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THE STATISTICAL WORK OF THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT RESEARCH

Washington , D . C.
The Institute for Government Research is an association of citi

zens for coöperating with public officials in the scientific study of
government with a view to promoting efficiency and economy in its
operations and advancing the science of administration . It aims to
bring into existence such information and materials as will aid in
the formation of public opinion and will assist officials, particularly
those of the national government, in their efforts to put the public

administration upon a more efficient basis.
To this end, it seeks by the thoroughgoing study and examination
of the best administrative practice, public and private , American
and foreign , to formulate those principles which lie at the basis of all
sound administration , and to determine their proper adaptation to the

specific needs of our public administration .
The accomplishment of specific reforms the Institute recognizes to
be the task of those who are charged with the responsibility of legis
lation and administration ; but it seeks to assist, by scientific study
and research, in laying a solid foundation of information and experi
ence upon which such reforms may be successfully built.
While some of the Institute's studies find application only in the
form of practical coöperation with the administration officers directly

concerned, many are of interest to other administrators and of gen
eral educational value. The results of such studies the Institute pur
poses to publish in such form as will insure for them the widest

possible utilization .

Officers
Harold G . Moulton,

Robert S. Brookings,

Vice-Chairman

Chairman

Frederic A . Delano,
Treasurer

Robert S. Brookings
Frederic A . Delano

George Eastman

Trustees
Frank J.Goodnow
Jerome D . Greene
Vernon Kellogg

John C. Merriam
L . S . Rowe

Harold G . Moulton

Charles D.Walcott

Raymond B . Fosdick

Director

W . F. Willoughby
Editor

F. W . Powell

THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT RESEARCH
STUDIES IN

ADMINISTRATION

THE STATISTICAL WORK
OF THE

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

BY

LAURENCE F. SCHMECKEBIER, PH. D.

THE JOHNS HOPKINS PRESS
BALTIMORE

MARYLAND
1925

COPYRIGHT, 1925, BY
THE INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT RESEARCH
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

atimore (Press
ose FBaltimore
ETheS.RLord
BALTIMORE, MD., U . 8. A .

PUBLICATIONS OF THE
INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT RESEARCH
STUDIES IN ADMINISTRATION .
The System of Financial Administration of Great Britain.
By W . F. Willoughby, W . W . Willoughby, and S . M . Lindsay.
378 pp. $ 3.
The Budget.
By René Stourm .

'T. Plazinski, Translator; W . F. McCaleb , Editor. 648 pp.
$4.
The Canadian Budgetary System .

By H . C . Villard and W . W . Willoughby. 390 pp. $ 3.
The Problem of a National Budget.
By W . F . Willoughby. 234 pp . $ 3.
The Movement for Budgetary Reform in the States.

By W . F. Willoughby. 266 pp. $ 3.
Teachers' Pension Systems in the United States.
By Paul Studensky. 474 pp. $ 3.
Organized Efforts for the Improvement ofMethods of Administra
tion in the United States.

By Gustavus A . Weber. 408 pp. $ 3.
The Federal Service : A Study of the System of Personnel Ad
ministration of the United States Government.

By Lewis Mayers. 624 pp . $5.

The Reorganization
of the Administrative Branch of the National
Government
.

By W . F . Willoughby. 314 pp. $ 3.

The Development of National Administrative Organization in the
United States.
By Lloyd M . Short 531 pp. $ 5.
The Statistical Work of the National Government.
By Laurence F . Schmeckebier. $ 5.

Manual
of Accounting and Reporting for the Operating Services
of the National Government.
By Henry P . Seidemann . (In Press.)

PRINCIPLES OF ADMINISTRATION .
Principles Governing the Retirement of Public Employees.
By Lewis Meriam . 508 pp. $ 3.
Principles of Government Purchasing.

By Arthur G . Thomas. 290 pp. $ 3.
Principles of Government Accounting and Reporting.
By Francis Oakey. 582 pp. $ 5 .

Principles of Personnel Administration.
By Arthur W . Procter. 256 pp. $ 3.

4616

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INSTITUTE FOR GOVERNMENT RESEARCH

SERVICE MONOGRAPHS OF

THE UNITED

STATES GOVERNMENT.

The Geological Survey. 174 pp. $ 1.
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The Tariff Commission. 84 pp. $ 1.

The Federal Board for Vocational Education . 86 pp.
$ 1.
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The Weather Bureau . 100 pp. $ 1 .
The Public Health Service. 312 pp . $ 2 .

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$ 1.

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The Federal Power Commission . 138 pp. $ 1.

The Interstate Commerce Commission . 182 pp. $1 .
d. 96 pp. $1.
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The
The

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The Government Printing Office. ( In Press.)

PREFACE

A complete examination of the organization and operations of
a government with a view to determining wherein the adminis
tration can be made more efficient and economical requires the
prosecution of two classes of studies : those dealing with the gov

ernmentas an institution ; that is, the manner in which the govern
ment is organized and the methods of procedure employed by

it in maintaining and operating itself as an institution ; and those
dealing with the activities of the government for the performance

of which it is maintained and operated . In both classes of studies,
two distinct steps have to be taken ; first, the determination and
orderly presentation of the facts regarding existing conditions,

activities and processes ; and, second, the critical examination
of these facts for the purpose of determining wherein existing

conditions or practices are satisfactory or the reverse ; and, when
deemed to be unsatisfactory, the action that should be taken to

correct such conditions or practices.
The present volume gives the results of a study representing

the first step in an inquiry falling in the second of the two classes

of studies that have been enumerated. It has for its purpose to
make known in as clear, and in as comprehensive manner as cir
cumstances permit, what the National Government has done, and

is doing , in the way of collecting and publishing information of
a statistical character. It deals with the past, as well as thepresent,
since it is hoped that the volumewill, not only furnish the essen
tial information needed in order to evaluate the work of the gov
ernment in this field and to determine the action that should be
taken to make such work of greater value and to improve the
organization and methods employed in performing such work , but

also serve as a guide or source of information to the public in
determining what statistical information is available in the publi
cations of the NationalGovernment and the particular documents

in which such information may be found.
It is hoped that this volumemay be followed by one or more
other volumes having for their purpose the taking of the second

step of the inquiry. These volumes will have to handle such ques
tions as: the extent to which the National Government is meeting
the obligation of collecting and publishing the statistical data which
vii

viii

PREFACE

it is desirable should be undertaken by it; the extent to which it
is performing work in this field the value of which is doubtful, or
is performed at a cost disproportionate to its value, or which pref
erably should be performed by other agencies ; the extent to which
the statistical output of the National Governmentmay be improved
from the technical standpoint ; the extent to which themethods of
collecting, compiling and presenting the statistical data may be

improved from both the technical and economic standpoint ; and,
finally , the extent to which the whole cost of collecting, compiling ,
and publishing statistical data may bemore efficiently and economi

cally performed through the reallocation of the specific statistical
activities among the several statistical and other services of the
government, the concentration of statistical work in a fewer num
ber of services or its further distribution with a view to having

it performed by those services having to do with the subject matters
to which the statistics relate , and the situation clarified by the crea
tion of a central statistical agency which will at least have the func
tion ofadvising in respect to the coördination of the statistical work
of the government and serving as a central bureau of information

regarding work in this field .
All of these arematters which must be thoroughly inquired into if

the statistical work of the government is to be improved and be
more economically performed . In such inquiries , the opinions and

advice of those for whose use the statistical data are primarily

intended must be sought as well as by those concerned with the
production of the data. Not the first approach to such a considera
tion can be had , however, until full information is available regard
ing what the governmenthas done and is now doing. This informa
tion, it is the purpose of the present volumeto provide.
Though the work is essentially a fact statement, with no deliber

ate intention to subject the statistical material described to critical
comment, it has been thought wise to include certain observations
having for their purpose to make known the extent to which the
data described represent facts which may be taken at their face
value or are subject to limitations as regards their completeness,
accuracy or legitimacy of use for certain purposes. Especially has
this been done when the statistical publications themselves point

out the limitations that should be observed in using the figures
reproduced .

W . F. WILLOUGHBY.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER

PAGE

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Federal Reserve Bulletin . . . . .

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· · · · · · · · · · ·

Monthly . . . . . . . . . . .

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I. INTRODUCTION . . .
II. GENERAL SUMMARIES .
Weekly . . . .
Crops and Markets

Survey of Current Business . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

Agriculture Yearbook .
Decennial . . . . .
Abstracts and Atlases of
Early General Summaries

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the
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Census
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Commerce Yearbook

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Monthly Labor Review · · · · · · · · · ·
Annu
al
: i; , : . . . . . . .
. .oi. miii
tistical. Abstract
Ab
Sta
States
of the United
Statistical

10

10
II
12

12
I2
13

. .

· · · · · ·

Area Included in Enumerations . . .

. . . . . . .

III. POPULATION IN GENERAL . . . . . . . . . .
General Review . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Method of Collecting Statistics . .

Classification
of the Population . .
Number . . . . . . . .

. . . .

.

Scope of Reports of Fourteenth Census . . . . .
Units of Tabulation

22
CS

. .

Color or Race, Nativity and Parentage . . . .· .·
· · · ·

Sex · · · · · · · · · · ·
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..
Marita. l .Conditi
.
on . . . . . . . .
· ·

Age
Age

.

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.

. . . .

· · · ·

Illiteracy

. . . . . . . . .

School Attendance . . .
Inability to Speak English . . . . . . . . . .

State of Birth of Native Population . . . .

Country
of Birth of Foreign Born Population
Country of Origin of Foreign White Stock . .

. .
.

· ·

Mother Tongue of Foreign White Stock . . . .
Citizenship of Foreign Born . . . . . .
.
Year of Immigration of Foreign Born . .
Dwellings, Families and Home Ownership . . . . 67
.

IV. NEGROES, INDIANS, CHINESE, AND JAPANESE . . .
.

. . .

·

Negroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indians . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chinese and Japanese . . . . . . . . . . . .
ix

CONTENTS
PAGE

CHAPTER

. .

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V . DEPENDENTS, DEFECTIVES AND DELINQUENTS . . . . . . 78
Paupers .
DCCVoleil
Benevolent Institutions
IIISLIULIOIIS
.. .. . . . . . .
Insane and Feeble Minded . . . . . . . . . .
Blind and Deaf . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.

.

Delinquents . . . . . . . .
VI. IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS . . . . .

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95

103

. 104
. 104

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Reports of Bureau of Immigration . . . . .
Annual Statistics . . . . . . . . .
Monthly Statistics . . . . . . . . .
Reports of Immigration Commission . . . .
Ninth Special Report of Commissioner of Labor
Census Reports . . . . .
. . . . .
Passenger Movement . . . . . . . . .

VII. OCCUPATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

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118

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Decennial Compilations .
Annual Statistics . . . .
Decennial Mortality Rates
Weekly Statistics . . .
Special Compilations . .

.

. . . . . . .

IX . DEATHS,
DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS
. . .
Deaths . . . .

..
. . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .

VIII. BIRTHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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. 118

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126

129
129
131
132

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Army and Navy . . . .
Diseases . . . . .
Physical and Psychological Conditions . . . . . .
Accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Railroads . . . . . . . . . . .. . ..

. 132

Accidents in Metallurgical Works

. . .

Coke Oven Accidents . . .

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. . .
135
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135
. . . . . . . . . 130
.
136
. . . . .

Industrial Accidents . .
Coal Mine Accidents . .
Metal Mine Accidents .
Quarry Accidents . . .

118
119
124
126

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152
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XII. EDUCATION . . . . . . . . .
XIII. LABOR AND WAGES . .: : : . . .
Wages and Hours of Labor . . .
Manufacturing and Mining . .
Early Reports . . . . . .
Bureau of Labor Statistics . .
Tariff Commmission . . . .
Bureau of the Census . . .
Railroads . . . . . . . .
Interstate Commerce Commission
Railroad Labor Board . . .

·

.

X . MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE . . . . . . . .
XI. RELIGIOUS BODIES . . . . . . . .

137

137

Eight-Hour Commission . . . . . . . . . . 162

CONTENTS

xi

CHAPTER

PAGE

XIII. LABOR AND WAGES— Continued .
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168

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Bureau of the Census . . .

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Prison Labor . . . .

XIV . WOMEN AND CHILDREN . . .

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· . ..

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Strikes and Lockouts . . . . . . .
Farm Labor . . . . . .

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Employment

Interstate Commerce Commission

· · ·

Bureau of Labor Statistics . . . . . . . . . .
Railroad Administration . . . . . . .

174

. . . 175
. . . 176
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Women 's Bureau . . . . . .
. . .
Children's Bureau . . . . . . . . . .
XV. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS . . . . .
Farms and Farm Property . . . . . . .
Farm Tenure . . . . . . . . . . .
Size of Farms
mns .. .. . . . . . . . . .
Race and Nativity of Farm Operators . . . .
Sex of Farm Operators . . . . . . . .
Age of Farm Operators . . . . . . . .
Years on Farm . . . . . . . . .
Farm Experience . . . . . . . . .
Farm Mortgages . . . . . . . . . .
. .
. .
Farm Expenses . :. :
Coöperative Marketing and Purchasing . . .
Farm Facilities . . . . . . . . . . .
Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drainage . . . . . . .
. .
XVI. PRODUCTION OF CROPS . . . . . . . . . .
Decennial Census Statistics . . . . . . .
Department of Agriculture . . . .: . . .
Discrepancy Between Statistics of the Bureau of
sus and of the Department of Agriculture . .
Annual Statistics of the Bureau of the Census .
Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tobacco . . . . . . .
. . . .
XVII. LIVESTOCK
IVESTOCK . . . . . . . . .
. . .
Decennial Census Statistics .
: : :

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· · · ·

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the Cen
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189
190
190
190
191
195
197
197
202
214
217
217
219
2211

: . . 22

Annual Livestock Estimates of Department of Agriculture 226

XVIII. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Decennial Census of Agriculture . . . . . . . .
Census of Manufactures . . . . . . .
•
Meat Production Estimates of Department of Agriculture
Other Statistics of Department of Agriculture . . . .
.
Other Sources . . . . . . . . . . . .
XIX . PRODUCTION OF MINERALS . . . . . . . . . . .
allatMinerals
Annual Statistics on St
. ..
ements :: UU ... SS .Geological
Gori. Survey
Weekly and Monthlyy Statements
Gold and Silver . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Coal Distribution , 1918- 1919 . . . . . . . . . .

228
228
230

232
233
233
234
234
239
240
242

Decennial Statistics on Mineral Industry . . . . . . 242

CONTENTS

xii
CHAPTER

PAGE

XX . PRODUCTS OF FISHERIES . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Bureau of the Census . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Bureau of Fisheries . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
.

XXI. PRODUCTION OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES . .. .:
. 257
General Statistics of the Census of Manufactures . . . 258

Scope of the Census . . . . . .
Method of Collection . . .
.
Classification
of
Industries
and
Products
Establishments . . . . . . . .
Capacity . . .
. . . . .
.
Value . . . . . . . . .
Material :
. . . .
Value Added by Manufacture . . . .
Character
of Ownership
shments . .. .. .. .. . .
Size of Establi

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... ..
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Hours of Labor . . . . . .
Persons Engaged in Manufacturing Industries . . .
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consumption of fuel . . . . . . . . . . .
Capital . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expenses . . . . .
Limitations of the Statistics . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Annual and Other Statistics of the Bureau of the Census
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Wool Manufacturing

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Paint and Varnish . .
Sulphuric
Acid and Acid Phosphate . .. ..
Farm Equipment . .
Clay and Refractory Products . . . . .
Glue and Gelatin . . . . . . . . . .
Lighting Fixtures
. . . . . . . .
Forest Products . . . . . . . . .
Other Periodic Reports . . . . . . . .
Dyes and Coal Tar Chemicals . . .
Explosives
. . . . . . . . . . .
Petroleum Product
s . . . . . . . .
Articles Subject to Internal Revenue Taxes .
Special Reports . . . . . . . . . . .
Shipbuilding . . . . . . . . . . .
Census of War Commodities . . . . . .
XXII. SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . .
Grain, Grain Products, and Grain Trade . . .
Articles Affected by Emergency Tariff of 1921 .
Agricultural Staples . . . . . . . . .
.

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Textile Products . . . . .
Leather and Leather Products
Iron and Steel Products . .
Wheat Flour . . . . . .
Fats and Oils · · · · ·

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265
267
207

. . . . . . . . . . . 270

Cotton Spinning . . . . . . . .

Sugar

201
262
263
264
264
264
264

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• 274
· 274
274

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80
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286
286
288
290
298
299

301

CONTENTS

xiii

CHAPTER

PAGE

XXII. SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES. - Continued .
Livestock and Livestock Products . . . . . . . . 304
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Tobacco

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Fertilizers

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Canned Goods . . . . . . .
Potato Products . . . . . .
Textiles . . ' .
Petroleum
and Petroleum Di
Products.:
Coal
. . . .
and Stee
Iron and
Iron
Steeli .. .. . . . . .
Minerals . . . . . . . . .
:

300
309
309
310
312
313
313
315

Barytes,Barium Chemical
and Lithopone Industries : . 316
Acids : : : :
: . . . .
cent

s

.

319

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· 318
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. . . 319

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317
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Trade of the United States with theWorld . .

. .

ndes Gas Min
tie '. .. . .. .. . ..
Inca
Mantles
candescent Gas
Glass · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Furniture . . . . . . . . . . .
Stoves
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Farm Implements and Machinery . . . .
Surgical Instruments . . . . . . . .
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brushes . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
Buttons . . . . . . .
Wood-using Industries . . . . . . .
Cost of Production . . . . . . . . .
XXII . IMPORTS AND EXPORTS . . .
.. .
Terms
Used
and
Limitations
of
the
Statistics
General Current Statistics . . . . . .
: :. . ·. .
Foreign Commerce and Navigation

Statistical Abstract of the United States . .
.
.
.
of
·
.
.

. . .
. . .
. . :
Current
· · ·
. . .
. . .
.
.

Quarterly Statements of Exports . . .
Monthly Statistics . . . . .
Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce.
Advance and Special Statements . . .
Federal Reserve Bulletin and Survey
Business · · · · · · · · · ·
Limited Statistics . . . . . . . . .
Minerals . . . . . . . . . . .

320
320
321
321

323
326
326
343
343
343
349

350
353
354
354
358
359
359
359

Agricultural Products . .
. .

Water Borne Exports and Imports . . . . . . . 360
General Compilations . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Trade with Various Countries . . . . . . . .
Imports, 1867 to 1918 . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . .
Exports, 1697 to 1893 . .
Imports and Exports, Fiscal Year 1905, Production, 1904
Dictionary of Tariff Information . . . .
Summary of Tariff Information . . . . . . .
Tariff Information Surveys . . . . . . . . .
Commodity Compilations . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
Imports of Dyestuffs . .
Imports of Chemicals Other than Dyestuffs . . . .

362
364
366
366

367
367
308
369
369
369

CONTENTS

xiv
CHAPTER

PAGE

XXIII. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS- Continued .
Imports of Crude Botanical Drugs . . . . . . .
. . . . 370
Imports of Cotton Yarn . . . . .
270

Imports and Exports of Seeds . .

. . 371

Imports and Exports of Lumber and Wood Products - 372
XXIV . LAND TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION . .
General Statistics on Railroads . . . . . .
Early Reports and Summaries . . . .
Interstate Commerce Commission . . . .
Annual Reports . . . . . .
. .
Quarterly Reports on Commodity Movements
Monthly Reports . . . . . . . . .
LIMITED STATISTICS ON RAILROADS . . . . .
Freight Rates

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

. . . . .

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. .

. . . . . . .
.

382

.

• 390
· 390

385
.

.

• 394
· 395

.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

· 396
. .
396
. . . 396
. . . 396
. . 396
· 399
. . . 401
. . . 402
. . . 403

. .

. . 405

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

. . . . . . . 408

XXV . SHIPPING . . . . . . . . .

XXVI. DOMESTIC COMMERCE . . .

375
. .

.

.

Telephones .

.

.

.

. .

Block Signals . .
Train Operation . .
Locomotive Boilers .
Private Car Lines .
Other Common Carriers
Pullman Company .
Express Companies .
Electric Railroads .
Pipe Line Companies
Roads and Automobiles
Telegraph . . . .

. . . 373
. . 373
. . . 373
. . .

.

.

.

.

.

. 415

.
..
·
.

.
.
·
.

.
.
·
.

Industrial Commission

.

Bureau of Corporations . .

.

. .
· · · · · · ·

. . . . . . .

Inland Waterways Commission . . .
National Waterways Commission . .

· · ·

.

. . . . . . . . . .

.

Early Treasury Department Reports . . . .
Bureau of Statistics . . .
Reports of Chief of Engineers, War Department .·.
Bureau of the Census . . . . . . . . .

415
416
419
420

422

423
. . . . . . 424

Department of Agriculture . . .
Shipping Board . . . . . . . . . . . .

XXVII. WATER POWER AND ELECTRIC POWER . . . . . . . . 435
XXVIII. PRICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441

.

. .

.
· ·

Wholesale Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aldrich Report of 1893 . . . . . . . . . . .
Bureau of Labor Statistics . . . . . . . . . .
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce . . . .
Industrial Commission . . . . . . . .
. .
War Industries Board . .
. . .
Department of Agriculture :
.
Bureau of Corporations and Federal Trade Commission
Tariff Commission . . . . . . . . . . . .

441
441
443
444
445
446

448
449
450

Retail Prices and Cost of Living . . . . . . . . 450

CONTENTS

XV

CHAPTER

PAGE

. . . . . 453
. . . . . 453

.. .. .. .. .. 453
473
476
· · · ·
. . .

. .

: 470
. . . . • 478
. . . .
.

XXIX . FINANCES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT .
General Material . . . . . . . .
Receipts,
Appropriations, and Expenditures
Public Debt . . . . . . . . . .
XXX. PUBLIC FINANCES OTHER THAN NATIONAL .
:
States . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
Cities . . . . . . .
Minor Civil Divisions . . . . . . .

XXXI. GENERAL STATISTICS OF Cities . . . . . . . . .

480

Inquiry
.
.
..

.
.
..

.
.
.
.

.
.
..

.
.
.
.

· · · · · · · ·
. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .
. . .

XXXII. MONEY AND BANKING, . . . .
Treasury Department . . .
Federal Reserve Board .
Joint Commission of Agricultural
National Monetary Commission
Exchange Rates . . . . . .
Interest Rates . . .
Building and Loan Associations.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

•
.
.
.
.

492
105
495
503
503
504

XXXIII. INCOME AND NATIONAL WEALTH . . . . . . . . . 505

· ·

. . . .

. . . .

. .
.
. . . .
.
. .
. . . .

л

· · · .

. . . . 511
. . . . 512
.
. . 514
. . . . 515
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 517
516
.. .
. . . . . . 517

.
.
.
.

. . .

Alaska . . . . . . .
Hawaii . . . . . . .
Porto Rico . . . . .
Philippine Islands . . . .
Panama
Canal and. CanalZone
Virgin Islands
. . . .
Guam . . . . .. .. .. ..

. . .

. . .

XXXIV. NONCONTIGUOUS TERRITORY . .

. . . . . . .

· ·

. . .

. .

Income iwi . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505
lth .. .. . . . . . .
ional Wea
Nat
National
Wealth
. . . . 508

. . . . 518
. . . . 518
521
.
522
Bureau of Labor Statistics . . . . .
524
Public Health Service

XXXV. FOREIGN COUNTRIES . . . . . . . . .
Reports of Existing Organizations . . .
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
Federal Reserve Board . . . . . .
Department of Agriculture . . .
.
. . . . .
. . . . .
. .
.
Organizations
. . .. . .
.
.

. . . . . . 525
. . . . . . 525
· · ·

Geological Survey .
Tariff Commission .
Bureau of the Census
Reports of Discontinued
Bureau of Statistics
Food Administration

. . . . 518

526
526
527

. . . . . .
. . . . . . 527

527

. . . 528
National Monetary Commission .
Senate Commission of Gold and Silver Inquiry . . . 534
Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

XXXVI. MISCELLANEOUS

. . . . . .
.
Government Employees . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 530
Election Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536
538

xvi

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

PAGE

INDEX

.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.

..
.
.
.
.
.

. 539
· ·

.
.
.
.
.

..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

·

.. .. ..

. . . . .

XXXVI. MISCELLANEOUS — Continued.
Industrial Combinations .
Commercial Failures and Depressions .
Prices and Sales of Stocks and Bonds .
Insurance
. . . . .
Newspapers and Periodicals . . . .
Forests . . . . . . . . . .
Disasters to Vessels . . . . . .
City Slums . . . . . . . .
Liquor Problem . . . . . . .

539

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

540
542
543
543
544
545
545

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 547

THE STATISTICAL WORK OF THE
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The statistical work of the National Government is as old as

the government itself, as the Constitution provided for an enumera
tion of the inhabitants within three years after the first meeting of
Congress and every ten years thereafter for the purpose of appor

tioning representatives among the several states. Though origi
nally devoted only to the enumeration of the population, the decen

nial census has steadily expanded in scope until it now embraces
many of the more important features of the economic and indus
trial life of the nation , and is of a scope not equalled by corres.

ponding undertakings in any other country. Immediately upon the
organization of the government the Treasury Department began
the collection and publication of statistics relating to the national
finances and foreign trade, although definite provision for the pub
lication of trade statistics was not made until 1821. Until after

the close of the Civil War the import and export statistics of the
Treasury Department and the work of the decennial censuses

included practically every statistical activity of the government.
In later years, not only has the Bureau of the Census, which was
made a permanent bureau in 1902, been entrusted with the periodi
cal collection and publication of a wide range of statistical data ,
but other bureaus which have been established primarily for the

study of economic, social, and scientific problems have to an in
creasing extent published statisticaldata dealing with matters under

their jurisdiction.
At the present time the statistical output of the United States

government compares favorably, both in extent and quality, with
that of any government in the world . In the field of manufactures,
especially , there is nothing in the work of foreign governments that
can be compared with our biennial statistics.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
As the purpose of this book is to indicate what statistics are

available and where they may be found, the general arrangement
of the material is by topics. The topical arrangement naturally has
given rise to some difficulties, as some statisticsmight be discussed

under two chapters. For instance, the statistics on the wages of
railroad employees might be placed under “ Railroads" or under

" Labor and Wages.” In such cases the discussion has been some

what arbitrarily placed in one chapter with appropriate cross refer
ences in other places.
While topical headings have been used wherever they were
applicable, it has seemed desirable in places to subdivide further
and to use as headings the names of publishing offices or of specific

publications. The use of such names has been governed largely
by the character of the subject matter.

In some cases several publications are in the same general field
as indicated by the main topical headings, with certain differ
ences in scope or detail. As it is not possible to indicate these
differences briefly and topically , recourse has been had to the use

of the titles of the publications or the names of the publishing

bureaus, whenever it seemed desirable to make sharp distinction
between two series. On the other hand the names of publications

or publishing organizations have been omitted where the text dis
cussion is fairly brief and the additional headings did not appear
to facilitate the use of the book .
If only one publication is discussed under a particular topic , it is

manifestly useless to insert an additional heading giving the title

of the publication. Again , in some cases a series of publications
relates to a single topic, and the use of all the titles in one subhead

would result in a heading in bad form typographically and so long
that it would be of no use for quick reference purposes.
As most publications cover only one general topic , each publi
cation is as a rule mentioned once, the minor features from the
point of view of classification being discussed after the description

of the main subject matter , with appropriate cross references.
Occasionally , however , a publication covering a variety of subjects

is discussed under several headings; that is particularly true of
the general summaries discussed in Chapter II. By means of the
index the reader will have no difficulty in focating all references
to the several publications and topics.

INTRODUCTION

The bulk of the volume is devoted to current statistics, but an

endeavor has been made to give a brief outline of the history of
each class of data with sufficient bibliographic references to enable
the reader to locate the publications. There have been included
special compilations and series no longer published which are of
outstanding value, but no attempt has been made to list every
special report of a statistical character. The documents and reports
of the Senate and House of Representatives include many volumes
containing statistics, but as a rule the data published in these
special reports are compiled from the publications herein described.

Generally the Senate and House documents and reports deal with
pending legislation, and contain only such statistical data as are
supposed to bear upon the particular subject under discussion . The
hearings on tariff bills also contain many tables, but the official
data are almost without exception taken from the regular reports
on imports , exports , and manufactures. There is injected in the

testimony considerable statistical material derived from unofficial
sources; this must be accepted with considerable caution and with
due allowance for bias on the part of the witness.
No attempt has been made to pass judgment on the accuracy of

the statistics , as this would involve a detailed study of methods.
However, there have been included comments on the scope of each
work in order that the reader may fully understand the meaning

of each classification and may not assign to the figures a significance
which they are not intended to possess . Too much emphasis cannot
be laid upon the danger of taking a few figures from a table with
out fully comprehending the limitations of the statistics. Many of
the reports, particularly the later ones of the Bureau of the Census,
contain introductory matter which outlines the method of collection
and the probable margin of error. The introductory discussion
should always be consulted.

The discussion in this volume applies to the latest issue in
each series, although notes are occasionally made of some special

features of the earlier reports. In a series of reports extending over
many years it would be manifestly impracticable to describe in
detail variations from year to year. The latest reportmay be taken
as a guide to the contents of the earlier ones,with the reservation
that many of the recent reports are in more detail than those pub
lished previously

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
With the exception of the reports on finances, this volume does
not treat of any statistics dealing with the operations ofthe adminis

trative activities of the government. As these are given in the
annual reports of the various departments or bureaus it is not neces
sary to comment upon them .

In this volume the references are altogether to the complete
reports and no attention is paid to reprints of chapters or other
portions. To list material of this character would result in adding
references to material which is generally not available in separate

form . For instance, the publications of the Thirteenth Census

( 1910 ) include 379 bulletins containing the reprints or advance
statements of material that appeared in the general reports. The
results of the Fourteenth Census (1920 ) were also issued as
separate bulletins containing statistics on the more important in
dustries or on the population , industries, etc., of the several states.

By means of these bulletins the results for particular topics or
areas are made available in advance of the complete report.
The discussion is limited to the tables which give basic informa

tion, no attention being paid to the derivative tables showing per
centages, comparisons with previous years, etc. The census reports
particularly are rich in derivative tables giving percentage distribu

tions and data for earlier years. Almost all the reports give data
for at least two years.
In the case ofmonthly or annual reports which give also figures

for earlier periods, use should be made of the latest report which
gives statistics for the earlier period, as frequently errors are dis
covered after the first report goes to press and the corrected figures

are printed in the later report.

Practically all the statistical publicationsof the government give
quantities and values for the actual numbers as shown by the

returns, that is, the figures are not rounded to the nearest thousand
or hundred thousand. This should not be taken as indicating that
the statistics are correct to the last figure, as in the compilation of
the thousands of items that make up the totals it is impracticable
to avoid omissions, duplications, and errors in classification . In the
' In one recent government report the statement is made that the produc
tion of a commodity in a certain state according to the report of a state
official amounted to 13 ,580 ,000 barrels. A

footnote states that the produc

tion as reported to the government organization by the producers amounted
to 13 ,583,006 barrels . The purpose of this footnote is not clear. If the

author intended to convey the idea that the figures of the government office

INTRODUCTION
reports of the decennial census, especially, it is inevitable that there
be errors in the details of the schedules returned by the enumerators
as a result the varying degree of care exercised by different enu
merators and of the attitude of the individualto the questions asked .
In the financial statements of the government only are the statistics

correct to the last figure, because here there is a definite and conclu
sive check through the various audits.

While the statistics that involve a large number of items or a
large number of transactions are not correct to the last figure, the
margin of error is generally not great enough to affect the reliability

of the statistics. Moreover, the essence of statistics is their com
parability, and, as it may be generally assumed that the error is

a constant one, the statistics for different periods, different areas,
or groups may be safely compared.
The reader of this book will probably be impressed by the number
of separate government organizations that issue statisticalmaterial,

and will wonder whether economy and efficiency would not be
secured by the centralization of the statistical work in one large

organization . At various times proposals to this effect have been
made and have been given serious consideration . It is the almost

unanimous opinion ofmen experienced in governmental statistical

work that a great consolidated statistical office will result in neither
economy nor greater accuracy ; in fact it is generally agreed that

there will be less accuracy than under the present system . The
collection of statistics involvesmuch more than themere tabulation

of the figures on the separate schedules. The proper supervision
of the collection of statistics must be exercised by a person who
has a thorough knowledge of the subject matter and its ramifica

tions. A person eminently qualified to collect statistics on minerals
would probably be a failure in the field of lumber or leather. The
preparation of the schedules, the visé of the returns, and the inter
pretation of the results are best done by men who are in constant

and sympathetic touch with the industry or subject under investi
gation . In answer to the contention that a central bureau could

were more nearly accurate than those of the state office, his footnote is
misleading. It is evident that the producers made the same reports to both
organizations, and that the state officer rounded his figures. The margin of
error is unquestionably greater than the difference between the two figures

given above, and either one may be accepted as the measure of the pro
duction .

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
build up a staff of experts along various lines, it may be said that
statistical work alone in a purely statistical office does not offer
sufficient inducement to attract the highest type of specialist. Such

a man works at his best when he has the stimulus of an organiza
tion which is dealing with all phasesof a particular subject.
Asmost government statistics are collected through the voluntary
coöperation of the public, the best results are obtained if the work
is done by an organization with which the citizen is acquainted

and which is in a position to render other services than the supply
ing of statistical reports.
While it is believed that the centralization of statistical work

is not advisable, there is undoubtedly a need for an agency that
would coördinate the work of the several organizations in the
statistical field . It should be the duty of this agency to keep track
of all statistical activities, to prevent duplication , and give advice
when needed on schedules and methods of compilation .
The statistical work of the government, like its other activities ,
has been a growth of years, and it is not unlikely that the work

will be extended in the future.
The best way ofkeeping in touch with the statistical publications

of the national government is through the use of the “ Monthly
Catalogue of Public Documents,” which may be obtained from the
Superintendent of Documents for fifty cents a year. In this cata

logue is listed every publication issued by the variousbranches of
the government, but many of the current monthly statements are

issued in mimeograph form and are not listed in the “ Monthly

Catalogue ” or in any other publication. To obtain this material
it is necessary to keep in touch with the bureaus that are com
piling it.

Many of the departmental publications cited were also published
as documents of Congress , and , in some libraries may probably be
found in the set of Congressional Documents instead of under the

subject heading. In the case of individual publications the document
number has generally been noted , but this has been omitted in the
case of serials, as to include the document numbers for serials

would involve the insertion of lengthy lists. For publications
issued up to 1909 the document numbers may be obtained from the
“ Check List of United States Public Documents, 1789-1909 " ; for

later years they may be found in the “ Document Index ” issued

INTRODUCTION

for each session or in the “ Document Catalogue ” issued for each
Congress.

Many of the statistical reports are distributed free , but a con
siderable number may be obtained only through purchase from
the Superintendent of Documents. The following price lists issued
by that office contain prices on statistical publications.
No. 25. Transportation .

No. 28. Finance.

No. 59 . Interstate Commerce Com
mission Publications.

No. 36. Government Periodicals.

No. 62. Commerce and Manufac
tures.
No. 67. Immigration .

No. 37. Tariff.

No. 70. Census.

No. 33. Labor .

Many of the older reports are no longer available for distribu
tion, although somemay be purchased from the Superintendent of

Documents. Themost nearly complete sets of government publica

tions are to be found in the Library of Congress and the library of
the Office of the Superintendent of Documents. The libraries of
the departments, bureaus, and independent establishments generally
have complete sets of the publications dealing with the subjects with

which they are concerned . Throughout the country are depository
libraries ' which are entitled to receive one copy of every govern
ment publication , but complete sets will be found only at the larger
and more important institutions.
? A list of the depository libraries is given in the “ List of Publications of
the Departmentof Commerce Available for Distribution," published annually

by the Division of Publications of the Department of Commerce.

CHAPTER II

GENERAL SUMMARIES

The publications discussed in this chapter are those which present
statistics on a number of subjects. Some of these are referred to

on subsequent pages in connection with particular topics, but it is
deemed advisable to bring them together here in order to indicate

the general publications which cover a broad field .
WEEKLY GENERAL SUMMARIES
Crops and Markets. Statistics relating to the production, move
ment, and prices of farm products are published in “ Crops and
Markets," issued by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the

Department of Agriculture. There is also a monthly supplement

which is devoted entirely to statistics and which contains much
material not given in theweekly issues. A monthly statistical bulle
tin under various titles has been issued by the Department of

Agriculture since 1863. The weekly was issued under the title

“ Weather, Crops, and Markets” in 1922 and 1923, and under the
title “ Crops and Markets ” since 1923.
MONTHLY GENERAL SUMMARIES

Federal Reserve Bulletin . The Federal Reserve Bulletin , pub
lished by the Federal Reserve Board since 1914, contains data
dealing directly with the operation of the federal reserve system ,
and also much material relating to general business and economic
conditions. Some of the general statisticalmaterial in the Bulletin

is the product of other governmentbureaus, while some is obtained
from trade organizations and business journals. The purpose of
the general material is to afford a key to the trend of economic

and business conditions. To a certain extent the samematerial is
* For titles at different dates see page 203.

GENERAL SUMMARIES

9

published in the “ FederalReserve Bulletin " and also in the " Sur
vey of Current Business,” issued by the Department of Commerce,
but each one contains some material not in the other. In addition
to the material appearing regularly there are also at times special
compilations dealing with particular topics. The publication en
titled " Index -Digest of the Federal Reserve Bulletin , Volumes I
VI,” is an excellent guide to all the material published in the Bulle

tin from 1914 to the end of 1920.

Survey of Current Business. Beginning with August, 1921, the
Department of Commerce has published a monthly supplement to

“ Commerce Reports,” entitled “ Survey of Current Business,"
which contains data compiled from governmental sources, commer
cial journals, and trade associations on the fundamental move
ments in trade and industry in the United States and foreign

countries. Practically all the material from government sources is
also issued in more detailed form by the organizations collecting
the data , but the summary information is brought together in con
venient form in this publication . There are also published in this

series considerable data which are collected by trade associations
and which are generally not available elsewhere.

For the staple commodities which furnish an index to the eco

nomic situation statistics are presented on production, prices ,
imports , exports , sales, orders, shipments from

factories, con

sumption , and stocks. Information is also given on the trade and

economic conditions in the principal foreign countries.
Practically all the material in the “ Survey of Current Business "
is expressed as numerical data and as relative numbers. The

numerical data are the actual figures for the period , while the
relative numbers indicate the percentage relation between the
numerical data and the actual figures for some earlier base period ,

which is taken to indicate 100. Thus, the production of gasoline
in September, 1921, was 416 ,913,000 gallons. Themonthly average

for 1919, which was taken as the base, was 329,821,000 gallons.
The production in September, 1921, is 126 per cent of the base,
and the relative number is 126 . Where figures are available 1913
is used as the base year ; if 1913 figures are not available some other

representative year is used. In every case the base year is indicated ,
and it is important that this be noted .

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
Each issue of the “ Survey of Current Business ” contains data

for the following periods:
Numerical data.
Two latest months.

Corresponding month of previous year.
Cumulative total since January 1, for current year and previous year.
Per cent of increase or decrease for cumulative periods of the current
year compared with previous year.
Relative numbers.

Two latest months of previous years.
Four latest months of current year.
Per cent of increase or decrease.
Latest month compared with preceding month .

Latest month compared with corresponding month of previous
year.

In the issues for February, May, August, and November, there

are shown formany itemsthe monthly figures for the two preceding
years and the monthly averages for each year since 1913, if the

figures are available. In the issue for May, 1924, (pages 27 -29),
will be found references to previous issues containing earlier

detailed monthly figures, as well as lists of special data and data
discontinued .

Monthly Labor Review . The “ Monthly Labor Review ," pub
lished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of
Labor beginning with the issue for July, 1915, is the current source

of information on prices, wages, and matters relating to labor and

labor conditions. A generalindex covering the issues up to Decein
ber, 1920 , has been published under the title “ Monthly Labor

Review , Subject Index, Vols. I to XI, July, 1915 , to December,
1920."
ANNUAL GENERAL SUMMARIES

Statistical Abstract of the United States. “ The Statistical

Abstract of the United States,” issued each year beginning with
1878, contains general statistics on practically every subject for
which data are collected by any branch of the government, as well
as some figures collected by non -governmental organizations. It
It was published from 1878 to 1902 by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Treasury Department, from 1903 to 1911 by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Department of Commerce and Labor, and after 1911 by the Bureau of

Foreign and Domestic Commerce.

GENERAL SUMMARIES

IT

contains not only annual figures, but also statistics which may be
collected biennially, decennially or at other intervals. In the case
of other than annual enumerations the figures are repeated each
year until new ones are available , so that each issue covers the en
tire field . An extensive revision of the abstract was effected in the

issues for 1922 and 1923 and it is probable that some additional
changes will be made in the issue for 1924. The form of tables
has been changed and considerable condensation effected through
the use of averages of periods of years, and by the expression of

figures in thousands and in millions.
Commerce Yearbook . Beginning with the issue for 1922 the

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce has issued annually
the “ Commerce Yearbook .” This is primarily a review of the prog
ress of commerce, but it also contains a large amount of summary

statistical material. Practically all of the statistics are available

in other publications, but the interpretation and presentation of the
salient figures make the volume a convenient reference book and
obviate the necessity of using a number of other reports . Statistics

in this volume not readily available elsewhere are those relating to

the economic situation in foreign countries.
The volumemay be roughly divided into three parts relating to
commodities, foreign tradeof the United States,and foreign coun
tries. The commodity statistics include data on production , stocks,
prices, total imports and exports , and other material of significance

to the particular industry. The review of foreign trade takes up
each country separately, and gives figures on total exports and
imports by the United States, the principal commodities consti
tuting the trade being enumerated . The total and the relative value
of imports and of exports from and to each country for the

three latest years and the averages for 1910 to 1914 are shown
diagrammatically . The foreign country statistics include figures on

area, crop production, transportation , finances, currency, and im

ports and exports classified by principal commodities and by prin
cipal countries ; there are also notes on the principal industries,

statistics being given whenever they are available.
In addition to the three classes of tables mentioned the volume
contains data for the United States on employment, domestic trade,

prices, construction, transportation, finance, and banking.

12

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Agriculture Yearbook .' The “ Agriculture Yearbook ," issued

since 1894, is the main annual reference book for current statistics
of every kind relating to the products of agriculture. It contains

not only the statistics collected by the Department of Agriculture,
but also much material collected by other departments having a
bearing on agricultural problems, including statistics on imports ,

exports, and production of farm products in foreign countries.
Many of the itemsin the Yearbook are discussed under appropriate
heads on later pages.
DECENNIAL GENERAL SUMMARIES

Abstracts and Atlases of the Census. The more important
summary statistics of each decennial census are assembled in one
volume known during recent censuses as the “ Abstract of the

Census.” Beginning with the Fifth Census, a general summary
has been issued under the following titles :
Fifth Census : 1830. Abstract of returns of Fifth Census.
Sixth Census : 1840. Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants

and statistics of the United States.
Seventh Census : 1850.

Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Ninth Census : 1870. Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Tenth Census : 1880. Compendium of the Tenth Census . Pts. I and II.

Eleventh Census : 1890.

Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Pts. I to III.
Twelfth Census: 1900. Abstract of the Twelfth Census.
Thirteenth Census : 1900 . Abstract of the Census.

Fourteenth Census: 1920. Abstract of the Census of the United States.

A statistical atlas has been issued after each census from 1870 to
1910. For the censuses of 1870 , 1880, 1890, and 1900 the material

in the atlases related entirely to the results of the decennial census.
The statistical atlas issued in 1914, which contains data relating to
the Census of 1910, also includes material relating to special inves

tigations that were not a part of the decennial census. These
* Prior to 1923 known as “ Department of Agriculture Yearbook ."

* At the present writing the Atlas of the Fourteenth Census has not been
issued , but it is understood to be in preparation .

GENERAL SUMMARIES

volumes present the result of the work in graphic form , either by

maps of the United States and of the several states or by diagrams.
EARLY GENERAL SUMMARIES

Several general statistical compilations published during the first

thirty years of the government and purchased by the government

for the use of its officers, have been generally regarded as govern
ment publications. The three earliest of these were the “ Statis

tical View of the United States,” by Tench Coxe, 1794; " Statis
tical Manual for the United States," by Samuel Blodgett, 1806 ;
and “ Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States,"
by Timothy Pitkin , 1816 . These were all superseded by the

“ Statistical Annals " * of Adam Seybert, 1818, which contains
statistics for every year from 1789 to 1818. This work con
tains summary statistics on every subject on which figures had
been collected by the government, and in addition it contains text
giving many details of interest to the student of economic or
political history. It is the best general source for information on

the early years of the government.

A publication along the same lines as Seybert's Statistical Annals
is the one by George Watterson and Nicholas Biddle Van Zandt
entitled “ Tabular Statistical Views.” ' The first edition of this
' The first edition was published at Hartford in 1816. A second edition ,
published in New York in 1817, had the following subtitle : “ Its con

nection with agriculture and manufactures ; and an account of the public
debt, revenues, and expenditures of the United States, with a brief review
of the trade, agriculture, and manufacture of the Colonies previous to their
independence, and a table illustrative of the principles and objects of the
work . " A third edition , published at New Haven in 1835 , had the following

subtitle : “ Including account of banks, with that of revenues and expendi
tures, of general government.”

This volume contains statistics up to 1833

on foreign trade, fisheries , government receipts and expenditures, and
internal commerce. The text also contains many notes of historical interest
relating to the railroads, canals, trade, and industry .
The full title is “ Statistical Annals , embracing views of population ,

commerce, navigation , fisheries, public lands, post-office establishment,
revenues, mint, military and naval establishments, expenditures, public debt

and sinking fund of United States, founded on official documents, com
mencing Mar. 4, 1789, and ending Apr. 20, 1818."
' The full title is “ Tabular statistical views of population , commerce,

navigation , public lands, post-office establishment, revenue, mint, military
and naval establishments, expenditures and public debt of United States."

14

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

work , 1828, gave detailed statistics on exports and imports from
1821 to 1827, and general statistics on the operation of the govern

ment from 1818 to 1827. A continuation of this publication, issued
in 1833 under the same title, brought the statistics to a later date.

In the period beginning approximately with 1893 and ending
roughly with 1910, a mass of statistical material dealing with
general business conditions appeared in the monthly publication of

the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department and the
Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and Labor,
known after June, 1898, as the “ Monthly Summary of Commerce

and Finance." * Owing to the comprehensive character of this

material and to the fact that the same information was not pub
lished continuously throughout the period it is difficult to char
acterize it in general terms. When this publication had its widest
scope it included statistics on practically every subject on which

authoritative figures could be secured , the emphasis being on com

mercial and financial statistics, as reflecting economic conditions.
The subjects included public debt, currency, government receipts
and disbursements, trade of foreign countries, prices, bank clear
ings, interest rates, and commercial failures. From 1900 to 1912

it contained monthly reports on internal commerce, which are dis

cussed on page 418 . The student of economic conditions in the
period from the early nineties to approximately 1910 would do

well to consult the “ Monthly Summary of Commerce and Fi
nance ” in order to ascertain whether it contains material on the

particular topic in which he is interested.
* For titles of this publication at various dates, see page 354 .

CHAPTER III

POPULATION IN GENERAL

Statistics of population have been collected every tenth year
beginning with 1790. Up to and including the Census of 1900 the
organization was built up every tenth year, but since the creation

of the Bureau of the Census as a permanent organization in 1902,
the work has been entirely under that Bureau.
The collection of population statistics is expressly authorized by
Section 2 of Article I of the Constitution , which provides that
" the actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the
first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within
every subsequent term of ten years in such manner as they shall
by law direct.” The primary purpose of the collection of population
statistics, as contemplated by the Constitution, is the determination

of the number ofmembers of the House of Representatives from
each state. Section 2 of Article I, before it was changed by the

Fourteenth Amendment,provided thattheapportionment of Repre
sentatives should be determined by “ adding to the whole number
of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of

years, and excluding Indians not taxed , three-fifths of all other
persons." For this purpose a simple count of the number of free
men and slaves would have been sufficient, but even at the first

census, provision was made for obtaining the number of females
and the number ofwhitemales over and under sixteen years of age.

Since the middle of the nineteenth century the population schedule
has gradually expanded to include a wide range of information on
age, sex, color, nativity, marital condition, etc .

The titles of the reports of the several censuses giving statistics
on population are as follows:
First Census: 1790. Return of the whole number of persons within the
several districts of the United States.

Second Census: 1800 . Return of the whole number of persons within the
several districts of the United States.

* A volume entitled “ Statistical View of the Population of the United
States, 1790 - 1830 ," published in 1834 as Senate Document 505, 23d Congress,
Ist session , is a résumé of statistics of the first five censuses.
15

16

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Third Census: 1810. Aggregate amount of each description of persons
within the United States of America, and the territories thereof.

Fourth Census : 1820. Census for 1820.
Fifth Census: 1830.
Fifth Census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States.
Abstract of returns of Fifth Census.
Sixth Census: 1840.

Sixth Census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States.
Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of the
United States.

Seventh Census : 1850.
Seventh Census of the United States.
Statistical view of the United States— Compendium of the Seventh
Census.
Abstract of the Seventh Census.

Eighth Census: 1860.
Population of the United

States in 1860.

Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.

Statistics of the United States in 1860 [Abstract).
Ninth Census : 1870.
Population and social statistics.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.

Tenth Census: 1880 .

Vol. I. Population of the United States.

Compendium of the Tenth Census. Parts I and II.
Vol. VIII. The newspaper and periodical press ; Alaska ; seal islands;
ship -building. (Contains statistics on population of Alaska.)
Eleventh Census: 1890 .
Population of the United States, Parts I and II.
Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Parts I- III.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Population and resources of Alaska.

Twelfth Census : 1900.
Vols. I and II. Population .

Supplementary analysis and derivative tables.
Abstract of the Twelfth Census.
Statistical atlas.

Intercensal publications.
Census of the Philippine Islands, 1903.

Population of Oklahoma and Indian Territory, 1907.
A century of population growth, 1790 to 1900.

Census of Cuba, 1907.

Thirteenth Census : 1910 .
Vol. I. General report and analysis .

Vols. II and III. Reports by states, with statistics for counties, cities
and other civil divisions.

Abstract of the Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

17

Intercensal publications.
Special census of the population of Tulsa , Okla ., April 15, 1915.
Special census of the population of Hamtramck , Mich ., June 25, 1915.
Special census of the population of Highland Park , Mich ., November
15, 1915 .

Special census of the population of St. Clair Heights, Mich ., November
18 , 1915 .

Special census of the population of Hastings, Nebr., December 13, 1915 .
Special census of the population of El Paso , Tex., January 15, 1916 .
Fourteenth Census : 1920.

Vol. I. Number and distribution of inhabitants.
Vol. II. General report and analytical tables.

Vol. III. Composition and characteristics of the population , by states.
Monographs.

Increase of population in the United States, 1910 - 1920, by W . S .
Rossiter.

Mortgages on homes in the United States.
School attendance in 1920 , by Frank A . Ross.

Special publications:
The woman home-maker in the city, by Bertha M . Nienburg.

Abstract of the Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920 .

The reports listed above include only those dealing with the
number, distribution, and characteristics of inhabitants, the more
detailed reports for each census being given first ; other reports are
described under appropriate headings. The abstracts, compendia ,
and atlases contain only condensed material. Many ofthe chapters

of the volumes of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth censuses were
reprinted separately, there being also for these censuses sepa

rate pamphlets containing statistics for the several states. The
reprints and state bulletins are not listed separately , as the material
contained in them is given in the final reports.
GENERAL REVIEW

Method of Collecting Statistics. In order to obtain information
regarding every person , the country is divided into supervisors'
districts, which in turn are subdivided into enumeration districts,

the count in each enumeration district being made by a designated
enumerator. At the Census of 1920 the enumerator used a large

sheet with space for data for fifty individuals, there being twenty
eight columns to be filled in , of which three were for purposes of
The following monographs have been announced but have not been
published as this volume goes to press : Immigrants and their children , by

Niles Carpenter ; Marital condition, by William F . Ogburn ; Farm popula
tion, by Leon E . Truesdell.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
identification and twenty -five were statisticalinquiries, the headings
of the sheet being substantially as follows
1. Street, avenue, road , etc.

2 House number or farm .

- -- -

Place of abode.

Tenure.
7. Home owned or rented .

8. If owned , free or mortgaged .
Personal description .
9. Sex .

10. Color or race.
11. Age at last birthday.

12. Single, married, widowed or divorced.
Citizenship.
13. Year of immigration to the United States.
14 . Naturalized or alien .

15. If naturalized, year of naturalization.
Education .
16 . Attended school any time since September 1, 1919.
17. Whether able to read .

18. Whether able to write.
Nativity and mother tongue.
Person enumerated .
19. Place of birth .

20. Mother tongue.
21. Place of birth .
22. Mother tongue.
Mother of person enumerated.
23. Place of birth.

Father of person enumerated .

24. Mother tongue.

Ability to speak English .

25. Is person enumerated able to speak English ?

Occupation.
26 . Trade, profession , or

particular kind of work done.

27. Industry, business or establishment in which at work.

28. Employer, salary or wage worker, or working on own account.

While the enumeration extends over several weeks the census is
taken as of a particular date , all persons dying between the census
date and the actual enumeration being counted and all born in the

same period being disregarded. The census dates at the several
censuses were the first Monday in August from 1790 to 1820 ;

June 1 from 1830 to 1900 ; April 15 in 1910 ; and January 1 in 1920.

- -

-

3. Number of dwelling house in order of visitation.

4. Number of family in order of visitation .
5. Name of each person whose place of abode was in this family.
Relation .
6.Relationship of person enumerated to head of the family.

POPULATION IN GENERAL
Area Included in Enumerations. The census of 1890 was the
first one which made a complete enumeration of the area now com
prised within the boundaries of the forty -eight states and the

District of Columbia . As the primary purpose of the census was to
determine the representation in the House of Representatives, the
territories and unorganized district were omitted from the earlier
censuses. These, however, were sparsely settled . The areas over

which the United States exercised jurisdiction at the several cen
suises , but which were not covered by the enumeration were as
follows:
1790. Northwest Territory ( comprising Ohio , Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin , and parts of Minnesota and North Dakota ), Alabama,
and Mississippi.
1800 . Alabama and Mississippi, except southern portion which comprised
the territory of Mississippi.
1810. The portion of the Louisiana purchase not included in the present
states of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.

1820. Florida and the portion of the Louisiana purchase not included in
the present states of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.

1830. Portion of Louisiana purchase not included in present states of
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri.
1840. Portion of Louisiana Territory not included in present states of
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, and parts ofNorth
and South Dakota .

1850. Arizona, portion of Oregon Territory embraced in Idaho and parts of
Montana and Wyoming, and the portion of the Louisiana purchase
not included in the present states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mis

souri, Iowa, Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota .

1860, 1870 , and 1880. Oklahoma, then Indian Territory.

For noncontiguous territory the enumerations were made for
the first time as follows: Alaska, 1880 ; Hawaii, 1900 ; Porto Rico,
1910 ; Guam , American Samoa, and Panama Canal Zone, 1920.
In using the earlier statistics it must be borne in mind that the

areas ofmany of the territories were much larger than the present
states of the samenames .'
Scope of Reports of Fourteenth Census. The discussion below

refers to the Fourteenth Census ( 1920). Practically the same in
formation is given in the reports of other recent censuses, but the
* For an account of the changes in the boundaries, see Bulletin 689,
U . S. Geological Survey, Boundaries, areas, geographic centers, and altitudes
of the United States and the several states, by E . M . Douglas.

AL

20

NATIONAL STATISTIC

WORK

earlier volumes give much less detail, and the arrangement is
materially different.
Volume I of the Fourteenth Census contains much material that
was scattered through Volumes II and III of the Thirteenth Cen
sus. It contains statistics of the number of inhabitants by states,

counties, cities, and minor civil divisions, without regard to sex ,
age, race, or other classifications. The person who desires popula

tion figures only will find in Volume I of the Fourteenth Census
all the data except those relating to the outlying possessions, which

are given in Volume III.
Volume II of the Fourteenth Census, which corresponds in

general with Volume I ofthe Thirteenth Census, contains analytical
tables showing the composition and character of the population,
with the exception of the outlying possessions, treated in Volume

III. The topics in Volume II are indicated by the chapter headings,
which are as follows:
1. Color, race, nativity or parentage.
2 . Sex distribution .
3 . Age distribution .

4. Marital condition .

5. State of birth of native population.
6. Country of birth of foreign born population .
7 . Year of immigration of foreign born population.
8 . Citizenship of the foreign born population .
9 . Country of origin of the foreign white stock .
10. Mother tongue of the foreign white stock .
II. School attendance.

12. Illiteracy .
13. Inability to speak English .
14. Dwellings and families .

15. Ownership of homes.

16 . General statistics of population by counties.

Volume III is divided into separate sections relating to the Con
tinental United States, each state , the District of Columbia, and

each of the outlying possessions. The section on the Continental
United States is divided as follows:
Table 1 . Color or race, nativity, parentage, and sex for the United States
and urban and rural population , 1920, 1910, and 1900.

Table 2. School attendance, for the United States and urban and rural
population , 1920 and 1910 .

* The inquiries made at each census from 1790 to 1890 are given in the
volume entitled History and growth of the United States Census, by
Wright and Hunt, issued as Senate Doc. 194, 56th Congress, Ist Session .

The author has no knowledge of any publication showing the methods
of classifying the data in the reports of the several censuses.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

21

Table 3. Age, for the United States and urban and rural population, 1920
and 1910.

Table 4. Illiteracy, for the United States and urban and rural population ,
1920 and 1910.
Table 5 . Population 21 years of age and over and population 18 to 44 years,
by sex , class of population , and citizenship, for the United States,
1920 and 1910 .

Table 6. Country of birth of the foreign -born white, for the United States,
1920 and 1910 .
Table 7. Color or race and nativity, with parentage and sex for the native

white population , for divisions and states, 1920.
Table 8 . Total, native white, foreign -born white , and negro population , with
decennial increase, for divisions and states, 1920 and 1910.
Table 9. Age, for divisions, 1920 and 1910, and for states, 1920 .
Table 10. Composition and characteristics of the population , for divisions
and states, 1920.

Table 11. Composition and characteristics of the population, for cities of
100 ,000 or more, 1920 .

Table 12 . Country of birth of the foreign-born white, for divisions and
states, 1920 .

Table 13. Country of birth of the foreign-born white, for cities of 100,000
or more, 1920.

Each of the sections on the states contains the following tables

prepared according to a uniform plan :
Table 1. Color or race, nativity, parentage, and sex, for the state and urban
and rural population , 1920 , 1910 , and 1900 .

Table 2. School attendance, for the state and urban and rural population,
1920 and 1910.
Table 3 . Age, for the state and urban and rural population , 1920 and 1910.
Table 4. Illiteracy, for the state and urban and rural population , 1920 and
1910 .

Table 5. Population 21 years of age and over, by sex, class of population,
and citizenship, for the state , 1920 and 1910.
Table 6. Country of birth of the foreign -born white, for the state and
principal cities, 1920.
Table 7. Indians, Chinese, and Japanese, for counties and cities, 1920, 1910,
and 1900.

Table 8. Age, for cities of 10,000 or more, 1920.

Table 9. Composition and characteristics of the population , for counties,
1920 .
Table 10 . Composition and characteristics of the population , for cities of
10,000 or more, 1920.
Table 11. Composition and characteristics of the population, for places of
2500 to 10 ,000 , 1920 .

Table 12. Country of birth of the foreign -born white, for counties and for
cities of 10,000 or more, 1920.
Table 13. Composition and characteristics of the population , for wards of
cities of 50,000 or more, 1920.

22

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The details shown in each volume are indicated in the schedules

of statistics on each topic given on later pages of this chapter.
In addition supplemental detailed tables are given in Volume III

for the Indians in Arizona, California , Idaho, Michigan , Montana,

Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico , North Dakota , Oklahoma,
Oregon , South Dakota , Utah , Washington , Wisconsin , and Wyo

ming and for the Chinese and Japanese population in California ,
Oregon, and Washington . An analysis of the special statistics
relating to these races is given in Chapter IV .
At the end of Volume III are the sections relating to the outlying
possessions — Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico,Guam , American Samoa,
and Panama Canal Zone. In general, the statistics in these sections
are similar to those for the states, although there are variations
owing to the peculiar conditions in each one. Analyses of these
statistics are given in Chapter XXXIV .

The census reports prior to those of 1920 contained considerable
analytical and interpretative text in the volumes containing the

statistics. The reports of the Census of 1920 giving statistics of
population contain the tables only , the analysis of the figures being
contained in the monographs listed on page 17.
As a rule the total figures apply only to the Continental United
States and do not include the outlying possessions and territories
of Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico , Guam , Samoa, and the Panama
CanalZone. Some of the general tables on the number of inhabi

tants contain figures for Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico , but
generally statistics for these territories are given only in the

separate tables relating to them . Statistics on the Philippines have
never been collected by the decennial census.
Units of Tabulation. The primary classification which is ap
plied to all census statistics is geographic, figures being given for

divisions, states, counties, urban and rural districts, metropolitan
areas, cities and adjacent territory, incorporated places of 2500

population or more,minor civil divisions,and wards of cities having
5000 population or over . No definition is needed for states , cities ,

counties, and wards, as these terms have their usual significance.
Geographic divisions, which are referred to in this volume as
divisions, embrace groups of contiguous states, which are for the
most part fairly homogeneous physically as well as in the charac

POPULATION IN GENERAL

23

teristics of their population and in social and economic conditions,
the states in each division being as follows:
New England.

West North Central— West South Central.
Cont'd
North Dakota.
South Dakota.
Nebraska.

Maine.

New Hampshire.
Vermont.
Massachusetts .

Rhode Island .
Connecticut.

Kansas.
South Atlantic.

Middle Atlantic.
New York .
Pennsylvania.
East North Central
Ohio .
Indiana.

Illinois.
Michigan .
Wisconsin .
West North Central.

Delaware.

Idaho .
Wyoming.
Colorado.

Georgia .
Florida.

East South Central.
Kentucky.

Minnesota.

Oklahoma.
Texas.
Mountain .
Montana.

Maryland .

District of Columbia.
Virginia .
West Virginia .
North Carolina .
South Carolina.

New Jersey.

Arkansas.

Louisiana.

Iowa .

Tennessee.
Alabama.

Missouri.

Mississippi.

New Mexico .

Arizona.

Utah.
Nevada.
Pacific.
Washington .
Oregon .

California.

In the census statistics the urban population is that living in

cities and other incorporated places having 2500 inhabitants or
more, and in towns of that size in Massachusetts, New Hampshire,

and Rhode Island. The population residing in other places is classed
STATISTICS OF FARM POPULATION IN REPORTS OF FOURTEENTH Census

Mixed parentage . . .

Foreign and mixed parentage.. ..
Foreign -born white .. . ..
Colored
Negro
Indian . . . . . .

Chinese
Japanese

Sex . . . . . .

X

Age.
Under 10 years.... .. . . ..
10 to 20 years . .. .. .
21 years and over . .

Abstract
XXXX
XXX
XX:

Volume V
XXXX:

Classification
Race, color, and nativity.
Native white . . .. . .. . .. . .
Native parentage . .. .. .. . ...
Foreign parentage . . .,

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
as rural. It should be borne in mind that the figures for the rural
population do not indicate the persons living on farms, as the rural
population in the census statistics includes persons in towns and

villages with a population of less than 2500. At the Fourteenth
Census for the first time a count was made of the persons actually

living on farms. In that year out of a total rural population of

51,406 ,017 , only 31,614,269, were reported as living on farms ;
these figures include persons of all ages regardless of whether they
were actually engaged in the farm work or not. Volume V of the
Reports of the Fourteenth Census (“ Agriculture : General Report

and Analytical Tables " ) and the “ Abstract of the Census " con
tain statistics of farm population by states according to the

classification on the preceding page.
Minor civil divisions comprise the units into which counties or
equivalent divisions are divided, and which are known as towns,
townships, precincts, districts, etc . Incorporated places include

those communities which have defined boundaries and which have
been made municipal corporations under general or special state
laws. Incorporated places include cities , although in the census
reports special tables are given for the larger places to which the
term city is usually applied.
Other classifications relating to the characteristics of the popula

tion are the following :
Color or race, nativity and parentage.
Sex .

Age.
Marital condition .
School attendance.
Illiteracy

State of birth of native population .
Country of birth of foreign -born population .
Year of immigration of foreign-born .

Citizenship of foreign-born .
Country of origin of foreign white stock .
Mother tongue of foreign white stock.
Inability to speak English .

Dwellings and families.

Ownership of homes.

The several classifications relating to characteristics are used in
connection with the geographic classification and in connection with

one another. On succeeding pages each of the classifications relat

ing to characteristics is discussed under an appropriate heading
and the combinationsof the several classifications are indicated.

POPULATION IN GENERAL
CLASSIFICATION OF THE POPULATION

Number of Inhabitants. All of the figures showing the geo
acteristics are given in Volume I of the reports of the Fourteenth
Census, but the other volumes contain many tabulations which will
serve the purpose ofmany students. The schedule below indicates

graphic distribution of the population without regard to their char

the distribution of the statistics of number of inhabitants through
the several volumes.

Urban and rural. ... .. ..
Aggregate of cities of over 25,000 . .. ..

-I
graph

.
Mono
v

i

:

:

Aggregate for each of the following

:X

Urban .

:xxx

XXX

X

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Per square mile . . .. . . . .

III
TºA‘

United States.

X:

Classification

Iº4II'

Vol
.I

VOLUMES OF THE FOURTEENTH Census."

v
ve

Abstract

SCHEDULE SHOWING STATISTICS OF NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN THE SEVERAL

classes of communities: 2,500 to
25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; over
100 ,000 . . . . . ..

:

Aggregate for each of the following
classes of communities : 2,500 to
5,000 ; 5,000 to 10,000 ; 10,000 to
25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; 100,000 or
more . . . . . . . .

Aggregate for each of the following
classes of communities : 2,500 to
10,000 ;

10,000

to

25,000 ;

25,000

to 100,000 ; 100,000 to 500,000 ; 500 ,000
and over . . . . . . . .

Aggregate for each of the following
classes of communities : 2,500 to
5,000 ; 5,000 to

10,000 ; 10,000 to

25,000 ; 25,000 to 50,000 ; 50,000 to
100,000 ; 100,000 to 250 ,000 ; 250 ,000
to

500,000 ; 500 ,000

to

1,000 ,000 ;

1,000,000 or over .. . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . . | X

| .. | X

| ...

Rural subdivided into those in incorporated places and these in unincorporated
pl.ac. es.

* The classification items in the schedules in this volume are not the table
headings, as some of the items are shown in several tables. Thus in Volume
III,the statistics of incorporated places of over 2,500 are given in two tables
“ 2 ,500 to 10,000 ” and “ 10,000 and more " ; these tables are shown by one
entry, " incorporated places of 2,500 or more."

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Per square mile. .. .

:x

:x

Urban and rural.. ..

:XXX

classes of communities :

-I

:

Urban .
Aggregate of cities of over 25,000 . ...
Aggregate for each of the following

Mono
g1 raph

.1
Vol

Divisions.
Total

Xi
X

Abstract

.II
Vol

Classification

xxx
IMA:

.I
Vol

SCHEDULE SHOWING STATISTICS OF NUMBER OF INHABITANTS IN THE SEVERAL
VOLUMES OF THE FOURTEENTH CENSUS— Continued

2 ,500 to

:

x

:

xxş:

X X:

x

:

:

x

classes of communities : 2,500 to

: *: * :

25,000; 25,000 to 100,000 ; over
100 , 000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aggregate for each of the following
5,000 ; 5,000 to 10,000 ; 10,000 to
25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; 1,000,000 or

1 x

more . . . . . . . . .

:

Aggregate for each of the following
classes of communities : 2,500 to
10,000 ; 10 ,000 to 25,000 ; 25,000 to
100,000 ; 100 ,000 to 500,000 ; 500,000

classes of communities: 2,500 to

:
X:

:

:

X

25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; over 100,000
Aggregate for each of the following
classes of communities : 2,500 to

X

Total of each state.
Per square mile . .
Urban and rural. . . .. .
Urban .
Aggregate of cities of over 25,000 . .. . ..
Aggregate for each of the following

:xxx

and over . .. .. . . .

States.

10 ,000 ; 10, 000 to 25,000; 25,000 to

x:

:

: :

: : :

:

:

:
:

:

Urban and rural... ..
Per square mile. .. .

:X

. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. ... . . . .

Counties.
Total .. .. . . . ..

xxxx

more

following
2,500 to
10,000 to
100 ,000 or

x

Aggregate for each of the
classes of communities :
5,000 ; 5,000 to 10 ,000 ;
25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ;

:

100 ,000 ; 100 ,000 and over . . . . . . . . . . . .

Metropolitan districts adjacent to cities of

:

200 , 000 or more . .

• Rural subdivided into those in incorporated places and those in unincorporated
places.

POPULATION IN GE NERAL
SCH EDU LE SHOWING STATISTICS OF NUMBER OF I N HABITANTS IN THE SEVERAL
VOLU M ES OF THE FOU RTEENTH CENSus--Continued

aa ssi fication

Cities and adjacent territory for cities of
100,000 to 200,000 ........ . .........
Cities and incorporated places.
Cities of 100,000 or more . ............ .
Cities of 25 ,000 or more ..... .. ... . ....
Incorporated places of 2,500 or more . .
All incorporated places ... . ... . ...... . .
Wards.
Cities of 50,000 or more ............ . .
Cities of 5 ,000 or more ... .. . . . . . .•...
Minor civil divisions . ........ . ............

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

..

..

X

..

X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

X

..
..
..
..
..

..

X

..

..

..
..
..

..

..
..
..
..
..

..

For intercensal years the Bureau of the Census makes estimates
of the population which are published from time to time. T hese
estimates are based on the figures of two succeeding censuses and
assume that the increase was the same each year during the period
between the two censuses. The average annual increase of the
preceding decade is applied to the latest census figures in order to
obtain figures for each year after the latest census. In the case of
cities and counties allowance is also made for an increase or
decrease in the area of the unit. While this method on the whole
probably gives better results than any other one, it is subject to a
considerable margin of error, as it spreads the increase over the
entire ten-year period, when by far the greater part of the increase
may have been within a portion of the decade.
With the exception of changes in area the only data necessary
to compute increases for any civil division are the population figures
for two succeeding censuses. However, attention must be given to
the fact that the interval between two censuses is not always exactly
ten years ; the census for 1910 was taken as of April 15, and that
of 1920 as of January 1.
The latest publication containing estimates is entitled " Estimates
of Population of the United States, by States and Cities, 1910 to
1923." For states and for municipalities with a population over
8,000 in 1920 this publication gives the figures of the censuses of
1910 and 192 0 and estimates for July I of each year from 1910

Digitized by

Google

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

to 1923. For counties it gives the figures of the censuses of 1910
and 1920 and estimates for July 1 of each year from 1920 to 1923.

The white and colored population in 1920 and the estimated
figures for July 1, 1920 to 1923, are given for each state and for
each city of over eight thousand population in 1920 having ten
thousand ormore colored or at least 10 per cent colored population .
Volume I of the Fourteenth Census contains also data on the
density of population, the center of population , the median point,
and themedian lines .

Monograph I of the Fourteenth Census (1920 ), “ Increase of
Population in the United States, 1910 -1920,” by W . S. Rossiter,

contains a discussion of the following aspects of the distribution
of inhabitants :
Growth of population before the Fourteenth Census.
Increase of population in nation and states.

States which increased slightly, or decreased in population .
County increase or decrease.

Rural and urban increase or decrease .

Color or Race, Nativity , and Parentage. In the reports of the
Fourteenth Census summary statistics on color , race, nativity, and
parentage are given in Volume II, and more detailed figures are
presented in Volume III. Color, race, nativity, and parentage are
also used as subordinate classifications in the statistics by sex , age,
marital condition, illiteracy, school attendance, occupation , births,
and deaths. Schedules showing the statistics are given in the
sections of this volume devoted to these topics.
Color and race form one unit in the classification , being sub
divided into white , negro, Indian, Chinese , Japanese, and " all
other." Negroes are divided into black and mulatto . Nativity

indicates whetherborn in the United States or in a foreign country.
The statistics on parentage apply only to native whites and differ
entiate between the three following classes: ( 1 ) Natives of native
parentage — both the father and mother having been born in the
United States; (2 ) natives of foreign parentage — both parents
having been born in a foreign country ; and (3) natives of mixed
parentage — one parent having been born in the United States and

one in a foreign country. In some tables the foreign and mixed are

combined. The four classifications — native white of native parent
age, native white of foreign or mixed parentage, foreign born

POPULATION IN GENERAL

29

white, and negro — are used as subdivisions of practically every

other main classification.
The following comment on the statistics by color, nativity, or

parentage is quoted from the reports of the Census of 1910.
. . . There seemslittle doubt that a certain number of the foreign
born are reported as native born of foreign parentage, or even as
native born of native parentage in some cases, and that a certain
number of native whites of foreign parentage or of mixed native
and foreign parentage are reported as natives of pure native
parentage.' Errors in the opposite direction are probably compara

tively rare. Consequently , since these errors are largely confined
to the adult population , there is probably to some extent an under
statement of the number of adults among the foreign -born whites
and an overstatement of the number among the native whites of

native parentage. It may readily be, however, that the native
whites of foreign or mixed parentage gain from the foreign born

about as many as they lose to the natives of native parentage.
Statistics are given for the usual geographic units and in addition
there are two groupings of urban communities showing the aggre

gate population of all cities of certain sizes. These groupings,which
are here called " Urban groupings A and B ,” although the desig
nations are not used in the census reports , include figures for the

aggregate of all cities of the following sizes.
A : 2,500 to 10 ,000 ; 10 ,000 to 25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; 100,000 to 500,000 ;
500,000 and over.

B : 2,500 to 10,000; 10,000 to 25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; 100,000 and over.

The distribution of the statistics through the several volumes is
indicated by the schedule on pages 30 and 31.
•Thirteenth Census, Vol. I, p . 297 .
* This source of error is augmented somewhat by the practice of the
Census Bureau in counting as native of native parentage all persons for
whom the enumerators make no return as to place of birth and parentage,
or whom they return as born in the United States, without stating the
place of birth of the parents . Such cases are, however , relatively few . - Note
is part of quotation .

L
NATIONAL STATISTICA WORK

30

SCHEDULE OF FOURTEENTH CENSUS STATISTICS With COLOR, RACE, NATIVITY,
AND PARENTAGE AS THE MAIN CLASSIFICATION .

:: :

:XXX X: X
X X
X
X

:X
X
:
Xx
xx x:

X
X
X

x

i XX : : : :
X:X
X
X:
X

::: :: ::: : :

:

X
X

:: ::: :

Chap. I . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

X:

and divisions — Vol. II, Chap. Il x
Urban grouping B - States — Vol. II,

: ::

Abstract .. . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . . .. . .

Urban grouping A - United States

X X:

Vol. II, Chap. 1. .. .
Vol. III . . . . . . . . . .. .

:

Vol. II, Chap. I... ...
Abstract .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
States .

::

Divisions.

* :: * : * :: : X

Vol. III . . .
Abstract

: ::

United States.
Vol. II, Chap. I. .. .

:: :

Vol. III .. . .. . . . .

Urban and rural.

:

Selected cities _ Vol. II, Chap. 1 . . . .

Wards of cities of 50,000 and over

:: :

Cities of 2,500 or over - Vol. III. . . ..

: :

::

Vol. II, Chap. 1.. .. .. .
Cities of 25,000 or more Vol. II,
Chap. 1; Vol. III. ..
Abstract .. .. . . .. . . .

X:

:X

Vol. III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cities from 25,000 to 100 ,000 .

X:

Vol. II, Chap. 1 ; Abstract. ..

X

I ; Vol. III ; Abstract. .. . . .. .

Counties
— Vol. III .....
Cities of 100 ,000 or more.

X XX

United States — Vol. II, Chap. 1; Vol.
III; Abstract ..
Divisions and states — Vol. II, Chap.

Divided * divNot
ided b

:x x:

Negro

White

Japanese

and all other

Native

Indian , Chinese ,

Geographic units

Foreign

Nativity

Race or color

I:

* Chinese, Japanese, and Indian shown separately; see also Chapter IV for additional
references to statistics on these races .
b Chinese , Japanese, and Indian not shown separately .
C Also subdivided into black and mulatto .
d Cities in which the total population was at least 10 ,000 and in which the negro
population was at least 5000 or was at least 10 per cent of the total population .

POPULATION IN GENERAL

31

SCHEDULE OF FOURTEENTH CENSUS STATISTICS WITH COLOR, RACE, NATIVITY,
AND PARENTAGE AS THE Main CLASSIFICATION — Continued

White population by nativity and

:X
:::

X

X:

X

X

X:

:

X
X

X
:X

:X

Vol. II, Chap . I ..
Vol. III . .. . . . ..

xxxx
xx
xxx

United States.

X

Urban and rural.

Foreign
mixed
and
|parentage

Mixed
parentage

X
X

parentage

Foreign
parentage

X
X

X
X

: : :

:X

1; Vol. III; Abstract ........ ...

States.
Vol. II, Chap. 1; Vol. III.. ....
Abstract .. . . . .. ..
Counties — Vol. III .. . .. .
Cities of 100,000 or more.
Vol. II, Chap. 1 ; Vol. III. . .
Abstract .. .. . . . . .. . .
Cities from 25,000 to 100 ,000 .
Vol. II, Chap. I .. . .
Abstract .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cities of 10 ,000 or more - Vol. III . .. . .
Places from 2,500 to 10,000 — Vol. III. . . ...
Wards of cities of 50,000 and over
. .. .. .
Vol. III .

X

United States and divisions— Vol. II, Chap.

Nativewhite

:X

x:ХХХ
хХХ
ХХХ

Total

Geographic units

xxx
xxxxx
xxx
xxx
xx
Native

born
Foreign

parentage

Abstract

Divisions.

:X

X
X:

X
X

X

iXX :X
X
X

X

:X
X

Urban grouping A — United States and divi
sions— Vol. II, Chap . 1. . . .. . . .. . . ..
Urban grouping B - States — Vol. II, Chap.

X

States.
Vol. II, Chap. 1...... ...
Vol. III
Abstract .. .

:X

Vol. II, Chap. 1 .
Abstract

;

I .. . . . . .

Sex. The following comment on the statistics of sex distribution
is taken from the report of the Census of 1920 :'
* Fourteenth Census, Vol. II, 1920, p. 103.

L

32

NATIONA

CAL

STATISTI

WORK

The returns as to sex are probably more nearly accurate than
those for any other population census inquiry.

There is no

ambiguity of terms, and rarely any motive to misrepresent the
facts ; and very few errors are likely to be made regarding the sex

of persons enumerated. It is possible, of course, that the sex dis
tribution shown by the returns may be affected slightly by omis
sions or duplications which may be relatively more numerous for
one sex than for the other, but it is not believed that these errors
are of sufficient frequency to influence appreciably the sex ratio
for the total population of all races or for the total white population .

For the several classes of the white population , however, there
is likely to be a margin of error due to incorrect returns as to
nativity and parentage. It is not improbable that some persons of
foreign birth are erroneously reported as of native birth , or even
as of native parentage, and that some persons of native birth but
of foreign or mixed parentage are erroneously included with those
of native parentage. Such errors are more likely to occur in the case
of males than in the case of females, for the reason that the former

predominate among the foreign born and among the floating popu
lation , for both of which classes accurate information is difficult
to obtain .

In the reports of the Fourteenth Census, the general tables
in which the sex distribution is shown are given in Volume II and
statistics for more specific areas are given in Volume III. In the
tables in which sex is used as a primary classification the subdivision

is by geographic units and by race, nativity , and color. There are
two groupings of urban communities showing the aggregate popula
tion of all cities of certain sizes. These groupings, which are here
called A and B , although these designations are not used in the

census reports, include figures for the aggregate of all cities of the
following sizes:
A — 2,500 to 10 ,000 ; 10 ,000 to 25,000 ; 25,000 to 100,000 ; 100,000 to 500 , 000 ;
B — 2,500 to 10,000 ; 10,000 to 25,000 ; 25 ,000 to 100,000 ; 100,000 and over .

500,000 and over .

The table on pages 33 and 34 shows the statistics in the census
reports in which sex is used as the primary classification .

Sex is also used as a secondary classification in connection with
other,main classifications of census and other statistics . Additional
statistics pertaining to sex of certain classes are analyzed under

the following headings and on the pages cited :
Age, pages 34- 39.
Marital condition , pages 39-42.

POPULATION IN GENERAL
Illiteracy, pages 47 -54.
Inability to speak English , page 54.
Country of birth, pages 58-60 .
Year of immigration of foreign born , pages 66 -67.

School attendance, pages 42-47.
Occupations, pages 106 -114.
Citizenship of foreign born , pages 64-66 .
Negroes, Indians, Chinese and Japanese, pages 71-77.
Dependents, defectives, and delinquents, pages 78-85.
Immigrants and emigrants, pages 87- 105.

Births, pages 115-117.
Deaths, pages 118 - 137 .

Farm operators, page 187 .
SCHEDULE OF FOURTEENTH Census STATISTICS BY SEX AS A PRIMARY

X

Divisions— Vol. II, Chap. 2......

:X

Foreign

mixed
and
parentage

parentage

parentage
Mixed

X

X

Foreign

:X

: : : *: : : : : : : : *

XXXX
XXXX

United States.
Vol. II, Chap. 2 . .. .. .. .. .
Vol. III . . . .. .

:Xxx
xx
xx

Native
parentage

X

Urban and rural.

XXXX

:X

Vol. III .
Counties — Vol. III . . ..
Cities of 100,000 and over.
Vol. II, Chap. 2 ; Abstract.. .
Vol. III . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .
Cities of 25,000 and over - Vol. II, Chap .
Cities of 10,000 and over - Vol. III. .. .. .. .
Cities of 25,000 to 100,000 — Abstract. . ... . ..
Wards of cities of 50, 000 and over - Vol. III

XXXXX

Vol. II, Chap. 2 ; Abstract....
States.
Vol. II, Chap. 2 ; Abstract....
Vol. III .

X

Divisions.

:XXX X

Vol. II, Chap. 2 ; Abstract...
Vol. III .. .

:X

United States.

Native white

X:Xi

Geographic units

XXXXX
:X
X
Total

Total
white

CLASSIFICATION

States - Vol. III . . . . . . .

x:*

X

X

Urban grouping A – United States and divi
sions— Vol. II, Chap. 2...

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

34

SCHEDULE OF FOURTEENTH CENSUS STATISTICS BY Sex AS A PRIMARY
classes

Indian ,
Chinese ,
Japanese ,

and all other
Divided a

Not
vided b

All

Negro

Geographic units

white
born

Foreign

CLASSIFICATION — Continued

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X:

Urban grouping B _ United States, divi
sions, and states — Vol. II, Chap. 2 .

X

Vol. III . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .. ..

States and
Urban divisions—
groupingVol.A — II,United
Chap. 2 . .. .. . .

X
X
X

Vol. II, Chap. 2 ; Abstract ... ... ...

: : :: :: :

:x

:

States .

X X:

:X

:X

Divisions.
Vol. II, Chap. 2.. ....
Abstract ..

:X

Abstract

:X

Urban and rural.
United States.
Vol. II, Chap. 2 ; Vol. III..

: x x:

Places from 2,500 to 10,000 — Vol. III .. ..

Wards of cities of 50,000 and over - Vol.
III
.... ...... ... ...... ... ...

: ::: :: ::

Cities of 100,000 and over- Vol. II, Chap.
2 ; Vol. III; Abstract. .. . .. . .. .. . ..
Cities of 25,000 and over - Vol. II, Chap. 2
Cities of 10,000 and over - Vol. III . .. .. .
Cities of 25,000 to 100,000 — Abstract... ..

: : :: :: ::

Vol. II, Chap. 16 .....
Vol. III ... ... ...

X:XXXX X

. ... .. .. . .

Counties.

X:XXXX X

Vol. II, Chap. 2; Vol. III...
Abstract

:x

Abstract
States.

:X

Vol. II, Chap. 2 . .. . . .

:x x

X X

Divisions.

X X

United Abstrac
States t— Vol.
II, Chap. 2; Vol. III;
.. .

a Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and all other shown separately ; see also Chapter IV for
additional statistics on Indians, Chinese, and Japanese.
o Indian , Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately.

Age. The primary classification by age shows single years, age

periods, and age groups. Age is also used as a subordinate classifi
cation in the presentation of other statistics.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

35

Statistics on males and females 21 years of age and over and
18 to 44 years of age are given in order to show the population of

voting ageand ofmilitia age respectively. The statistics on persons
of voting age represent the top limit of the number of persons who

might be allowed to vote,butdo not representthose actually entitled
to vote, as the right of suffrage is restricted by limitations other
than those of age.
The figuresby single years show all persons of specific ages such
as one year, two years, etc. The figures by age periods group the
population in classesby five year intervals such as “ under 5 years,”
" 5 to 9 years,” etc. Some tables give broad age groups, which are
multiplesof the age periods. In the tables showing broad age groups
there are used five separate groupings, which in the schedule below

are referred to as broad age groups A , B , C , D , and E , although
these designationsare notused in thecensusreports. The classifica
tion in each of these groups is as follows:
BROAD AGE GROUPS IN AGE STATISTICS
Broad age group A .
Under 5 years.
5 to 14 years.
15 to 24 years.
25 to 44 years.
25 to 34 years.
35 to 44 years.

45 to 64 years.
45 to 54 years.
55 to 64 years.
65 years and over.
Broad age group B .
Under 5 years.
5 to 9 years.
10 to 14 years.

Broad age group B - Broad age group D .
Contd
15 to 19 years.

Under 5 years.
5 to 9 years.

10 to 14 years.

20 to 24 years.
25 to 34 years.
35 to 44 years.
45 to 64 years.
65 years and over.
Broad age group C .
Under 5 years.
5 to 14 years.

45 years and over.
Broad age group E .
Under 5 years.

15 to 24 years.
25 to 44 years.

35 to 44 years.

45 to 64 years.
65 years and over.

55 to 64 years.

15 to 19 years.
20 to 44 years.

5 to 14 years.
15 to 24 years.

25 to 34 years.
45 to 54 years.

65 years and over.

Separate figures for children under one year old are given in
connection with practically every other classification.
The schedule on pages 36 to 38 indicates the classes of the popu

lation and the geographic units forwhich age is shown as a primary
classification. The term " total ” in the stub indicates that the

figures do not differentiate between the sexes.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS IN WHICH AGE IS THE PRIMARY
parentage

and
mixed

parentage

Foreign

parentage

Mixed

Total

Ages and geographic units

Native white
Foreign

Total
white

Native
parentage

CLASSIFICATION

Single years of age.
male (Vol. II, Chap . 3 ) .. . . .. . . .. . . X

X

X
X

X X

X X
X X
X
X

: :

:

:
X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 3 ). ..
United States — Male and female (Vol. II,

Age periods.

: :
: :

1-24 years — Divisions, states, and cities
of 500,000 and over - Male and fe
male (Vol. II, Chap. 3) . . . .. . . .. . . .
1-5 years — Cities from 100,000 to 500,000

| :

1-100 years — United States — Male and fe

Chap. 3 ; Abstract ) . .. ... ..

X

Divisions, states, and cities of 100 ,000 and

:

:
:

: :

: :
:

X X
X X

.. .

Divisions, states, and cities from 25 ,000 to
100,000 — Total ( Vol. II, Chap. 3) ...
Broad age group C - Cities of 100,000 or
more — Total ( Vol. II, Chap. 3; Ab

X X

Male and female (Vol. II,
States—
UnitedChap
. 3 ; Abstract) . . . .. . .. . . . . .. . .

X

Chap. 3) . . . .. .. .
Broad age group A .

X
X

:

over - Male and female (Vol. II,

x*

: :

x x:

X

Male and female (Vol. III) ....

Broad age group E – United States, divisions,
and states — Total (Abstract)
Voting age.

United States and divisions— Male and fe

X
: :

:

:: : :
: : :: :

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 3). .. |
States.
Total (Abstract) . ..

:: ::

X

:

: X
: :

United States and divisions.
Total (Abstract) . .. .

: :

(Vol. III )
Urban and rural.

:: :
:

x

x:

:x

. ..

x

female (Vol. III) . .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . . . .

: * :
:

cities of 50,000 and over - Male and

x

male (Vol. III) .. ..
States and counties.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 16 ) . . .. . . . .
Male and female (Vol. III) . .. . . . . .. . . .
Places of 2,500 and over and wards of

: * : * * ** : *

Divisions and states- Male and female
(Vol. III) .. . .. .
Cities of 10,000 and over - Male and female

:
:

X

X

stract) ..

Broad age group D .

37

POPULATION IN GENERAL
SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS IN WHICH AGE IS THE PRIMARY

classes

Indian ,
Chinese ,
Japanese,

Negro

and all other
t
Divide
idedd al divNo
ided b

All

Ages and geographic units

white
born

Foreign

CLASSIFICATION _ Continued

Single years of age.
1-100 years — United States - Male and

:

x
x

X.

x

L

female (Vol. II, Chap. 3) . .. . . . . . x
1-24 years- Divisions, states, and cities

of 500,000 and over - Male and

X
X
X X X
X

x

:

3 ) . . . . . .. . . . . . ..
Cities of 100 ,000 and over - Male and

female (Vol. II, Chap. 3) . .. ...

United States - Male and female (Vol.

x
x x x x

x x x x
x x x x

United States — Male and female (Vol.
II, Chap. 3 ; Abstract)..........
Divisions — Male and female (Vol. II,
Chap. 3 ) . . . . . . . .. .. ..
States- Male and female (Vol. II, Chap.
Broad age group A .

:

. . . . . . . . ..

x
x

II, Chap. 3) .. . . . .. .
Age periods.

: * : *

to

x
x

100,000

500 ,000 — Male and female (Vol.

: *

female (Vol. II, Chap. 3) .... ... X
1-5 years — Cities from

x x
x x

| Chap. 3 ) . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. .

Broad age group B - Cities from 25,000 to

100,000 — Male and female ( Vol.

x

: :

x x
xx x

:

:

x

United States, divisions, and states.
Total (Abstract) . .... .... ... ... :
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 3) . 1 x

::

over - Male and female (Vol.
. .. .. . . . x
III) . .. . . ..
Urban and rural.

XX

:
:

II, Chap. 3; Abstract) .... ....
Divisions, states, and cities of 10,000 and

: :

x
x

II, Chap. 3 ; Abstract) . . . .. . .. . . X
Cities of 25,000 to 100,000 — Total (Vol.

:

x
x

Broad age group C .
Cities of 100 ,000 and over - Total (Vol.

x

II, Chap. 3) . . . .. . . . .. . .. .. . . .. . X

Broad age group D .

x x

II, Chap. 3 ; Abstract) . .. .. .. .. .

Division and states — Total (Vol. II,

• Indian , Chinese, Japanese , and all others shown separately ; see also Chapter IV for
b For
Indianimportant
, Chinese,
and Japanese not shown separately .
e
states only .

additional statistics on Indians, Chinese, and Japanese ,

38

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
SCHEDULE OF Census StatistiCS IN WHICH AGE IS THE PRIMARY
,wborn
hite

classes

Japanese ,
and all other

Not

Divided

livided b

All

Ages and geographic units

Indian ,
Chinese

Negro

Foreign

CLASSIFICATION _ Continued

Broad age group E – United States, divi
sions, and states— Total (Ab
.. . / x
Voting age.
United States and divisions - Male and

x

x

X

stract)

x x
x

x
1

states, counties, places of 2,500 or

x

:

Military ageUnited States, divisions,

X

Places of 2,500 or more and wards of
cities of 50,000 and over - Male
and female (Vol. III) .. . .. ... . . IX

X

X

Cities female
of 100 ,000 and over - Male and
(Vol. III) . .. . .. .. . .. . .. .

x x:

X

X
X

X

female (Vol. III) ......
States and counties.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 16 ) .... ........
Male and female (Vol. III) . .... ....

over, and wards of cities of 50,000
and over - Male and female (Vol.

:

III )
• Indian, Chinese , Japanese, and all others shown separately ; see also Chapter IV for
additional statistics on Indians, Chinese, and Japanese.
b Indian, Chinese, and Japanese not shown separately .

In addition to the foregoing, age is used as a subordinate classifi
cation in connection with the statistics listed below , which are

analyzed on the pages cited.
Marital condition, pages 39-42.
Illiteracy, pages 47 -54 .

Citizenship of foreign born , pages 64-66.
School attendance, pages 42-47.

Negroes, Indians, Chinese and Japanese, pages 71-77.
Dependents, defectives and delinquents, pages 78 -85.
Immigrants and emigrants, pages 87 -105.

Occupations, pages 106 -114.
Deaths, pages 118- 137.
Births (age of father and mother ), pages 115 - 117.
Farm operators, page 187.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

39

Marital Condition . All the tables giving statistics for marital

condition present figures for males and females, generally sub
divided into single, married , widowed, and divorced, although in
some groupings the widowed and divorced are combined. Most of

the statistics relate to the population 15 years of age and over, but
there are several general tables which give data on the total popula

tion of all ages. Five groupings of ages are used in the census
reports which are here arbitrarily designated F , G , H , I, and J, but

which are not so designated in the census reports. The severalage
periods in each group are as follows:
AGE GROUPINGS IN MARITAL STATISTICS
Age grouping F.
Age grouping G
Age grouping 1 –
Under 15 .

Total over 15.
15 to 19.
20 to 24.
25 to 29 .
30 to 34 .

35 to 44.
45 to 54.

Cont'd
45 to 54.

Cont'd
25 to 34.

55 to 64.
65 and over.
Unknown.

35 to 44
45 to 54.

Age grouping H .
Total over 15 .
15 to 24.

55 to 64.

25 to 34.

65 and over .

35 to 44.
45 and over.

Unknown

Age grouping G .
Total over 15.
15 to 19.
20 to 24.
25 to 34.
35 to 44.

Unknown.
Age grouping I.
Under 15 .
Total over 15 .
15 to 19 .

55 to 64.
65 and over.
Unknown.

Age grouping J.
Total over 15.
15 to 19.
20 to 24.
25 to 34.

35 to 44.
45 to 64.
65 and over.
Unknown.

20 to 24.

It should be noted that each age grouping contains figures for
the total population 15 years of age and over, therefore the statistics

for any age group may be used by those who desire only general
figures.
The marital condition is the status of the individual at the time
the census was taken , hence the number of persons reported as

divorced is less than the number who have been divorced, asmany
divorced persons have remarried and are reported as married .
Statistics of marital condition differ from those of marriage and

divorce given in Chapter X , the figures on marital condition relat
ing to the entire population on a date certain,as the legal status of
every person must be either single, married, widowed , or divorced.

40

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Statistics of marriage and divorce, on the other hand, show the
number of persons married or divorced within a definite period.
The several classifications used in the statistics of marital con

dition are indicated in the following schedule :
mixed
and

Mixed

parentage

parentage
Foreign

parentage

Native white
Foreign

parentage

Ages and geographic units

Native

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS ON MARITAL CONDITION

Total population 15 years and over.

X:

X:

X

Divisions and states (Abstract) . . .. . .. ..
Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) .
Cities of 100,000 and over (Abstract) . .. .. . . . ..
Urban and rural- States (Vol. II, Chap. 4) ... .
Single years 15 to 34 – United States (Vol. II,
Chap. 4 ; Abstract) . .. .. .

X X

: X :

X

X

X

X:
X
X

X

X X X

X
:

X X:

X

X

X

X

Age grouping F - United States (Vol. II, Chap. 4 )" |
Age grouping G .
Divisions and states (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) . .. .. ..
Cities of 100,000 and over (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) ..

XX:X

United States (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ; Abstract") ....

Age grouping H - Urban and rural— United States
and divisions (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) . .. .. ... ..

X

Age grouping I.
United States (Vol. II, Chap. 4)'. ...... .
United States (Abstract) .. . .. .. . .

X

Urban and rural— United States ( Vol. II, Chap.
4) .... .....

Age grouping J - Urban and rural- United States
(Abstract) .......
Shows also
*b Shows
total white and total native white.
also total white.
e Widowed and divorced combined .

41

POPULATION IN GENERAL

classes

other

Divisions and states (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ; Abstr.)

X
X

United States (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) . . .. . .

xXX
:Xxx

Total population of all ages — United States, divi
sions, and states (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) .. .... ..
Total population 15 years and over.

X:
XXi

A11

All

Ages and geographic units

Negro

Foreign
whit
born e

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS ON MARITAL CONDITION _ Continued

Cities of 100 ,000 and over (Abstract) . . .

Cities of 25,000 to 100,000 (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) .
Urban and rural.

Divisions and states (Abstract) .. ... .. .

X:

X

States (Vol. II, Chap. 4) ....

Single years 15 to 34 – United States (Vol. II,

X

X

Chap. 4 ) . .. . . . . . . .. .. .. ..

Age grouping F _ United States (Vol. II, Chap. 4)

Age grouping G .

x

X

X

Chap. 4 )

Age grouping J – Urban and rural— United States

X

:x
xxx

(Abstract ) .. . .. . . . .. ..

:X :

Age grouping I.
United States.
(Vol. 2, Chap. 4 )'.. .

XX

United States and divisions (Vol. II, Chap. 4 )
States (Vol. II, Chap. 4 ) ....

X

Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 (Vol. II, Chap.4) .
Urban and rural.

X

: :

(Abstract) ... ..

XX

Age grouping H .

X

X

X

over (Vol. II, Chap. 4) . .. .. .
Urban and rural- United States (Vol. II,

:$X $ : : : :

Divisions, states, and cities of 100 ,000 and

Indian , Chinese, and Japanese shown separately ; see also Chapter IV for additional
statistics on these races.
Chinese,
Japanese, and all other
separate age
periods.
for Indians,

shown separately , but figures are not given

S .Chinese and Japanese shown separately for California, Oregon, and Washington ;
Indians shown separately for western states.
d Widowed and divorced combined .

e Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and all other shown separately , but only for " a

NAL

O
NATI

42

TICAL

S
STATI

WORK

Statistics on the marital condition of occupied women are given
in Volume IV , Occupations, of the reports of the Fourteenth
Census. It is announced that an analysis of the statistics of the
Fourteenth Census on marital condition will be published in a

census monograph by William F . Ogburn.

School Attendance. The statistics on school attendance show the
number of persons reported as having attended school at any time

between September 1, 1919 , and January, 1920. The figures repre

sent the total number attending school and not the persons who
may have attended school on any one day during this period. A

person who attended school for one week would be counted the
sameas one who attended school for the entire four-month period .
Figures are given for all ages attending school, for single years

within certain limits, and for several age groupings. The broad
are groups are divided into those under 7, those from 7 to 20, and
those 21 and over. The age periods, which are here called group
ings K , L , M , N , O , and P , but which are not so termed in the
census reports, include the following years :
AGE GROUPINGS IN Census STATISTICS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Age grouping K .
Age grouping Age grouping O .
Under 7.
7 to 13.

14 and 15.
16 and 17 .

18 to 20 .
21 and over.

Age grouping L .

Cont'd
18 to 20 .

Age grouping M .
5 and 6 .
7 to 13.
14 to 20.

Age grouping N .

5 and 6 .

7 to 13.

7 to 13.
14 and 15.
16 and 17.

14 and 15.
16 and 17.

7 to 13.
14 and 15.
16 to 20 .

Age grouping P .
Under 7.
7 to 13.
14 to 20 .
21 and over .

18 to 20.

Practically all tables showing age classifications, except those

for less than 7 years and those for 21 years and over, give either the
total population of the specified age, the percentage of the total
population of the specified age attending school, or both . Percen
tage figures for persons under 7 or over 20 would bemeaningless ,
as these classes include the great mass of the population which is
not of school age.

The scope of the statistics by ages and geographic units is shown
in the following schedule:

POPULATION IN GENERAL

43
Foreign
and
parentage
1

parentage

parentage

mixed

Mixed

parentage

Ages and geographic units

Native white
Foreign

Native

SCHEDULE OF Census StatiSTICS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

All ages.

United States - Male and female (Vol. II , Chap.

: : X

X X X

X X X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. II) . .. . ..
Total (Vol. II , Chap. 11) .. ... ..
Single years 5 to 20.
United States.
Urban and rural- United States and divisions

x

x

. ...

x

II ; Abstract)

Divisions, states, and cities of 25,000 and over

cities of 100,000 and over — Total (Vol. II,
Chap . II ; Abstract) . .. . . . ..

.......

X
x x : : : :

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11) . . . .

x x

... . .... . . ...

Divisions, states , and cities of 100,000 and over

Cities of 25 ,000 and over - Total ( Vol. II, Chap.

x

. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Urban and rural, United States and divisions
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11 ). .
Age grouping L - United States and divisions

x

II )

:

United States — Male and female (Vol. II, Chap

: : x x x x

x

Age grouping K .
II ; Abstract ) * . . .

:

x

Chap. II ; Abstract) . .. . . . ..
7 to 13 years – United States, divisions, states, and

X : ::

x
x

cities of 100,000 and over - Total (Vol. II,

: *

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11 ) ..... ..
United States and states - Male and female
(Vol. III) . .. . . .
7 to 20 years— United States, divisions, states and

X

Divisions, states, and cities of 250,000 and over

: * :*

:x

:X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11)'........
Male and female (Abstract)"........

x

Total (Vol. III) . .. . . . . .. . . .

Age grouping M _ Urban and rural - United States

x

and states - Total (Vol. III) . . . . .

also total white and total native white.
:D Shows
Shows total white.
• Separate figures for these years are given also in each age grouping.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Indian, Chinese,
classes

Japanese
and all other

Divided *

divNot
ided b

All

Negro

Ages and geographic units

white
born

Foreign

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - Continued

:
:

United States.
•

•

•

•

•

•

•

:X

Divisions, states, and cities of 250,000

:::

•

:
XX

Total (Abstract) . .. . . .

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11) .
Male and female (Abstract) .. .... ..

:
XX
:: :

:: :

;

x
*

United States and divisions.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11) .. .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap.
II) . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .
States — Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11) ....
Single years 5 to 20.

X

Abstract ) . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . ..

Urban and rural.

X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. II ;

X

X X
X X

Cities of 25,000 and over.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11) . .. . .. .. . ..

: : :

:

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11) .
Cities of 100,000 and over - Male and
female (Vol. II, Chap. 11). .....

X

Divisions and states.
Total (Abstract) . .. . . ..

X

:X

Male and female ( Vol. II, Chap. 11) .

: : : :: : : :

Total (Abstract) . .
Male and female (Abstract ) . .. .. ..

X:XX
:XXX

United States.

XXXX

All ages .

and over.

X

X

female (Vol. II, Chap. II ; Ab

X

X

: ::
:: :

: ::

:

X
::

Counties — Total (Vol. II, Chap. 16 ). ..

:: :

X

Abstract) . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cities of 100,000 and over — Male and

7 to 20 years.

X

Male and female (Vol. III) . ... .
United States, divisions, and states.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11; Abstract) ., X
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. II ;

::

5 to 20 years — United States and states

:

:X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11) . .

X:

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11 ) ..... .......

X

stract ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX TX

Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and all other shown separately; see also Chapter IV for
additional statistics on these races.
b Indian , Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately .

POPULATION IN GENERAL

45
classes

Indian,
Chinese,
Japanese ,
Divided :

Not
divided b

All

and all other

Negro

Ages and geographic units

white
born

Foreign

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE — Continued

7 to 20 years — Continued

Urban and rural - United States, divi
sions, and states — Total (Vol. II,
Chap. II; Abstract) . .... .

x

:
:

sions, and states — Total (Vol. II,
Broad age groups— United States, divi

:

United States divisions, states, and cities
of 100,000 and over - Total (Vol.
II, Chap. II; Abstract) .. .. ... .. X
Urban and rural - United States, divi

:

x

7 to 13 years.

:: :

:: :
: :

: :

: :

States— Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11) .... ,
United States and states — Total (Vol. 1x1x

Age grouping L .

:

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11) . .. .

Male
and female (Vol. II, Chap.
11) .. . . . ..
III) . .. .
. . . . . . ..
Wards of cities of 50,000 and over

Total ( Vol. III) .......... ..

x
x
xx
xxx
x

:

x
xx

X

: :: : : :

X:

X ::

X

:X

Total (Abstract) .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11) . .
Urban and rural.
United States.

X

Total (Abstract) . . . . . .

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 11) .
Cities of 25,000 and over.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 11) ......

x
Ex

X

X

. . .. . .

Cities of 100,000 and over.

:: : :: : :

X

X

II, Chap. 11; Abstract) ... ......
Divisions and states - Male and female

:

:

United States - Male and female (Vol.

(Vol. II, Chap. 11)..

:

sions, and states — Total (Vol. II,

Chap. II ; Abstract ) . ... ..
Age grouping K .

:

:

Chap. 11 ; Abstract ) ......

Indian, Chinese , Japanese, and all other shown separately ; see also Chapter IV for
additional statistics on these races.
Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately.
Separate figure for these years are given also in each age grouping.

46

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

classes

Indian
, Chinese.
Japanese,
Not
Divided : ladivided

b

All

and all other

Negro

Ages and geographic units

Foreign
white
born

SCHEDULE OF Census STATISTICS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - Continued

Age grouping M - Urban and rural
United States and states — Total
x.

111) . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . ..
Age grouping 0 – Places from 2,500 to
10,000 — Total (Vol. III) .. .. .. .. .

Age grouping P — United States, divisions,
and states- Male and female (Vol.

: : : :

United States and divisions — Total (Vol.
II, Chap. II ; Abstract) . .. . . . .. .
States — Total ( Vol. II, Chap. 11 ; Vol.
III ; Abstract) . . . . .
. .. . .
Cities of 10,000 and over — Total (Vol.

x

. .. .. . . . .. x

x x x x

(Vol. III) .. .
Age grouping N .

:

II, Chap . II) .. . .. . .
* Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and all other shown separately; see also Chapter IV for
bIndian, Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately.

additional statistics on these races.

An interpretation and a discussion of school attendance statistics

for 1920 are given in Census Monograph V, entitled “ School
Attendance in 1920,” by Frank A . Ross. The scope of this publica
tion is indicated by the following chapter headings:
1. General school attendance in 1920 (Part 1).
2. General school attendance in 1920 ( Part 2 ).
4. Foreign -born white school attendance.
3. Negro school attendance .

5. School attendance among the native white of native parentage.
6 . The native white of native parentage in cities.
7. The native white of foreign or mixed parentage.
8. The development of school attendance.

Appendix A . The method of partial and multiple correlation applied to
school attendance.

In addition to general tables scattered through the text the

volume contains detailed statistics as shown in the following
schedule :

POPULATION IN GENERAL

47

SCHEDULE OF DETAILED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE STATISTICS IN CENSUS

5 to 20, male and female ... ...

white
born

Negro
:: :

mixed
and

parentage

Foreign

Foreign

parentage

parentage

Foreign

:X
:::

: ::
X:
X:

X:

:X
::
X:

x:

Cities of 25,000 and over.

:X
X:

7 to 13 years, male and female . .. . . ..
7 to 13 years, total. . .

:X
XX

7 to 20 years, male and female.. .. . .

X

Cities of 100 ,000 and over .

:: : :
: : : :
: *
X:

Mixed

classes

Cities of 250,000 and over - Single years

:

7 to 20 years, by age periods,b total. . . .

X

7 to 13 years, total. . . . . ..

: :
:
:
x x:

7 to 13 years, male and female ... .....
7 to 13 years, total. . . . . . ..
Urban and rural- Divisions and states.

:X X

7 to 20 years by age periods, male and
female . .. . . . .. . .. . .

X :X
:
:: ::: :

X

States— 5 to 20 years, by single years, total
Divisions and states.
7 to 20 years, male and female.. ..... .

Nativewhite

x
x

All

Classification

Native
parentage

MONOGRAPH V

7 to 20 years, by age periods, total. .

7 to 13 years, total. . .. . . . . .. .. ..

only..
shown are 7 to 13, 14 and 15, 16 and 17, 18 to 30 .
o• Percentages
The age periods

Illiteracy. In the census statistics illiteracy indicates inability to

write any language, the figures being confined to persons 10 yearsof

age and over. The population schedule for the Fourteenth Census
contained two inquiries regarding illiteracy : (1) Whether able to

read, and (2) whether able to write. Volume II of the reports
contains four tables giving the number of illiterates, male and
female, who can neither read nor write , and who can read but not
write. For the United States as a whole and for the urban and

rural population these tables give separate figures for all the

classes , total native white, native white of native parentage, native
white of foreign parentage, native white of mixed parentage,
foreign -born white, negro , Indian , Chinese , Japanese, and all other ;

for divisions, states, and cities of 100,000 and over they give

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
figures for all classes only .
cussed below , give data only
Age groupings are used in
and over, 10 to 15 years, 16

All the other tables, which are dis
for those who are unable to write.
the tabulations as follows: 10 years
to 20 years , over 21 years, and age

periods. The age periods are by five-year intervals from 10 to 24 ,
ten -year intervals from 25 to 64, and 65 and over. Practically all

the tables show the total population of the ages specified , the per
centage of illiteracy, or both . The classification by ages, geographic

units, sex, race, color, and nativity is indicated by the schedule
below . The use of the term total in the stub indicates that no
differentiation is made for sex.

Foreign
mixed
and

Mixed

Foreign

Native

Total

Age and geographic units

Total
white

Native white

parentage

parentage

parentage

parentage

SCHEDULE OF Census STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY

10 years and over.

x: x
:x x
::
:X
X:
:X
x:

X

i

i
:

X
X:

: :

:x x

X : : X : : X : :

X

X

: :

X :

Male and female (Vol. III) ........
Divisions.

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12) ...
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ;
Abstract) .. ...

X

United States.

:
Xx

:X
X:

:: :
:::

X

:: :

:X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract).
Total (Vol. III) . .. ...
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12) ...
Cities of 25,000 to 100,000.
Total (Abstract) . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12) . ...
Places of 2,500 and over and wards of cities

: ::

Cities of 100,000 and over.

X:

:: :

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract)
Total (Vol. III) . ..
Counties — Total (Vol. III)

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) .. ..

:x

States.

:Xi

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract) .. ....
Total (Vol. III) ...

of 50,000 and over — Total (Vol. III).
:

49

POPULATION IN GENERAL
mixed
and

x:

:*
::

:* :* : : : ::* : :

:X
:X
X:
X:

::

X:

X

: :

X:

: : X

X

X:x x

: : :

:X
:X

X
X
:
:

:: ::

:
:

:

Male and female ( Vol. II, Chap. 12) .

:

(Vol. III) .. . .. .. .. .. .. .
Wards of cities of 50 ,000 and over - Male
and female (Vol. III) . .. . . .. . . . .. . . .
Urban and rural.
United States.
Total (Vol. III ; Abstract) .. . .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) .
Divisions.
Total (Abstract) .. . ..

X X :

male (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) . . ... . .. .. .

Cities of 10,000 and over - Male and female

Foreign

Mixed

Native

X

:X

Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 — Male and fe

X:

Cities of 100,000 and over.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract) .. ..
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12) ....
Male and female (Vol. III) . . ..

:X

Counties – Male and female (Vol. III) . ...

: ::: : ::

Total (Vol. II, Chap . 12 ; Abstract) .. ..
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) . . .
Male and female (Vol. III) ..

:
XX

States.

:X

Male and female (Vol. III) ..

: ::

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) .

::

Male and female (Vol. III ) . . . . . .
Divisions.
Total ( Vol. II, Chap . 12 ; Abstract ) . . .

:: :::

Total (Vol. II, Chap . 12 ; Abstract) . . .. . .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) . . . . .

:X

21 years and over.
United States .

:X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) . .

Male and female (Vol. III) .... ... ...

X
:

stract) .. .. .. .
States .
Total ( Abstract) . . .

X

Divisions- Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Ab

::: : :::

10 years and over - Continued
Urban and rural.
United States.
Total (Vol. II, Chap . 12 ; Abstract) .. . .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap . 12 )
Male and female (Vol. III) . .. .. . .. ..

X:X
XX X
iX
:X
:X

Total

Age and geographic units

Total
white

Native white

parentage

parentage

parentage
Foreign
parentage

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY _ Continued

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

50

mixed
and

Foreign

Foreign

Native

Total

white

Age and geographic units

Total

Native white

parentage

parentage
Mixed
parentage

parentage

SCHEDULE OF Census STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY - Continued

21 years and over - Continued
Urban and rural- Continued
States.

Total (Vol. III ; Abstract) . .. .. .. .. ,

X:

X
:

: :: : ::

X X X X
: :: : ::

X

16 to 20 years .
United States.

X

Urban and rural - United States and states
Total (Vol. III) .. . .. .. .

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract) ...
Male and female (Vol. III) .. ... .... ...

X

States.

:: : :: :
:: : :: :

Divisions—
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12; Ab
stract) . .. . . . . . . .

X

United States.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12; Abstract)....
Male and female (Vol. III) .. . .. .. .. . ..

::
::

10 to

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12).. |
15 years.

X X X X
: :: : ::

: :: : ::
X X X

X
X
X
X
:

X
X

:
:

: :
: :

Urban and rural - United States and states
Total (Vol. III) ..
Age periods.
United States - Male and female (Vol. II,
Chap. 12 ; Abstract) . .. .. .. . . . . .
Divisions and states - Male and female
(Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) . .. . . .. . . .. .
Cities of 100,000 and over-- Male and female
(Vol. II, Chap. 12) . . .. . .. . . .. . . . . .

:: : :: :
: : : :: :

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract). .. . l
Male and female (Vol. III ) . . .

X X X
X X X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12; Abstract).
Male and female (Vol. III) .. . .. . .. . .. .
Divisions — Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12; Ab
stract)
States.

POPULATION IN GENERAL
white
born

Divided a

classes

Not

divided b

All

Age and geographic units

Chinese,
Japanese,
and all other

Negro

Foreign

SCHEDULE OF Census StatisTICS OF ILLITERACY _ Continued

ID years and over.

United States.

. ..... .. ... .

III) . . . .

. .. . ... .. ...

X
X

: X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Wards of cities of 50,000 and over
Total ( Vol. III) .

Urban and rural.
United States.
Total (Abstract)

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12;
.. . ... . ..
Vol. III) .. . . . . ..
Divisions— Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12;
Abstract)
States.
Total (Abstract) ... ..

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ;
Vol. III) . . . .

X
X

X

III) . .. . .. .

Places of 2,500 to 10,000 — Total (Vol.

X X

X

X

Cities of 10 ,000 and over - Total ( Vol.

X X

X

X

Total (Abstract) .. . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . .

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ).

X X X

:: *

X

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ) .
Cities of 25,000 to 100 ,000.

X

:: : :
: : : :: ::
: : : : :

:x x

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Vol. III;
Abstract) ... .

X

Cities of 100 ,000 and over.

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 16) ... .
Total (Vol. III) . . . . .. . .. .. .

Xi X
Xi X

Vol. III) . . . . .. .

Counties.

X

: : : : :

Total (Vol. III; Abstract) .. .. ...

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap.
States.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12). .........
Total (Abstract) .. .. . .. ... . .. .. .. .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ;

X

: : :: : : :

Total (Vol. II, Chap . 12 ) ..

X

: :: ::: :: : ::

Abstract) . .. . . ..
Male and female (Vol. III) . .
Divisions.

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ). ... ... ... ..
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ;

• Chinese. Japanese, and all other shown separately ; for additional statistics on these
races see Chapter IV .

o Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
SCHEDULE OF Census STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY_ Continued
Foreign
white
born

Chinese,
classes

: : :: : : : : : :
:: :: : :

:: : :

:: : ::

Au

divided b

:: :: : :

Not

Divided a

: : :: : : : : : :

Negro

Age and geographic units

Japanese ,

and all other

21 years and over.

Urban and rural.

United States.
Total (Vol. III ; Abstract) . . . .. .. .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 )
Divisions.

Total (Abstract )

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 )
States.
Total ( Vol. III ; Abstract ) . . . ..
12 )
10 to 15 years.
United States.

XXX x
XX
x
x

x
x

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap.

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract)..
Male and female (Vol. III) . .... ....

Xx x

stract) . . . . . .
States.

X
X

X
X
X

X
X

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract ) ..
Male and female (Vol. III) .. . .. . .. .

Divisions— Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12; Ab

X

xx x x
xx x x

female (Vol. III) . . .. . .. . . .
Wards of cities of 50,000 and over
Male and female (Vol. III) . .. . .

X

x
x

female (Vol. III) . . .

Places of 2,500 to 10 ,000 — Male and
. .. .

X

x
x

female (Vol II., Chap. 12) . .... .
Cities of 10,000 and over — Male and

X

x
x

x
x

Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 — Male and

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract) .
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ;
Vol. III ) . . . . .. . .. . ..

X

Cities of 100 ,000 and over .

x
x

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 16 ) ........
Male and female (Vol. III) .........

X

x
x

Vol. III) ..... .
Counties.

X

Total (Vol. II, Chap . 12 ; Abstract) . I x
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ;

x

United States, divisions, and states.

* Chinese, Japanese, and all other shown separately; for additional statistics on these
races see Chapter IV .

b Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

53

Chinese,
and all other
Not

divided

All

Divided a

classes

Japanese ,

Negro

Age and geographic units

white
born

Foreign

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS OF ILLITERACY _ Continued

10 to 15 years — Continued

Urban and rural- United States and
United States.

States.

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract ) .
Male and female (Vol. III) .........
Counties — Total (Vol. III) . .. ..
Cities of 10,000 and over - Total (Vol.

X :

Total (Vol. III) .. . . .. . . . . .. . .. .
Urban and rural- United States and

:
:

:

III) . . . . . . . . . .. . .

Wards of cities of 50,000 and over

X

states — Total (Vol. III) ... .... .
Age periods.

United States - Male and female (Vol

: : : ::: : : ::

:XXX X

Total (Vol. III ) ....

iX:XX X

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract) ..

Male and female (Vol. III)... ......
Divisions.
Total (Vol. II, Chap. 12 ; Abstract) .

xxxx x
xx

:

X

X

states — Total (Vol. III) .....
16 to 20 years.

*

x

:

x

X

X

II, Chap . 12 ; Abstract) . . . . .. . . IX

Divisions, states, and cities of 100,000

and over - Male and female (Vol.
X

II, Chap. 12 ) . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . . .. .
* Chinese, Japanese , and all other shown separately; for additional statistics on these
races see Chapter IV .

Chinese, Japanese, and all other not shown separately .

The following comment on the statistics of illiteracy is quoted
from thereport of the Fourteenth Census.'
It should be noted that ability to read or write can not be defined
so precisely as to cover all cases with certainty. A person may
know the alphabet and a small number of printed words, butmay
not be able to read in any true sense ; or he may be able to write

his name but may be wholly unable to express his thoughts in
writing in an intelligible manner. In general, the illiterate popula
tion as shown by the census figures should be understood as com
* Fourteenth Census, Vol. II, p. 1145.

54

NATIONA

L

STATIST

ICAL

WORK

prising only those persons who have had no education whatever.
Thus the statistics do not show directly or definitely the proportion
of the population which may be termed illiterate when the word is

used to imply lack of ability to read and write with a reasonable
degree of facility ; but they do afford a fairly reliable measure of
the effect of the improvement in educational opportunities from
decade to decade.

There is undoubtedly a margin of error in the statistics of illiter
acy, resulting from a variety of causes. In some cases there may
be unwillingness to admit illiteracy on the part of persons enumer
ated . Furthermore, in parts of the country where practically all
native white persons are literate the enumerators are likely to
acquire thehabit of returning them as such without the formality of

an inquiry, and in this way a few isolated cases of illiteracy may
be overlooked . On the other hand , in the case of negroes the oppo
site assumption may sometimes be made by white enumerators,

while , in the case of the foreign born , inability to write in English
may sometimes be taken as constituting illiteracy, although the
instructionsmake it clear that a person able to write in any language
is to be returned as literate. For the United States as a whole and
for the states and large cities the figures are probably nearly
enough accurate to supply a sound basis for judgment as to the

relative illiteracy of different classes of the population , of persons
in different age groups, and of males as compared with females.
Beyond question comparisons between different censuses show the
general tendencies with substantial accuracy . The returns for small

areas,however,may be open to question in some cases.

Inability to Speak English. The figures relating to inability to
speak English apply only to the population 10 years of age or over.
With three exceptions the tables are confined to the foreign -born
white population. One table in Volume II and one in the Abstract
give separate figures by sex for the United States on foreign born

white, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and all other; one table in
Volume II gives separate figures by sex for divisions and states for

negroes, Indians, Chinese, and Japanese.
The only age division used for the foreign -born white is by age
periods, which run by five year-intervals for 10 to 24 years, ten

year intervals for 25 to 64, and 65 and over. All statistics differen
tiate between male and female. In Volume II and the Abstract
figures are given by the following classifications: Age periods for
the United States, divisions, and states ; total over ten years of

age for cities of 25,000 and over; total over ten years of age for
urban and rural population in the United States, divisions, and

POPULATION IN GENERAL

55

states. In Volume II there is a tabulation by age periods for cities

of 25,000 inhabitants or over having 5000 or more foreign-born
whites 10 years of age and over unable to speak English.
State of Birth of Native Population . These figures indicate the

migration of the native population . They show the number living
in each state and born in that particular state and in other states ,
and for some classes the number born in the state and living in
that state and in other states. Some tables show for each state the
number of residents born in every other state. Separate figures are
given as indicated in the schedule below :
SCHEDULE SHOWING CENSUS Statistics OF STATE OF BIRTH
Living in state

Born in other states

Classes
Born in
state

Total

By states o

Born in
foreign
country

States.

x x
:
:* :
x*
xx :

X X
X
:XX
xx

X
XX

X
X
XX

:š iš

Cities of 100,000 and over - Native

š ::

All classes (Vol. II, Chap. 5;
Abstract) .. . . .. . . . .
White (Vol. II, Chap. 5). .....

XX

parentage (Vol. II, Chap. 5 )

Southern states.
White (Mon . 1) .. . . .. . .
Negro (Mon . 1) . ..
Urban and rural.

xx :

Abstract) . .. .. . . .. . . . .. . .
White , negro , white of native
parentage, white of foreign
parentage, white of mixed

: : š

White (Vol. II, Chap. 5 ; Ab
stract ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Native.
All classes ( Vol. II, Chap. 5 ;

X X

All classes (Vol. II, Chap. 5 ;
Abstract; Mon. I) ... ... ...

(Abstract) . . . .

Cities of 50,000 and over.
All classes, white, and negro

(Vol. II, Chap. 5 ; Abstract)
Native (Vol. 2, Chap . 5 ) . .. . . ..
* Number born in all other states .
b Number born in each other state .

e Shows also number in each state born in each division .
& Shows also number in each city born in each division .
e White and negro not shown separately for cities havin

fewer than 5000 negroes.

AL

ON
NATI

56

ICAL

IST
STAT

K

WOR

In Chapter 5 of Volume II are given also data on the distribu
tion of all individuals born in each state. The report shows the
total number of persons enumerated who were born in each state,
the number born and living in the state, and the number living in

other states, separate figures being given for total native, total
native white, total native negro,white of native parentage, white of
foreign parentage, and white of mixed parentage.

The following comment is quoted from the reports of the Census

of 1920 : 10
The returns as to state of birth are valuable mainly for the light
they throw on the migration of the native population within the

United States. The term " native population " as ordinarily used
by the Bureau of the Census comprises all persons born in con

tinental United States or any of the outlying possessions, persons
born at sea under the United States flag, and persons of native
parentage born abroad and designated as “ American citizens born
abroad .”

Thus the term " native population ,” when used in the

headings of tables presenting statistics by states, does not refer to
the population native to (that is, born in ) the particular states,
butmerely to the population born in the United States. The natives

of individual states are designated in the table headings as persons
in those states.
Persons for whom the place of birth was not reported and for
whom the returns gave no indication of foreign origin have been

assumed to be natives of the United States and have been included
with those for whom the place of birth was given as the United
States without specification as to the particular state in which born .
This practice has undoubtedly resulted in the inclusion of a few
foreign -born persons, but it is certain that the great majority of
those for whom the place of birth was not reported were born

in the United States. In some of the tables the statistics for the

population born in the United States relate only to persons for
whom the state of birth was reported .
The fact that at each census since and including that of 1850
(excluding slaves in 1850 and 1860) more than one- fifth of the
native Americans had migrated from the states of birth to other
states indicates a rather high degree of mobility on the part of the

population . It must be borne in mind that the census distinguishes
as migrants only those persons who havemigrated across state lines
and are at the date of the census living in states other than those
in which they were born . The statistics, therefore, afford no indi
cation of the amount of migration within the same states from

10 Fourteenth Census, Vol. II, p. 607.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

57

rural to urban communities or from one locality to another. There
is no doubt that some of the intrastate migration involves greater
changes of environment, and even longer journeys, than someof
the interstate migration . Much of the movement from country to

city takes place within the confines of single states ; and , on the
other hand , some of the interstate migration is merely from one
border county or city to another just across the state line. Com
putations made in connection with the census of 1900 indicated that
nearly one-half of the natives of the United States who were

enumerated outside the states in which born were living in adjoin
ing states.

Furthermore, the census figures do not show themigration from
state to state outside the state of birth . A person who at one or at
several times has removed from one state to another and has later
returned to the state in which he was born is not reported as a
migrant ; and if he had not returned he would be classified simply
as an interstate migrant but no account would be taken of the

number of his migrations.
The proportion of migrants in the adult population at each
census undoubtedly has exceeded the percentages given since these
percentages are based upon the total population born in and living
in the United States , including children , among whom it is safe to
assume that the proportion of migrants is smaller than among
adults .

It is obvious that the statistics as to interstate migration do not
represent the total number of persons who migrated from the
states in which born to other states during any given period of
time. Some of these who migrated have since died, others have

returned to the states in which born, and still others have migrated
to outlying possessions or to foreign countries. The statistics show
only those living at the time of enumeration in the United States,

outside the states in which born , who may be described as surviving
migrants.

It must be remembered that the number of persons reported as
born in any division or state by no means indicates what the native
population of that division or state would have been had there
been no migration on the part of the present generation . If all

persons now living who were born in New England , for example,
had remained there, the living children and grandchildren of such
persons would have been added to the population of that division ;

but in fact the children and grandchildren of the migrants appear
as natives of other divisions. The converse is true regarding de
scendants of persons born in other divisions and now living in
New England. Thus while the census makes it possible to measure
what may be termed the direct effects of the migration of persons

still living, it affords no means of measuring the indirect effects.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

58

Nevertheless, the interstate -migration statistics, while supplying
no definite information as to the total amount of migration from
one locality to another within the United States or as to the total
effect of such migration on the present population of the several
divisions and states, do show in a general way the increase or
decrease in themobility of the native population from one decade
to another and afford a good indication of the extent to which the

population
of certain states has been directly recruited from other
states
.

Country of Birth of Foreign -Born Population . The statistics by
country of birth indicate the political division in which the immi

grants wereborn, and not the racial stock of the population . Thus
in the census reports for 1910 , persons born in Poland were re
ported from Germany, Austria , or Russia, according to the country

which had jurisdiction over the particular part of Poland. On
acount of the changes in the map of Europe and Turkey in Asia

resulting from the World War, the figures of the censuses of 1910
and 1920 are not strictly comparable. With the exception of Poland

all 1910 figures in reports of the Census of 1920 refer to pre
war boundaries ; the returns for Poland for 1910 have been retabu

lated in order to give the 1910 figures according to postwar limits.
Thecountries shown separately are the following :
Europe .
Total.

Northwestern Europe.
England .
Scotland.
Wales .

Ireland.
Norway.
Sweden .
Denmark .

Netherlands.
Belgium .

Europe - Contd
Central and Eastern
Europe - Cont'd
Hungary.
Jugo - Slavia .
Russia .
Lithuania .

China.
Japan.
India.

Other Asia.
America.

Canada - French.

Rumania.

Canada - Other.

Bulgaria .

Newfoundland .

Turkey in Europe.

West Indies.
Mexico.

Southern Europe.
Greece.
Albania .

France.

Italy.

Europe.
Germany.
Poland.

Turkey in Asia.

Finland .

Luxemburg .
Switzerland.

Central and Eastern

Asia - Contd

Spain .
Portugal.
Asia .
Armenia.

Czechoslovakia.

Palestine.

Austria .

Syria .

Central and South
America .
Africa .
Australia.
Atlantic Islands.
Pacific Islands.
Country not specified .
Born at sea.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

59

Only for theUnited States as a whole are figures given showing
all countries of birth . For divisions, states, and cities only the
principal countries (as regards numbers born in each one) are
given , the minor countries being lumped under all other.
SCHEDULE SHOWING CENSUS STATISTICS BY COUNTRY OF BIRTH

Total Bysex

Geographic units

United States, divisions, states, cities of 100 ,000 and
over .

Vol. II, Chap. 6 . . . .. . . ..

X : :

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 — Vol. II, Chap. 6 . . . . . . . .
White only – States, counties, cities of 10,000 and over,

XXXX

All races.

and wards of cities of 50,000 and over - Vol. III . .
:
In all of the statistics covered by the foregoing schedule the

primary classification is a political division of the United States
and the tables show the number of foreign born in each one; for
instance, there is shown for New York the number of persons
born in of England, France, etc. In two tables in Volume II the

country of birth is used as the primary classification and there is
shown the distribution of persons from a particular country accord
ing to states and principal cities of residence. For instance, there
is shown the number of persons born in Germany living in each
state or large city where the German -born are an appreciable

element in the population.
A separate tabulation is given in Volume II for the United
States , divisions, states, and cities with population of 100,000 and
over for persons born in the following regions :
Europe.

Total.
Northwestern .
Central and eastern .

Southern .
Asia - total.

America - total.
All other.

60

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Country of Origin of Foreign White Stock. The statistics of
country of origin differ from those of country of birth in that they
include not only the foreign -born population, but also native
whites having one or more parents born abroad. The terms thus
includes both immigrants and the first generation of their descen
dants. The inquiry as to birthplace of foreign parents was first
made at the Census of 1880, but only a part of the data was tabu
lated , the earliest complete statistics being those of 1890 .
The following comment indicates the character of the statistics

published in the reports of the Fourteenth Census and the differ
ence between the methods used at the last two censuses : "

Because of themany changes in themap of Europe which have
resulted from the World War, the classification of the white popu

lation of foreign birth or foreign parentage according to country
of origin was made peculiarly difficult. Many natives of foreign
or mixed parentage knew the countries, according to the prewar
map , but not the provinces or cities, in which their parents were

born . For this reason it was impossible to make a proper classifica

tion of the foreign parents of natives with reference to European
countries as now constituted , and therefore the statistics for this
class have been compiled on the prewar basis . As the country of
birth of foreign -born white persons was tabulated according to

postwar areas, it was necessary to make a new tabulation of this
class according to prewar areas in order to secure comparability
with natives of foreign or mixed parentage. This was done by
tabulating the foreign -born whites by birthplace of father," classi
fied on the prewar basis.

The term “ country of origin ," therefore, as used in the reports
of the Fourteenth Census, signifies the country of birth of the
father of a foreign -born person or of the foreign parent or par
ents of a native. At previous censuses the distribution of the

foreign born themselves was made according to their own countries
of birth ,
The foreign white stock from any specific country of origin
represents the total of three classes, namely , native whites having
both parents born in that country , or one parent so born the other

being native, and foreign -born whites having fathers born in that
country. Native white persons having one parent born in a speci
fied country and the other in some other foreign country are
designated as of “ mixed foreign parentage," and while included
11 Fourteenth Census, Vol. II, p. 891.
^ For 29,025 foreign -born white persons reported as having native fathers,
the birthplace of the foreign -mother was used.

POPULATION IN GENERAL
in the foreign white stock as a whole, are not included in that for
any specific country. The term “ mixed foreign parentage ” must
not be confused with “ mixed parentage," the latter representing
persons having one parent foreign born and the other native.
No totals are given for continents or groups of countries , for the
reason that in the case of the native whites of foreign parentage

the true total is not the same as the sum of the figures for the
separate countries, there being some persons having one parent
born in one country and the other in another country of the same
continent or group . For instance, a person of mixed foreign
parentage may have a father born in England , and mother born in
France, but both parents born in Northwestern Europe. It is very

evident that the number of persons of mixed foreign parentage
would be considerably diminished if considered with reference to

continents or groups of countries.

The schedule below shows the scope of the statistics of country
of origin. “ Detailed Statistics " indicate that separate figures are

given for each country for foreign born , natives with both parents
SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF
FOREIGN WHITE STOCK

Geographic units

Detailed | Summary
statistics statistics

X
X

X :

Urban and rural.
United States — Vol. II, Chap . 9 ; Abstract . .
Divisions and states — Vol. II, Chap. 9 . . . . . . . . ..

X

X

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cities of 25,000 to 100,000 — Vol. II, Chap. 9 . . . . . .. .

X:

Divisions and states.
Vol. II, Chap . 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Abstract . .. . . .. . .
Cities of 100,000 and over.
Vol. II, Chap. 9 .. . .. ..

X

United States — Vol. II, Chap. 9; Abstract........

• Divided into two classes only : (1) Foreign born and (2) native of foreign and
mixed parentage.

foreign, natives with foreign father, and natives with foreign
mother. “ Summary Statistics ” indicates that the four classes

given above are combined in one group. As explained above per
sons having one parent born in one country and the other in some

other country are not reported from any specific country . They

62

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

are given at the end of each table as of “ mixed foreign paren

tage." 13 The total of mixed foreign parentage for the United
States is shown in Volume II, classified by country of birth of
father and further subdivided by country of birth of mother, and
vice-versa.

Mother Tongue of Foreign White Stock . By mother tongue is

meant the language customarily used in the homes of the immi
grants before immigration . It does not indicate nationality in a
politicalsense,but is a fair guide to the ethnic stock. For this reason
there will be found classifications for mother tongue that have no
parallel in the statistics by countries of birth and vice versa. For

instance, Slovenian is reported as a mother tongue but persons
speaking this language would generally be reported under Jugo

Slavia or Austria in the statistics by countries of birth . On the
other hand Switzerland has no place in the mother-tongue classifi

cation because there is no Swiss language ; the mother tongue of

persons born in Switzerland would ordinarily be German , French,
or Italian, according to the language ordinarily spoken . One table

in Volume II , however, gives statistics of foreign -born white by

country of birth according to postwar boundaries subclassified by
mother tongue. Another table gives the total of foreign white
stock by mother tongues, distributed by countries of origin accord
ing to prewar boundaries. A third table gives figures for foreign

born white by mother tongue distributed by country of birth , ac
cording to postwar boundaries. From these tables may be ascer
tained the languages spoken by all persons born in Germany (post

war boundaries ) as well as the country of origin (prewar ) and the
country of birth (postwar ) of all persons whose mother tongue

is German.
Statistics as to mother tongue were first collected at the Census

of 1910 . The statistics by mother tongue pertain not only to persons
of foreign birth, but also to native whites having one or both parents
foreign born . Natives having both parents born abroad are classi

fied according to themother tongue of the parents ; natives having
one parent native born and one foreign born are classified according

to themother tongue of the foreign -born parent. At the Census of
1910 all native white persons of foreign parentage were classified
18 See page 61 for difference between mixed parentage and mixed foreign
parentage.

POPULATION IN GENERAL
according to themother tongue of the father. This resulted in the
inclusion , under each mother tongue, of certain numbers of persons

whose mothers were reported as belonging to different linguistic

classifications. At the Census of 1920 , however, all native whites
whose foreign-born parents were of differentmother tongues were
separately classified as “ of mixed mother tongue.”

The following comment on the statistics is given in the report of
the Fourteenth Census : "
In most cases the returns for mother tongue may be taken as

indicative of ethnic stock . The principal exception to this rule
appears in the case of persons reported under the head English and
Celtic , which group includes four ethically distinct peoples, namely ,
the English, the Irish, the Scotch , and the Welsh . In the case of
these peoples country -of-origin statistics throw much more light
on ethnic composition than do mother- tongue statistics. As a matter
of fact, some persons were returned by the enumerators as Irish ,
Scotch , or Welsh in mother tongue, but it was evident that in very
many such cases the returns indicated nationality rather than mother

tongue and would therefore, if published , greatly exaggerate the
number of persons using these languages in customary speech , while

at the same time they would come far short of indicating the total
number ofpersons of Irish, Scotch , or Welsh extraction .
While English and Celtic as a mother tongue thus covers more
than one group of peoples, the opposite is true of Yiddish , which
is themother tongue reported for only a part of the Hebrews, the
others being returned as speaking Polish , Russian , German , etc.
In particular, it is probable that a large proportion of the persons
reported in 1920 as Russian in mother tongue were in reality

Hebrews; and it is possible also that the very great increase between

1910 and 1920 in the number of persons thus reported is due in
somemeasure to the return of certain persons in 1910 as Yiddish

and in 1920 as Russian in mother tongue.

Statistics as to mother tongue are of greatest significance with
reference to the foreign white stock originating in seven countries,
Austria , Hungary, Russia , Czechoslovakia , Jugo -Slavia, Rumania ,
and Canada, as at present constituted , or in six countries, Ger
many , Austria, Hungary, Russia , Rumania and Canada, as con
stituted in 1910. Immigrants from Canada include both English
speaking and French -speaking persons, while those from the other
countries named, especially Austria and Hungary as constituted
in 1910 , include widely different ethnic groups. There is also more
or less mixture in the cases of Poland, Finland, Switzerland, and

14 Fourteenth Census, Vol. II, p. 967.

64

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Belgium ; but in the case of each of these countries one language

is spoken by a large majority of the immigrants .
The schedule of statistics of country of origin (page 61)

applies also to statistics of mother tongue, except that no division
is made into rural and urban for statistics ofmother tongue.
Citizenship of Foreign Born . The Census of 1920 was the first

one at which complete data on naturalization were secured for
foreign-born persons of both sexes and all ages. The statistics
relating to naturalization have been collected at each census begin
ning with 1890, but the figures for 1890, 1900, and 1910 related to

males 21 years of age and over. In 1890 no tabulation was made
according to color and race.

The classification in regard to citizenship embraces four groups,
namely, naturalized , having first papers, alien , and citizenship not
reported . The first papers constitute the declaration of intention to

become a citizen of the United States , which declaration may be
made by any eligible alien 18 years of age or more at any timeafter

arrival in the United States. The process of naturalization can not
be completed , however, until at least two years and not more than

seven years have elapsed after the declaration of intention, and the
applicant has resided at least five years continuously in the United
States and at least one year continuously in the state of which he
seeks to become a citizen . In some cases, however, the requirement
of five years' continuous residence in the United States is waived
on account ofmilitary or naval service.

Under the provisions of the naturalization laws at the time the
Fourteenth Census was taken, the citizenship status of a married
woman was the sameas that of her husband (but if the husband had

taken outhis first naturalization papers only , his wife was classified
in the census returns as an alien ) ; for an unmarried woman the
process of naturalization was the sameas for a man ; a foreign -born

widow or foreign-born divorced wife of a citizen of the United
States retained the citizenship status ofher former husband so long
as she continued to reside in this country ; a foreign -born widow
or foreign -born divorced wife of an alien might become naturalized

in the samemanner as a man. In general, foreign -born minors have
the same citizenship status as their parents.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

65

The act of September 22, 1922 (42 Stat. L ., 1021), provides that

married women must be naturalized separately from their husbands,
but that act did not change the status of women whose husbands

had already been naturalized, and who consequently had obtained
citizenship in this manner.
The statistics for the foreign -born white are indicated by the
following schedule:

all
from

Total

: : :X

X

x x:

::

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 8 ) .
Male and female ( Abstract ) . .

X X:

Divisions and states.

X

UnitedAbstract)
States— Male
and female (Vol. II, Chap.8;
.. .

Over 21

x:xx
xx

all
from

Geographic units

Total

All ages

countries
Separate
countries

countries

Separate

countries

SCHEDULE OF CENSUS STATISTICS OF NATURALIZATION OF
FOREIGN -BORN WHITE POPULATION

Counties.
Cities of 100 ,000 and over .
Total ( Vol. II, Chap. 8 ) . ..

Cities of 25,000 to 100 ,000.

:

Cities III
of )10,000
and over - Male and female (Vol.
. .. . .. . . . . . . .
:X

Total ( Vol. II, Chap. 8 ; Abstract ) . . . .. . . .. .

Male and female (Vol. III) .. . ... ..
female (Vol. III) .. ... ...
Urban and rural.
United States.

:

Wards of cities of 50,000 and over - Male and

:

:xxx

::: :

:
XX

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 8 ). ....
Male and female (Vol. II, Chap . 8 ) . . . .
Male and female (Abstract) .. .
Divisions and states - Male and female (Vol. II,
Chap . 8 ; Abstract) .. .

: : : : : X:

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap . 8 ; Abstract ).

:: : ::: :

Male and female (Vol. II, Chap. 8) ..... .. ..
Male and female (Abstract) .........

:
XXX

Total (Vol. II, Chap. 16 ) .. .... .
Male and female (Vol. 3) ..

* Shows only those naturalized ; does not show those having first papers, aliens, or
citizenship not reported .

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

66

Asby far thegreater part of the foreign -born population is white
the detailed statistics are for the white population only . Summary

figures for the entire foreign population are given in Volume II and
the Abstract for the total from all countries and for male and

female of all ages and over 21, divided into white, negro , Indian,
Japanese, and all other. For divisions, states, and cities of 100,000
and over Volume II and the Abstract give the total from all coun

tries for foreign born of all ages without differentiation of sex.
Year of Immigration of Foreign Born . Statistics are published
in the generalreport on population and the Abstract showing years
or periods during which the foreign -born residents arrived in the
United States. These figures have been collected at the last four

censuses. The census statistics differ from those published by the

Bureau of Immigration in the annual reports of the Commissioner
General of Immigration , which show the number of arrivals during

a particular year, while the census shows the number arriving dur
ing a particular year or period and still in the country at the time
the census was taken . The difference between the actual arrivals

in any year and the number reported by the census should indicate
the immigrants who have died or left the country. It should be
noted that the figures by states and cities show not the period of
SERIES OF YEARS USED IN CENSUS STATISTICS OF YEAR OF IMMIGRATION
Group C

Group D

Group E

1911- 1919

1916 -1919

1916- 1919

1901- 1910

1901- 1905

1911- 1915
1906 - 1910
1901- 1905
1900 and

1901- 1910
1900 and
earlier

1900 and

earlier

Group A

Group B

1911- 1913
1906 - 1910
1901- 1905
1900 and
earlier

1918 - 1919

1916 -1917
1911-1915
1906 - 1910

1900 and
earlier

1911- 1915

earlier

arrival in the particular states and cities, but only the period of

arrivalin thecountry. They are of valueas indicating whether the
foreign-born population consists of recentarrivals or persons who
have been in the country for someyears.
Figures by sex are given only as specifically indicated in the
schedule on the next page. The term “ all classes ” in the schedule
means the total of foreign born without reference to race or color.

POPULATION IN GENERAL

Some tables show single years from 1914 to 1919, and there are
five groupings of series of years, which are here arbitrarily called
A , B , C , D , and E , but which are not so referred to in the census

reports. The years included in each group are shown in the table
on the preceding page.

D
Group

C
Group

B
Group

A
Group

1919
to
1914

Geographic units and classes

Series of years

dnojola

years
Single

SCHEDULE OF Census STATISTICS SHOWING YEAR OF IMMIGRATION

:
:
:
:

: :

::

X X X

:

X
X
X

All classes (Vol. II, Chap. 7 ; Abstract) . . . .
All classes, male and female (Vol. II, Chap.

: : : ::

Divisions and states.

x:

All classes (Vol. II, Chap. 7 ; Abstract) . .... ...
All classes and white (Vol. II, Chap. 7 ) .. ....
All classes, white, negro, Indian , Chinese,
Japanese , and all other, male and female
(Vol. II, Chap. 7 ; Abstract ) .. ... . . .. ..
Negro, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese
(Vol. II, Chap. 7 ) .
. . . . . . . . ..

::

United States.

:
:
: : :

:

::
X

: :

X

7, Abstract) . . . .. . . .

All classes and white (Vol. II, Chap. 7 ) . .. . . .
Selected states - All classes, white, negro , In

dian, Chinese, and Japanese (Vol. II,

:
:
:

:

:

:

:
:

: : X

:

:

United States, all classes and white,male and

:

:

X

. .. . . . . . . . . . . . X

:

Chap. 7) .. . .. .. .
Urban and rural.

X

:

X :

... ... .

All classes ( Vol. II, Chap. 7 ; Abstract ) ....

: :

x :

Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 — All classes (Vol.
II, Chap. 7 ; Abstract) . .. .
Selected cities – Negroes, Chinese, and Ja

panese (Vol. II, Chap. 7) . .. .. ... .. . .. . X

* Those having 500 or more foreign born inhabitants of the specified races.

: :: : : |

7 ; Abstract) .. .. . .
All classes and white (Vol. II, Chap. 7 ) . .. .

x : : :

All classes, male and female (Vol. II, Chap.

:

Chap. 7 ; Abstract) . . .

Cities of 100 ,000 and over.

: : :

female (Vol. II, Chap. 7 ; Abstract)....
Divisions and states, all classes ( Vol. II,

Dwellings, Families, and Home Ownership. In the census sta
tistics the term " dwelling ” means any place in which one or more

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
persons sleep regularly , and includes all habitations from a room
in a warehouse accommodating one person to an apartment house

covering an entire city block . The term “ family ” means a group
of persons, whether related by blood or not, who live together as

one household , usually sharing the same table. One person living
alone is counted as a family , as are the occupants ofa hotel or insti

tution ; persons living in an apartmenthouse, however, would con
stitute several families . Some of the tables in the reports indicate
the number of persons to a dwelling and the number of persons to a

family ; but if these derivative figures are not given they may easily
be computed from the total population figures. The distribution of

the statistics on dwellings and families through the several volumes

of the Fourteenth Census is indicated by the following schedule :
SCHEDULE SHOWING Census STATISTICS OF DWELLINGS AND FAMILIES

Vol. II

Geographic units

Vol. III Abstract

X

x
x

. . . .. . . .. .

:

25,000 and over . ...

Counties, cities and places of 2,500 and over,
and states
.
•°•°•°•°•••••••••••

K

and wards of cities of 50,000 and over
Urban and rural- -United States, divisions,

.

United States, divisions, states, and cities of

Statistics as to the ownership of homes have been collected and
published for each census beginnig with that for 1890 .

For census purposes a home is treated as owned if it is owned
wholly or in part by the head of the family living in it, or by his

wife, or by a son or a daughter , or by any other relative living in
the same house with the head of the family . But if the home is
owned by a lodger or boarder who is not related to the head of the
family occupying it, it is treated as a rented home. Every home
not owned, either wholly or in part, by the family living in it is

classed as rented, whether rent is actually paid or not.
In the case of an apartment house or other plural-family dwell
ing, the portion occupied by each family is treated as a separate

home and is returned as rented, owned free , or owned encumbered.
In Volume II of the reports of the Fourteenth Census are given

statistics regarding ownership of homes, regardless of whether
on farms or not on farms, for the United States, divisions, several

POPULATION IN GENERAL
states, the District of Columbia , counties, cities of 10 ,000 and

over, and wards of cities of 50,000 or over. Homes are classified
as owned or rented ; the owned homes being divided into those free

of encumbrance and those encumbered.
For the Southern states separate figures are given for the white

and colored population, but for the other geographic units no dis
tinction is made for race, color, or nativity .
Similar figures for Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico are given
in Volume III. All of the statistics shown in Volumes II and III

were obtained directly from the schedules submitted by the
enumerators.

More detailed statistics regarding homes not on farmsare given
in Monograph II of the Fourteenth Census, entitled “ Mortgages
on Homes.” The detailed data shown in Monograph II were col

lected by means of a questionnaire mailed to the owner of each
home reported by the enumerator as mortgaged. The only earlier
census at which such detailed data were collected was that for 1890 ,
the figures for 1890 being given also in Monograph II for purposes
of comparison . In addition to figures on the totalnumber of homes

free or mortgaged by states, divisions, and cities of 25,000 and

over, Monograph II contains detailed statistics for divisions,
states, and cities of 25,000 and over on the following subjects :
Total value of homes, total amount of mortgage debt, annual interest
charge.

Number, total value, and total mortgage debt for homes valued at less
than $ 2 ,500 ; $ 2 ,500 and under $ 5 ,000 ; $ 5, 000 and under $ 7 ,500 ;
$7,500 and under $ 10,000 ; $10 ,000 and under $ 15,000 ; $15,000 and
under $ 20 ,000 ; $ 20,000 and under $ 25,000 ; $ 25 ,000 and over.
Number of mortgages and total amount of mortgage debt bearing
interest at less than 5 per cent ; 5 per cent; between 5 and 572
per cent ; 51/2 per cent ; between 572 and 6 per cent ; 6 per cent;
between 6 and 7 per cent ; 7 per cent ; between 7 and 8 per cent ;
8 per cent ; over 8 per cent.

There are also many derivative tables giving averages and per
centages.

As answers were not received for every questionnaire some of
the totals in Monograph II are estimates based on the returns
actually made. The following statement regarding the method is
quoted from the monograph."
13 Fourteenth Census, Monograph II, pp. 20-21.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

70

Thehomes unknown as to tenure were distributed in the propor
tion of the known returns for owned and rented homes, and , simi
larly, the owned homes unknown as to encumbrance were dis
tributed in the proportion of the known returns for free and mort
gaged homes.
To illustrate : In the State of Maine the total number of homes
not on farms for which returns were made as to tenure in 1920

was 135,771, of which 69,370 were reported as rented and 66 ,401
as owned . The number for which no returns as to tenure were
received , 2547, was distributed in the sameproportions as the num
ber for which returns were made, thus increasing the number of

rented homes by 1301 and the number of owned homes by 1246 .
( 135,771: 69,370 : : 2547 : x . Solving the proportion , x = 1301.
2547 – 1301 = 1246 .) Of the 66 ,401 owned homes, no report was
made for 1577 as to whether they were owned free or mortgaged .

To these 1577 homes were added the 1246 estimated as shown
above, making a total of 2823 owned homes for which no report
was made as to whether they were free or mortgaged . These 2823

homes were then distributed in the sameproportions as those with
definite returns as to encumbrance (50,019 free and 14,805
mortgaged ) , thus increasing the free and mortgaged groups by
2178 and 645, respectively. The distribution of the unknown items
for Maine, therefore, increased the number of rented homes from

69,370 to 70 ,671; the number of owned homes from 66 ,401 to
67,647 ; the number owned free from debt from 50,019 to 52,197 ;
and the number owned mortgaged from 14,805 to 15 ,450 .
*

*

*

*

For the United States as a whole the proportion of homes for

which no reports weremade as to tenure was 2.1 per cent in 1920 ,
as against 2 .3 in 1890 ; the proportion for which no reports were

made as to whether free or mortgaged was 2.5 per cent in 1920,
as compared with 2. 1 per cent in 1890 ; and the proportion for
which no reports were made concerning the amount of mortgage

debt was 33.7 per cent in 1920 , as against 26 per cent in 1890 .

One table in Monograph II gives the number, total value, and

total mortgage debt of mortgaged farms for the United States,
divisions, and states, but the detailed statistics on farm mortgages
are given in Volume V , as the farm mortgage covers both the land
and the dwelling , and is an element which furnished capital to the

farmer." Statistics on farm mortgages are analyzed in Chapter
XV, page 189.
1 Mortgages on farms will be discussed in a monograph of the Four
teenth Census on that subject.

CHAPTER IV

NEGROES, INDIANS, CHINESE , AND JAPANESE
Statistics on negroes, Indians, Chinese, and Japanese are given in

the general reports on population described in Chapter III, but
there are some special reports on these elements of the population
which are discussed below .

Negroes. As color and race are used as subdivisions of practi
cally all census statistics, figures on the negro will be found in all

the reports of the census dealing with population, agriculture, and

mortality. Schedules showing statistics available are given on the
pages cited below in connection with the discussion of the follow
ing subjects :
Total number , page 30 .
Sex , page 34.
Age, pages 37 -38.
School attendance, pages 44 - 46 .
Illiteracy, pages 51-53.
Marital condition, page 41.

Inability to speak English , page 54.
State of birth , page 55 .
Naturalization , page 66 .

Number of farm operators, area of land in farms, number of farms,
value of farms and farm property, and number and value of domestic
animals, pages 186 -187.

Years on farm and age of farm operators, page 188.

Statistics on negroes have been collected and published at every
census; in fact, the distinction between white and colored has been
the only racial classification carried through all censuses. Prior to
the Census of 1900 all the figures on negroes were in the general

census reports, but since that times the publications noted below

dealing specifically with negroes have been published :
Twelfth Census: 1900 . Negroes in the United States, Bulletin 8.
Thirteenth Census: 1910. Negroes in the United States, Bulletin 129 .
Negro population, 1790 to 1915.

The special reports of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Censuses,

issued as Bulletins 8 and 129, contain statistics on thenumber, sex,
7

72

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

age, illiteracy, conjugal condition, occupation , agricultural condi
tion, and religious bodies. Bulletin 129 for 1910 contains also
statistics on mortality .

In 1918 the Bureau of the Census issued a comprehensive report
entitled “ Negro Population , 1790 -1915," which gives in the first
part a statistical history of the negro during the period of 125

years covered by the report. This older material was compiled both
from the published reports and from manuscript records, so that it

containsmuch information not previously available. The greater
part of the report, however, is devoted to statistics of the Census of

1910 ,with comparative figures of preceding enumerations,although
statistics for the earlier years are given in connection with practi
cally all the topics.
In practically all the tables the unit of reporting is the state, but

statistics are given for cities and counties under many headings.
The most important of the state and county tabulations are noted
in the outline below , which indicates the scope of this publication :
Outline of StatistiCS IN NEGRO POPULATION, 1790 - 1915

Growth and geographic distribution, 1790 -1910 .
Distribution in the continental United States and in outlying posses
sions, 1910.

Growth in the continental United States : 1790 -1910. Number, increase

and proportion of negroes in the total population .
Geographic distribution and increase , by states, 1790 -1910.

Proportion of negroes in the population at each census, 1790- 1910.
Free colored and slave population , 1790 - 1860.
Migratory displacement and segregation .
Nativity - place of birth , parentage and interstate migration .
Urbanization - urban and rural classification and population of cities.
The black belt - Number , increase and density , by county areas.

Physical characteristics.
Sex composition .

Age composition .

Color - black and mulatto elements.
Vital statistics.
Marital condition , classified by age.

Fertility - proportion of children to women of child -bearing age.
Mortality in the registration area, including like tables for the regis
tration states. Deaths by age periods are given for registration
states and selected registration cities for 1900 and 1910 to 1914 .

NEGROES, INDIANS, CHINESE, AND JAPANESE 73
OUTLINE OF STATISTICS IN NEGRO POPULATION, 1790-1915 — Continued
Educational and social statistics.
School attendance, by age periods.
Illiteracy, by age periods.
Delinquent, defective and dependent classes.

Prisoners and juvenile delinquents, by sex, age and offenses.
Insane and feeble minded , by sex and age.

The blind, by sex and age.
Paupers in almshouses, by sex.

Deafmutes, by sex .

Economic statistics.

Home ownership and size of families, statistics by counties.
Occupation - employments, trades and professions, by industrial groups.
Agriculture - acreage of farms, value of farm property, live stock ,
crops, term of occupancy , mortgage indebtedness, and tenure

classes. Most of the tables in this section give statistics by
counties.
General tables.

Negro population for cities and towns of 2500 inhabitants or over in
1910.

Negro population , 1910, 1900, 1890 , 1880, decennial increases ; propor
tion negro ; land area and negro population per square mile ,
by counties, for southern states.
General statistics of negro population ,by counties, 1910.
Total population at each census, 1790 - 1910.

Indians. Separate figures on the Indians are given in the census
reports showing the composition and characteristics of the popula

tion . These are analyzed in Chapter III, in which are indicated ,

on the pages cited below ,the general figures relating to the follow
ing subjects :
Total number, page 30.
Sex , page 34.
Age, pages 37 - 38 .

School attendance, pages 44-46 .
Inability to speak English , page 54.
Marital condition , page 41.
Year of immigration , page 67.

Naturalization , page 66 .
Tenure of farm operators, page 187.

Area and value of farms, page 187.

In addition to the statistics on the Indian population referred to

above, Volume III of the reports of the Fourteenth Census contains

supplemental tables on the Indian population in each of the fol
lowing states:

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

74

Arizona .

California .
Idaho.
Michigan .

Montana.

Nebraska.

Nevada.
New Mexico .
North Dakota.
Oklahoma.

Utah .

Washington .
Wisconsin .

Wyoming

Oregon .
South Dakota .

These supplemental tables present data as follows:
Sex for the state and counties.
Age.
For the state.

Age periods (5 to 9, 10 to 14, 15 to 19, 20 to 44, 45 and over),
male and female.
18 to 44 years, male and female .

21 years and over, male and female.
School attendance.
For the state.
5 to 20 years, male and female.

Age periods (5 and 6 , 7 to 13, 14 and 15, 16 and 17, 18 to 20), total.
Illiteracy .
For the state,

10 years and over , male and female.
10 to 20 years, male and female.
21 years and over, male and female .
For counties.
10 years and over, total.
21 years and over, total.

Statistics on Indianshave been published by each census, begin
ning with that for 1860, but at only two censuses (1890 and 1910)
were separate volumes issued ,the figures at other times being pre
sented in connection with the general statistics on the population .
The separate reports of the censuses of 1890 and 1910 were as
follows :

Eleventh Census: 1890 .

Indians taxed and not taxed in the United States (except Alaska ).
( Issued in two editions — a preliminary report of eighty- six pages
and a final report of six hundred and ninety-two pages. ]
Eastern band of Cherokees in North Carolina.

The Six Nations of New York .
The Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory.

Moqui Pueblo Indians of Arizona and Pueblo Indians of New Mexico.
Thirteenth Census: 1910.
Statistics of the Indian population, 1910 [Preliminary report).

Indian population in the United States and Alaska, 1910 (Final report).
The general report of the Eleventh Census contains an historical

review of the status of the Indian and the administration of Indian

NEGROES, INDIANS, CHINESE, AND JAPANESE 75
affairs, while the final report for 1910 contains figures on tribes and
tribal stock ,mixed bloods, sex ,age,marital condition, school atten
dance, illiteracy, inability to speak English , occupations, fecundity,
vitality, and number taxed and not taxed.
Annual statistics on the Indian population, school attendance,

and value of individual Indian and tribal property are given in the
reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs . The population

statistics give separate figures by states , superintendencies , and

tribes for males and females, minors, adults, full blood,more than
half Indian blood, and less than half Indian blood . The school atten
dance statistics give separate figures by states and superintendencies,

for number of school age, number of eligibles, enrollment and
average attendance in the various classes of schools, and the capac

ityof the schools. Theannual reports for 1920 and prior years con
tained much more detailed data on land, mortality, morbidity ,

farming, irrigation , allotments, buildings, livestock, timber , etc .
The reports of the Bureau of the Census and of the Office of
Indian Affairs do notagree, and it is hopeless to attempt to recon
cile them , owing to the lack of definition as to what constitutes an
Indian .
Each census enumerator would use his own judgment as to who
should be considered an Indian , while the officers of the Indian

Service would be guided by a legal determination where the rolls
had been closed or by the general practice of the Service in other
cases. The results of this are shown particularly in Oklahoma,

where the Indian Service reports 119,255 and the Census Bureau,
67,337. The Indian Service figures include 23,405 freedmen, who
are reported by the Census as negroes, butwho are legally Indians.
Of the other Indians carried on the rolls of the Five Civilized

Tribes, many have such a small portion of Indian blood that it
would be impossible for the casual observer to know that they
are Indians. It is likely that in states where there are large

Indian reservations and the Indians are more largely segregated
under the Indian Service , the Indian Office figures are nearest the
truth , while in the older states where the Indians are scattered

and the Indian Service has only a few areas under its supervision
the Census figures are more accurate . The discussion is largely

futile, however, in the absence of any criterion as to the degree of
blood that constitutes an Indian.

ONAL

76

NATI

L

STICA

STATI

WORK

The statistics in the reports of the Commissioner of Indian

Affairs must be viewed as reflecting the activities and problems
of a government service rather than as being an endeavor to pre
sent a picture of the entire Indian population . They are based

largely on the contact of the government, while the reports of the

Bureau of the Census treat the Indian in the samemanner as other
elements of the population. In interpreting the statistics in the
report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs there must be borne

in mind the fact that figures relating to the Indians relate only to
those who are in contact with the government through the various
superintendents and that no figures are collected by the Office of

Indian Affairs regarding eastern Indians who are not under the
control of the Office of Indian Affairs or other Indians who may

have been merged into the general population and are not borne
on the rolls of the Indian Office. This is particularly true of the
totals regarding income and value of property .
In 1847 Congress made an appropriation to collect statistics
and material on the history and conditions of the Indian tribes,

and there resulted from this Schoolcraft's monumental work in
six volumes published in Philadelphia between 1851 and 1857 .
The first edition of Part 1 bore the title “ Historical and Statistical
Information Respecting History, Conditions, and Prospects of
Indian Tribes . . . . ,” by Henry R . Schoolcraft. A second edi
tion of Part I was issued in 1853 in which the words “ historical

and statistical” were omitted from the title, and this form was
followed in Parts 2 to 5. Part 6 bore the title “ History of Indian

Tribes ofUnited States, their PresentCondition and Prospects, and
Sketch of their Ancient Status. . . . ." The greater part of this
work is devoted to descriptive and ethnological material, but in
each volume are estimates regarding the number of Indians belong
ing to various tribes. The figures cannot be regarded as having
any claim to exactness, but they are probably as good estimates

as could be obtained at that time.
Chinese and Japanese . Statistics on the Chinese and Japanese
form a part of the general population statistics discussed in Chap
ter III, schedules indicating the data being given on the pages
cited for the following subjects :

NEGROES, INDIANS, CHINESE, AND JAPANESE 77
Total number, page 30 .
Sex, page 34.
Age, pages 37 - 38.
School attendance, pages 44-46 .
Illiteracy, pages 51-53.
Inability to speak English , page 54.
Marital condition , page 41.
Year of immigration , page 67.

Tenure of farm operators, page 187 .

Area and size of farms, page 187.

In Volume III of the reports of the Fourteenth Census supple
mental tables for the Chinese and Japanese population in Cali

fornia, Oregon, and Washington give the following data :
Sex for the state and counties.
Age for the state
Age periods (5 to 9, 10 to 14, 15 to 19, 20 to 44, 45 and over ), male
and female.
18 to 44 years, male and female .
21 years and over, male and female.

School attendance for the state.
5 to 20 years, male and female .

Age periods (5 and 6, 7 to 13, 14 and 15, 16 and 17, 18 to 20 ), total.
Illiteracy.

For the state.
10 years and over, male and female,
10 to 20 years, male and female.
21 years and over,male and female.
For counties.

10 years and over, total.
21 years and over, total.

Separate figures on the Chinese were first published in the report

of the Census of 1860 ; the Japanese were first shown in the report
ofthe Census of 1870. While each succeeding census has contained
separate figures, only one special report has been issued, Bulletin

127, “ Chinese and Japanese in the United States,” which is based
primarily on the Census of 1910 , but which also contains compara
tive figures for earlier years. Some of the statistics in this bulle
tin are not given in the other reports of the census. These statistics

are given by states, cities, and counties as follows:
States— Total number, by sex ; occupation , by sex ; marital condition, by
age ; school attendance,by age and sex ; illiteracy, by sex .
Counties- Total number.

Cities of over 25,000— Total number.

Selected cities – Sex, age, marital condition, school age and attendance, and
illiteracy.

CHAPTER V

DEPENDENTS, DEFECTIVES, AND DELINQUENTS
Paupers. An enumeration of paupers was made at each census

between 1850 and 1890 and special studies were made in 1904,
1910 and 1923. The statistics prior to 1880 included paupers
receiving outdoor relief as well as those in almshouses. The figures
collected for 1880 and later years relate to paupers in almshouses
only . The decennial census reports containing these statistics are
as follows:
Seventh Census: 1850.

Statistical view of the United States— Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Abstract of the Seventh Census.

Eighth Census : 1860. Statistics of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census: 1870.
Population and social statistics.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.

Tenth Census : 1880.
Vol. I. Population of the United States.

Vol. XXI. Defective, dependent and delinquent classes of the popula
tion .

Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.
Eleventh Census : 1890 .
Crime, pauperism , and benevolence .
Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part II.

The Bureau of the Census has made three special investigations

of paupers in almshouses in 1904, 1910 , and 1923, the results of
which have been published under identical titles (“ Paupers in

Almshouses " ), with the exception of the year. A preliminary
report of the 1910 investigation was issued as Bulletin 120, with
the same title.
These reports cannot be used to make deductions regarding the
number of dependent poor in the entire United States or the rela

tive number in any state. The earlier reports, in which an endeavor

was made to show all paupers, cannot be regarded as approxi
mately correct, because it is impossible to obtain correct data on
the dependent poor by means of enumerators. The later reports,
78

DEPENDENTS , DEFECTIVES , AND DELINQUENTS 79
which give data on paupers in almshouses, cannot be used as an
index of poverty in various states because many dependent poor are
not inmates of almshouses. Moreover, the statistics for almshouses

reflect in a large degree the provisionsmade in the several states
for the public care of paupers and themethods of administration.
The value of the statistics is in showing “ how many persons are
provided for in this class of public institutions, and to ascertain
personal facts about them that enable one to distinguish the com

ponent parts of this pauper element as well as the probable origin
of its dependence.” 1

The report for 1910 includes data on sex, color, age, nativity ,
parentage, nationality , marital condition , literacy, occupation , con

dition for work , and mental and physical defects.
The report for 1923, which is preliminary , contains data on
number, age, color or race, country of birth, and marital condition .
A more detailed report will probably be issued later .
Benevolent Institutions. The Bureau of the Census has made
four special investigations of benevolent or eleemosynary insti
tutions the results of which have been published under the titles

“ Benevolent Institutions : 1904," “ Benevolent Institutions, 1910 ,"
“ Statistical Directory of State Institutions, 1915," and “ Hos
pitals and Dispensaries , 1923.” All of these reports relate to the
main features and activities of institutions of this character and
not to the class of persons afforded relief. There are presented
statistics on the number of inmates of each class of institutions,

but the line of approach is entirely from the institutional side and
not from that of the classes of the population who may be entitled
to various kinds of relief.
The reports relating to 1904 and 1910 are confined entirely to
institutions supported wholly or in part by public taxation , pri
vate endowments, or subscriptions, donations, and other forms of
gift, for the benefit of the sick , aged , and needy. The classes of

institutions treated are orphanages and children 's homes, day
nurseries , hospitals, dispensaries, permanent homes, temporary
homes, and schools and homes for the blind and deaf. It will be
noted that there are not included almshouses and public and
' Paupers in almshouses : 1904, p. 3.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

80

private hospitals for the insane and feeble minded, as these are
treated in other publications devoted entirely to those subjects .

Private establishments operated for profit are not included, but
it should not be inferred that all inmates of the institutions covered
are recipients of charity. In the case of hospitals, particularly ,
many of the institutions receive patients who pay for their
treatment.

The reports contain general summaries giving data on each
class of institution by states and detailed tables giving statistics

for the individual institutions. For all classes of establishments

there are shown the character of the management, the year
founded , the class of persons treated , the number of inmates at
the beginning and end of the year, admissions during the year, the

number of employees or members of staff, the amount received
from public funds, the income from pay patients, and the total
cost of maintenance.

The " Statistical Directory of State Institutions, 1915 ," is in
some respects of wider scope and in some aspects of narrower
scope than the earlier reports. It is wider in that it includes data
on more classes of institutions ; it is narrower in that it excludes
private foundations that do not receive at least 50 per cent of their
expenses from the state . As stated in the report , to be included an
establishmentmust have been “ owned or leased ,managed in whole

or in part, and maintained to the extent of at least 50 per cent of
its annual expenditures by the state or federal government and

devoted to the custodial or other continuous care of persons ”
belonging to one or more of the following classes : ( 1 ) Feeble
minded ; ( 2 ) insane and criminalistic , including the delinquent
and wayward ; ( 3) epileptic ; ( 4 ) inebriate , including drug

habitués ; (5 ) tuberculous, or others with chronic infectious segre

gated diseases ; (6 ) blind ; ( 7) deaf ; (8 ) deformed ; and (9 ) de
pendent. This report, like the earlier ones, is a study of the institu
tions themselves, and notan analysis of the character ofthe inmates.

There are assembled statistics giving information by states and
classes of institutions regarding the number of institutions, capac

ity , inmates, admissions, and losses in 1915, state appropriations,
expenditures, value of plant, acreage, and number of employees.

For each institution there are shown the number of employees,
by classes, income and expenditure, value of plant, acreage of

DEPENDENTS, DEFECTIVES, AND DELINQUENTS 81
grounds, number of inmates on January 1, 1915, and admissions

and losses during 1915.
A report entitled “ Hospitals and Dispensaries, 1923,” issued
by the Bureau of the Census, contains statistics on this class of
institutions. The figures that apply to a period of time, such as

those relating to receipts and expenditures, are for the calendar

year 1922,while those relating to a particular date, such asnumber
of beds, are for January 1, 1923.
The publication contains data on hospitals and sanatoriums
devoted exclusively to the care of the sick , but does not cover the

hospital departments of schools and other similar institutions in

which the medical work is incidental to other purposes. Hospitals
are classified as Federal, general, and special. Federalhospitals are
those owned and operated by the United States, generalhospitals
are those which treat cases of all kinds, and special hospitals are
those which treat only cases within particular fields. The scope
ofthe main tables is indicated by the following schedule :
All
annnnn
hospitals

SCHEDULE OF STATISTICS IN “ HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES, 1923 "

Class of patients (all races, white, negro ) .
Pay, part pay, and free days treatment. .. ..

i:n

Number of medical staff , nurses, social service
staff . . . . . .

Receipts with source .. . . ..
Value of property .
Auspices under which conducted . .

Expenditures . . . . . . . .

DispensariesS

.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

* Also Red Cross.

. . . . . . . . .

s:inisenen

Days treatment . .

:ini

Patients treated . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. ..

General

special
and

:ųnon : : : : : : .

Number of beds. .

S| pecial
seneneninen

Number of hospitals . .. ..

General

i: seenene Federal

(S indicates figures by states; C indicates figures for cities of 100,000 and over in 1920 )

82

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

In addition to the foregoing general data the pamphlet contains
tabulations on the following :
Nongovernmental institutions in each state classified by class of ownership .
Tuberculosis hospitals and sanatoriums in each state showing number of

beds, patients treated , and total days treatment.
Dispensaries in each state by following classifications :
Number attached to hospitals .

Number of independent dispensaries.

Number of each type - general, special, Federal, and Red Cross.
Number of patients."
Visits by patients."

Insane and Feeble Minded . Statistics on the insane and feeble
minded were collected at each decennial census, beginning with the
one for 1840 and ending with the one for 1890. At each census,
with the exception of the one for 1880, insane persons were re
ported by the enumerators , regardless of whether they were in or

outside hospitals and institutions. At the Census of 1880 the
returns from the enumerators were supplemented by schedules
filled out by physicians. No figures regarding the insane were
collected at the Census of 1900 , but since the organization of the

permanent Census Bureau, investigations have been made for 1904
and 1910 of the insane and feeble minded in institutions. Neither

method of obtaining the data gives complete figures on the insane
in the United States, as it is not possible to obtain through enu

merators accurate information regarding the insane not in institu
tions, and the census of inmates of institutions makes no pretense

to giving facts regarding the entire population . While the decen
nial reports are not of great value, they are listed below in order to
give all the references :
Sixth Census : 1840.
Sixth Census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States.

Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of
the United States.

Seventh Census: 1850 .
Seventh Census of the United States.

Statistical view of the United States -- Compendium of the Seventh
Census

Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Eighth Census : 1860.

Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.
Population of the United States in 1860.

' These figures are given also for cities of 100 ,000 and over .

DEPENDENTS, DEFECTIVES, AND DELINQUENTS 83
Ninth Census : 1870.
Vital statistics of the United States, 1870 .
Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.

Tenth Census: 1880.
Vol. I. Population of the United States.

Vol. XXI. Defective, dependent and delinquent classes of the popula
tion , 1880.

Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.
Eleventh Census: 1890.
Insane, feeble minded , deaf and dumb, and blind.

Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part II.

The Bureau of the Census has published two intercensal reports
dealing with the insane, entitled “ Insane and Feeble Minded in
Hospitals and Institutions, 1904 " and " Insane and Feeble Minded
in Institutions, 1910.” A preliminary report of the 1910 investiga
tion was issued under the same title as Bulletin 119.

The reports for 1904 and 1910 differ from the earlier decennial
reports in two important respects : (1 ) They relate only to the
inmates of hospitals for the insane, and ( 2) in addition to data on
the number of inmates at the end of the year, they give facts re
garding the number of admissions, discharges, deaths, and transfers
during the year. In these reports the insane in institutions are
tabulated by the general census classifications of states, age, sex ,

nativity , and occupations. In addition there is shown for each
institution the total number of insane admitted during each of the
ten latest years as well as details regarding the color and nativity of
those admitted during the year. In the use of these tables the fact
must be borne in mind that they relate only to insane in institutions.

The figures, therefore, cannot be used for the purpose of drawing
conclusions regarding the ratio of the insane to the total population .
In the case of the District of Columbia the high ratio of insane to
total population is due to the existence of a government hospital in

which are confined the insane of the army, navy, and federal
prisons, as well as residents of the District of Columbia. In other
states a high ratio may be due to the fact that there are extensive
hospital facilities which are well utilized , or a low ratio may be due

to the lack of institutions. The essential local conditions must be
known before any conclusions can be drawn. The reports give an
accurate picture of the use ofhospitals, but give only contributions
to the general subject of insanity .

84

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The figures for the feeble minded are given separately from those
for the insane, but are classified along the same general lines.
However, no statistics are given for individual institutions for the
feeble minded .
Blind and Deaf.3

The blind and deaf have been the subject of in

quiry at every census beginning with the one for 1830. Up to and
including the census of 1890 all information regarding the blind
and deaf was obtained directly from the reports submitted by the

enumerators ; at the censuses of 1900, 1910 , and 1920, the enum
erators reported simply the names of persons reported to be blind
and deaf and supplemental schedules were forwarded to each
person , the statistics being compiled from the supplemental returns.
Consequently , the reports for these years are in more detail than
the preceding ones. In the earlier census reports the figures on the
blind and deaf are not assembled , but are scattered through the

tables giving statistics by states and other geographical units. While
the figures for 1900 and 1910 apply to the census year, the results
were not published as reports of the decennial census, but were
issued as independent publications. The decennial census reports

containing statistics on these classes of the population are as
follows:

Fifth Census: 1830. Fifth Census or enumeration of the inhabitants of
the United States .
Sixth Census: 1840.

Sixth Census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States.
Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of
the United States.

Seventh Census: 1850.
Seventh Census of the United States.

Statistical view of the United States— Compendium of the Seventh
Census.
Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Eighth Census: 1860.
Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.

Population of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census : 1870 .
Vital statistics of the United States.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.

Statistical atlas of the United States.
* Information regarding the blind and deaf in the Philippine Islands is
contained in “ Census of the Philippine Islands : 1903," Bureau of the
Census.

DEPENDENTS, DEFECTIVES, AND DELINQUENTS 85
Tenth Census : 1880 .

Vol. I. Population of the United States.

Vol. XXI. Defective, dependent, and delinquent classes of the
population .

Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.
Eleventh Census : 1890.

Insane, feeble minded, deaf and dumb, and blind.
Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part II.

The figures on the blind and deaf in the United States collected
in connection with the decennial enumerations of population in

1900, 1910, and 1920, were not published in the reports of those
censuses, but were issued later as special reports. The titles of
these reports are: “ The Blind and the Deaf, 1900,” “ The Blind in
the United States, 1910," “ The Blind in the United States, 1920,"

“ DeafMutes in the United States, 1910,” and “ DeafMutes in the
United States , 1920.” A preliminary report on the blind in 1910
appeared as Bulletin 130, and a preliminary report on the deaf in
1910 was issued under the title “ The Census of the Deaf and
Dumb, 1910.”

The statistics for 1900, 1910, and 1920, give both social and

physical facts regarding these classes of the population . In addition
to the classification by sex, age, nativity ,marital condition, occupa

tion , education , and ability for self-support, there are also detailed
tables on the causes of blindness or deafness, the age when sight or

hearing was lost, the status of other members of the family as

regards sight and hearing, and other factors.
Delinquents. Statistics of prisoners were collected at each decen
nial census beginning with 1850 and ending in 1890 and those for
juvenile delinquents were compiled at the censuses of 1880 and
1890. Since 1890 these statistics have been collected in 1904 and in
1910 independently of the decennial census. The decennial census

reports on these topics are as follows:
Seventh Census: 1850.
Statistical view of the United States— Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Eighth Census : 1860. Statistics of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census : 1870 .

Population and social statistics .
Compendium of the Ninth Census.

86

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Tenth Census: 1880.
Vol. I. Population of the United States.

Vol. XXI. Defective, dependent and delinquent classes.
Compendium of the Tenth Census.
Eleventh Census : 1890.

Crime, pauperism and benevolence.

Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part II.

The data in the reports from 1850 to 1890 are restricted to facts
concerning the inmates of prisons at the time the enumeration
was made .

The Bureau of the Census has published two special reports deal
ing with prisoners and juvenile delinquents, the titles of which are

“ Prisoners and Juvenile Delinquents in Institutions, 1904," and
“ Prisoners and Juvenile Delinquents, 1910 ” ; a preliminary report
of the 1910 investigation was issued as Bulletin 121 under the
same title. These reports give not only facts relating to the number

ofprisoners at the end of the year,but also data on those committed
during the year. The prisoners at the end of the year are shown by
sex, color, nativity, and race, by states and territories and by indi

vidual institutions ; by length of sentence and sex, by states; by
length of sentence, sex, color nativity , and race, and by sentence,
sex , and offense . The prisoners committed during the year are
classified as indicated above and also by country of birth , color,
nativity , offense, and sex , by language spoken , by length of resi

dence in the United States, by age and sex, by marital condition ,
by degree of literacy, and by occupations. Juvenile delinquents are
shown separately by the more important classifications given above

that apply to them .
A pamphlet entitled “ Number of Prisoners in Penal Institutions,
1922 and 1917," issued by the Bureau of the Census, gives separate
figures by states for prisoners in federal, state , county, and city

institutions. The investigation resulting in this report is prelimi
nary to the more detailed census of prisoners and juvenile de

linquents,which will be similar to that published for 1910 .

CHAPTER VI

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS
Reports of Bureau of Immigration. All statistics on immi

gration and emigration or the movement of persons into and from
the country are derived from the official records and publications

of the Bureau of Immigration. That bureau , however, collects no
data dealing with the condition or characteristics of the immigrant

population, information on this subject being collected by the
Bureau of the Census or by special surveys.
Immigration and emigration statistics are compiled from detailed

lists required by law to be submitted by the commanding officers of
vessels bringing persons to or taking persons from the United
States.

The information which must be given in the passenger manifests
is prescribed by Section 12 ofthe Act of February 5, 1917 (39 Stat.
L ., 882), for arriving aliens as follows :

Full name, age, and sex ; whether married or single ; calling or
occupation ; personal description (including height, complexion ,
color of hair and eyes, and marks of identification ) ; whether able
to read or write ; nationality ; country of birth ; race ; country of

last permanent residence ; name and address of the nearest relative

in the country from which the alien came; seaport for landing in
the United States ; final destination , if any , beyond the port of land
ing ; whether having a ticket through to such final destination ; by
whom passage was paid ; whether in possession of $ 50 , and if less ,
how much ; whether going to join a relative or friend, and , if so,

what relative or friend, and his or her name and complete address ;
whether ever before in the United States, and if so , when and
where; whether ever in prison or almshouse or an institution or
hospital for the care and treatment of the insane ; whether ever
supported by charity ; whether a polygamist ; whether an anarchist ;
whether a person who believes in or advocates the overthrow by
force or violence of the Government of the United States or of all
forms of law , or who disbelieves in or is opposed to organized
government, or who advocates the assassination of public officials ,
87

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
or who advocates or teaches the unlawful destruction of property,
or is a member of or affiliated with any organization entertaining
and teaching disbelief in or opposition to organized government,
or which teaches the unlawful destruction of property , or who ad

vocates or teaches the duty , necessity, or propriety of the unlawful
assaulting or killing of any officer or officers, either of specific indi
viduals or of officers generally, of the Government of the United

States or of any other organized governmentbecause of his or their
official character ; whether coming by reason of any offer, solicita

tion, promise, or agreement, express or implied , to perform labor
in the United States ; the alien 's condition of health , mental and
physical ;whether deformed or crippled , and if so, for how long and
from what cause ; whether coming with the intent to return to the
country whence such alien comes after temporarily engaging in

laboring pursuits in the United States ; and such other items of
information as will aid in determining whether any such alien
belongs to any of the excluded classes enumerated in section 3
[ for exclusion ].

For departing aliens the following information is required :
Name, age, and sex ; whethermarried or single ; calling or occu
pation ;whether able to read or write ; nationality ; country of birth ;
country of which citizen or subject ; race ; last permanent residence
in the United States or insular possessions thereof ; if a citizen of
the United States or of the insular possessions thereof, whether
native born or naturalized ; if native born , the place and date of
birth , or if naturalized the city or town in which naturalization has
been had ; intended future permanent residence ; and time and port

of last arrival in the United States, or insular possessions thereof.
The immigration regulations require vessels arriving at or de

parting from Canadian ports to submit similar information regard

ing all passengers bound to or from the United States.
In the case of citizens of the United States there must be shown
the sex, age, class of travel for all passengers, the port of embarka

tion of arriving passengers and the port of debarkation of departing
passengers.
Annual Statistics of Immigration and Emigration . The annual

reports of the Commissioner General of Immigration afford the
primary source of information regarding the number of persons
arriving in or departing from the United States. From 1820 to 1870
annualreports on immigration were made to Congress by the Secre

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

89

tary of State and printed as documents of Congress. From 1869
to 1895 the annual report entitled “ Foreign Commerce and Navi
gation,” issued by the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Depart
ment, contained this information, although the Superintendent of
Immigration also issued reports for 1892 to 1894. The annual
reports of heads of the Immigration Servicehave been issued under

the following titles:
Treasury Department.

Annual Report of Superintendent of Immigration - 1892 to 1894.
Annual Report of Commissioner General of Immigration - 1895 to 1903.
Department of Commerce and Labor.

Annual Report of Commissioner General of Immigration and Naturali
zation - 1904 to 1912.
Department of Labor.

Annual Report of Commissioner General of Immigration — 1913 and
later years.

The reports of the Immigration Commission (described on pages
95 -103 ) contain so much historicalmaterial that it is seldom neces

sary to refer to the older reports.
The reports of the Commissioner General.of Immigration and

Naturalization for 1904 and 1908 contain the results of a special
inquiry into the number of aliens in charitable institutions, penal

institutions, and institutions for the insane. Immigrants are classi
fied by races and by sex , age, and cause and period of detention .
The statistics given in the reports of the Commissioner General of
Immigration for many years have made a distinction between im

migrant and nonimmigrantaliens, and between emigrant and non
emigrant aliens. Immigrant aliens are those arriving aliens who
have had a permanent residence abroad and who intend to remain

permanently in the United States. Nonimmigrant aliens are arriv
ing aliens making a temporary trip to the United States, and arriv
ing aliens who have been residents of the United States and who
are returning from a temporary trip to a foreign country. Emigrant
aliens are aliens departing from the United States whose permanent

residence has been in the United States and who intend to reside
permanently abroad. Nonemigrant aliens are aliens departing from

the United States whose permanent residence has been in the
United States and who intend to make a temporary stay in a
foreign country .

90

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

It will thus be seen that the classification of arriving and depart
ing aliens has nothing whatever to do with social status or amount

of money . The arriving artist, the business man , and the laborer
are classed as immigrant or nonimmigrant solely on the basis of

their intention to stay permanently or temporarily in this country.
The main classification used in the immigration statistics is that

of race, which must not be confused with nationality or country of
last residence. The classification by race is based on ethnic stock ,
that by nationality on political allegiance, and that by country of

last residence on domicile. The immigration statistics do not give
any conclusive information regarding nationality, but they do give

information regarding country of last residence. For instance, a
German by race may have been born in Switzerland or Austria

and have been a subject of either of these countries ; hemay have
been born in Germany, emigrated to and acquired citizenship in
Sweden, and then emigrated to the United States. In the immigra
tion statistics showing race, he would be classed as a German re

gardless of the country to which he owned allegiance at one time
or another . In one table,however, is shown the last country of per
manent residence ; this may or may not indicate his political allegi
ance, as his political status depends on the laws of the country of
last residence or the action taken by the individual.
The schedules on pages 92 and 93 show the classification of

the statistics in the annual report of the Commissioner General of
Immigration . In general the terms used in the classification are

self-explanatory, but there are indicated below the subdivisions of
each classification .

Age statistics are divided into three groups — under 16 years,
16 to 44 years,and 45 years and over. The figures on literacy apply
only to those 16 years ofage and over , and are subdivided to show
those who can read and write, those who can read but not write ,

and those who can neither read nor write .
The causes for exemption are divided into those exempted by
reason of their going to join relatives and those exempted for

other causes. The figures on the amount ofmoney indicate those
bringing $ 50 or less, and those bringing over $ 50 ; the total amount

of money brought is also shown. The data on payment of passage
indicate whether it was made by the immigrant, by a relative, or
by some other person . The figures on whether the immigrant is

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

91

going to join a relative or friend show those joining relatives, those
joining friends, and those not joining relatives or friends.
The years of continuous residence in the United States given for

emigrants are grouped by five-year periods up to 20 years, all over
20 years' residence being shown together. Conjugal condition indi
cates the number of persons over 16 years of age single, married,
widowed , and divorced . The age subdivisions under conjugal con
dition are 16 to 44, and 45 and over, except that for single females,

separate figures are given for those 16 to 21 years , 22 to 29 years,

30 to 37 years, and 38 to 44 years.
Occupations are divided into the three main groups— profes
sional, skilled , and miscellaneous, which are further subdivided into
seventy -six classes. Originally , the occupation classification was the

same as that used by the Bureau of the Census, but the Bureau of
the Census has made somemodifications in its classification which
have not been adopted by the Bureau of Immigration . The classes
of the Census and those of the Bureau of Immigration may be com

pared, but this ismade somewhat difficult by the fact that the classes
in the immigration statistics are arranged alphabetically while the
census classes are grouped in logical order. Thus, in the immigra
tion statistics, dressmakers and seamstresses form two classes, each
in its alphabetical place, while in the census statistics “ dressmakers
and seamstresses, not in factory ” are shown together, as one class,

while dressmakers and seamstresses working in factory are grouped
with other miscellaneous semi-skilled operatives. The occupation
statistics are undoubtedly subject to a wide margin of error, par

ticularly in such classes as farmers and farm laborers, as the indi
vidual may report himself as one or the other . The comments

regarding the occupation statistics of the census, given on page 107,
apply also to those of the Bureau of Immigration .

All the tables are for the current fiscal year , but a few give
general figures over a series of years. The totals for the United
States include Alaska, Porto Rico, and Hawaii, but not the Philip
pines, although some of the general tables give separate figures for

admissions and departures from the Philippines .

92

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WORK

STATI

STICA

L

:X
XXXXXXXXXXX
Classified
race
by

SCHEDULE OF ALIEN IMMIGRATION STATISTICS IN ANNUAL REPORTS OF
classified
by
race

race
by

Not

Classified
:X XXXXXX
X
race
by

Total immigration . .. . ...
By countries of last residence. .. . .. .
By states
of intended residence....
By occupations ... . . .
By sex

By ports . . . .

:XXXXX

Classification

Not

Non -immigrant

Immigrant

:XXXX

classified

COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION

By age .. . . . .. . .. . . .. ..

By literacy and sex ... ..

By causesof exemption and sex ....
Amount of money . . . .
By whom passage paid . ... . .. .. .. ..

Whether joining relatives or friends.
By sex,age, and conjugal condition ..

:

:

Bycupation
statesof future residence and ports

:

By states of future residence. . and
oc
.. . .. ..
of entry . .. . . .. . . . .. .

:
xi

:

X:

From each insular possession by ports

X:

By specified periods during year.. . ..

SCHEDULE OF STATISTICS OF CITIZENS DEPARTED, IN ANNUAL REPORTS OF
COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION

Naturalized

By ports . .... ...
By length of residence . ..
By countries of future residence . . ..
By states of last residence . . .. . ..
By occupations . . . . ..

X : : : : : :

By sex .
By age

:
ХХХХХХ

Not
subdivided

:
XXXXXX

www

Classified by race
Classification

Native

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

93

race
by

classified
Not

Classified

race
by

X
: XXX:

classified

race
by

: : : :

Debarred , by ports ....

: : :::

XXXX:

races . . . . . . . . . . .

Debarred , by years since
1892, by causes. . .
Deported , by races .. . .

: :
::: : :

n . .. . . .. .. . .. .. .

By states of last residence
and occupations . . . . . . . . .
Debarred, by causes and

: : : :::

: : X

:

By years of continuous resi
dence . . . . . . .
Byconditio
sex, age, and conjugal

XXX:

By sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

By age . . .. . . . . .

X:

: : : : :

By occupation .

Non-emigrant

XXX
:X :

: :

By states of last residence.

XXXXX:X

Total emigration ..........
By ports .. .. .. .
By countries of future resi
dence ... .. .. .. . .. .. .. ..

Not

Not
subdivided

Emigrant
race
by

Classification

Classified

SCHEDULE OF STATISTICS OF ALIEN EMIGRATION IN ANNUAL REPORTS OF
COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION

WS
In addition to the classifications listed above this report shows

also the following :
Citizens arriving, by ports.

Aliens granted hospital treatment, by races.

certified as defective, by defects and by sex, age, and disposition
Aliens ca
of se.
Aliens certified as defective, by defects and races.
Aliens certified as defective, by defects and part of body.

There are also detailed tables dealing with the arrivals of Japa
nese and the number of Japanese in the United States.

Monthly Statistics of Immigration and Emigration . The publi
Monthly Labor Review in the issue for August, 1915, which con

cation of statistics of immigration and emigration was begun in the

tained figures for thesix months ending June, 1914 and 1915. The
issues from October, 1915, to February, 1920, contained data for

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

94

each month from July, 1914 , to November, 1919 . During this
period the tables showed total arrivals classified by race. The pub
lication of monthly immigration statistics was discontinued with

the bulletin for February , 1920 ,and was not resumed until the issue
for March , 1922, when data were published for the six months

ending December 31, 1921. Since April, 1922,monthly figures on

immigration and emigration have been published , classified by race ,
country of last permanent residence and country of future resi
dence .

Monthly or quarterly statistics of immigration were published
by the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department from
January, 1869, to June, 1903, and by the Bureau of Statistics of

the Department of Commerce and Labor from July, 1903, to 1906 .
These were contained in the monthly report of those bureaus
known after 1899 as the Monthly Summary of Commerce and
Finance.' Figures by months from July, 1896 , to April, 1900, are
given in the Monthly Summary for April, 1900 .
From October, 1885, to June, 1893,monthly statistics were also
published in the leaflets issued by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Treasury Department under the title “ Statementof Foreign Com
merce and Immigration .”

From January , 1906 , to August, 1919 , a monthly bulletin was
issued by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization of the
Department of Commerce and Labor and the Bureau of Immigra
tion of the Department of Labor under the following titles:
Department of Commerce and Labor : Bureau of Immigration and Naturali
zation .

Immigration Statement- January to March , 1906 .

Immigration Statement and Inward Passenger Movement - April, 1906 ,
to May, 1908.

Immigration and Emigration Statement [and ] Inward Passenger Move
ment- June, 1908, to February , 1909.
Immigration Bulletin , March , 1909, to February , 1913.
Department of Labor : Bureau of Immigration .
Immigration Bulletin - March , 1913, to December, 1917.

Immigration Service Bulletin - April, 1918 , to August, 1919.
' In some of the tables the heading is wrongly given as nationality.
For titles of this publication at different periods, see page 354.

* There is no break in the statistics between this series and the preceding
one,

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

95

Reports of Immigration Commission , 1911. The act of Con
gress approved February 20, 1907, created the Immigration Com
mission to make a “ full inquiry, examination, and investigation
. . . . into the subject of immigration .” The reports of this com
mission , issued in forty -one volumes in 1911, contain probably the

largest collection ofmaterial relating to the immigration problem
that has ever been assembled . There are mentioned below only the

volumes that contain a considerable amount of statistical material.
A complete list of the publications of the commission is as follows:
Volumes 1 and 2. Abstracts of reports of the Immigration Commission ,
with conclusions and recommendations and views of the minority.
( These volumes include the Commission 's complete reports on the fol
lowing subjects : Immigration conditions in Hawaii; Immigration and
insanity ; Immigrants in charity hospitals ; Alien seamen and stowaways ;

Contract labor and induced and assisted immigration ; The Greek pad
rone system in the United States ; Peonage.) (Sen . Doc. 747, 61st Cong.,
3d sess.)

Volume 3. Statistical review of immigration, 1819- 1910— Distribution of
immigrants, 1850 -1900. (Sen . Doc. 756 , 61st Cong., 3d sess.)
Volume 4 . Emigration conditions in Europe. (Sen . Doc. 748 , 61st Cong .,
3d sess.)

Volume 5. Dictionary of races or peoples. (Sen . Doc. 662, 61st Cong.,
3d sess.)
Volumes 6 and 7. Immigrants in industries: Pt. 1, Bituminous coal min
ing. ( Sen. Dọc. 633, 6Ist Cong., 2d sess.)

Volumes 8 and 9 . Immigrants in industries : Pt. 2, Iron and steel manu

facturing. (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)
Volume 10. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 3, Cotton goods manufacturing
in the North Atlantic states ; Pt. 4 , Woolen and worsted goods manu

facturing. (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)
Volume 11. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 5, Silk goods manufacturing
and dyeing ; Pt. 6 , Clothing manufacturing ; Pt. 7, Collar, cuff, and
shirt manufacturing. (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)

Volume 12. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 8, Leather manufacturing ; Pt. 9,
Boot and shoe manufacturing ; Pt. 10 , Glove manufacturing.

(Sen .

Doc. 633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)

Volume 13. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 11, Slaughtering and meat pack
ing. ( Sen. Dọc. 633, 6Ist Cong., 2d sess.)
Volume 14. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 12, Glass manufacturing ; Pt. 13.
Agricultural implement and vehicle manufacturing . (Sen . Doc. 633,
61st Cong ., 2d sess.)

Volume 15. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 14 , Cigar and tobacco manu
facturing ; Pt. 15, Furniture manufacturing ; Pt. 16 , Sugar refining.
( Sen. Doc. 633, 6Ist Cong., 2d sess.)

Volume 16 . Immigrants in industries : Pt. 17 , Copper mining and smelt
ing ; Pt. 18, Iron ore mining ; Pt. 19, Anthracite coal mining ; Pt. 20,

Oil refining. (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)

AL

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Volume 17. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 21, Diversified industries, Vol. 1.
( Sen. Doc. 633, 6Ist Cong., 2d sess.) .

Volume 18. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 21, Diversified industries, Vol. II ;
Pt. 22, The floating immigrant labor supply . (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong. ;
2d sess.)
Volumes 19 and 20. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 23, Summary report on
immigrants in manufacturing and mining. (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong.,
2d sess.)

Volume 21 and 22. Immigrants in industries: Pt. 24 , Recent immigrants
in agriculture. (Sen . Doc. 633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)

Volumes 23-25. Immigrants in industries : Pt. 25, Japanese and other immi

grantraces in the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain states. (Sen . Doc.
633, 61st Cong., 2d sess.)

Volumes 26 and 27. Immigrants in cities : (Sen . Doc. 338, bist Cong.,
2d sess.)

Volume 28. Occupations of the first and second generations of immigrants

in the United States; Fecundity of immigrant women. (Sen . Doc. 282,
61st Cong., 2d sess.)

Volumes 29- 33 . The children of immigrants in schools. (Sen . Doc. 749,
61st Cong ., 3d sess.)

Volumes 34 and 35. Immigrants as charity seekers. (Sen . Doc. 665, 61st
Cong., 3d sess.)

Volume 36 . Immigration and crime. (Sen . Doc. 750,61st Cong., 3d sess.)
Volume 37. Steerage conditions; Importation and harboring of women
for immoral purposes ; Immigrant homes and aid societies ; Immigrant
banks. (Sen. Doc. 753,61st Cong., 3d sess.)

Volume 38 . Changes in bodily form of descendants of immigrants. (Sen .
Doc. 208,61st Cong., 2d sess.)
Volume 39. Federal immigration legislation ; Digest of immigration decis
ions; Steerage legislation , 1819 - 1908 ; State immigration and alien laws.
( Sen. Doc. 758, 6Ist Cong., 3d sess.)
Volume 40. The iminigration situation in other countries : Canada, Aus

tralia , New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil. (Sen . Doc. 761, 61st Cong.,
3d sess.)

Volume 41. Statements and recommendations submitted by societies and
organizations interested in the subject of immigration. (Sen. Doc. 761,

61st Cong., 3d sess.)
Volumes 1 and 2 contain abstracts of all the reports, some of the

more significant tables being given in full.
Volume 3 contains two reports, entitled “ Statistical Review of
Immigration , 1819- 1910 ” and “ Distribution of Immigrants, 1850
1900.” The Statistical Review brings together all available im
portant statistics that had been collected by the government since
1819. Themain topics handled in this report are as follows:
Number of immigrants, by country of origin , annually, 1820 to 1910.

Number of immigrants,by country of origin and sex ,annually, 1869 to 1910.
Sex of immigrants, by race or people, annually, 1899 to 1910.

Number of immigrants, by country of last permanent residence and race
or people, annually, 1899 to 1910 .

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

97

Number of immigrants over 14 years of age, unable to read or write , by race
or people , annually , 1899 to 1910, by sex, annually, 1908 to 1910 .

Number of immigrants by age groups and race or people, annually, 1899
to 1910 .

Occupation of immigrants, by race or people , annually, 1899 to 1910.

Occupation of immigrants, by state of intended future residence, annually ,
1899 to 1910 .

State of destination of immigrants, by race or people , annually, 1899 to 1910.
Amount of money shown by immigrants, by race or people, annually , 1899
to 1910 .

Aliens debarred, by cause and nationality, annually, 1895 to 1910.
Aliens debarred, by race or people, annually , 1899 to 1910 .
Emigrant aliens deported , by race or people, sex , age, length of continuous
residence, annually, 1908 to 1910.
Nonimmigrant aliens admitted and deported, by race or people , age,
sex , etc.

The report on the “ Distribution of Immigrants " in Volume 3
is a compilation of the material published in the census reports . The
main tables are as follows:
Foreign born in each state at each census, 1850 to 1890 ; in each city over
25,000 and in smaller cities and country districts, at each census, 1870 to

1890 ; by classes of cities at each census, 1870 to 1890 .
Population of foreign parentage, by states, 1900 .
White population of foreign parentage, by states and cities and country of

origin , 1890 and 1900.

The emigration situation in Italy, Russia , Austria -Hungary, and
Greece is discussed in Volume 4 , entitled “ Emigration Conditions
in Europe," the main statistical tables being the following :
Immigration, by country of origin , annually, 1820 to 1910.

Crime in Italy, number of crimes of various character reported , by periods
and districts from 1880 to 1906 .
Jewish population of Russia by districts, occupations, sex, etc., 1897.

In Volume 5, entitled “ Dictionary of Races or Peoples " are
some short tables showing the distribution of races in countries hav
ing a composite population such as Austria -Hungary, but the

greater part of the report is devoted to a discussion of the ethno
graphic feature of various races.

Statistics bearing on the industrial status of the immigrant are
given in Volumes 6 to 25, entitled “ Immigrants in Industries.”

These reports do not give figures on the total number of immigrants
in any industry or the extent to which various industries have been
dependent on immigrant labor. They are intended to give informa
tion on the progressmade by the immigrant in various occupational

groups. The study is essentially one which gives a cross sectional

CAL

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98

WORK

view , as it was impossible without an enumeration of the entire
population to obtain data on all immigrants and all industries. As

the information desired would have complicated the census sched

ules to such an extent as to make them unworkable, the only re
course was to adopt the sampling method and collect data for repre
sentative individuals and establishments. Information was collected
from over 500,000 employees and in addition studies were made

of over 17,000 households whose headswere engaged in mining or

manufacturing. The number of persons furnishing answers to all
questions was considerably smaller than the total number answering

the schedules in part. The tables in the report, however, indicate
the number of persons giving a satisfactory reply to each specific

inquiry. The industries studied are shown in the list on p . 95.
The information under each industry is classified by nativity and
race and includes the following topics:
Per cent of foreign born employees in the United States for specified
number of years.

Per cent of employees engaged in various occupations before coming to the
United States.

Per cent of employees, male and female, of various ages, earning speci
fied amounts per day.

Average yearly earnings of heads of families and average income of
families.
Occupation of wives.

Months worked during year.
Affiliation with trade unions.
Average rent.

Households keeping boarders.
Number of rooms per household.
Number of persons per household , per room , per apartment, and per sleep
ing room .
Ability to read and write .
Conjugal condition .
Home ownership .
Naturalization .

Ability to speak English .
In the report on each industry figures are given for each topic on
thenumber of persons or households of each race in that industry ;

in the summary report in Volume 19 all the statistics on one topic

are classified by race and nativity, no attention being paid to the
industry in which engaged ; in the general tables in Volume 20 the

statistics on each topic are classified by sex of each race and sub
classified by industry. Thus, data on figures on immigrants owning
homes who are employed in the slaughtering and meat packing

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

99

industry are given in the report on that industry in Volume 11 ;
figures on the relative extent of homeownership by immigrants of

various races are in the summary in Volume 19 ; data on home
ownership by Italians employed in several or all of the industries
studied are in the general tables in Volume 20.

Data on specified races in various sections of the country are
given in Volumes 21 to 25, which , in addition to a text discussion ,

contain considerable statisticalmaterial collected by representatives
of the Commission . In general these reports are intensive studies
of the selected communities in which the various races or nationali
ties are found to a large extent. The subjects treated in these
volumes are as follows:
Volume 21.

General survey or immigrants in agriculture .
Italians in agriculture .
Hebrews, Poles, Bohemians, Slovaks, Magyars and Portuguese in

Volume 22.

agriculture.

Seasonal agricultural laborers.
Volume 23.
Japanese immigrants.

Japanese in city employments and business in the principal cities of
the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain states.

East Indians on the Pacific Coast .
Volume 24 .

Immigrant labor in agricultural and allied industries of the western
states.

Immigrant farmers in the western states (this chapter contains con
siderable material on Japanese farmers) .

Immigrants in Fresno County, California .

Volume 25 .

Immigrant laborers employed by steam railway companies of the Pa
cific Coast and Rocky Mountain states.

Immigrant laborers employed by street railway companies operating
in the cities of the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain states.
Immigrant labor in the metalliferous mining, smelting and refining
industry in the western states.

Immigrant labor in the coal and coke industry of the western states.
Immigrants in the lumber and shingle industries of Oregon and
Washington .
Immigrant labor in the cement industry, salmon canneries of Columbia
River, Puget Sound and Alaska , cigar- and cigarette -making in
San Francisco , powder factories of California , cotton mills in

Oakland .

Immigrants in Los Angeles.

100

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The status of immigrants in cities is discussed in Volumes 26
and 27 entitled " Immigrants in Cities." Like the industrial survey.
this also presents a cross sectional view obtained by a detailed can

vass of specified blocks in New York , Chicago, Philadelphia , Bos
ton, Cleveland, Buffalo , and Milwaukee. The topics on which sta

tistics are given are as follows:
Living conditions- Congestion , care and equipment of home, home owner
ship and rent.
Economic status– Occupations, earnings, family income.

Assimilation — Length of residence, ability to speak English , literacy ,
citizenship .

Occupation of immigrants is the subject of Volume 28. This

volume was compiled from unpublished material collected by the
Census of 1900, and supplements the occupation statistics of the
Twelfth Census. Separate figures are given for immigrants of the

first generation — those born in foreign countries — and for immi
grants of the second generation — those born in the United States
of foreign parents. The figures are given according to three pri

mary classifications occupation , state, and country in which the
parents were born . A study of the fecundity of immigrant women ,

also in Volume 28 , was likewise based on unpublished material
collected by the Census of 1900 . The statistics are confined to
Rhode Island, Cleveland, forty -eight largely rural counties in Ohio ,
Minneapolis, and twenty -one largely rural counties in Minnesota .

Statistics on the children of immigrants in schools are given in
Volumes 29 to 33. The figures given in these reports were obtained
through a special enumeration undertaken by the Commission in a
number of cities. A general investigation showing the broad facts
regarding immigrants in schools was made of public schools in

forty -two cities and parochial schools in twenty - four cities. An
intensive investigation designed to bring out the special features of
the school life of immigrant children wasmade in the public schools
of twelve cities. The schedules for the general investigation were
prepared by the school authorities for all the children under their

direction, while in the intensive investigation a separate schedule
was prepared for each child . The cities in which the investigations
were made and the volumes containing the results are indicated in

the following schedule :

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

101

ΙΟΙ

SCHEDULE SHOWING SCOPE OF STATISTICS OF IMMIGRANTS IN SCHOOLS
IN VOLUMES 30 TO 33 OF IMMIGRATION COMMISSION
Volume

General
investigation of
public schools

and of teachers

Baltimore.
Buffalo.
Chicago.
Cincinnati.
Boston .

General
investigation of
parochial schools

Baltimore.

Bay City.

Boston .

Buffalo.

Cleveland.

Cedar Rapids.
Chelsea.
Chicago.
Cleveland.

Detroit.
Duluth .
Fall River.

Haverhill.
Johnstown

Cleveland .
31

Detroit.
Duluth .

Fall River.
Johnstown.
Kansas City.
Los Angeles.
Lowell.
Lynn .
Manchester.

Haverhill.

General and intensive
investigation
of public
schools

Haverhill.
Kansas City.
Los Angeles.
Lowell.
Lynn.
Manchester .

Meriden .

Meriden .

Milwaukee.

Milwaukee.

Minneapolis .

Minneapolis.
| Newark .
New Britain.
New Orleans.

Newark
New Orleans.

New York .
Philadelphia .
Pittsburgh.
Providence.
St. Louis.
San Francisco .
Scranton ,
Shenandoah.
South Omaha.
Worcester.
Yonkers.

Newark

New Bedford.
New Britain .

New York .
Philadelphia.
Providence.

San Francisco.
Scranton .
Shenandoah .

Pittsburgh.

102

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The statistics collected in the general investigation of public and
private schools include the following topics :
Pupils of each age in each grade, by sex.
Pupils of each sex in each grade, by general nativity and race of father.
Pupils by sex of each age in each grade, by nativity and race of father.
Pupils of specified age in each grade, by nativity and race of father.*
Race distribution in each grade, by percentages.

Grade distribution of each race, by percentages.

In the intensive investigation the statistics embrace birthplace ;
age at arrival, race of father, school attendance abroad, retarda
tion , rate of progress, citizenship of father, and ability of father to
speak English .

A study of teachers was made in all cities covered by the general

investigation only, the tables including information by sex and
general nativity regarding the number in each grade and the number

teaching specified numbers of pupils.
Information regarding immigrants in higher educational institu

tions is given in Volume 33.
Information regarding immigrants as charity seekers is given in
Volumes 34 and 35, which embody the results of an original investi

gation undertaken under the direction of the Commission . The data
were obtained through the charity organization societies, which
filled out a schedule for each case assisted during the period from
December 1, 1908 , to May 31, 1909. This work was carried on and
results published for forty -three cities, as follows:
Cities FOR Which Data on IMMIGRANTS AS CHARITY SEEKERS
HAVE BEEN COLLECTED
Atlanta, Ga.
Baltimore, Md.
Bloomington, Ill.
Boston , Mass.

Brooklyn, N . Y .
Buffalo, N . Y .
Chicago , III.
Cincinnati, Ohio .
Cleveland, Ohio.
Columbus, Ohio .
Dayton , Ohio .
Denver, Colo.
Des Moines, Iowa.
Elmira, N . Y.
Evansville, Ind.

* Public schools only .

Grand Rapids, Mich .
Indianapolis, Ind.

Pawtucket, R . I.
Peoria , Ill.
Pittsburgh , Pa.

Kalamazoo, Mich .

Rochester, N . Y.

Lancaster, Pa.
Lincoln , Nebr.
Louisville , Ky.
Lynn , Mass.

St. Louis, Mo.
San Francisco, Calif.

Malden , Mass.

Springfield , Mass.

Milwaukee , Wis.
Minneapolis, Minn .
Newark , N . J.

Washington , D . C .

Hartford, Conn.

Newport, R . I.
Oakland, Calif.
Orange, N . J.

St. Paul, Minn .

Seattle, Wash.
Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Worcester, Mass.

Youngstown, Ohio .

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

103

Practically all the tables show nativity and race. The information

includes cause of need, persons involved, kind of aid given, age of
head of family, conjugal condition, ability to speak English, and
years in United States.

Volume 34 contains also statistics on pauperism taken from cen
sus reports for 1850, 1860, 1870, 1888, 1890 , and 1904 and from

the reports of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization for
1904 and 1908.
In Volume 36 are the results of an effor: o determine the rela
tionship between immigration and crime. It wasmanifestly impos

sible to determine the amount of crime due to immigration , so the
investigation was confined to an attempt to ascertain what changes

in crime resulted from immigration and what crimes were peculiar
to various immigrants races and nationalities. In order to deter

mine this, a study was made of the records of 1,179,677 cases
obtained from the following sources:
Convictions in New York Court of General Sessions, October 1, 1908, to
June 30 , 1909.
Convictions in county and supreme courts of New York state, January 1,
1907 , to December 31, 1908 .

Children convicted or committed to institutions, New York City children 's
courts, 1906 and 1908 .

Police court cases in New York City magistrate courts, January 1, 1901,
to December 31, 1908.
Police arrests, Chicago, 1905 to 1908 .

Commitments to penal institutions in Massachusetts, October 1, 1908, to
September 30 , 1909.

The material is classified according to the character of crime,
race or country of birth , literacy, schooling , and conjugalcondition .
The volume contains also census data on crime and statistics on
aliens in penal institutions in 1908 taken from the report of the
Commissioner Generalof Immigration for that year,

Ninth Special Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1897.
The Ninth Special Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1897 ,

gives the results of a special study of the Italian population
of Chicago. Data were collected showing the economic and social

condition ,and the report presents both the statistics for individuals
and families and general tables dealing with the Italian population

as a whole.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

104

Census Reports. In the decennial census reports dealing with
the composition of the population , occupations, and agriculture, and

in the annual volumes on deaths and births, separate figures are
given for the foreign -born white, the Chinese, and the Japanese in
many of the tables. The foreign -born white classification runs
through practically all the reports dealing with the population, al
though separate figures are not given for minor geographic units.

On the pages cited below are given analyses of the statistics on the
severaltopics relating to these classes of the population :
Cross REFERENCES TO ANALYSES OF Census STATISTICS RELATING TO
FOREIGN Born POPULATION
Classification

Total number
Sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age . . . . . . . . . . . .

Illiteracy . . . .. . . . .. . .. .
School attendance . .. .. .
Inability to speak English .
Country of birth . . .
Year of immigration .. . .
Naturalization . . . ..... . . .. . . ... ..
Mother tongue .. . . .. .

Dependents, defectives, and delinquents
Deaths
. .. . ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Births . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .
Farm operators

Occupations . .. . . . .. . ..

Chinese
and Japanese

Pages
31
34
37 -38

34
37 -38

41
51-53

51-53

44 -46

44-46

54

54

+1=**

Marital condition ... .. .

Foreign
born white

Pages

30

59
67

67

62
78 -85

78 -85

122
116

123

186

187

116

113

Passenger Movement. Currentstatements on passengers arrived

and departed are issued annually and quarterly by the United States
Shipping Board. As the purpose of these statements is to give a
picture of the passenger movement they do not differentiate be

tween American citizens, aliens, immigrants, or emigrants. They
show the number of first class, second class, and third class passen
gers for principal seaboard ports only, separate figures being given
for overseas traffic and nearby traffic (Canada, West Indies,
* These statistics are not printed ; they are issued in sheet form , being
reproduced by photographic process from the typewritten pages.

IMMIGRANTS AND EMIGRANTS

105

Mexico, Central America, and north coast of South America ) .

These tables show also the arrivals from and departures for non
contiguousUnited States territory ;arrivals at New York and Balti
more from Los Angeles and San Francisco, and departures from

New York and Baltimore for Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The quarterly statement shows passengermovementof the North
Atlantic , South Atlantic , Gulf, and Pacific districts to and from the

following regions:
United Kingdom .
Ireland and west coast.

Channel ports and east coast.
Total

Germany and Northern Europe.
Holland to Atlantic Spain .

Mediterranean and Black Sea.
China, Japan and Philippines.

Mexico, Central America, North Coast South America, Virgin Islands
and West Indies.
East Coast South America.

West Coast South America.
Canada.

All other.

In the annual statement the same classification is used , but in
addition the flag of the carrier is indicated for each group, Ameri

can vessels being further differentiated into Shipping Board and
Independent American .

CHAPTER VII

OCCUPATIONS
Statistics of occupations were first collected at the Census of 1820
and have been included in the census reports at every later census
with the exception of the one for 1830. The reports containing
statistics of occupation are listed below , the more detailed reports
being given first under each census:
Fourth Census: 1820. Census for 1820.
Sixth Census : 1840.
Sixth Census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States.
Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of the
United States.
Seventh Census : 1850.

Seventh Census of the United States.

Statistical view of the United States - Compendium of the Seventh
Census.
Eighth Census : 1860. Population of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census : 1870.

Population and social statistics.

Statistics of the wealth and industry of the United States.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.

Tenth Census : 1880.
Vol. I. Population of the United States.

Compendium of the Tenth Census, Vol. II.
Population of the United States — Part II.

Eleventh Census : 1890.

Compendium of the Eleventh Census - Part III.

Occupations of the population of the United States. (Preliminary
Report.)
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Twelfth Census : 1900 .
Vol. I. Population , Part II.
Occupations at the Twelfth Census.
Supplementary analysis and derivative tables.

Census statistics of teachers, 1900 .
Abstract of the Twelfth Census.

Statistics of women at work , 1900.

Child labor in the District of Columbia, 1900 : Bulletin 68.
Child labor in the United States, 1900 .
Statistical atlas.
Negroes in the United States, 1900.
106

OCCUPATIONS

107

Thirteenth Census : 1910.
Volume IV . Occupation statistics.

Negroes in the United States, 1910 , Bulletin 129 . [Preliminary report.)
Negroes in the United States, 1910 .
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Fourteenth Census: 1920.

Vol. IV . Occupations.
Abstract of the Fourteenth Census.

A general review of the statistics of occupation of the censuses
of 1870, 1880, and 1890 is given in Bulletin il of the Department

of Labor. A supplementary compilation of material relating to the
foreign born collected at the Census of 1900, but not published

in the census reports, is given in Vol. 28 of the Report of the
Immigration Commission (see page 100 ). An interpretation of
the statistics of the Census of 1920 relating to working women is

given in Bulletin 27 of the Women's Bureau, entitled “ The Occu
pational Progress of Women ,” and a graphic presentation of the
main census statistics of women in occupations is shown in Bulle
tin 46 of the Women's Bureau , entitled “ Facts about Working
Women .”

Occupation statistics are probably more difficult to compile than

any other statistics collected by the government. The defects in the

earlier reports and the difficulties encountered in making the clas
sification arewellbrought out in the following paragraphs from the
introduction to the volume on occupation statistics published by the
Fourteenth Census: '

Classifications Prior to the Thirteenth Census. From the Fed
eral census of 1850 , when the present method of individual enu
meration was first inaugurated , until the enumeration in 1910,
such a large proportion of the occupation returns were in general
and indefinite terms that, in many cases, exact classification accord
ing to specific occupation was impossible. Therefore, of necessity ,

the classification followed was, in many respects, largely industrial
in form . Those occupations, such as farmer, blacksmith , carpenter,
doctor, and lawyer, which , usually, were carefully returned by the
enumerators, and which could be classified easily apart from indus

tries, were so classified. The remaining occupations, especially in
manufacturing industries, were classified under such industrial

groups as “ Cotton mill operatives,” “ Woolen mill operatives,” etc.,

without any attempt to distinguish the different specific occupations
in each group , such as spinners, weavers, winders, etc. All occupa

* Fourteenth Census, Vol. IV, pp. 10- 12.

108

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

tions were grouped under five main classes or general divisions of
occupations.

The Thirteenth Census Classification. At the Thirteenth Cen
sus, the form of classification , which had not been changed greatly
since 1870, was found inadequate either to meet the marked
changes that had taken place since 1870 in the occupational activi
ties of the people or to meet the increased demands for more
accurate and detailed information about these activities. There

fore, since it was believed that the special efforts that were being
made to secure a more careful return of occupations at the
Thirteenth Census would be sufficiently successful to justify an

attempt at a more exact and scientific classification , an entirely
new classification was decided upon .
After careful study of the classifications in use in a number ofthe
principal nations, it was decided that the proper basis for a classi
fication of occupations is the worker and his work , and , hence, that

occupations should be classified with respect to the kind of work
done or service rendered rather than according to the article made
or worked upon , or the place where the work was done. Therefore,

it was thought that the best form of classification for the United
States would be an occupational classification with an industrial
framework . Such a classification , it was believed , would give the
most vivid picture of the occupational position of each and every

worker , and would best show the specific services rendered , work
done, or processes performed by each worker.
In the development of this new classification , each important in
dustry , or service group ,' was taken as a separate unit, and each of

the specific occupations followed by the workers in it was listed
thereunder, in so far as such occupation was definitely returned by
the enumerators and was of sufficient importance to justify its
separate presentation . Also, in the new classification , the number

of main classes or general divisions of occupations was increased
from five to eight,with an additional group for clerical occupations.
It is believed that an occupation classification which shows each

specific occupation in each industry and in each service group — as
did , roughly, the Thirteenth Census classification — is the ideal form
of classification . This is the form toward which the classifications

of many of the leading nations now appear to be moving. No other
form will show so completely the exact occupational status of each
and every worker ; and no other form is so well fitted to furnish

that specific information about the workers in each specific occupa
tion of each industry which is demanded as an aid in the present
day studies of occupations. Also, no other form lends itself so well

to any regrouping which students or others may desire .
* Public service, Professional service, and Domestic and personal service.

OCCUPATIONS

109

But while the detailed form of occupation classification used at
the Thirteenth Census is believed to be ideal in the abstract, it was
shown by Thirteenth Census experience to be rather impracticable
and unsatisfactory under actual conditions of enumeration and
classification prevailing at a Federal census of the United States.
Up to the present, the specific processes performed by the
workers in each particular occupation have been studied carefully

and described in detail, in printed reports,
for only a part of the
n
o
i
t
a
industries of the United States.rUntil
much
further
work has been
c
i
n ofbea diimpossible
ffe en to cconstruct,
done in this line itctiowill
onsta even approxi
mately , a technically exact classification which will include each
specific occupation in each different industry and service group .

But the construction of a detailed classification of occupations by
industry, which is approximately technically exact, will solve only

a part — and by far the lesser part - of the problem of securing
accurate , detailed occupation statistics. The difficult problem of
following the classification accurately will remain .
The chief obstacle to following accurately a detailed classification

of specific occupations is the great difficulty of securing the accurate
return by the census enumerators of technically exact designations
of specific occupations.

Because of the great complexity and overlapping of many pres
ent-day industries, there is in many cases today no definite line of
demarcation between industries ; and, consequently, processes which
usually are considered as belonging to separate and distinct indus

tries frequently are performed in one and the same establishment.
This fact makes it impossible in many cases for the enumerator to
determine in which of two closely related industries a given person
works, and ,hence, makes it impossible for him to return the occupa
tion of such person properly ; and, in turn , makes it impossible for

the classifying clerk to classify the occupation properly , according

to any definite and logical scheme. In short, the difficulty here is
that which results from the necessary attempt to reduce to a fixed
and definite classification the occupations of an industrial system the

organization of which is not only complex , but constantly changing.
In addition to the technical difficulty , due to the complexity of
present-day industrial organization and, hence, ineradicable , there

are certain practical difficulties which are even greater hindrances
in the securing of the accurate return by the enumerators of the

specific occupations of the persons enumerated. Chief of these is
the difficulty of overcoming the carelessness of a great army of
census enumerators, and their great lack of knowledge of specific
occupations and their technical designations. Next in importance
is the great difficulty of securing absolutely correct returns from
persons who are ignorant, indifferent, or not trained in making
accurate statement, or who , as a matter of fact, do not know the
precise nature of the occupations followed by persons other than

ΙΙ0

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

themselves, as is the case with some of those who furnish informa
tion to census enumerators.

Unless these practical difficulties, and the technical difficulty due
to the overlapping of industries can be eliminated, accurate enumer
ation and return of occupations, and , in turn , accurate classification
and statistics of occupations, are impossible. Each of these practical
difficulties may be lessened somewhat, butneither can be eliminated
entirely . Neither does it seem practicable to resort to an entirely
differentmethod of enumeration . And, with the further complexity
of industries and industrial processes which seems certain to take
place, the difficulties of securing technically exact enumeration of
occupations will tend to increase rather than to decrease.
Because of the impossibility of formulating and following a
detailed classification showing each occupation in each industry,
which would have any high degree of accuracy , either in form or in
the statistics finally presented, it was decided , for the Fourteenth
Census, to abandon the detailed form of classification followed at
the Thirteenth Census.

The Fourteenth Census Classification. The Fourteenth Census
classification of occupations is the result of a revision of the classi
fication followed in General Tables I, II, and III of the Thirteenth
Census Report on Occupation Statistics. The 215 main occupations
and occupation groups of that classification were expanded, how
ever, into 224, and the total 428 occupations and occupation groups

were expanded into 572. The expansion consisted principally in
showing separately the laborers and the semiskilled workers, respec

tively, for certain manufacturing industries for which they were
not shown separately in General Tables I, II, and III of the Thir

teenth Census Report on Occupation Statistics. In addition, certain
composite occupation groups shown at the Thirteenth Census were
broken up into more elemental groups.
Since processes and conditions of work vary from one occupation
to another, and, in the same occupation , from one industry to
another, it is evident that in any combination of elementary occu
pations the resultant group will be less specific than were its com
ponent parts. Notwithstanding this fact, combinations of elemen
tary occupations were deemed advisable because of the impossibility
of securing the accurate return of technically exact designations of
specific occupations through the house- to -house canvass made by

the Fourteenth Census enumerators. The general plan of combina
tion was to group together all the workers in each separate occupa
tion without regard to the different industries in which the occupa
tion is pursued. In so condensed a classification , however, it is
impossible to show separately each different occupation . In many
cases, therefore, different occupations were combined ; but the aim
was to combine only those occupations which are very similar.

OCCUPATIONS

III

Those occupations which are not sufficiently similar to others

to be combined with them and which are not sufficiently im
portant to be classified separately , and those occupations which

mean little apart from the industries in which they are pursued
were combined under a number of residuary occupation groups,
such as semiskilled operatives in candy factories, semiskilled
operatives in cotton mills, etc. These residuary groups, while not
strictly occupational, have a great deal of occupational significance ;

for, although each of them is made up of the workers in numerous
occupations, pursued, sometimes, in several different industries,
these workers together form a group which , in many respects , is

occupationally homogeneous. Since the proprietors, the officials,
the supervisory persons, the clerical workers, the followers of
trades, and the laborers are otherwise classified , all the persons
included in each of the residuary groups shown under “ Manufact

uring and mechnical industries,” are factory operatives mainly be
longing to the semiskilled class. In each extractive industry the
nature of the returns was such that it was deemed best to combine
the laborers and the semiskilled workers.

Thus, so far as practicable, the combination of elementary occu
pations was along occupational rather than industrial lines.
In the Fourteenth Census classification , as in the Thirteenth, the
occupations and occupation groups, excepting clerical occupations,

are grouped under the eight general divisions into which , for pur
poses of occupation classification , the industrial field is divided ,

each occupation being classified in that part of the industrial field
in which it is most commonly pursued. For example, blacksmiths,
carpenters, electricians, and machinists are classified under “ Man
ufacturing and mechanical industries ,” though each of these trades
is pursued in almost every industry. Clerical occupations, which
can hardly be said to be more common to one general division of
occupations than to another, have been classified apart.

The paragraphs quoted above are followed by more detailed state
ments showing themargin of error in certain specified occupations
and the difficulties of classification .

The statistics of occupation are limited to gainful workers ten

years of age and upward , the term gainful workers including all
workers “ except women doing housework in their own homeswith
out salary or wages, and having no other employment, and children
working at home,merely on general household work , on chores , or,
at odd times, on other work .”

In the census reports the population is classified by industrial
divisions as well as by specific occupations. The main industrial
divisions used in the Census of 1920 were as follows:

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

112

Agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry .

Extraction of minerals.
Manufacturing and mechanical industries.
Trade.
Transportation .

Public service.
Professional service.
Domestic and personal service.

Clerical occupations.

The nine divisions are subdivided into 572 occupations or occupa

tion groups. The proper classification of each occupation as com

monly reported is shown in the publications entitled “ Classified
Index to Occupations ” and “ Alphabetical Index to Occupations."
In the classified index the various occupations are listed under the

classes used in the tabulation . In the alphabetical index the indi
vidual occupations are listed with a reference to the classification

number used in the classified index. These two volumes are useful

in determining the precise occupations included in any classes in the
census reports. In these publications are listed approximately
20,000 occupational designationswith a symbol indicating to which
of the 572 occupations or occupation groups each designation is
assigned.

Practically all of the occupation statistics differentiate between
the sexes. There are two age groupings for the general statistics,
and in addition there are special age groupings used for children

from 10 to 17, for children from 10 to 15 , and formarried women .

The two general age groupings are here arbitrarily termed Group
ings A and B , and are as follows:
Age grouping A .

Age grouping B .

10 to 13.

10 to 17.

14.
15.
16 .

18 and 19 .

17 .

18 and 19.
20 to 24.

20 to 24.
25 to 44.
45 to 64.
65 and over.

25 to 44 .
45 to 64 .
65 and over.

The age statistics for children group those between 10 and 13
and give separate figures for each year beyond 13. Theage divisions
formarried women are 15 to 19 ,20 to 24, 25 to 34 , 35 to 44, 45 and
over. The statistics of marital condition of women differentiate

OCCUPATIONS

113

only between those married and those single,widowed or divorced,
the purpose of the tabulations being to indicate the occupational
status of those married . The figures on occupations fall into five

groups : (1 ) All occupations without differentiation ; ( 2) divisions

of occupations, as listed on p. 112 ; (3) occupational groups, or
combinations of related occupations ; (4 ) specified occupations
which include all the separate occupations used in the census classi
fication , and (5 ) selected occupations, which give figures for

occupations of importance in the community to which the figures
apply .

Separate figures for native white of native parentage, native

white of foreign or mixed parentage, foreign -born white, negro,
other races, and all classes combined are given in the reports as
indicated below :
All ages.

United States.

All occupations; divisions of occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Specified occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Divisions - All occupations. ( Vol. IV , Abstract.)
States.

All occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Selected occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Cities of 100,000 and over.

All occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Selected occupations. ( Vol. IV .)
Cities of 25,000 to 100,000 — All occupations. Vol. IV .)

Age grouping A – United States - All occupations. ( Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Age grouping B .

United States - All occupations ; divisions of occupations; specific
occupations. (Vol. IV .)
States and cities of 100,000 and over - All occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Children 10 to 17.
United States- All occupations; divisions of occupations ; specified
occupations. (Vol. IV .)

States and cities of 100,000 or more- All occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Children 10 to 15.
All occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Divisions of occupations, totals only, not subdivided by years (Vol. IV .)

Females over 15 by marital condition and age of those married .
United States.

All occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)

Divisions of occupations; specified occupations. (Vol. IV.)
Divisions; states ; and cities of 100,000 and over - All occupations.
( Vol. IV .)

* In some tables the statistics on other races are subdivided .

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

114

Females over 15 by marital condition - Divisions; states, and cities of
100 ,000 and over - All occupations. (Abstract.)

For the following there are shown only the total for all classes
withoutsubdivision for race or color :
All ages.

United States - Specified occupations. ( Abstract.)
Divisions - Divisions of occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
States.

Divisions of occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Specified occupations. (Vol. IV.)
Cities of 100,000 and over.
Divisions of occupation . (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Specified occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 .

All occupations, by marital condition . (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Divisions of occupations and occupation groups. (Vol. IV .)
Age grouping A .
United States.

Divisions of occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Specified occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Divisions ; states; cities of 100,000 and over - A11 occupations. (Vol.
IV , Abstract.)

Age grouping B — States; cities of 100,000 and over - Selected occupations.
(Vol. IV .)

Children id to 17 .
States ; cities of 100 ,000 and over.

Divisions of occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Selected occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Children 10 to 15 , totals only , without figures for separate years.
United States — Specified occupations. (Vol. IV .)
Divisions ; states; cities of 100,000 and over - All occupations. ( Vol.
IV , Abstract.)
Cities from 25,000 to 100,000 .

All occupations. (Vol. IV , Abstract.)
Occupation groups. (Vol. IV .)

Females over 15, by marital condition - United States - All occupations.
(Abstract.)

Females over 15, by marital condition and age of those married — States;
cities of 100,000 and over - Divisions of occupations and selec
ted occupations. ( Vol. IV .)

Additional reports dealing with occupations as subordinate to
other topics are discussed in the chapters noted below .
Occupations of immigrants and emigrants, Chapter VI.
Accidents in specified occupation groups, Chapter IX .
Wages in specified occupation groups, Chapter XIII.

Employment of women and children , Chapter XIV .
Number of persons employed in manufacturing , Chapter XXI.

Sex, age, race, nativity , and experience of farm operators, Chapter XV .

CHAPTER VIII
BIRTHS

Statistics of births were collected at each decennial census of
population from 1850 to 1900. These statistics appear in the follow

ing reports :
Seventh Census: 1850.
Seventh Census of the United States.

susisus50fthe U

Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Eighth Census: 1860. Population of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census: 1870.
Vital statistics of the United States.

Statistical atlas of the United States.
Tenth Census: 1860. Vol. XII. Mortality and vital statistics, Part II.
Eleventh Census : 1890. Vital and social statistics, Part I, Analysis and
rate tables.

Twelfth Census : Vol. III. Vital statistics, Part I, Analysis and rate tables.

These early statistics are of little value, as there was no complete
registration of births.

Beginning with the year 1915, the Bureau of the Census has
collected and published annually the statistics of births in what is
known as the “ registration area ” of the United States. This
area includes the states and the District of Columbia that have

made provision by law for an effective system of registration of
births.

In 1922, registration of births was required by thirty states and
the District of Columbia , which furnished transcripts of their rec
ords to the Bureau of the Census. In that year the birth registra
tion area was estimated to contain 72.2 per cent of the population .

The years for which birth statistics have been published for the
separate states and the District of Columbia are as follows:
115

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

116

YEARS FOR WHICH BIRTH STATISTICS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED
[The dash after the year means that the statistics have been published
continuously beginning with the year indicated . ]

New Hampshire, 1915–

California , 1919
Connecticut, 1915

New Jersey, 1921

Delaware, 1921–
District of Columbia , 1915 –

New York, 1915
North Carolina, 1917 –

Illinois, 1922 –
Indiana, 1917–
Kansas, 1917 –

Oregon, 1919
Pennsylvania, 1915 –

Kentucky, 1915

Rhode Island, 1915- 1918, 1921–

Maine, 1915
Maryland, 1916

South Carolina, 1919–
Utah , 1917 –
Vermont, 1915 –

Massachusetts, 1915

Ohio, 1917 –

Michigan , 1915

Virginia, 1917 –

Minnesota, 1915 –
Mississippi, 1921 –

Washington , 1917 –
Wisconsin , 1917 –

Montana , 1922–

Wyoming , 1922–

Nebraska, 1920

Future reports will contain statistics for other states as they are
added to theregistration area or furnish transcripts of their records.

In themore important tables statistics are given by states, cities,
and the portions of counties not included in the cities. In general
births are classified also by sex. The statistics include the following :
Number of births in each month .

Number of births classified by color (white, negro , Indian , Chinese, Japa
nese ) and by nativity of parents (native, foreign , native and foreign ) .

White children classified by country of birth of father and mother.
Legitimate and illegitimate births by age of mother and color of child.

Legitimate and illegitimate births of white children by country of birth of
mother.

Births by age ofmother and father.

Number of child in order of birth, by age of mother.

Number of white children in order of birth , by age and country of birth
of mother.
Total number of children born to mothers having children during year, and
number living ; white children classified by country of birth of mother.

Plural births classified by color and parent nativity.
Deaths from important causes at various ages less than one year.
Deaths of white children from important causes at various ages less than
one year, according to country of birth of mother .

Deaths from important causes at various ages less than one year according
to month of death .
Totalnumber of deaths.

Infant mortality rates.

BIRTHS

117

In addition to its purely statistical reports the Bureau of the
Census has issued various special reports or pamphlets dealing with
the methods of collecting statistics of births and death and the
progress of the work . These are listed at the conclusion of the con

sideration of the reports of the Bureau of the Census on deaths
(page 128 ).

CHAPTER IX
DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

DEATHS

Decennial Compilations. Statistics of deaths were collected at
each decennial census from 1850 to 1900. For the earlier censuses

the information was collected entirely by the enumerators , and the
results are subject to a very wide margin of error. In 1880 the
registration records of two states — Massachusetts and New Jersey

— were secured and used instead of the enumerators' returns. In
1890 the registration figures were used for six other states — Con

necticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire ,Vermont, New York, and
Delaware— as well as for the District of Columbia and eighty -three

cities in other states. At the Census of 1900 the registration area
consisted of Connecticut, District of Columbia , Maine , Massachu
setts, Michigan , New Hampshire , New Jersey, New York, Rhode
Island, Vermont, and a number of cities in other states. At the
censuses of 1880 , 1890, and 1900 , the registration records were

used where they were available, the enumerators' returns being
the only source of information for the remainder of the country .

The titles of the reports from 1850 to 1900 giving statistics of
deaths are as follows:
Seventh Census: 1850 .
Mortality statistics of the Seventh Census.
Seventh Census of the United States.

Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Eighth Census: 1860.
Preliminary report of the Eighth Census.
Statistics of the United States in 1860 .
Population of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census: 1870 .

Vital statistics of the United States.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Tenth Census: 1880.

Vols. XI and XII. Mortality and vital statistics, Parts I and II.
Compendium of the Tenth Census - Part II.

118

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

119

Eleventh Census : 1890 :
Vital and social statistics, Parts I to IV .

Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part II.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States, 1890.
Vital statistics of Boston and Philadelphia .'
Vital statistics of the District of Columbia and Baltimore."
Vital statistics of New York and Brooklyn .”

Twelfth Census : 1900 .

Vols. III and IV. Vital statistics, Parts I and II.
Abstract of the Twelfth Census.
Statistical atlas.

Supplementary analysis and derivative tables.

Vital statistics of the Twelfth Census, Bulletin 15 . [Identical with a
portion of Supplementary analysis and derivative tables.)

Annual Statistics of Death . Since the organization of the per
manent Census Bureau , statisticshave been published for each year
for all states and cities which have effectivemachinery for recording

deaths. These reports have been published under the general title
“ Mortality Statistics ; ” the figures for 1900 to 1904 were published
in one volume; statistics for later years being issued annually.
Preliminary reports were issued for certain years as numbered

Bulletins as follows:
1908 — Bulletin 104.
1909 - Bulletin 108.

1910 — Bulletin 109 .
1911 — Bulletin 112 ,
1918 - Bulletin 141.

1919 1920 —
1921 1922 —

Bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin

144.
148 .
152.
154.

caremust be taken not to confuse the two series.

In every registration area a report of each death is made on a
uniform card , and a transcript of this report is made for theuse of

the Bureau of the Census. From these transcripts the statistics for
the entire registration area are compiled .
The registration of deaths in 1922 was adequately made in thirty
seven states, the District of Columbia, and sixteen cities in states
which do not have general systems of registration . In 1922, the
registration area had an estimated population of 92,241,643, or
85.3 per cent of the total estimated population of the United States .

States and cities which have been included in the registration
since 1900 , and for which statistics have been published, are listed
below . The cities listed separately under each state are those for
* Statistics for six years ending May 31, 1890.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

120

which statistics were published prior to state-wide registration
and for which statistics are being published at present. After

deaths were registered for the entire state, statistics were pub
lished for all cities. If no dates appear after the names of the
states it indicates that there is no state-wide registration , the
only statistics available being for the citiesmentioned .
YEARS FOR WHICH MORTALITY STATISTICS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

[A dash after the year means that the statistics have been published
continuously beginning with the year indicated.]
Alabama.

Birmingham , 1908–
Mobile , 1900
Montgomery, 1908
California, 1906
Alameda, 1900–
Fresno, 1900
Los Angeles, 1900

Oakland, 1900
Sacramento, 1900
San Diego, 1900
San Francisco , 1900

San Jose, 1900
Colorado , 1906 –

Denver, 1900
Leadville, 1900
Pueblo, 1900
Connecticut, 1900

Delaware, 1919

Wilmington , 1900

District of Columbia , 1900
Florida, 1919
Jacksonville, 1900
Key West, 1900
Pensacola , 1913
Tampa, 1915
Georgia, 1922–
Atlanta, 1900
Augusta, 1913–
Brunswick , 1917 –
Savannah , 1900–
Hawaii, 1917 –

Idaho, 1922–

Illinois, 1918
Aurora, 1900
Belleville, 1900
Chicago, 1900
Danville, 1900.
Decatur, 1900

Illinois- Continued .
Evanston , 1908
Jacksonville , 1900

Ottawa, 1900
Quincy, 1900
Springfield, 1900
Indiana, 1900
Iowa.

Burlington , 1900 - 1905.
Davenport, 1900 - 1905 .

Muscatine, 1900 – 1905.
Oskaloosa , 1900.
Ottumwa, 1900 – 1903.
Sioux City, 1900 - 1905 .

Kansas, 1914

Atchison , 1912 –
Coffeyville, 1912
Fort Scott, 1912–
Hutchison, 1912 –
Independence, 1912 –
Kansas City, 1908 –
Lawrence, 1900, 1912 –
Leavenworth , 1900
Parsons, 1912–
Pittsburg, 1912–
Topeka, 1912 –

Wichita, 1900
Kentucky, 1911
Covington , 1900

Louisville , 1900
Newport, 1900
Paducah , 1900

Louisiana, 1918
Alexandria, 1917 –
Baton Rouge, 1917 –

Lake Charles, 1917 –
Monroe, 1917 –
New Orleans, 1900
Shreveport, 1917

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

121

YEARS FOR WHICH MORTALITY STATISTICS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED — Continued
Ohio – Continued
Maine, 1900
Middletown, 1900
Maryland, 1900
Massachusetts, 1900
Newark , 1900
Portsmouth , 1900
Michigan , 1900
Minnesota , 1910
Tiffin , 1900
Duluth , 1900
Toledo, 1900
Mankata, 1900
Warren , 1900 .
Minneapolis, 1900
Youngstown, 1900

St. Paul, 1900
Winona , 1900
Mississippi, 1919
Hattiesburg , 1915
Jackson , 1915 –
Meridian , 1915
Natchez, 1915
Vicksburg, 1915 –
Missouri, 1911
Kansas City, 1900 St. Joseph , 1900
St. Louis, 1900

Montana, 1910–
Helena, 1900
Nebraska , 1920
Lincoln , 1900

Omaha, 1900

New Hampshire, 1900
New Jersey, 1900
New York , 1900
North Carolina, 1900 - ?
Raleigh , 1900
Wilmington , 1900
North Dakota.
Fargo, 1916

Ohio , 1909–
Ashtabula, 1900
Bellaire, 1900
Canton , 1900
Chillicothe, 1900
Cincinnati, 1900
Cleveland, 1900

Columbus, 1900
Dayton , 1900
Findlay, 1900
Hamilton , 1900
Ironton, 1900
Lima, 1900
Marietta, 1900
Massillon , 1900

Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City, 1920–
Oregon, 1918

Portland, 1900
Pennsylvania, 1906 –
Alleghany, 1900
Allentown, 1900

Altoona, 1900
Carbondale , 1900
Carlisle , 1900
Columbia , 1900

Dubois, 1900
Easton, 1900.
Erie, 1900
Harrisburg , 1900
Hazleton, 1900
Johnstown, 1900
Lancaster, 1900

Lebanon , 1900 .
McKeesport , 1900
Meadville, 1900
Mount Carmel, 1900
New Castle, 1900
Norristown, 1900
Oil City, 1900.
Philadelphia, 1900

Phoenixville, 1900.

Pittsburgh, 1900
Plymouth , 1900
Pottstown, 1900
Pottsville, 1900
Reading, 1900

Scranton , 1900
South Bethlehem , 1900
Steelton , 1900

Williamsport, 1900 –
Rhode Island, 1900

South Carolina, 1916 –
Charleston, 1900
Columbia , 1915

* From 1910 to 1915 only municipalities having population of 1000 and
over in 1910 ; after 1915 entire state.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

I22

YEARS FOR WHICH MORTALITY STATISTICS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED Continued
Virginia Continued
South Carolina - Continued
Greenville, 1915

Lynchburg , 1900

Spartansburg , 1915

Manchester, 1908 - 1909 .

South Dakota, 1906 –1909.

Norfolk, 1900
Petersburg , 1900

Tennessee, 1917 –

Richmond, 1900

Chattanooga, 1914 - 1915.

Roanoke, 1911

Jackson , 1914 - 1915.

Knoxville, 1908 – 1915.
Memphis, 1900 - 1915.
Nashville, 1900 – 1915.

Texas.
Beaumont, 1916
Cleburne, 1917 - 1919 .

Dallas, 1917
El Paso , 1911

Galveston , 1906 –
Houston , 1917 –
San Antonio , 1900

Utah, 1910
Ogden , 1908

Washington , 1908
Seattle, 1900
Spokane, 1900

Tacoma, 1900
West Virginia.
Wheeling, 1900
Wisconsin , 1908–
Appleton , 1900 - 1906 .
Beloit, 1900
Chippewa Falls, 1900 - 1901.
Eauclaire, 1900
Green Bay, 1900

Madison, 1900

Salt Lake City, 1900
Vermont, 1900

Manitowoc, 1900 – 1905.
Marinette, 1900
Milwaukee, 1900
Superior, 1900

Virginia , 1913–
Alexandria, 1900
Danville, 1908

Wyoming, 1922–

For the registration states, figures are given for the entire state,

for municipalities having a population of 10,000 or more at the
previous census, and for counties in the rural districts. Figures

are given for the following topics :
Deaths from all causes each month by registration states and cities.
Deaths from all causes during year by registration states and cities, classi
fied as follows:
Native white.

Total.
Both parents native.
Both parents foreign born .

One parent foreign born.
Parentage unknown.

Foreign born white.
Nativity unknown.
Negro .

Other.

Deaths from all causes during year, by registration states and cities classi
fied by age periods ; for some cities separate figures are given for white

and colored .

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

123

Deaths from all causes during the year, by registration states, classified by
age periods and subclassified as below , separate figures being given for
male and female in each class.
Total.

White.
Native.

Both parents native.
One or both parents foreign born.
Parentage unknown .
Foreign born.
Unknown.
Colored .
Negro.
Indian .
Chinese .

Japanese.
Other colored .
Deaths from principal classes of causes in registration states and cities,

separate figures being given for white and colored for states and for
Deaths from each cause in cities and rural districts in each state, separate
certain cities.

figures being given white and colored for states having a large negro
population .

Deaths in the entire registration area from each cause by age periods;
separate figures are given for male and female and for white and
colored persons.

Deaths from each cause in each state by age periods.
Deaths from classes of causes and principal cause by age periods in each
city of 100 ,000 population or more.

Deaths from important causes in each state in cities of 100 ,000 population
or more, by month of death .
Deaths of infants less than one year old from important causes in each
state and in cities of 100,000 population or more, by age periods of first

year of life.

Attention is particularly called to the statistics of deaths from

external causes, such as suicide, accident, or homicide. Each of
these classes is further subdivided ; suicide, into means used, such

as poison, etc.; accidents into kinds of accidents, such as drowning,
automobile accidents, lightning, etc. ; and homicide into means used ,

such as firearms, etc. Deaths from accident are further discussed
under thatheading.
Once a year “ Public Health Reports," • issued by the Public
Health Service, contains tables giving number of deaths each

month in each state for the following diseases :
* For history of this publication see page 129 .

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

124
Anthrax .

Rabies in animals.

Cerebrospinal meningitis.

Rabies in man .

Chicken pox .

Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Dengue.
Diphtheria .

Scarlet fever .
Septic sore throat.

Gonorrhea.
Influenza.
Malaria.
Measles.

Syphilis.

Mumps.

Typhoid fever.

Pellagra.
Pneumonia ( all forms) .
Poliomyelitis.

Whooping cough.

Smallpox .

Tuberculosis (all forms and pul
monary ).
Typhus fever.

These figureshave been compiled each year,beginning with 1912.
In addition to being included in a regular issue of Public Health

Reports, the section is issued as a reprint of that publication, the
reprints containing the data being as follows:
1912— Reprint 163.
1913 — Reprint 208.

1916 — Reprint 426 .
1917 — Reprint 505.

1920 — Reprint 681.
1921 – Reprint 791.

1914 – Reprint 298 .

1918 Reprint 551.

1922 — Reprint 879.

1915 — Reprint 345.

1919 — Reprint 643.

Decennial Mortality Rates. Each annual volume of mortality
statistics contains figures on the death rate based on the estimated
population . All census estimates of population for intercensalyears

are computed by thearithmeticalmethod, from the increase between
the two preceding censuses. Thus if the population of a given area
increased 100,000, and the period between censuses was exactly
ten years, it is assumed that the annual increase was 10 ,000.' The

death rate given in the annual volumes is based on a population
estimated in this manner, but when a new census is taken the in

crease in the last intercensal period may prove to be more or less
than during the preceding one. For instance, the population of
Portland, Oregon, increased 116,788 from 1900 to 1910, but only
51,074 from 1910 to 1920. Therefore, the estimated annual increase

as applied to the years after 1910 was much too large. The esti
mated population on July 1, 1917 , as given in “ Mortality Statistics
for 1917 ” on the basis of the increase for 1900 to 1910 , was

308,399. The revised estimate of the population on July 1, 1919,
* Owing to difference in the date of enumeration the actual interval be
tween the censuses of 1900 and 1910 was 9 years, 101/2 months, and between

the Census of 1910 and 1920 was 9 years, 87/2 months.

DEATHS, DISEASES , AND ACCIDENTS

125

as based on the increase from 1910 to 1920 , is 247,332. This makes
a change in the death rate from 7.7 to 9.7 per 1000 population.
After the figures for the Census of 1910 were available somere

vised rateswere published in the annual volumes, but after the Cen
sus of 1920 the recomputed death rates for each year from 1910 to

1920 were published in a separate volume entitled “ Mortality Rates ,

1910 -1920 ,” which gives also estimated population and totalnumber
of deaths in addition to the rates. This volume, therefore, prac

tically supersedes all the separate reports for each year for this
period. If “ Mortality Rates, 1910 - 1920 ” does not give figures in
the detail desired, the number of deaths, as shown in the earlier
reports, may be applied to the estimated population in order to
compute the rate.
The volume on mortality rates includes the following data for
each year for 1910 to 1920 for the registration area :
Deaths and death rate from all causes for each city and county .
Death rate from all causes for states.

Death rates by principal causes of death for states and cities (white and
colored shown separately when white population and colored population

were each over 10,000 in 1920 ) .

Death rate from each cause by states.

Death rate by age groups and principal cause for states and cities of
500 , 000 or more.

Death rate by age groups, principal causes, and country of birth of mother
for certain states and cities.

In many of the tables the death rates are the crude rates, which
are obtained by dividing the number of deaths by the estimated

total population . In some tables are given adjusted or standard
ized rates, as for states in which there are large proportions of
persons ofadvanced age the adjusted rates aremore representative

of true sanitary conditions. In computing adjusted rates the stand
ard million population of England and Wales in 1901, divided by
sex and age groups, is taken as the norm for the number of persons

of each age and sex in each million . The specific death rates of any
area as computed for the age groups are then applied to correspond

ing age groups of the standard population. The result is the number
of deaths which would have occurred in each age group of the
standard population had its death rate been the same as that of the

same group in the given area . The summation of all the deaths that
would have occurred in all the age groups of the standard popula
tion gives the total number of deaths in the standard population

126

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

corresponding to the observed specific rates in a given area . This

total divided by the total of the standard population gives the ad
justed death rate.

Weekly Statistics of Death . The Bureau of the Census prepares
and issues weekly a mimeographed circular, entitled “ Weekly
Health Index," which shows the deaths from all causes in about

sixty cities having a population of over 100,000. The same infor
mation is also printed in Public Health Reports, issued by the Public
Health Service. This statement gives figures on the estimated

population , the total deaths and the death rate (on annual basis )
during the current week , the average death rate (on annual basis )
during the corresponding week of the preceding year or a series of
earlier years, the deaths under one year during the current week ,
and the corresponding week of the previous year or the average for

a series of years, and the infantmortality rate during the current
year.

“ Public Health Reports,” 5 issued weekly by the Public Health

Service reproduces the figures contained in the “ Weekly Health

Index ,” issued by the Bureau of the Census, and gives weekly
statistics of deaths from all causes and deaths from specified
diseases in many other cities. An endeavor is made to obtain sta

tistics for all cities having a population of 10,000 or over, but not
all cities in this class submit reports. Reports on deaths by cities
are given for the following diseases: Anthrax, cerebrospinal
meningitis, diphtheria , influenza, leprosy, lethargic encephalitis,

malaria , measles, pellagra , pneumonia , poliomyelitis (infantile
paralysis ), scarlet fever, smallpox, and tuberculosis.
Special Compilations on Deaths. Several special reports have

been issued by the Bureau of the Census giving statistics on deaths
from particular diseases. In 1908 it published a report entitled

“ Tuberculosis in the United States," which was printed also as an
appendix to “ Mortality Statistics ” for 1907. This report gives
statistics of deaths from tuberculosis in Massachusetts and in

England and Wales from 1849 to 1906 , in the United States in 1850 ,
1860 , and 1870, and in the registration area from 1900 to 1907. The

figures for the United States for 1850 , 1860, and 1870 are from the
decennial census reports. The report is a general review of the
* For brief history of this publication, see p . 129 .

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

127

available data on tuberculosis, but the following statistics are worth
specialmention :
Death rates from tuberculosis in 1900 for specific occupations.
Death rate, 1900 to 1907, from tuberculosis in registration states and
registration cities with population over 100,000.

Deaths from tuberculosis in registration area by months from 1900 to 1904.

Average rate from tuberculosis in principal foreign countries, 1901 to 1905.

Another special report of the Bureau of the Census is that issued
under the title “ Special Tables of Mortality from Influenza and

Pneumonia in Indiana, Kansas, and Philadelphia ; September 1, to
December 31, 1918.” This report contains the following statistics :
Deaths by sex and age, from all causes, and from influenza and pneumonia,
during each month .

Deaths by sex from all causes and from influenza and penumonia, for
each day .

Death rate by sex and age for each month .
Deaths by age periods, sex , and conjugal condition for entire period.
Deaths by sex , country of nativity of mother, and age for entire period .

Deaths by specified occupations and age for entire period.

In 1916 the Bureau of the Census issued a general report entitled
“ Mortality from Cancer and other Malignant Tumors in the Regis
tration Area of the United States , 1914." This monograph pre
sents statistics in greater detail than the annual volume contain
ing mortality statistics. The main tables in the report are the

following :
Deaths by sex, color, and age period for the registration area, each registra
tion state, and each unit in the registration area in which there were
fifty or more such deaths.
Deaths by sex and color classified according to the part of the body affected ,
for registration area, each registration state, and each unit in the regis
tration area in which there were 50 or more such deaths.

Deaths in registration area and registration states, by sex, color, age periods,
nativity of decedent and nativity of parents.

Deaths in registration states according to part of the body affected, by age

periods, color, nativity of decedent, and nativity of parents.

In 1922 the Bureau of the Census issued a publication entitled
“ U . S. Life Tables : 1890, 1901, 1910 , and 1901-1910 ,” which

shows for each year of life the complete expectation of life and the
average annual death rate . There are included also life tables and
life insurancemortality rates for different countries.

The report entitled “ Negro Population , 1790 -1915," issued by
the Bureau of the Census in 1918, contains mortality statistics re

lating to negroes in the registration area for theperiod 1900 to 1915.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

128

General figures are given for the entire period, butmore detailed
statistics are presented for selected years.
In addition to the purely statistical reports giving the results of
its work, the Census Bureau has isued the following publications

dealing with methods of collecting statistics and the progress of
the work :
Manual of international classification of causes of death : 1900.
Registration of deaths: 1902. (Pamphlet No. 71. ) Includes paper on “ The
essential requirements of a law for the registration of deaths and the

collection of mortality statistics,” prepared by the committee on demog

raphy of the American Public Health Association, together with copy
of standard death certificate.

Legislative requirements for registration of vitalstatistics: 1903. (Pamphlet
No. 100. )

Practical registration methods : 1903. (Pamphlet No. 101.)
Relation of physicians to mortality statistics : 1903. ( Pamphlet No. 102.)
Medical education in vital statistics : 1903. ( Pamphlet No. 103.)

Registration of births and deaths. (Pamphlet No. 104.)
Statistical treatment of causes of death : 1903. ( Pamphlet No. 105.)
Extension of the registration area for births and deaths: 1906 . ( Pamphlet
No. 106 .)

Modes of statement of cause of death and duration of illness upon certifi
cates of death : 1907. (Pamphlet No. 107.)

Legal importance of registration of births and deaths: 1908. ( Pamphlet
No. 108.)
Physicians' pocket reference to the international list of causes of death , 1914.
International classification of causes of sickness and death : 1910.
Index of joint causes of death : 1914.
The Federal registration service of the United States. Prepared by Dr .
Cressy L . Wilbur, Director, Division of Vital Statistics, State Depart
ment of Health , New York , formerly Chief Statistician for Vital
Statistics, Bureau of the Census, for presentation at the Second Pan

American Scientific Congress, Washington, December 27, 1915, to Janu
ary 8, 1916 .

Explanatory list of diagramsrelating to the deaths of infants, 1910. (Pam
phlet No. 111.)

Manual of the international list of causes of death : 1916.

Statistics of mortality for particular classes have been given in
some of the Bulletins of the Bureau of Labor. Bulletin 82 gives
figures on mortality from consumption in occupations exposed
to municipal and general organic dust, the information being ob

tained from an industrial life insurance company and the reports
of the Bureau of the Census. The statistics in general relate to the
years from 1897 to 1906 .
Bulletin 207, entitled “ Causes of Death , by Occupation ,” contains

statistics for 1911 to 1913, obtained from the records of theMetro

DEATHS, DISEASES , AND ACCIDENTS

129

politan Life Insurance Company and for 1897 to 1914 from the
records of the Prudential Insurance Company.
Army and Navy Statistics on Deaths. The annual reports of

the surgeons-general of the army and navy contain statistics of
mortality and morbidity in the army and the navy. As regards the
army,mention should also be made of the following special reports

of the War Department dealing with mortality and morbidity in

the army:
Statistical
report on sickness and mortality in Army . . . from January,
o
1819 , to January, 1839.
Statistical report of the sickness and mortality in the Army of the United
States, 1839 to 1855 : Senate Executive Document 96 , 34th Congress ,
Ist session .

Statistical report of sickness and mortality in the Army of the United
States, 1855 to 1860 : Senate Executive Document 52, 36th Congress,
Ist session .

Medical and surgical history of the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 1.

Medical, surgical, and casualty statistics of the United States
Armyduring the World War will be given in Part II of VolumeXV
of the work entitled “ The Medical Departmentof the United States
Army in the World War.”
DISEASES

Weekly morbidity statistics showing the prevalence of disease in

various states and cities are published in the weekly publication of
the Public Health Service entitled “ Public Health Reports.” This
serial has been issued under its present title since 1896. From

July 13, 1878 , to May 24 , 1879, it was published by the Marine
Hospital Service by manifold process under the title “ Bulletins of

the Public Health .” The early issues were printed in 1881 and
designated as Volume 1 of the series. From July 5, 1879, to
July 1, 1882, the series was superseded by the weekly bulletins of

the National Board of Health. There were no issues in the series
between July 1, 1882, and January 20, 1887, when its publication
was resumed by the Marine Hospital Service under the title
“ Weekly Abstract of Sanitary Reports." The name of the service

was changed to “ Public Health and Marine Hospital Service," in

1902 and to “ Public Health Service,” in 1912, but the title “ Public
Health Reports ” has been used since the first issue of 1896.
10

130

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The statistics on prevalence of disease now published in “ Public

Health Reports ” consist of weekly morbidity reports for communi
cable diseases for cities, received by mail ;weekly morbidity reports
for communicable diseases by states,received by telegraph ;monthly
morbidity report for states , received by mail. The telegraphic re

ports by states are published within one week and the mail reports
by cities within three weeks. At the end of the fiscal year 1921
weekly telegraphic reports were received from thirty -six states and
monthly mail reports from forty states, the District of Columbia ,

and Hawaii. The state reports contain statistics on the prevalence
of anthrax, cerebrospinal meningitis, dengue, diphtheria, influenza,
pneumonia , leprosy, measles , poliomyelitis ( infantile paralysis) ,

rabies in man, Rocky Mountain spotted (or tick ) fever, scarlet
fever, smallpox , typhoid fever, and typhus fever.

In the field of city statistics an endeavor ismade to obtain weekly
reports by mail from all cities which have a population of 10 ,000 or
over. During the fiscal year 1921, reports weremade by 520 cities,
out of over 700 with a population of 10 ,000 or over. An endeavor
is also made to obtain reports ofnew cases and of deaths from the

following diseases : Anthrax, chancroid , gonorrhea, influenza,
leprosy, malaria , cerebrospinal meningitis, pellagra, pneumonia ,
poliomyelitis ( infantile paralysis ), rabies in man, rabies in animals,
smallpox, syphilis, tetanus, typhoid fever, diphtheria ,measles, scar

let fever, tuberculosis,and typhus fever. Weekly statistics are pub

lished for all these,with the exception of the venereal diseases. In
addition to the publication of current statistics, the Public Health

Service from time to time analyses available statistics in order to
disseminate information regarding the incidence of certain diseases.

Once a year “ Public Health Reports ” contains a review giving
number of cases of certain diseases during each month for every
state which requires the disease to be reported. The list of diseases
and the serial numbers of the reprints containing this information

are given on page 124.
Annual statistics on the number of cases and deaths from com
municable diseases are given in the annual report of the Surgeon
General of the Public Health Service , which contains also figures
on the number of persons suffering from venereal diseases who
were admitted to the clinics operating under the joint control of the

Public Health Service and state boards of health .

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

131

The report of the United States Interdepartmental Social
Hygiene Board for the fiscal year 1920 contains some statistics
relating to venereal diseases and prostitution. These figures are not
general, but apply to cases that came under the observation of the

agents of the board. There is, however, one general table showing
the prevalence of venereal diseases in the army from 1907 to 1919.

Particular care should be exercised in the use of morbidity re
ports in order to determine whether the reports for two periods are
really comparable. In order to use morbidity reports properly it
is necessary to know whether the reports during the periods com
pared were made with approximately the same degree of accuracy.
The reporting of diseases has improved very much during recent
years, and at times the statistics may seem to indicate a great in
crease in disease , when , the fact is that there is simply an improve

ment in the extent to which reports are made to the local authorities.
Few statistics presentmore pitfalls to thenovice than those relating

to morbidity , and their interpretation should be left to the trained
epidemiologist unless there is assurance that the figures are truly
comparable.

Reports on diseases in the army and navy are listed on page 129 .
PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

The only comprehensive survey of the physical defects of the
male population is contained in two publications of the office of the

Surgeon -General of the Army giving the results of the physical
examination ofmen examined for military service in 1917 and 1918 .
The first edition was published as Bulletin 11 of the Office of the
Surgeon -General of the Army under the title “ Physical Examina

tion of the First Million Draft Recruits ; Methods and Results.”
As indicated in the title this publication contains data for only the
first million men . The revised edition , entitled “ Defects Found in

Drafted Men ,” published without serial number, contains the results
of the examination of the first two million men examined. The data
in these publications were tabulated from the original records of the

local draft boards and the examining surgeons at the army camps.

The classification is by states, by classes of defects, and by states
and classes combined . The defects noted are those affecting a man's

eligibility for military service, which include all those of a serious

L

132

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STATISTI

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character. This publication gives the results of the most compre

hensive cross-section of the population evermade. It is unfortunate
that the original records from which the data were compiled give

no information regarding occupations, but notwithstanding the
lack of information on this feature, the compilation is a noteworthy

contribution to the subject.
Somewhat similar statistics formen drafted during the civil war

are given in the publication of the office of Surgeon -General of the
Army entitled “ Statistics, Medical and Anthropological, of the
Provost Marshal General's Bureau . . . during the late War of

the Rebellion .”
Statistics on the size of various parts of the body, height, and

weightofmen drafted for the war with Germany are given in the
publication of the Office of the Surgeon -General of the Army en
titled “ The Medical Department of the United States Army in

the World War, Vol. XV , Statistics — Part I - Anthropology."
This material was assembled from the cards giving the results of
the physical examination and figures are given for both men
accepted and those rejected.
During the war with Germany there was also developed a some
what novel system of psychological tests to determine the intelli
gence of both officers and men . The results of this work are set

forth in Vol. XV, of the Memoirs of the National Academy of
Sciences, entitled “ Psychological Examinations in the United
States Army,” published also as Senate Document 421, 66th Con

gress, 2d session. This volume outlines the history and methods
used in the examinations, and includes a statistical presentation of
selected cases grouped according to various classifications.
ACCIDENTS

Railroads. From 1889 to 1901 statistics of railroad accidents were
published only in the annual report of the Interstate Commerce

Commission entitled “ Statistics of Railways in the United States."
Beginning with September , 1901, statistics on this subject were pub
lished also in a quarterly accident bulletin , which has been continued

up to the present time. Up to 1909 and beginning again with 1921,
summary annual figures have also been published in Statistics of
Railways.

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

133

The quarterly reports are entitled “ Accident Bulletins.” Up to
June, 1916 , the June issue contained statistics for the year ending
June 30 , but beginning with the issue for December, 1916 , the
December issue has contained statistics for the calendar year. The

carriers are required to submit these reports by the acts ofMarch
3, 1901 ( 31 Stat. L ., 1446 ), and May 6 , 1910 ( 36 Stat. L ., 350).
The regulations governing accident reports are given in the pam
phlet entitled “ Rules Governing Monthly Reports of Railway
Accidents, . . . effective on January 1, 1922."
In these reports accidents are divided into the three following
classes :
Train accidents arising in connection with the operation of trains, loco
motives, or cars that result in damage to equipment or other railway
property .

Train -service accidents arising in connection with the operation of trains,
locomotives , or cars that result in casualties to persons, but not in damage to

equipment or other railway property.
Nontrain accidents resulting in casualties to persons arising in connection

with railway operation that are not included to the operation of trains,
locomotives, or cars ; as, for example , those occurring in connection with

the construction , repair, or painting of buildings, tracks, or other structures

or equipment (except running repairs made by trainmen en route) ; with
the movement, by shop, enginehouse, or other industrial employees, of
locomotives or cars in shops, enginehouses, on repair tracks, etc., when in
connection with industrial work ; or the loading or unloading of cars at
station or freight-house platforms, on yard tracks, or in connection with
work service. They may occur on ferries or wharves, at stations, freight
houses, enginehouses, in or around shops, etc.

Each of these classes is subdivided into subclasses, the number
killed and injured being shown under each subclass. Persons are
reported as killed if they are killed at the time of the accident or die
within twenty -four hours.

Casualties to persons in train accidents and train service accidents
are reported for trespassers, trainmen on duty , other employees on

duty , employees not on duty , passengers, persons carried under

contract ( such as expressmessengers,postal clerks, etc.) and other
non -trespassers. Casualties in nontrain accidents are reported for

industrial employees and other persons.
For highway grade-crossings a separate table shows the number

of accidents and persons killed and injured by trains striking or
being struck bymotor vehicles, trolley cars, other highway vehicles,
and pedestrians.

134

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Statistics are given by states for train accidents and train
service accidents resulting in casualties to trespassers, separate

figures being given for each class of the number of accidents and
personskilled and injured. Statistics on train accidents are further
subdivided in order to show damage to railway property, and
persons of various classes killed or injured as the result of collisions

of various kinds and derailments, and locomotive accidents due to
various causes. Statistics on train service and nontrain accidents
are also subdivided by various classes. One table relating to train
accidents shows the accidents to differentkinds of trains subdivided

by classes of accidents, with each class further subdivided into
accidents due to negligence of employees, defects or failure in
equipment, and defect in or improper maintenance of way.
Summaries of the figures collected by the Interstate Commerce

Commission during recent years are given in Bulletin 339 of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, entitled " Statistics of Industrial Acci
dents in the United States."
The mortality statistics of the Bureau of the Census (see page
119 ) also give statistics on deaths from railroad accidents , but

these will not agree with the Interstate Commerce Commission
figures because the Census statistics are for the registration area
only and because in the census report a railroad accident will be
assigned as the cause of death regardless of length of time since

the accident, while in the reports of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission , death must occur within twenty - four hours of theaccident
to be so classed .

The earlier census reports on vital statistics ( see page 118),
Volume IV of the Tenth Census (1880) entitled " Agencies of
Transportation," and the “ Compendium of the Tenth Census,"
contain statistics on railroad accidents. These earlier statistics are
not comparable with the present series issued by the Interstate

Commerce Commission , as themachinery for compiling them was
not well organized.
In Bulletin 84, of the Bureau of Labor is an article on “ Acci
dents to Railroad Employees in New Jersey, 1888 to 1907.” This
report does not cover the general field of railroad accidents,

but is confined to accidents to employees . The data were mostly
derived from the reports of the railroads to the state comptroller.

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

135

Industrial Accidents. Bulletin 78 of the Bureau of Labor con

tains an article on industrial accidents, which gives statistics for
the period from 1897 to 1906 , derived from the reports of state
bureaus and industrial life insurance companies and the mortality
reports of the Census Bureau for the registration area.
Bulletin 157 of the Bureau of Labor contains an article entitled

“ Industrial Accident Statistics.” This gives figures on the accident
mortality in the registration area by occupations and age groups for
1908 and 1909, and detailed figures on accidents in the following
states and countries during the years mentioned :
New York , 1911- 1913.
Massachusetts , 1912- 1913.

Illinois, 1907 – 1912 .
Wisconsin , 1911-1913.

United Kingdom , 1912.
Norway, 1900 - 1912.
Germany, 1901– 1912.

Austria, 1897 - 1911.

There is also a statement showing the experience of the Pru

dential Insurance Company from 1907 to 1912.
A general review of industrial accident statistics is given in
Bulletin 339 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics . This publication

includes a general discussion of available material and compilations

from the reports of the states, the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion , and the Bureau of Mines .
Coal Mine Accidents. Statistics on fatal accidents in coal mines
have been published by the Bureau ofMines for each month , begin
ning with January, 1912. The monthly statistics for 1912 were

published in Technical Paper 48. Later pamphlets containing these
figures were issued without serial number under the title “ Monthly

Statement of Coal Mine Fatalities." ' Each issue also contains
separate statistics for each month of the current year. There is no
December issue in this series, the figures for December prior
to 1919 being given in the publications without serial number,
entitled “ Coal Mine Fatalities in the United States During the

Calendar Year -

,” which give the figures for the entire year.

The figures for 1919 are published in Bulletin 196 , those for
1920 in Technical Paper 288, those for 1921 in Technical Paper 302

those for 1922 in Technical Paper 340, and those for 1923 in
Bulletin 241. Accidents are classified by causes and states,and there
are also figures on total number of men employed and the output
of coal.

' Recent issues of the monthly statement have been mimeographed.

136

ONAL

NATI

L

STICA

STATI

WORK

Several publications of the Bureau of Mines contain statistics of
coal mine accidents in the United States and foreign countries,
compiled from state reports and publications of foreign govern
ments. Bulletin 69 gives statistics for 1896 to 1911 for the United
States and for 1901 to 1911 for Great Britain , Germany, France,

Belgium , Japan , Austria , India, New South Wales, and Canada.
Technical Paper 48 gives statistics for the United States for 1896
to 1912. Bulletin 115 contains figures for the United States for
1894 to 1914 ;annual figures are given for 1887 and each year there
after, but the figures for the earlier years are grouped as follows:

1874 to 1877, 1878 to 1882, 1883 to 1884, 1885 to 1886. Figures for
Pennsylvania only are given for the period 1870 to 1873. Bulletins

115 and 196 also contain more detailed statistics regarding produc
tion than are presented in the other reports.

Bulletin 90 of the Bureau of Labor contains statistics of fatal

accidents in coal mining from 1889 to 1908, obtained from the
reports of state mine inspectors and through correspondence.

Metal Mine Accidents. Statistics on metal mine accidents have
been published annually by the Bureau of Mines, beginning with

1911, in the following reports :
1911 — Technical Paper 40.
1912— Technical Paper 61.

1918 _ Technical Paper 252.
1919 — Technical Paper 286 .

1913 — Technical Paper 94.

1920 — Technical Paper 299.
1921 - Technical Paper 331.

1914 – Technical Paper 129.
1915 — Technical Paper 168 .
1916 — Technical Paper 202.

1922 — Technical Paper 354.
1923 — Bulletin 248.

1917 — Technical Paper 224.

Separate figures are given for the following classes of mines:

Copper, gold , silver,and miscellaneousminerals,iron, lead and zinc
in Mississippi Valley, and non -metallic minerals except coal.

Accidents are classified by causes, states, and classes ofmines.
Quarry Accidents . Quarry accidents were first reported in 1911,

and annual pamphlets have been issued by the Bureau of Mines

each year with the following serial numbers :
1911 — Technical Paper 46.

1918 — Technical Paper 245.

1912 – Technical Paper 73 .

1910 — Technical Paper 275.
1920 — Technical Paper 295.

1913 — Technical Paper 92.
1914 – Technical Paper 128 .

1915 — Technical Paper 165.
1916 — Technical Paper 193.
1917 — Technical Paper 213.

1921 - Technical Paper 329 .
1922 — Technical Paper 353.

1923 — Bulletin 246.

DEATHS, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS

137

Separate figures are given for the various classes of quarries, for
causes, and for states.

Coke-oven Accidents. The first publication on coke-oven acci
dents covered the years 1913 and 1914, but for subsequent years a

separate publication by the Bureau of Mines has been issued for
each year. The serial numbers of these reports are as follows:
Paper 118
1913 - Technical
118..
Technical Paper
1914

1919 - Technical Paper 266 .
1920 — Technical Paper 293.

1915 — Technical Paper 151.

1921 – Technical Paper 318.

1916 - Technical Paper 173.

1922 — Technical Paper 349.

1917 — Technical Paper 206 .

1923 — Technical Paper 371.

1918 – Technical Paper 239 .

The statistics are classified by causes and states ; figures are given
also, on the production of coke.

Accidents at Metallurgical Works. Statistics of accidents at

metallurgical work were first collected by the Bureau of Mines in
1913, but the figures for 1913 and 1914 were issued in one publica
tion . Thereafter annual statements were published, the serial num
bers being as follows:
- Technical Paper 124.
1915 — Technical Paper 164.
19143 S}

1916– Technical Paper 201.
1917 – Technical Paper 215 .

1919– Technical Paper 280.
1920 - Technical Paper 297 .

1921 – Technical Paper 327.
1922- Technical Paper 350 .
1923— Technical Paper 374.

1918 – Technical Paper 256 .

As in the other reports the classification is by causes and states.

CHAPTER X
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
The First Special Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1889,
contained marriage and divorce statistics covering the period from

1867 to 1886 . This report contains tables showing marriages and
divorces by counties during each year, and state figures for each
year showing divorces by cause and duration of marriage before
divorce. It also contains statistics of marriage and divorce in

foreign countries as well as laws relating to divorce in Europe.
The census report entitled “ Marriage and Divorce, 1867-1906 "
was in its main features a continuation of the report of the Bureau

of Labor.' In several features,however,much more detailwas given
than was presented in the earlier report. The detailed figures cover
the years 1887 to 1906 , but the summaries of the earlier report are

reprinted so that this publication gives a general statistical presen
tation of the major facts relating to divorce for the period from
1886 to 1906 . The scope of the publication is indicated by the

following list of tables:
Divorces,by states, for each year from 1887 to 1906 and for periods, 1867 to
1906 .

Divorces by specific causes and libellant by states, for each year from
1887 to 1906 , and for periods from 1867 to 1906 .
Divorces by classified causes, libellant, whether or not contested and service

of notice by states for entire period from 1887 to 1906.
Divorces, by classified causes, libellant, and duration of marriage, con
tinental United States and states for single years 1887 to 1906 , and

for periods, 1867 to 1906 .
Divorces, by duration of marriage and libellant, by states and periods, 1867
to 1906 .
Divorces , by number of years from marriage to separation and by libellant
by states for entire period 1887 to 1906 .

Divorces, by number of years from separation to divorce, and by libellant,
by states for entire period 1887 to 1906 .

Divorces, distributed with respect to children , by classified cause and libel

lant, by states, for single years 1887 to 1906 and for periods, 1867 to
1906 .

Divorces, by place of marriage and libellant, by states, for single years
1887 to 1906 , and by periods, 1867 to 1906 .

A preliminary report under the title “ Marriage and Divorce, 1887 to
1906 " was issued as Bulletin 96 .

* The periods in this report are five-year, ten -year, and twenty -year periods.
138

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

139

Divorces,
by counties, for single years 1887 to 1906, for periods, 1867 to
1906 .
Marriage by counties, for single years, 1887 to 1906 .
The report also contains statistics on marriage and divorce in a
number of foreign countries, as well as digests of divorce laws of

the several states and of important foreign countries.
It was planned by the Bureau of the Census to make another
investigation of marriage and divorce which would cover the ten

year period from 1907 to 1916 . When the time came to plan this
investigation it was not possible to provide for the collection of
statistics for the entire period , and accordingly the work was limited

to the single year 1916 . The report issued under the title “ Mar
riage and Divorce, 1916 ” is a brief one giving number of divorces
classified by states and causes and the number of divorces and
marriages , by states.

Statistics ofmarriage and divorce have been collected annually

by the Bureau of the Census, begining with 1922. At this writing
the complete reports for 1922 and 1923 have been published under

the title “ Marriage and Divorce, 1922,” and “ Marriage and
Divorce, 1923." These reports give for each county and state the
total number of marriages and divorces and for each state the
following additional detailed figures.
Marriages.
Rate for total population.
Rate for population 15 years of age and over.

Rate for unmarried population 15 years of age and over.
Divorces.

Classified by cause, by party to which granted, and whether or not
contested .

Classified by party to which granted and duration of marriage.
Per cent distribution of cause.

Classified with respect to number of children and party to which granted .

All of the statistics discussed above have been collected from
county records either by correspondence with the clerks of the
courts or by special agents of the census.
The population statistics of each decennial census, beginning

with the one for 1890, show marital condition only ; that is, the
number of persons single,married, widowed, and divorced at the

time of enumeration, but they do not give any information re

garding the number of divorces or marriages during any given
period of time. The statistics on marital condition are discussed
on pages 39 -42.

CHAPTER XI
RELIGIOUS BODIES

Statistics of religious bodies and churches were first collected in
connection with the decennial census of 1850 and were again com
piled in 1860, 1870 , and 1890. At the Census of 1880 no general
statistics on churches or religious affiliations were collected, but
the reports on cities in the volumes entitled " Social Statistics of
Cities, 1880 " contain tables showing the number of churches of
each denomination in each city . The present law authorizes the

collection of statistics of religious bodies at ten -year intervals, in

years other than those of the decennial census. In acordance with
this plan statistics have been published for 1906 and 1916 .

The census statistics on religious bodies have been published in
the following reports:
Seventh Census: 1850 .
Seventh Census of the United States.
Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Abstract of the Seventh Census.

Eighth Census: 1860. Statistics of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census: 1870.
Population and social statistics.

Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.

Tenth Census: 1880. Vols. XVIII and XIX . Social statistics of cities,
Parts I and II.

Eleventh Census : 1890.
Statistics of churches.

Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part II.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.

Statistical atlas of the United States.
Religious bodies, 1906. Bulletin 103. [Preliminary report.]'

Intercensal publications.

Religious bodies, 1906 , Parts I and II. ( Final report.)
Negroes in the United States, 1910. Bulletin 129.
Negro population , 1790- 1915.
Religious bodies, 1916 . Bulletin 142. [Preliminary report.)

Religious bodies, 1916 . Parts I and II. ( Final report.)

* Published in two editions with the samenumber and title, but the second
edition contained material on separate denominations not contained in the
first edition .
140

RELIGIOUS BODIES

141

The statistics for 1906 and 1916 were collected by means of

schedules sent to the pastor or clerk of each individual church
organization or to some general officer of the denomination if it
was not possible to obtain the data from the individual units.
The general classifications in the report are the religious bodies,
states, and cities of over 25,000 population . There are shown under

each classification , the number of religious organizations, the num
ber ofmembers by sex , the number and seating capacity of church

edifices, the total value of church property and of parsonages ,
the debt on church property, the number of Sunday schools,

Sunday school teachers, and students. The number of mem
bers is shown for all denominations by states and cities and

for the more important denominations by counties. The other data
listed above are given for states and cities separately for only the
more important denominations. Separate statistics are given for

the colored organizations, but these are also included in the general
tables giving data on all denominations ; therefore, the figures on
colored organizations should not be added to the figures in the
general tables. The general tables are complete for all classes of the
population, the figures for colored organizations being simply
segregated from the total. Separate figures on white organizations

may be obtained by subtracting the figures for colored churches
from those for all churches. The report does not show the number
of colored persons who are members of organized churches, as the
statistics on colored churches give information only on churches

maintained solely for colored persons. No figures are available re
garding the number of colored persons who may be members of
white church organizations.

In addition to the data mentioned above the general statistics give
for each important denomination the number of ministers, the

average salary of ministers, the date of establishment of the de
nomination , the seating capacity of churches, the language used in
the conduct of church services, the number of educational and
benevolent institutions maintained in the United States and the

value of property and endowments used for this purpose , the num
ber of churches, schools, and philanthropic institutions maintained
in foreign countries, the value of property in foreign countries, and

the amount contributed to foreign missions.

142

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Volume II of the report is devoted entirely to statistics assembled

by denominations. The data are classified by states and territories
and also in the case of the highly organized church organizations,
by the administrative divisions, such as the diocese, presbytery,

conference, etc. This volume also contains brief accounts of the
history, polity , and work of each denomination . As these accounts

are based on material supplied by officers of authority in each
denomination and were generally revised by such officers, they may
be regarded as authoritative.
The statistics on church membership cannot be used as an index
of the religious affiliations of the population , as the practice of

various denominations in determining membership is not uniform .

For instance, the Jewish congregations include only heads of fami
lies, while the Roman Catholic Church includes as members all
persons baptized into the church . Asthe Protestantbodies generally

include only adults on their membership rolls, the Bureau of the
Census deducted 15 per cent of the number returned by the Roman
Catholic Church in order to eliminate the children less than 9 years
of age. Another feature which affects the reliability of the number

of members is the fact that many churches carry on their rolls
persons who have not formally relinquished their membership , but
who may have becomemembers of other congregations or who may

not regard themselves as having any church affiliation.
The valueofchurch property is an item which is subject to a wide
margin of error. Asthe value was reported separately by each con
gregation, it is evident that there was no uniformity in the method
of arriving at these figures . As a church building has no general
commercial value and as it is difficult to make comparisons with

neighboring property as can be done with real estate used for other
purposes it is exceedingly difficult to arrive at a correct valuation.
In the case of some of the older churches, which are located in the

business districts, the chief element of value is the ground, the
building being a liability in the case of sale. On the other hand,
churches in residence districts may bring the cost of replacement. It

is evident, therefore, that the figures given cannot be taken as
representing approximately the valueof church property . However,
as the margin of error is probably constant, they can be taken as

an index to the valueof property of different denominations and in
different sections.

CHAPTER XII

EDUCATION
Statistics relating to illiteracy and persons attending school have
been collected at each decennial census beginning with the one for
1840, and are printed in the census reports. The character of the
recent statistics hasbeen fully set forth in Chapter III. The reports

of the Bureau of the Census on financial statistics of states and
cities (see Chapter XXX ) contain figures on expenditures for
schools. The reports on financial statistics of cities for 1910, 1911,

and 1912 also contain figures for average daily attendance, school
sittings, school buildings, and school rooms.
The annual reports of the Bureau of Animal Industry of the
Department of Agriculture contain summary statistics on vet
erinary education . The figures are scant, but are nowhere else
obtainable.
Statistics relating to schools and higher educational institutions
have been collected annually or biennially by the Bureau of Educa
tion since its organization in 1867.' The scope of the statistics has
gradually widened until they now comprise almost every phase of

educational organization and activity . The greater part of these

statistics was collected annually and published in Volume 2 of
the annual report of the Commissioner of Education up to and in
cluding those for the school year 1915- 16 , which appeared in the

annual report for 1917 . In the report for 1914 and prior years the
statistics are for the school year ending with the year of the report ;
that is , the report for 1914 contains statistics for the school year
1913-14. The annual report for 1915 did not contain the statistical
section ,as it was impossible to prepare the material within the time
limit set by new legislation for submitting all annual reports. There
fore, the statistics for the school year 1914-15 were given in the
* From 1867 to 1869 this organization was an independent establishment,
known as the Departinent of Education .
143

144

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

report for 1916 and those for the school year 1915- 16 in the report
for 1917 .
The statistics for the school year 1915 - 16 were the last prepared

on the annual basis , as it was decided to collect the figures there
after biennially . The next report was published in four parts as
Bulletins of the Bureau of Education, 1919, Nos. 88 to 91, under
the title “ Biennial Survey of Education 1916 -18, Vols. 1-4 ." ' Bul

letins 90 and 91 (Vols. 3 and 4) contain the statistics, Bulletins 88
and 89 (Vols. 1 and 2 ) being devoted to a text discussion of the
progress of education , similar to that which appeared in Volume i
of the annual report.

For the school year ending in June, 1920, the statistics are given
in Bulletin , 1923, No. 29, entitled “ Biennial Survey of Education ,
1918 -20.” No textdiscussion was included in the report for 1920.
The biennial survey for the school year ending in June, 1922, is
contained in Bulletins, 1924, Nos. 13 and 14 . Bulletin 13 (Vol. 1 )

contains the text discussion , while Bulletin 14 (Vol. 2 ) includes
the statistics.

It should be noted that the text volumes of both the annual reports
of the Commissioner and of the biennial surveys do not contain
interpretative comments on the statistics, as they deal with general
reviews of the progress in various lines of educational activity in

the United States and foreign countries without specific reference
to a statistical basis. What interpretation is given of the figures is
in the volumes containing the statistics.

Practically all the chapters of the biennial survey are published
also as separatebulletins, so that statistics on a particular division of

education, such as city school systems, are available in advance of
the completed report. The separate reports so issued prior to 1923

are listed in Bulletin of the Bureau of Education , 1923, No. 35,
entitled “ History of Bulletins of the Bureau of Education, with
Index, 1906 -22."

While the greater portion of the statistics was published in the
annual reports prior to 1917, some topics had already been treated

in bulletin form . Statistics of state universities and other higher
* It should be noted that the serial numbers of the Bulletins of the Bureau
of Education begin with i for each year, and therefore, the year is an
essential part of the serial number.

EDUCATION

145

educational institutions partially supported by the state were pub

lished annually in bulletin form , beginning with 1908,as follows:
1908 — Bulletin 1908, No. 8 .

1916 — Bulletin 1916 , No. 50.

1909 - Bulletin 1909, No. II.

1917 — Bulletin 1917, No. 55.

1910 — Bulletin 1910, No. 6.
1911 — Bulletin 1911, No. 19.

1918 — Bulletin 1918, No. 51.

1913 — Bulletin 1913, No. 60.

1919 - Bulletin 1919 , No. 87 .
1920 - Bulletin 1920 , No. 48 .
1921 - Bulletin 1921, No. 53.

1914 - Bulletin 1914, No. 50 .

1922 — Bulletin 1923, No. 49.

1915 — Bulletin 1915 , No. 6 .

1923 — Bulletin 1924, No. 26 .

1912 — Bulletin 1912, No. 33.

Other earlier statistical compilations published in bulletin form
are “ Statistics of Public and Private High Schools," Bulletin ,
1912, No. 22 ;“ Statistics of Certain Manual Training, Agricultural,
and Industrial Schools,” Bulletin , 1915, No. 19, and “ Statistics of
Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges,” Bulletin , 1918 , No. 41.
Other bulletins of the Bureau of Education contain statistical
material covering limited periods or areas collected in connection
with special studies. Among these may be mentioned various sur

veys of city school systems, studies of the salaries of teachers, the
history of education in the several states, and other topics connected
with educational problems. These may be located by means of the
list and index cited on page 144.

Statistics relating to individual libraries have been collected at
several times by the Bureau of Education , the latest issue, contain
ing figures for 1915, being Bulletin , 1915, No. 25, entitled “ Public ,

Society, and School Libraries, 1915.” Figures on expenditures of
states and cities for libraries are given the reports of the Bureau of
the Census entitled “ Financial Statistics of States " and “ Financial
Statistics of Cities " discussed in Chapter XXX .

II

CHAPTER XIII

LABOR AND WAGES
WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR

Manufacturing and Mining. The statistics on wages have been
compiled mostly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its prede

cessors, although somematerial has been collected by other organi
zations. The cost of production reports listed on pages 323 to 325
generally contain data on wages. Many of the reports relating to
women and children discussed in Chapter XIV include data on
wages or earnings.

Early Reports. Statistics on wages in the United States and
Europe, mostly between 1871 and 1874, are given in the publication

of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department entitled
“ Labor in Europe and America . . . ," by Edward Young, pub
lished also as House Executive Document 21, 44th Congress , ist
Session . This report contains also tables on wages in England
during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and somematerial

on prices.
A report generally known as the “ Aldrich Report " was prepared
in the Department of Labor,and was issued as Senate Report 1394,
52d Congress, 2d Session , under the title “ Wholesale Prices,

Wages , and Transportation .” It gives information regarding the
rate of wages of male and female employees and the hours of labor
in nearly one hundred establishments of twenty -two industries by

six -month periods from 1840 to 1891. In addition to the general

trades,more detailed statistics on wages and earnings are given for
the coal, iron , glass, and pottery industries for the same period.
This report also includes statistics on the salaries ofmale and female
school teachers in the principal cities for each year from 1840
to 1891.

Rates of wages for each month from June, 1889, to September,
1891, are given in Senate Report 986 , 52d Congress, ist Session,
entitled “ Retail Prices and Wages."
146

LABOR AND WAGES

147

Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data shown in the Aldrich Re
port were continued in publications of the Department of Labor,

the Bureau of Labor, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics," which
show prevailing rates per hour and per week, full-time and actual
earnings, and the number of employees earning specified amounts
during a selected week .

At first all industries for which data were collected were included
in one report ; later,separate reports were published giving the data
for specific industries. The general reports and the period covered

by each one are listed below . All of these reports give summary
statistics for the entire period, but the more detailed figures are
given only for the two latest years indicated .
1890 to 1903 — Nineteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor,
1905 .

1890 to 1904 – Bulletin 59.

1890 to 1905 — Bulletin 65.
1890 to 1906 — Bulletin 71.

1890 to 1907 — Bulletin 77.

Reports on specific industries have been issued as indicated
below ."

The earlier data on these industries will be found in the general
reports heretofore cited. All of these reports give statistics for the
entire period, but the more detailed figures are given only for the
two latest years.
* The Bureau of Labor was organized in 1885 as a part of the Interior
Department ; in 1888 this organization became an independent establish
ment under the name Department of Labor . In 1903 it became a bureau
of the Department of Commerce and Labor under the name Bureau of

Labor ; in 1913 it became a bureau of the Department of Labor under
the name Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Department of Labor from
1888 to 1903 must not be confused with the Department of Labor after

1913. The publications are divided among the organizations as follows:
Department of Labor - First to seventeenth annual reports, First to ninth

special reports, and Bulletins i to 47 ; Bureau of Labor - Eighteenth to

twenty- fifth annual reports, Tenth to twelfth special reports, and Bul
letins 48 to III ; Bureau of Labor Statistics — Bulletins after No. III.

Several of the earlier bulletins contained reports on more than one
industry. The bulletin reference has been repeated under the heading

for each industry in order to make the list for each industry complete.

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Boots and shoes.
1890 to 1912— Bulletin
1907 to 1913 — Bulletin
1907 to 1914 – Bulletin
1907 to 1916 — Bulletin
1907 to 1918 - Bulletin
1907 to 1920 — Bulletin

Woolen and worsted goods.
134.
154.
178 .
232.
260.
278.

1907 to 1922 — Bulletin 324.

1907 to 1924 – Bulletin
Hosiery and underwear.
1890 to 1912 — Bulletin
1907 to 1913 - Bulletin
1907 to 1914 - Bulletin

374 .
134.
154.

177.

1922 — Bulletin 328 .

1907 to 1924 — Bulletin 376 .
Lumber,mill work and furniture.
1890 to 1912— Bulletin 129.
1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 153.
1915 , with summary figures for
1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 225.

Lumber manufacturing.
1921 - Bulletin 317.
1923 — Bulletin 363.
Cigars.

1911 and 1912 — Bulletin 135.
1911 to 1913- Bulletin 161.
Men 's clothing.

1911 and 1912 — Bulletin 135 .
1911 to 1913 — Bulletin 161.
1911 to 1914 - Bulletin 187.
1911 to 1914, 1919, 1922 — Bul
letin 329.

1911 to 1924 — Bulletin 387.
Iron and steel.

1907 to 1912 — Bulletin 151.
1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 168 .
1907 to 1915 — Bulletin 218 .9
1907 to 1920 — Bulletin 305.

1907 to 1922— Bulletin 353.

1907 to 1924 — Bulletin 381.
Silk .

1890 to 1912 — Bulletin 128.
1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 150 .

1907 to 1914 – Bulletin 190 .

1890 to 1912 — Bulletin 128.
1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 150 .
1907 to 1914 – Bulletin 190.
1916 — Bulletin 238.*

1918 - Bulletin 261.
1922 — Bulletin 327.
1924 — Bulletin 377.
Petroleum industry .
1920 — Bulletin 297.
Automobile industry.
1922 — Bulletin 348.
Automobile tire industry.
1920 — Bulletin 289.

1923— Bulletin 358.
Cotton goods.
1890 to 1912 - Bulletin 128.

1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 150.
1907 to 1914 – Bulletin 190 .
1916 - Bulletin 239.

1918Bulletin 262,
1920 — Bulletin 288 .
1922 — Bulletin 345.

1924 — Bulletin 371.

Building and repairing steam rail
road cars.

1890 to 1912— Bulletin 137.

1907 to 1913 — Bulletin 163.
Slaughtering and meat packing.
1917 — Bulletin 252.5
1921— Bulletin 294.
1923 — Bulletin 373.
Coal mining .
Anthracite for

1919 and 1920 ,

bituminous for 1919 - Bulletin
279.

Anthracite , January, 1922, bitumi
nous, winter of 1921-22 — Bul
letin 316 .
Foundries and machine shops.

1923 — Bulletin 362.

Paper and pulp industry.
1923 — Bulletin 365.

* This bulletin contains an excellent glossary of occupations in this industry.
* Contains also good description of methods of manufacture and of spe
cific occupations.

• Contains also description of departments and occupations.

LABOR AND WAGES

149

Reports on the union scale of wages and hours of labor in
organized industries in various cities have been issued by the Bureau

of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics for each year begin
ning with 1907. These reports differ from the reports on wages and
hours of labor in specific industries in that they apply only to or
ganized trades and do not give any information regarding earnings.
They show the union rate for full time and for overtime and the
union hours. The information is classified by cities with the occu
pations as the secondary classification, and by occupations with the
cities as the secondary classification . The tables in which the city is

the primary classification give figures for each year since 1907 ; the
occupation classification gives figures for the latest years. The
figures are for one date only in each year, either May 1 or May 15 .
The bulletins on this subject that have been issued and the year

covered by each one are as follows :
1907 to 1912 — Bulletin 131.

1918

1913— Bulletin 143.

1919 - Bulletin 274.

1914 - Bulletin

Bulletin 259.

171.

1920 — Bulletin 286 .

1915 — Bulletin 194.
1916 - Bulletin 214.

1921 - Bulletin 302.
1922 — Bulletin 325.

1917 — Bulletin 245.

1923 — Bulletin 354.

In addition to the periodic reports of the Bureau of Labor Sta

tistics and its predecessors, the Bureau of Labor and Department
of Labor, that have been specifically listed and described, many of
the other publications of this service contain information regarding

wages and hours of labor as incidental or collateral data to the
main purposes of the inquiries.
The Fifth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1889,
contains statistics on hours of labor and average daily earnings of
railroad employees in 1888 and 1889.

The Eleventh Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor,
1895-96 , “ Work and Wages ofMen , Women and Children ,” gives
data regarding the wages of these three classes of the laboring
population. More specific reference to this publication is made on
page 169.
In the Thirteenth AnnualReport of the Commissioner of Labor,
1898, an endeavor was made to show the labor cost in different in

dustries of articles made by hand labor and by machinery. Sta
tistics are given for 672 commodity units, each unit embracing a
number of distinct operations.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Wages in the white pine lumber industry of the United States
and Canada from 1891 to 1896 are given in a report prepared by

the Commissioner of Labor , entitled “ White Pine Lumber in the
United States and Canada,” published as Senate Document 70 .
55th Congress, ist Session.

A compilation of wage statistics for all countries issuing reports

on wages is contained in the Fifteenth AnnualReport of the Com
missioner of Labor, 1900, entitled “ Wages in Commercial Coun

tries.” This compilation contains data on about one hundred for
eign countries and each state and territory in the United States.
The statistics are not for any selected date or period , but for the

dates on which information was given in the foreign reports.
Mostof the tables cover the nineteenth century, but in a few cases

rates of wages in England are given as far back as 1725. The last
year covered is 1900 , the information for the later years being
more extended than for earlier ones by reason of the greater

amount of material available. Occupations are listed alphabeti

cally, each table beginning with the earliest date and continuing
chronologically, regardless of state or country . For the United
States there are shown the highest, lowest, and average rates per

hour and day and for foreign countries, the highest and lowest
rates per hour and day .
A particularly valuable feature of this report is the list of 714

publications from which the figures were compiled. For the student
of wage rates this list will serve as an excellent guide to all the

statistical information on wages in the United States and foreign
countries available in 1900. Each entry contains a reference to the
publication from which the information was derived , so that the

student may easily locate the reports that give wage statistics for
various trades at different dates in all countries .
It should be noted that the data contained in this reportwere not
secured through an original investigation , but were compiled from
previously published official reports issued under a great variety of
circumstances and by many different agencies . Due to the fact that
there was no means of knowing whether the occupation titles em

ployed in these various reports represented the same specific classes
of work and to other facts, the figures cannot be considered as

having any high degree ofaccuracy. Atbest they serve to show only

LABOR AND WAGES

151

themost general facts regarding the remuneration of labor at differ
ent dates and in different localities and countries.

The Twelfth Special Report of the Commissioner of Labor,
issued in 1905 , entitled “ Coal Mine Labor in Europe," contains a
great amount of information on the coal mining industry in

Austria , Belgium , France, Germany, and the United Kingdom .
The principal statistics for each of these countries are the fol

lowing :
Austria .
Production annually, 1875 to 1903, quantity and value, by provinces.

Number of employees, annually , 1875 to 1903, by provinces, sex and
age groups.
Wages for various periods between 1882 and 1900 .
Accidents, annually , 1875 - 1903.
Belgium .
Production, annually, 1831 to 1903, by provinces.
Imports and exports, annually , 1831 to 1903.
Employees, annually , 1831 to 1903, male and female.
Wages and earnings, at various periods.
Accidents, annually, 1851-1902.
France .

Production , annually , 1811-1903.
Exports and imports, by countries, annually, 1811 to 1903.
Employees, wages, and earnings, at various periods.
Accidents, annually, 1853 to 1901.
Germany .

Production, annually, 1860 to 1903; for Prussia , annually, 1817 to 1903.
Exports and imports, annually, 1878 to 1903 .

Employees, annually, 1872 to 1903.
Wages and earnings at various periods.

Accidents in Prussia , annually, 1852 to 1903.

United Kingdom .
Production , annually , 1854-1903.
Exports, annually , 1844- 1903.
Employees, annually, 1851 - 1903.

Wages and earnings at various periods.
Accidents, annually , 1851- 1903.

Strikes and lockouts at various periods.

The results of an investigation of rates of wages and working
conditions in the telephonebusiness made by the Commissioner of
Labor were published in 1909 as Senate Document 380, 61st Con

gress, 2d Session , entitled “ Investigation of Telephone Compa
nies." Statistics are given for all companies and for individual
companies and include data on working conditions, rates of wages
and earnings, sex of employees, length of employment, and number

of employees at specified rates of pay. There is a good textdescrip

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

tion of the working conditions and occupations in the industry .
There are also data on rates charged by various companies.
A similar study of the Postal and Western Union Telegraph

Companies was made in 1908, the report being published as Senate
Document725,6oth Congress, 2d Session,under the title “ Investi
gation of Postal and Western Union Telegraph Companies.” The
generalplan of this report is similar to the one on telephone compa

nies, separate tabulations being made for the employees of each

company in different cities.
It should be noted that both these reports relate entirely to labor
and wages, and contain no data on the operations and profits of the
companies .
In 1910 the Commissioner of Labor made an extensive investi
gation of the iron and steel industry, the results of which were pub

lished in four volumes as Senate Document 110 , 62d Congress, ist
Session , under the title “ Conditions of Employment in the Iron
and Steel Industry in the United States.” The plants investigated
employed 82 per cent of all workers in the industry , and embraced
blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills , together with the

shops that were appurtenant to the plants. Volumes I and II relate
to wages and hours of labor.

Data are given for the industry as a whole and for individual
plants, including the average rate of wages, earnings, and the
classification of employees according to the amount earned. Volume

III is devoted to working conditions and relations of employers and

employees, and includes a discussion of occupations, processes,
working conditions, overtime, time and method of payment, com
pany stores, pension funds, etc . Volume IV contains statistics of
accidents to various classes of employees.

A special report on hours of labor and earnings in the bituminous

coal fields in the fall and winter of 1921 was prepared by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and published as Senate Document 171,
67th Congress, ist Session.

Tariff Commission. Figures on wages in the United States,
Great Britain , and Germany in several trades in May, 1921, are
given in the report of the Tariff Commission entitled “ Depreciated
Exchange and International Trade.”

Bureau of the Census. The first separate wage statistics pub

lished by the Census were those in Volume XX of the Reports of

LABOR AND WAGES

153

the Tenth Census, which gave figures for typical establishments in
fifty-three industries for each year from 1870 to 1880 , and in some

cases for a longer period. Beginning with the reports of the Census
of 1850 the volumes on manufactures show the aggregate amount
paid for wages and salaries in various industries.

The occupation statistics of the decennial census give informa

tion regarding the number of persons in specified occupations,
classified by sex, age, race , or nativity , etc. These statistics are

described on pages 106 - 114. The statistics of the Census of Manu
factures º give information regarding the number of wage earners

in the separate industries, but give no data on specific occupations.
It should be borne in mind that in the Census of Manufactures the
industrial classification is determined by the major product of the
industry, and the figures regarding wage earners are subject to a .
margin of error similar to that regarding value of products. For
instance, the average number of wage earners in the babbitt metal

industry in 1914 is given as 333 . It would be erroneous to infer
that this number represents all wage earners engaged in the manu
facture of babbitt metal. Many of the establishments whose major
product is babbitt metal make other metal products, and many

establishmentswhosemajor product places them in other classifica
tions make babbitt metal.

The range of error discussed on

page 262, regarding value of products applies also to the number
of wage earners.

The reports of the Census of Manufactures give also statistics
regarding the amount paid as wages. Even if the margin of error
discussed in the preceding paragraph is disregarded, it is not possi

ble to divide the amount paid as wages by the average number of
employees in order to obtain figures on rates of wages or earnings.

The amount reported as paid for wages in the statistics of the Cen
sus of Manufactures represents the labor costofmanufactures. To

divide this by the average number of employees, without distin
guishing between skilled or unskilled labor, or without regard to the
length of time wage earners at high and low rates of pay are em
ployed, gives neither average wages nor average earnings. Even for
purposes of comparison between different periods, an average
obtained in this manner is not correct unless the part time and full
time, and the high paid and low paid wage earners are in the same
* For list of reports of Census of Manufactures see page 258.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

154

proportion, an assumption which is probably not correct and which
has no statistical basis .

To remedy this defect at the Twelfth Census, in 1901 a special
investigation was made to determine the rate of wages paid in the
more important industries in 1890 and 1900 . The results of this

study were embodied in the report, entitled “ Employees and
Wages,” published in 1903.
In order to obtain the information desired an examination was

made of the pay rolls of 720 representative establishments in the
following industries :
Agricultural implements.

Iron and steel.

Bakeries.
Breweries.
Brickyards.

Knitting mills .

Candy

Pianos.

Carpet mills .

Potteries.
Printing.
Railroad car shops.

Chemicals.
Cigars.
Clothing.

Lumber and planing mills.
Paper mills.

Rubber.

Distilleries.

Shipyards.
Shoes.
Silk mills.

Dyeing and finishing textiles.

Slaughtering.

Flour mills.

Tanneries.
Tobacco.
Wagons and carriages.

Collars and cuffs .
Cotton mills.

Foundries.

Furniture.
Glass .

For each of these industries there are shown the number of male
and female employees in various occupations during a selected week

and receiving specified rates of pay. For some establishments where
the pay rolls did not show the timeworked, the earnings are given .

Weekly rates and earnings are given by fifty -cent gradations and
hourly rates and earnings by one-cent gradations. The tables show
for each rate the number of employees and the cumulative percent

age, or the proportion of employees in each group at a specified rate
or higher , receiving a wage as great as or greater than the lowest
wage of group.

When the Census of Manufactures for 1904 was taken ,no effort

wasmade to obtain rates of wages for different occupations,but an
attempt wasmade to obtain information regarding employees' earn

ings by specified amounts during the year covered by the investiga
tion . The results were published in Part IV of the reports of the

Census of Manufactures for 1905 and also in Bulletin 93 of the

LABOR AND WAGES

155

Bureau of the Census, entitled “ Earnings of Wage Earners.” An
endeavor was made to obtain the figures from all establishments
reporting , butmany failed to give satisfactory information . Out of

196 ,583 establishments reporting wage earners, 123,703, or 62.9
per cent, made satisfactory reports. The number of wage earners

covered by the statistics was 3,297,819, which was 47 per cent of

the greatest number reported by all establishments at any one time.
Therefore, reports were received from enough establishments to

make the statistics representative.
Earnings are shown by specific amounts for men , women , and
children , separate figures being given for the following classes:

Less than $ 3, by one-dollar gradations from $ 3 to $ 10 , $ 10 to $ 12,
$ 12 to $ 15, $ 15 to $ 20, $ 20 to $ 25 , and $ 25 and over. No figures

are given by occupations, the grouping being by industries , the
character of which has already been discussed . The percentage
distribution of wage earners in each class is also shown by states
and by industries and states.
Since the Census of Manufactures of 1904 the Bureau of the
Census has not attempted to compile any statistics on wages except

the total amount paid in each industry .

Railroads. Statistics on wages and number of employees on rail
roads have been collected regularly only by the Interstate Commerce
Commission , the other reports covering special periods.
Interstate Commerce Commission . For some years the annual

volume entitled “ Statistics of Railways " contained tables showing
the number, total compensation, and average hourly compensation
of sixty -eight classes of employees on all Class I roads. Beginning

with 1921 these figures were given for only seven groups of em

ployees the details being shown in the monthly statement entitled
“ Wage Statistics," described below .
For several years the Interstate Commerce Commission issued a

quarterly mimeographed statement, giving the same information
for each class of employees in service at the middle of each month

in the quarter and the following figures for the quarter :
Average number of employees in service.
Total number of hours on duty .

Total number of days on duty.
Total compensation .

Average compensation per day or hour.
Average hours or days per employee per month .

· 156

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Beginning with July , 1921, the Interstate Commerce Commission

has published monthly sheets, entitled " Wage Statistics," for 148
classes of employees compared with sixty -eight classes in the earlier
reports, annual figures being given in the issue for December. An

analysis of the hours of service and compensation has also been
introduced. The increased number of classes resulted not from a
mere subdivision of the older classes, but from a classification
study made by the Railroad Labor Board , the new wage statistics

being designated to meet the needs of both the Railroad Labor
Board and the Interstate Commerce Commission . The new classi

fication is as follows:
CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES IN MONTHLY WAGE STATISTICS OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION

I. Executives, officials and staff assistants.
Executives, general officers, and assistants.

Division officers, assistants, and staff assistants .
Total, executives, officials, and staff assistants.
II. Professional, clerical, and general.
Architectural, chemical, and engineering assistants.

Subprofessional engineering and laboratory assistants.
Professional and subprofessional legal assistants.
Supervisory or chief clerks (major departments) .

Chief clerks (minor departments ) and assistant chief clerks and
supervising cashiers.

Clerks and clerical specialists.
Mechanical device operators (office).
Stenographers and secretaries.

Stenographers and typists.
Storekeepers, sales agents, and buyers.
Ticket agents and assistant ticket agents.
Traveling auditors or accountants.

Telephone switchboard operators and office assistants.
Messengers and office boys.
Elevator operators and other office attendants.
Lieutenants and sergeants of police.
Patrolmen .
Watchmen (without police authority ) .

Supervising traffic agents.
Traffic agents, advertising and development agents.

Fire prevention , smoke, and time-service inspectors, and office
building superintendents.
Claim agents and claim investigators.

Real estate and tax agents and investigators.
Examiners, instructors, and special investigators.

Miscellaneous trades workers (other than plumbers.).

LABOR AND WAGES

157

CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES IN MONTHLY WAGE STATISTICS OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION — Continued

II. Professional, clerical, and general- Continued.
Motor vehicle and motor car operators.

Teamsters and stablemen .
Janitors and cleaners.

Total, professional, clerical, and general.
III. Maintenance of way and structures.
Roadmasters and general foremen .
Assistant general foremen .
Supervising maintenance of way inspectors and scale inspectors.
Maintenance of way inspectors.

Bridge and building gang foremen ( skilled labor.)
Bridge and building carpenters.
Bridge and building iron workers.

Bridge and building painters.
Masons, bricklayers, plasterers, and plumbers.
Skilled trades helpers.

Regular apprentices.
Portable steam equipment operators.
Portable steam equipment operator helpers.

Pumping equipment operators.
Gang foremen (bridge and building, signal, and telegraph

Gang foremen (extra gang and work -train laborers ).

laborers).

Gang or section foremen.
Laborers (extra gang and work -train ).

Track and roadway section laborers.
Maintenance of way laborers (other than track and roadway )
and gardeners and farmers.

General foremen and supervising inspectors (signal, telegraph ,
and electrical transmission ) .
Assistant general foremen (signal, telegraph, and electrical
transmission ) and signal and telegraph inspectors.

Gang foremen (signal and telegraph skilled trades labor.)
Signalmen and signal maintainers.
Linemen and groundmen .

Assistant signalmen and assistant signalmaintainers.
Signalman and signal maintainer helpers.

Total, maintenance of way and structures.
IV . Maintenance of equipment and stores.
General foremen ( equipment) .

Assistant general foremen and department foremen (equipment).
General foremen (stores).
Assistant general foremen ( stores).
Equipment, shop, and electrical inspectors.

Material and supplies inspectors.

Gang foremen and gang leaders (skilled labor ).
Blacksmiths.
Boilermakers .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES IN MONTHLY WAGE StatistICS OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION _ Continued

IV . Maintenance of equipment and stores — Continued.
Carmen .
Electrical workers.
Machinists.
Molders.

Sheet-metal workers.
Skilled trades helpers.
Helper apprentices.
Regular apprentices.

Gang foremen laborers (shops, enginehouses, power plants, and
stores ) .

Coach cleaners.
Laborers (shops, enginehouses, power plants, and stores ).
Common laborers ( shops, enginehouses, power plants, and
stores ) .

Stationary engineers (steam ).

Stationary firemen and oilers ( steam and electrical plants).
Coal passers and water tenders ( steam station boiler rooms) .
Total, maintenance of equipment and stores.

V . Transportation (other than train, engine, and yard ).
Chief train dispatchers, train dispatchers, and train directors.
Station agents (supervisory - major stations-- nontelegraphers) .
Station agents (supervisory - smaller stations- nontelegraphers).

Station agents (nonsupervisory - smaller stations-- nonteleg
raphers ).

Station agents ( telegraphers and telephoners ).
Chief telegraphers and telephoners or wire chiefs.
Clerk -telegraphers and clerk -telephoners .
Telegraphers, telephoners , and towermen .

Station masters and assistants .

Supervising baggage agents.
Baggage agents and assistants .
Baggage , parcel room , and station attendants .

General foremen (freight stations, warehouses, grain elevators,
and docks) .
Assistant general foremen (freight stations, warehouses, grain
elevators, and docks).
Gang foremen (freight station, warehouse, grain elevator, and
dock labor ) .
Callers, loaders, scalers, sealers, and perishable freight inspectors.
Truckers (stations, warehouses, and platforms).

Laborers (coal and ore docks and grain elevators).

Common laborers (stations, warehouses, platforms, and grain
elevators).
Stewards, restaurant and lodging-house managers, and dining
car supervisors.
Chefs and first cooks (dining cars and restaurants) .

LABOR AND WAGES

159

CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES IN MONTHLY WAGE STATISTICS OF INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION - Continued
V. Transportation (other than train , engine, and yard ) - Continued .
Second and third cooks (dining cars and restaurants ) .
Waiters and lodging -house attendants.
Camp and crew cooks and kitchen helpers.
Barge, lighter, and gasoline launch officers and workers.
Deck officers (ferryboats and towing vessels ) .

Engine-room officers (ferryboats and towing vessels).
Deck and engine-room workers (ferryboats and towing vessels) .
Deck and engine-room officers and workers (steamers ) .

Floating equipment shore workers and attendants.
Transportation and dining service inspectors.
Parlor and sleeping car conductors.
Train attendants.

Bridge operators and helpers.
Crossing and bridge flagmen and gatemen .

Foremen ( laundry ) and laundry workers.

Total, transportation, other than train , engine and yard .

VI(a). Transportation (yardmasters, switch tenders and hostlers).
Yardmasters and assistants.
Switch tenders.

Outside hostlers.
Inside hostlers.
Outside hostler helpers.
Total, transportation (yardmasters, switch tenders, and
hostlers ).
VI(b ). Transportation (train and engine ).

Road passenger conductors.
Assistant road passenger conductors and ticket collectors.
Road freight conductors (through freight ) .
Road freight conductors (local and way freight) .
Road passenger baggagemen .
Road passenger brakemen and flagmen .

Road freight brakemen and flagmen (through freight).
Road freight brakemen and Aagmen (local and way freight).
Yard conductors and yard foremen .
Yard brakemen and yard helpers.

Road passenger engineers and motormen.
Road freight engineers and motormen (through freight).

Road freight engineers and motormen (local and way freight).
Yard engineers and motormen .
Road passenger firemen and helpers.

Road freight firemen and helpers (through freight).
Road freight firemen and helpers (local and way freight) .

Yard firemen and helpers.
Total, transportation - train and engine.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The rules and descriptions of the occupations included in each
class are given in the publication of the Railroad Labor Board

entitled “ Rules for Reporting Information on Railroad Employees,
together with a Classification and Index of Steam Railroad

Occupations ” (Wage Series, Report, 2). The rules alone are
published by the Interstate Commerce Commission under the title

“ Rules Governing the Classification of Steam Railway Em
ployees and Reports of their Service and Compensation , effective
July 1, 1921."
Statistics for each of the above classes are given under the fol
lowing headings:
Number in middle of month .
Number of full -time positions.

Service in hours or days.
Straight time actually worked.
Overtime paid for at pro -rata rates.
Overtime paid for at punitive rates.
Time paid for but not worked .

Total time paid for.
Time worked per employee.

Straight time.
Overtime.

Compensation in dollars.
Straight time actually worked .
Overtime paid for at pro -rata rates.

Overtime paid for at punitive rates.
Time paid for , but not worked .

Average earnings per employee per month .

Piece work .
Hours.

Compensation.

It will be noted that the number of employees is given under two

heads : Number of employees in middle of month and number of
full-time positions.
The number at middle of month represents in additions to the
employees in service on a particular day, all others subject to call

for duty whether actually at work on the day of the count or not,
and those on vacation or sick leave. The number of full-time posi
tions in classes other than those in train and engine service, repre
sents the number of employees required to man the service if each
employee worked the full number of days or hours of the regular
assignment and in addition such an average amount of overtimeas

is shown by the summary for each occupation . In the case of train

LABOR AND WAGES

161

and engine service, the number of men required to perform the
work, if there were no sick leave, vacations, or “ Extra ” men, is
more nearly represented by an average of the four counts ofmen
actually on duty during themonth .

The term straight time refers to the time of the regular assign
ment as distinguished from overtime. Overtime is in some cases
paid for at the same rate per hour as for straight time, and in other
cases, a higher, or so-called punitive rate, is paid . It may be noted
that in some reporting divisions the statistics show a lower rate per
hour for overtime than for straight time. In the cases of passenger

engineers and passenger firemen this is explained principally by the
fact that for such employees five hours represent a basic day, while
overtime is computed on one-eight of the daily rate.

It will be observed that the forms do not distinguish the overtime
hours actually worked from the overtime hours paid for, although
straight timeactually worked is shown separately. This is explained
by the desirability of reducing the number of columns to a mini
mum . In the classes relating to train and engine service, there is a
separate column for straight time paid for, the reporting of which ,
however, to save clerical expenses, is not required for road freight
employees. This information can be approximated for these em
ployees by dividing the total miles paid for by 12.5 , since under
the dual system ofmiles and hours, the pay for eight hours is equal
to the pay for 100 miles.

Asregards employeesnot in train service,“ time paid for butnot
worked " includes such items as payment for holidays, and absence
on definite leave and vacations ; as regards employees in train ser

vice, this item relates to the constructive hours paid for which do
not represent actual train service and for which mileage is not
allowed . Such “ constructive hours ” should not be taken as equiva
lent to time paid for but not worked, as they frequently represent

some additional service.
The columns relating to overtime and time paid for but not

worked are not regarded as applicable to general and division
officers. The straight timereported in such case generally represents
the regular number of working days in the month .

The Act of March 4, 1907 (34 Stat. L ., 1145 ), known as the
Hours of Service Act,makes it unlawful for any common carrier to
permit an employee to remain on duty longer than sixteen consecu
tive hours, for any carrier to permit an employee who has been on

duty for sixteen consecutive hours to go on duty without ten con
12

162

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

secutive hours off duty, or for any carrier to permit any employee
who has been on duty sixteen hours in the aggregate out of twenty

four to go on duty again unless he has had eight consecutive hours
off duty. There are special provisions for telegraph operators. The
act provides that the penalties specified are not to be enforced if the
extra service was the result of a cause which was not known to the

agentof the carrier when the employee left the terminal and which
could not have been foreseen . The enforcement of this act was

placed in the hands of the Interstate Commerce Commission, which
requires carriers to make monthly reports of all excess hours in
order to determine whether prosecutions should be conducted .
Beginning with the fiscal year 1913 the reports of the carriers

have been summarized in an annual publication entitled " A Statisti
cal Analysis of Carriers ' Monthly Hours of Service Reports."
This publication gives separate figures for each road for the various

causes of the instances in which train employees were on duty in
excess of sixteen consecutive hours. They relate only to the hours

in excess of those allowed by law and have no relation to the general
field ofhours of labor and compensation .
Railroad Labor Board . The report of the Railroad Labor Board,
entitled “ Average Daily Wage Rate of Railroad Employees on

Class I Carriers ” (Wage Series , Report 4 ), gives wage rates for
the several classes of employees at the following dates :
As established in December, 1917.
As established by the Railroad Administration in January , 1920.
As established by the Railroad Labor Board .
May, 1920.
July , 1921.

July, 1922.

July, 1923.

Earlier data are given in Wage Series, Reports 1 and 3.
Eight-Hour Commission . The commission authorized by the

act of September 3 and 5, 1916 (39 Stat. L ., 721), to observe the
operation and effect of the eight-hour law for railroad employees,
made a voluminous report entitled “ Report of the Eight-Hour
Commission ," published also as House Document 690, 65th Con
gress, 2d Session, which contains statistics of five classes of
employees on certain roads for either January or May, 1917.

For all the roads, for all the roads in each district, and for each
of the larger roads, there is given the information by classes of

LABOR AND WAGES

163

service on the items listed below for one month for engineers ,

firemen , conductors, baggage masters, and brakemen and flagmen .
Number of men .
Per cent of total pay.

Number of runs.
Number of days.
Actual miles run .

Time on run .

Elapsed time.
Actual time on duty .

Compensation under schedule in effect September 5, 1916 .
Compensation under eight hour law in effect January 1 , 1917.
Straight or normal time- miles, hours and amount.

Overtime- hours and amount.
Allowances under special rules— miles, hours, and amount under their
subdivisions.

Total pay.

Amount of increase.

This report also contains a classification for January, 1917 , by
wage groups and districts for thirteen classes of employees on
roads that furnished information . This tabulation is of interest as
it is the only one that has been published giving information for

wage groups. The occupations for which figures are given are those
of engineer, fireman, conductor, and brakeman in passenger ,
freight, and yard services, and baggageman in passenger service .

The compensation classification is by thirty-one groups of a ten
dollar range in each one. For each compensation group of each of
the classes mentioned above there are shown the following :
Total employees.
Employees working specified number of days per month (one classification
of ten days each , one of two days ) .
Employees working specified number of hours per month (21 classifications
with 20 hour range in each ) .

Employees receiving specified increase (5 classifications with $ 10 range
in each .

Employees receiving overtime compensation .
Employees not receiving overtime compensation .
Employees receiving additional allowances.

Employees not receiving additional allowances.

The student of labor conditions in the railway service will be
interested in the three following special articles in the report of

the Eight-Hour Commission :
Railway wage schedules and agreements, by William Z. Ripley .

Employment conditions in road and yard service, by Victor S. Clark .
The practicability of an actual eight-hour day in railroad train service, by
Charles P . Howard .

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EMPLOYMENT

The Monthly Labor Review of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
contains each month the total number of employees and the total
amount of payroll in a large number of establishments for each of

the following industries :
Agricultural implements.

Hosiery and knit goods.

Automobile tires.
Automobiles.

Leather.

Bakeries.

Iron and steel.

Boots and shoes.

Lumber, millwork .
Lumber, sawmills.

Brick .

Millinery and lace goods.

Car building and repairing.

Paper boxes.

Carpets.

Paper and pulp .
Petroleum .
Pianos.
Pottery .

Carriages and wagons.
Chemicals.

Clothing, men's.
Clothing, women 's.
Cotton finishing.

Cotton manufacturing .
Electrical machinery, apparatus, and
supplies.

Fertilizers.

Printing , book and job .
Printing, newspapers.
Shipbuilding , steel.
Shirts and collars.
Silk .

Slaughtering and meat packing.

Flour.

Stamped ware.

Foundries and machine shops.

Stoves.

Furniture.
Glass.
Hardware.

Tobacco : Chewing and smoking.
Tobacco : Cigars and cigarettes.
Woolen manufacturing.

In March, 1923, reports were being received from over four

thousand establishments, employing approximately 1,800 ,000
persons. Data are secured for the payroll period ending nearest the
fifteenth of themonth covered by the report.
Bulletin 310 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, entitled “ Indus

trial Unemployment,” contains a discussion of available material
on employment and unemployment, as well as some general statis
tical material. Among the detailed statistics are tables showing
persons employed each month in Massachusetts from 1900 to 1920

and in New Jersey from 1895 to 1919.
STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS
The earliest statistics on strikes and lockouts were those in

VolumeXX of the reports of the Tenth Census, which contained

a brief reportshowing thenumber of strikes by states and industries

LABOR AND WAGES

165

in 1880. There is no information regarding causes , nor any
discussion .
Six general reports on this subject have been published by the
Departmentof Labor and the Bureau of Labor covering the period

from 1881 to 1905. No general compilation has been made since
1905, but data on this subject are published from time to time in
theMonthly Labor Review of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
general reports are contained in the following publications :
Tenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1894. Covers periud
from 1881 to 1886 ; gives also an account of strikes prior to 1881, but
not detailed tabulation, as the data were largely fragmentary.

Tenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1894. Covers period
from 1887 to 1894.

Bulletin 1 of the Department of Labor. This Bulletin covers the period
from 1881 to 1894, being a summary of the material contained in the
Third and Tenth Annual Reports.
Sixteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1901. This report

contains detailed statistics from 1894 to 1900 and summary tables for
1881 to 1894.
Bulletin 54 of the Bureau of Labor. This is a summary report covering the
entire period from 1881 to 1900 .
Twenty - first Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor, 1906 . This
report contains detailed statistics from 1901 to 1905, and summary tables

covering 1881 to 1900.

In these reports the statistics are classified by states and by
industries. Data are given on the number of men and establish
ments affected, the causes of strikes, and the results. Available
statistics on strikes in European countries are given in the Sixteenth
and Twenty- first Annual Reports .

General summary statistics for 1881 to 1900, taken from the

reports of the Department of Labor, were published in Volume
XVII of the Report of Industrial Commission of 1898 . This
report also contains material on strikes and lockouts in foreign
countries.

Current statistics on strikes and lockouts are published quarterly
and annually by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Monthly
Labor Review .
As the bureau has no authority to require reports relative to
strikes from any one, it is obliged to obtain its information in such
way as it can and from such sources as are available. This infor

mation is obtained chiefly from the following -named sources :

Labor papers and trade-union journals ; leading trade periodicals ;

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

lists of strikes issued by labor, trade, and other organizations ;

clipping bureaus; daily newspapers ; reports from the Director
of Conciliation of the United States Department of Labor, and
from State labor boards ; also from reports of agents of the bureau
in the field .

The bureau follows up the report of a strike by sending a
questionaire or schedule of inquiry to one or both of the parties to

the dispute , whenever this is feasible.?
It should be noted that for the purpose of these statistics only

cessations of labor lasting at least twenty -four hours were deemed

to be strikes. Many strikes of shorter duration were, therefore,
not embraced in the investigation. As no data are collected showing

the results of negotiations between employers and employees, it is
impossible to indicate the strikes that have been averted.

FARM LABOR

Wages of farm labor in each state over a series of years are
given in Bulletin 99 of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department

of Agriculture , entitled “ Wages of Farm Labor in the United
States ” , where separate figures are presented for wages with and
without board for the month and for the day, and for ordinary
labor. The years covered are as follows:

1893
1893

1866

1879

1869
1875

1882

1879

1888
1888
1890

1894

1898
1898
1899

1885

1892

1895

1909

Statistics on farm labor supply and demand are given in the
publication of the Department of Agriculture entitled “ Crops and
Markets.” Heretofore these figures have been published in the

issues for January, April, July , October,November,and December.
Figures on wages of farm labor are also published in “ Crops

and Markets,” the data heretofore appearing in January, April,

July, and October. The figures on wages are also given in the Agri
culture Yearbook . The figures on demand , supply, and wages of
farm labor are obtained from the correspondents of the Bureau of

Agricultural Economics in the samemanner as the estimates relat
ing to acreage and yield of crops ( see page 203 ).

In Volume XI of the report of the Industrial Commission , there
is a discussion of American farm labor, by J. R . Dodge, Statis
' Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin 326, p. 38.

LABOR AND WAGES

167

tician of the Department of Agriculture, which gives statistics on
wages of farm labor in the several states and territories for 1866 ,

1869, 1875, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1890, 1892, 1895, 1898,
and 1899.
PRISON LABOR

Statistics on convict labor were contained in the Second Annual
Report of the Commissioner of Labor for 1886 and in the Twentieth
Annual Report for 1906 . These reports contain data on thenumber
and employment of convicts, systemsof operation , industries repre

sented , quantity and value of goodsmanufactured, receipts and ex
penditures, and cost of prison property .
Statistics on prison labor in representative states were collected by
the Industrial Commission and published in Volume III of its
report. These statistics generally give information regarding one

or two fiscal years ending in 1898 or 1899. The statements for the
various states were not prepared on uniform lines, and therefore,

the operations in the different states can not be compared. In
general, the tables give classified expenditures and receipts. The
material is fragmentary and is more a contribution to information
on the subject than a detailed analysis.
An account of prison labor in 1923 is contained in the publication

of the Bureau of Labor Statistics entitled “ Convict Labor, 1923,"
which gives data on the kinds and amount of goods produced in
prisons and the system under which the work was done. This is a
preliminary report, and it is announced that a more detailed report
is to be published as a bulletin .

CHAPTER XIV

WOMEN AND CHILDREN
In addition to the reports discussed in this chapter additional

data on wages of women and children are often given in the
general reports on labor and wages described in Chapter XIII .
Bureau of the Census. As sex is a primary classification of
the Census statistics of population, figures on the number of
females will be found in connection with every other classification
of the number of inhabitants (see page 32). Other general census

statistics are the following : Number of children (see page 35) ;
number of children in school (see page 42) ; number of women
and children in specified occupations (see page 112 ) ; and number
of women and children employed in the several industries ( see

page 266 ).
General data for children 10 to 15 and 10 to 17 are given in the
report of the Fourteenth Census ( 1920 ) entitled “ Children in

Gainful Occupations,” which contains also more detailed tables

showing race, nativity, and ages of children employed in the im
portant states in the following industries :
Agricultural pursuits.
Non -agricultural pursuits in general.
Selected occupations.
Cotton mill operatives.
Silk mill operatives.

Woolen and worsted mill operatives.
Clothing industry operatives.
Shoe factory operatives.
Iron and steel industry operatives.

Lumber and furniture industry operatives.
Coalmine operatives.
Clerks.

Salesmen and saleswomen .
Newsboys.

Messenger, bundle, and office boys and girls.
Servants and waiters.

Two older reports on child labor of the Bureau of the Census

are Bulletin 68, “ Child Labor in the District of Columbia : 1900,"

and Bulletin 69, “ Child Labor in the United States: 1900.” Both
168

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

169

these reports embody in part new material tabulated from the

schedules of the Twelfth Census and not printed in other publica
tions. These reports contain figures on sex , age, race or nativity ,

occupation, and relationship to head of family . The report on the
United States contains special tabulations on the following classes
of wage earners , which include a large percentage of the children
gainfully employed.
Cotton mill operatives.
Silk mill operatives.
Glass workers.
Tobacco and cigar factory operatives.
Miners and quarrymen .
Textile workers.

Messengers, errand and office boys.

The Bureau of the Census has issued one report dealing specifi
cally with women in industry, entitled “ Statistics of Women at

Work,” which contains material relating to 1900, derived from
the schedules of the Twelfth Census and not contained in any of
the other census reports. Women gainfully employed are classified
by occupations, age, race, nativity , nativity of parents, marital
condition, and relationship to head of family . Statistics are also

given by selected cities.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 1887 the Department of Labor
made an investigation ofworking women in large cities, the results
of which were published in the Fourth Annual Report of the Com
missioner of Labor. In this survey an endeavor was made to obtain
statistics relating to a limited number of women who would be

typical of the mass and give an accurate cross section. The inquiry
was carried on in twenty-two cities, and information was secured
from over 17,000 women . The results are presented by cities and

industries, and show age at beginning work, state or country of
birth, parentage, experience, conjugal condition , earnings, expendi
tures , church attendance, and home and shop conditions.
In 1895 and 1896 the Commissioner of Labor Statistics was
directed by Congress to undertake an investigation of the earnings
ofwomen and children for the purpose of comparing their earnings

with those of men of the same grade of efficiency. The report was
published as the Eleventh Annual Report of the Commissioner of

Labor, 1895- 96 , under the title “ Work and Wages of Men,
Women , and Children .” Data were collected for 94,529 persons

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employed in 1067 establishments. The rates of wages are shown
for one week in 1895 or 1896 and one week at least ten years earlier.
Statistics are given for various industries and occupations.
On January 29, 1907, an act was passed directing the Secretary

of Commerce and Labor to make a report on conditionsof labor of
women and children. The work of collecting the material was done

by the Bureau of Labor, and the results were published in 1910 in

nineteen volumes as Senate Document 645, 61st Congress, 2d Ses
sion, under the general title “ Report on Condition of Woman and
Child Wage Earners in the United States." The titles of the vol
umes are as follows:
Vol. I. Cotton textile industry.
Vol. II. Men 's ready-made clothing.
Vol. III. Glass industry.
Vol. IV . Silk industry.

Vol. V . Wage-earning women in stores and factories.

Vol. VI. The beginnings of child labor legislation in certain states ; a
comparative study.
Vol. VII. Conditions under which children leave school to go to work.
Vol. VIII. Juvenile delinquency and its relation to employment.

Vol. IX . History of women in industry in the United States.
Vol. X . History of women in trade-unions.
Vol. XI. Employment of women in metal trades.
Vol. XII. Employment of women in laundries.
Vol. XIII. Infant mortality and its relation to the employment of mothers.
Vol. XIV . Causes of death among woman and child cotton -mill operatives.

Vol. XV . Relation between occupation and criminality of women .
Vol. XVI. Family budgets of typical cotton -mill workers.
Vol. XVII. Hookworm disease among cotton -mill operatives.
Vol. XVIII. Employment of women and children in selected industries.

Vol. XIX . Labor laws and factory conditions.

Only the volumes containing statistical material are discussed
below . This work was not done by an enumeration of all industrial
plants, but by collecting information from a sufficient number

of establishments to afford results that would be typical of each
industry as a whole. The statistics generally relate to the year 1908 .
Volume I is devoted to the cotton manufacturing industry in the
New England and Southern States. The material presented was
derived by a personal inspection of themills and their records. The
mills investigated employed 81,335 wage earners, which was 32

per cent of the total number of wage earners in cotton mills re

ported at the census ofmanufactures for 1904. The topics covered
include working and sanitary conditions and accidents for all
classes of employees in themills studied, processesand occupations,

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

171

housing conditions, and education of children. The principal topics
on which statistics are given are as follows:
Number of employees, by age and sex in each state .
Conjugal condition of employees, by sex and states.

Earnings and average hours worked during a representative week , by sex ,
age, and states.
Average hours worked and average weekly earnings, in a representative
week , in six selected occupations, by sex, age groups and states.
Families — members employed and unemployed, race and nativity of head
of families.

Family income from various sources, by race and nativity , for New Eng
land states.

Homeownership, by race and nativity, for New England states.

Economic condition of families of children and women at work .
Literacy and school attendance of women and children , by states .
Age, occupation , literacy, and family income for children , single women and

married women at work ; data for selected families, by states.

The text of the report also contains a statement regarding proc
esses and occupations in the cotton industry.

Themen 's ready-made clothing industry in New York, Chicago,
Baltimore, Philadelphia , and Rochester is treated in Volume II.

The detailed statistics are practically the same as those given in the
report on the cotton industry described above. The text of the
report contains excellent chapters on conditions of home work ,

the organization of the industry, processes of manufacture, and
the history of the industry.

The glass industry, including the manufacture of mirrors and
electric incandescent lamps, is discussed in Volume III. In addition
to the detailed statistics similar to those given in the reports dis
cussed above, there is a valuable contribution on the causes of death

and diseases of glass workers, compiled from the records of the
Glass Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada, a
beneficial association of the employees of the industry. The text
includes descriptions of processes and occupations, working condi
tions, and company stores.
Volume IV is devoted to a study of the silk industry in Paterson ,

New Jersey , and in the Pennsylvania cities where silk manufactur
ing is developed to a considerable extent. The statistics are of the
same general character as those in Volumes I to III. There are also

descriptions of processes , occupations, and working conditions.
An intensive study of wage earning women in stores and fac
tories is given in Volume V . Individual statistics on social environ

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WORK

ment and living conditions were collected from almost eight thou
sand women working in stores and factories in New York , Chicago,

Philadelphia , St. Louis, Boston , Minneapolis, and St. Paul. Sepa
rate figures are given for women living at home and women not
living at home or adrift, the terms used in the report. Figures are

given for each class showing the number earning specified amounts
per week. For the women at home the table shows occupation, age,
experience, weekly earnings, and contribution to family expenses.
For thewomen adrift data are given on occupation, age, experience,
nationality, years of schooling, earnings, grade of food and housing ,

and weekly expenditures for food and shelter. Separate figures are
given for each city included in the investigation . Separate statistics

are given for women in packing houses in Chicago and for wait
resses.

The conditions under which children leave school to go to work
are treated in Volume VII,which gives the results of an intensive
study of 622 children in Pawtucket and Woonsocket, Rhode Island ,
Plymouth and Hazleton , Pennsylvania , Columbia , South Carolina,

Columbus, Georgia , and the district surrounding Columbus. This
report contains a number of tables dealing with the social, economic,
and educational status of the children studied. The data include

school attendance, retardation, family income, and other factors
affecting this problem .
Volume VIII, which deals with juvenile delinquency and its

relation to employment, is based on a study of police court records
in Baltimore, Boston, Indianapolis, Newark, New York, Philadel
phia , and Pittsburgh . A comparison is made between thenumber of

offences committed by working and nonworking children .
The history of women in industry is the subject of Volume IX ,
the statistical portion being devoted to a compilation of the census
statistics on women wage earners for each census from 1850 to 1890 .
The statistics are classified by occupations and by industries.

Volume XIis devoted mainly to a textdiscussion of the employ

ment of women in the metal trades, the main feature of statistical
interest being figures on accidents to workers in the metal trades ,
both male and female, during 1907 by character of establishments,
class of workers, and hour of the day.

Infant mortality and its relation to the employment of mothers

is discussed Volume XIII. The data relate entirely to the city of

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

173

FallRiver and the state ofMassachusetts,the state figures relating
to 1900 to 1907 and the city figures to 1908. This report covers

all phases of the relation of infant mortality to the employment of
mothers.

Volume XIV gives analyses of the mortality records of Fall

River, Massachusetts, Manchester, New Hampshire, and Paw
tucket, Rhode Island for the years 1905 to 1907.

In Volume XVI are given statistics for fourteen cotton mill
workers' families in Fall River, Massachusetts, ten in Atlanta,
Georgia , six in Greensboro, North Carolina, and five near Burling
ton , North Carolina. The figures are for the individual families.

There is also a chapter on standards of living of Southern mill
workers.

General statistics on the employment of women and children in
industries other than those treated in the first four volumes are

given in Volume XVIII,“ Employment ofWomen and Children in
Selected Industries," which contains information on the following
industries :
Canning and preserving fruit and
vegetables.
Canning and preserving oysters.
Cigar boxes.
Cigarettes.

Hosiery and knit goods.
Jewelry.
Needles and pins.
Nuts, bolts, and screws.

Paper boxes.

Cigars.

Pottery.

Clocks and watches.
Confectionery.

Rubber and elastic goods.

Core making.

Shirts, overalls and underwear.
Stamped and enameled ware.

Corsets.
Crackers and biscuits.

Tin cans and boxes.

Hardware and metal specialties.

Woolen and worsted yarns.

Tobacco and snuff.

Like the study of the industries discussed in Volumes I to IV ,
this investigation also was designed to give a typical cross sectional
view . The number of establishments for which statistics were

secured ranged from four to sixty-five for various industries, and
the number of employees from 485 to 16 ,951. In only four indus
tries was the number of employees less than one thousand, and in
fifteen it was over two thousand , in seven over five thousand, and in

three over twelve thousand. The report contains general informa

tion on conditions of work and statistics on the following topics :
Males and famales,by age and race, during a representative week .
Conjugal condition of males and females, by ages and races.
Specified earnings of males and females of various ages during a rep

resentative week .

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While the greater part of Volume XIX , “ Labor Laws and

Factory Conditions,” is devoted to a text discussion, there is a
considerable amount of statistical material on factory conditions,
particularly with reference to individual plants. The investigation
covered 563 establishments in fifty -three industries. The tables in

the text give a summary on each topic by states for all establish
ments studied , and the general tables give figures for individual

plants. There is no general summary by industries. The establish
ments are grouped by states, data being given for each establish
ment.

Railroad Administration . During the war thenecessity for con
serving theman-power of the country resulted in the employment
of women in many occupations in which they had not previously

been engaged . This was true of the railroads as well as of the
manufacturing industries. The United States Railroad Adminis

tration issued reports for 1918 and 1919 entitled “ Number of
Women Employed and Character of their Employment,” which

gives statistics for roads having annual operating revenues in ex
cess of one million dollars. These reports show by classes of
occupations the number employed on the first of January, April,

July , and October. Figures are given for the United States,
districts, and individual roads.
Interstate Commerce Commission . In 1920, under the title
“ Employment of Women on Large Steam Roads," the Interstate
Commerce Commission issued a report on the employment of

women on railroads similar to the two published by the United
States Railroad Administration . This report differs from the

earlier ones , however, in that it does not give statistics for individ
ual roads. The summary statistics for 1918 and 1919 are repeated

in the Interstate Commerce Commission Report for 1920 , so the
earlier reports of the Railroad Administration are not needed
unless figures for individual roads are desired. It is not known
whether this report will be continued. As statistics of this character

are not available for years earlier than 1918 , it is not possible to
make a comparison with pre-war conditions.

Women's Bureau. Somestatistical studies ofwomen in industry
have been made by the Women in Industry Service and its suc

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

175

cessor, the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor. The
Women in Industry Service was organized during the war and the

Women's Bureau was created by the Act of June 5, 1920 (41 Stat.
L ., 987). The duties of this Bureau, as defined by the organic act,
are “ to formulate standards and policies which shall improve the
welfare ofwage earning women , improve their working conditions,

increase their efficiency, and advance their opportunities for profit
able employment. The said bureau shall have authority to investi

gate and report to the said department (of Labor ] upon all matters
pertaining to the welfare of women in industry.”
An interpretation of the statistics of the Census of 1920 relating

to working women is given in Bulletin 27 of the Women 's Bureau ,
entitled “ The Occupational Progress of Women,” and a graphic
presentation of themain census statistics of women in occupations

is shown in Bulletin 46, entitled “ Facts about Working Women.”
This service has not collected statistics at regular intervals and

is not likely to do so, as its statisticalwork will probably be confined

to cross section surveys of areas or industries, or the collection of
statistics regarding a particular industry in limited areas. Some
of the publicationsof a more or less statistical character, which are
typical of others, are the following :
Bulletin of the Woman in Industry Service, No. 4 , “ Wages of candy
makers in Philadelphia in 1919," is an intensive study of the employ
ment of women in the candy industry in Philadelphia and includes
data on the number of workers at various rates, working conditions,
and other topics.

“ Hours and conditions of work for women in industry in Virginia " is
the title of Bulletin 10.* This publication , which deals with conditions
in 1919 and 1920 , contains also a few scattered statistics, the greater
part of the report being devoted to comments on conditions.
Statistics relating to hours of work of women street car conductors and

ticket agents in 1921 are given in Bulletin il, entitled “ Women street
car conductors and ticket agents.”

Bulletin 12, entitled " The new position of women in American industry,"
contains statistics showing the number of men and women employed
in selected industrial plants before, during , and after the war. It is
not an exhaustive survey , but it presents data showing the extent to

which woman labor was used in certain industries as a result of

the depletion of male labor by the war.

* The bulletins of the Woman in Industry Service and the Women 's
Bureau are numbered consecutively ; Bulletin 10 and later numbers were
issued by the Women 's Bureau .

L TATISTICAL ORK
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176

The results of a study of the wages paid to women in selected industries
in thirty -one cities in Kansas are presented in Bulletin 17 , entitled

“ Women 's wages in Kansas." The figures are for the year 1920 .

Children 's Bureau . The Children 's Bureau of the Department
of Labor is concerned with the study of questions relating to child

life and a portion of its work has a statistical basis, the remainder

being descriptive and expository and dealing with such subjects as
child -labor laws, illegitimacy, and health of mothers and children .
The statistical publications of this Bureau are not issued at

regular intervals, and do not form a series covering the same field

for a number of years. Each one relates to a specific topic in a

limited area, and is a complete study for the particular period ,
topic , and area covered .
One of the early publications of the Children's Bureau was a

compilation of the statistics relating to children published by the
Census of 1910, issued as Bureau Publication No. 5, and entitled

“ Handbook of Federal Statistics of Children .” There are no new
basic statistics in this report, but there is a considerable quantity
of derivative material worked up from the figures of the census.

For the person interested especially in statistics of children there
are brought together in compact form the statistical data relating

to children that are scattered through the larger report of the
Bureau of the Census. The tables show the number of children

in the various states, in urban and rural districts, and in cities with
a population of 25,000 or over, classified by age, race, sex, nativity,
and parentage.
All of the other statistical publications of the Children's Bureau

relate to infant mortality , and embody the results of an intensive
investigation based on the births during one year in a selected
community . The basis of all these studies is the birth registration
record of themunicipality . From this record is obtained a complete

list of all births reported. Schedules are then forwarded to the
mothers, and supplemental information is obtained regarding the
number of other children living or dead, the age of the mother, the
medical care attime ofbirth , the earnings of the head of the family ,

and other facts which bear on the social and economic condition of
the family or which are related to the health or welfare of the
children .

CHAPTER XV
GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

In this chapter are discussed certain basic data on agriculture
contained mostly in the reports of the decennial censuses and not
discussed elsewhere. Other statistics dealing with agriculture

given in other portions of this volume are the following :
Production of crops, Chapter XVI.
Livestock, Chapter XVII.
Livestock products, Chapter XVIII.
Woodland on farms, page 544.

Imports and exports of farm įroducts, page 360.
Farm wages, page 166 .
Prices of farm products, page 448 .

Marketing, pages 427 -434.

Number of persons engaged in agricultural pursuits, Chapter VII.

Data on certain lines of business or industries, such as the grain
trade and the fertilizer industry, which have a bearing on agricul
ture, are discussed on pages 288 to 309, 315, and 319.
A mass of statisticalmaterial dealing with agricultural conditions

is contained in Part I of the report of the Joint Commission of

Agricultural Inquiry, prepared in 1921,entitled “ The Agricultural
Crisis and its Causes,” published as House Report 408,67th Con
gress, ist Session . The greater part of this material is available in
other publications discussed in this volume, but there are some data
from private sources and some government data not heretofore

published. The list of chapters given below indicate the statistical
material:
1. The farmer' s dollar in 1920 -21.

2. The relation of prices of agricultural commodities to prices of other
commodities.

3 . Relative growth of agriculture and other industries in quantity pro
duction .
4 . Wages and incomes in agriculture and other industries .

5. The break in prices in different countries and industries.
6 . Was the break in farm prices due to overproduction of farm products ?

7. Exports and imports of farm products and their effect upon prices.
8 . Production and consumption of farm products and their relation to
prices.

9 . Factors influencing cost of production.
13

177

178

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

10. Farm mortgages.

II. Farm tenancy.
12. Transportation .
13. Retail prices.

The Census statistics relating to general agricultural conditions

are found in the late reports only . Asregards the topics referred to
under this heading, the report of the Seventh Census ( 1850 ),
showed the area of improved and unimproved land and the valueof
farmsand of implements. The report of the Eighth Census ( 1860)
entitled “ Agriculture of the United States in 1860 " gave figures on
the number of farms, the area of improved and unimproved land
in farms, the value of farms, the value of farming implements and

machinery, the size of farms, and the number of slaveholders and
slaves. At the Ninth Census (1870 ) the agricultural statistics

were published in Volume III, entitled “ Statistics of the Wealth
and Industry of the United States.” This volume contained figures
on area of land in farms, subdivided into improved land , woodland,
and other unimproved land , on value of farms, on value of farm

ing implements and machinery, and on the size of farms.
The results of the Tenth Census were published in the volume
entitled “ Report on the Production of Agriculture.” This report
gave figures on the number of farms, area of improved land and of
unimproved land in farms, value of lands, fences, and buildings,
value of implements and machinery, value of livestock , size of
farms, and tenure. At the Eleventh Census ( 1890 ) the Statistics
were essentially the sameas those ofthe Tenth Census. They were
published in the volume entitled “ Report on the Statistics of

Agriculture in the United States.” At the Twelfth Census (1900) ,
the statistics here considered were published in Volume V , entitled

“ Agriculture, Part I, Farms, Livestock and Animal Products."
This report gave statistics on number of farms, on size of all farms,
number and size of farms operated by white and colored farmers,
on tenure, with many classifications, on value of land and improve
ments (except buildings), on value of buildings, on value of im
plements and machinery, and on value of livestock .
The general agricultural statistics for the Thirteenth Census
( 1910 ) were published in the same volumes as the figures on pro
duction of crops and number of livestock. In the general report

(Vol. V ), the discussion is by topics, each chapter giving general
and state statistics on the topic discussed. In the state reports

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

179

(Vols. VI and VII) are published all the statistics relating to each
state as well as detailed statistics for counties. At the end of
Volume V there is also a general table giving statistics by counties.
The agricultural statistics of the Fourteenth Census (1920 ) are

given in Volumes V and VI, Volume VI being in three parts.
Statistics on irrigation and drainage are given in Volume VII. The
data dealing with general agricultural conditions and with produc

tion in the United States and the several states are given in Volume
V ; each part of Volume VIalso contains a summary for the United
States and for the North, the South, and the West. The detailed
figures by state and counties are divided among the three parts of
Volume VI as follows:
Part 1.— THE NORTHERN States.
New England Division .
Maine.
New Hampshire.
Vermont.

Massachusetts.
Rhode Island.
Connecticut.
Middle Atlantic Division .
New York .
New Jersey.
Pennsylvania.

East North Central Division .
Ohio .
Indiana.
Illinois.

Michigan .
Wisconsin .
West North Central Division .
Minnesota.

Iowa.
Missouri.
North Dakota.
South Dakota .
Nebraska .
Kansas.

Part 2. — THE SOUTHERN STATES.

South Atlantic Division .
Delaware.

Maryland .
District of Columbia .
Virginia .
West Virginia .

North Carolina .

South Carolina.
Georgia.

Florida .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Part 2.— THE SOUTHERN STATES — Continued.
East South Central Division .
Kentucky.
Tennessee.
Alabama.
Mississippi.

West South Central Division .
Arkansas.
Louisiana.
Oklahoma.

Texas.
Part 3.-- THE WESTERN STATES AND OUTLYING Possessions.
Mountain Division .
Montana.
Idaho .

Wyoming

Colorado.
New Mexico.
Arizona.

Utah .
Nevada .

Pacific Division .
Washington .
Oregon .
California.

Outlying Possessions.
Alaska
Hawaii.
Porto Rico.
Guam .
American Samoa .
Panama Canal Zone.

The general statistics on agriculture relate to the date on which
the census was taken . This date has varied at recent censuses,

being June 1 in 1900, April 1 in 1910, and January 1 in 1920. The

variation in the date has little effect on the comparability of the
general statistics.
It should beborne in mind that the census reports on agriculture
do not give any details regarding the entire mass of the people

engaged in agricultural pursuits. The persons referred to as
farmers in Volumes V and VI are those who operate farms, the

total number of operators being the same as the total number of
farms. Volumes V and VI do not contain any information on

agricultural laborers, such data as are available for this class of the

population being given in Volume IV , Occupations. The total
number of operators, for which data are given in Volumes V and

VI, is over 6,000,000, but the total number of persons over 10 years

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

181

of age employed in agricultural pursuits was over 10 ,000,000. A

comparison of the figures in Volume IV with those in Volumes

V and VI will indicate the extent to which the agricultural popula
tion operates farms or works by the day or week .

At the Fourteenth Census, for the first time a count was made
of the persons actually living on farms. These figures, which are

given in Volume V and the Abstract, include all persons living on
farms, regardless of whether they were actually engaged in farm
work ; they do not include persons living in towns or villages who
may be engaged in agriculture. The figures are classified according

to race and color, age, and sex . A schedule showing the classifica
tion is given on page 23.
The farm in the census statistics is the land directly farmed by

one person managing and conducting agricultural operations, either
by his own labor or with the assistance ofmembers of his household
or hired employees. The farm may consist of one tract of land or

a number of separate tracts. However, if the land owner has one
or more tenants , croppers, renters, or managers , the land operated
by each is considered a farm . All tracts used for agricultural
operations with an area ofmore than three acres were regarded as
farmsat the Census of 1920 , regardless of the value of the products.
Tracts of less than three acres were regarded as farms if they pro

duced at least $ 250 worth of farm products in 1919, or required
for their agricultural operations the continuous services of at least

one person. A more detailed description of the definition of the
term at the Census of 1920 and previous censuses is given on pages
14 to 16 of Volume V of the reports of the Fourteenth Census.
Farms and Farm Property . The distribution of farm land and

the value of land and improvements are classified under the follow
ing heads:
Value of farm property.
Total.
Land .
Buildings.

Number of farms,
Acreage of farms.
Total.
Improved land.

Livestock .

Woodland.

Implements and machinery.

Other unimproved land.

General statistics by the United States, divisions, and states are
given in the chapter devoted to farms and farm property in Vol

umes V and VI; statistics by counties are given also in Volume
' For list of geographic divisions see page 179.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

VI. Other more detailed statistics on farm property are analyzed
under the discussion of the following classifications on the pages
cited :
Size of farms, page 185.

Tenure of operators, page 183.
Race, color, and nativity of operators, page 186 .
Country of birth of foreign born white operators, page 187 .

Sex of operators, page 187.
Age of operators, page 188 .

Farm Tenure. The statistics on farm tenure differentiate be

tween three classes of farm operators : ( 1) Owners, (2) hired
managers, and (3) tenants. In some of the tables a further dis
tinction is made between owners who operate their own land
only and those who hire additional land , while tenants are sub

divided into three groups (five groups in the South ), according to
the method of paying their rent. The three classesof tenants which
are shown separately for the North and the West are share tenants,
share-cash tenants, and cash tenants. For the South , in 1920,
croppers were separated from the other share tenants ;and standing

renters were shown separately from cash tenants.
The several tenure classes used in the 1920 census reports have
been defined as follows: 2

Farm owners include ( 1) farmers operating their own land only
and ( 2) those operating in addition to their own land some land
hired from others. The latter are sometimes designated part

owners, the term full owners being then used for those owning all
the land they farm .

Farm managers are farmers operating a farm for the owner for
wages or a salary .

Farm tenants are farmers who as tenants , renters, or croppers,
operate only rented land.

They were reported in 1920 in five

classes : ( 1 ) Share tenants — those who pay a certain share of the
products, as one-half , one-third, or one-quarter, for the use of the
farm , but furnish their own work animals ; ( 2 ) croppers

share tenants whose work animals are furnished by their landlords ;
( 3 ) share-cash tenants — those who pay a share of the products for
a part of the land and cash for a part ; (4 ) cash tenants — those who
pay a cash rental, as $ 7 per acre of crop land or $ 500 for the use of

the whole farm ; (5 ) standing renters — those who pay a stated
amount of farm products for the use of the farm , as 3 bales of
cotton or 500 bushels of corn . In some cases the character of the
* Fourteenth Census, Vol. V , p. 121.

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

183

tenancy was not indicated on the schedule ; such tenants are shown
in the tables as “ unspecified .”

In censuses prior to 1920 the question of assigning the tenure
classification of the farmer was left largely to the enumerator,
who was supplied with a set of more or less specific definitions. In

1920 a new method was adopted, and in place of requiring any
tenure classification by the enumerator, six simple and direct
questions relating to tenure were placed on the schedule , and the
tenure classification of the farmer was determined in the office on

the basis of the replies to those questions.
Statistics classified by owners, managers, and tenants, without

further subdivision, are given for the following :
Area of farms and improved land, United States, divisions, and states.
(Vol. VI; Abstract) ; counties (Vol. VI.)
Value of farm land and buildings, United States, divisions, states, and
counties. (Voi. VI.)

Number of domestic animals — horses, mules, all cattle , dairy cows, sheep ,
and swine, United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)

Value of domestic animals — horses, mules, all cattle, sheep, and swine,
United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Owners, managers and tenants.
Value of farm property : Total; land ; buildings ; implements and

machinery ; livestock ; United States, divisions, and states (Ab
stract ) .

Statistics for all owners , full owners, part owners, managers,
all tenants, share tenants , share-cash tenants, and cash tenants are
given on the following topics :
Number of farms, United States, divisions and states (Vol. V, Vol. VI,
Abstract) ; counties (Vol. VI) .
Area of farms and of improved land, United States, divisions, and states.
(Vol. V ) .

Value of farm property : Total; land ; buildings ; implements and mach

inery ; and live stock , United States, divisions, and states (Vol. V ) !

Additional statistics by tenure are analyzed on pages cited
below , on which the following classifications are discussed :
Sex of operators, page 187.
Race, color, and nativity of operators, page 186 .

Country of birth of foreign born white, of operators, page 187.
Age of operators, page 188 .
Years of operators on farm , page 188.
Amount of livestock , page 225.
* For Southern states share tenants divided into share tenants proper and
croppers ; cash tenants are divided into cash tenants proper and standing
renters.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
A discussion of the significance of the figures of the 1920 Census
relating to tenure is given in Monograph IV of the Bureau of the
Census, entitled “ Farm Tenancy in the United States,” by E . A .
Goldenweiser and Leon E . Truesdell. While the detailed statistics
are those of the census, the text is supplemented by pertinent data
from other sources. Themain topics discussed in the text of this
publication are the following :
184

Growth of farm tenancy ; 1880 to 1920 .
Significance of increase in tenant farms and leased land.
Tenancy and type of farming.

Geographic distribution of tenancy.
Tenancy and farm values.
Tenancy and the speculative element in land ownership.
Race and nativity of farm tenants.
Tenancy and farm increase.
Relation of age to tenure.

Relation of age to size of farm .
Relation of experience to tenure.
Mortality among tenants and graduation into ownership.
Types of tenancy.
Stability of tenancy.

In connection with each of the above topics are summary statis
tics generally applying to the United States as a whole, although
there are some which contain details by states. At the end of the
volume are more detailed tables giving the following data :
and
Share

-cash
share
tenants

-cash
Share

tenants

tenants
All

Managers

Owners

Owners

Classification

man
and
agers

SCHEDULE OF DETAILED TABLES ON TENURE IN CENSUS MONOGRAPH 4.
[C , County ; D , Division ; S , State.]

Number of farms.. . . .. . .

Area of all land, and of improved
land in farms. . . .
Value of lands, buildings, implements

and machinery, live stock , and all
farm property . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .

Age groups of operators ... .. .. .. . ..
Native white, foreign born white, and
colored operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
· Separate figures for those owning entire farm and those owning additional land.

Cropper

renters

Cash tenants
Cash
tenants

|All

Classification

Share
tenants
proper

Share tenants

185
proper
Standing

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

of all land, and of improved
Area
land farms. .. .. . . . . . . .

in

Number of farms.. ... ....
Value of lands, buildings, implements
and machinery, live stock , and all
farm property .. . .. . .. .. .

DS

in

.......

DS

|DS

DS

DS

DS

Including unspecified.

Size of Farms. Size was first used in the Census of 1860 in the
the censuses of 1860 and 1870 was based on the area of improved
general statistics of agriculture, but the size classification used at

land rather than on the total farm acreage. The size groupings
used in the reports of the Fourteenth Census, here called size
groupings A to E , although not so termed in the census reports,
are as follows:
Size grouping A .
Size grouping C — Continued.
Under 20 acres.
100 to 174 acres.

20 to 49 acres.
50 to 99 acres.
100 to 174 acres.
175 to 499 acres.
500 to 999 acres.
1000 acres and over.
Size grouping B .
Under 10 acres.

Under 3 acres.
3 to 9 acres.
10 to 19 acres.
20 to 49 acres.

50 to 99 acres.
100 to 499 acres.
100 to 174 acres.
175 to 259 acres.
260 to 499 acres.
500 to 999 acres.
1000 acres and over .
Size grouping C .
Under 3 acres.
3 to 9 acres.
10 to 19 acres.
20 to 49 acres.

50 to 99 acres.

175 to 259 acres.
260 to 499 acres.
500 to 999 acres.

1000 acres and over.
Size grouping D .
Under 20 acres.
20 to 49 acres.

50 to 99 acres.

100 to 174 acres.
175 to 499 acres.

500 acres and over.
Size grouping E .
Under 20 acres.
Under 3 acres.
3 to 9 acres.

10 to 19 acres.
20 to 49 acres.
50 to 99 acres.
100 to 174 acres.

175 to 499 acres.
175 to 259 acres.

260 to 499 acres.
500 to 999 acres.
1000 acres and over.

AL ORK
W

NATIONAL STATISTIC

186

The data shown for the several size groupingsare as follows:
Size grouping A .
Number of farms, area of farms, improved land in farms— United
States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V ; Abstract.)

Value of farm property : Total; land ; buildings ; implements ; ma

chinery ; livestock _ United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Value of farm property : Total; land and buildings ; implements and
machinery ; livestock — United States, divisions, and states. (Ab
stract.)

Number of domestic animals : Horses ; mules ; all cattle ; dairy cows;
sheep ; swine - United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Value of domestic animals : Horses, mules ; all cattle ; sheep ; swine
United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)

Size grouping B ~ Number of farms— United States, divisions, and states.
(Vol. V .)

Size grouping C --Number of farms— Counties . (Vol. VI.)
Size grouping D - Number of farms— United States, divisions, and states.
(Vol. VI.)

Size grouping E – Number of farms— States. (Vol. VI.)
Race and Nativity of Farm Operators. The race and nativity

of farm operators are given according to the following classifi
cations :
Race and nativity of farm operators _ United States, divisions, and states.
(Vol. VI.)

Number of farms: Classified by white and colored farmers and by tenure
United States, divisions, states. (Vol. V .)
All land in farms and improved land in farms; classified by white and

colored farmers, and by tenure : _ United States and divisions. (Vol. V .)
All land in farms and improved land in farms, classified by white and
colored farmers and by tenure, — United States and states. (Vol. V .)

Number of farms: Total land in farms, improved land in farms, classi

fied by white and colored farmers, and by tenure - United States, divi
sions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Value of farm property : Total; land ; buildings ; implements and machin

ery ; livestock, classified by white and colored farmers and by tenure United States and divisions. (Vol. V .)

* Divided as follows: Owners and managers ; owners ; full owners ; part
owners ; managers ; tenants ; share and share-cash tenants ; share tenants ;
share-cash tenants ; cash and unspecified tenants ; cash tenants ; unspecified
tenants.

Divided as follows : Owners ; full owners ; part owners ; managers ;
tenants ; share and share-cash tenants ; cash and unspecified tenants.

Divided as follows : Owners, managers, tenants.
' Divided as follows: Owners ; full owners ; part owners ; managers ; ten
ants ; share tenants including croppers ; share tenants proper ; croppers ;
share-cash tenants ; cash tenants including standing renters ; cash tenants
proper ; standing renters ; unspecified .

* Divided as foliows: Owners ; full owners ; part owners ; managers ;
tenants ; share and share-cash tenants; cash and unspecified tenants.

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

187

Number of domestic animals : Horses ;mules; all cattle ; dairy cows ; sheep ;
swine, classified by white and colored farmers and by tenure ' _ United
States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)

Value of domestic animals: Horses, mules ; all cattle ; sheep ; swine, classi
fied by white and colored farmers and by tenure ' - United States, divi

sions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Number of farm operators by color, nativity, and tenure — United States,
divisions, and states. (Vol. V . )
Area of all land in farms and of improved land in farms, by color 10 and
nativity " and tenure -- United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Value of farms, by color, nativity," and tenure of operator - United States,

divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)

Negro, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese farm operators, by tenure – United
States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Area and value of farms operated by negroes, Indians, Chinese, and Japa
nese United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
White foreign born operators, by separate countries of birth and tenure '
United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Area of lands in farms, area improved land in farms, value of farms oper
ated by foreign born white farmers, by separate countries of birth and
by tenure - United States, and divisions. (Vol. V .)
Separate countries of birth of foreign born white farm operators United
States, divisions, and states. (Vol. VI.)

Area of land in farms, by race and nativity, for United States, divisions,
and states. (Vol. VI.)

Area of land in farms and of improved land in farms and value of farms
operated by foreign born white persons, by separate countries of birth
United States, divisions, and states. ( Vol. V .)

Color and nativity of all farmers, of owners, and of tenants, by countries.
(Vol. VI.)

Sex of Farm Operators. Data on the sex of farmers were first

tabulated for the Census of 1920, the classification showing number
of farmers , area of all land in farms, area of improved land in

farms, and value of lands and buildings ; all the foregoing being
subdivided into the three classes of owners, operators , and tenants.
Figures are given for the United States, divisions, and states
in Volume V .

In each part of Volume VI are given figures for the United
States, divisions and states, showing sex of owners, operators, and

tenants, and average area operated by male and females.
Volume VI also shows the sex of farm operators in each state
and county, the northern states being in Part I, the southern

states in Part 2, and the western states in Part 3.
Divided as follows: Owners, managers, tenants.

1 White and colored ; colored including all nonwhite.
* Divided into native white and foreign born white.

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· NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Age of Farm Operators. The periods used in age statistics of
farmers are those under 25, four ten -year periods for 25 to 64,

and those 65 years and over. The data are classified as follows :
Age, color and tenure," for United States, divisions, and states. (Vol. V .)
Age, without further subdivision , for United States, divisions, and states.

(Vol. VI. )

Atthe Census of 1910 the data on age of farmers were published

in the special bulletin entitled “ Age of Farmers, by Color of

Operator, Character of Tenure, and Size of Farm ."
Years on Farm . Data on the stability of farm operators are
presented by the figures showing the number of years on the par
ticular farm occupied when the censuswas taken . The periods used
in the compilations are less than one year, I year, 2 to 4 years,
5 to 9 years, and 10 years and over . The data are shown in
Volume V according to the following classifications :
Color and tenure- all owners, full owners, part owners, managers, all ten
ants, share and share- cash tenants, and cash and unspecified tenants for

the United States, divisions, and states.
Color and tenure - all tenants , share tenants, share tenants proper, crop
pers, share-cash tenants , cash tenants, cash tenants proper, and stand

ing renters, for the United States, divisions, and states.

Volume VI contains one table for the United States, divisions,
and states, indicating number of years on farm without regard to
color or tenure. Data dealing with the number of years on farms
were first collected at the Census of 1910, but they were not printed

in the general report, being given in a special publication under the

title “ Stability of Farm Operators, or Term of Occupancy of
Farms."

Farm Experience . Data on farm experience were first collected
at the Census of 1920 . For both owners and tenants classes of
experience were recognized and tabulated as follows :
For owners :
Experience as

Owner, tenant and wage earner.
Owner and wage earner .
Owner and tenant.
Owner only .

12All owners ; full owners without encumbrance ; full owners ; mortgaged ;

part owners ; managers ; all tenants ; share and share-cash tenants ; cash and
unspecified tenants.

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

189

For tenants :
Experience asm
Tenant wage earner and owner
Tenant and wage earner .
Tenant and owner.
Tenant only.

The extent of the experience is divided into nine five-year

groups, with a single group for those having experience of 45
years or over.
Figures are given in Volume V for the United States, divisions,
and states, showing the experience of owners and tenants by the
time periods and the classes of experience outlined above ; and

there is also a further analysis showing for the United States,
divisions, and states, according to length of present tenure, the

following facts :
Operators.
Number of owners.
Number of tenants.
Average age.
Owners.

Tenants.
Owners reporting experience as owner, tenant, and wage earner.
Number.
Average age.
Average farm experience .
Total.
As owner .
As tenant .
As wage earner .

Tenants reporting experience as tenant and wage earner.
Number.
Average age.

Average farm experience.
Total.

As tenant.

As wage earner.

Farm Mortgages. The data on farm mortgages relate only to
debt secured by mortgages on real estate , and do not include

indebtedness secured by chattels, crops,or collateral security . They
also refer to farms operated by the owners and give no information

regarding indebtedness on rented farms. Statistics are given ac
cording to the following classifications:
For United States, divisions and states.
Farms mortgaged and free from mortgage, (Vol. V ; VI; Abstract.)
Farmsmortgaged and free from mortgage, classified by full ownership

and part ownership . (Vol. V ; Abstract.)

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

For United States, divisions and states — Continued.

Mortgage debt and value of land and buildings. (Vol. V ; Vol. VI ;
Abstract. )

Number of farms and amount of mortgage debt at several rates of
interest, namely : less than 4, between 4 and 5, 5, between 5 and
572 ; 572 ; between 572 and 6 ; 6 ; between 6 and 6 /2 ; between 6 /2
and 7 ; 7 ; between 7 and 8 ; 8 ; between 8 and 10 ; 10 ; over 10 .
(Vol. V .)
Amount of mortgage debt at several rates of interest, namely, less
than 5 ; 5 ; between 5 and 6 ; 6 ; between 6 and 7 ; 7 ; between 7 and
8 ; 8 ; more than 8. (Abstract.)
Annual interest charge, classified by rate of interest less than 5 ; 5 ;
between 5 and 6 ; 6 ; between 6 and 7 ; 7 ; between 7 and 8 ; 8 ; more
than 8 . (Vol. 5. )

Amount of mortgage debt classified by value of farmsless than $ 2,500 ;
$ 2,500 to $ 4,999 ; $ 5 ,000 to $ 9,999 ; $ 5,000 to $ 7,499 ; $ 7,500 to $ 9,999 ;
$ 10,000 to $49,999 in 8 groups of $5,000 increase each ; $ 50,000 and
over. (Vol. V .)
For counties.

Farms mortgaged and free, value of land and buildings, amount of
mortgage debt ; average rate of interest. (Vol. VI. )

Announcement has been made that the subject of farm mortgages
will be treated in one of themonographs of the Fourteenth Census.
Farm Expenses. The last two censuseshave collected figures on
the expenditure for feed, and the last three censuses on the outlay
for labor and fertilizer, the labor item being divided into cash and
the value of rent and board furnished . Data are given for the

United States, divisions, and states in Volume V , Volume VI, and
the Abstract, and for counties in Volume VI.
Coöperative Marketing and Purchasing . Census inquiries re
garding the extent of coöperative marketing and purchasing were
firstmade at the Census of 1920 , and were limited to the total value
of sales and purchases made through coöperative organizations.

Figures are given for the United States, divisions, and states , in
Volumes V and VI and the Abstract.

Farm Facilities. At the Fourteenth Census ( 1920 ) statistics
were collected for the first time showing the farm use of automo

biles,motor trucks, tractors, telephones, water supply systems,and
gas or electric light. For automobiles , motor trucks, and tractors

there are shown both the number of farmsand the number of vehi
cles reported. The number of farmsonly is given for those report
ing telephones, water piped into the house, and the use of gas or
electric light. Statistics are given for the United States, divisions,

and states in Volume V and VI and the Abstract. The Agricul

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

191

tural Census of 1925 contains an inquiry on the use of radio receiv
ing sets.
Irrigation . The first statistics of irrigation were those collected
at the Eleventh Census (1890 ) and published in the monograph

entitled “ Report on Agriculture by Irrigation in the Western
Part of the United States.” This report was issued separately and
was also included in the volume with the title “ Agriculture, Irri
gation and Fisheries.”

The statistics collected at the Twelfth

Census (1900 ) were published in Volume VI, “ Agriculture, Part
II, Crops and Irrigation .” These statistics were very general, how

ever, and in 1902, by direction of Congress the Bureau of the
Census made a special compilation of statistics relating to irrigation ,

the results of which were published as Bulletin 16 , with the title
“ Irrigation in the United States : 1902.” The results of the in

quiries regarding irrigation madeat the Thirteenth Census (1910)
are given in Volume V of the reports, entitled “ Agriculture
General Report and Analysis.” The statistics collected at the Four
teenth Census ( 1920 ) are contained in Volume VII of the reports,
entitled " Irrigation and Drainage.” This volume contains a general

discussion of the results of irrigation , a summary for the United

States as a whole, and detailed statistics for the several states in
which irrigation is practiced. The data included the following :
Number of farms.
Area irrigated, classified by character of enterprises ; 13 by kind of water
supply , and by drainage basins.

Area capable of being irrigated from existing works and included in
existing enterprises.
Capital invested.
Cost of operation and maintenance.

Quantity of water used .
Figures on number of diversion and storage dams; number and capacity
of reservoirs, flowing wells, and pumped wells ; number , capacity, and

length of lateral ditches; length of pipe lines ; number and capacity
of pumping plants and pumps.

Acreage, yield and value of principal crops.

Drainage of irrigated land.
For the several counties data are given on the number of farms
irrigated, the area irrigated , the area capable of being irrigated
13 The classification by character of enterprise is according to the method
by which the works were built or managed , and is as follows: U . S .
Reclamation projects ; U . S . Indian Service projects ; Carey Act projects ;
irrigation districts ; coöperative projects ; commercial projects ; individual
and partnership projects.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

from existing works ; the area included in irrigation enterprises; the
number, length , and capacity of main ditches ; the number and

length of laterals; the number and capacity of reservoirs, flowing
wells, and pumping plants ; the capital invested ; the estimated final
cost; area available for settlement,with price and terms.
In addition to the statistics the reports contain a summary of the
law of each state relating to water rights.
The following comments on the method of collecting information
are quoted from the census report : 14

The plan adopted formaking the canvass for irrigation provided
that the regular census enumerators should obtain from the persons

controlling irrigation enterprises schedules representing small
enterprises watering from one to three farms at the same time that

they made the canvass for population and agriculture ; and that
special agents should obtain schedules for the larger enterprises and
any small ones missed by the enumerators, after the canvass by the

enumerators was finished. This plan was followed , and proved
quite satisfactory.
. . . There is no way in which the completeness of the canvass
can be determined with absolute certainty, since there are no exact

records against which returns can be checked . Both supervisors and
enumerators, and most of the special agents, were local people who
should know of the existence of all enterprises ; in the sections

covered by the irrigation canvass almost all enumerators and all
special agents were working on a per diem salary and consequently
would not be tempted to omit enterprises difficult of access ; the
farm schedule contained inquiries as to irrigation enterprises from
which water was obtained, and all irrigation schedules were checked

against the farm schedules to see that schedules were received for
all enterprises shown on the farm schedules. In view of all these
facts, it is believed that the canvass for irrigation was approxi
mately complete.

As an offset to errors due to omissions, there is the possibility of
duplication . Some farms receive water from more than one enter
prise, and there is the possibility that they will be included in the
areas served by all the enterprises from which they receive water ;
some enterprises extend into more than one county or state, and
they may be reported more than once ; and again , some enterprises
are known by more than one name and may be reported more than
once. Great care was exercised to eliminate duplication, and such
as occurs tends to compensate for any incompleteness in the canvass
that may have occurred .

* Fourteenth Census, Vol. VII, pp. 9 - 11.

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

193

The degree of probability of error on account of lack of knowl
edge of the facts varies considerably with the different inquiries

on the irrigation schedule and the different classes of enterprises.
The inquiries which serve for classifying the data , namely ,
source of water supply, character of enterprise, and character of
water rights — should be correctly answered since it is probable that

the owners of practically all enterprises,largeand small,have exact
knowledge on these points.

With regard to many of the points covered by the description of
irrigation works, there will be a lack of exact knowledge. This is
particularly true of capacities of the smaller reservoirs, and the

capacities of wells, pumps, and engines. Most of the owners of
pumps and engines should know the capacities atwhich their pumps
and engines were rated by their manufacturers, but, in many

instances, these ratings vary widely from that attained in actual
practice. Most wells have never been tested beyond the capacities

of the pumps being used in them , and it is probable that in only a
small percentage of cases have the volumes pumped been measured .
Therefore, the reported capacities of pumped wells represent the
owners' estimates of what has been pumped from them , based on

the rated capacities of the pumps used, not the volumeof water that
can be pumped from them , as determined by tests or measurements.
The owners of the small individual and partnership irrigation
enterprises are likely to have quite accurate knowledge of the areas
irrigated in 1919, since they are also the users of the water. The
officials of the organized enterprises are not so likely to know the

exact areas irrigated, since their records show , generally , only the
areas for which the water users are entitled to receive water or do

receive water, and not what is done with the water delivered.
Usually in the larger enterprises farmers obtain rights to water

for their entire farms, while it is seldom that a farmer actually
applies water to his whole farm . For these reasons there will be a
tendency for the areas reported to exceed the areas actually

irrigated .
The statements as to area to which enterprises were capable of
supplying water in 1920 are estimates, based on the condition of the
works and the expected water supply . Here, also , there is a
tendency for the area reported to exceed that for which water is

actually available.

The area included in enterprises represents the estimates of
promoters and , no doubt, it is greater than the area to which the

enterprises reporting will be able to supply water when they are
completed .

The area of irrigated land available for settlement represents
the estimates made by officials of enterprises of the area to be
irrigated by their enterprises that is not included in farmsalready

settled. There is some tendency toward overestimates in this item .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

For capital invested in irrigation enterprises, the amounts re
ported for the individual and partnership enterprises are almost
all estimates. The larger parts of the works of such enterprises
were built by the owners or their predecessors without any records

of expenditures ofmoney or time, and the same is true ofmany of
the coöperative enterprises. It is probable that the estimates for
many of these enterprises are too small. The amounts reported for
the larger enterprises are much more likely to be based on records
and , therefore, to be much more accurate. The totals ought to be
approximately correct , with a slight tendency to be too small.
For many enterprises the cost of operation and maintenance was

not reported and no attempts to estimate this cost weremade. It is
probable , therefore, that the cost that is reported is based on records

and is correct. In tables showing this item the areas represented
are shown in order that the reader may form his own judgment as
to the value of the averages given.
The same condition exists with reference to the data relating to

the quantity of water used . No estimates have been made for enter

prises for which this item was not reported , and the data represent
ing estimates and those representing measurements are shown

separately . In every case the area represented is given to serve as
an index to the value of the averages.
The areas for which drains have been installed should be accur
ate , but the additional area in need of drainage is in the nature of

things, an estimate, based on the opinion of the person supplying
the information .

The returns for irrigated crops were taken from the farm sched
ules . These schedules contained inquiries as to whether any crops
were irrigated and whether any crops were grown without irri
gation and called for the area irrigated, in case any crops were irri
gated . Enumerators were instructed to mark the crops that were
irrigated , but there were many schedules reporting irrigated land
on which the enumerators had marked no crops as being irrigated .
Clerks were instructed to mark as irrigated , on such schedules , the

crops most likely to have been irrigated in the sections from which
the schedules came. Under these conditions, the reports for irri
gated crops are not satisfactory, particularly as to total areas and
yields. The areas correctly reported are sufficiently large to make
average yields quite reliable. The values of irrigated crops are com
puted from the reported yields and average values per unit supplied
by the Bureau of Crop Estimates of the United States Department
of Agriculture.
The magnitude of the work and the speed with which it must
be done preclude any checking by the agents of the bureau of the
correctness of the information given by owners or officials of
irrigation enterprises. The time and expense involved in making
surveys to determine irrigated areas and in checking accounts to

GENERAL AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS

195

determine capital invested would be so great that such courses are
out of the question .
The schedules were all examined in the bureau for errors made
by enumerators, and in cases in which questions applicable to the
enterprises represented were not answered , and in cases in which
answers that appeared to be unreasonable were given , letters were
written to those supplying information asking them for additional
information . Answers that seemed reasonable were not questioned .
While enumerators may have made mistakes in entering such
answers there is no way in which these mistakes can be detected ,
and it is not believed that they are numerous enough to affect the

general accuracy of the results .

Annual statistics relating to the irrigation projects constructed
by the government are given in the annual reports of the Bureau of
Reclamation ," which has charge of this work . In addition to the
administrative statistics which relate to the operation of the service ,

this report shows the area under irrigation, the value of crops, the
amount of water supplied , and the sources of water supply. Sum

mary figures on various aspects of government reclamation work
from 1902 to 1923 are given in the report to the Secretary of the
Interior of the Committee of Special Advisers on Reclamation ,

published as Senate Document 92, 68th Congress, ist Session.
This publication contains also a review of the development and

problemsof federal reclamation work.
Drainage. No provision was made for obtaining data on drainage

prior to the Census of 1920 . The act providing for the Fourteenth
Census specified that “ inquiries shall bemade as to the quantity of
land reclaimed by . . . drainage and the crops produced ; also as
to the location and character of drainage enterprises, and the capital

invested in such enterprises.” The results of the enumeration are
published in Volume VII of the Fourteenth Census reports, entitled
“ Irrigation and Drainage.”

The data presented in the drainage report include the following
for the United States, the several states, and counties :
Number of farms having drainage.
Number of farms needing drainage.

Area provided with drainage.
Area needing drainage and clearing.
Capital invested.

Classification of land in drainage enterprises.
* Called Reclamation Service from its beginning to 1923.

AL

196

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WORK

Drainage works constructed .
Principal crops reported .
Cost per acre.

Development of land.
The report contains also a summary of the laws governing the

organization and administration of drainage districts in the several
states.

The following comment is quoted from the report of the Four
teenth Census : 16
In gathering these statistics, some difficulties have been encount
ered incident to a new investigation , and some due to the nature of

an improvement that is partly hidden beneath the ground surface
and that usually operates more or less effectively for a few years,

at least, without expenses or attention , . . . It is believed , how
ever, that the information obtained gives a reasonably acurate idea
of the amount of farm land provided with artificial drainage; also
of the extent and condition of land in enterprises organized for
securing drainage in units of considerable size, which are larger
than individuals could undertake and which affect many land

owners ; of the utilization of that land for agriculture ; of the nature
and extent of the drainage improvement works of those enter
prises ; and of the captital invested in them . . . .
The information regarding number of farms and farm acreage
provided with artificial drainage or needing drainage, and the num
ber of farmsin drainage and levee districts, was obtained from the
farm operators as a part of the general agricultural information by
the enumerators who visited every farm .
The statistics relating to organized enterprises were secured on
a special drainage schedule by special agents , except that enumer
ators were instructed to secure those schedules in the more remote
sections where it was expected that few or no drainage enterprises

would be found . The information relating to the enterprises was
obtained from a present or former official of each enterprise , or
from some landowner having personal knowledge of the under
taking ,wherever practicable. Where a county board or somecounty
official serves as the executive authority for all or a large number of

drainage enterprises in the county , as is provided by the laws of
several states, it was necessary that the statistics be compiled by the
special agents from county records and other available sources.
This information was verified as far as possible by consultation with
county officials and with other persons having knowledge of drain
age in the locality.
19 Fourteenth Census, Vol. VII, pp. 347- 348

CHAPTER XVI
PRODUCTION OF CROPS

Statistics of crop production are collected every five years by
the Bureau of the Census, and estimatesare made annually during
the growing season and after harvest by the Bureau of Agricultural

Economics of the Department of Agriculture.
Decennial Census Statistics. A general census of agriculture
has been taken every ten years since 1840 in connection with the
regular decennial census of population . The data collected during

recent censuses include not only crop and livestock production,
but also figures on the size of farms, value of farm property, mort

gages, tenure, etc . The crop statistics are discussed on the pages
that immediately follow , the other statistics being treated under
other headings. For recent censuses many of the chapters have

been issued separately , and the agricultural statistics for each state
have been issued in separate form . The reports of the several
censuses of agriculture are as follows:
Sixth Census: 1840 .
Statistics of the United States of America .
Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of
the United States.

Seventh Census: 1850 .
Seventh Census of the United States.

Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.
Abstract of the Seventh Census, 1850.

Eighth Census : 1860.
Agriculture in the United States in 1860 .
Preliminary report of the Eighth Census.
Ninth Census : 1870.

Statistics of the wealth and industry of the United States.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.

Statistical atlas of the United States.

* Size of farms, value of farm property, tenure, etc., are discussed under
general agricultural conditions on pages 177 - 195 ; livestock is discussed on
page 221.
197

L

198

NATIONA

CAL

STATISTI

WORK

Tenth Census : 1880.

Vol. III. Statistics of agriculture.
Compendium of the Tenth Census.
Eleventh Census : 1890.

Report on statistics of agriculture in the United States.'
Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part III.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Twelfth Census : 1900 .
Vols. V and VI. Agriculture, Parts I and II.
Abstract of the Twelfth Census.
Statistical atlas.

Supplementary analysis and derivative tables.
Thirteenth Census : 1910 .
Vol. V . Agriculture - General report and analytical tables.

Vol. VI. Agriculture - Reports for states, with statistics for counties.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Abstract of the Census.

Fourteenth Census : 1920.
Vol. V . Agriculture - General report and analytical tables.
Vol. VI. Agriculture - Reports for states, with statistics for counties.

Parts 1, 2, and 3.
Vol. VII. Agriculture- Irrigation and drainage; general report and
analytical tables and reports for states, and statistics for counties.

Abstract of the Fourteenth Census of the United States.

The first quinquennial census of agriculture was taken on

January 1, 1925, and the results are now being tabulated .' This
census will be along the same general lines as the decennial enu

meration, but there will notbe the same detail for minor crops.
The information is collected by enumerators who visit each farm

in order to obtain the figures, a separate schedule being prepared
for each farm . The date of enumeration has varied at recent
censuses. For the census of 1900 it was June 1, for that of 1910,

April 1, and for those of 1920, and 1925, January 1.
The advantages and disadvantages of the change of date are
summarized by the Director of the Census as follows : 4
* Issued in two forms: (1) In volume containing three reports on agri
culture, irrigation and fisheries, and ( 2 ) in volume containing two reports

on agriculture and fisheries. In both volumes the reports have separate
pagination . The report on agriculture is the same in both volumes.

* The act providing for the Thirteenth Census ( 1910) directed that a
census of agriculture bemade every five years thereafter. This work , how
ever, was not undertaken in 1915, as Congress made no appropriation for
the expenses.

* Fourteenth Census, Vol. V , page 11.

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

199

The date January 1, 1920, was fixed by the Fourteenth Census
Actas that to which the census should relate. This census is the first
which has been taken in the winter, all previous enumerations

having been made in the spring or summer. January i was
recommended by the Bureau for incorporation in the law as the
census date in deference to the wishes of the Department of Agri
culture and of the various interests making use of agricultural
statistics. In somerespects this date has decided advantages over
any other for the purposes of an agricultural census. The past

year's work on all farms has been finished by January 1, and the
coming year's work has not as a rule been begun . Practically all
farmers are occupying the farms which they operated during the

preceding year, whereas a few months latermany of the renters will
have removed to other farms. Again , young farm animals are born
in large numbers during the spring and early summer but not in
December or January , and therefore a live- stock censusreferring to

January 1 is of far more value than one taken severalmonths later.
But against these manifest advantages must be offset the pro

nounced disadvantage due to the inclement weather which is apt

to prevail in many sections of the country in January. It happened
that the weather in January , 1920 , was worse than usual. In some

of the enumeration districts the cold was so extreme and the snow
had drifted to so great an extent as seriously to delay the work in
the rural districts, and farther south the rains were so heavy as to
make the country roads well-nigh impassable .

The schedule of the Census of 1920 specifically called for figures
on acreage harvested and production of the following crops :
Sirup and sugar crops.
Sweet sorghum acreage harvested for sirup .
Sweet sorghum sirup made on farm .
Sugar beet acreage harvested for sugar.
Sugar cane acreage harvested for sirup or sugar.

Sugar cane sold for crushing .
Sugar cane sirup made on farm .

Maple trees tapped in 1919.
Maple sirup made in 1919.
Maple sugar made in 1919.

Hay and forage.
Timothy alone.
Timothy and clover mixed.

Clover alone ( including lespedeza ) .
Alfalfa .

Small grains cut for hay, including wheat, oats, barley, and rye.
Annual legumes cut for hay, including cowpeas, soy beans, peanuts ,
and vetches.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Hay and forage - Continued.
Other tame or cultivated grasses cut for hay, including Bermuda,
Johnson , crab grass, orchard grass, redtop , millet, sudan grass, etc.

Wild , salt or prairie grasses cut.

Crops cut for silage.
Corn cut for forage or fodder.
Kafir , milo , durra , sweet sorghum , and sugar cane cut for forage or
fodder.
Root crops for forage, including sugar beets, turnips, sweet potatoes,
rutabagas, mangels , carrots, etc., grown for forage.
Mature crops grazed or hogged off, including corn , velvet beans, soy

rains abans, peanteszed or hores,etc.,

beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, rape, kale, etc.
Grains and seeds.

Mixed crops not separated in harvesting (oats and barley, oats and
peas, etc.).
Corn, not including sweet- or pop-corn .
Wheat

Winter.

Spring.
Oats .
Barley.
Rye.
Buckwheat.

Kafir, milo , feterita, and durra.
Rough rice.

Flaxseed .
Grass seed.
Red clover seed , including medium and mammoth .

Other clovers and alfalfa seed.
Timothy seed .

Seeds of other grasses.
Soy beans.
ans.
Navy, pinto, lima, and other ripe field beans.

Canada , cow and other ripe field peas.
Peanuts.

Other grains and seeds.
Potatoes (Irish or white ).
Sweet potatoes and yams.
Other field crops.
Cotton .

Broom corn .
Tobacco .
Hops.
Hemp.

Velvet beans (total acres alone or mixed with other crops).
Other crops.
Farm garden .

Value of all vegetables, including white potatoes and sweet potatoes,
grown in 1919 for home use only .

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

201

Vegetables produced in 1919 for sale, not for homeuse.
Cabbages.

Cantaloupes and muskmelons.
Celery .

Cucumbers.
Green beans
Green peas.

Lettuce.
Onions.
Sweet corn .
Tomatoes.

Watermelons.
Other .

Orchard fruits.
Apples.
Peaches.
Pears.
Plums and prunes.
Cherries.

Subtropical fruits.
Oranges.
Lemons.
Grapefruit.

Figs.
Other.

Nuts .
Almonds.
Pecans.

Persian or English walnuts.
Small fruits.

Strawberries.
Raspberries.

Blackberries and dewberries.

Loganberries.
Cranberries.

Currants.
Other berries.

Fruit products, from fruit grown on this farm .

Dried fruits, not raisins, produced in 1919.
Cider produced in 1919.

How much of this cider was made, or will be made, into vinegar?

While data on the crops listed abovewere specifically called for,
there was also space on the schedule for any other crops, so that the
enumeration of all farm products would be complete . The data on

these minor crops are subject to a widermargin of error, as someof

them werelikely to be overlooked by the farmer making the report.
For almost all crops the census reports show acreage,production ,
and value. In the case of fruits, nuts, and grapes, the number of

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

202

trees or vines of bearing age and not of bearing age is given instead
of the acreage. For vegetables, acreage and value are given . At
some censuses the value of the crop was reported by the farmer and

total value was obtained by adding the figures on all the schedules.
At the Census of 1920 the value was computed by the Bureau of
the Census on the basis of average values obtained from special
reports made by the crop reporters of the Bureau of Crop
Estimates.
In the reports of the Fourteenth Census, Volume V contains
statistics by states for all crops, and the Abstract gives statistics

by states for the more important products, by principal states for
some minor crops, and for the entire United States for other

products. Statistics by states are given also in Volume VI, which
likewise contains figures for counties.
General statistics on crop-yield at each census from 1850 to 1900
are reprinted in Bulletin 24 of the Division of Statistics of the

Department of Agriculture entitled “ Relations of Population and

Food Products in the United States."
The value of nursery and greenhouse products is given in the
decennial census reports on agriculture, figures being given by
states for the following items:
Nurseries.
Number of farms or establishments.
Acreage.

Receipts from sale of products.
Greenhouses.

Number of farms or establishments .
Square feet under glass.
Receipts from sale of products.
Flowers and flowering plants.
Vegetables and vegetable plants.

Department of Agriculture. The crop reporting work of the
Department of Agriculture embraces both forecasts made during
the growing season and final estimates after the crop is harvested.
While essentially the same organization has collected these

statistics for a number of years, it has been known at various
times as the Division of Statistics, the Bureau of Statistics, the
Bureau of Crop Estimates, the Bureau of Markets and Crop
Estimates, and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. The fore
• Volume VI is in three parts. For states for which data are given in
each part, see page 179.

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

203

casts are published in the monthly publication entitled “ Crops
and Markets," while the final estimates are given in “ Crops and
Markets " and in the “ Agriculture Yearbook.” The monthly
report has been issued under several titles, which are as follows:
Monthly report on condition of crops, May to December, 1863.
Bimonthly reports of Agricultural Department, February to December ,
1864.

Monthly report of Agricultural Department, January, 1865, to December,
1876 .
Department of Agriculture Special Reports, January, 1877, to September,
1883.

Department of Agriculture, Division of Statistics, new series, October,
1883, to March , 1898.

Department of Agriculture, Division of Statistics, crop circulars, May,
1898, to April, 1900.

Crop Reporter, May, 1899 , to June, 1913.
Agricultural Outlook , September 11, 1913 to April 23, 1915 ; published as
Farmers' Bulletins, 558, 560, 563, 570 , 575, 581, 584, 590, 596, 604, 611,

615,620 , 629, 641, 645, 651, 665, and 672.
Monthly Crop Report, May, 1915, to January , 1919.
Monthly Crop Reporter, February, 1919, to December, 1921.

Weather, Crops, and Markets, weekly from January 7, 1922 , to December ,
1923.

Crops and Markets, weekly from January, 1924, with monthly supplement
devoted mainly to statistics.

A list and index of the publications of the Department of
Agriculture from 1863 to 1920 relating to crop statistics is given

in Department of Agriculture Circular 150, “ Statistical Data
Compiled and Published by the Bureau of Crop Estimates, 1863
1920 .”
The figures published by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics
are not obtained by the collection of schedules for each farm , as

this method is not practicable on account of the expense and the
long delay that would result from the tabulation of the large

number of schedules. The forecasts of production are obtained
by using as samples or cross-sections reports on the acreage
planted , condition , and yield per acre, submitted by correspon
dents in all parts of the country. Estimates of production are

obtained in the same manner from reports on the acreage har
vested and the yield per acre. These cross - sections are then

applied to the entire country in order to obtain the total estimate.
The acreage reports on planting made by the correspondents
indicate the area planted in each crop expressed as percentages
of the preceding year. When these reports are received, the Bureau

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

of Agricultural Economics has estimates from all agricultural
sections showing the acreage planted expressed as a percentage
of the acreage harvested during the preceding year. By applying
these percentages to the figures for the previous year, the Bureau
estimates the area planted to each crop during the current year.
The percentages for the various counties are weighted according
to the importance of each county in the crop of the state in order

to give a true weighted average for each state, and the average for
each state is similarly weighted in order to give a true weighted

average for the entire country.
It should be noted that the local correspondents deal only with
percentages of the acreage planted compared with the preceding
year. This course is followed because the local correspondent can

not obtain figures of actual acreage planted without visiting each
farm , but he is believed to be able to make a fair estimate of the
percentage of acreage compared with the previous year.
The acreage reports by the local correspondents are followed
by reports on condition of crops. Condition reports are made also

for many crops for which acreage estimates are not submitted. The
condition report is expressed in percentages and is a comparison
not with the condition at any earlier date, but with a normal con

dition of growth and vitality such as would be expected in a crop
starting out under favorable conditions and not afterwards sub

jected to unfavorable weather, insect pests , or other injurious
agencies. The reasons for using the normal as the basis of condi
tion reports are given by the Department of Agriculture as
follows:

Special consideration has been given for many years to the
so-called " normal,” representing a condition or yield of 100 per
cent, in terms of which all the crop condition estimates of this
bureau are expressed . An objection to the use of this term and
what it represents, as a basis for crop reporting, arises from its
apparent vagueness and the fact that the yield represented by it is

different for each locality and even for each farm , thus requiring
• Prior to 1920 the figures of the decennial census were taken as the
base on which to apply the percentages of increase or decrease. For some
states the Bureau of Agricultural Economics has used the figures of the

Fourteenth Census for acreage, but for other states it has developed
a base figure independent of the census.
'Government crop reports : Their value, scope and preparation ; Bureau
of Crop Estimates, Circular 17, Revised 1915, pp. 20 -25.

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

205

explanation in order to be understood. The principal advantage
of the term “ normal ” is psychological in that it is based on a

fundamental conception which is fairly uniform and clear in the
minds of all practical farmers, from whom over 99 per cent of
the crop condition reports of this bureau are received .
But little observation and experience is required to demonstrate
that the average farmer thinks of his crop as “ crops ” and not in

mathematical terms of percentages or averages, although he can
readily express the estimated yield of the crop in terms of bushels ,
pounds, or tons. When the farmer sows the seed in spring he
knows just what the field ought to yield , and if the season is
favorable he expects to harvest that yield . This expected yield
is a “ full crop,” such as he has harvested in the past in favorable
seasons. It is neither a maximum possible or even a bumper crop,
which occurs only at rare intervals when conditions are exceed
ingly favorable , nor a medium or small crop grown under one or

more adverse conditions. Neither is it an average crop, which
rarely occurs because of the effect on the average of extremely

low or extremely high yields in exceptional seasons. It is rather
the typical crop represented by the average of a series of good

crops, leaving out of consideration altogether the occasional bum
per crop and the more or less frequent partial crop failure. This
expected yield at planting time, the full crop that the farmer has in
mind when he thinks of the yield he expects to harvest, or the
typical crop represented by the average of good crops only , is the
“ normal,” or standard adopted by this bureau for expressing

condition during the growing season and yield at harvest time.
The observation is sometimes made, as a criticism of the use
of the normal, that a normal crop is almost never shown in the
reports of the bureau . A little reflection will show that a normal

yield for an entire state or the United States is not to be expected

except on rare occasions. Imagine the yields of 10 different
farmers in widely scattered parts of the United States ; by defini
tion of the term normal as a “ full crop ," or expectation of yield

at planting time, an individual will not secure a normal yield every
year, or even every two years. Suppose each individual secured a

normal crop on the average every three years, by the law of
probability the chance of all ten farmers getting a normal crop in

the same year is one to thirty . If returns of individuals were pub
lished , many normals would be shown , but the frequency would
be less in a county average, still less in a state average, and rare
in a United States average.

The crop prospect is a subject of vital interest to farmers and ,
like the weather, it is a perennial topic of discussion during the
crop season . Almost invariably farmers speak of the prospects as

fine, good , fair, or poor, and they describe the crop as “ full

crop," " good crop," " average crop ” (meaning less than a full

L

206

NATIONA

CAL

STATISTI

WORK

crop but a little better than the real average ), “ three-fourth of

a crop,” or “ one-half of a crop," or less frequently “ 75 per cent
of a crop," " 50 per cent of a crop," etc . In the South the cotton
crop prospect is usually spoken of in terms of bales, as " three
fourth bale per acre," " one -half bale per acre,” or “ one- third bale
per acre.” Few farmers think of their crops in termsof exact mathe
matical averages or, in fact, know what the exact average really is ,
because very few of them keep accurate records or take the trouble
to strike averages from them . It is equally true that farmers do not

generally speak of crop conditions and crop prospects in terms of
a normal, but when the farmer crop reporters are told that the
normal is the same as their conception of a full crop, the crop
which their farms ought to yield and are expected to yield in
favorable seasons, and that this normal is represented by 100,
they have no difficulty in clearly understanding what is meant by
the normal or in expressing their estimates in percentages of
normal . . . .

The question is frequently asked why the crop estimates are not
( 1) based on the average crop ( presumably the average for the

past, 5, 10, or 20 years), or ( 2) on the crop of the preceding
year, or ( 3 ) simplv estimated for the present year in terms of
bushels, pounds, or tons.
The answer to the first proposition is that no “ average crop "

can properly be said to exist, or rather it would not correspond
to any crop actually harvested , because the average for any given
period is unduly influenced by the exceptionally low or high yields
of abnormal seasons. In other words, the average is a fluctuating
instead of a fixed standard . Furthermore, it would be exceedingly
difficult to obtain satisfactory estimates of crop prospects based
on average yields from farmer crop reporters, who constitute the
bulk of the bureau's field force in reporting on crop conditions

during the growing season . Farmers as a rule do not keep a record
of average yields on their farms or for their communities. They
do, of course, remember abnormally high or low yields, but they
invariably leave such yields out of consideration when estimating

crop prospects . If the average crop , say, for a period covering the
last five years, were adopted as the standard, it would be necessary
for the bureau to estimate the average condition for each month
of the growing season and the average yield for each year in each
county and township in the United States ( over 30 ,000 ) for each

of the crops included in the estimates (50 or more) and to furnish
each crop reporter with the average production of each crop in
his territory for use in making up his monthly estimates during

the year. This would entail an enormous amount of additional
work , and the average would be unsatisfactory because the smaller
the unit of territory the greater would be the fluctuation in the
average or standard caused by crop failures or occasional bumper

yields. A single illustration will suffice to make this point clear.

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

207

Taking the corn crop of Kansas as an example, the average yield
of corn per acre in the State of Kansas for each of 10 years,

beginning with 1903, was as follows: 20.9, 27.7, 28.9, 22.1, 22,
19. 9 19, 14 .5 23, 3. 2. The average for the 10 years is 20. I bushels ;
the average for the last 5 years is 15. 9 bushels ; for the preceding
5 years 24 .3 bushels. On the other hand, the idea of a normal
crop , or a full crop, was nearly constant, being 31.7 for the last

5 years, 31.5 for the preceding 5 years, and 31.6 for the 10 years.

The answer to the second proposition , namely, a comparison of
this year's crop with the crop of the preceding year, is that while

farmers remember fairly well the condition and yield of crops for
the past year, they do not remember them with sufficient clearness
or accuracy to be able to use them as a standard of comparison
for this year. Furthermore, the crops of last year may have been
abnormally high or low , and would therefore make a very poor

basis of comparison . For instance, the yield of corn per acre in
Kansas was 23 bushels in 1912, or 159 per cent of the yield per
acre in 1911 ( 14.5 bushels ). The yield in 1913, an abnormally
dry season, was only 3.2 bushels per acre, which was 14 per cent
of the yield of 1912. If the yield per acre of corn in Kansas for
1914 should be 21 bushels per acre, it would be 656 per cent of the

yield of 1913. It is apparent, therefore, that the abnormally low

yield of 1913 is a most unsatisfactory basis of comparison for
the year 1914 .

The third proposition , namely, the estimating of crops directly
in terms of bushels, pounds, or tons, is sometimes advanced. The
objection to this system is the difficulty thatmost people experience
in estimating accurately , until near harvest, the number of bushels
or pounds which an acre will yield, even though they may be good
judges and have the field before them . Experience has demon
strated repeatedly that it is much easier to estimate proportions and
differences in comparing one period with another, or the produc
tion of one year with the production of another year, or condition
and prospective yield with some standard , such as a normal, than
it is to estimate quantitatively what the condition or yield for a
given area actually is at any given time. Anyone can demonstrate

this principle to his own satisfaction while looking at a shelf partly
filled with books or a glass jar partly filled with beans. The shelf
or jar becomes in each case the standard or normal represented by
100 per cent. He will probably find that he can readily estimate

that the shelf or jar is three-fourths or 75 per cent full, and while
he may be able to guess within 25 per cent of the actual number
of books, he may overestimate the actual number of beans in the

jar more than 100 per cent. So with cereals or other crops. It is

relatively easy for the crop reporter to estimate the prospects at
90 per cent of the normal or other standard, but he may have diffi

culty in estimating within 25 per cent of the actual prospects in
terms of bushels .

208

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Having computed from the reports of correspondents the area
devoted to each crop, the Bureau uses the condition reports to com
pute the forecast of the probable yield . It should be noted that in

computing forecasts one necessary factor — the yield per acre — is
not reported by the correspondents . The Bureau obtains this

factor by averaging the yield per acre in each state over a series
of years, making due allowance for any decided increase or de
crease in productivity during late years. Suppose, for instance,

that the estimated area planted to a crop in one state computed from
the correspondent's reports, is 100 ,000 acres ; from the previous

reports the Bureau estimates that the normal yield per acre should
be forty bushels ; the weighted average of the condition reports
shows that the condition of the crop is 90 per cent of normal. The
probable yield is then 100 ,000 X 40 X .90 or 3 ,600 ,000 bushels.

For fruits and other crops for which acreage planted and yield
per acre cannot be determined, the condition is reported also in
terms of percentages of normal. From

its earlier records the

Bureau estimates the normal crop in a given area and by applying

the condition percentage obtains a forecast of the probable yield .
It is evident, however, that an accurate forecast of the crop
viewed in the light of conditions in the early summer willnot serve
as an estimate for the final crop, asweather conditions between the
date of forecast and the harvest may materially increase or decrease

the total yield . Therefore, after the harvest the correspondents

report the yield in terms of bushels or other unit per acre, or in
percentage of a full crop. Yield per acre is used for such crops as

wheat, for which acreage estimates are made ; percentage of a full
crop is used for fruits and other crops for which acreage is not

reported and which are not generally computed on an acreage basis.
The reports on yield per acre are reduced to a weighted average
for each state and for the United States, and the resultant figure is

then multiplied by the acreage planted as determined by the
methods described on page 204. In the case of crops not computed

by acres the correspondents' reports on percentage of a full crop
are applied to the normal crop as estimated by the Bureau . The

preliminary estimates are published from month to month in
“ Crops and Markets,” with such corrections as may be necessary.
The final estimates by states are also published in the Agriculture
Yearbook , figures by states being given for the three latest years.
It is important to use the latest Yearbook containing the figures

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

209

desired, as often the estimates are revised as the result of informa
tion received from other sources, such as on the quantity of the

crop moved by the railroads.
The following table indicates the variations in the production
figures for 1919 as given in the Yearbook for 1919, 1920, and
1921 :
WHEAT PRODUCTIONS FIGURES FOR 1919 as GIVEN IN YEARBOOKS FOR
1919, 1920 , AND 1921
States

1919 Yearbook

1920 Yearbook

1921 Yearbook

United States ...,
Maine . . . . . . . . .
West Virginia ..

940,897,000

934,265,000

228 ,000
5 ,400 ,000
12,029,000

150 ,000
5,400 ,000
10,350,000
10,650 ,000
152 ,079,000

967,979,000
263,000
4,023,000
160 ,276 ,000

54,040 ,000

66,052,000

Kentucky . . . . .
Montana . . . . . .
Kansas . . . . . . . .
Oklahoma . . . . .

10 ,729,000

151,001,000
52 ,640 ,000

9,660,000
9,889,000

The production estimates for wheat, corn, oats, rye, buckwheat,
potatoes, and hay for 1879, and 1889 to 1909 have also been

materially revised (see page 215 ).
It should be borne in mind that a discrepancy between the fore
cast and the final estimate does not indicate an error in the forecast,

but a change in the condition affecting the crop. A crop may be in

such condition in June that a normal crop may be reasonably ex
pected ifweather conditions are favorable. However, unseasonable
weather or other factors may so affect the crops in themonths be

fore harvest that the yield will be materially diminished. Thus, in

1911 the forecast for spring wheatmade in June indicated an aver
age yield of 13.7 bushels per acre. Each succeeding forecast indi

cated a lower yield, the final estimate of the crop being 9.4 bushels
per acre. These figures do not indicate that there was an error of 31
per cent in the June forecast, but should be interpreted as indicat
ing a change of 31 per cent in the condition of the crop between

June and harvest time.
The discussion on the preceding pages indicates the basic data
that are used by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in making

its forecasts and estimates. The following quotation shows in more
* Not all the variations are shown in this table, the items given are
merely illustrative.

210

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

detail the several sources for the basic data and themethods used in
developing the final figures: *
The data upon which such estimates are based are obtained
through a field service consisting of a corps of paid State field

agents and crop specialists and a large body of voluntary crop
reporters composed of the following classes : County reporters,
township reporters , individual farmers, and several lists of re

porters for special inquiries.
The field service consists of trained field agents, one assigned to
a single State or group of smaller States which in the aggregate
corresponds in area and crop production to one of the larger

States, who devote their entire time to the work and who travel
throughout their territory during the crop season , personally in

specting crop areas, conferring with State and local authorities,
private and commercial agencies, and others interested in crop
reporting work . Each agent supplements his own observation with
reports from a corps of selected crop reporters in his territory,

who report directly to him and are wholly independent of the
regular crop reporters who report directly to the bureau.
In addition to the regular force of State field agents the bureau

has a small force of crop specialists , one or more for each of the
important special crops, such as cotton, tobacco, rice, and truck
crops, possessing the same qualifications and performing the same

duties as the field agents, but devoting their entire time to specializ
ing on the particular crops to which they are assigned and traveling

throughout the entire region in which they are grown. These crop

specialists also have selected lists of crop correspondents reporting
directly to them . . . .

There are approximately 2,800 counties of agricultural im
portance in the United States. In each the department has a princi
pal county reporter who maintains an organization of several
assistants . The county reporters are selected with special reference
to their qualifications and constitute an efficient branch of the crop

reporting service. They make the county the geographical unit
of their reports, and , after obtaining data each month from their
assistants and supplementing these with information obtained from
their own observation and knowledge, report directly to the depart
ment at Washington .

In practically all of the townships and voting precincts of the
United States in which farming operations are extensively carried
on the department has “ township ” reporters who make their
immediate neighborhood area with which they are personally

familiar the geographical basis of reports, which they also send
Government crop reports ; their value, scope and preparation. Bureau

of Crop Estimates, Circular 17 , Revised 1915 , pp. 14 - 16 .

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

21I

directly to the department each month . There are about 32,000
township reporters.
Finally, at the end of the growing season a large number of
individual farmers and planters report on the results of their own
individual farming operations during the year ; valuable data are
also secured from 30,000 mills and elevators.
Because of the specialized nature of the cotton crop the reports
concerning it are handled separately from reports on all other
crops. In addition to the regular estimates of the State agents, the
cotton crop specialist, and the county and township reporters, the
bureau obtains reports on acreage, yields, percentage ginned , etc.,
from many thousand special reporters who are intimately con
cerned in the crop , including practically all the ginners.
Previous to the preparation and issuance of the bureau 's reports
each month the correspondents of the several classes send their

reports separately and independently to the Department at Wash
ington .

In order to prevent any possible access to reports which relate
to speculative crops, and to render it absolutely impossible for
premature information to be derived from them , all of the reports
from the State field agents, as well as those from the crop special

ists, are sent to the Secretary of Agriculture in specially prepared
envelopes. By an arrangement with the postal authorities these
envelopes are delivered to the Secretary of Agriculture in sealed

mail pouches. These pouches are opened only by the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary, and the reports, with seals unbroken , are

immediately placed in a safe in the Secretary's office, where they
remain sealed until the morning of the day on which the bureau
report is issued , when they are delivered to the statistician by the
Secretary or the Assistant Secretary . The combination for open
ing the safe in which such documents are kept is known only to
the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. Reports
from field agents and crop specialists residing at points more than
500 miles from Washington are sent by telegraph , in cipher. The
reports from the county correspondents, township correspondents ,

and other voluntary crop reporters are sent to the Chief of the
Bureau of Crop Estimates [Agricultural Economics ] by mail in
sealed envelopes.

The reports received by the department from the different classes
of individual correspondents are tabulated and compiled and the
figure for each separate State computed . After the reports from
the different counties are tabulated a true weighted figure for the
State is secured by taking into consideration the relative value
which the total acreage or production of each county in the State
bears to the total acreage or production of the State . The weight
figure showing the value of the county is applied to the acreage,
yield per acre, or condition , whichever it may be and from the

212

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

totals of the weights and the extensions a weighted average for the

State is ascertained. The averages for speculative crops ( corn,
wheat, oats , and cotton ) are determined by computers who to not

know the particular State to which their figures relate.
The work of making the final crop estimates each month cul
minates at sessions of the crop reporting board , composed of five
members , presided over by the statistician and chief of bureau as
chairman , whose services are brought into requisition each crop
reporting day from among statisticians and officials of the bureau ,
and field agents and crop specialists who are called to Washington

for the purpose .
The personnel of the Board is changed each month . The meet
ings are held in the office of the statistician , which is kept locked

during sessions, no one being allowed to enter or leave the room
or the bureau , and all telephones being disconnected .
When the Board has assembled, reports and telegrams regarding

speculative crops from field agents and crop specialists, which have
been placed unopened in a safe in the office of the Secretary of

Agriculture, are delivered by the Secretary, opened, and tabulated ;
and the figures, by States, from the several classes of correspon

dents and agents relating to all crops dealt with are tabulated in
convenient parallel columns; the Board is thus provided with several
separate estimates covering each State and each separate crop ,

made independently by the respective classes of correspondents
and agents of the bureau , each reporting for a territory or geo
graphical unit with which he is thoroughly familiar.

Abstracts of the weather condition reports in relation to the
different crops, by States, are also prepared from the weekly
bulletins of the Weather Bureau . With all these data before the

Board, each individual member computes independently, on a sepa
rate sheet or final computation slip , his own estimate of the acreage,
condition , or yield of each crop , or of the number, condition , etc.,
of farm animals, for each State separately . These results are then
compared and discussed by the Board under the supervision of the

chairman , and the final figures for each State are decided upon .
The estimates by States as finally determined by the Board are
weighted by acreage or other figures representing the relative im
portance of the crop in the respective States, the result for the

United States being a true weighted average for each subject.
From 1863 to 1893 the annual statistics will be found in the
annual reportsof the Statistician of the Department of Agriculture,

which form part of the annual reports of the Department of Agri

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

213

culture, but which were also published separately for some years.
The detailed figures for 1894 and 1895 will be found in the Decem
ber issues of the “ Reports of the Division of Statistics of the

U . S. Department of Agriculture," new series, for these years.
Beginning with 1896 the annual statistics have appeared in the

Yearbook.
The crop estimating organization of the Department of Agri
culture has also published a number of special statistical compila
tions on the yield of various crops. A complete list of these is given

in Department of Agriculture Circular 150, entitled “ Statistical
Data Compiled and Published by the Bureau of Crop Estimates,
1863- 1920.” Those listed below give statistics over long periods.
Bulletin of the Division of Statistics. No. 9. Production and price of cotton
for 100 years (1791- 1895 ) ."

Bulletins of the Bureau of Statistics.

No. 56. Corn crops of the United States, 1866-1906 "
No. 57 . Wheat crops of the United States, 1866 - 1906 u
No. 58. Oat crops of the United States, 1866 -1906 11
No. 59. Barley crops of the United States, 1866 -1906 .
No. 60. Rye crops of the United States, 1866 - 1906 .11
No. 61. Buckwheat crops of the United States, 1866 -1906."
No. 62. Potato crops of the United States, 1866 - 1906 ."
No. 63. Hay crops of the United States, 1866 - 1906 ."
Circular of the Bureau of Statistics.
No. 32. Cotton crops of the United States, 1790 - 1911.

No. 33. Tobacco crop of the United States, 1612-1911.
No. 34. Rice crop of the United States, 1712- 1911.
No. 35. Hop crop of the United States, 1790 -1911.
10 This Bulletin contains statistics for the United States on annual crops
from 1791 to 1895, on consumption for 1800 , 1801, 1805, 1810 , 1811, 1815 ,
1827, and annually thereafter, on annual exports 1791 to 1895, on stocks
at close of each year from 1828 to 1895, and on annual prices from 1791

to 1895. For Great Britain it shows annual imports from 1791 to 1825,
annual consumption from 1791 to 1825, stocks at close of each year from
1801 to 1825, and annual prices from 1791 to 1895. For Europe it gives

annual imports from 1826 to 1895 and stocks at close of each year from
1826 to 1895.

Data on cotton crops of later years are given in the following publica
tions- Division of Statistics : Circular 7 ( 1896 ) , Circular 8 (1896 - 97 ) ,

Circular 9 ( 1897 -98) ; Bulletin 17 (1898 -99 ), Bulletin 19 (1899- 1900 ) ;
Bureau of Statistics : Bulletin 28 ( 1900 -01, 1901-02, 1902-03 ), Bulletin 34

( 1903 -04 ). See page 217 for census statistics on cotton crops.
“ Revised figures compiled for 1879 and 1889 to 1906 are given in the

Yearbook for 1920.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

214

Bulletins of the U . S. Department of Agriculture.

No. 66. Statistics of sugar in the Untied States and its insular posses
sions, 1881- 1912.

No. 514 . Wheat, yields per acre and prices, by states, 1866 -1915.
No. 515. Corn , yields per acre and prices, by states, 1866 -1915 .

The annual production of grain in the United States and the
principalproducing states for a series of years is given in Bulletin
982 of the Department of Agriculture , entitled “ Market Statistics."
The period for which figures are given for each grain are as
follows :
Wheat - 1901- 1920 .
Corn — 1901-1920.

Rye

Oats — 1910 -1920 .

Buckwheat - 1910 -1920.

Barley — 1911- 1920 .
1910 - 1920 .

Discrepancy Between Statistics of the Bureau of the Census
and of the Department of Agriculture. For each year for which

the Bureau of the Census collects statistics there will be found
two sets of figures— those of the Census and those of the Depart

ment of Agriculture— for the average yield per acre, production,
and value of important crops. This necessarily results from the
circumstance that the Department of Agriculture depends on esti

mates for two factors — increase or decrease in acreage and yield
per acre. For censuses prior to that for 1920 the Department of
Agriculture accepted the Census figures for acreage, and applied to
these the estimated percentage of increase or decrease. If the
percentage of increase or decrease is wrong, there will be a corre

sponding error in the acreage. An error in the estimate of the
yield per acre introduces a further error in the estimate of produc

tion,as the production figures of the Department of Agriculture are
obtained by multiplying the estimated acreage by the estimated
yield per acre.

The Census figures for wheat for 1899 were 52,589,000 acres

with a production of 658,534,000 bushels. The Department of
Agriculture figures for 1899, obtained by taking the census figure
of acreage in 1889, and adding or subtracting each year according
to the estimated percentage of increase or decrease, were 44,593,000

acres, with a production of 547,304,000 bushels.
» Revised figures for 1879 and 1889 to 1906 are given in the Yearbook for
1920.

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

215

While the Department of Agriculture figures for the years of
1901 to 1909 were apparently built on the Census base for 1899, no
attempt was made, prior to 1920 , to adjust the figures for the years

between two censuses in order to eliminate the cumulative error.
In the Yearbook for 1920 there are given both the original and
the revised figures for 1879 and for each year from 1889 to 1909
for wheat, corn, oats , rye, buckwheat, potatoes, and hay. In these
revised estimates the Census acreages for 1889, 1899, and 1909,
are accepted , and the difference between the acreage figures of

succeeding census is spread over the intervening years. This spread
is not based on a simple arithmetical division between the several
years, but takes account of the data on file in the Department of
Agriculture regarding conditions during each year. Thus there

is a decrease of 8,327 ,000 acresof wheat in the ten years from 1899
to 1909 ; but the acreage shown for 1901, 1903, and 1905 is greater
than during the preceding years.
A simple arithmetical spread would show the acreage for each
year smaller than for the preceding one, but the use of other data

gives figures for 1901, 1903, and 1905, greater than during the
years immediately preceding. A curve showing theten years would
not show a uniform decline or a continuous decline; it would go up
and down in accordance with the conditions peculiar to each year.
The differences for some years are material; for instance, the

original production estimate for 1895 was 467,103,000 bushels,
while the revised estimate is 569,456 ,000 bushels, an increase of

22 per cent. Later Yearbooks give the revised figures only ; those

for 1921 and 1922 give ten -year averages for the years from 1866
to 1895, but the Yearbook for 1923 again gives single years. The

revised estimates have been published for the United States as
a whole, but no separate revised figures are available for each of
the states ; revised figures for principal states from 1901 to 1909
are given in Department of Agriculture Bulletin 982.

The figures of the Census for 1919 have been adopted by the
Department of Agriculture for some states, but have been rejected
for others. For some states the difference between the two figures

is less than the probable margin of error in either one, but for
other states the difference is material. For South Dakota the

figures for wheat acreage of the Department of Agriculture are

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

216

about one-tenth of one per cent greater than those of the Census,
but forMontana the figures of the Department of Agriculture are
113 per cent greater than thoseof the Census.
The differences in acreage and production are more marked for

the several states than for the United States as a whole. For some
crops, however, the difference for the United States is material, as
is shown by the following table giving final Department of Agri

culture estimates and Census figures for the principal crops of
1919 :
CENSUS AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FIGURES FOR PRINCIPAL CROPS
IN 1919
Crop

Census figures

Department of
Agriculture figures

Increase ( + ) or
decrease (- -) of
D

Department of
Agriculture compar.
A

ed with Census

Wheat.

Acreage .. . .. .
Production . . ..
Value
Corn .
Acreage

Production . .. .
Value . . . .. . . ..

Oats.
Acreage . . . . . .
Production . .. .
Value

Per cent

73,099,421
945 ,403,215
$ 2,074,078 ,801
87,771,600
2,345,832,507
$ 3,507,797,102
37,991,002

1,055,182,798
$ 855,255,468

75,694,000

967,979,000
$ 2,080,056 ,000

97 ,170 ,000

+ 3.5
+ 2.4
+ .3

2,811,302,000

+ 10 .7
+ 19.8

$ 3,780,597,000

+ 7.8

40,359,000
$ 833,922,000

+ 6.2

1,184,030,000

+ 12.2
- 2.5

Rye.
Acreage
Production . .

Value . . .. . . .. .
Buckwheat.
Acreage .
Production
V drue . . . . . . . .
Value
Potatoes.
Acreage . . . . .
Production . . ..

Value
Hay .

7 ,679,005
75,992,223

$ 116,537,965

742,627
12,690 ,384

$ 19,715,305
3,251,703
290 ,427,580

$639,440,521

Acreage . . . . . . .

55,653,403

Production . . ..
Value . . . .. . . .

74,724,252
$ 1,726,646,510

6 ,307,000

- 17.9
- 13.7

75,483,000
$ 100,573,000

- .7

700,000
$21,032,000

– 5.8

14,399,000

+ 13.5
+ 6.7

3,542,000
322,867,000
$ 514,855,000

+ 8. 9

56 ,888,000
86 ,359,000

$ 1,734 ,085,000

+ 11.2

- 19.5
+ 2.2
+ 15.6
+ .4

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

217

In using the statistics of the two organizations the following
conditions should be borne in mind. In the Census figures the
acreage and the production are basic figures obtained from the
enumerators' reports, and the yield per acre is a derivative figure

obtained by dividing the production by the acreage. In the statistics
of the Department of Agriculture the two bases are an estimated
acreage and an estimated yield per acre, the production being a
derivative figure obtained by multiplying the yield per acre by the
acreage.

Annual Statistics of the Bureau of the Census. In addition to
the decennial statistics the Bureau of the Census has for some

years published annual statistics on the production of cotton and
tobacco .

Cotton. Statistics on the production of cotton have formed a part
of the agricultural statistics of each decennial census beginning

with 1840 . At the Tenth Census ( 1880 ) Volumes V and VI, de
voted entirely to cotton production , contained a great amount of
detailed information dealing with the cultural and economic details
of cotton production , agricultural conditions in each county and
state in the cotton belt, and the position of cotton as compared with
other crops.
Beginning with 1899 annual statistics have been issued by the

Bureau of the Census showing the production during each year.
For 1905 and each year thereafter there has also been issued a
report giving statistics on stocks on hand , distribution , etc ., in
addition to the report on production alone. During the season re
ports are issued monthly on cotton consumed, cotton on hand,

active cotton spindles, and exports and imports, and at intervals
on the amountof cotton ginned and cotton seed crushed.

The report on production and distribution contains data on the
following subjects : Production ; consumption ; stocks ; number
of spindles by states; number of spindles in counties having more
than 100,000 ; imports and exports of raw cotton and cotton manu

factures ; world production and consumption, by countries; amount
ginned to specified dates ; production of cotton seed and cotton seed

products. The more important tables give figures for several years,
but some of the detailed tables contain statistics for one year only .

218

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The serial numbers or titles of the preliminary reports on pro
duction alone are as follows:
1899 - Bulletin 58 of the Twelfth Census.
1900Bulletin 98 of the Twelfth Census.
1901— Bulletin 206 of the Twelfth Census.
1902 - Bulletin 2.13

1903— Bulletin 10.
1904 — Bulletin 19 .

1905 – Bulletin 40.
1906 Bulletin 76 .

1907 —
1908 —
1909 1910 1911 —
1912 —

Bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin
Bulletin

95.
100.
107.
ull.
114.
116 .

1913 — Bulletin 125.

1914- Cotton production , 1914.
duction in the United States."

1915 and later – Separate publication each year under title “ Cotton Pro
The general reports on production and distribution have been
issued under the following bulletin numbers :
1915 — Bulletin 131.
1905 — Bulletin 25.
1906 —— Bulletin 63.

1907 — Bulletin 90.
1908 Bulletin 97.

1916 – Bulletin 134.
1917 — Bulletin 135.
1918 - Bulletin 137.

1909 - Bulletin 106 .
1910 — Bulletin 110.

1919 - Bulletin 140 .

1911— Bulletin 113.

1920 — Bulletin 145 .
1921 - Bulletin 147.

1912 — Bulletin 115.
1913 — Bulletin 117.

1922 — Bulletin 150 .
1923 - Bulletin 153.

1914— Bulletin 128 .

The Bureau of Agricultural Economics publishes in Crops and
Markets, throughout the growing season , forecasts of the probable

amount of the crop obtained from its correspondents in the same
manner as forecasts of other crops reported (see page 203). The

production figures of the Bureau of the Census, however, are based
on the actual amount of cotton handled by the gins and made availa
ble to trade. It should be borne in mind that each of the forecasts

of the Department of Agriculture refers to the entire crop for the
19 It should be noted that there are two series of Census Bulletins— those
of the Twelfth Census and those of the permanent Bureau of the Census.
The Bulletins of the Bureau of the Census are meant unless there is specific
indication that the publication belongs to the Twelfth Census.

PRODUCTION OF CROPS

219

season ,while the figures of the Bureau of the Census refer to the
amount actually ginned. Any forecast madeby the Department of
Agriculturemay be greater or less than the preceding forecast, de
pending on condition , but every report of the Bureau of the Census,
therefore, will show an increase as more and more of the crop
is transported from the plantations to the gins. The forecasts of the

Department of Agriculture are issued during the growing season ,
while the statistics of the Bureau of the Census are collected only
after the crop is harvested .
Tobacco . Statistics on the production of leaf tobacco are com
piled at each decennial census, the figures being given in the Census
report on agriculture. The Bureau of Internal Revenue collects

statistics on the amount of tobacco used by the manufacturers of
tobacco products,on the amount of tobacco productsmanufactured,

and on the revenue derived from the tax. Forecasts of the crop
are made during the growing season , and estimates of production
are made annually after the crop has been harvested by the Bureau
of Agriculture Economics of the Department of Agriculture.
All of the abovematerial, as well as information regarding stocks
of leaf tobacco on hand at various dates, is brought together in the
annual publication issued by the Bureau of the Census, entitled

“ Stocks of Leaf Tobacco and the American Production, Import,
Export, and Consumption of Tobacco Products.”
Annualreports have been issued as follows:
1917 — Bulletin 136.
1918Bulletin 139.

1921 - Bulletin 149.

1919 - Bulletin 143.

1923 — Bulletin 155.

1920 — Bulletin

1922— Bulletin 151.

146 .

The statistics collected by the Bureau of the Census are those of
leaf tobacco held on the first of January, April, July , and October
of each year bymanufacturers who manufactured during the pre
ceding year more than 50,000 pounds of tobacco , 250,000 cigars,
or 1 ,000,000 cigarettes , or from dealers in leaf tobacco who, on an
average, had more than 50,000 pounds of leaf tobacco in stock at
the end of the preceding year. The limitation of the concerns from
which data are collected is fixed by law , and all concerns falling

within these limits are required by law to make the return on the
form prescribed by the Director of the Census. Itwill be seen that

220

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

the statisticsdo not include any stock in thehandsof growers or the
smaller dealers. However, as the statistics are collected from the
same class of dealers they may be taken as indexes to the supply

that is available for manufacture. As soon as the quarterly reports
from dealers and manufacturers are tabulated the summary statis
tics are made available to the public.

The annual publication gives statistics for each quarter for a
series of years , and in addition contain the following statistics
generally for a series of years compiled from reports of other
departments.
Acreage and production .
Average price to producers.
Leaf tobacco sales by farmers, by states and by principal counties.
Imports, by countries, and by customs' districts.
Quantity in bonded warehouses.
Exports by countries and by customs' districts.
Number of tobacco factories, by states and collection districts .

Leaf tobacco used in the manufacture of tobacco products.
Production of cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco products ; total for a
series of years and by internal revenue districts for one year.
Internal revenue collected on tobacco products, total for a series of years
and by districts for a single year.

CHAPTER XVII
LIVESTOCK
Data on the amount of livestock have such a close relation to the
general agricultural situation on the one hand, and to output of

livestock products on the other that it has been deemed advisable
to place the discussion at this point.
Statistics on the quantity of livestock are collected at each decen
nial census, and beginning with 1925 will be collected also at each
quinquennial census of agriculture. Annual estimates are also made
by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the Department of

Agriculture.
Decennial Census Statistics. Statistics on the number of live
stock have been collected at each decennial census beginning with
1840 , but the Census of 1920 is the first one for which statistics of

pure -bred cattle were tabulated . All census statistics of livestock
are obtained through enumerators who visit each farm and obtain

the basic data directly from the farm operator.
The census statistics on livestock include separate tabulations for
animals on farms, not on farms, total of those on farms and not on

farms, and those in cities of 25 ,000 or more inhabitants. The
statistics for poultry and bees are for farms only.
The main statistics on livestock are found in Volumes V and VI
and the Abstract. Volume V , the general report on agriculture ,
contains statistics by divisions, states, and cities. The Abstract
contains similar statistics of a somewhat more general character.

VolumeVI, the detailed report on agriculture by states and coun
ties, is published in three parts, the states for which data are given in
each part being listed on page 179. At the beginning of each part

of VolumeVI are identical tables giving summary figures for each
state and for the North , South , and West.

The schedules below show the volumes of the reports of the
Fourteenth Census in which willbe found statistics of livestock for
divisions, states, counties, and cities :
221

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

222

SCHEDULE OF LIVESTOCK STATISTICS FOR DIVISIONS AND STATES IN
REPORTS OF FOURTEENTH CENSUS
Numbe
r
Number
of farms
Value
of
Classes
or inclosures
reporting :

animals

farms.
OnHorse
s.
Total
Classified

Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vols. V .VI.Abstract. Vols. V .VI,Abstract.
Vol. V .
Vols.V VIAbstract. Vol. V .
Pure bred.
Total
Vol. V .
Vols.
V ,VI,Abstract.
VOI. VV ..
. . . . . . . . Vol.
Sex
Breed
.
.
..
..
Vols.
V
Breed and sex . . . .
. Vol. V .,VI,Abstract.

Horses,rosasses
and bur.
..

.. ........
Mules.
Vol. V .Abstract.
Total
.
.
.
Classified

Vol.V .

Vol. v .

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
,VI,Abstract. Vols.
,VI,Abstract.
....
,VI,Abstract.
Vols.V
Vols. VVV .VI,Abstract.
.
Vol. V ,Abstract. Vols.
Vol.VV ,Abstract.
. .. Vol.
Asses and burros.
..
Beef
cattle.
Total . . . . . .
. . Vol. VV ..
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol.
Classified
Vols.
V ,VI,Abstract. Vol.V .
Pure
bred .
Total
Vol.V
Sex . . .
. Vol. V ..
Breed .
Vols.
V ,VI,Abstract.
Vol. V .
DairyBreed
cattle.and sex. .
,VI,Abstract.
Vols.
Total
Vol. V .
Vols, VV ,VI,Abstract. Vol.V
Vol.V .,Abstract.
Classifiedi . . . . . . . . . Vol. V .
Pure
bred
.
Total . .
. Vol.
Vol. VV ..

Sex
Breed . . . . . . . . . .
Breed and sex . . . .
AllTotal
cattle.

PureTotalbred: .
Sex . . .
Swine.
Total
Classified
Pure bred .

Total . . .
Breed . .
Sheep .

Total

Classified
Pure bred .
Total
otal

Breed

Goats.
Total
Classified
Poultry
.

All poultry. .
Chickens
Turkeys . . .
Ducks . . . .

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.

Vol. V .

Vol.V ,Abstract.
Vol.v .

Vols.V ,VI,Abstract. Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.

Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vols . V . VI. Abstract. Vols. V ,VI, Abstract.

Vol. v .

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V
Vols.
Vols. VV ,VI,Abstract.
,VI,Abstract.
Vols. VV .VI.Abstract.
Vols.V
,VI,Abstract.
Vols, V ,VI,Abstract. Vols.
Vol. V .

vol. v .
Vol.V
, Abstract .
Vol. V .
. Vol. V .
. Vol.V ,Abstract.
. Vol. V .
Abstract .
Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V .
Vol. V .

Geese
Vol. V .
Guinea fowls . . . . . Vol. V .
Pigeons
Vol. V .
Bees . . . .
Vol.V ,Abstract.

Vols.
V ,VI,Abstract. 1. . . . . . .. .
Vol. V .

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
Vols.
V ,VI,Abstract. .. . .. . ... .. . .. ...
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V .
Vol.VI,Abstract. Vol.VI,Abstract.
Vols. V .VI.Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vols. V .VI.Abstract. Vol. V .Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vols. V .VI.Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vols. V .VI,Abstract. Vol. V .Abstract.

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol.VI,Abstract.

* The number of inclosures is given for stock not on farms.
+e Number
See pageof225
for classes shown.
hives.

LIVESTOCK

223

SCHEDULE OF LIVESTOCK STATISTICS FOR DIVISIONS AND STATES IN
REPORTS OF FOURTEENTH CENSUS — Continued.
Number
of farms
or inclosures

Classes

reporting

NotHorses
on farms.
.
Total
Classified

Mules.
Total . . . . . . . .
Classified
..
III
Asses and burros
All cattle . . . . . . .
Beef
cattle .
Total
Classified

... Vol.V.
........
Vol.v.
Voi.vV ..
Vol.
Vol.v .

Dairy
Dairy cows
cattle.
Total . . . .
Classified ,
Sheep
Total.
Classified
....
Swine.
Total
Classifi
Goats
.
Total
Classified

animals

Vols. V
Vol. V .,VI,Abstract.
V ,VI,Abstract.
Vols.
Vol. V .
Vol. V .Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
Vol.V .
Vol. v .

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.

Vol.v .
Vol.v .

Vol. V .

Vol.v .

Vols.V ,VI,Abstract.

.. ... .... . Vol.V .

Vols.V,VI,Abstract.

s and not on
On farm
farms.
Horses.
Total
Classified
Mules.
Total
Classified
Asses
and . burros
All cattle
. .. ..
Beef cattle.

Total .

Classified
Dairy
Totalcattle.
.. ..
Classified
Sheep .
Total
Classifi:.. . ... .
Goats .

Total

Classified
.. .
Swine
Total.
Classified

Vol.v.

Number
of

Vol. v .
Vols.VV . ,VI,Abstract.
Vol.

Vol.V , Abstract.
Vol. V .
Vol.
Vol. VV .,Abstract.

Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vol.
V.
Vol. V .
Vol.V
Vol. v ..
Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vol. V .
Vol.
V ,Abstract.
Vol. V .
Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vol.V .

• The number of inclosures is given for stock not on farms.

Value

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

224

SCHEDULE OF LIVESTOCK STATISTICS FOR COUNTIES IN REPORTS OF

FOURTEENTH CEnsus (VOL. VI, Parts 1-3)
Classification

Number

Value

On farms.

X

Total
Classified .

X

Total

Classified
Mules.

:x x
:X
XX

:

All domestic animals. ......
Horses.

Asses and burros

:X

Beef cattle.
Total .. .
Classified
Dairy cattle.

X

All cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

X

:X

X

X:

X

X:

Total ... . .. . .
Classified . . . . . . . . .. .. .

Sheep.
Total
Classified
Goats
Swine.

Total ... . .

Classified ...

Goats .. . . . . .

Swine . .. . . . ..

: :: ::: ::

All cattle

Dairy cows .. ..
Sheep .. . .. . . .

XX
X:
X

All poultry ......
Chickens . . . . . . . . . .
Other poultry . .. . . .
Not on farms.
Horses . .. .
Mules . . . . . . . . . .
Asses and burros.

LIVESTOCK

225

For individual cities of 25,000 population or over there are
shown in Volume V the number of inclosures and the number of

animals for horses, mules, asses and burros, all cattle, dairy cows,
sheep, goats, and swine. The Abstract gives figures on number of
horses and of mules only .

In some of themore detailed tables the statistics are subdivided
according to sex or age or both , the detailed classification of the

several species being as follows:
CLASSIFICATION OF LIVESTOCK IN CENSUS REPORTS

Horses.

***Dairy cattle — Continued.

Colts under 1 year of age.

Cows and heifers 2 years old
and over ,
Bulls 1 year old and over.

Colts 1 year old and under 2
years.

Mares 2 years old and over.

,

Geldings 2 years old and over.

Lambs under 1 year of age.

Stallions 2 years old and over.
Mules.

Ewes I year old and over.
Rams I year old and over .
Wethers I year old and over.

Colts under 1 year of age.

Colts 1 year old and under 2

Goats.

Kids under 1 year of age raised

years.

Mules 2 years old and over.
Beef cattle.

Sheep .

,

for fleeces.

Goats 1 year old and over raised
Calves under 1 year of age. .
for fleeces.
All other goats.
Heifers I year old and under 2
years.
Swine.
Cows and heifers 2 years old
and over.

Steers 1 year old and under 2
years.

Bulls 1 year old and over.
Steers 2 years old and over .

Dairy cattle.
Calves under 1 year of age.

Pigs under 6 months old.

Sows and gilts for breeding, 6
months old and over.
Boars for breeding, 6 months
old and over.

All other hogs, 6 months old
and over.

Heifers 1 year old and under 2
years.

The statistics of amount of livestock reported at each census
from 1850 to 1900 are reprinted in Bulletin 24 of the Division of

Statistics of the Department of Agriculture, entitled “ Relations
of Population and Food Products in the United States."
All the statistics heretofore described are for all classes of farms

and farmers without subdivision. In Volume V there are also
statistics of livestock , classified by size of farm , tenure of farmer,
and color and tenure of farmer. These tables give for divisions

and states the number of horses,mules,allcattle, dairy cows, sheep,

226

AL

NATIONAL STATISTIC

WORK

and swine, and the value of the same animals with the exception of
dairy cows. The secondary classification for livestock under each

of these headings is as follows:
Size of farm .
Under 20 acres.
20 to 49 acres.

50 to 99 acres.
100 to 174 acres.
175 to 499 acres.
500 to 999 acres.

1000 acres and over.

Farm tenure.

Color and tenure.
White farmers.
Total.

Owners .
Managers.

Tenants.

Colored farmers.
Total.
Owners.

Owners .

Managers.

Managers.

Tenants.

Tenants.

Annual Livestock Estimates of the Department of Agricul

ture. Annual estimates of the number of horses, mules, milk
cows, other cattle, sheep , and swine on farms are published in

“ Crops and Markets ” and in the “ Agriculture Yearbook.”
The estimates of livestock made by the Department of Agri

culture are obtained in the samemanner as those of crop acreage
discussed on page 203. The local correspondents of the Depart

ment report livestock in percentage of the number of the previous
year,and the weighted average of the local correspondent's reports
is applied to the figures for the previous year.
Prior to 1920 the estimates of the Department of Agriculture
were built on the figures of the preceding census in the sameman

ner as the estimates of crop production , but the census returns for

that year were adopted by the Department of Agriculture only for
horses, mules, and swine, the estimate on cattle and sheep being

based on other information. The differences between the figures
of the Census and the Department of Agriculture for cattle are

immaterial, but the figures of the Department of Agriculture for
sheep are ii per cent greater than those of the Census; in individ

ualWestern states the difference ismuch greater, reaching 50 per
cent for New Mexico.
While the Department of Agriculture prior to 1920 accepted the

figures of the Census as the bases on which to estimate livestock,
it has never revised the estimate for livestock on farms for inter
censal years. Comparison of the census figures with those for

LIVESTOCK

227

intercensal years indicates that the intercensal estimates are too
high for some years and too low for others. Estimates for dairy
cattle, beef cattle , total cattle, sheep , and swine on farms and not

on farmsreadjusted to January 1 of each year from 1867 to 1924
appear in Circular 241 of the Department of Agriculture, entitled
“ Food Animals and Meat Consumption in the United States.” 1
In these estimates the census figures are used as the base except
those for sheep in 1920. As the table brings all estimates to Jan
uary 1 of each year it has been necessary to readjust the census

figures prior to 1920 ,as the earlier censuses were taken on different
dates. It should be particularly noted that the estimates in Circular
241 apply to animals on farms and not on farms, while those in

the Yearbook apply only to animals on farms.
The number and value of farm animals in the United States,

according to the estimates of the Department of Agriculture, for

each year 1867 to 1907 are given in Bulletin 64 of the Bureau of
Statistics of the Department of Agriculture.
Data on sheep and wool are given in Statistical Bulletin 3 of the
Department of Agriculture , entitled “ Sheep, Lamb, Wool, and
Mutton Statistics.” For sheep and lambs the data relate to stock

yard receipts and shipments and to slaughter,monthly figures being
given for each ofthe principalmarkets for 1900 to 1923 and weekly
figures from 1921 to 1923. For wool there are given monthly
figures on stocks, consumption, and production from 1918 to 1922.
For lambs, sheep, wool, and mutton, export and import statistics
are given .
This was issued in two editions dated September, 1922, and May, 1924.
In the second edition the figures for recent years are revised , as the figures
of the Census of 1920 were not available when the first edition was prepared .

CHAPTER XVIII

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS
As the result of differences in the method or place ofproduction ,
statistics of livestock products are found in the census reports on
agriculture and manufactures and in the reports of the Department

of Agriculture. For instance, products such as eggs,milk, and wool
are the direct result of the operations of the farm ; others such as
cheese and butter, are made both on the farm and in factories in
rural districts ; while still others, such as meats, are produced
to some extent on the farm , but to a much larger degree in the

packing plants located in the industrial centers.
Decennial Census of Agriculture.

The statistics of the decennial

census of Agriculture, contained in Volumes V and VI of the re
ports of the Fourteenth Census, show only the immediate product

of the farm ,except thatthe factory production of butter and cheese
is given , as the establishments manufacturing these products are
located almost exclusively in rural districts. Like other census
statistics of agriculture these are collected by enumerators, who
obtain the basic data directly from each farm operator. All the
figures relate to the year preceding the one in which the enumera

tion was made.
The earliest census figures on livestock products are for 1849,
for which data are available on butter made on farms, cheese
made on farms, wool, and honey and wax. For 1859 separate

figures are given for honey and wax . For 1869 and 1879 the
quantity of milk sold was reported, but similar returns were not
made for 1889 ; these figures are again given in the reports for
1899 and later years. Statistics on eggs produced, fowls raised ,
and butter made in factories were first compiled for 1879. Pro

duction of mohair and amount of cream , butter , and cheese sold
* A quinquennial Census of Agriculture was taken early in 1925; the re
port will give production figures for 1924.
228

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

229
were first reported for 1899, and figures on eggs and fowls sold
were first published for 1909 .
Prior to 1899 the statistics applied to quantities only, but for
1899 and thereafter values were reported, except for cheese made
on farms, butter made on farms, and wax produced, for which
value figures are first available for 1909.
The statistics on livestock products are given in the general
reports on agriculture listed on page 197 .
The data shown by divisions and states in Volumes V and VI
and the Abstract of the Fourteenth Census are as follows:
CLASSIFICATION OF Census Statistics of LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS FOR
DIVISIONS AND STATES
Products

Number
of
farms

Quantity

Value

reporting

Total
dairyfrom
products
Receipts
sale.... .. ...of, j. o
dairy products

Milk
M

................. Vols.V ,VI,Abstract.

Abstr
vols.vV .VI,Abstract.
.vi,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
· Vols.
produced . . . . . . . . ... Vol.iyV ,, Abstract.
solds . . . . . . . .
Vol. V .Abstract .

ilk oldij
Milk
a. .. .
Butter fat S

. . .V Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V ,Abstract.
Butter sold . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol.V V ,Abstract.
Abst
Butter made on farms. . . Vol. V ,Abstract.
Butter made in factories. . . . .
Butter made on farms
and in factories. . . . .
Cheese
made on farms. .. Vol.V ,Abstract.
Cheese made in factories
Cheese made on farms
and in factories. . . .
Wool produced . . . .
volvi
Mohair produced . . . . Vol. V .
Woolduced
and . mohair
pro
..

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI, Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.

Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vol. V .

Vol. V ,Abstract.
.
Vol.V
Vol. V .

Volv,Abstract.

Vol.V .
Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vols.V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.

Chickens sold . . . . .

Chickens raised ::::::::. Vol.V
voi.v.,Abstract.
"

lusiv ; : ; : ; : . . . . . Vol.VI,Abstract.
Vols. V .VI.Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.
Vol. V .Abstract.
Vol. V ,Abstract.

Chicken eggs produced .. . Vol. V .

Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.

Eggsduced
and .chickens
pro
. . ..
Chicken eggs sold .. . . . . . Vol. V ,Abstract.
Honey produced . . . .
Wax produced . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. VI.Abstract.

Vol.V ,Abstract.

Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vols. V .VI.Abstract . Vol. V .Abstract.

. . Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vol. V ,Abstract.

Vol.VI,Abstract.
Honey and wax produced .
Domestic
animals raised .
Calves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.
Pigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vols. V ,VI, Abstract.
Lambs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vols. V ,VI,Abstract. Vols. V ,VI, Abstract.
Domestic animals slaugh
. . . . . . /Vol. V ,Abstract.
Tottered.
al .. .

Cattle and calves.. . .. . Vols.V ,VI,Abstract. Vols.V ,VI,Abstract.
Vols.V ,VI,Abstract.
,VI,Abstract. Vols.
Sheep and lambs. .. .. . Vols.V
Vols.VV ,VI,Abstract.
,VI,Abstract.

Meatsoldand. meat products

Cattle and calves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vols. V .VI.Abstract .
Vols. V . VI,Abstract.
Swine . . . . . . . . .

Sheep and lambs.....: :::

. . Vols. V ,VI,Abstract.

230

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The data given for each county in Volume VI of the Four
X X
:X
XXXXXXXXXX

teenth Census are as follows:

CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTY STATISTICS ON LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS (VOL. VI)
Quantity

Total dairy products . ....
Dairy products sold . . ..
Milk produced . . .

Milk sold . . .. . . .. . .

Value
XX
X
:X
X

Products

Cream sold
Butter fat sold . . ..

Butter made on farms.
Cheese made on farms.
Chickens raised
Chickens sold . . .
Eggs produced ... ...
Butter sold .. .. .. ..

Eggs sold .

Chickens and eggs produced
Chickens and eggs sold . . .
Honey produced . . .

Wax produced . . . .. . . . .. ..

Honey and wax produced ........
Wool produced . .. .. .. .

Census of Manufactures. The statistics on livestock products
reported in the Census of Manufactures relate in general to the
industry and are subject to the limitations discussed on page 262.

There are , however, detailed statistics on the output of particular
statistics are given by states showing the quantity and cost of milk ,
cream , and skimmed milk used , and the quantity and value of the
products . For the butter, cheese , and condensed milk industry,

following products:
Butter.
Total.
Packed solid.
Prints or rolls.
Cheese.
Total.

Condensed and evaporated milk .
Total.

Condensed.
Sweetened .

Unsweetened .

Evaporated.

Full cream .

Powdered milk .

Part cream .

Sugar of milk .

Skimmed and all other kinds.

Casein sold.

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

231

In the report on the slaughtering and meat-packing industry sta

tistics are given by states, showing the number, cost, and gross and
net weight of the four principal kinds of animals slaughtered,
namely, cattle, calves, sheep and lambs, and hogs. This report also
contains statistics by states showing the quantity and value of the

following products :
Beef.

Sausage.

Veal.
Mutton and lamb.
Pork .

Hides, cattle and calf.

Lard .

Sheep pelts .

Pork, pickled, and other cured.
The report on slaughtering and meat-packing contains figures
on the quantity and value of the total output of the products listed
below , but no details according to state in which produced :
Edible offal and other fresh meat.
Poultry, dressed.
Beef, pickled and cured .
Pork , pickled and cured .

Canned goods.
Sausage.
Canned .
All other.

Meat pudding, scroffle, head cheese, etc.
Lard compound and substitutes.
Oleo oil.
Other oils.
Tallow .
Oleo stock .
Grease.

Soap -stock .
Stearin .

Oleomargarine.
Casings.

Hoofs, horns and horn tips, stubs, etc.
Fertilizer and fertilizer materials.
Glue.

Hides and pelts.
Cattle.
Calf .

Sheep, lambs, kids, and goats.
All other.

Hair, hog and cattle.
Wool.

The figures on the slaughtering industry relate only to whole
sale establishments and do not pertain to any plants slaughtering
for the retail trade.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Meat Production Estimates of Department of Agriculture .
Statistics on theamountofmeat produced have never been collected,

but must be estimated from the number of animals slaughtered.
Statistics on slaughter on farms and ranges are collected at each
decennial census and are given in the chapter on livestock products

of the volumedevoted to agriculture. Figures showing the number
of animals slaughtered by establishments engaged in interstate
trade and subject to federal inspection are collected by the Bureau

of Animal Industry, monthly figures being published in “ Crops
and Markets ” and annual figures in the “ Agriculture Yearbook.”
Statistics on the wholesale packing-house industry have been pub
lished by the censuses of manufactures for 1899 , 1904, 1909, 1914,
1919, 1921, and 1923, and will be collected biennially hereafter.
These statistics show the number of animals slaughtered , the total

live weight, the total dressed weight, and the weight of various
kinds ofmeats andmeat products. At the Censusof 1910 statistics
were also collected for the slaughter of animals in retail slaughter

houses in 1909. These figures , combined with those of the Census
of Manufactures and the Census of Agriculture give the entire
slaughter for 1909 , the only year for which such figures are availa

ble. They will be found on page 345 of Volume X of the Reports
of the Thirteenth Census (1910 ) and on page 332 of Volume II

of the Census of Manufactures for 1910 . Figures on the dressed
weight of food animals are published during the year in “ Crops
and Markets ” and annually in the " Agriculture Yearbook .”

By use of the data given above the Bureau of Animal Industry
has estimated themeat production for each year since 1907, when
the federal inspection began . These estimates are published in the
“ Agriculture Yearbook " and also in Department of Agriculture

Circular 241, entitled “ Food Animals and Meat Consumption in
the United States.” * Both these publications also contain estimates
of consumption .

The Food Administration also issued a report entitled “ Produc
tion of Meat in the United States and its Distribution during the

War," which contains monthly statistics for 1916 to 1918 and
annual figures for 1911 to 1915. The results obtained by the Food
* Issued in two editions dated September , 1922 , and May, 1924. In the
second edition the figures for recent years are revised , as the figures of the

Census of 1920 were not available when the first edition was compiled .

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS

233

Administration and the Bureau of Animal Industry do not agree,

owing to the fact that different ratios were used for the relation of
live weight to dressed weight and for the relation of total slaughter
to inspected slaughter.

Other Statistics of the Department of Agriculture. During
recent years the Department of Agriculture has published statistics
annually and at times oftener on wool, dairy products, and eggs,
annual statistics appearing in the Agriculture Yearbook and

monthly or quarterly statistics in Crops and Markets .
Figures on wool production have been computed for each year

beginning with 1914 . The figures by states relate only to fleece wool
or that cut from live sheep, while those for the United States as a

whole apply also to pulled wool or that taken from the skins
of slaughtered animals, the production of pulled wool being
about 20 per cent of that of fleece wool. The census statistics apply

only to fleece wool, but the figures for 1919 of the Census and the
Department of Agriculture do not agree ; the figures of the Depart
ment of Agriculture for the United States are almost 10 per cent
greater than those of the Census, but the differences for some of
the Far Western sheep-raising states are materially greater.

Figures on the more important dairy products, such as butter,
cheese , ice cream , and condensed milk , have been compiled begin

ning with 1918. Annual egg and chicken production on farmshas
been shown since 1919 .
Monthly figures on stocks, consumption , and production of wool
from 1918 to 1922 are given in Statistical Bulletin 3, of the De
partment of Agriculture, entitled “ Sheep , Lamb, Wool, and Mut
ton Statistics." Export and import statistics are also given .

Other Sources. General statistics on wool up to 1893 are con
tained in the report of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury De
partment entitled “ Wool and Manufactures of Wool,” also issued

as House Misc. Document 94, 52d Congress, 2d Session . Among
the features of this report worth mentioning are imports from 1822
to 1893, prices from 1824 to 1893, and prices and trade in foreign

countries over a long series of years, the period varying according
to the amount ofmaterial available .
Other publications on livestock and livestock products are dis
cussed on pages 304 to 306 .

CHAPTER XIX

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS
Annual statistics on the production of all minerals of commercial
importance have been collected annually by the Geological Survey,
which also has issued weekly or monthly reports on some of the
more important mineral products. By the executive order of June

4 , 1925 , the collection of mineral statistics was transferred from
theGeological Survey to the Department of Commerce. The same
order transferred the Bureau of Mines to the Department of

Commerce, and it is reported that the collection of annual mineral
statistics will bemade by the Bureau of Mines. Annual statistics
on the production of precious metals are contained in the annual
report of the Director of the Mint. Production and other statistics

relating to the mineral industry have been compiled by the Bureau
of the Census,in coöperation with theGeologicalSurvey, and issued
as the volume on “ Mines and Quarries ” of the decennial census.
Annual Statistics on All Minerals. Annual statistics on the pro
duction of minerals in the states and territories west of the Rocky
Mountains were published by the Treasury Department for the
years 1866 to 1875. Beginning with 1882 similar statistics for the
continental United States and Alaska have been issued annually
by the Geological Survey. From 1882 to 1893 these reports

were issued under the title, “ Mineral Resources of the United
States " ; from 1894 to 1899 the reports on mineral resources were

published as parts of the annual reports of the Director of the
Geological Survey ; beginning with 1900 they have again been pub

lished under the original title. Each chapter is issued in separate
form in advance of the complete volume. All of the reports give
comparable figures for at least one earlier year if they are available ;

for many minerals figures are given for a series of previous years.
The statistics are collected primarily by means of schedules sent
to all mineral producers, although some field work is carried on .

Heretofore the chapters have been written by geologists who were
234

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

235

familiar with the developmentof the industry, and were thus able to

question reports showing undue increases or decreases. The reports
made by the operators are not required by law , but are entirely

voluntary. However, this fact does not affect the value of thework ,
as producers in general coöperate willingly , as they realize the
importance of obtaining complete and accurate information re
garding the progress of the industry.

The reports give production statistics by both quantity and value.
For all minerals, statistics are published by states, unless the state
figures will reveal the operations of individual establishments. For
someminerals statistics are given for well-defined districts or by
counties . There are also general summary tables by states, which
show the total net value of the mineral output, the duplications

being eliminated. The values used are described in the report for
1917 as follows: 1
. . . Many of the ores of the precious and semiprecious metals
are complex associations of several metals and gangues, and the
same ore may have different values, or none, its value depending

on themetallurgic and other treatment it may require. The quanti

ties and values of such ores are therefore best measured by the
metal actually extracted from them and made marketable. Chromic
iron ore, manganese ore, mangani ferous ore, and bauxite, on the

other hand, are marketed as such . The quantities and the values of
the non -metals are likewise placed upon the products in the condi

tion in which they are first sold . The quantities and value of the
fuels, phosphate rock , and some other non -metals therefore repre
sent raw or only very slightly dressed products, in the condition
in which they first become articles of trade. Salt appears as the
content of brine, in various refined conditions, or as rock salt.
Gypsum is sold as crude, as ground, or as calcined . Cement, how

ever, is the commercial product reported , rather than the raw ma
terial from which it is made. The clay products, except very small
quantities of special clays that are sold raw , first appear in statistics

as brick , terra cotta , tile , porcelain , pottery , etc. As quarry products
are sold in three forms-- rough , partly dressed , or finished - there
is no way of determining their quantities and values except by con

sidering them in the condition in which they are first marketed .

The statistics are for the quantity marketed or sold and not for
the amountproduced regardless of disposition.”
*Mineral resources, 1917, Part 1, p . 22a .

*See page 242 for discussion of difference between figures of Geological
Survey and those of the Census.

NAL

236

O
NATI

CAL

ISTI

STAT

K

WOR

In the earlier years the reports were confined almost entirely to
statistics of production in the United States, but during later years

an endeavor has been made to include other data bearing on the
economic status of the industry. For all important minerals there
are included statements of imports and exports, compiled from the

records of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce; and
in some cases more detailed figures are obtained from exporters .

For many minerals only total figures for imports and exports are
given , and if statistics showing countries of shipment or destination
are desired, recourse must be had to the reports of the Bureau of

Foreign and Domestic Commerce described on pages 326 to 354.
For someminerals there are statistics of stocks on hand at the
beginning and end of each year. Information is also given regard

ing range in prices, compiled from the leading trade journals, and
figures on production in foreign countries, obtained from official
reports of foreign countries and from reports of foreign representa
tives of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce and Con
sular officers.

In addition to the purely statistical data there is considerable
material on the uses, occurrence, and other technical features of the
several minerals. Many of the reports contain excellent bibliog
raphies. The economic and technicalhistory of the variousmineral

industries may be obtained by consulting the successive annual

reports for a series of years. The annual report for 1917 con
tains a list of the particularly full reviews of various industries

published in the volumes for 1908 to 1917. The volume for 1915
contains a summary showing the production of each mineral from
1880 to 1915.

The earlier reports as a rule contained statistics for primary raw
materials only , but during recent years figures have been collected
and published on many mineral compounds, some of which fall

within the field of manufactured products. For some of the
minerals there are figures on the uses by various industries, and for

others, data on equipment in use and on topics other than pro
duction .

In the list below are indicated some products and topics on which

data have been published at various times. Figures on all these
have not been compiled each year, but the list is given in order to
indicate what might be expected in this publication .

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

237

Abrasive bauxite.
Abrasive materials .
Abrasives, artificial.
Aluminum sulphate.

Ammonia and ammonium sulphate from coke plants.
Antimonial lead.
Ballast, railroad.
Barium compounds.

Benzol and benzol products from coke plants.
Blanc fixe.
Borate materials.
Brass and bronze.

Brass castings, rods, sheets, tubing and wire.
Brick.
Brick , clay.
Briquett, fuel.
Building operations.
Building sand .
Building stone.

Bunker coal.
Cadmium sulphide.

Calcium chloride.
Caustic soda.

Cement plant capacity .
Chemical porcelain and stone ware.
China.
Clay products.
Coal.

Box car loaders, number and capacity.
Consumption by states.
Consumption by uses (railroads, bunker for steamship , mines, coke
ovens, coal gas, electrical utilities, domestic purposes, industrial
purposes ).

Destination of product of each district.
Destination of tide-water shipments.
Labor statistics.
Production per man .
Days in operation .
Miners employed .

Length of working day.
Strikes .

Men involved.
Days lost.

Mining methods (hand, machine, shot from solid, steam shovel ).
Production by classes of mines, rated by amount produced .
Coke.
Active and idle ovens.

Coal used, amount, source, and character.
Consumption by uses and by states.
Destination of coke produced in each state.
Number of ovens in each by -product coke plant.
Production by states since 1880.
Shipments by originating railroads and waterways.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

238
Coke breeze.

Concrete ships.
Copper wire and copper -clad wire.
Copper castings, rods, tubing, sheets and plates.
Copper sulphate.
Crucibles, refractory.
Earthern ware.
Electrical supplies, porcelain .

Crushed stone.

Engine sand .
Ferroalloys.
Filter sand.
Fire clay.
Flagging.
Furnace flux.

Furnace sand.
Ganister.
Gas from coke plants.
Gasoline from natural gas.

Glass sand.
Glauber's salt.
Hypo.
Iron ore.

Reserves in Minnesota and Michigan.
Stocks at Lake Erie ports.

Wages in mines in Lake Superior district.
Jade.

Lead pigments.
Lime consumption by agriculture and industries.
Marbles, toy.

Molding sand.
Monumental stone.

Natural gas.

Acreage owned and leased .
Cities and towns supplied .
Consumption by industries.
Lime kilns using.
Wells drilled.
Naphtha from coke plants.
Naphthalene from coke plants.
Niter cake.
Paving blocks.
Paving sand.

Petroleum .
Acreage owned and leased.
Pipe line runs.
Stocks.

Wells drilled.

Pipes for tobacco, clay.
Porcelain .

Potash.

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

239

Potter's supplies ( refractory ware ).
Producer gas, lime kilns using.

Pottery .

Railroad ballast.

Refractory clay products, production and use in various industries.
Riprap.
Road metal.
Rock salt.

Red lead.
Rolled zinc.
Rubble.
Sand-lime brick .
Sal soda.

Salt cake.
Sanitary ware, clay.
Sewer pipe.

Ships, concrete.
Silica .

Sodium compounds.
Stoneware.

Street paving.
Strikes in coal mines.
Strontium salts.

Sulphuric acid.
Talc .

Terra cotta , architectural.
Tile .

Tobacco pipes, clay.
Toluol, from coke plants.

Water glass.
Water, mineral.

White lead .
Wire , brass.
Wire, copper and copper clad .

Zinc boiler plates and special sheets, dust, pigments, sheets and strips.
Weekly and Monthly Statements: Geological Survey. Weekly
mimeographed statements have been issued by the Geological Sur
vey showing the production of coal and beehive coke, unbilled cars

of coal at themines, the time lost at mines through various causes,
the all-rail movement to New England, and the weekly tidewater

movement through Hampton Roads. Monthly figures are also
given in one of the weekly bulletins. Monthly figures on the pro
duction of bituminous coal, anthracite coal, beehive coke, and by

product coke are given also in the “ Survey of Current Business,"
issued by the Department of Commerce.

Monthly statistics on crude petroleum have been issued by the
Geological Survey. These show the production by states, principal

240

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

districts,and fields; stocksby fields; imports and exports, classified
by principal countries, and estimated consumption . The Survey of
Current Business shows the total production, stocks, consumption ,

imports, and shipments from Mexico .
A monthly mimeographed statement has been issued by the Geo

logical Survey on Portland cement, showing the production , ship
ments, and stocks on hand.

Gold and Silver.

Annual statistics on the production of gold

and silver have been published in the annual report of the Director
of the Mint since 1909. From 1866 to 1877 this information was

contained in the series of reports entitled " Mineral Resources
West of Rocky Mountains.” In 1880 the Bureau of the Mint
published the first report under the title “ Statistics of Production
of Precious Metals ” ; in 1883 the title was changed to “ Production

of Precious Metals,” which title was used until 1909. Beginning
with 1910 the production statistics were made a part of the annual
report of the Director of the Mint. The production statistics for
gold and silver have been issued jointly by the Bureau of the Mint

and the Geological Survey . These statistics are probably the most
accurate of any published . TheGeological Survey collected its fig
ures from the mines, while the Bureau of the Mint worked back

ward from mint deposits through refineries, smelters, and other re
duction works to the figures of mine production. This check

eliminates the possibility of serious error.
In addition to figures on the production of gold and silver in the

United States, on the operations of the mints, and on the coinage
of the United States , the annual reports of the Director of the

Mint bring together important data relating to the production of
gold and silver in foreign countries, laws relating to coinage and

currency in foreign countries, and statistics of foreign monetary
systems. The more important statistical data include the following :
Gold and silver used in the industrial arts.
Import and export of gold and silver, by countries.
Imports and exports of gold and silver , by customs districts.
Deposits and purchase of gold and silver, by mints.

Deposits of gold at mints and assay offices since 1873.
Deposits of silver at mints and assay offices since 1885.

Coinage of mints, by denominations since 1793.
Stocks and location of coins and currency in the United States.
Stock of gold and silver in the United States for each year since 1873.

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

241

Exports of silver from London to India , China, and Straits Settlement
since 1881.
Gold and silver imported into British India since 1873.
Ratio of silver to gold since 1687 .

Price of silver since 1833.
Monetary statistics of foreign countries including coinage, production of
Values of foreign coins.

gold and silver, bank note circulation, metallic reserves, statements
of central banks of issue, monetary stocks. In addition to the purely

statistical matter this report contains abstracts of principal laws of
foreign countries relating to currency and coinage and notes on topics

relating to production and use of gold and silver.
Annual statistics for the United States and foreign countries

covering a long period of years up to 1894 on the production , im
ports, and exports of gold and silver, and the amountof coinage are
given in the publication entitled “ Coinage Laws of the United

States, 1792-1894,” published by the Finance Committee of the

Senate.
Several of the reports of the National Monetary Commission
contain compilations on gold and silver for a period of years, the
more important being the following :
Vol. 21. Statistics for the United States, 1867- 1909.
Excess of imports of exports of gold and silver, by calendar years,
1867- 1909.
Production of gold in the World and in the United States, annually,
1867 to 1909.

Gold supply of the United States and its distribution annually , 1867 to
1909.

Exports and imports of gold atNew York,monthly 1889 to 1909, weekly
1899 to 1909.
Gold in the Treasury at the end of each month from 1878 to 1909 and
the maximum and minimum gold holdings during each month .
Vol. 20. Trade balance of the United States.

Imports and exports of gold, annually, 1821- 1909.
Imports and exports of silver, annually, 1825 - 1909.

Vol. 22. Seasonalvariations in demands for currency and capital.
Imports and exports of gold , monthly, 1890 to 1908.
Imports and exports of gold at New York , weekly, 1899 to 1908.
Deposits of gold bullion at mints and assay offices, monthly, 1890 to 1908.

Data on the coinage of gold and silver in the United States and

foreign countries over a series of years are given in the report of
the Monetary (or Silver ] Commission of 1876 ; published also as
Senate Report 703, 44th Congress, 2d session . A similar butmore
* Three earlier editions of this work were issued in 1893 ; the last edition
was published in 1894.
17

242

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

extensive compilation , containing also much information on the

production and movement of gold and silver, was prepared by the

Senate Commission of Gold and Silver Inquiry and published in
1923 in the pamphlet entitled “ Gold and Silver Statistics "
(Serial 3).
Coal Distribution, 1918-1919. The distribution of coal from
August, 1918 , to February , 1919, is shown in the publication of
the Fuel Administration entitled “ Report of the Distribution

Division , 1918-1919.” This volume shows the weekly movement
of coal between the producing and consuming regions and between
the various states. During this period the distribution of coal was

controlled by the Fuel Administration , and the data can not be
taken as indicating the movement of coal under normal conditions.
Decennial Statistics on Mineral Industry. Statistics of mines
and quarries have been collected in connection with each decennial
census beginning with 1810, except those for 1820, 1830, and 1900 .
A special enumeration wasmade in 1902. Following is a list of the

reports of those censuses containing such statistics :
Third Census: 1810. A statement of the arts and manufactures of the
United States for the year 1810 . [ Brief and fragmentary.)

Sixth Census: 1840.
Statistics of the United States of America .

Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of
the United States.
Seventh Census: 1850 . Digest of the statistics of manufactures.
Eighth Census: 1860.
Manufactures of the United States in 1860.
Preliminary report of the Eighth Census.

Ninth Census: 1870.
Statistics of the wealth and industry of the United States.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Tenth Census : 1880 .

Vol. XV. Mining industries (exclusive of precious metals ) .
Vol. XIII. Precious metals.
Vol. X . Petroleum , coke, and building stones.

Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.
Vol. VIII. The newspaper and periodical press ; Alaska ; Seal Islands ;

ship building. [Contains statistics on mineral resources of Alaska.]
Eleventh Census : 1890.
Mineral industries.

Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Parts II and III.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

243

Eleventh Census: 1890 – Continued .
Statistical atlas of the United States.

Population and resources of Alaska. (Contains mining and mineral
statistics.)

Intercensal publication : Mines and quarries, 1902.
Thirteenth Census: 1910.
Vol. XI. Mines and quarries.

Abstract of the Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Fourteenth Census: 1920.

Vol. XI. Mines and quarries— General report and analytical tables and
reports for states and selected industries.

Abstract of the Fourteenth Census of the United States.

With the exception of the report on mines and quarries for
1902 all the mining statistics relate to the calendar year preceding
the census year. The report for 1902 is a special report covering
thatyear. The earlier censuses contained little detailed information .

The enumerationsmade up to 1902 are described as follows in the
report for that year :4
. . . The first attempt to collect any industrial statistics was
made in connection with the Third Census, under the provisions of
a special amendatory act, passed May 1, 1810, which required the
" marshals' secretaries and their assistants . . . to take . . .
an account of . . , manufacturing establishments and manu

factures." From the digest of these statistics prepared by Tench
Coxe under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, it
appears that the schedule secured information concerning the cut
ting and dressing of marble, slate , and other stones, the quarrying
of slate, the mining of saltpeter, and the production of red and yel

low ocher, but that no reference wasmade to minerals from which
metallic substances are derived save in the classification “ lead and
manufactures of lead .” There was included under this classifica
tion the substance known as black lead (graphite ) . Although the
law providing for the census of 1820 contained a provision similar
to that of the law of 1810 concerning industrial statistics, there

is no evidence that statistics of mines and quarries were taken .
The section concerning industrial statistics was omitted from the
law providing for the census of 1830 .

No further attempt appears to have been made to collect statistics
for mines and quarries until the census of 1840, which was taken
in conformity with the Act of March 3, 1839. This was the first
census law to contain a specific provision for the collection or
statistics ofmines. Section 13 of the law provided that “ the afore
* Mines and quarries, 1902, pp. 1-3.

244

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

said marshals and their assistants . . . also shall collect and re
turn in statistical tables under proper heads, according to such forms

as shall be furnished, all such information relating to mines, agri
culture, commerce, manufactures, and schools as will exhibit a full
view of the pursuits, industry, education , and resources of the
country . . . .

The Seventh , Eighth, and Ninth Censuses were taken under the
Act of May 23, 1850, which authorized not only the enumeration of

all inhabitants , but also the collection of “ all the other statistical
information . . . specified in the instructions which shall be given
by the Secretary of the Interior and in the tables annexed." Under

this provision statistics of mines continued to be taken , but only in
a scattering way and in connection with other statistics until the
census of 1870 , when they were given separately and with com
parative fullness.

Section 18 of the Act of March 3, 1879, providing for the census
of 1880 , contains the following provision : “ And said Superin

tendent may employ experts and special agents to investigate in
their economic relation the manufacturing, railroad , fishing,mining,

and other industries of the country. . . ."

The form

of the

inquiries concerning mining and other productive industries was
left to the discretion of the Superintendent of the Census and the
Secretary of the Interior.

The only direct reference to a mining census that is made in the
Act of March 1 , 1889, which provided for the Eleventh Census is
contained in section 17. This section provided that the only
volumes to be published in connection with that census were those

relating to population and social statistics, manufactures, mining,
agriculture, mortality and vital statistics, valuation and public in
debtedness, recorded indebtedness, and statisticsrelating to railroad
corporations and incorporated express, telegraph , and insurance
companies. But among the reports which the Superintendent was

“ required to obtain ," if directed to do so by the Secretary of the
Interior, were those “ from all corporations or establishments re

porting products other than agricultural products.”
The Act of March 3, 1899, providing for the Twelfth Census,
was the first census law to describe the scope of the mining census

and to make a definite line ofdemarcation between the statistics of
mines and those of manufactures. Section 8 provides “ that after

the completion and return of the enumeration and of the work upon
the schedules relating to the products of agriculture and to manu
facturing . . . the Director of the Census is hereby authorized
to collect statistics relating to . . . mines, mining, and minerals,
and the production and value thereof, including gold in divisions

of placer and vein , and silver mines, and the number of men em
ployed, the average daily wage, average working time, and aggre

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

245

gate earnings in the various branches and aforesaid divisions of the
mining industry . . . ." Before the reports on population , agri

culture, and manufactures were completed the Act of March 6 ,
1902, providing for the establishment of a permanent Census Office
became a law , and it was therefore in conformity with this law

rather than that of March 3 , 1899, that the census of mines and
quarries of 1902 was taken . No material change was made, how

ever, in the provisions of section 8 , cited above.
The census of 1840 was the first, except for the fragmentary
information collated in 1810, to include statistics of mining and

quarrying. Statistics were shown of capital, employees, and prod
uct - in combination , however, with the manufactures of the metal
or mineral in each case — for coal, anthracite and bituminous ; gold ;
granite, marble , and other stone ; iron ore ; and lead. . . . .

. . . In 1850 and 1860 statistics for mines and quarries were in
cluded with those for manufactures. The first separate census of

mines and quarries was in 1870 ; then followed the censuses of 1880
and 1890 . . . .

The law governing the census of mines and quarries of 1920 ,
which was essentially the same as that for 1910 , was as follows:
The schedule of inquiries relating to . . . mines and quarries
shall include the name and location of each establishment; char
acter of organization, whether individual, coöperative, or other
form ; amount of capital actually invested ; number of proprietors,
firm members, copartners, stockholders, and officers, and the
amount of their salaries ; number of employees and the amount
of their wages ; . . . principal miscellaneous expenses ; quantity
and value of products ; time in operation during the year ;

character and quantity of power used ; and character and number
of machines employed .

During recent census years the statistics for mines and quarries
have been collected in coöperation with the Geological Survey, but

the figures of the two organizations do not agree, as the Geological
Survey statistics are for specific commodities, while the census
statistics are for the products of the industry. As in the case of
the Census of Manufactures the product of an industry may in
clude commodities not covered by the industry classification , the

establishments being classified according to its product of greatest
value. For instance , copper mines may produce silver or other

metals as subordinate products. In the census reports the value

246

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

of all these subordinate products is included in the value of the
product of the industry, in the Geological Survey reports separate
figures are given for the production of each mineral. The values

for products given in the reports on mines and quarries are those
for the product mined, while those of the Geological Survey are
for product marketed , the differences being described in part

by the Census Bureau as follows: 5

Between these methods there is — first, the fundamental differ
ence that the Bureau of the Census endeavors to present the total
actual output and its value to the producer for the calendar year,

whereas the Geological Survey reports “ marketed production ,"
sales, or shipments, including the amount used by the producers;
the two sets of statistics may therefore be quite different; and
second , the Geological Survey shows separately the quantity and
value of each mineral product, whereas the Bureau of the Census
presents the value of products of each mining industry or group of

mining enterprises , classified for purposes of tabulation as an in
dustry. Thus the Bureau of the Census figures for an industry
include the value of some products not indicated by the industry
designation, whereas the Geological Survey tabulates the value of
each product under its proper designation , irrespective of its
source.

For example, the crude or mine products of a metalliferous
lode-mining enterprise include varying combinations of the metals

gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc, and sometimes other metals.
The Bureau of the Census classifies each of such enterprises ac
cording to the metal of predominant worth in ores produced, and
tabulates the amount received by the producer for ore and con

centrates, etc., as the total value of products in the industry classi
fication to which the particular enterprise is assigned . The Geo
logical Survey, on the other hand, presents separately the quantity
and value of the severalmetals recoverable from ores, etc. There
fore the statistics compiled by the two bureaus for the gold , silver,

copper, lead , and zinc-mining industries are not comparable.
Similar differences in presenting results apply also to the rare
metals-mining industry. Again , the total value of all products of
the mica mines is not identical with the value of the output ofmica,
but, as reported by the Bureau of the Census, includes the value
of some feldspar or other products mined in connection with the

principal product.
* Fourteenth Census, Volume XI, page 16 ; other details resulting in dif
ferences are given as well as figures of differences between the two reports.

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

247

The report on mines and quarries for 1919 contains separate

chapters on the following industries:
Coal.

Stone.

Petroleum and natural gas.
Iron ore.
Gold, silver, copper , lead, and zinc.

Phosphate rock ,
Gypsum .

The census report for 1909 contains special chapters on the coal,

iron and petroleum and natural gas industries ; for these industries
only are production statistics given by quantities.
The report for 1902 contains a large amount of descriptivema
terial on the industries and their raw materials and finished
products. This report gives comparative figures for each industry
for preceding census years, as well as annual statistics of produc
tion and imports for each mineral reported for a series of years.

For someminerals statistics of world production for several years
are given if available. These tables are generally taken from
Mineral Resources of the United States for 1902. The following
tables of historical interest are worth noting separately :
Copper production of the world (quantity ) by countries, annually 1879 to
1902.

Copper production of the world (quantity ) by decades, 1801 to 1900.
Copper production and consumption ( quantity ) by countries, annually 1895
to 1902 .

Copper trade of principal exporting countries with Europe (quantities ),
annually , 1895 - 1902.
Copper, average annual prices in New York and London , 1879 to 1902.
Lead, annual world production and consumption ( quantity ) by countries,
1889 to 1902.

Silver, commercial ratio to gold annually , 1700 to 1902.
Silver, average annual prices , 1843 to 1902.
Lead, average annual prices, 1843 to 1902.

Platinum , production in Russia (quantity) 1824 to 1901, five year periods
to 1890, thereafter annually.

Coal, anthracite, annual shipments (quantity ) from producing districts,
1820 to 1902.

Petroleum products, annual production and exports (quantity ) 1864 to
1902, annual exports by countries 1894 to 1902.

Petroleum , annual production (quantity ) by states and territories, 1859
to 1902 .

Petroleum , annual production in Russia (quantity ) 1889 to 1902.
There is someoverlapping of the statistics of mines and quarries
and of manufactures , as the Bureau of the Census has found it

impossible to make a sharp distinction between mining and quarry
ing operations on the one hand and manufacturing on the other.

248

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The crude products of mines and quarries are almost always sub
jected to some treatment at the mine which may be regarded as
manufacturing . If the processes at the mine are of a simple char
acter such as sorting of coal, the business is treated as belonging
to themining and quarrying industry. If, on the other hand, the

processes are elaborate, that portion of the work has been included

in the statistics of manufactures. This is particularly true if
operations carried on at the mines are the same as those conducted

at establishments at a distance. For instance , copper smelters are

operated in connection with copper mines and also as a separate
industry. If the Census of Manufactures is to represent the copper
smelting industry as a whole it obviously must take acount of the
smelting done at the mines. The policy pursued by the Census

Bureau at the Fourteenth Census in regard to border line industries
was as follows: 6
( 1 ) In the brick and tile , pottery , cement, and lime industries
the digging of clay and the quarrying of stone are a simple and

minor part of the business in which much the greater part of the
activities are of a manufacturing character. Statistics for estab
lishments in these industries, engaged in both mining and manu

facturing, are included only in the census ofmanufactures .
( 2) In the coal and coke industry complete segregation was
made of all coal-mining statistics and coke -manufacturing statistics.
If the operating establishment did not keep separate accounts by
means of which absolute segregation of data could be obtained , an
estimated segregation was made.
( 3 ) In the copper and lead and zinc industries mining statistics
were completely segregated from manufacturing, i, e., smelting and
refining , by estimate, as for coal and coke, if necessary.

(4 ) On the other hand, in other industries in which establish
ments conducted both mining or quarrying operations and more or
less elaborate manufacturing operations, segregated reports for

each class of operations were secured whenever possible. When
this was not possible the data for each such establishment as a

whole has been included in both the census of mines and quarries

and also in the census ofmanufactures. Industries in this category
include basalt or trap rock , granite, limestone, marble, sandstone,

and slate quarrying, the mining of abrasive materials, feldspar,

fuller's earth ,graphite, gypsum ,mineral pigments, quartz or silica ,
talc and soapstone. In the stone-quarrying industries the establish
• Fourteenth Census, Vol. XI, p. 13.

PRODUCTION OF MINERALS

249

ments included in both the mining and manufacturing statistics
were chiefly producers of crushed and ground stone and were
classified by the census of manufactures as in the roofing and
paving -material industries. There were also included , moreover,

in both sets of statistics full data on a few establishments cutting
and dressing stone for construction and other purposes which did
not report separately for mining and for manufacturing, and for
which no basis for segregation was available. In the other indus
tries, above enumerated , the data on most of the establishments

which mined and prepared their product by processes of grinding
calcining, etc ., necessarily were included in both the mining and

manufacturing tabulations.

The data collected for mines and quarries are much the same as
those for manufactures. For each industry, for all industries in
each state , and for the several principal industries in each state,

figures are given for the following topics :
Number of enterprises.
Number of quarries, mines or wells.
Land controlled .
Mineral lands.
Operated .

Owned .
Leased.

Timber lands.
Principal expenses.
Capital.

Total.
Services.
Salaries of officers of corporations, superintendents and managers.
Salaries of clerks and other subordinate employees.

Wages.

Supplies and material.
Fuel and rent of power.
Royalties and rent of mines.

Taxes.
Contract work .

Rent of offices and other sundry expenses.
Value of products.
Persons engaged .
Proprietors and officials .
Total.

Proprietors and firm members.
Total.
Performing manual labor.
Salaried officers of corporations.
Superintendents and managers.

250

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NATIONAL STATISTICA WORK

Persons engaged - Continued .
Technical employees.

Clerks and other subordinate salaried employees.
Wage earners on December 15, by classes."
Wage earners employed on fifteenth of each month .
Primary power.
Aggregate horsepower .
Total horsepower.

Steam engines, not turbine.

Steam turbines,
Internal combustion engines.
Water wheels and turbines.

Electric motors operated by purchased current.”
Electric motors run by current generated by the enterprise."
Fuel used, by classes.
' Figures given for number above ground and below ground.
*Number and horsepower given under each .

CHAPTER XX
PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES

Statistics on the fisheries were collected during early years in
connection with the decennial censuses, but recent statistics have
been compiled by the Bureau of Fisheries.
An early independent report of considerable historical interest

was that by Lorenzo Sabine, published as an appendix to the Report
of the Secretary of the Treasury for 1852. This report applies to

the deep sea fisheries from 1504- 1852, and ismostly historical and

descriptive. It covers the entire period from the time the North
American fisheries were first used by Europeans, and contains con

siderable discussion of the various treaties relating to the subject.
Scattered through the text are tables giving figures for the colonies
and for European countries with no indications of the source.
Among the compilations based on official reports may bementioned

the exports of fish from 1789 to 1851; tonnage engaged in the cod

fishery, 1789 to 1851; and exports of fish from Newfoundland
and the eastern provinces of Canada over a series of years.
Bureau of the Census. Statistics of fisheries were collected at

each decennial census from 1840 to 1890. By the act of June 7,
1906 (34 Stat, L ., 218 ) , the Bureau of the Census was authorized
to collect decennially in other than census years information in re
gard to the fisheries. The first investigation under this authority
was made for 1908 ; normally the statistics should have been col
lected again in 1918 , but owing to the war the work was not under
taken in that year. At present statistics of canned fish products
only are collected by the Bureau of the Census, the results being

published in connection with the data on the canning industry in
the report on the Census of Manufactures.
* Issued also as House Ex. Doc . 23, 32d Cong., 2d sess., and as Sen. Ex.
Doc. 22, 32d Cong., 2d sess. The Sabine report was reprinted in 1872 as
House Misc . Doc. 32, 42d Cong ., 2d sess. ; the reprint contained also a

report on the cod and whale fisheries, made by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary
of State, to the House of Representatives on February 1, 1791.
251

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

252

The census publications containing statistics of fisheries are as
follows :

Sixth Census: 1840.
Statistics of the United States of America.
Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of
the United States.

Seventh Census: 1850.
Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Eighth Census : 1860.
Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.
Statistics of the United States in 1860.
Ninth Census : 1870.

Statistics of wealth and industry of the United States.
Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Tenth Census : 1880.
Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.
The oyster industry.

The newspaper and periodical press; Alaska, seal islands, shipbuilding.
[Data on fisheries limited to Alaska.)
Eleventh Census: 1890.

Report on statistics of fisheries in the United States.'
Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Part III.

Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
Population and resources of Alaska.
Intercensal publication .

Fisheries of the United States, 1908.

In general the decennial census reports give data on capital in
vested, number of men employed, and quantity and value of prod
ucts of various kinds. The material in the early reports is brief

and to a certain extent fragmentary . In the reports for 1840 the
statistics relating to the fisheries are not assembled , but are scat

tered through the tables giving statistics for states, counties, and
other minor civil divisions. In the reports for the Census of 1850
and in later reports the data were assembled in a section devoted

entirely to the fishery industry. Statistics on the whale fisheries
are given in all the reports except the one for 1870.
* The census of fisheries for 1880 wasmade jointly by the Bureau of the
Census and the Fish Commission and the results published by the Fish
Commission . See page 254.

* Issued in two forms: (1 ) In volume containing three reports on agri
culture, irrigation , and fisheries and ( 2 ) in volume containing two reports
on agriculture and fisheries. In both volumes the reports have separate

pagination . The fisheries report is the same in the two volumes.

UERIES

PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES

253

The report for 1908 , under the Act of June 7 , 1906 , included
general statistics on persons employed, salaries, wages, capital in
vested in plant and equipment, number and value of various types
of apparatus, quantity and value of products by species and by

states, detail figures on the products of the principal fisheries, and
detailed statistics on the industry in each state. None of the earlier

reports gives such detailed information .
Bureau of Fisheries. A mass of statistical material relating to
the fisheries of the United States and foreign countries is contained
in the publications of the Fish Commission , which was organized

as an independent establishment in 1871, and which in 1903 became

the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce and
Labor ( since 1913 the Department of Commerce) . With the

exception of the periodical and special publicationsdescribed below ,
these statistics were all the results of special investigations or com

pilations. There are too many of these studies for separate listing,
but an excellent guide will be found in the publication of the Bureau
of Fisheries entitled “ Analytical Subject Bibliography of the Pub
lications of the Bureau of Fisheries, 1871 to 1920,” Appendix V
to the annual report of the Commissioner of Fisheries for 1920 ,
Bureau of Fisheries Document 899. References to general com

pilations will be found on pages 150 to 159 of the publication , but

references to statistics relating to particular products will be found
under the subhead “ fisheries ” of the main divisions of the bibli
ography. Thus, references to statistics on shrimp will be found
under the main heading “ Crustacea,” subheads “ Fisheries " and
“ Shrimp." References to the fisheries of a particular state or

region will be found under “ fishes,” “ fisheries and fishery in
dustries," and " fisheries considered geographically .” References
to particular species will be found under the heading " special
fisheries.” Another classification containing references to statistical
material is " fish trade.” The user of this index would do well to
become familiar with the detailed contents at the beginning of

each part and section .
With the exception of the reports which are clearly biological
studies or which relate to methods of the industry, most of the

publications contain statistical material,

254

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Fishery products as reported in the publications of the Bureau
of Fisheries comprise all forms of marine life, such as oysters,
clams, shellfish used for industrial purposes, and sponges. In con

nection with the industrial use of shells, the Bureau has published
the following reports on the button industry :
Fresh water mussels and mussel industries of the United States. Bulletin ,
Vol. XXXVI, Bureau of Fisheries, Document 865 ( 1919 ) .

The mussel fishery and pearl-button industry of the Mississippi River. Bul

letin , Vol. XVIII, Bureau of Fisheries, Document 414 (1899 ).
Fresh water pearl-button industry in the United States in 1912. Annual
Report for 1914, pages 31 -34.

Of special historical interest are the statistics of the fisheries
industry in 1880, collected jointly by the Tenth Census and the
Commission on Fish and Fisheries . The Tenth Census published
only the report on the oyster industry referred to on page 252, but
the Commission on Fish and Fisheries published the material col
lected under the general title “ The Fisheries and Fishery Indus
tries of the United States," which appeared in five sections. The

statistical material is contained in Section II, entitled “ A Geo
graphical Review of the Fisheries Industries and Fishing Com
munities for the Year 1880," and in Section V (in two volumes ),

entitled “ History and Methods of the Fisheries.” In addition to
the statistical material this series of reports contains a mass of
information dealing with the character of the fisheries , methods

employed, and history of the fishing industry in various com
munities.
At present the Bureau of Fisheries publishes the following sta
tistics regularly : Monthly report of fishery products landed at
Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts ; Portland , Maine ; and

Seattle, Washington ;monthly report of cold storage holdings; an
annual report on one section of the United States ; an annual report
on the fisheries of Alaska, and an annual report on canned fishery
products of the United States. The report on Alaskan fisheries is
discussed on page 512, together with other reports on that territory.

The monthly reports on fish landed have been published for
Boston and Gloucester since about 1891 and for Portland and
Seattle since 1916 . The information is collected by agents of the
Bureau stationed at these ports, who forward the schedules at
intervals to the Washington office , where the monthly compilation

PRODUCTS OF THE FISHERIES

255

is made. The quantities given in these reports are the actual
weights as landed from the vessels and the values are the amounts
received by the fishermen . The reports as issued each month are
printed on sheets of various sizes, but the monthly and annual
figures are again printed in the annual report of the Commissioner
of Fisheries, which should be used for all statistics except those

for the current year.
The monthly reports for Boston, Gloucester , and Portland are
issued under the title “ Statement of quantities and values of

certain fishery products landed at Boston and Gloucester, Massa
chusetts, and Portland, Maine, by American and Canadian vessels
during the month of

_ ” They show the quantity and

value of each kind of fish landed by American and by Canadian
vessels, the number of trips, and the fishing grounds from which
the fish were obtained. Two annual summaries, by calendar years
are issued. One shows the quantity and value of each kind of fish
landed each month by all vessels and from all fishing grounds ; this
bulletin bears the title “ Statement, by months, of quantities and
values of certain fishery products landed at Boston and Gloucester ,
Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine, by American and Canadian

fishing vessels during the calendar year
" The other reports
the total quantity and value of each kind of fish landed during the
year, subdivided by American and Canadian vessels and by fishing
grounds. This bulletin has the title “ Statement, by fishing grounds,
of quantities and values of certain fishery products landed at
Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Portland , Maine, by
American and Canadian fishing vessels during the calendar year

- .” Themonthly bulletin giving statistics for Seattle, Washing
ton , is entitled , “ Statement of quantities and values of certain

fishery products landed at Seattle, Washington, by American fish
ing vessels during the month of —

- .”

It shows the

number of trips and the quantity and value of each kind of speci
fied fish landed from the various fishing grounds. The annual
bulletin is entitled “ Statement, by fishing grounds, of quantities
and values of certain fishery products landed at Seattle, Washing

ton, by American fishing vessels during calendar year — ” This
statement shows the quantity and value of specified fish from each
ground landed during the year and the quantity and value of speci

L

256

NATIONAL STATISTICA

WORK

fied fish landed during each month . For fish taken in Puget Sound
the table shows the quantity and value of specified fish landed each
month.
Statistics of the fisheries for the entire United States are not
collected each year, but each year statistics are collected for a dif

ferent geographical section . These statistics are first published in
sheet form and are known as statisticalbulletins with the following

typical title : “ Fisheries of New England States, 1919." Separate
figures are given for each state, the number and value of all units

of equipment and apparatus, such as steam , gasoline and sail, fish

ing and transporting vessels, seines, nets, lines, etc. There are
shown also for each state the quantity and value of each of the

fishery products landed in the region . These statistics are collected
by agents of the Bureau whomake a canvass of the region in which
the investigation is made. Schedules are filled out by the dealers,

canners, proprietors of fishery industries, and other who are inter
ested in the industry .
A statement showing cold storage holdings of fish on the fifteenth
of each month is published by the Bureau of Fisheries, although
the statistics are collected by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics

of the Department of Agriculture. This statement shows the
quantity of cured herring, ofmild cured salmon,and ofthe several
species of frozen fish in storage in the various geographic sections.

It shows also the total holding of each species on the fifteenth of
the corresponding month of the preceding year, and the five-year
average.

An annual statement of the canned fishery products and by
products of the United States and Alaska was first issued for the
calendar year 1921. Statistics are given for the United States,
Alaska, and the several states in which each species is packed.
Prior to 1918 all of the general statistics described above were

assembled in the body of the annual administrative report of the
Commissioner , but beginning with the report for 1918, the statistics
have been published in an appendix to the annual report. This

appendix, which bears the title “ Fishery Industries of the United
States," is also issued separately . It should be noted that the

statistics are for the year preceding that of the annual report ;

thus the statistics for 1922 are in the appendix to the report of the
Commissioner for 1923.

CHAPTER XXI
PRODUCTION OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES
In this chapter are discussed the statistics which relate primarily
to production . Figures on production are given also in “ Dictionary
of Tariff Information ," " Summary of Tariff Information ” and

“ Tariff Information Surveys,” discussed on pages 367 and 368 , as

well as in many of the publications discussed in Chapter XXII,
Surveys of Industries. In the publications treated in Chapter
XXII, the production figures are generally subordinate or inci
dental to other considerations.
One of the most voluminous early reports on manufactures was

the two volume report entitled “ Documents relating to the Manu
factures in the United States," published in 1833, as House Docu

ment 308 , 22d Congress, ist Session. This report was made in

compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of
January 19, 1832. Much of the material is undigested , consisting

of replies of individualmanufacturers. In some cases the results
are tabulated by towns or county,butno attempt ismade to prevent
the disclosure of figures of individual establishments. The estab

lishments covered include not only factories, but neighborhood
trades such as blacksmiths, coopers, etc . By reason of the fact
that so much material is given on individual establishments the

work will be of greatest value to the person making a study of
the economic history of particular localities.
The States for which data are given are Maine, New Hampshire,

Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York ,
New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania , and Ohio .

The data include value of plant, equipment, and stock on hand,
raw material used, average number of employees and wages,
quantity and value of product, percentage of product sold in state,

in other states, and in foreign countries, kind of power used , date
of establishment, capital employed , and termsof sale. The presen
tation is not uniform , less details being given where the material
is tabulated.
18

257

258

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GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE CENSUS OF MANUFACTURES

While some statistics of manufactures were collected in connec
tion with the censuses of 1810, 1820, and 1840, the first comprehen
sive attempt to collect this class of material was made in 1850 .
After that date these statistics were collected every ten years until
1900, every five years from 1905 to 1920, and every two years
beginning with 1922. The quinquennial and decennial enumerations

since 1900 have been essentially of the same character. The bien
nial statistics are somewhat restricted in scope, as will be explained

below . It is expected that themore detailed compilations corres
ponding to the quinquennial and decennial censuses will bemade
in 1930 and every tenth year thereafter. In all the censuses of

manufactures the figures are for the year preceding the one in
which the enumeration is made. The publications containing the
reports on manufactures are as follows:
Third Census : 1810. A statement of the arts and manufactures of the
United States for the year 1810 .

Fourth Census: 1820. Digest of accounts of manufacturing establishments
in the United States and their manufactures.

Sixth Census : 1840.
Statistics of the United States of America .

Compendium of the enumeration of the inhabitants and statistics of
the United States.

Seventh Census: 1850 .
Digest of the statistics of manufactures.

Statistical view of the United States — Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Eighth Census : 1860.
Manufactures of the United States in 1860.
Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.
Statistics of the United States in 1860.

Ninth Census : 1870.
Statistics of the wealth and industry of the United States .
Compendium of the Ninth Census.
Tenth Census : 1880 .

Vol. II. Manufactures of the United States.
Vol. VIII. The newspaper and periodical press ; Alaska ; seal islands;
ship building.
Vol. X . Petroleum , coke, and building stones.
Vols. XVI and XVIII. Water power of the United States.
Vol. XXII. Power and machinery employed in manufactures, and
the ice industry of the United States.
Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

259

259

Eleventh Census : 1890.
Manufacturing Industries.
Part I. Totals for states and industries.

Part II. Statistics of cities.
Part III. Selected industries.

Compendium of the Eleventh Census, Parts II and III.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.

Statistical atlas of the United States.
Vol. VII. Manufactures - Part I, United States by industries.

Twelfth Census: 1900 .

Vol. VIII. Manufactures— Part II, States and territories.

Vols. IX and X . Manufactures - Parts III and IV , Special reports on
selected industries.

Abstract of the Twelfth Census.
Statistical atlas.
Census of Manufactures : 1905 .
Part I, United States, by industries."
Part II, States and territories.

Parts III and IV , Selected industries.
Vol. VIII. Manufactures — General report and analysis.

Thirteenth Census: 1910.

Vol. IX . Manufactures- Reports for states with statistics for prin
cipal cities.
Vol. X . Manufactures - Reports for principal industries.
Abstract of the Census.
Statistical atlas of the United States.
Census of Manufactures : 1914.

Vol. I. Census of Manufactures, 1914 – Reports by states with statis
tics for principal cities and metropolitan districts.
Vol. II. Census of Manufactures, 1914 - Reports for selected industries
and detail statistics for industries, by states.

Abstract of the Census of Manufactures, 1914.
Fourteenth Census : 1920 .

Vol. VIII. Manufactures - General report and analytical tables.

Vol. IX . Manufactures — Report for states, with statistics for prin
cipal cities.

Vol. X . Manufactures - Reports for selected industries .
Abstract of the Census of Manufactures, 1919.
Abstract of the Fourteenth Census of the United States.

Biennial Census of Manufactures, 1921."

The decennial and quinquennial censuses of manufactures have

been of essentially the same scope and character, although some
details given in the later one were not included during earlier
* This volume contains a description of the methods used in industrial
censuses of Germany, Belgium , Denmark , France, Austria, Switzerland,
Hungary, and the United Kingdom .
* This is the final report ; it should not be confused with a brief pamphlet
report containing summary statistics entitled “ Census of Manufactures,
1921."

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

years. The arrangement of the several volumes has varied some
what, the variations being indicated to some extent by the titles

of the volumes. In general the volumes of the Fourteenth Census

( figures for 1919) contain the following material:
Volume VIII contains summary statistics for all industries for
the United States, divisions, states, counties, and cities. It contains
also statistics on individual industries for the entire United States
and for the several states. In the first part of the volume the

material is arranged primarily according to the topics on which
figures were collected, such as wage earners employed each month ,
the secondary arrangement being by industries or states. The last
half of the volume, approximately , is devoted to general tables giv
ing detailed figures on each industry for a variety of the topics

covered . VolumeVIII contains figures by industries only and gives
no data on the production of specific commodities .

In Volume IX the primary arrangement of thematerial is by
states, all the data on the industries in any one state being brought

together on consecutive pages. There are also summary statistics
for all industries combined for cities with populations from 10,000
to 50, 000 and for counties, and detailed figures for separate indus

tries for cities with population of over 50,000. Figures on the out
put of specific commodities are given for the products of industries

which are of importance in the economic development of the par
ticular state being considered .

Volume X is devoted to selected industries of importance. Only
the leading industries are considered in this volume, which gives
under each industry such detailed figures as have been collected on

the production of specific commodities, the quantity of material
used , and other special topics.
The Abstract of the Census of Manufactures brings together in
one volume condensed statistics for the United States as a whole,

for states, for principal cities, and for separate industries. Statis
tics given without abridgment in the Abstract of the Census of
Manufactures are those on the quantity and value of the output

of specific commodities .
As the Abstract of the Fourteenth Census deals with all the

statistics collected at that enumeration, the tables on manufactures
are still more condensed than those in Abstract of the Census of

Manufactures. It contains much material on the output of specific

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

261

commodities, there being only a few industries for which these
figures must be sought in the other volumes.

The first biennialCensus of Manufactures, that for 1921, differs
materially from the earlier ones mainly by reason of the fact that
certain inquiries and tabulations were omitted. These omissions
will be indicated in the discussion of the several topics included in
the census ofmanufactures. The results of the work are published

in one volume entitled “ Biennial Census of Manufactures, 1921."
This must notbe confused with a very abbreviated summary pub

lished under the title, “ Census of Manufactures, 1921."
Scope of the Census. Recent censuses have been confined entirely
to establishments conducted under what is known as the factory

system , exclusive of the so -called neighborhood, household , and
hand industries . Prior to 1899 the figures relating to factory and
the other industries were not separated . The census for that year
included both , but the data for the two classes were segregated.
Since 1899 the enumeration has been confined to the factory indus
tries exclusively, and the following classes of establishments have
been excluded :
Establishments engaged principally in the performance of work
for individual customers, such as custom tailor shops, dressmaking
and millinery shops, and shoe-repair shops. (Large establishments
manufacturing to fill special orders were not, of course, excluded .)
Establishments engaged in the building industries other than
those manufacturing building materials for the general trade.
Establishments engaged in the so -called neighborhood industries

and hand trades, in which little or no power machinery is used ,
such as blacksmithing, harness making, tinsmithing, etc .
Custom grain mills (gristmills) and sawmills engaged exclu
sively in grinding grain or sawing timber owned by others.

Retail stores which incidentally manufacture on a small scale,
particularly where it was impossible to secure separate data for the
manufacturing and mercantile business .
Education , eleemosynary, and penal institutions engaged in

manufacturing industries.3

Prior to 1921, statistics were compiled for all establishments
having an annual product valued at $500 or more. The detailed
tables in the report of the Census of 1921 give figures only for
* Biennial Census of Manufactures, 1921, p . 4.

262

L

NATIONA

CAL

STATISTI

WORK

establishments having products valued at $5000 ormore, the figures
for establishments having an outputbetween $ 500 and $ 5000 being

given only in the tables showing size of establishment according to
value of product. The 53,999 establishments reporting output

valued at between $ 500 and $5000 amounted to 21.6 per centof all
establishments, but they reported only six-tenths of one per cent

of the total wage earners, and three-tenths of one per cent of the
total value of product .

Future enumerations will be confined entirely to establishments

producing goods to the value of $5000 or more.
Method of Collection. Statistics are collected by means of sched
ules sent to each manufacturing establishment. If the completed
schedules are not received within a reasonable time a special agent
of the Census Bureau calls at the establishment for the information .

The special agents also look after the completion of schedules not
fully filled out and the correction of schedules containing manifest

errors. The law makes it obligatory on all owners of establishments
to give the information called for by the schedules.

Classification of Industries and Products. Attention is par
ticularly directed to the fact that the enumeration is primarily by
industries, and not by commodities, there being included in each
industry the establishments whose chief products (in value) fall

within the classification . This results in there being included in
each industry figures for products which do not properly belong
to that particular group.
For instance , the flavoring extract industry in the classification

of the census includes “ The manufacture of extracts, pastes, and
powders for flavoring soda water , ice cream , and other food prod
ucts, and colors for bakers and confectioners. Many establishments

reported as subsidiary products, cordials and flavoring sirups, and

some reported also the manufacture of cosmetics, baking powders,
household ammonia , roasted coffee, ground spices , food prepara

tions, and patentmedicines.” 4 Thus if an establishment reported
production of flavoring extracts to the value of $ 25,000, and pro
duction of patentmedicines to the value of $ 5000, the value of the
entire output, $30,000, would be reported as the product of the
* Biennial Census of Manufactures, 1921, p. 155.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

263

flavoring extract industry , notwithstanding the fact that the patent
medicine industry might be another classification .
The value of the product of the flavoring extract industry in

1921 is given as $ 33,060,000, while flavoring extracts to the value
of $ 14,372,692, or 43 per cent of the total production for the

flavoring extract industry, were reported under other industries.
The report, however, does not show the value of products other
than flavoring extracts manufactured by the flavoring extract in
dustry as defined by the Census, so that it is impossible to obtain
the value of the output of flavoring extracts .
The report of the Census of Manufactures for 1921 contains
foot-notes showing the value of subsidiary products which are

included in the total of other industries, but which are covered by
the classification under consideration. Similar notes are given in

the abstracts of the Censuses of Manufactures for 1914 and 1919,
but not in the general volumes giving detailed statistics. In the
1914 Abstract these notes apply to 1909 and 1914, and in the 1919

Abstract, to 1909, 1914, and 1919.
While the main classification is by industries , each census has

given more figures showing quantity and value of the production of
specific commodities . Care should be taken not to confuse the
figures on products of industries and those on value of specific

products. Also in some cases the production of specific commodi
ties is that of the industry , while in other tables it is the total output
for all industries. Theheadings of the tables and the appended foot
notes furnish a guide to the significance of the figures. In the

reports of the Fourteenth Census, statistics on specific commodities
are given in all volumes , except Volume I.
Statistics of power laundries are included in the reports of the

Census of Manufactures, because these establishments are operated
on the factory plan . Statistics for newspapers and periodicals are

included under the printing and publishing industry. Statistics on
the production of motion pictures were first collected at the bien
nial census of 1921.

Establishments. Statistics of the number of establishments are
given for states, counties, cities, and industries, as well as for other
major classifications. The term establishment, as a rule, indicates
a physical unit and not ownership . However two or more plants
which are operated under a common ownership and for which one

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

set of books are kept are in some cases regarded as an establishment
if they are located within the same city, county or state. If such
plants under common ownership are located in different cities,
states, or counties, statistics are tabulated separately .

Capacity . Prior to the biennial census of 1921, the Census of
Manufactures gave no indication of the capacity of the several
industries, but in the report for that year there is a table showing

the maximum possible output for each industry. A comparison of
these figures for several censuses will indicate the relative activity

or depression of the several industries over a period of years.
Value. The value of products is used as the measure of produc
tion in all industries and for all general totals, but quantities are
reported for important commodities in some industries. The value

reported is the selling value or price at the factory , and includes
containers if they are sold with the goods. The goods reported are
those manufactured during the year, regardless of whether they
were sold or not.
Material.

The reports include statistics on the total cost of

material used by industries, there being for some industries
figures showing the quantity and value of specific materials. Ma
terial includes not only goods which become component parts of the
finished products, but also material essential to production by

machinery, such as fuel and lubricants, as well as packing boxes,
cans, and crates.

Value Added by Manufacture. The statistics on value added by
manufacture represent the difference between the value of products

and the cost of material. They are of importance in showing the
relative economic importance of different industries.
Character of Ownership . The character of ownership ofmanu
facturing establishments is subdivided under individuals, corpora

tions, and all others ; statistics are given by industries, states, and
cities. Under each of the three subclasses are shown the number of
establishments , the average number of wage earners, and the value
ofthe product. These figures are not given in the statistics for 1921.

Size of Establishments. Statistics for the size of establishments
are given by industries, states, and cities according to (a ) value of

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

265

product, and (b ) number of wage earners. The tables for indus

tries according to value of products give not only the number of
establishments in the various grades, but also wage earners, value

of products, and value added by manufacture. The tables showing

size of establishments according to number of wage earners show
the number of establishments and the number of wage earners in
each group .
These tables indicate the extent to which manufacturing is con

centrated in large plants ;they do notnecessarily indicatemonopoly ,
as separate establishments under the sameownership or control are
reported separately .
The classification according to value of product is subdivided as
follows:
Less than $5000.
$ 5000 to $ 20,000.

$ 100,000 to $ 500 ,000 .
$ 500 ,000 to $ 1,000,000 .

$ 20 ,000 to $ 100,000 .

$ 1,000 ,000 and over.

The classification according to number of wage earners is sub
divided as follows:
No wage earners.
I to 5.

101 to 250.
251 to 500 .
501 to 1000 .
Over 1000.

6 to 20 .

21 to 50 .
51 to 100.

Hours of Labor. The number of wage earners in the several

industries and states is shown according to the following classifi
cation of hours of labor per week :
44 and under.

?

Between 44 and 48 . first shown in
48. (48 and under prior to 1919.)
Between 48 and 54.

1919 .

54 .

Between 54 and 60.
60 .

Over 60.

Persons Engaged in Manufacturing Industries. Statistics for
persons engaged in manufacturing industries are given for indus

tries,states,and cities according to the schedule below ,which shows
the classification used in the reports of the Fourteenth Census and

the biennial census of 1921. All the tables in the reports of the
Fourteenth Census do not give the figures in as great detail as is
shown in this schedule, some of the tables containing summaries.

266

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

SCHEDULE SHOWING CLASSIFICATION OF STATISTICS OF NUMBER OF PERSONS
ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Classification

Fourteenth
Census

Biennial
Census

of 1921

X

Total ........
Proprietors and firm members.
Total .

X

X:

X

and other subordinates salaried employes.
Clerks
Total
... ... ..

X

Male and female .....
Officers, clerks and other salaried employes — Total.
Wage earners.

: : :: ::

X

Male and female . .. ..
Salaried officers of corporations.
Total . .. .. ..
.. ...... .
Male and female . . .
Superintendents and managers.
Total . . . .. . . .. . .
Male and female .. ...

Aver
age number during year .
Total . . . . . . . .
X

Male and female . . .

X

Under 16 years of age.
Total . . . . . . ..

X

X

Total . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .
Fifteenth of December.

X

Male and female. ... ...
Number employed on specified dates.
Fifteenth of maximum and minimum month

: :: ::

Male and female. .
Over 16 years of age.
Total . .. .. .. ... .. .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

X
X

: : : : X:

Number employed according to character of

X

X

ownership of establishment- Total.. .. ... ... .
Number employed in establishments of various

X

16 years of age and over - Male and female .

Under 16 years of age.
Total . . . . . .

X

Male and female. .. . .. . .
Number employed on fifteenth of each month .
Total . . . . . . .

Male and female. ............. ..
Number employed for specified hours of labor
per week - Total . .. ... .

:

sizes classified according to the value of prod .
uct of each one - Total . . . . .. .

X

x

Number employed in establishments of various
sizes classified according to number of wage
earners in each one- Total. .. .. .

x

X

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

267

Power. Statistics on power are not given in the Biennial Census
of Manufactures for 1921, but are included in previous censuses
under the classifications given below . The data are given for indus
tries, states, and cities, but all of the tables do not give the figures
in the detail here shown :
Primary power.
Total.
Owned.
Steam .

Total - Number and horsepower.

Engines — Number and horsepower.
Turbines — Number and horsepower .

Internal combustion engines — Number and horsepower.
Water .

Total- Number and horsepower.

Waterwheels and turbines - Number and horsepower.
Water motors— Number and horsepower.
Rented .

Electric — Number of motors and horsepower.
Other - Horsepower.

Electric power generated by reporting establishments — Number of motors
and horsepower.

Primary power, as the term is used by the Bureau of the Census,
comprises all power which is primary from the standpoint of the

manufacturing establishments using it. It includes, therefore, not
only the power of engines and water wheels owned and operated

by the manufacturing establishments, but also rented power — that
is, the power of the electric motors run by purchased current and
any other power that may be rented from outside concerns. Pri
mary power does not include the power of electric motors run by
current generated in the same establishment, as the inclusion of

such power would result in duplication ."
Consumption of Fuel. Figures on the consumption of fuel were
not collected in connection with the biennial census of 1921, but

are given in the reports of the earlier enumerations. For 1919
separate figures are given for the consumption of anthracite coal,
bituminous coal, coke, fuel oil, gasoline and other volatile oils, and
gas. Figures are also given for the total cost of all fuel and the
cost of power combined . The figures do not show all fuel con
sumed, as no account is taken of wood. The statistics are not con
* Fourteenth Census, Volume VIII, p . 121.

L
NATIONAL STATISTICA WORK

268

fined to theamount of fuel used to produce power to operate prime
movers, but include all fuel consumed in the plant. In some indus

tries, such as brick making, practically no prime movers are used,

the fuel being used not for the production of power but for apply
ing heat directly to the product. In other industries, such as the
manufacture of gas, the fuel becomes a component part of the

product.

Capital. Statistics of capital invested were omitted from the
biennial census for 1921, but are given in the earlier reports, as
the law providing for the earlier censuses specified that statistics

of invested capital should be collected. These statistics, however,
are of little value, and the Census authorities have repeatedly
recommended that this inquiry be omitted . Experience has shown

that most establishments do not have accounting systems from
which a correct return for invested capital can be made. The sta

tistics on this subject do not show the relative amount of capital
invested in different industries or different localities, nor do they

furnish a correct measure of increase from census to census.
Expenses. The figures on expenses of manufacturing given in

the report on thebiennialcensus of 1921 are less detailed than those
in earlier censuses,as indicated by the schedule below .
SCHEDULE SHOWING Data ON EXPENSES IN REPORTS OF
CENSUS OF MANUFACTURES

Officials .. . .. ...
Clerks . . . .. .. . .
Wages .. .. . . ..

Census

Biennial
Census
of 1921

:x
XX

Salaries.
Total . . . . . .

Fourteenth

:
ХХХХ
ХХХ

Items

Total .. .. .. . .
Rent of factory . . .
Taxes . .
Materials.

: : :

Contract work .. .. .
Rent and taxes.

Principal materials . . . .
Fuel and rent of power. ..

:X

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

269

Limitations of the Statistics. The statistics of the Census of
Manufactures are of greatest value for a comparison of the extent
of each industry during the same census year. As so many of the

production statistics are given in terms of value, it is difficult to
make an intelligent comparison between years in which the price
level was not the same. This is particularly true of the figures for
1914 and 1919. Even the application of the index numbers of the

Bureau of Labor Statistics willnot give entirely satisfactory results.

For such years the tables showing number of wage earners afford
a better index of industrial activity. Where quantities of specific
commodities are given, a direct comparison may be made.
The total value ofmanufactured products as given in the reports

of the Census of Manufactures cannot be compared with total
exports and imports, because of the duplication in the figures of the
Census of Manufactures, resulting from the finished products of

one industry being used as the raw materials for another. For
instance, the products of the flour and grist mill industry include
flour, which is the principal raw material used in the manufacture
of bread and other bakery products. In the iron and steel industry

the final product may be in succession the finished product of
several establishments. Thus, in the case of tin ware, the foundry
produces the raw steel, the rolling mill uses the raw steel for the
manufacture of tin plates , and the tin can factory uses the plate in
the manufacture of cans. In other iron and steel goods there are
probably even more intermediate steps, as there are probably few

industries which convert primary raw material into commodities

ready for final consumption.
Each manufacturer reports the value of his products, regardless
of whether they are to be used by other manufacturers or by the
ultimate consumer. The import and export statistics represent the
sum of a series of transactions in which there are no duplications ;

each commodity or group of commodities is recorded once as it

enters or leaves the country . The only possibility of duplication is
where exported goods are returned, and again exported, or im

ported goods exported and again imported . Transactions of this
character are so rare that they may be disregarded .
The statistics of the Census of Manufactures do not show the
entire cost of manufacture and marketing and therefore do not
indicate cost ofproduction or profits. No account is taken of depre

270

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

ciation, interest, rent of office or buildings for other than factory
purposes, repairs, advertising , and other sundry expenses.

ANNUAL AND OTHER STATISTICS OF THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Annual or more frequent compilations are now made by the
Bureau of the Census giving statistics of production or other

figures, such as activity of spindles, which indicate industrial con
ditions. The production reports are confined to output and do not

give such details as are afforded by the Census of Manufactures.
Below are noted the commodities covered, the character of the
report, and the date of earliest issuance. As some of the reports

are issued only in mimeograph form a notation to that effect has
been added .

Wool Manufacturing. Two monthly reports and one quarterly
report dealing with the wool industry afford indices of conditions

in the industry , although they do not give production figures. A
mimeographed report, issued monthly , beginning with June, 1919,
indicates the activity of the several classes of machinery used in
woolen goodsmanufacturing, with comparative figures for the pre
ceding month of the same year and for the corresponding month
of the preceding year .
A monthly mimeographed report issued by the Bureau of the

Census, beginning with May, 1922, and prior to that timeby the
Department of Agriculture, gives figures on the consumption of the
several grades of domestic and imported wool by manufacturers.

Each statement gives cumulative figures for the current and the

preceding year, figures for the corresponding month of the previous
year, and figures for the preceding month of the current and of the
previous year.

A mimeographed report on stocks of wool is issued quarterly by
the Bureau of the Census and the Bureau of Agricultural Eco
nomics, the figures for manufacturers being collected by the Bureau

of the Census and those of dealers by the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics. The statements give separate figures on the several
grades of domestic and foreign woolin the stocks of manufacturers
and of dealers. It shows also the total quantity held by dealers in

important cities, the total held by manufacturers in the important

sections, and the quantity afloat to the United States.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

271

Cotton Spinning. A mimeographed statement showing number
of spindles in place and number active has been issued monthly,
beginning with August, 1921. A postal card statement giving
figures on cotton consumed, cotton on hand, and active cotton
spindles has been issued monthly beginning with September, 1912.

The data on consumption and number of spindles are also shown
in the annual publication on cotton described on page 217 .
Textile Products. Beginning with February, 1923, there has
been issued a monthly mimeographed statement entitled “ Report
of Production , Orders and Stocks of Hosiery.” For each of the
principal classes this statement shows production , shipments, goods
on hand, orders booked and cancelled , and unfilled orders on hand .

A mimeographed statement on men 's and boy's clothing (except
outer work clothing ) has been issued each month beginning with
February, 1923. This statement shows only the number of suits or

garments cut, and does not give figures on output of finished goods.
For outer work clothing, such as overalls, butnot including work
shirts , a mimeographed statement has been issued each month be
ginning with June, 1923. This statement shows number of gar
ments cut, shipped , returned, and on hand .

The shipments billed and unfilled orders of pyroxylin coated
textiles are given in a monthly mimeographed statement first issued

for March , 1923. This statement shows also number of pounds
of pyroxylin spread and capacity of establishments in linear yards.

Leather and Leather Products. The stocks of hides and skins
and stocks and production of leather are indicated in a mimeo

graphed statement issued monthly , beginning with September , 1920 .
Separate figures are given for the several classes of hides and

leather, and for stocks of leather there is shown the amount held
by tanners, dealers, and the important classes of manufacturers
using leather. A brief preliminary report is issued for leather
alone, followed by the complete report on hides, skins, and leather.
From September, 1921, to June, 1922, the production of boots
and shoes was also shown on the hides, skins, and leather statement.

Beginning with July , 1922, a separatemimeographed report dealing

with production of boots and shoes has been issued each month .
The leather gloves and mittens cut are shown on a mimeographed
statement issued each month , beginning with May, 1923.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Iron and Steel Products. The number and horsepower of
mechanical stokers sold are indicated in a mimeographed state
ment issued monthly, beginning with January, 1923. Data on
malleable castings have been available in mimeographed form ,
beginning with May, 1923. This statement shows production , ship

ments,orders booked, capacity of plants,and percentage of capacity
represented by production. Production , stocks, orders, and ship
ments of cast iron pipes were shown in a mimeographed statement

issued monthly from June, 1923, to February, 1924.
Wheat Flour. Monthly figures on the production of wheat flour
are given in a mimeographed statement, first issued for May, 1923.
This statement shows also the quantity of wheat ground , the pro

duction of wheat grain offal, the capacity of the mills, and the
percentage of capacity operated .

Fats and Oils. A mimeographed statement of quarterly figures
on the production , stocks, consumption , imports, exports , and raw

materials has been issued beginning with the first quarter of 1919,
separate figures being given for each of the animal and vegetable

oils and fats, as wellas for the principal raw materials. An annual
pamphlet bearing the title “ Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils ”
has been issued beginning with the one for 1920, but the report
for 1922 contains figures for each year beginning with 1919. The
annual pamphlet gives figures for each quarter as well as for the
entire year.
The amount of cottonseed oil produced, shipped out, and on hand
is also shown on a postal card statement issued monthly .

During the World War fats and oils were of so much importance
that the Food Administration collected detailed statistics on these

commodities, which were published in the Department of Agri
culture Bulletin 769, entitled “ The Production and Conservation
of Fats and Oils in the United States.” This bulletin gave statistics

of production , imports, and exports of vegetable oils and animal

and fish fats and oils for 1912 , 1914, 1916 , 1917 , and production
for each of the first six months of 1918. There is also shown the

consumption by the oleomargarine industry in 1912, 1914, 1916,
and 1917. A supplement to this bulletin gives production figures
for all of 1918 as well as data on the consumption by the soap

industry in 1912 , 1914 , 1916 , and 1917.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

273

Paint and Varnish. A semi-annual mimeographed report on
paint and varnish production and sales was first issued for the six
months ending with June, 1922. Figures are given on the following
items:
Paste paints.
White lead in oil.
Zinc oxide in oil.

Other paste paints.

Ready mixed and semi-paste paints, including wall paints,mill whites, and
enamels.

Varnishes and japans.
Other than pyroxylin .

Pyroxylin (nitrocellulose varnishes or lacquers ).

Sulphuric Acid and Acid Phosphate. A mimeographed state

ment dealing with the production, consumption, and stocks of
sulphuric acid and acid phosphate has been issued semi-annually ,

beginning with the figures for the first half of 1922 . The figures
in these statements apply only to the operations of manufacturers
of fertilizer, and take no account of these commodities produced
or in theland ofmanufacturers of general chemicals.
Farm Equipment. Annual figures are presented in the pamphlet
entitled “ Manufacture and Sale of Farm Equipment,” first issued

by the Bureau of the Census in 1921. This publication contains
statistics on various classes of gas tractors, steam traction engines,
plows and listers, tillage implements, planting machinery, cultivat

ing machinery, haying machinery, harvesting machinery, machines
for preparing crops for market or use, horsedrawn vehicles, and a
number of other selected items of farm equipment, such as cream
separators, cane mills, windmills, etc . Separate figures are given
on the number of firms reporting, the number of implementsmanu
factured, the total value, the quantity and value of sales in the
United States, and the quantity and value of foreign sales. The

quantity and value of foreign sales cannot be reconciled with the
export statistics in Foreign Commerce and Navigation. This is
due in part to material difference in classification and in part to the

definition of export sales.
Statistics for 1920 on the same subject were contained in Department of Agriculture Circular 212, which also gives figures on the

production of tractors each year from 1909 to 1919.
19

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Clay and Refractory Products. A bulletin entitled “ Clay and

Refractory Products,” first issued for 1922 , gives statistics on
production of brick , tile,terra cotta, fire clay products, pottery and
non -clay refractories. It is planned to issue this bulletin annually.

Glue and Gelatin . It is announced that statistics on the produc
tion of glueand gelatin will be issued annually . This will probably
be a mimeographed report.

Lighting Fixtures. Annual statistics on the manufacture of
lighting equipment were first compiled for 1922, the report being

issued in mimeograph form .
Forest Products. At present the Bureau of the Census issues
annually four reports on forest products, namely , “ Lumber , Lath,
and Shingle ” ; “ Pulpwood Consumption and Wood Pulp Produc
tion ” ; “ Consumption of Vegetable Tanning Materials ” ; and
“ Turpentine and Rosin .” The first annual report on turpentine

and rosin was the one for the year 1922 , although previously
mimeographed statements had been issued semi-annually by the

Bureau of Chemistry of the Department of Agriculture.

Statistics on the lumber industry have been published in all the
reports of the Census of Manufactures, but prior to 1919 these

volumes did not give quantitative figures for the output of lumber

and forest products, as the statistics given were those for the indus
try as a whole. Volume IX of the reports of the Tenth Census
( 1880 ) , entitled “ Forests of North America (exclusive of
Mexico )," contained a general discussion of the forests, trees,
woods, and the economic aspects of the forests, together with sta

tistics on quantities of specified products.
From 1905 to 1911 special reports on the output of forest
products, except naval stores, were issued by the Forest Service

or the Bureau of the Census, the work from 1907 to 1911 being
done jointly by these organizations. After 1911 the Forest Service
continued to collect statistics on the more important products ,

although the data were not collected every year. Beginning with
1921, the reports were again issued annually by the Bureau of the

Census, the compilation being made in coöperation with the Forest
Service. A list of the statistics published for the years 1905 to

1922 is given below . The reports for 1905 and 1906 issued by the

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

275

Forest Service were published in two forms; as circulars on a
particular class of products and as bulletins, in which was reprinted

the material presented in the circulars. The census publications
from 1907 to 1909 were also issued as separate pamphlets on a
particular product, with a generalbulletin for each year embodying

all the material. In the list below a brace after the year indicates

that identicalmatter is given in the two reports.
The census reports for 1907 to 1911 were issued under the
general title “ Forest Products," with a serial number for each
product, the serial numbers beginning with one for each year. The

Forest Service publications after 1911 were issued as bulletins of
the Department of Agriculture or as special publications without

serial number. In the following list the title has been given only
when the publication has no serial number.
General reports, containing also reports on specific products all of which
were issued separately as listed below .
1905 – Forest Service Bulletin 74.
1906 — Forest Service Bulletin 77.
1907 to 1909- Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series) No. 10,
Lumber, lath and shingle.

O

S Forest Service Circular 52.

1905 -

Forest Service Bulletin 74 .

Service Circular 122.
1906 – S Forest
Forest Service Bulletin 77.

1907 — Bureau of the Census. Production of lumber , lath , and shingle,
1907 .
Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series] No. 2. [Lumber
only .)
1907 – Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series ] No. 10 . [Lum
U

ber only .)

ſ Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series]
J No. 2.

1908 and 1909 - Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series ]
1 No. 10.

1010 and 1911 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products ( Series ) No. 2.
1912 - Bureau of the Census. Lumber, lath , and shingle, 1912 .
1913 — Department of Agriculture Bulletin 232. (Lumber only .)
1914 and 1915 — Department of Agriculture Bulletin 506 . [Statistics for

lumber only for 1914.)
1916 — Department of Agriculture Bulletin 673.
1917 – Department of Agriculture Bulletin 768.

1918 - Department of Agriculture Bulletin 845.
1919 – Fourteenth Census of the United States, Forest products, 1919,
Lumber, lath and shingle.

Also contained in general report entitled “ Forest Products," and in
Lumber Industry Section of Vol. X of the Fourteenth Census.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

276

Lumber, lath, and shingle- Continued.

1921 – Census of Manufacturers, 1921. The lumber industry.”
1922— Bureau of the Census. Forest products, 1922, Lumber, lath and
shingle.

Pulp wood consumption and wood pulp production.
Forest Service Circular 44.

Forest Service Bulletin 74.
SForest Service Circular 120.
1900 _

Forest Service Bulletin 77.

( Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series)
No. 1.
1907 to 1909 - Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series )
l No. 10 .
1910 and 1911 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series] No. I.
1916 - Forest Service. Pulpwood consumption and wood pulp produc

tion, 1916 .

1917 — Department of Agriculture Bulletin 758 .
1918 - Forest Service. Pulpwood consumption and wood pulp produc
tion , 1918 .

1919 - Fourteenth Census of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
Pulpwood consumption and wood pulp production .
1920 — Forest Service. Pulpwood consumption and wood pulp produc

tion, 1920 .

1922 — Bureau of the Census. Forest products, 1922 . Pulpwood con
sumption and wood pulp production .
1923 — Bureau of the Census. Forest products, 1923, Pulpwood con
sumption and wood pulp production ,

Slack cooperage stock.
Service Circular 123.
1906 SForest
Forest Service Bulletin 77.

( Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series)
No. 3.

1907 to 1909 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series ]
I No. 10 .

1910 and 1911 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series ) No. 3.
1918Forest Service. Tight and slack cooperage stock production in

1918 .

1919 – Fourteenth Census of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
Tight and slack cooperage stock .

1921 – Census of Manufactures, 1921. The lumber industry."
Tight cooperage stock .
Forest Service
1905 – Forest Service
( Forest Service
1900 - Forest Service

Circular 53.
Bulletin 74.
Circular 125.
Bulletin 77.

' Also contained in Lumber Industry Section of Biennial Census of Manu
factures, 1921.

* Also contained in general report entitled “ Forest Products,” and in
Lumber Industry Section of Vol. X of the Fourteenth Census.
Also contained in Lumber Industry Section of Biennial Census of

Manufactures, 1921.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

277

Tight cooperage stock - Continued .

( Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series )
No. 6 .
1907 to 1909 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series)
1 No. 10 .

1910 and 1911 - Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series) No. 6.

1918 – Forest Service. Tight and slack cooperage stock production in
1918.
1919 - Fourteenth Census of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
Tight and slack cooperage stock.

1921 – Census of Manufactures, 1921. The lumber industry."
Tan bark and tanning extracts.

SForest Service Circular 42.
1905 —

Forest Service Bulletin 74.

Forest Service Circular 119.
1900 ) Forest Service Bulletin 77.

( Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series]
No. 4.

1907 to 1909 - Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series )
U No. 10.
1919 - Fourteenth Census of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
Forest products consumed in the manufacture of veneers, dye

stuffs and extracts and in tanning and good distillation ."
1921- Census of Manufactures, 1921. Natural dyestuffs and extracts."

1923 — Bureau of the Census. Forest products, 1923, Consumption of
vegetable tanning materials.

Wood distillation.
SForest Service Circular 50.

1905 – Forest Service Bulletin 74.
Forest Service Circular 121.
gour Forest Service Bulletin 77 .

Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series]
No. 7.
1907 to 1909 - Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series )
I No. 10 .

1910 and 1911— Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series] No. 7.
1919- Fourteenth Census of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
Forest products consumed in the manufacture of veneers, dye
stuffs and extracts and in tanning and wood distillation.
1921 - Census of Manufactures, 1921. Wood distillation .13
10 Also contained in report entitled “ Forest Products ” and in Lumber
Industry Section of Vol. X of the Fourteenth Census.

» Also contained in Lumber Industry Section of Biennial Census of
» Also contained in Dyestuffs and Extracts Section of Biennial Census of

Manufactures, 1921.
Manufactures, 1921.

* Also included in Wood Distillation Section of Biennial Census of Manu
factures, 1921.

CAL

L

STATISTI

NATIONA

278

WORK

Cross ties."
SForest Service Circular 43.
Forest Service Bulletin 74.

1905 –

Forest Service Circular 124 .
Forest Service Bulletin 77.
Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series]
No. 8.
1907 to 1909 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series ]
No. 10 .

1910 and 1911 — Bureau of the Census, Forest Products (Series ] No. 8.
1915 — Department of Agriculture Bulletin 549.
Poles.
SForest Service Circular 137.
1900 - Forest Service Bulletin 77.
( Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series)
No. 9.

1907 to 1909 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series]
No. 10.

1910 — and 1911 - Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series] No.
10.
Veneers.15

S Forest Service Circular 51.
1905

Forest Service Bulletin 74 .
SForest Service Circular 121.

6– Forest Service Bulletin 77.
190
1900Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series )
No. 5.
1907 to 1909 Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [Series )
1 No. 10.

1910 and 1911 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products (Series] No. 5.
1919 - Fourteenth Census of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
Forest products consumed in the manufacture of veneers, dye
stuffs and extracts and in tanning and wood distillation.16
1921 – Census of Manufactures, 1921. The lumber industry.17
Turpentine and rosin .

1919 —Turpentine
FourteenthandCensus
of the United States. Forest products, 1919,
rosin
.18

1921 – Census of Manufactures, 1921. Turpentine and rosin.''
* Show purchases only .
15 Show quantity of wood consumed, not production of veneers.
16 Contained also in report entitled “ Forest Products " and in Lumber
Industry Section of Vol. X of the Fourteenth Census.

17 Contained also in Lumber Industry Section of Biennial Census of
Manufactures, 1921.

18 Contained also in the report entitled “ Forest Products " and in Chem
ical and Allied Industries Section of Vol. X of the Fourteenth Census.
19 Contained also in Turpentine and Rosin Section of Biennial Census of
Manufactures , 1921.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

279

Turpentine and rosin - Continued .
1922 — Bureau of the Census. Forest products, 1922, Turpentine and
rosin .

Wood preservatives.

1910 — Forest Service Circular 186 .
1912 - Forest Service. Consumption of wood preservatives and quantity
of wood treated in the Uinted States in 1912,
1913 to 1914 – Forest Service. Quantity of wood preservatives con
sumed and amount of wood treated in the United States in 1915
1919.
Excelsior .

1911 — Bureau of the Census. Forest Products [ Series] No. 4 .

Timber used in mines.
Forest Service Circular 49.
Forest Service Bulletin 74.
1905
Wood used in manufacture of boxes.
1914 – Forest Service. Amounts and kinds of wood used in the manu

facture of boxes in the United States.

The Agriculture Yearbook for 1923 contains statistics for 1870 ,

1880, 1890, 1899, and 1904, to 1923, on production of lumber, by
states and by species and on production of lath and shingles by
states. It also contains figures for a series of years on the produc
tion ofwood pulp , paper, turpentine, and rosin and on the consump
tion of pulpwood and paper.
The census statistics on agriculture give data on the total value
of the forest products of farms, differentiating between products
cut for sale and those cut for use. The forest products of farms
represent only a small portion of all forest products, as lumber,
pulpwood , poles, and naval stores are generally not produced in
connection with farming operations. No figures are available for

counties.
Statistics of tanning material produced , quantity of bark used,
and prices of bark , as well as considerable detailed data on

timber supply in specific regions in 1880 and 1881 are given in
Volume 3 of the Department of Agriculture publication entitled
“ Report on Forestry ," by Franklin B . Hough , issued in 1882.
This report was published also as House Miscellaneous Document

38, 47th Congress, 1st Session. '
* For bibliographic note on the severalvolumes of this report see page 372.

280

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

OTHER PERIODIC REPORTS ON MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS

Dyes and Coal Tar Products. Up to 1915 the United States was
dependent almost entirely upon foreign countries, mostly Germany,

for its supplies ofmanufactured coaltar dyes. Shutting offofGer
man dyes, the developmentofthe American industry,and need of a
protective tariff made it desirable to collect statistics showing the

quantities of specific dyestuffs that were being manufactured by

American plants. Figures for production have been collected and
published by the Tariff Commission for 1917 to 1923 in the follow

ing publications:
Tariff Information Series No. 6, Census of dyes and coal tar chemicals,
1917.

Tariff1918.2
Information Series No. II, Census of dyes and coal tar chemicals,
Tariff Information Series No. 22, Census of dyes and coal tar chemicals,
1919.
Tariff Information Series No. 23, Census of dyes and coal tar chemicals,
1920 .

Tariff Information Series No. 26 , Census of dyes and other synthetic organic
chemicals, 1921.“

Tariff Information Series No. 31, Census of dyes and other synthetic organic
chemicals, 1922.

Tariff Information Series No. 32, Censusof dyes and other synthetic organic
chemicals, 1923.

Each of the publications mentioned above contains statistics on
the quantity and value of the output of specific classes of dyes and

coal tar products and lists of dye manufactures. Separate tables
give figures for crude, intermediate, and finished dyes. The reports
for 1921 and succeeding years contain figures on synthetic organic
chemicals other than dyestuffs . Nos. 6 ( 1917) and 11 (1918 )

contain a review of the history of the dye industry in the United
States since the beginning of the war. All of the bulletins contain
statistics of imports according to the regular classifications. No. 22
( 1919 ) contains detailed statistics of imports during the fiscal year
1920 and Nos. 23, 26 , 31, and 32 during the calendar years 1920 to

1923, compiled by a reëxamination and reclassification of the im
port entries.
* An earlier edition of this appeared under the title, “ Report on Dyes
and Related Coal Tar Chemicals, 1918.”

* A preliminary summary was issued as Tariff Information Series No. 25.

281

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

Figures on the internationaltrade in dyes and a discussion of the
dye industry in the principal foreign producing companies is given

in the reports for 1922 and 1923. The report for 1923 contains
also a discussion of action taken under the provisions of the

Treaty of Versailles with reference to the reparation dyes.
Closely allied to the production of dyestuffs are the data on the
quantity and value of the principal dyestuffs used during 1913 and

1916 by leading cotton , wool, and silk manufacturers and by dyers
and finishers of textiles given in Tariff Information Series No. 2,

entitled “ Dyestuff Situation in the Textile Industries.” These
statistics were collected from the manufacturers by the Tariff
Commission , and are original material.
Explosives. Statistics on the sales of explosives in the United

States have been published annually by the Bureau of Mines,begin
ning with 1912, in the following publications:
1912 — Technical Paper 69.

1918 _ Technical Paper 231.

1913 — Technical Paper 85 .

1916 — Technical Paper 175.

1919 1920 —
19211922 —

1917 — Technical Paper 192.

1923 — Technical Paper 358 .

1914 – Technical Paper 107 .

1915 — Technical Paper 159.

Technical
Technical
Technical
Technical

Paper
Paper
Paper
Paper

259.
291.
313.
340.

While the titles of these publications read “ Production of
Explosives,” themain tables refer to domestic sales only, no account

being taken of the total amount produced or of exports, the latter
being given in a separate table. Separate statistics are given for

black blasting powder, permissible explosives, and high explo
sives other than permissible. Statistics are not given for nitro
glycerine, except in so far as this is an ingredient of other ex

plosives . The explosives sold are also classified by states accord
ing to the following uses : Coal mining, other mining, railway
and construction work , and other purposes. The basic figures
for all this material are obtained direct from the manufac
turers. There is a slight margin of error in the classification by

states, due to the fact that explosives sold to mine owners may be
used in another state than the one reported. There is also a margin

of error in the classification by use in the reports of sales to
23 A permissible explosive is one that has been tested by the Bureau of
Mines and found to conform to the standard adopted for use in mines where
there is risk of gas or dust explosions.

282

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

dealers, but the manufacturers probably have a fair knowledge of
use made of explosives by the customers of dealers in various
localities, and it is likely that errors in this classification will tend
to counter -balance.

Monthly reports are issued in mimeograph form .

Petroleum Products. A monthly mimeographed statement on
the output of refineries and stocks on hand is issued by the Bureau

of Mines. This statement gives statistics by principal producing
areas for gasoline, kerosene, gas and fuel oil, lubricating oil, wax,
coke, asphalt, and miscellaneous products. Gasoline production ,

consumption, and stocks are also shown in the Survey of Current
Business.

Articles Subject to Internal Revenue Taxes. Data on the
annual production or sales of many articles subject to internal

revenue taxesmay be obtained or computed from the annual report
of the Commissioner of InternalRevenue, who is charged with the

collection of these taxes. Practically none of the production and

sales data given in this report is collected annually by any other
agency.

While the essential purpose of the statistical portion of this
report is to present figures dealing with the operations of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue, the figures have a commercial and
economic significance entirely distinct from their bearing upon the

finances of the government. For some industries, such as tobacco ,
which are under close control, the annual report of the Commis
sioner of Internal Revenue is the primary source of information
for production statistics. In the case ofmanufacturers' and dealers'

taxes, the collections in many cases furnish a base from which the
amount produced or sold may be computed . Practically all the
statistics are given by collection districts, so that it is possible to
compute the production or consumption by states or geographic

divisions. As no collection district extends beyond the state line,
the total for any state may be obtained by adding the figures for

each collection district within the state .

Statistics for quantity are given in the report for the following
commodities :
Tobacco manufactured and on hand and material used.
Cigars manufactured and tobacco used.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

1

283

Cigarettes manufactured and tobacco used .
Production of oleomargarine and materials used .
Production of renovated butter.
Production of mixed flour.

Narcotic drugs imported. exported, or sold .
Opium .
Morphine.
Codeine.

Heroin .
Dionin .

Other opium alkaloids and derivatives.
Cocaine.
Coca leaves.

Production of distilled spirits and material used .
Production of industrial alcohol and material used .

Distilled spirits in distilleries and bonded warehouses, withdrawn.
Production and dealcoholization of beverages containing more than one
half of per cent of alcohol.

Production of cereal beverages containing less than 'one-half per cent of
alcohol.

During recent years manufacturers' or dealers' taxes have been

imposed on a number of articles, and an approximate estimate of
the value of sales or of consumption may be obtained by dividing

the amount collected as tax by the rate of taxation . In reducing the
amount collected to quantities, care should be taken to ascertain

whether the tax has been imposed at the same rate throughout the
year covered by the report. The commodities ” and businesses for

which data have been available in this manner have varied from
time to time with the provisions of the several tax acts and have
included the following :
Playing cards.

Receipts of pipe line companies.
Life insurance .

Marine, inland, and fire insurance.
Casualty insurance.
Automobile trucks and wagons.
Other automobiles and motor -cycles.
Tires or accessories for automobiles, etc.

Pianos, organs, phonographs, etc.

24 In the case of some commodities the tax is levied on a group of arti
cles and not on specific articles ; in order to determine exactly what arti

cles are included in the tax returns the revenue law should be consulted .
The three laws under which these taxes are assessed are the Act of October

3, 1917 (40 Stat. L ., 300 ), the Act of February 24, 1919, (40 Stat. L ., 1057) ,
the Act of November 23, 1921 (42 Stat. L ., 227 ), and the Act of June 2 , 1924

(43 Stat. L ., 253).

284

NATIONAL STATISTICA WORK
L
Tennis rackets and sporting goods.
Chewing gum .
Cameras.

Photographic films and plates.
Candy.

Firearms, shells, etc.
Hunting and bowie knives.
Dirk knives, daggers, etc.
Portable electric fans.
Thermos bottles, etc.
Cigar or cigarette holders.
Slot device vending and weighing machines.
Livery and livery boots, etc.
Hunting garments, etc.
Articles made of fur, etc.
Yachts, motor boats, etc.
Toilet soaps, etc.
Motion picture films leased .
Sculpture, paintings, etc.
Beverages made from cereals.
Unfermented grape juice, ginger ale, etc.
Naturalmineral waters.

Capital stock , surplus, and undivided profits of corporations with capital
over $ 5000.

Club dues.

The above list does not include all articles taxable under the in
ternal revenue law , but only those for which tax returns are given
for a flat rate . For instance, the tax collected on natural mineral

water in 1918 amounted to $ 385,711. 18 . As the tax is at the rate of
two cents a gallon , the quantity sold would amount to 19,285,559
gallons. The amount realized from the sales tax on soft drinks in

1918 was $ 24,296 ,279.47. As the rate of taxation on soft drinks
was one cent for each ten cents or fraction thereof paid, it is impos
sible to make even a reasonably approximate estimate of the sale
price. The tax would be at the rate of 20 per cent on a five-cent

drink , 10 per cent on a ten -cent drink, and 13} per cent on a fifteen
cent drink . In this particular instance there is also undoubtedly a
great deal of evasion .

This report shows also the number of taxpayers or enterprises

engaged in certain occupations or businesses which are subject to
federal license taxes . The occupations and businesses for which
figures are given are as follows:
Spirits.
Rectifiers.
Retail dealers.

Wholesale dealers.

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

285

Malt liquors.
Brewers.

Retail dealers.
Wholesale dealers.

Manufacturers of stills.
Oleomargarine.
Manufactures.
Wholesale dealers.
Retail dealers.

Adulterated butter.
Manufacturers.
Retail dealers.

Wholesale dealers.
Process or renovated butter manufacturers.
Mixed flour manufacturers, packers or repackers.
Tobacco manufacturers.
Cigars.

Cigarettes.
Tobacco .

Corporations paying capital stock tax.
Brokers.

Stock , produce, or merchandise.
Pawn .

Ship.
Customhouse.
Circuses.

Theaters, museums, and concert halls.
Other exhibitions.

Shooting galleries.

Riding academies.
Passenger automobiles for hire.
Yachts, pleasure boats, etc.
Opium , coca leaves, etc.
Importers, manufacturers, producers and compounders.
Wholesale dealers.
Retail dealers.

Practitioners, hospitals, etc.
SPECIAL REPORTS

Special reportsmade at times by various government bodies on

the production of certain manufactured articles are discussed
in the following pages. Summary statistics of industries in some

of the states have been published from time to time in the bulletins

of the Bureau ofLabor issued prior to May, 1912, in the Monthly
Review of the Bureau of Labor Statistics from July, 1915, to June,
1918, and in the Monthly Labor Review since June, 1918. These
statistics are taken from the annual reports of various state organi

286

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

zations that deal with this subject. References to material con
tained in publications issued prior to 1915 will be found in Bulletin
174 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics ; a general index to the

Monthly Labor Review covering the issues from its beginning in
July , 1915, to December, 1920, has been published under the title
“ Monthly Labor Review , Subject Index , Vols. I to XI, July , 1915,

to December , 1920 ” ; later material can be located by means of
the index in each volume. These statistics do not appear at
regular intervals, thematerial being published whenever it becomes
available.

Shipbuilding. Statistics on the shipbuilding industry are given
in all the reports of the Censusof Manufactures with the exception

of the one for 1914. The figures were withheld at that time on
account of the war. Another census of the shipbuilding industry
was taken in 1916 and the figures for 1914 and 1916 were published
in the report of the Bureau of the Census entitled “ Census of

Shipbuilding, 1916 and 1914 ."
Census of War Commodities. In 1918 and 1919 the Bureau of
the Census made several investigations of industries in order to
obtain material for the use of the war organizations. Five of these
were published under the general title “ Census of War Commodi

ties,” with subtitles as follows:
Statistics of leather.

Leather statistics — Leather stocks, boots and shoes and other manufactures
of leather.

Textile fibers — Wool, silk , jute and kapok .
Iron and steel products.

Antimony and graphite crucibles.

The publication with the subtitle, “ Statistics of leather,” shows

the stocks of the several classes of leather, May 31, 1918, in the
hands of various classes of manufacturers. The report bearing the
subtitle “ Leather Statistics ” shows the leather stocks on hand

at the end of each month from May to December, 1918, classified
by kinds of leather and classes of manufacturers. It also shows
the quantity of boots and shoes and leather stock manufactured
during each month from June to December, 1918 , and the quantity
on hand at the end of themonth .

MANUFACTURED ARTICLES

287

The report on textile fibers contains the following statistics :
Consumption of wool and production of wool products, 1917 , 1916 , 1915.
Silk spindles and looms on December 31, 1909 and 1914 , and June 1, 1918.
Stocks of silk and artificial silk , June 1, 1918.
Consumption of silk , artificial silk and logwood dyes, 1915, 1916 , 1917, and
1918.

Stocks of jute, bagging , burlap, and bags, June 1, 1918 .

Consumption of jute and burlap, and production of jute bags, 1917 and 1918.
Stock of kapok , 1916, 1917, 1918.

Consumption of kapok, 1916 , 1917 , 1918 .

The report on iron and steel products contains statistics on

twenty-two classes of commodities. It shows the stocks on hand

on September 1, 1918, the consumption from January 1 to June 30 ,
1918 , and the estimated requirements from July i to Decem

ber 31, 1918 .
In the report on antimony and graphite crucibles are given data

on stocks of antimony on June 30, 1918, imports and exports of
antimony during the fiscal years 1917 and 1918, consumption and

production of antimony during the calendar years 1917 and June.
1918 , stocks of graphite crucibles on hand and in use June 30, and
September 30, 1918, and estimated requirements for the fiscal

year 1918 . The statistics on graphite and crucibles are classified by
the industries using these products as well as by geographic
divisions.

CHAPTER XXII
SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

Under this head are included monographs issued by various

government organizations which deal with economic conditions in
specified industries and which contain considerable statistical ma

terial. These reports generally contain material that would fall
under several headings according to the plan for subject classifi
cation adopted for this book . They are somewhat arbitrarily

brought together here in order to avoid several references to the
same report and in order that all information regarding one publi
cation may be in one place. Surveys that deal primarily with a

particular phase of an industry, such as wages and hours of labor,
and treat other features of the industry only incidentally to the
main subject, are discussed under the appropriate topical head.

Most of the publications discussed in this section are those of the
Tariff Commission, the Bureau of Corporations, and its successor,
the Federal Trade Commission.
As regards the Tariff Commission and the Federal Trade Com

mission it should be mentioned that neither of these organizations
has had as one of its functions the supplying of information to the

public at regular intervals and neither has attempted to collect
statistics from year to year, with the exception of the production

figures on paper , collected for several years by the Federal Trade
Commission , but now discontinued, and the production statistics

for dyestuffs , collected by the Tariff Commission (see page 280 ).
The function of these bodies has been regulatory and advisory,

and they have made investigations on their own initiative, at the
request of Congress , or by direction of the President. The statisti

cal work is only incidental to the interpretation of economic con
ditions in the industries studied , a great mass of other data being

used . With most of the other bureaus collecting statisticalmaterial
the assembling of the data is an end in itself, comparatively little
being done in the way of interpretation and the student being left
288

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

289

to make his own application of the figures. In the case of the
Tariff Commission and the Federal Commission the tables are
incident to and in support of the comment; by this it is not meant

that any portion of the statistical result is suppressed or modified
to fit a particular premise, but that with these bodies the collection

of the data for the use of other investigators is not an end in itself.
Asthe subject-matter and scope of the reports change from year to
year these organizations have had no regular source from which

they obtain their facts. In most of the investigations considerable
use is made of the general statistical materialalready assembled by
other government bureaus, which is supplemented by more specific
material derived directly from the books of concerns in the industry
under investigation . Through their inquisitorial powers and their

force of trained examiners, these bodies have been able to obtain
detailed information regarding the operations of particular con
cerns which is not available to other government organizations,

and which is not germane to their type of activity.
The Tariff Commission was created by Sections 700 to 709 of
the Act of September 8, 1916 (39 Stat. L ., 795 ) . Its duties include
the investigation of the “ fiscal and industrial effects ofthe customs

laws, . . . the volume of importations compared with domestic
production and consumption , and conditions, causes, and effects

relating to competition of foreign industries with those of the

United States, including dumping and cost of production.” In
accordance with this authorization the Commission has prepared a

series of monographs on various industries and products. Most
of the statistics relating to the United States in these reports have
been compiled from Mineral Resources of the United States for

production of minerals, from the publications of the Department
of Agriculture for output of agricultural products, from the re

ports of the Census of Manufactures for factory products, and
from the publications of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce for imports and exports. In some cases, however, the
Commission has collected production statistics directly from manu

facturers and import statistics from the original entires . Unless

stated otherwise in thedescription below , the production and import
and export statistics are from the reports mentioned above.
Many of the reports of the Tariff Commission also deal with
all phases of a particular industry, but the purpose of its reports
20

290

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

differs from that of the reports of the Federal Trade Commission .
Primarily the Federal Trade Commission is concerned with combi
nations or competition among domestic producers, although in some
cases, such as the fertilizer industry, the sources of supply of raw

material and the markets for finished products make it necessary
to consider foreign conditions. The Tariff Commission , on the
other hand , is primarily concerned with developing facts regarding
the difference between cost of production in the United States and

in foreign countries and with collecting data that will show the
effect of tariff rates on the industries of the United States.
Grain , Grain Products, and Grain Trade. During the war the
United States Grain Corporation was organized by the Food
Administration for the purpose of controlling the distribution of
breadstuffs of every character, all of the stock in this corporation

being owned by the United States. All mills and elevators were
licensed and required to submit to the corporation periodic re
ports which form the basis of the statistics.

Monthly statistics dealing with the food situation were compiled
and published by the Food Administration and the Wheat Director.

These reports contained data on production , stocks, exports, and
movement. The export statistics are of particular interest, as they
include material shipped on government vessels which are not
shown in the statistics collected by the Bureau of Foreign and

Domestic Commerce. From June 6 , 1918, to September 2, 1919,
these statistics were published in the report entitled “ Official
Statement of the United States Food Administration.” From

October 1, 1919, to July 1, 1920, they were contained in the publi
cation entitled " Official Statementof Wheat Director."
In 1919 the Grain Corporation issued a pamphlet entitled
“ Grain and Flour Statistics During the War," which contained a
summary of the statistics collected by that organization up to
June 30 , 1919. In 1920 it issued a pamphlet entitled " Supplement

to Grain and Flour Statistics During the War," which brought the
figures to June 30 , 1920. As these publications contain a mass of
" Grain and grain products are also discussed under the headings “ Articles
Affected by the Emergency Tariff of 1921 ” and “ Agricultural Staples,"

pages 298 to 301.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

291

information on the grain and flour trade not readily available else
where, the more important features of the reports are listed below :
Grain and Flour Statistics during the War.
Annual flour production, by states, 1914 - 16 .

Annual wheat consumption by mills, by states, 1914 -16 .

Monthly four production, by geographic divisions and mills of dif
ferent capacities, 1914 - 16 .

Weekly four output and wheat consumption, September 15, 1917 , to
June 30, 1918.
Monthly wheat and flour stocks. September , 1917, to June, 1918.
Monthly receipts of wheat by mills from farmers, from country eleva
tors, and from Grain Corporation , September, 1917, to June, 1918 .
Number and capacity of mills manufacturing wheat, rye, barley and
corn flour, oatmeal and oat food products, and corn products other
then flour, by states.
Weekly wheat movement, September 6 , 1917, to June 29, 1918 - country
elevator receipts, mill receipts, total movement from farms.

Weekly stocks of wheat at country elevators, mill elevators, and ter
minals, September 1, 1917, to June 29, 1918.

Weekly stocks of corn, oats, rye, and barley at country elevators and
terminals, September 8, 1917, to June 29, 1918.

Monthly purchases and distribution of four by Grain Corporation ,
July, 1918, to June, 1919.

Grain storage capacity of terminal elevators, country elevators and mills
on May 15 , 1918 ; also number of elevators and mills by states.

Wheat and flour distribution , 1917 -18, 1918 -19.
Monthly flour production , fiscal years 1918 and 1919.
Weekly movement of wheat, rye, corn , oats , and barley, fiscal year
1919. Receipts from farms, receipts from secondary sources, ship
ments, and stocks, separate figures being under each classification
for country elevators, mills and terminals ; quantity ground by
mills ; flour made.

Grain used in distilling, fiscal years 1902 to 1918.
Acreage and production of wheat, corn , oats, rye, and barley, in United
States and Canada, 1915-1918.
Area of wheat sown and abandoned , 1912- 19.
Consumption of wheat and rye flour, oatmeal and cornmeal in New
York City, 1912 to 1918.
Exports and imports of wheat, wheat flour, corn , cornmeal, oats, oat
meal, rye, rye flour, barley and barley flour, fiscal years 1914 to

1919 . For the fiscal years 1918 and 1919 this table and the one
next mentioned are of importance as the figures include the quan
tity which was shipped on army transports and which is not shown
in the statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Exports of wheat and wheat flour to important European countries
during fiscal years 1918 and 1919. See comment in preceding para
graph . Several terms used in this table are somewhat confusing .
The term “ Customs House exports ” means shipments made direct

to the countries mentioned and cleared through the customs. The
term “ U . S . exports via Canada ” means shipments made to the
countries mentioned by way of Canada. This term should read

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
“ Custom House exports via Canada " as all these shipments were
cleared through the customs. The figures for shipments via Can
ada will not agree with the statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce because the country of destination as given

by that bureau is the country shown on the export declaration .
For instance, if a shipment of wheat moved on a through bill of

lading from Minneapolis to Montreal and then to England the
statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce would
show England as the destination. If, however, the wheat was
shipped to Montreal, placed in an elevator, and afterward shipped
to England, the statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce would show an export to Canada, as the bill of lading
and export declaration would show Montreal as the destination
and the bureau would have no knowledge regarding the farther

movement. The Grain Corporation , however, through its owner
ship of the wheat, was able to determine the ultimate destination

of these shipments and to give figures not available to the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.

Supplement to Grain and Flour Statistics during the War.
Wheat movement by states from farms and apparent farm disappear

ance 1917 -18, 1918 - 19, 1919-20, by states. This table gives figures
on the crop, the carry -over at the beginning and end of year, the

amount moved from farms, the balance fed on farms or unac
counted for or the excess of disappearance over crop.
Wheat movement from farms durirg eleven months ending May 28,
1920. Showsmovement, total ground, and stocks in country, mill
and terminal elevators.

Weekly receipts from farms and other sources, shipments and stocks
on hand by country elevators, mills, and terminals, from July 4,
1919 , to May 28, 1920 ; shows also wheat ground and flour made.
Corn movement from farms, by states, for years ending November 1 ,
1918, and July 1, 1919.
Oats movement from farms, by states, 1917 - 18 and 1918 - 19 .

Rye and barley movement from farms, by zones, 1917 -18 , and 1918 -19.
Flour produced and wheat ground, by states ; fiscal year 1919.

Allotment of wheat to mills , by states, 1917 -18.
Wheat crop movement and distribution , 1917 -18, 1918- 19, and 1919-20 .
Flour production and wheat ground by months, 1917 - 18, 1918- 19, and
1919- 20.
Weekly four prices, August 8, 1919, to May 29, 1920.
Weekly wholesale and retail bread prices, by principal cities, August

16, 1919, to May 29, 1920.

Production and acreage of wheat, corn, oats, rye, and barley in United
States and Canada, 1915- 19 .
Area of wheat sown and abandoned, 1912-20.
Domestic exports of meat and dairy products, vegetable oils and bread
stuffs for fiscal years 1918, 1919, and 1920 and calendar years 1918
and 1919. The figures in these tables do not agree with those pub
lished by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, as there
are included here shipments on army transports, which are not re
ported in the commercial statistics.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

293

Exports of meat and dairy products, vegetable oils, and breadstuffs,
by principal European countries during fiscal year 1920 .
Exports of foodstuffs, fiscal years 1913 to 1920 . These figures for the
war years do not always agree with those of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce, as there are included here statistics for
some exports not reported to the Department of Commerce.

Domestic exports of oats and oatmeal, rye and rye flour, corn and

cornmeal, wheat and wheat flour, and barley and barley flour, by
months, July , 1910 , to June. 1920. This table also includes ship

ments not reported to the Department of Commerce and, there
fore, not recorded in its statistics.

Canadian exports of wheat, wheat flour, rye, barley, oats and corn by
months, July , 1918, to June, 1920.
Exports of wheat, wheat flour, corn , cornmeal, oats, oatmeal, rye, rye

flour, barley, and barley flour, fiscal years 1914 to 1920 . For the
fiscal years 1918 to 1920 the figures include the quantity which was

shipped by army transports and which is not shown in the statistics
of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.

Exports of wheat and wheat flour, to principal European countries,

fiscal years 1918 to 1920. These figures also include shipments by
army transports, which are not recorded by the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce.

Beef and pork situation in fiscal year 1920, by months. Inspected slaugh
ter, total product, stocks at end of month , and consumption . It
should be noted that the consumption figure applies only to meat
slaughtered by the packers. It takes no account of the slaughter

by local butchers which is not subject to federal inspection .
American cheese and creamery butter situation, fiscal year 1920 , by
months. Amount manufactured, exports, stocks at end of month ,
and consumption . The consumption figures apply only to the domes
tic product and take no account of imports. The butter statistics
take no account of the large quantity made by individual farmers,

so that the actual consumption is much greater than is shown by

this table.

In 1925 the United States Grain Corporation issued a publication

entitled “ The Stabilization of the Price of Wheat During the War
and its Effect Upon the Returns to the Producer," by Frank M .

Surface, which contains considerable material not readily available,

among which may bementioned the following :
Supply and distribution of wheat in the United States for each crop-year,
1909 to 1923.
Production and exports of wheat ( including flour as grain ) from the prin

cipal surplus-producing countries; average, 1909 to 1913 ; each year,
1917 to 1923.

Source of the wheat supply ( including flour as grain ) of the United King
dom , France, and Italy ; average, 1909 to 1913 ; 1917 ; 1918.
Monthly receipts of wheat from farms and monthly grind by mills, during

crop-years 1917-18 to 1919-20.

Average annual prices of wheat, flour, and retail bread in Minneapolis,
crop -years 1913 -14 to 1922 -23.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

294

Monthly average price at Minneapolis of 472 bushels of No. I northern
spring wheat and i barrel of first patent hard spring wheat flour, 1915
to 1923.

Monthly range of the cash price of No. I northern spring and No. 2 red
winter wheat at Chicago, 1917 to 1920.

Absolute and relative yearly average farm prices for important farm prod
ucts ; average for crop -years 1909 to 1914, each year 1913-14 to 1923-24 .
Relative farm price of wheat and of other farm products ; average for
crop -years 1909 - 19, each year 1913 -14 to 1924 -25 .

Annual absolute and relative market prices for important farm products,
calendar years 1913 to 1924.
Annual average farm prices and market prices of wheat, rye, corn , and

hogs; average for crop -years 1909 to 1914, each year 1914 -15 to 1923-24.

Average farm price of wheat and retail price of four, crop-years 1913 - 14
to 1923-24.
Monthly average price of wheat in the United States, Canada, Argentina,

India , and Australia, 1916 to 1921.
Average cost of production (excluding land rent) and average farm price
of winter wheat in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, and of spring

wheat in North Dakota, South Dakota , and Minnesota, 1913 to 1923.
Annual estimated total profits or losses by wheat farmers in the United
States, 1913 to 1923.
Acreage and production of wheat in the United States ; average 1909 to
1913; each year 1914 to 1924.

Value of farm land per acre in wheat-growing states, each year, 1914 to
1922.

Monthly absolute and relative prices of wheat, steel billets, copper ingots,
coal, and sulphuric acid , 1916 to 1921.
Average annual and relative prices of important farm products ; average

1905 to 1914 ; each year, 1913 to 1924.

It is announced that there will be published a complete historical

record of the Grain Corporation ,which will doubtless contain sta
tistical material.
In 1917 and 1918 the Federal Trade Commission , in coöperation

with the Bureau of Markets of the Department of Agriculture,
made an investigation of the grain trade, the results of which were
published in subsequent years under the title “ Report of the

Federal Trade Commission on the Grain Trade.” Five volumes
have been issued under the following subtitles:
Vol. I. Country grain marketing.
Vol. II. Terminal grain markets and exchanges.
Vol. III. Terminalmarket operations.

Vol. IV . Middlemen's profits and margins.
Vol. V . Future trading operations in grain ,

It is announced that Volume VI will cover the subject of prices
of cash grain and futures.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

295

A great part of the statistical material was obtained by means
of questionnaires sent to elevator companies, but the reports con

tain much secondary data, derived from the reports of grain and
produce exchanges that are not generally available.
Volume I, devoted to country grain marketing, is a detailed
discussion of the operation of elevators in grain producing districts.
It contains material dealing with the handling of grain crops of

1912-13 to 1916 - 17. The study was confined to wheat, corn, oats,
rye, and barley. In general separate elevator statistics are given
for Illinois,Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio , Oklahoma, South

Dakota, and Wisconsin ; statistics for the Mountain and Pacific
States are given in one group and those for the Southern and
Middle Atlantic States in two other groups. Statistics are not
given for the New England States on account of the lack of
adequate replies to the questionnaires ; this region , moreover , is

of little importance in the grain trade. Separate statistics are
generally given for line and individual elevators, each class being

divided into commercial, coöperative, mill, and maltster ; the line
house being one that operates a chain of elevators and the individ
ual house being one that operates independently . The commercial

and coöperative houses buy and sell grain on their own account,

there being no essential difference in their operation , the only
distinction being in ownership . The mill elevator is operated by a

flour mill in order to insure a supply of grain ; the maltster house
fulfils the same function for the manufacturer of malt.
A large partof this volume is devoted to a text discussion of the
marketing methods used for grain , but there are considerable data
not available elsewhere, among which should be mentioned the
following :
Elevators constructed prior to 1880 and during five-year periods thereafter.
Number and capacity of elevators by types — individual and line, commer
cial, coöperative, mill and malster - by states.

Construction materials of elevators, by states.
Purchase of the five principal grains, by types of elevator and by states,
for each year, 1912-13 to 1916 - 17.

Monthly purchase of five principal grains in the fourteen principal pro
ducing states, 1913-14 and 1916 - 17.
Rate of capacity turnover, by states.

Grain sold on consignment and direct, by states for five crop years, July 1,
1912 to June 30 , 1917 .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Percentage of elevators handling side lines , by type and by states.
Average monthly per bushel margins between local price and Minneapolis

price on No. I and No. 3 northern wheat and No. 3 oats, for 1912-13
to 1916 - 17.

Volume II is devoted to a discussion of methods of doing busi

ness in ten primary and seven secondary grain markets in the
United States. The primary markets, or those receiving the bulk

of grain shipped from local points in producing territory, are
Chicago, Minneapolis, Duluth, Kansas City, St. Louis, Omaha,
Milwaukee , Peoria, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. The secondary

markets discussed , or those receiving grain mostly from primary
markets, are Buffalo , New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston,
Toledo, and Louisville.
This volume is devoted primarily to a discussion of the system of
grain marketing, the trading methods employed and the operation
of the exchanges, including the rules and regulations and the work
of inspection , weighing, grading , and other services. A comprehen

sive account of these activities is brought together in this volume
for the first time. The statisticalmaterial is subordinate , being used

generally to indicate the importance and character of the markets,
but the figures given regarding the movement of grain at various
markets are not generally available , although a great part of them

have been published in the reports of the various exchanges. The

statistics that should be especially mentioned are the following :
Average annual production in the principal producing states.
Average annual receipts and shipments at each of the seventeen markets

for 1913 to 1917 ; also data for earlier years for some markets.
Elevator storage capacity at each of the seventeen markets in 1919.
Classification of membership of various exchanges.
Revenues and expenses of various exchanges.

Volume III deals with the handling of cash grain that moves
from country points to the primary terminal markets. The greater
part of the volume is descriptive, but it contains some statistical

material, among which may be mentioned the following :
Grain stocks at fifteen terminal points, by six -month periods. January ,
1919, to December, 1920.
Elevator capacity at terminal points.

Results of mixing operations.

The statistics in Volume IV relate mainly to the movement of
grain and the financial results of terminal elevator operation at
various places.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

297

Future trading in grain is the subject of Volume V of this series.
The statistical material is confined entirely to such figures as could
be obtained dealing with the extent of future trading. The report
is not one that requires a statistical basis, being a comprehensive
account of the technique and legal status of future trading and
methods of keeping accounts andmaking settlements.

Conditions in the grain trade are also discussed in a report of the
Federal Trade Commission in two volumes, entitled “ Report . . .
on Methods and Operations of Grain Exporters,” Volume I bear

ing the subtitle, “ Interrelations and Profits,” and Volume II the
subtitle “ Speculation, Competition and Prices.” The statistics on
Volume I include the following :
World production of principal grains,by countries, annually , 1910 to 1921.
Exports, re -exports, and imports of grains by United States, annually ,

1910 to 1921.
Exports of principal grains by customs districts, annually, 1919-21.

Exports of principal kinds of wheat by customs districts, semi-annually,
July, 1920 , to December, 1921.

Volume II includes the following data of daily average prices
of No. 2 wheat at Chicago for 1920, 1921, and 1922 :

Daily position of speculators and grain dealers in Chicago, 1920 to 1922.
Future prices in Chicago, 1920 to 1922.
Wheat exports by customs districts, annually, 1905 to 1914.
Wheat exports by customs districts, semi-annually, 1919 to 1921.
Wheat exports to principal countries, annually , 1905 - 14 .
World 's visible supply of wheat, monthly , January , 1919, to June, 1922,

Average prices of wheat on farms and at Chicago, by months, 1910 to 1922.
Average prices of rye, monthly, 1910 to 1921.
Cost of transporting grain to New York from western points, January 1,

1919, to June 30, 1922.

Cost of transporting grain to Galveston and to New Orleans, January ,
1919 to March , 1922.
Capacity of elevators at important terminalmarkets.

Statistical Bulletin No. 6, of the Department of Agriculture,
entitled “ Grain Futures : Daily Data,” contains statistics as
follows:
Daily volume of trading in futures for wheat, corn , oats, barley, rye, all
grains, Chicago Board of Trade, January 1, 1921, to May 31, 1924.
Daily volume of future trading on Chicago Board of Trade in July, Sep

tember, March and May wheat for January 1, 1921, to May 31, 1924.

In connection with a study of the general food situation the
Federal Trade Commission in 1920 issued the publication entitled
“ Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Commercial Wheat

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

298

Flour Milling.” This study did not involve a census of the entire
industry but was based on the operations of thirty -seven companies

whose annual sales amounted to 38,450,000 barrels in 1913- 14 , out
of a total production of 116 ,403,770 barrels in 1914, according to
Census of Manufactures for that year. Sales of these concerns

were so widespread that they are representative of commercial
milling operations. Ten of these mills were in the Northwestern
area (Minnesota , North Dakota , and Montana ), thirteen in the

Southwestern area (Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri),
and fourteen in the Eastern area (Massachusetts, Rhode Island ,

Connecticut, New York , Pennsylvania , Delaware, and West

Virignia ). The statistical portion of the report embraces the
following :
Production of flour in the United States, 1809, 1899, 1909, and 1914, from
the reports of the census of manufactures.

Per capita consumption of flour in the United States, fiscal years 1902 to
1918.
Wheat crop, flour production , and population in 1899, 1904, 1909, 1914 , and
1919 in the several areas into which the country was divided , the
figures for production of flour in 1919 being derived from the United

States Grain Corporation .

Investments, prices, sales, cost of producing, selling expense, etc., of
groups of mills and individual mills in the three producing areas.

Data on the principal animal feeds that enter into commerce are
given in the “ Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Com
mercial Feeds,” which contains a review of the industry from 1913
to 1920. On account of the extent of the industry it was not

practicable to make a detailed survey,so figures were collected from
representative groups of manufacturers. There are included fig
ures on the investment and profit of the establishments included in
the investigation, monthly index numbers of wholesale prices of

various groups of feeds from January, 1913, to June, 1920, and
monthly average prices of the different feeds from January, 1913,

to June, 1920. The report also contains a description of the princi
pal feeds and the processes ofmanufacture.

Articles Affected by the Emergency Tariff of 1921. The
Emergency Tariff Act of May 27 , 1921, applied entirely to a num

ber of agricultural products which prior to that date were either

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

299

on the free list or subject to a lower rate of duty. In the publica
tion entitled “ Report on the Emergency Tariff Act of May 27,
1921," the Tariff Commission brought together available data which
might throw light on the effect of this measure.
The statistical material is not the same for each commodity,

being in more detail for some than for others. In general,however,
figures are given for the following :
Production , imports, domestic exports; average for 1910 to 1914 ; annually ,
1915 to 1921.
Imports by months, January, 1920, to April, 1922.
Imports from principal countries ; average, 1910 to 1914 ; annually, 1915 to
1921.

Imports by months and principal countries, January, 1920, to February 1922.
Prices, January 1920, to April, 1922.

For some crops production figures are given by states and for

somecommodities the consumption by particular industries is indi
cated. In others stocks on hand are shown. There is also a text
discussion of the uses and of principal factors influencing the

trade in each product. The commodities discussed in this report are
the following :
Wheat.
Wheat flour.

Lemons.

Flaxseed.
Linseed oil.

Peanut oil.

Corn .
Beans.
Peanuts .
Potatoes.

Coconut oil.

Citric acid.
Cottonseed oil.
Olive oil.

Soya bean oil.

Onions.

Cattle.
Beef and veal.

Rice.

Sheep .

Mutton and lamb.
Pork .
Meats, prepared
or preserved.
Cotton , long
staple.
Wool.

Sugar .
Butter .
Cheese.

Milk .
Cream .
Preserved , con
densed or ster

ilized milk .
Tobacco ,

Apples.
Cherries.
Olives.

Agricultural Staples. The competition of Canadian agricultural
products led to the preparation by the Tariff Commission of Tariff
Information Series No. 20, entitled " Agricultural Staples and
the Tariff.” In addition to the statistics mentioned below , this
bulletin contains data on cost of production of these products in

the United States and Canada and a table showing the quantity and
value of all agricultural products imported from or exported to
Canada . The commodities discussed and the years for which sta
tistics are given are shown in the following table :

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

300

SCHEDULE SHOWING STATISTICS

Wheat Wheat flour

Oats | Barley

Tradetriesof foreign coun
. .. ..

* 1909 –1913 * 1909–1913 1911–1913
United States ..... *1 1871-1915
1902- 1920SL ...
1902– 1920

Production.

Canada ........
1908 – 1920
Exports º from U . S .Ⓡ. . 1902– 1920
Exports from Canada . | 1902– 1920
Transit trade between
United States and
Canada . . .. . .
1907 - 1920

Imports º into U . S.... 1902 – 1920
Imports into Canada . .. 1902 – 1920
Freight rates . .. . .. .. .
Prices in United States,
Canada and England

1908 - 1920

1902 – 1920 ? 1897 – 1920
1902– 1920 1904 - 1920
1907 - 1920
1902– 1920

1897 - 1920

1902– 1920

1902– 1920

. .. . .. .. .

1906– 1916

1902– 1920
1908 - 1920
1880 - 1920

1880 – 1920

1880 – 1920
1880 – 1920

1906– 1920

1907 –1916

Barley malt Flax seed

Potatoes

Hay

Trade of foreign coun
countries . . . . . . . . . .

1911–1913

Production .

United States .....

$ 1887, 1889 " 1849 - 1919

Canada

Exportsº from U . S .'. . 1886 – 1920
Exports from Canada®..
Imports º into U . S .'.. .
Imports into Canada. . . .
Prices in United States,

& _ 1020 S 1899, 1909
( 1915 - 1917
1891,
( 1891, 1901
1901– 1920 1901- 1920
' 1891- 1920 1911- 1920
1910 - 1920
. . .. ..
' 1891- 1920 1910- 1920

(1904,1914 1902–1920 )

.. ... .. ..

1902– 1920
1902– 1920
1902– 1920

1902– 1920
1902– 1920

Canada, and England ' 1906 – 1916 | ' 1906– 1916

. . .. .. . . . * 1912 -1915

Receipts at principal
markets .. . . . . . . . . .

... ...

1916 -1919 1906– 1911

# Five-year averages.
b Three-year average .
e Fiscal years.

4 Also average production by States 1911- 1915 .

tables generally give separate figures for trade with Canada.
Theseoatmeal.
•? Also
generally give separate figures for trade with United States.
These tables
&h Every
fifth year.
1 Average of 'five-year period to 1913, annual 1911.1920 .
1 United States and Canada only.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

301

The data for the United States relating to wheat and wheat flour
given in the publication just described are brought to the end of

November , 1920, in the publication of the Tariff Commission en

titled “ Supplemental Information Concerning the Wheat and Flour
Trade of the United States.” 2 This report gives imports and
exports by customs districts for each month from July to Novem
ber, 1920. It also contains wheat prices at Minneapolis and Winni

peg between May and December, 1920.
Sugar. The Federal Trade Commission in 1917 issued a report
entitled “ Report on the Beet Sugar Industry in the United States,"
which contained a review of the item of cost and profits in the

beet sugar industry from 1910 to 1914. The data included figures
on the cost of growing sugar beets and of manufacturing and
marketing beet sugar, on the acreage harvested and yield per acre,

on sugar consumption from 1865-1914, and on prices of refined
granulated and raw sugar at New York for each week from 1890
to 1914.

Two publications of the Sugar Equalization Board are of value

to the student of sugar. These are " A Statistical Survey of the
Sugar Industry and Trade of the United States," and " Govern
ment Control of Sugar ” by Joshua Bernhardt. While the book last
mentioned was published by the Macmillan Company, it is really
a government publication, as the author was Chief of the Statistical
Department of the Sugar Equalization Board, which authorized

and paid for its publication . Technically the Sugar Equalization
Board was not a government organization , as it was a corporation
organized under the laws of Delaware. All of the capital stock was
owned by the United States, except the qualifying shares required

of incorporators and directors. As the Board was not technically
a government organization its publications have not generally been

included in lists of government publications. For the purposes of

the present work it should be regarded as a governmental agency.
During the war the control of the distribution of sugar was
effected through the United States Food Administration, the Inter
national Sugar Committee, and the United States Sugar Equaliza
* Issued also under the title “ Wheat and flour trade, Letter to the Com
mittee on Finance , United States Senate, Sixty - sixth Congress, third ses

sion , submitting supplemental information on the wheat and flour trade in
the United States."

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

tion Board. One of the first steps taken by the Food Administration
was an agreement with the beet sugar producers , providing for the

creation of a Food Administration Sugar Distributing Committee
to centralize the distribution of the beet sugar crop . There was

also created the American Refiner's Committee,which was charged
with the duty of allocating to individual refineries the raw sugar
purchased by the International Sugar Committee, which was the
agency established by the Food Administration to purchase raw

sugar for the United States and the Allies. Both of these commit
tees received periodic reports on production, receipts, stocks, and
meltings, and the figures for 1918 and 1919 were published by the
Sugar Equalization Board in 1920 under the title, “ A Statistical
Survey of the Sugar Industry and Trade of the United States ; sta
tistics of stocks, receipts , meltings, distribution , and exports of

sugar in the years 1918 and 1919 .” This report also contains sup
plementary material compiled from the reports of various other

governmentbureaus. The statistics in this publication offer a com
plete statistical history of the sugar trade of the United States in
1918 and 1919. The data given in the report are the following :
Refiners' stocks of raw sugar by weeks and ports.
Refiners' stocks of refined sugar by months at San Francisco and at Atlantic
and Gulf ports .

Refiners' stocks of raw and refined sugar, expressed as refined, by months.
Stock at all beet sugar factories, by months.

Stocks held by wholesalers by months.
Stocks held by wholesalers by divisions and states at various dates.

Retailers' stocks by states on various dates.
Stocks held by various classes of retail dealers, confectioners, bakers,

brewers, ice cream manufacturers, condensed milk manufacturers, can
ners, and hotels at various dates.
Refiners' weekly receipts of raw sugar by ports, and sources of supply.

Refiners'monthly receipts of raw sugar by ports and by sources of supply .
Monthly imports of cane sugar by countries.
Melting capacity at each refining port.
Refiners' weekly meltings, by ports .
Refiners' monthly meltings, by ports.
Monthly distribution of beet sugar from each producing region .
Monthly shipments of refined cane sugar from each locality.

Annual consumption in the United States, 1910 -19.
Monthly distribution of beet sugar crops, by states.

Monthly distribution of cane sugar by refiners, by states.
Quantities of sugar normally used in the manufacture of confectionery,
bread, crackers, sweet doughs, pies, cakes, sundry bakery goods, chewing

gum , soft drinks, ice cream , tobacco, soap, canned vegetables, canned

fruits, condensed milk and proprietary medicines.

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303

Amount of sugar covered by certificates issued to various industries and
dealers, by months, July to November , 1918.
Annual exports, 1905 - 19.
Monthly exports, 1913 -19.

Monthly exports on account of British Royal Commission on sugar supply,
1918 and 1919.

Monthly exports by countries to which exported, 1916-19.
The book entitled “ Government Control of Sugar ” is an account

of the work of the United States Food Administration and the
Sugar Equalization Board . It is a description of the steps taken to
control the use of sugar, but in the appendix are someoriginal and
some compiled statistics,most of which are not available elsewhere.

Some of the features worth mentioning are the following :
Receipts and meltings at individual refineries in 1918 and 1919.
Shipments by individual refineries of sugar refined on account of British

Royal Commission , 1918- 19 Cuban crop.
Monthly shipment by principal individual refineries in 1919.

Refiners' deliveries , exports, and balance for domestic consumption , by week ,
for 1919 and by quarters for 1918.
Monthly exports, 1919.

Refiners' stocks on various dates from 1917 to 1920 .
Refiners' monthly meltings, 1918 and 1919.
Deliveries by others than refiners, 1918 and 1919.

Purchases by International Sugar Committee, 1918 , and United States
Equalization Board 1919.
Sugar

,

Sugar crops of all countries, 1910 -11 to 1919 -20.

Exports and imports by principal countries, 1911 to 1918 .

In a publication entitled “ Report of the Federal Trade Com

mission on Sugar Supply and Prices,” is discussed the sugar
situation in 1919 and the early part of 1920, after the control of

sugar by the Sugar Equalization Board had ceased . This report
gives statistics on prices, amount used by various industries, total
consumption, and sources of supply. It also contains a brief history
of war-time control and post-armistice development.

The report of the Tariff Commission entitled “ Relation of the
Tariff on Sugar to the Rise in Price of February -April, 1923 "
contains the following detailed statistical material:
Crops of the world , annually, 1913- 14 to 1922-23.
Prices of 96° centrifugal sugar, at New York , six or more quotations each
month from January, 1918, to December, 1922.
Comparison of prices of raw duty paid sugar and refined sugar, January,
1922, to March , 1923. A number of quotations each month .

Domestic and export prices of refined sugar, several each month from
January, 1921, to April, 1923.

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304

Livestock and Livestock Products. A discussion of the changes
in the cattle and beef industry since the United States has ceased

to be a large exporter of cattle and beef is given in Tariff Infor
mation Series No. 30, entitled “ Cattle and Beef in the United

States : The Tariff Problems Involved ,” published by the Tariff
Commission in 1922. The detailed statisticalmaterialin this report
is as follows:
Exports from United States of cattle, fresh beef and veal, canned beef,
pickled and other cured beef, tallow , oleo oil and neutral lard, by
countries, annually , 1906 to 1921.

Exports from United States of stearin from animal fats, by countries,
annually , 1913 to 1921.

Imports into United States of cattle , bologna sausage, stearin from animal
fats, annually, by countries, 1906 to 1921.
Imports into United States, annually , by countries. Fresh beef and veal,

1914-21. Oleo stearin 1910 -21. Tallow , 1918 -21.
Domestic slaughter of animals and meat production , 1907 to 1921.
Exports of beef from Argentina, by principal countries, annually, 1914 to
1919.

In 1905 there was issued the “ Report of the Commissioner of
Corporations on the Beef Industry," which was a discussion of
the results of the concentration of the beef trade in the large pack

ing houses. This report contains a large amount of data on the
business of the principal packing houses and tables showing the
prices of cattle,hides, beef, and beef products over a seriesof years.

A comprehensive report on all phases of the business of the five
largest meat packers was issued in 1919 under the title, “ Report
of the Federal Trade Commission on the Meat Packing Industry.”

This publication was issued in six parts, with subtitles as follows:
Summary and Part I.
Part II. Evidence of combination among packers.

Part III. Methods of the five packers in controlling the meat packing
industry .
Part IV . The five larger packers in produce and grocery foods.
Part

V . Profits of the packers.

Part VI. Cost of growing beef cattle, cost of fattening cattle, cost of
marketing livestock .

This publication relates particularly to the business of Armour
& Co., Swift & Co., Morris & Co., Wilson & Co., and the Cudahy
Packing Company. The text deals at great length with thebusiness

practices of these concerns, and gives a mass of statistical detail
pertaining to their operations, especially as regards investments,
profits, quantity of products, etc. There are also some data on the

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

305

general aspects of the industry, particularly in Part VI, which is
devoted to the costofraising and marketing livestock , butthemajor
portion of the report is devoted to the five concernsmentioned .
Livestock and livestock products are also discussed in Tariff

Information Series No. 29 issued by the Tariff Commission in 1922,
under the title “ The Emergency Tariff and its Effect on Cattle
and Beef, Sheep and Mutton, Wool, Pork, and Miscellaneous

Meats.” In addition to a discussion of the economic conditions in
1920 and 1921 as regards these products, statistics are presented
on the following subjects :
Monthly average prices of live cattle, sheep, and hogs, Chicago, Winnipeg,
and Toronto , 1921.

Imports and exports of cattle and sheep by United States, by countries,
monthly, 1921, and annually, 1911 to 1921.
Imports of fresh and prepared meats, monthly, 1920 and 1921,
Imports and exports of beef and veal by United States, by countries, an
nually, 1914 to 1921.
Exports of sheep from United States, by countries, monthly, 1921.
Imports by classes and production of wool, annually , 1900 to 1921.
Imports of wool, by classes, monthly , 1921.

Wholesale prices of wool at Boston, quarterly, January, 1920, to July, 1922.
Wool values at London sales, March , 1921, to June, 1922.
Total imports and exports of fresh pork and of prepared and fresh meats ,
annually, 1919 to 1921.

Imports and exports of swine by United States,by countries, 1918 to 1921.
A detailed report entitled “ The WoolGrowing Industry," issued

bythe Tariff Commission in 1921,while largely descriptive and not
a detailed statistical compilation , contains scattered statistical data
pertinent to the subject. The following list of chapters will give
an idea of the scope of the report:
Part I.
Chapter 1. Introduction .

2. Survey of the world production and consumption of wool.
3. Wool control during the war.
Part II. Wool growing in the United States.
4. The sheep industry in the East.
5 . The sheep industry in the South .

6. The sheep industry in theMiddle West.
7. The sheep industry in the Ohio region .
8. Our land policy in the range states and the sheep industry.

9. The organization and financing of the sheep industry in the
range states.

10 . Cost of producing wool and mutton in the range states.
11. Marketing and handling of wool in the United States.
12. The marketing of sheep and lamb.
21

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

306

Part III. Wool growing in foreign countries.
13. Wool growing in Australia .
14. Wool growing in British South Africa.
15. Wool growing in New Zealand.
16. Wool growing in Argentina.

Part IV . Tariff problems in the wool growing industry.
17. History of the wool tariff in the United States.

18. Classification of wool and basis of import duty.
Appendix. Public conferences with the United States Tariff Commission

on the wool growing industry in the United States.

The detailed report on the wool industry described above is

supplemented by a publication issued by the Tariff Commission in
1922 entitled “ Recent Tendencies in the Wool Trade, with Special

Reference to their Tariff Aspects, 1920 -22.” In addition to a
discussion of the status of the industry, this report contains the

following statistical material: .
Production by countries, 1921, and average for 1909-13.
Average consumption by countries, 1909- 13.

Monthly prices of domestic wools, Boston, January to October, 1920 and
1921.

London prices, from March, 1921, to May, 1922.
Wool stocks in the United States, by class and grade, quarterly from June,
1917, to September, 1921.

Consumption
of wool in the United States, by class and grade, annually,
1918 to 1921.
Quantity of wool entering into manufacture in the United States, by class
and grade, annually , 1918 to 1921.
Wholesale prices of domestic wool in Boston market, by class and grade,
monthly, January, 1919, to April, 1922 .
Wool prices in London , December, 1900, 1901, 1910 to 1913 ; July , 1914 ;

December, 1915 and 1916 ; April, 1917 , December, 1919 to 1921.

Tariff Information Series No. 28, entitled “Hides and Skins,"
issued by the Tariff Commission in 1922, contains the following
statistical data :
Production and imports to United States, 1914 and 1920.

Average yearly prices of hides, live cattle, and carcass beef, Chicago, 1908
to 1921.
Raw hides and skins used in tanneries , 1909, 1914, and 1919.
Index numbers of wholesale prices of hides, leather and shoes, monthly
average for each of years 1913 to 1920 ; figures for each month , 1920

and 1921.

Imports for consumption , fiscal years 1911 to 1918 ; calendar years 1918-21.
Value of leather exports, 1890 to 1922,
Average prices of hides, annually , 1895 to 1911.

Prices of leather, quarterly, 1901 to 1911.

The history of the raw milk , condensed milk , and butter indus

tries from 1914 to 1918 is given in the report of the Federal Trade

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

307

Commission entitled “ Report . . . on Milk Products, 1914
1918.” The statistics include data on prices of raw materials and
products, production, exports, imports, investments, and profits.
Tobacco. Reports on the tobacco industry have been made by
both the Bureau of Corporations and the Federal Trade Commis
sion. The publication entitled “ Report of the Commissioner of
Corporations on the Tobacco Industry ” was published in three

parts between 1909 and 1915, under the following subtitles :
Part I. History of tobacco combination [ issued in 1909 ).
Part II. Capitalization , investments, and earnings (issued in 1911 ).

Part III. Prices, cost and profits (issued in 1915).
These reports were devoted to tobacco products and did not cover

the field of leaf tobacco. They related particularly to control of the
industry by a combination of manufacturers generally known as
the Tobacco Trust. Part I contains statistics on output of manu
factured tobacco from 1890 to 1906, giving separate figures for the
product of the combination and of the independentmanufacturers .
It also contains a text discussion of the organization and business

of the combine and an accountof the development of control of the
industry . Part II contains statistics and discussion of capitaliza
tion , investment, and earnings. Part III gives statistics on prices,
costs , and profits over a series of years. By the time Part III was

issued the combination had been dissolved by an order of the court,
and it was possible to give statistics on the business of the combina

tion and on the separate companies which were its successors.
The “ Report of the Federal Trade Commission on the Tobacco

Industry," issued in 1920, is the result of an investigation whose
primary purpose was to ascertain the causes of the decline in prices
of leaf tobacco. This investigation did not cover the field of manu

factured tobacco except to give figures on the cost of manufacture,
the material cost, and the selling price in order to ascertain the
margin between the raw material cost and the other costs . The

more important statistical material in this report is as follows:
Production of tobacco, by types, 1915 to 1919.
Average prices of leaf tobacco, by types and regions, 1918 and 1919.
Average prices, factory cost, material cost and labor cost of cigarettes,

smoking tobacco , and plug tobacco , by months, October, 1919, to June,
1920 .

Exports of leaf tobacco, by countries, 1915 to 1919.

New York exchange rates on foreign countries, monthly , October, 1918, to
October , 1920 .

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308

Canned Goods. During the war the Federal Trade Commission
made a study of the canned food situation, and issued two reports:
“ Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Canned Foods

General Report, and Canned Vegetables and Fruit,” and “ Report

of the Federal Trade Commission on Canned Foods— Canned
Salmon ."
The report on fruits and vegetables contains data on the produc
tion cost, selling costs, and profits in various sections in 1916 and
1917. It also includes data on the expenses and profits of grocers

and wholesale brokers and a discussion of processes of production ,
methods of distribution , and possible economics. Production sta

tistics are given for the following products for the years indicated :
Vegetables.
Corn , 1904, 1909 , 1914 , and 1917.

Peas, 1904, 1909, 1914 , 1917.

Hominy, 1914 and 1917.
Spaghetti, 1917 .

Tomatoes, 1904, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Tomato pulp, 1914 and 1917.
Beans, 1904, 1909 , 1914, 1917.
Green or wax beans, 1917 .

Red kidney beans, 1917.
Lima beans, 1917 .

Pork and beans, 1917.
Kraut, 1914, 1917.
Cabbage, 1917 .

Spinach , 1909, 1914, 1917.
Asparagus, 1909, 1914, 1917.

Sweet potatoes, 1900, 1904, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Beets, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Pumpkin squash , 1904, 1909, 1914, 1917.

Succotash , 1904, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Fruit .
Peaches, 1904, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Pears, 1904, 1909 , 1914, 1917 .

Berries, 1904, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Apricots, 1904 , 1909, 1914, 1917.
Apples, 1904 , 1909, 1914 , 1917 .

Cherries, 1907, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Grapes, 1917 .

Pineapple, 1909, 1914, 1917.

Figs, 1909, 1914.
Plums and prunes, 1909, 1914, 1917.
Fish .
Salmon , 1914, 1917.
Sardines, 1914, 1917.
Tuna , 1914, 1917.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

309

The statistics for 1904, 1909,and 1914 listed above were obtained
from the Census of Manufactures ; those for 1917, from the Food
Administration . Annual figures on the packing of corn , tomatoes,
and peas, computed by the National Canners' Association, are
given for each year from 1908 to 1917. Production statistics on

condensed milk and on evaporated milk are given for 1915, 1916 ,
May 1, 1916 , to April 30, 1917, and November 1, 1916, to Octo

ber 31, 1917.
The report on canned salmon contains data on number of fish
purchased and packed, cost of packing, capital, investment and

profits for 1916 and 1917, and opening prices of various classes
from 1897 to 1917 . There is included also a general description of

the industry and methods of marketing.
Potato Products. A publication issued by the Tariff Commission
in 1921, entitled “ Information concerning the Domestic Potato
Product Industries ” in addition to comments on uses, processes,
and tariff history relating to the products listed below , contains the

following statistical material :
Potato starch , production in United States, 1904, 1909, 1914.
Desiccated or dried potatoes, imports for consumption , annually , 1914 to
1918.

Potato -drying industry in Germany, production , annually, 1908 to 1911.
Potato products , production in Germany, 1910 and 1911.
Potato starch , production in United States, 1904 , 1909, 1914.

Cornstarch , production in United States, 1904, 1909, annually , 1914 to 1918 .
Potato starch and other starches, imports for consumption into United
States, annually, 1908 to 1918 .

Starch , imports into each of principal foreign countries, annually, 1910 to
1918 .

Starch , exports from United States, by countries, annually , 1914 to 1918.
Starch , wholesale prices at New York , quarterly , January, 1910 , to July ,
1919.

Dextrine production in United States, 1904, 1909, 1914.
Dextrine, imports for consumption into United States, annually, 1908 to 1918.

Dextrine, prices, quarterly, at New York, January 1900, to July, 1919.
Textiles. A review of the woolen rag trade and its relation to the

manufacture of shoddy is given in the “ Report on the Woolen
Rag Trade,” issued by the Federal Trade Commission in 1919. In
addition to the generaldiscussion this report contains annual prices

on woolen rags from 1904 to 1911 and monthly and quarterly
prices from January, 1913 to March , 1919.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

310

Tariff Information Series No. 3, “ Silk and Manufactures of
Silk ,” issued by the Tariff Commission in 1918, contains statistics

over a series of years relating to the silk industry in the United
States as well as general definitions and descriptions of silk fabrics .
The main statistical tables are the following :
Consumption of raw silk , silk yarn and artificial silk in textile industries,
1899, 1904, 1909, and 1914.
Value of manufactures of silk at each census since 1830.
Imports ( quantity ) of unmanufactured silk since 1864.

General imports (quantity and value) of silk and silk manufactures, by
articles, fiscal years 1906 to 1917 .
Domestic exports ( value) of manufactures of silk and silk waste, 1906 to
1917.

General imports (value) of silk by principal classes and countries, fiscal
years 1912- 17.

Imports for consumption of items on dutiable list of Schedule L of tariff
of 1913 for fiscal years 1896 , 1905, 1912, and 1914.
Exports (value) of silk from Japan to United States, 1913 to 1916 .

Exports (quantity and value) of habutæ from Japan to principal countries,
1891- 1916.

The Tariff Commission in 1919 published Tariff Information
Series No. 10 , “ Cotton Venetians," which is devoted to a descrip

tion of the American industry and a consideration of foreign
competition . The statistics include the following :
Estimate of quantity produced and imported 1913 to 1918 .
Prices 1913 and 1918.

Cost of production 1913 and 1918 .

A comparison of the uses and demand for Egyptian and Ameri
can long staple cotton is given in Tariff Information Series No. 27,

entitled “ The Emergency Tariff Act and Long Staple Cotton ."
This report contains weekly prices on the two commodities from
January, 1921, to May, 1922, imports and reëxports of cotton for

the fiscal years 1891 to 1921, and cotton production, consumption,
exports, and net imports from 1790 to 1920.
Petroleum and Petroleum Products. The “ Report of the Com
missioner of Corporations on the Petroleum Industry ” issued

in 1907, is devoted principally to an exposition of the position and
practices of the Standard Oil Company. This report contains a

comprehensive review of the investment, cost of production, and
profits of that company during the years preceding 1907, as well as
general statistics on production and pricesover a series ofyears and
a description of existing pipe lines and methods ofmarketing. The

price statistics in most cases relate to the period from 1897 to 1905.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

311

Factors bearing on the price of gasoline are discussed in the

" Report on the Price of Gasoline in 1915 " issued by the Federal
Trade Commission . The more important statistical material in
this report is the following :
Monthly average prices of gasoline in specified states, 1915.
Monthly average price of crude oil, 1915.

Cost of production of gasoline, at seven representative refineries, July to
December, 1915 .

Capital stock, surplus net earnings and dividends of 24 representatives
refining and marketing companies.
Monthly production of crude oil by fields, 1914 and 1915 .
Stocks of gasoline by fields, 1915 .
Sales of gasoline, monthly, 1915 .

Exports of gasoline by companies, 1914 and 1915.

The oil situation on the Pacific Coast, particularly in California
is treated in the " Report of the Federal Trade Commission on the
Pacific Coast Petroleum Industry,” in two parts, issued in 1921.
This report contains some general statistics on the petroleum
industry in the United States, in addition to the more detailed

figures relating to the California field . Themore important tables
are the following :
Imports and exports of petroleum and petroleum products, 1913 to 1920.

Production of crude oil by states, 1859 to 1908, and annually, 1909 to 1920 .
Production of crude oil in California, by fields, prior to 1876 and annually
from 1876 to 1920.

Production of crude oil in California by each of seven large companies,
annually, 1914 to 1920.

Monthly stocks of crude oil in California , annually, 1914 to 1920 .
Balance sheet, fixed investment, and income account for Standard Oil
Company of California , Union Oil Company, Associated Oil Company,
General Petroleum Company, and Shell Company, annually , 1914 to
1919 .

Cost of producing crude oil and cost of refining in California , annually ,
1914 to 1919.

The “ Report of the Federal Trade Commission on the Petroleum
Industry of Wyoming,” issued in 1921, contains a discussion of
the conditions affecting the production and refining of petroleum

in that state. The more important statisticalmaterial is as follows:
Production of crude oil in Colorado, annually , from 1887 to 1918 .
Production of crude oil in Wyoming , annually , 1894 to 1919 .

Production of crude oil in Wyoming, by fields, annually , 1914 to 1918.
Production of crude oil in Wyoming , by companies, annually, 1917 to 1919.
Pipe lines, length , diameter, crude oil transported , and income account.
Balance sheet of Midwest Refining Company, annually , from 1914 to 1919.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

312

The results of a general study of the increase in prices of

petroleum products are given in the “ Report of the Federal Trade
Commission . . . on Advance in Price of Petroleum Products,"
issued in 1921. The basic statistics used in this report are as
follows :

Prices of crude oil, monthly, January, 1918 , to April, 1920.
Production of crude oil, annually , 1900 to 1919.

World production in 1918 , and total for earlier years.
Production of crude oil,monthly , January, 1918 , to March , 1920.
Monthly stocks of crude oil, January, 1918 , to March , 1920 .
Imports and exports of crude oil and petroleum products , annually, 1910
1919.

Production, consumption and stocks at refineries of gasoline, kerosene, gas
oil, and fuel oil, monthly , January, 1918, to February, 1920.
Prices of gasoline and kerosene at various times between January, 1919, and
May, 1920.

In a report of the Federal Trade Commission issued in 1923,

entitled “ Report . . . on Foreign Ownership in the Petroleum
Industry,” the statistical data relate almost entirely to the opera
tions and finances of the Royal Dutch -Shell group and its affiliated

companies. Among the other materialworth noting are the follow
ing items:
Petroleum production of the world, by countries, annually , 1917 to 1921.

Petroleum production in Russia , by companies, annually, 1910 to 1914 .
Location and capacity of oil-bunkering stations in all countries owned by

American corporations, the Royal Dutch -Shell group, the Anglo -Persian
Oil Company .

Capital invested in the Mexican petroleum industry , by American , British ,

Dutch and Mexican interests, on December 31, 1922.

In addition to a discussion of foreign holdings in the United
States the text of the report contains a section on the restrictive
policies and administrative practices of foreign governments .
Coal. A report, entitled “ Report of the Federal Trade Commis

sion on Anthracite and Bituminous Coal, 1917,” prepared as a result
of the war situation, contains data on coal production and prices,
mostly for 1916 . This report is primarily a study ofmerchandising

conditions and practices. It shows for September to December,
1916 , for all important cities, the maximum and minimum cost

prices to dealers , typicalsale prices, and grossmargin of profit for
a number of representative dealers in each place.
Included in the report is a brief review of the anthracite industry
and the conditions affecting the local jobbing and retailing of
anthracite in important local markets.

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313

Iron and Steel. Part I of the “ Report of the Commissioner of
Corporations on the Steel Industry,” issued in 1911 is devoted
mostly to the organization , profits , investment, and position of the

United States Steel Corporation. This report contains detailed fi
nancialstatistics relating to the United States Steel Corporation as a
whole and to its constituent companies. It also gives annual pro
duction statistics as reported to the American Iron and Steel Insti

tute, for various classes of iron and steel products for 1901 to 1910,
for the Steel Corporation and for independent companies. Parts
II and III of the report are devoted to a study of the cost of pro
duction .

Minerals. Tariff Information Series No. 21, entitled “ Industrial
Readjustmentof Certain Mineral Industries Affected by the War,"
was issued by the Tariff Commission in 1920 . In addition to the

statistics it contains considerable material on the character, uses,
and substitutes for each mineral discussed . There is also a bibli

ography on each commodity. The statisticalmaterial contained in

the bulletin is shown in the following table :
Production

Minerals

in

U . S.

Production
in
important

Imports

Exports

Prices

foreign
countries

1910 - 1918 1910 – 1917 | 1910 – 1918 1910- 1919 1910 – 1918

Antimony . ...
Chromite

1910 - 1919 1913 - 1918 1910 - 1919 . . ..

Graphite .. ....
Magnesite .....

1909- 1919 1914- 1918 1912 – 1919 1912– 1919 1910 – 1918

1909 – 1919
1910 – 1918
1915 - 1919
Pyrites
1910 - 1918
1909 – 1918
Sulphur b
Quicksilver .. . . . . . . | 1902– 1919
Tungsten .. . . .. . 1910– 1918

Manganese .
Potash " ..

1909– 1919

1913- 1919
1913 - 1917 1910 - 1919
1912– 1918 1910 – 1918
1910 – 1918
1910 - 1918 | 1909– 1918
1912 – 1920
1912 - 1920
1910 – 1917 | 1909– 1918
1901- 1918 1902– 1919 1909– 1919 1912- 1919
1908 – 1917 1910 – 1919 1907 - 1919 | 1895 - 1919
1913– 1918 1910 - 1919
1901- 1918

* Also consumption in agriculture by foreign countries.
Also exports from Italy, 1910 -1915 ; exports from Japan , 1913-1918 .

Separate publications on most of theminerals listed above were
issued later and are described below :

In a publication entitled “ Information Concerning Graphite,”
published by the Tariff Commission in 1919, are reviews of the

314

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

description , use, and occurrence of the mineral, list of producers,

and the following statistics :
Production in the United States, annually, 1909 to 1918.
Exports from the United States, by countries, annually, 1910 to 1918.
Production in each of principal foreign countries, annually, 1907 to 1918 .
Imports into United States from each of principal foreign countries, annu
ally, 1910 to 1918. .

Prices, annually, 1910 to 1918 .

The following statistics on tungsten -bearing ores are given in
the report of the Tariff Commission issued in 1919, entitled “ Infor
mation Concerning Tungsten -bearing Ores :" .
World production , by each of principal countries, annually , 1910 to 1918.
Production in the United States, by states, annually, 1910 to 1918 .

Average monthly prices, 1917 and 1918 .
Imports, into United States, by countries, annually , 1912 to 1918.

This publication also contains text on the occurrence, uses,
marketing, and other features of the trade in this product.
The publication , entitled “ Information Concerning Manganese
Ore,” issued by the Tariff Commission in 1919, contains the follow
ing statisticalmaterial:
Production of manganese ore in the United States, by states, annually, 1910
to 1918.

Production of manganiferous iron ore in the United States, by states, annu
ally , 1907 to 1912.
Production of manganese ore in each of principal foreign countries, annu
ally, 1910 to 1918 .

Imports of manganese ore into the United States by principal countries,
annually , 1910 to 1918 .

Cost of production of United States and foreign ores.

It also contains the material on uses and other topics usually
found in the report of the Tariff Commission .
A report, entitled “ Information Concerning the Magnesite In
dustry," published by the Tariff Commission in 1920,3 contains
data on the occurrence and uses of magnesite , as well as the fol

lowing statistics :
Production in the United States, annually , 1900, 1904, 1909 to 1918 .
Estimated world production, 1913 and 1917 .
Imports, into United States, by countries, annually, 1911 to 1919.

A review of the zinc ore industry is given in the publication of

the Tariff Commission entitled “ Information Concerning Zinc
Ore,” issued in 1919,the statisticalmaterial including the following :
* Another report covering practically the same ground was issued in 1919.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

315

Production , by states, annually, 1910 to 1918 .
Exports by countries, annually, 1910 to 1918.
Production in each important foreign country, annually , 1910 to 1915.
Imports, into United States, by principal countries, annually, 1904 to 1918.
Imports for consumption, United States, annually, 1907 to 1918 .
Annual wholesale prices, 1901 to 1918.

There are also accounts of the history of the industry in the
United States, of foreign resources, and of mining and milling
practices and methods in the principal producing areas,

Data on the several salts of potash are given in the report of
the Tariff Commission issued in 1919, entitled “ Information Con

cerning the Potash Industry.” This publication gives annual sta
tistics for 1909 to 1918 of imports of each of the salts shown

separately in the trade statistics, of wholesale prices quarterly for
1912 to 1918, and of the annual production in the United States

from 1916 to 1918 .

The history of the phosphate rock industry and data on cost of
production are given in the Sixth Special Report of the Commis

sioner of Labor, 1893, entitled “ Phosphate Industry of the United
States.” The data include figures on shipments of phosphate rock
from South Carolina annually from 1867 to 1892 and from
Florida from 1888 to 1892.
A report entitled “ Information Concerning the Pyrites and

Sulphur Industry,” issued by the Tariff Commission in 1919, con
tains the following statisticalmaterial:
Pyrites.
Production , by states, annually, 1910 to 1918 .
Production in each country , annually, 1910 to 1917 .

Imports into United States, by countries , annually , 1909 to 1918.
Prices at New York , quarterly , 1912 to 1919 .
Sulphur.
Production in United States, annually , 1901 to 1917.
Exports from Japan , by countries, 1914 and 1915 .

Production in each country, annually, 1900 to 1917.
Imports into United States, by countries, annually, 1902 to 1918 .
Exports from United States, by countries, annually, 1909 to 1918.

Prices at New York, quarterly , 1912 to 1919.

Fertilizers. In 1916 the Federal Trade Commission issued a pub
lication entitled “ Report on the Fertilizer Industry,” which in

cludes not only data on the manufacture of fertilizers in the United
States, but also statistics relating to sources of supply of raw

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WORK

material and the use of raw material in foreign countries.* The
statistics in this report to which special attention should be called

are the following :
Nitrate exports from Chile, annually, by countries, 1907 and 1913.

Imports of sulphate of ammonia into the United States, 1907-13, by
countries.

Production of sulphate of ammonia , 1907 to 1913 .
Consumption of nitrate of soda in principal world markets, 1909 to 1913.
Shipments of German potash salts to United States, 1904 to 1914 .
Sulphate of ammonia produced and consumed in Germany, France and
United Kingdom , 1908 and 1913.

Exports of sulphate of ammonia from United Kingdom , by countries, 1909
to 1913 .
Crude potash salts extracted from mines of potash syndicate, Germany,
1890 to 1913.
World production of basic slag phosphate, by countries, 1907 to 1913.
World production of phosphate rock and apatite, by countries, 1907 to 1913.
Production of phosphate rock , by states, 1904 to 1914, also imports and
exports.

Average monthly prices of nitrate of soda in principal world markets,
1906 to 1914.
Averagemonthly prices for foreign sulphate of ammonia , 1907 to 1914.
Average monthly prices for cottonseed meal by states, 1907 to 1914.
Average monthly prices for domestic sulphate of ammonia in United
States principal districts, 1907 to 1914.
Prices of fertilizer material, annually, 1908 to 1914.
Consumption of fertilizer, by states, 1909 to 1914.

Plants, profits, sales, etc., of representative companies.

Barytes, Barium Chemical and Lithopone Industries. A re
port entitled “ Barytes, Barium Chemical and Lithopone Indus
tries," was issued by the Tariff Commission in 1920 as Tariff Infor

mation Series No. 18. This pamphlet contains statistics on produc
tion in the United States and foreign countries, imports into the
United States, and prices, as well as a review of the tariff history

of the industries, descriptions of the products and their uses, and a
study of the costs of production .
Acids. Statistics for several acids are given in Tariff Information
Series No. 13, entitled “ The Acids of Paragraph I and Related
Materials Provided for in the Tariff Act of 1913," issued by the

Tariff Commission in 1920. In addition to the purely statistical
matter, the text contains a review of the industry in the United
* A second publication , entitled “ Report of the Federal Trade Commission
on the Fertilizer Industry ” was issued in 1923. This report relates primarily
to control of materials, selling methods, and competitive conditions in 1921
and 1922. It contains no statistical material.

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

317

States and important foreign countries. The commodities for which

figures are given for the United States and the years covered are
shown in the following table:
Imports

Commodities

Production

for

consumption

Imports
by
countries

Crude
borax material... 1903--1918
Borax . . . . . . . .
1914 - 1917 1910 - 1919
1914 - 1917 1909- 1918
Boric acid .... ...
ſ1904
- 1909
Citric acid .........
1914 - 1917 1910 –1919

......

Citrate of lime. ...

1910 - 1919

1910 - 1918

Oil of lemons . .. .

1909 - 1919

Formic acid . .. ..
Gallic acid . .

1906 - 1919
1910 - 1919

Pyrogallic acid
Nutgalls
Tannic acid . ...
Lactic acid ..
Oxalic acid . .

Tartar .. .. . . . .. . ..

Tartaric acid
Tartrate of soda .. .. .. .

1915 - 1917
1915 - 1917

1910 - 1919

Prices

1913 - 1919

1914

1911 - 1919
. . . . . . . . ..

1914
1914
1914

1915 - 1920
1912 – 1919

1912 – 1919
1914 - 1917
1917

1910 - 1919

1906 – 1919
1910 - 1919

1912– 1919
1895 - 1919
1913- 1918

1908 – 1919

1910 - 1919
1909- 1919

1913 - 1919

1913 – 1919

Argals and wine lees . ..

1909 - 1918
1910 - 1919

Crude calcium tartrate .

1914 - 1919

Cream of tartar .. .

1910 - 1919

1911- 1918
1913 – 1919

The production statistics for borax, boric acid, citric acid , gallic

acid , pyrogallic acid,and tannic acid for 1915 to 1917 were collected
by the Tariff Commission and are original in this publication .
Import and export statistics of France, United Kingdom , Italy,
and Germany are given for the principal acids and related ma

terials for several years prior to 1918 .

In addition to the above there are given statistics of exports of

baking powder from the United States, for the fiscal years 1911
to 1918.
Incandescent Gas Mantles. Tariff Information Series No. 14,

“ The Incandescent Gas Mantle Industry," issued by the Tariff
Commission in 1920, gives a history of the development of the
industry , a bibliography , and the following statistics :
World production (quantity and value) of monazite sand, 1909 to 1917.
Exports ( quantity) ofmonazite sand from Brazil, 1905 to 1918.
General imports ( quantity and value) of monazite sand and thorite by coun
tries, 1910 to 1918 .

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

318

Imports for consumption (quantity and value) ofmonazite sand and thorite
by countries.
Production of monazite sand (quantity and value ) 1905 to 1918.
Production ( quantity ) of thorium nitrate, 1913 to 1919 ; original statistics
collected by Tariff Commission .

Imports for consumption (quantity and value) of thorium nitrate 1909 to
1919.

Imports for consumption ( quantity and value) of thorium oxide and other
thorium salts, 1914 to 1919.
General imports (value ) of gas burners, by countries, 1910 to 1918.
Imports for consumption ( quantity and value) of gas mantles, 1910 to
1919.

Domestic exports (value) of gas mantles, by countries, 1918 and 1919.
Imports for consumption (value ) of cerium , cerite or cerium ore, 1910 to
1919.

Imports for consumption (quantity and value) of gas mantle scrip , 1910
to 1919.

Imports and exports of gas mantles by Germany 1911 to 1913; Austria
Hungary, 1909 to 1913 ; France, 1912 to 1918 .

Glass. Tariff Information Series No. 5, “ The Glass Industry as

Affected by theWar,” published by the Tariff Commission in 1918,
contains statistics on the following topics :
Value of production for census years, beginning with 1879, to 1899, quan
tity and value production , 1904 and 1914, quantity production of hand
window glass factories for 1915 - 16 and 1916 -17.

General imports and domestic exports (quantity and value) by articles and
countries, fiscal years 1914 to 1917.

Value of imports and exports by foreign countries in 1913.
Exports from Japan 1913 - 17.

Cost of production in 1916 and 1917 .

Earnings of wage earners in 1914 and 1917 .

Certain specialized features of the glass industry are discussed
in the publication of the Tariff Commission, issued in 1919, entitled
“ Information Concerning Optical Glass and Glassware,” which
contains the following statistical material:
Production of optical glass plates, monthly, April to October, 1918.

Imports of glass plates or disks, annually, by countries, 1913 to 1918.
Production of chemical glassware, annually , 1915 to 1918 .

Exports of chemical glassware by countries, six months periods, July, 1917,
to December, 1918 .

Furniture. In 1923 the Federal Trade Commission published a
volume entitled “ Report . . . on House Furnishing Industries,

Volume I, Household Furniture.” The greater part of this report
is devoted to a discussion of trade practices, but thereare considera

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

319

ble statistical data not available elsewhere, among which may be
mentioned the following :
Wholesale prices of furniture, monthly, January , 1920, to April, 1922 .
Prices of woods used in furniture making,monthly, January, 1920 , to April,
1922.

Investments, sales, and profits of manufacturers and retailers, 1920 and
1921.

Stoves. The conditions in the stove industry and trade in 1920
and 1921 are discussed in the publication of the Federal Trade
Commission entitled “ Report . . . on House Furnishing Indus

tries, Volume II, Household Stoves.” The greater part of this
report is devoted to trade practices, particularly those that involve
the determination of prices through associations ofmanufacturers.

The statistical data include the following :
Index numbers of dealer's costs and prices, quarterly , 1920 to 1922.
Index numbers of manufacturer's prices, monthly , 1920 to 1922.
Factory costs, 1920 and 1921.

Investments, sales, costs and profits of manufacturers, 1920 and 1921.

Farm Machinery and Implements. A report issued by the
Commissioner of Corporations in 1913,entitled “ The International
Harvester Company," contains detailed statistics on the operations,

finances, and output of that concern and its constituent companies.
This report does not cover the entire agricultural implement indus
try, but describes the development and methods of the largest
corporation engaged in that business .
The publication entitled “ Report of the Federal Trade Commis

sion on the Causes of High Prices of Farm Implements,” issued

in 1920, contains a general statistical review of the farm implement
industry. Production statistics for the years covered by the various
censuses of manufactures from 1849 to 1914 are given in order to
show the growth of the industry. There are also original data
collected by the Commission pertaining to the prices of farm im
plements and figures for leading concerns dealing with costs, sales ,

income, and investment during the period from 1913 to 1918.
Surgical Instruments. Prior to 1914 surgical instruments, like
dyes, were obtained largely from Germany. A review of the do
mestic industry was published by the Tariff Commission in 1918
as Tariff Information Series No. 7 , “ The Surgical Instrument In

dustry in the United States," which contains statistics on produc

320

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STATIS

WORK

tion , wages, and prices in 1914 and 1918. While the statistics are
somewhat general they are the only ones available on this industry.
Paper. The “ Report of the Federal Trade Commission on The
Newsprint Paper Industry,” published in 1917, contains a general

review of the factors which had resulted in the scarcity of paper
and the increase in price. This publication includes statistics for

1913 to 1916 on imports, exports, prices, and production and ship
ments by individual mills in the United States and Canada.
As the paper situation remained acute, the Commission continued
to collect statistics on production , stocks, and shipments , which

were later issued monthly in mimeographed form . These monthly
statistics were not confined to newsprint, but included figures on
book paper, pasteboard, boxboard , wrapping paper, bag paper , fine
writing, ledger, and bond papers, tissue, wall paper and felt and

building paper . There were also given production statistics for the
various grades of woodpulp and figures on the number of machines
idle in the pulp and paper industry , the hours idle, and the causes
of cessation of operations. An annual mimeographed statement
was issued at the end of each year giving a summation of the fig
ures for the year. The collection of these statistics has been dis
continued.

Tariff Information Series No. 1, “ Paper and Books,” issued by
the Tariff Commission in 1917, contains statistics of general im

ports of paper, books, etc., from 1906 to 1916 , with detailed statis
tics by countries for 1915 and 1916 . It also gives the following

statistics for the fiscal years 1896 , 1905, 1912 and 1914 on the
dutiable items of Schedule M of the Tariff of 1913: Quantity and
value of imports for consumption, value of domestic exports, duty
collected , and quantity and value of production if given in censuses
of manufactures for 1904, 1909, and 1914. The consumption fig
ures are approximate only , as the import and export figures on the
one hand and the production figures on the other hand do not
refer to the same period. The fiscal years 1896 , 1905, 1912, and
1914 were selected in order to compare the figures for one year

under the Wilson, Dingley, Payne, and Underwood tariffs.
Brushes. Tariff Information Series No. 8, “ The Brush Indus

try,” issued by the Tariff Commission in 1918 , contains informa

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

321

tion on methods of manufacture and statistics on the following
topics:
Production in 1849, 1859, 1869, 1909, and 1914.
General imports ( value) , 1910 to 1917.
Imports for consumption (value), 1894 to 1917.
Domestic exports ( value) , by countries, 1913 to 1917.
Statistics on imports and exports of foreign countries.

Buttons. The button industry is discussed in Tariff Information

Series No. 4 , “ The Button Industry,” issued by the Tariff Com
mission in 1918. In addition to the statistics, the pamphlet contains

a review of the industry in the United States and foreign countries,
descriptions of processes, and a bibliography. The statistical ma
terial includes the following :
Production (quantity and value) , in 1914.
General imports (value ) of buttons and material for buttons for fiscal

years 1889- 1917 , with principal countries of shipment for fiscal years
1910 to 1917.

Domestic exports (value) to principal countries for fiscal years 1910 to
1917.

Imports for consumption ( quantity and value ), rates of duty, and revenue
for fiscal years 1896 , 1905, 1912, 1914, and 1917.

Drawbacks paid during fiscal years 1910 to 1916.

Wood-Using Industries . The Forest Service, in coöperation
with state organizations and trade journals, has made a series of
surveys of the wood-using industries in various states. These

reports were not issued by the Forest Service, but they are listed
here as they represent a statistical activity of that organization ,
which had general charge of the collection of the data . These
reports treat each industry separately and show the quantity of

each variety of wood used during the year, the average cost per
one thousand feet, the total cost f. o. b. factory, the amount used
that was grown in the state, and the amount brought in from other

states or foreign countries. While most of these reports are some
years old , they furnish the only available guide to the consumption
of the various species of woods in the several states. The titles of
the reports, the year published and the names of the organizations

publishing them are as follows:
Alabama — The wood-using industries of Alabama, 1912, by John T. Har
ris . (In coöperation with the Lumber Trade Journal. )

California - Wood -using industries of California , 1912 , by Andrew E . Arm
strong. (In coöperation with the California State Board of Forestry.)
22

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

322

Connecticut - Wood-using industries of Connecticut, 1913, by Albert H .
Pierson . ( In coöperation with the Connecticut Agricultural Experi
ment Station .)
Florida - Wood -using industries of Florida, 1912, by Hu Maxwell. (In
coöperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture.)

Georgia - Wood-using industries of Georgia , 1915. (In coöperation with
the Lumber Trade Journal.)

Idaho — The wood-using industries of Idaho, 1912, by C . W . Dunning. ( In
coöperation with the Pacific Lumber Trade Journal.)
Illinois — The wood -using industries of Illinois, 1911, by R . E . Simmons.
(In coöperation with the Department of Horticulture of the University
of Illinois.)

Indiana - Indiana's wood -using industries, 1915, by Jesse C . Nellis. (In
coöperation with the Hardwood Record.)
Iowa - The wood -using industries of Iowa, 1913, by Hu Maxwell and

John T. Harris. (In coöperation with the Iowa Agricultural Experi
ment Station.)
Kentucky - A study of the wood-using industries of Kentucky, 1911, by
R . E . Simmons. (In coöperation with Kentucky State Board of Agri
culture, Forestry and Immigration .)

Louisiana — The wood -using industries of Louisiana, 1912, by Hu Maxwell.
(In coöperation with the Lumber Trade Journal.)

Maine- Wood-using industries of Maine, 1912, by Jesse C . Nellis. ( In
coöperation with the Maine Forest Commission .)

Maryland – The wood -using industries of Maryland, with a chapter on
Maryland's lumber and timber cut and the timber supply, 1910 , by Hu
Maxwell and F . W . Besley. (In coöperation with the Maryland State

Board of Forestry.)
Massachusetts — A study of the Massachusetts wood-using industries, 1910,
by Hu Maxwell. ( In coöperation with the State Forester of Massachu
setts.
Michigan - Wood -using industries of Michigan , 1912, by Hu Maxwell. (In

coöperation with Michigan Public Domain Commission.)
Minnesota - Wood -using industries of Minnesota ; timber resources of Min
nesota , 1912, by Hu Maxwell and others. ( In coöperation with the

Minnesota State Forestry Board .)

Mississippi — The wood -using industries of Mississippi, 1912, by Clark W .

Gould and Hu Maxwell. (In coöperation with the Lumber Trade Jour
nal.

Missouri- Wood-using industries of Missouri, 1912, by Charles F . Hatch
and Hu Maxwell. ( In coöperation with the St. Louis Lumberman.)
Montana - Wood -using industries of Montana, 1912. (In coöperation with
the Timberman . )

New Hampshire - Wood-using industries of New Hampshire, 1912,by R. E.
Simmons. ( In coöperation with the New Hampshire Forestry Com

mission.)

New Jersey — The wood -using industries of New Jersey , 1914, by Albert H .
Pierson . (In coöperation with the New Jersey Forest Park Reservation
New York - The wood-using industries of New York, 1913, by John T.
Harris. (In coöperation with the New York State College of Forestry
Commission .)

at Syracuse University.)

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

323

New York - Wood-using industries of New York , 1921, by R . V . Reynolds
and R . J. Hoyle. ( In coöperation with the New York State College of

Forestry at Syracuse University .)
North Carolina - Wood -using industries of North Carolina, 1910 , by R . E .
Simmons. (In coöperation with North Carolina Geological and Eco
nomic Survey. )

Ohio - Wood-using industries of Ohio , 1912, by C . W . Dunning. (In co
öperation with the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.)
Oregon - Wood-using industries of Oregon , with special reference to the
properties and uses of Oregon woods, 1911, by H . B . Oakleaf. (In co
öperation with the Oregon Conservation Commission . )

Pennsylvania — Wood -using industries of Pennsylvania, 1914, by R. E . Sim
mons. ( In coöperation with the Pennsylvania Forestry Department.)
South Carolina - Wood-using industries of South Carolina, 1913, by Stan
ley L . Wolfe. (In coöperation with the South Carolina Department
of Agriculture, Commerce and Industries. )
Tennessee - The wood -using industries of Tennessee, 1912, by Clark W .
Gould and Hu Maxwell. (In coöperation with the Southern Lumber
man .)

Texas - The wood-using industries of Texas, 1912, by Hu Maxwell and
Charles F . Hatch . (In coöperation with the Lumber Trade Journal.)

Vermont— The wood-using industries of Vermont, 1913, by Hu Maxwell.
( In coöperation with the Vermont Department of Agriculture and
Forestry. )

Virginia - Wood-using industries of Virginia , 1912, by R . E. Simmons.
( In coöperation with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Im
migration.)

Washington - Washington 's secondary wood -using industries, 1911, by
H . B . Oakleaf. (In coöperation with the Pacific Lumber Trade Jour
nal.

West Virginia — The wood -using industries of West Virginia, 1915, by
J. C . Nellis . ( In coöperation with the West Virginia Department of

Agriculture.)
Wisconsin - A study of the Wisconsin wood -using industries, 1910, by
F . H . Smith . ( In coöperation with the Wisconsin State Forester.)

Cost of Production. Studies of the cost of production have been
made at differenttimesby the DepartmentofLabor,the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the Tariff Board, the Tariff
Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission. These studies
were not made at regular intervals, and there has never been an
effort to issue supplements bringing the information to a later
date. They are, therefore, of historical value only, as changes in
rates of wages and in prices of raw material have resulted in the

reports becoming quickly out of date. Incidental to the study of
costs of production , most of these reports contain considerable
statistical detail on supply of raw materials, the quantity of finished

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

324

products, wages, and expenses. The text generally includes an out
line of the history by the industry and descriptions of processes
or trade customs.

There are listed below the reports that deal with cost of pro
duction .

Commissioner of Labor.
Sixth Annual Report, 1890. Cost of production : Iron, Steel, Coal,
etc., 1890 .

Sevent
h Annual Report, 1891. Cost of production : The textiles and
glas
s.

Tariff Board .
Wool and manufactures of wool. House Document 342, 62d Congress,
2d session . 1911.

Pulp and newsprint paper. Senate Document 631, 62d Congress, ist
session , 1911.
Cotton manufactures. House Document 643, 62d Congress, 2d session.
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
Miscellaneous Series 16 . Cost of production in the pottery industry :
Summary of results, 1914.
Miscellaneous Series 21. The pottery industry, 1915.
Miscellaneous Series 29. The women 's muslin underwear industry,

1915.
Miscellaneous Series 31. The hosiery industry, 1915.
Miscellaneous Series 32. The knit underwear industry, 1915.
Miscellaneous Series 34. The men' s factory -made clothing industry,
1916 .

Miscellaneous Series 36 . The shirt and collar industries, 1916.

Series 37. The cotton spinning machinery industry,
Miscel
lan
1916 . eous
Miscellaneous Series 53. The cane sugar industry, 1917.
Miscellaneous Series 60. The glass industry, 1917.
Commissioner of Corporations.
Report . . . on the petroleum industry , 1907.

International Harvester Company, 1913.

Federal Trade Commission .
Report . . . on combed cotton yarns, 1921.

Report . . . on leather and shoe industries, 1919.
Cost reports of the Federal Trade Commission - Copper, 1919.

Cost reports of the Federal Trade Commission - Coal.
Report . . . on war -time costs and profits of southern pine lumber
companies.

Report . . . on shoe and leather costs and prices (1918 to 1920 ). 1921.
Report on the beet-sugar industry in the United States ( 1909 -1914 ).

Report . . . . on flour milling and jobbing [ 1913 to 1917 ).
Preliminary report . . . on investment and profit in soft coal mining
(1916 to 1921).

Report . . . on the tobacco industry. [1919 and 1920.)
Report . . . on the causes of high prices of farm implements. [1913
to 1918.)

SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIES

325

Federal Trade Commission - Continued.
Report on the beet sugar industry in the United States. [1910 to 1914.]
Report . . . on house furnishing industries. Volume I. Household
furniture. ( 1920 and 1921. ]

Report . . . on house furnishing industries. Volume II. Household
stoves. ( 1920 and 1921.]

Report on the price of gasoline, 1915.
Report . . . on the Pacific Coast petroleum industry. [ 1914 to 1919.)
Report . . . on canned foods. General report and canned vegetables

and fruit. [1916 and 1917.)
Tariff Commission .

Report . . . on canned foods. Canned salmon . [1916 and 1917.]

Tariff Information Series No. 5. The glass industry as affected by the
war, 1918 .

Tariff Information Series No. 9. Cost of production in the [raw ]
sugar industry , 1919.

Tariff Information Series No. 10. Cotton venetians. [1913 and 1918.)
Tariff Information Series No. 15. Cost of production in the dye in
dustry in 1918 and 1919.

Tariff Information Series No. 16 . Refined sugar : Costs, profits, and
prices, 1920 .
Tariff Information Series No. 18. Barytes, barium chemical, and litho
pone industries, including cost of production , 1919.

Tariff Information Series No. 24. Production costs in the lithopone
industry, first six months of 1921,
Wheat and wheat products. Report of the United States Tariff Com
mission to the President of the United States, 1924.

Information concerning manganese ore, 1919 .
The wool growing industry, 1921.

Sheep and wool production in Argentine. [1918 and 1919.)
United States Grain Corporation .

Stabilization of the price of wheat during the war, 1925.

CHAPTER XXIII
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
Statistics on imports and exports are compiled and published
by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, although for
some commodities the Tariff Commission has reëxamined the
original import entries in order to obtain a more detailed classifi

cation of certain groups of commodities. The statistics of the

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce are regularly used in
the “ Agriculture Yearbook ” for agricultural products and in
“ Mineral Resources of the United States," for minerals and
mineral products . They will also be found in the publications of
the Tariff Commission and the Federal Trade Commission if the

international movement of commodities is of moment in connec
tion with the subject under consideration . Almost all of the

publications of these two organizations discussed in Chapter XXII
contain statistics of exports and imports . Under each subdivision

of Chapter XXII specific reference is made to the import and
export statistics in the publications discussed .
TERMS USED AND LIMITATIONS OF THE Statistics

Import and export statistics are compiled from returns made
under oath by importers or exporters. The import procedure is
extremely technical and will not be discussed in detail, reference

being made only to the general papers which result in the statistics.
When an article is brought into the country a formal entry must
be filed by the importer or his agent with the collector of customs.

This entry contains statements under oath regarding the character
of the merchandise, the value, and the place from which imported.
This entry is checked by the customs officers with the goods and ,
in the case of articles dutiable ad valorem , with other sources of
information regarding values. In the case of exports each shipper

or his agent must file an export declaration containing statements
326

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

327

under oath regarding the character of the merchandise, the
quantity , the value, whether the product of the United States or of
a foreign country, and the destination . The export declaration is

checked against the manifest, which must be filed by the master of

a vessel before it is granted clearance . After the entries and the
shippers' export declarations are checked they are classified ac
cording to the commodity and geographic classification used in the
statistical reports. The data are then transferred to punched cards,
which are run through sorting and tabulating machines in order to

obtain the totals desired.

The term , “ general imports,” includes all goods brought into
the country, regardless of whether they pass at once into the
custody of the importers or are placed in bonded warehouses."
This class therefore is the total of all goods imported. The term ,
“ imports for consumption,” indicates articles which have been

delivered to the importer and are no longer in the custody of
customs officers. This class includes goods delivered immediately
on arrival and goods withdrawn from bonded warehouses ; goods

delivered immediately on arrival are entered as “ imports for

immediate consumption,” while goods delivered from bonded
warehouses are known as “ withdrawals from warehouse for con
sumption." Goods may also be withdrawn from warehouse for
export, the total withdrawals from warehouse being the “ with
drawals from warehouse for consumption " plus “ the withdrawals
for exports .” The term “ consumption ” as applied to imports
indicates simply that the articles have passed into the general stocks

in the country and are available for human or industrial consump
' A bonded warehouse is a place where an importer is allowed to store
dutiable goods for three years without the payment of duty . The ware

house may be owned by the government, but it is more often a private
establishment which has given bond that no goods will be removed except
by authority of customs officers. Even if the warehouse is a private estab

lishment, the goods are technically in the custody of the United States.
A bonded warehouse may be an entire building or part of a building
in which space is rented to several tenants, it may be a warehouse used
entirely by a single importer, or it may be a yard or shed used for the

storage of bulky articles. The primary requisites on the part of the govern
ment are that a bond shall be filed to insure the payment of duties, that
the building must be so protected that the merchandise cannot be surrep

titiously removed , that the keys must be in the custody of the government
storekeeper, and that the owner of the warehouse reimburse the govern

ment for the salary of the storekeeper.

328

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tion. The term “ immediate consumption " indicates that the goods
were passed through the customs without being sent to a bonded
warehouse. The term “ entry for warehouse " indicates that the
goods have been placed in bonded warehouses, and are still in the

custody of the customs officers. Articles included in the class
“ imports for consumption ” may be exported , and if exported in
their original form are reported under foreign exports.
Figures for dutiable goods reported under general imports and
under imports for consumption often do not agree for a specified
period. Considerable timemay elapse between the date when goods

arrive and are reported under general imports and the date when
they are withdrawn from warehouse and reported under imports
for consumption . Conversely , goods reported under imports for
consumption may have been entered for warehouse and reported

under general imports during the period covered by an earlier
report. In addition , some goods reported under general imports
may never be reported under imports for consumption , as they may
be exported directly from the warehouse and not enter the general

stocks in the custody of merchants or importers. For any period
the difference between the value of general imports and the value
of imports for consumption will be the same as the difference
between the value of entries for warehouse and the value of with
drawals from warehouse for consumption .

The net amount of foreign goods available in the country is
generally determined by subtracting from the general imports dur

ing any period the foreign exports. This method takes no account
of goods in warehouse at the beginning and end of the period, but
it is usually satisfactory for ordinary purposes. While this shows
the amount available , it does not show the quantity actually con

sumed, for some of the goods, although released from customs
custody, may not have found a market. Thus, during 1920 the
imports of mutton and lamb amounted to 101, 168,321 pounds and

the foreign exports to 195,602 pounds. In 1921 the imports were
25,394 ,988 pounds and the foreign exports 56 ,588 ,857 pounds.
The greater part of the foreign exports of mutton and lamb in
1921 consisted of meat which was imported in 1920, but which
could not be marketed and was subsequently reëxported in 1921.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

329

Most of the statistics show general imports, and in the absence
of any statement to the contrary in the heading, it should be under
stood that the tables show general imports .

Domestic exports comprise domestic products or manufactured
commodities of foreign origin which have been materially changed
in form or enhanced in value by further manufacture. Foreign

exports include foreign goods exported in essentially the same form
as imported . For instance, green coffee imported from Brazil and
exported would be reported under foreign exports ; green coffee
imported from

Brazil, roasted in the United States, and then

exported would be included under domestic exports, as its value has

been increased by the roasting ; coffee grown in Porto Rico or
Hawaii would be reported under domestic exports, whether it was
exported green or roasted , as the commodity is entirely the product
of the United States.

Prior to the fiscal year ended June 30 , 1893, the statistics of
exports included only the movement of goods by sea, and took no
account of the exports to Canada and Mexico by railroad . For

someyears the statistics of exports by railwere carelessly prepared ,
and it is only since about 1915 that they can be regarded as accurate .

All statistics by customs districts indicate the district in which

imports were entered or from which exports left the country.
Where the name of a particular port is the same as that of the

customs district, care should be taken not to confuse the port with
the district. As a general rule, however, the greater part of the

business is done through one principal port in the district. The
customs district of New York , for instance, includes Sussex ,

Passaic, Hudson , Bergen, Essex, Union , Middlesex, and Mon

mouth counties, New Jersey, and all of the state of New York not
included in the St. Lawrence , Rochester, and Buffalo districts. The
ports of entry in the New York district are New York, Albany ,

Greenport,Newark , Patchogue,and Perth Amboy. The boundaries
of the customs districts in 1923 are given in Customs Regulations,
1923, pages 2-6 . Changes in the boundaries of districts are pub

lished in the Weekly Treasury Decisions, issued by the Treasury
Department.
" A table showing the changes in customs districts from 1789 to 1879
is given in volume 2 of the Department of Agriculture publication entitled

“ Report on Forestry,” by Franklin B . Hough, issued in 1880 ; this pub

lication appeared also as House Ex. Doc. 37, 46th Cong., 2d sess.

330

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

A list of customs districts, showing headquarters and ports of

entry in each district, is printed in the introductory pages of
Foreign Commerce and Navigation . Prior to the fiscal year 1914

the number of customs districts was greater than during recent
years.

It should be borne in mind that statistics by customs districts
represent traffic through the several districts only in the case of
exports. If an article for export moves on a through bill of lading
from Pittsburgh to New York and leaves the country through the

New York district, it is reported as being exported from the New
York district. Imports, on the other hand, are reported for the
district in which the entry for consumption or warehouse is made.

Thus goods landed atNew York , transported in bond to Pittsburgh,
and entered at Pittsburgh are reported as being imported into the

Pittsburgh district. The district of entry is thus not necessarily
the district in which the goods are landed or the one in which they

are consumed , as after clearance through the customs the mer
chandise may be again shipped to another district.
Whether an article is entered in the district of landing or in some
other district, is a matter that depends entirely on the wishes of
the importer . A person familiar with the trade in a particular
commodity may be able to reason out whether the district of entry
is the district of landing, but the statistics give no clue that will be
of assistance.

It is impossible to obtain figures on the quantity or value of
goods actually imported in one district and formally entered for
consumption or warehouse in another district. The latest year for
which summary figures were published showing value of im

ports entered in districts other than those of landing was the fiscal

year 1912. During that year the total value of merchandisemoved
in thismanner amounted to $ 110 ,000,000, or 7 per cent of the total
imports. It is likely that the percentage is greater at present. From
the special table in the 1912 report there can be computed the total
value of goods landed in each district, but this cannot be done from

the present figures.

The misleading character of the present method of compilation
is well illustrated by the following figures on imports of silk in
1921 and 1922.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
District

1921

331
1922

Pounds

Pounds

St. Lawrence . . . . . ..

14,923,153

New York . .

25 ,494,937
1,967,316

13,776 ,180
1,200,733
23,761,924
10 ,460,100

Washington ( State )
San Francisco . . .

All other . . . . ..

Total . ... . ... . .. .

1, 133,523
1,836 ,166
45,355 ,095

1,512,889
50,711,826

One might infer from this table that the silk trade was practically
stationary in the St. Lawrence district, that it had decreased 96

per cent in the New York district,and had increased over 1100 per
cent in the Washington district and over 800 per cent in the San
Francisco district. The facts are that practically all of the silk is

landed on the west coast and consumed in the New York and
neighboring districts . The amount reported from the St. Lawrence
district is a portion of that landed in British Columbia and moving

east over Canadian lines; the figures for that district do notneces
sarily represent all the silk moving over this route, as some of it
may have been shipped in bond, entered at New York, and reported
for that district. The figures for the New York district are for

silk that may have entered the country in either the Washington,
San Francisco , St. Lawrence, or other districts. As a result of this

method there are widely differing figures for years in which there
was probably little variation in the movement.

The figures for districts not on the seaboard or frontiers are
misleading in that they show only the commodities which were
entered at those districts. The present method of presentation
swells the figures in some cases and makes comparison between
districts impossible. An instance of swelling is the Chicago district,
which is reported with imports of $ 46 ,914,351, of which the maxi
mum amount which could have been imported into that district is

$6 , 145,998, the imports from Canada, and it is likely that some
of these goods were imported through other districts. In the Ohio
district the total imports are reported as $ 11,619,849 of which
$ 4,994,503 are from Canada , leaving only $6 ,625,346 from all other

countries. It is manifest that this figure is entirely too low for the

Ohio district, in which are extensive industries using large quanti
ties of imported raw material. The value of crude imported rubber

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

332

brought into the Ohio district is probably several times that of all

commodities reported as imported into that district. The imports
of rubber into all districts, and the imports of all commodities
reported for the Ohio district in 1922 are shown in the following
statement:
Imports of
Country of shipment

England .. . .. . .
Brazil . . . . . . ..
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Straits Settlements . . .
Java Madura .. . .. ...

Other Dutch East Indies.
. .

Canada .......

Other countries

Total . ...... .

....... .. .. .. ..

Imports of all

rubber into all
districts

commodities
into Ohio
district

$ 8,922,588
3, 186,241

$ 1,211,398

59,934,964

730

6,410,349

5,834

300

8,246,451
83,266

4,994,503

15,059,329

5,407,084

$101,843,188

$ 11,619,849

As Ohio produces approximately half of the rubber goodsmanu
factured in the United States, it is safe to assume that about half
of the imports of rubber, or $ 50,000,000 worth, were consumed in

that district. Nevertheless, the total value of all foreign goods
entered in the Ohio district was only $ 11,000 ,000 in 1922.
As exports of domestic merchandise are reported from the cus

toms district from which they leave the country, the statistics in
Commerce and Navigation give no information regarding the

state of production or of original shipment. For instance, auto
mobiles manufactured in the Michigan districtmay be shipped to a

steamer at Baltimore sailing for South America. In this case the

export would be reported from the Maryland district. As there
are no statistics on the interstate shipment of commodities, there is

no way of tracing exports to the place of production. In the case
of automobiles the industry is centered in the Michigan and Ohio
districts, and it is fair to assume that the exports of goods manu
factured in these districts are proportional to the production . The

exports from any district, however, may consist entirely of cars
manufactured in areas other than the two mentioned . Recent

statistics on exports originating in the several states are discussed
on p . 353.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

333

The import statistics show the countries from which the goods
were invoiced for shipment to the United States and the export

statistics indicate the countries to which the goods were exported in
the first instance. The statistics by countries thus indicate the
trade between countries, but do not necessarily indicate the country

in which imports originated or in which exports eventually found
a market. Prior to the war large quantities of American goods

were purchased by German merchants and resold in Russia . If
these goods were shipped directly to Russia they appear in the
statistics as being exported to Russia . If the shipment had been
consigned to Russia , but had moved by sea to a German port and

then been immediately transshipped by land to Russia, it should
appear as an export to Russia , but often in such cases the exporters

misinterpret the instructions and report such shipments as being
consigned to the country which is the terminus of the sea voyage.

If the goods were shipped to Germany and placed in stock they
appear in the export statistics as being exported to Germany. This
is particularly true of raw cotton, which was purchased by German

brokers for resale both in Germany, Russia, and other countries ;
cotton was also purchased by Belgian or Dutch houses, and con

sumed in these countries or perhaps shipped to Germany for con
sumption . In the case of countries which have little transshipment
trade the export statistics serve as a guide for the consumption

of American goods. With the exception of Paraguay, Uruguay,
and Bolivia , goods generally move directly to all South American
countries . Goods consumed in Paraguay and Uruguay are often

consigned to merchants in Argentina, although a fair share moves

directly ; likewise, articles consumed in Bolivia are often consigned
to houses in Chile.

The same comment is applicable to the import statistics, as they
show countries of invoice , which are generally the countries of
immediate shipment and not necessarily countries of origin . For
only two commodities, cotton and wool, are statistics available show

ing countries of production . These statistics are published only
in the Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce of the United

States. During February, 1921, Australian wool was shipped to
the United States from the Netherlands, England, Scotland, and
Australia . Prior to the war concentrates of tin produced in Bolivia
went to Germany for smelting and were then reshipped to the

334

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

United States in blocks or bars. In this case the commodity was

enhanced in value by the smelting. More to the point is the fact
that during 1918 and 1919 the greater part of the tin ore imported

into the United States was reported as coming from Chile. Tin is
not a product of Chile, the imports credited to that country being
the product of Bolivia, shipped from Chilean ports . The statistics

of imports from and exports to Hongkong and the Straits Settle
ments indicate simply that the goods originated in or were con
sumed by some country which marketed its products or obtained
its supplies through these great centers of trade. Transshipment

trade is thedespair of statisticians, as it is practically impossible to
determine the extent to which goods are transshipped or to trace
such transshipments. Without some knowledge of economic ge
ography the student will be in danger of misinterpreting many of

the statistics by countries.
The country classification used in the reports of the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce is given in the introductory
pages of Foreign Commerce and Navigation . This table shows the
area included in the country names used in the statistics.
The Philippine Islands are treated as a foreign country , and the

Virgin Islands have not been taken out of the list of foreign coun
tries and treated as a customs district of the United States. Goods

shipped to and received from these possessions are enumerated as

exports and imports.
Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico are customs districts , and their
foreign trade may be ascertained from the tables showing trade
by customs districts. Only the total value of all shipments moving
to and from these possessions and the ContinentalUnited States is
shown each month in the Monthly Summary of Foreign Com

merce, but separate figures are given for gold and silver. The
December issue of the Summary contains figures on the quantity
and value of principal articles shipped to and from the posses

sions during the calendar year, and the issue for June contains
similar figures for the fiscal year. This is the only source for
these statistics except for some more general statistics in the
Statistical Abstract of the United States. Prior to 1922 detailed
figures on commerce with these possessions were given in each

issue of the Monthly Summary.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

335

Shipments to and from the Canal Zone are treated as exports to
and imports from Panama. The Act of March 2, 1905 (33 Stat.

L ., 843), provides that all laws affecting imports from foreign

countries shall apply to merchandise coming from the Canal Zone.
Imports into the Canal Zone, except those for the use of the United

States, are subject to duties imposed by the Republic of Panama.
Up to May, 1921, the value of imported merchandise was the
foreign value or the actual market value or wholesale price, at

the time of exportation to the United States, in the principal
markets of the country from which exported , including the value
of all containers or coverings, and all other expenses incident to
placing the merchandise in condition for shipment to the United

States ( 38 Stat. L ., 189) . From June, 1921, to September 21,
1922, the value of goods subject to ad valorem duties was governed
by Section 302, of the Emergency Tariff Act of May 27, 1921
(42 Stat. L ., 15 ), which provided that the value should not be less
than the export value, which was defined as follows:

That for the purposes of this title the export value of imported
merchandise shall be the price, at the time of exportation of such

merchandise to the United States, at which such or similar mer
chandise is sold or freely offered for sale to all purchasers in the
principalmarkets of the country from which exported, in the usual
wholesale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, for

exportation to the United States , plus, when not included in such
price, the cost of all containers and coverings and all other costs ,

charges, and expenses incident to placing the merchandise in
condition , packed ready for shipment to the United States, less
the amount, if any, included in such price, attributable to any
additional costs, charges, and expenses , and United States import
duties, incident to bringing the merchandise from the place of
shipment in the country of exportation to the place of delivery
in the United States, and plus, if not included in such price, the
amount of any export tax imposed by the country of exportation
on merchandise exported to the United States.

Since September 22 , 1922, the value of goods subject to ad

valorem duties has been governed by section 402 of the Tariff act
of September 21, 1922 (42 Stat. L ., 949 ), which provides that the
value shall be the foreign value or the export value, whichever is

higher, the foreign and export values being defined as follows:

NAL

336

NATIO

L

STICA

STATI

WORK

(b ) The foreign value of imported merchandise shall be the
market value or the price at the time of exportation of such
merchandise to the United States, at which such or similarmerchan

dise is freely offered for sale to all purchasers in the principal
markets of the country from which exported, in the usual whole
sale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, including the
cost of all containers and coverings of whatever nature, and all

other costs, charges, and expenses incident to placing themerchan

dise in condition, packed ready for shipment to the United States.
( c ) The export value of imported merchandise shall be the

market value or the price, at the time of exportation of such
merchandise to the United States, at which such or similar mer
chandise is freely offered for sale to all purchasers in the principal
markets of the country from which exported , in the usual whole
sale quantities and in the ordinary course of trade, for exportation
to the United States , plus, when not included in such price, the cost
of all containers and coverings of whatever nature, and all other
costs, charges, and expenses incident to placing the merchandise in

condition , packed ready for shipment to the United States. If in
the ordinary course of trade imported merchandise is shipped to
the United States to an agent of the seller, or to the seller' s branch

house, pursuant to an order or an agreement to purchase (whether
placed or entered into in the United States or in the foreign
country ), for delivery to the purchaser in the United States, and
if the title to such merchandise remains in the seller until such de

livery, then such merchandise shall not be deemed to be freely
offered for sale in the principalmarkets of the country from which
exported for exportation to the United States, within themeaning
of this subdivision .

If neither the foreign value nor the export value can be ascer
tained to the satisfaction of the appraising officer, the value is to be
the United States value, which is defined as follows:

The United States value of imported merchandise shall be the
price at which such or similar imported merchandise is freely

offered for sale, packed ready for delivery, in the principalmarket
ofthe United States to all purchasers, at the time of exportation of
the imported merchandise, in the usual wholesale quantities and in
the ordinary course of trade, with allowance made for duty , cost
of transportation and insurance, and other necessary expenses from

the place of shipment to the place of delivery, a commission not
exceeding 6 per centum , if any has been paid or contracted to be
paid on goods secured otherwise than by purchase, or profits not
to exceed 8 per centum on purchased goods.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

337

If the foreign value, the export value, or the United States value
cannot be ascertained , the value is based on the cost of production .
There is a still further provision that if by reason of there being

any similar competitive article manufactured in the United States
the President has increased the duty to the extent allowed by law
in order to equalize the cost of production and the increase in duty
is still not sufficient to equalize the cost of production , the Presi
dent may proclaim that the American selling price shall be as the

value, this being defined as follows :
The American selling price of any article manufactured or
produced in the United States shall be the price, including the cost
of all containers and coverings of whatever nature and all other
costs, charges and expenses incident to placing the merchandise in
condition packed ready for delivery , at which such article is freely
offered for sale to all purchasers in the principal market of the

United States, in the ordinary course of trade and in the usual
wholesale quantities in such market, or the price that the manu
facturer, producer, or owner would have received or was willing to

receive for such merchandise when sold in the ordinary course of

trade and in the usualwholesale quantities, at the time of exporta
tion of the imported article.

There are thus at the present time five bases which may be used

in determining the value of articles subject to ad valorem duty . It
should be borne in mind, however, that the value given in the
statistics is the unliquidated value or that declared by the importer
in his entry before the entry is reviewed by the customs officers.

In order to safeguard the revenues, provision is made for a critical

review of all of the entries , and as the initial finding may be
appealed, it may be several months before the final adjudication

is made. Penalties are provided for deliberate undervaluations,
but there are, nevertheless,many cases in which there are grounds
for differences of opinion regarding the correct method of valu
ation . It is impracticable to compile statistics on the basis of the

liquidated or adjudicated value, as such a practice would involve
either a great delay or would result in continual correction of

earlier figures.

The values of domestic exports are “ their actual cost, or the
values which they may truly bear at the time of exportation in the
ports of the United States from which they are exported .” The
23

338

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

value of foreign goods exported from warehouses is the same as
their import value. The value of foreign goods exported “ not from
warehouse " is the sameas the value of articles of domestic produc

tion. The values of foreign merchandise entered for transit across
the territory of the United States or for transshipment in the

United States to a foreign country are the same as the values of
imports.
As the collection of revenues is not involved in the papers for
domestic and foreign exports or those for transshipment and in

transit trade, the declarations of value are not scrutinized by cus
toms officers as closely as those for imports subject to ad valorem
rate of duty . The liability of error in these values lies in the care

lessness of the person making the declaration. While all these

declarationsmust bemade under oath , themaking of declarations,
especially those for domestic exports, is often delegated to minor
irresponsible employees of commercial houses.

The following statement by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce illustrates the lack of care in preparing these papers: 3
The thoughtless practice of some exporters in assigning office

boys or inexperienced clerks to prepare shippers' export declara
tions is seriously jeopardizing the accuracy of official foreign trade
figures, and the Department of Commerce requests that more care

be exercised in preparing these vitally important documents .
Accurate, timely trade statistics will be impossible unless shippers

extend more personal coöperation in seeing that necessary papers
are properly prepared . The work should not be assigned to boys
or some secondary agency having no special interest in the matter.
The new export classification recently adopted at the request

of exporters to afford American business really useful statistical
service has brought out the fact that serious errors have existed in

the official figures for years, particularly in classes showing values
only. Most of these errors are due to inaccurate description in
the export declarations presented to customs officials by the shipper
or his agent. Investigation has developed , for example , that ship
and tank plates, punched and shaped , are reported as low as I cent

per pound ; alloyed steel bars at 1.6 cents per pound ; copper wire at
4 cents per pound ; wood and denatured alcohol at 11 cents per
gallon ; white lead at less than 2 cents per pound ; 370 stationary
electric motors of less than 200 horsepower at an average price of
* Commerce Reports, June 12, 1922, p. 683.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

339

$ 11 ; 183 road plows, scrapers, and rollers at $ 11 each ; I centering

lathe chuck at $ 3 ,800 ; grinding and sharpening machines at $5
and $ 5,000 ; and hoes and rakes at $ 132.
The department realizes that the preparation of the necessary
papers at times represents something of a burden and it does not

wish to appear unreasonable. It expresses the hope, however, that
export shippers generally will appreciate the fact that the figures
in point are being compiled primarily for the benefit of the ex
porters who are now asked to coöperate. The illustrations given
should convince any reasonable exporter as to the utter ridiculous

ness of someof the returns now received . Just a little more care
and attention to the column “ Class No. of Schedule B ” on the

export declaration , to make certain that an accurate entry is made

of the number of the statistical export classification of 1922, under
which the goods should be properly classified, will be a great help .
It will avoid the time and expense involved in returning erroneous
declarations to the original custom house, in some cases the West
Coast, and will help the Department of Commerce to clear itself
of the possible stigma of inefficiency when the burden of responsi
bility rests squarely upon the shoulders of the offending exporters.
Themethod of determining the value of free goods or articles
subject to specific rate of duty is not defined by law , but the
regulations provide that it shall be the same as dutiable goods.

While the values assigned to free goods or to articles subject to
specific rate of duty are not reviewed in detail by customs officers,
there is no motive for the importer to undervaluate such com
modities.

All declarations relating to imports and exports contain infor
mation regarding the quantity, and these declarations afford a basis

for the statistics. The unit of quantity is that commonly employed
in commerce for the specific commodity . Thus, automobiles are
reported in number, coffee in pounds, eggs in dozens, shoes in pairs ,
cereals in bushels , coal in tons, etc. Unless otherwise indicated in
the tables the measures of quantity are as follows: Ton , 2240
pounds ; barrel of wheat and rye flour and corn meal, 196

pounds net; barrel of rosin, 500 pounds; barrel of tar and pitch ,
280 pounds net; barrel of pickled fish and lime, 200 pounds net ;
barrel of cement, 376 pounds net; bushel of wheat, beans, dried
peas, and potatoes, 60 pounds ; bushel of barley and buckwheat, 48

pounds; bushel of corn, rye, onions, and flaxseed, 56 pounds ;
bushel of oats, 32 pounds ; bushel of malt, 34 pounds; bushel of

AL

340

NATIONAL STATISTIC

WORK

castor beans, 50 pounds. In comparing exports with production,
care must be taken to see that the same units are used in the two
series of statistics. Thus, a ton of coal in the import and export

statistics means 2240 pounds, while a ton in the production statis
tics published by the Geological Survey means 2000 pounds.

As the same unit of quantity is not used for all articles, it is im
possible to give any figure showing the total volume of the foreign

trade of the United States.
Several tables give statistics of imports and exports by great
groups, in which commodities are classified according to the uses

and degree of manufacture, the six groups being as follows:
(a ) Crude materials for use in manufacturing, ( b ) foodstuffs in

crude condition and food animals, ( c ) foodstuffs partly or wholly

manufactured , (d ) manufactures for further use in manufactur
ing, (e ) manufactures ready for consumption,and ( f) miscellane
ous. The specific commodities included in each group are shown in
Tables IX and X of “ Foreign Commerce and Navigation .”

The import statistics include mail shipments of all goods valued

atmore than $ 100 per shipment; occasionally shipments of dutiable
goods valued at less than $ 100 are reported butno returnsare made
for free goods valued at less than $ 100. Parcels post exports of

merchandise are supposed to be included in the statistics for each
shipment valued at $25 or more made by a wholesale dealer. There
is no law requiring an export declaration to be filed when a parcel
post shipment is made and there is reason to believe that many
shipments are not reported.
It should be borne in mind that the import and export statistics
are for the United States as a whole , that is, the states plus the
territories of Alaska, Hawaii, and Porto Rico. If figures for

receipts into and shipments from the continental United States are

desired , accountmust be taken of shipments to and from the terri
tories and exports and imports of the customs districts of Alaska,
Hawaii, and Porto Rico. The examples given below indicate the

steps in the computations. For receipts into continental United

States proceed as follows:

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

341

Pounds

Imports into entire United States “..

.........

Deduct
Imports into Alaska " .
Imports into Hawaii .

1,000
500

Imports into Porto Rico

1,500

Pounds
100 ,000

3,000

97,000

Imports into continental United States . ....... ..
Add

Shipments from Alaska .
Shipments from Hawaii . . . .. .

800

Shipments from Porto Rico ... ..

300

700

98,800

Receipts in continental United States...............

In the case of shipments the procedure is as follows:
Pounds

Domestic exports from entire United States .. .....

Pounds
50,000

Deduct

Domestic exports from Alaska

...... ...

Domestic exports from Hawaii . . . . .

Domestic exports from Porto Rico ............
Domestic exports from continental United States....

200

300
500

1,000

49,000

Add

Foreign exports from entire United States '...
Shipments to Alaska . .
Shipments to Hawaii .. ... .
Shipments to Porto Rico

Shipments from continental United States. .

1,000
100
400

200

50,700

&b Table
Table 43 of
of Commerce
and Navigation.
Commerce and Navigation .
• Monthly Summary for December.
d Table 5 of Commerce and Navigation .

e Table 6 of Commerce and Navigation .
1 Table 7 of Commerce and Navigation.
& Monthly Summary for December.

The above table showing shipments from continental United
States does not take into account foreign exports from the terri
tories which are not shown separately in the reports. However,
these are generally small, and may be disregarded .

In the statistics of entrances and clearances of vessels are shown
the number of vessels entered and cleared and total net registered
tonnage of the vessels. The vessel ton used in these tables means
100 cubic feet internal cargo space. These tables, however, do not
represent the volume of trade of any customs district or with any
foreign country, as a vessel reported “ with cargo ” may be only

342

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

partially loaded . There is no duplication for vessels that discharge
or obtain cargo in one or more customs districts . The entry of the
vessel is made in the first customs district in which cargo is dis

charged, and the clearance is obtained in the last customs district
at which cargo is loaded. (See page 349 for discussion of coun

tries of departure and destination .)
The amount of duty is given in many tables of import statistics,
but the figures are not those of duty collected or duty assessed ,
even though their heading may say duty collected . As the statistics

are compiled from the unliquidated entries (see p . 337) the sta

tistics are based on the rate and value claimed by the importer in
his entry. When the entry is reviewed by the customs officers the
classification may be changed or the valuation of goods subject to ad
valorem duties may be increased. For instance, shipments of
tooth brushes composed of bristles and celluloid were entered as

dutiable at 45 per cent as tooth brushes under Paragraph 1407 of
the tariff act of 1922. As celluloid was the component material of
chief value, it was held that the duty should be 60 per cent ad
valorem under Paragraph 31. In the statistics this shipment was
undoubtedly included with other tooth brushes and the duty com
puted at 45 per cent, when the actual duty assessed and collected

was 60 per cent.*
No figures are available in any report showing the exact net
amount of duty collected on any class of commodities or on all
commodities. Even the financial reports of the Secretary of the

Treasury do not give this information. The item customs receipts
in these reports includes the tonnage tax , which is not a duty on
imports, and also the gross amount collected from importers. The

amount repaid to importers for excess charge is not deducted
from the receipts, but charged to expenses. For instance, when the
goods are withdrawn from customs custody, the customs officers

collect the estimated duty, which , let us assume, amounts to $100 .
When the entry is finally audited and liquidated it may be found
that the correct amount of duty in only $ 90 . Nevertheless, $ 100 is
reported as the customs receipts , the refund of $ 10 being charged to
* This case illustrates the difficulty of reconciling a commodity classifica

tion with the tariff classification. As the statistical classification is essentially

one by commodities, the classification of the shipment as one of tooth
brushes is correct, but the amount of duty shown for tooth brushes is
wrong.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

343

a permanent indefinite appropriation . The adjustment of Treasury
figures for the fiscal year 1922 to show the net receipts from duties

is indicated by the following statement:
Customs receipts as shown in report of the
$ 357,544,712.40

Secretary of the Treasury . . .

Deductions:

Tax on tonnage (as stated in report of
Commissioner of Navigation ) . .. . ... . .. $ 1,818,330.07
Drawback . .. .. .. .
.. .. .. .. .. . 28,595, 261.15
Proceeds of goods seized and sold . . . .. .. .
962.37
Refunding money erroneously covered into
Treasury . .. . .. .. ..

301.35

Refunding penalties or charges erro
neously exacted .. .. . .... . . . . . . . . . . . .
Refunding proceeds of unclaimed mer
chandise . .. .. ..
Repayments to importers for excess of
deposits . . . . .

50.00
19 ,179.49

7,972,344.04

Philippine special fund, duties on articles
imported from the Philippines ; paid to
government of Philippine Islands. . . . . . .

833 .37

38 ,407, 261.84

Net receipts from duties. .........

$ 319,137,450.56

The above statement is probably not absolutely accurate ,as it is
possible that there are included under the item “ Services of officers,

fines, etc.,” some navigation fees and fines, which should be de
ducted because they are not customs duties.

GENERAL CURRENT STATISTICS

Annual Statistics of Imports and Exports. Figures showing
imports and exports by years are published in “ Foreign Commerce

and Navigation ,” “ Trade of the United States with the World,”
and the “ Statistical Abstract of the United States."
Foreign Commerce and Navigation . Annual statistics of im
ports and exports have been published since 1790. The reports for

1790 to 1822 were transmitted to Congress by the Secretary of the
Treasury and will be found in Volume 1 and 2, Commerce and

Navigation of Class 4 of the American State Papers. On Febru
ary 10, 1820, an act was passed requiring the Secretary of the
Treasury to submit an annual report on imports and exports to

Congress. The first report was made for the fiscal year ending
September, 1821, and annual statistics have been published every

L

344

NATIONAL STATISTICA

WORK

year under the title, “ Foreign Commerce and Navigation of the
United States.” The reports for 1821 to 1865 were compiled in

the office of the Register of the Treasury ; those for 1866 to 1903
were published by the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Depart

ment; those for 1904 to 1911 by the Bureau of Statistics of the
Department of Commerce and Labor, and those for 1912 and

subsequent years by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce of the Department of Commerce.

The statistics were published for fiscal years ending Septem
ber 30 up to 1842. The report for 1843 is for the nine months
ending June 30. The fiscal year ending June 30 was used until

1918, when the change was made to the calendar year, the report
for the fiscal year 1918 being the last one giving statistics by fiscal
years. The report for the calendar year 1918 contains figures for

the period from July 1 to December 31, 1918, and for the entire
calendar year 1918. The report for the calendar year 1918 thus

duplicates the figures for January to June of that year published in
the fiscal year report. The figures for the fiscal year 1918 , for the

six months July to December , 1919, and for the calendar year 1919
give a continuous record without duplications.
The summary tables in Commerce and Navigation give totals of
imports and exports for each commodity, for each customs district,

for each country, and for great groups. There is also a table show
ing the total imports from and exports to each foreign country
arranged by customs districts .

In the detailed tables the arrangement is primarily by commodi
ties and secondarily by countries or by customs districts. There are
no detailed statistics in this volumearranged primarily by countries
or by customs districts. Thus, the tables show exports of wheat

to each foreign country or from each customs district. If it is de
sired to ascertain the principal commodities exported to any one
country, recourse should be had to the report entitled “ Trade of

the United States with the World,” described below . This infor
mation may be obtained from Commerce and Navigation, but only
by the laboriousmethod of compiling a new table from the statistics

of exports of each commodity . There is no table in any of the re
ports showing the commodities that enter into the trade of the
several customs districts. This information must be computed
from the statistics of commodities by customs districts .

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

345

Separate figures are given for free and dutiable imports, and as
the same commodity may be both free and dutiable it is necessary
to add the two columns in order to obtain the total imports of a
commodity which falls into the two classes.

Most often the same commodity is reported as both free and
dutiable because a new tariff act has been enacted during the year
covered by the report. In some cases the matter of duty depends
on the country from which the goods are imported . All articles

which are grown in the Philippines and which do not contain
foreign materials to the extent of 20 per cent of their value are
admitted free of duty. Thus, hats from the Philippines, complying
with the requirements mentioned above, are free , but hats from
the Philippines which do not meet these requirements and hats
from other countries are subject to duty.

The Tariff Act of October 3, 1913 ( 38 Stat. L., 164 ), provided
that wheat, wheat flour, semolina, and wheat products should be
dutiable when imported either directly or indirectly from a country
which imposed a duty on wheat or wheat flour or semolina imported
from the United States. Similar products from other countries
were free. Prior to 1922 some other products were given as both
free and dutiable because the heading did not fully indicate the
character of the commodity. Statistics for bread and biscuits were

given under both headings. The dutiable goods were “ biscuits,

bread, wafers, cakes and other baked articles, and puddings, by
whatever name known, containing chocolate, nuts, fruit, or con
fectionery of any kind, and without regard to the component ma

terial of chief value.” The free goods under this heading were,
“ biscuits, bread, and wafers not specifically provided for.”
At the end of the detailed tables of imports and exports are
summary tables showing the value of goods imported from and

exported to each country, classified according to method of trans
portation . There are shown the value of the goods carried by cars

and other land vehicles and the value of goods brought in vessels,

the vessels being subdivided by nationality. The table of imports
shows also the value of parcels post imports from each country.

The division between cars and land vehicles is not the same in
the tables of imports and exports. In the table of imports the
5 The present tariff act imposes a duty on all wheat imported ; the example
given illustrates the principle.

346

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

only countries from which goods are indicated as coming in land

vehicles are Canada and Mexico, and the figures are confined to
shipments which originated in those countries, and do not include
shipments moving on a through bill of lading by way of Canadian
or Mexican ports and rail lines. The transshipment trade by way

ofMexican ports and rail lines isof no importance, but considerable
quantities of Japanese and Chinese products are landed at Cana
dian ports and transported by rail to the United States. In 1922 the
total value of goods reported as moving by rail from Canada is
given as $ 288,730,083 ; for all these goods the initial bill of lading
on the importation was made in Canada, although it does not follow

that these were all Canadian goods. The report shows also that
Chinese and Japanese goods to the value of $ 94, 368,919 were

entered in the St. Lawrence district, all of these goods evidently
being landed at Canadian ports and moved over Canadian rail lines.
But these were not all the Chinese and Japanese goods moving in

thismanner, as some otherswere probably entered in otherdistricts,
particularly New York and Chicago. The table, therefore ,does not
show the total land movement, as goods from overseas countries
are reported as being brought in vessels.
In the export table , on the other hand, goods moving to foreign
countries by way of Canada or Mexico are shown as exports by car

and land vehicles. The report for 1922 shows goods to the value
of $66 ,582,542 moving by land to noncontiguous countries. This
table accurately reflects the extent of the movement by land.

The statistics of in -transit and transshipment trade show the
value of all commodities transshipped through the United States on

their way from one foreign country to another . No figures are
given for separate commodities or classes of commodities. The
total receipts from each country are subdivided according to the

country of destination. During recent years there has also been
printed a table showing the total value of goods shipped to each
country, subdivided according to the customs district from which

shipped . The figures of in-transit and transshipment trade differ
from those for foreign exports, in that the in - transit and transship
ment figures represent goods moving on a through bill of lading

directly between two foreign countries, while foreign exports are
goods which are consigned to the United States and which have

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

347

been entered for consumption or warehouse and afterward ex
ported .

Statistics of imports for consumption are given in one section .

The statistics of imports for consumption include goods entered
for immediate consumption and goods withdrawn from warehouse .
The figures on dutiable goods in this table often do not agree with
the statistics of general imports, as explained on page 328. The
information in this table includes the rate of duty , the equivalent
ad valorem rate of duty for articles taxed at specific rates, quanti
ties, values , and amount of duty. No information is given regard
ing countries of shipment. The statistics of imports for consump

tion give figures for many specific commodities that are included
in general classes in the table of general imports. This is par
ticularly true of the “ all other " classes, which are often sub
divided in the statistics of imports for consumption in order to
give figures for specific products. Likewise, in the statistics of
imports for consumption , many special classes are subdivided .

Thus figures are given for sugar for the quantity of each degree
of polarization and for cotton yarn for yarn of each number.

Separate figures are also given for the quantity entered at the
several rates of duty if more than one rate was in effect. A vari
ation in the rate of duty occurs not only when the general rate is
changed by act of Congress or Presidential proclamation , but also
when the articles come from certain countries . All Cuban goods
are entitled to a reduction of 20 per cent, while the duty on several
articles varies according to the duty assessed by foreign countries
on similar goods imported from the United States. The figures for

amount of duty are subject to a considerable margin of error, as
explained on p. 342.
If the subdivision is made in accordance with the provisions of
the tariff act, the figures are likely to be correct, but if they are
not based on the tariff there is likely to be a wide margin of error.
Thus, sugar at different degrees of polarization is dutiable at dif

ferent rates, and as the classification is based on the duty , there is
little margin of error. On the other hand, the figures for a product
like “ ichthyol,” which is shown separately in the tables of imports

for consumption , but which is included in a general class in the

table of general imports, is subject to a wide margin of error. As

348

ONAL

NATI

L

STICA

STATI

WORK

ichthyol is not mentioned separately in the tariff act, but falls into

a class ofmedicinaland pharmaceutical preparations not specifically
provided for, which are dutiable at 25 per cent, the importermay

describe the importation as ichthyol or as a medicinal preparation .
If he describes it as ichthyol it appears under the heading in the
statistics of imports for consumption, but if he describes it in
general terms it will fall in the “ all other " class.
Drawback statistics are also given in Commerce and Navigation .

Section 313 of the tariff act of 1922 provides that “ upon the
exportation of articles manufactured or produced in the United
States by the use of imported merchandise, the full amount of the

duties paid upon the merchandise so used shall be refunded as a
drawback less I per centum of such duties ” (42 Stat. L ., 940 ) .

There are other provisions applying to drawback in the same

paragraph , but the portion quoted above is sufficient to define the
terms. The first part of the table of drawback statistics shows the

quantity or value of the articles exported , followed by figures of
the quantity or value of the imported material on which drawback
was paid and the amount of drawback paid . The classification in
this table is primarily according to the articles as exported . If the
article exported contains imported material of several kinds, the
table shows the quantity and value of each materialand the amount

of drawback paid on each kind and the total drawback. Thus, in
1918 there were exported 6 ,068,672 pounds of confectionery, en

titled to a drawback of $29,900.50 . This confectionery contained
gum arabic, figs, almonds, cocoanutmeat, filberts,walnuts, and cane
sugar, on which duty had been paid. Under confectionery the table

shows the amount of drawback paid on account of each class of
material used in the manufacture of confectionery, the total of

which amounts to the drawback on confectionery. If information
is desired regarding the total drawback paid on any commodity

used in the manufacture of all articles exported, the second part
of the drawback table must be used. The figures in this table are
entirely for material as imported , no information being given re

garding the exported articles which contained the imported material.
For instance, this table shows the amount of cane sugar entitled to
drawback , but does not show how much of the sugar was used in

the manufacture of exported refined sugar , confectionery , con
densed milk , etc.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

349

Statistics on entrances and clearances of foreign vessels are
given for customs districts and for foreign countries as follows:
Each customs district-Steam vessels .
Sailing vessels.

All vessels, classified by coun
tries of departure and desti

Each foreign country ,
All vessels.
Tanker vessels .
All vessels, classified by na

tionality of vessels.

nation .

Tanker vessels.

All statistics of entrances and clearances differentiate between
American and foreign vessels, and between vessels loaded and in
ballast. There are shown both the number and tonnage of vessels

but not the tonnage of the cargo.
In the statistics of entrances the rule that is supposed to be

applied to the classification by countries is that the vessel is re
ported as coming from the country in which is located the first
port in which cargo was loaded for the United States, but if the
bulk of the cargo was loaded at a port in another country the ves

sel is reported from the country in which that port is located.
In the case of clearances the rule is that the vessel should be

reported as cleared for the country in which is located the first
port for discharge of cargo, but if thebulk of the cargo is destined
for a port in another foreign country, the clearance is reported for
the country where that port is located.
There are thus two bases for the classification of countries of
departure and destination and there is no way of determining the

extent to which each is used. The statistics therefore do not show
the direct movement of vessels between the United States and
foreign countries . The interpretation of the statistics is further
complicated by the fact that there is reason to believe that some
customs districts report uniformly the first country of destination
and the first country of departure regardless of bulk of cargo,
while other districts take account of the country to which the bulk
of the cargo is consigned or in which the bulk of the cargo was

loaded . It should be noted that the classifications made on reports
of first country of destination or departure are based on official
papers filed with the customs officers while the classifications made
on the reports of bulk of cargo are to a certain extent based on
hearsay.

Trade of the United States with the World. A publication

issued biennially , but containing figures for separate years, is

350

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

“ Trade of the United States with theWorld,” issued by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. In this report the arrange

ment is primarily by countries, so that it is possible to ascertain
easily the character of the commerce with each country. Separate
figures are given for only the principal commodities , some of the

classes being consolidated and some of the commodities ofminor
importance being grouped under “ all other.” For instance, Com

merce and Navigation shows exports of woodworking machinery
in two classes, sawmill machinery and other woodworking ma
chinery . In Trade of the United States with the World these exports
to Finland in 1921 are included in the one item woodworking

machinery. Additional data on the classes of minor importance
may be obtained from the statistics by commodities and countries
in Commerce and Navigation .

For the fiscal year 1912 and earlier years, this information was
published in Commerce and Navigation, each issue giving statistics
for five years . Since the fiscal year 1912 the volumes containing
these statistics have been published as numbers of the Miscellane

ous Series issued by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce. The serial number of each issue is given below .
Fiscal years 1912 and 1913 : Miscellaneous Series 12.
Fiscal years 1914 and 1915 : Miscellaneous Series 38.

Fiscal years 1916 and 1917 : Miscellaneous Series 63, Part I, Imports ;
Part 2, Exports .

Fiscal years 1917 and 1918 : Miscellaneous Series 78, Part 1, Imports ;
Part 2, Exports.

Calendar years 1918 and 1919 : Miscellaneous Series 106 , Part 1, Imports ;
Part 2, Exports .
Calendar years 1919 and 1920 : Miscellaneous Series 109, Imports only.
Calendar years 1920 and 1921 : Miscellaneous Series 115, Part 1, Imports ;

Part 2, Exports.

It is not unlikely that in the near future the trade by countries
will be published as Part II of Commerce and Navigation.
Statistical Abstract of the United States.

The figures in the

“ Statistical Abstract of the United States," published annually
beginning with 1878, are derived from Commerce and Navigation,
but as they are arranged differently and generally cover a longer
period it is advisable to describe them separately. For a historical
study involving the use of totals the Statistical Abstract will be

found more convenient than the separate volumes of Commerce
and Navigation. In using the Statistical Abstract care should be

taken to distinguish fiscal years ending June 30 from calendar

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

351

years, as the Abstract for 1918 and prior years gives all trade
statistics by fiscal years. In some of the tables in later volumes

statistics are given for fiscal years up to 1918 and for calendar
years 1918 , the intervening six months being omitted. Particluar
attention should be paid to the foot-notes, which indicate the

changes.
The Abstract is particularly valuable for statistics of imports

and exports for a long series of years. The schedules below indi

cate themore important tables of this character. In order to pre
vent the tables from occupying more than one page,most of the

tables covering a long series of years do not give figures for every
one of the earlier years. In the Abstract for 1923, statistics are

given for every year since 1870, for every fifth year between 1850

and 1870, and for every tenth year prior to 1850 . Figures for
intervening earlier yearsmay be obtained from previous abstracts.
TABLES IN STATISTICAL ABSTRACT Giving Statistics of IMPORTS

Total
X

Foreig

Exports

:x

XX

Total
X

XX

Totals since 1800 . . . ..
Great groups, since 1821. . . . .
Grand divisions ( Europe, North America,
South America, Asia, Oceania and Africa ),

XX

Free

Items

Dutiable
Dutiable

Imports

Domestic

AND EXPORTS

X
X
X
X
1 :

:
: ::
:
:
X

X : : : :: :

X
X
X
X

: : : :: : :
:

A Shows percentage only .

b Shows duties assessed .
€ 3 years only .

:

Articles, quantity and value for five latest cal
endar years and average for 1910 to 1914 ..

:

Customs districts, five latest calendar years and
average from 1915 to 1919.. ..

: : :

Principal customs districts and groups of cus
toms districts, since 1860 . .. .. .
. .. ..

:

By land vehicles, since 1871. . . . . . . . .

X

since 1800 . . . . .

Countries, 5 latest calendar years, and average
for 1910 to 1914 . . . ..
By American and foreign vessels, since 1830

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

352

TABLES IN STATISTICAL ABSTRACT GIVING IMPORT AND EXPORT STATISTICS
FOR SPECIFIC COMMODITIES FOR A TERM OF YEARS
Imports

Exports

Commodity or class
Class of
statistics

Earliest
year

Agricultural implements
Agricultural products . .

Class of
statistics

Earliest
year

1865

Value
Value

da

1855

do

1810

Animals . .. .

Cars, carriages, etc. ....
Chemicals, dyes, drugs, etc..
Quantity
and value

Coffee . . . .
Corn . . . . . . .

1830

. . . . . .. .

Cotton manufacturers .

Cotton , raw . . . . . . .

Value
Quantity
and value

1820
1800

Explosives
Gold .. . . . . .. . .
Iron and steel and manufac

Value

do

1810

do

1830

Quantity
and value

1800

Value

1810
1830

do

1800
1810
1855

tures thereof . .. . .

Leather and manufacturesof
Meat and meat products. ...
Mineral oils, refined . .. .. ..
Naval storesS

1865

1830

. . . . . . .

Paper.
Books, maps, engravings

1830
1830

etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Silver

Sugar

Quantity
Value
Quantity
Value
Quantity

and value
Tea . . . . .

do

Wool, raw

Quantity

1865
1847

Value

1820
1810

.

Wool manufactures

....
. . . .. . . .
Value

Wheat flour . ..
Wood and manufactures of.

1870

Quantity
do
.

Quantity
.. . . .. . . .

1830

1830
1830
1830
O

Tin plates .
Wheat . . . . . . . .

1865
1865

1830

.

Silk manufactures
Silk , raw

. .. ..

All other
Rubber, raw . .

1820

....

1820
1830

The total trade of the non -contiguous possessions, subdivided

by shipments to and from the United States and exports and im
years being as follows: Alaska, 1882 ; Porto Rico, 1904; Hawaii,

ports to and from foreign countries , is shown for each, the earliest

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

353

1901 ; Philippine Islands, 1912 ; American Samoa, 1916 ; Guam ,
1916 .
From 1878 to 1921 the Abstract contained tables giving quanti
ties and values of imports and exports of individual classes of
commodities for each of ten consecutive years. This was the only

place where these figures for ten consecutive years were available .
The Abstract for 1922 gives the averages for 1910 to 1914 and
1915 to 1919 , and separate figures for each of the years 1919 to
1922 ; the Abstract for 1923 gives the averages for 1910 to 1914
and separate figures for each of the years 1919 to 1923 . Later
issues will probably follow this plan, one year being added and
one dropped in each succeeding volume.
Quarterly Statements of Exports. Beginning with the first three

months of 1924 the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
issued in mimeograph form quarterly statements purporting to
show the value of exports originating in the several states . It is
likely that annual figures will be published in pamphlet form . These

statements are ofno value as they indicate simply the state in which

the shipper's export declaration was prepared . They do not indicate
the value of goods exported that were manufactured or grown in

each state , the value of goods shipped from each state for export,
nor the value of transactions consummated in each state . Thus corn

moving from Iowa to Europe on a through bill of lading would be
reported from Iowa ; but if it moved on a domestic bill of lading to

Baltimore, was placed in an elevator, and then exported, it would

be reported from Maryland. Again Iowa corn might be sold to a
Chicago broker and forwarded to him at Chicago on a domestic bill
of lading. If it were shipped to the seaboard on an export bill of
lading it would be reported as from Illinois, but if it were shipped

on a domestic bill of lading and immediately exported it would be
reported from the seaboard state. The statements for the first

three quarters of 1924 show the value of corn exports according to
state of original shipment as $1,881,322 for Maryland and
$692,037 for Missouri. The estimated value of the corn crop in
these states in 1923 was $ 20 ,689,000 forMaryland and $145,676 ,000
for Missouri. It is evident that the export figures given above show
the interest of neither state in the corn trade. The total export and

domestic demand determines the price in both Maryland and
24

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

354

Missouri, and it is entirely immaterial whether the product actually
exported was grown in one state or the other. As Baltimore is an

important grain port it is interested in its business compared with
other ports regardless of state or origin . The same is true ofmanu

factured goods.
The point where the export declaration is made out varies with

the character of the commodity, the method of marketing, and the
business methods of the manufacturer . There are so many un

certain factors that it is impossible to make any estimate of the
margin of error.
Monthly Statistics of Imports and Exports. Statistics by
months are published in the “ Monthly Summary of Foreign Com
merce,” in special statements issued by the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, in the “ Survey of Current Business,” and in
the Federal Reserve Bulletin .

Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce . Monthly statistics
of imports and exports and entrances and clearances have been
published regularly since the organization of the Bureau of Sta
tistics in the Treasury Department in 1866 . The names of the
bureaus issuing these reports and the titles of the series at various

times were as follows:
Bureau of Statistics, Treasury Department.

Monthly Report of Director of Bureau of Statistics, November, 1866, to
August, 1868.
Monthly Report of Deputy Special Commissioner in charge of Bureau
of Statistics, January, 1869, to June, 1875.

Summary Statement of Imports and Exports, July , 1875 , to December,
1894.

Finance, Commerce and Navigation , January to December , 1895.
Monthly Summary of Finance and Commerce , January, 1896 , to June,
1898.

Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance, July, 1898 , to June, 1903.
Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.
Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance, July, 1903, to June, 1912.
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.

Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance, July , 1912, to June, 1914 .

Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce,beginning with July, 1914 .
The earlier numbers in this series, particularly those issued by

the Bureau of Statistics, contain a mine of information on various
• The gap between this series and the preceding one is only in time of
publication . The statistics are continuous.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

355

subjects, such as immigration, banking, railroads, and internal
commerce, as well as monographs on foreign and domestic trade in

particular commodities. Between 1897 and 1906 the Monthly Sum
mary of Commerce and Finance contained monographs dealing
with the trade of the United States with specified foreign countries

over a series of years. Many of these monographs also contain
statistics on the commerce between the country discussed and other

countries, as well as data relating to economic conditions in the
countries under consideration. Some of these are discussed under
appropriate headings in other places in this volume. The student
making an historical study will find this series indispensable. Dur
ing recent years, however, this publication has been confined ex
clusively to foreign trade statistics .
This publication contains statistics for the current month and

the cumulative period of the current year as well as for the same
month and period of the previous year. However, the minimum
period for which cumulative figures are given is seven months, the

January and July numbers containing figures for this length of
time. One month is added in each issue so that the June number
gives statistics for the fiscal year and the December number for the

calendar year. Statistics for periods shorter than seven months
must be obtained by adding the monthly figures or by subtracting
monthly figures from the seven months total. Often the sum of
themonthly figures given in successive issues will not agree with the

cumulative total, owing to corrections that have been made in the
statistics for earlier months. Generally this error is not great, and
the monthly figures will serve for plotting curves . If the monthly

figures do notadd to the cumulative total,and it is desired to have
exact figures, it will be necessary to write to the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce for the corrections. While the purpose

of the Monthly Summary is to give statistics of transactions during
the calendar month , at times the reports have contained figures
compiled during the month , in which case the statistics represent
neither the calendarmonth nor any other thirty-day period . Owing
to pressure of work the returns have at times been carried over
into the totals of the next month . This was particularly true of the

export statistics. The result was that when the work became current

the monthly figures were unduly swollen . There, has thus been
considerable overlapping, but no duplication .

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Beginning with April, 1921, the Monthly Summary was issued
in two parts in order to expedite the publication of the statistics.
From April, 1921, to September , 1922, the detailed export and im
port statistics were in Part I ; from October, 1922, to April, 1923,
the export statistics were in Part I, and the import statistics in Part

II ; beginning May, 1923, the export and import statistics have both
been in Part I.

The schedule below indicates the figures now being published
in the Monthly Summary. For each item listed , figures are pub
lished for the current month, for most of them figures are also
given for the cumulative period and for the corresponding month

and cumulative period of the preceding two years. In a few cases,
however, only figures for the currentmonth are given. In the list
below , notation is made of figures for any period other than those
cited above.
STATISTICS IN MONTHLY SUMMARY OF FOREIGN COMMERCE
All merchandise ; total value.
Imports and exports.
Without regard to groups, countries or customs districts (separate
figures for free, dutiable , and total imports and for domestic,
foreign , and total exports) for each of a series of months and
fiscal and calendar year.

By great groups (separate figures for free, dutiable, and total im
ports and for domestic exports ) .
By countries.

By grand divisions for series of calendar years.
By customs districts .

By groups of customs districts for series of calendar years.
Entries for immediate consumption .

Entries for warehouse.
Withdrawals from warehouse for consumption .

Individual commodities, quantities and values.
Imports, by principal countries.

Domestic exports, by principal countries.
Foreign exports, totals for each commodity without regard to countries.
Principal commodities remaining in warehouse, quantity only.
Cotton .

Imports, quantity only , by countries of production .

Domestic exports, quantity and value by countries of destination .
Gold and silver, separate figures for each metal.

Total without regard to countries or customsdistricts (imports, domestic
exports, foreign exports, total exports) for each of a series of

month and calendar and fiscal years.

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STATISTICS IN MONTHLY SUMMARY OF FOREIGN COMMERCE — Continued
Gold and silver - Continued .
By countries (total imports and total exports) .

By customs districts (imports, domestic exports, and foreign exports ),
by form of metal.

Total amount of duty.
Average import prices of principal articles.
Average export prices of principal domestic articles exported.
Commerce with noncontiguous territories.
Total value of shipments of merchandise.
Value of gold and silver combined .
Foreign carrying trade.
Value of imports and domestic exports carried in cars and land vehicles,
by parcels post, and in American and foreign vessels, with separate

figures for leading foreign nations.
Value of foreign exports carried in cars and other land vehicles, in
American vessels, and in foreign vessels.

Tonnage of American and foreign vessels entered and cleared , by coun
tries of departure and destination ( separate figures for those with
cargo and for total tonnage).

Tonnage of American and of foreign tanker vessels entered and cleared ,
by countries of departure and destination ( separate figures for those

with cargo and for total tonnage ) .

In the tables giving statistics of individual commodities the clas
sification is the same as in Commerce and Navigation . For the

more important classes of imports and exports there are shown
principal countries of shipment or destination. The selection of
these countries is based on the trade of an earlier year and not on
the trade of the currentmonth or current year. Therefore, for any

month or cumulative period there may be countries which have a

larger share in the trade than some of those for which data are
given . For instance, in 1922 flour to the value of $ 2,461,834 was

exported to Russia in Europe, but exports to Russia in Europe are
not shown separately in the Monthly Summary for December, 1922,

although separate figures are given for twelve other countries re
ceiving less flour than Russia in Europe. Separate figures are given
for Venezuela to which was exported flour valued at $ 567,134, but

exports to Peru, valued at $590,433, are included in other South
America . Therefore, while the country figures are correct so far
as they go, they cannotbe taken as an indication of the distribution
of trade among the most important purchasers. However , figures

for all countries may generally be obtained from the special state
ments described on the next page.
See comment on p . 345.

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The Monthly Summary is the only publication giving data on
warehouse transactions, import and export prices, and trade with

noncontiguous possessions.
Advance and Special Statements. The following statements are
issued in mimeograph form by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic

Commerce in advance of the issuance of the Monthly Summary :
( 1 ) Total values of general imports and of total exports of mer

chandise and of gold and silver for the current month, the corres
ponding month during the previous year, the month preceding the
current month , and the cumulative period of the current year and

of the previous year. ( 2 ) Total values of imports and exports
data on value of imports and exports of gold and silver , of free,

dutiable , and free and dutiable general imports ofmerchandise, of

domestic, foreign, and total exports ofmerchandise, of excess of
imports or exports during currentmonth , the corresponding month
for the previous year, and the cumulative period for two years ;
this statement also shows value of total general imports and of

total exports during each month for four preceding years.
( 3) “ Breadstuff statement," giving quantity and value of do

mestic exports of breadstuffs, cottonseed oil,meat and dairy prod

ucts, cotton ,and mineral oils for the currentmonth, the correspond
ingmonth during the previous year, and the cumulative period for
two years . (4 ) Imports and exports by great groups for general
imports and domestic exports for the current month , the corres
ponding month during the previous year, and the cumulative

period for two years. (5 ) Total value of general imports and of
total exports, by grand divisions and principal countries, for the
currentmonth, the corresponding month during the previous year,
and the cumulative period for two years.

The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce prepares each

month a number of special mimeographed statements for certain
commodities giving for the currentmonth quantities of exports by

countries of destination and quantities of imports by countries of
shipment. These statements show exports to and imports from

each country . There is no table in any of the reports showing by

articles the country of shipment of imports entered in each customs
district or the country ofdestination of exports shipped from each
customsdistrict. A monthly statement is prepared in mimeograph
form showing the quantity and value of articles exported from

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

359

each customs district and the countries to which they were shipped.

These may be consulted at the Washington office of the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce, and at the office of the collector
of customs for each district. Neither the Bureau of Foreign and

Domestic Commerce nor the collectors of customs can undertake
to make extracts from these statements. A similar statement for
imports is not prepared.

Federal Reserve Bulletin and Survey of Current Business. The
Federal Reserve Bulletin and the Survey of Current Business con
tain statistics on value of all imports and exports aswell as figures
for individual classes of commodities which reflect the general
economic and business situation.
LIMITED STATISTICS OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

Minerals. Statistics of imports and exports of minerals are given
in the annual volume entitled “ Mineral Resources of the United

States,” issued by the Geological Survey annually since 1882. For
someminerals only total imports and exports are given, while for
others there aremore detailed statistics by countries. These figures
are all taken from the publications or the records of the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce. If statistics on imports for

consumption for calendar years prior to 1918 are desired , they may
be obtained more readily from the chapters in Mineral Resources.
To obtain calendar year figures on imports for consumption during
earlier years from the publications of the Bureau of Foreign and

Domestic Commerce, it is necessary to add the figures for the four
quarters as given in the quarterly publication , entitled “ Imported

Merchandise Entered for Consumption.” Mineral Resources also
contains statistics for exports and general imports of minerals for
calendar years.
Statistics for calendar years may also be obtained from the

December issues of the Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce
of the United States. The statistics by countries for calendar
years prior to 1918 may be found only in Mineral Resources.

* The work of collecting mineral statistics has been transferred to the
Department of Commerce, and it is reported that this publication will be
issued
by the Bureau of Mines. For general description of this publication

see page 234.

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Agricultural Products. The “ Agriculture Yearbook ,” first is
sued in 1894, contains statistics ( quantity and value) for three
latest fiscal years of the total general imports and domestic ex
ports of each agricultural commodity shown separately in the clas
sification of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. For

the principal farm products imported or exported there are sta
tistics (quantity) by principal countries of shipment or destination .

The table, headed “ Origin of principal farm products imported
etc.,' gives the country of shipment and not country of origin .
(See discussion of countries on page 333.)

Other tables give quantity of general imports and of domestic
exports of selected farm and forest products over a series of years.
The following publications of the Department of Agriculture
give statistics of imports or exports over a series of years, but do

not indicate countries of shipment or destination :
Bulletin of the Division of Foreign Markets No. 34. Agricultural exports
of the United States, 1851- 1902.

Bulletin of the Bureau of Statistics No. 51. Foreign trade of the United
States in forest products, 1851-1908.

Bulletin of the Bureau of Statistics No. 74. Imports of farm products into
the United States, 1851-1908.

Bulletin of the Bureau of Statistics No. 75. Exports of farm products from
the United States, 1851- 1908.

In addition to the publications listed above the Division of Sta
tistics, the Bureau of Statistics, the Bureau of Crop Estimates,

and the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates have issued a
number of publications giving statistics of exports and imports,

covering periods of from one to five years. These are listed in
Department of Agriculture Circular 150 , entitled “ Statistical Data
compiled by the Bureau ofMarkets and Crop Estimates ."

Statistics of monthly imports and exports of important farm

products from 1910 to 1920 are given in Bulletin 982 of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, entitled “ Market Statistics."
Water -Borne Exports and Imports. Beginning with the fiscal
year 1921 the Shipping Board has compiled statistics on the tonnage
movement of water-borne imports and exports. These statistics

are compiled from a special cargo report submitted by the operator
of each vessel. Being primarily statistics of shipping and not of
trade,they differ materially in several respects from those compiled

by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce . The Shipping

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

361

Board statistics do not show values. Quantity is expressed uni
formly in tons of 2240 pounds, while the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce shows the unit used by the trade, such as the

ton, pound, yard, pair, bushel, etc. The quantity shown by the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce is the net weight of
the goods, while the quantities of the Shipping Board show the

gross weight carried , including the packing cases. In the country
classification the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
shows the ultimate origin or destination as shown by the invoice,

but the Shipping Board shows only the seaboard country of origin
and destination . Thus a shipment invoiced to Austria is reported
by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce as exported to
that country, but in the Shipping Board statistics its destination

would be the country in which the goods were landed .
The first report of the Shipping Board , for the fiscalyear 1921,
was published by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce

as Miscellaneous Series 112 , entitled “ Volume of United States
Trade, 1921, by Ports of Origin and Destination .” Figures are
given for the trade of each United States port with each foreign
port. There is no classification of commodities, the only differenti

ation being that between bulk cargoes and general cargoes .
The report for the fiscal year 1922 was published in two parts by
the Shipping Board under the titles “ Report on Volume of Water
Borne Foreign Commerce of the United States by United States
Ports of Origin and Destination . . . Part One,” and “ Report

on Volume of Water-Borne Foreign Commerce of the United
States by Foreign Ports of Origin and Destination . . . Part
Two.” In this report a maximum of six principal classes of com
modities is shown separately for each port, the particular commodi
ties shown being determined by the character of the trade of the
port. As the importance of commodities is based on weight, the

greater part of the commodity statistics pertain to raw materials or

articles for further use in manufacturing.
Reports for the fiscal years 1923 and 1924 are being printed by

the Shipping Board. Summary statements º have been issued for
these years showing principal commodity movements by trade
regions and countries. The statements show also totals for principal
These statements are not printed ; they are reproduced from the type
written sheets by photographic process.

AL
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362

classes of commodities imported into and exported from each of

the five coast districts into which the United States is divided,10

classified by coast districts and flag under which carried , namely,
United States Shipping Board , Independent American , British ,
and other foreign . They show also total cargo tonnage moving to
and from the several foreign trade regions classified by flag as

indicated above. For the fiscal years 1923 and 1924, summary
statements have been issued showing the total tonnage of exports
and imports moving from and to each United States port without
regard to destination or commodity.
A monthly statement issued by the Shipping Board contains the

following data on tonnage of water-borne exports and imports.
Total tonnage for each coastal district."
Tonnage of principal commodities, by coastal districts and flag (United
States Shipping Board, Independent American, British , and other for
eign ) .

Total tonnage by United States coastal districts, foreign trade regions, and
flag.

Tonnage of principal commodities, by foreign trade regions and countries.

GENERAL COMPILATIONS
Under this heading are grouped the reports of historical interest
which give information for a series of years on imports and exports
of all commodities. Reports dealing with one article or a group of
related articles are discussed under the heading “ Commodity Com

pilations ” on pages 369 to 372.
Trade with Various Countries. There have been several com
pilations dealing with the foreign trade of the United States over
a long period ofyears , someof which also contain data on domestic
trade as well as on the commerce of foreign countries. The sta

tistics in these reports relating to exports and imports are generally
available also in the several issues of Foreign Commerce and
Navigation , but the data on domestic trade and on the commerce
of foreign countries are usually not available in other publications.
In 1864, in response to a resolution of the Senate, the Secretary
of the Treasury submitted a report entitled “ Statistics of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce of United States,” etc ., published also as
10 North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific, and Great Lakes; these
districts have no relation to customs districts.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

363

Senate Executive Document 55, 38th Congress , ist Session, the
following portions of which are worth noting :
General data on foreign trade and shipping, every fifth year, 1821 to 1863.
English statistics on trade and shipping, annually, 1859 to 1863.
Trade with Canada, annually , 1849 to 1863.
Canadian trade statistics, annually, 1855 to 1860.

Internal or domestic commerce between the Mississippi Valley and the At
lantic states, including merchandise movement on New

York canals

annually from 1836 to 1862, freight movement on Pennsylvania Rail
road , annually from 1859 to 1863, and trade of principal lake ports for
varying periods.
Commerce of the Pacific Coast.

Overland trade and communication between the Pacific Coast and the Mis
sissippi Valley states.

A report of historical interest to the student of Latin -American

trade is one published by the Bureau of Statistics of the Trea

sury Department in 1889, entitled “ Commerce of the United
States and Other Foreign Countries with Mexico,Central America,
the West Indies and South America.” This report contains the
following material not readily available elsewhere:
Trade of United States with each Latin American country, by principal
classes of commodities, annually from 1860 to 1889.
Trade of United Kingdom and France with principal Latin -American coun
tries, showing important classes of commodities, annually for 1870 to
1888.

Total trade of important Latin -American countries with the United King
dom , France, Germany and Spain , each year, 1859 to 1888 .

Immigration into Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina over a series of years.

Tonnage movement to Latin -American countries over a series of years.

In 1893 the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department

issued a publication entitled “ Statistical Tables Exhibiting the
Commerce of the United States with European Countries from
1790 to 1890 .” This report contains the following data :
Total value of all imports and exports (merchandise and gold and silver )
to each European country, annually, 1790 to 1892.
Value of merchandise and of gold and silver imported from or exported

to each European country, annually , 1821 to 1892.
Imports and exports of principal specific commodities from and to each
European country , annually , 1871 to 1890.
11 This was published originally in the “ Quarterly Report showing Im

ports and Exports," 1887, No. 4 , for the three months ending June, 1887. It

was also issued separately.

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A summary of the exports of manufactured articles up to 1906
is given in thereport of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department
of Commerce and Labor entitled “ Exports of Manufactures from

the United States and their Distribution by Articles and Countries,
1800 to 1906 .” The more important tables in this publication are
the following :
Total exports of principal manufactured articles or groups of articles,
annually, 1800 to 1906 .

Exports of principal manufactured articles by country of destination, an
nually , 1895 to 1906 .

Exports by great groups, annually, 1820 to 1906.

The foreign trade by countries from 1895 to 1905 is shown in
the report of the same bureau entitled " Analysis of Foreign
Commerce of the United States, 1895-1905," which shows the
exports and imports of principal articles and countries of destina
tion or shipment during this period .

Between 1897 and 1906 the Monthly Summary of Commerce
and Finance contained monographs dealing with the trade of the

United States with specified foreign countries over a series of
years. Many of these monographs also contain statistics on the
commerce between the country discussed and other countries, as

well as data relating to economic conditions in the countries under
consideration .

Imports, 1867-1918. Total imports for consumption for each

year from 1867 to 1918 for each commodity shown separately in
the statistical classification are given in the three following publi
cations:
Imports and exports, Part I. Imports from 1867 to 1893, inclusive . . . com
piled . . . by Charles H . Evans. Published as Senate Report 259,
Part I, 53d Congress, 2d session .

Imports and duties, 1894 to 1907 . . . by William W . Evans. Published by
the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives.
Statistics of imports and duties, 1908 to 1918 inclusive. Published by the

Tariff Commission.

These three publications give a consecutive history of imports

from 1867 to 1918 ; the following contain statistics for portions of
this period :
Imports-Duties from 1867 to 1878 , inclusive, . . . by Charles H . Evans.
Published as Senate Miscellaneous Document 46, 46th Congress, ist
session .

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

365

Imports-Duties from 1867 to 1883, inclusive, . . . by Charles H . Evans.
Published by the Bureau of Statistics, Treasury Department and also
as House Miscellaneous Document 49, 48th Congress, ist session .

Imports for consumption into United States 1884 to 1894. Published by

Bureau of Statistics, Treasury Department.

All of thereportsmentioned above show the quantity, value, rate
of duty, amount of duty , average value, and the equivalent ad
valorem rate of duty for articles assessed at specific rates. The
figures in Statistics of Imports and Duties, 1908 to 1918 and the
earlier volumes are for fiscal years. Statistics for the calendar
years 1918 to 1920 and the first ninemonths of 1921 are contained

in “ Summary of Tariff Information , 1921," issued by the Tariff

Commission. It should be observed that the two reports do not
give a continuous statistical history, as the fiscalyear 1918 includes

the first six months of the calendar year 1918. Consecutive figures
without overlappingmay be compiled by using the quarterly state
ment of imports for consumption , issued by the Bureau of Foreign

and Domestic Commerce for either the first or last half of the
calendar year 1918.12

The report covering 1867-1893 also contains the following sum
mary statistics for each fiscal year :
Quantity and value of article transferred to manufacturing warehouses ,
1872 to 1893.

Summary by leading classes of imports showing value, duty collected , and
average ad valorem rate, 1867 to 1893.
Quantity and value of articles admitted free of duty for the construction
and equipment of vessels, 1873 to 1893.

Quantity and value of articles admitted free of duty under treaty of May
8 , 1871, from Dominion of Canada and Newfoundland , 1874 to 1885.

Quantity and value of articles admitted free of duty from Hawaiian Islands

under convention of January 30, 1875, and Act of August 15, 1876 (19
Stat. L ., 200 ) , 1877 to 1893.

Quantity and value, by ports, of salt withdrawn from warehouse and admit

ted free of duty for curing fish , 1871 to 1893
Quantity and value of articles withdrawn from warehouses as supplies
for merchant vessels , 1885 to 1893.

Value of free and dutiable imports, withdrawals from warehouse, and
immediate entries, 1867 to 1893.

Receipts and expenses at principal and " all other ” ports, 1870 to 1893.
Import business of each port of entry , 1869 to 1893 : Value of free and

dutiable goods entered, average rate of duty, duties collected, expenses
of collection .
1 This report was issued for each quarter of the fiscal years 1911 to 1920.

12 The same statistics from 1867 to 1883 are contained in Imports- Duties

from 1867- 1883, inclusive, . . . by Charles H . Evans.

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Import business of each state and geographical division for fiscal years

1874 to 1893. Value of free and dutiable merchandise, average ad valo

rem rate of duty, duty collected, and expenses of collection.

Exports , 1697- 1893. Statistics on exports from 1697 to 1893 are
contained in Part Il of the report for 1867 to 1893 mentioned on

page 364, the full title of which is as follows : “ Imports and
Exports , Part II, Exports, Domestic and Foreign , from the Ameri
can Colonies to Great Britain from 1697 to 1789, inclusive ; Ex
ports, Domestic, from the United States to all Countries, from
1789 to 1893, inclusive, compiled and collated from Official Papers,

by Charles H . Evans.” This was published as Senate Report 259,
Part 2, 53d Congress, 2d Session.” It contains statistics for each
fiscal year on the following subjects:
Total values of exports for 1697 to 1789 from New England, New York ,
Pennsylvania , Virginia and Maryland, Carolina , Georgia .

Quantity and value of domestic exports of each article shown separately,
1790 to 1893.

Value of domestic exports to each foreign country, 1790 to 1893.
Value of domestic exports by states from which exported, 1790 to 1893.
Value of exports carried in American and foreign vessels, 1790 to 1893.

Currency value of gold and gold value of currency, by months from Janu
ary, 1862, to December , 1878.

Export statistics up to the end of the fiscal year 1883 identical

with those listed above are contained in Part 2 of the report of 1867
to 1883, entitled “ Imports-Duties from 1867 to 1883 Inclusive,"
by Charles H . Evans, published by the Bureau of Statistics,

Treasury Department, and also as House Miscellaneous Document
49, 48th Congress , ist Session .
Imports and Exports, Fiscal Year 1905, Production 1904. In
1909 the Director of the Census, at the request of the Ways and

Means Committee, prepared a statement showing imports for con
sumption and domestic exports during the fiscal year 1905 and
production in the calendar year as far as shown by the Census of
Manufactures. The arrangement of the material is by the tariff

schedules. The quantitiesand valuesare given if they are shown in
the original statistics. In some cases the production figures are for
the industry and not for specific commodities, but the industry

figures are indicated by a note. This report was published under
the following title : " Imports , Exports, and Domestic Manufac

tures, arranged according to paragraphs of Tariff Law of 1897 .

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

367

Prepared by the Director of the Census for Committee on Ways
and Means of the House of Representatives."

Dictionary of Tariff Information . The volume entitled “ Diction
ary of Tariff Information ,” issued by the Tariff Commission in
1924, contains data on imports and exports, generally for the years

1918 to 1923. It contains also production statistics for recent
years if they are available . The statistics are only incidental to the
major purpose of the book which comprises information of three
types : ( 1) Technical and statistical data relative to commodities ;

(2) description of tariff systems, methods, practices, and history ;

and ( 3) a table comparing the rates of the tariff acts of 1909, 1913,
and 1922 . With regard to the general data , the introduction con
tains the following comment :

The subjects falling under class ( 2) cover so wide a field that
neither time nor money was available for a thorough first-hand
investigation . Nevertheless, as information is required from time
to time on many problems of tariff method, administration, or
principle, the commission has made digests or summaries of the
best available literature on the principal tariff subjects , and has
appended such bibliographies as will provide an elementary ac
quaintance with the subjects treated . The method followed has
been to organize the material in readable articles, indicating by
footnotes the source of each general statement. Statements con

tained in the general articles are summaries of other publications,
including official documents. They are not to be taken as repre
senting the views or conclusions of the Tariff Commission ; nor

are they, except where specifically indicated, the result of original
investigations conducted by the commission . The accuracy of the
statements in such articles is not vouched for, except in so far as
they are derived from the published reports of the Commission .
Careful effort has been made to select trustworthy authorities, but

no responsibility is assumed for the accuracy of statements by such
authorities with respect to facts or theory.

It should be noted that the reservation just made principally
applies to general articles ; articles on specific commodities represent

original investigations by the commission .

Summary of Tariff Information. The volume entitled “ Sum
mary of Tariff Information, 1921," published by the Tariff Com
mission, contains summary statistics of imports, exports and pro
duction during recent years and notes on the character and uses of

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

the several commodities. An earlier edition, entitled " Summary
of Tariff Information , 1920," was issued by the Ways and Means
Committee of the House of Representatives . This early edition

contains few statistics, but includes all the notes on the character
and uses of commodities. In addition the early edition contains
references to the leading cases in which the provisions of tariff acts

prior to that of 1922 were interpreted . The 1921 edition is
arranged according to the paragraph in HR 7456 , which became

the tariff act of 1922,while the 1920 edition is arranged according
to the provisions of the tariff act of 1913; both volumes are well
indexed by commodities.
Tariff Information Surveys. Statistics of imports, generally
from 1910 to 1920, are given in the pamphlets with the title
“ Tariff Information Surveys,” published by the Tariff Commis
sion ." There are in this series over a hundred pamphlets treating
of all commodities covered by the tariff act of 1913. The data in
clude not only statistics of imports, but also prices, notes on the

uses of the commodity, and the history of the industry . The ar

rangement of the material is entirely by paragraphs of the tariff act
of 1913, somepamphlets containing data on several paragraphs and

some paragraphs being discussed in several pamphlets. The series
is divided into lettered subseries corresponding to the schedules of
the act of 1913. Thus, No. A - I to A -19 relate to Paragraphs i to

70, which comprise schedule A . The subseries FL refers to the

free list. It is announced that a general introductory pamphlet will
be issued which will contain a detailed index to the series, but as

this volumegoes to press the introductory volumehas not appeared.
Until the introductory number is published the easiest way for
one unfamiliar with the Tariff Classification of 1913 to find ma
terial is to use the latest edition of the pamphlet with the main

title , “ List of Principal Subjects Investigated and Reported Upon
by the Tariff Commission ,” and the cover title, “ Subject Index of

Tariff Commission Publications.” This index appears in essen
tially the same form as an Appendix of the Annual Report of
the Commission .
» Tariff Information Surveys must not be confused with the Tariff Infor

mation Series. An earlier edition of each of the Tariff Information Sur
veys was published also by the Ways and Means Committee of the House
of Representatives.

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COMMODITY COMPILATIONS
Under this heading are discussed the reports giving information
regarding imports and exports of specified commodities or groups

of commodities. In addition to the publications here described ,
practically all the publications of the Tariff Commission discussed
in Chapter XXII, Surveys of Industries, also contain statistics of
imports and exports.
Imports of Dyestuffs.

A detailed compilation of the quantity

and value of all dyestuffs imported into the United States during
the fiscal year 1914 was published by the Bureau of Foreign and
Domestic Commerce as Special Agents Series 121, under the title
“ Artificial Dyestuffs Used in the United States," by T . H . Norton.
In the regular annual statistics for the fiscal year 1914 all the figures
for dyestuffs are given under less than ten general classes. In
Special Agents Series 121 statistics are for imports of several
thousand individual dyes, arranged by Schultz numbers. There is

also a good alphabetical index. These detailed figures were obtained

by a reëxamination and reclassification of all the entries of dye
stuffs made during that year. Quantities and values are shown,
and also the names of themanufacturers are indicated , but figures
are not given for countries of shipments. The volume contains also
an excellent bibliography on the manufacture of dyestuffs.

The censuses ofdyes and coal tar for 1917 to 1923, published by
the Tariff Commission (see p . 280 ) contain statistics on imports.

The reports for 1917 and 1918 contain statistics of generalimports
( quantity and value) of dyes by quarters for fiscal years 1913 to
1918 and the first three quarters of the fiscal year 1919, and im
ports for consumption ( quantity and value) of natural dyes,
extracts , and coal tar products , fiscal years 1910 to 1918. The

reports for 1919 to 1923 contain detailed statistics on the imports

of individual dyes during those fiscal years, the statistics being
compiled through a reëxamination of all entries.

Imports of Chemicals Other Than Dyestuffs. Detailed statis
tics of the imports of chemicals of all kinds, except dyestuffs, dur

ing the fiscal year 1914 have been published by the Bureau of For
eign and Domestic Commerce as Miscellaneous Series 82, “ Chemi
cals and Allied Products Used in the United States.” In the regular
25

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annual statistics for the fiscal year 1914 the figures for chemicals
are shown under a limited number of heads, but in Miscellaneous

Series 82, the quantity and value are given for imports of several
thousand chemicals, and in addition there are articles listed for
which the imports during the year were valued at less than $ 100 .
For the articles for which the total imports were valued at more
than $ 100 the percentage of quantity from each important country
is shown. The articles for which the imports were valued at less

than $ 100 are simply listed without details regarding the quantity,
value, or country . The detailed list is well indexed, while the
articles in the generallist are arranged in alphabetical order. There

fore, if any article is not found in the index to the detailed list,
the general list should be consulted in order to determine whether
the commodity was imported during the year. In this publication

the term “ chemical” has been used in a very broad sense, and
figures are given for practically every commodity which is used in

the chemical industry or which is the result of chemical processes.
The statistics include such articles as paints, gums,medicinal plants,
and minerals. They do not include dyestuffs, which are reported in

Special Agents Series 121. As in the case of dyestuffs these sta
tistics were compiled by reëxamining and reclassifying all the

entries made during the year. Miscellaneous Series 82 also contains
statistics of production of chemicals in 1914 as given in the reports
of the Census of Manufactures.

Imports of Crude Botanical Drugs. Import statistics for crude

botanical drugs are given in Tariff Information Series No. 19, en
titled “ The Crude Botanical Drug Industry," issued by the Tariff
Commission in 1920. This publication gives statistics of imports

for consumption (quantity and value) and duty for each fiscal year
from 1909 to 1919. It also contains considerable information on
the character and uses of these commodities as well as price

statistics during late years.
Imports of Cotton Yarn . The import trade in cotton yarn is
exhaustively discussed in Tariff Information Series No. 12, “ Cotton

Yarn," issued by the Tariff Commission in 1920 . This publication
contains the result of a reclassification of entries for consumption
made during the fiscal years 1914 and 1918. The statistics are there
fore more detailed than those in the annual publications of the

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

371

Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. This publication is
the best general summary of the cotton yarn trade in all its
aspects.

Among the objects sought in this special study were the amounts
imported of each particular count and ply ; the amounts that were
carded as compared with those combed , the amounts that were in
gray, or bleached , or dyed , the amounts that were subjected to

special finishing processes, such as mercerizing, gassing , preparing
or polishing ; the use of imported yarns and the reason why foreign
yarns were preferred in certain industries , the main centers of
origin , and the main importing centers.15

The investigation was confined to the New York , Philadelphia ,
Chicago, Rhode Island , Connecticut, and Massachusetts customs
districts in which were entered 91.2 per cent of the imports during
the fiscal year 1914 and 92 per cent during the fiscal year 1918.

The principal statistics cover the following topics :
Imports for consumption, by counts (quantity ), fiscal years 1901- 10 .
Total imports for consumption ( quantity ) , by ranges for fiscal years 1895
1918.

Uses of imported yarn (quantity ) , fiscal years 1914 and 1918 .
Imports for consumption ( quantity ) , by uses, counts, and places of ship
ments, fiscal years 1914 and 1918 .

Exports of cotton yarn (value), by countries, fiscal years 1913- 18 , quan
tity for 1918.

Imports and exports of cotton yarn (quantity and value) by foreign coun
tries in 1913 .

Imports and Exports of Seeds. Imports and exports of seeds are

given in Statistical Bulletin 2 of the Department of Agriculture,

entitled “ Seed Statistics.” For seeds shown separately in the
reports of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, this

report gives total imports by months from July, 1912, to December ,
1922, imports by countries for the fiscal years 1913 to 1917 and
calendar years 1918 to 1922, total exports by months from 1910

to 1922, and exports by countries for the fiscal years 1910 to 1919
and calendar years 1920 to 1922. In the country statistics there is,
therefore, an interval of six months for which no figures are given.
For forage plant seeds, figures of total imports are given for the
fiscal years 1911 to 1922. Importsby principal countries are shown
Tariff Information Series No. 12, P. 59 .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

for the more important kinds for the fiscal years 1919 to 1923.

These statistics of forage plant seeds are compiled mostly from
the records of permits issued under the Seed Importation Act.

Most of these varieties arenot shown separately in the reports of
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce . A few varieties
are shown in the regular reports, and for these, the totals as com
piled from the seed permits do not agree with the totals in the
regular reports. This is probably due to differences in classification

or perhaps to that fact that the importations did not take place in
the year during which the permits were issued .

Imports and Exports of Lumber and Wood Products. Volume
2 of the work entitled “ Report on Forestry," issued by the Depart
ment of Agriculture between 1878 and 1884,18 contains a compila

tion of exports of lumber and wood products from 1789 to 1879 by
countries of destination , and imports of the same commodities for

various periods from 1854 to 1879. All of this material was com
piled from the several issues of Commerce and Navigation , and
presented as in the original reports. This volume contains also

figures on exports by foreign countries for various periods.
16 Volumes I to 3 of this report were by Franklin B. Hough ; Volume 4
was by N . H . Egleston . Volume 2 was published as House Doc. 37 , 46th

Cong., 2d sess., and Volume 3 as House Misc. Doc. 38 , 47th Cong., ist sess.

CHAPTER XXIV

LAND TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION

In this chapter will be discussed in general only the publications
relating to the finances and operation of railroads ; statistics on

wages are covered in Chapter XII and those on railroad accidents
in Chapter IX . The discussion in this chapter is divided into
General Statistics,which deal with a number of topics, and Limited
Statistics , which deal with certain restricted phases of railroad
operation .

GENERAL STATISTICS ON RAILROADS
Early Reports and Summaries. Prior to 1880 the only official
general statistics of railroads published by the government were
brief tables in the reports of the censuses of 1850 and 1860. These
were contained in the following reports:
Seventh Census : 1850.
Statistical view of the United States— Compendium of the Seventh
Census.

Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Eighth Census : 1860.
Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.
Statistics of the United States in 1860.

The Tenth Census, 1880, was the first one which made a se
rious effort to obtain detailed statistics of railroad operation.
The statistics collected were comparable in a general way with

those compiled at the present time. They included figures on con
struction, equipment, capital, revenues, expenses, freight tonnage,
average rates, assets and liabilities, profits, employees, accidents,
and physical character of the roads, such as grades , cuts, curves ,

mileage of steel track and mileage of iron track . One particularly
interesting historical table is the one showing the mileage built by
each railroad for every year from 1830 to 1879. The report on
railroads comprised 647 pages of Volume IV of the report entitled

“ Agencies of Transportation.” Condensed statistics were pub
lished in the “ Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.”
373

374

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

At the censusof 1890 the collection of statistics wasmade under
the direction of Henry C . Adams, who was statistician of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. This report was also a compre
hensive one and presented the facts along the same general lines
as the reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission. It was
issued under the title “ Report on Transportation Business in the

United States at the Eleventh Census, 1890 : Part I. Transporta

tion by Land.” Summary statistics were published in Part III of
the Compendium of the Eleventh Census, and in the Abstract of

the Eleventh Census.
Some scattering statistics on railroads were contained in Reports
on Internal Commerce of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury
Department issued for 1876 , 1878 , 1880, 1882, 1884, 1886 , 1887,

and 1889-91 ( see page 416 ) . These reports contained some
general data on railroad lines but no systematic collection of sta

tistics. The statistical material consisted mainly of figures on
commodity movements and receipts and shipments . These reports
comprise essentially a series of monographs furnishing material

on the history of commerce, but supply little material on the
problemsof railroad development.
Summary statistics of railways by calendar years from 1867 to

1909, compiled from the issues of Poor's Manual of Railroads,
are given in the report of the NationalMonetary Commission en

titled “ Statistics of the United States, 1867 to 1909." The later
figures will not agree with those of the Interstate Commerce Com

mission, which were for fiscal years during this period, while these
statistics are for calendar years. The topics for which data are
given are mileage, passengers and freight carried one mile (begin

ning with 1882) and total gross receipts (beginning with 1878 ) .
Somegeneral statistics on the land grant and bond- aided railroads
are contained in the annual reports of the Auditor of Railroad

Accounts from 1878 to 1880 and the annual reports of the Com
missioner of Railroads from 1881 to 1903. These will be most
readily found in the annual reports of the Department of the

Interior, although they were issued also in separate form . The fig

ures pertain particularly to finances and the area of land patented
to each road .
The annual reports of the government directors of the Union

Pacific Railway, issued from 1864 to 1898, contain financial data

LAND TRANSPORTATION

375

and general information on that road. The reports from 1864 to
1869 and from 1872 to 1885 were republished in Senate Document
69, 49th Congress, ist Session . The reports for 1870 and 1871 were

apparently not printed. From 1877 to 1898 the reports form part of
the annual report of the Department of the Interior ; after 1885
they were also published separately.

Interstate Commerce Commission. Statistics of railroads have
been published continuously by the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion beginning with 1888.

Annual Reports. The final statistical report for each year is
published under the title “ Annual Report on the Statistics of Rail
ways in the United States.” From 1888 to 1916 the figures covered
the fiscal year ending June 30 ; since 1916 the reports have been for
the calendar year. There were two reports in 1916 , one for the
fiscal year and one for the calendar year. From 1894 to 1905 the

statistical report was also printed as a part of the administrative
report of the Commission . The statistics have been compiled in
approximately their present detail beginning with 1911.
The first part of the statistical report has been printed separately

since 1902, during recent years under the title “ Text of the . . .
Annual Report on the Statistics of Railways in the United States.”

During some of the earlier years this portion was printed under the

title, “ Advance Copy," and during other years in separate form
with a half title. The term “ text” is somewhat misleading, as this
portion of the report contains all the general statistics relating to the

United States as a whole, the only additionalmaterial in the large
report being the statistics relating to individual roads. The Text
is all that is needed by the student who does not desire details

regarding individual roads.
Beginning with 1911 an advance report has been issued under

the title “ Preliminary Abstract of Statistics of Common Carriers.”
This report appears aboutnine months earlier than the final report.

A similar report was issued from 1893 to 1907 under the title
“ Preliminary Report on the Income Account of Railways in the
United States." For 1909 to 1911 this information was contained

in the issue of the “ Bulletin of Revenues and Expenses of Steam
Roads in the United States," containing figures for the year. The

annual bulletin for 1909 also contained figures for 1908.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Prior to the report for 1921 the Preliminary Abstract contained

both general statistics for all Class I roads and detailed statistics
for individual Class I roads. Beginning with the report for 1921
only the total figures for all Class I roads have been given.
In many of the summary tables the statistics are given by three

geographic districts — Eastern , Southern , and Western , which are
substantially identical with the three great freight classification
territories. The Eastern district includes the area bounded by the
northern and western shore of Lake Michigan to Chicago, thence
by a line to Peoria , thence to East St. Louis, thence down the

Mississippi River to the Ohio River, thence along the Ohio River
to Parkersburg, W . Va., thence by a line to the southwestern
corner of Maryland , thence by the Potomac River to its mouth .

The Southern district comprises the area bounded on the north by
the Eastern District and on the west by the Mississippi River. The
remainder of the continental United States is assigned to the
Western district.? Each reporting carrier is assigned to the district
in which the major part of its operations lie, or with which it
seems most closely allied in character. The present geographic
classification was first used in the report for 1911 ; prior to that

year the country had been divided into ten districts.
In some of the reports the districts are subdivided into the fol

lowing regions :
EASTERN DISTRICT

New England Region .— This region comprises the New England
States.
Great Lakes Region .— This region comprises the section on the
Canadian boundary between New England and the westerly shore
of Lake Michigan to Chicago, and north of a line from Chicago
via Pittsburgh to New York .

Ohio -Indiana-Allegheny Region . — This region comprises the
section south of the Great Lakes Region , east of a line from Chi

cago through Peoria to St. Louis and the Mississippi River to the
* For statistical purposes, the railroads are separated into classes, based
on the amount of their annual operating revenues, as follows: Class I,
above $ 1 ,000 ,000 ; Class II, from $ 100 ,000 to $ 1 ,000 ,000 ; Class III, below
$ 100,000 . As the large rate increase in 1920 was likely to increase the num
ber of Class I roads to such an extent as to disturb the comparison of the

figures, the Commission made the revenues of 1919 the basis for the
classification .

* Statistics of Railways, 1922, p . ix .

LAND TRANSPORTATION

377

mouth of the Ohio River , and north of the Ohio River to Parkers
burg , W . Va., and a line thence to the southwestern corner of

Maryland and by the Potomac River to itsmouth .
SOUTHERN DISTRICT

Pocahontas Region . — This region comprises the section north of
the western boundary of Virginia , east of Kentucky and the Ohio
River north to Parkersburg, W . Va., and south of a line from

Parkersburg to the southwestern corner of Maryland and thence
by the Potomac River to its mouth.
Southern Region . — This region comprises the section east of the
Mississippi River and south of the Ohio River to a point near
Kenova , W . Va., and a line thence following the eastern boundary

of Kentucky and the southern boundary of Virginia to the Atlantic
WESTERN DISTRICT

Northwestern Region .— This region comprises the section ad
joining Canada lying west of the Great Lakes Region , north of a
line from Chicago to Omaha and thence to Portland and by the
Columbia River to the Pacific .

Central-Western Region .-- This region comprises the section
south of the Northwestern Region , west of a line from Chicago to
Peoria and thence to St. Louis, and north of a line from St. Louis
to Kansas City and thence to El Paso and by theMexican boundary
to the Pacific.

Southwestern Region . — This region comprises the section lying
between the Mississippi River south of St. Louis and a line from

St. Louis to Kansas City and thence to El Paso and by the Rio
Grande to the Gulf of Mexico .3

The statistics of the Interstate Commerce Commission are com
piled from returns required by law to be rendered in a uniform
manner by all railroad common carriers engaged in interstate com
merce. While detailed reports for roads not subject to the juris

diction of the Commission are not given , the general tables on

mileage and operation included data compiled from unofficial
sources .

The statistics relate to the continental United States only, al
though figures are given for one railroad in Alaska and one in

Hawaii. Statistics for these roads, however, are not included in

the totals. The statistics are collected primarily to serve as an aid
• Statistics of Railways, 1921, p . xcvii.

378

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

in the regulation of rates, and the approach is therefore from the

fiscal side. This necessarily involves consideration of themovement
of passengers and freight as well as other operating statistics , but
the Commission has never attempted to collect commodity statistics

which might give an index of the consumption of and market for
different commodities in various parts of the country.
In using the reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission and
the statistics in other publications derived from the reports of the

Commission , it is essential to bear certain features in mind. The
statistics are those of steam roads, and do not include data relating
to independent electric lines which do not form part of a steam
railroad system , but which may carry freight and passengers in

interstate commerce. If, however, a portion of a steam road is
operated by electric power , such as the New York, New Haven ,and
Hartford and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, or if electric

street railways are operated by the railroad, the statistics of such
operations are included in the reports but are notgiven separately.
As the statistics are on the basis of operation they also include
such steamer lines as are operated as a part of the railroad system .

In somecases the water trafficmay be more important than the rail
movement. For instance, in the case of the Baltimore, Chesapeake,

and Atlantic Railroad the operating receipts from rail line trans
portation amounted in 1922 to $428,873, while those from water
line transportation were $ 1,130,583. In all cases separate figures

are given for water line transportation .
All the detailed statistics relate to operating corporations, regard

less of ownership of the capital stock or the lease of the property
to another railroad. Thus, in the case of the Illinois Central Rail

road Company, the operating statistics relating to revenue, ex

penses, traffic, etc., apply only to the lines controlled by the Illinois
Central Railroad Company which are operated under the name of
that road . The operating statistics of the Chicago, St. Louis, and

New Orleans Railroad Company, which is a leased subsidiary line
operated as an integral part of the Illinois Central, are included in
those of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. On the other hand,

the operating statistics of the Central of Georgia Railway Company,

which is also a subsidiary corporation but operated as an inde
pendent unit, are not included in the statistics ofthe Illinois Central,
but appear separately. The revenue derived by the Illinois Central

LAND TRANSPORTATION

379

from the Central of Georgia appears in the financial statements of
the Illinois Central Railroad Company under income account, non

operating income, dividend income.
The financial statistics of leased roads which are operated by
other roads appear in abstract form in a separate table relating to
lessor railroads.

As the statistics relate to operating railroads no data are given
for purely holding companies. Thus, the Southwestern Construc
tion Company is a holding corporation, which is owned mainly by

the Southern Railway Company and which in turn controls several
other roads, including the Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Texas
Pacific Railway Company, an operating road leasing the Cincinnati
Southern Railway. As the Southwestern Construction Company

is not an operating road no data are given for it,but as the Cincin
nati Southern is a leased road summary financial data are found in
the table giving statistics for lessor roads. The profits of the Cincin
nati Southern accrue first to the Cincinnati, New Orleans and

Texas Pacific Railway Company, are then distributed to the South

western Construction Company and other stockholders, and are
again distributed to the Southern Railway Company and other

stockholders of the Southwestern Construction Company.
As the investment of each operating road in other companies is
shown in the detailed statistics for Class I roads, it is possible to
determine the degree of control exercised by one operating com
pany over another operating company by comparing the amountof
stock owned by one company with the total stock issued by the
other company. This cannot be done in the case of holding com
panies, for while the report shows the stock of holding companies
owned by each operating road it gives no figures on the total stock

issued by any holding company. A table at the end of the report
shows the intercorporate relation of the several roads,and indicates
generally whether the control is exercised through ownership of
all or of a majority of the capital stock .

The report entitled “ Statistics of Railways in the United

States ” is divided into two parts. The first part gives general
statistics on finances and operation of Class I roads as a group , and
contains summary data on accidents , certain telephone companies,

the Pullman Company and individual express, telegraph ,and pipe
line companies. The second part contains detailed statistics on the

AL

380

NATION

ICAL

STATIST

WORK

individual Class I roads, and less detailed tables dealing with
individual roads of Class II and Class III.

The statistics of railways cover both finance and physical opera
tion . For individual Class I roads on the financial side there are
given a balance sheet and statements of income, profit and loss ,
operating revenues, operating expenses, investments in other com
panies, cash and securities in special funds, capital stock , and

funded debt. Themain tables are subdivided in considerable detail,
the items given below being merely illustrative of the extent to
which detailed figures are available. Railway operating revenues
are shown under forty - four heads and subheads, separate figures

being given for such items as excess baggage, parcel-room receipts,
demurrage, and hotel and restaurant receipts . Operating expenses

are given under 235 heads and subheads. Under “ Maintenance of
Way and Structures,” separate figures are given for the direct out

lay and for depreciation on such items as right-of-way fences both
in yards and elsewhere. Under “ Maintenance of Equipment " are
shown separately theamount expended for each class of eqiupment,
such as passenger train cars, for repairs , depreciation , and retire
ment. Under “ Transportation ” are indicated the expenditure for

drawbridge operation, clearing wrecks, loss and damage of
freight, etc.
As regards physical operation the tables give, in addition to data
on quantity of freight and number of passengers, figures for train
miles, locomotive miles, and car miles for various classes of service .
In the reports prior to the one for 1924 there was given also the

total tonnage of revenue freight carried in carload lots for the
sixty- nine classes of commodities listed on page 383. For 1924

these figures are in a separate publication entitled “ Freight Com
modity Statistics — Class I Steam Railways.” It has been an

nounced that hereafter these figures will be omitted from Statis
tics of Railways and issued under the title given above. The
equipment figures indicate the number and capacity of various

types, such as box cars, coal cars, refrigerator cars, etc., at the
beginning and end of the year, together with separate figures for
additions and retirements.

The several itemsof the classification are described in the fol
lowing pamphlets :

LAND TRANSPORTATION

381

Classification of investment in road and equipment of steam roads . . . ef
fective on July 1, 1914.
(Amendment of second paragraph of section 2 of above effective Janu
ary 1, 1921. ]

Classification of income, profit and loss and general balance sheet accounts
for steam
(Amendment
[ Addition of
January,

roads . . . effective on July 1, 1924.
relative to short-term notes, effective January 1, 1921.]
third section to general instructions on page 1o , effective
1921.]
[ Substitute for text relating to account 751 ; addition of Note F to
text relating to account 728 ; and addition of Note G to text re
lating to account 729, effective October 1, 1921. ]

Classification of operating revenue and operating expenses of [Class I ]
steam roads . . . effective on July 1, 1914.
[ Substitute for Section 19 and cancellation of Section 20 of special

instructions; addition of accounts 280 and 338 ; effective January 1,
1924 . )

Index to the classification of operating expenses of [ Class I] steam roads.
Condensed classification of operating expenses of steam roads (for roads
of Classes II and III ), effective on July 1, 1914.

Rules relative to [monthly) operating statistics of large [Class I ] steam
railways, effective January 1, 1921.
[Substitute for paragraph 13 under title “ Freight train performance "
effective January 1, 1922.)

Classification of train miles, locomotive miles and car miles for steam

roads . . . effective July 1, 1914 .

Rulings on specific questions thathave arisen in connection with
finances are given in Accounting Bulletin 15, entitled “ Interpre
tation of Accounting Classifications . . . for Steam Roads."
The present plan of detailed statistics for Class I roads begins
with the report for 1911. Prior to 1917 the figures for Class II and
Class III roads were given in greater detail than at present, but
not in as great detail as for Class I roads.
The first part of Statistics of Railways contains summary figures
for all roads on the topics for which figures are given for individual
roads. In addition it contains summary figures on the division of

expenses between freight and passenger traffic, consumption of
fuel, compensation of employees, distribution of taxes, seating
* Earlier amendment effective July 1, 1915.
* Earlier order relating to same subjects effective January 1, 1921.
* The plan for making this separation is outlined in the pamphlet en
titled “ Rules governing the separation of operating expenses between freight
service and passenger service on large steam railways . . . effective January
I, 1920 ."

* The table in this report gives figures only for seven groups of employees ;
details for the 148 classes of employees are given in an annual statement
entitled “ Wage Statistics."

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

382

capacity of passenger cars, number of cars of steel and other con
struction , and tonnage of rails and number of ties laid in connection

with replacement and betterment work .
It also contains a list of roads in the hands of receivers, figures

for individual roads showing changes during the year in capital
and debt outstanding, and a summary statement of investment,
capitalization , and income.

Condensed statistics for all roads are also given in the adminis
trative report entitled " Annual Report of the Interstate Com
merce Commission ."
The operating averages of individual Class I railroads are re

ported annually in the publication entitled “ Comparative State
ment of Operating Averages.” The first issue of this publication
contains figures for 1916 , 1921, and 1922 ; the second gives similar
data for 1921, 1922, and 1923.

Another publication issued first for 1924 and containing se
lected items for Class I roads is entitled “ Preliminary Statement

of Capitalization and Income.”
Quarterly Reports on Commodity Movements. For several
years the Interstate Commerce Commission has issued quarterly

a statement entitled " Summary of Freight Commodity Statistics
of Class I Roads,” showing the total revenue-freight carried by

Class I roads, subdivided into seventy classes of commodities, car
lot shipments being divided into sixty -nine classes and all the less

than car lot shipments being grouped in one class. The classes
given in this statement are as follows:
Products of agriculture.
Wheat.

Corn .
Oats.

Other grain .
Flour and meal.
Other mill products.
Hay, straw , and alfalfa .
Tobacco .
Cotton .

Cottonseed and products, except oil.
Citrus fruits.
Other fresh fruits.

Potatoes.
Other fresh vegetables.

Dried fruits and vegetables.
Other products of agriculture .
Total.

LAND TRANSPORTATION
Animals and products.
Horses and mules.
Cattle and calves.
Sheep and goats.

Hogs.
Fresh meats.

Other packing -house products.
Poultry .
Eggs.

Butter and cheese.
Wool.

Hides and leather .

Other products of animals.
Total.
Products of mines.
Anthracite coal.
Bituminous coal.
Coke.
Iron ore.
Other ores and concentrates.

Base bullion and matte.
Clay , gravel, sand, and stone.

Crude petroleum .
Asphaltum .
Salt.

Other products of mines.
Total.

Products of forests.

Logs, posts, poles, and cord wood.
Ties.
Pulpwood.

Lumber , timber, box shooks, staves, and headings.
Other products of forests .
Total.
Manufactures and miscellaneous.

Refined petroleum and its products.
Vegetable oils.

Sugar, sirup, glucose , and molasses.
Boats and vessel supplies.
Iron, pig and bloom .
Rails and fastenings.
Bar and sheet iron, structural iron , and iron pipe.

Other metals, pig, bar, and sheet.
Castings, machinery , and boilers .
Cement.

Brick and artificial stone.
Lime and plaster .

Sewer pipe and drain tile.

Agricultural implements and vehicles other than automobiles.
Automobiles and autotrucks
.

Household goods and secondhand furniture.
Furnitu
re (new ) .

383

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

384

Manufactures and miscellaneous— Continued.
Beverages.

Ice.

Fertilizers (all kinds).
Paper, printed matter, and books.
Chemicals and explosives.
Textiles .

Canned goods (all canned food products ).
Other manufactures and miscellaneous.

Total.

This statement showsthe number of carloads and number of tons
of each class of freight which moved as an original shipment and
the total of each class moved, figures being given for the entire
United States and the several districts . For years prior to 1924

similar annual statistics for each Class I railroad were published
in Statistics of Railways, but beginning with 1924 the annual
figures are in a separate publication entitled “ Freight Commodity
Statistics— Class I Steam Railways.”
It should be noted that this table takes no account of distance, a

shipment moving one hundred miles having the same weight as a
shipmentmoving one thousandmiles . It cannot be used as a guide

to the quantity of any commodity entering into the commerce of
the country, as several shipments of the same product may be

duplicated. Thus, cotton moves from the gin to the compress, then
to the warehouse, and then to the seaboard or to the mill ; it may

also move again by rail from the terminus of the steamship line to
the mill. There are, thus, at least four possible shipments of the
samebale of cotton , each ofwhich would be reported as originating

on road. There is also duplication in the figures showing total ton
nage, as the same shipmentmay pass over several railroads and each
carrier would make a separate report on the tonnage received from

connecting roads. The greatest value of the figures is in their use
as index numbers to show the relative amount of freight of various
classes handled by the railroads in different years. The duplications

will probably average the same from year to year, and, therefore,
the table furnishes a good index to the amount carried .
For April, 1920, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued a
mimeographed report, showing tonnage, number of carloads, and

revenue from freight moving from each state to every other state
of the following fifteen selected groups of commodities:

LAND TRANSPORTATION

385

Wheat.
Corn .

Cotton .
Fruits and vegetables .

Cattle and calves.
Hogs.
Fresh meats .

Bituminous coal.
Lumber , timber , box shooks, staves and headings.
Refined petroleum and its products .
Sugar , sirup, glucose , and molasses.
Bar and sheet iron , structural iron , and iron pipe.
Cement.

Automobiles and autotrucks.
Fertilizers.

This statement is the only attempt that has been made to deter

mine the interstate movement of commodities. Unfortunately , the
switchmen 's strike occurred in themonth for which these statistics
were compiled, and they are not as representative as is desirable.
Monthly Reports. Monthly reports giving summary statistics
for the entire United States and figures for individual roads were

published by the Interstate Commerce Commission from March ,
1911, to August, 1914, under the title “ Bulletin of Revenues and

Expenses of Steam Roads in the United States.” The first issue
was for the nine months ending March , 1911, subsequent numbers
containing monthly figures. There were also annualbulletins of the

same title giving figures for the fiscal years 1909, 1910, and 1911.
This publication was discontinued with the issue for August, 1914,
but the statistics were prepared each month and issued in mimeo
graph form to the press . In 1920 themonthly statistics covering the
period from July, 1914, to December, 1919, were printed under the

title “ Operating Revenues and Expenses of Large Steam Roads,

by Months, July , 1914 , to December, 1919.” The monthly figures
for 1920 were published in the pamphlet entitled “ Operating
Revenues and Expenses of Large Steam Roads, by Calendar
Years 1915 to 1920, and by Months, January to December, 1919
and 1920.” All of these reports refer to Class I roads only .
In 1921 the printing of themonthly statistics was resumed , the

reports being issued in sheet form . Each of the reports listed
below is on a separate sheet and gives figures for the currentmonth ,

for the cumulative period of the year ending with the current
month and for the correspondingmonth and period of the preceding
26

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year. Each of the general statements shows the number of roads

for which statistics are given and it should be noted that the num
ber is not the same for each month .

Beginning with the report for 1921 the volume on Statistics of
Railways contains the more important items by months relating to

all Class I roads. As these figures can be made to cover a later
period than themost of the other data in thevolume, they are given
for the year succeeding the one indicated by the title of the report.

Thus, Statistics of Railways for 1922 containsmonthly data on
selected items for all Class I roads for 1922 and 1923.
The statement entitled “ Operating Revenues and Operating
Expenses of Class I Steam Roads " gives only totals for Class I
roads by districts and regions for the following items:

Average number of miles operated.
Revenues .

Freight.
Passenger.
Mail.

Express.
All other transportation .
Incidental.

Joint facility - Cr.
Joint facility - Dr.
Total.

Expenses.
Maintenance of way and structures.
Maintenance of equipment.
Traffic.

Transportation .
Miscellaneous operations.
General.

Transportation for investment- Cr.
Total.

Net revenue from railway operations.
Railway tax accruals.

Uncollectible railway revenues.
Railway operating income.
Equipment rents — Dr. balance.

Joint facility rent – Dr. balance.
Net railway operating income.

Ratio of expenses to revenues (per cent) .

The statement entitled “ Operating Revenues and Operating

Expenses of Large Steam Roads ” gives statistics for individual
roadshaving annual operating revenues above $25,000,000 for the
following items:

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Average miles of road operated.
Operating revenues.
Freight.
Passenger .
Total.

Operating expenses.
Maintenance of way and structures.
Maintenance of equipment.
Transportation .
Total.

Net railway operating income.
Maintenance expenses, per cent of
Operating revenues.
Operating expenses.
Transportation expenses, per cent of
Operating revenues.
Operating expenses.

The statement entitled " Freight and Passenger Service Operat
ing Statistics of Class I Steam Roads " gives only totals for all
Class I roads by districts and regions for the following items:
Freight service.
Average miles of road operated .
Average miles of allmain tracks operated .

Train -miles.
Locomotive-miles.
Principal and helper.
Light.
Car -miles.
Loaded.

Empty.
Cars owned.
Per cent unserviceable of total locomotives.
Per cent all cars on line of cars owned .
Per cent unserviceable of total cars on line.
Car -miles per car -day.

Net ton -miles per car-day.
Net tons per loaded car .

Cars per train .
Car-miles.
Per cent loaded .

Per cent loaded east.

Per cent eastbound of total.
Ton-miles.
Gross.
Including locomotives and tenders.
Excluding locomotives and tenders.
Net revenue and nonrevenue.
Train -hours.

Train- load.
Gross tons per train, excluding locomotives and tenders.
Net tons per train ,

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Freight service - Continued.
Average mile per hour, trains in freight service.
Locomotive -miles per locomotive-day.
Traffic density .

Gross ton -miles, including locomotives and tenders, per mile of
main track per day .
Net ton -miles per mile of road per day.
Coal consumption in road-service.
Net tons of coal consumed .

Per 1,000 gross ton-miles, including locomotives and tenders.

Average number of locomotives on line daily.
Serviceable.

Unserviceable.
Total.
Stored .

Average number of freight cars on line daily.
Home.
Foreign .
Total.

Stored .
Passenger service .

Average miles of road operated .
Train -miles.

Passenger- train car-miles.

Passenger -train cars per train .
Locomotive -miles per locomotive -day.

Per cent unserviceable of total locomotvies.
Coal consumption in road service.
Net tons of coal consumed .

Pounds of coal per passenger-train car-mile.

The statement entitled “ Operating Statistics of Large Steam
Roads " gives figures for individual roads with annual operating

revenues above $25,000,000, for the following items:
Freight service.

Averagemiles of road operated.
Train -miles.

Locomotive-miles.

Principal and helper.

Light.
Car -miles.

Loaded.
Empty.
Per cent loaded.
Per cent loaded east.

Per cent eastbound of total.
Ton -miles.
Gross.

Including locomotives and tenders.
Excluding locomotives and tenders.
Net revenue and nonrevenue.

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Freight service - Continued .

Average number of locomotives on line daily.
Serviceable.

Unserviceable.
Per cent unserviceable .
Stored .
Average number of freight cars on line daily .
Home.

Foreign .
Total.

Per cent unserviceable.
Stored.

Gross tons per train excluding locomotives and tenders.
Net tons per train .
Net tons per loaded car.

Net ton -miles per car -day.
Car-miles per car -day.
Net ton -miles per mile of road per day .
Pounds of coal per 1,000 gross ton-miles, including locomotives and
tenders.

Locomotive-miles per locomotive-day.
Passenger service.
Train -miles.
Passenger- train car-miles.

Passenger-train cars per train .

Per cent unserviceable of total locomotives.
Pounds of coal per passenger-train car-mile.

Locomotive-miles per locomotive-day.

The statement entitled “ Revenue Traffic Statistics of Class I

Steam Roads ” gives only totals for all Class I roads by districts
and regions for the following items:
Revenue freight traffic.

Averagemiles of road operated .
Revenue tons carried .
Revenue tons carried one mile .
Freight revenue.
Miles per revenue- ton per road.
Revenue per ton -mile.

Revenue per ton per road .
Revenue passenger traffic.

Average miles of road operated .
Revenue passengers carried .

Revenue passengers carried one mile.
Passenger revenue.

Miles per passenger per road.
Revenue per passenger-mile.
Revenue passengers per car.
Commutation traffic included above.

Revenue passengers carried.
Revenue passengers carried onemile.
Passenger revenue.

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Revenue passenger traffic - Continued .
Miles per passenger per road .
Commutation .

Other than commutation .
Revenue per passenger-mile .
Commutation .

Other than commutation.

The statement entitled “ Freight and Passenger Train Service
Unit Costs " gives only totals by districts and regions for all Class
I roads for the following items:
Freight train service.
Cost per freight train -mile.
Locomotive repairs.
Train enginemen .
Fuel for train locomotives.
Engine-house expenses.
Trainmen .
Other locomotive and train supplies.

Total selected accounts.

Cost per 1,000 gross ton-miles ( excluding locomotives and tenders).
Locomotive repairs.

Train enginemen .
Fuel for train locomotives.
Engine-house expenses.
Trainmen .

Other locomotive and train supplies.
Total selected accounts.
Passenger train service.
Cost per passenger train -mile .

Locomotive repairs.
Train enginemen .
Fuel for train locomotives.

Engine-house expenses.
Trainmen .
Other locomotive and train supplies.

Total selected accounts.
Freight-train and passenger-train service.
Coal consumed in road service.
Cost.

Net tons for train locomotives charged to operating expenses.
Fuel oil gallons for train locomotives.
Charged to operating expenses.

LIMITED STATISTICS ON RAILROADS
Freight Rates. Notwithstanding the control over freight rates
exercised by the Interstate Commerce Commission , only a com

paratively small amount of material giving assembled statistics on

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this subject has been published. The decisions of the Commission

on specific rate problems often contain reviewsof the specific rates
under discussion , but the Commission has not undertaken the task

of making compilations showing rates in force between important
points.
In 1901 the Senate directed the Finance Committee to make an
investigation of prices, wages ,and transportation rates, and in 1893
the results were printed as Senate Report 1394, 52d Congress,

2d Session, under the title “ Wholesale Prices, Wages, and Trans
portation ." This is generally known as the Aldrich Report, al
though the portion on transportation was prepared by the Interstate

Commerce Commission. It is one of the few reports that contain
statistics for rates on the principal commodities between important
terminals. The period covered varies considerably, most of the
tables go back to the seventies, and some give figures for 1862. For
some years the rates are given monthly ; for other years the rates
are for less frequent intervals. Local commodity rates on selected
roads are given for 1893 and for one to three earlier years . There

is also a good discussion of the development of freight classification.
In addition to the commodity rate statistics, there are also data on

the following :
Average freight rates per ton per mile on important railways, 1852- 1892.
Tons of freight handled by important roads, 1852 to 1892.
Tons of freight carried one mile by important railways, 1852 to 1892.

Gross freight earnings of important roads, 1862 to 1892.

The data on freight rates contained in the Aldrich report,
described above, were repeated and extended to 1902 in the publica

tion entitled “ A Forty -Year Review of Changes in Freight Tariffs,”
which formed Part II of the publication of the Interstate Com

merce Commission entitled “ Railways in the United States in
1902,” issued as Appendix G of the report of the Commission for
that year.

A statement compiled by the Interstate Commerce Commission
showing freight rates on important commodities between principal
points from 1900 to 1910 is given in Senate Document 441, 61st

Congress, 2d Session.
A report entitled “ Panama Canal Traffic and Tolls," by Emory
R . Johnson, published by the War Department in 1912, gives class
rates and a limited number of commodity rates between various

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eastern regions and the Pacific coast and between Pacific coast
points and cities in the interiors. This publication also contains

considerable data on the important canals of the world , among
which may be mentioned the following :
Suez Canal.
Traffic at five-year intervals, 1870 to 1910 , 1911.

Receipts and disbursements by classes, annually 1870 to 1911.
Kaiser Wilhelm Canal.
Traffic , annually 1896 to 1910.

Receipts and expenditures, by classes, annually 1895 to 1910.
Manchester Canal.

Traffic, annually, 1894 to 1911.

Revenues and expenses, annually 1894 to 1911.
Traffic , annually , 1877 to 1911.

Amsterdam Canal.

Rates on wool in force June 1, 1896 , between the principal pro
ducing and consuming centers are given in Bulletin 10 of the
Division of Statistics of the Department of Agriculture, entitled

“ Railway Charges for Transportation of Wool.”
Bulletin 15 of the Division of Statistics of the Department of
Agriculture,entitled “ Changes in Rates of Charge for Railway and
other Transportation Services,” contains the following data of
historical interest.
Average rates per ton per mile, annually, 1846 to 1897.
Miscellaneous commodities, average rate per 100 pounds between important
points, annually, 1867 to 1897.

Average passenger rates per mile, annually , 1850 to 1897.

Rates on garden truck in effect during the summer of 1900

between principal producing and consuming centers are given in
Bulletin 21 of the Division of Statistics of the Department of Agri

culture, entitled “ Rates of Charge for Transporting Garden
Truck , with Notes on Growth of Industry.”
Bulletin 25 of the Division of Statistics of the Department of

Agriculture, entitled “ Milk Transportation,” gives the freight
rates in force in 1903 on milk from shipping points on the several
railroads supplying the following cities :
New York.
Chicago .

Baltimore.
Cleveland.

Pittsburgh .

New Orleans.

Philadelphia.
St. Louis.

Buffalo .

Detroit.

San Francisco.

Milwaukee.

Boston .

Cincinnati.

Washington .

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The “ Report of the Commissioner of Corporations on the Trans

portation of Petroleum ,” issued in 1906 , contained statistics on
freight rates for petroleum products. Special attention was paid
to secret and discriminatory rates which were in force at that time
and earlier.
The Yearbooks of the Department of Agriculture from 1894 to

1912 give freight rates on the more important classes of farm
products from the main interior markets to seaboard.
The Yearbook for 1923 contains freight rates on the following
commodities between important points :
Wheat, September, 1923.
Oats and corn , January, 1924.

Wool in grease, oranges, grapefruit, grapes, watermelons, cantaloupes,
plums, lettuce, cotton , alfalfa , hay other than alfalfa, cottonseed oil,

cottonseed oil cake, cottonseed meal, 1913 and 1923.
Ordinary livestock, January, 1924.

Pure-bred livestock, April, 1923.

The Yearbook for 1922 contains data on fifty representative

freight rates on fifteen agricultural products from 1900 to 1923,
with index numbers based on the average for 1913. The products
on which rates are given are the following : Wheat, corn, oats,

hay, cotton , tobacco , cattle, hogs, sheep, oranges, apples, potatoes,
cabbage, butter, and eggs. The Yearbook for 1923 gives index
numbers for the fifty rates, combined by months for the same
period. The heading to the table in the 1923 Yearbook states that

the data are for fifty agricultural products, but as the 1923 table is
based on the data in the 1922 Yearbook, it is evident that the figures
are for fifty representative rates. In the 1922 Yearbook rates are

given on only fifteen products, but as for some products rates are
shown between several points, there are fifty different rates.
Part III of the report of the Joint Commission of Agricultural
Inquiry, published in 1922 as House Report 408 , 67th Congress,
Ist Session , is devoted to transportation . It contains a large
amount of statistical material, compiled from the reports of the

Interstate Commerce Commission and other sources, dealing with
the operation and finances of railroads and the movement of com
modities. It also contains many tables showing freight rates be
tween specific points, as well as tables and diagrams showing the
relation of freight charges to amounts received by the shipper. In
addition to the statistics the report contains a large amount of text

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

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dealing with railroad conditions, practices,history, finance,manage
ment, organization , and regulation .

The subject of special freight rates for imports and exports is
discussed in the publication of the Tariff Commission entitled
" Preferential Transportation Rates,” issued in 1922. This con

tains the following statistical material on railroad and ocean freight
rates :

Rates in 1920 from seaboard to a number of interior points on various
commodities moving for export and import.

Custoins duties compared with difference between domestic and import
rates.

This volume contains detailed information on ocean freight rates,
as listed on page 414.
The import and domestic rates in effect June 24 , 1902, are given
in Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, Volume IX , pages

650-700 ; also published as Senate Document 207, 57th Congress,
2d Session .
Block Signals. Beginning with 1908 the Interstate Commerce

Commission has issued annual statistics on the use of block signals
under the following titles :
1908 to 1913. Block signals on the railroads of the United States.
1914 to 1916 . Tabulation of statistics pertaining to block signals, inter
locking plants, and the telegraph and telephone for transmission of
train orders.
1917 and later. Tabulation of statistics pertaining to block signals, and

the telegraph and telephone for the transmission of train orders.

These reports give information as of January 1 of each year for
each road regarding automatic and nonautomatic block signals,

various kinds of automatic signals in use, and apparatus and
methods used with the manual block system . They also show

mileage of each road equipped with telegraph or telephone for the
transmission of train orders. Statistics for 1902 and 1907 on the use

of telegraph and telephone by railroads are given in the following
reports of the Bureau of the Census :
Telephones and telegraphs, 1902. Bulletin 17 . [Preliminary report.)
Telephones and telegraphs, 1902.

Electrical industries, 1902. [Portion on telephones and telegraph identical
with Telephones and telegraphs, 1902.]

Telegraph systems, 1907. Bulletin 102,

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Train Operation . A survey of freight train performance during
the two weeks ending March 17, 1917, is given in the report of
the Eight-Hour Commission , issued also as House Document690,

65th Congress, 2d Session. This report gives statistics by divisions
for the following roads:
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad .
Atchison , Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway.
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad.
Boston & Maine Railroad .
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway .

Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway.
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway.
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway .
El Paso & Southwestern Co.
Erie Railroad.
Great Northern Railway.
Illinois Central Railroad.
New York Central Railroad.

New York , New Haven & Hartford Railroad .
Norfolk & Western Railway.

Pennsylvania Co. and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway.
Pennsylvania Railroad .
Philadelphia & Reading Railway .
Southern Railway.

Toledo & Ohio Central Railway.
Union Pacific Railroad .

The first table in this section of the report gives separate figures
by all divisions for eastbound and westbound, slow and fast freight,
and for turn -around service. The classification in this table is as
follows :

Per cent of maximum grade.
Number of trains.
Total operated .

Over 2000 gross tons per train -mile.
Having 30 or more loaded cars.
Having 50 or more loaded and empty cars.

Having initial terminal delay of 2 hours and over.
Having total delays of less than 2 hours, 2 but less than 4 hours, 4 but

less than 6 hours, 6 but less than 8 hours, 8 hours and over.
Having average speed-miles per hour, actual running of under 10 , 10
to 14 .9, 15 to 19.9, 20 to 24.9 , 25 and over.

Having average speed-miles per hour, elapsed time, of under 127/2
and 1272 and over.

Another table shows averages for the divisions for which the
reports could be tabulated showing for eastbound and westbound ,

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fast freight, slow freight, under fifty cars per train , and fast freight
over fifty cars per train under the following classification :
Per cent maximum grade.
Number of trains.

Average cars per train — loaded , empty, total.
Average miles per train .
Average gross tons per train -mile.
Average delays per train .
Initial terminal.
Final terminal.

Orders passing.
Work en route .
Accidents to road -bed and equipment.
Other delays.
Total.

Average hours per train .

Average speed — actually running and including delays.
Average pusher engine miles per train .

Average wages per 1000 gross ton -miles — 8 -hour basis.

Locomotive Boilers. By the act of February 17, 1911 ( 36 Stat.
L ., 913) , as amended by the act of March 4, 1915 (38 Stat. L .,
1192 ), the Interstate Commerce Commission was authorized and

directed to make inspections of locomotive boilers and tenders and
to investigate all accidents resulting from the failure of locomotives

and tenders or their parts. Statistics on accidents and casualties
resulting from the failure of locomotives, classified by the part that

failed, and on number of locomotives found defective and ordered
from service, classified by railroads and by defects, have been
published annually by the Interstate Commerce Commission , begin
ning with 1912, under the title “ Annual Report of Chief Inspector

of Locomotive Boilers to the Interstate Commerce Commission ."
Private Car Lines. The “ Report of the Federal Trade Commis
sion on Private Car Lines,” issued in 1920 , contained a discussion

of the results oftheownership of certain types of cars, particularly
stock and refrigerator cars, by corporations other than railroad
companies. This includes statistics for each car-line company
showing the number of cars owned,the receipts, investments , prof
its, assets, liabilities , etc.

Other Common CARRIERS
Pullman Company. Abstract statistics regarding the operations
of the Pullman Company have been given annually in the Pre

liminary Abstract of Statistics of Common Carriers beginning with

LAND TRANSPORTATION

397

1911. This statement shows a balance sheet, income from opera
tions and other sources, operating and other expenses, and profit
and loss. There are also figures on the number of employees,

average daily compensation, the equipment in service at the end of
the year, and the following itemsof operating statistics :
Total number of revenue passengers - berth .
Total number of revenue passengers - seat.
Average revenue per passenger - berth .
Average revenue per passenger - seat.

Total number of car-miles.
Total number of car -days.

Average number of revenue passengers per car per day.
Operating revenue per car -mile.
Operating revenue per car-day .
Operating expenses per car-mile.

Operating expenses per car -day .

Net operating revenue per car-mile.
Net operating revenue per car-day.

Average number of car-miles per car-day.

Beginning with the report for 1921 Statistics of Railways con
tains the same information and in addition gives monthly figures
on the following :
Gross revenue car operation .
Contract revenue Dr.

Total expenses car operation .
Operating income.
Number of passengers carried .

Revenue.
Nonrevenue.

Total.

The monthly statistics are for a year later than the detailed
figures in the volumes. Thus, Statistics of Railways, 1922, contains

monthly figures on the Pullman Company for 1923.
Express Companies. The first attempt to collect statistics for
express companies was made at the Census of 1880, but as the act
authorizing this work required returns to be made by incorporated

express companies, most of the concerns refused to furnish the
information requested on the ground that they were mere associa

tions and not incorporated companies. Consequently, figures were
published for only two concerns— the Southern Express Company

and the Texas Express Company.
No further attempt was made to secure statistics of express

companies until 1908, when the Bureau of the Censusmade an

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398

inquiry, the results of which were published under the title “ Ex
press Business in the United States , 1907.”

Statistics on express companies were published by the Interstate
Commerce Commission for each year from 1910 to 1920 in the

publication entitled “ Annual Report on the Statistics of Express
Companies in the United States.” Separate figures were given for

all companies and for each corporation. This report gave informa
tion on the following topics :
Mileage operated over steam roads, electric lines, steamboat lines, and stage
lines.

Mileage operated in each state.
Cost of lands, buildings, and equipment; equipment being subdivided into
cars, horses, automobiles and other items.
Inventory value of equipment owned . ( This statement shows quantity and
value of each kind of equipment.)
Income account. ( This statement shows income from transportation charges
and other sources, expenses for express privileges, operation and other

items, and disposition of net income.)
Profit and loss account for the year.
Detailed analysis of operating revenues and operating expenses. It should

be noted that the operating expenses are those incurred in the actual
transportation and handling of goods. The payments made to the trans
portation companies for express privileges, the total of which is approxi

mately the same as the operating expenses, are stated under a separate
heading .

General balance sheet statement.

Prior to 1920 condensed statistics of express companies were
published in the Preliminary Abstract of Statistics of Common

Carriers. Since 1920 the Preliminary Abstract contains the most
detailed statistics on the operations of express companies that are

published .
Figures by months have been given in Statistics of Railways
beginning with the report for 1921 for the following items:
Charges for transportation .
Express privileges, Dr.
Total operating revenues.
Operating expenses.
Operating income.

The figures in these volumes are for the year succeeding the
one indicated by the title of the report.
Summary statistics on express companies are contained in Part

III of the Report of the Joint Commission of Agricultural

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Inquiry , published in 1922 as House Document 408,67th Congress,
Ist Session .

Electric Railroads. The first statistics on street railways were

contained in a short table in the report of the Eighth Census
(1860 ), which gives only the names of companies, the mileage,

and the cost of construction. This table appears in the same form
in the “ Preliminary Report on the Eighth Census, 1860,” and in

“ Statistics of the United States, 1860."
Statistics on street railways were not collected at the Census of
1870 , but in 1880 some meager statistics were published in

Volumes XVIII and XIX , entitled “ Social Statistics of Cities,”
Parts I and II. Thematerial generally gives no information beyond

general statements, with at times the names of the various lines
and the mileage. The street railway statistics are not assembled in
one series of tables, but are scattered through the reports dealing
with various cities.

At the Census of 1890 detailed statistics of street railways were
published in Part I of the “ Report on Transportation Business."
General summary statistics by states were given for only a few of
themain topics,most of the information being for individual roads.

Brief tables are given in Part III of the Compendium of the
Eleventh Census and in the Abstract of the Eleventh Census.
The earlier reports on street railways were confined to horse

drawn systems, as electric traction had not been developed ; the

later reports have included horse -drawn, electric, and cable systems,
and during the recent years interurban roads and electrically

operated divisions of steam roads. The development of motor-bus

lines has been too recent for these utilities to find a place in the
statistics.

Beginning with 1902, the Bureau of the Census has compiled
statistics relating to street railways at five-year intervals.8 The
reports for every fifth year from 1902 to 1917 were issued under
the following titles:
* Figures on the mileage only by cities were published in the reports en
titled “ Statistics of cities having a population of over 25,000, 1902 and

1903,” Bulletin 20, and “ Statistics of cities having a population of 8000 to
25 ,000, 1903,” Bulletin 45.

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400

Street and electric railways, 1902. Bulletin 3. [Preliminary report.]
Street and electric railways, 1902. [Final report. ]
Electrical industries, 1902. (Contains samematerial as Street and electric
railways, 1902. ]

Street and electric railways, 1907.

Central electric light and power stations and street and electric railways,
1912. Bulletin 124. [ Preliminary report.]
Central electric light and power stations and street and electric railways,
1912 . [Final report. ]

Census of electrical industries, 1917. Electric railways.

The earlier reports of this series were more voluminous and

detailed than the later ones. The reports for 1902 and 1907 contain
statistics for individual companies, material on street railways in
foreign countries, a discussion of franchises, public regulation and
public ownership, and chapters on construction , cars, and power
house equipment. The report for 1902 contains a condensed digest

of state laws and local franchise regulations in leading states and a

history of the development of electric traction.
The report for 1907 devotes some space to the use of electricity

by steam railroads and to a discussion of subway systems.

The report for 1917 contains the following general statistics, all
figures being given by states :
Track -mileage, classified by use, motive power , electric transmission, and
general character of lines.
Trackage leased or operated under trackage rights.
Rolling stock , classified by type and equipment.
Prime movers used , number, and horse power developed of various types.

Electric generators and subsidiary equipment.
Current generated and purchased.
Fuel used.

Traffic statistics- passengers, revenue car-miles, revenue car-hours.
Casualties— passengers and employees killed or injured .
Capital stock , dividends, capitalization .
Income, operating revenues, operating expenses.
Distribution of net income.

Condensed balance sheet of assets and liabilities.

Employees— number of various classes, salaries, wages.
Municipal and state railways.

A report on electric railways in 1922 will be published by the
Bureau of the Census.
Statistics on electric railways in Porto Rico are given in Bulletin

99 of the Bureau of the Census, entitled “ Electrical Industries of
Porto Rico, 1907," which contains also a history of the street rail
way system of the island .

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Beginning with the report for 1921 Statistics of Railways gives

summary data for the electric railways which report to the Inter
state Commerce Commission .

Figures for individual electric railways reporting to the Interstate
Commerce Commission are given in a mimeographed statement

issued annually and containing figures on the following items:
Mileage operated.
Investment in road and equipment.
Cash .

Material and supplies.
Total current assets.

Capital stock .
Unmatured funded debt.
Total current liabilities.
Accrued depreciation .

Total corporate surplus,
Freight revenue.
Total operating revenue.

Total operating expenses.
Operating income.
Net income.

Dividends - amounts and rates.

As the electric railways reporting to the Interstate Commerce
Commission number less than three hundred and their totalmileage

is less than 15,000, these statistics represent only a small portion of
the electric railways in the United States.
Pipe Line Companies. An annual mimeographed statement on
pipe line companies reporting to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission contains figures for individual companies on the following
items:

Mileage operated.
Investment in pipe line.
Other investment.
Cash ,

Material and supplies.
Total current assets.
Capital stock .
Unmatured funded debt.

Total current liabilities.
Accrued depreciation .
Total corporate surplus.
Pipe line operating revenues.

Pipe line operating expenses.
Pipe line operating income.
Net income.
Dividends - amount and rate.

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The annual volume on Statistics of Railways since 1920 has con
tained the following data on individual pipe line companies :
Mileage operated.
Investment in pipe lines.
Other investments.

Pipe line operating revenues.
Pipe line operating expenses.
Pipe line operating income.
Net income.

Dividends - amount and rate.

The publication entitled “ Report of the Federal Trade Com

mission on Pipe Line Transportation of Petroleum ,” issued in
1916 , contains data for 1911 to 1913 on the pipe lines operating
from the midcontinent field only . The pipe lines discussed are the

Prairie (Standard Oil) to Illinois and Indiana, the Oklahoma

Louisiana (Standard Oil) to Baton Rouge, the Magnolia to Beau
mont and vicinity, and the Gulf and the Texas to Port Arthur and

vicinity. The statistics include both the physical and financial
operations of the companies, and comprise data on investments,

assets, costs, profits, dividends, amount of oil transported, and
capacity of the systems.

ROADS AND AUTOMOBILES

Statistics on the number of automobiles registered, the mileage
of roads, and the expenditures on highways in each state have been

published from time to time in the monthly publication entitled
“ Public Roads,” issued by the Bureau of Public Roads of the
Department of Agriculture. These figures are obtained from the
state organizations having charge of the licensing of automobiles

and the building and maintenance of highways. This monthly was
issued from May, 1918, to December, 1921. It was then discontin
ued until March , 1924 , when its publication was resumed. Earlier

data are contained in the following publications of the Department
of Agriculture :
Department Bulletins.
386 . Public road mileage and revenues in Middle Atlantic States, 1914.
387. Public road mileage and revenues in Southern States, 1914.
388. Public road mileage and revenues in the New England States, 1914.
389. Public road mileage and revenues in the Central, Mountain and
Pacific States, 1914.

390 . Public road mileage in the United States, 1914. A summary.

LAND TRANSPORTATION

403

Circulars of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.
49. Motor vehicle registrations and licenses, 1914 .
59. Automobile registrations, licenses, and revenues in the United
States, 1915.

63. State highway mileage and expenditures to January 1, 1916 .
73. Automobile registrations, licenses, and revenues in the United States,
1916 .

74. State highway mileage and expenditures for the calendar year 1916 .
The number of automobiles and motor trucks on farms and the

number of farms reporting such vehicles are shown by divisions
and states in the reports of the Fourteenth Census ( 1920 ).
TELEGRAPH

The earliest statistics on telegraph systems were published in
the “ Abstract of the Seventh Census, 1850,” which contains a
brief history and description of the telegraph line and wiremileage

of each company, the annual receipts for 1846-1852 of the Magnetic

Telegraphic Company, operating between Washington and New
York, the rates from Washington to various cities, and an account
of the telegraph systems of foreign countries. Nothing further
was done on telegraph statistics until the Census of 1880, when
some attention was paid to this subject, the results being published

in Volume IV of the reports of the Tenth Census, entitled “ Agen
cies of Transportation, 1880 ,” and in Part II of the Compendium
of the Tenth Census. In addition to the statistics for the United
States, Volume IV contained statistics and general information
regarding the postaltelegraph service in foreign countries.

There was, then , an interval of twenty years during which no
statisticswere collected , but since theorganization ofthe permanent

Census Bureau, a study has been made every five years, beginning
with 1902. The report for 1902 was published in three forms: A

preliminary report entitled “ Telephones and Telegraphs, 1902,"
Bulletin 17 ; a final report entitled “ Telephones and Telegraphs,
1902 " ; and the report entitled “ Electrical Industries, 1902." The
data on telephone and telegraph systems in “ Electrical Industries ,

1902,” is identical with that in “ Telephones and Telegraphs, 1902,"
The report for 1902 includes figures for domestic ocean cable

companies operating from the United States, as well as a brief
history of the development of thetelegraph .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

The report for 1907 was issued as Bulletin 102, under the title
“ Telegraph Systems, 1907." By this timethe wireless service had
been developed and separate statistics were given for this branch of
the industry. The report for 1912 was issued under the title “ Tele
phones and Telegraphs and Municipal Electric Fire Alarm and
Police- Patrol Signaling Systems, 1912.”

The report for 1917 was issued under the title “ Census of
Electrical Industries, 1917 — Telegraphs and Municipal Electric
Fire Alarm and Police- Patrol Signaling Systems." This report,
which may be considered as typical of the earlier ones, contains sta

tistics on the following topics : For land lines,ocean telegraphs and
wireless systems: Mileage, number ofmessages, income, expenses,
balance sheet, number of employees, salaries and wages. It also
includes accounts of government telegraph and cable systems and
figures on the use of the telegraph and telephone by railways, this
feature being in all reports beginning with 1902.
Statistics for 1922 are contained in a report issued by the Bureau

of the Census entitled “ Census of Electrical Industries, 1922 :
Telegraphs.” This pamphlet contains separate figures on com
mercial land lines, commercial cable systems, government telegraph
and cable lines, and commercial wireless systems. Data are given
for the total of the commercial land and of commercial cable

systemsas regards mileage, finance , number of employees, amount
paid for salaries and wages, number of offices, and number of
messages. For the government telegraph and the commercial wire
less systems the figures are not in as great detail.
In 1901 the Industrial Commission held a series of hearings

relative to the government ownership of telegraph lines, the testi
mony being given in Volume IX of the report of the Commission .
The statisticalmaterial, consisting entirely of data submitted by the
Western Union Telegraph Company, comprises the following :
Telegraph lines in foreign countries in 1898 .
Telegraph offices of Western Union Company and other lines, by states.
Statistics of Western Union Telegraph Company for each year from 1866
1900 mileage, offices, messages, receipts, expenses, profits , average toll
per message and average cost per message.

Beginning with the report for 1921 the Volumes entitled “ Sta
tistics of Railways " contain figures for each telegraph and cable
company giving the following details :

LAND TRANSPORTATION

405

Miles of wire .
Investment in plant and equipment.
Other investments .
Operating revenues.

Operating ratio.
Operating income.
Net income.

Dividends declared — amount and rate.
TELEPHONES

Statistics on the telephone business have been published by the

Bureau of the Census at various times since the beginning of the
industry. As early as the Census of 1880 a report was prepared
giving general statistics regarding the business of the companies,

includingmileage, receipts, expenditures, income, dividends, capital
stock , exchanges, stations, and employees. This report forms part
of Volume IV of the reports of the Tenth Census, entitled “ Agen

cies of Transportation .” It was also published in slightly abridged

form in Part II of the Compendium of the Tenth Census. No
statistics on telephones were collected at the censuses of 1890 and
1900, but when the permanent Census Bureau was organized in

1902 the electrical industry was oneofthe first to receive attention,
and figures have been collected relating to the year 1902 and every
fifth year thereafter . The results of the investigation of 1902 were
published in three forms: Bulletin 17, “ Telephones and Tele

graphs,” a preliminary report; “ Telephones and Telegraphs,
1902 ” ; and “ Electrical Industries, 1902.” The report on tele
phones in “ Electrical Industries, 1902,” is identical with the report
entitled “ Telephones and Telegraphs, 1902.” In addition to the
statistics relating to telephones in 1902, this report also contains
considerable descriptive matter on apparatus and equipment, a

brief history of the development of the telephone, statistics relat
ing to telephone service and rates in foreign countries, and figures

on the use of telephones by railroad companies.
The report for 1907 was issued under the title, “ Telephones,

1907.” This report also contains descriptivematerial on equipment
and methods and statistics on use of telephones by railroads.
The results of the investigation for 1912 were published in two

forms: A preliminary report entitled “ Telephones and Telegraphs,

1912," issued as Bulletin 123 and as a final report entitled “ Tele

406

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STATIS

WORK

phones and Telegraphs and Municipal Electric Fire Alarm and
Police-Patrol Signaling Systems, 1912.” The report for 1912 con
tained information regarding use of telephones by railroads, but
in 1917 this material was included in the report on telegraphs.

The report for 1917 was issued under the title “ Census of
Electrical Industries, 1917 — Telephones,” and includes data on the

following topics : Number of lines,mileage, stations, localand long
distance messages, employees, salaries and wages, revenues, ex
penses, capital stock , value of plantand equipment.
The reports for 1912 and 1917 are in more detailed form than

the earlier ones, as they give separate figures by states for the lines
controlled by the Bell System and for all other lines. All the re

ports give statistics by states for all systems combined.
Statistics on telephones in Porto Rico are contained in Bulletin
99 of the Bureau of the Census, “ Electrical Industries of Porto

Rico, 1907,” which also contains a history of the telephone system
of the territory.
Statistics of telephone systems in 1922 are given in the report of
the Bureau of the Census entitled “ Census of Electrical Industries,

1922 : Telephones.” Figures are given by states for wiremileage,
systems and lines, telephones, calls, finances, number of employees,
and amount spent for salaries and wages. One section compares
directly the operations of the Bell System and of all other systems

in the several states.
A brief summary of the census statistics for years covered by the
reports up to 1917 is given in Circular 112 of the Bureau of Stan

dards, entitled “ Telephone Service.”
The number of farms in each state reporting telephones is given

in Volume V of the Reports of the Fourteenth Census (1920 ) .
Monthly summary statistics of telephone companies having
annual revenues in excess of $250 ,000 are issued in mimeograph
form by the Interstate Commerce Commission. These statements
give figures for the currentmonth , for the samemonth of the pre

ceding year,and for the cumulative period of the current year and
the preceding year. They show number of stations and revenues
and expenses under various heads. They do not give figures for

individual companies. The statistics are compiled from reports
required by the Commission.

LAND TRANSPORTATION

407

Beginning with thereport for 1921 the volumes entitled “ Statis
porting to the Interstate Commerce Commission for the following

tics of Railways,” contain separate figures for all companies re
items:

Miles of wire.

Investment in plant and equipment.
Other investments.

Operating revenues.

Operating income.
Net income.

Dividends declared .

Statistics of Railways contains also monthly figures for the

larger companies reporting to the Commission giving the following
data :

Number of company stations.
Operating revenues.
Operating expenses.

Operating income before deductions of taxes.
Operating income.

The figures in Statistics of Railways are for a year later than
that indicated by the title of the report.
The Interstate Commerce Commission issues also mimeographed
statements giving annual figures for separate companies and totals
for companies in the several classes showing the following items:
Mileage .

Investment in plant and equipment.
Other investments.
Cash .

Total working assets.

Capital stock.
Unmatured funded debt.
Total working liabilities .
Accrued depreciation .
Total corporate surplus.

Operating revenues.
Operating expenses .
Operating income.
Net income.
Dividends- amount and rate .

CHAPTER XXV
SHIPPING
In this chapter are discussed the reports which deal primarily

with themerchant marine, the facilities of ports, and water freight
rates. Publications dealing with the movements of commodities on

waterways of the United States are described in Chapter XXVI,
Domestic Commerce,and those dealing with commodity movements

in foreign commerce are described in Chapter XXIII, Imports
and Exports.
The primary sources for statistics on the construction of vessels
are the publications of the Bureau ofNavigation of the Department
of Commerce. From 1884 to 1923 the statistics were given in detail
in the series of annual reports of the Commissioner of Navigation .

Beginning with the fiscal year 1924, the detailed statistics were

published in the pamphlet entitled “ MerchantMarine Statistics,”
only summary figures being given in the annual report. These
reports contain statistics on the following subjects :
Number and tonnage of registered, enrolled and licensed vessels, by ports
and states of documentation .”

* From 1884 to 1902 the Bureau of Navigation was a part of the Treasury
Department, from 1903 to 1912 it was a part of Department of Commerce
and Labor, and since 1912 it has been a part of the Department of Commerce.

* Documented vessels are divided into three classes : Registered vessels,

enrolled vessels, and licensed vessels. In the statements in this monograph the
use of these three terms indicates that separate statistics are given for each
class. The use of the term “ documented vessels " indicates that only the
total is given and that the three classes are not differentiated.
Vessels engaged in foreign trade and in trade with the insular posses

sions, except Hawaii and Porto Rico, and in the whale fisheries must be
registered ; vessels of twenty tons burden and upward exclusively engaged
in the coasting, inland , and fishery trade must be enrolled ; vessels between
five and twenty tons burden engaged in the coasting, inland and fishery
trades must be licensed . The general term applied to all three classes is

documentation , which is not required for canal boats , barges, lighters, and
similar crafts which have neither sails nor self-propelling power and which
are employed wholly in harbor or upon canals or other internal waters.
The ton in the measurement of ships equals one hundred cubic feet; the
gross tonnage is the measure of the entire ship ; the net tonnage is the cargo
carrying capacity, or the gross tonnage less the space assigned to machinery,
quarters. etc.
408

SHIPPING

409

Number and tonnage of registered, enrolled and licensed steam and gas
vessels, by districts of documentation .
Number and tonnage of registered, enrolled , and licensed metal vessels, by
districts of documentation.
Number and tonnage of registered , enrolled, and licensed steam and gas
metal vessels, by districts of documentation .
Number and tonnage of documented metal sailing, steam , and gas vessels
and barges, by districts of documentation .

Number and tonnage of registered, enrolled and licensed wood and metal
sailing , steam , and gas vessels, canal boats and barges.

Number and tonnage of sailing , steam , and gas vessels, canal boats , and
barges, by ports of documentation and by states.

and tonnage of sailing, steam and gas vessels, according to size
Number
and geographic distribution
.

Number and tonnage of enrolled and licensed sailing, steam , and gas ves
sels engaged in the cod and mackerel fisheries, by ports of documentation .
Number and tonnage of sailing , steam , and gas vessels engaged in the
whale fisheries, by ports of documentation,

Number and tonnage of sailing, steam and gas vessels, canal boats, and
barges built and documented during the year by ports of documenta
tion .

Number and tonnage of sailing and steam vessels built and documented

during the year, by geographic distribution and following classes.
Sailing vessels.
Schooners.

Sloops.

Steam and gas vessels.
River.

Side wheel
Stem wheel.
Screw .

Lake- Screw .
Ocean .

Number and tonnage of documented sailing, steam , and gas vessels and
barges, built during the year, by ports in which built.
Number and tonnage of documented sailing, steam , and gas yachts, by
ports of documentation.
Number and tonnage of documented metal sailing, steam , and gas yachts,
by districts of documentation .
Number and tonnage of documented sailing, steam , and gas yachts, built
during the year, by districts in which built.
Number and tonnage of registered , enrolled, and licensed vessels engaged
in foreign trade, coasting trade, whale fisheries, and cod and mackerel

fisheries, 1789, every tenth year 1790 - 1910, every year 1911-24.
Number and tonnage of registered, enrolled , and licensed sailing, steam ,
and gas vessels and canal boats and barges engaged in foreign trade,
coasting trade, cod and mackerel fisheries, and whale fisheries at end

of fiscal year.

Number and tonnage of documented metal sailing, steam , and gas vessels
and barges built each year since 1838 .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Number and tonnage of registered, enrolled and licensed sailing and steam
vessels, 1789, every tenth year 1790 to 1910, every year 1911 to 1924.
Number and tonnage of documented canal boats and barges for each year
from 1868 to 1880, 1885, 1890, each year from 1895 to 1924.
Balance sheet of tonnage accounts showing increase and decrease in regis
tered, enrolled and licensed vessels.
Balance sheet of tonnage accounts showing increase and decrease in sail
ing, steam , and gas vessels, canal boats, and barges.
Number and tonnage of steel sail, steam , and gas vessels and barges built
and documented during the year.
Number and tonnage of documented sailing and steam vessels, canal boats,
and barges built each year 1797 - 1800, every tenth year 1810 - 1910 , each
year 1911- 24. This table gives the number and tonnage for each
class mentioned and in addition gives number for the following sub
classes : Sailing vessels— ( 1) ships, barks and barkentines ; ( 2) brigs ;
( 3 ) schooners ; (4 ) sloops. Steam vessels - ( 1) side wheel ; (2 ) stern

wheel; ( 3 ) propellor.

Number and tonnage of vessels built, by geographic divisions, for each
year since 1857 .

Tonnage of vessels built, foreign vessels admitted to registry and vessels
lost, sold to aliens or otherwise disposed of, for each year since 1813.
Tonnage of steel steam vessels built during the past 10 years, by ports.

Steel merchant vessels being built or under contract, for private ship
owners, by individual yards.
Tonnage tax collections, beginning with 1884.

Tonnage tax collected during year, by customs districts, by nationality of
vessels, and by countries from which entered .
Ayerage monthly wages paid in the merchant marine during recent years

for the following employees : Sailing vessels — able seamen , boatswains,
carpenters, first and second mates ; Steam vessels -- able seamen , boat
swains, carpenters, first and second mates, firemen , trimmers, first and
second engineers. The reports contain also information regarding wage

agreements and working conditions for some other classes of employees.
The reports also contain statistics of the number of seamen
shipped before shipping -commissioners and collectors of customs

who perform the duties of shipping-commissioners at ports where
commissioners are not authorized. The seamen shipped before

shipping commissioners are shown by nationality and port atwhich
shipped. In using statistics of shipment of seamen, it should be
borne in mind that the figures represent the number of transactions

and not the number of individuals shipped. If the same individual
shipped for six voyages during the year he would be reported six
times in this table. While these tables do not show the number of
American and foreign seamen serving at any specified time, they

* Figures for each year beginning with 1789 are given in the annual reports
of the Commissioner of Navigation prior to 1924.

SHIPPING

411

probably do give approximately correct information regarding the
ratio of foreign seamen to native seamen . It may be assumed that
the reshipments of each class offset each other.

Up to 1916 the reports of the Commissioner of Navigation in
cluded statistics on the number of seamen on American vessels

shipped , discharged, and deserted in foreign ports .

Square rigged vessels have gradually declined in number and
tonnage, and by reason of the historical interest of this type of

vessel one table in the reports of the Commissioner of Navigation
prior to 1924 shows the number, tonnage, and year built of all
square rigged documented vessels.
All of the statistics discussed above are derived from the records

of the Bureau of Navigation , therefore, these reports may be re
garded as a primary source of information . The text of the annual
report contains considerable discussion on the problems relating

to shipping and the merchantmarine, as the Commissioner of Navi
gation is specifically charged with the enforcement of all laws relat

ing to the documentation of vessels.
In addition to the primary information discussed above the publi
cations contain statistics, taken mainly from British sources, show

ing the amountof shipping under each flag, the number of vessels
launched and under construction during the year, and the number
and tonnage of oil burners and tankers under each flag. The annual

reports prior to 1924 show the amountof shipping in foreign coun
tries over a series of years.
The annual reports prior to 1924 and MerchantMarine Statistics
for 1924 also contain statistics on vesselmovement, the figures being
derived from the reports of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic

Commerce,but the tables in the publicationsof the Bureau of Navi
gation cover longer periods. They show the following :
Value of imports and exports in American and foreign vessels for each fiscal
year beginning with 1821.

Tonnage of American and foreign vessels entered and cleared for each fiscal
year beginning with 1821.

Value of water -borne imports and domestic exports by nationality of vessel
during each of six latest fiscal years.

Value of water-borne imports and domestic exports by months for each of
the six latest fiscal years.

Current statistics of vessels entered and cleared in the foreign

trade are published in the Monthly Summary of Foreign Com

L

412

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merce, and in the annual volume entitled “ Foreign Commerce and

Navigation ” issued by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce. These reports are discussed on pages 349 and 357.

The number and tonnage of ships built in each customs district
from 1855 to 1879 are given in Volume 2 of the Department of
Agriculture publication entitled “ Report on Forestry ” by Franklin
B . Hough, issued in 1880 ; this publication appeared also as House
Executive Document 37, 46th Congress, 2d Session .

In 1870 the problem of the merchant marine resulted in two
reports - one by Joseph Nimmo, Jr., published as House Executive

Document 111, 41st Congress, 2d Session ,and the other the report
of a Select Committee of Congress on the reduction of American
tonnage, issued as House Report 28, 41st Congress, 2d Session .
Both of these reports contained a compilation of data in general
relating to the period from 1850 to 1869 on shipbuilding, entrances
of American and foreign vessels, and commodities carried in Ameri
can and foreign vessels. The committee report contained also a list
of steamship lines between American and foreign ports.
Statistics on the tonnage of vessels entered at and cleared from

the leading ports by fiscal years from 1867 to 1909 are given in the
publication of the NationalMonetary Commission entitled “ Statis

tics of the United States, 1867-1909."
The annual report of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and

Harbors, published as a portion of the annual report of the Chief
of Engineers of the U . S . Army, contains information regarding
the number and tonnage of vesselmovements at many places. As
entrances and clearances are not required for the greater part of

the domestic movements, figures for arrivals and departures are

not obtained from official documents, as in the case of movements
in foreign trade. In this report also , there is some confusion in the
use of the technical terms indicating the classification of vessels.
The term " registered ” is generally used when the terms docu
mented, enrolled, or licensed should be employed.
Bulletin 74 of the Department of Agriculture, entitled “ Inland
Boat Service,” gives figures on freight rates on principal inland
waters in effect in September and October , 1912.
* For bibliographic note on other volumes of this report see page 372.

SHIPPING

413

A comprehensive report on the terminal facilities, commerce,
port charges, and administration at 68 leading ports in the United
States was published by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce in 1916 as Miscellaneous Series 33, “ Ports of the United

States.” While the greater part of the report is descriptive there
are statistics of the trade of each port for 1913 and 1914 taken

mostly from the reports of the Chief of Engineers.
The Corps of Engineers of the Army and the Shipping Board are
coöperating in the publication of a series of reports in which will

ultimately be described all the important ports of the United States.

Primarily these reports are descriptive and are planned to give
information regarding the facilities, charges, and other factors
affecting the movement of vessels, but they contain a considerable

amount of statisticalmaterial dealing with trade, freight rates, and
other related topics. They are published under the general title
" Port Series,” the volumes issued up to November, 1924, being as
follows :
No. 1. The port of Portland , Maine.

No. 2. The port of Boston , Massachusetts.
No. 3. The ports of Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola , Florida.
No. 4. The port of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , including Camden , New
Jersey, Chester, Pennsylvania , and Wilmington , Delaware.

No. 5 . The port of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Freight rates on grain and on provisions from New York to

Liverpool from 1866 to 1892 are given in the report of the Al
drich Committee, entitled “ Wholesale Prices, Wages, and Trans
portation ," published as Senate Report 1394, 52d Congress, 2d Ses

sion . For some years these rates are given for each month , but for
a number of years the interval is longer.
From 1905 to 1912 the Yearbook of the Department of Agri
culture contained monthly ocean freight rates on grain and cotton ,
as well as combined rail, lake, and ocean rates on grain , cotton ,

livestock, and meats from Chicago to European ports.
Bulletin 12 of the Division of Statistics of the Department of
Agriculture, entitled “ Freight Charges for Ocean Transportation
of Products of Agriculture, October 1, 1895, to October 1 , 1896,"
gives monthly rates on important farm products between the
principal American and European ports by months from October,
1895, to September, 1896 .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Bulletin 67 of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of
Agriculture, entitled “ Ocean Freight Rates and Conditions Affect
ing Them ,” gives annual figures on freight rates on the following
products.
Wheat, corn, and rye to Liverpool and Cork from New York , Baltimore,
and New Orleans, annually , 1886 to 1906 .

Cotton from New York, New Orleans, and Savannah to Liverpool, Bremen ,
and Havre, annually, 1886 to 1906 .

Various products from Boston, New York, and Baltimore to several
European ports, annually, from 1903 to 1906 .

In the report of the Tariff Commission entitled “ Preferential
Freight Rates," issued in 1922, are given the following data on
ocean freight rates for selected commodities:
Rotterdam and Amsterdam from North Atlantic ports via Holland-Ameri
can line in 1913.

Europe from North Atlantic ports via Hamburg- American line in 1913.
Liverpool from North Atlantic ports, 1913 and 1920 .

Gothenburg from United States ports, 1920 .
Antwerp from United States ports in 1913 and 1920.
Kingston , Jamaica from United States ports in 1913 and 1920 .
Buenos Aires from United States ports in 1920 .
Iquiqui, Chile , from United States ports in 1913 and 1920.

Singapore from United States ports in 1920.

Various foreign ports to United States ports, June, 1913, and June, 1921.

CHAPTER XXVI

DOMESTIC COMMERCE
With the exception of agricultural products the National govern
ment has done little in the way of investigations of marketing and
distribution . The Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance

prior to 1912 contained data on themovement of commodities, and
the Federal Reserve Bulletin almost since its first publication has

contained some data along this line.
Data on the carload movement of certain agricultural products
classified by states of original shipment are given in Part III of

the Report of the Joint Commission of Agricultural Inquiry , pub

lished in 1922 as House Report 408, 67th Congress, ist Session.
Part IV of the same report contains data on the spread in price of

raw farm products from the producer to primary markets, and the
elements of wholesaler 's, retailer's and consumer's cost of various
manufactured products. The material in this volume was collected
especially for this inquiry, being obtained by means of question
naires.
In 1874 a select committee of Congress on transportation routes
to the seaboard made a report, published as Senate Report 207,
43d Congress, ist Session , which is largely devoted to testimony
and a discussion of the transportation problem , but which contains

some statisticalmaterial from unofficial sources on the grain move
ment, grain price, and freight rates on railroads in the United

States, on ocean steamers, and on British canals and railways. The

statistics are generally for the ten years ending in 1873, but some
are for longer and some for shorter periods.

Early Treasury Department Reports. In 1845 and 1846 the
Secretary of the Treasury made two reports to Congress entitled
“ Statistics of Agriculture and Manufactures, and Domestic Trade,

Currency and Banks,” published as Senate Document 21, 28th
Congress, 2d Session ,' and House Document 171, 29th Congress,
* This reportwas also issued as House Document 35, 28th Cong., 2d sess.
415

416

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Ist Session. The material was collected through officers of the
Treasury Department and other sources. While not exhaustive, it
contains interesting local statistics on the development of manu
factures and domestic trade.

The Secretary of the Treasury in 1852 submitted another report,
generally known as Andrews' British North American Colonies,

which contains considerable material on internal commerce. This
report was also published as Senate Executive Document 112, 32d
Congress, ist Session . The first part is devoted to statistics of
Canada and Newfoundland for 1850 and 1851. The portion on in
ternal commerce includes detailed statistics on receipts and ship

ments at lake ports during three years, a description of railroad
and canal development in each state, detailed statistics on move
ments of commodities on New York State canals, annually , from
1820 to 1851, statistics on manufactures and commercial move

ments at principal places, and the movement of vessels at principal
eastern ports for each year from 1821 to 1851.
In 1864 the Treasury Department prepared a report on foreign
and domestic trade which was published as Senate Executive
Document 55, 39th Congress, ist Session . The portion of this
volume relating to domestic trade included statistics on the annual

movement of commodities on the Pennsylvania Railroad for 1859

to 1863, the total tonnage movement each year on the New York
canals from 1836 to 1862, shipments of principal classes of com

modities from interior points for each year from 1854 to 1862,and
detailed statistics on lake commerce at Buffalo . A chapter of this

report entitled “ Overland Trade and Communication between the
Pacific Coast and the Mississippi Valley States," contained mostly a
review of economic and industrial conditions in the Great Basin
region ; there was little statistical material in this chapter, as data
were probably not available.
Bureau of Statistics. Between 1876 and 1891 the Bureau of
Statistics of the Treasury Department issued eleven reports on the
internal commerce of the United States under the following titles:
[ 1] First annual report on the internal commerce of the United States . . .
for the fiscal year ending June 30 , 1876 . (Published also as House
Ex . Doc. 46, part 2 , 44th Cong ., 2d sess. )
? A year earlier a somewhat similar report was published as Senate
Executive Document 23, 31st Congress , 2d sess .

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

417

(2 ) Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . submitted
December 1, 1879. (Published also as House Ex. Doc. 32, part 3, 45th
Cong., 3d sess.)
(3) Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . submitted
July 1, 1881. ( Published also as House Ex. Doc. 7, part 2, 46th
Cong., 3d sess.)

[4 ) Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . for the
fiscal year 1881-82.

[ 5] Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . submitted
December 31, 1884 . (Published also as House Ex. Doc. 7, part 2,

48th Cong., 2d sess.)
[6 ] Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . submitted
May 6 , 1885. (Published also as House Ex. Doc. 7 , part 3, 48th
Cong., 2d sess.)

[7 ] Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . submitted
December 20, 1886. The commercial, industrial, transportation , and
other interests of the Southern States. ( Published also as House
Ex. Doc. 7, part 2, 49th Cong ., ad sess.)
(8 ) Report on the internal commerce of the United States . . . submitted
January 30, 1888. Special report on the commerce of the Mississippi,
Ohio , and other rivers, and of the bridges which cross them . (Pub

lished also as House Ex. Doc. 6, part 2, 5oth Cong., ist sess.)
[ 9 ] Report on the internal commerce of the United States for the fiscal
year 1889. The commercial, industrial, transportation and other in
terests of Arkansas, Colorado, Dakota, Indian Territory, Kansas,

Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming.
(Published also as House Ex. Doc. 6 , part 2, 51st Cong., ist sess.)

( 10 ) Report on the internal commerce of the United States for the year
1890. The commercial, industrial, transportation , and other interests
of Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon , Utah, and
Washington . (Published also as House Ex. Doc. 6 , part 2, 51st
Cong., ad sess.)
( 11 ) Report on the internal commerce of the United States for the year
1891. The commerce of the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River and
its tributaries. ( Published also as House Ex. Doc. 6, part 2, 52d

Cong., 2d sess.)

These reports do not give a complete résumé of the internal
commerce of the United States, nor are the statistics confined to the
years indicated by the titles . Five of the volumes, as is indicated
above, relate specifically to certain regions, and give a general sta

tistical and economic review of the areas discussed. The other
reports contain statistical reports on selected products or on the

trade of specified cities or regions. There is no continuity in the

material, and it is impossible to describe it except in general terms.
The student interested in internal commerce of the United States

between 1876 and 1891 would do well to consult all the volumes in
this series, as they contain a mass of data which are not generally
available elsewhere.
28

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In 1898 a report entitled “ Statistics of Lake Commerce ,"
published by the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department

and also issued as House Document 277, 55th Congress, 2d Session ,

contained data on the trade in flour, grain , iron ore, coal, and
lumber at the principal ports for varying periods. The figures were
collected from the records and reports of commercial organizations

and from other sources and are not based on government records.
From May to December, 1900, statistics of lake commerce were

published in theMonthly Summary of Commerce and Finance, and
during 1900, seven monographs dealing with domestic and foreign
trade were published as follows :
January. Grain trade of the United States.
February. Provision trade of the United States.
March. Cotton trade of the United States.
April. Coal trade of the United States.
August. Iron and steel trades of the United States.
November . Lumber industry of the United States.

December. Shipping industry of the United States.

From January , 1901, to June, 1912, statistics of internal com
merce were published regularly in theMonthly Summary of Com
merce and Finance, figures for the calendar year being given in the

December number . These statistics did not pretend to give a

complete account of all internal commerce, but they did give com
parative information regarding the rail and water movement of
specified commodities at designated points. They thus supply
specific information regarding themovements of some commodities
or the activities at certain points, and also a measure of the trend

of general commercial conditions. The student of internal com
merce during this period would do well to examine each number ,

as the information given varied considerably. The following trans
cript of the main topics on which data are given in the issue of

December, 1911, will give a general idea of the scope of the sta
tistics at that time:
Commercial movements at interior centers.
Domestic commerce of the Great Lakes.
Commercial movements at the North Atlantic Seaboard.
Coastwise commerce at Atlantic and Gulf Ports.

* Published by Bureau of Statistics of Treasury Department up to June,
1903, and by the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and
Labor from July, 1903, to June, 1912.
*Mostly of livestock , grain , and provisions.

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

419

Commercial movements in southern territory.
Commercial movements on the Pacific Coast .

Commercialmovement on rivers and canals.

Commercial movements of coal, coke and petroleum and production of pig
iron .

Lake freight rates.
Ocean freight rates.

Building operations.

Reports of the Chief ofEngineers, War Department. Statistics
on the commerce on the waterways of the United States that have
been improved have been published in the annual report of the

Chief of Engineers since about 1870 . These reports vary consider
ably as regards the data , the earlier ones especially being very

meager. They are confined to the streams that are being improved
by the Engineer Corps of the Army, although the reports for 1920

and later years contain additional tables by ports and waterways
with a general summary of the water traffic on all streams. Up to
and including 1919 these statistics formed part of the report of
each district engineer in charge of the improvement. In the reports
for 1920 and later years all the statistics relating to transportation

by water were brought together in one section which was entitled
“ Commercial Statistics," and which was also published separately .
While the reports so far issued relate only to traffic through chan
nels under improvement, it is planned to extend the work and
obtain statistics for all streams.

These statistics are not collected from time to time during the
year, butat the close of the year the district engineer calls upon the
various transportation companies for reports regarding the volume

of traffic. The reports of the separate companies are then combined
in the office of the district engineer in order to obtain the report
for any port or stream . In the early reports there was little
uniformity in the classification for commodities, but during re
cent years the classification has been on a uniform plan . Owing

to the lack of uniform treatment the student must be on his
guard not to misinterpret some of the terms used. The terms

“ imports ” and “ exports ” are frequently used simply to indicate
inbound and outbound movements. The term “ foreign exports ”
is often used as meaning exports of any character and not as ex

ports of foreign goods previously imported into the United States,
as in the statistics of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com

420

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

merce. The reports of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com
merce should be used for information on imports and exports. The
Engineer Corps report for 1920 is particularly misleading for

many items for which quantities are given in tons in the statistics
of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. The “ ton,"
as used in the reports of that Bureau , uniformly means the long
ton of 2240 pounds. In the engineer report, the figures of the
Bureau for many items are transcribed and called “ short tons,"

without making the necessary conversions.
Notwithstanding the fragmentary character of the statistics in
the reports of the Chief of Engineers, these reports constitute the
only source of annual information regarding domestic water -borne

commerce. Indexes to the reports from 1866 to 1912 and from 1913
to 1917 have been published by the office of the Chief of Engineers,

but all the statisticalmaterial is not indexed.

At various times the earlier annual and special reports of the
Engineer Corps ofthe Army on proposals for improving navigation
on the rivers and Great Lakes contained some statistical material.
The Annual Report of the Corps of Topographical Engineers for
1843, in the Annual report of the Secretary of War (Senate Docu

ment 1, 28th Congress, ist Session , and House Document 2,
28th Congress, ist Session ) contains figures on total traffic at lake
ports by value for each year from 1835 to 1841 and on total

quantity and value of commodities moving at each port for 1841.
A special report by the Chief of Engineers on steamboats on the

MississippiRiver and northern lakes published as House Document
170 , 27th Congress , 3d Session , contains figures for 1841 and 1842

for ports on the Ohio River and Great Lakes on the number of

passengers, value of cargoes, and tonnage and cost of vessels. A
report by Col. J. J . Abert, Chief of Topographical Engineers on
the commerce of the lakes and western rivers is mostly descriptive,
but contains some figures on total commerce at lake ports.
Bureau of the Census. Statistics of water transportation were
collected in connection with the Censuses of 1850 , 1860, 1880, and

1890. Since the organization of the permanent Census Bureau,
reports on water transportation have been issued at ten -year inter

vals for years other than those in which the decennial census was
taken . Two reports of this character have been published pertain

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

421

ing to the years 1906 and 1916. Prior to the Census of 1880 only
brief statistics were published , no data regarding traffic being given
during that period. The reports for 1850, 1860 , and later years

contain data on canals and constitute the best sources for the history
of canaltransportation . The report for 1906 includes tables show
ing the amount appropriated up to that time for the improvement

of waterways. The Census reports containing data on water trans
portation are as follows:
Seventh Census: 1850.
Statistical view of the United States— Compendium of the Seventh
Census.
sus.
Abstract of the Seventh Census.
Eighth Census: 1860.

Preliminary report on the Eighth Census.
Statistics of the United States in 1860 .

Tenth Census : 1870.

Vol. IV . Agencies of transportation.
Compendium of the Tenth Census, Part II.
Eleventh Census : 1890.

Transportation business — Part II, Transportation by water.
Compendium of the Eleventh Census.
Abstract of the Eleventh Census.

Statistical atlas of the United States.
Intercensal publications.
Transportation by water , 1906.
Transportation by water, 1916 .

The report for 1916 contains data on the following topics :
Number , gross tonnage, value of vessels by various type.
Character of ownership .
Amount of construction .
Income received .
Employees, salaries and wages.
Freight and passengers carried .

The introductory chapter contains statistics for the United States
as a whole, and there are separate chapters on the Atlantic Coast
and Gulf of Mexico , the Pacific Coast, the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River, the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and
canals and other inland waters. For principal ports, statistics are
given on the total movement of commodities by water ; separate
tabulations are also given also showing the movement of specific
commodities or classes of commodities that form an important
part of the trade of the larger ports.

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

422

Industrial Commission . Considerable statistical material on the

production, cost,movement, and prices of farm products is con
tained in Volume VI (“ Distribution of Farm Products ” ) of the
report of the Industrial Commission of 1898 . Some of this infor

mation was compiled by the representatives of the Commission

from original sources and some was taken from the reports of com
mercial organizations. It would require too much space to list all
the topics, so the outline below gives the title ofeach study and a list
of the more important and representative statistical material:
Distribution of cereals.
Movement of grain through St. Louis, 1897 -99.
Expenses of marketing grain in St. Louis and Kansas City in 1899 and
1900.

Monthly visible grain supply at forty -seven points, March, 1899 , to
February, 1900.

Visible supply of wheat and corn in the United States on first of each
month , 1890 to 1899.
Weekly wheat movement - January 30, 1899, to January 29, 1900, re
ceipts at primary centers, exports of wheat and flour, surplus
stocks.

Flour manufactured at various cities, 1895-98 .
Shipments of grain and four from Chicago , by lake and by individual
railroads, 1898 .

Port of shipment of grain received in Buffalo , season of 1898 .
Freight rates on wheat from New York to Liverpool, 1880 to 1898.
Cotton in commercial distribution .
Spindles and looms in each cotton mill in southern states in 1900.
Cotton mills in northern and western states, number, capital, spindles
and looms by states.

Sources and destination of cotton moving through St. Louis, 1895-96
to 1898- 99.
Domestic movement of cotton crop of 1898- 99 .
Exports of cotton , by ports, fiscal years 1898 and 1899.
Expenses of marketing cotton .
Speculation and prices of wheat and cotton .
Average monthly prices of spot wheat at Chicago , 1885 to 1900 .
Average prices of wheat in New York on first of each month, 1840 to
1859.

Average monthly prices of middling cotton in New York , 1880 to 1900.

Average prices of cotton in New York on first of each month , 1840 to
1859.
Average prices of wheat in Chicago, May, July , October and December,
1883 to 1898.

Prices of wheat in Liverpool, October, December and May, 1885 to
1900 .
Prices of cotton at New York, Liverpool, and New Orleans, July,
October, January , and April, 1880 to 1899.
Daily prices of spot middling cotton in New Orleans, New York , and
Liverpool, 1894 to 1899.

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

423

The marketing of American livestock .

Source and destination of livestock received at Kansas City in 1899.
Receipts and shipments of livestock at St. Louis, 1868 to 1899.
Weekly prices of livestock at St. Louis, 1899.
Expenses of marketing and cost of production.
Receipts of livestock at principal seaboard cities, 1893 to 1899.

Daily prices of cattle at Kansas City in 1899.

Pork-packing at principal points in Mississippi Valley, 1892 -93 to
1897 -98.
Daily prices of hogs in Kansas City, 1898 and 1899 .

The distribution of dairy products.

Butter and cheese transactions on the Elgin Board of Trade, 1894 to
1899 .

Weekly butter prices of the Elgin Board of Trade, 1880 to 1899.
Receipts and consumption of butter at New York , 1883 to 1897 .
Receipts and shipments of butter at Chicago , 1853 to 1898 .
Receipts and shipments of butter and cheese at Chicago and St. Louis

by individual rail lines, 1898.
The distribution of the tobacco crop .
Expenses of marketing .
The distribution of wool.

Woolen mills - number, capital, spindles and looms, by states, 1890 .
Prices by grades, 1890.
Expenses of marketing.
Receipts and shipments at Chicago, 1853 to 1898 .
Distribution of farm products in city markets.
Prices and expenses of distribution at various centers.
The milk trade in cities and towns.

Receipts of milk at New York , by individual railroads, 1895 to 1899 ,
and by months for 1899 .

Prices in New York .

Receipts of milk at Philadelphia, by individual railroads, 1888 to 1899
and by months for 1899 .

The broomcorn trade.

Production in Illinois, 1877 to 1898 .
The hay trade.

Receipts, shipments, and prices at important markets.
The fruit and vegetable trade.

Dried fruit products of California, 1891 to 1898.
Destination of fruit shipped from California, by cities, 1895 to 1899.
List of grain elevators, warehouses and mills along Northern Pacific
Railroad .

Daily closing prices of cotton futures in New York and Liverpool, 1894 to
1899.

Inland Waterways Commission . In 1907, President Roosevelt
appointed the Inland Waterways Commission to study and re
port on the use and development of the interior waterways of
the coutry, and in 1908 transmitted to Congress a “ Preliminary

Report,” of that body, which was published as Senate Document

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

424

325, 6oth Congress, Ist Session . The text of the report without

the appendices was also published under the same title, No final
report was issued . The statisticalmaterialis entirely in the appen
dices, which are as follows:
1. Navigable streams of the United States.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Commerce on interior rivers.
Statistics of commerce on the Great Lakes.
Government aid to inland navigation .
Government slack water rivers.

6. Canals in the United States.
7. State and private canals .

8. Relation of water transportation to railroad rates.
9. Railroad control of river traffic and private canals.
10. Relations between waterways and railway traffic in Europe (Belgium ,
Germany, France, Austria -Hungary, Holland, Great Britain ).
11. Effects of the purity of industrial water on their use.
12. Applications of water power.

13. Relation of water conservation to flood prevention and navigation in
the United States.

14. Fuels, structural materials in relation to inland water transportation.
15. General relations of forests and streams.
16 . Special relations of forests to rivers in the United States.

17. The Gallatin report on roads and canals.
18. Report of Windom select committee on transportation routes.

19. Statutes relating to water power.

The appendices which contain the greater part of the statistical

materials are Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6 , 7 , and 8 . The chapters on rivers and
canals contain no original material, but include a large volume of

data on movements of specific commodities and total commerce at
important places compiled from earlier government reports and
from the reports of commercial organizations. Statistics are not

given for any year later than 1906 , but the earlier statistics in some
cases extend over a period of seventy years . The appendix dealing

with freight rates contains a large amount of current data from
original sources as well as historical tables compiled from various
sources.

National Waterways Commission . The Act of March 3 , 1909 ,

created a body known as the NationalWaterways Commission, to
make a study of the problem of inland transportation. The final
report of this body was published as Senate Document 469, 62d

Congress, 2d Session. This report, however, contains little statisti
cal material, although the text is of interest to the studentof the
problem of water transportation. A preliminary report was pub

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

425

lished as Senate Document 301,61st Congress, 2d Session . While
the Commission did not attempt to assemble any large amount of

basic material, it published a series of monographs on waterways,
most of which contain scattered statistics compiled from other
reports, particularly those of foreign governments . The titles of
these reports, given below , indicate the character of the material

thatmay be found in them :
Document 1. Mason , F . H . Report on canals and navigable rivers in dis
trict of Berlin . 1909. 8 p.map.
Document 2. Questions (concerning European waterways] for consular offi
cers in Europe, to follow letter from State Department, 1909. I p.
Document 3. Straight, W . D . Memorandum on navigation of rivers of
China, Korea, and Russian Far East. 1909. 10 p . 7 pl. map .

Document 4. Statement of expenses, net earnings, excess of expenses, tons,
and tons i mile of Delaware and Raritan Canal, 1872- 1908. 1909. 2 p.
Document 5. Mahan, F . A . Report [on port of Hamburg and lower Elbe. ]
1909. 28 p.

Document 6 . Questions showing scope of work of commission , including
inquiries transmitted to consular and engineer officers of the United
States. 1909. 9 p.
Document 7. Reports of consular officers of United States located in Ger

many, Austria -Hungary, France, Belgium , and the Netherlands, on river
and harbor improvements in their respective districts. July 20, 1909.
142 p .

Document 8. Germany. Act for construction of navigable canal from
Rhine to Elbe, and report on project, description , and tables of cost,
etc., of canals and canalized rivers in Germany ; translated by Annie M .

Brainard . July 21, 1909. 45 p.
Document 9. Great Britain. Summary of (or excerpts from ] report of
Royal Commission on Canals and Waterways of Great Britain ; by
Woodbury Pulsifer. July 24, 1909. 117 p.
Document 10. Tabulated statement relating to internal waterways improved
by Government. ( 1909.) 29 p. 4º.

Same; revised and corrected to Jan . 1, 1910 . Dec. 1909 (published ]
1910. 29 p. 4°.

Document 11. Dixon, F . H . Traffic history ofMississippi River system . Dec.
1909. 70 p.

Document 12. Wenusch , Josef, ritter von. Danube-Oder Canal, arguments
and comments; translation by Annie Brainerd. Jan . 1910. 8 p.
Document 13. Merchant, E . O . Participation in expense of waterway im

provements in Germany by localities interested. Jan . 1910. 3 p.
Document 14. Bixby, W . H . Regarding practicability of storage reser
voirs to prevent floods and to benefit navigation on Ohio and other
rivers of United States. Jan . 1910. 17 p. [ This is a review of Rela
tion of water conservation to flood prevention and to navigation in

Ohio River, by M . O . Leighton, which appeared in the Preliminary
report of the Inland Waterways Commission , 1908, pages 451-490 .)
Document 15 . Weber, A . H . Waterways of United States, actual expendi
tures and results to navigation and commerce. Mar. 1910. 18 p .

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Document 16. Mason, F. H . Railway freight rates, inland waterways, and
canals in France. 1910 . 78 p .
Document 17. Griffiths, J. L . Inland waterways and canals and railway
rates of United Kingdom . 1910 . 83 p .
Document 18. Railway freight rates, inland waterways, and canals in
Holland ; reports by Henry H . Morgan and S . Listoe. 1910 . 64 D .
Document 19. Thackara, A . M . Railway freight rates, inland waterways,
and canals of Germany ; supplemented by reports from other consular
officers in Germany. 1911. 181 p.
Document 20. Watts, Ethelbert. Railway freight rates, inland waterways,

and canals in Belgium ; with supplementary reports and appendices.
1911. 43 p .

Document 21. Reports of army engineers upon proposed canals connecting
Lake Erie with Ohio River and with Lake Michigan . 1911. 54 p. i tab .
Document 22. Snodgrass, J. H . Railway rates, inland waterways, and
canals in Russian Empire. 1911. 95 p .

It should be noted that the document numbers of these twenty
two reports are those of the Commission and do not refer to the

regular series of congressional documents.

Bureau of Corporations. From 1909 to 1912 the Bureau of
Corporations issued a report in four parts entitled “ Transpor
tation by Water in the United States," which embraced a compre
hensive study of the general conditions and history of water trans

portation. The scope of the investigation is well indicated by the

following subtitles of the four volumes:
Part I. General conditions of transportation by water.
Part II. Water -borne traffic .

Part III. Water terminals.

Part IV. Control of water carriers by railroads and by shipping combina
tions.

Part II of this report, “ Water-borne Traffic ,” is the volume

that is of greatest interest from the side of statistical material.
While it contains practically no new material, it brings together
in convenient form a mass of data relating to the total traffic and
themovement of commodities and classes of commodities at all the
principal ports in the United States. The statistics are compiled

mainly from the reports of the Chief of Engineers, the Monthly
Summary of Commerce and Finance, the Census reports, and the
publications of chambers of commerce and other trade organiza
tions. The period covered by the statistics varies, but in most cases

data are not given for any year later than 1906. The number of

earlier years varies according to the information available and the

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

427

importance of the port ; the period covered ranges from a single
year for less important streams to twenty -eight years for the
Sault Ste. Marie Canal.
Department of Agriculture. Current statistics dealing withmar

ket conditions as regards agricultural products are published by
the Department of Agriculture in Crops and Markets and annually
in the Yearbook . Crops and Markets is a weekly publication of the
Department of Agriculture issued under this title beginning Janu
ary 5, 1924. The material published in it is similar to that previ
ously published in Weather, Crops , and Markets (except the
weather material, now published separately by the Weather Bu
reau ) and to that in the Market Reporter and the Monthly Crop
Reporter, which were combined to form Weather, Crops, and

Markets in January, 1922. The weekly numbers contain market
reviews and current prices for livestock, meats, wool, dairy prod
ucts, fruits, vegetables, grain , hay, feeds, seeds, cotton , and foreign

crops. A monthly supplement, generally issued about the third

Saturday, contains monthly price and production statistics, data
on movements to market, the complete and detailed reports of the
crop -estimating service, reports on the foreign market situation ,

and special articles of economic and statistical interest concerning
leading agricultural products .

In addition the Bureau of Agricultural Economics issues daily
and weekly mimeographed report from Washington and its branch

offices as follows:
A cotton quotation service bulletin is issued on Monday of each week
from Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, New Orleans, and Dallas. It contains
cotton prices, figures indicating the cotton movement, general cotton mar

ket information and prices for cottonseed and its products. Each gives
this information primarily for the territory immediately surrounding the

city from which it is issued .

A daily market report on butter, cheese, eggs, and dressed poultry is
issued at New York , Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Min
neapolis and San Francisco, and contains summaries of market conditions ;

receipts and storage movement of butter, cheese, eggs, and dressed poultry ;
wholesale prices of butter and cheese in New York , Chicago, Boston , Phila
delphia , and San Francisco , and cheese prices at Wisconsin primary mar

kets . It also includes information as to the daily storage holdings at

six additional markets, Buffalo , Providence, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Kansas
City and St. Louis , and once each week shows the storage holdings in a

total of 26 markets, which in addition to those mentioned include Syracuse,
Cuba and Lowville, N . Y .; Cleveland ; Detroit ; Minneapolis ; St. Paul;

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Milwaukee, Green Bay, Marshfield, and Plymouth, Wisconsin ; Denver;
Seattle ; Portland ; and Los Angeles. Wholesale egg prices are reported
at Boston and San Francisco only. The daily report issued at Fond du Lac,

Wisconsin , contains only cheese market information .
A weekly butter market review , issued every Saturday, contains a sum
mary of market conditions, receipts, shipments, supplies, cold storage move
ment, and prices of butter in the cities mentioned above, during the current
week . This review is also published in Crops and Markets.

The weekly cheese market review , issued every Tuesday, contains a sum
mary of market conditions, receipts, shipments, and cold storage movement
of cheese in the cities mentioned above, during the preceding week , to

gether with a report of stocks in the hands of wholesalers and jobbers

in each of these cities and in cold storage at primary markets in Wisconsin .
This review is also published in Crops and Markets.
A monthly export report on dairy products, issued at New York , Chicago,
Boston , Philadelphia, Washington, Minneapolis, Fond du Lac, and San
Francisco , contains the monthly exports of butter, oleomargarine, cheese,
eggs, condensed and evaporated milk, and powdered milk, together with
destinations of shipments. It is summarized in Crops and Markets.
The monthly fluid milk market report gives the prevailing wholesale
and retail prices of milk paid by the different classes of trade, and prices
paid to producers in the larger and more important cities of the United
States. These prices also appear in Crops and Markets.
A monthly condensed milk market report shows wholesale prices of
sweetened condensed and unsweetened evaporated milk quoted by manu
facturers, prices paid producers by condenseries for whole milk in each
geographic section of the United States, and stocks in the hands of manu

facturers on the first of each month . It is summarized in Crops and Markets.
The monthly powdered milk market report contains wholesale prices
of the various classes of powdered milk and powdered buttermilk quoted
by manufacturers, prices paid producers by milk powder factories for
whole milk in each geographic section of the United States, and stocks
in manufacturers' hands on the first of each month. It is summarized in
Crops and Markets.
A monthly summary of cold storage holdings of dairy and poultry prod
ucts shows the stocks of butter, American and foreign types of cheese, and
case and frozen eggs in storage on the first of each month . It is released
from the branch offices at New York , Chicago, Philadelphia , Boston , Min
neapolis, Fond du Lac and San Francisco about the fifteenth of the month
following the date covered . The figures are also included in the monthly

report of cold storage holdings published in Crops and Markets.

Daily market reports of perishable fruits and vegetables are issued from
permanent market stations located in 18 of the larger cities of the United

States, including Washington , D . C ., and from numerous temporary field
stations in various producing areas during crop movement. They contain
the following data :

1. Telegraphic reports from many important markets giving the
number of cars of each commodity received daily, the state of origin
of these commodities, prevailing jobbing prices, quality and condition
of receipts, and marketing and weather conditions.

2. Telegraphic reports from all railroads handling the crops in ques
tion , giving shipments from each State up to midnight of the night
before.

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

429

3. Numerous f. o. b. prices from representatives of the bureau in
The weekly carlot summary of perishable fruits and vegetables shows the
producing areas.

total number of cars shipped from each State by weeks and shipping seasons
These tabulations are summarized in Crops and Markets.
A regular weekly review on perishable fruits and vegetables, issued on
Tuesday, summarizes market conditions, current supplies, and prices. This
report is often supplemented by detailed reports on special crops during
their heaviest shipping seasons. The monthly review , a statement issued
as reported telegraphically daily to the Bureau by transportation companies.

to the press, summarizes market conditions and tendencies for the preceding
four weeks.

After the close of each temporary field -station at which a bureau repre
sentative has issued market news reports, a summary of fruit and vege
table “ deals " is issued, in which is reviewed the deal and which gives in
detail the destinations of the cars shipped during the time the station was
in operation . In a few instances summaries are not issued.
The monthly summary of cold storage holdings of apples shows the
holdings of apples in storage on the first day of each month from October

to June. It is compiled and issued from the branch offices of the bureau ,
about the fifteenth of each month . The figures are also published with the
full cold storage report in Crops and Markets.
A semimonthly market report on honey and beeswax, issued throughout

the year, shows the supplies of honey on the market at 9 important cities,
and the range of market prices for the different flavors and grades of comb

and extracted honey and for beeswax . Information concerning prices and

general conditions is given from the principal honey-producing sections
of the country. Once a month import and export statistics for honey and

beeswax, from the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, are pub
lished in the report. Twice a year detailed tabulations are published of
the exports and imports of honey and beeswax for the preceding 12 months.
A summary is occasionally printed in Crops and Markets .
A weekly report on peanuts, issued throughout the year, shows the ar
rivals of peanuts at 12 important markets, as reported by the railroads
during the period intervening between each report ; the range of market

prices for different varieties and grades; prices and conditions prevailing
in the three principal producing sections; and prices of peanuts and peanut
oil in leading markets in England. Once a month import and export statis
tics for peanuts, peanut oil, cottonseed oil and soyabean oil, from the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, are published in the report. Twice a

year detailed tabulations are published of the exports and imports of pea
nuts and peanut oil for the preceding 12 months. A summary is occasionally
printed in Crops and Markets.

A weekly grain market review is prepared each Saturday at the Washing
ton office and issued the same day from that office and from Minneapolis,
Chicago, and Kansas City . It contains a summary of grain market con

ditions at the principal grain markets for the week ending Saturday . It
calls attention to the foreign market situation and other factors that have
influenced the market during the week . This review is not for general
distribution but is available to newspapers, county agents or other agencies
which have need for it or can give it further distribution .
Monthly and semi-monthly grain market reviews are prepared about
the first and fifteenth of each month and contain a rather comprehensive

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review of the grain market situation, including price factors, crop develop
ments andmovements, and other desirable data. These reviews are prepared
only at the Washington office and are available for distribution to monthly
and semi-monthly farm papers which desire special reports of this character
for their readers.
A weekly hay market review covers the hay market situation through
out the country. It is prepared each Saturday in the Washington office
and distributed the same day from that office and from the field offices
at Minneapolis, Chicago, and Kansas City. This report is not for general
distribution but is available to farm papers, county agents or other agen
cies which have need for it or can give it further distribution.

A daily report on livestock markets shows supply and demand, prices
and trend of market for cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, and lambs at Chicago,

East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Los Angeles, San Francisco , Denver,
Salt Lake City, Fort Worth , Portland , South St. Paul, Atlanta, Jersey
City, and New York . It is issued daily from the local offices of the Bureau

in the foregoing cities and in addition is issued in combination with the
daily report of meat trade conditions and wholesale prices from the offices
at Boston , New York , and Philadelphia .
A weekly review of livestock markets is issued each Thursday at Chicago,
East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, South St. Paul, Denver, San Fran

cisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Fort Worth, Salt Lake City, and Atlanta .
It reviews market conditions for the week at the market where released
and includes detailed information as to receipts, demand and prices paid

for the various classes and grades of livestock . A less detailed review of

conditions at Chicago, East St. Louis, Kansas City, and Omaha is released
each Friday at Boston , New York , and Philadelphia in combination with

the weekly review of meat trade conditions. A review of the Chicago mar
ket for the calendar week is printed in Crops and Markets.
A weekly report on livestock market statistics shows receipts of cattle
at 7 markets ; movements of stocker and feeder cattle from 12 markets
into 7 states, periodically and seasonally ; native beef steers sold out of

first hands for slaughter at Chicago ; weights and prices of stocker and
feeder steers shipped from Chicago ; weekly average weight and cost of
hogs at 5 markets ; comparative receipts of hogs at 7 markets ; percentages
of lambs, ewes and yearlings in sheep receipts at Chicago. It is released
each Monday from the Chicago office. A report showing the numbers,
average weights, average prices and state destinations of stocker and feeder
cattle shipped from St. Paul during the week is issued from that office.
A weekly report of stocker and feeder shipments from 12 markets, re
leased each Thursday as a part of the daily or weekly livestock summary
at Chicago, Kansas City , Omaha, East St. Louis, St. Paul, Atlanta, Den

ver, Fort Worth , Salt Lake City, and San Francisco , shows the shipments
of stocker and feeder cattle, hogs and sheep from 12 markets for the pre
ceding week with comparisons of the preceding week and the corresponding
week a year earlier, and the percentage of increase or decrease as com
pared with the 3 year average of the corresponding weeks.

A daily report of meat trade conditions and wholesale prices shows sup
ply and demand, prices and trend of market for western dressed fresh
beef, veal, pork , lamb and mutton in Boston, Chicago, New York , and

Philadelphia. It is issued daily except Saturday from the local offices of
the Bureau at Boston , New York , Philadelphia, Chicago, East St. Louis,

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

431

Kansas City, Omaha, and South St. Paul. At Boston , New York , and
Philadelphia this report is combined with the daily report of livestock
markets described above.
A weekly review of meat trade conditions is issued each Friday from
the local offices of the Bureau at Boston , New York , Philadelphia, Chicago ,
East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, South St. Paul, and San Francisco.
It reviews the week 's trading in western dressed fresh meats at Boston ,
New York , Philadelphia , and Chicago. At the three eastern cities, Boston ,

New York and Philadelphia, this review is issued in combination with
a brief review of livestock market conditions at Chicago, East St. Louis,
Kansas City, and Omaha. A similar review is published in Crops and
Markets .

A daily report on the Boston woolmarket, issued daily except Saturday,
from Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, East St. Louis, St. Paul, Boston ,
New York , Philadelphia, Denver, Fort Worth , and San Francisco , sum
marizes briefly the outstanding features of the day's wool market at Bos

ton . Prices are quoted on domestic fleece wools, by grease basis, by classes
and grades.

A weekly review of the woolmarket is a five or six page circular carry
quotations of prices on the principal grades of domestic and foreign wool,
tops, noils, mohair and wastes, terse comment on conditions in the pro
ducing sections, data on receipts and shipments of wool in the markets

ing a review of conditions in the wool markets of the Atlantic seaboard,

and imports of wool at the principal ports, summaries of stocks and con
general throughout the world . The releases are made at Boston on Tuesday
of each week . A similar report, in brief form , is issued from the branch
offices of the Bureau in Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, East St. Louis,

sumption of wool in the United States, and reports of wool conditions in

St. Paul, New York, Philadelphia , Denver, Fort Worth , and San Fran
cisco on Wednesday of each week ,
A monthly summary of cold storage holdings of frozen and cured meats

shows the stocks of frozen and cured beef and pork , including lard, frozen
lamb and mutton in storage on the first of each month in the United

States and in 4 cities Boston , New York , Philadelphia, and Chicago. It
is released from the branch offices of the Bureau in Boston, New York ,

Philadelphia, Chicago, East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, South St. Paul,
the date covered. It is primarily for the press and trade organizations,
but will be sent regularly to anyone requesting it. The figures are included
in the monthly report of cold storage holdings published in Crops and
Markets
Atlanta, Denver, and San Francisco about the 15th of the month following

.

A monthly summary of cold storage holdings of frozen and mild -cured
fish shows the stocks of frozen and mild -cured fish in storage on the fif
teenth of each month . It is released from the branch offices of the Live

stock, Meats and Wool Division in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chi
cago, East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, South St. Paul, Atlanta, Denver ,
and San Francisco about the end of each month following the date covered .

It is primarily for the press and trade organizations, but will be sent regu
A monthly report on animals slaughtered under Federal inspection is
issued near the twenty -fifth of each month as a part of the daily report
of livestock markets issued from the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,

larly to anyone requesting it. It is also published in Crops and Markets.

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NATIONAL STATISTICA WORK

Fort Worth, Kansas City, East St. Louis, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia,
Salt Lake City, and South St. Paul offices. It shows the total number of
cattle , hogs, and sheep slaughtered under Federal inspection in the United

States for the preceding month , with comparisons of the corresponding
month of the previous year. Total amounts of lard inspected are also in

cluded . The complete table is also included in the monthly supplement of
Crops and Markets, and sent to a small mailing list in mimeographed form
from Washington.

A monthly report of the livestock and meat situation contains data com
piled from returns received from packing houses and slaughtering estab
lishments, covering live and dressed weight, live cost and the percentage
of yields of various products of cattle, calves, swine, sheep and lambs.
These figures are published in Crops and Markets.

A quarterly wool stock report showing the stocks of wool, tops, and noils
held by dealers and manufacturers in the United States is issued quarterly
and is based on surveys made of stocks held on March 31, June 30, Septem

ber 30, and December 31 of each year. Stocks of raw wool are tabulated
by grade. Holdings of dealers are summarized according to cities ; holdings
of manufacturers are summarized according to sections. The report is
issued jointly by the Department of Agriculture, which collects and
compiles the returns on dealers' stocks, and the Department of Com
merce, which collects and compiles the returns on manufacturers' stocks.

The releases are made at Washington about thirty days after the survey
dates.

The weekly Marketgram is a generalmarket news service of the Bureau,
covering fruits, vegetables, livestock , meats, dairy products, grain, hay,
feed , seed, and cotton . It is prepared in Washington on Mondays, Wednes
days, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays of each week . Each issue covers

the week ending on day of issue. It is sent over leased telegraph wires to
certain branch offices of the bureau, from which it is mailed on request
to farm papers, daily and weekly newspapers, farmers' organizations, banks,
and others desiring it for publication or general distribution.
A special reportknown as the “ Boston Review ” is issued from the Bos
ton office for the New England States. This report is prepared on Tuesdays
and Fridays and gives a weekly review of the Boston market for fruits

and vegetables, dairy products and dressed meat, and reviews the Boston
livestock market.

A daily radio market news service is given by this bureau in coöperation
with more than 86 radio broadcasting stations in the United States, in
cluding the High-Power Stations of the Navy Department at Arlington,
Va., New Orleans, La., Great Lakes, Ill., and San Francisco, Calif. At
all of these stations with the exception of the Navy stations, the reports
are broadcast by radio telephone, making them immediately available to

any individual who may have a suitable radio receiving set and is within
the transmitting radius of one of the stations. This service is available to
more than 40 States. In some instances, the broadcasting is done by the
State University or by the College of Agriculture. In others, the stations
are operated by private commercial organizations receiving their reports
either directly from the Federal bureau or in coöperation with some State
marketing agency .

A review of State and Federalmarketing activities, issued every Wednes
day , contains current information relating to the agricultural marketing

DOMESTIC COMMERCE

433

activities carried on by the State bureaus or divisions of markets, the state
agricultural college, and the Federal Bureau of Agricultural Economics.
Distribution is limited to persons directly interested or engaged in market
ing work .

Monthly receipts of livestock and grain at principal markets
from 1910 to 1920 are shown in Bulletin 982 of the Department

of Agriculture, entitled “ Market Statistics.” This publication also
gives monthly figures on car lot shipments of fruits and vegetables
from each state from 1917 to 1920,monthly unloadings of car lots
from 1916 to 1920 of apples, cabbage, cantaloupes, onions, peaches,
white potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes at New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , St. Louis, Cincinnati, St. Paul, Minne
apolis, Kansas City, and Washington , D . C ., and annual unloading

of car lots of the same products at themarketsmentioned, classified
by the states from which the products were shipped .
From timeto time printed bulletins have been issued dealing with

the marketing and distribution of various crops. The following
list shows the titles of the publications of this character that have
been issued :

Department
of Agriculture Bulletins.
234. Strawberry supply and distribution

in 1914.

290. Rail shipments and distribution of fresh tomatoes, 1914.
298. Peach supply and distribution in 1914.
401. The marketing and distribution of western muskmelons in 1915.
477. Marketing and distribution of strawberries in 1915.

667. Car lot shipments of fruits and vegetables in the United States in
1916.

776. Cold storage reports, season 1917-18.
792. Report of storage of certain food products during 1918- 19.
935. The distribution of northwestern boxed apples, 1919 -20.
Circulars of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.
96 . Sugar supply of the United States. Its extent and distribution on
August 31, 1917 .

97. The supply of lard in the United States. Its extent and distribution
on August 31, 1917.

98 . The supply of canned salmon in the United States. Its extent and
distribution on August 31, 1917 .
99. Commercial stocks of miscellaneous cereal and vegetable food
stuffs in the United States on August 31, 1917 .

100. Commercial stocks of wheat and flour in the United States on
August 31, 1917.

101. Commercial stocks of miscellaneous animal food products in the
United States on August 31, 1917.
104. Commercial stocks of fertilizer and fertilizer materials in the
United States as reported for October 1, 1917 .

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

During a portion of the war period a large amount of data on
stocksof food grains was published in the periodical entitled “ Food
Surveys " issued by the Bureau of Markets of the Department of
Agriculture from April 29, 1918, to June 27, 1919. A general
index to all thematerial in Food Surveys is contained in the issue

for June 27 , 1919.
From November, 1917, to October 11, 1919, the Bureau of Mar

kets issued a periodical entitled “ Seed Surveys," which contained
statistics on stocks, production , requirements, prices, etc., of seed
of various kinds.
Monthly data on the cold storage of various kinds of apples ,

butter, cheese, eggs, poultry , meats, lard , and fish are given in
Statistical Bulletin 1, of the Department of Agriculture, entitled

“ Cold Storage Holdings." For most of the commodities, figures

are given for each month from January 1916 , to January , 1923,
although for some the period is shorter.

The shipments of grain on the Great Lakes is discussed in
Bulletin 81 of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Agri

culture, entitled “ Grain Movement in the Great Lakes Region,"
which shows shipments from principal ports and the ports to which
consigned by five-year periods from 1871 to 1909 and annually

from 1906 to 1909.
Shipping Board. Annually and quarterly the Shipping Board

issues a statement showing the total weight of all commodities
moving by water from each port on the Pacific to each port on the
Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico . Annually it issues a statement
showing weight of each principal commodity moving to and from
all Pacific Coast ports without regard to business at individual

ports. Passenger traffic between Atlantic and Pacific ports is also
shown quarterly .

CHAPTER XXVII

WATER POWER AND ELECTRIC POWER
Water power and electric power are treated under one head
because most of the later general reports on electric power deal
with water power as well as with current developed from other
sources .

Statistics on the amount of power used in manufactures have

been collected at each Census of Manufactures beginning with
1870 ." These statistics, however, are incidental to those relating to

manufactures, and make no attempt to present power development
as an independent subject. Special studies of water power have
been made at various times, the first report on the entire country

being the one made by the Census of 1880. The results of this
study were published as Volumes XVI and XVII of the Tenth
Census, entitled “ Water Power of the United States," Parts I
and II. This report contains little assembled material on the United

States as a whole, but includes a mass of information on the de

veloped and undeveloped powers in various regions, which are
discussed in a series of monographs. It also contains material on

the water supply systems of a large number of cities.
The earliest statistics on electric light and power were compiled
by the Census of 1890, and were confined to the state of New York ,
the District of Columbia , and the city of St. Louis. The statistics

relating to New York state were given in a chapter , entitled “ Elec
trical Industries in the State of New York,” in Volume XIII of

the reports of the Eleventh Census, “ Manufacturing Industries.”

Volume XI contains summary figures for New York state and for
St. Louis and the District of Columbia combined ; Volume XII

and Part II of the Compendium contain separate summary figures

for St. Louis. Summary figures for New York are also given in
Part III of the Compendium . The Abstract of the Eleventh Census

gives combined summary figures for the state of New York, the
District of Columbia , and St. Louis .
* For list of reports see page 258.
435

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

No further statistics relating to electric light and power were
collected until after the organization of the permanent Census
Bureau in 1902. Statistics have been collected for 1902 and every
fifth year thereafter and published in the following reports :

Central electric light and power stations (1902.] Bulletin 5. [Preliminary
report.]
Central electric light and power stations, 1902. [Final report.]
Electrical industries, 1902. [Portion on central electric light and power
stations identical with separate report on that subject. ]
Central electric light and power stations, 1907.
Central electric light and power stations and street and electric railways,
1912. Bulletin 124. [ Preliminary report.]

Central electric light and power stations and street and electric railways,
1912. [Final report.]
Census of electrical industries, 1917. Central electric light and power sta

tions with summary of electrical industries.

A report on central electric light and power stations in 1922 is
reported to be in course of preparation .

Among the special features in the earlier reports that are worth
special mention are an account of the development of electric
lighting in the final report for 1902 and in the report for 1912, an
account of the technical development of the industry from 1902 to

1907 in the report for 1907, and a table showing the number of
municipaland private central stations in each state and territory for
each year from 1881 to 1902 in the final report for 1902.
Statistics relating to central electric light and power stations,
and the history of these utilities in Porto Rico are given in Bulletin

99 of the Bureau of the Census, entitled “ Electrical Industries in

Porto Rico : 1907."
The establishments for which statistics are given in the reports
on central electric light and power stations comprise those which

distribute current to public or private customers for light, power,
heat, or traction uses. There are also included allmunicipal plants

regardless of whether they sell to private consumers or merely
furnish current for the municipality . Private plants operated in
connection with industries or institutions are not included , even

though some of these are larger than the public central plants.
The line of demarcation is along the line of the public utility.

There are not included plants operated by federal or state govern
ments primarily for the purpose of supplying light or power to
public buildings, military posts, etc ., or the plants of the Reclama

WATER POWER AND ELECTRIC POWER

437

tion Service, even though these plants sell a large part of their
current to private consumers.

The statistics in the report for 1917 include data on the topics

listed below , separate figures being given for commercial and mu
nicipal plants, and in some cases for the two combined :
Balance sheet showing assets and liabilities under various headings.
Income and expenses under various headings.

Primary power (number and horsepower) from steam engines, steam tur
bines, water wheels and turbines, and internal combustion engines,

classified by capacity of primemovers.
Generating equipment - number and kilowatt capacity of dynamos supply
ing direct current of constant voltage and constant amperage and of
alternating current ; separate figures for water power and other power.
Substation equipment of various classes-- number and kilowatt capacity.
Output of stations.
Use of current- arc and incandescent street lamps, number and horsepower

of stationary motors served , number of recording meters, number of
customers.
Development of hydro -electric stations.

Number of salaries, employees and wage-earners- expenditures for sala
ries and wages .

The Fourteenth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Labor,

for 1899,was devoted to statistics of water, gas, and electric light
plants under private and municipal ownership . There are a few
summary tables at the beginning of the report, practically all of the
volume being devoted to statistics of individual plants, without any
attempt to classify the material. While statistics are given for
each plant, neither the names nor the locations of the plants are
given and it is impossible to identify the plants or to group them by
states or other geographic divisions. The only classification is by
volume of output. For each plant there are given data on source

of supply (waterworks only ), distribution system , equipment,

apparatus, source of funds formunicipal plants, gross income, cost
of production , profit and loss, and prices to consumer .
The publication entitled “ Report of Commissioner of Corpora
tions on Water Power Development in the United States," issued

in 1912 , was largely a discussion of the extent of concentration of
the water power resources of the country. Many tables relating to

the holdings of individual groups are scattered through the text,

but the main statistics of general interest are those giving an esti
mate of potential water power by states, figures on developed water
power by states, and statistics of individual power plants develop
ing more than one thousand horsepower.

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438

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K

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The data collected by the Bureau of the Census in 1902, 1907,

and 1912 regarding electric power development at central plants

were also republished in the report compiled by the Forest Service
and transmitted to the Senate by the Secretary of Agriculture, on
January 20, 1916 , and published as Senate Document 316 , 64th

Congress, First Session, under the title “ Electric Power Develop
ment in the United States.” A portion of this material is computed

directly from the census statistics, a portion is estimated on the
basis of Census figures, and a portion is new material. All the
statistics are presented by states and geographic divisions.
Among the data computed directly from the Census figures may
be mentioned figures per one thousand of population on the
development of power of various kinds and by various groups of
plants, cost of plant, stock and bonds outstanding, funded debt,
revenues, and expenses . There are also figures per horsepower for

cost of construction , stock and bonds outstanding , funded debt,
income, and expenses.
The figures estimated on the basis of Census statistics include
the total primary power, water power , steam power , and gas power
used by manufacturing plants in 1902, 1907, and 1912. These

figures are derived from the Census of Manufactures statistics for

1899, 1904, and 1909 by assuming a uniform increase from 1899
to 1909, and from 1904 to 1909 and 1912. When this report was
prepared the Census figures for horsepower used in manufactures
in 1914 were not available, and consequently the estimate for 1912
was as good a oneas could be made at that time. The figures of the
Census of Manufactures for 1914 show that the amount of power
used in manufacturing in the United States did not increase as
much in the five years from 1909 to 1914 as in the five years from
1904 to 1909. Consequently , the estimate for power used in manu

facturing in 1912 was too high. For instance, the estimate for total
power used in Maine in 1912 is 490 ,494, while the Census figures

show only 487,211 in 1914. Any estimate now made for 1912
should be based on the figures of the Census ofManufactures for

1909 and 1914 .
Among the originalmaterialmay be mentioned an estimate ofthe
potential water power resources of the country , based largely on
earlier reports made by the Geological Survey in 1908 and by the

Commissioner of Corporations in 1912 , but revised in accordance

WATER POWER AND ELECTRIC POWER

439

with later information . The report also contains statistics for
individual plants throughout the country, the information including

data on thehorsepower of water wheels, boilers, steam engines and

gas engines, the rating of generators, and the prices charged for
lighting or power.
An interesting feature which is not statistical is the compilation

of data regarding the interrelations of the various power companies.
This material includes the following :
List of companies owning or operating water power having directors or
officers in common .
List of officers and directors of companies owning or controlling water
power, showing the position occupied in each corporation of this
character.
An account of the organization of the holding companies for public utili

ties with diagrams showing the relationship to other holding companies.
Diagrams showing relation between banks and holding companies of pub

lic utility securities.

In 1921 the Office of the Chief of Engineers of the Army issued

a report entitled “ Power Situation During the War," which dealt
with the shortage of power in various districts and the method used
to obtain relief. Appended to the main discussion were separate

reports on electric power in the Pittsburgh district of Pennsylvania
and Ohio , in New England, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania , in
the Southern states, and on the Pacific Coast. This study contains
statisticalmaterial on the amount of electric power developed at
central plants in the Pittsburgh district from 1913 to 1918, in New
England from 1915 to 1918, and in the Southern states for 1917
and 1918. Considerable information is given regarding the output
of individual plants in each district, and important projects are
discussed.

The latest contribution of the study of electric power develop
ment is contained in Geological Survey Professional Paper 123,

entitled “ A Superpower System for the Region between Boston
and Washington.” In this report is discussed a comprehensive plan
for the unification of electric power in the area within approxi
mately one hundred and fifty miles of the coast between the thirty

ninth and forty -fourth parallels of latitude. This area includes the
states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island , Connecticut, New Jersey,
and Delaware, the District of Columbia , and approximately the

following portions of other states: The southern halves of New

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Hampshire and Vermont, the portion of Maine south of a line
drawn west from the mouth of the Kennebec River , the part of
New York south of an east-west line passing through the central
Adirondacks and east of a line running northeast-southwest

through Owego, the portion of Pennsylvania east of a north - south
line drawn west of Harrisburg, and the portion of Maryland north
and east of an east-west and a north -south line passing through
Washington .

While the purpose of this report is to present the possibilities of
coördination of electric power, the starting point is the present
development and utilization of electric energy, detailed statistics
being given regarding the presentpower resources. Separate tabu
lations give figures for electric utilities and for the power used in
manufacture. The tables for public utilities show for 1919, by

districts, themaximum demand and the energy output of all plants ,

the capacity, character, and performance of steam -electric and
hydroelectric plants, the fuel requirements, and annual operating
expenses and fixed charges .

The detailed figures on the industrial use of power are derived
from the statistics of the census of manufactures for 1919. Power
supply equipment, electric motors, and fuel used are classified by

character of power supply and size of plant for all industries, and

for industrial groups. A separate tabulation shows power supply
equipment and electric motors, classified by size of plant, in each
county in the area.
In connection with the discussion of the electrification of rail

roads, statistics are given regarding the operation of railroads

having operating revenues of more than one million dollars. The
data on railroads include trackage, number of locomotives, traffic

movement, coal used , cost of maintenance of electric and steam
locomotives, and steam and electric locomotive mileage.

For several years the Geological Survey has been compiling
monthly reports on the production of electric power and consump

tion of fuel by public utility power plants in the United States.
These statements are issued in mimeograph form , and up to the
present writing no summary has been printed. There are shown
for each state the amount of power produced by fuel and by water
power, and the amount of coal, fuel oil, and natural gas consumed
in the production of power in steam plants .

CHAPTER XXVIII
PRICES

The discussion in this chapter is confined mostly to these publi
cations dealing solely with price statistics. In addition considerable

material on prices will be found in the special reports of the Federal
Trade Commission, the Bureau of Corporations, and the Tariff

Commission, discussed in Chapter XXII, in the annual volume en
titled “ Mineral Resources,” and in the Tariff Information Surveys.
WHOLESALE PRICES

At present general statistics on wholesale prices are compiled
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but somematerial is collected
by other organizations, and there are earlier compilations that are
worth mentioning. Considerable material on prices from 1835 to
1849 is given in the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury
on the state of the finances for 1849. The annual report of the

Secretary of the Treasury for 1863 contains statistics on prices
of staple articles in the New York market at the beginning of each
month from 1825 to 1863.

Aldrich Report of 1893. On March 3, 1891, the Senate author
ized the Finance Committee to prepare a report on wages and
prices, the first part of which was published as Senate Report 986 ,
52d Congress , ist Session , under the title “ Retail Prices and
Wages.” This publication had one chapter giving statistics on
wholesale prices of commodities in different cities by months from

June, 1889, to September, 1891. The main report was published

in 1893, in four volumes, as Senate Report 1394, 52d Congress,
2d Session , under the title “ Wholesale Prices, Wages, and Trans

portation .” While this is generally known as the “ Aldrich Report,"
the general price statistics were collected by Roland B . Falkner
under the direction of Carroll D . Wright, Commissioner of Labor ;
and the statistics on prices of agricultural products by J . R . Dodge,
441

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NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK

Statistician of the Departmentof Agriculture. The report contains
one of the most extensive collections of statistics relating to prices

that has ever been made, and is the standard authority for general
commodity prices from 1840 to 1891. Statistics are given on prices

of staple agricultural products in New York , Cincinnati, and

Chicago, and on several hundred other staple commodities from
1840 to 1891. For most of the commodities figures are given for

the entire period, but thereare some for which data were obtainable
for only a part of the period. Money prices are generally given
for quarterly intervals , but some are shown annually. Relative

prices are given only for yearly periods.
In addition to the general tables there are tables showing the
prices paid for various classes of supplies by several offices of the
National government as follows:

General supplies purchased by the Navy Department, annually by stations
for 1840 to 1892,

Drugs and chemicals purchased by the Surgeon -General of the War De
partment, by months from 1840 to 1891.

Commissary supplies, mostly food -stuffs, purchased by Commissary De
partment of the Army at various posts, annually from 1840 to 1855,
quarterly from 1855 to 1860, and monthly from 1866 to 1891.

General supplies, mostly clothing and equipment, purchased by the Quarter
master General of the War Department, annually from 1877 to 1892.
Miscellaneous commodities purchased by the Indian Service, annually from
1877 to 1892.

There is also is theses volumes considerable material on prices
in foreign countries which is not readily available in other publica
tions. The most important of these are the following :
Wholesale prices of forty- seven commodities in England as quoted by the
Economist, January and July, 1845 to 1893.
Economist index number, annually, 1845 to 1893.

Sauerbeck 's wholesale prices, actual and relative, of 56 commodities in
England , annually , 1846 to 1891.
Prices in Hamburg, of 100 commodities, annualy from 1851 to 1891.

Export prices of 10 commodities in England, annually from 1851 to 1891.
Soetbeer 's relative prices of 100 commodities in Hamburg , annually from

1851 to 1891.

Soetbeer's
relative prices of 14 commodities in England, annually from
1851 to 1891.
Prices of 17 commodities in Prussia , annually from 1840 to 1891.
Prices of wheat, rye, barley, corn, oats, potatoes, beef, hay, and straw com
modities in Vienna , Salzburg, Prague and Trieste, annually from 1840
to 1891.
1 Average prices paid by the Navy Department from 1900 to 1909 are

given in Sen . Doc. 421, 61st Cong., 2d Sess.

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443

French export prices for 38 commodities, annually from 1861 to 1891.

Prices in Italy for wheat, corn , rice, wine, olive oil ,and beef, annually
from 1862 to 1885.
Comparative relative prices of 22 commodities in the United States, Eng
land, Hamburg, and France, annually from 1860 to 1891.

Import prices of 180 commodities at Hamburg, annually from 1850 to 1891.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. The work of the Aldrich Committee

on wholesale prices was taken up by the Department of Labor in
1900, and has been continued to the present timeby the Department
of Labor, the Bureau of Labor, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While all of the commodities for which data are given in the
Aldrich Report are not represented in the later reports, these form

essentially a continuation of the earlier publication. The first

report (Bulletin 27) gave annual prices from 1890 to 1899 ; the
second report (Bulletin 39) gave weekly , monthly, and annual

prices from 1890 to 1901. Beginning with 1901 a report has been
issued for each year with the exception of 1917 and 1918. Each

report gives, for each year since 1890, annual prices for the current
year, weekly prices for some commodities,mostly foodstuffs, and
monthly prices for all commodities for which data are collected.
The report for 1919 ( Bulletin 269) contains weekly and monthly

figures for 1917 and 1918, as no annual reports were issued for
those years. The data given include both average and relative
prices. These publications have been issued under the titles
“ Wholesale Prices ” and “ Course of Wholesale Prices.” The

Bulletin numbers of the publications in the series are as follows:
Department of Labor.
1890 to 1899 - Bulletin 27 .

1890 to 1901 ? - Bulletin 39.
1902 - Bulletin 45 .

Bureau of Labor.
1903 ?- Bulletin 51,

1904 — Bulletin 57.
1905 – Bulletin 63.

1906 — Bulletin 69.
1907 — Bulletin 75 .
1908 — Bulletin 81.
1909 and January to March 1910 — Bulletin 87.
1910 — Bulletin 93.
1911 - Bulletin 99.

Bureau of Labor Statistics.
1912 — Bulletin 114.

1913 — Bulletin 149.

* Some of the material for these years was published also in Bulletin 54 .

444

NATIONAL STATISTICAL WORK
Bureau of Labor Statistics — Continued.
1914 – Bulletin 181.

1915 — Bulletin 200 .
1916 – Bulletin 226 .
1919 - Bulletin 269.

1920 — Bulletin 296 .
1921 - Bulletin 320 .

1922 — Bulletin 335.

1923— Bulletin 367.

A pamphlet report entitled “ Wholesale Prices ” has been issued
by the Bureau of Labor each month beginning with April, 1922.
Similar data are published four times a year in the following num
bers of the Monthly Labor Review :
May issue, prices for January to March .

August issue, prices for April to June.
November issue, prices for July to September.

February issue, prices for October to December .

Bulletin 41 of the Department of Labor gives prices on beef and
cattle on the first of January and June from 1890 and 1902.

A detailed discussion of the methods used in the United States
and foreign countries for computing index numbers of wholesale
prices is given in Bulletin 173 of the Bureau of Labor Statistics ,

issued in 1915 . An earlier, but not so comprehensive report of the
same character was contained in Bulletin 39 of the Department of
Labor, published in 1902.
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Wholesale prices

on a limited number of articles were published annually by the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in the following publi
cations:
January, 1913 to October , 1914 (Monthly January to July , 1913; weekly
July, 1913 to October, 1914 ). Miscellaneous Series 19 .
January, 1913 to December, 1915 (Monthly January, 1913 to July , 1915 ;

weekly July to December, 1915). Miscellaneous Series 30 .
January, 1914 to July, 1916 (Monthly January, 1914 to July , 1916 ; weekly
July to December, 1916 ) . Miscellaneous Series 52.

January, 1916 to December , 1917 (Monthly for 1916 and weekly for 1917).
Miscellaneous Series 64.
January, 1917 to December, 1918 (Monthly for 1917 and weekly for 1918 ).
Miscellaneous Series 80 .

January, 1918 to December, 1919 (Monthly for 1918, weekly for 1919 ).
Miscellaneous Series 104.
January, 1919 to March , 1922 (Monthly for 1919, weekly for 1920 , 1921 and
3 months of 1922) . Miscellaneous Series 113.

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445

The publications listed above continue the material previously
published in the Monthly Summary of Commerce and Finance

from September, 1893, to September, 1912. The articles on which

prices are given are the following :
Silver .

Leather — 3 grades.

Cottonseed oil.

Coffee.

Copper.

Rubber .

Cattle - 3 grades.
Hides -- 15 grades.

Pig iron (Bessemer and

Tea - 3 grades.

Southern No. 2 ).
Iron bars.
Steel bars.

Steel billets and bloom
(Bessemer and open
hearth ) .

Steel rails.

Petroleum , crude and
refined.

Gasoline.

Tin .
Lead.

Rice -- 3 grades.

Spelter (zinc).

Manila .
Sisal.

Wheat.

Jute.
Jute butts.
Wool- 8 grades.
Mohair - 2 grades.
Raw silk - 4 grades.
Cotton, New York and

New Orleans.

Corn .
Oats.

Sugar.
Lard .
Oleo -stearine.
Tallow .
Pork .

Beef.

Average import and export prices for principal commodities
are published in the Monthly Summary of Foreign Commerce and
in the Statistical Abstract. These figures are obtained by dividing
the quantity of imports or exports into the value, and thus may

easily be computed for articles not shown in the special tables.
They are in error to the extent to which theremay be overvaluation
or undervaluation of imports and exports.3

Industrial Commission . Average yearly prices and annualindex
numbers for various commodities for the fiscal years 1879 to 1901

are given in VolumeXIX of the report of the Industrial Commis

sion of 1898. The commodities on which information is given are
the following :
Cattle.

Hay .

Coke.

Sheep.
Hogs.
Beef.

Flaxseed .
Wool.

Lime.

Cotton .

Cement.

Tallow .

Pig iron .
Silver .
Gold.

Rosin .

Copper.
Lead.

White lead.

Zinc.
Quicksilver.
Tin .

Sulphuric acid.

Pork .
Lard .
Hides.
Glue.
Butter .
Cheese.
Milk .

Brick

Petroleum (refined ).
Turpentine.

Glass.

Muriatic acid .
Alum .

See discussion of values in import and export statistics, p. 335.

446

L

NATIONA

CAL ORK
W

STATISTI

Eggs.

Coal (anthracite ).

Bicarbonate of soda.

Corn .
Wheat.
Oats .
Rye.
Barley .
Rice.

Spruce.
Yellow pine.
Petroleum .

Print cloth.
Leather.

Potatoes .
Beans.

Steel billets .

Cottonseed oil.
Linseed oil.
Cottonseed meal.
Sugar (granulated ) .
Whisky.
Flour.

Sugar (raw ).

Tin plate.

Coffee.

Phosphate rock .

Bar iron .
Steel rails.

Barbed wire.

Volume XIII of the report of the Industrial Commission con

tains statistics showing the average annual cost and the monthly
selling price of pig iron , and the monthly cost and selling price of
steel billets and steel rails from 1890 to 1901. It also shows

average monthly prices of coke at Connellsville and of scrap steel
and coal at Chicago from 1890- 1901.
The Industrial Commission also collected statistics of wholesale

and retail prices of illuminating oil, sugar, salt, and Royal Baking
Powder throughout the country in order to ascertain whether

industrial combinations reduced prices in some sections in order to
stifle competition . The information collected from over fifteen
hundred towns in all parts of the country is given in Volume XIII
of the report of the Commission , entitled “ Trusts and Industrial
Combinations.”

War Industries Board. Prices from 1913 to 1918 are treated in

a series of fifty-seven publications issued by the War Industries
Board under the generaltitle “ History of Prices During the War ”
and the serial title “ War Industries Board, Price Bulletins.”
Several of these bulletins were also published under the same

titles, but without the serial numbers by other organizations, the
text in the two editions being identical. The first three numbers in
this series are general, butthe remaining fifty - four relate to specific

commodities or classes of commodities. The entire series contains
prices on 1474 commodities .

Bulletin 1, entitled “ History of Prices During the War," is a
general summary of the facts brought out in the other bulletins,
and contains a general discussion of the trend of prices.
A comparison ofprices in the United States and foreign countries

is given in Bulletin 2, entitled “ International Price Comparisons."
This bulletin gives actual and relative average annual, quarterly,

PRICES

447

and monthly prices during the years 1913 to 1918 , of articles that

were of standard grade. The prices in each country are compared
with those in the United States, there being no direct comparison

between prices in several foreign countries. The commodities
selected are likewise not identical for each foreign country, the

choice being influenced by the importance of the commodity and
the availability of price data . The countries and the number of
commodities for which prices are given are as follows:
United Kingdom , 150.

Indi