
55, 285
17,035
2,500
39,185
21, 385
1,915
17,120
11,405
13, 021
117, 861
34, 761
1,401, 735 11, 504, 555 2, 378, 694
327, 385 1,994, 202
876, 351
11, 050
131, 044
105, 392
105,070
195, 297
173,965
40, 885
137, 996
74, 865
4,050
22, 791
17,120
104, 259
22,046
117,098
5,105
107, 708
43,130
3,913 22,451, 246 22, 564, 868 13, 645, 857 49,189,618
+34.4
+ 0 .5
+12.
East North Central States
Illinois:
Alton_________
Aurora__________
Belleville________
Berwyn_________
$4, 700
26, 800
20, 800
51, 600
$38, 390
19, 100
67. 000
14, 000
2
4
8
8
1 Applications filed.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[898]
5
4
15
2
$4, 275
19, 299
1, 900
2,305
$1, 283
86, 429
1,700
51, 625
$50, 941
72, 479
23; 600
310,055
$55, 417
112, 909
69, 500
7L 487
151
H O U S IN G
T able 6 .—E S T I M A T E D C O ST OF B U IL D I N G S F O R W H IC H P E R M I T S W E R E I S S U E D I N
P R I N C I P A L C IT IE S , J U L Y A N D A U G U S T , 1931—C ontinued
East North Central States— C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
Estimated cost
State and city
July, 1931
Illinois—Continued.
$0
Bloomington_____
521,150
Chicago_________
35, 800
Cicero___________
7,400
Danville________
Decatur, __ _____
9,000
East St. Louis ....
47,000
10, 790
E lgin______
Evanston_______
26, 000
0
Granite C ity..........
15, 000
Joliet____________
Maywood_______
0
37.150
Moline ________
37, 000
Oak Park_______
98, 400
Peoria___________
8, 500
Q uincy... ______
25, 000
Rockford-. . . . .
Rock Isla n d ____
9,500
65, 300
Springfield _____
24,000
Waukegan_______
Indiana:
12, 685
Anderson__ _____
9, 000
East Chicago____
Elkhart
____
9, 000
Evansville____ _
37, 600
Fort Wayne_____
79, 750
9,600
Gary . . . ------. . .
0
H a m m o n d .___.
208, 800
Indianapolis-------0
Kokomo________
6,800
Lafayette________
1,500
Marion_________
20, 300
Michigan C ity ..
2,100
M ishawaka_____
M uncie_________
3, 900
6,000
Richmond.......... .
8,750
South B en d ..........
3,000
Terre Haute - . . .
Michigan:
Ann A rbor... ---20, 200
47, 800
Battle C r ee k ____
Bay C ity................
13, 000
70, 900
Dearborn________
700, 794
Detroit ........... .......
60, 685
Flint_______ ____
Grand Rapids___
30, 050
Hamtramck_____
0
8,500
Highland Park..
10, 600
Jackson ________
23, 500
Kalamazoo______
11, 500
Lansing_________
7,800
M uskegon_______
0
Pontiac_________
9, 000
Port Huron______
13, 900
Saginaw
_____
19,800
W yandotte______
Ohio:
87,250
A k r o n ._____ . . .
0
Ashtabula_______
13, 000
Canton.
--------737,
750
Cincinnati______
253, 500
C leveland__
78, 000
Cleveland Heights
188, 200
C olum bus______
58, 000
Dayton . . .
13, 450
Hamilton______
29,000
Lakewood.. . __
0
Lima______ ____
11,500
Lorain-------------- !
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
New nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
July,
1931
Au
gust,
1931
$0
769, 380
29, 400
10, 300
21, 000
18, 400
24, 250
38,000
0
18, 800
0
21,100
14, 000
70, 500
500
20, 000
31, 400
32, 500
37,000
0
65
4
3
2
19
2
2
0
1
0
8
3
20
4
7
3
15
5
0
72
4
1
5
14
6
3
0
3
0
6
1
15
1
5
9
7
7
13, 000
0
11.600
46, 800
78, 800
28,300
21, 500
187, 500
0
14, 500
3,000
12, 200
5,200
11, 600
2, 500
16, 500
0
4
2
1
12
18
4
0
46
0
2
1
4
2
5
3
2
1
5
0
2
10
14
11
7
41
0
5
1
4
2
3
1
3
0
2,068
54,498
1, 335
133,895
9, 390
5, 255
422, 319
132, 531
2, 297
5,044
780
10, 275
1,975
900
8,500
2,600
21, 605
785
0
10, 785
25,635
532, 663
7, 695
4,159
831, 965
3, 347
3,500
2,000
1, 275
770
24,125
400
721, 852
1, 332
48, 400
2,000
23, 900
63, 500
648, 650
137, 257
42,000
0
0
6,375
22, 500
3, 000
1,900
6,000
8, 500
41, ICO
30, 700
3
7
3
17
138
13
9
0
1
2
5
2
3
0
2
4
5
6
1
7
13
133
14
14
0
0
3
4
1
1
4
3
14
7
26, 594
8, 220
40, 800
34,978
661, 534
68, 536
26, 500
6, 700
23, 000
13, 310
1,820
99,125
1,417
10,025
750
5,183
2,580
5,210
116, 930
3,150
13, 020
191, 784
84, 856
26, 820
20, 500
1, 700
20, 350
1, 352
13, 365
4, 550
8, 995
1, 950
32, 964
2, 075
87, 426
68, 627
121, 505
58, 758
47, 310
61, 415
107, 528
79, 945
1, 567,187 1,133, 492
247,263
157, 866
97,490
73, 375
11, 260
28, 300
11, 745
36, 425
34, 602
34, 700
41, 524
46,156
90, 290
119, 875
8,844
17,420
16, 920
15, 290
10, 800
9,750
89,164
30, 863
34, 875
26, 680
44, 399
29, 845
7
5, 565
4
1, 085
80, 750
1
21,160
111, 540 2, 305, 395
99
52
46, 200 1, 078, 550
70, 890
19
17, 965
28, 500
21
157, 550
40, 743
26, 674
11
18, 455
1
27, 720
69, 065
4
3,295
275
750
0
250
1 1 25,885
202, 970
158, 864
35, 865
7, 085
92, 640
50,075
974,105 3,156, 800
605, 250 1, 606, 450
203, 890
98, 640
168, 750
438,150
120, 573
118, 757
48, 670
44,180
87, 235
35, 920
12, 450
9, 070
5,365
42, 605 1
August,
1931
10
20, 550
0
7, 000
5,500
3
120
606, 500
51
250, 000
132, 000
10
20
118, 500
13
43, 000
2
8,900
2
16, 500
0
0
3, 500 1
3 1
[899]
July, 1931
August,
1931
$79, 000
$1,000
956, 975 18,468, 222
4, 400
606,400
1,700
1, 500
4, 075
2, 525
96, 960
7, 779
6,075
4, 500
5,250
1, 252, 750
0
0
26, 450
13, 325
1, 500
165, 935
2,170
14, 370
151, 640
41, 085
17,175
4,325
2, 915
1, 780
5,165
7, 590
1,247
3, 787
12, 625
15,490
2,750
12,150
July, 1931 August,
1931
$5, 000
$79, 000
1,985, 512 19, 778,162
646,185
35, 785
10, 500
18, 913
17, 625
30, 075
63, 679
115, 360
34, 109
53, 521
1, 327, 750
115, 750
300
0
48, 296
65, 433
170, 232
5. 820
25, 978
69, 841
84, 835
166,778
114, 815
107, 225
12, 280
3,915
46, 645
164, 755
44, 748
25, 286
112, 588
144, 719
50,150
49, 300
28, 610
69, 298
17, 404
192, 619
108, 977
30, 225
429,019
415, 458
6,131
14,044
4,505
31, 573
4,995
11, 585
21, 200
34, 495
51, 355
25, 890
30, 274
33, 633
88, 645
630, 360
40, 320
39. 084
1,073, 903
9, 478
22, 500
6,565
13, 725
8,410
42, 516
2, 600
752, 407
9, 299
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
152
T able 6 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W ER E ISSU ED IN
PR IN C IP A L CITIES, JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931—Continued
East North Central States— C o n tin u ed
N ew residential buildings
State and city
Estimated cost
July, 1931
Ohio—Continued.
Mansfield_____
Marion _ _______
M assillon_______
M iddletown . . . .
Newark________
Norwood________
Portsmouth_____
Springfield______
Steubenville_____
Toledo__________
Warren_________
Youngstown_____
Wisconsin:
Appleton__ . . . .
Eau Claire.............
Fond du Lac____
Green B ay______
Kenosha________
M a d is o n .._____
Milwaukee______
O sh k o sh _______
Racine. ___
Sheboygan______
Superior ______
West Allis _____
T otal. _______
Per cent of change
August,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
July,
1931
Au
gust,
1931
July, 1931
August,
1931
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
July, 1931 August,
1931
$32, 900
0
4,000
0
4,900
0
0
7,500
35, 400
28, 900
4, 450
40, 000
$35, 000
0
0
2,000
4, 600
0
0
7,600
11,000
25, 800
2.175
18,850
7
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
8
7
1
11
6
0
0
1
2
0
0
4
3
5
1
7
$15,285
175
7,825
875
0
9, 995
5,515
1, 500
650
74, 608
21, 435
11,720
$2,370
325
100
8,700
9, 965
15, 600
3,138
10, 695
600
13, 590
32, 285
12,790
$53, 261
748
12, 925
2, 925
4,900
12, 470
7, 580
64, 575
39, 350
137, 898
34, 705
144, 968
$39,157
375
1, 350
16,950
14, 765
17,365
4,923
21,085
18, 850
55,200
40,900
101, 895
36, 700
10, 900
23, 700
39, 000
6, 400
55, 400
435, 200
12, 280
46, 800
26, 500
14,000
53,140
28,700
31, 500
13,100
15,300
44, 700
64, 800
381,100
37, 252
66,200
30, 800
0
48, 600
8
3
3
9
1
11
74
5
8
5
4
14
8
8
4
5
5
13
108
11
8
7
0
11
3, 575
6, 900
900
45, 600
1, 500
132, 735
311, 575
3, 700
5,625
8,170
1,225
3,880
208, 575
6,100
700
7, 775
200, 985
11, 845
254,114
1,920
992, 385
341, 030
995
40, 830
45, 900
38,975
27, 650
96, 689
19, 580
206, 447
1,037,005
21, 215
56,032
68,901
19, 070
58,465
241, 325
48,151
16, 730
33, 925
255, 920
99, 781
792, 777
43, 677
1,064, 500
406, 870
2, 565
210, 455
4, 935, 424
4,914, 889
- 0 .4
929
956
+ 2 .9
6,144, 035 27, 660, 450 13,986,824 35, 625, 585
+350.2
+154. 7
West N orth Central States
Iowa:
Burlington______
Cedar Rapids___
Council Bluffs___
D avenport..
D ubuque_______
O ttu m w a ... . .
Sioux C ity___
Waterloo____
Kansas:
Hutchinson___ _
Kansas C ity .. . . .
Topeka. _______
Wichita______
Minnesota:
D uluth _ . . . . . .
M inneapolis. . .
St. Paul_________
Missouri:
J o p lin ...______
Kansas C ity ___ _
St. Joseph..........
St. Louis ______
Springfield______
Nebraska:
Lincoln_________
Omaha ____
North Dakota:
Fargo___ ________
South Dakota:
Sioux Falls_____
T otal. . _____
Per cent of change .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$6,075
64, 400
5, 000
54,105
17, 400
38,250
83, 300
30, 900
$7, 000
53, 500
8,000
34, 875
15, 650
12, 500
59,800
191, 350
2
18
2
14
6
8
32
13
19
3
8
5
6
21
12
$1,100
103,435
28, 000
35, 856
5,667
28, 500
29, 700
8,540
$32, 800
386, 736
2,350
5,205
33, 665
0
140, 575
16, 335
37, 300
129,391
3 4 ,192
76, 700
116; 425
44, 590
$42,170
459; 150
15 ; 150
7i; 636
69, 300
14 ; 200
209 ; 035
248; 960
7, 500
55, 550
36, 950
72, 750
8, 400
24, 750
60, 500
83, 275
3
19
7
15
5
13
8
29
40, 995
6,470
5,280
170, 945
3, 650
22, 550
102, 300
427,347
50, 855
70,206
49,170
255, 720
14, 640
58,180
169; 233
524; 552
47, 200
392, 025
106,140
46, 800
438, 640
231, 060
11
86
22
8
115
45
11,815
539, 265
224, 659
6,950
295, 545
47,100
98, 399
1,108, 510
438, 426
80,074
856; 950
382; 688
5,000
100, 000
3, 750
485, 600
9,400
0
131, 000
8, 500
552, 700
17,300
8
32
2
120
5
0
41
4
157
8
7, 050
60,700
3,675
414, 850
51, 895
108, 600
258, 000
2,930
173, 950
46, 090
20, 301
307, 200
12, 745
1, 245, 649
65,995
113, 250
553; 600
49; 355
935; 193
72, 815
56,500
155, 500
53, 825
172, 950
11
31
14
48
195, 575
362, 733
478,132
60,540
258, 285
599, 403
569, 887
29i; 090
145,099
$9, 925
212 ; 797
38,700
42, 800
9
10
1, 775
11, 775
95,225
62, 750
77, 437
20
25
95, 500
12, 060
172, 875
92, 247
1, 934, 745
2, 332, 612
+20.6
496
605
+22.0
2,433, 980
2, 675,185
+ 9 .9
5, 510, 284
6,038, 454
+ 9 .6
[900]
HOUSING
153
T able 6 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH PE R M IT S W E R E ISSU E D IN
PR IN C IP A L CITIES, JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931—Continued
South A tlantic States
New residential buildings
Estimated cost
State and city
July, 1931
Delaware:
Wilmington_____
$58,500
District oi Columbia:
W ashington_____ 1, 570, 375
Florida:
27, 350
Jacksonville_____
64, 450
M iam i______ . . .
Orlando_________
1, 500
St. Petersburg----20, 800
4,600
Tam pa____ _____
Georgia:
68, 750
Atlanta_________
24, 987
Augusta. _______
Columbus_______
9, 250
Macon. _____. . .
10,100
Savannah_____
29, 300
Maryland:
B a ltim o r e ..____
260, 000
15, 600
Cumberland_____
Hagerstown_____
11,500
North Carolina:
A sheville________
1,500
Charlotte______
55, 450
Durham________
20, 500
Greensboro____ _
15, 000
High Point. . . ..
33, 350
R aleigh.__ -------20, 740
W ilm ington .____
11,500
Winston-Salem —
16, 650
South Carolina:
4, 900
Charleston______
33, 680
C olum bia______
54, 300
Greenville_______
Virginia:
6, 800
Newport N ew s__
Norfolk........ ...........
166, 500
Petersburg______
8,280
Portsmouth_____
10,100
62,050
Richmond. . . . . . .
32, 750
R oanoke... ____
West Virginia:
7,000
Charleston ...........
Clarksburg..........
20,800
Parkersburg ____
4, 250
Wheeling...............
59, 500
T o ta l.. ______
2, 822, 662
August,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
July,
1931
New nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
Au
gust,
1931
July, 1931
August,
1931
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
J u ly ,1931 August,
1931
$60, 000
7
12
$530, 576
$4, 623
$616,310
$107, 731
1, 395, 700
363
293
550,440
3,027, 958
2, 574,715
5,086, 581
35, 850
28, 750
3, 650
11, 900
4,500
13
12
5
9
4
13
15
5
5
3
135, 275
55, 328
350
3,400
50,205
10, 235
28, 440
725
6,100
34, 660
206, 430
169,192
15, 360
30, 600
115, 644
101, 695
110, 824
18, 390
43, 000
63, 533
104,050
18,450
1,900
650
25,300
22
9
7
7
8
40
9
2
3
27
278, 775
4,378
0
6, 275
275
162, 468
46, 204
5,900
30, 250
1, 220
437, 467
37, 603
23, 775
22, 275
68, 283
347, 402
78, 019
30, 030
40, 225
50, 256
177, 000
3,900
1,900
45
6
3
36
1
1
3,278, 400
43,485
1,875
98, 600
150
2,145
4,157, 600
62, 865
20,145
742, 880
11, 600
20, 220
2, 300
108, 300
24,100
13,500
46, 900
12,000
80, 500
5, 950
2
16
5
3
10
5
4
5
2
16
7
2
11
1
5
4
6,345
13, 220
22, 200
362
40, 700
39, 770
15, 500
60, 745
385
19,090
2,450
6,940
27, 390
46, 955
36, 600
5,400
17. 915
80, 510
63, 325
24, 565
90, 450
64, 635
37, 200
97, 500
44, 710
141, 467
37, 675
38, 296
76,190
113, 725
150, 700
22, 860
17, 000
36,100
34,000
3
11
11
5
15
6
57,350
970
3,600
0
7,350
700
93,025
61, 612
62,035
37,160
58, 377
36, 805
9,000
89, 550
4,000
18, 250
19, 000
16, 500
3
41
2
3
20
5
3
22
2
5
4
4
9,755
21, 630
7,350
1,115
117,075
6,360
1,533
47, 370
300
775
341,671
115,046
30,090
228, 582
18,130
21,435
292, 421
41, 775
25, 450
162, 368
6,500
27, 784
460, 847
151, 511
21, 000
0
6,500
15,130
2
13
2
16
8
0
2
3
129, 500
190
1,140
20, 600
2,700
800
7, 710
50, 560
155,139
22, 390
11, 727
93, 739
44, 075
26,425
26,417
95,104
2, 453,080
—13.1
702
592
-1 5 .7
5, 514, 514
4,181, 403 10,166, 464
-2 4 .2
8, 636, 832
—15.0
South Central States
Alabama:
Birmingham.
Mobile_____
Montgomery.
Arkansas:
Little R ock ..
Kentucky:
Ashland-----Covington__
Louisville___
Newport____
Paducah........
$34,060
50, 700
69, 400
$10,110
8, 250
40,100
12
9
30
6
6
14
$64, 450
11, 400
3,060
$35,832
52, 817
5,460
$144, 080
92, 008
92, 859
$84, 377
79,479
68, 450
105, 500
16,360
7
7
60,376
852,115
180,757
887, 254
0
17, 500
72,800
0
10, 250
0
9,900
54,500
0
0
0
4
16
0
3
0
3
9
0
0
1,300
14, 765
1,723,115
400
6,200
1,750
7, 775
36,825
7,200
750
6, 550
117, 575
1,844, 665
2,150
16,450
2,900
25, 390
158, 800
7, 700
750
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 0 1 ]
154
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
T able 6 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH P E R M IT S W ER E ISSU E D IN
PR IN C IP A L CITIES, JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931—Continued
South Central States— C ontinued
New residential buildings
Estimated cost
State and city
July, 1931
Louisiana:
Monroe_________
N ew Orleans_____
Shreveport______
Oklahoma:
Enid____________
Oklahoma C it y ...
Okmulgee_____
Tulsa___________
Tennessee:
Chattanooga_____
Johnson City . . .
Knoxville- ______
M emphis. _____
N ashville.- . . . .
Texas:
Amarillo______ .
Austin_________
Beaumont- _ . . „
Dallas. _______
El Paso_______ _
Fort Worth____
Houston. _____
Port Arthur____
San Angelo. ___
San Antonio.
Waco
.. .
Wichita Falls____
August,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
N ew nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
July,
1931
A u
gust,
1931
July, 1931
August,
1931
Total construction,
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
July, 1931 August,
1931
$2, 515
88, 542
18,100
$8, 700
143, 853
20,102
7
39
14
3
43
12
$3, 730
92, 435
18, 697
$2, 445
295,856
39, 086
$15, 786
249, 499
60,456
$21, 545
585,862
85,647
10, 700
303, 500
0
49, 200
2,925
443, 200
0
40, 700
5
51
0
17
2
47
0
9
200
1,398, 615
0
392, 785
4,005
580, 750
150
400, 582
15,150
1, 732, 240
0
512,499
8,355
1, 041, 625
' 150
458,138
31, 900
3, 500
16, 200
31, 330
109, 900
37, 900
4, 450
20, 880
36, 400
126,100
14
1
6
14
43
12
3
5
18
45
59,846
1, 500
90, 324
41, 730
74,900
12, 200
100
40, 986
215, 930
32,120
116,108
5, 800
112,374
174, 070
209, 267
87, 772
5,450
67, 902
342, 780
233,829
63, 700
98, 373
900
132,159
47, 880
117,100
588, 375
4, 600
30, 200
149, 824
21, 333
5,000
24, 950
109, 617
12, 500
178,175
56, 732
59, 250
594, 550
0
3, 435
102, 678
20, 667
2,750
20
53
1
63
16
40
116
4
4
66
6
1
8
42
8
80
19
30
143
0
3
45
5
1
61, 202
94, 058
40,130
47, 357
10, 270
1, 248, 896
728, 831
255, 880
119, 500
45,636
6,667
54, 310
328,460
17,186
1,355
16, 219
4,965
300, 075
142, 450
3,145
6, 025
228,195
4, 453
400
131,656
218, 685
71, 347
267, 718
69, 300
1, 413, 962
1, 337, 526
272, 055
150, 525
236, 239
33, 760
64,103
363, 386
189, 848
38, 552
279; 352
80,110
399, 788
763, 970
13, 539
15, 265
360,483
29, 060
13, 580
Total . . . ___ 2, 285, 041
Per cent of change.
2,189, 734
- 4 .2
682
628
- 7 .9
6, 772, 565
3,677,662
—45. 7
9, 967, 219
6, 801, 088
-3 1 .8
M ountain and Pacific States
Arizona:
Phoenix.......
$71, 750
Tucson.........
52,300
California:
Alameda___
12,500
Alham bra...
82,250
Bakersfield-.
9,500
Berkeley___
102, 688
Fresno____
52,438
Glendale___
209,175
Long Beach.
155,350
Los Angeles.
1,471,533
Oakland___
208,115
Pasadena__
95, 950
Sacramento.
128, 650
San Bernardino...
27,034
San Diego_______
179, 685
San Francisco____
725, 797
San J o s e .._______
50, 730
Santa Ana_______
42, 520
Santa Mcnica____
72,2C0
Stockton............. „
29, 200
Vallejo__________
9,150
Colorado:
Colorado Springs..
18, 200
Denver....................
223,400
Pueblo.....................
9, 900
Montana:
Butte___________
0
28,100
Great Falls______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$48, 790
22,073
18
15
10
8
$42,610
4, 855
$11,045
3,570
$123, 965
67,349
$80,328
33, 580
0
51, 700
22, 900
84, 600
21,000
185,450
195,050
1,595,222
193,110
101,050
126,475
43, 500
280, 795
694, 800
92,060
10, 000
51, 660
68, 661
12,400
3
23
2
16
10
56
67
488
53
24
25
7
41
226
16
8
23
8
3
0
19
5
18
6
44
70
563
56
14
33
9
64
180
20
3
19
17
3
2,780
24, 925
1, 793
29, 897
5, 950
15,160
164, 525
1,511,191
96,890
45,198
102, 670
2,150
104,371
901,469
6,605
15, 564
7,290
8,765
61,420
12, 930
600
1, 750
88, 939
1, 835
67, 555
36,100
1,033, 834
73,108
47,201
110, 950
2,425
135, 800
1,132, 531
13,255
0
32,485
15,520
570
25,356
110, 950
30,178
158,173
73,018
234,475
373, 675
3, 751,072
467,335
282,296
274,486
34, 859
357, 815
1,801,147
122,410
58,084
86, 973
62,315
78,685
27,410
62,425
36, 865
199,354
59,046
264,155
289, 525
3,069,847
357, 897
195,263
272, 874
48,190
474,547
1, 979, 750
128, 490
24,038
90, 280
90,921
17,195
8,400
211, 500
5,075
7
85
6
3
51
3
1,915
66,000
2,240
650
444, 750
2,585
23,105
371, 500
18,190
14, 835
755,015
32,435
0
22,700
0
7
0
5
5, 990
5,485
2,305
254,625
8,057
39, 535
3,655
289,080
[902]
HOUSING
155
T able 6 .—E ST IM A T E D COST OF B U IL D IN G S FOR W HICH P E R M IT S W E R E ISSU E D IN
P R IN C IP A L CITIES, JU LY A N D A U G U ST , 1931—Continued
M ountain and Pacific States— C ontinued
N ew residential buildings
Estimated cost
State and city
July, 1931
N ew Mexico:
A lbuquerque----Oregon:
Portland________
Salem___________
Utah:
Oeden
______
Salt Lake City----Washington:
Bellingham______
Everett_________
Seattle__________
Spokane________
Tacoma_________
Total ________
August,
1931
Families pro
vided for in
new dwellings
July,
1931
N ew nonresidential
buildings
(esti
mated cost)
Au
gust,
1931
July, 1931
August,
1931
Total construction
including altera
tions and repairs
(estimated cost)
July, 1931 August,
1931
$198, 750
$40,662
12
13
$75,750
$1,750
$286, 795
$52, 909
238,500
38,068
187,500
19,400
40
7
49
8
373,535
2,365
78,510
815
952, 615
44,840
353, 755
28,262
22,500
129,500
11,300
73,800
7
57
6
31
2,000
92,124
6,550
27,225
30,900
300,263
30,650
152, 690
9,800
4,000
277,500
71,350
49,000
5,800
0
210,605
42, 650
22,000
4
1
82
18
16
2
0
74
15
13
10,200
715
2, 981,910
280,385
151,330
3,000
1,570
585,924
5, 735
5,055
26,559
11,160
3,477,065
383, 985
225,495
18,570
17,980
974,304
62,340
64,305
5,107,083
4, 762,688
-6 . 7
1,481
1,434
-3 .2
7,208,022
4,243,052 14, 774,680 10, 652, 765
-2 7 .9
-4 1 .1
Hawaii
Honolulu___________
Per cent of change-----
$180,960
$291,147
+60.9
86
57
-3 3 .7
$52,232
$38,076
-2 7 .1
$262,204
$352,398
+34.4
A ttitu d e s T ow ard H om e O w nership and T en an cy
STUD Y of attitudes toward home ownership and tenancy, made
with a view to finding an explanation of the apartment-house
movement, is published in the Journal of Land and Public Utility
Economics (Chicago) for August, 1931, as part of an article entitled
“Apartment-house increases and attitudes toward home ownership,’
by Coleman Woodbury. The locality of the study was the city of
Chicago and its metropolitan region, but some information is also
given for adjacent towns in Illinois. The social classes covered by
the survey included the so-called white-collar workers, as repre
sented by the employees of the People’s Gas & Light & Coke Co. of
Chicago; well-to-do professional and business men, members of the
City Club of Chicago; the lower-paid professional classes, found
among the faculty and staff members of Northwestern University,
including full-time teachers and members of the _faculties of the
professional schools; organized skilled and semiskilled workers, as
represented by the secretaries and delegates of trade-unions in Chi
cago and in towns outside of Chicago; and a miscellaneous class ol
workers, mostly unorganized, living on the west side of Chicago.
The information presented in the article is based on 1,882 ques
tionnaires obtained in the latter part of 1930, 53.9 per cent of the
total being furnished by owners and 46.1 per cent by renters,
A
7 7 4 5 9 °— 31
11
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
T903]
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
156
Twenty-five per cent were from employees of the gas company, of
whom 46.2 per cent were owners and 53.8 per cent renters; 23.6 per
cent from city club members, of whom 60.4 per cent were owners and
39.6 per cent renters; 16 per cent from organized labor, of whom 61.8
per cent were owners and 38.2 per cent renters; 15.6 per cent from
Northwestern University faculty and staff members, of whom 39.9
per cent were owners and 60.1 per cent renters; and 19.8 per cent
from the “ miscelianeous” workers, of whom 60.3 per cent were
owners and 39.7 per cent renters.
The following table shows the distribution of owners and renters
by income groups :
T able 1.—D IS T R IB U T IO N OF OW NERS A N D R E N T E R S B Y IN C O M E GROUPS
Owners
Income group
Under $1,800. __ _________ . _ . . _
$1,800 to $3,000__________ _ . .
$3,000 to $5,000, _ ______
$5,000 to $7,500 $7,500 to $10,000 _
Over $10,000____________________
Unclassified. . _______ _____
Total . .
____ . . . ____
Renters
Total
Per cent
Per cent
Number of income Number of income Number
group
group
Per cent
of total
215
330
118
95
74
169
13
54.6
53.1
41.3
48.7
64.9
68.1
54.2
179
291
168
100
40
79
11
45.4
46.9
58.7
51.3
35.1
31.9
45.8
394
621
286
195
114
248
24
20.9
33.0
15. 2
10.4
6 1
13. 2
1.3
1,014
53.9
868
46.1
1, 882
100.0
Of the home renters, 60.3 per cent of those replying to the ques
tionnaire lived in apartment houses or in apartment hotels (6.6 per
cent in the latter), 23.8 per cent in 2-family houses, and 15.4 per cent
in single-family houses. Of the home owners, 6.6 per cent lived in
multifamily dwellings, 13.9 per cent in 2-family houses, and 78.8 per
cent in single-family houses.
Seventy-eight per cent of the renters and 29 per cent of the owners
had lived less than five years at their present addresses. The mobil
ity of residence of the renters appeared to be characteristic of renters
as a whole and not of apartment dwellers alone, as 70.1 per cent of a
sample of renters of single-family houses had lived at their present
address less than five years as compared with a corresponding percent
age for apartment renters of 79.8 per cent and for renters of 2-family
houses of 77.8 per cent.
The absence of children was found more frequently among renters
than among home owners, 44.7 per cent of the renters covered by the
study having no children as compared with 22 per cent of the home
owners. Of the home owners who had children, 54.4 per cent had
two or more children while only 29.7 per cent of the renters had
families of this size, although it is noted that renters living in singlefamily and 2-family houses had almost as many children as the owners
living in these types of dwellings. Only 29.1 per cent of the renters
of single-family bouses were childless and 45.5 per cent had two or
more children; of the renters of 2-family houses, 26.6 per cent had no
children and 43.5 per cent had two or more children.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 0 4 ]
HOUSING
157
Reasons for Home Ownership or Tenancy
A m o n g the owners, the welfare of the children was most frequently
given as the chief consideration leading to home ownership, followed,
in the order named, by safety of investment; forced saving; amenities
(defined in the article as “ working around house, making gardens,
etc.”); protection and security;lack of play space in apartment dis
tricts; and noise in apartment districts. The prevalence of these
reasons for owning a home had about the same rank in the different
occupational and income classifications. When the reasons for
ownership were considered by income groups, welfare of children
again held first place, in the number of times mentioned, in every
income class, and amenities and protection and security ranked fairly
constantly in about fourth or fifth place, except that protection and
security did not occur among the leading seven reasons given in the
higher income groups. Investment considerations held high rank in
the lower income groups, but were superseded in the higher income
groups by reasons which stressed the “ undesirable physical charac
teristics of most apartment-house districts.” When the considera
tions entering into home ownership were classified under three heads—
(1) financial reasons, (2) family-welfare reasons, and (3) negative,
antiapartment, reasons—it was found that there were 1,016 citations
in the first classification, 1,226 in the second, and 321 in the third.
The following reasons for renting instead of owning a dwelling were
those which received most frequent mention:
1. R en tin g is cheaper th a n owning.
2. F inancing costs of ow ning too high.
3. T ax burd en on ow ners to o heavy.
4. In v e s tm e n t in house to o fixed.
5. R en tin g increases freedom .
6. In sta llm e n t p a y m e n ts on house are dangerous.
7. O wned house a poor in v estm en t.
8. C osts in cid en tal to pu rch ase of house to o high.
9. L an d value to o high.
10. R en tin g increases b argaining power.
The reasons ranking from 4 to 8 are said to have been given with
about the same frequency. When the various reasons were classified
by the frequency of their occurrence in the different income groups, the
report states that the first reasons cited in every income group, except
that of persons receiving under $1,800, was that “ renting is cheaper
than owning.” In the income group under $1,800 the cost of financ
ing the purchase of a house was the chief consideration. Financing
costs of ownership came second in the income group from $1,800 to
$3,000 and fourth in the group receiving from $3,000 to $5,000, but
was well down the list in the higher income groups. Expense and
investment reasons made up 75 per cent of the total number of
reasons given, 48 per cent being expense reasons and 27 per cent
investment reasons. The lowest percentage of expense and invest
ment reasons occurred among the city club members and the highest
percentage among the unskilled laborers. The ease with which
renters can adjust the size of their living quarters to changes in the
size of the family was emphasized by those with incomes of over
$
10, 000 .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[905]
158
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
As it was felt that childhood environment might be a determining
factor in the owning or renting of a home—that persons who were
reared in homes owned by their parents, and whose friends came
from similar homes, might be expected to look upon home ownership
as a natural thing—the questionnaire included an inquiry as to
whether most of the childhood of the person reporting was spent in
an owned or rented home. The replies, however, according to the
article, “ give practically no support to this hypothetical influence
of childhood environment as indicated by home ownership of parents.”
The questionnaire also contained a query as to whether either
owners or renters desired to change their status as owners or renters,
the particular significance of this question being to ascertain if
owners were to any considerable degree becoming dissatisfied and
were looking with more favor on living in apartments. Of 913
owners out of a total of 1,698 persons answering these questions,
only 14 per cent wished to sell and to become renters, while 53 per
cent of the 785 renters answering the query on this point wished to
become owners. The replies, therefore, the article points out,
“ clearly indicate that the increase in multifamily houses in the
Chicago region is not caused by a wholesale change of attitude toward
the relative advantages of home ownership and home tenancy.”
The article summarizes in the following four statements the data
obtained in the questionnaire which seemed to shed the most light
on the trend toward apartment-house living:
(1) Among th e quasi-stable classes of persons in th e C hicago region, th e cost
a n d econom y considerations seem clearly to be th e m ajo r group of forces con
trib u tin g to th e m u lti fam ily-house m ovem ent.
(2) T he relativ e m erits of hom e ow nership as an in v e stm e n t p lay a secondary
b u t .still a p ro m in en t p a rt in th e problem of ow ning or renting.
(3) C onsiderations b o th of cost a n d of in v e stm e n t stre n g th of ow nership
decrease in im portan ce in th e h igher incom e classes.
(4) N onpecuniary co nsiderations do n o t seem to be of as g re a t w eight as th e
cost an d in v estm en t reasons an d , in so fa r as th e y o perate, those w hich have
been segregated seem to oppose th e increase in a p a rtm e n t building.
The writer emphasizes that in attempting to appraise the infor
mation presented, the following points should be kept in mind: The
findings of the study relate solely to conditions in and about Chicago,
a city which has had a very rapid recent growth; the information
was obtained during one of the deepest business and industrial de
pressions in the history of the country; the sample “does not give
sufficient weight to the lower-income groups” ; the means of securing
the list of persons to whom the questionnaire was sent “unavoidably
weighted the sample with the more stable and ‘settled’ classes of the
population” ; many persons may question the degree of accuracy
with which most people can analyze their reasons for any line of
action; and that the opinions regarding home ownership and tenancy
should be treated as opinions and not as established facts.
F o r exam ple, th e belief expressed b y m an y persons t h a t hom e ow nership is a
very desirable form of in v e stm e n t is su b ject to several in te re stin g in te rp re ta tio n s
b u t in itself th e belief certain ly does n o t estab lish th e excellence of hom e ow nership
as an in v estm en t. In o th e r w ords, th e frequency w ith w hich a n y opinion is
rep o rted does n o t estab lish th e sta te m e n t as th e tru th .
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HOUSING
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R e n t C o n tro l in G reat B rita in
N 1930 the Minister of Health appointed a committee to inquire
into the working of the rent-control acts, and to report as to
whether any modifications or amendments should be made to them.
The committee held a number of public hearings, examined witnesses,
received written evidence from a number of important bodies and
from private persons with special experience, and generally sought to
secure the views of those best qualified to have opinions of value on
the subject. Recently it has issued the results of its inquiries in a
report which reviews briefly the course of rent control in Great
Britain, surveys the present situation, and gives some recommenda
tions as to desirable changes.1
I
Review of Rent Control
E ven before the war there had been a noticeable shortage of houses
for the working classes, and upon the stoppage of building which
followed the outbreak of hostilities, this increased and extended to
other classes of housing. Naturally there was a tendency to increase
rents, and in 1915 an act was passed, effective for_ the duration of
the war and for six months afterward, which was intended to pre
vent any increase of rent, the eviction of tenants, any increase in
the rate of interest on mortgages, and the foreclosure of mortgages.
This applied only to houses with rents not exceeding a fixed maximum
which varied, according to location, from £26 to £35 ($126.53 to
$170.33) 2 a year. Since then a series of acts, 10 in all, have been
passed, dealing with the restriction of rent and mortgage interest.
At present the act of 1920 is still in force as to its principal pro
visions. Under its terms the field of restriction was extended to cover
houses renting for from £78 to £105 ($379.59 to $510.98) according
to location, but increases in rent were permitted on all houses up to
40 per cent above the 1914 figure, while mortgage interest might be
raised by 1 per cent, subject to a maximum rate of 6% per cent.
In 1923 "this was modified by an act providing for decontrol of all
houses occupied by their owners in July, 1923, all houses which after
that date came into actual possession of their landlords (except as a
result of ejection following nonpayment of rent), and houses in
regard to which landlords and tenants had made certain specified
leases or agreements. Moreover, it was provided that rent control
should not apply to new houses, i. e., those built after April, 1919,
to premises used solely for business purposes, or to furnished lodgings.
Under the rent-control acts, the landlord of a controlled house can
not recover possession except by an order of court, and before making
such an order the court must be satisfied on all grounds that it woidd
be reasonable to permit the eviction. The grounds which would be
considered reasonable are carefully specified.
Statistics as to Present Situation
T he change in value of controlled houses m ade by the act of 1920
extended the p rotection of the acts to a m uch wider field th a n th a t
1 G r e a t B r i t a i n . M i n i s t r y o f H e a l t h . I n t e r d e p a r t m e n t a l c o m m it te e o n t h e r e n t r e s tr i c ti o n s a c ts .
R e p o r t , L o n d o n , 1931. ( C m d . 3911.)
2 C o n v e r s io n s i n t o U n i t e d S ta t e s c u r r e n c y o n b a s is o f L = $ 4 .8 6 (i5 .
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
of working-class housing. The earliest act applied, it was estimated,
to about 85 per cent of the dwelling houses in Great Britain, while the
acts of 1919 and 1920 extended control to houses of higher rents
until about 98 per cent of all the houses in the country were brought
within the limits. Since then numerous houses have been decontrolled
under the act of 1923, and the committee tried to learn how extensive
this movement had been and what had been its effect upon rents.
Satisfactory information in regard to these matters was difficult to
secure, but so far as working-class housing is concerned, the Ministry
of Labor had comprehensive data.
T he evidence w hich we received from th em , based on extensive surveys, shows
th a t a b o u t one-eighth of th e w orking-class houses have become decontrolled under
th e provisions of th e a c t of 1923, a n d t h a t th e decontrolled re n ts of such houses
range on a n averag e from 85 to 90 p e r c en t above th e p re-w ar re n t (inclusive of
rates) as com pared w ith th e 50 p e r c en t increase in th e re n t (inclusive of rates)
of a controlled house. (T his 50 p e r c en t is com posed of th e p e rm itte d increase of
40 p e r c en t plus a n ad d itio n fo r increased rates.) T hus, fo r exam ple, on th e
M in istry of L ab o r’s figures, a house th e p re-w ar inclusive re n t of w hich w as 6s.
[$1.46] w ould h ave an av erag e co ntrolled inclusive re n t of 9s. [$2.19]; on decontrol
th e re n t w ould rise on a n average to 11s. 3d. [$2.74].
More of the higher-priced than of the working-class houses were
decontrolled, owing to the facts that the more expensive were much
more generally occupied by their owners, that they are more generally
let on lease or agreement, and that the relative increase in their num
bers since the close of the war is much greater than in the case of the
cheaper working-class houses. Studying all the data available, the
committee concluded that about one-eighth of the cheapest houses,
between one-third and one-fourth of the more expensive workingclass houses, and almost all of the most expensive houses covered have
been decontrolled. The relative increase in these various types of
houses has varied widely.
Since th e arm istice th e re have been b u ilt in E n g lan d a n d W ales over 1,500 000
new houses, of w hich n early 600,000 h av e been b u ilt by th e local a u th o rities, and
m ay be regarded as av ailab le for le ttin g an d as form ing p ractically th e only supply
of new houses for th e less w ell-paid classes of th e po p u latio n , for w hom occupying
ow nership is ra re a n d in m o st cases econom ically im practicable. T he n u m b er of
pre-w ar houses availab le for th is class m ay be roughly e stim ated a t * * * a
n u m b er betw een 5,000,000 a n d 6,000,000. C onsequently it m ay be said th a t
th e supply of accom m odation av ailab le for th e poorer section of th e p o p u latio n
ap p ears to h ave been increased by a b o u t 10 p e r cent. On th e o th e r h an d , th e
supply of houses for th e classes who can afford to b uy has been increased by a b o u t
1,000,000, w hich is an increase of a b o u t 50 p er cent.
Recommendations
S u r v e y i n g the progress which has been made since the war, the
committee feels that the supply of the more expensive housing
originally covered by the rent acts is probably already sufficient to
meet the country’s needs and that the supply of the less expensive
middle-class housing is being brought into closer relation to the de
mand, but that there is still an acute shortage in the supply of the
cheaper working-class housing, and that it is impossible to judge
when this will be made up. The private builder, it is pointed out,
can not afford to build for renting; he must sell his finished product
in order to get capital for new enterprises. Therefore the more poorly
paid worker, who can not buy his dwelling, must depend mainly on
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161
the provision of housing by the local authorities, who, wi.th.ihe aid
of the Government subsidy, build for renting. (The subsidy is avail
able only for houses built to rent; it is open to the private builder, but
in general he finds the terms inconvenient, and continues to build for
sale.) The local authorities have been stimulated to new efforts by
the act of 1930, but it is impossible to judge how long it will take to
catch up with arrears. Therefore the committee recommends that
housing should be classed in three groups and that the question of
control should be decided by the relation of supply to demand in each.
The first group should include all houses having a ratable value
equivalent to a weekly rent of from 30s. to 36s. ($7.30 to $8.76) in the
county of London, of from 28s. to 34s. ($6.81 to $8.27) in the metropol
itan police district, and of from 22s. to 27s. ($5.35 to $6.57) in the rest
of England and Wales. For this group the committee feels that
there is no further need of control, and accordingly recommends that
it should be decontrolled at once.
The second group should include houses having a ratable value
equivalent to a weekly rental of from 14s. to 17s. ($3.41 to $4.14) in
the county of London, of from 13s. to 16s. ($3.16 to $3.89) in the
metropolitan police district, and of from 9s. 6d. to 11s. 6d. ($2.31 to
$2.80) in the rest of England and Wales. In this group supply is
overtaking demand, and the committee thinks that it may well be
left under the provisions of the act of 1923, with the houses becoming
decontrolled as rapidly as they pass into the actual possession of the
owner.
In the third group, consisting of all houses of a ratable value below
the above figures, the committee feels that there is still an acute
shortage, and that until this is made up, the public interest demands
that they should be kept under full control. The committee therefore
recommends that the decontrolling provisions of the act of 1923 shall
not apply to houses in this group.
Mortgages and mortgage interest, it is thought, should be controlled
so long as the mortgaged properties are controlled. In the case of
houses in the first group, mortgage control should be retained for
six months after the decontrol of the properties. _
No recommendations are made as to changes in the rent increases
permitted under the present acts, but some suggestions are made as
to informing tenants as to their rights in the matter of repairs.
In a minority report one member of the committee dissents from the
findings of the majority, holding that it was a mistake to have re
leased any working-class housing from control, and that up to a value
which he places for Scotland at an annual rental of £60 ($292) all
housing, new or old, should be subject to rent restrictions.
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[909]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
H ours an d E arn in g s in B itu m in o u s-C o a l M ining, 1929 and 1931
HIS report presents average hours and earnings of employees in
the various occupations in bituminous-coal mining in the United
States, as of 1931, in comparison with like figures for 1929. The fig
ures are the results of a study of the industry in 1931 by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, details of which will be published later in bulletin
form.
The study showed that in this industry, from 1929 to 1931, the
number of days worked per half month by miners and loaders fell
from 9.1 to 7.0; the average hourly earnings based on time at face
fell from 68.7 to 59.9 cents, while those based on time in mine fell
from 62.6 to 54.6 cents; the daily earnings declined from $5.50 to
$4.82; and the average earnings in a half monthly pay period dropped
from $49.85 to $33.82. For all employees in all occupations in the
industry other than miners and loaders, the average days worked per
half month decreased from 10.2 in 1929 to 8.3 in 1931; hours actually
worked dropped from 87.0 in 1929 to 69.8 in 1931; earnings per half
month decreased from $52.57 in 1929 to $41.58 in 1931; and average
earnings per hour decreased from 60.5 cents in 1929 to 59.5 cents in
1931.
T
Scope of Study
T h e averages were computed from data covering hours and earnings
of individual employees in 469 mines for a half-monthly pay period
in the first quarter of 1931. The wage data used in compiling this
report, except for a few companies which made transcripts of their
records for the bureau, were taken directly from the pay rolls and
other records of the companies by agents of the bureau for represen
tative mines in Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Ken
tucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The 1931 figures are for a total of 137,788 employees, or 27 per cent
of the 502,993 mine workers reported by the United States Bureau of
Mines engaged in the mining of bituminous coal in 1929; in the 11
States covered by this study they represent 30 per cent of the 454,815
reported by the Bureau of Mines. Of the 137,788 included in the
report, 124,309, or 90 per cent, were underground or “ inside” wage
earners. The remaining 13,479 were known as surface or “ outside”
employees, though a comparatively few of them may at times work
underground.
The three basic occupations in bituminous-coal mining are those of
hand or pick miners, machine miners (and their helpers), and hand
loaders. ^ They represent approximately 64 per cent of all wage
earners in the industry and are usually paid a rate per ton of 2,000
pounds, run of mine (that is, of coal as mined, including “ slack”).
Hand or pick miners undercut coal with a pick, cutting some dis
tance back from the “ face” or upright surface of the seam, separate
162
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
163
the coal from the seam with pick or explosives, and shovel the coal
from the floor of the mine into mine cars. Machine miners undercut
the seam of coal with electric or compressed-air coal-mining machines.
After the seam of coal has been undercut, hand loaders usually blast
the coal from the seam or bed, and with hand shovels load it into
mine cars or onto conveyors, which, empty into the cars. Shot-firers
do the blasting in some mines. Contract loaders, machine loaders,
and gang miners are of much less importance in numbers, the three
occupations combined comprising only 1 per cent of the 137,788
employees covered in the 1931 study.
As the miners and loaders are usually paid at tonnage instead of
time rates, very few companies keep a daily time record for such
employees. It was necessary, therefore, in order to ascertain the
hours worked by the miners and loaders, to arrange with mine officials
to keep a special day-by-day record of the_ hours of each employee
for a half-month pay period. Employees in all occupations inside
and outside the mines, except miners and loaders, are usually paid
at time rates, that is, rates per hour or day, and in a few instances
per week or month. In some localities, where the mining and load
ing is done by mechanical means, the miners and loaders also are
paid time rates. The hours worked by time workers and the earn
ings of both time workers and tonnage workers are of regular record.
Trend of Hours and Earnings, 1922 to 1931
T a ble 1 shows for all States combined, for 1922, 1924, 1926, 1929,
and 1931, the average number of days and hours worked and average
earnings made in a half month by miners and loaders as a group.
Miners as here used include gang, hand or pick, and machine miners
and helpers, and loaders include contract, hand, and machine loaders;
this group actually mines the coal and loads it into mine cars. The
number of mines and of wage earners by years calls for no comment
except that the drop in number of mines from 535 to 469 and in
number of employees from 99,405 to 90,063, from 1929 to 1931, was
due to the fact that many of the mines covered in 1929 were not in
operation in 1931.
The average hours and average earnings per hour presented are
based on (1) time at the face, including time for lunch, and (2) total
time in mine, including time for lunch and travel time inside the
mine from its opening to the face, or place of work, and return. The
term “ face” means the perpendicular surface of the seam of coal on
which the men are working, or, broadly, their place of work in the
mine. The time for lunch was usually about 30 minutes, except in
some mechanized mines where it was estimated that the men con
sumed 15 minutes for lunch while waiting for mine cars. ^ The roundtrip travel time in the different mines ranged from 10 minutes to one
hour and 40 minutes. The weighted average time of travel in mine
from opening to place of work in mine and return for the 90,063
miners and loaders in the 469 mines was 42 minutes per day, or 21
minutes each way.
The average number of starts by miners (days or parts of days
worked in the half month) dropped from 8.9 in 1922 to 8.3 in 1924,
increased to 9.5 in 1926, decreased to 9.1 in 1929 and to 7 in 1931.
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
164
The decrease from 1929 to 1931 represented 23 1 per cent. The
average actual hours worked in one half month, based on time at
the face including whatever time was taken for lunch, decreased from
68 1 in 1922 to 64.6 in 1924, increased to 75.4 in 1926, then dropped
to 72.6 in 1929 and to 56.5 in 1931. The decrease from 1929 to 1931
represented 22.2 per cent. The average hours per start, based on
time at the face including lunch, showed a gradual increase from 7.7
in 1922 to 8.1 in 1931. The average hours per start based on total
time in mine did not show a corresponding increase, fiom 1929 to 1931,
because, as shown in the table, the nonproductive average .roundtrip travel time was one-tenth of an hour (or 6 minutes) less in 1J31
than in 1929.
.
,
,
.
The miners and loaders’ average earnings per hour, based on time
at the face, have shown a steady decrease since 1922, the decline
from 1929 to 1931 amounting to 12.8 per cent. Except tor an
increase in 1926 the same is true of the average earnings per halt
month- from 1929 to 1931 the decrease in semimonthly earnings rep
resented 32.1 per cent. The earnings per start .(day) have also
shown a decrease in each period as compared with the pievious
period- since 1922 they have fallen from $7.03 to $4.82, and during
the 2-year period, 1929 to 1931, there has been a decrease of 12.4
per cent, or approximately the same as in earnings per hour, lhe
decreases in both earnings per hour and earnings per start are lar
less than the percentage of decrease in earnings m the halt month
showing that the miners and loaders mined and loaded more coal
on days when there was opportunity for work in 1931 than m 1929.
T able 1 — A V E R A G E N U M B E R O F S T A R T S ( D A Y S ) A N D A V E R A G E H O U R S A N D E A R N I able 1. A v
0 F M IN E R S A N D L O A D E R S , 1922, 1924, 1926, 1929, A N D 1931
A v e ra g e e a rn in g s
A v e ra g e h o u r s
Y ear
A v e r
age
num
N um
ber of
N u m b e r of
s ta rts
b e r of w a g e
(d a y s )
m in e s e a r n
w o rk e d
e rs
in h a lf
m o n th
1Q22 1
1Q24
1Q9Q
1931_____________
200
599
556
535
469
33, 360
91,167
96, 010
99| 405
90, 063
8 .9
8 .3
9 .5
9 .1
7 .0
Per hour
based on—
I n h a lf m o n th
based on—
P e r s t a r t (d a y )
b ased on—
T im e
a t face T i m e
in
in c l u d
m in e
in g
lu n c h
T im e
a t face T i m e
in
in c l u d
m in e
in g
lu n c h
T im e
a t face
in c lu d
in g
lu n c h
8 .3
8 .5
8 .6
8 .8
8 .8
$0.915
.8 4 3
.8 1 7
.6 8 7
.5 9 9
6 8 .1
6 4 .6
7 5 .4
7 2 .6
5 6 .5
7 3 .7
7 0 .0
8 2 .2
7 9 .6
6 1 .9
7 .7
7 .8
7 .9
8 .0
8 .1
T im e
in
m in e
$0.845
.7 7 7
.7 4 9
. 626
. 546
In
h a lf
m o n th
$62. 30
54. 44
61. 61
49. 85
33. 82
P er
s ta rt
(d a y )
$7.03
6. 60
6. 46
5. 50
4. 82
i I n c l u d e s d a t a for U t a h , W a s h i n g to n , a n d W y o m in g .
Table 2 shows for all employees, both inside and outside the mines,
in all occupations in the industry other than miners and loaders,
average days, hours, and earnings in a half month for the same years
shown in Table 1. The group of employees in Table 2 are time
workers—that is, they are paid rates per hour or day in most cases,
though a few are paid weekly or monthly rates. The averages are
based on hours actually worked.
Except from 1929 to 1931, the variations m the averages from
year to year for this group were much the same as those for miners
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
and loaders, which were explained in connection with Table 1. The
average number of starts decreased from 10.2 in 1929 to 8.3 in 1931;
or 18.6 per cent as compared with 23.1 per cent for miners and
loaders, while the hours worked by all employees in the half month
fell 19.8 per cent as against 22.2 for miners and loaders. The average
half-month earnings of all employees showed a smaller decrease than
those of miners from 1929 to 1931—20.9 per cent as against 32.1
per cent. The decrease in earnings per hour from 1929 to 1931,
represented only 1.7 per cent, as compared with 12.8 per cent for
miners and loaders, and the decrease in earnings per start during
the same period represented 2.9 per cent as against 12.4 per cent for
miners and loaders, indicating only slight changes in the time rates.
T » rtf 2 —AVERAGE N U M B E R OF STARTS (DAYS) A N D A V ERAGE HOURS A N D E A R N
ING S OF ALL E M PL O Y EE S O T H E R T H A N M I N E R S A N I) L O A D E R S , 1922, 1924, 1926, 1929,
A N D 1931
Year
1922 ' ------------------------1924 ________________________
1926 . ________________________
1929
----------1931___
_________
_________
NumN um ber of
ber of wage
mines earners
200
.199
556
535
469
19, 388
49, 552
52,145
52, 806
47, 725
Average
number
Average actual
hours—
(days)
worked Worked Per
in half in half start
month month (day)
2 10.1
3 9. 8
10. 7
10. 2
8.3
87.8
83.1
91. 7
87. 0
69. 8
2 8.7
3 8.5
8.6
8.6
8.4
Average earnings—
Made
in half
month
Per
start
(day)
Per
hour
$66.17 2 $6. 55
57. 81 «5. 92
5.70
60. 87
5. 17
52. 57
5. 02
41. 58
$0. 753
.696
. 664
.605
. 695
' Includes data for Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
! Not including data for 327 employees whose starts were not reported.
3 N ot including data for 636 employees whose starts were not reported.
Average Hours and Earnings, 1929 and 1931, by Occupation and State
T a b l e 3 shows for each State and for all States combined, for
1929 and 1931, average number of days and hours worked, and average
earnings made in a half month by employees in each of the seven
occupations named below. They make up the group of miners and
loaders shown in Table 1.
The 1931 figures in Table 3, cover 65,172 hand loaders, 16,963 hand
or pick miners, 5,554 machine miners (cutters), 599 machine miners’
helpers, 405 contract loaders, 992 machine loaders, and 378 gang
miners, or a total of 90,063 employees.
In six of the seven occupations there was a marked decrease from
1929 to 1931 in all averages except hours per day based on time at
face including lunch (which remained the same for four occupations,
showed a slight increase in two, and in one an increase of 0.3 hour)
and in average earnings per hour and per day for machine loaders,
which increased approximately 4 per cent. In the comparatively
unimportant occupation of gang miners there was a slight increase
in the average number of days and houm worked in a half month,
but the average earnings decreased, as in the other occupations.
For the whole group of hand loaders there was a decrease from 1929
to 1931, of 21.3 per cent in average number of days, of 20.7 per cent
in average hours based on time at face including lunch, of I<u4 Per
cent in average earnings per hour based on time at face, of 31.4
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
per cent in average earnings per half month, and of 12.8 per cent in
average earnings per day. For the whole group of hand or pick
miners there was during the same period a decrease of 27.7 per cent in
average number of days in the half month, of 27.7 per cent in average
hours per half month based on time at face, of 12.5 per cent in average
earnings per hour based on time at face, of 36.7 per cent in average
earnings per half month, and of 12.4 per cent in average earnings
per day.
T able 3 .—A V ER A G E N U M B E R OF ST A R TS (¡DAYS) A N D A V ER A G E HO U R S A N D E A R N
ING S OF M I N E R S A N D L O A D E R S , 1929 A N D 1931, IN SP E C IF IE D STA TES
Average earnings
Average hours—
Aver
age
N um num
ber
N um ber
of
of
starts
Occupation and State Year ber
wage (days)
of
mines earn work
ers
ed in
half
month
Loaders, contract:
Alabama_______
Loaders, hand:
Alabama_______
Colorado_______
Illinois_________
Indiana________
Kansas_________
Kentucky______
208
257
221
80
8
3
25
8
18
15
104
42
9.0
6.9
10.2
7.4
12. 1
0
0
0
11. 1
ll.fi
10. 7
7.5
79.0
60. 1
85.8
58. 5
103.3
0
1929
1931
65
42
584
405
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
19
17
13
14
30
30
21
10
2
1
64
64
41
32
120
108
9
11
22
16
134
110
3,137
3, 028
769
1,240
9, 671
7,265
2, 634
1, 411
8C
89
9,080
8, 698
6, 948
6,195
18, 439
19, 287
488
747
2, 391
2, 30(
17,216
14,912
Ohio........ .............
Pennsylvania___
Tennessee.............
Virginia________
West Virginia___
T otal.................. 1929
1931
Miners, hand or pick:
Alabama_______
1929
1931
1929
1931
i Data included in total.
Colorado.............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
Per start
(day)
based on—
Per hour
based on—
Made Per
in
Time
Time
Time
half start
at
at
at
face Time face Time face Time month (day)
in
in
in
in
in
-in
clud mine clud mine clud mine
ing
ing
ing
lunch
lunch
lunch
12
11
22
17
2
1
1
1
7
4
21
8
1929
1931
K entu ck y............ 1929
1931
Pennsylvania___ 1929
1931
Tennessee______ 1929
1931
Virginia................. 1929
1931
West Virginia___ 1929
1931
T o t a l.............
In half
month
based on—
0)
82.0
88.3
93.2
72.0
87. 9
66.8
93.3
64.2
115.1
(b
(')
0
87.3
93.8
101.5
77.0
8.8
8.7
8.4
7.9
8.5
t1)
0)
(0
7.4
8.0
8.7
9.5
9.7
7.3
82.9
62.2
90.8
68.5
8.6
8.6
8.2
6. 1
6.8
7.5
9. 1
5.6
8.2
5.2
4. C
72.4
51.2
53.8
60. 3
74.8
46.2
62.4
39. 7
33.6
79.5
56.7
57.6
65.2
81. C
0
8.2
5.7
8.1
7. 1
9.S
7.8
5.9
6. (
9.7
8. t
9.0
7.4
(')
50. a
66.5
42.9
35.8
(i)
65.5
45.1
69.2
55.9
75. 1
62.0
45. 1
50. C
72. 1
67.2
69.1
60.3
71.2
49.6
75.1
6 1
.a
83.2
68.4
48. 1
53. 1
77.2
73.2
76.2
66.1
9.8 $0. 720 $0.647 $56. 86 $6. 34
9.6
.582
. 524 35. 02 5. 05
9.1
.875
.805 75. 05 7.36
8.7 1.001
.911 58. 50 7. 93
9.5 1. 337 1.199 138. 05 11.39
f1)
(>)
0
0
0
0)
(0
0
0
0
(0
0
0
(0
0
7.9 1.077 1.012 88. 34 7.95
8.5
.678
.638 59. 87 5. 44
9.4 1.085
.997 101. 14 9. 42
10.2 1. 121 1. 049 80. 74 10. 70
9.4
9.4
.869
.744
.793
.676
72. 07 7. 45
46. 27 6. 37
9.7
8.8
8.4
9.3
8.4
7.9
8. C 8.7
8.9
8.2
8.9
8.2
8. 1
7.6
8. 2
7.6
9.0
8.4
0
0)
8.7
8.0
8.8
8.0
7.8
8.5
7. 1
8.6
8. 1 9. (
8.7
7.1
8. 1
7.6
.388
.376
.736
.731
.857
.871
.922
.939
.719
0
. 595
.638
.592
.482
.601
.534
.464
.362
.549
.494
.533
.353
.340
.688
.676
.791
.800
.865
.869
.676
0
.547
.481
.545
.440
.542
.485
.436
.335
.513
.454
.591
.486
28.08
19.28
39. 62
44. 04
64. 12
40. 22
57. 52
37. 30
24. 11
0
38.98
24.26
40.93
26. 95
45. 14
33. 15
20.96
18.06
39. 62
33.23
45. 06
32.16
8. a 8.1
7.4
8.0
7.6
8. a
7.7
8.2
8.4
9.0
.65a
3.43
3. 17
5. 78
5. 86
7. 03
7. 12
7. 02
7. 15
6. 07
(i)
4. 77
4.28
4.61
3. 79
4.88
4. 23
3. 54
2.99
4.09
3. 75
4.99
4.36
475 70,853
413 65,172
8.9
7.0
70.6
56.0
77.3
61.5
7.9
8.0
8.7
8.8
.648
.561
.592
.511
45.78 5.15
31.40 4. 49
1,120
942
1,150
959
8.5
5.6
6.8
4.2
76.4
49.1
50.5
35.0
84.6
54.2
55.6
38.4
9.0
8.8
7.4
8.3
9.1
9.7
8.1
9.1
.531
,46a
.480
.411
.775
.607
40.58
22.71
43. 08
23.27
8
7
15
10
[9 1 4 ]
.8sa
.664
4.76
4.06
6. 30
5.52
167
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
T a b l e s .—A V ER A G E N U M B E R OF ST A R TS (D A Y S) A N D A V ER A G E HOURS A N D E A R N
IN G S OF M I N E R S A N D L O A D E R S , 1929 A N D 1931, IN S P E C IF IE D S T A T E S—Continued
Average earnings
Average hours—
Aver
age
Num num
ber
N um ber
of
of
ber
starts
wage (days)
of
mines earn work
ers
ed in
half
month
Occupation and State
Miners, hand or pick—
Continued.
Illinois_________ 1929
1931
Indiana____ ____ 1929
1931
Kansas------------- 1929
1931
Kentucky--------- 1929
1931
Ohio. _______ 1929
Pennsylvania___ 1929
1931
1929
T ennessee............
1931
West Virginia— 1929
1931
T o ta l...............
14
13
12
7
7
7
19
25
1
107
79
to
10
37
43
1929
1931
Miners, machine (cut
ters):
A labam a............- 1929
1931
Colorado...........
1931
Illinois.-........ .
Kansas.............. .
Kentucky..........
Ohio...... ............
Pennsylvania..
Tennessee____
Virginia______
West V irginia-
M iners, m achin e
(cutters), helpers:
Alabama______
Colorado...
Kansas___
Kentucky.
Ohio___________
Pennsylvania___
Tennessee.
Made Per
in
Time
Time
Time
half start
at
at
at
day)
nonth
Time
face
face rim e face rim e
in
in
in
in
in
in
mine
clud
mine
clud mine clud
ing
ing
ing
lunch
lunch
lunch
88.5 96.7
.54.2 58.2
61. 5 65.4
32.5 34.9
50.9 55.9
39.9 41.9
82.8 89.6
.53.6 59. 5
(0
(0
80.6 90.3
61.3 68.2
61.5 65.3
64.8 68.6
68.6 74.9
56.3 61.6
11.3
6.9
9.0
5.6
7.3
5.1
9.8
(i)
9.9
7.7
8.0
7.7
9.0
7.1
0
8.1
7.9
7.7
8.4
7.6
8.0
8.6 $0. 716 $0. 656
.656
8.4
.705
.796
. 749
7.3
. 856
.798
6.2
.647
.711
7.7
. 586
8.3
. 615
.623
. 575
9.1
.488
.541
9.3
(0
0)
0)
..586
9. 1 . 657
. 503
8.8
. 560
.471
8. 1 . 500
.348
.368
8.9
.612
8.3
.669
. 554
8.7
. 606
$63. 40 $5. 63
38. 17 5. 53
48.95 5. 47
27.84 4.95
36.16 4.97
24. 54 4.84
51.57 5.26
29.00 4. 54
0)
(>)
52.91 5. 35
34. 30 4. 44
30. 79 3.84
23.87 3. 11
45.83 5.10
34.12 4.83
.673
. 589
.609
.537
50. 29 5.33
31.83 4.67
.742
.880
1. 172
1. 139
1.167
1.295
1.200
.823
.680
.803
1. 099
1.034
1. 052
1.079
1.217
1. 129
.773
0)
(>)
8.8
8.7
82.5
59.2
7.9
7.9
129
131
52
122
1,122
X, 084
' 356
227
8
9
669
684
663
608
1, 568
X , 497
9
28
11
38
21
128
152
ie
12" 1, 214
10" 1, 002
9.3
6.7
6.1
8.4
9.9
6.0
9.4
7.0
4.5
87.1
63.9
48.8
68.5
79.2
49.8
71.4
55.3
39.6
95.1
70.0
52.0
73. 5
85.8
53.9
75.9
58.8
42.1
9.3 10.2
9.5 10.4
8. C 8.5
8. 1 8.7
8.6
8.0
9.0
8.3
8. 1
7.6
8.4
7.1
9.4
8.8
0
0)
86.1
9
1
9
1
9
1
1
2
i
3S
36
1
29
]5
8
9
5,93"
5, 554
10
10
1
1
9
19
269
233
5
183
75
38
36
(0
10.1
8.4
80.5
54.3
84.2
66.0
89.6
73.0
54.8
68. (
99.3
85. S
92.
76.3
58.1
91. 1
72.1
98.8
80. C
57. f
75.9
104.7
92. <
100.
82.
10.
7."
85. (
65.2
92.4
71.
8.
6.
7.
6.
4. 3
0)
8. 6
6. 7
(>)
10. 4
6. 1
4. 5
6. 5l
83.
75.
68.
61.
60.
56.
50. ) 56.
40. 4
38.
9.2
6.3
10.2
8.3
10.3
8.7
6. (
7.4
11.
9.2
0
76.
59.
(i)
93.
55.
38.
61.
1 Data included in total.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
7.9
7.9
6.9
5.8
7.0
7.9
8.4
8.4
74.7
54.0
451
41
i
Per hour
based on—
9.4
6.8
i
9
1
1
9
1
9
Per start
(day)
based on—
230 19, 666
201 16| 963
15
17
10
14
32
32
22
14
2
i
60
63
41
32
117
104
Indiana_______
T otal..............
2,488
2' 523
X, 543
'805
1,252
1,486
' 731
1,082
3
9,123
7,264
' 559
436
1, 697
1,466
In half
month
based on—
[9 1 5 ]
(>)
8.8
8.6
8.2
8.
8.7
8. <
8.3
9.3
0)
9.5
9.4
8. y
8.7
9. (
9.2
8.3
io.:
8.1
9.4
10.1
9.3
9.
9.:
9.
9.-
9.i i
9.
8.
8.
9. 4 10.
10. 3
9.
8. 2
7.
8. 2 9. 2
8. 8 9. 3
1. Ill
.733
1.062
.964
1. 018
.941
.936
.864
86.5 8.68
61.3 2 8. 01
.528
.55,
.98
.86
. 81(
.48
.50
.91
.77
.76 2
39.8
34.3 4
55.5 1
43.3 5
30.8 1
.787
G)
(l)
G)
0
0
0
(0
0
8 102. 2
7 61. 6
4 40. 6
3 65. 7
9. 6
9. 6
9. 8
9. )
9. 1 10. 1
8.5
9. 0
9.41 10. 1
0)
77. 48 8. 43
47. 38 7.53
73. 78 7. 21
46.4 5. 62
87.67 8. 50
67. 01 7.67
35. 6i 5. 42
36. 96 5.00
78. 14 7. 02
62. 9Í 6.85
97. T 9. 54
73.4( 8.78
0)
8. 9
8. 8
«
6.92
8.37
9. 32
9.05
9.10
9.66
9.86
9.49
7. 24
.892
.805
.810
.642
.887
.837
.619
.487
.746
.684
.976
.88"
.963
.873
.876
.704
.978
.918
.651
.539
(D
) 81. 8
1) 64. 2
64.65
56.24
57.17
76.02
90. 29
58. 16
92.40
66. 37
32. 56
.71
.61
.82 2
.81 3
.41 0
.382
.66 5
.56 3
.754
.740
.388
.357
0
4.90
5. 16
7.52
7.09
7.11
0
54.35 6.35
36.20 5. 40
CO
77.05
45.5 7
15.76
23.43
(0
7.39
7.48
3. 48
3.60
168
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Average earnings
Average hours—
Aver
age
N um num
ber
Num- ber
of
of
Occupation and State Year of
wage starts
(days)
mines earn work
ers
ed in
half
month
Miners, m a c h in e
(cutters), helpers—
Continued.
Virginia________
1929
1931
West Virginia___ 1929
1931
12
10
29
20
32
49
115
64
10.7
8.5
10.3
7.4
1929
1931
136
112
765
599
9.0
6.7
T o ta l.. . . . . . .
Loaders, machine:
Alabama............... 1929
1931
Illinois_________ 1929
1931
Indiana________ 1929
1931
Kentucky______ 1929
1931
1929
O hio.. . . .
1931
Pennsylvania
1929
1931
Tennessee__ ___ 1929
Virginia................. 1929
1931
West Virginia___ 1929
1931
1929
1931
Total _______
Miners, gang:
Alabama._______ 1929
Illinois___ ____ 1929
1931
Indiana _________ 1929
Kentucky
_ _ 1929
1931
Ohio___________ 1929
1931
Pennsylvania___ 1929
1931
Tennessee. . . . . 1929
West Virginia. . . . 1931
Total
______
1929
¡ 1931
5
28
74
85
488
85
71
26
12
2
26.
72]
21í
18
32
17
75
85
28
35
423
992
1
15
5
* 3
;
:
2
:
17
738
179
7;
4:
12
31
IS
1,17'
378
1
2
3
II
3
5
4
3
!
2
8
6
1
3
1
4
(
272
172"
In half
month
based on—
Per start
(day)
based on—
Made Per
in
Time
Time
Time
half start
at
at
at
day)
face Time face Time face Time month
in
in
in
in
in
in
clud mine clud mine clud mine
ing
ing
ing
lunch
lunch
lunch
95.5 100. 5
89.8 94.9
97.7 104.8
76.4 82.5
9.0
10.6
9.5
10.3
88.1
68.3
9.0
9.3
81.5
62.8
(i)
' (>)
43.6
4.8
73.0
8.8
7.4
62.1
78.7
10.0
76.6
9.5
85. 1
9.2
56.4
<i.4
0)
(>)
54.0
5.8
84.8
9.5
53.1
6.6
0)
(*)
11.8 112. 5
0)
(>)
98.2
11.2
9.9 104.0
108.4
111.8
(>)
9.1
8.3
8.4
7.8
8.6
9.3
8.8
<‘>
9.4
9.0
8.0
0)
9.5
(‘)
8.8
10.5
84.5
635
91.6
68.3
8.6
8.6
9.8
7.4
(l)
9.8
9. f
11. £
5.
7.1
10.'
(>)
8.9
10.,
9.1
(0
9.
9.9
Per hour
based on—
0)
48.4
79.9
66.7
83.4
79.8
92.8
60. C
(‘I
61.6
95.1
57. (
(i)
117.6
0)
O
O')
81.9 88.2
78.6 84.6
91.4 97.1
43.6 47. Í
66.3 70.9
60.] 67.6
0)
<‘>
76.9 85.1
91. ( 101.'
76.6 79. (
(>)
C1)
79.'
84.
86.3
91.8
9.4 $0.492 $0. 468 $46.98 $4. 41
.555
.525 49. 84 5. 87
11.2
.683
.637 66. 75 6.47
10.2
.583
.539 44. 53 6.00
11.1
.703
.608
.650
.559
0)
(»)
.455
10.1
9.1 1.065
9.0 1.025
8.3 1.093
8.4 1.053
.632
10. 1
9.4
. 719
P)
(')
.652
10.6
.712
10.0
8.6
.676
0)
0)
.565
10.0
(>)
0)
9.7
.743
.537
11.3
(0
.410
.974
.954
1.032
1.010
.579
.675
(>)
.578
.635
.629
(>)
.541
0)
.673
.500
9.8
10.1
9.4
9.3
.810
.843
(>)
(>)
9.0
8.'
8.2
8.8
8.'
7.9
8. C 8.7
9.
9.
5.8
6.
0)
(‘)
9 .1
8.
9.'
8.'
8.6
8.2
(>)
C)
0)
1.108
.916
1.319
.616
.584
1.096
0)
.721
.643
.848
0)
9.
9.2
1.01C
.774
8.
8.,
.747
.784
57.25 6.34
38.17 5. 66
0)
19.85
77.79
63. 69
86.04
80.53
53. 76
40. 54
O
35.22
60. 37
35. 85
(>) ■
63 56
(>)
72 94
55.91
0)
4. 15
8.86
8 60
8 56
8 43
5.87
6. 32
(>)
6.10
6. 37
5. 42
0)
5.39
0)
652
5.63
68 39 7.00
53.51 7.27
(>)
(>)
0)
1.029 90. 75 9.28
.852 72.04 7.47
1.242 120 63 10.45
.567 26 84 4.91
.546 38 66 5.27
.972 65.80 6. 30
(>)
0)
0)
.651 55.42 6. 21
.578 58.84 5. 60
.816 64.48 6.99
0)
(>)
(l)
.932
. 709
80 51i 8.45
65.0£ 6.55
i Data included in total.
Hours and Earnings in Specified Occupations, 1929 and 1931
T a b l e 4 presents for 1929 and 1931 the average number of starts
(days) and average hours and earnings for nine of the more impor
tant inside and four outside occupations and for two groups of “ other
employees” in which the employees are usually time workers. The
groups of employees designated in the table as “ other employees”
include all time workers in all occupations other than those speci-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 1 6 ]
169
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
fied; these were grouped because of Jack of sufficient numbers in
anyone occupation to warrant separate tabulation. The employees
in this table are the same as those shown in summary Table 2.
Table 4 shows that the average days and hours worked in the
half month were greater for engineers and pumpmen than for any
of the other occupations, as employees in these two occupations
frequently work on Sunday and may also work overtime on week
days. It will be seen from the table that in practically every occupa
tion, average days, hours, and earnings in the half month, showed a
marked decrease from those of 1929. Average earnings per day and
per hour for the different occupations varied very little one way or
the other. The averages are based on hours actually worked.
OCCU PA TIO N
Aver-
Occupation
Average ac Average earnings—
tual hours—
. Num N um
ber of f starts
Year ber
wage (days) Worked Per Made Per
of
worked in half start nhalf start Per
earners
mines
in half month (day) month (day) hour
month
In s id e w o rk
f5. 08 Ç0. 596
. 576
4.89
. 648
5. 39
.626
5. 08
. 685
6. 03
.668
5. 79
. 637
5. 24
.602
4. 86
. 544
4. 53
. 542
4. 43
. 649
5. 64
.624
5. 37
. 550
5. 06
. 529
4. 62
. 635
5. 26
. 608
4. 97
. 354
2. 86
. 335
2. 71
.721
6. 18
.726
6. 11
1929
1931
1929
193)
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
505
454
456
409
192
163
282
237
456
415
504
444
390
347
532
466
200
127
518
461
4, 854
4 , 339
2,901
2,669
392
284
3,811
2,945
7, 842
6, 530
4, 860
4, 527
1,148
'882
4,653
4,151
633
388
6, 814
7, 531
9.5
7.4
10.6
8.1
10.9
8.6
9.5
7.4
9.0
7.3
10.3
7.9
12.3
11.1
10.4
8.2
9.4
6.6
10.7
9.2
81.0
62.6
88.3
65.6
96.1
74.7
77.8
59.8
75.2
59.9
89.6
68.3
113.5
96.7
85.8
66.9
75.6
53.3
92. 1
77.0
8.5
8.5
8.3
8.1
8.8
8.7
8.2
8.1
8.3
8.2
8.7
8.6
9.2
8.7
8.3
8.2
8. 1
8.1
8.6
8.4
¡548.31
36.05
57.19
41. 10
65. 79
49.89
49. 52
36. 02
40. 90
32.50
58. 21
42. 59
62.45
51.17
54.47
40. 65
26. 79
17.88
66. 38
55. 92
1929
1931
535
469
37,908
34,246
10.0
8.1
84.8
67.4
8.5
8.3
53.10
41.85
5.30
5.18
.626
. 621
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
1931
516
452
471
418
313
271
527
462
506
456
811
642
1,458
1,334
652
540
7,834
6, 954
4,143
4,009
11.3
9.3
10.8
9.2
12.8
12.8
10.0
7.7
11.1
9.9
99.5
80.8
92.9
77.6
111.9
109.5
86.8
66.7
98.7
86. 5
8.8
8.6
8.6
8.5
8.7
8.5
8.7
8.7
8.9
8.7
67. 47
52. 47
56. 84
45.04
79. 56
76.13
42. 78
31. 53
57. 53
49. 13
5. 96
5. 61
5. 24
4.91
6. 21
5. 94
4. 30
4. 09
5. 18
4. 96
.678
. 650
.612
. 581
. 711
. 695
.493
. 4/ à
. 583
. 568
Total (outside)---------------
1929
1931
534
465
14, 898
13,479
10.6
8.8
92.5
76. 1
8.8
8.7
51. 21
40. 89
4. 85
4. 65
.554
. 538
Total (inside and outside).
1929
1931
535
469
52,806
47,725
10. 2
8.3
87.0
69.8
8.6
8.4
52. 57 | 5.17
41.58 j Ö. 1)2
.605
. 595
Brakemen,..----------------------Bratticemen and timbermen_
Cagers--------------- -------------Drivers___________________
Laborers__________________
Motormen________________
Pumpmen------------------------Trackmen------------------------Trappers (boys)----------------Other employees---------------Total (inside) _
O u ts id e w o r k
Blacksmiths________________
Carpenters and car-repairmen.
Engineers---------------------------Laborers----------------------------Other employees------------------
Table 5 presents, for each State and for all States combined, the
average starts (days), hours and earnings of all miners and loaders m
a half month in 1929 and 1931. As regards average days worked in
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
170
the half month, each of the 11 States showed a decrease from 1929 to
1931, ranging from three-tenths of an hour (or 4.3 per cent) to 3.5
hours (or 36.5 per cent). Ten of the eleven States showed marked
decreases in hours worked in the half month, based on time at face,
while one State showed an increase. There were no very marked
changes in average hours per start, based on time at face. Nine of
the eleven States showed decreases in average earnings per hour based
on time at face, 1 showed practically no change, and 1 showed a small
increase; as regards 1931 there was a wide range among the States,
running from 37.2 cents to 95.6 cents, the average for all States com
bined being 59.9 cents per hour. From 1929 to 1931 every State
showed a decrease in average earnings per half month; for all States
combined the average dropped from $49.85 to $33.82, equivalent to a
decrease of 32.1 per cent for the 90,063 employees covered. Notwith
standing the general decrease in number of days worked per half
month, every State except one showed a decrease in average earnings
per day, and that one showed an increase of 1 cent per day; it is inter
esting to note that the decrease in average earnings in the half month
in the same State represented 36 per cent.
T able 5 .—A V ER A G E N U M B E R OP STA R TS (D A Y S) A N D A V ER A G E HO U R S A N D E A R N
ING S OF M I N E R S A N D L O A D E R S , 1929 A N D 1931, B Y STATE
Average hours—
State
Aver
age
num
um ber of
N um N
of starts
Year ber of ber
wage (days)
mines earners
work
ed in
half
month
In half
month
based on—
Average earnings
Per start
(day)
based on—
Per hour
based on—
Made Per
in
Time
Time
half start
Time
at face, Time at face, Time at face, Time month (day)
includ in includ in includ in
ing mine. ing mine ing
mine
lunch
lunch
lunch
1929
1931
1929
1931
1929
I llin o is ____
1931
Indiana. ________ 1929
1931
1929
Kansas____ . . .
1931
Kentucky . _
1929
1931
1929
Ohio______
1931
Pennsylvania__ _ 1929
1931
T en n e sse e.._____ 1929
1931
Virginia___ . . . . . . 1929
1931
West Virginia_____ 1929
1931
22
19
16
17
37
39
29
19
8
8
64
65
41
32
136
125
15
14
22
16
145
115
4,740
4,541
1,989
2, 339
14,104
11, 539
4, 691
2, 514
1,349
1, 594
11,037
10, 801
7, 625
6,840
29, 665
28, 519
1,183
1,265
2,601
2, 533
20,421
17, 578
8.3
6.0
6.8
6.2
9. 6
6. 1
8.6
5.6
7.0
5.0
8.4
5.8
9.0
7. 2
9.5
7.9
7.0
6. 7
9.8
8.9
9. 1
7.4
74.2
51.8
51.8
50.3
77.9
49. 4
63. 5
39.9
49.7
39.4
68.2
47. 0
70. 5
56.9
77.7
62. 5
53. 8
56.0
74.3
69. 1
70.8
61. 2
81.6
57.3
56.3
54. 5
84. 5
53.6
67. 6
42.8
54.5
41.3
74. 1
51. 6
76. 5
62. 3
86.4
69. 0
57. 1
60.0
79.4
75. 1
77.9
67.0
8.9
8.6
7.6
8.1
8. 1
8.1
7.4
7.1
7.1
7.9
8.1
8.1
7.8
7.9
8. 2
8.0
7. 7
8.4
7. 6
7.8
7.8
8.2
9.8 $0. 453 $0. 411 $33. 58
9.5
.431
.389 22. 32
8. 2 . 815
.750 42. 22
8.8
.740
. 682 37. 19
8.8
.867
.799 67.55
8.8
.869
.802 42.94
7.8
.926
.870 58.85
7. 6 .956
.890 38.12
7.7
.712
.650 35. 39
8.3
.617
.589 24. 33
8.8
.634
.584 43. 24
8.9
.569
.518 26.74
8. 5
.622
.573 43.83
8. 6 .506
.462 28. 79
9.1
.645
.580 50. 13
8.8
.567
.513 35. 45
8.2
.500
.471 26. 91
9.0
.372
.347 20. 82
8.1
.568
.532 42.23
8.5
.515
.474 35. 59
8.5
.689
.626 48.77
9.0
.572
.522 34. 96
Total_______ 1929
1931
535
469
99, 405
90, 063
9.1
7.0
72. 6
56.5
79. 6
61.9
8.0
8. 1
8.8
8.8
Alabama. _ ______
Colorado. _______
.687
.599
.626
.546
49. 85
33. 82
$4.03
3.69
6. 18
6.00
7.04
7. 05
6.83
6. 77
5.03
4.88
5. 15
4. 60
4. 87
3.99
5.27
4. 51
3. 86
3. 12
4. 30
4. 01
5. 35
4. 72
5.50
4.82
Table 6 presents, for each State and for all States combined, figures
showing for 1929 and 1931, average starts (days), hours, and earnings
in a half month for all inside and outside wage earners except miners
and loaders (i. e., the same employees as covered in summary Table 2).
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[9 1 8 ]
171
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
As previously stated, these employees are time workers, and the aver
ages are based on hours actually worked.
Every State except one showed a decided decrease in average num
ber of days and average hours worked in a half month. The one
exception showed a slight increase. The average hours per start
(day) varied very little one way or the other, the averages remaining
the same in each of three States for the two years. Ten of the
eleven States showed marked decreases in earnings in a half month,
the increase in the remaining State being negligible. The decrease
for the 47,725 employees, all States combined, was from $52.57 in
1929 to $41.58 in 1931, or 20.9 per cent.
The variation in average earnings per day and per hour, 1929 to
1931, was comparatively slight in 9 of the 11 States. Of the remaining
States, one showed decreases equivalent to 11.7 per cent in average
earnings per day and 11.1 per cent in average earnings per hour. The
other State showed decreases equivalent to 7 per cent in average earn
ings per day and 4.5 per cent in average earnings per hour.
T able 6 .—A V ERAGE N U M B E R OF STA R TS (D A Y S) A N D A V ER A G E H OURS A N D E A R N
ING S, ALL E M PL O Y EE S O T H E R T H A N M I N E R S A N D L O A D E R S , 1929 A N D 1931, BY
STATE
Average
Aver
Average earnings—
actual
age
hours—
num
um ber
of
Num N
of starts
Year ber of ber
wage (days)
mines earners
Per Made Per Per
worked Worked
half start in half start hour
in half in
month (day)
month
(day)
month
State
1929
1931
1929
__
Colorado _
1931
1929
Illinois _
__
1931
1929
Indiana__
_
1931
1929
Kansas __
___
1931
1929
Kentucky.
___
1931
1929
Ohio
- __
__
1931
1929
Pennsylvania. - ------- - - 1931
1929
Tennessee__
1931
1929
V irginia.. . . .
...
1931
West Virginia. ----------------------------- 1929
1931
22
19
16
17
37
39
29
19
8
8
64
65
41
32
136
125
15
14
22
16
145
115
3.019
2,476
1,012
1,142
6, 226
7, 646
2,082
1,473
289
310
6,924
6, 755
2,783
2,392
12, 935
11,819
763
518
2,098
1,899
14, 675
11, 295
9.5
7.5
8.7
7.5
11.2
8.0
10. 5
8.8
9.8
6.8
9.6
6.9
10.5
8.8
10.7
9. 1
8.0
8.2
10. 7
8. 7
9.7
8.5
86.1
64.0
72.8
62.6
91.6
65. 4
85. 1
69.4
80. 7
55.7
83. 7
58.5
86.6
71.4
93.8
77.3
64.4
66. 6
91.7
76. 5
82. 6
72.9
9.1 $34. 32
25. 74
8. 6
8.4
56. 64
48.63
8.3
71.40
8.2
8.2
51. 59
66. 02
8. t
54.31
7.9
52. 39
8. 3
8. 2 35. 94
8. 7 44.63
31. 26
8. 4
53.01
8. 2
38. 88
8. 2
59.98
8.7
8.5
47.18
8. 1 26.16
8. 1 26. 13
42. 79
8.6
34. 56
8. 8
46. 04
8.5
8.6
38. 83
1929
1931
535
469
52,806
47, 725
10. 2
8.3
87.0
69.8
8.6
8.4
Alabama
_.
Total
......
.
_ ..
.
................. ...
—
52. 57
41. 58
$3. 62 $0. 399
. 402
3. 45
.778
6.53
.777
6. 45
.780
6.38
.789
6. 45
.776
6. 26
.783
6. 18
.649
5. 37
. 646
5. 31
4.64
.533
. 534
4. 50
.612
5. 03
. 544
4. 44
. 639
5. 59
. filO
5. 20
.406
3. 28
.393
3. 19
.466
4. 00
.452
3. 96
.558
4. 76
. 532
4.57
5.17
5. 02
.605
.595
1
Weekly Hours and Earnings, 1931
T able 7 presents for the miners and loaders in each of seven
occupations average starts (days), hours, and earnings in one week
based upon actual figures for the half month. The averages for one
week were weighted. That is, the aggregate days, hours worked,
and earnings of the employees in an occupation at a given mine were
divided by the number of normal working-days in the half month for
7 7 4 5 9 ° — 3 1 ------ 12
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[9 1 9 ]
172
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
the occupation and the results were multiplied by six for a 6-day
occupation or by seven for a 7-day occupation. The aggregates thus
obtained for the given occupation for all mines in a given State were
combined and from these combined aggregates the usual averages
were computed for one week. This was done for the purpose of
having weekly figures available for comparison with like average
hours and earnings in other industries, in most of which weekly pay
periods prevail. The average number of starts (days) based upon
the number made in a half month varied from 3.5 for miners, machine
(cutters), to 3.2 for each of the heavier occupations in point of num
bers, and the average was 3.2 for the 90,063 employees in the seven
occupations combined, which is little more than half time.
The average hours, based on time at the face including lunch,
which could have been made in one week, based upon the number
actually worked in a half month, varied from 37.0 for the 378 gang
miners to 25.7 for the 65,172 hand loaders, and to 25.1 for the 16,963
hand or pick miners. The average for the 90,063 in the seven occupa
tions combined was 25.9 per week. A reference to Table 9 of this
report, compiled by the United States Bureau of Mines, shows that
the weighted average working-day of men employed in bituminous
mines in 1929 was 8.08 hours, or approximately 48.5 hours per week,
from which it will be seen that the 25.9 hours per week shown in
Table 7 constituted little more than 50 per cent of full time.
The average earnings that could have been made in one week, based
upon the amount actually made in a half month, varied from $28.68
for gang miners, to $14.73 for hand or pick miners, and to $14.43 for
hand loaders. The average for all miners and loaders was $15.54 per
week.
T able 7. AVER A G E N U M B E R OF STA R TS (DAYS) A N D AVER A G E HOURS A N D E A R N
ING S PE R W E E K OF MINERS AND LOADERS, 1931, BY OCCUPATION
Average hoursAver
age
In one week
num
based on—
N um N um ber of
of
ber of ber
starts
wage
mines earners (days)
worked Time
in one at face Time
week includ in mine
ing
lunch
Occupation
Loaders, contract______________
Loaders, hand_________________
Loaders, machine____ __________
Miners, gang__________________
Miners, hand or pick___________
Miners, machine (cutters)______
Miners, machine (cutters), helper!
42
413
35
18
201
411
112
T otal____________________
405
65,172
992
378
16, 963
5, 554
599
90,063
3.4
3.2
3.3
4.4
3.2
3. 5
3.2
Aver
age
earn
ings
made
in one
week
29.5
25.7
28. 6
37.0
25. 1
29. 7
29.6
32. 5
28.2
30. 7
40.5
27.5
32.4
32.2
$21. 73
14. 43
24. 22
28.68
14. 73
27. 97
18. 01
25. Ì
28.4
15.54
Table 8 presents for wage earners in each occupation, inside and
outside the mine, except miners and loaders, average number of
starts (days), hours, and earnings in one week, based on actual figures
lor a half month. These, also, are weighted averages.
The average number of days per week ranged from 5.9 for outside
engineers to 3.0 for trappers (boys) and 3.4 for brakemen, drivers,
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[920]
173
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR
and laborers, inside. The average for the inside group was 3.7, for
the outside group 4.1, and for the two combined 3.8 days per week.
The average hours in one week ranged from 50.3 for engineers to
24.4 for trappers (boys) and to 27.4 for drivers. The average for
the inside group was 31.1, for the outside group 35.3, and for the two
groups combined 32.3 hours per week, or approximately 67 per cent
of full time.
Average earnings that could have been made in one week, based
upon the amount actually made in a half month ranged from $35.10
for engineers to $8.19 for trappers (boys) and $14.58 for outside
laborers. The average for the inside group was $19.37, for the
outside group $18.96, and for the 47,725 in the two groups combined
$19.25.
T able 8 .—A VERAGE N U M B E R OF STARTS (DAYS) A N D A V ER A G E HOURSi A N D
E A R N IN G S, ALL E M PL O Y EE S OTHER THAN MINERS AND LOADERS, PE R W EEK ,
1931, BY OCCUPATION
Number
of mines
Occupation
Average
of Average
actual
Number of number
starts
hours
wage ear
(days)
in
ners
worked in worked
one week
one week
Average
earnings
made in
one week
In s id e w o rk
Brakemen______ , -----------------------Brut t icemen and timbermen..............
Gagers_____ ---------- -------------------Drivers_____________
________
Laborers------------------Motormen____________
Pumpmen_____________________
Trackmen-----------------------------------Trappers (boys)------Other employees---------------------------
454
409
163
237
415
444
347
466
127
461
4, 339
2,669
284
2,945
6,530
4, 527
882
4,151
388
7, 531
3.4
3.8
3.9
3.4
3.4
3.7
5.1
3.8
3.0
4.2
29.0
30.4
34.2
27.4
27.9
31. 6
44.2
30.8
24.4
35. 5
$16. 71
19.08
22. 83
16. 53
15.14
19. 71
23. 39
18. 78
8. 19
25. 87
Total_______________________
469
34, 246
3.7
31.1
19. 37
452
418
271
462
456
642
1,334
540
6,954
4, 009
4.3
4.2
5.9
3.6
4.6
37.0
35.9
50.3
30.9
40.4
24. 06
20. 87
35.10
14. 58
22. 94
13, 479
4.1
35.3
18. 96
47, 725
3.8
32.3
19.25
O u ts id e w o rk
Total---------- -----
-----------
Grand total (inside and outside)
465
1 o^ !
50
Blacksmiths-----------------------------------Carpenters and car-repairmen----------Engineers--------------------------------------Laborers---------------------------------------Other emnloyees___________________
Average Working-Day in 1929
T h e figures in Table 9, compiled by the United States Bureau
of Mines, show for each of the years 1903 to 1929 (1909 excepted)
the per cent of total bituminous-coal-mine employees having a normal
working-day of 8, 9, and 10 hours, together with the weighted average
working-day for each year. From the table it will be observed that
in 1903, 56.4 per cent of the employees were on the 8-hour day basis,
17.1 per cent a 9-hour day, and 26.5 per cent a 10-hour day; the
weighted average working-day was 8.7 hours. In comparison,the 1929
figures show that 92.5 per cent of all bituminous employees had an
8-hour day, 6.7 per cent a 9-hour day, and 0.8 per cent a 10-hour day;
the weighted average working-day was 8.08 hours.
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[9 2 1 ]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
174
T able 9 —PE R C E N T OF M E N E M P L O Y E D IN B IT U M IN O U S COAL M IN E S WHO H A D
A N E ST A BL ISH E D W O R K IN G -D A Y OF 8, 9, OR 10 HOURS, 1903 TO 1929 »
[From United States Bureau of Mines, Department of Commerce, Coal in 19291
Per cent of total em
ployees in mines
W eighted
working—average
Per cent of total em
ployees in mines
Weighted
working—
average
workingday
9108(hours)
hour hour hour
day
day
day
Year
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915_____________
1916_____________
56.4
62.1
61.1
63. 0
64. 0
63. 5
62.1
62. 9
61. 6
61. 9
60. 7
59.6
58.6
17.1
13.8
13. 6
13.5
11. 6
11.1
11. 3
10. 9
11. 5
15. 2
15. 4
17.0
17.4
26. 5
24. 1
25. 3
23. 5
24. 4
25. 4
26. 6
26. 2
26. 9
22. 9
23. 9
23.4
24. 0
8.7
8. 6
8. 6
8.6
8.6
8. 6
8. 6
8. 6
8. 6
8.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
Year
8hour
day
1917_____________
1918_____________
1919_______ : ____
1920_____________
1921_____________
1922_____________
1923_____________
1924_____________
1925_____________
1926_____________
1927_____________
1928_____________
1929 ___________
79.0
90.6
95.5
97.1
96. 6
95.1
94.7
93.7
93. 5
93.7
93.4
93.1
92. 5
9
hour
day
12.6
6.7
3. 5
2.0
2.9
4.0
4.2
5. 1
5.4
5.5
6.1
6.7
10hour
day
8.4
2.7
1.0
.9
.5
.9
1.1
1.2
1. 1
.8
1.0
.8
.8
day
(hours)
8. 30
8.12
8.06
8.04
8.04
8. 06
8.06
8.08
8.08
8. 07
8. 08
8.08
8.08
>Percentages are calculated on basis of total number of men in mines definitely reported as having 8, 9,
or 10 hour day. A small number of mines that work more than 10 hours or less than 8 hours have been
excluded, as have also all mines for which the reports were defective or which changed their working-day
during the year.
R e ce n t C h an ges in W ages and H ours of Labor
NFORMATION received by the bureau regarding wage changes
is presented below in two distinct groups: Part 1 relates to manu
facturing establishments that report monthly figures regarding
volume of employment, while Part 2 presents data obtained from new
trade agreements and other miscellaneous sources. Although the
effort is made, it is not always possible to avoid duplication of data as
between parts 1 and 2.
I
Wage-Rate Changes in Manufacturing Industries
S e v e n establishments in three industries reported wage-rate
increases during the month ending August 15. These increases aver
aged 10.6 per cent and affected 618 employees, or 41 per cent of the
employees in the establishments concerned.
Two hundred and twenty-one establishments in 50 industries
reported wage-rate decreases during the same period. These
decreases averaging 10 per cent, affected 20,739 employees, or 63 per
cent of all employees in the establishments concerned. Twenty-six
of these wage-rate decreases were reported in the food group, 28 were
in the textile group, 25 in the iron and steel group, 48 in the lumber
group, and 21 were in the paper and printing group. Seven industries
in which wage-rate decreases, in 10 or more establishments were
reported follow: Lumber, sawmills, 22; brick, tile, and terra cotta, 21;
cotton goods, 18; furniture, 15; foundry and machine-shop products,
13; lumber, millwork, 11; and paper and pulp, 10.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[922]
175
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
WAGE C H ANGES O C CURRING B E T W E E N JULY 15 A N D A U G U ST 15, 1931
Per cent of increase
or decrease in wage
rate
Establishments
Industry
Total
number
report
ing
Employees aflected
Per cent of em
ployees
Number
report
ing
increase
or
decrease
in wage
rates
Range
Total
num
ber
In estab
lishments
reporting
increase or
decrease in
wage rates
10. 0
13.5
10.0
10.6
500
106
12
618
43
34
85
41
Aver
age
In all
estab
lish
ments
report
ing
In crea ses
Dyeing and finishing textiles—
M illinery and lace goods---------Brick, tile, and terra cotta------Total
133
122
709
4
2
1
7
10.0
10. 0-17. 5
10.0
10. 0-17. 5
1
1
(>)
D e c r e a s es
Slaughtering and meat packingConfectionery-----------------------Ice cream ____
Flour__ ___ - ------Baking_______ Cotton goods -------- -----Hosiery and knit goods__
Silk goods_____. . .
.........
Woolen and worsted goods—
Dyeing and finishing textiles.-.
Clothing, men’s ............... .........
Millinery and lace goods---------Iron and steel------- -------------Structural-iron work.
Foundry and m a c h in e - s h o p
products .. . . . --------------Hardware _ ________________
Machine tools___
Steam fittings and steam and
hot-water heating apparatus _.
Stoves. _____________________
Lumber, sawmills .
-.
Lumber, millwork. . . . ______
Furniture....... . . . ------- ------Leather— _________________
Boots and shoes..
Paper and pulp-------- ------- -Paper boxes . .
---- ----------Printing, book and job-----------Printing, newspapers. . . . . . _
Fertilizers_____ _________ . . .
C e m e n t.---- .
----------------Brick, tile, and terra cotta__ __
Pottery--------------------------------Brass, bronze, and copper products. ............. _ - ------------Cigars and cigarettes__________
Agricultural implements______
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies___ ____
Jew elry------- ----------------- ---Paint and varnish-----------------Rubber goods, other than boots
and shoes, tires, and inner
tubes
_ _ _ __ _________
Beverages____ ______
__
Cash registers, adding machines,
and calculating machines-----Typewriters and supplies_____
Plated ware____ _ __ _ _ _ _
Smelting and refining, copper,
lead, and zinc _____________
Cotton, small wares__
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets.
Plumbers’ supplies
_____
T in cans and other tinware___
W irework_____ _ __________
Butter------- . -------------- - --
J Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
l
1
207
318
320
395
701
189
358
274
178
133
331
122
194
166
6
7
i
6
0
18
3
1
1
2
1
2
3
3
10.0
10. 0-20. 0
10.0
9. 3-10. 0
10. 0- 20. 0
8.5-20. 0
10. 0
8. 0
10.0
10. 0
10.0
10. 0-25. 0
10.0-18.0
8. 5-20.0
10.0
11. 0
10. 0
10. 0
10.4
10.4
10.0
8. 0
10.0
10. 0
10.0
11.7
10.7
9.9
839
165
44
274
133
3,192
176
18
49
273
34
86
1, 245
226
45
85
54
85
65
45
81
50
56
100
71
23
63
50
1, 046
95
147
13
1
2
5. 0-25. 0
8.4
5. 0-10. 0
9.3
8.4
6.7
1, 405
409
45
79
41
24
100
128
637
338
436
137
292
371
298
595
444
205
113
709
117
2
1
22
11
15
3
2
10
1
5
5
7
4
21
3
6. 0-12. 5
5. 0-10. 0
5.0-13. 0
5.0-20. 0
8. 0-22. 5
4.9-15. 0
10.0-20. 0
5. 0-15. 0
10.0
4.0-10. 7
7. 0-15. 0
5. 0-20. 0
10.0
6.0-20.0
10.0
7.8
8.6
9.7
11.7
10.0
8.7
15.0
10.0
10.0
10.3
10.8
7.3
10.0
10.5
10.0
212
21
3,105
420
1,319
118
101
2,395
14
257
149
198
649
856
532
43
19
86
90
98
30
44
91
40
59
47
77
100
93
100
153
186
80
3
3
1
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
78
815
32
95
68
71
C1)
202
150
251
2
2
3
10. 0-15.0
10.0
10.0
12.9
10.0
10.0
102
84
118
49
92
62
(>)
77
268
2
2
10. 0
10. 0-27.0
10.0
14.2
27
28
93
27
o
(>)
47
16
31
1
1
2
5.0-10. 0
10.0
10.0
8.8
10.0
10.0
25
25
85
81
100
100
(>)
0)
8
100
10
196
12
30
5
20, 739
100
100
3
12
100
33
31
63
12
80
49
. 52
37
29
93
1
1
2
3
1
1
2
221
[923]
12.0
10.0
7. 5-15.0
5. 0-10.0
10.0
6.0
8. 2-10. 0
5. 0-25. 0
12.0
10.0
9.9
10.4
10.0
6.0
8.9
10.0
(')
«
(D
i1)
(>)
(')
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
(>)
1
(')
(*)
(>)
o
«
0)
2
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
2
(*)
1
i
i
i
«
0
(*)
4
1
176
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
Part 2.—Wage Changes Reported by Trade-Unions Since June, 1931
R e c e n t union and other wage changes reported to the bureau are
shown in the following table for 15,785 workers, 5.042 of whom
obtained the 5-day week.
Changes in wages were for the most part reductions, about the
only exceptions being in the printing trades, where increases ranged
from 50 cents to $4.60 per week. Decreases in building trades
ranged from 10 to 37/ cents per hour; light, heat, and power em
ployees, about 7 per cent; railroad workers, 8 to 16%per cent; and
street railway employees, a reduction of 1 to 5 cents per hour.
One textile mill showed an increase of $2 to $3 per week and one a
decrease of $3.60 per week; one coal mine reported an increase of 8
cents per ton for miners and another a decrease of $1.25 per day.
R E C E N T W AGE CHA N GES, B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C CUPATION, A N D LOCALITY JU N E TO
S E P T E M B E R , 1931
Rate of wages
Industry, occupation and locality
Date of
change
Before
change
Hours per week
After
change
Auto workers: Sheet metal workers, Oakland,
P er hour
P er hour
Calif____________________________________ Aug. 11. __
$0. 85
$ 1. 12*6
Building trades:
Carpenters, Baltimore, M d., and vicinity. Aug. I S ....
1. 10
1 1.00
Cement finishers, Wichita, Kans________ July 10
1. .50
I. 25
Electrical workers, Kansas City, M o_____ Sept. 1 ...
1. 50
1.65
Hod carriers, Phoenix, Ariz........................ . . Aug. 8
1.00
. 62*
Painters, decorators, and paperhangers,
Memphis, Tenn______________ i _______ July 27. .
1.00
1. 12*6
Plasterers—
Bloomington, 111., and v icinity____ _ June 1___
1.50
1.50
Los Angeles, C a lif... _____ '
—do~
1. 50
1. 12*2
Milwaukee, W is ._ ____
do
1.37*6-1. 75
1. 37*4-1. 75
Minneapolis, M in n ...
July 1
1.50
1.25
Phoenix, Ariz______ ____
Aug. 8 ___
1.37*6
San Bernardino, Calif., and vicinity.
June 16___
1.50
1. 12*6
Wichita, K ans____________
July 10___
1.50
1.25
Stonecutters, Pittsburgh, Pa
June 16___
1.62*6
1.43M
Furniture: Upholsterers, Chicago, 111
July 25 . . .
• 52*6
.70
Light, heat, power, and water:
Power workers, Portland, Oreg.—
P er day
P er day
Helpers, E. M . and C ____
July 1
$4.60
$4.26
Groundmen_______
do
5. 60
5.18
Journeymen, line and construction
__do
8 00
7.40
Working foremen
-.do
8.50
7.86
Foremen___
do
9.00
8. 33
Journeyman cable splicers..
__do
9.00
8. 33
Cable splicer foremen . . _
__do
10. 00
9. 25
Flume maintenance men
__do
4.60
4.26
Flume foremen. . . . . .
- do
6.78
6. 27
W ipers________ ____
do
5.91
5. 47
Wheel tenders.
. ..
do
6.16
5.70
Operators, Class A ____
__do
6.31-7.42
5.84-6.86
Operators, Class B_
_do
6.16-7. 08
5. 70-6. 55
Operators, Class C. _
do
5. 70-6 72
5. 27-6.22
Operators, Class D .
_ do
6.16-6.36
5. 70-5. 88
.93M
Foremen at B. and O .
Foremen at G. and M .
Mail, money, and auto truck drivers
Derrick men . _
M ultiple arc lamp trimmers or arc
repairmen______________
Series arc lamp trimmers
. .
Tool-room m e n ..______
Storage-battery men ______ _
Line inspector foremen
Line patrol m en____ . . .
Trouble dispatchers. . . ___ _
P e r m o n th
44
40
44
44
40
40
44
40
44
40
40
40
44
40
40
44
40
44
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
P e r m o n th
__do
_ do
--.d o _____
do
$200.00
215.00
138. 00
161.00
$185. 00
198. 83
127. 65
148. 93
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
do
-__do
__do
__do
-__do
__do
-__do_____ *
140.00
165 00
165. 00
190 00
215. 00
164. 00
186.00
129. 50
152. 63
152. 63
175. 75
198. 87
151. 70
172. 05
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
i Emergency rate on new contracts.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Before After
change change
[924]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
177
R E C E N T W AGE C H A N G ES, B Y IN D U S T R Y . O C C U PA T IO N , A N D L O C A LITY, JU N E TO
S E P T E M B E R , 1931—Continued
Hours per week
Rate of wages
Industry, occupation and locality
Light, heat, power, and water—Continued.
Power workers, Portland, Oreg.—Contd.
Storekeepers_______________________
Cable testers______________________
Laboratory m en___________________
Truck and speeder drivers.....................
Pole and heavy commercial truck
drivers___________________________
Watchmen, caretakers.........................
M eterm en __________________________ _
Date of
change
P e r m o n th
July 1. $175.00-$210.00
200. 00
..d o ...
204. 00
...d o __
P e r m o n th
Incandescent sign cleaners and lamp
replacers________________ ________ ...d o ...
Incandescent electric sign repairmen— ...d o ...
Welders___________________________ ...d o ...
do...
Tool repairmen_____________________
do
Electrical machinists-----------------------do...
Inspectors_________________________
do
Storeroom m en_____________________
do..
Signalmen_________________________
Miners, coal:
Aug.
11
Bevier, M o____________________________
Haywood, W. Va______________________ June 30
Printing and publishing:
Bindery workers, N ew York, N . Y . . ........ Sept. 2.
Compositors—
P er day
$5. 60
$5.18
48
6. 00
4. 60
6. 50-8. 00
5. 55
4.26
6. 01-7. 40
48
48
48
5.00
8. 00
8.00
6. 50
7. 40
5.60-7. 00
6.00
8.00
4. 63
7. 40
7. 40
6. 01
6. 85
5.18-6. 48
5. 55
7. 40
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
5.00
2.30
3. 75
2.38
38
48
(*)
(*)
P e r w eek
July 1.
Port Chester, N . Y ., newspaper------Saginaw, M ich., job work---------------- ...d o ...
Machine operators—
Des Moines, Iowa—
Newspaper, day------------------------ Sept.l.
Newspaper, night---------------------- ...d o ...
Saginaw, M ich--------------------- --------- July 1.
Machinists—
Des Moines, Iowa—
Newspaper, day--------------- -------- Sept.l.
Newspaper, night---------------------- ...do.
Railroad workers:
Philadelphia, Pa.—
J u ly !
Clerks____________________________
Executive and general officers----------- ..d o ...
St. Louis, Mo.—
Clerks------------------------------------------- Aug. 1.
Officers___________________________ ...d o ...
Street-railway workers, Odgen, Utah:
48
48
48
$161.88-$194.25
185. 00
188. 70
P er day
.do.
.do.
.do.
.do__
Before After
change change
After
change
Before
change
P er w eek
$50. 00
35.00
$51. 00
39.60
48.00
51. 50
35.00
48. 50
52.00
39. 60
48.00
51.50
48. 50
52. 00
P e r m o n th
s $550. 00
7 550. 00
P e r m o n th
(9
(8)
(9)
(9
(9
(10)
ito a d A
Conductors and motormen, 1-man cars—
First year-------------------------------------Second year----------------------------------Third year-----------------------------------Fourth year and thereafter--------------
P er hour
P er hour
June 1.
..do.
..d o ...
...do.
$0.42
.44%
.47
.52
$0. 37
. 39%
.42
.47
(“)
(“)
(ll)
(“)
(“)
(»)
(»)
(“)
June 1.
...d o _
...d o _
...d o _
...d o _
.45
.47
.50
.52
.40
.42
.44
.47
.49
.37
(»)
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(“)
(“)
(»)
(“)
(")
(“)
(»)
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Road B
Passenger trainmen—
Conductors and motormen—
First year--------------------------------Second year____________________
Third year---------------- --------------Fourth year and thereafter--------Passenger brakem en..............................
Freight trainmen—
Conductors and motormen-------------Freight brakemen_________________
Trolleym en.----------------------------------
...d o _
...d o ...
...d o ...
2 Per tom
3 Hours per day.
4 N ot reported.
3 Clerks’ maximum salary.
3 Reduction of 2 days’ pay per month.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[925]
.54
.57
.39
.42
.37
.40
7 Officers’ minimum salary
*10 per cent reduction.
8 8% per cent reduction.
1810 to 16% per cent reduction,
ii Hours irregular.
178
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
R E C E N T WAGE CHA N GES, B Y IN D U S T R Y , O C C U PA T IO N , A N D LO CALITY .TUNE TO
S E P T E M B E R , 1931—Continued
Rate of wages
Date of
change
Industry, occupation and locality
Road B —
f Hours per week
Before
change
After
change
P er hour
P er hour
$0. 45
.47
.50
.52
.40
$0. 42
. 44
.47
.49
.39
.45
.47
. 50
. 52
.40
(4)
.42
.44
.47
.49
.39
.37 -.54
Before After
change change
Continued
Street-railway workers, Ogden, Utah—Contd.
Work-train service—
Conductors and motormen—
First year_____________________
June 1__
Second year_______ ____________
- -do___
Third year____________________
__do___
Fourth year and thereafter______ --do___
Brakemen_________________________ _-do___
M ilk trains and switch engines—
Conductors and motormen—
First year______________________
-do_____
Second year______ _____ ________
-do_____
Third year____________ ________
-do_____
Fourth year and thereafter______
-do_____
Brakemen_________________________
_do_____
Motor-coach operators________
_do_____
Shopmen—
Auto mechanic_____________________
_do.
Blacksmiths_______________________
-doHelpers________________________
..do.
Carpenters, passenger____________ _
,-do.
Helpers________________________
.do.
Carpenters, freight__________________ -do.
Painters___________________________
-do.
Helpers________________________
-do.
Armature winders__________________
_do.
Helpers________________________
-do.
Machinists____________ ____________
-do.
Helpers________________________
-do_
Car repairers, passenger_____________
.d o .
Helpers________________________
_do.
Car repairs, freight__________________ _do.
Helpers________________________
_do.
Car inspectors, freight_______________ _do.
Pipe fitters_________________________
_do.
Helpers________________________
_do_.
Wiremen___________________________ _do..
Helpers________________________
-do..
Barnmen___________________________ -do..
Helpers_____________________
_do_.
Municipal:
Bessemer, Ala., city employees__________ Aug. 1----Findlay, Ohio, school employees_________
Portland, Oreg., grain handlers, public
docks_______________ ________________
St. Landry Parish, La., school employeesTextiles:
Rug weavers, Chicago, 111_______________
Sheeting workers, Peabody and Salem,
Mass.
Silk weavers, Pawtucket, R. I_
Silk workers, Pawtucket, R. I_
4 N ot reported.
8 10 per cent reduction.
11 Hours irregular.
1210 to 20 per cent reduction.
(4)
45 -.59
34Y tr . 43
47 -.59
32 -.34M
.47
42J^-. 50
32 -.37
45 -. 59
32 -.37
45 -.59
32 -.37
39^-. 44'A
32 -. 37
•44K
.37
.42
45 -.59
32 -.37
45 -.59
32 -.37
39K-. i i V 2
32 -.37
«
P e r year
Sept. 1___ $900-$2, 000
P er hour
Aug. 1----- $0. 70-$0. 75
Sept. 1___
Aug. 17-__
June 1___
«
W
«
P e r w eek
.32 -.55!^
.42 - 5 5 y 2
.32 -.40
.42 - . 5 5 / 2
. 291/ 2- . 32
.44
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.32 -.40
.42 -.551^
. 291/ 2- . 34H
.42 - 551/2
. 291/ 2- . 34H
.37 -.4 1 ^
. 2 9 / - . 341/2
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(»)
32^
3 2 /
P er hour
0. 60-$0. 65
(8)
48
«
(15)
(4)
49
48
48
(4)
49
35
P er w eek
Aug. 1 7 ... $30. 00-$32. 00 $32. 00-$35. 00
Aug. 3___
36. 00
32.40
’50-55
48
16 50-55
48
13 N o change.
1411J4) per cent reduction.
16 8 per cent reduction.
16 50 hours for female and 55 hours for male workers.
W ages of C ivilian Em p loyees of th e U nited S ta te s Naval
E s ta b lis h m e n t
HE present schedule of wages for civilian employees at the various
navy yards and stations, which has been in effect for the past
three years, will be continued into 1932, under an order of Assistant
Secretary Jahncke of the Navy Department. According to a press
release of that department, dated July 10, 1931, Mr. Jahncke stated
T
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that the continuance of the present schedule “is in accordance with
the action of the administration of November, 1929, for the relief
of unemployment and for stabilization of labor conditions throughout
the country without reduction in wages.”
About 31,000 employees will be affected by the order.
Data on wages in the clothing workers’ service and in the laborer,
helper, and mechanical service, in selected localities, taken from the
last printed schedule of wages for civilian employees under the Naval
Establishment, published in 1928 and applying to the year 1929,
were published in the Labor Review of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
for February, 1929 (pp. 104-107).
D ism issal C o m p en satio n
STUDY 1of dismissal compensation has recently been completed
by the industrial relations section of Princeton University. ^The
report covers the plans of 49 companies which have adopted the
principle of payment of compensation to workers who are dismissed
through no fault of their own. While the plans vary in such details
as classes of employees covered, service requirements, or age entitling
dismissed workers to compensation, they are alike in accepting the
principle of responsibility on the part of the employer for the pievention of permanent lay-offs or the alleviation of hardships when such
lay-offs can not be avoided.
The report states that it is difficult to determine the extent to
which reward for service and provision against distress influence the
employer in providing dismissal compensation. The use of years of
service contrasted to age indicates this to a certain extent, but age
parallels service to such an extent that it is not possible definitely to
separate the motives. The plans which have been most carefully
formulated base the dismissal compensation on both age and service
“ showing that, in the minds of the responsible executives, neither of
the two factors can be disregarded, though particular weights can
be assigned to them in the formula used.”
Among the secondary reasons for the establishment of compensa
tion plans is the desire on the part of the company to offset the adverse
effect on the morale of employees, who are alarmed when fellow
workers are dismissed unless some assurance is given that they will
be treated fairly. Without the provision of some safeguard for the
jobs of their employees, adverse criticisni may also extend to the
surrounding community, and industry, it is said, undoubtedly at
taches greater importance both to favorable and unfavorable reactions
on the part of the public toward industrial relations policies since
the beginning of the present depression. Another secondary reason
for the payment of dismissal wages in the larger companies is to make
some amends to dismissed workers, either for the loss of their ex
pectation of assistance in their old age through a formal or informal
pension plan, or of the advantages provided in group insurance cov
erage, sickness and accident benefits, and vacation privileges.
A
1Princeton University.
Industrial Relations Section. Dismissal compensation. Princeton, 1931.
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MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Formal dismissal compensation plans are of comparatively recent
origin. Informal plans which have provided compensation for dis
missed employees on particular occasions have also been used by
many companies. The reaction of the public press to the action of
the United States Rubber Co. in the use of dismissal compensation
m closing certain New England plants was immediate and favorable,
while production standards were improved or maintained by the
affected workers after the announcement of the dismissal program.
In discussing the most acceptable term for compensation at time
of lay-off, it is said in the report that while “ dismissal compensation”
is not perfect it is perhaps the most inclusive and accurate term. The
use of the word “ wage” is regarded as entirely unsatisfactory, both
because most dismissal payments are made in lump sums and because
some companies do not make payments to hourly rated employees
but only to those on salary. Lay-offs may be either temporary or
permanent and dismissal refers more specifically to the latter, so
that as this is the class compensated, and as relative competency is
usually a factor in the selection of persons to be laid off, dismissal
does not seem to be too severe a term. Dismissal compensation is
defined as a payment in addition to wages or salary made to an
employee^ whose employment is permanently terminated by the em
ployer primarily because of circumstances over which the employee
has no control. ”
The principal causes of permanent lay-offs are listed in the report
as follows:
1. T im e studies w hich resu lt in speeding up m achinery or show ing m en how
to w ork faster an d th u s cause red u ctio n in em ployees necessary for th e o p eratio n .
2. N ew p a y m e n t m eth o d s w hich cause a speeding up of operation, displacing
less co m p eten t m en.
6
3. N ew processes, m ethods, tools, or m achines w hich req u ire few er o p erato rs
or w orkers of different skill.
4. M ergers w hich com bine office, sales, or facto ry forces.
5. D ecreased p rod u ctio n due to p erm a n e n t shifts in dem and, cyclical depres
sions, or business com petition.
6. P e rm an en t closing of a n office, d ep a rtm e n t, b ran ch , or facto ry due to
business failure, lack of dem and, or desire to co n cen trate operatio n s in m ore
profitable units.
U P e r s o n a l inefficiency on th e p a r t of th e em ployee who can n o t a d a p t him self
to changing conditions.
As will be seen from the list, the causes of dismissal include techno
logical unemployment and unemployment resulting from financial,
managerial, and market changes, as well as inefficiency on the part
of the worker. One of the most important causes of the develop
ment of dismissal compensation is said to be the closing of plants or
the transfer of processes following a merger, as the less efficient orpoorly located units are often discontinued in the attempt to lower
production, management, or distribution costs. Some companies
nave found the transfer of the less specialized workers to involve
many problems for the worker and the company, while in other cases
it has been possible to provide all employees in the closed plant an
opportunity to work in some other operation of the company.
Although the dismissal compensation has the primary purpose of
preventing hardship, it may have a tendency to curb rapid changes
m technical or production policies which throw employees out of
work, and to insure the adoption of better employment methods and
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planning, especially if the cost of the compensation is assigned directly
to the department making the dismissal.
In providing assistance for the dismissed workers several methods
have been used. Many companies give advance notice so that the
employees who are to be dismissed may begin to look for new jobs,
while other companies have tried to find work for their men with
other firms.
Types of Plans
I n s o m e companies dismissal plans are started informally to help
certain employees, and the payment of the dismissal allowance is
considered a special arrangement and no formal announcement is
made of the plan. In other cases plans are adopted for the closing
of a particular department or factory and the company may after
ward decide either to adopt the plan as a standing policy or to for
mulate a new plan when the need arises. But more and more com
panies are adopting a fixed plan with schedules of the compensation
payments. These schedules range from two weeks’ pay for office
workers alone to carefully worked out plans covering all classes of
employees and based on age, service, type, of position, and reasons
for dismissal.
Schedules show wide differences as to minimum requirements. In
examples given, the minimum service requirements for eligibility for
compensation vary from 6 months to 20 years, in some instances the
service requirement being lowered if the employee has reached a
certain age limit. In some cases hourly rated employees are not
included or the plan may apply only to salaried employees.
In general the dismissal payments follow the earnings of the em
ployees so that the unit of compensation is a day’s wages, a week’s
wages, or a month’s salary. In a few companies, however, the dis
missal payments are figured on the same basis for all employees
regardless of the salary.
The length of service affects most dismissal payments, the amount
of the payment increasing with each unit of service such as a week,
a month, or a year. Some have provided for the payment of a lump
sum to those permanently laid off, regardless of service.
Dismissals are usually compensated only when they occur through
no fault of the worker,'but some firms, in retiring employees because
of inefficiency, pay them part of the regular dismissal_compensation.
Payments may "be made either in lump sums or periodically. The
lump-sum payment is the one most generally used, as it allows a man
more latitude in seeking other employment or gives him an oppor
tunity to pay his debts or to start in a business which requires a small
amount of capital. The payment of a lump sum is usually considered
an advantage, in that connection with the company is cut off at once
by a more generous payment than when the payments are spread
out over a longer period. The reason underlying periodic payments
is to spread the compensation over the period of readjustment and
thus avoid the distress which might result if the whole sum was spent
at once. “As long as periodic payments are made,” the report states,
“ a connection with the company remains which may lead to a forlorn
hope of reemployment and a tendency to remain in the community
rather than to search for work elsewhere. An atmosphere of relief
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MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
rather than of reward surrounds periodic payments. To the company
the payment of a lump sum indicates more sharply the cost of per
sonnel displacement.”
Several examples of the amounts of the dismissal compensation paid
by different companies are given in the report. The United States
Rubber Co., in closing four plants, paid compensation to 509 of
approximately 3,200 workers who were displaced. Lump-sum dis
missal payments were made to all employees in these plants who had
15 or more years of service and were not eligible for pensions and to all
employees 45 years of age or over with 10 or more years of service.
The highest payment in the different plants ranged from $1,600 to
$2,088, and the median payment from $415 to $520. Another large
industrial corporation has fixed the maximum dismissal compensation
at 52 weeks’ pay. The scale of payments is weighted for age and
service so that, for example, a man of 30 who has been employed 10
years would receive 9 weeks’ pay upon dismissal while a man 60 years
of age and with the same period of service would receive 30 weeks’
pay. An oil company gives 2 weeks’ notice to men released because of
lack of work, reorganization, discontinuance of positions, etc., with a
half month’s pay for all except temporary employees who have less
than 2 years of service and a maximum of one-half month’s pay for
each year of service for monthly rated employees with more than 2
years’ service, and for daily rated employees with more than 10 years
of service or more than 5 years’ service if such employees are over 50
years of age.
Periodic instead of lump-sum payments were made by the American
Rolling Mill Co., in closing a plant at Elyria, Ohio, in 1929. All
employees on the pay roll on the date of closing were given half pay
for as many months as they had years of service, but for a maximum
period of six months. The minimum payment was $50 per month.
Employees on hourly and tonnage rates were paid on the basis of their
average earnings during the first six months of 1929, which was
considered to have been a normal operating period.
The Plymouth Cordage Co. revised its various benefit plans in
March, 1931, and included a retirement wage for employees who had
completed 15 years’ service with the company. For such employees
the dismissal compensation is equal to the earnings for the preceding
six months, the total amount not to exceed $1,000. This payment is
made in 26 equal installments unless the company designates some
other method of settlement.
Trends in Dismissal Compensation
B e c a u s e of the rapid development of dismissal compensation it is
difficult, it is stated in the report, to make a precise determination
of present trends. However, certain tendencies appear to be indicated
by the policies of some progressive employers. There is an apparent
increasing emphasis on age in some of the more elaborate plans,
evidenced either by fixing a minimum age at which compensation
may be paid, a different rate for employees over a certain age, or “ a
rapid acceleration involved in the formula or schedule used.” This
emphasis on age is considered reasonable in view of the rapidly increas
ing difficulty of securing reemployment for men over 40 or 45. As
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
183
many companies place an age limit in hiring new workers, such
companies can not afford to disregard the age factor in paying com
pensation for lay-offs. The maintenance of a pension system provid
ing for the payment of pensions to men reaching the age of 65 or 70
will not prevent adverse criticism if only younger men are hired and
men of 45 to 65 are laid off without especial consideration.^ It is
considered reasonable, also, that there should be a definite relationship
between the compensation paid to older men who have not yet reached
the retirement age and the annuities for which they might be eligible
with a few more years of service. Consideration of this relationship is
shown in several plans, and in one instance the intermediate step of a
partial pension is included. The increase of dismissal compensation
rates with age may be expected to have an effect upon employment
policies, as have pension, disability, and group-insurance plans, so
that in companies paying compensation on this basis there may
develop an increasing objection to the hiring of older men. I t is
difficult to see how this effect may be eliminated, however, “ unless
the older men employed are exempted from pension and compensation
coverage. The plight of the older unemployed is a social problem
which can be met but partially by progressive companies. The^first
step toward its solution, however, is the prevention or indemnifica
tion of lay-offs of older men to the fullest extent possible. Only then
can a company be held to be doing its share toward the solution of
the problem.”
While not so marked as the tendency to compensate according to
age, there seems to be some tendency towards the inclusion of shorterservice men in compensation plans, especially those who are of the
older ages. Under present employment and training methods, the
employee of one year’s service is better adapted to his job than was
the case under earlier employment methods. As there has been con
siderable effort expended towards reducing turnover among the
shorter-service men, it would seem to be inconsistent not to consider
them when lay-offs become necessary. While age is the most im
portant factor when the chances of reemployment are considered,
even at the younger ages a year’s service may well entitle an em
ployee to consideration. Many companies provide notice, or wages
in lieu of notice, in the event of dismissal of employees of approxi
mately a year’s service, and there is some tendency to increase the
length of notice or increase the compensation as service extends
beyond a year, instead of waiting for such increases until there is a
relatively long service period. In a comprehensive plan of compensa
tion for dismissal the coverage of lay-offs due to incompetency presents
a difficult problem. If exit interviews are held as a regular practice
it is easy to determine the voluntary quits, and discharges for mis
conduct may be fairly readily checked. New employees who are
incompetent are automatically eliminated by the minimum service
requirements, but a more difficult problem is presented by the
question of incompetency after a year or more of service. Unless
incompetency arising after at least a year’s employment is due to
personal habits, health, or home environment, it is likely to be the
result of the changing and more exacting demands of the job owing
to increased speed, a change in methods, or the use of more compli
cated machinery. When due to these causes, it is believed that the
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reduced relative competency should be considered a joint risk of the
employer and employee. It is a question whether in such cases the
employer should not attempt to correct the loss of efficiency through
transfer or retraining, but if this is impossible the payment of a
minimum dismissal compensation, it is believed, should be considered.
The merging of the dismissal-compensation plan with that of other
protective plans is regarded as logical, especially for the older em
ployees, and reserves maintained against pension and disability
liabilities may be adjusted to cover dismissal allowances for such
employees. Compensation for employees pith shorter service with
the company may be considered a pay-roll item, thus simplifying the
actuarial computation of the reserve necessary to meet these pay
ments. Payments for temporary lay-offs involve separate problems
of administration and finance, however, and, it is considered, should
be sharply separated from the system of compensation for permanent
lay-offs.
In conclusion, it is said, “ to the employee and his dependents,
protection against sudden termination of income because of permanent
lay-off is as important as protection against a stoppage due to disa
bility, death, or old age. To the extent financially expedient, the
employer may well seek to provide a balanced program of protection
against these risks.”
W ages and C ost of Living in Algeria
data on wages and cost of living in Algeria, derived from
official statistics compiled in that country, are published in a
CERTAIN
report of the British Department of Overseas Trade on “ Economic
Conditions in Algeria, 1929-30.” The figures below, taken from this
report, give a comparison of daily wages of male and female workers
in France and Algeria in specified years from 1926 to 1929.
DAILY WAGES OF M A LE A N D FE M A LE W ORKERS IN FR A N C E A N D ALGERIA
Algeria
France
Year
United
States
currency
Francs
Men:
1926___________
1928___________
1929___________
Women:
1928___________
1929___________
Francs
United
States
currency
2o. 93
28. 44
31.35
$0. 87
1.11
1.23
22. 70
26. 75
34. 95
$0. 74
1.05
1.37
16. 06
18. 30
.63
.72
15. 99
23.09
.63
.91
The figures for Algeria for 1928 and 1929 are for the month of
October and represent an increase in the wrages of male workers,
between the two dates, of 30.7 per cent and of female ^workers, of 44.4
per cent.
The relative rise in the cost of living in Algiers between 1914 (taken
as 100) and 1928, 1929, and 1930 (January to September), as calcu
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
185
lated by the Algiers Prefecture, is indicated below in figures taken
from the British report:
1 9 2 8 _______________________________________________________________ 621
1 9 2 9 ________________________________________________________________ 6 5 6
1 9 3 0 , J a n u a r y t o S e p te m b e r ------------------------------------------------------- 620
W ages in B ru ssels, 1931
REPORT from Walter S. Reineck, American consul at Antwerp,
Belgium, gives the average wages, shown in the following table,
which were paid in the principal industries in the region of Brussels
in April, 1931.
A
AVER A G E HOU R LY W AGES PAID IN BRUSSELS D IST R IC T IN A PR IL, 1931
[Conversions into United States currency on basis of franc=2.78 cents]
Average hourly wages
Industry and occupation
Belgian currency
United States
currency
M e t a l in d u s tr ie s
Mechanical construction:
Machine workers—
Tlnrinjr-maehinp. hands
... __________
Stampers
- -- _______ Milling-machine workers
Slotting-machine workers
Planing-machine hands
Bat,he hands
Hand workers—
Metal fitters
__
■Fitters (autos)
_____ -Firemen, boilers
_
__
- _
Firemen'and machinists--------------------------------------Toolmakeis_____________________________________
Laborers_____________________________________________
Foundries:
Hbippers, trimmers
_ __
- __
Founders________________________________________________
Laborers
- __Grinders
__
______
Molders
___
--Core makers
Coach building:
Smiths
___
_ ____
Plate makers
_ Filers
_
(c;pppt_i>on workers
Boiler making, bridges, etc.:
Fitters---------------------------------------------------------------------------Iron and coppersmiths
Cutters, sa wyers
_.
Stampers
....... - ....... - Blacksmiths
_ _
Filers
Shnp laborers
Riveters
_
- _
Wpldprs
----PpppBirnn workers
._ _ _
Wire drawers
~
Wire-fence makers
__
_
-___
M etal enameling and tinplate:
Cutters
Enamelers
stampers
Metal boxes:
Gutters
Embossers fc.ma.le
Welders, female---- r
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___-----------------------------------------------
[933]
C e n ts
F ra n cs
5. 955.006. 205. 755. 755. 95-
6. 95
5. 95
7.10
6. 70
6. 70
7. 10
16.513. 917. 216. 016. 016.5-
19.3
16. 5
19.7
18.6
18. 6
19.7
5. 956. 205. 205.456. 454.30-
6. 70
7.60
5.95
6. 45
7.60
4.55
16. 517.214.515.217. 912.0-
18.6
21.1
16.5
17.9
21. 1
12.6
5.005. 754. 555.005. 955. 95-
5. 75
6.45
4.80
5.95
6. 70
6. 70
13. 916.012.613.916. 516. 5-
16.0
17.9
13. 3
16.5
18.6
18.6
6. 456.204. 806. 45-
7.35
7.35
5. 45
7.90
17.917. 213.317.9-
20.4
20.4
15. 2
22.0
5.005. 754. 804. 805. 004. 804. 305. 006. 455. 755.755.00-
6. 20
6.45
5. 45
5. 45
6. 45
5. 45
4. 55
6.20
7. 60
6. 45
6. 45
5. 45
13.916.013.313.313.913.312.013. 917.916.016.013.9-
17.2
17.9
15.2
15. 2
17.9
15.2
12.6
17.2
21. 1
17.9
17.9
15.2
4.805.204. 805. 704. 30-
5. 70
5.95
5. 70
6. 45
4. 55
13.314. 513.315.812.0-
15.8
16.5
15.8
17.9
12.6
4. 803.103.10-
5.70
3.60
3. 60
13.38.68. 6-
15.8
10.0
10.0
186
MONTHLY LABOR REV IEW
A VERAGE HOU R LY W AGES PAID IN BRUSSELS D IST R IC T IN A PR IL, 1931—Continued
Average hourly wages
Industry and occupation
Belgian currency
M e t a l i n d u s t r i e s — Continued
Stoves, locks, plumbing, electricity:
Safe makers_______________________
Stove makers_____________________
Adjusters (locks)__________________
Assemblers (stoves)________________
Assemblers, helpers_______________
Coil winders, male_______ ________
Coil winders, female_______________
Electrical fitters___________________
Electrical fitters’ helpers___________
Brass industries:
Bronze chasers________...--------------M etal decorators__________________
Copper founders__________________
Brass finishers-----------------------------Copper molders_______________ —
Polishers_________________________
Embossers__ - ____________________
Lathe hands___________ • ________
Laborers, copper foundries-------------Chippers_________________________
Shaping-machine hands____________
F rancs
5 . 45-
4. 804. 805.954. 303. 00-
3. 50-
United States
currency
C e n ts
6. 70
5. 95
6. 20
6. 70
4. 80
'6.80
3. 75
i 6. 80
4. 25
15. 213. 313.316. 512. 08. 39. 7-
18. 6
16. 5
17. 2
18. 6
13. 3
1 18. 9
10. 4
1 18.9
11.8
2 19.5
2 19.5
2 19.5
2 19.5
2 19.5
2 19.5
2 20.0
2 19.5
2 12.8
2 7.00
2 7.00
2 7.00
2 7 .OO
2 7 .OO
2 7 .OO
27.20
2 7 .OO
2 4. 60
2 4 . 60
2 4 . 60
2 1 2 .8
2 12.8
F o o d in d u s tr ie s
5.506. 255. 755. 75-
Cracker makers______________________
Bakers_______________________________
Chocolate makers_____________________
Candy makers________________________
Brewery workers_____________________
Millers_____ _____ ______ _____ _______
5. 50-
6. 00
7. 00
6. 75
6. 75
5. 80
5.80
15. 317.416.016. 015. 3-
16.7
19. 5
18.8
18.8
16.1
16.1
D o lla r s
Cake and pastry makers
3 250.00- 300.00
C lo th in g in d u s tr ie s
36.95-
8.34
C e n ts
3. 50
3. 50
9. 09.0-
41, 300.00-1, 400.00
4 36.14-
3. 253. 25-
Laundry workers, female_______________
Embroiderers, machine_________________
9. 7
9.7
D o lla r s
Shirt cutters.
38.92
C e n ts
8. 004. 75-
Hatmakers (women’s hats)
Cutters (furs)____________
9. 00
5. 50
22. 213. 2-
4 950. 00-1,000. 00
4 26.41-
25. 0
15. 3
D o lla r s
Milliners.
27.80
C e n ts
Milliners, apprentices___
Furriers________________
Tailors, bushelers_______
Tailors, men’s clothing__
Tailors, women’s clothing.
Tailors, female__________
2. 758.005. 506. 506. 005. 50-
3. 50
10. 00
6. 00
7. 00
6. 50
5. 75
7.622. 215.318.116. 715. 3-
9.7
27.8
16. 7
19. 5
18.1
16. 0
C o n s tr u c tio n in d u s tr ie s
Carpenters______________________________
Cement workers_________________________
Masons_________________________________
Masons’ helpers___________ ______ ________
Painters_________________________________
Plumbers_______________________________
Plumbers’ helpers________________________
6.253. 50-
6. 75
6. 50
6. 25
5.00
6.50
6. 50
4. 00
17.49. 7-
18.8
18.1
17.4
13.9
18.1
18.1
11.1
W o o d a n d fu r n itu r e
Cabinetmakers_______ 1______________
Furniture polishers_____________________
Wood sawyers_________________________
Upholsterers, male_____________________
Upholsterers, female______________ _____
Wood turners__________________________
Mortising-machine tenders______________
Wood-pattern makers_________ _________
4.00-
6. 75
6.75
6. 90
6. 75
4. 75
6. 85
6. 45
8.00
18.8
18.8
19.2
18.8
11.1-13. 2
19.0
17.9
22.2
B r u s h in d u s tr y
Brush makers.
6. 75
1 Minimum.
2 Plus 3 per cent of the total monthly salary payable the last Saturday of each month.
3 Per week.
4 Per month.
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WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
187
AVER A G E HOU R LY W AGES PA ID IN BRUSSELS D IS T R IC T IN A PR IL, 1931—Continued
Average hourly wages
Industry and occupation
Belgian currency
United States
currency
F rancs
C e n ts
H id e s a n d s k in s
Glove Fnn.lrp.fS
Shop, cutters
Ski ver* fpmn.lo
Folders (shoes) fernale
Machine stitchers (shoes)
____________________________ _ __ __ __ ________________________
________________________________
___________________________
___________ - __ - _______________
_________________________________
______________- ______________
Cutting-machine operators
3 5.70-5. 84
3 6.67
3 205.00- 210.00
3 240. 00
____________________ _
C e n ts
5. 20-
14.5-15. 0
5.40
B o o k a n d p a p e r in d u s tr ie s
D o lla r s
3 9.13
3 328.25
Stitchers nnrl hinders (hook) ____________- __ _________________
Trimmers (paper)
Counters (paper)
Laborers (paper)
11.8
17. 2-18. 4
14.0
12. 5
18.6
D o lla r s
T obacco
fUgar^t-t-A rnn.kers
C' igOr mn lrp.fs
6.19-
4.25
6. 62
5.05
4.50
6. 68
C e n ts
14.2
6.7
12.0
5.10
2.40
4. 30
_ ___________________________________
_ ___________________________ ______
__________ _______________________ ___
D o lla r s
3 9.32
3 5.30
3 9. 21
3 335.25
3 190.50
3 331. 25
Transfer maker (lithography) __ ______________________________
Feeders
_____________ ______________________________
Printers
_ _______ __________________________________ !
3 Per week.
W ages and H ours of W ork in B ritish C olu m b ia, 1929 and 1930
HE following statistics on wages and hours in British Columbia
are taken from the annual report of the Department of Labor of
that Province for the year ending December 31, 1930.
The average full week’s wages of adult males in British Columbia
in various industries in 1929 and 1930 are presented in Table 1. It
will be noted that the average for all industries is 56 cents less for
1930 than for 1929.
T
T able 1 —A V ERAGE FU LL W E E K ’S W AGES OF A D U L T M ALES IN SP E C IF IE D IN D U S
T R IE S, 1929 A N D 1930
____
Industry group
(~y I rrr» 1» n r i r l t n h a n n n 7T1 c i n n f t i p t n r i n p
T7/-W/-./1 n r o ^ n o i o
m < A n n f? i
T A o tliA i* n n r l i n r o r n n d c
et.nr e
nf
m fm irfflP tlirA o f
_________________________
_ _
_____ ________ __
______________________
iVLiscenaneoub traueo e m u , l u u u a t u c o --------------------------- — —
Street railways, gas, water, power, telephones, etc ----------------------------------------
7 7 4 5 9 ° — 3 1 ------ 13
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[935]
-
-
Increase
or de
crease in
1930 as
compared
with
1929
1929
1930
$27. 70
28.04
26.58
30.18
32.84
30.57
24. 61
26. 56
28. 68
26.74
36. 61
28. 16
29.03
26.54
29. 50
35.24
26. 21
30.50
26.58
40. 81
27.87
30.25
33.09
30. 70
25. 49
$27.40
27.38
25.06
29.03
31. 36
30.34
26.66
27. 79
28.34
25.54
37.85
27.16
28. 31
25. 69
29.96
33. 31
25.88
29.78
25. 85
39.34
27.39
30. 35
30. 05
30. 02
26.03
-$ 0 . 30
- . 66
- 1 . 52
-1 .1 5
-1 .4 8
— . 23
-} -2. 05
+1.23
- .3 4
—1. 20
+1. 24
-1 .0 0
- .7 2
- .8 5
+ . 46
—1. 93
— . 33
- .7 2
+ . 27
— 1.47
— . 48
29.20
28.64
- . 56
+ . 10
—3.04
— . 68
+ . 54
188
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
According to Table 2 there were 7,253 adult male workers in
British Columbia in 1930 being paid wage rates of less than $19 per
week, 1,377 being paid less than $15 per week.1
T able 3 .—N U M B E R O P A D U L T M A L E W O R K E R S E M P L O Y E D A T L O W W A G E R A T E S
1929 A N D 1930
W e e k ly r a t e
’
1929
1930
$8 to $8.99___________
$9 to $9.99__________
$10 to $10.99______________
$11 to $11.99__________
$12 to $12.99______________
$13 t o $13.99_______________
$14 t o $14.99_______
. $15 t o $15.99______________
$16 t o $16.99_______________
$17 to $17.99_________________
$18 to $ 1 8 .9 9 ,................... .............
1
97
27
49
110
494
588
1,267
1, 550
1,409
3
47
57
88
182
184
816
954
1,024
1, 950
1,948
T o t a l . _______
5, 592
7,253
______
The average weekly working hours of the 4,704 British Columbia
firms making returns for 1930 were 48.62 as compared with 48.25
for the preceding year. In Table 3 the average weekly hours of
work are given by industries for both 1929 and 1930:
T a b l e 3 .—A V E R A G E W E E K L Y H O U R S O P W O R K , B Y I N D U S T R I E S , 1929 A N D 1930
In d u s try
1929
B r e w e r ie s _______ _
B u il d e r s ’ m a te r i a ls , e tc
C ig a r a n d to b a c c o m a n u f a c tu r i n g
C o a l m i n in g _______
C o a s t s h i p p i n g ___
C o n t r a c t i n g ____
E x p lo s iv e s , c h e m ic a ls , e tc
P o o d p r o d u c t s , m a n u f a c t u r e of
G a rm e n t m a k in g ..
H o u s e f u r n is h in g s
J e w e lr y , m a n u f a c t u r e of
L a u n d r ie s , c le a n in g a n d d y e in g
L e a t h e r a n d f u r g o o d s , m a n u f a c t u r e o f___
L u m b e r i n d u s tr i e s :
L o g g in g ----------------------------------------------L o g g in g r a i lw a y s ______
M ix e d p l a n t s ___
L u m b e r d e a le r s ______
P l a n i n g m ills _________
S a w m il ls ___
S h in g le m i l l s ____ . . .
M e t a l t r a d e s _______
M e ta l m in in g ..
M is c e lla n e o u s t r a d e s a n d in d u s tr i e s
O il r e f in in g
P a i n t m a n u f a c tu r i n g
P rin tin g a n d p u b lis h in g ..
P u lp a n d p a p e r m a n u f a c tu r in g ..
S h ip b u ild in g ..
S m e l tin g ___
S tr e e t r a i lw a y s , g a s, w a te r , p o w e r , e tc
W o o d m a n u f a c tu r e ( n o t e ls e w h e r e s p e c ifie d )
46. 77
46. 96
44. 40
48. 03
51.05
46. 04
51.01
44.87
45. 53
44.24
46. 62
46 .7 0
48. 61
48.0 0
47. 63
49.1 4
49. 12
47. 86
45.87
46.1 0
45. 09
45.44
48. 35
44 .1 5
44. 61
47.0 3
»
T o t a l ___ __
“ No
47 18
47.0 9
45.0 0
48.03
0K9
6 . CIA
y4
45 16
45. 30
52.23
4 4 HQ
AA:.
Uo
AA n 7
46.0 6
46.6 7
A Q AA
4o. 44
kci uy
no
ou.
48 no
4 7 . oy
KO
4Q yo
OK
tto.
4 7 . 04
CA
4itO.
K OO
OO
K9
90
«
jz . z
y
47 .3 2
54. 61
44 40
45! 52
48. 32
^2 01
46.2 5
45. 92
4 o . OZ
change.
i B a s e d o n r e p o r t s fr o m A rm s m a k in g r e t u r n s .
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1930
[9 3 6 ]
In crea se
or d e
c re a s e in
1930 as
co m p a re d
w i t h 192 9
+ 0 .4 1
+ .1 3
+ . 60
( “)
+ 2 .8 9
( “)
74
+ 1 .2 2
79
- .2 8
- . 17
-.5 6
- .0 3
+ 1 .1 3
+ 1 .4 8
( “)
17
+ . 01
+ 1.22
+ 3.00
+ . 08
+.20
+ 1 .6 4
-1 .1 1
+ .
37
189
W A G E S A N D H O U R S OF LABO R
T rad e-U n io n R ep o rt on H ours and E a rn in g s in th e G erm an
T extile In d u stry
H E agreement and wage section of the German Union of Textile
Workers investigated the actual earnings of male and female
T
workers in the most important branches of the textile industry m
Germany from December, 1929, to May, 1931, and has published its
findings in a recent report 1 from which the following data are taken.
The dates covered by the investigation were not the same for all
branches of the industry, the distribution being as follows: Worsted
spinning in December, 1929 and 1930; wool m January, 1930 and
1931; cotton weaving in February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning
in March, 1930 and 1931; jute in April, 1930 and 1931; and hosiery
in May, 1930 and 1931.
T able 1.—T O T A L N U M B E R O F P E R S O N S E M P L O Y E D A N D N U M B E R C O V E R E D B Y
P e r s o n s e m p lo y e d
B ra n c h of in d u s try
N um
N u m b e r of
b e r of e s t a b
lo c a l
lis h
ity
m e n ts
N u m b e r c o v e re d b y
in v e s t ig a t io n
T o ta l
, M a le s
B o th
sex es
B o th
sex es
M a le s
Fe
m a le s
26, 800
27, 590
11, 376
8, 394
12, 217
7, 284
7,193
4,695
10, 565
2,015
1, 762
2, 229
1,168
2,627
12,218
10, 838
5, 550
2, 549
3,683
4, 572
3, 904
16, 913
21,403
7,565
4,311
5,912
5,740
6, 531
58, 863 100,854
47,477 81,989
25,061
19, 859
43,314
35,131
68, 375
54,990
Fe-.
m a le s
W o r s te d s p i n n i n g ----------------------------------W o o l______ _____________________________
C o t t o n s p i n n i n g ---------------------------------W e a v in g , u n d y e d c o t t o n ----------------------W e a v in g , d y e d c o t t o n ---------------- : --------J u t e --------------------------------------------------------H o s i e r y ___ - ----------------------------------------
26
38
28
18
23
11
18
32
139
30
24
32
12
37
9 ,1 3 0 17, 670
14,061 13, 529
7, 215
4,161
4 ,4 1 7
3, 977
6, 671
5, 546
5,0 6 0
2,224
4, 301
2 ,8 9 2 ;
T o ta l:
D e c e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 -M a y , 1931 —
D e c e m b e r , 1 9 2 9 -M a y , 1930—
162
130
306
221
41,991
34,512
Table 2 shows the average weekly working hours and the average
hourly and weekly earnings in each of the branches of the industry,
by sex.
i D e u ts c h e r T e x til a r b e it e r - V e r b a n d . A b te i lu n g f ü r Tarife u n d L ö h n e
E r h e b u n g e n ü b e r d ie E f le k ti v - V e r d ie n s te in d e r T e x til in d u s tr ie , D e z e m b e r , 1 9 3 0 -M a i, 1931. B e r lin , 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[937]
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
190
T able 2.*—A V E R A G E H O U R S P E R W E E K A N D A V E R A G E H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N
IN G S IN
P R IN C IP A L B R A N C H E S O F T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y IN G E R M A N Y 1
[ C o n v e r s io n s in t o U n i t e d S ta t e s c u r r e n c y o n b a s is o f m a r k = 2 3 .8 c e n ts , p f e n n ig = 0 .2 3 8 c e n t]
W e e k ly e a rn in g s
H o u r l y e a rn in g s
H o u rs o f w o rk
p e r w eek
D e c e m b e r,
1 9 2 9 -M a y ,
19301
D e c e m b e r,
1 9 3 0 -M a y ,
19311
D e c e m b e r,
1 9 2 9 -M a y ,
19301
D ecem b er,
1 9 3 0 -M a y ,
19311
B r a n c h o f i n d u s t r y a n d se x
o f w o rk ers
D e
D e
cem
cem
b er,
b e r,
1929- 1930M ay, M ay,
19301 1 9 3 U
W o r s te d s p in n in g :
M a l e . . ____________________
F e m a le _____________________
W o o l:
M a l e . ____________________
F e m a le ......... ................................
C o t t o n s p in n in g :
M a le _____________ ______
F e m a l e ____________________
W e a v in g , u n d y e d c o t to n :
M a le
. . ____________
_____________
F e m a le
W e a v in g , d y e d c o t to n :
M a le
__________________
F e m a le . ________________
J u te :
M a le . _________________
F e m a l e .. . ________________
H o s ie r y :
M a le ____________________
F e m a le ................................. ........
A v e ra g e :
M a le
___________________
F e m a le ______ _______ ______
G e r U n ite d G e r U n ite d G e r U n ite d G e r U n ite d
S ta te s m a n
S ta te s
S ta te s m a n
S ta te s m a n
m an
cu r
cu r
cu r
cu r
cu r
cu r
c u r
cu r
re n c y re n c y re n c y re n c y re n c y re n c y re n c y re n c y
4 6 .3
4 5 .7
4 6 .4
4 6 .8
P fe n
n ig s
7 6 .4
5 6 .0
C e n ts
1 8 .2
13.3
P fe n
n ig s
77 .3
5 4 .3
C e n ts
18.4
12.9
4 6 .6
4 5 .8
4 2 .0
4 1 .9
8 5 .8
6 4 .2
2 0 .4
1 5 .3
8 5 .9
6 3 .8
2 0 .4
1 5 .2
39.98
29.40
4 4 .0
4 5 .9
3 9 .0
3 9 .2
7 2 .5
6 1 .4
17.3
14 .6
6 7 .0
5 6 .5
15.9
13.4
4 7 .2
4 7 .0
4 0 .5
4 0 .3
7 9 .8
65 .1
1 9 .0
15.5
7 8 .5
6 2 .9
3 9 .8
4 0 .2
3 7 .4
3 9 .0
78 .1
6 0 .2
18 .6
14.3
39 .1
4 0 .5
4 1 .0
4 0 .5
7 7 .0
5 5 .1
4 5 .4
4 4 .9
4 3 .6
4 4 .4
4 4 .9
4 4 .3
4 2 .2
4 2 .7
M arks
M arks
35. 37 $ 8 .4 2 35.87
6 .0 9 25.41
25.59
$8.54
6 .0 5
9. 52
7 .0 0
3 6 .0 8
26.73
8. 59
6. 36
31.9 0
28.18
7 .5 9
6 .7 1
26.13
22.15
6. 22
5. 27
1 8 .7
1 5 .0
37.67
3 0 .6 0
8 .9 7
7 .2 8
31.79
25.35
7.57
6. 03
77 .3
6 1 .0
18.4
14.5
31. 08
24.20
7 .4 0
5 .7 6
28.91
23.79
6 .8 8
5. 66
1 8 .3
13.1
6 8 .4
5 1 .6
16.3
12.3
30.11
22. 32
7 .1 7
5 .3 1
28.04
20 .9 0
6. 67
4 .9 7
111.6
6 4 .0
2 6 .6
15 .2
9 6 .2
5 6 .0
22 .9
13.3
50.67
28. 74
12.06
6 .8 4
41.94
24.86
9 .9 8
5. 92
8 3 .9
6 0 .4
2 0 .0
1 4 .4
8 1 .7
5 7 .9
1 9 .4
13.8
37. 67
26. 76
8 .9 7
6. 37
34.48
24. 72
8. 21
5. 88
1 D a t a fo r w o r s te d s p in n in g r e l a te t o D e c e m b e r , 1929 a n d 1930; w o o l t o J a n u a r y , 1930 a n d 1931; c o tto n
w e a v in g t o F e b r u a r y , 1930 a n d 1931; c o t to n s p in n in g t o M a r c h , 1930 a n d 1931; iu t e t o A p r il, 1930 a n d 1931;
a n d h o s ie r y t o M a y , 1930 a n d 1931.
As the above figures show, the average hourly earnings in all
branches of textile industry has been lowered by 2.6 per cent for male
and by 4.1 per cent for female workers during the period indicated
in the table.
The actual earnings were above agreement wages, as shown in
Table 3:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
191
W AG ES AND H O URS OF LABOR
T a bl e 3 .—P E R C E N T B Y W H IC H A C T U A L E A R N IN G S E X C E E D E D A G R E E M E N T R A T E S
P er cent b y
w h ic h a c t u a l
e a rn in g s e x c e e d
ed ag re e m e n t
ra te s in —
P er cent b y
w h ic h a c t u a l
e a rn in g s e x c e e d
ed ag re e m e n t
ra te s in —
B r a n c h o f i n d u s t r y a n d sex of
w o rk ers
B r a n c h o f i n d u s t r y a n d se x o f
w o rk e rs
D ec.
1929M ay,
19301
W o r s te d s p in n in g :
6 .8
5 .3
9. 7
5. 2
21. 2
11.1
2 0 .4
9 .5
12.3
14.8
7 .9
10.3
1 0 .8
1 2 .2
6 .3
6 .8
13.6
11.3
11.5
7 .3
W o o l:
F Am alp s
_ _______________
C o tt o n s p in n in g :
M alp,s
_______________ W e a v in g , u n d y e d c o t to n :
M a le s
__________ _____ __
F pttiaI ps
__ ________ ________
W e a v in g , d y e d c o t to n :
M a le s
_____________________
F e m a le s
_________ - -----
D ec.
1930M ay,
19311
D ec.
1929M ay,
19301
D ec.
1930M ay,
19311
J u te :
M a l e s - - . -----------------------------F e m a le s ----------------------------------H o s ie r y :
M a l e s -------------------------------- - F e m a le s ----------------------------------A v e ra g e :
M a le s , ,
---------------
2 1 .9
15.5
12 .6
1 3 .7
61 .3
5 1 .3
4 7 .3
3 8 .6
2 2 .9
15.5
19 .6
11. 5
--------
'
1 D a t a fo r w o r s t e d s p in n in g r e l a t e t o D e c e m b e r , 1929 a n d 193(b w o o l to J a n u a r y , 1930 a n d 1931; c o t to n
w e a v i n g t o F e b r u a r y , 1930 a n d 1931; c o t t o n s p in n in g t o M a r c h , 1930 a n d 1931; j u t e to A p r il, 1930 a n d 1931,
a n d h o s ie r y t o M a y , 1930 a n d 1931.
Table 4 shows actual average weekly working hours and hourly
and weekly earnings in each of the principal branches of the industry
by occupation and sex:
T able 4 .—W E E K L Y H O U R S OF LA B O R A N D A C T U A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N
IN G S iN P R IN C IP A L B R A N C H E S O F G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , BY O C CU PA T IO N A N D SE X
Worsted spinning 1
[C o n v e r s io n s i n t o U n i t e d S ta t e s c u r r e n c y o n b a s is o f m a r k = 2 3 .8 c e n ts ; p f e n n ig = 0 .2 3 8 c e n t]
O c c u p a t io n a n d sex
A v er
ag e
w e e k ly
w o rk
in g
h o u rs
M a le s
pnpfpps
W illo w e r s
C a rd te n d e rs
W a sh e rs
_
________________ ___________
_____________________________
_______________________
_____________________________
B o b b in s e t t e r s __________________ _______ ______
A v e r a g e ( in c lu d in g p ie c e r s a n d d o ffe rs
A v e r a g e ( e x c lu d in g p ie c e r s a n d d o ffe rs
a n d b o b b in s e t t e r s ) ............................... ........
42.4
46.2
46.8
47.9
47.1
47.2
47.1
45.8
A v e ra g e h o u r ly
e a rn in g s
A v e ra g e r a t e s
e s ta b lis h e d b y
a g re e m e n t
W e e k ly e a r n
in g s
G e r
m an
c u r
ren cy
U n ite d
S ta t e s
cu r
re n c y
G e r
m an
cu r
ren cy
U n ite d
S ta t e s
cu r
ren cy
G e r
m an
cu r
ren cy
P fe n
n ig s
C en ts
P fe n
n ig s
C en ts
M arks
107.4
75.0
79.8
78.0
71.6
93.4
73.5
40.4
46. 4
46.1
25.6
17.9
19.0
18.6
17.0
22.2
17.5
9.6
77.3
18.4
88 3
21.0
------------- 1
89.1
71.0
76.2
71.5
70.5
86.1
80.5
21.2
16.9
18.1
17.0
16.8
20.5
19.2
U n ite d
S ta te s
cu r
ren cy
45.54
34. 65
37. 35
37. 36
33. 72
44. 08
34. 62
18. 50
$10.84
8. 25
8.89
8.89
8.03
10. 49
8. 24
4.40
35.87
40.71
8.54
9. 69
‘
i D a t a fo r w o r s te d s p in n in g r e l a t e to D e c e m b e r , 1929 a n d 1930; w o o le n to J a n u a r y , 1930 a n d 1931; c o t to n
w e a v in g to F e b r u a r y , 1930 a n d 1931; c o tto n s p in n in g to M a r c h , 1930 a n d 1931; j u t e i n d u s t r y to A p r il, 1930
a n d 1931; a n d h o s ie r y t o M a y , 1930 a n d 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[939]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
192
T able 4 .—W E EK LY HOURS OF LABOR A N D A C TU A L HOU R LY A N D W E EK LY E A R N
ING S IN PR IN C IP A L B R A N C H E S OF G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , BY OCCUPA
T IO N A N D SE X —Continued
Worsted sp in n in g — C o n tin u ed
Occupation and sex
Aver
age
weekly
work
ing
hours
F e m a le s
__________________
Sorters- _________
Willowers__________ _____________ ______
Card feeders_____________ _____
____ Washers_______________________ _________
Dryers_________________ _ __ ________ _
Combers __ . .
__ _ _ _ ____________
Drawing-frame tenders- _____________
Piecers and doffers
__ _
__ ________ _
Bobbin setters _____ __________________
Ring spinners - ______________ ___ ________
Spoolers ________ ___________ _ ________
Twisters________________________________
Peelers_________________________
_ __
Doublers_________________________________
45. 5
46. 2
47. 3
47. 2
46. 2
47.7
46. 3
47.1
45.8
47. 2
45.8
47.1
47.1
46.9
Average (including piecers and doffers
and bobbin setters) - ___
Average (excluding piecers and doffers
and bobbin setters) ________________
Average rates
Average hourly established
by
earnings
agreement
Weekly earn
ings
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
M arks
60. 0
45. 7
46. 9
47.8
45. 7
48. 8
51.5
14. 3
10.9
11. 2
11.4
10.9
11. 6
12.3
54.0
50. 8
52. 7
52.8
50.6
13.0
65.8
45. 7
49. 5
49. 0
45. 7
50. 8
54. 0
59. 2
36.3
56.1
54. 9
56. 5
57. 0
50.7
15. 7
10. 9
11.8
11. 7
10. 9
12.1
12.9
14.1
8. 6
13. 4
13.1
13.4
13. 6
12.1
46.8
54.3
12.9
46.8
54.5
United
States
cur
rency
12.9
12.1
12. 5
12.6
12.0
29. 94
21.11
23. 41
23. 13
21. 11
24. 23
25. 00
27. 88
16. 63
26. 48
25. 14
26. 61
26 85
23.78
$7.13
5. 02
5. 57
5. 50
5. 02
5. 77
5. 95
6. 64
3. 96
6. 30
5. 98
6. 33
6. 39
5.67
25. 41
605
51.8
12.3
25. 51
6.07
$6. 71
7.61
6. 95
7.41
5 OQ
9.05
9. 24
7. 21
7.14
6. 32
6. 35
7.14
Woolen 1
M a le s
Willowers_____ __________ ____ ________
Cleaners_________________________________
Card tenders______________________________
Spinners, automatic loom s..___________ _
Piecers and doffers - ____________________
Warpers___________ _________________ _ _
W eavers________ ____ __________ _ _
Shearers____________ _______________
F u lle r s ..-____________________________
Teaselers---------------___ . ________ — _
Washers..................... ...........................
D yers______ ____________________
___
39.3
38.9
38. 1
34. 2
37. 0
42. 2
43.0
40 7
40.7
38.6
38.1
42.0
71.7
82.2
76. 7
91.0
57.8
90. 1
90.3
74.4
73.9
68.8
70.0
71.4
17.1
19.6
18.3
21. 7
13.8
21.4
21.5
17.7
17 6
16.4
16.7
17.0
66.4
71.2
69.8
71.7
15.8
16.9
16.6
70.1
67.8
73.1
71.3
70.8
66.1
67. 2
68.4
16.1
17.4
17.0
16.9
15.7
16.0
16.3
28.18
31. 98
29. 22
31. 12
21. 39
38.02
38.83
30.28
30.08
26. 56
26. 67
29. 99
Average (including piecers and doffers)Average (excluding piecers and doffers) -
42.0
42.2
85. 9
86.8
20. 4
20.7
72.1
17.2
36. 08
36.36
8 M
8 65
Widowers.............. .................. .................. ..............
Card feeders__________________________
Spinners________________________
___ _
Piecers and doffers—. _____________ _
T w ister s________________________
Spoolers_____________________________ .
W arpers____________ _ ______________ . . .
W eavers___________________ __________ .
Shearers__________________________ . Teaselers__ _____ __________ ___________ .
P ic k e r s___________________ _
__
.
Menders....... ................................................. .
41.6
38.1
38.6
38. 5
42 0
42.5
43.3
40.7
41.9
43.8
42.0
44.4
54.5
58.5
57.9
49. 6
64.0
55.8
68.8
70.8
53.2
53.5
56.5
69.8
13.0
13.9
13.8
11. 8
15.2
13.3
16.4
16.9
12.7
12.7
13.4
16. 6
53.4
53.7
54.1
12.7
12.8
12.9
22.67
22. 29
22. 35
5.40
5.31
5. 32
54.2
52.0
62.8
67.0
49.8
52.2
51.5
62. 7
12.9
12.4
14.9
15.9
11.9
12.4
12. 3
14.9
26. 88
23. 72
29. 79
28.82
22.29
23. 43
23. 73
30. 99 '
6.40
5. 64
7. 09
6. 86
5.31
5. 58
5. 65
7. 38
Average (including piecers and doffers)
Average (excluding piecers and doffers).
41.9
42.1
63.8
64.5
15. 2
15.4
58.9
14.0
26. 73
27.15
6. 36
6. 46
F e m a le s
1 Data for worsted spinning reiate to December, 1929 and 1930; woolen to January, 1930 and 1931; cotton
weaving to February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning to March, 1930 and 1931; jute industry to April, 1930
and 1931; and hosiery to M ay, 1930 and 1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[940]
193
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
4 — W E EK LY HOURS OF LABOR A N D ACTU A L H O U R LY A N D W E EK LY E A R N
INGS IN PR IN C IP A L BR A N C H E S OF G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , B Y OCCUPA
T IO N A N D SE X —Continued
T abtf
Weaving, undyed cotton1
Aver
age
weekly
work
ing
hours
Occupation and sex
M a le s
Average rates
Average hourly established by
earnings
agreement
Weekly earn
ings
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
M arks
United
States
cur
rency
35.18
29. 64
$8. 38
7.05
2 12. 70
34.64
30. 51
31.20
30. 62
30. 02
29. 25
26. 97
30. 82
2 3.02
8. 24
7. 26
7.43
7. 29
7.19
6. 96
6. 42
7. 34
30. 68
7. 30
10.2
17.7
20. 7
2 17. 08
26. 90
30.14
2 4. 07
6. 40
7.17
78.7
18.7
28.02
6. 67
34.0
34.5
43. 5
44.4
40.0
48. 7
46.0
20.0
45. 6
45. 5
42.8
45. 6
33.9
31.0
87.4
83.9
75. 5
69.0
42.9
71.7
86.0
51.4
79.3
72.3
92.9
86.0
109.3
82.6
20.8
20.0
18.0
16.4
10.2
17.1
20. 5
12.2
18.9
17.2
22.1
20.5
26.0
19.7
29. 72
28. 95
32.84
30.64
2 17.16
34. 92
39. 56
2 10. 28
36.16
32.90
39. 76
39.13
37. 05
25. 61
7.07
6. 89
7. 82
7. 29
2 4. 08
8.31
9. 42
2 2. 45
8. 61
7.83
9. 46
9.31
8. 81
6.10
Average. . ------------------------------------
41.1
87.6
20.8
36.00
8. 57
Average, males
40.5
78.5
18.7
31. 79
7. 57
Spool ors
_ __________________________
Twisters
________________________
Warpers ____ _______ ___________________
Twisters-in and winders
__ _____________
Pi oleers
_____________________________
W eavers on—
2 narrow looms
_____________
2 wide looms
_ ____________
3 narrow looms
- __________
3 wide looms
__________________
4 narrow looms
__________
4 wide looms
______________
6 looms..................................... - ......................
41.2
46. 6
39.8
39.4
39.6
57.8
55 7
61.0
59.4
53.4
13.8
13.3
44.5
14.1
12.7
52.2
56. 6
54.6
55.0
49.5
12.4
13.5
13.0
13.1
11.8
23.81
25. 96
24.28
23.40
21.15
5. 67
6.18
5. 78
5. 57
5.03
44.9
27.4
38.9
32.0
40. 1
38.8
40.2
56.5
63.1
63.5
42.7
68.7
67.8
84.0
13.4
15.0
15.1
10.2
16. 4
16.1
20 0
55.3
57.5
59.8
63.8
65.4
73.3
13.2
13.7
14 2
15.2
15.6
17.4
25. 37
17. 29
24. 70
13.66
27. 55
26.31
33. 77
6.04
4.11
5.88
3. 25
6. 56
6. 26
8 03
Average.......... ............ .................................
39.8
65.1
15.7
62.5
14.9
26.31
6. 26
43.7
38.0
80.5
78.0
19. 2
18.6
8 looms___________________ ____ _______
34. 7
43.9
43.4
41.0
40.4
38.0
37. 6
36.1
42.4
36.6
78.9
70.3
76. 1
75. 8
79.0
77.8
74.7
72.7
8.7
18.8
16.7
18.1
18.0
18.8
18. 5
17.8
17.3
Average ------- --------------------------------
40. 8
75.2
17.9
40.0
36.2
34. 6
42.7
74.3
87. 1
35.6
Si zers
__________________________
___________________________
Twi st-nrs
Weavers on—
\vido looms
3 narrow looms
3 wide looms
4 narrow looms
4 widp looms
5 looms
2
__________________
_ _ ________ _____
__ ___________________
____________
______ _ _________
_______
Jacquard weavers on—
2 loom*
______
4 looms--------------- ------------------------------Average____________________________
Weavers on automatic reshuttling looms:
5 looms
- ___ ___
6 looms
________
7 looms
8 looms
9 looms
- __ - - ___
10 loom*
121 ooms
__________
131 ooms
_______
14 looms
____- 15 looms
- ____
1o 1oom*
_ ________
_________
18 looms
20 looms
- ___________
26 lo o m s..-........................................................
_ ----------------------------
74.5
70.7
17. 7
16.8
71.1
67.3
67.9
72.0
74.3
16.9
16.0
16.2
17.1
17.7
70.9
16.9
F e m a le s
1
3 Data for worsted spinning relate to December, 1929 and 1930; woolen to January, 1930 and 1931; cotton
weaving to February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning to March, 1930 and 1931; jute industry to April, 1930
and 1931; and hosiery to May, 1930 and 1931.
2 Apprentices.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 4 1 ]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
194
T able 4 .—W E EK LY HOURS OF LABOR A N D ACTU A L HOU R LY A N D W E EK LY E A R N
INGS IN PR IN C IP A L BR A N C H E S OF G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , BY OCCUPA
T IO N A N D SE X —Continued
Weaving, undyed cotton— C o n tin u ed
Aver
age
weekly
work
ing
hours
Occupation and sex
Average rates
Average hourly established
by
earnings
agreement
Weekly earn
ings
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
M a rks
United
States
cur
rency
F e m a l e s —Continued
Jacquard weavers on—
2 looms
3 looms
39 3
38.9
49.1
68.7
11.7
16 4
319. 30
26.72
3 $4. 59
6. 36
_____________
39.0
63.7
15 2
24.84
5.91
Weavers on automatic reshuttling looms:
4 looms
___________________ _______
6 looms
8 looms
10 looms
12looms - ________ __________________
14 looms _ ________ _ _______________
16 looms
_________________________
20 looms
26 looms_______________________
48.0
40.0
44.3
42.4
43. 1
40.0
43.0
20.0
31.0
67 0
56.1
56.3
71.4
67.8
70.0
84.3
80.0
76.7
15.9
13.4
13.4
17.0
16. 1
16. 7
20.0
19.0
18.3
32.16
22. 44
24. 94
30. 27
29. 22
28.00
36. 25
16.00
23. 78
7.65
5. 34
5.94
7.20
6. 95
6. 66
8.63
3.80
5. 66
Average_____________ ______________
39.0
72.6
17.3
28. 31
6. 74
Average, females__________________ ...
40.3
62.9
15.0
25. 35
6.03
$8.02
8.29
7.57
7.29
A v e r a g e .-_________
Weaving, dyed cotton 1
M a le s
41.9
49. 5
42. 6
38.1
80.4
70.4
74. 7
80.4
19.1
16.8
17. 8
19.1
70. 9
63.0
70.0
70.8
16. 9
15. 0
16. 7
16.9
33.69
34. 85
31.82
30.64
40. 5
44. 0
42. 6
35. 5
31. 9
36. 9
37. 3
45. 4
34. 0
45.0
34.1
.66.1
62. 6
75. 3
76. 2
78.1
81. 0
78. 8
81. 9
101.4
8. 2
15. 7
14. 9
17. 9
18.1
18.6
19. 3
18.8
19. 5
24.0
56.1
65. 1
66. 3
67. 3
74. 7
72. 0
80.2
69.4
13.4
15. 5
15. 8
16. 0
17.8
17.1
19.1
16.5
13. 81
3.29
6.92
29.08
26. 87 • 6.40
6. 36
26.73
24. 31
5. 79
28.82
6. 86
30.21
7.19
8.52
35. 78
27.85
6. 63
45. 63
10.86
____________________
36.0
75.1
17.9
67.7
16.1
27.04
6.44
Jacquard weavers on—
1 loom_____ ___
______________
. . _______ _________
21oom s_........ .
3 looms_____
________ _________
4 loom s. __ ___ . _ _ _____
8 looms________________ _______
35. 0
39. 1
46. 8
44. 0
45. 0
57. 1
81. 6
84. 5
84.1
105.5
13. 6
19. 4
20.1
20.0
25. 0
55. 9
71.8
76.1
72.1
13. 3
17. 1
18.1
17.2
19.99
31. 91
39.55
37. 34
47.48
4.76
7. 59
9. 41
8.89
11.30
40.3
81.3
19.3
71. 7
17. 1
32. 76
7.80
42. 0
40. 9
26. 3
26.3
75. 8
76. 8
98. 5
106. 0
109.0
18. 0
18. 3
23.4
25. 2
25.9
31.84
35.10
40. 29
27.88
28. 67
7.58
8.35
9. 59
6. 64
6.82
____
31. 2
100.8
24.0
31.45
7.49
_______
37.4
77. 3
18.4
28. 91
6.88
Warpers. . . .
_
_________
Beamers___________________________ .
Sizers_____
__
Twisters-in and w inders.______
_________
Weavers on—
1 narrow loom .
___
1 wide loom .
_ _ . . . . . _____ _
2 narrow looms___________ ________
2 wide looms__ ______________ .
3 narrow looms__________________ _____
3 wide looms . . .
. _ .
________
4 narrow lo o m s.. . . . ____ _______ _
4 wide looms________ _______________
6 narrow looms__ ____________________
8 narrow looms____________________
Average _____.
Average ____________
Weavers on automatic reshuttling looms:
5 looms.
________ ___
8 looms_______________ __ __________
12 looms_____ .
. . ______
16 looms __
_ _
______
24 looms_________________ ___________
Average_________________ ___
Average, males______ _.
..
45. 7
1 Data for worsted spinning relate to December, 1929 and 1930; woolen to January, 1930 and 1931; cotton
weaving to February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning to March, 1930 and 1931; jute industry to April, 1930
and 1931; and hosiery to M ay, 1930 and 1931.
3 Includes 8 apprentices.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[942]
195
WAGES AND HOUES OF LABOR
T able 4 —W E EK LY HOURS OF LABOR A N D ACTU A L H O U R LY A N D W E E K L Y E A R N
ING S IN PR IN C IP A L B R A N C H E S OF G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , B Y OCCUPA
T IO N A N D SE X —Continued
Weaving, dyed cotton— C o n tin u ed
Aver
age
weekly
work
ing
hours
Occupation and sex
Average rates
Average hourly established
by
earnings
agreement
F e m a le s
Weekly earn
ings
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
M a rks
United
States
cur
rency
37.4
41. 9
38.1
43. 7
39.4
45.0
54. 3
57.3
60. 5
60.9
54.1
52.6
12.9
13.6
14.4
14.5
12.9
12.5
49.6
49.9
55.6
57. 1
51.4
50.6
11.8
11. 9
13.2
13.6
12.2
12.0
20. 31
24. 01
23.05
26. 61
21.32
23. 67
$4. 83
5. 71
5. 49
6. 33
5. 07
5.63
4 narrow looms_____________________ . .
4 wide looms__________________________
43.1
43.8
39.5
43.5
34. 6
38.8
34.1
55.6
57. 6
60.1
61.7
70 7
75.2
71.0
13.2
13.7
14.3
14.7
16. 8
17.9
16.9
50.6
50.6
56.4
60.3
61.8
72.7
75.4
12.0
12.0
13.4
14.4
14. 7
17.3
17.9
23.96
25. 23
23.74
26.84
24. 26
29.18
24. 21
5.70
6. 00
5. 65
6. 39
5. 77
6.94
5.76
Spoolers__________________________________
Twisters____________ . . ________________
Warpers_____________ ___________________
Twisters-in and winders___________________
Trimmers_______ ________________________
Menders
_________ _____ _
. ________
Weavers on—
1 narrow loom_________________________
1 wide loom . _________________________
2 narrow loom s. ______________________
2 wide looms__________________________
Average____________________________
40.1
65.4
15.6
61. 7
14.7
26.23
6.24
Jacquard weavers, on:
1 lo o m ___
_________________________
2 looms_______________________________
4 looms_______________________________
32.0
34. 7
39. 7
51.4
63.6
71.8
12.2
15.1
17.1
50.6
59.4
66.8
12.0
14.1
15.9
16. 45
22.07
28.50
3. 92
5. 25
6.78
Average____________________________
34. 9
63.4
15. 1
59.3
14. 1
22.13
5. 27
48.0
35. 6
32. 9
33. 5
26.3
74. 9
82.2
60.4
82.2
92.1
17.8
19. 6
14.4
19. 6
21.9
35.95
29.26
19. 87
27.54
24.22
8. 56
6. 96
4. 73
6. 55
5. 76
______
32. 7
81. 7
19.4
26.72
6. 36
_ _ __________
39.0
61.0
14.5
23.79
5.66
$6. 27
6.30
7.99
6.75
3. 86
Weavers on automatic reshuttling looms:
4 looms .
6 looms
8 looms
14 looms
16 looms.
Average
.
. . .
Average, females
_
Cotton s p in n in g 1
M a le s
C o tt o n s h a k e r s . ................ ..............................................
C a r d t e n d e r s .......................................................................
S p in n e r s ................................................................................
P ie c e r s a n d d o ffe rs __________ ______ ___________
B o b b in h a u l e r s .................................................................
A v e r a g e ( in c lu d in g p ie c e r s a n d d o f f e r s
a n d b o b b i n h a u l e r s ) ------------- --------------A v e r a g e ( e x c lu d in g d o ffe rs a n d p ie c e r s
a n d b o b b in h a u l e r s ) ...................................
63.9
63.4
76.8
15.2
15.1
18.3
26.35
26. 47
33. 59
28.35
16.22
26.13
6.22
17.5
68.0
16.2
28.85
6. 87
11.9
11.8
13.6
15.2
9.5
13.8
13.8
12.6
47.9
48.2
51.5
11.4
11.5
12.3
51.8
52.5
49.0
12.3
12.5
11.7
19. 57
17. 09
22.00
22. 75
16. 20
22. 48
22.74
21.96
4. 66
4. 07
5. 24
5.41
3.86
5. 35
5.41
5.23
39.1
39.5
39.1
39.6
37.2
67.4
67.0
85.9
71.6
43.6
16.0
15.9
20.4
17.0
10.4
39. 0
67.0
15.9
39.3
73.4
39.3
34.6
38.6
35.1
40. 4
38.9
39.2
41.6
49.8
49.4
57.0
64. 0
40. 1
57.8
58.0
52.8
F e m a le s
C o t t o n s h a k e r s .................................................................
C a r d te n d e r s ............. .................................. ..................... .
D r a w in g - f r a m e t e n d e r s - .................... ....................... .
P ie c e r s a n d d o ffe rs --------------------- ---------------------B o b b in h a u l e r s ------------ ------------ ----------------------F ly - f r a m e t e n d e r s ----------------------- -------------------R in g - f r a m e s p i n n e r s ........................... ............ ..............
T w i s t e r s ............................................................................... .
1Data for worsted spinning relate to December, 1929 and 1930; woolen to January, 1930 and 1931; cotton
weaving to February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning to March, 1930 and 1931; jute industry to April, 1930
and 1931; and hosiery to M ay, 1930 and 1931.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 4 3 ]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
196
T able 4 . —W E EK LY HOURS OF LABOR A N D ACTU A L HOU R LY A N D W E EK LY E A R N
INGS IN PR IN C IP A L B R A N C H E S OF G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , BY OCCUPA
TION A N D SE X —Continued
Cotton sp in n in g —C o n tin u e d
Occupation and sex
Aver
age
weekly
work
ing
hours
F e m a le s ■
—Continued
Spoolers ______ __ __
R e e le r s .______
Doublers, ______
Average (including piecers and doffers
and bobbin haulers)__ __
_______
Average (excluding piecers and doffers
and bobbin haulers)_________
Average rates
Average hourly established
by
earnings
agreement
Weekly earn
ings
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
M arks
39.2
39.8
42.7
55.0
55.5
54.8
13.1
13.2
13.0
39.2
56.5
13.4
39.2
56.7
41. 7
43.0
46. 6
42. 1
41. 1
33.4
40. 5
50.0
49.4
50.6
11.9
11.8
12. 0
13.5
51.4
12.3
67.6
65.8
70.4
34. 2
73.1
73.6
105. 1
16.1
15. 7
16.8
8.1
17.4
17.5
25.0
60.9
58.9
64. 3
41.2
43. 2
36. 5
36. 5
38.6
37.3
39.5
34.8
61. 7
70.2
92. 6
118. 8
72.1
71.4
67.6
67.9
14.7
16. 7
22. 0
28. 2
17.2
17.0
16. 1
16.2
41. 0
68. 4
16.3
40.9
71.3
40.8
41.2
38.0
4L 1
37.2
37.5
38. 7
39.1
35.8
40.6
38.3
41.9
40.2
42.5
42. 7
40.8
United
States
cur
rency
21. 56
20.89
23.40
$5.13
4. 97
5. 57
22.15
5. 27
22.23
5.29
65. 8
68.0
71.1
28.19
28. 29
32. 81
4 14 40
15. 7 30. 04
16. 2 24. 58
16.9
42.57
$6.71
6.74
7.81
4 3 43
7.15
5.85
10.13
60.1
62.7
14.3
14.9
64.4
65.0
62.6
67. 7
15.3
15.5
14.9
16.1
28.04
6.67
17.0
63.3
15.1
29.16
6.94
45.0
47.3
53.1
55.9
44. 9
54.6
29. 5
55.8
50.6
57. 0
54.9
10. 7
11.3
12.6
13.3
10.7
13.0
70
13.3
12.0
13.6
13.1
41.6
43.8
47.3
47.2
41. 6
46.2
9.9
10.4
11.3
11.2
9.9
11.0
18. 36
19. 49
20.18
22. 98
16. 70
20.48
4. 37
4. 64
4. 80
5 47
3. 97
4. 87
47. 6
46.6
48.0
45.6
11.3
11.1
11.4
10.9
21. 82
18.12
23.14
21.03
5.19
4. 31
5. 51
5. 01
53.4
55.4
54.9
49.0
60.5
12. 7
13.2
13.1
11. 7
14.4
46.1
53.3
46.1
44.0
47. 7
11.0
12. 7
11.0
10.5
11.4
22. 38
22. 27
23. 33
20. 92
24. 68
5. 33
5. 30
5. 55
4. 98
5. 87
20. 90
4. 97
46.7
11.1
21.61
5.14
J u te 1
M a le s
Batchers__________
Carders_____ _____ _
Section h a n d s ___ _
Cutters______
Sizers______ ___
Beamers.
_ _ _ __
- .
Harness m en__ __
... ...
Weavers on—
1 loom . _
2 looms . . .
....
3 loom s. _____
....
....
4 loom s_______ ________
Mangle tenders.. . . . . . .
.....
Calender tenders___________ ____
Finishers . .
Pickers___ : _________ __ . . . .
Average (including cutters, male and
female)____ . . .
Average (excluding cutters, male and
female)____________
14.5
14.0
15.3
25.42
30. 33
33 80
43 30
27.83
26. 53
26. 70
23. 63
6.05
7.22
6. 62
6. 31
6. 35
5. 62
F e m a le s
Carders__________
D raw ers.. . _ . ___ .
Preparers______________
Spinners... _________
Piecers and doffers___
Section hands__ . _ ..
Cutters______ _.
Spoolers_________ _
Twisters_______
Cap spinn ers.. .
Reelers
____
Weavers on—
1 loom . . _
2 looms . . . _____
Knotters
P ic k e r s ____ _
Finishers__________
Average (including cutters, male and
female) . . . . _ _
Average (excluding cutters, male and
fem ale).. .
...
40.5
51. 6
12.3
40. 7
53.1
12.6
' Data for worsted spinning relate to December, 1929 and 1930; woolen to January, 1930 and 1931; cotton
weaving to February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning to March, 1930 and 1931; jute industry to April, 1930
and 1931; and hosiery to M ay, 1930 and 1931.
4 Young workers.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 4 4 ]
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
197
T able 4 .—W EEK LY HOURS OF LABOR A N D A C TU A L H O U R L Y A N D W E E K L Y E A R N
IN G S IN P R IN C IP A L B R A N C H E S OF G E R M A N T E X T IL E IN D U S T R Y , B Y OCCUPA
T IO N A N D SE X —Continued
H osiery 1
Aver
age
weekly
work
ing
hours
Occupation and sex
Average rates
Average hourly established
by
earnings
agreement
M a le s
___________
Spoolers________________
Loopers ____________ . _____________ _
Knitters ____ .
__________________ __
Knitters,leggers, on—
Small machines ----_____
Large machines_________________ ______
Knitters, footers, on—
___ _ ----------Small machines ----Large machines- _ --------------------- __ _
Shapers
------------------- ___ _ --------Pressers__________________ ______ ____ _
Average______ -
_ --------- ___ . . .
Weekly earn
ings
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
United
States
cur
rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
P fe n
n ig s
C e n ts
M arks
54.7
39.8
69.1
13.0
9. 5
16. 4
27. 66
23.71
45.26
$6. 58
5.64
10. 77
United
States
cur
rency
44.9
44.4
43.4
61. 6
53.4
104.3
14.7
12.7
24.8
42.7
44.2
95.4
109.2
22.7
26.0
69.1
69.2
16.4
16.5
40. 74
48. 27
9. 70
11.48
44.4
43. 1
48. 2
46.1
108.4
129. 1
89. 1
74.3
25.8
30.7
21.2
17.7
69. 1
69.2
60. 6
66.2
16.4
16. 5
14. 4
15. 8
48.13
55. 64
42. 95
34. 25
11.45
13. 24
10. 22
8.15
43.6
96. 2
22.9
65.3
15.5
41.94
9. 98
44.0
43.6
47. 7
44 9
44. 1
45. 6
41. 6
41.7
45.1
46 2
42.5
56.0
oO. 9
58.3
51. 5
55. 3
57.1
62.3
49.7
48, 7
45.6
56.4
13.3
14. 5
13.9
12.3
13. 2
13.6
14.8
11.8
11.6
10.9
13.4
40.1
39.9
41.1
40.0
40.0
40.3
44.6
40.9
40.7
40.6
40.9
9.5
10.0
9.8
9.5
9.5
10.0
10.6
9. 7
9.7
9.7
9.7
24. 64
26. 55
27.81
23. 12
24.39
26. 04
25. 92
20. 72
21. 96
21.07
23. 97
5.86
6. 32
6. 02
5 50
5. 80
6. 20
6. 17
4. 93
5. 23
5.01
5. 70
44.4
56.0
13.3
40.4
9.6
24. 86
5. 92
F e m a le s
_
_
_______
Spoolers- _____
Loopers _
___ ---- ------_ __ _
Standard workers
_ _____ ___
_ _ __
___ ___ _ __
__ __ _
Trimmers
Seamers------_
. ----------- _ ____
Toppers_
___ ___ _
__________
Shapers ------ _ __ ----------------- ----------Framers. _________
___ _
_________
Finishers- ____ __ __ __ __ ___ _ ______
Time rate___
_ ___ ________
Piece rate -------------------------------- _
Average ___________ _______________
i Data for worsted spinning relate to December, 1929 and 1930; woolen, to January, 1930 and 1931; cotton
weaving to February, 1930 and 1931; cotton spinning to March, 1930 and 1931; jute industry to April, 1930
and 1931; and hosiery, M ay, 1930 and 1931.
W ages and H ours of L ab or in th e P ap er In d u stry in G erm an y,
1930
HE results of an investigation of wages and hours of labor in
the paper industry in Germany in May, 1930, have been pub
lished by the German Federal Statistical Office.1 The investiga
tion covered 27,499 workers in 327 establishments in 297 localities,
employed in the manufacture of paper, cardboard, cellulose, and wood
pulp, or about one-third of the adult workers engaged in the paper
industry in Germany. About three-fourths of the workers investi
gated were paid on a time-rate basis and about one-fourth on a piecerate basis.
The table following shows the average hourly earnings, excluding
overtime and family allowances, the agreement hourly wages or
wages on piece-rate basis, the average weekly hours, including over
time, and the average gross weekly earnings, including overtime and
family allowances.
T
1 Germany.
F e d e r a l S ta t is tic a l O ffice.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
W i r ts c h a f t u n d S t a t i s t i k , N o . 7 ,1 9 3 1 , p p . 286-289.
[945]
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
198
E A R N IN G S, W AGE R A TE S, A N D HOURS OF W ORK IN T H E G E R M A N P A P E R IN D U S T R Y
IN 1930, BY OCCUPATIONS
[Conversions into United States currency on basis of mark=23.8 cents, pfennig=0.238 cent]
Average gross
Aver
weekly earn
age
ings, including
work overtime and
ing
family allow
hours
ances
per
week,
Ger United
United includ
ing
man
States
States over
cur
cur
cur
time
rency rency
rency
Average hourly
Agreement
earnings, ex
rates on
cluding over hourly
time
or piece
time and fam
work
basis
ily allowances
Occupation
Ger United
man
States
cur
cur
rency rency
Ger
man
cur
rency
T i m e r a te s ( in c lu d in g p r o d u c tio n b o n u s )
P fe n n ig s
Paper-machine operators----------------First paper-machine assistants-..------- --------Beater men, paper___________________ _
Calender men and cutting-machine operators.
Cardboard-machine operators -------------------Takers-off, cardboard--------- ---------- -------Beater men, cardboard---------------- . . . -.. .
Assistant beater m e n --------------- .
Boiler men, cellulose______________________
Machine operators, cellulose-. -------------- . . .
Chopper m en. __ --------------------------------Takers-off, wood pulp. -------------Wood peelers------- ----------------------------- . . .
Assistants, unskilled, male ---------------- -------Female employees............. .....................................
C e n ts
P fe n n ig s
M arks
C e n ts
109. 6
90.0
92. 1
85.9
90. 5
74. 2
81.2
77.2
98.2
93.4
81.8
77.8
82.5
79.2
53.5
26. 1
21.9
21.9
20 7
21.5
17. 7
19.3
18.4
23.4
22 2
19.5
18.5
19 6
18.8
12.7
96.2
83. 2
84. 3
82.6
81.9
71.3
76.5
73.8
86.0
84.5
77.4
76.2
76.4
75.1
50.3
22.9
19.8
20.1
19.7
19.5
17.0
18. 2
17. 6
20.5
20.1
18.4
18.1
18.2
17.9
12.0
47.7
46.9
46.2
45.3
49.0
46.0
47.5
45.6
51. 1
50.7
48.8
47.5
46.4
46.9
43.0
53. 94
43. 57
43.68
40.04
46.18
34. 92
39.87
36. 25
54.00
50.83
41.59
38.14
39. 01
38.34
23.07
$12.84
10. 37
10.40
9. 53
10. 98
8.31
9. 49
8.63
12. 85
12.10
9. 90
9.08
9.28
9.12
5.49
103.7
110.0
93.1
96.6
101.4
106.4
62.7
24.7
26.2
22. 2
23.0
24.1
25.3
14.9
102.0
99.1
91.8
99. 2
90.2
87.5
59.1
24.3
23.6
21.8
23.6
21.5
20.8
14.1
40.7
44.6
45.6
48.6
44. 8
44.8
41.7
42.81
49. 35
42. 44
48.28
46.26
48. 90
26.19
10.19
11.75
10.10
11.49
11.01
11.64
6.23
P ie c e ra te s
First paper-machine assistants______________
Calender men and cutting-machine operators.
Takers-off, cardboard_______ _ --------- . . . _
Machine operators, cellulose -------------Wood p e e l e r s . ----------------- ----------- Assistants, unskilled, male______________ ..
Female employees..................... ............. ...........
E m e rg e n cy T ax on W ages in G erm an y
HE Second Emergency Order for the Safeguarding of the National
Finances and Economic Structure, signed by the Federal President
on June 5, 1931, makes provision for special taxation. Pursuant to
these provisions a special emergency tax is to be levied upon wages
and salaries.1 The tax scale is as follows:
T
M onthly wage or salary
U p to 300 m ark s 2 ($71.40)_______________________________
301 to 400
m ark s
($71.64 to $95.20)_____________
401 to 500
m ark s
($95.44 to $119)_______________
501 to 600
m ark s
($119.24 to $142.80)___________
601 to 700
m ark s
($143.04 to $166.60)___________
701 to 1,000 m ark s ($166.84 to $238)_____________________
1.001 to 1,500 m ark s ($238.38 to $357)____________________
1,501 to 3,000 m ark s ($357.24 to $714)____________________
3.001 m ark s ($714.24) a n d o v e r___________________________
1 Report from United States consulate general, Berlin, week ending June 27, 1931.
2 Conversions into U nited States currency on basis of mark=23.8 cents.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[946]
Per cent
1 .0
1. 5
2. 0
2. 5
3. 0
3. 5
4. 0
4. 5
5. 0
199
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR
W ages in Tokyo in J u n e , 1931
HE wages of Tokyo workers in June, 1931, in various occupations,
are shown in the following table compiled from data in the June,
1931, issue of the Monthly Report on Current Economic Conditions,
published by the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry:
T
D A IL Y W AGES IN TOKYO, JU N E , 1931
[Conversions into United States currency on basis of yen at par*=50 cents]
D aily wage
Occupation
Japanese United
States
currency currency
Yen
Textile industry:
Index
numbers
(June,
930= 100)
0.80
1.01
.90
.92
1.42
2.20
1.30
$0.40
.51
.45
.46
.71
1.10
.65
90.9
70.1
104.7
97.9
97.9
90.2
94.2
_ _____________________
2.99
3. 72
2. 53
2. 82
3.97
1.50
1.86
1.27
1. 41
1.99
81.5
114.1
79.6
100.4
101.3
__________________________
2.40
2. 34
1. 75
1.45
1.20
1.17
.88
.73
94.5
89. 3
101.2
89.5
1.15
.65
1.50
.58
.33
.75
74.2
86.7
98.7
1. 50
1.80
2.93
.75
.90
1.47
100.0
93.7
107. 7
1.89
1.50
2.20
2. 39
1.77
1.68
.95
.75
1. 10
1.20
.89
.84
100.0
100.0
88.0
100.0
100.0
91.3
2.46
2. 22
1. 40
1.23
1.11
.70
100.0
92.9
87.5
2. 28
2. 53
2. 93
2. 80
2.75
2. 34
1.14
1.27
1.47
1.40
1. 38
1.17
85.4
86.3
88.8
86. 7
84.6
87.6
1.80
1.95
2.05
.90
.98
1.03
79.6
95.1
83. 7
3. 32
2.39
1.66
1.20
96.2
92.6
2.31
1.46
.77
1.82
1.16
.73
.39
.91
101.3
84. 4
90.6
102.8
Domestic service:
.94
.88
.47
.44
89.5
86.3
Other industries:
1.45
2.45
.73
1.23
96.7
83. 6
Cotton spinners fom n]p
Silk throwers fomalp
Silk weavers hand fp.malp
_________ _______________
_____________ __ __ _____________
___ ___________________
M etal industry:
Wooden-pattern rnnVpps
Stone, glass, and clay products:
Tile makers (shape)
Chemical industry:
Paper industry:
Food industry:
Wearing apparel industry:
Tailors (for European dj*p.ss)
_________________ ______ ____
Building industry:
Woodworking industry:
Printing industry:
D ay laborers:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[947]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
S u m m a ry for A u gu st, 1931
Employment decreased 0.3 per cent in August, 1931, as compared
with July, 1931, and pay-roll totals decreased 1.1 per cent.
The industrial groups surveyed, the number of establishments
reporting in each group, the number of employees covered, and the
total pay rolls for one week, for both July and August, together with
the per cent of change in August, are shown in the following summary :
SU M M A R Y OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS, JULY A N D A U GUST, 1931
Employment
Industrial group
1. M a n u f a c t u r in g . _
2. C oal m in in g
A nthracite...
Bituminous _
Establishments
July,
1931
August,
1931
15, 509 2, 931, 551 2,907,362
1,508
276,338
280,944
160
1,348
89, 062
187, 276
92,099
188, 845
Pay roll in 1 week
Per
cent of
change
July,
1931
‘ - 0 . 6 $65,161,870 $64,265,552
+ 1 .7
5,330,882
5,449,538
+ 3.4
+ 0.8
2,133, 662
3,197, 220
3. M e ta llife r o u s m in in g
296
4. Q u a r r y in g a n d n o n m e t a lli c
m i n i n g __________
800
5. C ru d e p e tr o le u m p r o d u c in g .
542
6. P u b lic u tilitie s .
12,33S
36, 531
36,246
- 0 .8
820,678
31,177
21,928
689, 393
8,133
3, 699
307, 023
238, 690
30, 236
20,931
683,851
- 3 .0
- 4 .5
-0 .8
662, 746
725,247
20,912,174
- 0 .8
- 0 .8
8, 944, 372
7,499,433
4,468, 369
Telephone and telegraph _ _
Power, light, and water
Electric railroad operation
and maintenance, exclusive of car shops
7. T r a d e __________
Wholesale . . .
Retail____ _____
8. H o te ls _______ .
9. C a n n in g a n d p r e s e r v in g .
10. L a u n d r ie s ..
11. D y e in g a n d c le a n in g .
T o t a l_______
506
304, 716
236, 693
12,321
143, 680
142,442
365,521
- 0 .9
2,371
9, 950
357, 793
67, 539
297,982
67, 331
290, 462
- 2 .1
142,431
58,306
38,623
Ì , 942
141, 705
78,699
37, 981
7,527
-0 .5
+ 3 9 .8
-1 .7
- 5 .2
46,917 4,597,741 4,583,275
-0 .3
2,050
915
449
189
August,
1931
- 0 .3
- 2 .5
9,227, 666
2, 049,171
7,178, 495
2 2,230, 659
744,181
718,181
173,978
Per
cent of
change
i - 1 .0
+ 2 .2
2, 239, 690
3, 209, 848
+ 5.0
+ 0.4
798, 776
- 2 .7
637,466
689,624
20,641, 738
- 3 .8
- 4 .9
- 1 .3
8, 842, 308
7, 405, 708
- 1 .1
- 1 .2
4, 393,722
-1 . 7
8,940,468
- 3 .1
2, 021, 021
6, 919, 447
- 1 .4
- 3 .6
2 2,197, 722
1,050,304
694, 936
161,367
- 1 .7
+ 4 1 .1
- 3 .2
- 7 .2
106, 714,262 105, 527,491
- 1 .1
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
New E ngland___________
M iddle Atlantic_________
East North Central______
West North Central______
South A tlantic___________
East South Central_______
West South Central"______
M ountain_______________
Pacific___________________
A ll d iv is io n s ________
6,791
521, 270
7,709 1, 342, 805
9, 967 1, 240, 537
4,850
292,154
4,759
482,441
2,435
194, 728
3,366
171, 032
1,667
84,100
5, 373
268,674
522, 294
339, 002
221, 029
294, 250
484, 677
192, 382
168, 117
84, 799
276, 725
46,917 4,597,741 4,583,275
+ 0.2 $12, 015,498 $12,050, 720
- 0 .3 32, 985, 774 32,885, 680
- 1.6
29,806,831 29, 055, 627
+ 0.7
6,995, 446
6, 867, 452
+ 0.5
8, 950, 806
8. 904, 617
- 1. 2
3,199, 671
3, 111, 370
- 1 .7
3, 941, 381
3, 780, 804
+ 0.8
2,037, 334
2, 038, 713
+ 3 .0
6, 781, 521
6, 832, 508
- 0 .3
106, 714,262 105,527,491
+ 0.3
- 0 .3
- 2 .5
-
1.8
- 0 .5
-
2.8
- 4 .1
+ 0.1
+ 0.8
-
1.1
r, *00 «
Pe.r Çent of change for the combined 54 manufacturing industries repeated from Ta hie 9
P-2 r6a’d heremam.m g ?ercen tso fch a n Se- including total, are unweighted
P
from Table 2>
Cash payments only; see note 3, p. 220.
jtrs?vnN ewT nV tlapne’ M f *sachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont. M i d d l e
1
Idaho, Montana, N ew Mexico, Nevada; U t T w y o m i n ^ ^ c V T S ^
200
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[948]
201
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
The per cents of change shown for the total figures represent only
the changes in the establishments reporting, as the figures for the
several industrial groups are not weighted according to the relative
importance of each group.
Increased employment and earnings in August were shown in 3
of the 15 industrial groups surveyed. Anthracite mining reported
gains of 3.4 per cent and 5 per cent in the two items, respectively;
bituminous coal mining showed an increase of 0.8 per cent in employ
ment and 0.4 per cent in pay-roll totals; and the seasonal August
activities in the canning and preserving industry were reflected by
gains of 39.8 per cent in number of workers and 41.1 per cent in
employees’ earnings. The remaining 12 industrial groups reported
a falling-off in employment and pay-roll totals over the month
interval. In 7 instances the decreases in employment were less than
1 per cent. The greatest losses in employment and earnings were
shown in the dyeing and cleaning industrial group, which reported a
decline of 5.2 per cent in number of workers coupled with a decrease
of 7.2 per cent in pay-roll totals.
Employment increased in 5 of the 9 geographic divisions and
increased earnings were reported in 3 divisions. The Pacific division
reported the greatest gain in each item, 3 per cent in employment
and 0.8 per cent in earnings. The Mountain and the New England
divisions also reported increases in both number of workers and
amount of earnings, and the West North Central division and the
South Atlantic division reported increased employment coupled
with a falling-off in pay-roll totals. The remaining four divisions
reported decreased employment and earnings, the greatest losses
being shown in the West South Central division which reported a
loss of 1.7 per cent in employment and 4.1 per cent in pay-roll totals.
PE R CAPITA W E EK LY E A R N IN G S IN AUGUST, 1931, A N D COM PARISON W ITH JULY,
1931, A N D A U GUST, 1930
Per capita
weekly^
earnings in
August,
1931
Industrial group
1
2.
3
4
5
6.
7.
8
9
10
11.
Mann far,luring
__________ _______ - _____________________
Coal mining:
_________________ _______
Anthracite
Bituminous
__ _____________________________
Metalliferous mining
_ ___________ _______ Quarrying and nonmatallic, mining
__- _______ —
ffrude petroleum producing
_ ______ __________ _____
Public utilities:
Telephone and telegraph
_ ____ _ ______ _____
Power light find water
________ - ___ _
-- Electric railroads
__________________________
Trade:
Wholesale
- -- ____________ _______
Retail
__________________ - - ___
Hotels (cash payments only) 1
__________ Canning and preserving
____ _____ ________ —
Laundries
______________ __________
Dyeing and cleaning...... ................................. - ....................................
Total
________________
- ----------
1 The additional value of board, room, and tips can not be computed.
2 Data not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 4 9 ]
Per cent of change Au
gust, 1931, compared
with—
July, 1931
August,
1930
$2 2 . 1 0
- 0 .4
- 9 .6
24. 32
17.00
22.04
21 . 08
32. 95
+ 1.5
- 0 .4
- 1 .9
- 0. 8
- 0 .4
-1 4 .8
-1 7 .6
-1 9 .9
-16. 8
- 8 .1
29.02
31. 29
30.85
- 0 .4
- 0 .4
- 0.8
+3. 7
+ 0 .1
- 2 .5
30.02
23. 82
15. 51
13. 35
18.30
21. 44
- 1.1
- 1.1
- 1.2
+ 1.0
- 1 .6
- 2.1
- 3 .7
- 4 .0
- 7 .0
(2)
(2)
23.02
-
(2)
0.8
20.8
202
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
Per capita earnings for August, 1931, given in the preceding tab]e
must not be confused with full-time weekly rates of wages; they are
actual per capita weekly earnings computed by dividing the total
number of employees reported into the total amount of pay roll in the
week reported, and the “ number of employees” includes all persons
who worked any part of the period reported—that is, part-time workers
as well as full-time workers.
Comparisons are made with per capita earnings in July, 1931, and
with August, 1930, where data are available.
For convenient reference the latest data available relating to all
employees, excluding executives and officials, on Class I railroads,
drawn from Interstate Commerce Commission reports, are shown in
the following statement. These reports are for the months of June
and July, instead of for July and August, 1931, consequently the
figures can not be combined with those presented in the summary
table.
E M P L O Y M E N T A N D P A Y -R O L L T O T A L S , CLASS I R A IL R O A D S
Number on pay roll
Industry
Class I railroads_________
June 15,
1931
July 15,
1931
1,301,902
1,294,392
Amount of pay roll in entire
Per
Per
month
cent
cent
of
of
change June, 1931
change
July, 1931
- 0 .6
$175,321, 519
$176,449, 287
+ 0.6
The total number of employees included in this summary is 5,877,667 whose combined earnings in one week amount to aporoximatelv
$145,000,000.
J
!• E m p lo y m e n t
C o m p a ris o n
of
in
Selected M a n u fa ctu rin g
A u gu st, 1931
In d u stries
E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o t a ls in
In d u s tr ie s , J u l y a n d A u g u s t, 1931
in
M a n u f a c tu r in g
MPLOYMENT in manufacturing industries in August, 1931,
decreased 0.6 per cent as compared with July, and pay-roll
totals decreased 1.0 per cent.
These changes are based upon returns from 13,573 identical estab
lishments in 54 of the principal manufacturing industries in the
United States having in August 2,670,956 employees whose combined
earnings in one week were $58,895,079.
The bureau’s weighted index of employment for August, 1931, is
70.0 as compared with 70.4 for July, 1931, 72.2 for June, 1931, and
79.9 for August, 1930; the index of pay-roll totals for August, 1931, is
58.5, as compared with 59.1 for July, 1931, 62.5 for June, 1931 and
73.9 for August, 1930.
.
the 12 groups of manufacturing industries on which the bureau’s
indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, the leather and the
textile groups of industries were the only groups reporting both in
creased employment and earnings. Nine of the 10 industries compos
ing the textile group reported increased employment in August, as
compared with July. The food group of industries showed no change
in employment in August, as compared with July, while earnings in
this group were 1.6 per cent below the level of the previous month.
1 he remaining 9 groups of industries used in computing the bureau’s
E
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[950]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
203
indexes of employment and earnings reported decreased employment
and pay rolls.
, .
1
The greatest decrease in employment over the month interval,
3.5 per cent, was shown in the miscellaneous group of industries,
which includes, among others, the electrical machinery, automobile
tire, and shipbuilding industries. The iron and steel group reported
decreased employment and earnings of 2.8 per cent and 4.9 per cent,
respectively, and the vehicles group reported 2.3 per cent fewer
employees in August, coupled with a drop of 3.5 per cent in pay-io
totals. Employment in the nonferrous metals group was 2.5 per cent
below the level of the previous month, and the chemicals group
reported a loss of 1.9 per cent in number of workers. The remaining
groups—lumber, paper, stone-clay-glass, and tobacco reported
decreases of less than 1 per cent over the month interval.
Increased employment was reported in 24 of the 54 manufacturing
industries on which the bureau’s indexes of employment and pay-loff
totals are based. The most pronounced gains in employment in these
separate industries were largely seasonal and were shown m the fol
lowing industries: Pianos, 18.5 per cent; millinery, 14.1 per cent;
stoves, 9.6 per cent; women’s clothing, 8.1 per cent; fertilizers, 7.1
per cent; and confectionery, 7.0 per cent. The furniture industry
reported a gain of 3.4 per cent and the boot and shoe industry
reported an increase of 2.9 per cent in employment in August, as
compared with July.
.
. ,
.
The outstanding decreases in employment m these 54 industries
from July to August were 11.1 per cent in machine tools, 11 per cent
in agricultural implements, 6.8 per cent in rubber boots and shoes,
and 6.2 per cent in shipbuilding. Foundries and machine shops
reported 3.8 per cent fewer employees; automobiles, 2.6 per cent;
iron and steel, 2.1 per cent; and employment in cotton goods decreased
1.5 per cent.
. .
.
, , ,
An additional group of 31 manufacturing industries surveyed but
not yet included in the bureau’s indexes of employment and pay-roll
totals will be found at the end of Table 1. The combined total of
these 31 industries showed an increase of 0.3 per cent in employment
and 0.6 per cent in earnings. These percentage figures represent
only the changes in the establishments reporting, as the industries
composing this group are not weighted according to the relative
importance in the group.
.
. ,
.
Increases in employment were shown m 12 of the 31 industries
included, the greatest gains having been reported in the following
industries: Beet sugar, 32.3 per cent; wirework, 10.5 per cent; radio,
9.5 per cent; iron and steel forgings, 7.7 per cent; and cash registers
and calculating machines, 5.1 per cent. The greatest faifmg-ott m
employment in this group over the month interval was shown m the
aluminum manufactures industry which reported a decline of 20.2 per
cent. The cottonseed oil, cake, and meal industry reported 14.8
per cent fewer employees, aircraft, 13.6 per cent, and employment
in the turpentine and rosin industry decreased 10.7 per cent m August,
as compared with July.
.
. . .
The West North Central and the South Atlantic geographic divisions
reported small increases in employment in August, and the JNew
England division reported increased earnings; the remaining divisions
7 7 4 5 9 ° — 3 1 ------ 14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 5 1 ]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
204
reported both decreased employment and earnings, the greatest
decreases in both items being shown in the West South Central
States.
T able 1 . - C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
M A N U F A C T U R I N G E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931, BY IN D U S T R IE S
Amount of pay roll
Estab Number on pay roll
(1 week)
lish
Per cent
ments
of
change
report
August,
ing
July, 1931 August,
July, 1931
1931
1931
Industry
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s .
Slaughtering and meat
packing______ _
Confectionery____
____
Icecream ____ ________
Flour....................................
Baking____________ _____
Sugar refining, cane_______
T e x tile s a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts .
Cotton goods__________ __
Hosiery and knit goods. ._
Silk goods_____ ____ _____
Woolen and worsted goods.
Carpets and rugs ______
Dyeing and finishing textiles______ _ ______ . . .
Clothing, men’s . . ____. . .
Shirts and collars.
_____
Clothing, women’s ................
M illinery and lace goods__
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir
p r o d u c t s ___________________
Iron and steel____
Cast-iron p ip e._____ ______
Structural-iron work______
Foundry and machine-shop
products___
. _______
H ardware.. . __________..
Machine tools ___________
Steam fittings and steam
and hot-water heating app a r a tu s ..______________
Stoves___________________
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c t s ___
Lumber, saw m ills.. _____
Lumber, millwork________
_____
Furniture____ _
1, »61
215,508
215,847
$5,380,592
$5,306,183
207
318
326
395
701
14
82,935
29, 325
14, 566
16,035
64,332
8,313
82,126
31,377
14,383
15, 944
63, 690
8,327
-1 .0
+ 7 .0
- 1 .3
- 0 .6
- 1 .0
+ 0 .2
2,139,119
479, 927
470, 642
398,845
1,646,133
251,926
2,068, 427
538, 730
454,032
397, 670
1, 609, 019
238, 305
- 3 .3
+12.3
- 3 .5
- 0 .3
- 2 .3
- 5 .4
2,395
489
358
262
190
30
538,507
182, 944
86,429
44, 713
59, 396
17, 772
546,441
180,269
87, 974
45,863
60,638
18, 095
0)
- 1 .5
+ 1 .8
+ 2 .6
+2.1
+ 1.8
9,110,395
2,468, 316
1,293,838
801, 724
1, 221, 666
373,465
9,411,851
2,411,913
1, 351,105
849,119
1,264, 355
364, 738
0
- 2 .3
+ 4.4
+ 5.9
+ 3.5
- 2 .3
133
331
103
377
122
35,331
58,621
16,327
24, 900
12, 074
35,916
60,436
16,556
26. 922
13, 772
+ 1.7
+3.1
+ 1.4
+8.1
+14.1
797,033
1,164, 229
226, 240
537, 607
226,277
837, 647
1,218,386
225, 070
596, 511
293,007
+5.1
+ 4.7
- 0 .5
+11.0
+29.5
1,922
194
40
166
496,478
209, 253
9,070
23,193
482,763
204,836
8, 846
23, 252
0
- 2 .1
- 2 .5
+ 0.3
10,672,609
4, 366, 994
177, 022
585, 390
10,150,147
4,169,166
160, 714
555,041
(0
- 4 .5
- 9 .2
- 5 .2
1,046
95
147
172, 036
25, 190
19, 730
165,462
24, 244
17,532
- 3 .8
- 3 .8
-1 1 .1
3,787,965
454,880
489,839
3,545,417
453,221
439,751
- 6 .4
- 0 .4
-1 0 .2
106
128
23,646
14,360
22,850
15,741
- 3 .4
+ 9 .6
506,337
304,182
491, 912
334,925
- 2 .8
+10.1
1,411
637
338
436
157,952
85,338
24,020
48,594
157,469
83,442
23, 793
50,234
(')
- 2 .2
- 0 .9
+ 3 .4
2,743,031
1,400,741
483,349
858,941
2,711,143
1, 341, 203
470, 783
899,157
(i)
- 4 .3
- 2 .6
+ 4.7
429
137
292
130,489
23,876
106,613
133,919
24,164
109, 755
0
+ 1 .2
+ 2 .9
2,590, 797
565,120
2,025, 677
2, 691, 991
576, 707
2,115, 284
0)
+ 2.1
+ 4.4
1,708
371
298
595
444
226,512
75,475
22, 641
53, 940
74,456
225, 741
75, 557
22, 919
54,143
73,122
0
+ 0.1
+ 1 .2
+ 4.4
- 1 .8
6,739, 617
1.682, 430
474, 838
1,728, 279
2,854,070
6,702,664
1, 715, 771
481, 710
1,722, 697
2,782, 486
(0
+ 2.0
+ 1.4
- 0 .3
- 2 .5
457
148
205
104
89,119
30,529
6,255
52,335
87,371
29,855
6,698
50,818
0)
- 2 .2
+ 7.1
- 2 .9
2,575,725
803,937
111, 156
1,660, 632
2,482,315
785,134
111, 366
1, 585, 815
(1)
- 2 .3
+ 0 .2
- 4 .5
1,128
113
709
117
189
105,332
19, 011
30, 350
15, 365
40, 606
104, 710
18, 085
29, 107
15, 838
41, 680
(>)
- 4 .9
- 4 .1
+ 3.1
+ 2.6
2,203,589
486, 004
530, 296
272, 933
914, 356
2,176, 366
455, 206
498, 302
299, 656
923, 202
0
- 6 .3
- 6 .0
+ 9 .8
+ 1 .0
234
81
44,219
16,184
43,207
16, 031
0
- 0 .9
898,931
305, 438
879,516
311,136
0
+ 1 .9
153
28, 035
27,176
- 3 .1
593, 493
568,380
-4 .2
L e a th e r a n d its p r o d u c t s ___
Leather_____
Boots and shoes______
P a p er a n d p r in t in g .
..
_____
Paper and p u lp ... _______
Paper boxes___ ______ . . .
Printing, book and job. . . .
Printing, n e w sp a p e rs..___
C h e m ic a ls a n d a llied p r o d u c t s _____________________
Chemicals___
. . . ._
Fertilizers____ _______ _
Petroleum refining____ . . .
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la s s p ro d u c t s ___________________
Cement_____ _
___
Brick, tile, and terra cotta..
Pottery__________________
Glass______ _
. ______
M e ta l p r o d u c ts , o th e r t h a n
ir o n a n d s te e l.
Stamped and enameled ware
Brass, bronze and copper
products______________
See fo o tn o tes a t end o f tal lie.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent
of
change
[952]
•(')
(0
T E E N D
O F
205
E M P L O Y M E N T
'TiBTT- 1 —C OM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N
T IC A L’ M A N U F A C T U R I N G E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JULY A N D A U GUST, 1931, BY
IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
Industry
T o b a c c o p r o d u c t s -----------------
Estab Number on pay roll
lishments
report
August,
July, 1931
ing
1931
27
186
8,160
48,075
V eh icles fo r la n d tr a n s p o r t a
t i o n _________________________
1 ,2 4 5
3 8 1 ,6 8 7
Automobiles_____________
Carriages and wagons-------Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad-------------Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad---------------
5 6 ,1 2 0
5 6 ,2 3 5
213
Chewing and smoking to
bacco and snuff------------Cigars and cigarettes............
I ’er cent
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
change
July, 1931
(0
$ 8 3 3 ,6 0 3
August,
1931
j
’er cent
of
change
$ 8 3 0 ,4 0 4
0
8, 425
47,695
+ 3 .2
- 0 .8
128, 430
705,172
131,398
689,006
+ 2 .3
- 2 .3
3 7 2 ,8 9 9
9 ,6 9 4 ,8 5 3
9 ,2 6 4 ,8 9 3
6,497, 258
14, 748
6,140, 894
14, 256
0)
- 5 .5
- 3 .3
215
45
263, 605
7C6
256, 880
687
(0
- 2 .6
- 2 .7
451
26, 655
26,045
- 2 .3
787, 365
755, 820
- 4 .0
2,395, 482
2,353, 923
- 1 .7
6, 3 7 5 , 4 7 3
6 ,3 9 7 ,6 0 6
196, 480
171, 325
(0
-1 2 .8
534
90, 721
89, 287
- 1 .6
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s t r ie s ------
470
2 5 3 ,8 6 5
2 4 4 ,4 6 9
Agricultural implements—
Electric machinery, appara
tus, and supplies-----------Pianos and organs-----------Rubber boots and shoes----Automobile tires and inner
tubes---------------------------Shipbuilding.........................
80
9,282
8,264
(0
-1 1 .0
202
57
9
146, 557
3, 490
12, 516
141,660
4,135
11,670
- 3 .3
+18.5
- 6 .8
3,771, 378
75, 944
223,182
3, 773, 323
92, 528
225, 991
+0.1
+21.8
+ 1 .3
37
85
49, 513
32, 507
48,251
30,489
- 2 .5
-6 .2
1,271, 854
836,635
1, 223, 382
811,057
- 3 .8
- 3 .1
T o t a l - 5t in d u s t r ie s u se d
in c o m p u t in g in d e x n u m b e r s o f e m p lo y all_____
m e n t a n d p a y roll
1 3 ,5 7 3
2 ,6 9 5 ,9 9 1
2 ,6 7 0 ,9 5 6
0
5 9 ,8 3 5 ,3 1 4
5 8 ,8 9 5 ,0 7 9
I n d u s t r ie s a d d e d s in c e F e b
r u a r y , 1 9 2 9 , fo r w h ic h d a ta
fo r t h e in d e x -b a s e year
( 1 9 2 6 ) a re n o t a v a ila b le ____
1 ,9 3 6
2 3 5 ,6 5 0
2 3 6 ,4 0 6
0
5 ,3 3 6 ,6 5 6
5 ,3 7 0 ,4 7 3
Rayon___________ ______
Radio------- --------------------Aircraft__________________
Jewelry__________ ______ Paint and varnish________
Rubber goods, other than
boots, shoes, tires, and
inner tubes____________
Beet sugar_______________
Beverages_______________
Cash registers, adding ma
chines, and calculating
m a c h in es....__________
Typewriters and supplies..
Butter___________ ____ —
Cotton, small wares---------
18
46
38
150
251
24,162
22, 546
7,080
11,755
15,295
24,466
24,698
6,119
11,964
14,853
+ 1.3
+ 9 .5
-1 3 .6
+ 1 .8
- 2 .9
485,251
510,314
226,632
209,866
410,339
489,537
561,361
195,449
245,026
389, 548
0
+ 0 .9
+10.0
-1 3 .8
+16.8
-5 . 1
77
44
268
18,146
3,004
12,407
17,818
3,974
12,023
- 1 .8
+32.3
- 3 .1
394,833
81,824
390, 691
381,061
98,405
372,646
- 3 .5
+20.3
-4 .6
47
16
93
80
22
57
24
15,225
9,419
2,709
7,098
3,619
3,791
4,503
15,998
9,160
2,648
6,932
3,695
3,653
4,604
+ 5.1
- 2 .7
- 2 .3
- 2 .3
+ 2.1
- 3 .6
+ 2 .2
405,949
191,027
63,695
128, 307
59,813
58, 649
82,931
437, 564
178, 335
61,998
122,104
60,389
57,158
91,963
+ 7 .8
-6 .6
-2 .7
- 4 .8
+ 1 .0
- 2 .5
+10.9
49
6,007
5,941
1 ~ 1’ 1
122,369
121,322
-0 .9
76
17
52
37
6,124
2,477
5,063
6,498
6,040
2,668
4,914
6,567
- 1 .4
+ 7 .7
- 2 .9
+ 1 .1
122,697
51,666
104,387
145,584
114,686
55,403
103,334
145,457
-6 . 5
+ 7 .2
-1 .0
- 0 .1
101
29
21
6,245
2,064
1,297
5,971
2,280
1,158
- 4 .4
+10.5
-1 0 .7
122,271
51, 590
23,450
115, 594
56,626
19,854
-5 .5
+ 9 .8
-1 5 .3
16
30
519
5,875
442
5,800
-1 4 .8
- 1 .3
9,559
153,906
9,725
163,642
+ 1 .7
159
14
6,781
3,212
6, 617
2,563
- 2 .4
-2 0 .2
184,003
78,198
177,878
60, 294
- 3 .3
-2 2 .9
6,307
6,290
- 0 .3
1 1 3 ,1 2 5
1 2 0 ,0 5 1
+ 6 .1
M en’s furnishing goods
Fur-felt hats_________
Bolts, nuts, washers and
rivets____________
Cutlery (not including sil
ver and plated cutlery)
and edge tools-------------Forgings, iron and s te e l....
Plumbers’ supplies_______
Tin cans and other tinware
Tools, not including edge
tools, machine tools, files,
or saws___________
Wirework________...
Turpentine and rosin.
mealSoap.—
other stone products----Aluminum manufactures.
vices,
ments.
See foo tn o tes a t end o f table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
21
[953]
+ 6 .3
206
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 1.—C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N
T IC A L M A N U F A C T U R I N G E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931, BY
IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
Amount of pay roil
Estab Number on pay roll
(1 week)
Per cent
lish
of
ments
change
report
August,
July, 1931
ing
July, 1931 August,
1931
1931
Industry
Percent
of
change
I n d u s t r ie s a d d e d s in c e F e b
r u a r y , 1929 —Continued.
Gas and electric fixtures,
lamps, lanterns, and re
flectors______________ __
Plated ware______________
Smelting and refining, cop
per, lead, and z i n c . _____
A ll in d u s tr ie s
________
40
31
5,903
9,925
5,940
10,027
+ 0.6
+ 1.0
- 1 .9
12
594
583
15,509
2,931,551
2,907,362
(2)
$141, 852
211,101
$146,471
196,946
- 3 .2
+ 7 .2
+ 7.7
10,313
11,110
65,161,870
64,265,552
(2)
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
3
New E ngland.. - _ _________
Middle Atlantic______________
East North C e n tr a l__ _____
West North Central. __ ____
South Atlantic____ ___ - . . .
East South Central____ .
West South Central.. . __
M ountain____
- -- - -.
Pacific___________ __________
A ll d iv is io n s ___________
1,908
3,918
3,634
1,494
1,860
711
816
308
860
370, 460
845, 349
901,211
157, 019
330, 697
108,910
82, 599
28, 542
106, 764
370, 318
841,320
885, 366
157, 482
330,920
107,396
80, 719
28,164
105, 677
15,509
2,931,551
2,967,362
-(* )
- 0 .5
- 1 .8
+ 0 .3
+ 0.1
- 1 .4
- 2 .3
- 1 .3
- 1 .0
$7, 818,040
19, 984, 891
21, 116, 935
3, 702,196
5, 604, 881
1, 748,855
1, 794, 932
729, 457
2, 661,683
$7,874, 286
19, 953, 930
20, 531, 277
3, 620, 416
5, 590,493
1, 701,955
1, 706,156
708, 463
2, 578, 576
+ 0.7
-0 . 2
- 2 .8
- 2 .2
- 0 .3
- 2 .7
- 4 .9
- 2 .9
- 3 .1
(2)
65, 161,870
64,265,552
(2)
1 The per cent of change has not been computed for the reason that the figures in the preceding columns
are unweighted and refer only to the establishments reporting; for the weighted per cent of change, wherein
proper allowance is made for the relative importance of the several industries, so that the figures may
represent all establishments of the country in the industries here represented, see Table 2.
2 The per cent of change has not been computed for the reason that the figures in the preceding columns
are unweighted and refer only to the establishments reporting.
3 See footnote 3, p. 200.
4 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
T able
2 —
PE R C E N T OF CH A N G E, JU LY, 1931, TO A U G U ST, 1931, 12 GROUPS OF M A N U
F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S A N D TO TAL OF 54 IN D U S T R IE S
Computed from the index numbers of each group, which are obtained by weighting the index numbers of
the several industries of the group, by the number of employees, or wages paid in the industries]
Per cent of change
July to August,
1931
Per cent of change
July to August,
1931
Group
Group
Number Amount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
Number Amount
on pay of pay
roll
roll
- 0 .8
- 1 .0
- 4 .9
- 1 .5
+ 3 .8
Stone, clay, and glass products..
Metal products, other than iron
and ste e l.. ________________
Tobacco products.. _________
Vehicles for land transportation.
Miscellaneous industries______
- 2 .5
- 0 .4
- 2 .3
- 3 .5
- 2 .4
-1 . 7
- 3 .5
- 1 .0
- 3 .2
T o t a l: 54 in d u s t r i e s ____
- 0 .6
-1 .0
Food and kindred products___
Textiles and their products____
Iron and steel and their products.
__ _____
Lumber and its products______
Leather and its products.
P)
+ 2 .0
- 1 .6
+ 4 .2
- 2 .8
-0 4
+ 2 .5
Chemicals and allied products..
- 1 .9
1 No change.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[954]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
C o m p a ris o n
207
of E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o t a ls in M a n u f a c tu r in g
In d u s trie s , A u g u s t, 1931, w ith A u g u s t, 1930
E m p l o y m e n t in manufacturing industries in August, 1931, was 12.4
per cent below the level of August, 1930, and pay-roll totals were 20.8
per cent lower. Each of the 12 groups of manufacturing industries
showed decreased employment and pay-roll totals in this year-to-year
comparison, the decrease in earnings in each instance being greater
than the decline in employment.
Two groups—textiles and leather—showed practically no change in
employment in August, 1931, as compared with August, 1930, the
decrease over the year interval being less than 1 per cent.
The iron and steel group and the lumber group of industries showed
the greatest losses in employment over the 12-month period, both
groups reporting declines of over 21 per cent in number of workers,
coupled with decreases in earnings of 37.2 per cent and 33.2 per cent,
respectively.
Five of the 54 industries on which the bureau’s indexes of employ
ment and pay rolls are based had more employees at the end of the
12-month period than at the beginning. The woolen and worsted
goods industry reported an increase of 10.5 per cent in employment
and 11.7 per cent in earnings over the year interval. The carpet and
rug industry reported a gain of 4.2 per cent in number of employees,
cotton goods showed an increase of 2.9 per cent, and employment in
the hosiery and knit goods industry was 2.1 per cent above the level
of the corresponding month of the preceding year. The boot and
shoe industry reported an increase in employment of one-tenth of
1 per cent.
The outstanding decrease in both employment and earnings in this
year-to-year comparison was shown in the agricultural implement
industry, which reported a decline of 54.7 per cent in employment
coupled with a loss of 57.7 per cent in pay-roll totals.
The carriage and wagon, machine tool, and fertilizer industries
reported losses in employment ranging from 32.3 per cent to 36.9 per
cent with more pronounced decreases in employees’ earnings. Three
industries—-foundries and machine shops, brick, and sawmills—re
ported declines of approximately 26 per cent in employment over
the year interval, and 5 additional industries—structural-iron work,
petroleum refining, cement, steam-railroad car building and repairing,
and shipbuilding—showed losses of over 20 per cent in August, 1931,
as compared with August, 1930. The iron and steel industry had
15.6 per cent fewer employees and the automobile industry reported
14.1 per cent fewer employees than the corresponding month of 1930.
Each of the nine geographic divisions reported decreased employ
ment and pay-roll totals over the 12-month interval, the New England
States showing the smallest decrease in employment, 5.7 per cent,
and the West South Central States reporting the greatest falling off
in number of employees, 20.2 per cent.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
208
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
T able 3 .—C OM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN 54 M A N U F A C
T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S , A U G U ST, 1931, W ITH A U G U ST, 1930
[The per cents of change for each of the 12 groups of industries and for the total of all industries are weighted
in the same manner as are the per cents of change in Table 2]
Per cent of change
August, 1931, com
pared with Au
gust, 1930
Per cent of change
August, 1931, com
pared with Au
gust, 1930
Industry
Industry
Number Amount
on pay of pay
roll
roll
Number Amount
on pay
of pay
roll
roll
Food a n d k in dred p r o d u c ts .
Slaughtering and meat
packing
______ _ _ _
Confectionery____________
Ice c r e a m ,._______ _____
Flour
Baking
Sugar refining, cane
- 5 .4
-1 1 .1
-6 . 5
- 1 .9
- 7 .8
-7 . 7
- 4 .7
- 9 .0
-1 0 . 6
-1 0 .8
-1 2 .7
-1 4 . 5
-1 0 . 5
-1 3 . 4
T extiles a n d tlieir p r o d u cts..
Cotton goods_____________
Hosiery and knit goods __
Silk goods
Woolen and worsted goods .
Carpets and rugs
Dyeing and finishing textiles________________ . .
Clothing, men’s . . . ______
Shirts and collars _
Clothing, women’s . . . . . .
M illinery and lace goods__
- 0 .3
+2.9
+2.1
-10. 3
+10.5
+ 4 .2
- 3 .6
+ 4 .6
-5 . 2
-1 8 . 3
+11.7
+ 7 .9
- 2 .9
- 1 .3
-2 . 6
- 5 .8
- 3 .5
+ 1 .3
- 9 .6
-8 . 4
-1 5 .8
- 6 .2
-2 1 .4
—15. 6
-1 7 .5
—21. 0
-3 7 .2
-36. 3
-3 3 .0
-3 5 . 9
-2 6 .4
-1 5 .2
-3 4 .3
-4 0 .4
-2 6 . 1
-3 6 .8
-1 7 .1
-17. 8
-3 0 .7
-27. 7
L u m b er a n d its p ro d u cts___
Lumber, sawm ills________
Lumber, m illw ork _______
Furniture________________
-2 1 .9
-2 6 .1
-14. 7
-1 5 .5
-3 3 .2
-3 8 .3
-2 6 . 5
-2 7 .3
L eather a n d its p r o d u cts___
Leather..
_
______
Boots and shoes__________
- 0 .9
-5 . 3
+0.1
- 5 .7
- 9 .3
- 4 .5
Paper a n d p rin tin g
- 7 .9
- 8 .9
Iron a n d steel a n d tlieir
p ro d u cts______ . . .
....
Iron and steel
Cast-iron p ip e.. _________
Structural-iron work
Foundry and machine-shop
products_______________
Hardware________________
Machine tools ___
Steam fittings and steam
And hot-water heating apparatus. _______________
Stoves
Paper boxes ___________ _
Pap er a n d p r in tin g —Contd.
Printing, book and job . .
Printing, newspapers
. .
-1 0 .1
- 3 .7
-1 5 .4
- 6 .2
C hem icals an d allied produ c ts. . . .
Chemicals. __ ___ _ ___
____
Fertilizers ______
Petroleum refining..
-1 8 .5
-1 0 .6
-3 6 .9
-2 2 .9
-2 1 .7
-1 2 .8
-4 2 .3
-2 7 .0
S to n e, clay, a n d glass produ c ts___. . .
...
Cement
. . . .
. .
Brick, tile, and terra cotta..
. . _______
Pottery___
Glass.. . . ---------------------
-1 6 .0
-2 3 .9
-2 6 .2
- 7 .6
- 2 .7
-2 7 .2
-3 2 .1
-4 3 .7
-1 7 .4
- 8 .6
M etal p rod u cts, oth er th a n
iron a n d steel . . . .
Stamped and enameled
ware____ _ __ ___ __
Brass, bronze, and copper
--------products---- -T obacco p rod u cts ~ .
Chewing and smoking tobacco and s n u ff.................
Cigars and cigarettes..
V ehicles for la n d tran sp orta tio n
. ...
Automobiles____ . . -----Carriages and w agon s____
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad___
___
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad__________
-1 3 .4
-2 3 .1
—6. 5
-1 5 .5
-1 6 .5
-2 6 .1
- 5 .9
-1 4 .2
- 4 .7
- 6 .1
-1 0 .0
-1 4 .7
-1 8 .3
-14. 1
-3 2 .3
-2 2 .3
-1 3 .3
-3 8 .2
-1 5 .7
-2 0 .6
-22. 5
-3 0 .0
-1 9 .8
-5 4 .7
-2 5 .9
-5 7 .7
-1 2 .8
M iscellan eou s in d u s tr ie s ___
Agricultural implements___
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and supplies____
Pianos and organs________
Rubber boots and shoes----Automobile tires____ . . . .
Sh ipbu ildin g__ . ______
-1 9 .0
-1 9 .4
-1 6 .4
-1 0 .3
-2 1 .8
-2 4 .4
-3 4 .7
-1 9 .8
-1 9 .9
-29. 1
-1 4 .0
T o ta l: 54 in d u str ies___
-1 2 .4
-2 0 .8
-2 0 .2
-1 6 .5
-1 6 .0
-2 7 .8
-1 1 .7
-2 7 .4
-1 2 .4
-2 0 .8
R e c a p it u l a t io n b y G e o g r a p h ic D iv is io n s
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION— C O n td .
GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION
N ew England__ ____________
M iddle A t l a n t i c . . . ___. . .
East North Central__ ________
West North Central___ _ . . .
South A t l a n t i c . . ________________
East South Central___________
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-5 . 7
-1 3 .9
-15. 4
-1 2 .0
-6 . 3
-1 1 .9
-1 2 .0
—23. 5
-2 2 .3
-1 8 .1
-1 3 .6
-2 1 .3
West South Central__ . . ____
M o u n t a i n ____ ____________________
Pacific...
[956]
_________________
All divisions___
.
209
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
P e r C a p ita E a rn in g s in M a n u f a c tu r i n g In d u s trie s
A c t u a l per capita weekly earnings in August, 1931, for each of the
85 manufacturing industries surveyed by the Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, together with per cents of change in August, 1931, as compared
with July, 1931, and August, 1930, are shown in Table 4.
Per capita earnings in August, 1931, for the combined 54 chief manu
facturing industries of the United States, upon which the bureau s
indexes of employment and pay rolls are based, were 0.4 per cent
less than in July, 1931, and 9.6 per cent less than August, 1930.
The actual average per capita weekly earnings in August, 1931, lor
the 54 manufacturing industries were $22.05; the average per capita
earnings for all of the 85 manufacturing industries surveyed were
$22 10 .
Per capita earnings given in Table 4 must not be confused with
full-time weekly rates of wages. They are actual per capita weekly
earnings, computed by dividing the total number of employees lepoited
into the total amount of pay roll in the week reported, and the
“ number of employees” includes all persons who worked any part
of the period reported—that is, part-time workers as well as full-time
workers.
t
, rtf 4 — P F R c a p i t a w e e k l y e a r n i n g s i n
table
m a n u f a c t u r in g
in d u s t r ie s
in
4 . a P E R ^ C y C O M P A R I S O N W ITH JULY, 1931, A N D A U G U ST, 1930
Industry
Food and kindred products:
Slaughtering and 7mpot pnuking
_______ — --------
Per cent of change AÇ
gust, 1931, compared
with—
Per capita
weekly
earnings
in August,
1931
July, 1931
$25.19
17.17
31.57
24. 94
25. 26
28. 62
- 2 .3
+ 4.9
- 2 .3
+ 0.3
—1.3
—5. 6
- 4 .3
—9. 0
- 5 .5
- 7 .4
—6 . 2
—4. 8
August,
1930
Textiles and their products:
13. 38
15. 36
18. 51
20. 85
20. 16
23. 32
20.16
13.59
22.16
21.28
- 0.8
+ 2.6
+ 3.2
+ 1 .4
- 4.0
+ 3.4
+ 1 .5
—1. 9
+2. 6
+13. b
+ 1.7
- 7.2
—2. 6
+ 1 .0
+ 3.5
+ 4 .1
-8 . 7
—6. 3
—11.1
- 2 .6
Iron and steel and their products:
20. 35
18.17
23. 87
21.43
18.69
25.08
21. 53
21.28
- 2.5
- 6.9
—5. 4
- 2.7
+ 3.5
+ 1 .0
+0. 6
+ 0 .5
-2 4 .7
—18. 9
—18. 3
-1 9 .2
—13. 2
—3. 8
—16. 5
-1 2 .0
Lumber and its products:
16. 07
19. 79
17.90
- 2 .1
—1. 6
+ 1.2
-1 6 .4
—13.9
—14. 3
Leather and its products:
23.87
19.27
+ 0.8
+ 1.4
Paper and printing:
22. 71
21.02
31. 82
38.05
+
+
-
Foundry and machine-shop products-----------------------------------Steam fittings and steam and hot-water heating apparatus-------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[957]
1.9
0.2
0.7
0.7
-
4.3
10.8
—6.1
—2. 6
210
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
T able 4 .—PE R CA PITA W E E K 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 , 1931, A N D C OM PARISON W ITH JULY, 1931, A N D A U G U ST, 1930—Continued
Industry
Chemicals and allied products:
Chemicals _______________________________________________
Fertilizers
_________
________ ________ _____ _
Petroleum rpfining
_ _______________ __________
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Cement
__ __________________________________
Brink tilp; and terra cotta __________ __________________ Pottery
_____________________________________________
Glass
_ __________ _____________________ -M etal products, other than iron and steel:
Stamped and enameled ware
___ ______________ __ Brass, bronze, and copper products __________ ___________
Tobacco products:
Chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff
_________ ___ _
Cigars and cigarettes
__________ ___ __ ____________
Vehicles for land transportation:
Automobiles
_____________________________________
Carriages and wagons
_______________ _____ _________
Car building and repairing, electric-railroad._________ _____
Car building and repairing, steam-railroad
___________
Miscellaneous industries:
Agricultural implements
________________________ ____
Fleotrieal machinery, apparatus, and supplies
__________ Pianos and organs
___________ - --- ---------- ---------Rubber boots and shoes
__________ _______ _________
Automobile tires and inner tubes
_ __ _______________
___________ ___ ____________
Shipbuilding
Industries added since February, 1929, for which data for the index
base year (1926) are not available:
Rayon
_ _____________________________ ____________
Radio
_ ____________________________________________
Aircraft
_________ ______ __________________ ____
Jewelry
_______ _________________ _____________
______________ _______ ________
Paint and varnish
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes, tires, and inner tubes. __
Beet sugar
_____________________________________________
________ __________________________________
Beverages
Cash registers, adding machines, and calculating machines—
Typewriters and supplies_________________________ ____ ___
Butter
__ _____________________________________ ____
Cotton, small wares
____________________________
Corsets and allied garments
__
______________ __ M en’s furnishing goods _ __ _____________________________
Fur-felt hats
________ _________________________ ______ _
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets
_______________ ______ ___
Cutlery (not including silver and plated cutlery) and edge tools.
Forgings, iron and s t e e l.____________________________ -- Plumbers’ supplies
__________________ _______
Tin cans a/nd other tinware
___ _ _____ _____ _______
Tools, not including edge tools, machine tools, files, or saws---- -W irework _ _
_ ________________________________________
Turpentine and rosin
______________ _ ______________ _
Cottonseed oil, cake, and meal
.
Soap
_________________________________ _____
Marble granite slate, and other stone products______ _____
Aluminum manufactures
_ _ __________________ _____
Clocks time-recording devices, a.nd clock movements
___
Gas and electric fixtures lamps, lanterns, and reflectors___
Plated ware
________________________ ______ ________
Pm el ting aud refining copper, lead, and zinc _ _ ___________
Per cent of change Au
gust, 1931, compared
with—
Per capita
weekly
earnings
in August,
1931
July, 1931
$26. 30
16.63
31. 21
- 0 .1
- 6 .4
- 1 .6
- 2 .3
- 8 .7
-5 .5
25.17
17.12
18.92
22.15
- 1 .5
- 2 .0
+ 6 .5
- 1 .6
-1 1 .2
-2 3 .7
-1 0 .4
- 5 .8
19. 41
20.91
+ 2 .9
- 1 .2
- 9 .7
-1 1 .9
15.60
14. 45
- 0 .9
- 1 .5
- 5 .3
-9 .2
23.91
20.75
29.02
26. 36
- 3 .0
- 0 .7
- 1 .8
- 0 .2
+ 0.8
- 8 .6
- 5 .9
- 9 .7
20. 73
26. 64
22.38
19. 37
25. 35
26.60
- 2 .1
+ 3 .5
+ 2.8
+ 8.6
- 1 .3
+ 3.3
- 6 .6
- 6 .6
-1 9 . 2
-4 . 1
-1 0 .6
- 9 .1
20.01
22.73
31.94
20.48
26.23
21.39
24.76
30. 99
27. 35
19. 47
23.41
17. 61
16. 34
15. 65
19. 97
20.42
18.99
20. 77
21.03
22.15
19. 36
24.84
17.15
22.00
28. 21
26.88
23. 52
19.09
23.88
21.05
19. 06
- 0 .3
+ 0.4
- 0 .2
+14.7
- 2 .2
- 1 .7
- 9 .1
- 1 .6
+ 2.6
- 4 .0
- 0 .4
- 2 .6
- 1 .1
+ 1.2
+ 8 .4
+ 0.2
- 5 .2
- 0 .4
+ 2 .0
- 1 .1
- 1 .1
-0 .6
- 5 .1
+19.4
+ 7.7
- 1 .0
- 3 .4
+ 6.4
- 3 .7
+ 6.1
+ 9.8
+ 3.0
-1 5 .8
-2 . 2
- 6 .4
- 4 .8
- 6 .7
August,
1930
0
0
0)
0)
0
«
0
0
0
(0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1 Data not available.
In d e x N u m b e rs o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o t a ls in M a n u f a c tu r in g
I n d u s trie s
T a b l e 5 shows the general index of employment in manufacturing
industries and the general index of pay-roll totals, by months, from
January, 1923, to August, 1931, together with the average indexes
of each of the years 1923 to 1930, inclusive.
[958]
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
211
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
Index numbers showing relatively the^ variation in number of
persons employed and in pay-roll totals in each of the 54 manu
facturing industries upon which the bureau’s general indexes are
based and in each of the "12 groups of industries, and also general
indexes for the combined 12 groups of industries, are shown in Table
6 for August, 1930, and June, July, and August, 1931.
In computing the general indexes and the group indexes the index
numbers of separate industries are weighted according to the relative
importance of the industries.
T
5 . —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 PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN M A N
U F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S , JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO A U G U ST , 1931
able
[Monthly average, 1926=100]
Pay-roll totals
Employment
Month
1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931
..
Jan_- 106. 6 103.8 97.9 1 0 0 . 4
Feb __ 108.4 105.1 99.7 101.5
Mar___ 1 1 0 .8 104.9 100.4 1 0 2 . 0
Apr, n o . 8 1 0 2 . 8 1 0 0 . 2 1 0 1 . 0
M a y .. 1 1 0 . 8 98.8 98.9 99.8
Ju n e.. 110.9 95.6 98.0 99.3
Ju ly... 109.2 92.3 97.2 97.7
A u g ... 108.5 92.5 97.8 98.7
Sept-_ 108.6 94.3 98.9 100.3
O c t... 108.1 95.6 1 0 0 .4 100.7
N o v ... 107.4 95.5 100.7 99.5
D e c ... 105.4 97.3 1 0 0 .8 98.9
\
97.3
99.0
99.5
98.6
97.6
97.0
95.0
95.1
95.8
95.3
93.5
92.6
91.6
93.0
93.7
93.3
93.0
93.1
92.2
93.6
95.0
95.9
95.4
95.5
95.2
97.4
93.6
99.1
99.2
98.8
98.2
98.6
99.3
98.3
94.8
91.9
90.2
90.3
89.8
89.1
87.7
85.5
81.6
79.9
79.7
78.6
76.5
75.1
73.1
74.1
74.8
74.5
74.1
72.2
70.4
70. t
95.8 98.6 93.9 98.0 94.9
99.4 103.8 99.3 1 0 2 . 2 1 0 0 . 6
104.7 103.3 1 0 0 .8 103.4 1 0 2 . 0
105.7 1 0 1 .1 98.3 101.5 1 0 0 .8
109.4 96.5 98.5 99.8 99.8
109. 3 90.8 95.7 99.7 97.4
104.3 84.3 93.5 95.2 93.0
103.7 87.2 95.4 98.7 95.0
104.4 89.8 94.4 99.3 94.1
106.8 92.4 100.4 102.9 95.2
105.4 91.4 100.4 99.6 91.6
103.2 95.7 1 0 1 . 6 99.8 93.2
89.6 94.5
93.9 1 0 1 . 8
95.2 103.9
93.8 104.6
94.1 104.8
94.2 1 0 2 . 8
91.2 98.2
94.2 1 0 2 . 1
95.4 1 0 2 . 6
99.0 102.3
96.1 95.1
97.7 92.0
87.6
90.7
90.8
89.8
87.6
84.1
75.9
73.9
74.2
72.7
68.3
67.4
62.3
67.0
68.5
67.4
6 6 .6
62.5
59.1
58.5
Av._ 108.8 98.2 99.2 100.0 96.4 93.8 97.5 83.7 172.9 104.3 94.6 97.7 100.0 96.5 94.5 109.4 80.3 ‘ 64.0
Coverage for 8 months.
Following Table 6 are two charts which represent the 54 separate
industries combined and show the course of pay-roll totals as well
as the course of employment for each month of the years 1926 to 1930,
and January to August, 1931, inclusive.
T able 6 . - IN D E X E S OF. E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S , AUG U ST, 1930, A N D JU N E , JULY, A N D A U G U ST , 1931
(M onthly average, 1926=100)
Pay-roll totals
Employment
Industry
August
1930
1931
1930
June
July
August August
1931
June
July
August
79.9
72.2
70.4
70.0
73.9
62.5
59. 1
58.5
92. 6
94.3
Slaughtering and meat packing,..
75.4
Confectionery-----. . ---------101.1
Icecream ----- ---------. . . . —
97.5
Flour_______
. ................. Baking___________________ - — 96. 1
92.6
Sugar refining, ca n e... -------------
88. 1
90.2
77.3
90.3
85.3
91.9
80.7
87.6
89.1
69.2
94.5
90.5
92.5
84.2
87. 6
88. 2
74.0
93.2
90.0
91.6
84.3
95. 1
96.8
75.2
100.4
101.0
96.9
94.8
87.2
91. 0
72. 5
87.3
81.5
89.7
81.6
85. 9
89. 5
59. 8
90. 7
86. 7
88.8
86.8
84. 5
86. 5
67. 1
87. 6
86.4
86.7
82.1
77.8
72.9
79.6
78.0
78.4
77.5
77.0
81.9
67.4
80.9
76.1
76.2
79.9
63.6
84.8
77.6
75.0
81.3
65.3
86.6
69.4
61.5
70.9
72.1
72.9
65.5
68.1
72.4
58.1
74.5
64.2
65.8
64.4
55. 6
78.6
66.9
64. 3
67. 2
58. 9
81.4
G e n e r a l i n d e x _____________
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c t s ___
T ex tiles a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts _______
Cotton goods---- ------------- ------Hosiery and knit goods........... .
Silk goods---- ----------------- . . . .
Woolen and worsted goods............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[959]
212
T
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
6 —IN D E X E S OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY -R O LL TOTALS IN MANUFACTURING
IN D U S T R IE S , A U G U ST, 1930,A N D JU N E , JULY, A N D A U G U ST, 1931—Continued
able
Employment
Industry
1930
August
Pay-roll totals
1931
June
July
1930
August August
1931
June
July
August
T e x tile s a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts — Con.
Carpets and rugs______________
Dyeing and finishing textiles____
Clothing, men’s_____ _________
Shirts and collars______________
Clothing, women’s . . . ________
Millinery and lace goods___ . .
73.5
86.6
79.7
74.3
85.0
80.2
77.1
86.0
73.3
72.7
84.9
72.4
75.2
82.7
76.3
71.4
74.1
67.9
76.6
84.1
78.7
72.4
80. 1
77.4
54.7
76.4
71.9
64.5
75.4
71.0
63.0
76.2
55.6
57.8
62.4
56.6
60.4
73.7
62.1
59.4
57.2
51.4
59.0
77.4
65. 0
59. 1
63. 5
66.6
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d t h e ir p r o d u c ts .
80.5
80.8
68.5
92.0
67.4
70.7
59.2
71.2
65.1
69.7
58.0
71.9
63.3
68.2
56.5
72.1
71.7
72.5
66.0
90.2
52.0
54.1
48.6
58.7
47.3
48.3
48.6
61.0
45.0
46.2
44.2
57.8
82.7
73. 1
82.6
66.6
66.7
65.3
63.3
64.4
61.1
60.9
62.0
54.3
73.0
59.8
69.8
51.6
48.8
50.6
46.5
44.3
49.1
43. 5
44. 2
44. 1
62.0
73.0
54.6
62.6
53.2
54.8
51.4
60.0
54.0
60.0
40.0
46.0
38.5
39.4
37.4
43.4
66. 3
65.4
61.7
71.6
54.1
51.6
54.3
60.4
52.0
49.3
53.1
58.5
51.8
48.3
52.6
60.5
60.6
60. 1
59.2
62.7
43.9
41.9
47.3
45.8
41.1
38.7
44. 6
43.6
40.5
37.1
43.5
45.6
86.5
84. 6
87.0
78.8
77.3
79.2
83.6
79.2
84.7
85.7
80. 1
87.1
77.3
83.5
75.5
64.5
73.1
62.1
70.2
74.2
69.0
72.9
75. 7
72.1
96.9
90.0
89.0
98.3
106.5
90.2
81.0
80.9
88.7
106.2
89.5
81.1
80.1
88.1
104.5
89.2
81.2
81.1
88.4
102.6
99.0
86.3
90.7
100.5
109.0
89.6
71.2
79.8
87.5
107.9
86.8
68.1
76.9
85.2
104.8
86.3
69. 5
78.0
85.0
102.2
89.7
92.4
70. 1
92.9
75.3
83.8
44.5
75.4
74.5
84.5
41.3
73.7
73.1
82.6
44.2
71.6
91.6
90.1
70.7
96.6
75.2
81.0
44.2
75.1
74.1
80.5
40.7
73.8
71.7
78. 6
40. 8
70.5
72.3
80.5
66. 1
80.0
72.9
64.9
64.2
52.9
77.9
76.1
61.2
64.5
50.9
71.7
69. 1
60.7
61.3
48.8
73.9
70.9
65.0
77.8
57.7
65.0
67.7
53.6
60.4
37.9
58.5
69.5
47.8
56.3
34.6
48.9
61.3
47.3
52. 8
32. 5
53.7
61.9
76.3
75.1
69.3
72.6
67.8
70.8
66.1
70.2
67.5
67.1
57.9
62.0
53.2
55.6
51 9
56. 7
50.0
Iron and s te e l.._______________
Cast-iron pipe____ ____ .
Structural-iron work.
_ .
Foundry and machine shop prod
ucts___ . _____ ____
...
Hardware. ______
Machine tools_________________
Steam fittings and steam and hotwater heating apparatus______
S to v es_______________ ____ ___
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c t s _________
Lumber, sawmills........................ .
Lumber, millwork____________
Furniture___ ____ ___________ ..
L e a th e r a n d it s p r o d u c ts _________
Leather____________________ . .
Boots and shoes_______________
P a p e r a n d p r in t in g _______________
Paper and pulp_________ . . . _.
Paper boxes___________________
Printing, book and job_________
Printing, newspapers . ______
C h e m ic a ls a n d a llied p r o d u c ts ___
Chemicals- __________________
Fertilizers________ ____________
Petroleum refining..........................
S t o n e , c la y , a n d g la s s p r o d u c t s ...
Cement ___________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta ____
Pottery______________________
Glass. ______________________
M e ta l p r o d u c ts , o t h e r t h a n ir o n
a n d s te e l. ___
Stamped and enameled ware____
Brass, bronze, and copper prod
ucts__________ _____ _______
T o b a c c o p r o d u c t s ___
__________
Chewing and smoking tobacco
and snuff. .................................
Cigars and cigarettes...................
V eh icles fo r l a n d t r a n s p o r t a t io n .
A utom obiles..
____________
Carriages and wagons__________
Car building and repairing,
electric-railroad _____________
Car building and repairing,
steam-railroad_______ ________
M is c e lla n e o u s in d u s t r ie s __
Agricultural implements_______
Electrical machinery, apparatus,
and supplies____ ____ ________
Pianos and organs_____ ________
Rubber boots and shoes________
Automobile tires and inner tubes.
Shipbuilding..____ _____ _____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
76.9
67.7
66.3
64.2
67.7
56.3
52.2
86.1
81.7
81.3
81.0
81.8
72.6
71.4
70 2
87.4
85.9
81.8
81.7
80.7
81.4
83.3
80.7
87.2
81.1
77.1
72.0
76.8
70.8
78. 5
69.2
73.9
78.0
54.8
65.3
74.3
37.1
61.8
68.8
38.1
60.4
67.0
37.1
64.1
56.5
60.7
58.0
60.4
40.0
51.6
51.8
38.8
49.8
49. 0
37. 5
86.0
76.5
74.2
72.5
85.5
74.4
70.8
67.9
69.4
56.7
54.7
53.8
70.4
54.4
50.1
49.3
88.5
69.1
76.5
43.9
73.6
35.2
71.0
31.3
84.3
56.8
68.3
32.0
63.1
27.6
62 5
24! 0
95.2
42.8
74.6
77.4
113.7
82.4
31.8
66.2
73.3
98.0
79.7
29.1
67.0
71.1
94.8
77.1
34.5
62.4
69.4
88.9
91.3
36.0
64.6
72.4
114.8
73.0
22.9
48.1
70. 5
89.8
68.9
19. 3
51.1
60. 2
84.0
69. 0
23. 5
51. 8
58. 0
81.4
[960]
213
TREND ÒF EMPLOYMENT
MANUFACTURING
MONTHLY
in d u s t r i e s .
INDEXES, 1 9 2 6 - 1 9 3 1 .
M O NTHLY
AVERAGE:
1 9 2 6 = 1 00 .
EMPLOYMENT.
IOS
105
I 00
100
95
95
90
90
as
85
80
80
75
75
70
70
65
65
JA N
FEB
MAR
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
APR.
MAY
JUNE JULY
AUÛ. SEPT
OCT
NOV.
DEC.
R/
[961]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
214
MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRIES.
MONTHLY INDEXES,
M O NTHLY
AVERAGE
P AY -R O LL
1926-1931.
1926=100.
TO TA LS
105
1929
100
/
V
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
JAM.
FEB.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MAR.
APR.
M AY
JUNE J 1
[9 6 2 ]
AUG. SEPT OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
215
T im e W o rk e d in M a n u f a c tu r i n g In d u s trie s in A u g u s t, 1931
R e p o r t s as to working time of employees in August were received
from 12,265 establishments in 64 manufacturing industries. Two per
cent of the establishments were idle, while employees in 55 per cent
were working full time, and employees in 43 per cent were working
part time.
Employees in the establishments in operation in August were work
ing an average of 89 per cent of full time, this percentage showing no
change in average full-time operation over the month interval.
Employees in the 43 per cent of the establishments working part
time in August were averaging 75 per cent of full-time operation.
T
able
7 —
PR O PO R T IO N OF FU LL T IM E W O R K ED IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U S T R IE S
BY E ST A B L ISH M E N T S R E PO R T IN G IN A U G U ST , 1931
Per cent of estab
lishments in which
employees worked
Establishments
reporting
Industry
Total Per cent
number
idle
Full
time
Part
time
Average per cent of
full time reported
by—
All oper E stablish
ating es ments op
erating
tablish
part time
ments
______
Slaughtering and meat packing_____ __
Confectionery____ _______ __________
Ice cream_______________ _
Flour_____________
.
Baking______________
Sugar refining, c a n e ...................................
1,753
T ex tiles a n d t h e ir p r o d u c t s _____________
1,983
3
62
35
92
444
307
249
163
25
128
257
2
1
8
2
43
41
22
31
52
51
26
38
26
38
90
91
95
94
89
88
95
95
94
92
F o o d a n d k in d r e d p r o d u c ts
Cotton goods______________ ___ __
Hosiery and knit goods.-- __________
Silk goods__________ - - __________
- .
Woolen and worsted goods____
Carpets and rugs________________ . __
Dyeing and finishing textiles_________
Clothing, men’s___ _
_______ .
Shirts and collars
.
Clothing, women’s __
M illinery and lace goods______ _____
I r o n a n d s te e l a n d th e ir p r o d u c ts _____
Iron and steel______________ ______ _
Cast-iron pipe___
. ___________
Structural-iron w o r k _____
Foundry and machine-shop products.__
Hardware
_____
____
Machine tools. _
_____ _
Steam fittings and steam and hot water- - ---- --- heating apparatus___ _
S to v e s...___________________________
174
276
267
366
658
12
(9
1
2
(9
77
74
42
81
80
90
58
22
95
79
25
56
19
20
10
42
97
86
97
95
98
94
88
75
84
74
82
84
78
77
78
77
80
79
75
81
88
78
80
2
56
58
69
67
48
48
71
59
69
60
1, 690
1
24
74
132
39
157
956
59
135
8
8
1
3
24
10
38
25
8
15
68
82
62
74
92
82
69
86
76
72
74
69
65
77
67
69
70
1
2
16
26
83
73
71
77
65
69
1
3
3
5
79
242
89
(9
99
113
76
77
69
1,096
3
39
58
83
72
Lumber, sawmills__ __________ _____
Lumber, millwork___________________
Furniture _____________________ ____
465
282
349
5
1
3
40
37
39
55
62
58
83
85
83
70
76
71
L e a th e r a n d its p r o d u c ts _________ ____
380
1
59
39
93
82
Leather_____ _____________ ______ .
Boots and shoes_____________________
118
262
2
1
63
58
36
41
93
93
81
82
93
81
89
87
92
99
76
80
83
90
L u m b e r a n d its p r o d u c t s . . ________
P a p er a n d p r in t in g ___ _
__________
Paper and p u l p . . . _________ ____
Paper boxes__
___ ____ _______
Printing, book and job— -------- -------Printing, newspapers______________ -
1,467
C h e m ic a ls a n d aU ied p r o d u c t s ---------- _
337
Chemicals_________ . . -------------------Fertilizers-.
_ ____________________
Petroleum refining. ..................................
270
257
549
391
128
146
63
i Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 6 3 1
(9
1
3
1
6
61
38
53
38
55
91
46
62
45
9
66
61
59
95
31
38
35
5
93
78
92
92
99
77
78
88
216
T
M O N T H L Y L A B O R R E V IE W
able
7 - PR O PO R TIO N OF FU L L T IM E W O R K ED IN M A N U F A C T U R IN G IN D U ST R IE S
B Y E ST A B L ISH M E N T S R E PO R T IN G IN AUG U ST, 1931-Continued
Establishments
reporting
Per cent of estab
lishments in which
employees worked
Average per cent of
full time reported
by-
Industry
Total Per cent
number
idle
S to n e, clay, a n d glass p r o d u cts... _____
Cement ________________ _________
Brick, tile, and terra cotta . . _____
Pottery________ _____________
Glass. . . . .
___ __________ ______
814
89
482
105
138
M etal p rodu cts, oth er th a n iron a nd
steel ___
. . .
_
Stamped and enameled ware
. _
Brass] bronze, and copper products____
201
67
134
T obacco p r o d u cts......... _ ______________
Chewing and smoking tobacco and
sn u ff.. .
. _______________ _
Cigars and cigarettes ______________
200
Vehicles for la n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n ______
A utom obiles... ______________ . .
Carriages and wagons____ _______ _ .
Car building and repairing, electricrailroad
Car building and repairing, steamrailroad... . . . . ________________
1,039
173
38
10
7
13
3
9
Full
time
Part
time
Ah oper Establish
ating es ments op
tablish
erating
ments
part time
56
82
49
41
76
34
11
39
50
14
90
97
87
85
95
72
75
71
75
72
31
40
•27
69
60
73
84
90
81
77
83
74
2
32
66
88
82
2
44
30
56
67
92
87
86
81
1
3
58
34
47
42
65
50
90
82
88
76
72
74
408
80
20
97
87
420
47
53
87
75
25
175
0
M iscellaneous in d u str ies______________
Agricultural implements____ ______ _
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and
supplies________
______ _
Pianos and organs..
Rubber boots and shoes.. .
.......
Automobile tires and inner tubes. . . . .
Shipbuilding . . .
.
........
411
75
2
4
34
31
64
65
85
81
77
72
169
46
7
34
80
1
11
21
15
43
44
68
78
74
57
56
33
84
75
87
92
94
79
70
77
85
83
In d u stries added in 1929 a n d 1930______
. . . _____ . . .
Radio.............. ...
Rayon......... .........................
Aircraft
. ...
Jewelry__ _____
. ...
. .. . ..
Paint and varnish__ _ . . . _. . . . . .
Rubber goods, other than boots, shoes,
tires, and inner tubes. . . ____ _
Beet sugar ___________ _____________
Beverages___ __________________ . _ _
Cash registers________________ _______
T ypew riters__________ _____ ________
894
39
11
36
127
277
1
67
56
55
83
35
61
32
44
45
17
61
38
93
94
92
98
83
92
78
86
82
87
73
79
51
91
91
78
45
49
7
9
22
55
91
99
99
96
80
81
84
80
82
63
55
43
89
75
T o ta l____ . . . ______________
____
72
43
237
41
11
12,265
3
1
2
0
2
1 Less than one-half of 1 per cent.
2. E m p lo y m e n t in N o n m a n u fa ctu rin g In d u stries in A ugust,
1931
N THE following table are presented, by geographic divisions, the
data for 14 groups of nonmanufacturing industries, the totals for
which also appear in the summary of employment and pay-roll totals,
page 100.
Three of these industrial groups reported increased employment
and pay-roll totals in August, as compared with July. The usual
seasonal activity in August in the canning and preserving industry
was reflected by gains of 39.8 per cent in employment and 41.1 per
cent in earnings, and anthracite and bituminous coal mining reported
increases in both the number of employees and earnings over the
I
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[964]
217
TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT
preceding month. The remaining 11 industrial groups reported both
decreased employment and pay-roll totals. The declines in employ
ment and earnings in the crude petroleum producing industry were
due largely to the enforced reduction in crude petroleum production
in effect in several States.
T
1.—COM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931, BY
IN D U S T R IE S
able
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
Number on pay rob
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
Per cent
of change
July,
1931
August,
1931
Per cent
of change
July,
1931
August,
1931
Anthracite mining
160
M iddle A tla n tic _________
89,062
92,099
+ 3 .4
$2,133,662
$2,239,690
+ 5.0
Bituminous coal mining
404
163
54
326
243
26
120
12
55, 300
25, 152
3,818
47,469
41,471
1, 735
10, 829
1, 502
55, 252
24, 747
4,184
47, 771
41, 307
1, 890
12,131
1, 563
- 0 .1
- 1 .6
+ 9 .6
+ 0 .6
- 0 .4
+ 8 .9
+12.0
+4.1
$916, 722
457, 282
68, 289
876, 131
585,154
30, 293
229, 791
33, 558
$883, 977
465, 898
69, 782
881, 023
571, 773
30,487
270, 387
36,521
- 3 .6
+ 1.9
+ 2 .2
+ 0 .6
- 2 .3
+ 0 .6
+17.7
+ 8 .8
1,348
187,276
188,845
+ 0 .8
3,197,220
3,209,848
+ 0 .4
M iddle Atlantic__________
East North Central ______
West North Central- _____
South Atlantic ___ East South Central.,West South Central______
Mountain . . .
Pacific___________________
All divisions
_____
Metalliferous mining
M iddle Atlantic___
.- East North Central____ West North Central--- East South Central_______
West South Central Mountain Pacific_________ _
All d ivision s. ____
6
44
60
14
46
97
29
664
9, 723
6,186
2, 454
1,179
14,155
2,170
612
9, 713
6, 073
2, 260
1,169
14, 294
2,125
- 7 .8
- 0 .1
- 1 .8
- 7 .9
- 0 .8
' + 1 .0
- 2 .1
$12,453
161, 870
158, 224
46, 791
22, 518
361, 729
57, 093
$11,733
154, 315
150, 774
36, 027
19, 857
366, 061
60, 009
- 5 .8
- 4 .7
-4 . 7
-2 3 .0
-1 1 .8
+ 1.2
+5.1
296
36,531
36,246
- 0 .8
820,678
798,776
- 2 .7
Quarrying and nonmetallic mining
N ew England____________
Middle Atlantic______
East North Central —
West North Central
-.
South Atlantic - _ ____
East South Central_______
West South Central______
M ountain______ - ______
Pacific___ - ___________
99
121
225
99
103
64
50
5
34
4,024
6, 850
6, 770
1, 916
5, 222
2,885
2,454
121
935
4, 004
6,844
6,419
1,935
5, 077
2, 717
2,239
105
896
- 0 .5
- 0 .1
- 5 .2
+ 1 .0
- 2 .8
- 5 .8
- 8 .8
-1 3 .2
- 4 .2
$111,191
157, 971
156, 727
41, 892
81, 360
36, 600
49, 229
3,646
24,130
$99,869
153,436
154, 654
45, 344
76, 783
36, 018
42, 555
3,481
25, 326
-1 0 .2
- 2 .9
-1 . 3
+ 8 .2
- 5 .6
- 1 .6
-1 3 . 6
- 4 .5
+ 5 .0
All division s........ .......
800
31,177
30,236
- 3 .0
662, 746
637,466
- 3 .8
Crude petroleum producing
M iddle Atlantic . ______
East North C en tra l______
West North Central _ _
South Atlantic - - East South Central____
West South Central - M ountain________________
Pacific_________ . . . -------
32
20
19
11
9
340
21
90
240
310
487
388
232
16,171
299
3, 801
314
304
444
370
186
15,193
277
3,843
+30.8
- 1 .9
- 8 .8
- 4 .6
-1 9 .8
- 6 .0
- 7 .4
+1.1
$6, 228
5, 973
12, 646
10, 038
4, 789
537, 033
10,152
138, 388
$7, 882
5,657
10, 914
9,336
4. 096
499, 737
8,470
143, 532
+26. 6
-5 . 3
-1 3 .7
- 7 .0
-1 4 .5
- 6 .9
-1 6 .6
+ 3 .7
All divisions ______
542
21,928
20,931
- 4 .5
725,247
689,624
- 4 .9
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[965]
218
T
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
able
1.—C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JU LY A N D AUG U ST, 1931, BY
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S—Continued
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
July,
1931
Per cent
of change
August,
1931
July,
1931
Per cent
of change
August,
1931
Tele-phone and telegraph
N ew England____________
Middle Atlantic______ __
East North Central_______
West North Central
South A tlantic____ _______
East South Central___
West South C entral.,. _ _
M ountain__________ . . .
Pacific______________ . . . .
A ll d iv is io n s ________
725
1,275
1,468
1,364
560
618
728
509
886
27,737
98,098
68,458
28,756
19,815
9,884
17,117
7,478
29,680
27, 729
97, 603
67, 474
28, 577
19, 642
9,828
17, 002
7,398
29, 463
-(')
- 0 .5
- 1 .4
- 0 .6
- 0 .9
- 0 .6
- 0 .7
- 1 .1
- 0 .7
$866, 852
3, 230, 468
1,875, 249
719,844
542, 510
221,121
393, 011
184,229
911,088
$873,371
3, 209, 861
1, 837,972
702, 727
538,419
218, 670
388,192
179,109
893,987
+ 0 .8
- 0 .6
- 2 .0
- 2 .4
- 0 .8
- 1 .1
- 1 .2
- 2 .8
- 1 .9
8,133
307,023
304,716
- 0 .8
8,944,372.
8,842,308
- 1 .1
Power, light, and water
N ew England____________
Middle A tla n tic _________
East North Central___
West North Central . .
South Atlantic___ _ . . . .
East South C entral...
West South Central____ _
M ountain_______________
Pacific___________________
200
374
687
480
272
166
587
119
754
22, 257
61, 398
56, 590
26, 530
21, 603
6,930
16, 372
5, 258
21, 752
22, 235
60,924
56, 624
26, 559
21, 332
6,750
16, 575
5, 203
20,491
- 0 .1
- 0 .8
+ 0.1
+ 0.1
- 1 .3
- 2 .6
+ 1 .2
-1 .0
- 5 .8
$720, 742
2, 028, 053
1,830, 704
772, 703
659, 748
173,440
447,489
161,949
704, 605
$717, 206
2, 015,991
1,829, 688
767,425
651, 408
169, 211
447, 781
160,178
646,820
- 0 .5
- 0 .6
- 0 .1
- 0 .7
- 1 .3
- 2 .4
+ 0.1
- 1 .1
- 8 .2
A ll d i v i s i o n s . ____ _
3,699
238,690
236,693
- 0 .8
7,499,433
7,405,708
- 1 .2
Electric railroads 2
N ew England__________ .
Middle A tlantic.. ...........
East North Central____ _
West North Central______
South Atlantic
. ______
East South Central .
West South Central_______
M ountain. ________ . . .
Pacific________ . ----------A ll d iv is io n s _______
40
152
101
59
55
13
33
15
38
13, 700
37,040
41,437
13,896
11,718
2, 706
5,085
2,000
16,098
13, 755
36, 779
41,314
13, 579
11, 589
2,702
4, 932
2,022
15, 770
+ 0 .4
- 0 .7
- 0 .3
- 2 .3
- 1 .1
- 0 .1
-3 .0
+ 1.1
- 2 .0
$488,152
1,180,968
1,318, 445
413, 268
321, 223
72, 570
133,761
54,012
485,970
$492,314
1,154, 054
1,284,175
406, 371
317, 709
69,444
130,801
53, 290
485, 564
+ 0.9
- 2 .3
- 2 .6
- 1 .7
-1 . 1
- 4 .3
- 2 .2
-1 .3
-0 . 1
506
143,680
142,442
- 0 .9
4,468,369
4,393,722
- 1 .7
-2 .0
+ 0 .6
- 1 .6
-1 . 5
- 1 .7
- 1 .7
- 2 .9
- 0 .8
- 0 .9
Wholesale trade
N ew E n g la n d ... ______ .
Middle Atlantic______ _ .
East North C entral______
West North Central
.
South Atlantic___ ________
East South Central _____
West South Central______
M ountain.
________ _ . .
Pacific__________________
596
291
285
211
200
59
313
83
333
14,138
8,166
10, 695
12, 564
3,793
1, 577
5,612
1,769
9,225
14,025
8,095
10, 629
12, 545
3,794
1,595
5,676
1,760
9,212
-0 .8
- 0 .9
-0 .6
-0 .2
+ ( l)
+ 1.1
+ 1.1
- 0 .5
- 0 .1
$432, 044
258,829
321, 248
367,190
112, 662
43,094
160, 845
57, 707
295, 552
$423, 440
260,447
316, 235
361, 670
110, 772
42, 344
156, 102
57, 253
292, 758
A ll d iv is io n s . _. ____
2,371
67,539
67,331
-0 .3
2,049,171
2,021,021
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[966]
- 1 .4
TEEND OF EMPLOYMENT
T
219
1.—COM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931, B Y
IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
able
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
Per cent
of change
Per cent
of change
July,
1931
August,
1931
July,
1931
August,
1931
Retail trade
New England............
M iddle Atlantic___
East North CentralWest North Central.
South Atlantic_____
East South Central.
West South Central.
M ountain...............
Pacific........................ .
2,876
344
2,574
576
1, 005
362
220
197
1, 796
54, 333
69,812
71, 661
18,177
20,080
7,860
11, 598
4,927
39, 534
53, 022
66,567
70,269
18,005
19, 550
7, 536
11,526
4,741
39,246
-2 .4
-4 .6
- 1 .9
- 0 .9
- 2 .6
- 4 .1
- 0 .6
- 3 .8
- 0 .7
$1, 329, 698
1, 852,804
1, 771, 803
392, 599
439,253
145,958
236,898
104,420
905, 062
$1, 296,607
1, 749, 674
1, 715, 256
386, 082
415,116
140, 283
225,463
99, 398
891, 568
- 2 .5
- 5 .6
-3 .2
- 1 .7
- 5 .5
-3 .9
-4 .8
-4 .8
-1 .5
9,950
297,982
290,462
- 2 .5
7,178,495
6,919,447
-3 .6
A ll d iv is io n s .
Hotels 3
New England_____
M iddle Atlantic___
East North CentralWest North Central.
South Atlantic..........
East South CentralWest South Central.
M ountain...................
Pacific..................... .
A ll d iv is io n s .
144
422
386
276
160
95
144
99
324
9,776
47, 261
28,452
13, 782
10, 718
5,871
8,373
3,052
15,146
10,835
47, 253
28, 070
13, 462
10, 241
5,717
8,129
3,055
14,943
+10.8
-(')
- 1 .3
- 2 .3
- 4 .5
- 2 .6
- 2 .9
+0.1
- 1 .3
$148, 672
783, 416
465, 597
190, 050
151, 916
67, 893
105, 463
50, 368
273, 284
$161, 232
776,467
451, 021
182, 051
144,166
65, 615
101, 743
50, 374
265, 053
+ 8 .4
- 0 .9
- 3 .1
- 4 .2
-5 . 1
- 3 .4
- 3 .5
+0)
-3 .0
2,050
142,431
141,705
-0 .5
2,236,659
2,197,722
- 1 .7
C anning and preserving
New England_____
M iddle Atlantic___
East North Central.
West North Central.
South Atlantic_____
East South Central.
West South Central.
M ountain..................
Pacific........................ .
A ll d iv is io n s .
74
95
279
67
119
36
35
59
151
10,636
13,227
3,117
3,686
1,318
1,239
3,856
17,891
2,985
12,654
13,454
5,656
7,254
1, 850
1, 652
3,847
29,347
+123.4
+19.0
+ 1.7
+81.5
+96.8
+40.4
+33.3
- 0 .2
+64.0
$23,830
169, 776
188, 844
50,185
34, 031
15,198
6, 575
57, 749
197, 993
$41,479
209, 373
180, 503
62,403
54, 999
19, 573
9,733
50,180
422, 061
+74.1
+23.3
- 4 .4
+24.3
+61.6
+28.8
+48.0
-13. 1
+113. 2
4915
56,306
78,699
+ 3 9 .8
744,181
1,050,304
+ 4 1 .1
1,336
Laundries
New England_____
Middle Atlantic.......
East North Central.
West North Central.
South Atlantic.........
E ast South Central..
West South Central.
M ountain...................
Pacific.........................
51
90
79
59
53
27
17
19
54
2,605
11,367
5,496
4,937
6,173
1,821
1,166
1,567
3, 491
2,600
11, 258
5,360
4,821
6, 074
1, 771
1,092
1, 551
3,454
-0 .2
-1 .0
- 2 .5
- 2 .3
-1 .6
- 2 .7
- 6 .3
- 1 .0
- 1 .1
$55, 228
232, 662
106, 676
84,874
96, 072
24,081
16, 529
26, 592
75,467
$52, 582
226, 208
100,872
81, 345
94, 720
23, 357
15, 893
26, 466
73,493
- 4 .8
- 2 .8
- 5 .4
- 4 .2
- 1 .4
-3 .0
- 3 .8
- 0 .5
- 2 .6
A ll d iv is io n s .
449
38,623
37,981
- 1 .7
718,181
694,936
- 3 .2
See fo o tn o tes a t end o f table.
7 7 4 5 9 ° — 3 1 -------1 5
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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220
T
able
MONTHLY LABOR R E V IE W
1.—C O M PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L
E ST A B L ISH M E N T S IN JULY A N D AUG U ST, 1931, BY
N O N M A N U F A C T U R IN G
IN D U S T R IE S —Continued
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
Number on pay roll
Geographic division
Estab
lish
ments
Per cent
of change
July,
1931
August,
1931
July,
1931
August,
1931
Per cent
of change
D yeing and cleaning
New England____________
Middle Atlantic__________
East North Central_____ .
West North Central______
South Atlantic___________
East South Central_______
West South Central______
M ountain.. __________
Pacific___________________
18
25
22
32
35
18
11
16
12
904
1, 562
1,355
969
1,079
809
332
247
685
786
1,428
1,286
928
1,063
767
323
251
695
-1 3 .1
-8 .6
- 5 .1
-4 .2
-1 .5
-5 .2
- 2 .7
+ 1 .6
+ 1 .5
$21, 049
36,871
29, 478
21, 486
20, 981
14,127
6,805
5,533
17,648
$18, 334
32,957
28,104
20,148
19, 673
13,004
6,304
5,603
17, 240
-1 2 .9
-1 0 .6
- 4 .7
- 6 .2
-6 .2
-7 .9
- 7 .4
+ 1.3
- 2 .3
A ll d iv is io n s ________
189
7,942
7,527
- 5 .2
173,978
161,367
- 7 .2
1 Less than one-tenth of 1 per cent.
2 N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see manufacturing industries, Table 1,
p. 205, et seq.
3 The amount of pay roll given represents cash payments only; the additional value of board, room, and
tips can not be computed.
* Included in the total of 915 establishments reporting in August were 77 establishments which were
closed in July but had resumed operation in August, and 9 establishments which were operating in July
and reported a seasonal closing in August, 1931. There were also 170 additional canning establishments
whose reports were not included in the total number of reporting establishments, as the plants had been
seasonally closed for a period of 2 or more months.
T a ble
2
.—C OM PARISON OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN N O N M A N U
F A C T U R I N G IN D U S T R IE S , AUGUST, 1931, W ITH AUG U ST, 1930
Per cent of change
August, 1931, com
pared with Au
gust, 1930
Per cent of change
August, 1931, com
pared with Au
gust, 1930
Industry
Industry
Number
Anthracite mining_________
Bituminous coal m ining_____
Metalliferous mining..... ..........
Quarrying and nonmetallic
mining......................................
Crude petroleum producing...
Telephone and telegraph.........
Power, light, and water______
°ro?r
Amount
of pay
roll
-1 6 .1
-1 3 .7
-2 9 .4
-2 8 .4
-2 8 .8
-4 3 .4
-2 2 .8
-2 8 .8
-1 3 .1
- 9 .9
-3 5 .8
-3 4 .5
-1 0 .0
- 9 .8
Electric railroads___________
Wholesale trade____________
Retail trade________________
Hotels____ . . . ___________
Canning and preserving_____
Laundries_______ ________
Dyeing and cleaning...;_____
Number
on pay
roll
Amount
of pay
roll
- 8 .7
- 8 .9
- 4 .4
-8 .6
-2 3 .0
0)
«
-1 1 .1
-1 2 .3
- 8 .3
-1 5 .0
-3 9 .1
(*)
(>)
1 Data not available.
In d e x e s o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d P a y -R o ll T o t a ls fo r N o n m a n u f a c tu r in g
In d u s trie s
T a b l e 3 shows the index numbers of employment and pay-roll
totals for anthracite, bituminous coal, and metalliferous mining,
quarrying, crude petroleum producing, telephone and telegraph,
power, light, and water, electric railroads, wholesale and retail trade,
hotels, and canning and preserving, by months, from January, 1930,
to August, 1931, with the monthly average for 1929 as 100.
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[968]
T
able
3 - I N 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 FO 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 , 1930, TO A U G U ST , 1931
[Monthly average, 1929= 100]
Anthracite Bituminous Metallifer
mining
coal mining ous mining
Quarrying
and nonmetallic
mining
Crude
petroleum
producing
Telephone
and tele
graph
Power,
light, and
water
Operation
and main
tenance
of electric
railroads 1
Wholesale
trade
Retail
trade
Hotels
Canning
and pre
serving
Year and month
E m Pay
Em Pay Em Pay E m Pay Em Pay Em Pay Em Pay Em Pay Em Pay Em Pay Em Pay Em Pay ploy
roll
roll ploy roll
ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy roll ploy totals
totals
ment
totals
ment
totals
ment
ment totals ment totals ment totals ment totals ment totals ment totals ment totals ment totals ment
1930
January.. ___________ 102.1 105.8 102.5 101.4
February------------ ------ 106.9 121.5 102.4 102.1
M arch------------- --------- 82.6 78.5 98.6 86.4
95.7
92.3
90.9
92.7
92.5
90.8
79.6
79.8
83.0
71.9
73.5
80.0
92.7
90.8
89.3
94.0 101.6 105.1
88.6 100.2 101.9
91.3 99.4 105.8
99.6 99.7
98.8 100.4
99.7 102.1
97.1
95.1
94.4
97.8 100.0 100.0
95.7 98.5 98.3
95.4 97.7 99.7
98.9
94.4
93.9
99.7 100.4 100.3
96.0 102.4 103.8
95.5 102.4 104.4
46.1
45.7
49.7
50.3
51.5
50.8
74.8
65.7
83.0
72.6
66.9
81.5
April—..............................
M a y ............ - ....................
June...................................
84.1
93.8
90.8
75.0
98.8
94.3
94.4
90.4
88.4
81.7
77.5
75.6
89. 3
87.5
84.6
88.3
85.6
81.6
87.4
90.8
90.3
85.4
90.2
90.9
86.8
89.8
90.2
86.6
85.4
87.1
98.9 103.4 100.7 102.6
99.7 103.2 103.4 104.5
99.8 103.4 104.6 107.8
95.2
95.2
94.8
97.1
96.0
97.0
97.3
96.8
96.5
97.9
97.4
98.6
97.3
96.7
93.9
97.5 100.1 100.3
97.3 98.0 98.4
96.8 98.0 98.1
.Tilly_________________
A u gu st...........................
September
_
___
91.6
80.2
93.8
84.0
78.8
91.6
88.0
89.2
90.5
68.9
71.1
74.9
80.5
79.0
78.1
71.9
71.0
69.9
89.9
89.3
87.7
85.5
85.8
82.5
89.9
87.7
85.0
88.5 100.0 106.6 105.9 106.7
86.0 98.8 102.5 106.4 106.6
84.0 96.8 102.2 105.2 106.1
95.3
92.9
91.8
95.6
92.1
90.5
96.0
95.0
94.8
96.0
93.6
93.6
89.0
85.6
92.0
91.7 101.3
87.6 101.5
92.4 100.1
99.8 126.3 112.7
98.6 185.7 172.0
97.1 246.6 214.8
October
_____
N ovem ber____ ______
December------------------
99.0 117.2
97.2 98.0
99.1 100.0
91.8
92.5
92.5
79.4
79.1
77.7
77.2
72.8
70.1
68.6
63.4
59.9
84.7
78.3
70.2
79.3
66.8
59.9
85.2
83.6
77.4
82.6
80.0
77.2
94.5 100.9 104.8 105.6
93.0 97.9 103.4 103. 7
91.6 101.3 103.2 106. 3
91.0
89.3
88.8
88.9
87.7
88.6
94.2
92.6
92.0
92.9 95.5 95.1
91.0 98.4 96.8
91.3 115.1 107.7
97.5
95.2
93.5
95.5 164.7 140.0
93.6 96.7 82.9
91.5 61.6 57.4
95.3
93.4
81.3
83.2
78.0
84.3
79.3
87.4
85.9
97.9 102.9 103.0 104.3
93.4
93.5
96.0
95.9
95.9
96.2
99.2
98.5 103.9
96.1
January ___________
February..........................
M arch_______________
90.6 89.3
89.5 101.9
82.0 71.3
93.9
91.5
88.8
73.3
68.3
65.2
68.3
65.3
63.5
55.0
54.6
52.8
64.4
66.6
70.0
50.4
54.4
58.2
74.8
73.2
72.2
71.5
70.0
73.2
90.5
89.2
88.6
96.3
94.8
97.9
99.2 98.6
97.8 99. 7
96.7 102.4
86.9
86.6
86.4
85.6
87.1
88.1
89.5
88.2
87.4
87.5
88.4
89.1
90.0
87.1
87.8
89.4
86.7
87.5
95.0
96.8
91.0
93.7
93.4
48.9
48.3
53.0
46.1
48.6
50.3
A p r il_______________
M ay...... ........................—
June.................................
85.2
80.3
76.1
75.2
76.1
66.7
85.9
82.4
78.4
58.6
54.4
52.4
63.9
62.4
60.0
51.4
49.3
46.1
76.1
75.0
72.3
62.6
62.3
60.1
69.8
67.8
65.0
66.3
64.7
62.7
88.1
87.4
86.9
95.0
94.1
95.0
97.1
97.6
97.2
97.6
98.7
98.3
86.8
85.9
85.3
86.6
85.1
84.8
87.4
87.1
87.1
85.2
84.7
84.1
90.1
89.9
89.1
88.3
88.0
87.6
95.9
92.5
91.6
89.9
87.7
85.4
59.6
57.1
70.6
58.6
53.7
56.
76.4
77.
50.4
50.6
56.2
55.8
41.3
40.2
71. C 57.3
68.9 55.
65.3
62.4
59.2
56.3
86.6
85.9
93.3
92.3
96.7
95.9
97.4
96.2
85.6
84.8
83.3
81.9
86.8
86.5
83.3
82.1
83.9
81.8
83.3
80.3
93.3
92.8
85.2 102.2
83.8 142.9
74.2
A v e r a g e ..............
1931
Julv
August-
______
- ____
93.4
65.1
67.3
i N ot including electric-railroad car building and repairing; see vehicles group, manufacturing industries, Table 1, p. 205, et seq.
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to
to
222
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
E m p lo y m e n t in B uilding C o n stru ctio n in A u gu st, 1931
for each of the 27 localities surveyed by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, together with similar information supplied by
D ATA
three cooperating State bureaus, which collect this information
within their respective jurisdictions, appear in the following table.
This table shows the number of identical firms reporting for both
months, the number of employees, and the amount of earnings in one
week in July and August, 1931, together with the per cents of change
over the month period. The results of the compilation for the 27
localities surveyed by the Federal bureau have been issued in a pre
liminary press release, and therefore, to avoid any seeming contra
diction of reports, the totals of the two groups are shown separately.
However, to present as much available information as possible con
cerning the building-construction industry, a combined total of the
two groups, together with the per cents of change occurring from
July to August is given at the end of the table.
COM PA R ISO N OF E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PAY-ROLL TOTALS IN ID E N T IC A L FIR M S IN
T H E B U IL D IN «-C O N S T R U C T IO N IN D U S T R Y , JULY A N D A U G U ST, 1931
Locality
A tlanta.. . ___
Birmingham _
Charlotte, N . C
Cleveland______
Dallas_______
Denver________
Dos M oines__
Hartford_____
Indianapolis_______
Jacksonville___
L o u isv ille ___
M em phis.. . . .
Minneapolis___
New Orleans.
Oklahoma C ity.
Omaha___
Portland, M e________
Portland, O reg ... ._ _
Providence.. . ___
Richmond_____
St. Louis__________ .
Salt Lake City
Seattle_________
W ashington. ___
Wheeling________
W ichita_______
Wilmington, D el____________
Total, 27 cities__________
Baltimore, M d.1_______ _
Massachusetts 1_________
Wisconsin 1______ ______
Total, 3 cooperating State
bureaus______________
Total, all localities______
N um
ber of
firms
report
ing
Number on pay roll
July,
1931
August,
1931
125
77
40
412
108
175
67
237
176
51
121
84
234
125
87
111
84
174
216
142
450
78
184
440
46
54
101
1,793
980
958
5,822
1, 675
1,126
817
2,180
2,417
402
1,196
577
3,197
3, 457
1,099
1,417
621
1,517
2, 522
1,954
4, 321
413
2,507
10,540
310
681
1, 688
1,602
1, 035
899
5,321
1,490
1, 074
719
2,212
2,152
394
1,093
666
3,430
4,198
1,058
1, 308
710
1,412
2,496
1,797
4,029
439
2,381
10, 713
344
574
1, 760
4,199
56,187
76
713
70
1,982
9,804
2,944
859
5,058
-1 0 .7
+ 5 .6
- 6 .2
- 8 .6
-1 1 .0
- 4 .6
-1 2 .0
+ 1.5
-1 1 .0
-2 .0
- 8 .6
+15.4
+ 7 .3
+21.4
-3 .7
-7 .7
+14.3
-6 .9
-1 .0
-8 .0
- 6 .8
+ 6 .3
- 5 .0
Amount of pay roll
(1 week)
July,
1931
August,
1931
Per
cent
of
change
+11.0
-1 5 .7
+ 4 .3
$34,205
19,543
21, 491
212, 552
41,419
32, 628
24, 092
71,003
79, 326
7,416
27, 848
13, 521
90, 607
65, 959
32,176
44, 548
19,080
47, 364
77; 651
49, 387
156, 851
10,563
77,553
319, 323
7,733
17, 376
46,178
$29, 748
19, 246
19,534
193,888
36, 886
32, 355
20; 667
70, 909
70,421
8,432
2< 711
14; 198
99,845
78, 503
33,398
37, 465
20; 678
44| 639
73' 220
42| 360
138,413
1L 154
70, 760
321, 838
8,688
12, 401
4L 884
55, 306
- 1 .6
1, 647,393
1,579, 241
- 4 .1
1,976
10,140
3,018
- 0 .3
+ 3 .4
+ 2 .5
44, 938
356, 549
72,227
45,449
353, 228
74,324
+ 1.1
- 0 .9
+ 2 .9
14, 730
15,134
+ 2 .7
473, 714
473,001
-0 .2
70, 917
70,440
-0 .7
2,121,107
2,052,242
- 3 .2
1 Date supplied by cooperating State bureaus.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Per
cent
of
change
[970]
-1 3 .0
- 1 .5
- 9 .1
- 8 .8
-1 0 .9
- 0 .8
-1 4 .2
- 0 .1
-1 1 .2
+13.7
-1 1 .3
+ 5 .0
+10.2
+19.0
+ 3 .8
-1 5 .9
+ 8 .4
-5 . 8
-5 . 7
-1 4 .2
-1 1 .8
+5. 6
- 8 .8
+ 0 .8
+12.3
-28. 6
- 2 .8
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
223
Data concerning the building-construction industry, appearing in
the foregoing table, have not been included in the summary table,
shown at the beginning of this trend of employment section.
The several industrial groups in the summary table are not weighted
according to their relative importance, and the bureau’s monthly
employment survey of the building-construction industry, while be
ing steadily expanded, has not yet attained sufficient volume to
represent its proper proportion in comparison with the other 15
industrial groups in the summary table.
E m p lo y m e n t on C lass I S te a m R ailro ad s in th e U n ited S ta te s
HE monthly trend of employment from January, 1923, to July,
1931, on Class I railroads—that is, all roads having operatingrevenues of $1,000,000 or over—is shown by the index numbers
published in Table 1. These index numbers are constructed from
monthly reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission, using the
monthly average for 1926 as 100.
T
T
able
1 .—IN D E X OF E M P L O Y M E N T ON CLASS I STEA M RAILROADS IN T H E U N IT E D
ST A TES, JA N U A R Y , 1923, TO JULY, 1931
[M onthly average, 1926=100]
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
January---------------February______ . .
M arch.----------------A pril;-----------------M ay_____________
June_____________
J u l y _____________
August- _________
Septem ber______
October_____ ___
N ovem b er...........
December-------------
98.3
98.6
100.5
102.0
105.0
107.1
108.2
109.4
107.8
107. 3
105. 2
99.4
96.9
97.0
97.4
98.9
99.2
98.0
98.1
99.0
99.7
100.8
99.0
96.0
95.6
95.4
95.2
96.6
97.8
98.6
99.4
99.7
99.9
100.7
99.1
97.1
95.8
96.0
96.7
98.9
100.2
101.6
102.9
102.7
102.8
103.4
101. 2
98.2
95.5
95.3
95.8
97.4
99.4
100.9
101.0
99.5
99.1
98.9
95.7
91.9
89.3
89.0
89.9
91.7
94.5
95.9
95.6
95.7
95.3
95.3
92.9
89.7
88.2
88.9
90.1
92.2
94.9
96.1
96.6
97.4
96.8
96.9
93.0
88.8
86.3
85.4
85.5
87.0
88.6
86.5
84. 7
83. 7
82.2
80.4
77. 0
74.9
73.7
72. 7
72.9
73. 5
73.9
72.8
72.4
Average_____
104.1
98.3
97.9
100.0
97.5
92.9
93.3
83.5
173.1
Month
1928
1929
1930
1931
1 Average for 7 months.
Table 2 shows the total number of employees on the 15th day each of
July, 1930, and June and July, 1931, and pay-roll totals for the entire
months.
In these tabulations data for the occupational group reported as
“ executives, officials, and staff assistants” are omitted.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[971Î
224
T
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
2 .—E M P L O Y M E N T A N D E A R N IN G S OF RAILROAD E M PL O Y EE S, JU L Y .
A N D JU N E A N D JULY , 1931
able
1930
[From monthly reports of Interstate Commerce Commission. As data for only the more important
occupations are shown separately, the group totals are not the sum of the items under the respective
groups]
Number of employees at mid
dle of month
Total earnings
Occupation
July, 1930 June, 1931 July, 1931 July, 1930
June, 1931 July, 1931
Professional, clerical, and general____
Clerks____ ________________
Stenographers and typists______
252,527
140, 357
23, 363
224,357
122, 216
20,933
222, 232 $37,434, 769 $33, 202,013 $32,981,199
120, 974 19, 702, 239 17,021, 539 16, 943, 637
20, 667
3,071,511
2, 766, 491
2, 738, 562
Maintenance of way and structures..
Laborers, extra gang and work
train______ _______________ _
Laborers, track and roadway
section___________________ .
383,985
310,044
303, 825
36,081,045
28,360,419
59,930
39,040
37, 325
4,524,676
2, 752,381
2, 612, 727
198,084
165,031
160,927
14, 356,168
11, 319,432
11,019,169
Maintenance of equipment and stores.
Carmen.. . . . .
___
M ach inists_________
Skilled trades helpers . .
Laborers (shops, engine houses,
power plants, and stores).
Common laborers (shops, engine
houses, power plants, and
stores)............. ......................
397,588
83, 768
50,129
87,168
343, 686
71,450
45, 540
74,978
342,915
71, 148
45, 533
74, 867
52,067,759
12,445, 325
7, 681,863
9,651,256
42,927,953
10, 022, 263
6, 564,094
7,827,501
42,733, 661
9, 956, 413
6', 566| 881
7, 7 8 7 , 611
33,120
28,307
28,088
3,187,491
2,563,417
2,594,117
44,072
36, 794
36,962
3,375,465
2,707,268
2, 703, 310
180,585
28, 758
161, 739
27,685
160, 563
27, 725
23,165, 773
4,684,152
20,171, 680
4,386,370
20, 505, 796
4, 444; 470
Transportation, other than train,
engine, and yard_________
Station agents__________
Telegraphers, telephoners, and
tow erm en... _____ . . .
Truckers (stations, warehouses,
and platforms)___________
Crossing and bridge flagmen and
gatemen____ ______ _____
27,777, 398
21,654
19,520
19,491
3,439,638
2,999,497
3, 081, 037
27,273
23,928
23,114
2,556,581
2,136,118
2,130,949
19,887
18,946
18,957
1,562,882
1,466,999
1,468, 293
Transportation (yardmasters, switch
tenders, and hostlers)______
20,148
17,633
17,553
4,027,984
3,374,149
3,430,951
Transportation, train and engine..
Road conductors.. . _.
Road brakemen and flagm en... .
Y ard brakemen and yard helpers.
Road engineers and m otorm en...
Road firemen and helpers...
280, 309
32,180
61, 929
48, 613
38,018
38,598
244,443
28, 042
54.105
41,019
32, 959
33, 590
247, 304
28, 250
54,745
41,199
33,453
34, 406
57,151,833
7,873,170
10,939,097
8,102; 791
10,398, 275
7,607,948
47, 285, 305
6, 583,298
8' 964| 152
, 654j 722
8, 660,129
6,265,011
49 020 282
6,846’ 815
9, 339, 305
6, 843, 683
9, 023,482
6, 536,824
All em p lo y ees________
.
6
1,515,142 1,301* 902 1, 294, 392 209,929,143 175,321,519 176,449, 287
C hanges in E m p lo y m e n t and P ay Rolls in V arious S tates
HE following data as to changes in employment and pay rolls
have been compiled from reports received from the various State
labor offices:
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[972]
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
225
P E R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D STA TES
M onthly 'period
Per cent of change,
July to August, 1931
Per cent of change,
July to August, 1931
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
Em ploy
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
A rk an sas
Auto dealers, garages------Auto bodies, wood parts,
Bakeries and cafés----------Beverages..............................
Brick and tile ----------------Candy and confections----Cooperage, heading, ve
neer__________________
Cotton compresses, gins,
and products____ ______
Coal mines______________
Furniture manufactures...
Flour, grain, feed, fertilizer.
Glass factories---------------Handles, hubs, spokes----Hotels__________________
Laundries............ ..........—
Lumber mills___________
M ach in ery, fou ndries,
parts, smelters_________
Newspapers and printers..
Packing houses--------------Petroleum products-------Sand, gravel, stone---------Textile mills, garment___
Public utilities__________
Wholesale and retail-------M iscellaneous_____ ____
Contractors......... .............. .
I llin o is
+ 7 .4
- 3 .8
- 2 .8
-7 4 .5
-5 .2
- 4 .3
-.7
- 3 .9
- 8 .5
- 4 .4
- 1 .7
+5. 2
-4 . 1
-10. 2
- 2 .5
+5. 5
- 1 .9
- 9 .3
+ 2 .2
- .7
-2 9 . 2
-1 5 . 1
+ 3 .6
-4 9 .5
-1 8 .3
- 1 .2
+ 2.3
+ 7 .0
+3.7
+ 1.8
+12.6
- 1 .5
-24. 3
-50. 1
- 2 .4
+18.2
- .9
- 5 .9
+ 1 .8
-1 4 .9
-2 .6
+ 6.4
+ 3.1
+2.1
+ 4 .5
+12.9
-
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts__________________
Metals, machinery, and
conveyances----------------Wood products_____ ____
Furs and leather goods___
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods..
Textiles_________________
Clothing and millinery----Foods, beverages, and to
bacco_________________
Miscellaneous___________
- 2 .1
-1 2 .0
- 1 .6
-2 . 5
+ 1 .0
- 3 .6
+ 4.9
-1 0 .5
- 4 .5
- .9
- 7 .4
- 2 .5
- 9 .8
+ 3 .6
-15.4
+ 2.9
+3. 2
- 1 .6
+ .3
- 5 .3
- .5
- 1 .3
+ .2
- .9
-2 .0
-2 0 . 3
+ 9 .3
- 2 .6
- 2 .7
-.4
-1 9 .3
+ 6.5
All nonmanufactur
in g .------- ------------
- 2 .5
- 1 .4
All industries______
-1 .2
- 1 .3
All manufacturing...
Trade, wholesale and re
tail..................... ..................
Services_________________
Public utilities__________
Coal mining_____________
Building and contracting..
1. 1
-2 1 . 1
-49. 5
Io w a
- 8 .6
-1 1 .2
- 3 .8
+ 3.8
-.7
- 4 .7
- 5 .5
+ 4.9
- 8 .7
-1 6 .9
Food and kindred products.
Textiles________________
Iron and steel works_____
Lumber products________
Leather products________
Paper products, printing,
and publishing________
Patent medicines, chemi
cals, and compounds___
Stone and clay products..
Tobacco and cigars--------Railway car shops----------Various industries..............
- 3 .9
- 5 .3
All industries.
+ 3 .0
+ .4
- 1 .6
+ .4
+ 1 .0
- 2 .5
- 2 .0
- 1 .9
- 3 .7
- 2 .9
- .2
-.1
June to July, 1931
C a lifo r n ia
Stone, clay, and glass prod
ucts____________ - .........
M etals, machinery, and
conveyances........ ............ .
Furniture and fixtures___
Other wood manufactures..
Leather and rubber goods.
Petroleum producing and
refining________ ______ _
Other miscellaneous chem
ical products— ..............
Printing________ ____ —
Publishing.............. ............
Paper goods______ ______
Textiles________________
Clothing, millinery, and
laundering______
Foods, beverages, and to
bacco.. ...................
M otion pictures___
Miscellaneous_____
+20.4
-2 0 . 3
- 6 .9
+ 6 .7
-1 6 .1
-1 1 .9
All industries.
+ 1 .9
- 4 .3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Pay roll
-. 1
+ 8.8
+ .7
-9 . 7
- 2 .2
+4. 4
.0
- 2 .7
-1 4 .8
-
+•2.81
+.3
M a r y la n d
Food products___________
Textiles------ ------ -----------Iron and steel and their
products______________
Lumber and its products..
Leather and its products...
Rubber tires____________
Paper and printing--------Chemicals and allied prod
ucts_________ ------------Stone, clay, and glass
products______________
[973]
-
1.1
+.7
+.9
+.7
+ 0.1
- 3 .1
+ 8.5
+• 1
-.2
-1.4
-3.3
+18.1
-.3
+.9
+ 1 .3
-.2
-6 .9
226
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
P E R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A TES—
Continued
M onthly period— C ontinued
Per cent of change,
July to August, 1931
State, and industry group
Per cent of change,
July to August, 1931
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
M a ry la n d —Continued
M ich igan
M etal products, other than
iron and s t e e l_________
Tobacco products________
Transportation equipment.
Car building and repairing.
Miscellaneous_______ ____
-2 1 .4
+ 6 .5
-1 3 .5
- 3 .1
+ .8
-1 7 .4
A ll manufacturing...
- .3
+ 2 .9
Retail establishments ..
Wholesale establishments..
Public utilities___ _____
Coal mines............................
Hotels __________ _____
Quarries_____ . . . ______
Building construction____
Laundries_______________
Cleaning and dyeing estab
lishments........................
-1 .9
+ 1 .0
- .5
+ 2 .0
-5 .6
-1 .3
+ .2
-1 .0
+ 2 .4
-1 4 .0
-5 .3
-9 .8
+ .4
-2 .4
-.9
- 5 .4
Paper and p rin tin g.._____
Chemicals and allied products___________________
Stone, clay, and glass products.........— .....................
Metal products, not iron
and steel___
Iron and steel products___
Lumber and its products..
Leather and its products...
Food and kindred products__________ ______
Textiles and their products___________________
Tobacco products________
Vehicles for land transportation_______________ _
Miscellaneous___________
+ 5 .4
- 2 .7
+ 5 .3
- 6 .4
All industries............
E m p lo y m en t—index
n u m b e r s (1 9 2 5 1927=100)
+ 0 .7
Pay roll
+ 1 .4
-.2
+ .3
+ 5 .8
+ 3.1
-2 .0
-1 7 .8
-2 .5
- 2 .7
+ 1.5
+ .5
+ 4.0
+ 5 .4
+ 1 .0
- 3 .4
+ 9.1
+ 1 .3
+14.9
- 5 .4
-5 .2
- 2 .3
+ 7.0
-1 4 .6
- 5 .1
+ .3
June to July, 1931
N ew Jersey
July, 1931 August, 1931
M a ssa c h u setts
Boot and shoe cut stock
and findings____. . . . . .
Boots and shoes_________
Bread and other bakery
products . ___________
Clothing, m en’s _________
Clothing, women’s ___ . . .
Confectionery___________
Cotton goods'____________
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles__________________
Electrical machinery, ap
paratus, and supplies___
Foundry and machineshop products________
Furniture ______________
Hosiery and knit goods___
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished. ______ _.
Paper and wood pulp__ _
Printing and publishing...
Rubber footwear_________
Rubber goods, tires, and
tubes ___________
Silk goods______________
Textile machinery and
parts_________ ______
W oolen and worsted goods.
All industries______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
85.7
66.5
91.3
71.5
103.2
57.9
72.9
55.7
53.1
99.6
59.4
84.2
78.8
55.1
76.7
86.7
62.8
60.7
76.8
63.8
63.8
72.9
67.6
71.1
95.0
75.6
91.8
66.4
96.7
74.6
90.9
68.1
57.7
45.6
55.3
47.9
63.6
77.4
63.5
79.5
67.6
69.1
Food and kindred products__________________
Textiles and their produ c ts ._______ _________
Iron and steel and their
products______________
Lumber and its products..
Leather and its products...
Tobacco products________
Paper and printing_____
Chemicals and allied products__ _______ ______ . .
Stone, clay, and glass products___________________
M etal products other than
iron and steel____ ____
Vehicles for land transportation______________
Miscellaneous............ ...........
All industries.............
- 1 .7
-0 .6
+ .0
+ .0
- 2 .1
-3 .5
- 7 .3
-.9
-2 .6
+ .6
-7 .3
-5 .2
+ 5 .1
-4 .0
—L 4
-2 .4
-5 .9
-8 .5
-2 .2
-4 .3
+• 0
-.3
-3 .7
-1 .5
—1.5
-1 .5
July to August, 1931
N ew Y ork
Stone, clay, and glass____
M iscella n eo u s stone
and minerals______
Lime, cement, and
plaster_____________
Brick, tile, and pottery.
Glass................. ..............
1974]
+ 2 .1
+ 2 .4
+ 1 .6
+ 6 .6
-1 .5
-3 .6
+12.9
- 3 .7
-5 .8
+12.4
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
227
P E R C E N T OF CHANGE IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A T ES—
Continued
M onthly period— C ontinued
Per cent of change,
July to August, 1931
Per cent of change,
July to August, 1931
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
Em ploy
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
N ew Y ork-C ontinued
Metals and machinery----Silver and jewelry-----Brass, copper, and alum inum ....................
Iron and steel________
Structural and architectural iron____ . .
Sheet metal and hardw are..------------------Firearms, tools, and
cutlery____________
Cooking, heating, and
ventilating apparatus________________
Machinery, including
electrical apparatus..
Automobiles, carriages,
and airplanes-............
Railroad equipm ent
and repair-------------Boat and ship building.
Instruments and appliances. -------------Wood manufactures--------Saw and planing mills.
'Furniture and cabinetwork___________ _
Pianos and other musical instruments---Miscellaneous w o o d .. .
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods____________ _____
Leather_____________
Furs and fur goods----Shoes---- ------------------Other leather and canvas goods__________
Rubber and gutta-percha. ______________
Pearl, horn, bone, e tc ..
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Drugs and chemicals..
Paints and colors........ .
Oil products-------------Miscellaneous chemicals........ ......................
Paper__________________
Printing and paper goods.
Paper boxes and tubes.
M iscellaneous paper
goods______________
Printing and bookmaking____________
Silk and silk goods----Wool manufactures...
Cotton goods________
Knit goods (excluding
silk)
_ __________
Other textiles ______
Clothing and millinery---M pti’s elothing______
M en’s furnishings-----Women’s clothing----Women’s underwear..
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 6 .0
+ 7 .1
-6 .4
+ 8 .9
-1 2 .4
- 3 .1
-1 7 .0
- 8 .1
- 2 .1
-8 .7
- 1 .3
-1 .2
-2 .7
- 2 .4
-1 .2
-4 .2
-7 .5
-8 .9
-1 0 .2
-7 .4
- 4 .6
-1 4 .3
-1 .7
-3 .3
-3 .8
+ 5 .4
- 2 .2
- 5 .7
+3. 4
-2 .4
+ 5 .5
+ 4 .0
+26.4
+ 2 .2
+27.9
- 1 .7
+ 2 .1
+ 3 .7
-3 .2
+1. 4
+ 1 .0
+ 3 .0
—5. 2
—. 3
+18.3
+30.4
-1 8 .2
+12.7
-2 .8
+ .7
- 1 .4
- 1 .6
-2 3 .0
+11.3
-2 . 6
—3.1
—3.4
+ 2 .0
-6 .2
-.5
—1. 8
+ 2 .3
- 6 .1
+• 4
—3. 2
+ 3. 6
- 3 .7
-5 .4
-2 .0
+ 3 .9
+ 3 .5
+ 5 .4
+ .8
-3 .4
+ 3 .5
+ 9 .3
+1. 9
+ 2 .2
+ 3 .8
+ 3 .4
+ 7 .4
+ 1.9
+ 2 .3
+ 16. 7
+ 6 .2
+ 5 .1
+ 2 .8
+12.2
+5. 0
+ 3 .4
+21. 6
+5. 2
New Y ork-C ontinued
Clothing and millinery—
Continued.
Women’s headwear—
Miscellaneous sew ing..
Laundering and clean
ing........ .......................
Food and tobacco............. ..
Flour, feed, and cereal.
Canning and preserv
ing—
Other groceries_______
Meat and dairy prod
ucts------ ---------------Bakery products_____
C andy............................
Beverages___________
Tobacco------ ------------Water, light, and pow er...
All industries.............
Pay roll
+42.4
+10.0
+62.3
+ 10.2
- 2 .3
- 1 .0
+ 3 .3
- 3 .6
-.9
+ .9
-1 7 .1
+ .2
- 5 .5
- 4 .7
-1 .7
-.8
+13.4
-3 .6
+ .5
+ .3
- .4
- 2 .2
- 2 .6
+16.0
-2 .2
+ .4
- 1 .7
- .8
+70.2
+39.6
+83.3
-1 2 .0
+ .5
+65.4
-1 2 . 5
- 7 .3
- 3 .2
+ 7 .5
+6.1
+14.8
O k la h o m a
Cottonseed-oil m il ls ..........
Food production:
Confections__________
F lo u r m ills...................
Meat and poultry-----Lead and zinc:
M ines and m ills...........
Smelters______ ______
Metals and machinery:
Machine shops_______
Oil industry:
Production, e t c ...........
Refinerias----------------Public utilities:
Steam railroad shops. .
Street railways---------W ater, light, etc--------Stone, clay, and glass:
Brick and tile—..........
Cement and plaster__
Crushed stone, sand,
and gravel____ ____
Glass manufacture........
Textiles and cleaning:
Textile manufacture.. .
Laundries and clean
in g..............................
P e n n s y lv a n ia
Metal products...............
Transportation equipment.
Textile products..................
Foods and tobacco........—
Stone, clay, and glass
products_____ ____ ____
Lumber products-----------Chemical products---------Leather and rubber prod
ucts---------------------------Paper and printing.............
[975]
A ll manufacturing..
+ .1
+ 2 .8
- 7 .4
+ 6 .3
-1 3 .8
+ 4 .8
+ .9
-.3
-.7
+ 6 .3
-.9
+ .5
-1 6 .7
-2 3 .2
-1 2 .9
-3 4 .8
+17.8
-1 5 .8
+19.7
-2 4 .7
+ .4
+28.6
-3 .0
- 8 .5
+.3
- 1 .7
+ 2.8
-
2.1
- 1 .3
+ 10.8
-.2
- 1 .9
+ 2 .9
+ 5 .2
- 3 .7
- 1 .3
+17.2
- 2 .3
+ 2 .5
+ 5 .9
+ 1 .5
+.3
+.7
+-!
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
228
P E R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SP E C IF IE D ST A T ES—
Continued
M onthly period—C o n tin u e d
Per cent of change,
June to July, 1931
Per cent of change,
June to July, 1931
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
Employ
ment
Pay roll
W is c o n s in —C ontinued
W iscon sin
M a n u a l —Continued
M anual
Logging-------------------------Mining:
Lead and zinc______
Iron__________ _____
Stone crushing and quar
rying—
Manufacturing:
Stone and allied indus
tries-----------------------Metal _______ _____
Wood _______________
Rubber _____________
Leather
___________
Paper________________
Textiles____ ____ _____
Foods1_______________
Foods2_____ ______ . . .
Printing and publish
ing—
Chemicals (including
soap, glue, and ex
plosives) _________
All manufacturing...
Construction:
Building----- ----------H igh w ay.. ________
Pay roll
-1 3 .5
-2 6 .0
.0
-.6
-1 6 .7
- 7 .5
- 6 .0
-1 2 .8
- 4 .6
- 4 .4
- 4 .7
-4 7 .2
+ 1 .7
+ .8
- 3 .7
+ 1 .7
+77.8
-1 6 .6
-1 6 .5
- 8 .4
-4 0 .4
- 6 .4
- 6 .8
-1 3 .0
+ 2 .6
+45. 2
- 3 .2
- 6 .6
- 3 .4
- 3 .7
-1 2 .4
-1 1 .6
-1 .4
+21.3
+ 1 .1
+16.6
Construction—Contd.
Railroad_____________
Marine dredging, sew
er digging....................
Communication:
Steam railways---------Electric railways-----...
Express, t e le p h o n e ,
telegraph.....................
Light ahd power................
Wholesale trade_________
Hotels and restaurants___
Laundering and dyeing___
-1 4 .9
-1 3 .7
+ 1 .6
—5. 5
+ 2.3
+10.7
+ 3 .2
+ 6.3
- 1 .8
-.3
+ .5
- 4 .0
+ 1.4
- 1 .7
- 1 .4
- 2 .6
- .6
- 5 .3
+ .1
- .7
+ .1
- 7 .0
- 1 .6
- 2 .3
- 5 .8
- 5 .2
- .2
-.7
- 2 .2
N onm anual
Manufacturing, mines, and
quarries............ .................
Construction........................
Communication...................
Wholesale trade...... ............
Retail trade—sales force
only---------------------------Miscellaneous professional
services...................... .........
Yearly period
E m ploym en t—index
numbers (1925-1927
= 100)
Per cent of change,
July, 1930, to July,
1931
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
August,
1930
Pay roll
August,
1931
C alifornia
Illinois
Stone, clay, and glass
products
Metals, machinery, and
conveyances. ..
Wood manufactures
Leather and rubber goods—
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods..
Textiles_____ ______ _
Clothing, millinery, and
laundering_____
Foods, beverages, and to-
-2 4 . 4
-3 1 .4
81.5
65.4
-21. 7
22.0
-8 . 5
-2 5 .1
-1 1 .1
-1 . 6
-3 0 . 5
-32. 0
-1 3 .4
-3 4 .8
-1 1 . 5
-1 .0
85.5
59. 2
87.7
88.4
105.0
76.0
78.4
64.2
44.0
99.7
77.7
93.3
82.0
71.1
- 2 .7
-7 .6
Stone, clay, and glass
products... __________
M etals, machinery, and
conveyances___________
Wood products__________
Furs and leather goods___
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Printing and paper goods..
Textiles___ ___ __________
Clothing and millinery---Foods, beverages, and tobacco_________________
88.0
79.5
M iscellaneous2__________
-2 ¿ 1
—3 2 1 1
All manufacturing...
84.9
70.1
All industries______
-1 8 .6
-2 8 .7
20 0
Trade, wholesale and re69.1
tail__
. __ _______
64.0
99.9
91.0
Public utilities__________
1Excluding canning and preserving. 2 Including canning and preserving, in clu d es motion pictures.
Public utilities___ _______
Wholesale and retail_____
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-12. 4
-8 .0
-1 6 . 9
-1 2 .0
[976]
229
TREND OF EMPLOYMENT
PE R C E N T OF C H A N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN SPECIFIED ST A T ES—
Continued
Y e a r ly 'period —Continued
Per cent of change,
August, 1930, to Au
gust, 1931
E m p loym en t—index
numbers (1925-1927
= 100)
State, and industry group
State, and industry group
August,
1930
Employ
ment
August,
1931
N ew York
Illin o is—Continued
Coal mining................... .
All industries-
67.5
71.9
54.3
47.8
86.4
73.8
96.4
85.6
91.3
71.5
104.2
66.7
95.5
88.7
50.4
99.6
59.4
84.2
78.8
55.1
Miscellaneous stone
and minerals.
Lime, cement, and
plaster______
Brick, tile, and pottery.
Glass_____
M a ssa c h u setts
Boot and shoe cut stock
and findings.....................
Boots and shoes_________
Bread and other bakery
products_____ _____ —
Clothing, men’s -------------Clothing, women’s ..............
Confectionery___________
Cotton goods---------------. ..
Dyeing and finishing tex
tiles__________________
Electrical machinery, ap
paratus, and supplies—
Foundry and machineshop products.................
F u rn iture..____________
Hosiery and knit goods—
Leather, tanned, curried,
and finished__________
Paper and wood pulp____
Printing and publishing..
Rubber footwear________
Rubber goods, tires, and
tubes---------------Silk goods________
Textile machinery and
parts___________
Woolen and worsted goods.
All industries.
83.6
86.7
72.7
60.7
97.8
81.9
72.4
72.9
67.6
71.1
99.1
85.1
100. 6
75.6
96.7
74.6
90.9
68.1
67.0
61.7
55.3
47.9
62.4
71.7
63.5
79.5
75.7
69.1
Per cent of change,
August 1930, to
August 1931
Employ
ment
Pay roll
M ich ig a n
Paper and printing.
10.0
-1 6 .8
ucts.
14.1
-1 7 .0
products.
21.5
-3 1 .0
7.1
-26. 6
-2 4 .0
-1 0 .6
- 1 0 .0
+ 3 .6
-.5
- 6 .9
-2 6 .5
-3 2 .5
-2 5 .6
-1 7 .2
- 5 .4
-1 2 .1
-2 0 .4
26.5
-2 0 .0
-3 6 .8
19. 7
-2 0 .8
and steel____________
Iron and steel products..
Tobacco products .
Pay roll
ss-
portation---Miscellaneo usAll industries.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Silver and jewelry........
Brass, copper, and alu
minum____________
Iron and steel........ —
Structural and archi
tectural iron_______
Sheet metal and hard
ware______________
Firearms, tools, and
cutlery____________
Cooking, heating, and
ventilating appara
tu s .---------------------Machinery, including
electrical apparatus..
Automobiles, carriages,
and airplanes-------Railroad equipment
and repairs------------Boat and ship build
ing—
Instruments and ap
pliances___________
Wood manufactures--------Saw and planing mills.
Furniture and cabinet
work______________
Pianos and other mu
sical instruments----Miscellaneous wood—
Furs, leather, and rubber
goods_________________
Leather_____________
Furs and fur goods---Shoes_______________
Other leather and can
vas goods__________
Rubber and gutta
percha_____________
Pearl, horn, bone, etc.
Chemicals, oils, paints, etc.
Drugs and chem icals..
Paints and colors------Oil products_______ ...
Miscellaneous chemi
cals----------------------Paper______________ ____
Printing and paper goods..
Paper boxes and tubes.
Miscellaneous paper
goods-------------------Printing and bookm aking.. ....................
Textiles________________
Silk and silk goods----Wool manufactures—
Cotton goods-----------Knit goods (excluding
silk)______________
Other textiles...............
[977]
-1 1 .4
-1 8 .4
-1 5 .0
-2 2 .2
- 4 .6
-1 1 .9
-1 3 .0
-2 4 .6
-2 0 .9
- 7 .1
-2 5 .7
-1 7 .8
-3 5 .2
-3 9 .4
-2 8 .9
-1 3 .9
-4 0 .7
-3 0 .8
-2 6 .5
-3 5 .8
-1 4 .4
-2 1 .6
-3 0 .3
-4 2 .3
-1 3 .4
-2 1 .3
-2 5 .4
-3 8 .7
-3 3 .2
-4 0 .7
-2 3 .5
-3 0 .7
-4 6 .6
-5 1 .7
-2 2 .1
-1 8 .2
-1 8 .1
-2 9 .7
-2 7 .4
-2 1 .1
-2 5 .0
-3 7 .0
-1 6 .6
- 8 .4
-3 3 .1
-1 2 .7
- 6 .3
+ 6 .8
-2 .6
-3 .0
- 7 .3
+ 8 .5
-1 4 .2
+ .5
-2 2 .4
-2 8 .9
-2 8 .3
+ 6 .2
-1 3 .7
- 8 .9
- 8 .1
- 9 .4
-2 1 .0
-3 5 .4
- 1 .1
-1 6 .7
-1 3 .6
-1 3 .8
- 7 .7
-2 5 .9
-8 .4
- 9 .7
- 9 .5
-1 4 .0
-1 2 .1
-1 2 .1
• -1 2 .1
-1 4 .5
+ 9.1
+ 2 .0
-1 4 .3
+ 2 .7
+181. 2
-1 1 .9
- 1 .7
-2 1 .3
+ 5 .6
+139.4
+ 3 .5
-1 2 .2
- .4
-1 5 .6
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
230
P E R C E N T OF CHA N G E IN E M P L O Y M E N T A N D PA Y ROLLS IN S P E C IF IE D ST A TES—
Continued
Yearly period— C ontinued
Per cent of change,
August, 1930, to Au
gust, 1931
State, and industry group
Per cent of change,
August, 1930, to Au
gust, 1931
State, and industry group
Employ
ment
August,
1930
Pay roll
N e w Y o r k — Continued
Clothing and millinery___
M en’s clothing_______
M en’s furnishings____
Women’s clothing____
Women’s underwear...
Women’s headwear___
Miscellaneous sew ing..
Laundering and cleanFoods and tobacco_______
Flour, feed, and cereals.
Canning and preserv
ing—
Other groceries_______
M eat and dairy prod
ucts_______________
Bakery products_____
Candy______________
Beverages_____ _____ _
Tobacco_____________
Water, light, and power. __
All industries______
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
August,
1931
P e n n s y lv a n ia
-5 .9
—11.8
- 2 .8
- 8 .6
- 1 .9
+13.8
- 7 .0
-1 0 .8
-1 2 .4
- 7 .4
-1 5 .7
-1 2 .5
+ 1 .4
-6 .2
-.7
- 9 .1
+ 1 .2
-1 .2
-1 2 .8
- 2 .9
-2 4 .6
-2 2 .3
-3 0 .4
-2 2 .4
-1 3 .2
- 8 .8
+18.4
- 6 .6
+ 5 .7
- 6 .7
-1 6 .7
- 9 .6
+ 3 .9
- 9 .6
- 4 .4
- 3 .5
-1 3 .4
-2 0 .4
Metal products _ ..............
Transportation equipmentTextile products.-. _____
Foods and tobacco...
Stone, clay, and glass products_____ _____ _______
Lumber products____
Chemical products____ .
Leather and rubber products______ ________
Paper and printing______
[978]
All manufacturing—.
-2 3 .0
-3 3 .8
-3 . 7
- 3 .7
-4 2 .5
-5 2 .1
- 4 .9
- 8 .4
-1 3 .8
-2 1 .0
- 7 .4
-3 4 .1
-1 9 .4
-17. 4
- 1 .8
- 7 .6
- 8 .7
-1 5 .4
-1 5 .8
-3 1 .6
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL PRICES
R etail P rices of Food in A u gu st, 1931
HE following tables are compiled from simple averages of the
actual selling prices 1 received monthly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from retail dealers.
Table 1 shows for the United States retail prices of food August 15,
1930, and July 15 and August 15, 1931, as well as the percentage
changes in the year and in the month. For example, the retail price
per pound of potatoes was 3.1 cents on August 15, 1930; 2.3 cents on
July 15, 1931; and 2.2 cents on August 15, 1931. These figures show
decreases of 29 per cent in the year, and 4 per cent in the month.
The cost of various articles of food combined shows a decrease of
16.7 per cent August 15, 1931, as compared with August 15, 1930, and
an increase of 0.6 per cent August 15, 1931, as compared with July
15, 1931.
T
T
1.—A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IFIE D FOOD A R TIC LES A N D PE R C E N T
o f I n c r e a s e o r d e c r e a s e a u g u s t 15 , 1931 , c o m p a r e d w i t h j u l y 15 , 1931 , a n d
AUG U ST 15, 1930
able
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
Unit
Aug. 15,
1930
July 15,
1931
Aug. 15,
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Sirloin steak.
Round steak
Rib roast___
Chuck roast.
Plate beef__
Pound
___ do.
___ do.
.....d o .
___ do.
44.6
39.4
32.3
24.9
16.8
39.2
34.4
28.3
Pork chops...
Bacon, sliced
Ham, sliced..
Lamb, leg of.
Hens...............
do.
do.
do.
.do.
.do.
Salmon, red, canned_______— —
M ilk, fresh_____________________ _
M ilk, evaporated________________
B utter__________________________
Oleomargarine (all butter substi
tutes).
Cheese.................................... .................
Lard____________________________
Vegetable lard substitute__________
Eggs, strictly fresh----------------------B re a d ...-------------------------------------
39.5
34.6
28.5
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Aug. 15,1931,
compared with—
Aug. 15,
1930
-1 1
+1
+1
+1
-1 2
-1 2
20.8
20.8
-1 6
13.4
13.3
-2 1
36.7
42.0
53.3
33.7
33.8
31.8
37.0
46.1
30.0
30.8
33.3
36.5
46.1
29.6
30.9
-9
-1 3
-1 4
____do_______
Quart_______
16-oz. can____
Pound______
____do_______
32.6
14.0
33.4
32.9
12.1
12.1
+1
10.0
47.4
25.4
9.2
31.7
18.4
____do_______
____do............
____do_______
Dozen_______
Pound______
33.9
16.5
24.2
38.8
8.7
26.2
13.0
23.2
28.6
7.5
8.8
July 15,
1931
0
+5
-1
0
-1
-1 2
+ 0.3
-9
-1
0
-1
-1 4
-1 2
34.4
18.1
-2 7
-2 9
+9
26.5
-2 2
-2 2
+1
-4
-1 8
-1 5
+ 12
12.8
23.2
31.9
7.4
-2
-2
0
-1
-6
-2 4
3.4
3.6
4.5
____do_______
F lou r.............
-1 5
4.5
4.5
5.3
____do_______
Com m e a l...
-9
7.9
8.7
____do_______
Rolled oats...
-6
9.4
8-oz. package. .
Corn flakes..
- 0 .4
-6
24.0
23.9
25.4
, 28-oz. package.
Wheat cereal.
the
bureau
publishes
periodically
the
prices
of
1 In addition to monthly retail prices of food and coal,
gas and electricity for household use in each of 51 cities, At present this information is being collected
in June and December of each year.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
8.0
8.8
0
-1
0
8.8
231
[979]
232
T
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
1.—AVER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES OP SP E C IF IE D FOOD A R TIC L ES A N D PE R C E N T
OF IN C R E A SE OR D E C R E A SE A U G U ST 15, 1931, C O M PA R E D W ITH JU LY 15, 1931, A N D
AUG U ST 15, 1930—Continued
able
[Percentage changes of five-tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Average retail price on—
Article
Unit
Aug. 15,
1930
July 15,
1931
Aug. 15,
1931
C e n ts
C e n ts
C e n ts
Per cent of increase
(+ ) or decrease
( - ) Aug. 15,1931,
compared with—
Aug. 15,
1930
July 15,
1931
19.2
9.5
11.5
3.1
5.2
16.6
8.1
7.9
2.3
4.9
16.5
8.1
7.8
2. 2
4.3
-1 4
—15
—32
—29
—17
-1
0
—1
—4
—12
4.3
10.9
15.3
16.1
3.7
10.3
13.2
13.9
4.0
10. 4
13.2
13.9
—7
—5
—14
—14
+8
+1
0
0
Tomatoes, canned _________ _. . __do _ _____
Sugar _
. . _____ . .
Pound
T e a ____ . .
_ _
...
__ do
__do
Coffee
.
..
____ _
12.4
6.1
77.4
40.1
10.1
5.6
74.7
32.5
10.0
5.7
75.3
32.4
—19
—7
—3
—19
—1
+2
+i
—0.3
__ do
P r u n e s ____ . .
____ ______
Raisins
.. .
. . _ _______
. do
Bananas. ______ _______________ Dozen
...
Oranges
. . .
_______ . __do .
16.1
11.9
29.9
63. 7
11.8
11.3
25.7
38. 2
11.7
11. 2
24.1
37.3
—27
—6
—19
—41
—1
—1
—6
—2
—16.7
+ 0.6
M acaroni._______________________ Pound______
Rice
________ _________ _____ ____do__ __ _
Beans, n a v y _____________________
do
Potatoes_________________________
_ do
Onions_________________ _______ __ .do
C abbage.. _________ ____ ___ _
Pork and beans. ___________ _
Corn, ca n n e d ____________________
Peas, canned ________________
Weighted food index
____do
No. 2 can
___do.
____do
_______
Table 2 shows for the United States average retail prices of specified
food articles on August 15, 1913, and on August 15 of each year from
1925 to 1931, together with percentage changes in August of each of
these specified years compared with August, 1913. For example, the
retail price per pound of flour was 3.3 cents on August 15, 1913; 6.1
cents on August 15, 1925; 6.0 cents on August 15, 1926; 5.6 cents on
August 15, 1927; 5.4 cents on August 15, 1928; 5.2 cents on August
15, 1929; 4.5 cents on August 15, 1930; and 3.4 cents on August 15,
1931.
As compared with August 15, 1913, these figures show increases of
85 per cent in August, 1925; 82 per cent in August, 1926; 70 per cent
in August, 1927; 64 per cent in August, 1928; 58 per cent in August,
1929; 36 per cent in August, 1930; and 3 per cent in August, 1931.
The cost of the various articles of food combined showed an in
crease of 18.6 per cent in August 1931, as compared with August, 1913.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[980]
233
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
nr*&ur it i>_A V PPA G F R F T A IL PR IC ES OF SP E C IFIE D FOOD A R TIC L ES A N D P E R C E N T
T OF IN C R E A SE AUG U ST 15 OF C E R T A IN SP E C IF IE D Y E A R S C O M PA R E D "WITH
A U G U ST 15, 1913
[Percentage changes of five tenths of 1 per cent and over are given in whole numbers]
Per cent of increase Aug. 15 of each
specified year compared with Aug.
15, 1913
Average retail prices on Aug. 15—
ATUCie
1931
1913 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
a s .
a » .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
a s .
Sirloin steak--pound-..
Round steak___do . . .
Rib roast______ do___
Chuck roast___ do----Plate beef_____ do-----
26.4
23.2
20.2
16.5
12.2
42.0
36.2
30.3
22.1
13.9
41.8
36.2
30.4
22. 5
14.3
43.7
38.1
31.7
23.9
15.3
51.0
45.1
36.6
29.6
19.6
52.4
47.0
38.0
31.1
21.3
44.6
39.4
32.3
24.9
16.8
39.5
34. 6
28.5
20.8
13.3
59
56
50
34
14
58
56
50
36
17
66
64
57
45
25
93
94
81
79
61
98
103
88
88
75
69
70
60
51
38
50
49
41
26
9
Pork chops—...... do___
Bacon, sliced___do___
Ham, sliced____do___
Lamb, leg of___ do___
Hens____ - -_-do --Salmon, red, canned
pound-M ilk, fresh___1quart—
M ilk, evaporated
16-ounce can
B utter_____-. pound- Oleomargarine (all
butter substitutes)
pound
Cheese________ do___
Lard.. ______ do____
Vegetable lard substitute
poundEggs, strictly fresh
---------dozen..
Bread_______ pound..
Flour........ ...........do___
Corn meal_____ do___
Rolled oats......... do___
Corn flakes
8-ounce package.Wheat cereal*
28-ounce package
Macaroni
" pound_
R ice____ ____ l.d o ___
Beans, n avy___ do___
21.9
28.3
28.4
18.9
21.5
40.0
49.3
54.9
38.7
36.2
40.5
52.0
60.7
39.2
37.9
37.7
46.5
54.3
39.2
35.4
39.9
44.8
55.0
40.2
36.8
40.4
44. 7
56.8
40.3
39.4
36.7
42.0
53.3
33.7
33.8
33.3 83
36. 5 74
46.1 93
29.6 105
30.9 68
85
84
114
107
76
72
64
91
107
65
82
58
94
113
71
84
58
100
113
83
68
48
88
78
57
52
29
62
57
44
32.3 38.2 32.9 34.2 31.7 32.6 32.9
8.8 13.9 13.9 14.1 14.1 14.3 14.0 12.1 58
58
60
60
63
59
38
11.5 11.4 11.6 11.2 10.8 10. 0 8.8
35.4 54.1 50.6 51.4 55.4 53.8 47.4 34.4 53
43
45
56
52
34
»3
30.3 30.2 28.0 27.3 27.1 25.4 18.1
22.0 36.8 35.7 37.0 38.4 37.8 33.9 26.5 67
16.1 24.3 22.7 18.9 18.7 18.4 16.5 12.8 51
62
41
68
17
75
16
72
14
54
2
20
>20
36
68
82
70
27
66
70
73
36
64
64
77
46
61
58
77
18
55
36
77
i3
32
3
50
33
23
14
13
9
i7
89
79
16
111
63
16
25
42
71
30
43
59
27
42
66
18
42
65
9
42
35
2
38
9
25.9 25.9 25.0 24.8 24.8 24. 2 23.2
33.0 48.9 44.9 42.0 45.0 48.3 38. 8 31.9 48
5. 6 9.4 9.4 9.3 9.2 9.0 8.7 7.4 68
3.3 6.1 6.0 5.6 5.4 5.2 4. 5 3.4 85
3.0 5.4 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.3 5.3 4.5 80
__ 9.2 9.0 9.0 8.9 8.9 8.7 7.9
10.9 10.9
9.7
9.5
9. 5
9.4
24.6 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.5 25.4
20.4 20.2 20.1 19.8 19.7 19.2
8.7 11.3 11.6 10.7 9.9 9.8 9.5
........ 10.3 9.2 9.5 12.6 14.4 11.5
Potatoes_______do___ 1.9 4.4 3.6 3.4 2.2 4.0 3.1
Onions
(in
8.0 5.9 6.4 5.4 6. 4 5.2
Cahhage
r in
5.5 4.3 4.4 4.1 5.6 4.3
Pork and beans
12.4 11.8 11.5 11.6 11.9 10.9
- - - - - - No. 2 can.18.4 16.4 15.6 15.9 15.8 15.3
Corn, canned__ do___
18.4 17.5 16.7 16.7 16.6 16.1
Peas, canned ...d o ___
Tomatoes, canned
13.7 11.8 12.0 11.6 13.8 12.4
______ ...N o. 2can_.
Sugar, granulated
5.6 7.0 7.0 7.3 7.1 6.6 __6.1
.....................p o u n d ..
T ea___________ do___ 54.4 75.9 77.1 77.6 77.4 77.5 77.4
Coffee_________ do___ 29.8 50.9 51.0 47.4 49.4 49.3 40.1
17.3 17.2 15.5 13.8 15. C 16.1
P r u n es_______ do___
Raisins________ do___
Bananas_____ dozen. _
Oranges_______ do___
8.8
24.0
16.5
8.1 30
7.8
2.2 132
4.3
4.0
10.4
13.2
13.9
10.0
5. 7 25
75.3 40
32.4 71
11. 7
14.4 14.8 14.3 13.5 11.8 11.9 11.2
34.5 34.5 33.7 31.6 31. S 29.9 24.1
59.8 50.7 53.8 64.2 45.6 63.7 37.3
59.0 54.3 51.1 52.9 58.8 42.4 18.6
All articles combined 2_
i D ccrG S S G .
J Beginning with January, 1921, index numbers showing the trend in the retail cost of food have been
composed of the articles shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted according to the consumption of the average
family. From January, 1913, to December, 1920, the index numbers included the following articles: birloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, lard, hens, flour, corn
meal, eggs, butter, milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, cheese, rice, coffee, and tea.
Table 3 shows the trend in the retail cost of three important groups
of food commodities, viz, cereals, meats, and dairy products, by years,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[981]
234
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
from 1913 to 1930, and by months for 1929, 1930, and 1931. The
articles within these groups are as follows:
Cereals: Bread, flour, corn meal, rice, rolled oats, corn flakes,
wheat cereal, and macaroni.
Meats: Sirloin steak, round steak, rib roast, chuck roast, plate
beef, pork chops, bacon, ham, hens, and leg of lamb.
Dairy products: Butter, cheese, fresh milk, and evaporated milk.
T able 3 —IN D E X N U M B E R S OP R E TA IL COST OF C EREA LS, M EA TS, A N D D A IR Y
PR O D U C T S FOR THE U N IT E D STATES, 1913 TO A U G U ST , 1931
[Average cost in 1913=100.0]
Year and month
1913: Average for year___
1914: Average for year___
1915: Average for year___
1916: Average for year___
1917: Average for year___
1918: Average for year___
1919: Average for year___
1920: Average for year___
1921: Average for year___
1922: Average for year___
1923: Average for year___
1924: Average for year—-1925: Average for year___
1926: Average for year___
1927: Average for year___
1928: Average for year___
1929: Average for year___
January_______ ____
February__________
March_____________
April _____________
M ay_______________
June__
- - July_______________
__
A u g u st-____
September--
Cereals Meats
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
164.1
164.1
164.1
164.1
163. 5
163.0
163. 5
164. 7
165.2
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
180.9
180. 3
182.8
187.5
191.2
192.4
195.9
196.0
194.2
Dairy
prod
ucts
100.0
97.1
96.1
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
151.9
152. 6
152.4
148.9
147.5
146.8
146.8
147.1
148.1
Year and month
1929—Continued.
October
_____
November ________
December
____
1930: Average for year___
January... ________
February___________
March___ _ ______
A p r il______________
M ay______ ______
June . .- ________
July_______________
August_____________
September___ ______
October____________
November___ ______
December__________
1931:
January _
February . .
March __
April
M ay
June
July
August_____________
Cereals Meats
Dairy
prod
ucts
163.5
163.6
162.9
158.0
162.9
161.6
160.9
160.3
159.8
160.1
158.6
156.9
156.4
154.4
152.4
151.6
189.2
184.1
181.8
175.8
183.6
183.1
183.0
183.3
181.5
179.9
175.2
169.9
173.3
171.1
164.0
161.6
149.3
147.0
144.9
136.5
138.9
138.5
137.6
138.9
137.0
133.7
133.9
137.4
138.8
137.8
135.3
129.8
147.1
144. 6
142. 4
138.9
137.7
136.3
134. 3
132.0
159. 5
153. 4
152. 5
151.4
149. 3
145.7
147. 8
149.1
123.6
120.2
120.5
116.5
110.3
108.3
109.6
111.9
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 F o o d in t h e U n ite d S ta t e s
T able 4 index numbers are given which show the changes in
the retail prices of specified food articles, by years, for 1913 and 1920
to 1930,2 by months for 1930 and 1931. These index numbers, or
relative prices, are based on the year 1913 as 100.0, and are computed
I
n
by dividing the average price of each commodity for each month and
each year by the average price of that commodity for 1913. These
figures must be used with caution. For example, the relative price
of sirloin steak for the year 1930 was 182.7, which means that the
average money price for the year 1930 was 82.7 per cent higher than
the average money price for the year 1913. As compared with
the relative price, 196.9 in 1929, the figures for 1930 show a decrease
of 14.2 points, but a decrease of 7.2 per cent in the year.
In the last column of Table 4 are given index numbers showing
changes in the retail cost of all articles of food combined. Since
January, 1921, these index numbers have been computed from the
average prices of the articles of food shown in Tables 1 and 2, weighted
according to the average family consumption in 1918. (See March,
1921, issue, p. 25.) Although previous to January, 1921, the number
of food articles varied, these index numbers have been so computed
2
For index numbers of each month, January, 1913, to December, 1928, see Bulletin No. 396, pp. 44 to
61; and Bulletin No. 495, pp. 32 to 45. Index numbers for 1929 are published in each Labor Review, Feb
ruary, 1930, to February, 1931.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[982]
235
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
as to be strictly comparable for the entire period. The index num
bers based on the average for the year 1913 as 100.0 are 118.3 for
June, 1931, and 119.0 for July, 1931.
T a b ie 4 .—IN D E X N U M B E R S OF E E T A IL PR IC ES OF PR IN C IP A L A R TIC LES OF FOOD
BY Y EAR S, 1913, 1920 TO 1930, A N D BY M ON TH S FOR 1930 A N D 1931
[Average for year 1913=100.0]
Y ear and
month
Sirloin Round Rib Chuck Plate
steak steak roast roast beef
1913
___
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
_____
1927
1928
1929 ________
1930
January . .
February _
March __
A p ril..,----M a y ______
June . __
July______
August___
September.
October
N ovember.
December..
1931:
January__
Febrnarv.
March
April
M a y ____
June
July
August___
Lamb, Hens
leg of
Milk Butter
100.0
177.1
154. 3
144.8
150.2
151.6
155.6
159.6
166.4
188.3
199.1
184.8
195.5
194.2
192.8
193.3
192.8
191.5
184.3
176.7
178.0
176. 2
170.9
169.1
100.0
167.7
147.0
139.4
143.4
145.5
149.5
153.0
158.1
176.8
185.4
172.7
183.3
181.8
181.3
181.3
179.8
177.3
171.7
163.1
166.7
164.1
160. 6
159.6
100.0
163.8
132.5
123.1
126.3
130.0
135.0
140.6
148.1
174.4
186.9
170.0
184.4
184.4
182.5
182.5
179.4
175.6
166.3
155.6
160.0
158.7
154.4
153.8
100.0
151.2
118.2
105.8
106.6
109.1
114.1
120.7
127.3
157. 0
172.7
155.4
172.7
171.9
170.2
168.6
164.5
160.3
149.6
138.8
142.1
142.1
139.7
139.7
100.0
201.4
166.2
157.1
144.8
146.7
174.3
188.1
175.2
165.7
175.7
171.0
168.1
167.6
171.9
176.7
171.9
174.3
173.8
174.8
186.2
180.5
156.2
149.5
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
193.7 206.3 207.9 209.9
158.2 181.4 178.3 186.4
147.4 181.4 193.7 169.0
144.8 169.1 194.2 164.3
139.6 168.4 196.3 165.7
173.0 195.5 204.2 171.8
186.3 213.4 206.3 182.2
174.8 204.5 205.8 173.2
163.0 196.7 208.5 175.6
161.1 204.1 212.2 186.4
156.7 198. 5 185.7 166.7
157.0 199.3 206.9 178.4
157.8 200.7 201.6 179.3
157.8 201.1 193.7 179.8
157.4 200.4 189.4 179.3
156.7 200.7 189.9 175.6
156.7 200.7 193.7 167.6
156.7 200.0 188.9 161.5
155.6 198.1 178.3 158.7
158.1 198.9 179.9 159.6
157.8 197.4 173.5 158.7
155.9 193.7 166.1 153.1
153.0 191.4 164.6 150.2
100.0
187.6
164.0
147.2
155.1
155.1
157.3
157.3
158.4
159.6
160.7
157.3
159.6
158.4
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
157.3
151.7
100.0
183.0
135. 0
125.1
144.7
135.0
143.1
138.6
145.2
147. 5
143.9
120.4
121.9
122.7
121.9
125. 6
120.9
113.1
114.1
123.8
127.2
124.8
118. 5
111.0
168.2
161.0
157.8
156.5
154.7
151.1
154.3
155.2
159.1
154.0
153.0
150.0
147.0
142.9
142.9
143.9
152.5
145. 6
141.9
139.4
135.6
130.6
130.0
130.0
138.0
131.4
128.1
124.8
119.8
112.4
110.7
109.9
141.9
131.4
140.0
141.4
143.3
140.0
151.4
158.6
148.9
145.2
143.0
141.1
139.3
136.7
137.0
135.2
188.1
183.3
178.4
175. 5
172.9
170.6
171.4
171.4
166.1
164.6
164.0
165.6
165.1
161.9
158.7
156.6
153.5
148.8
150.2
153.1
148.8
146.0
144.6
145.1
149.4
146.1
144.9
141.6
138.2
134.8
136.0
136.0
98.4
94.8
97.4
91.9
81.5
80.7
82.8
89.8
Cheese Lard
Eggs
Bread Flour
Corn
meal
Rice
Pota Sugar
toes
Tea
100.0 100.0
370.6 352.7
182.4 145.5
164.7 132.7
170.6 183.6
158.8 167.3
211.8 130.9
288.2 125.5
223.5 132. 7
158.8 129.1
188.2 120.0
211.8 112.7
229.4 120.0
229.4 118.2
229.4 116.4
241.2 114.5
252.9 114.5
247.1 110.9
194.1 110.9
182.4 110.9
188.2 107.3
182.4 105.5
170.6 107.3
170.6 107.3
100.0
134.7
128.1
125.2
127.8
131.4
138.8
141.0
142.5
142.3
142.6
142.5
143.4
143.2
142.8
142.5
142.5
143.0
142.6
142.3
142.1
141.9
141.4
141.4
100.0
157.7
121.8
121.1
126.5
145.3
172.8
171.1
162.1
165.1
164.8
136.2
147.0
143.3
140.6
138.9
137.2
136.2
135. 6
134.6
132.6
131.2
129.9
129.2
100.0
203.4
153.3
141.6
146.2
145.9
157.4
160.6
155.4
154.3
156.7
147.1
155.4
153.0
150.1
151.2
150. 1
147.9
144.0
143.7
145.6
144. 4
141.4
137.2
107.3
107.3
105.5
103.6
101.8
101.8
101. 8
103.6
141.0
140.6
139.7
138.2
136.9
136.8
137. 3
138.4
126.8
125.2
121.8
116.1
112.4
111. 1
109.1
108. 7
132.8
127.0
126. 4
124. 0
121. 0
118. 3
119. 0
119. 7
100.0
_____ 172.1
_____ 152.8
_____ 147.2
153.9
155.9
159.8
162.6
167.7
188.2
196.9
182.7
Janu ary__ 192.9
February.— 191. 3
March __ 190.6
April_____ 190. 2
M ay______ 190.2
188.6
June
July______ 182.3
August __ 175.6
September . 177.2
October __ 175.2
Novem ber. 170. 5
December.. 168.9
1931:
Janu ary__ 167.3
February. . 161.4
March____ 158.7
April_____ 157.5
M ay_____ 155. 5
152.4
June
July______ 154.3
August___ 155.5
1913
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
Year and
month
Pork
Ham
chops Bacon
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
188.2 186.7 197.4 205.4 245.5 216.7 200.0
153. 9 113.9 147.5 176.8 175.8 150.0 109.2
148.9 107.6 128.7 155.4 154.5 130.0 109.2
167.0 112.0 134.8 155.4 142.4 136.7 109.2
159.7 120.3 138.6 157.1 148.5 156.7 116.1
166.1 147.5 151.0 167.9 184.8 180.0 127.6
165.6 138.6 140.6 167.9 181.8 170.0 133.3
170.1 122.2 131.0 166.1 166.7 173.3 123.0
174.2 117.7 134.5 162.5 163.6 176.7 114.9
171.9 115.8 142.0 160.7 154.5 176.7 111.5
158.8 107.6 118.8 155.4 142.4 176.7 109.2
169.2 108.9 160.6 158.9 154.5 180.0 110.3
167.0 108.2 136.8 157.1 154.5 176.7 110.3
164.7 107.0 102.3 157.1 151.5 176.7 109.2
162.9 106.3 100.0 157.1 148.5 176.7 110.3
97.7 157.1 145.5 176.7 109.2
162.0 105.7
97.4 157.1 145.5 176.7 109.2
157.9 105.1
155.2 103.2 101.7 157.1 139.4 176.7 109.2
153.4 104.4 112.5 155.4 136.4 176.7 109.2
154.8 110.8 124.9 155.4 133.3 176.7 110.3
154.8 112.0 129.9 153.6 130.3 176.7 109.2
152.9 110.8 140.3 151.8 127.3 173.3 106.9
150.2 105.7 120.6 151.8 124.2 173.3 105.8
145.2
141.2
137.1
132.6
124.0
119.9
118.6
119.9
99.4
91.8
89.9
89.9
85.4
82.3
82.3
81.0
104.6
78.8
82.6
79.4
71.9
74.8
82.9
92.5
146.4
142.9
141.1
137.5
137.5
135.7
133.9
132.1
121.2
121.2
118.2
115.2
112.1
112.1
109.1
103.0
170.0
166.7
166.7
163.3
153.3
150.0
150.0
150.0
1 22 articles in 1913-1920; 42 articles in 1921-1931.
77459°—31----- 16
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[983]
102.3
102.3
98.9
96.6
95.4
94.3
93.1
93.1
170.6
158.8
158.8
164.7
164.7
141.2
135. 3
129.4
ar
Coffee All
ticles 1
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
236
The curve shown in the chart below pictures more readily to the
eye the changes in the cost of the food budget than do the index
numbers given in the table.
C o m p a ris o n of R e ta il F o o d C o s ts in 51 C itie s
T a b l e 5 shows for 39 cities the percentage of increase or decrease
in the retail cost of food 3 August, 1931, compared with the average
cost in the year 1913, in August, 1930, and July, 1931. For 12 other
cities comparisons are given for the 1-year and the 1-month periods;
these cities have been scheduled by the bureau at different dates since
1913. The percentage changes are based on actual retail prices
secured each month from retail dealers and on the average consump
tion of these articles in each city.4
TREND OF RETAI L PRICES OF FOOD
Ib5
M5
125
105
Effort has been made by the bureau each month to have all sched
ules for each city included in the average prices. For the month of
August, 99.4 per cent of all the firms supplying retail prices in the 51
cities sent in a report promptly. The following-named 41 cities had
a perfect record ; that is, every merchant who is cooperating with the
bureau sent in his report in time for his prices to be included in the
city averages: Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Bridgeport, Butte,
Charleston (S. C.), Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus^Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Fall River, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Los
Angeles, Louisville, Manchester, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis,
Mobile, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Omaha,
Philadelphia, Portland (Me.), Portland (Oreg.), Providence, Rich
mond, Rochester, St. Louis, St. Paul, San Francisco, Savannah,
Scranton, and Springfield (111.).
3 For list of articles, see note 2, page 233.
4 The consumption figures used for January, 1913, to December, 1920, for each article in each city are
given in the Labor Review for November, 1918, pp. 94 and 95. The consumption figures which have been
used for each month, beginning with January, 1921, are given in the Labor Review for March, 1921, p. 26.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[984]
237
W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL P R IC E S
T
5 .—P E R C E N T A G E C H A N G E IN T H E R E T A IL COST OF FOOD IN A U G U ST , 1931,
C O M PA R E D W ITH TH E COST IN JU L Y , 1931, A U G U ST , 1930 A N D W ITH T H E A V ER A G E
IN T H E Y E A R 1913, B Y C ITIES
able
Percent
age
increase
August,
1931,
com
pared
with
1913
Percent
age
decrease
August,
1931,
com
pared
with
August,
1930
Percent
age
increase
August,
1931,
com
pared
with
July,
1931
United States____
19.7
16.7
0.6
Atlanta- ________
Baltimore________
Birmingham_____
B o sto n __________
Bridgeport_______
19.1
24.9
16.7
23.6
17.2
15.0
21.8
16.1
12.9
10.4
0.9
0.5
1. 8
2.0
B u ffalo __________
Butte
____ Charleston, S. C Chicago_______
Cincinnati______
22.6
16.9
11.2
17.9
13.1
17.0
0.9
0.4
0.5
1.7
0.1
19.0
17.4
20.4
13.5
17.7
1.2
0. 7
1.1
0.2
2.7
10.5
1.6
0.9
0.3
1 1.2
i 1.6
1.7
i 0.1
2.0
i 0.5
City
C levelan d -.........
Columbus_____ -Dallas-. _______
Denver. _ ______
D etroit. ________
23.9
34.4
26.9
14.6
13.0
10.5
20.8
Fall River________
Houston
_____
Indianapolis _ ___
Jacksonville.. . .
Kansas C ity ______
15.0
16.1
11.6
17.7
18.4
19.6
18.1
18.6
15.1
Little Rock______
Los Angeles---------Louisville - - . ____
Manchester______
M emphis_________
8.6
7.6
12.3
22.2
8.5
23.0
17.8
21.1
14.3
22.1
City
M ilw aukee____ -Minneapolis______
Mobile
Newark ______
New Haven . .
24.5
22.0
New Orleans____ _
N ew York. _____
Norfolk
___
Omaha_____ .Peoria
13.9
26.5
P h ila d elp h ia .____
Pittsburgh______.
Portland, Me
Portland, Oreg
Providence_______
27.9
20.4
Richmond________
Rochester
St. Louis.. ______
St. Paul
Salt Lake C ity____
21.4
San Francisco_____
Savannah _
Scranton____ ____
Seattle. ---Springfield, 111-----Washington____ _
17.3
» Decrease.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Percent
age
increase
August,
1931,
com
pared
with
1913
[985]
22.5
25.0
14.3
7.8
23.3
22.6
6.0
25.8
15.7
29.9
Percent Percent
age
age
decrease increase
August, August
1931,
1931,
com
com
pared
pared
with
with
July,
August,
1931
1930
14.2
14.7
18.7
11.9
14.0
0.6
i 1.5
0.9
1.3
0.4
20.4
13.9
17.6
16.1
19.0
10.1
0.9
0. 1
i 0.4
i 0.1
10.7
15.8
13.4
16.1
15.1
1.2
0. 5
1. s
1 0.4
2.9
19.0
18.6
16.3
16.0
14.5
0.2
0.4
10.3
i 1.9
0.3
17.7
18.8
16.9
13.8
21.0
12.9
i 3.0
1.8
0.6
0. 3
i 0.3
1.1
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
238
R etail P rices of Coal in A u g u st, 1931 1
HE following table shows the average retail prices of coal on
August 15,1930, and July 15, and August 15,1931, for the United
States and for each of the cities from which retail food prices have
been obtained. The prices quoted are for coal delivered to consumers
but do not include charges for storing the coal in cellar or coal bm
where an extra handling is necessary.
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.
The prices shown for bituminous coal are averages of prices of the
several kinds sold for household use.
T
A VERAGE R E TA IL PR IC ES OF COAL PE R T O N OF 2,000 PO U N D S, FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE, ON A U G U ST 15, 1930, A N D JULY 15 A N D A U G U ST 15, 1931
1931
City, and kind of coal
1930,
Aug.
15
City, and kind of coal
July
15
Aug.
15
1930,
Aug.
15
1931
July
15
Aug.
15
Cincinnati, Ohio:
B itu m in o u sPrepared sizes—
High volatile_________ $6.05 $5. 30 $5. 55
$14.88 $14. 61 $14. 76
8.03
7.28
Low volatile_________
7.53
192.6 189.1 191.1
Cleveland, Ohio:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
$14.57 $14. 59 $14. 73
Stove__________________ 14.56 14.06 14.25
184.1 184.3 186.1
Chestnut______________ 14.25 13.94 14.13
B itu m in o u s$8.70 $8.09 $8.11
Prepared sizes—
160.1 148.9 149.3
High volatile____ ____ 6.83
6. 53
6.64
Low volatile_________
9.43
8.79
9.07
Atlanta, Ga.:
Columbus,
Ohio:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. $7.27 $6.67 $6.66
Bituminous—
Baltimore, Md.:
Prepared sizes—
Pennsylvania anthracite—
High volatile............. .
5. 82
5.54
5.34
Stove__________________ 14.00 13.50 13. 75
volatile_________
7.19
6. 75
6.83
Chestnut . .
. . . . . . 13. 50 13.25 13. 50 Dallas,Low
Tex.:
Bituminous, run of mine—
Arkansas
anthracite—E
gg..
14.75
13.50
13.25
High volatile___________ 7. 71
7.25
7.61
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 12.17 11.92 11.00
Birmingham, Ala.:
Colo.:
6.39 Denver,
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 7.00
6.36
Colorado anthracite—
Boston, Mass.:
Furnace,
1 and 2 m ixed ._ 15.13 15.13 15.00
Pennsylvnia anthracite—
Stove, 3 and 5 m ixed____ 15.13 15.13 15.00
Stove__________________ 15. 75 14.95 15.05
10.18
8.24
Bituminous,
8.23
Chestnut ____________ 15. 25 14.95 15.10 Detroit, Mich.:prepared sizes.
Bridgeport, Conn.:
Pennsylvania
anthracite—
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_________ _______ _ 14.44 14.50 14. 50
Stove__________ _______ 14. 50 14.00 14.00
Chestnut______________ 14.31 14.50 14.50
Chestnut ______ . . . . . .
14. 50 14.00 14.00
B
itu
m in ou sBuffalo, N . Y.:
Prepared sizes—
Pennsylvania anthracite—
7.03
7.00
High
volatile_________ 8.18
Stove__________________ 13. 42 13.00 13. 20
9.46
7.94
8.14
Low volatile_________
Chestnut ____________ 12.92 13.00 13.20
Run
of
mine—
•
Butte, Mont.:
7.67
7.19
Low volatile_________
7.13
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 10. 94 10.49 10. 49 Fall River, Mass.:
Charleston, S. C . :
Pennsylvania
anthracite—
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9.67
9. 67
9.67
Stove________ _________ 16.00 15.25 15. 50
Chicago, 111.:
Chestnut_______ _______ 15. 75 15.25 15.50
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Houston, Tex.:
Stove____ _ __________ 16. 38 16. 25 16. 50
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 11.60 10.20 10.40
Chestnut_________ _____ 15.93 16.25 16.50 Indianapolis, Ind.:
Bituminous—
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
Prepared sizes—
7.54
7.78
5.82
5.80
High volatile_________ 8.06
High volatile_________ 5.92
8.25
8.38
8.25
Low volatile____ _________________
10.64 10. 36 10.61
Low volatile_________
Run of mine—
Run of mine—
7.05
6.70
6. 75
Low volatile_________
7.75
7.23
7.23
Low volatile_________
1
Prices of coal were formerly secured semiannually and published in the March and September issues
of the Labor Review, Since June, 1920, these prices have been secured and published monthly.
United States:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
S to v eAverage price________
Index (19*13=100)_____
C h e stn u tAverage price. _ ______
Index (1913=100)_____
Bituminous—
Average price ________
Index (1923 = 100)...............
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[986]
239
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
A V ER A G E R E TA IL PR IC ES OF COAL PE R TO N OF 2,000 PO U N D S, FOR HOUSEHOLD
USE, ON A U G U ST 15, 1930, A N D JULY 15 A N D A U G U ST 15, 1931—Continued
City, and kind of coal
1930,
Aug.
15
Jacksonville, Fla.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 511.00
Kansas City, Mo.:
Arkansas anthracite—
Furnace_______________ 12.17
12.88
Stove No. 4_.............
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 7. 00
Little Rock, Ark.:
Arkansas anthracite—E gg.. 13.00
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9.10
Los Angeles, Calif.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 16.00
Louisville, Ky.:
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile.................. 6. 21
Low volatile_________
8. 50
Manchester, N . H.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 16.42
16.42
Chestnut____ _______
Memphis, Tenn.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 7.82
Milwaukee, Wis.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_________________ 15. 75
15.30
Chestnut_____________
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________ 7. 75
Low volatile_________ 10. 53
Minneapolis, Minn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
17.15
Stove____________ ____
Chestnut_____________
16. 70
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
9.99
High volatile____. . . . .
Low volatile_________ 12. 89
Mobile, Ala.
Bituminous,prepared sizes. 8. 82
Newark, N . J.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove............ ..................... 13. 77
Chestnut . . . ______ 13. 27
N ew Haven, Conn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 14. 65
Chestnut_____ . . . . . . 14. 65
New Orleans, La.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9.11
N ew York, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 13. 63
Chestnut_________ _____ 13.13
Norfolk, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 14. 50
Chestnut______________ 14.50
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________
7. 38
Low volatile__ _______ 9.00
Run of mine—
Low volatile.................... 7.00
Omaha, Nebr.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 9.62
Peoria, 111.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 6.28
Philadelphia, Pa.:*
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__ _______________ 13. 42
Chestnut______________ 13.00
1931
July
15
Aug.
15
510.00
$9.50
11. 38
12.50
6. 27
11.31
12.50
6.27
12.00
9.00
11.50
8. 61
15.50
15. 75
5.08
7. 75
5.03
7. 75
16.00
16.00
16.00
16. 00
7.03
7. 00
15. 65
15.61
15.85
15. 85
7. 45
9. 75
7. 51
9. 75
17.61
17. 61
17.81
17.81
9.91
12.34
9.91
12.40
8.25
8.27
13. 30
13. 32
13. 42
13. 42
14. 55
14.55
14. 65
14. 65
8. 07
8.07
13. 46
13.46
13. 75
13. 75
14.00
14. 25
14.00
14.00
6. 50
8. 50
6. 50
8. 50
6.50
6.50
9.04
8. 89
6.13
6. 05
12. 75
12. 67
13. 00
13.00
City, and kind of coal
1930,
Aug.
15
Pittsburgh, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Chestnut---- ---------- -- >14. 75
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 5. 05
Portland, Me.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove__________________ 16. 56
Chestnut_________ ___ 16.56
Portland, Oreg.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 13.12
Providence, R. I.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove_________________ 15.75
Chestnut______________ 15.75
Richmond, Va.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
____________ 14. 50
Chestnut________ _____ - 14. 50
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile. _______ 8. 25
8. 37
Low volatile_________
Run of mine—
6. 75
Low volatile_________
Rochester, N . Y.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
________ 14. 60
Chestnut______________ 14.10
St. Louis, Mo.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
__________ 16. 25
C hestnut_______
. 16. 00
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 6.14
St. Paul, Minn.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove------ ------ ------------- 17. 60
Chestnut______________ 17.15
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
10.23
High volatile________
Low volatile.. . --------- 13. 25
Salt Lake City, Utah:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 8. 40
San Francisco, Calif.:
N ew Mexico anthracite—
Cerillos egg . -------------- 25.00
Colorado anthracite—
Egg
24. 50
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 15. 75
Savannah, Ga.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 2 9.62
Scranton, Pa.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
. ___________ 10.07
9. 70
Chestnut
_ _______
Seattle, Wash.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 10.55
Springfield, 111.:
Bituminous, prepared sizes. 4. 37
Washington, D . C.:
Pennsylvania anthracite—
Stove
________ ____ 2 15.48
Chestnut _____________ 2 14.98
Bituminous—
Prepared sizes—
High volatile_________ 3 8.42
Low volatile_________ 3 11.18
Run of mine—
i 7. 81
M ixed_____________
1931
July
15
Aug.
15
;i4. oo >14.00
4.86
4. 86
16. 32
16.32
16. 32
16. 32
12.54
12.57
15.25 15. 25
15.25 D5.25
14. 00
14.00
14. 00
14. 00
7.67
8.31
7.33
8.31
6. 75
6. 75
13. 78
13. 78
14.18
14.18
16. 47
16. 47
5.51
16.47
16. 41
5. 67
17. 65
17.65
17. 86
17.86
9.60
12. 51
9.72
12.54
7.63
7.63
25. 00
25.00
24.50
16. 00
24. 50
16.00
2 9.62
2 9.28
9. 80
9.78
10.10
10.08
9.80
10.20
4. 34
4.34
3 14.91 315.15
3 14.91 315.15
3 8. 36 38. 41
3 10.77 310. 86
3 7.77
37.78
1 The average price of coal delivered in bins is 50 cents higher than here shown. Practically all coal is
delivered in bin.
2 All coal sold in Savannah is weighed by the city. A charge of 10 cents per ton or half ton is made. This
additional charge has been included in the above price.
3 Per ton of 2,240 pounds.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[987]
240
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
C o m p ariso n of R e ta il-P ric e C h an ges in th e U nited S ta te s and
in F o reig n C o u n tries
HE principal index numbers of retail prices published by foreign
countries have been brought together with those of this bureau
in the subjoined table after having been reduced, in most cases, to a
common base, namely, prices for July, 1914, equal 100. This base
was selected instead of the average for the year 1913, which is used
in other tables of index numbers of retail prices compiled by the
bureau, because of the fact that in numerous instances satisfactory
information for 1913 was not available. Some of the countries
shown in the table now publish index numbers of retail prices on the
July, 1914, base. In such cases, therefore, the index numbers are
reproduced as published. For other countries the index numbers
here shown have been obtained by dividing the index for each month
specified in the table by the index for July, 1914, or the nearest
period thereto as published in the original sources. As stated in the
table, the number of articles included in the index numbers for the
different countries differs widely. These results, which are designed
merely to show price trends and not actual differences in the several
countries, should not, therefore, be considered as closely comparable
with one another. In certain instances, also, the figures are not
absolutely comparable from month to month over the entire period,
owing to slight changes in the fist of commodities and the localities
included on successive dates.
T
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9881
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
241
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF R E TA IL PR IC ES IN T H E U N IT E D STA TES A N D IN OTHER
C O U N TR IES
Country.- . .
United
States
Number of
localities....
51
C o m m o d i
ties in
cluded—
42 foods
Czecho
Canada Belgium slovakia
Finland
France
(except
Paris)
France
(Paris)
Entire
country
59
60
Den
mark
(foods, 29 foods
29 foods 56 etc.)
71
53 foods
36 foods
13 (11
foods)
foods)
Govern Central
Ministry
ment
Bureau Depart of Indus Office of
Bureau M inistry Ministry
C o m p u t of
Statis
Statis
m
ent
of
Labor
of Labor of Labor
of
try and
ing agency- Statistics
tical D e Statistics
tics
Labor
Labor
partment
Base=100__
1924
January-----A pril..
J u l y ______
October-----1925
January.. . .
April. . . . . .
July_______
October. . .
1926
January-----April------ ..
July_______
October-----1927
January-----A pril.. . . . .
July_______
October- .
1928
J a n u a ry ---April---------July_______
October .
1929
January.. . .
April. . ---July_______
October. .
1930
January-----February__
March
A p r il- .__
M ay __ ____
J u n e ._
J u l y ______
August . .
September..
October. . .
November..
D ecem ber..
1931
January...
February...
March
April.
M ay ____
June___ ..
July,
1914
July,
1914
January- August,
June,
1914
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
April,
1914
July,
1914
Foods
Federal
Statis
tical
Bureau
October,
1913July, 1914
1089
1035
1052
1156
1 401
» 395
1 401
1 428
376
380
360
383
127
123
126
134
1130
1137
1145
1165
1 442
1 435
1 451
1 471
408
409
421
433
137
144
154
151
1090
1085
1105
1126
i
503
1 523
1 610
1 647
480
503
574
624
143
142
145
145
156
152
153
152
1092
1069
1156
1 586
1 572
1 553
1 526
592
580
557
520
151
150
157
152
913
905
943
907
152
152
153
146
1126
1119
1155
1183
1 522
1 530
1 536
1 562
2 111
530
532
152
151
154
152
856
860
874
894
900
901
925
879
147
150
14*9
146
1156
1118
1116
1137
3 117
3 118
3118
160
159
157
151
151
150
147
144
140
139
138
136
895
890
879
870
867
866
869
872
874
875
872
859
872
865
853
851
852
865
886
857
839
830
818
810
133
127
123
119
115
110
846
825
811
808
803
798
798
789
779
780
784
811
146
138
140
145
145
137
134
139
480
498
493
513
836
829
837
877
194
151
148
156
158
145
142
141
147
521
506
509
533
899
901
916
875
215
161
159
154
157
157
153
149
147
527
529
637
705
854
832
876
888
159
156
150
150
153
153
146
147
148
755
774
790
804
914
923
962
907
152
149
150
153
151
146
146
152
813
807
811
834
151
148
155
157
152
148
148
157
152
150
147
148
147
145
141
141
142
141
138
134
130
124
124
121
118
116
For succeeding month.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Germany
2 In gold.
[989]
200
210
1102
3 120
1048
1022
140
133
127
1006
975
945
937
969
995
976
944
934
903
893
883
879
870
849
842
2 116
2 127
"2*132
2 131
~2~l28
2 115
2 125
2128
2 124
153
154
156
154
2 124
2 121
2 120
2 119
2 120
2 120
2 122
2 127
2 129
2 129
2 131
2 132
150
148
145
143
142
143
146
145
142
140
138
135
2 132
2 132
2 131
2 130
2 129
2 128
134
131
130
129
130
131
2122
3 In gold; for succeeding month.
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
242
I N D E X N U M B E R S OF R E TA IL PR IC ES IN T H E U N IT E D STATES A N D IN OTHER
C O U N TR IES
C o u n try ...
Italy
Number of
localities.
47
C om m o d
ities in
c lu d e d ...
foods
and
char
coal
Nether
lands
Norway Sweden
(The
Hague)
1924
January___
April_____
July______
October___
1925
January___
April_____
July______
October___
1926
January___
April_____
July______
October___
1927
January___
April_____
July______
October___
1928
January___
April_____
July______
October___
1929
January___
April_____
July.............
October___
1930
January___
February..
March___
April ___
M'av
June_____
July
___
August
September.
October___
N ovem ber.
December..
1931
January___
February..
March____
April ___
Mnv
June_____
India
(Bom
bay)
9
1
New
Austra
lia
Zealand
31
49
33
630
Foods
Foods
50 (43
foods, 7
fuel and
light)
Foods
21foods
24 foods 17 foods
Social
Board
Labor
Office
(revised)
Minis
try of
Labor
Bureau
Office
of Cen Labor of Cen
sus and Office sus and
Statis (revised) Statis
tics
tics
Census
and
Statis
tics
Office
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
July,
1914
20
1913
South
Africa
1
M in
Central Central
C o m p u t ofistry
Na Bureau Bureau
ing agen tional
of Sta of Sta
cy............. Econ tistics
tistics
omy
Base=100-.
Switzer United
King
land
dom
1921
527
527
538
556
609
606
605
645
658
633
645
662
629
606
540
530
531
522
516
536
565
566
558
546
548
536
525
522
510
509
507
506
508
513
512
482
463
450
446
446
449
482.5
481.7
480.8
482.3
480. 2
486. 7
481.3
479.3
476.6
480.1
473.5
475. 7
476.3
477. 0
476.5
479. 5
481.6
479.4
<76.2
475.2
476.0
472.3
474.5
473.1
69.7
68.8
71.6
69.0
66.8
68.7
4 For second month following.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
July,
1914
230
240
248
264
163
159
159
172
173
169
170
174
175
167
162
172
277
276
260
228
170
170
169
166
172
169
169
168
178
170
167
172
216
198
198
191
162
158
156
157
165
161
159
160
171
159
161
163
180
169
175
173
156
151
151
155
158
156
157
159
170
171
173
163
153
154
157
153
158
156
157
160
1914
120
122
117
120
120
124
120
30
25
46 foods
and
59 foods
groceries
July,
1914
154
143
151
156
155
150
148
146
150
150
148
145
152
153
152
148
148
152
156
157
147
149
151
155
116
119
117
120
151
150
155
153
155
163
159
.153
154
151
149
147
167
155
159
161
116
119
119
119
155
151
154
148
158
151
152
159
148
145
144
143
159
156
157
158
162
155
157
157
119
119
116
115
151
140
143
142
154
154
152
150
147
144
147
149
150
150
151
150
157
154
155
158
159
150
149
156
115
119
116
113
146
145
145
147
161
162
160
165
149
147
146
147
156
154
152
152
151
151
151
151
151
150
149
147
145
144
142
140
140
140
140
139
139
137
136
134
155
154
153
152
150
151
152
152
152
152
151
149
157
154
150
143
140
138
141
144
144
143
144
141
112
111
111
109
108
107
108
108
108
145
143
139
138
137
137
136
133
134
127
123
116
153
151
151
151
150
149
147
146
141
138
135
134
146
145
141
144
144
143
143
141
140
139
139
137
145
143
142
141
138
137
133
132
133
132
130
127
148
146
144
142
141
141
138
136
134
129
129
127
108
107
107
107
108
106
111
135
133
131
131
129
128
135
130
126
125
125
124
[990]
119
113
113
112
106
103
104
102
101
W HOLESALE AND R ETA IL PRICES
243
Index N um bers of W holesale P rices in A ugust, 1931
HE downward movement of wholesale prices which was halted
in July took a slight upward trend in August, as shown by the
index number as computed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
United States Department of Labor. This index number, which
includes 550 commodities or price series weighted according to the
importance of each article and based on the average prices for 1926
as 100.0, was 70.2 for August, an increase of three-tenths of 1 per
cent over July having an index of 70.0. When compared with
August, 1930, with an index of 84.0, a decrease of 16^ per cent has
been recorded.
Farm products as a group averaged slightly more than 2 per cent
below July prices. Decided decreases took place in corn, oats, cotton,
and hay, with smaller declines recorded for rye, sheep, lambs, light
hogs, onions, and potatoes. Increases were shown for calves, cows,
steers, live poultry, eggs, lemons, oranges, and beans.
Price increases among foods were reported for butter, cheese, fresh
and cured beef, hams, dressed veal, and dressed poultry, resulting
in a net increase of nearly 1 per cent for the group as a whole. Food
articles averaging lower than in July were bacon, coffee, smoked and
canned salmon, mutton, cured pork, condensed and evaporated milk,
lard, and rice. _
#
Hides and skins moved downward during the month, while leather
showed an upward trend. No change was reported for boots and
shoes and other leather products. The group as a whole decreased
about three-fourths of 1 per cent.
In the group of textile products, cotton goods and other textiles
showed further price decreases, while silk and rayon and woolen and
worsted goods showed little or no change in average prices. The
group as a whole decreased nearly 2 per cent within the month.
Marked increases in the price of petroleum products caused a rise
of 7 per cent in the fuel and lighting group as a whole. Anthracite
and bituminous coal advanced slightly with no change taking place
in coke.
_
.
Among metals there were negligible decreases in iron and steel
products and other metal products with a larger decrease for nonferrous metals. Automobiles and agricultural implements showed no
change from the July level, whereas, a slight decrease was recorded
for the group as a whole.
Lumber, brick, and paint materials continued to move downward
in August. No change was reported for cement while a slight advance
took place in other building materials. A decrease of less than 1
per cent is shown for the group as a whole.
Further price recessions during August for chemicals, drugs and
pharmaceuticals, mixed fertilizers, and fertilizer materials caused the
chemicals and drugs group to decline a little more than 2 per cent.
Both furniture and furnishings in the group of house-furnishing goods
continued to move downward in the month.
A marked decrease took place in the prices of cattle feed, rubber,
and other miscellaneous articles during the month. No change was
reported for paper and pulp and automobile tires. The group of mis
cellaneous commodities as a whole decreased 4 per cent.
T
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 9 1 ]
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
244
Raw materials as a whole averaged lower than in July as did also
semimanufactured articles. Finished products, on the other hand,
advanced from July to August.
In the large group of nonagricultural commodities, including all
articles other than farm products, and among all commodities other
T R E N D OF W H O LESALE
DEC.
JAN. FEB.
MAR.
APR.
MAY
JUNE JULY
P R IC E S .
AUG. SEPT.
OCT.
NOV.
DEC.
than farm products and foods, the August prices showed an upward
movement from those for the month before.
Between July and August increases took place in 94 instances,
decreases in 186 instances, while in 270 instances no change occurred.
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[9 9 2 ]
W HOLESALE AND RETA IL PRICES
245
I N D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PR IC ES BY GROUPS A N D SUBGR OU PS OF COM
M O D IT IES (1926=100.0)
August,
1930
Groups and subgroups
July, 1931
August,
1931
Purchasing
power of
the dollar
August,
1931
84.0
70.0
70.2
1.425
Farm produ cts........... .......
Grains______________
Livestock and poultry.
Other farm products..
84.9
80.4
84.6
86.7
64.9
49.0
63.0
71.3
63.5
44.8
67.0
67.3
1.575
2. 232
1.493
1.486
F o o d s...__________ _______
Butter, cheese, and milk.
Meats________________
Other foods.......... .............
87.1
97.9
93.1
79.4
73.1
80.9
73.4
69.7
73.7
82.5
76.0
1.357
68.8
1.316
1.453
Hides and leather products!..
Hides and skins_______
Leather...... ......................
Boots and shoes_______
Other leather products..
98.9
91.2
99.9
89.2
72.7
89.8
93.5
101.3
88.5
69.1
90.3
93.5
101.3
1.130
1.447
1.107
1.070
.987
65.4
72.4
45.0
75.3
52.1
64.2
69.8
44.8
75.3
50.9
1. 558
1.433
2. 232
1.328
1.965
83.8
99.8
60.9
58.2
90.8
83.5
81.5
103.5
30.3
62.3
92.2
83.7
81.5
1.605
1.085
1.195
1.227
37.5
2.667
Metals and metal products—
Iron and steel__________
Nonferrous metals_____
Agricultural implements.
Automobiles__________
Other metal products___
92.7
90.1
72.7
94.9
102.5
98.4
87.5
87.1
59.4
94.5
98.9
92.5
87.1
1.148
1.155
1.724
1.058
Building materials_________
Lumber...................... ........
B r ic k ..................- ..............
Cement____________ —
Structural steel_________
Paint materials________
Other building,materials.
87.4
81.1
82.5
91.7
84.3
83.7
98.7
75.8
66.3
80.5
75.8
84.3
69.5
88.7
75.4
Chemicals and drugs_________
Chemicals_______________
Drugs and pharmaceuticals.
Fertilizer materials_______
Mixed fertilizers_____ ____
87.3
92.1
77.3
80.1
61.6
78.7
80.2
75.5
78.5
61.4
74.4
78.7
1.325
1.274
1.629
1.344
1.271
House-furnishing goods-.
Furniture_________
Furnishings...............
95.9
96.5
95.3
88.0
87.5
91.9
83.7
1.143
1.088
1.195
Miscellaneous_________
Cattle feed________
Paper and pulp____
Rubber___________
Automobile tires___
Other miscellaneous.
71.2
104.8
83.8
20.3
52.0
94.5
61.0
55.8
80.1
13.2
45.7
82.6
58.5
50.8
80.1
45.7
75.5
1. 709
1.969
1.248
8.929
2.188
1.325
81.8
78.1
86.4
83.8
83.3
64.3
69.5
74.0
71.5
71.8
64.1
68.3
74.6
72.1
72.3
1. 560
1.464
1.340
1. 387
1. 383
All commodities.
100.6
104.9
Textile p ro d u cts....................... .
Cotton goods____________
Silk and r a y o n ....................
Woolen and worsted goods.
Other textile products____
77.7
85.0
57.6
Fuel and lighting materials.
Anthracite coal_______
Bituminous coal______
Coke____________ ____
Gas_________________
Petroleum products___
75.4
87.8
86.6
63.5
88.6
66.8
83.3
92.7
Raw materials______________ ______ _______
Semimanufactured articles------------------------Finished products----------------------- ---------Nonagricultural commodities--------------- -----All commodities less farm products and foods.
i Data not yet available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 9 3 ]
92.4
84.3
<*)
86.6
58.0
94.5
98.9
92.1
66.0
80.4
75.8
81.7
66.8
89.3
11.2
1.212
1.011
1.086
1.326
1.515
1.244
1.319
1. 224
1.497
1.120
246
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
Index N u m b ers of W h olesale P rices in S h an g h ai, C hina
HE National Tariff Commission at Shanghai, China, announces
that a revision has been made in the index numbers of wholesale
prices in Shanghai. _ The more important changes consist in the
method of classification and choice of commodities, the use of the
geometric average in place of the arithmetic average, and the adop
tion of the average for the year 1926 as the base period instead of
1913. < A complete account of the revision will soon be issued by the
commission in its Statistical Series, No. VII, The Revision of Price
Index Numbers.
The preliminary statement announcing the change shows that the
commodities included in the revised index have been classified into
eight major classifications and a general figure. In the following
table are presented the indexes by groups for the years 1926 to 1930,
inclusive, and the months of 1930 and 1931 through July.
T
IN D E X N U M B E R S OF W HOLESALE PR IC ES IN SH A N G H A I, C H IN A , 1926 TO JU LY, 1931
[1926 = 100.0]
Year and month
1926- ____________________
1927. ____________________
1928______________________
1929______________________
1930______________________
1930
January.. . . . . _________
February .
.
. . . .
March____________________
April______________ _______
M ay. _____ . . . ___ . . .
June___________ . . . _____
J u ly ______________________
A ugust___ . . . _______ . . .
Septem ber.. . . . . ._
October _________ . _ ___
N ov em b er________ _____
December____________ . . .
1931
January_______________ . . .
F ebruary... __________ . .
M a rch ______ _____ _ .
April
_______
M ay. _. ______ _________ .
June
. . .
J u ly ---------------------------------
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Other Textile
food
prod fibers
and
Cereals ucts
their Metals
and
provi prod
ucts
sions
Fuel
and
light
ing
Build
ing
mate
rials
Chem
icals
and Miscel General
their laneous index
prod
ucts
100.0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 100. 0 100.0 100.0 100.0
100. 6 108.1 100.9 109.1 112. 7 105.4 102. 6 102. 1
89.6
108. 7
102.1 102.9 104.0 103.0 101. 2 102.0
97. 2
109.5
101.9
111. 0 104.1 108.1 105.8 104.2
110.3
120.3
136.2
105.6
117.1
118.2
120.1 111.4
108.1
111. 5
110. 5
113.0
112. 5
118. 4
121. 7
117.6
114.8
112.9
115.7
115.0
113. 5
.2
.1
126.6
125.8
126.3
123.7
.8
98.5
93.1
120
121.1
103.4
105. 1
105.0
104. 7
103.4
106. 3
107.8
107.6
106.5
106. 6
105.8
104.7
93. 1
96. 5
95.8
91.9
95. 0
94. 0
90. 6
127.1
139. 1
131.3
131. 0
137.6
141.8
140.1
111.9
122. 7
119.8
121. 4
118. 9
121.4
120.7
100.8
111
121
[994J
123.2
129.1
131.0
129.4
130. 2
144. 5
144.4
144. 2
137. 2
138.5
136.7
141.9
161.1
164.1
164. 3
160. 2
159.5
157.4
152.9
103.4
107.3
107.0
106. 3
112. 7
119.4
122. 7
108. 3
111. 2
108.8
112.3
115.5
115.2
116. 0
124.4
125.0
128.7
124.9
.6
125.5
123.6
123. 5
125.2
114. 7
114.9
115.1
.0
124. 7
123. 1
120. 5
.0
121. 7
123.0
123.8
131.9
142. 5
146.3
152.4
153. 1
152.9
152. 7
127.8
131.0
135.1
137.2
136. 0
137. 1
136. 2
135.5
141.3
146. 0
147. 3
147.6
153. 2
155. 2
122.1
120
120
121
121.6
100
.0
104.4
101.7
104. 5
114.8
105. 5
108.6
106. 6
107.3
107. 5
112. 9
115. 2
114. 7
114. 5
114.6
112. 9
112.4
108. 3
111. 3
111. 3
.2
.0
117. 5
120.4
119 6
118 4
115. 4
114 1
113.6
116. 3
119. 9
119.7
127.4
126.1
126.2
127. 5
129. 2
127.4
122.1
122. 7
123.8
126. 0
123. 2
111
111
IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
S ta tis tic s of Im m ig ra tio n for J u ly , 1931
B y J. J. K
unna
, C h ie f S t a t is t ic ia n , U n it e d S t a t e s B u r e a u o f I m m ig r a t io n
ALIENS admitted to the United States in the first month of the
J f x new fiscal year beginning July 1, 1931, totaled 15,535. This is
7,854 less than the average admitted during the preceding 12 months.
There was, however, a large outward movement of passengers in July
last, 27,878 aliens having left here during the month, or 3,635 above
the monthly average number of alien departures for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1931.
Many Americans responded to the lure of strange countries during
July, 1931, when the vacation exodus to Europe is at its height. The
statistics show that 46,961 United States citizens left the country
during this month. The women outnumbered the men among these
departures, the females comprising 25,504 and the males 21,457,
the vast majority of whom were bound for Europe via New York,
34,639, or 73.8 per cent of the total for the month, having embarked
at that port. July, 1931, also saw the return of many tourists,
30,944 American citizens having arrived at all ports this month.
Deportations in July, 1931, show an increase over the corresponding
month of either of the two previous years, 1,681 aliens having been
deported under warrant proceedings during July, 1931, compared
with 1,440 for July, 1930, and l,261 in July, 1929.
Aliens debarred from entering the United States during July last
numbered 761, but only 91 of these were rejected at the seaports of
entry. The other 670 were refused admission at points along the
land borders, 577 having been turned back to Canada and 93 to
Mexico. At New York, where the majority of the immigrants
continue to land, 9,313 aliens sought admission during the month,
of whom 51 were debarred, or less than 6 out of every thousand
applicants; many of these were stowaways and seamen seeking per
manent admission to the United States without first having obtained
visas from American consuls.
Of the 15,535 aliens of all classes admitted during July last under
the immigration act of 1924, 9,262, or 59.6 per cent, entered at New
York and 3,266 at the other seaports, 2,593 came in over the northern
land border and 414 over the southern border. Only one-eleventh
of the New York arrivals were charged to the quota, 842 of the aliens
coming in that way being quota immigrants, while 4,013 were tempo
rary visitors and persons passing through the country on their way
elsewhere, 3,416 were returning residents, and 127 were admitted
under the act as natives of nonquota^ countries. Husbands, wives,
and unmarried children of American citizens numbered 620, and the
miscellaneous classes 244. The two principal cl asses of admissions
under the act at points along the land borders included 1,743 visitors
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[9 9 5 ]
247
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IE W
248
and persons passing through the United States, and 740 natives of
nonquota countries.
Canada, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, and Mexico in the order
named, were the principal countries from which the newcomers came
during July, 1931, about three-fifths of the total immigrants admitted
this month coming from these five countries. Nearly three-fifths of
the permanent July departures were destined to Europe, 4,266 out of a
total of 7,428 emigrant aliens for the month giving countries on that
Continent as their future homes. Great Britain, France, Germany,
Italy, and Poland were the principal destinations of these emigrants.
IN W A R D A N D
O U T W A R D P A S S E N G E R M O V E M E N T , 1930-31, A N D J U L Y , 1931
O u tw a r d
In w a rd
A lie n s a d m i t t e d
P e r io d
F is c a l y e a r
ended June
30, 1931_____
J u l y , 1931____
U n ite d
S ta te s
c itiz e n s
N on
I m m i im m i T o ta l a rriv e d
g ran t
g ra n t
A lie n s
de
b a rre d
fro m
T o ta l e n te r
in g 1
97,139 183, 540 280,679 439,897 720,576
3,174 12,361 15,535 30, 944 46,479
U n ite d
S ta te s
c iti
T o ta l
zens
de
T o ta l
p a rte d
A lie n s d e p a r t e d
E m i
g ran t
N on
e m i
g ra n t
A lie n s
de
p o r te d
a fte r
e n te r
in g 2
9,744 61,882 229,034 290,916 446,386 737, 302 18,142
761 7,428 20,450 27,878 46,961 74, 839 1,681
1 T h e s e a lie n s a r e n o t in c l u d e d a m o n g a r r i v a ls , a s t h e y w e r e n o t p e r m i t t e d to e n t e r t h e U n i t e d S ta te s .
2 T h e s e a l ie n s a r e i n c lu d e d a m o n g a lie n s d e p a r t e d , t h e y h a v i n g e n t e r e d t h e U n i t e d S ta t e s , le g a lly o r
il le g a lly , a n d l a t e r b e i n g d e p o r t e d .
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[996]
PUBLICATIONS
RELATING
TO
LABOR
Official— U n ited S ta te s
C o n n e c t i c u t .— C om m ission
A ppointed to S tu d y P ension System s in th e S ta te
of C onnecticut. Report. Hartford, 1931. 102 pp. (Public document No. 82.)
T he com m ission rep o rts t h a t th e S ta te pension sy stem m ain ta in e d by C o n n ect
ic u t for 11 years is n o n co n trib u to ry a n d d e p en d en t for a d m in istra tio n " u p o n th e
discretion of th e B oard of F in an ce a n d C o n tro l.” I ts co st is rap id ly increasing,
pension p ay m en ts are m ad e o u t of c u rre n t incom e, a n d th e re is no a tte m p t to
establish reserves for th e accruing liabilities. T h e com m ission considers th is
situ a tio n undesirable a n d recom m ends th e a d o p tio n of a new p lan , applicab le
to all S ta te em ployees except elected officials, judges, teac h ers eligible u n d er th e
S ta te te ac h ers’ re tire m e n t system , a n d com m issioners w ho a re heads of d e p a rt
m ents. I n th e opinion of th e com m ission, re tire m e n t a fte r 20 y e a rs’ service
should be o p tio n al a t 65 for m en a n d 60 fo r wom en, a n d com pulsory a t 70 for
m en a n d 65 for w om en, a n d th e a m o u n t of th e pension should be based on th e
am o u n t of th e salary, u p to $6,000, a n d th e y ears of service. T he p lan should
provide for re tu rn of co n trib u tio n s in case of d e a th or w ith d raw al before qualify
ing for a pension.
G e o r g i a .— D e p a rtm e n t of Com m erce a n d L abor.
Seventeenth and eighteenth
reports, fo r the fiscal years 1929 and 1930. A tlanta, 1931. 62 pp.
In clu d ed am ong th e estab lish m en ts for w hich wages are given are tex tile
mills, g a rm e n t factories, co tton-oil mills, fertilizer factories, foundries, m achine
a n d general rep air shops, electric pow er a n d lig h t p lan ts, ice factories, a n d ice
cream factories.
I l l i n o i s .— D e p a rtm e n t o f L abor.
Twelfth annual report, J u ly 1, 1928, to J u n e
30, 1929. Springfield, 1930. 123 pp.
T he d a ta relatin g to w orkm en’s com pensation are review ed in th is issue. T he
re p o rt also covers th e activ ities of th e division of free em plo y m en t offices, th e
division of inspection of p riv a te em plo y m en t agencies, th e division of facto ry
inspection, th e in d u stria l com m ission, a n d th e general advisory b o ard of th e free
em ploym ent offices.
I n d i a n a .— B oard of In d u s tria l Aid for th e Blind.
Sixteenth annual report, fo r
the fiscal year ending September 30, 1930. Fort W ayne, 1931. 34- pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
M a s s a c h u s e t t s .— D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r a n d In d u stries.
A n n u a l report fo r the
year ending November 30, 1930. Boston, 1931. 152 pp., maps, chart. {Pub
lic document No. 104-)
D a ta from th is rep o rt, relatin g to th e occupational diseases in v estig ated in
M assachusetts in 1930, are given in th is issue.
M i s s o u r i — W orkm en’s C om pensation Comm ission.
Third annual report, fo i
the period fro m Ja n u a ry 1, 1929, through December 31, 1929. Jefferson City
[1930]. 149 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
N e v a d a .— In d u s tria l Com m ission.
B iennial report, reviewing the adm inistration
of the Nevada industrial insurance act fo r the period J u ly 1, 1928, to J u n e 3U,
1930. Carson City, 1931. 46 PP R eview ed in th is issue.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[997]
249
250
MONTHLY LABOR R EV IEW
O h i o .— D e p a r tm e n t of I n d u str ia l R e la tio n s .
N in th annual report, including the
annual report of the In dustrial Commission, fo r the fiscal year J u ly 1, 1929, to
Ju n e 30, 1930. Columbus, 1931. 44 PPT he d a ta relatin g to w orkm en’s com pensation show th a t 243,341 claim s for
com pensation were filed w ith th e com m ission du rin g th e fiscal y ear 1929-30 by or
for in ju red w orkers or th e ir dependents, a n increase of 3,900 as com pared w ith
th e preceding year. T he claim s consisted of 1,234 fa ta l cases, 62,772 cases in
w hich th e d u ratio n of d isability exceeded seven days, a n d 179,335 cases involving
m edical expenses only as th e d u ra tio n of d isability w as seven days or less.
T he re p o rt also covers enforcem ent of lab o r law s; th e public em plo y m en t
service; inspection of factories an d buildings, m ines, an d steam boilers; a n d licens
ing of steam engineers.
P e n n s y l v a n i a .— D e p a rtm e n t of In te rn a l Affairs.
B u reau of S ta tistic s. Report
on productive industries, public utilities, and miscellaneous statistics of the
Commonwealth for the year 1928. Harrisburg, 1930. 495 pp.
Includes considerable w age d a ta .
------ D ep artm en t of L ab o r a n d In d u stry . B ureau of W orkm en’s C om pensation.
Annual report, 1930. [Harrisburg, 1931.] 23 pp. (Mimeographed.)
R e v ie w e d in t h is issu e.
U t a h .— I n d u s tr ia l C o m m iss io n .
[B iennial report, J u ly 1, 1928, to J u n e 30, 1930.]
Bulletin No. 1: Syn o p sis of decisions rendered by the In d u stria l Commission in
workmen’s compensation cases, and digest of supreme court rulings. 314 pp.
Bulletin No. 2: F inancial statements of the State Insurance F und, the In d u stria l
Commission o f Utah, Firem en’s Pension F und, and the Em ployees’ Combined
In ju r y Benefit Fund. 19 pp. B ulletin No. 3: In d u stria l accident statistical
report. 143 pp. B ulletin No. 4- Coal and metal m ines report, including
report of factory and labor inspections and o f wage collection. 171 pp. Bulletin
No. 5: Utah agricultural statistics, compiled by the U. S . Department of A gri
culture, B ureau of A gricultural Economics. 28 pp. [Salt Lake City, 1931 f]
B ulletin No. 3 is review ed in th is issue of th e L ab o r Review . D a ta from B ulle
tin No. 4, relatin g to wages of m iners a n d w age collections, were published in th e
issue for June, 1931.
W i s c o n s i n .— C o m p e n sa tio n In su r a n c e B o a r d . 1930 report. Madison, 1931. 7 5 p p .
D e sc r ib e s b r iefly t h e p r in c ip le s o f r a te m a k in g in c o n n e c tio n w it h t h e S t a t e
w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n sa tio n a c t , a n d c o n ta in s t a b le s s h o w in g e a r n e d p r e m iu m s a n d
in cu rred lo sse s o f in su r a n c e c o m p a n ie s w r itin g w o r k m e n ’s c o m p e n s a tio n in W is
c o n sin , b y ca rrier a n d b y in d u s tr ia l gro u p .
Fifteenth report, for the
Fifth report, Coal Mine Catastrophe
Insurance Premium Fund. Eighth report, Wyoming Peace Officers’ Indemnity
Fund. Cheyenne, [1931]. 151 pp.
W y o m i n g .— W o r k m e n ’s
C o m p e n s a tio n
D e p a r tm e n t.
12 months ending December 31, 1930.
T he re p o rt on w orkm en’s com pensation is review ed in th is issue.
Congress. S enate. Report No. 1838 (71st Cong., 3d sess.):
Prices of food products. Washington, 1931. 21 pp.
7
C o m m ittee on E d u catio n a n d L abor. Rehabilitation and voca
tional education o f crippled persons. Hearing (71st Cong., 3d sess.) on S.
6227, February 28, 1931, a bill to provide fo r cooperation with the several
States and Territories in the physical rehabilitation, education, vocational
guidance, and vocational education of physically handicapped children and
their placement and follow -up in employment, and, fo r other purposes. Wash
ington, 1931. 59 pp.
D e p a rtm e n t of L abor. B ureau of L abor S tatistics. B ulletin No. 539:
Wages and hours of labor in cotton-goods m anufacturing, 1910 to 1930.
W ashington, 1931. 44 PPS um m ary figures from th is survey were published in th e L abor R eview for
N ovem ber, 1930 (pp. 164-169).
-------;------ - C h ild r e n ’s B u r e a u . Bureau Publication No. 2 0 4 : Children of work
ing mothers in Philadelphia. P art I .— The working mothers, by Clara M ortenson Beyer. W ashington, 1931. 39 pp.
U n i t e d S t a t e s .—
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U n i t e d S t a t e s .— P re sid e n t’s
E m ergency C om m ittee for E m p lo y m en t. Com
m u n ity P lans and Action, No. 8: Five “ made w ork” 'programs. W ashing
ton, 1931. 52 pp. (M imeographed.)
R eview ed in th is issue.
Official— Fo reig n C o u n tries
B e l g i u m .— Caisse
G énérale d ’E p arg n e e t de R e tra ite . Compte rendu des opéra
tions et de la situation, 1930. Brussels, 1931. 96 pp.
An account of th e operations of th e G eneral Savings a n d R etirem en t F u n d for
th e y ear 1930.
C o l u m b i a ( C a n a d a ) . — D e p a rtm e n t of L abor.
A n n u a l report fo r the
year ended December 31, 1930. Victoria, 1931. 80 pp., charts.
W age d a ta from th is re p o rt are published in th is issue.
------ W orkm en’s C om pensation B oard. Fourteenth annual report, fo r the year
ending December 31, 1930. Victoria, 1931. 30 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
C a n a d a .— D e p a rtm e n t o f L abor.
Tenth report on organization in industry, com
merce, and the professions in Canada, 1931. Ottawa, 1931. 1/fO pp.
T he various associations covered are classified in 18 groups. So fa r as re tu rn s
were m ade, th e d a te of form ation, th e m em bership, a n d th e o b jects of each
organization are given, also th e nam es a n d addresses of th e chief executive officers
for th e p resen t year.
B r it is h
F r a n c e .— M inistère
du T rav ail, de l ’H ygiène, de l ’A ssistance e t de la P rév o y
ance sociales. C onseil supérieur du T rav ail. Trente-troisième session,
Novembre 1929. Paris, 1930. 2 2 4 pp.
A re p o rt of th e proceedings of th e th irty -th ird session of th e F ren ch Superior
L abor Council, dealing w ith th e su b jects of legislation on ap p ren ticesh ip , p o st
ing of lab o r law s in in d u stria l estab lish m en ts, reg u latio n of lab o r in fam ily
w orkshops, a n d sa n ita tio n of com pany houses.
G e r m a n y .— R eichskohlenrat.
Statistische Übersicht über die Kohlenwirtschaft im
Jahre 1930. Berlin, 1931. 116 pp., charts.
C ontains sta tistic a l info rm atio n in reg ard to th e coal in d u stry in G erm any an d
o th er countries in 1930, including d a ta on w orkers engaged in th e in d u stry ,
w orking hours, w ages, a n d prices.
G r e a t B r i t a i n .— D e p a rtm e n t o f O verseas T rad e.
Economic conditions in
Algeria, 1929-30, by G. P . Churchill, and in Tripolitania, October, 1930, by
Francis Patron. London, 1931. 62 pp.
C ertain in fo rm atio n on wages a n d cost of living in Algeria, ta k e n from th is
re p o rt, are given in th is issue.
------ Foreign Office. R ussia No. 1 (1931): A selection of documents relative to the
labor legislation in force in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. London,
1931. 200 pp. (Cmd. 3775.)
------ H om e Office. F a c to ry D e p a rtm e n t. A n n u a l report fo r the year 1930.
London, 1931. 172 pp. (Cmd. 3927.)
T he re p o rt of th e senior m edical in sp ecto r of factories is review ed in th is issue.
------ In d ia Office. Statement exhibiting the moral and material progress and condi
tion of In d ia during the year 1929—30. London, 1931. 1^96 pp., m aps, charts,
Ulus.
M inistry of H ealth . In terim report of departmental committee on regional
development. London, 1931. 15 pp. (Cmd. 3915.)
T he com m ittee w as a p p o in ted in Ja n u a ry , 1931, to consider th e d ev elopm ent
schem es advised in th e re p o rts of th e regional p lan n in g com m ittees, w ith special
reference to th e ir probab le cost, th e ir econom ic re tu rn s, a n d th e am o u n t of em
p loym ent likely to be afforded b y th em .
77459°—31
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MONTHLY LAB OB R EV IEW
G r e a t B r i t a i n . — M in istry o f
on the rent restrictions acts.
R eview ed in th is issue.
H ealth . Report of the interdepartmental committee
London, 1931. 62 pp. (Cmd. 3911.)
------ M inistry of L abor. L ondon A dvisory C ouncil for Juv en ile E m ploym ent.
Seventh annual report, 1930. London, 1931. 32 pp.
T he general depression m ad e itself felt in L ondon to an increasing degree
during 1930, so t h a t th e n u m b er of placem en ts m ade by th e council, 75,191, was
som ew hat less th a n in e ith er of th e tw o y ears im m ediately preceding. T he
decrease in openings w as especially m ark ed for th e age group 16 to 18, th e dem and
for younger children being on th e w hole well m ain tain ed .
------ R egistry of Frien d ly Societies. Report fo r the year 1929. Part 2: Friendly
societies. London, 1931. 64 pp.
. C ontains a general discussion of th e aim s a n d w ork of th e registered societies *
w ith a digest of som e of th e m o st im p o rta n t legal cases of th e year, an d statistics
as to m em bership, etc.
------ ------- Report fo r the year 1930. Part 3: In d u stria l and provident societies;
section I I , directory and sum m ary tables. London, 1931. 153 pp.
G r e e c e .— [D irection
de la S tatistiq u e.] A n n u a ire statistique de la Grece, 1930.
Année 1. Athens, 1931. 494- PP-, charts.
T he sta tistic a l yearbook of Greece for 1930 co n tain s a section on in d u stry ,
covering production, n u m b er of w orkers, wages of tobacco w orkers, a n d m ining
statistics: M ost of th e d a ta are for th e y ear 1928 an d preceding years.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o r O f f i c e .—
The age of adm ission o f children to employment
in nonindustrial occupations. ( Third item on agenda of International Labor
Conference, 16th session, 1932.) Geneva, 1931. 38 pp. ( World Peace Foun
dation, Boston, Am erican distributor.)
------ The protection of seamen in case of sickness, including the treatment of seamen
injured on board ship. I . The individual liability o f the shipowner towards
sick or injured seamen. I I . Sickness insurance fo r seamen. (Second item
on agenda o f International Labor Conference, second discussion, report I I .)
Geneva, 1931, 343 pp. (W orld Peace Foundation, Boston, A m erican distrib
utor.)
------ Studies and Reports, Series F (industrial hygiene), No. 13: Silicosis (supple
m ent). Resolutions adopted by the International Conference held at Johannes
burg, A ugust 13-27, 1930. Geneva, 1930. 24 pp- (W orld Peace Founda
tion, Boston, A m erican distributor. )
T his p am p h let co n tain s th e re p o rts of th e various com m ittees a p p o in te d by
th e conference for th e consideration of different questions re la tin g to th e problem
of silicosis. T h e conference did n o t b rin g o u t a n y im p o rta n t new fa c ts in reg ard
to th e disease, b u t th e recom m endations em phasize th e need for fu rth e r research
along several lines.
I t a l y .— Associazione
N azionale p er la Prevenzione degli In fo rtu n i sul L avoro.
Relazione sull'attività dell’associazione nell’anno 1929.
M ila n , [1931?].
191 pp.
A ccount of th e activ ities of th e association for th e p rev e n tio n of accidents to
lab o r during th e y ear 1929.
-------------- Statistica degli in fo rtu n i in agricoltura sotto l’aspetto delle causali (anno
1928). M ilan, 1931. 174 PPS tatistics of accid en ts occurring in ag ricu ltu re in Ita ly during 1928, based on
rep o rts of ag ricu ltu ra l in su ran ce societies.
N ew
S o u t h W a l e s ( A u s t r a l i a ) .— R eg istrar of F rien d ly Societies.
Friendly
societies and trade unions: Report fo r the 12 months ended J u n e 30, 1930u
Sydney, 1931. 25 pp.
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S w e d e n .-—[Socialdepartem entet.]
Socialstyrelsen. Arbetslosheten inom fackfôrbunden. Stockholm, 1931. 152 pp.
R e p o rt on a stu d y of u n em p lo y m en t am ong th e m em bers of lab o r unions in
Sweden, from 1920 to 1929, including d a ta on unem p lo y m en t b y in d u stries a n d
age, influence of tra d e agreem ents upon u n em ploym ent, etc.
S w i t z e r l a n d .— B ureau
F éd éral des A ssurances. R apport sur les entreprises
privées en matière d ’assurance en Suisse en 1929. Berne, 1931. 104*, 143 pp.
R ep o rt of th e Swiss F ed eral In su ran ce B ureau u pon th e o peration of p riv a te
insurance funds, covering life insurance an d insurance ag ain st accidents.
( S w i t z e r l a n d ) . — S tatistisch es A m t.
Statistisches Jahrbuch der Stadt
Zurich, 1930. Zurich, 1931. [Various paging.} M ap, charts.
Includes statistics on housing, em p lo y m en t a n d unem ploym ent, unem ploy
m en t insurance, cooperation, etc., in th e city of Zurich, Sw itzerland, in 1930.
Z u r ic h
Unofficial
The slum — its story and solution. London, P . S . K ing & Son
{Ltd.), 1931. 398 pp.
T he objective of all housing cam paigns, th e a u th o r holds, “ is no th in g m ore an d
noth in g less th a n a sep a ra te dwelling for each fam ily, w ith a d e q u a te accom
m odation, set in surroundings clean a n d com ely.” T his objective, he believes, is
atta in a b le , an d m ay even be in sight. A histo rical review of th e public a ttitu d e
to w ard th e housing of th e p oor is followed b y a discussion of th e p resen t situ a tio n
a n d of th e prospect for effective actio n u n d er th e recen t housing acts.
B a r n e s , R a l p h M.
In d u stria l engineering and management— problems and
policies. New York, M cG raw-H ill Book Co. {Inc.), 1931. 366 pp., diagrams,
illus.
P a rt I of th e volum e covers in d u stria l p la n t design a n d eq uipm ent, an d P a rt I I ,
tim e a n d m otion stu d y , wages, a n d m an u factu rin g costs.
B i r n i e , A r t h u r . A n economic history of Europe, 1760-1930.
N ew York, Dial
Press, 1930. 289 pp.
T he subjects covered include th e revolution in in d u stry , agriculture, tra n sp o rt,
com m erce, a n d com m ercial policy; th e p olitical a n d in d u stria l lab o r m ovem ents;
th e cooperative m ovem en t; pro fit sharing a n d co p artn ersh ip ; social insurance;
an d facto ry a n d poor laws.
B o n v o i s i n , G., a n d M a i g n a n , G.
Allocations fam iliales et caisses de compensa
tion. P aris, Librairie du Recueil Sirey, 22, Rue Soufflot, 1930. 352 pp.
T he tw o a u th o rs of th is volum e on fam ily-allow ance fu n d s are, respectively,
th e general director of th e c e n tra l co m m ittee of fam ily allowances a n d th e directo r
of th e com pensation fu n d of th e P aris region.
B o t t a i , J o s é . Experiencia corporativa.
M adrid, M inisterio de Trabajo y Pre
vision, Secciôn de publicidad, 1929. 160 pp. {Biblioteca de Politica Social,
Vol. I I I .)
A description of th e F ascist form of g o vernm ent in Ita ly , by th e Ita lia n M inister
of C orporations.
B o u r b o u sso n , E.
Traité général de la nationalité dans les cinq parties du monde.
Paris, Recueil Sirey, 1931. 613 pp.
A general tre a tise on n a tio n a lity in different countries, covering th e sta tu s
of m arried w om en, n atu ra liz a tio n , a n d loss of n a tio n a lity . T h e laws, decrees,
ordinances, etc., are given by co u n try .
C h e y n e y , A l i c e S.
Text fo r a model international labor conference {one session).
New York City, League of N ations Association {Inc.), Educational Committee,
6 East 39th Street, 1931. 31 pp. {Educational Publications No. 10.)
C o m i t é C e n t r a l d e s A l l o c a t i o n s F a m i l i a l e s . X e Congrès N ational des Allo
cations f am iliales, Lille, Boulogne, Calais, Tournai, Liège, Anvers, 19-24 M ai,
1930. Compte rendu. P a ris-1 7 e, 31, rue Guyot, [1931?]. 240 pp.
A brief re p o rt on th is T e n th N atio n al C ongress on F am ily A llowances was
published in th e Septem ber, 1930, issue of th e L abor Review .
B arnes, H arry.
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W hat next in workers’
education? Seventh annual conference, at Brookwood, February 21-23, 1930.
Edited by a committee of Local 189, Am erican Federation of Teachers. Brookwood, K atonah, N . Y ., 1930. 74 PPT he subjects on th e p ro g ram in cluded w orkers’ ed u catio n in th e U n ited States,
th e problem of th e S outh, p o litical actio n a n d w orkers’ education, th e lab o r press
an d w orkers’ education, a n d th e n ex t step in w orkers’ education.
D e u t s c h e r T e x t il a r b e it e r -V e r b a n d .
Abteilung fü r Tarife und Löhne.
Erhebungen über die Effektiv-Verdienste in der Textilindustrie, Dezember,
1930-M ai, 1931. [Berlin?], 1931. 156 pp. (M imeographed.)
D a ta on wages of tex tile w orkers, ta k e n from th is re p o rt, are given in th is issue.
C o n f e r e n c e o f T e a c h e r s in W o r k e r s ’ E d u c a t io n .
L ’A pplication pratique de la loi sur les assurances sociales.
Paris, É ditions Spes, 1930. 325 pp.
T his volum e contain s a discussion of th e prin cip al featu res of th e F ren ch social
insurance law an d foreign experience w ith social insurance, a com m entary on th e
juridical aspects of th e F ren ch law , a n d a p ra c tic a l guide to its op eratio n for em
ployers an d em ployees. T h e appendixes co n tain a chronological list of law s an d
decrees; th e te x t of th e law of 1928 a n d th e am ended law of 1930, a n d of th e various
decrees; a n d a bibliography.
E l t o n , G o d f r e y . England, arise! London, Jonathan Cape {Ltd.), 1931.
286 pp.
A stu d y of th e d evelopm ent of th e socialist m o v em en t in G re a t B rita in in
th e form of sketches of its leaders a n d of th e conditions w hich called th em
fo rth . T h e a u th o r feels t h a t im p o rte d m eth o d s of socialist p ro p ag an d a have
h ad little success in E ngland, b u t t h a t a ch aracteristic n a tiv e m ovem ent has
been developed.
F i s h e r , V. E ., a n d H a n n a , J o s e p h V.
The dissatisfied worker. N ew York,
M acm illan Co., 1931. 260 pp.
A ccording to th e au th o rs, a v ery considerable p a r t of v o catio n al m a la d ju st
m en t a n d in d u stria l u n re st is b u t a m an ifestatio n of em otional m ala d ju stm e n t
w hich in m ost cases is th e n a tu ra l re su lt of em o tio n al m aldevelopm ent.
G r i g a u t , M a u r i c e . H istoire du travail et des travailleurs.
P aris, L ibrairie Delagrave, 1931. 311 pp., illus.
A history of agricu ltu ral, in d u stria l, a n d com m ercial lab o r in F rance, covering
economic conditions a n d p olitical ev en ts affecting th e co ndition of th e w orkers in
th e different periods.
H a en se l, P a u l.
The economic policy of Soviet R ussia. London, P . S . K ing &
Son (L td .), 1930. 190 pp.
C ontains a review of econom ic p lan s in Soviet R ussia, as observed a n d u n d er
stood by th e au th o r, including a ch a p te r on th e econom ic p o sitio n of th e w orking
class.
D urand, P aul.
A m erican Section. Em ploym ent reg
ularization in the United States of Am erica.
W ashington, D. C., 1931.
84 PP-, charts.
I n t e r n a t io n a l C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e .
I n t e r n a t io n a l e U n io n d e r H o t e l - , R e s t a u r a n t - u n d C a f é - A n g e s t e l l t e n .
6. Internationale K onferenz, P aris, 19. bis 21. M a i, 1931. B erlin, N 24,
Elsässer Strasse 8 6 -8 8 , 1931. 120 pp.
A re p o rt on th e S ixth In te rn a tio n a l C onference of th e H otel, R e sta u ra n t,
a n d B ar W orkers’ U nions held in P aris M ay 19-21, 1931, including rep o rts on
wages an d lab o r conditions of th ese w orkers in v ario u s countries.
J o i n t C o m m i t t e e o n U n e m p l o y m e n t R e l i e f o f t h e S t a t e B o a r d o f S o c ia l
W e l f a r e a n d t h e S t a t e C h a r i t i e s A id A s s o c i a t i o n .
W ork relief:A mem
orandum on work as a means of providing unem ploym ent relief.
City, 105 East 22d Street, Ju n e, 1931. 22 pp.
R eview ed in th is issue.
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P U B L IC A T IO N S R E L A T IN G TO L A B O R
255
L a b o r Y e a r b o o k ( B r i t i s h ) , 1931.
I s s u e d b y the G en eral C o u n cil o f the T ra d esU n io n C on gress a n d the n a tio n a l execu tive o f the L a b o r P a r ty . L o n d o n , L a b o r
P u b lic a tio n s D e p a r tm e n t, 1 9 3 1 . 5 6 7 p p .
I n a d d itio n t o t h e u s u a l m a te r ia l t h is issu e c o n ta in s a d isc u s sio n o f t h e w orld
d e p r e ssio n , w ith a b r ie f s u m m a r y o f i t s p o s sib le c a u se s a n d t h e r e m e d ia l m e a su r es
su g g e s te d . C o n sid e r a b le s p a c e is d e v o te d t o th e in te r n a tio n a l r e la tio n s o f la b o r.
A d m in is tr a tio n o f the c h ild labor la w in
O hio, b y C h arles E . G ibbon s a n d C hester T . S ta n sb u ry . N e w Y o rk C ity ,
331 F o u rth A v en u e , 1 9 3 1 . 6 6 p p .
N a t io n a l C h il d L a b o r C o m m it t e e .
I n d u s t r ia l
C onference
B oard
( I n c .) .
I n d u s tr ia l re la tio n s:
A d m in is tr a tio n o f p o lic ie s a n d p ro g ra m s. N e w Y o rk , 2 f 7 P a r k A ven u e,
1931. 1 U pp.
T h is r ep o rt c o v e r s t h e m e th o d s fo llo w e d in 3 0 2 c o m p a n ie s in a d m in is te r in g
th e ir in d u s tr ia l-r e la tio n s p o lic ie s. T h e p u r p o se o f t h e s t u d y w a s t o d e te r m in e
w h e th e r s o m e th in g lik e a sta n d a r d m e th o d is b e in g d e v e lo p e d a s a r e s u lt o f t h e
e x p e r ie n c e w it h d iffe r e n t t y p e s o f p o lic ie s. T h e tr e n d a w a y fr o m th e p a te r n a lis tic
a t t it u d e in t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f so u n d e m p lo y e r a n d e m p lo y e e r e la tio n s is e m p h a
s iz e d in t h e rep o rt.
N a t io n a l
I n d u s tr ia l a ccid en t s ta tis tic s, 1931 e d itio n .
C hicago, 2 0 N o rth W a c k er D riv e, 1 9 3 1 . 39 p p ., ch arts.
D a t a o n t h e a c c id e n t e x p e rien ce o f e s ta b lis h m e n ts r e p o r tin g to th e N a t io n a l
S a fe ty C o u n c il, ta k e n fr o m th is p u b lic a tio n , are g iv e n in t h is issu e o f t h e L a b o r
R e v ie w .
N a t i o n a l S a f e t y C o u n c i l ( I n c .) .
Y o r k U n i v e r s i t y . W a sh in g to n S q u a re C o lleg e .
D e p a r tm e n t o f E c o
n o m ic s. E c o n o m ic behavior— a n in s titu tio n a l a p p ro a c h . B oston , H ou gh ton
M ifflin C o., 1 9 3 1 . 2 vols.
T h e six b o o k s in t o w h ic h t h e w o rk is d iv id e d d e a l, r e s p e c tiv e ly , w ith th e fo llo w
in g s u b je c ts : T h e p e c u n ia r y b a s is o f in d u s tr ia l s o c ie t y , fu n d s a n d t h e ir u ses,
m a r k e t p r a c tic e s , t h e ro le of th e a o n su m ers, t h e ro le of th e w o rk ers, a n d c h a n g e
a n d c o n tr o l.
N ew
T he a u th en tic h isto ry o f c iv il service su p e r a n n u a tio n . L o n d o n , P . S .
K in g & S o n {L td .), 19 3 0 . 6 5 p p .
A b rief a c c o u n t o f t h e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e c iv il-s e r v ic e p e n s io n s y s t e m in
G r e a t B r ita in , g iv e n m a in ly in t h e fo r m o f q u o ta tio n s fr o m o fficia l d o c u m e n ts ,
w ith o n ly su c h c o n n e c tin g m a tte r a s is r eq u ire d fo r c o n t in u it y .
N ix o n , J o h n .
P a is h , G e o r g e .
1 6 1
T he w a y to recovery.
N e w Y o rk , G. P . P u tn a m ’s S o n s, 1931.
p p .
P e r s o n , H . S.
S c ie n tific m an agem en t a s a p h ilo so p h y a n d tech n iqu e o f progressive
in d u s tr ia l s ta b iliz a tio n . [T h e H agu e, In te r n a tio n a l I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s A s so c ia tio n l], 1 9 3 1 . 6 4 p p .
B y t h e m a n a g in g d ir ec to r o f t h e T a y lo r S o c ie ty , N e w Y o r k . I s su e d fo r s t u d y
b y m e m b er s o f t h e 1931 W o rld S o c ia l E c o n o m ic C o n g ress, h e ld a t A m s te r d a m in
A u g u s t.
F e d e r a t i o n o f S o c ia l A g e n c i e s . B u r e a u o f S o c ia l R e se a rc h .
B ib lio g r a p h y o f s tu d ie s o f so c ia l co n d itio n s in the P itts b u rg h area, 1 9 2 0 -1 9 3 0 .
P itts b u rg h , 8 0 5 - 8 0 7 W a b a sh B u ild in g , 1 9 3 1 . 8 5 p p .
P it t s b u r g h
P r in c e t o n
U n iv e r s it y .
tio n . P r in c e to n , 1 9 3 1 .
R e v ie w e d in t h i s issu e .
In d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s S e c tio n .
4-5 pp - (M im e o g r a p h e d .)
D is m is s a l co m p e n sa
R o g e r s , T h o m a s W e s l e y , S t u d e n c k i , W a l l a c e P ., a n d
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S t a t is t ic s fro m t h is r ep o rt are p u b lish e d in t h is issu e.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
[1 0 0 3 ]
256
M O N T H L Y L A B OH R E V IE W
B and I I .
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t o tr a d e o r g a n iz a tio n s a n d tr a d e tr a in in g in G er m a n y .
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U n e m p lo y m e n t in su r a n c e i n S w itz e r
la n d — the G hent s y s te m n a tio n a liz e d , w ith c o m p u lso r y fe a tu re s . N e w Y o rk ,
I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s C ou n selors {I n c .) , 1 9 3 1 . 2 7 6 p p ., m a p .
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u n d e r t h e u n e m p lo y m e n t-in s u r a n c e s y s t e m o f S w itz e r la n d . I t c o n s t it u t e s th e
th ir d in a se r ie s o f s tu d ie s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t in su r a n c e b e in g p u b lish e d b y th e
I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s C o u n selo rs (I n c .), t h e o th e r t w o v o lu m e s t h u s fa r p u b lish e d
b e in g U n e m p lo y m e n t B e n e fits in t h e U n it e d S t a t e s a n d U n e m p lo y m e n t In su r a n c e
in G r e a t B r ita in . I t is a n n o u n c e d t h a t sim ila r s tu d ie s fo r B e lg iu m a n d G er m a n y
a re in p r e p a r a tio n .
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a s r a d ic a l a s t h e in d u s tr ia l r e v o lu tio n o f t h e e a r ly n in e t e e n t h c e n t u r y ,” t h a t th e
b a n k in g a n d g e n e r a l m o n e ta r y p o lic y o f t h e c o u n tr y m u s t p la y a n im p o r ta n t
r o le in i t s d e v e lo p m e n t, a n d t h a t a t p r e s e n t t h e B r itis h b a n k s are n o t fu lly
u n d e r ta k in g t h e n e w r e s p o n s ib ilitie s , b e in g h a n d ic a p p e d b y a n a d h e r e n c e t o th e
t o o r ig id a n d lim it e d p o lic ie s o f t h e p a s t.
T o k y o C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e a n d I n d u s tr y .
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h o w e v e r , a re p u b lish e d in th e J u n e, 1931, M o n th ly B u lle tin o f t h e T o k y o C h a m b e r
o f C o m m e rc e a n d In d u s tr y , so m e o f w h ic h are p r e se n te d in t h is issu e o f th e
L a b o r R e v ie w .
U f f ic io
S p e c ia l e
c a z io n e
d
della
’I n f o r m a z i o n i L e g a l i e d A m m i n i s t r a t i v e p e r l ’A p p l i L e g i s l a z i o n e S o z i a l e (R o m e , I t a ly ) .
C odico del lavoro.
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t h e e c o n o m ic a n d s o c ia l c o n t a c t s o f t h e U n it e d M in e W ork ers o f A m e ric a w ith
t h e liv e s o f t h e p e o p le in t h e a n th r a c ite c o a l reg io n . O n e c h a p te r d e a ls w it h th e
c o n tr a c tu a l r e la tio n s b e tw e e n t h e a n th r a c ite o p e r a to rs a n d t h e m in e w o rk ers
fr o m 190 3 to th e p r e s e n t a g r e e m e n t, e ffe c tiv e fr o m S e p te m b e r 1, 1930, t o A p ril
1, 1936.
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T h is b o o k is in te n d e d fo r th e u se o f m e d ic a l s t u d e n t s w h o are p la n n in g to go
in to p u b lic h e a lth wrork. I t p r e se n ts m e th o d s fo r t h e a n a ly s is o f v it a l s t a t is t ic s
a n d th e c o n s tr u c tio n o f c h a r ts or g rap h s.
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