SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT-1890.

Statistical comparisons relating to manufactures for three preceding years are given in this report, the facts for the compilation being gathered from typical establishments and industries; a chapter also being devoted to a consideration of the subject of the wages and hours of labor of employés in the street railways in the State, and methods of preventing and adjusting labor difficulties.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT-1891.

The statistics contained in this report relating to manufactures, are presented, in the main, on the same plan as that. of the report of the Bureau for the year 1890. The report also presents the results of a comprehensive special inquiry into the growth and extent of co-operative benefit societies doing business in the State, and separated into life societies, sick and funeral benefit societies, trades unions with sick and funeral benefits, and endowment societies.

EIGHTH AND NINTH ANNUAL REPORTS-1892-3.

The reports for the years 1892 and 1893 appear in one volume and contains in the first part an analysis of the manufacturing industries of the State on practically the same lines. as in the reports of the preceding years. The second part of the report for the year 1893 covers the subject of hours of labor, giving a history of the movement in favor of a shorter working day, the effect of general economic progress of the force of public opinion, and of the effort of labor organizations to bring about a shorter hour working day is shown by a textual analysis where the reduction was most marked, and a statement of reduced hours by industries from 1860 to 1880, comparing the present conditions with those of 1885, and showing also the reduction in hours of labor between 1880 and 1892.

TENTH ANNUAL REPORT-1894.

The condition and the good accomplished by building and loan associations occupies a leading position in this report, and the subject is exhaustively treated in the text and analysis ac

companying the tables. The report advises that all building and loan associations be placed under State supervision, and it might be stated here that the recommendation has been since adopted. The report also treats upon the effect of industrial depression, decreased hours and production, and the subject of child-labor.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT-1895.

An abstract of the contents of the more recent reports of the Bureau would seem unnecessary. Suffice it to say that the larger portion of the report for 1895 was devoted to a statistical consideration of the subject of poor relief or almsgiving in the several towns of the State, the effect of the act concerning alien laborers, of manual training in the public schools, and the age limit at which children may be employed; the condition of manufacturers also being treated, comparison being made of number employed in the same establishments in the years 1892, 1894 and 1895, and the average weekly hours of labor in the latter year.

TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT-1896.

In this report the inequalities of assessments for purposes of taxation is made the leading subject, and covers a large field of inquiry, showing by tables and analysis the per cent. of true market value at which property throughout the State is assessed, comparisons of appraised value of probated estates with the assessments for taxation of the same, and returns made by corporations as to amount of taxable property are also compared with the amount at which the same is assessed. The report refers to early methods and suggested remedies for existing inequalities, in addition to which a part of the report is devoted to statistics of manufactures relating to number employed, average hours of labor, amount paid in wages, wage rates, and proportion of business done.

PART I.

CONDITION OF WORKINGMEN.

1. EARNINGS.

2. COST OF LIVING.

3. INTEREST, TAXES AND RENT.

4. SAVINGS.

5. OCCUPATION.

6. NATIONALITY.

CONDITION OF WORKINGMEN.

EXPLANATORY.

WITH the intent to ascertain the rates of wages, age, nationality, conjugal condition and occupation of employés, together with all other information concerning the condition of the workingmen of the State, which was possible to secure, the Bureau formulated a plan by which, through the means of blank schedules sent out and by personal investigation made by special agents, it was thought would result in the securing of such data upon the subject of the condition of workingmen that its compilation would give statistical information of inestimable value to students of economics and to all classes of the community.

In the early stages of the inquiry it developed that while much willingness was shown by many workingmen to whom requests for information were sent, others failed to make reply, thus necessitating a large amount of correspondence and personal solicitation in order to obtain the desired facts for publication.

The form of the inquiry was made up in as simple and clear a manner as was deemed possible, and answers were expected from a much larger number than reported, but a sufficient number was obtained from which to make deductions of a very valuable character.

The result of this inquiry will be found in the following tables, which are so arranged as to show the age of the individual reporting; whether native or foreign born; occupation; number in family; average weekly hours of labor; weeks employed at regular occupation during year ending July 1, 1897; weekly earnings; amount earned at occupation other than regular; earnings of children; whether the owner of a home and if incumbered; the amount of annual expenditures for interest, taxes,