REMARKS. Street railway business has grown to great proportions in Michigan. The old horse-car service has disappeared from the streets of our citiessuperseded by electricity as a motive power. Tracks, cars and other necessary appliances show immense improvements over those of earlier years. The transit facilities in our leading cities compare favorably with any. The question of franchises, fares, etc., is attracting much attention, especially in Detroit. The discussion of the question is frequently quite unfriendly. The public has a right to know more than it now knows of the business of corporations that occupy the streets of our cities. Locomotive railroads, banking and insurance corporations are under a strict official supervision, and are required to make full reports annually of their business. Street railway corporations are virtually exempt, as the law of 1867 requiring them to report to the Secretary of State has no penalty attached for failure to report. The legislature should provide at its next session a law for a system of reports from street railway corporations as full as those required from locomotive railway corporations. BUREAUS OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS. Thirty-three states have provided by law for establishing bureaus of labor and industrial statistics. Besides these is the National bureau established in 1884. Massachusetts established the first bureau in 1869. Others have been organized from time to time the New Hampshire bureau being provided for in 1893. The National bureau, under the able management of Hon. Carroll D. Wright, has achieved a world wide reputation. Mr. Wright is recognized as one of the very best statisticians. Among state bureaus that of Massachusetts stands at the head. Two requirements, natural ability and experience, combine to make valuable statisticians. For more than twenty years Colonel Wright and Mr. Wadlin, the head of the Massachussetts bureau, have been identified with statistical work. With their term of office assured they have been better able to map out their statistical work than the commissioners in those states where changes are made with every new state administration. In Massachusetts the legislature places the official statistical investigations of the state under the control of Commissioner Wadlin. Very few other bureaus have retained a commissioner beyond the administration appointing him. Notwithstanding these changes, the reports from state bureaus are a valuable addition to statistical literature. In several states these bureaus are charged with compiling the regular decennial census and other important duties It is reasonable to suppose these bureaus may very well be charged with gathering and compiling all statistical information, and it is quite probable they would do the work less expensively than it is now done. The manner in which census statistics have been gathered and compiled is capable of vast improvement. Heretofore it has been the custom once in ten years to take the census. Elaborate preparations are made and an immense mass of statistics are secured which take years to compile and publish. When published they are old and of comparatively little value. Nearly five years elapsed after the enumerators of the United States census of 1890 had completed their work before the occupations of the population was known, and the compilation of the reports of that census is hardly completed at the beginning of 1896. The State census was taken in June, 1894, but it was January, 1896, before the number of farmers, tradesmen, manufacturers or those engaged in professions was known. The work has been faithfully prosecuted, but the trouble is, too much is attempted at one time to make the results as valuable as they might be. It would be better to establish a permanent census bureau, dividing the work and doing a part each year. The statistics would be fresh, and consequently more valuable, which would more than compensate a possible added expense. A national association of officials of bureaus of labor statistics has been formed, and has held eleven annual conventions. The published proceedings of these conventions contain valuable and interesting data on the work of the different bureaus. By far the most valuable feature of these conventions is the opportunity for personal acquaintance among commissioners. Many suggestions touching statistical research, are received in personal conversation, which would be obtained in no other way. An effort will be made at the next convention to devise a plan for uniform work by the different state bureaus. While the different bureaus have frequently made investigations on the same subject, they have usually been in different years and when surrounded by different conditions. If a plan for more uniformity shall be devised it will largely increase the usefulness of these bureaus. INDUSTRIAL SITUATION. While the conditions surrounding the industrial population of Michigan during 1895 were not as good as was anticipated at the beginning of the year, there has been an improvement over 1894. The agricultural population, perhaps, has seen the least improvement. Prices of nearly all farm products have been low, too low to fairly compensate for labor and capital invested in the business. Complaint also comes that lumbering business, especially hard wood, is unsatisfactory. Iron and copper have improved. Salt has been increased in amount of product, but fallen off in price. The manufacturing industries show an improvement. The manufacturing places inspected by direction of this bureau were 2,688 in 1894 and 3,137 in 1895, an increase of 16 per cent. There were 2,325 places running in 1894 and 2,836 in 1895, an increase of 22 per cent. In 1894, 1,835 were running full time and 2,561 in 1895, an increase of 34 per cent. In 1894 the number of people employed in Michigan factories was 80,378. In 1895 the number employed was 112,048, an increase of 38 per cent. In 1894 the average monthly pay roll of 2,309 places was $2,633,028. In 1895 the average monthly pay roll of 2,813 places was $3,823,815. This is an increase of 22 per cent of the number of places reported and an increase of 45 per cent in the average monthly pay roll. The average daily wages paid employes in manufacturing places in 1894, was $1.28. In 1895, the average daily wages was $1.32. This includes both skilled and unskilled labor. The increase is only 3 per cent. In the eleventh annual report from this bureau it was said: "Men say the country is going to ruin, but they fail to appreciate the energy and courage with which the American citizen surmounts every obstacle to success. We shall adapt ourselves to any settled policy, and success, the extent of which only the future can measure, will attend our efforts.'' Evidently 1895 has verified the truth of the above. It is believed that the year 1896 will show an improvement in the industrial situation over 1895. D APPRECIATIVE. The prompt and active assistance rendered by Hon. H. R. Dewey, Deputy Commissioner, is fully appreciated by the Commissioner. Every duty assigned him has been faithfully and intelligently performed. Mr. L. S. Russell, chief clerk, has been charged with the details of all the office work. His practical knowledge of the work has been supplemented by untiring industry. The compilation of this report is evidence of his ability. His services are fully recognized by the Commissioner. Miss Florence Orbison, stenographer, in all her work has demonstrated her capability and has always merited the approval of the Commissioner. Beside those named, the Commissioner extends his thanks to the scores of canvassers who have gathered the statistics for this report, and to the temporary clerks engaged in its compilation, for the zeal and intelligence displayed by them. |