Annual report of the North Carolina Department of Labor

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UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
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TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND PRINTING
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Joom/i/itnenfo of
looommi&Uonev.
H. B. VARNER, Commissioner
M. L. SHIPMAN, Asst. Commissioner
RALEIGH
E. M. Uzzell & Co., State Printers and Binders
1909
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TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND PRINTING
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
1908
H. B. VARNER, Commissioner
M. L. SHIPMAN, Asst. Commissioner
RALEIGH
E. M. Uzzell & Co., State Printers and Binders
1909
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
To His Excellency, R. B. Glenn,
Governor.
Sik :—In submitting the Twenty-second (my eighth) Annual Report of the
Department of Labor and Printing, I feel satisfied that it will be found to con-tain
in epitime a record of the State's industrial needs and conditions, and to
throw a light upon its opportunities for development that cannot fail both to
encourage and to assist all thoughtful citizens engaged in helping forward the
solution of the great and growing equation of capital and labor, agriculture and
manufacture. Progress in these as in other lines creates duties and invites
questions and perplexities. Nothing is achieved without sacrifice. Changed
conditions, however beneficial, carry their inevitable embarrassments. Incident
to a brief era during which the tide of awakened industrialism in the State has
cet with magical swiftness, it is natural that there should be in its wake new
problems and difficulties of (let it be hoped) a more apparent than real acute-ness.
The change from a condition when labor sought employment to one in
which employment frequently seks labor without success naturally leaves ends
loose for adjustment, and it is natural that one line of activity should feel the
effects of another, and that in the stress of the demand it should sometimes
appear that the supply is in danger.
The work of the department in its annual report is thus forced to take a
broad survey of conditions that are in themselves widely divergent in interest,
and that are yet one and all a part of the deeper foundations of industrial
peace and achievement upon which the future progress of the State must rest.
The report seeks, therefore, it is hoped, more adequately than before, to pre-sent
not only a comprehensive scheme of statistics relative to manufacture and
industries, together with related information as to the conditions of operatives,
their wages, hours of work, etc., but also a more general but none the less
instructive mass of information and opinion obtained from representative men
of all sections—manufacturers, laborers and farmers. The results so obtained,
reflecting, as they do, both facts accomplished and needs essential, cannot be
underestimated in value, and serve the most vital and far-reaching end of the
department itself. Retiring as I do, I can speak with the more freedom of the
value of this work and the ability and zeal that have entered into its execu-tion,
by reason of the fact that it was performed in the main by the Assistant
Commissioner, a gentleman whose years of unselfish and poorly paid labor
have indeed been justly recognized by his promotion to the head of the depart-ment,
but to the value of whose work and the high quality of whose faithful-ness
in the public service it is at once a duty and a pleasure, for me to here
bear testimony.
The statistics compiled and the reports furnished show that the State is still
experiencing a steady industrial growth ; that wages have been maintained,
and that the educational and moral advance and environment of employees are
better than ever before.
The most emphatic need is, as has been the case for several years, the pro-curement
of competent labor, both in the factory and the field. In the case of
the mills the acute need of labor is such as to constitute the only temptation to
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
the violation of the Child-labor Law, the provisions of which meet with the
hearty approval of over ninety per cent, of the manufacturers, and the only
protest against which proceeds from unnatural parents, who seek to make mer-chandise
of the youth of their children by evasion of the law designed for their
protection. In the case of the farm there is again heard the complaint that the
rural districts are being depopulated of labor—that is, drawn to the industrial
centers by more attractive wages—and a reassertion of the depletion of the
supply of negro labor and the worthlessness of such of this class as remains.
The solution of the twin questions here presented can only be adequately met
by the establishment of a broad and liberal policy on the part of the State and
a general determination for self-help on the part of the people. The great
means to this end is, in my opinion, (1) a strict enforcement and gradual
extension of the scope of factory labor laws, both as to the age of children who
may be employed and hours which operatives may work; (2) an unburden-some
and yet comprehensive statute looking to the compulsory education of all
children of school age. The future efficiency alike of the mill and the farm
depends upon the intelligence of their operation. No man can do the best work
with poor tools. When the masses of the people are set forth in life with a
basis of health and education as capital they will both make increased profits
for their employers and greater opportunity for themselves. The day of slip-shod
farming is passing, as is the day of ignorant help in factories. The future
of intelligent, well-directed work with the soil is only beginning to unfold its
promise. Universal education, as it will reveal to the people new possibilities
and methods in farming, will tend more strongly than any other agency to
make rural life desirable because prosperous and comfortable, while at the same
time affording to the mills and all manufacturers a class of labor that will
replace shiftlessness with dependability and turn waste into increment.
To assist these ends, immigration of the right sort should be encouraged.
The problem is one to enlist the best thought of the General Assembly. It is
a patent fact that more workers are needed, both in the factory and on the
farm. Yet there is in the minds of many people a well-founded doubt as to the
desirability of immigration. The State affords unparalleled opportunity for
home-seekers and boundless incentive to worthy and ambitious emigrants. Yet
it is manifest to all who know the character and temper of the pioneer stock
of this State that the indiscriminate bulk of immigration (even if it could be
turned in this direction) would be both unwelcome and dangerous. This prob-lem,
intelligently recognized and assisted in solution, may be depended upon
to in large measure solve itself, as, by care for our own in education and
morals, and by protection of the young, we shall add to high natural advan-tages
and native industry a compelling invitation to the thoughtful and pro-gressive
people of other States, who are by the thousands constantly on the
watch for the chance of self-advancement and independence. Such immigra-tion
could be easily assimilated by our people. The heterogeneous sort would,
even more fatally to peace and happiness, substitute for the once dreaded
negro problem another species of race discord even more difficult of settlement.
The specific work of the department, under the act of 1901, of exercising a
general supervision of the performance of the State printing has been capably
performed under the direction of the Commissioner-elect. Since the act was
passed, the growth of the several State departments has resulted in an increase
Letter of Transmittal.
in the volume of printing of at least 100 per cent. The duty of scrutinizing
every bill for printing, of directing and authorizing the purchase of the thou-sands
of dollars' worth of stock and of constantly guarding the interests of the
State in the performance of a contract of great magnitude and greater tech-nicality
and detail requires not only the most unfailing and skillful super-vision
but has resulted in the undoubted saving annually to the State of
at least twice the cost of the maintenance of the department. The impor-tance
of these duties cannot be overestimated. The State's printing bill, while
proportionately a small per cent, of the increased cost of administration, is a
large and growing item of expense. A little waste, a slight relaxation from
strict economical methods, would result in the most serious loss. Yet the print-ing
done for the State is now admittedly not only of a higher quality than ever
before, but is done at greatly reduced cost.
For these reasons I am confident that the General Assembly will not longer
permit the unjust discrimination against this department in the matter of the
appropriation necessary to carry on its work. The present appropriation is
utterly inadequate to the proper performance of the recognized duties of such a
department. It is consequently greatly handicapped and impeded, both in scope
and usefulness. In contrast with the treatment accorded similar departments
in other and no wealthier States, the scant attention hitherto given the depart-ment
here is matter of chagrin, if not of humiliation. The salary of the Com-missioner
($1,500) is not only entirely too small a compensation for the head
of a department of the Bureau's importance and responsibility, but is indeed
so small that it will not permit, except by unfair sacrifice, the constant attend-ance
and performance of his duties of the Commissioner in Raleigh. Although
the work of the department has been more than doubled, its appropriation
remains at the same figure. It should be materially increased, and in common
justice the salary of the Commissioner should be at least $2,500 and that of his
assistant at least $1,500. The Legislature of 1907 increased the salaries and
clerical appropriation of every department save this. It should now remedy
that neglect. Respectfully submitted,
/GLJX^sULJ^y.
January 7, 1909.
Commissioner.
OFFICIAL REGISTER FOR THE YEAR 1909.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
William C. Newland President of the Senate Caldwell.
Augustus W. Graham Speaker of House of Representatives Granville.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
William W. Kitchin Governor Person.
J. Bryan Grimes Secretary of State Pitt.
Benjamin F. Dixon Auditor Cleveland.
Benjamin R. Lacy Treasurer Wake.
James Y. Joyner Superintendent of Public Instruction Guilford.
T. W. Bickett Attorney- General Franklin.
OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENTS.
DEPARTMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE.
William W. Kitchin Governor Person.
William C. Newland Lieutenant-Governor Caldwell.
Alexander J. Feild Private Secretary Wake.
Miss Annie Travis Executive Clerk Halifax.
COUNCIL OF STATE.
Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Attorney-General.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
J. Bryan Grimes Secretary of State Pitt.
George W. Norwood Grant Clerk Wake.
William S. Wilson Corporation Clerk Caswell.
J. E. Sawyer Clerk Wake.
Miss Minnie Bagwell Stenographer Wake.
Edmund B. Norvell Enrolling Clerk Cherokee.
DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE AUDITOR.
Benjamin F. Dixon Auditor Cleveland.
Everard H. Baker Chief Clerk Franklin.
Baxter Durham Tax Clerk Wake.
Mrs. Fannie W. Smith Pension Clerk and Stenographer Wake.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.
Benjamin R. Lacy Treasurer Wake.
W. F. Moody Chief Clerk Mecklenburg.
Percy B. Fleming Teller Franklin.
H. M. Reece Institution Clerk Guilford.
Miss May Jones Stenographer Buncombe.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
James Y. Joyner Superintendent of Public Instruction Guilford.
Allen J. Barwick Chief Clerk Lenoir.
Charles H. Mebane Clerk of Loan Fund Catawba.
_ . _. . J Supt. of Teacher Training and Croatan / q +„_i„
J. A. Bivms -j and Colored Normal Schools. f
btanly.
N. W. Walker State Inspector Public High Schools Orange.
Miss Hattie B. Arrington Stenographer Wake.
State Board of Education.—Governor, President; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secre-tary;
Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney-General.
State Board of Examiners.—James Y. Joyner, Chairman ex officio; Allen J. Barwick, Secretary;
Franklin L. Stevens, N. W. Walker, John Graham, Zebulon V. Judd.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
T. W. Bickett Attorney-General Franklin.
Miss Sarah Burkhead Stenographer Columbus.
CORPORATION COMMISSION.
Franklin McNeill Chairman New Hanover.
Samuel L. Rogers Commissioner Macon.
Benjamin F. Aycock Commissioner Wayne.
Henry C. Brown Chief Clerk Surry.
Stedman Thompson Assistant Clerk Wake.
Kemp P. Doughton State Bank Examiner Alleghany.
W. L. Williams Assistant State Bank Examiner Cumberland.
Miss E. G. Riddick Stenographer Gates.
State Government.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND PRINTING.
M. L. Shipman Commissioner Henderson.
George B. Justice Assistant Commissioner Mecklenburg.
Miss Daisy Thompson Stenographer Wake.
E. M. Uzzell State Printer Wake.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
William A. Graham Commissioner Lincoln.
Elias Carr Secretary of Board of Agriculture Edgecombe.
B. W. Kilgore State Chemist Wake.
W. J. Hartman Acting Veterinarian Wake.
Franklin Sherman, Jr. Entomologist Wake.
H. H. Brimley Naturalist and Curator Wake.
W. N. Hutt Horticulturist Wake.
W. M. Allen Food Chemist Anson.
J. M. Pickel Assistant Chemist Wake.
W. G. Haywood Assistant Chemist Wake.
G. M. MacNider Assistant Soils Chemist Orange.
L. L. Brinkley Assistant Chemist Wake.
S. O. Perkins Assistant Chemist Wake.
Hampden Hill Assistant Chemist Wake.
R. W. Scott, Jr Supt. Edgecombe Test Farm Edgecombe.
F. T. Meacham Supt. Iredell Test Farm Iredell.
John H. Jefferies Supt. Pender Test Farm Pender.
R. W. Collett Supt. Transylvania Test Farm Transylvania.
J. L. Burgess Agronomist Guilford.
T. B. Parker Demonstrator Wayne.
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
William A. Graham Chairman ex officio Lincoln.
J. J. Laughinghouse First District Pitt.
C. W. Mitchell Second District Bertie.
William Dunn Third District Craven.
Ashley Home Fourth District Johnston.
R. W. Scott Fifth District Alamance.
A. T. McCulIum Sixth District Robeson.
J. P. McRae Seventh District Lee.
R. L. Doughton Eighth District Alleghany.
W. J. Shuford Ninth District Catawba.
A. Cannon Tenth District Henderson.
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE.
James R. Young Commissioner Vance.
D. H. Milton Chief Clerk Rockingham.
R. B. Coit Deputy and Actuary Wake.
W. A. Scott Deputy Guilford.
A. H. Yerby License Clerk Wake.
Miss Mary V. Marsh Bookkeeper Sampson.
Miss Ida Montgomery Stenographer Warren.
HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
J. Bryan Grimes Chairman Pitt.
W. J. Peele Commissioner Wake.
Thomas W. Blount Commissioner Washington.
M. C. S. Noble Commissioner Orange.
D. H. Hill Commissioner Wake.
R. D. W. Connor Secretary Wake.
BOARD OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney-General.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
C. C. Cherry Superintendent Edgecombe.
STATE LIBRARY.
Miles O. Sherrill Librarian Catawba.
Miss Carrie E. Broughton Assistant Librarian Wake.
TRUSTEES OF STATE LIBRARY.
Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary of State.
PURCHASING COMMITTEE.
Miles O. Sherrill, t? r> w rw*.™ Walter Clark,
James Y. Joyner, R" D' W- Connor,
Daniel R_ ffilL
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Walter Clark Chief Justice Raleigh Wake.
Henry G. Connor Associate Justice Wilson Wilson.
Piatt D. Walker Associate Justice Charlotte Mecklenburg.
George H. Brown Associate Justice Washington Beaufort.
William A. Hoke Associate Justice Lincolnton Lincoln.
OFFICIALS OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Thomas S. Kenan Clerk Raleigh Wake.
J. L. Seawell Office Clerk Raleigh Wake.
Robert H. Bradley Marshal and Librarian Raleigh Wake.
Robert C. Strong Reporter Raleigh Wake.
JUDGES OF THE SUPERIOR COURTS.
George W. Ward Elizabeth City Pasquotank.
Robert B. Peebles Jackson Northampton.
Owen H. Guion New Bern Craven.
Charles M. Cooke Louisburg Franklin.
Oliver H. Allen Kinston Lenoir.
William R. Allen Goldsboro Wayne.
Chatham Calhoun Lyon Elizabethtown Bladen.
W. J. Adams Carthage Moore.
J. Crawford Biggs Durham Durham.
Benjamin F. Long Statesville Iredell.
Erastus B. Jones Winston Forsyth.
James L. Webb Shelby Cleveland.
W. B. Councill Hickory Catawba.
M H Justice Rutherfordton Rutherford.
J. S. Adams Asheville Buncombe.
Garland S. Ferguson Waynesville Haywood.
SOLICITORS.
HallettS. Ward Washington Beaufort.
JohnH. Kerr Warrenton Warren.
Charles L. Abernethy Beaufort Carteret.
Charles C. Daniels Wilson Wilson.
Rudolph Duffy Catharine Lake Onslow.
Armistead Jones Raleigh Wake.
N. A. Sinclair Fayetteville Cumberland.
L. D. Robinson Wadesboro Anson.
Jones Fuller Durham Durham
William C. Hammer Ashboro Randolph.
S. P. Graves Mt. Airy Surry.
Heriot Clarkson Charlotte Mecklenburg.
Frank A. Linney Boone Watauga.
J. F. Spainhour Morganton Burke.
Mark W. Brown Asheville Buncombe.
Thad. D. Bryson Bryson City Swain.
SALARIES OF THE STATE OFFICERS.
Governor $4,000
Secretary of State 3, 500
State Auditor 3,000
State Treasurer 3, 500
Superintendent of Public Instruction 3, 000
Attorney-General 3, 000
Insurance Commissioner 3,500
Corporation Commissioners 3, 000
Commissioner of Agriculture 3, 250
Commissioner of Labor and Printing 2,000
SALARIES OF THE JUDGES.
Judges of the Supreme Court $3,500
Judges of the Superior Court 3, 250
LAW RELATING TO CHILD LABOR.
The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
Section 1. That no child under twelve years of age shall be employed or
worked in any factory or manufacturing establishment withm tins State.
Prided further, that after one thousand nine hundred and seven no child
between tL age of twelve and thirteen years of age shall be employed or Sa factory except in apprenticeship capacity, and only then after havmg
attended school four months in the preceding twelve months.
Sec 2 That not exceeding sixty-six hours shall constitute a week's work m
all factories and manufacturing establishments of this State. No person under
ShtetnTeL of age shall be rehired to work in such factories or «£N£
ments a onger period than sixty-six hours in one week: Provided that this
seclnshallnot apply to engineers, firemen, machinists, superintendents over-seers,
section and yard hands, office men, watchmen or repairers of bieak-
^SeTs All parents, or persons standing in relation of parent upon hiring
thefr ch Idren to any factory or manufacturing establishment, shall furnish
nch estabUshment a written statement of the age of such child or children
bein^sT hired and certificate as to school attendance; and any parent or
neson stand ng in the relation of parent to such child or children, who shall
L such written statement misstate the age of such child or children being
;
so
employed, or their school attendance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction shall be punished at the discretion of the court. Any mill
owner Tperintendtnt or manufacturing establishment who shal knowingly
or willfully violate the provisions of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction shall be punished at the discretion of the court.
Sec 4 After one thousand nine hundred and seven, no boy or girl
^ under
fourteen years old shall work in a factory between the hours of 8 P. M. and
5
tEc
M
5. This act-shall be in force from and after January first, one thousand
n
Tn "eral llembly read three times, and ratified this the 9th day of
March, A. D. 1907.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTEK I—Condition of Farmers.
II
The Trades.
Ill
Miscellaneous Factories.
IV
—
Cotton., Woolen axd Knitting Mills.
V
Furniture Factories.
VI
The State's Newspapers.
VII
Railroad Employees.
Bureaus of Labor.
CHAPTER I.
CONDITION OF FARMERS.
North Carolina remains at the head of the list as one of the leading agricul-tural
States of the South. Advices received from the various counties of the
State indicate continued advancement and increasing interest among the
farmers in almost every section. The diversity of products, as previously
stated, continues to serve as a safeguard to the State, and fortunate is the
energetic farmer whose efforts during the growing season permit him to harvest
an abundant crop of each variety adapted to North Carolina soil. The growing
seasons in the State permit the raising of double crops, for land that yields a
goodly crop of -small" grain during the months of June and July may again
later in the year produce a nice supply of late com or vegetables of various
kinds However, conditions the past year are reported less favorable than
during the year previous, due, perhaps, to the "financial disturbance," which
retarded progress in every line of industrial endeavor.
Fertility of land is reported well maintained in seventy-nine of the ninety-eight
counties. The farmers again report that want of desirable labor has
b^n" a serious check to progress on the farm for several years, and this condi-tion
has brought about the apparent necessity of reduced acreage and improved
lands The gradual exodus of people from the farms to the towns has almost
depopulated some sections of the State, and this fact is largely responsible for
the growing tendency toward smaller farms in so many of the counties, and
caused the unprecedented advance in agricultural products. Nearly every
county reports labor scarce, and in many instances unreliable.
The subject of desirable immigration continues to attract widespread atten-tion
and the farmers of more than half the counties are in favor of securing
the better class of foreign labor. Improved methods of farming are also being
introduced in a large measure, and the demand for labor-saving machinery is
largely increasing every year. Farming has come to be more remunerative,
and conditions in the rural communities now have charms that are "lending
enchantment" to the events of daily life around thousands of magnificent coun-try
homes established by the industry and perseverance of the honest sons of
toil Fruit growing, dairying and stock raising are also profitable sources of
revenue to the farmer, and it is gratifying to note favorable conditions in every
branch of agriculture throughout the length and breadth of the State.
The tables following represent the deductions drawn from return blanks
sent to a number of farmers in each county of the State
:
12 jSTokth Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average Table No. 1
—
Showing Condition Farm Land and Labor, by Counties.
County.
Value of Land,
Increased or
Decreased?
o.g Tendency to
Larger or
Smaller
Farms?
Labor Plenti-ful
or
Scarce?
J.2
MS
Alamance-
Alexander.
Alleghany.
Anson
Ashe
Beaufort-.
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick-
Buncombe.
Burke
Cabarrus --
Caldwell...
Camden
Carteret*...
Caswell .._
Chatham
Cherokee
Chowan
Clay
Cleveland
Columbus*. _
Craven
Cumberland.
Currituck
Dare
Davidson
Davie
Duplin
Durham
Edgecombe..
Forsyth
Franklin
Gaston
increased-increased,
increased-increased-increased-increased.
increased-increased.
increased-increased-increased.
increased-increased-increased.
increased-decreased,
increased-increased.
increased.
increased.
increased-decreased.
increased.
increased.
decreased.
increased-increased.
increased.
increased-increased-increased-increased.
yes.
yes.
yes-yes.
yes-yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes_
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
no.
yes.-
yes_.
yes.,
yes.,
yes..
yes_-
yes_.
yes_-
yes_-
no...
smaller-smaller.
smaller-smaller.
smaller,
larger.,
smaller-larger.
.
smaller-smaller.
smaller-smaller,
smaller.
smaller.
smaller.
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller,
smaller.
smaller-smaller,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller.,
smaller..
scarce. --
scarce. ..
scarce...
plentiful.
scarce...
plentiful-scarce.
- .
plentiful.
scarce...
plentiful-scarce
plentiful-plentiful.
scarce
scarce
scarce
scarce
plentiful.
scarce
scarce
scarce
plentiful.
scarce
plentiful..
scarce
scarce
scarce
plentiful-.
scarce
scarce
scarce
scarce
scarce
scarce
scarce
no yea
no- -- no
no yes
no no
no --- yes
no -. - yes
no no
no - - no_ -
no yes
no no
no no
no - no
no no
no yes
no. yes
no no. _
no no
no. -- no.
no 5'es
no no .- _
no no
no no
no no_--
no no. ._
no yes
yes no_--
no.. - no -.
no... _ no.. ..
no no
no yes
no yes
no- . - yes
yes no
no no
no.
no.
no.
yes.
yes.
no.
yes.
*Failed to report; same as last year.
Condition of Farmers.
Average Table No. 1
—
Continued.
County.
Gates
Graham*
Granville
Greene
Guilford
Halifax
Harnett
Haywood
Henderson
Hertford
Hyde
Iredell
Jackson
Johnston
Jones
Lee
Lenoir
Lincoln
McDowell
Macon
Madison
Martin
Mecklenburg.
.
Mitchell
Montgomery*
Moore
Nash
New Hanover.
Northampton.
Onslow
Pamlico
Pasquotank..
Pender*
Perquimans*.
Value of Land,
Increased or
Decreased?
increased,
increased.
increased.
increased,
increased,
increased.
increased,
increased.
increased,
increased,
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased,
increased,
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
increased,
decreased,
increased.
no.
increased,
increased
.
increased.
no_
yes..
yes..
yes..
no...
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes..
yes..
yes..
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes..
yes_.
yes..
yes_.
yes..
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes.,
yes..
no...
yes_
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
Tendency to
Larger or
Smaller
Farms?
smaller,
larger.,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller.
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller-smaller.
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller-smaller.
smaller-smaller.
smaller,
larger.,
smaller,
smaller.
smaller.
Labor Plenti-ful
or
Scarce?
plentiful
scarce...
scarce...
scarce...
scarce...
scarce...
plentiful
plentiful
scarce..
scarce...
scarce...
plentiful
scarce..
scarce...
scarce...
scarce..
plentiful,
scarce...
scarce...
plentiful,
scarce...
plentiful,
plentiful
scarce. ..
scarce...
scarce. ..
scarce...
scarce...
scarce...
plentiful
scarce...
plentiful
scarce...
scarce...
scarce...
boss
2C§
yes...
t—
-
yes.
yes.
yes..
yes..
yes
yes..
yes.
no.
yes.
no.
no.
yes.
yes.
no.
no.
no.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes
yes..
no.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes
*Failed to report; same as last year. fNo negro labor.
14 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average Table No. 1
—
Continued.
County.
Value of Land,
Increased or
Decreased?
Tendency to
Larger or
Smaller
Farms?
Labor Plenti-ful
or
Scarce?
o J3
"3. ~
as
Person
Pitt
Polk
Randolph...
Richmond. ..
Robeson
Rockingham.
Rowan
Rutherford..
Sampson
Scotland
Stanly
Stokes
Surry
Swain
Transylvania
Tyrrell
Union
Vance. _
Wake
Warren
Washington..
Watauga
Wayne
Wilkes
Wilson
Yadkin
Yancev
increased,
increased,
increased,
increased,
decreased
decreased
increased.
increased.
increased,
increased,
increased.
no.
increased,
increased,
increased,
increased.
no
no
no
increased,
increased.
no
no
increased,
increased,
increased,
increased,
increased.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes_
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes-yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
smaller-smaller,
smaller-smaller,
larger.,
smaller-smaller,
smaller
smaller
.
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller,
smaller-smaller,
larger..
scarce. ..
scarce..
scarce...
scarce. ..
plentiful
plentiful
scarce...
scarce. ..
scarce...
scarce. ..
scarce...
scarce..
scarce...
scarce..
scarce...
scarce. ..
scarce. .
scarce...
scarce..
scarce...
scarce..
scarce...
scarce..
scarce-.,
scarce...
scarce...
scarce..
plentiful
yes..
yes_.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes
no.
yes.
yes
no.
yes.
no.
yes.
yes.
yes.
yes.
no.
no.
yes.
no.
yes.
Condition of Farmers. 15
Average Table No. 2
—
Showing Wages, Cost of Living, etc.
County.
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson
Ashe
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick
Buncombe
Burke --
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Camden.
Carteret*
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee
Chowan
Clay_.__
Cleveland
Columbus*
Craven
Cumberland
Currituck
Dare
Davidson
Davie
Duplin
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth.
Franklin
Gaston
*FaiIed to report
ill
Wages.
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
Highest
Faid
Men.
17.00
27.00
24.37
16.67
27.30
26.00
25.50
19.50
22.97
19.50
23.83
19.50
26.00
26.00
32.50
16.50
22.33
15.30
19.00
23.00
16.90
22.67
19.50
26.00
21.67
23.67
26.00
26.00
20.00
23.83
20.00
22.00
24.00
12.00
24.43
Lowest
Paid
Men.
11.00
12.00
14.63
10.00
14.30
15.60
14.75
13.00
13.00
13.00
15.17
10.40
15.60
19.50
20.80
10.00
14.17
7.70
13.75
14.75
10.48
12.99
11.70
13.00
17.20
13.17
10.40
13.83
15.00
13.00
12.00
13.65
15.33
8.00
14.00
Highest
Paid
Women.
11.00
15.75
12.03
9.00
13.98
15.60
14.30
13.00
18.03
13.00
13.00
10.40
14.30
17.55
19.50
9.00
15.70
10.50
10.00
15.60
10.73
17.33
14.30
15.60
12.57
17.25
10.40
16.83
10.00
14.30
7.00
16.20
14.75
8.00
15.73
Lowest
Paid
Women.
8.00
8.00
7.15
7.00
7.96
13.00
9.75
10.40
9.10
9.10
7.37
6.50
7.54
13.00
13.40
6.50
7.20
7.80
5.00
10.40
7.15
9.10
11.70
10.40
7.80
11.80
7.80
10.03
6.00
9.10
5.00
9.60
9.50
6.00
10.00
Children.
8.00
8.30
7.80
6.15
8.71
9.75
7.15
7.15
8.02
11.38
8.67
5.20
8.72
13.00
12.35
7.00
4.33
6.08
6.00
9.10
6.50
11.56
8.45
9.75
5.20
10.50
6.50
12.58
5.00
6.50
7.80
9.18
7.57
11 89
Increased
or
Decreased?
decreased.
no.
decreased.
decreased.
no.
decreased.
decreased.
no.
decreased
increased.
decreased.
decreased.
increased.
increased.
increased.
no.
decreased.
no.
decreased.
increased.
no.
decreased.
no.
decreased.
decreased.
decreased.
decreased.
no.
increased.
no.
increased.
same as last year.
16 North Carolina. Labor Statistics.
Average Table Nc . 2
—
Continued.
a
£33
Wages.
Wages
County.
Highest
Paid
Men.
Lowest
Paid
Men.
Highest
Paid
Women.
Lowest
Paid
Women.
Children.
Increased
or
Decreased?
yes
yes
yes
yes
% 25.00
35.75
15.50
25.00
$ 20.00
19.50
10.00
12.00
$ 15.00
15.17
11.05
16.00
$ 10.00
9.97
9.10
10.00
$ 12.50
8.13
9.75
12.50
increased.
increased.
increased.
Greene no.
Guilford yes
yes
yes
23.50
16.10
19.50
13.30
11.00
13.00
16.25
12.67
15.60
7.10
8.53
11.70
8.45
7.15
11.38
no.
no.
Harnett decreased.
Haywood yes 26.00 13.00 14.30 10.40 8.13 no.
Henderson yes 24.88 14.74 13.04 7.97 9.38 decreased.
13.00 10.00 8.00 6.50 no.
Hyde yes 26.00 16.90 16.90 10.40 10.40 increased.
Iredell yes 15.00 7.00 10.00 4.00 5.00 decreased.
yes
yes
34.67
28.00
21.67
14.33
16.25
14.67
9.75
10.00
10.83
8.67
decreased.
Johnston increased.
Jones _ yes 17.25 13.25 14.30 9.70 7.43 no.
Lee yes 21.43 15.30 15.30 11.13 8.52 decreased.
yes
yes
19.50
24.00
13.00
13 90
13.00
19.67
10.40
12.00
7.80
11.05
no.
Lincoln _ decreased.
no
yes
26.00
24.80
17.50
13.68
decreased.
Macon 12.35 6.83 6.99 decreased.
Madison yes 19.75 11.50 10.20 7 25 6.08 decreased.
yes
yes
24.00
21.50
15.60
14.23
19.50
15.53
10.40
9.73
8.00
8.98
no.
Mecklenburg... ... . no.
Mitchell yes 26.71 18.69 15.11 8.91 8.81 decreased.
Montgomery* yes 25.33 11.80 14.55 9.97 8.67 increased.
Moore .... _ . yes 21.67 12.13 13.00 6.50 7.18 decreased.
yes
yes
13.75
19.50
8.25
13.00
10.00
13.00
7.67
9.75
7.42
8.78
decreased.
New Hanover .. no.
Northampton.. . __ yes 25.50 14.00 13.05 8.25 9.75 no.
yes 19.67
20.50
13.70
6.00
14.97
10.80
9 60
4.00
7.97
5.75
no.
Orange ,. .. . increased.
Pamlico . . yes 19.75 8.00 8.00 5.00 7.80 decreased.
Pasquotank yes
no
yes
same as
24 50 18 50 16 00 no.
18.00
31.67
ast year.
12.00
25.67
11.70
19.50
11.70
13^80
5.75
14.63
increased.
Perquimans* . increased
.
*Failed to report;
Condition of Farmers. 17
Average Table No. 2
—
Continued.
County.
i ° a
563
Person yes__
Pitt
Polk
Randolph
Richmond- - -
Robeson
Rockingham-
Rowan
yes---
yes_-_
yes_-_
yes._-
no-yes--.
yes.--
Rutherford yes— ..
yes
yes_ -
_
yes-_.
yes__-
yes-_-
yes
yes
Sampson
Scotland ---
Stanly
Stokes
Surry
Swain
Transylvania
Tyrrell
Union
Vance
Wake
Warren
Washington
Watauga yes --
Wayne ves --
Wilkes yes--
Wilson yes--
Yadkin yes--
Yancey yes-.
yes.-.
yes-_.
yes
yes
yes-
Highest
Paid
Men.
25.50
28.34
26.00
22.75
15.00
31.13
18.13
27.83
23.60
26.00
23.50
23.38
23.40
38.38
21.50
22.75
20.00
15.33
15.00
25.00
15.00
19 33
22.75
23.00
26.00
22.27
23.75
20.00
Lowest
Paid
Men.
Wages.
Highest
Paid
Women.
11.50
15.30
14.63
13.00
8.00
14.37
11.38
18.00
13.48
13.00
14.80
12.90
13.25
17.50
14.33
16.75
12.50
10.00
8.00
16.00
8.00
13.75
13.00
14.75
15.17
14.92
13.00
8.00
Lowest
Paid
Women.
Children.
14.00
19.20
14.95
9.75
13.00
18.53
11.15
19.50
14.50
13.00
14.00
12.87
12.50
17.83
12.00
12.37
12.50
' 12.87
14.00
5.00
14.30
11.50
15.28
14.92
13.33
7.65
9.94
9.75
6.50
6.50
10.13
6.60
13.00
8.88
9.10
9.20
8.50
7.83
10.33
6.00
7.22
9.00
8.93
11.50
3.00
13.00
5.00
9.53
9.50
5.70
7.25
S.88
5.60
10.40
Wages
Increased
or
Decreased?
increased,
increased,
no.
decreased.
6.50 decreased.
8.15
9.33
10.08
10.23
7.80
9.85
decreased.
mi.
decreased.
decreased.
no.
increased.
8.10 | decreased.
6.93
no.
decreased.
13.03
10.00
8.18
6.50 decreased.
10.50
5.50
11.70
9.10
9.10 increased.
7.80 no.
10.55 no.
6.44 no.
6.50 decreased.
18 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average Table No. 3
—
Showing Cost of Production.
Cost to Produce. '
County.
500-pound
Bale Cotton.
Bushel
Wheat.
Bushel
Corn.
Bushel
Oats.
100 Pounds
Tobacco.
$ 41.33
35.00
$ .83
.75
.81
.76
.75
$ .65
.45
.68
.46
.63
.25
.39
.55
.20
.25
.40
.63
.45
.40
.40
.45
.45
.27
.55
.55
.41
.50
.65
.35
.65
.40
.50
.34
.45
.45
.50
.40
.63
.80
.55
$ .40
.27
.37
.30
.38
.30
$ 11.00
7.00
38.00
6 00
13.00
31.00
40.00
10.00 .35
.70
.63
1.00
.77
5.00
.30
33.33 .25
30.00
40.00
25.00
35.00
10.00
Caldwell .33
.30
' 8.00
.65
.80
.35
.87
.30
.37
.20
.35
.20
.28
.40
.30
6.50
37.50
22.00
40.00
Clay .79
.80
.75
28.50
39.25
35.00
28.70
29.00
5.00
.60 .51
.30
28.00 .60
.60
.70
.75
.75
.81
1.00
.85
.30
.35
.30
.40
.36
.41
.40
.40
6.50
4.50
30.00
50.00
40.00
6.25
10.00
8.00
4.91
40.00
38.00
6.00
Gaston
*Failed to report; same as last year.
Condition of Farmers. 19
Average Table No. 3
—
Continued.
*Failed to report; same as last year.
20 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average Table No. 3
—
Continued.
Cost to Produce.
County.
500-Pound
Bale Cotton.
Bushel
Wheat.
Bushel
Corn.
Bushel
Oats.
100 Pounds
Tobacco.
$ % .83
.90
.82
.68
.50
% .60
.41
.46
.41
.40
.47
.69
.53
.51
.48
.52
.53
.55
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
.60
.45
.35
.42
.80
.70
.55
.59
.53
.50
$ .40
.36
.28
.30
.30
.30
.45
.38
.43
.40
.30
.35
.39
.35
.38
.35
.30
.30
$ 10.00
Pitt 35.80 6 70
35.50
35.00
30.00
35.00
Polk
Randolph
Richmond . _ _
7 25
.95
.75
.89
.45
8 88
Rowan.. ._ ... 35.00
34.92
32.00
27.50
31.50
Rutherford . .
6 00
Scotland- _. ...
Stanly. _. ._ .65
.73
.84
.69
.63
6 30
7 50
i
15 00
11 00
Tyrrell 34.00
30.00
35.00
45.25
27.50
33.33
.65
7 00
Wake .63
.70
.30
.33
8 00
7 50
1.00
.85
.76
.80
.78
.80
.58
.40
.41
.43
.39
.40
Wayne.
Wilkes
32.50 5.50
5.00
Wilson 34.38 6.55
5.50
Condition of Farmers. 21
Average Table No. 4r—Showing Market Price of Crops.
Alamance
Alexander
Alleghany
Anson -.
Ashe
Beaufort
Bertie
Bladen
Brunswick..
.
Buncombe. ..
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Camden
Carteret*
Caswell
Catawba
Chatham
Cherokee
Chowan
Clay
Cleveland
Columbus*..
Craven
Cumberland.
Currituck
Dare
Davidson...
Davie
Duplin
Durham
Edgecombe-
Forsyth
Franklin
Gaston
County.
Present Market Price.
500-Pound
Bale Cotton.
53.33
50.00
50.00
58.13
45.07
55.00
55.00
43.30
55.00
55.00
55.00
55.00
Bushel
Wheat.
53.00
55.00
55.00
55.00
60.00
45.00
51.00
50.00
55.00
47.50
40.00
54.00
55.00
52.00
.95
1.06
.75
1.07
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.05
Bushel
Corn.
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.04
1.00
1.10
.91
.95
1.00
1.00
1.01
.95
1.00
1.05
.95
1.40
1.00
1.22
.90
.80
1.05
1.10
1.05
.85
1.00
1.04
.85
.88
1.00
.75
1.15
.97
.97
.75
1.00
1.08
1.00
1.08
.96
.80
1.00
1.00
1.00
.92
1.00
1.03
Bushel
Oats.
100 Pounds
Tobacco.
9.83
8.00
12.50
10.00
.50 20.00
.50
.64 13.00
.50
1.05 9.00
.53
.70
.50
.50
.57 25.00
.61
.60 8.00
.75
.71
.60
.53 8.00
.50 8.00
.40 7.00
.50 10.00
.75 7.80
.50 7.80
.60 10.00
.68
*Failed to report; same as last year.
22 ]STorth Carolina Labor Statistics.
Avekage Table No. -Continued.
Present Market Price.
County.
500-Pound
Bale Cotton.
Bushel
Wheat.
Bushel
Corn.
Bushel
Oats.
100 Pounds
Tobacco.
$ 50.00 $ $ 1.00
1.08
1.10
1.00
.93
1.00
.82
1.03
1.00
1.00
1.00
.85
1.03
.96
.90
1.05
1.00
.86
.96
1.01
.95
.90
.96
1.18
.90
1.00
1.11
1.00
1.00
1.03
.80
1.00
.87
.80
$ .70
.50
.75
S
1.08
1.00
18 75
68.75
50.00
6 00
8 00
Guilford .93
1.00
1.37
1.05
1.00
.53
.70
.60
.53
.65
9 00
55.00
50.00
10 00
17 50
50.00
55.00
55.00
Hyde _._ .90
1.00
1.00
.96
.60
.55
.45
.76
.70
.56
.60
.65
.71
.55
.50
.65
.65
.65
.55
.58
.70
.80
.60
.78
.55
.75
.65
9 00
50.00
50.00
55.00
55.00
46.00
9 30
10 00
1.06
8 00
1.01
1.06
1.00
.95
18 75
8.00
47.00
48.00
6.50
.91
1.10
.95
1.05
1.08
Mitchell 17.00
66.25
52.00
53.00
55.00
52.00
53.33
7.66
1.00
10.25
.95 12.00
50.00
67.50
65.13
Perquimans* .1 64.17 .65 .53
*Failed to report; same as last year.
Condition of Farmers. 90
Average Table No. 4
—
Continued.
Present Market Price.
County.
500-Pound
Bale Cotton.
Bushel
Wheat.
Bushel
Corn.
Bushel
Oats.
100 Pounds
Tobacco.
$ $ .98
1.05
1.03
1.00
.90
% .90
1.07
.90
.95
1.00
1.05
.98
.97
.95
.90
1.00
.99
.76
.98
1.03
1.04
1.00
1.03
.80
.95
1.10
.99
1.20
1.00
.95
1.03
.90
1.00
$ .63
.74
.47
.65
.60
.68
.64
.58
.65
.80
.75
.54
.60
.63
.62
.64
.60
.63
$ 10.50
Pitt . 53.00
53.33
60.00
55.00
49.58
8.80
Polk .
10.00
1.00
.90
.99
1.05
10.00
55.83
58.00
52.50
43.75
54.38
8.00
.98
.98
1.08
1.00
1.00
9.30
8.25
17.50
22.50
Tyrrell . 52.50
52.50
52.50
53.75
53.75
53.33
.98
10.00
Wake .80
1.23
.45
.75
10.00
8.50
1.15
1.00
1.03
1.10
.99
1.00
.68
.75
.58
.68
.48
.50
48.75 7 00
Wilkes
49.12 11.75
7.67
24 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average Table No. 5
—
Showing Cost,
Cotton. Wheat.
County. Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit.
$ 41.33
35.00
$ 53.33
50.00
$ 12.00
15.00
$ .83
.75
.81
.76
.75
$ .96
.95
1.06
.75
1.07
S 13
20
25
38.00 50.00 12.00 f.Ol
.32
13.00
31.00
40.00
10.00
58.13
45.07
55.00
55.00
45.13
14.07
15.00
45.00 .35
.70
.63
1.00
.77
.80
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.05
.45
.30
33.33
30.00
40.00
25.00
35.00
43.30
55.00
55.00
55.00
55.00
9.97
25.00
15.00
30.00
20.00
.37
Caldwell .28
.65
.80
.35
.87
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
.35
37.50
22.00
53.00
55.00
15.50
33.00
.20
.65
.13
40.00 55.00 15.00
Clay .79
.80
.75
1.00
1.04
1.00
.21
28.50
39.25
35.00
28.70
29.00
55.00
60.00
45.00
51.00
50.00
26.50
20.75
10.00
22.30
21.00
.24
.25
.60 1.10 .50
28.00 55.00 27.00 .60
.60
.70
.75
.75
.81
1.00
.85
.91
.95
1.00
1.00
1.01
.95
1.00
1.05
.31
.35
30.00
50.00
40.00
47.50
45.00
54.00
17.50
t5.00
6.00
.30
.25
.26
.14
40.00
38.00
45.00
55.00
52.00
50.00
15.00
14.00
5.00
.20
Gates..-
*Failed to report; same as last year. fLos;
Condition of Farmers. 25
Price and Profit on Products, by Counties.
Corn. Oats. Tobacco.
Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit.
$ .65 S .88 $ .23 $ .40 S .58 $ .18 $ 11.00 $ 9.83 $ tl-17
.45
.68
.46
.63
.95
1.40
1.00
1.22
.50
.72
.54
.59
.27
.37
.30
.38
.47
.60
.70
.61
.20
.23
.40
.23
7.00 7.00
6.00 12.50 6.50
.25
.39
.55
.20
.90
.80
1.05
1.10
.65
.41
.50
.90
.30 .70 .40
.40
.34
.80
.85
.40
.51 5.00 10.00 5.00
.25
.40
1.05
.85
.80
.45
.30
.25
.50
.50
.20
.25 10.00 20.00 10.00
.63
.45
1.00
1.04
.37
.59
.70
.33
.50
.64
t.20
.31 8.00 13.00 5.00
.40
.40
.45
.90
.80
;85
.50
.40
.40
.30 .50 .20
.30 1.05 .75 6.50 9.00 2.50
.45
.27
.55
.55
.41
.88
1.00
.75
1.15
.97
.43
.73
.20
.60
.56
.37
.20
.35
.20
.28
.53
.70
.50
.50
.57
.16
.50
.15
.30
.29 17.50 25.00 7.50
.50
.65
.97
.75
.47
.10
.40
.30
.61
.60
.21
.30 5.00 8.00 3.00
.35
.65
.40
.50
.34
1.00
1.08
1.00
1.08
.96
.65
.43
.60
.58
.62
.20
.51
.30
.75
.71
.60
.55
.20
.30
.30 .53 .23 6.50 S.00 1.50
.45 .80 .35 .35 .50 .15 4.50 8.00 3.50
.45 1.00 .55 .30 .40 .10 6.25 7.00 .75
.50
.40
1.00
1.00
.50
.60
.40
.36
.50
.75
.10
.39
10.00
8.00
10.00
7.80 t.20
.63 .92 .29 .41 .50 .09 4.91 7.80 2.99
.80 1.00 .20 .40 .60 .20 6.00 10.00 4.00
.55
.45
1.03
1.00
.46
.55
.40
.30
.68
.70
.28
.40
26 North Carolina Labok Statistics.
Average Table
Cotton. Wheat.
County.
Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit.
$.
20.00
30.00
$
68.75
50.00
$
48.75
20.00
$ .68
.55
$ 1.08
1.00
$ .40
.45
.71
1.00
.75
.66
.70
.93
1.00
1.37
1.05
1.00
.22
Halifax 43.00
30.00
55.00
50.00
12.00
20.00 .62
.39
.30
35.00
15.00
26.00
50.00
55.00
55.00
15.00
40.00
29.00
Hyde - -- -- .20
.60
.68
.83
.90
1.00
1.00
.96
.70
.40
.32
30.00
30.00
44.00
30.00
35.00
50.00
50.00
55.00
55.00
46.00
20.00
20.00
11.00
25.00
11.00
.13
Lee .85 1.06 .21
.82
.76
.65
.71
1.01
1.06
1 00
.95
.19
.30
.35
.24
38.75
43.00
47.00
48.00
9.25
5.00 .71
.85
.68
.70
.83
.91
1.10
.95
1.05
1.08
.20
.25
31.00
32.83
35.00
66.25
52.00
53.00
35.25
20.17
18.00
.27
.35
.25
36.00
40.00
52.00
53.33
16.00
13.33
.80 1.00 .20
.70 .95 .25
25.00
45.00
18.00
33.33
50.00
67.50
65.13
64.17
25.00
22.50
47.13
30.84
Pas .tank
*
P *
.83
.90
.98
1.05
.15
Pitt 35.80 53.00 17.20 .15
*Failed to report; same as last year. tLoss.
Condition of Farmers. 27
No. 5
—
Continued.
Corn. Oats. Tobacco.
Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit.
$ .47 S 1.08 $ .61 $ .23 $ .50 S .27 $ 10.00 $ 18.75 $ 8.75
.41 1.10 .69 .40 .75 .35 7.00 6.00 tl.00
.80 1.00
.93
.20
.45
8.00
7.50
8.00
.48 .36 .53 .17 9.00 1.50
.78 1.00 .22 .50 .70 .20 7.50 10.00 2.50
.55 .82
1.03
1.00
.27
.56
.48
.50
.33
.38
.60
.53
.65
.10
.20
.27
.47
.52 10.00 17.50 7.50
.50 1.00
1.00
.85
.50
.70
.40
.30 .25
.33
.60
.55
.35
.45 .22 6.00 9.00 3.00
.58 1.03
.96
.45
.29
.35
.50
.45
.76
.10
.67 .26 9.16 9.30 .24
.35 .90 .55 .55 .70 .15 5.50 10.00 4.50
.46 1.05
1.00
.59
.50
.41
.25
.56
.60
.15
.50 .35 6.00 8.00 2.00
.65 .86
.96
1.01
.21
.53
.51
.50
.40
.29
.65
.71
.55
.15
.31
.26
.43
.50 7.50 18.75 11.25
.44 95. .51 .28 .50 .22 6.50 8.00 1.50
.55 .90 .35 .35 .65 .30 3.25 6.50 3.25
.46 .96
1.18
.50
.44
.36
.50
.65
.65
.29
.74 .15 8.00 17.00 9.00
.38 .90
1.00
1.11
.52
.53
.36
.28
.30
.43
.55
.58
.70
.27
.28
.27
.47
.75 7.75 7.66 t-09
.60 1.00
1.00
1.03
.40
.48
.44
.30
.42
.63
.80
.60
.78
.50
.18
.15
.52
.59 7.50 10.25 2.75
.60 .80 .20 .35 .55 .20 10.00 12.00 2.00
.40 1.00
.87
.80
.65
.90
.60
.37
.40
.25
.30
.40
.40
.75
.65
.35
.50 .25
.40
.40 .28
.40
.53
.63
.25
.60 .23 10.00 10.50 .50
.41 1.07 .66 .36 .74 .38 6.70 8.80 2.10
28 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Average Table
Cotton. Wheat.
County.
Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit.
Polk $ 35.50
35.00
30.00
35.00
$ 53.33
60.00
55.00
49.58
$ 17.83
25.00
25.00
14.58
$ .82
.68
.50
% 1.03
1.00
.90
$ .21
.32
.40
.95
.75
.89
.45
1.00
.90
.99
1.05
.05
35.00
34.92
32.00
27.50
31.50
55.83
58.00
52.50
43.75
54.38
20.83
23.08
22.50
16.25
22.88
.15
.10
.60
.65
.73
.84
.69
.63
.98
.98
1.08
1.00
1.00
.33
.25
.24
.31
.37
Tyrrell 34.00
30.00
35.00
45.25
27.50
33.33
52.50
52.50
52.50
53.72
53.75
53.33
18.50
22.50
17.50
8.47
26.25
20.00
.65 .98 .33
Wake .63
.70
.80
1.23
.17
.53
1.00
.85
.76
.80
.78
.80
1.15
1.00
1.03
1.10
.99
1.00
.15
32.50 48.75 16.25 .15
Wilkes .27
34.38 49.12 14.74 .30
.21
.20
*Failed to report; same as last year. fLoss.
Condition of Farmers. 29
No. 5
—
Continued.
Com. Oats. Tobacco.
Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit. Cost. Price. Profit.
S .46 $ .90 I .44 S .28 $ .47 $ .19 $ $ $
41 95 54 .30 .65 .35
40 1 00 60 30 60 .30
.47 1.05 .58 .30 .68 .38 7.25 10.00 2.75
.69 .98 .29 .45 .64 .19 8.88 10.00 1.12
53 97 44 38 58 .20
51 95 44 43 .65 .22
.48 .90 .42 .40 .80 .40 6.00 S.00 2.00
52 1 00 48 30 75 .45
53 99 46 35 .54 .19
.55 .76 .21 .39 .60 .21 6.30 9.30 3.00
.50 .98 .48 .35 .63 .28 7.50 8.25 .75
.50 1.03 .53 .38 .62 .24 15.00 17.50 2.50
.50 1.04 .54 .35 .64 .29 11.00 22.50 11.50
.50 1.00 .50 .30 .60 .30
50 1 03 53 30 63 .33
.60
.45
.80
.95
.20
.50
7.00
8.00
10.00
10.00
3.00
.30 .45 .15 2.00
.35 1.10 .75 .33 .75 .42 7.50 8.50 1.00
.42
.80
.99
1.20
.57
.40 .58 .68 .10
.70 1.00 .30 .40 .75 .35 5.50 7.00 1.50
.55 .95 .40 .41 .58 .17 5.00 9.00 4.00
.59 1.03 .44 .43 .68 .25 6.55 11.75 5.20
.53 .90 .37 .39 .48 .09 5.50 7.67 2.17
.50 1.00 .50 .40
\
.50 .10
30 ISJoeth Carolina Labor Statistics.
SUMMAKY.
Following will be found a general summary of the information contained
in the tables
:
Table No. 1 shows an increase in the value of land in seventy-nine counties,
decrease in sis and no change in thirteen. Fertility of land is reported main-tained
in ninety-four counties ; four report that it is not. Seven counties re-port
a tendency to have larger farms; ninety-one smaller. Seventy-five coun-ties
report labor scarce; twenty-three plentiful. Ninety-four counties report
negro labor unreliable; three, reliable, and one, no negro labor. Thirty-eight
counties favor immigration and sixty oppose it.
In Table No. 2 ninety counties report increase in cost of living ; eight report
no increase. Highest average wages paid men, 22.61, a decrease of $2.42 per
month over last year; lowest, $13.40, a decrease of $1.90. Highest average
wages paid women, $13.72, a decrease of $1.75 per month over last year ; low-est,
$8.77, a decrease of $1.46 per month over last year. Average wages of
children, $8.53, a decrease of eighty-six cents per month over last year.
Twenty counties report increase in wages, thirty-nine decrease and forty-one
report no change.
Table No. 3 shows that sixty-eight counties produce cotton at $33.13 per
bale of 500 pounds ; thirty counties do not report. Seventy-two counties pro-duce
wheat at a cost of seventy-three cents per bushel ; twenty-six counties do
not report wheat. Ninety-eight counties produce corn at a cost of fifty cents
per bushel. Eighty-six counties produce oats at thirty-six cents per bushel
;
twelve counties do not report oats. Fifty counties produce tobacco at $7.27
per 100 pounds ; forty-eight counties do not report.
Table No. 4 shows present market price of cotton, wheat, corn, oats and
tobacco.
Table No. 5 shows cost of production, selling price and profit on cotton,
wheat, corn, oats and tobacco, upon each of which, with few exceptions, it
will be noted that there is a substantial profit.
Following will be found letters expressive of the sentiment of the farmers
of various parts .of the State "relative to immigration, and suggestions as to
what they think would be beneficial to the laboring classes
:
Condition of Farmers. 31
LETTERS FROM FARMERS.
Would be pleased to have your views on the "child-labor" laws uow opera-tive
in this State ; also any suggestion relative to the needs of wage-earners,
and what, in your opinion, would benefit them. Especially would I appreciate
your views on immigration and the class of immigrants most desirable in
North Carolina. H. B. Varner,
Commissioner.
ALAMANCE COUNTY.
Tersely Told.-—Children under twelve years old should not be allowed to
work in factories. Negro labor is unreliable, a good class of white labor
needed.—J. F. Homewood, Burlington.
The Law Satisfactory.—I think the child-labor law is all right if it is put
in force, as I think children should be protected in every way possible. Edu-cate
them, teach them to work with the knowledge of books and they will
make citizens safe and sure. Wage-earners need education. With laws to
protect them they are all O. K. Immigrants not needed at the present. With
the panic before us our own laborers are hard up to keep soul and body
together.—J. C. Whitesell, Burlington.
Labor Law All Right.—Children under twelve years of age should not
work in mills, but go to school. It is needless to say we need laborers to help
develop our many natural resources. Which country they should come from
I shall not attempt to say, but we must have more laborers to help improve
the hundreds of acres of idle lands in our State to-day. Am opposed to com-pulsory
education, as it will force the negro to go to school, which, in nearly
every instance unfits him as a farm laborer. I think the present educational
wave will induce nearly all parents to send their children to school.—J. G.
Clark, Snow Camp.
ALEXANDER COUNTY.
Scotch Preferred.—The child-labor law now operative in this State is all
right, with one exception. I do not think that a child should be allowed to
work at night until he is eighteen years old. I am in favor of immigration if
it is of a good moral class, so that it will help the moral condition of the
country. From my observation of foreign immigrants I would prefer the
Scotchman.—W. H. Carson, Taylorsville.
Skilled Labor.—I am in favor of the child-labor law and its enforcement.
Children, when not in school, should work. Education moves the world. The
child who is educated is equipped for the duties of life, and if it has the per-severance
and energv it will succeed in life, and live anywhere and under all
32 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
circumstances. Ignorance is the greatest curse that the human family has to
contend with. The day is at hand when the ignorant child will live under all
disadvantages and cannot succeed in life. We need better education in North
Carolina, for that will produce better farming. The problems of the poor soil
in North Carolina will never be solved by public ignorance. Skilled labor
must take the place of ignorant labor The way to get skilled labor is to edu-cate.
So far as I know there is not a man in our county who could analyze
his soil and find out what properties in that soil were lacking Agricultural
education must improve in the State before we can expect successful farming.
The wage-earner must have education before he can do skilled labor and de-mand
high wages. I do not think we need any immigration here. There are
more people in India and China than almost anywhere on the globe, yet,
famine is rampant in those countries, because the people are ignorant and
idle. It seems that ignorance produces idleness. Such people don't look into
the future, and they feel no public or private duties.—F. C. Gwaltney, Taij-lorsville.
ALLEGHANY COUNTY.
Reasonably Fair,—The child-labor law now operative in the State is rea-sonably
fair and should be strictly enforced. Wage-earners, as a rule, need
better education, and should be dealt with in a way that would incline towards
the highest and purest type of citizenship. The influx of immigration will,
under the most rigid rulings and the greatest vigilance, admit persons occa-sionally
who will never become desirable citizens ; however, with proper rul-ings
along this line, the lion's share of worthless fugitives and other de-graded
persons might be hindered from coming among us.
—
George W. Miles.
Miles.
Energy and Thrift.—Ours being more especially a stock and fruit growing
section, we do not need immigrants of the laboring class. What we need is
more energy and thrift among our farmers. People live here with less effort
than in any section I have ever visited. Were we to put forth the proper effort
ours would almost be a Garden of Eden. Having no factories, the child-labor
laws do not directly affect us. However, I am in favor of all the precautions
possible being taken to prevent the children of our State becoming dwarfs,
both mentally and physically.
—
Eugene Transon. Stratford.
Opportunity for Reliable Tenants.—There are but few men with families
in this section who don't own their own homes. Those who wish to rent land
and are reliable can get good land to cultivate, with house rent and cow
pasture free, wood, etc. The only thing I would suggest for the laboring
class is a law to compel them to send their children to school. The child-labor
law does not affect this section.—W. F. Doughton, Laurel Springs.
Let Enlightened Classes Come.—No cotton factories with us, therefore
but few children work for wages. I do not approve of much immigration of
labor to this section of the country, unless it be an enlightened class of peo-ple.—
W. W. Hash, Piney Creek.
Condition of Farmers.
ANSON COUNTY.
Children on the Farms.—Child labor does not amount to much on the
farm, except for cotton picking, which is light work. I think the labor law
all right. Don't think children should work in factories or on public works
;
light work on the farm is good for them, provided their education is not neg-lected.
All wage-earners are well paid for their services, but few of them
save anything. Think the post-office savings banks would greatly remedy the
evil, if such a law could be enacted. The landlord can't possibly do any more
for them ; they have good houses free of rent, firewood to burn, free, fruit
free, gardens, potato patches and pasture for their cows and hogs free. They
ought to be able to lay up one-half of their earnings, but I know no law to
make them do so. A good class of immigrants would be desirable and wel-come,
to farm on shares, renters or laborers, but we want no hoboes or drones.
Good class of Germans or Swedes could get some good homes and plenty of
land to cultivate, where good schools and churches are convenient. But I
think no class of labor equal to the negro if they were reliable, but they are
fast leaving the farms for public works or towns. Secret societies and baseball
are ruining them as laborers.—J. A. Kendall, Ansonville.
Duty of Parents.—I believe every child should be taught to work, and he
should be allowed the privilege of working anywhere he is able to do the
work, with the consent of his parents. Children brought up in idleness, until
they are twelve and fourteen years old, never amount to much ; besides, there
are a great many parents with such large families, and when so many are
not able to work it is an injustice to them, and I believe in every one having
a showing. I believe that every man should be made to work and not allowed
to loaf around a cotton mill, or anywhere else, and depend on his children to
support him.—T. A. Horne, Lilesville.
Let the Law be Enforced.—I am not very well informed on the question
of the child-labor law. But if they are not worked overtime I do not think
we could complain. If some means of having them in the public schools of
the State be provided, and also some compelling force attached, wherever the
parent or guardian fails to show a willingness to have their attendance as
much as three and one-half months at least in each calendar year. This way
some trifling men have of doing—moving to some factory and theu depending
for support on the efforts of their children, while they spend their time in idle-ness—
should be stopped, unless they are able to live well and school their
children in a reasonable manner. Let the present law be enforced. Now, as
to the wage-earner : he is now about the most bigoted and arrogant fellow in
this whole country. He seems to be monarch of all he surveys. You must
give him an exhorbitant price and then let him do as he pleases, much of the
time about half performing his duties. Some one will say let him go, but he
is about as good as the next one, and if you do not want him, with his pol-ishes,
the other fellow will be glad to take him, boot, rag and all, only soon to
learn that he too has on his hands an unmanageable incubus fit to make a
preacher cuss. There certainly is room for some remedial legislation right on
this line. The amount we pay labor would not be so bad if the service was
good. The landlord now seems to be at the mercy (in part) of a class who
34 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
work or loiter at will, and this is going to cause men to cut down their farms
and also to use more improved machinery in their farming operations, and
thereby cut out some of the worry and trouble incident to trying to control
unprincipled tenants. Of course there are some good tenants and wage-toilers,
but I am alluding to the majority, who are mostly negroes. Our better class
of white people are on the up-grade.—J. W. Jones, Marshville.
ASHE COUNTY.
Needs Immigration.—In this section of the State we have poor transporta-tion
facilities. If we could have a railroad built in this county, to develop
the resources, our wage-earners would profit much from it. As to immigra-tion,
I will say that we need immigrants in this county only when we get a
railroad, and then we want American blood and enterprise, with American
ideas of government and education.—H. A. Elleb, Berlin.
Children Should Not be Idle.—I am in favor of compulsory school law.
I think children ought to be employed at some kind of labor when not in
school. We have no factories in this county, and therefore the children do
nothing but help their parents when not in school.
—
Marshall Bakeb, Creston.
Industry Beaes Fbuit.—As to child labor in factories or machine shops,
where the labor is slavish or dangerous, children should not be exposed. And
as to health and physical development, it is better not to work them at all in
factories. I am satisfied that labor on the farm or in the open air is
beneficial to children. First, it will better their financial condition. Second,
the exercise in the open air will develop muscles, and the nerve system will
acquire activity and strength and promote a better development of both brain
and muscle, while the child at the same time acquires a habit of industry,
which is nearly always followed by thrift, and helps to make up our best
class of citizens. This is the class that moves the world along; they earn the
bread that they eat and the final result is independence, and, as a rule, they
possess the best of morals and are steadfast in religious matters. Therefore,
I think it is best for the children of this or any other country to be engaged
in school as much as possible, and when not engaged in school to be in labor
suitable to the child's strength. It is an evident fact that the child who is
suffered to grow up in idleness will soon change exercise into mischief, for a
long exercise of idleness will throw the broad road of ruin open to children.
While there should be restrictions in the laws to protect our children from
being imposed upon by being subjected to heavy or slavish labor, they should
have exercise, and it is safer for them to labor than play baseball and much
more profitable. As to immigration, there has always been too heavy a current,
and our own people will soon need all our lands and we would not be hurt
without any immigration.—W. J. Roberts, Grassy Creek.
A Sufficiency of Labor.—I think we have enough of our own countrymen
to do our work in this county, and immigrants would be a disadvantage to
the people of Ashe rather than an advantage. As to child labor, I think they
should work when they are not in school, and when there is school they should
Condition of Farmers. 35
be put in it regardless of what is to do or the wages.. The wage-earners
should be more considerate of their employers, and should make every effort
to do their work with their best skill and ability, and then they should be
paid for knowledge of how to do the work and the courage for doing it
rieht.
—
Robey Roten, Sly.
BERTIE COUNTY.
Most Desirable Class of Farm Labor.—The labor system in this county is
very poor, though, I think, perhaps, it is about an average for the State. The
negro is undoubtedly, in my opinion, the most desirable farm laborer, and I
think I am echoing the sentiments of all our citizens when I express the
hope that this class of labor may become more abundant. He is not perfec-tion,
but I think he comes nearer that desirable state than any class we are
likely to import from abroad. We can handle him in a way that any im-ported
class of white citizens, after becoming acquainted with our ways and
customs, would hardly tolerate. What we of the east, especially of Bertie
County need, is a class of men possessing a high standard of intelligence
from other sections of the republic, and thoroughly imbued with American
ideas, to set us a pace in industry and intensive farming. With best wishes
for your success in this great undertaking.—L. B. Tadlock, Woodard.
BLADEN COUNTY.
Two Sides to the Question.—The child-labor question has two sides. From
one point of view it looks hard to shut them up in factories from ten to twelve
hours. Then, from the other side, take poor families with several children,
with nothing to do, possibly the father and mother with no health ; then I say
it would be a hardship to deprive these people from moving into a factory
town where the children could support them. I know of one or more cases
from this neighborhood that the above applies to. At the present rate of im-migration
into the United States it will not be long before we cannot tell who
we are. I say America for Americans.
—
James Robeson, Tar Heel.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY.
Should Not Bring in Foreigners.—As to the child-labor law, I know noth-ing
about it. I do not think there is much in a law not enforced. I think
there ought to be better school facilities, then there would be no need of com-pulsory
school laws, and if we must have child-labor laws enforce them, to see
what the result would be. As to immigrants, I do not think we need them at
all. Let our domain be for our posterity. I do not think we ought to be try-ing
to bring in foreigners and crowd out our children's children.—C. C. Little,
Malcatolca.
36 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
BURKE COUNTY.
Do Not Need Them.—I think children should be raised to work while young,
but not in cotton factories, as it is injurious to their health. I do not think
we need any immigrants now unless they are better than the class we have —
S. S. Hallyburton, Morganton.
Foreign Element Not Needed.—The child-labor law is very good if enforced.
As to immigrants, we do not need any of any class. Our section is filled up,
generally speaking, and we do not need any more of the foreign element.
—
J. M. Barber, Rutherford College.
CALDWELL COUNTY.
Asking Too Much.—I think the present child-labor law is sufficient if it
was enforced as it should be. I believe if the wage-earners would work for
less wages and not ask so much of their employers they would come out bet-ter
in the end and get more work to do. I am not in favor of immigration, and
I know of no other race of people that would suit this country, for it seems
the foreign people generally prove to be worthless and give us more trouble
than good, and therefore I think we had better let immigration alone.—P. B.
Bush, Lenoir.
Fault of Officers.—As to the child-labor law. I think in the main, it is
good enough if it was carried out. But like many other statutory laws, they
largely fail to do what they are intended to do, and the children are allowed
too many parental privileges, until they, to some extent, become disobedient,
not only to the parental laws, but the laws of the State, thereby bringing
about criminal action. As to wage-earners, the present panic has so demoral-ized
wages that in my opinion there will have to be a general revolution be-fore
wages can be regulated even as they were twelve months ago. We do
not need foreign immigrants in Caldwell County as we have plenty of young
men and girls now out of employment who would gladly take any honorable
work in which to make a living.—A. E. Nelson, Patterson.
A Nuisance.—I have given my views on child labor, compulsory school law
and immigration. The child-labor law is all right. We should have compul-sory
school law and have it rigidly enforced. As to immigration, I am utterly
opposed to it, as all the foreigners that have ever come to this country have
been a nuisance. We have no room for such. Let us raise Americans to popu-late
our country and have a good citizenship, and pass laws against immi-gration,
especially the low class.—A. G. Corpening, Lenoir.
Against Immigration—The Reasons.—I am not familiar with the child-labor
law, but so far as I know it is about what we need. As to wage-earners,
I have no special suggestion to make, except there should be something done
with the laws concerning the public school books. There should not be a
change of books so often, as it is only a burden on the parents and a draw-back
to the children. The pretense to exchange old ones for new ones is a
humbug, as they will only swap for the same books you have, for instance, if
Condition of Farmers. 37
I have a first reader there is no use to swap it for another first reader, and
this was the only exchange you could get up here in this part of the State.
As to immigration, we do not need or want it. First, it would he a step towards
demoralizing our State, and we should maintain the morality of our people.
Second, it would tend to decrease labor, as they would work for less money
than our people could. Third, the people who would come are of a very low
grade in character. These things we should look closely after, as the morals
of a country is the life of it, and we have good morals and good working people.
So we had better do our work ourselves and not bring in a class of people who
care not for morals and are not God-fearing.—W. P. May, Lenoir.
CAMDEN COUNTY.
Opposes Both.—I am opposed to child labor. We do not need immigrants
in North Carolina.—H. C. Lamb, Belcross.
CASWELL COUNTY.
Injustice to Working People.—I am in favor of the child-labor law now
in force in this State. I am opposed to immigration. I think it would be an
injustice to our working people and would soon fill our country with a low-down
class of foreigners.—L. L. Rasco, Jericho.
CATAWBA COUNTY.
Objection to Mill Work.—As to child labor in the mills, I do not think
that children ought to work in the dust and lint in these mills until they are
about sixteen or seventeen years old, and more especially at night. I have
been in these mills here and have seen little girls and boys working at the
dead hours of night, pale and yellow, and not healthy and stout like children
raised on the farm. It does not hurt children to work in corn and cotton and
get plenty of good country air. I favor compulsory school law. Think chil-dren
should be put in school at least four months in the year. You ask the
question: Do many women work on the farms? They do, but do not go from
home to do so. When they go to the mills to work the pay is more than the
farmer can pay. The knitting mills get the most of our girls here. I do not
think immigration best for our country, for we have the negro here, and he
has come to stay, and I am afraid that we might get a sorry race of people
here with the negro and that we would have to fight them before long. If
immigrants should come I would want the very best class we could get.—C. M.
Bltrrus, Newton.
38 Xoeth Carolina Laboe Statistics.
CHATHAM COUNTY.
Necessary Evil.—Child labor is a necessary evil in some cases. I think if
the head of every family is left to govern the labor of the members of his or
her family, without any lawful limit, it will be much better than any rigid
rule laid down by a body of politicians, who know nothing of the harships
and necessities of the laboring man's family. There are exceptions to this
rule which will be checked or regulated by the criminal statutes of the State.
As to day wage-earners, there is nothing that will make them work regular
except low wages and hunger. This refers to the negro laborer. White labor is
altogether different. The higher the wages the better the white laborer works.
We do not need any immigration in our section of the State. We raise cotton
and corn mostly and the negro is the best and most available labor for
these crops, and we have all the negro labor we need. Now, what is best to
do is to keep out the worthless class of people, and the agricultural interest in
our section is all right. We do not want any more foreign immigrants.—J. E.
Bryan, Moncure.
The Best Labor.—I do not object to the child-labor law. It seems to me
that it is time to begin to look after the physical and intellectual develop-ment
of the children. The future destiny of our State and Nation depends on
what we make of the child. I know very little about immigrants or laborers,
but my opinion is that the negro is the best laborer we can get for the South,
and when treated right he is easy to get along with. But they are a class
that cannot stand prosperity. When times are prosperous they work just
enough to live on. If they can live on $3 per week and can get a dollar per
day, they will work three days and do nothing the other three. High wages
make them unreliable as workers. When they just make enough to live on
they are better citizens and better hands to work.—B. J. Utley, Moncure.
CHEROKEE COUNTY.
Amend the Law.—As to my views on the child-labor law, will say the
most of it is satisfactory to me. The second section should be amended, as
to the number of hours per week. If teachers must have from two to four
dollars per day of five hours, I think children should not be compelled to
work double time for one-fourth pay. I think eight hours per day sufficient.—
J. A. Kimsey, Marble.
Debt-making.—I think the abolition of the unlimited credit system would
benefit the major part of the laboring classes. Common people buy too much
when credit is easy, therefore a few lessons in self-denial and economy would
be beneficial. Generally speaking, the laboring classes are honest, but have
not the foresight to avoid debt-making, and therefore, purchase, without a
probability of paying for them, many things they could do without, and often
pay a very exhorbitant price for inferior goods. I do not think we need im-migrants
in this country. There is an immense crop of good looking, healthy
Condition of Farmers.
children coming on every few days, and we can raise our own people. We
have a fine school here and I do not think children should be kept out of it to
work for indolent parents, except in rare cases, therefore a little compelling
force somewhere would come in all right.—J. S. Carter, Andrews.
, CHOWAN COUNTY.
Scarce, but Enough.—I think the child-labor law is all right, if it is car-ried
out. Wage-earners are well fixed up if they would work regular and
save their money, but they just work enough to half-way live. Labor is scarce,
but we have enough. If we had plenty of labor we would increase our crop
and that would mean low prices. I think we have enough in North Carolina
without immigration. Farmers must cultivate less acreage, manure more
and turn out their poor land to grow up in pine timber.—H. B. Jones, Tyner.
No Colored People.—I live in the northern part of Chowan County. We have
no colored people. We have small farms and every farmer attends to his own
farm. There is no wheat, tobacco and very little cotton raised. We raise
corn, sweet potatoes and peanuts. Women and children pick the peanuts.
That is all they have to do out of doors. When the public schools open the
children go in.
—
Elihu Copeland, Ryland.
CLAY COUNTY.
Need Colonization.—Educate the children. Interest them in and encourage
them to stay on the farm. This is the immigration we need. We do not need
the slum and scum of other nations to fill our mountains with crime ; we have
plenty of that with the negro. We need colonization in place of immigration,
and let the whites rule their nation in peace and honesty. Give us a white
race and educate them, and then they cannot be bought by monopolies and
trusts to paralyze business and bring panics on the people.—W. A. Casada,
Eayesville.
Class of Immigrants Needed.—I cannot inform you on the child-labor laws,
as our children do not work at any public works. The wage-earners need to
be taught to farm more skillfully and scientifically. In regard to class of im-migrants
needed, we need a class that understands truck-farming, grass-growing
and wheat-raising ; also there is fine opportunity that awaits the hor-ticulturist
or fruit-grower, as apples of various kinds grow to an enormous
size here, and of fine flavor. This is also a fine stock country. Can raise fine
live stock here of nearly any kind, as some of our grasses thrive and do well
all the year. We further need immigrants of fine moral and religious attain-ments.
Men and women who will teach our children a high standard of liv-ing
and teach them to obey the laws of God and our country.—J. V. A. Moore,
Hayesville.
40 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
Need of More Legislation.—I am deeply interested in child-labor laws, and
believe there is need of more legislation along the same line we have com-menced,
both as to decrease in hours of wort and also as to prohibition of
child labor in factories. We need no immigrants here. Where they are
needed, only the moral, intelligent and thrifty should be encouraged to lo-cate.—
S. H. Allison, Hayesville.
CLEVELAND. COUNTY.
Against Immigration.—I think the child-labor law in this State is generally
satisfactory. As to wage-earners, I cannot suggest anything. It seems that
they have their own way. As to immigrants, I am not in favor of them, as I
think we can do better without them in this section of the country.—J. H.
Kester, Kings Mountain.
How to Solve the Labor Question.—As to the child-labor laws, I do not
think they amount to anything much in this part of the country. Perhaps
it is all right when carried out, and I suppose it is wherever it is necessary.
We have always heard it said, "train a child in the way you would have
him go." I think if the wage-earner would apply himself in the way he should
he would have an equal chance with all other classes, and I do not know of
anything that would be more helpful. Then they should educate themselves
and children along more scientific, domestic, agricultural and industrial lines.
They would greatly increase their producing and earning power by their intel-ligence.
The use of all modern implements and machinery would solve the
labor question and we would have little use for immigrants.—G. F. Ham-bright,
Kings Mountain.
Control the Price.—I think the child-labor law is all right in this State
if enforced. There are a great many children working in the cotton mills
under the ages of twelve and fourteen, who ought to be in school. I am glad
to say that the farming class of people are taking more interest in farming
and educating their children here of late. I hope to see the time when we
farmers will be able to say we will take our price for what we raise, not
some one else's, as we have been doing, and we can live if we can get a small
profit on what we raise.—W. F. Logan, Grover.
Decrease Acreage.—The present labor law is sufficient, if properly en-forced.
Any change at present is inadvisable. Wage-earners, with others,
should be forced to send their children to the public schools, at least four
months in the year. They can easily do this and live comfortably. Such a
law is the greatest need of the age. We do not need any but English-speak-ing
people among us. We should use improved farm machinery and decrease
our help. Sow more pease and small grain, such as wheat, rye, etc.—J. M.
Irvin, Ellenboro.
Teaching Economy.—I am unable to decide upon the time that children
should go to work. I suppose the present law is a good one. The condition
of the laboring class is good, so far as high prices and plenty of work is con-cerned.
The most of them spend their earnings. Three years ago I employed
Condition of Farmers. 41
a young cotton mill man at $12 a month. He saved some money and I plead
with him to make a saving each month of so much. He went back to the
cotton mill and saved $400 in eleven months. The next eighteen months he
spent the $400 and his wages. At $1.50 per day on January 15th last, he left
the mill and worked for me for $8 per month to learn to save his money
again. This is a good type of our laborers. I am strictly opposed to any
immigration. We, cannot make anything out of them. We need to let a lot
of our lands grow in timber and large pastures to raise stock and make a lot
of manure, farm with machinery and let the immigrants stay at home. One
man can, to-day, cultivate three times as much land as he could ten years
ago.—J. T. Hawkins, Shelby.
Need No Immigrants.—Children under fourteen years of age should not be
allowed to work indoors. We need no immigrants of any class in this part
of the State. The increase of our own native people will be sufficient to keep
up with the needs of the county for all time to come. Our farmers should
study their occupation more. They are not aware of the possibilities of our
soil and climate. Farmers Institutes are doing a great work and farmers
should be urged to attend regular. Landlords should urge their tenants to
save their wages and buy homes and send their children to school more.—-A. G.
Higgins. Behvood.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
Cake for the Children.—I guess the child4abor law is about right, only
it is not strict enough. I am in favor of children going to school more and
not being bound around these cotton mills. There are lots of them around
the mills, working to keep up some lazy man, when they ought to be in school
and their parents on a farm making something to eat. Educate the children
and we will have all the immigrants we need, and the best class at that.
They will make better citizens and farmers. I think the compulsory school
law would do this State good at present—I mean the white race only. I am
in favor of the white children having the taxes paid by the white people for
their schools, and the negro can have his, and it will be but little he will get,
and that will be better for both races, as an educated negro ruins a farm
hand. If the sawmills were out of this country we would have plenty of
farm hands without immigration. The negroes make better laborers than
any immigrants we can get, if we could control them and depend on them.
—
G. T. Simpson, Roseboro.
Extravagant Living.—I do not know about the child-labor law as it now
stands. One thing I do know, the parents ought to be put under a law instead
of the children. They should look after the child's maintenance instead of
loafing about country stores and little villages, where they have no business
but to gossip. About wage-earners, it would be hard to pass a law that would
benefit them, as it is understood that almost all of us live beyond our in-comes.
If we could make it possible to deposit half of our earnings in savings
banks and trust companies the people would all be independent, and the
country would soon be prosperous indeed.—M. H. Bullard, Roseboro.
42 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
CURRITUCK COUNTY.
Working on Shares.—We have a number of Greeks, some of them work
well and some are sorry. The negroes work well if you can get them, most of
them with us have farms themselves and tend for shares ; but when you can
get them they are best, because they understand our kind of work. The
Greeks who can understand our language are improving some. The women
do not work on the farms, only a few children work.
—
Richard Etheridge,
Poivells Point.
Wants the Children Protected.—As to child labor, I am opposed to it.
The law should protect the children up to sixteen or eighteen, years of age
and parents be compelled to take care of them and send them to school.
Education is very much neglected here, but I think it will improve as we
have a high school to go in operation this fall. As to immigration, I do not
think we need any foreigners here.
—
-David Jones, Enotts Island.
DARE COUNTY.
Foreign Labor Not Needed.—I think the child should be sent to school
until fourteen years old, if possible. As to immigration, we do not need it
in this county as there is very little farming done here.
—
Charles L. Mann,
East Lake.
DAVIDSON COUNTY.
Keep the Boys on the Farm.—-We do not need immigration. Our boys are
what we need to look after the farms and to improve them and make better
homes and more of them.—J. W. Teach, Thomasville.
America for Americans.—I think the child-labor law now operative in this
State is just what it should be and should not be changed for several years.
Let the children go to school and not work in the factories unless compelled
to. As to wage-earners, I think they have all the laws needed in their favor.
What would benefit them most is to be more economical, and for them to
show more interest in their employers' affairs. I am very much opposed
to immigration. I think it a scheme concocted by the rich man for his own
benefit, and would be detrimental to the interests of the daily laborer. We sin-cerely
hope that the Legislature will make no more appropriations to send
agents to Europe until all our people have regular employment.—J. W. Bow-ers,
Thomasville.
German Labor Favored.—I think the child-labor law a good one. As to
wage-earners, neither white nor colored are very careful about employment
on farms. There is an abundant call for farm labor. We think the Germans
would make good immigrants.—H. H. Hartley, Lexington.
Condition of Farmers. 43
DUPLIN COUNTY.
Good Advice.—I do not believe in children working in factories when they
are so young. They had better be under the care of their parents or some
good family, who would look after their moral training. Good morals would
be worth more to this country than all the immigrants that could be brought
here. It is well known that two families cannot live in the same house
together long at a time, and when foreigners are brought their manner of
work would be so different from ours it would cause disagreement, and then
serious trouble would arise from it. If every farmer would take a small
farm, just what he could "tend" himself, and make his land richer, we would
all soon find we had no use for immigrants.—D. C. Thigpen, Hallsville.
Qualifications of Working Men.—I favor a law prohibiting children from
working in factories and especially under fifteen years of age. The factory
checks intellectual development, weakens the physical powers of the child
and debases the character. The honest laborer will never get his due until
he is paid by the piece on the amount he does in a day. Every laborer should
hold a certificate of ability. As long as a sloven is paid the same as a smart
fellow justice will never be meted out to the laborer who wants to make some-thing
for his employer. I am opposed to immigration. The increase of popu-lation
in the States is rapid enough to occupy the unoccupied land in the
United States in a short while. The influx of foreigners will soon begin to
crowd out Americans and make it harder for our people to live. The forests
will melt away, cause the water courses to fill up with sand and the same
to dry up, hinder navigation and make seasons irregular. This is not the
worst. Immigrants coming from every country, who are generally of the
worst class, knowing no law, nor caring for any American laws, will sooner
or later unmannerize our people, and then farewell to liberty and the glory
of our republic.—S. J. Veach, Warsaw.
DURHAM COUNTY.
Should Take Advantage of Opportunity.—I am not in favor of immigra-tion
unless certain we would be benefited by it. What we want at this time
is to try to get our boys to go to work after they are educated. We have
plenty of native born labor if it would go to work. Children have but little
time for labor if they take advantage of the great opportunities offered by the
good old State for education. I am in favor of using our native-born muscle
on the farms and in the workshops, and our native-born brains in the schools
and colleges.—J. W. Unstead, Stem.
EDGECOMBE COUNTY.
Honesty the Best Policy.—As to my views on child labor, I think the work
on a farm is beneficial to their general health, but I think the work in facto-ries
injurious to children. As to wage-earners, honesty would benefit that
44 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
class more than anything I can think of. Why, look at the convicts on the
county roads, railroads, etc., and you will see there any quantity of labor
that should be on the farm earning an honest living. I do not think we need
immigrants in our State, provided our people go to work and be honest, and
do unto others as they would have others do unto them.
—
Theo. Lawrence,
Battleboro.
Cultivating Too Much Land.—My views on child labor are, they have to
work to keep up their parents under the system they work on—the share
plan. Wage-earners need to be more reliable and do their duty and not throw
away so much time and money. We need no immigrants if what we have
would half do what they should. Most farmers try to cultivate too much
land.—J. K. Lawrence, Battleboro.
Best Farm Labor.—The child-labor law now in operation in this State is
all right. To benefit the wage-earner it is necessary for him to quit idling
and have regard for promises he makes. From what I can learn of immigra-tion,
I favor the Scotch; yet, I hold to the opinion, if the negro would do as
he can and should do, he is the best laborer for farming.—V. B. Knight,
Speed.
Take Liquor Away.—I am satisfied with the child-labor law. I do not
think we need any immigration. I am in favor of holding our resources for
our children. I hope the prohibition law will help our laborers, for they
sadly need something to help them intellectually. A man or woman, in a
large sense is judged by what he or she lives on. Take whiskey away and they
will have better diet, which will make them better inhabitants.—M. H. Smith-son,
Battleboro.
FORSYTH COUNTY.
No Disturbers Wanted.—I am in full accord with the child-labor law. Rel-ative
to wage-earners, teach them to keep steady at work and take care of
what they earn. All can get employment at good prices. A good class of
immigrants might help the State, but we will be much better off without that
low-down anarchist element that is always causing a disturbance wherever
they reside.—R. S. Linviixe, Kernersville.
Enforce Prohibition Law.—Our present child-labor law, if enforced, is
good. Too many ineffective laws do harm. We need not have any more laws
enacted for the next ten years, and let every good citizen help to enforce the
prohibition act of the last Legislature, and the question of what will benefit
the wage-earners will have been solved. I do not think we need any immi-grants
as wage-earners.—J. G. Fulton, Sr., Kernersville.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
/n.
"Outside" Labor Not Needed.—I think the child-labc ()
do not need any immigrants in our country. We can h. >
people and give them work to do.—H. G. Gupton, Centr<
Condition of Farmers. 45
GASTON COUNTY.
Homestead Law.—I am in favor of a good class of immigrants, those that
are law-abiding and sober. We have enough of the Southern Italy class. I
am in favor of a repeal of the homestead law. It was a good law when it
was passed, but it has served its purpose and is a curse, rather than a bless-ing,
to-day. It makes rascals out of honest men, for it encourages rascality.
Let us all unite on this and have the law repealed. I am in favor of more
education, and if compulsory laws will give us this let's have them.—B. F.
Carpenter, Stanley.
Foreign Labor Needed.—The child-labor law might be a good thing if we
had officials in our State that had backbone and grit enough in them to see
that they (the laws) were enforced. No law on our statute books is worth its
room on paper unless it is put in effect. And besides that to force the "dad-dies"
and "mammies" of our country to send their young ones to school is
a sham, -because if they do not think enough of them to send them to school
without being forced to do so, their schooling forced on them will not be
worth much. Hence, we should devote more time and spend more money
towards teaching the older people that it is to the best interests of their chil-dren
that they be sent to school free. As to immigration, I do not know what
is best, but I do know that the colored man is our best hired labor. But the
younger of their race have become so unreliable that we can hardly depend
on them much longer, hence we had as well admit all immigrants who will
properly till the soil and have respect enough for themselves to make their
word their bond.
—
Robert L. Abernethy, Mount Holly.
Farm Labor Too Expensive.—The child-labor law, in my opinion, is all we
need on that line. I have no suggestion to make, unless we could educate them
to economy. Wages are now too high for a farmer to pay unless we could
get a better class of labor. A rise in the price of labor, would, in my judg-ment,
only create more idleness, as but few will try to save anything above a
living. If wages were enough for them to live on half time they would only
work half time.
—
Moses Stroup, Bessemer City.
GATES COUNTY.
Negro Labor the Best.—I am not in a position to criticise the child-labor
law, as we do not have to resort to child labor in this section, except for
picking cotton. It seems to be a difficult matter for our farmers to get in the
habit of raising their food supplies ; they depend too much on what they call
a money crop (cotton and peanuts). In many cases they do not get money
enough out of the crop to pay expenses and buy what food they need for their
familyjj^y^ ^hITBes/ am opposed to immigration. The negro labor is the
on a farm is benefici; <-N. Cross, Sun~bury.
ries injurious to ch'
46 ISToeth Carolina Labor Statistics.
GRANVILLE COUNTY.
Children and the Farm.—I aui not very well posted as to the child-labor
law. I am not in favor of children working in any kind of a factory ; think
they ought to be raised on the farm and taught to do farm work. Parents
ought to educate their children the very best they can and do alLthey can in
beautifying their homes and making them more attractive. I believe it would
be an inducement to keep them on the farms. Labor is scarce, the wages
they ask are more than the farmers can pay, considering the price they get
for tobacco—the money crop in this section. The sawmills and mines in this
section of the county get about all the negro labor with us. They get from
seventy-five cents to a dollar a day and board themselves, and then want the
farmers to pay them the same and board them. I am still opposed to immi-gration,
unless they are of good moral standing and reliable working people.
We have none in this section of the country, but I have heard some complaint
from the sections that have them.—J. P. Stovall, Virgilina, Va.
Education and Morality.—We are greatly in need of farm labor and house
help in this country. As to where they should come from I am at a loss to
suggest. But let some labor come and let us try and get the best that can
be had. Such negro labor as can be had is unreliable and is hardly worth
having at all, in fact they do not want to work for white people at all. Let
us advance the cause of education as rapidly as possible. Parents who will
not send or let their children go to school should be punished. Prohibition
will not prohibit. The great trouble is, and will be, we need officers who are
some account. As long as the officers are in sympathy and "cohoot" with the
violators we can never execute the law. We want Christian men in our State
and throughout the world to hold office and to rule the people. The man or
woman who is not a consistent Christian and church member has no business
holding any office of trust, neither have they any business in a schoolroom as
teachers. "When the righteous rule the people rejoice, but when the wicked
rule the people mourn."-—D. N. Hunt, Oxford.
GREENE COUNTY.
Home Labor the Best.—I do not know what to say about the child-labor
law, as we have no factories in our county. As to immigrants, one natural
home-born immigrant is worth two foreign-born. We need some way to keep
our children on the farms; as soon as a child gets through school he never
goes back to the farm again. It is hard to tell the cost of raising a bale of
cotton this year. Crops are all badly damaged. I would say $50, and on
some land more than that. My tenants have fifteen acres in cotton, and I fear
they will not get three bales. One of the best farmers in this section said
recently he thought crops were damaged half their value.
—
Levi J. H. Mew-corn,
Snow Hill.
Condition of Farmers. 47
GUILFORD COUNTY.
Negro Labor Irregular.—Wage-earners need only to be more economical.
Three days' work feeds a negro seven. Half of his time must be spent in
playing ball and loafing. White people who are wage-earners are nearly all
in the cotton mills.—C. A. Tickle, Gibsonville.
HALIFAX COUNTY.
All Children Should be Kept in School.—As to the child-labor law. I
am not sure just what it requires, as we have not yet been confronted with
that question. No child under twelve or fourteen years of age should be kept
out of school, when there is any possible way to avoid it. Many families
have absolutely no other means of support, the father being dead or sick, and
the mother and smaller children to feed and clothe. This is a very unfortu-nate
situation and, in many cases of this kind, it would seem that there is no
other way out of it. We, in this part of the State, could not receive a greater
benefit than by having a colony of French or Scotch to settle among us. They
could do well themselves and the lesson they could teach us would be of
value.—W. J. Morris, Littleton.
HARNETT COUNTY.
Have no Trouble About Labor.—The child-labor law is all right, if en-forced.
We prefer the negro on the farm to any other class of labor. I work
four crops with hired labor and can always get plenty of help at fair prices.
—
P. J. Jeffreys, Dunn.
HAYWOOD COUNTY.
Fault of Wage-earners.—I am in favor of a child-labor law, though I am
unfamiliar with the one now operative in the State. I think that we should
have a compulsory school law, compelling at least an attendance of four
months, as the children, when unemployed, do not attend school. As to wage-earners,
it is their own fault that they are not doing better than they are at
present. Wages are good here, but a majority of the laboring class are un-reliable,
and prefer public works rather than the farm. As to foreign immi-gration,
I think that we are not in any particular need of any here. While I
think that some intelligent immigrants, with capital, or reliable laborers,
would be welcomed here, I would be opposed to immigrants, such as the
Greeks. Japanese and Dagoes, who are nothing less than a nuisance to the
country.—C. R. Clark. Clyde.
Wants Only the Best.—I think children under fifteen years of age should
not be worked during school hours. "Schooling," I think, would benefit the
wage-earners, and is one of their needs. I am opposed to immigrants unless
they be Scotch, Irish or Germans.—O. L. Allen, Waynesville.
48 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
HENDERSON COUNTY.
Shorter Hours.—As to the child-labor law, I think it is all right, if it is
put in force and carried out. I think ten hours is a plenty for wage-earners
to work. I do not believe they should be worked all day and part of the
night.—C. F. Freeman, Henclersonville.
North Carolina for North Carolinians.—I am not posted on the present
child-labor law, but would say we should have compulsory education. Parents
should be compelled to send their children to school at least four months in
the year until they are fourteen or fifteen years of age. I believe in North
Carolina for North Carolina people ; we do not need any vicious, ignorant for-eigners.
We need capitalists. I think small factories to offer employment to
our people would be good for our community, especially a canning factory.—
F. M. Shipman, Etotvah.
Opposed to Child Labor.—As to child labor, I do not think children should be
made to work in the cotton mills, under twelve for boys and fifteen for girls.
We need more capital to build up our part of the country ; to build more cot-ton
and knitting mills and tanneries, and such works as will give employment,
with better wages. As to immigrants, we do not need any in this part of the
country. I favor better schools and better teachers and longer terms. Dis-tricts
that are cut off from the graded schools have to take such teachers as
they can get or none at all. I think it should be the greatest motive of our
State to educate the rising generation.—J. L. Thomas, Etowah.
Undeveloped Resources.—We have no cotton mills near this place and no
employment for children, except farming. I like the child-labor law, though
some parents work their children in the mills very young. They claim to
put them in the mills as apprentices. We need regular employment for wage-earners
here. We have the best health resort in the State ; people come here
from all over the South during the summer, for their health. We have fine
waterpower and need machinery on it to give our wage-earners employment.
We have some immigrants, or rather northern people, who are building large
hotels here. These are the only immigrants we have—W. F. Pryor, Bear
Wallow.
Not in Need of Immigrants.—My views on the child-labor law are favora-ble.
I think children should have protection and be encouraged to go to
school until they are at least fourteen years old. We have no factories. AVheu
children work in the cotton mills regular their health is injured to a great
extent. We are not in need of immigrants in this section except those with
means to develop our abundance of waterpower, to give employment to the
young men and women who flock to our neighboring counties and South
Carolina every year. We need them kept at home. Our schools are improving.
We need compulsory school laws and more and better teachers.—C. Oates,
Bear Wallow.
Education Essential First.—The present child-labor law, if properly en-forced,
is a good law and covers the present needs in the protection of the
future citizenship of North Carolina. No child should be allowed to work in
any manufacturing plant unless he can read and write, so he can make an
Condition of Faemeks. 49
intelligent worker. Unless lie has acquired this knowledge he cannot make an
intelligent laborer and will be a drone all through life and. in many cases,
make a disloyal citizen to his State. One of the most important points to be
considered in the working of children in factories is the maintaining of the
manhood and womanhood of our country in the future. North Carolina has
the reputation of being one of the first States of the Union in her manhood
and womanhood, and the State should be on the alert in keeping the mental
and physical qualities of her children up to its present standard. No for-eigners
should be induced into our State who have not the old Anglo-Saxon
blood in their veins, for it is that race which has made and is making North
Carolina. Give us the English, Irish, Scotch, Germans and Dutch for immi-grants,
as we want that class with whom we can associate as citizens, and
who will feel interested in our form of government and help to maintain the
same against anarchy and socialism.—A. Cannon, Horse Shoe.
Work Regularly.—Wage-earners need nothing so much as compulsory
school laws and encouragement to work steadily. The immigrants most de-sirable
here would be sober, industrious people, who would be congenial and
unselfish, mixing with the home people. —W. A. Beittain, Horse Shoe.
Duty of the State.—I do not believe in children working in mills. The
greatest need in this country, as we see it, is a compulsory school law. We
have built good schoolhouses, etc., but the great trouble is the poor white people
neglect to send their children to school, when there is not the least excuse for
their not attending. There are certain people who do not seem to care
whether their children get an education or not, and we think the State should
see to it that the children all receive at least a common school education. We
believe the State should protect the children from the carelessness of such
parents, as the children cannot help themselves in these things.—H. R. Holden,
Horse Shoe.
Improved Conditions.—There has been a very marked increase in the im-provement
of our county since your last circular was issued. Values of all
lands have an upward tendency, and this county is so remote from any large
business centre that the panic that hit some parts of the country so hard was
never felt among our rural population here. Farm produce of all kinds has
brought good prices throughout the year, and farmers generally are in good
condition. Crops are fine, the best, said by some old farmers, to have been
in twenty-five years. Labor is more plentiful this year and wages are about
the same as last year. The increase in wages and the suppression of the
saloons in our county has, undoubtedly, greatly improved the general condi-tion
of our work people. Children are better clothed and there is, and will
be, a fuller attendance of the children at the public schools. Henderson
County is now a great summer resort for families living in warmer regions
of the South, and our people who are interested are trying to make the
sojourn of the strangers as pleasant and entertaining as possible.—W. C.
Connell, HenclersonviUe.
Tenant Houses.—The child-labor law is all right. As to wage-earners, the
landowners ought to build comfortable houses for their tenants. Immigrants
would not suit this country, unless they would comply with our customs and
religion.—A. J. Neely, HenclersonviUe.
4
50 jSToeth Carolina Labor Statistics.
A "Digression."—The greatest mistake that farmers of my age (70) have
made in this state is clearing up land that should have remained in timber,
for the work of clearing it would have brought more to the owner if it had
been applied to the improvement of lands already cleared. The result of such
farming has brought no surplus, but a lot of hard work, and our boys have
become discouraged, often from the fact that there was not surplus enough
outside of a living to procure decent clothes to wear, and have left home and
engaged in other business, and left so many old parents at home looking upon
the washed-away uplands and regretting that they are not in fine timber like
the forest adjoining them. So the only way for the next generation to keep
their children at home is to improve their lands and realize more off of ten
acres than we old people have off of forty acres. Please excuse this digres-sion.—
W. S. Hefner, Hendersonville.
Need Capital Seeking Investment.—Children should be in school four or
five months regularly every year. Let them work on farms or in factories
the balance of the time. We do not need foreign labor of any kind in Hen-derson
County, all we need is more men and money to come amongst us. We
can furnish all the labor that is needed. Our boys are seeking foreign fields
for employment, the United States Army and the like—G. W. Lyda, Hender-sonville.
Protect the Boys.—I do not favor immigration, though if we had a good
class of English or Germans, who could help build schools and churches, they
would do us no harm at present. But our lands are taken up fast enough
by our own people. The farms are getting smaller each year. I think the
best thing to do is to keep foreigners out and save the land for the boys and
teach them to farm.—J. F. Livingston, Fletcher.
Home Labor Sufficient.—It is well to have a child-labor law in the State,
and it ought to be strictly enforced. We do not have factories in this part of
the State. Think it proper to teach children to do such work on the farm
as they are able to do while not in school. I think if the laboring class could
be taught economy it would benefit them about as much as anything. The
tendency with a good many is to spend as fast as they get it. Do not believe
we will be benefited in the end by immigration, and think it would be very
harmful to have the criminal and pauper classes of the Old World dumped
among us indiscriminately. While farm labor is growing scarce, if we will
use more improved tools and machinery, put more lands in pasture and raise
more live stock of a better grade, it will help to solve the problem. Give us
our own people from the North and West who may want to come to our milder
Southern climate.—T. E. Osborne, Fletcher.
Want Intelligent Classes.—In reply to your inquiry, would say that as
to child labor I am in sympathy with the spirit of the present law, but I do
not think it is quite binding enough. Child labor, as a rule, is of very
little value when compared with the detriment to the child. They should
be worked enough to teach them to be industrious, but no more. The wage-earners,
as they are termed, need never hope to aspire to any perceptible
height so long as they remain wage-earners. The best thing for a great many
of them, and in fact, the most of them, is to own small farms on which they
can produce a support, as soon as possible, and they can be laying up something
Condition of Farmers. 51
instead of working for wages. Now, as to immigrants, would say that if we
need them at all, which is a question, we need men with means, men who can
develop the resources of the country, and, above all, set examples for others
who have been less fortunate in the way of information. I think that a few
such men could be used to good advantage; but to flood the country with
poor people, such as day laborers, etc., is a great drawback to the prosperity
and general welfare of the country. We have enough people, we only want a
few more of the intelligent class—"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
Summing it all up, if we have immigration at all let it be of a better class
than we have and not a lower.—M. F. Blythe, Blantyre.
HERTFORD COUNTY.
Kindness the Thing.—The negro seems to give better satisfaction as a
farm laborer than any foreigner that has come among us, when he is properly
looked after and treated kindly. Unwise and unjust treatment of the negro
is the cause of a great many of his bad habits. I have been working my fore-man
about twenty-five or thirty years, and I have gained his confidence by
kind and just dealing, which avoids a great deal of trouble with my other
hands.—T. E. Vann, Como.
HYDE COUNTY.
Wants More Legislation.—Child labor should be protected by the strictest
kind of legislation. The law is not stringent enough, and children should not
be allowed to work in factories, but should be compelled to go to school ; the
times now demand it. A child who grows up in ignorance is a servant and
subject to crime. If the Legislature would pass a law to force education
upon them it would be a Godsend. It requires skill to be a good worker.
We need a great deal of labor. We have plenty of good land (not in cultiva-tion
on account of labor). There are plenty of people loafing here with noth-ing
to depend on except their labor, as living is too easy in Hyde and they
have no desire for anything more. We need more legislation.
—
Morgan M.
Gibbs, Midclletown.
IREDELL COUNTY.
Geriians the Best.—My opinion on child labor is that some poor women
need a41 the help they can get and from any source. The mill is the place
for them for employment is certain. True, it is hard on the little fellows, but
all have to work for a living. We need some good people in this country to
fill the negro's place ; they are pretty hard to manage and lazy and stupid as
a rule. I think the Germans would be the best for us, but any good, indus-trious
laborers would suit better than the negro.—P. W. Eagle, Statesville.
52 Xokth Carolina Labor Statistics.
JACKSON COUNTY.
Not Needed in Mountain Section.—The child-labor law does not affect us
in this section very much, as we have no public works for children to any
extent except on the farm, therefore cannot form an opinion on child labor.
As to immigration, I do not know, but I do not think we need them in the
mountain section.—J. A. Dills, Beta.
Should be Taught Industry.—I think children should be taught to work
some. All the time in school makes dull boys and girls. I learn this from
farm schools. It gives them better ideas of what they study and develops the
muscles. As to immigration, I think we have plenty of people, if they were
taught to realize their advantages in such a great country as this.—D. L.
Robinson, Willits.
Make Home Attractive.—I am still opposed to "pauper immigration." We
do not want the scum of other nations dumped on us. I favor compulsory edu-cation
and a better mode of farming, more grass, bigger gardens, better houses
and good barns on all farms. By doing this we make our homes pleasant and
enjoyable to our boys, so they will stay at home and make farmer boys right
;
as the farmer boys and girls are the best boys and girls living. Let us keep
our people here with us and let Italians. Dagoes and such like stay where
they belong. All good Northern or Western Americans who want to make
their homes with us and make us good citizens and farmers are welcome by
every one to come.—T. M. Frizelle, Beta.
JOHNSTON COUNTY.
Duty of Parents.—As to the child-labor law now operative in this State I
think it very beneficial in many ways and do hope our lawmakers will con-tinue
to amend and improve it until every child of school age in the State
can be in the schoolrooms during the school terms. Let their fathers go to
work and not expect their dear children to work out. in the factories, a living
for all hands, and thereby lose an education. As to wage-earners, I know of
no better way for them to improve their condition than to become steady and
reliable, and work in the interest of those who employ them. I am satisfied
that when they do this they will always find plenty of work at good "pay."
As to immigration, I favor that to some extent, but not on too large a scale.
Good, industrious and well-meaning people, I think, are beneficial to any
country, but indolent, lazy people, without means to take care of themselves,
I look upon as a serious drawback to any country. So rather than seek such
as these, let us try to take care of our own people at home and keep them all
right and only seek good people as immigrants.—W. P. Raiford, Princeton.
Fine Reason for "His Faith."—The law as to child labor is a step* in the
right direction by our lawmakers, I think. As to wage-earners, I think our
State laws are favorable and protect the wage-earners sufficiently. The great-est
need for the betterment of wage-earners is something that our lawmakers
cannot furnish, that is moral character. Not that all wage-earners are with-out
moral character, but a large per cent, of them are, and yet it is a fact,
Condition of Farmers. 53
that we find among this class of our people, known as wage-earners, some of
the best characters of the State. The idler, the shiftless, worthless class,
who get wages without earning the half of what is often paid, are the greatest
drawbacks to the better class of wage-earners. Next, I think our National
lawmakers ought to relieve the wage-earners, and those who are not of that
class as well, of unjust and indirect taxation as our tariff laws now make.
I am very much opposed to immigration. My reasons for this are as follows
:
First, because it is uot reasonable to expect the best element of any foreign
country to leave their homes, friends and customs and be one of us. Second,
the larger per cent, of those foreigners of any nationality who would come
are of the undesirable class, and eventually will give Uncle Sam more trouble
than profit or pleasure. Third, while labor is scarce, I honestly think that
this country would be in much worse condition than it now is if the imagined
needs of labor were supplied by immigration. Fourth, the greed and rush after
money at the present time seems to me to be in absolute disregard to good
government or future prosperity of our country, and the men who are most
eager after immigration, as a rule, you will find are of the class who put the
dollar above everything else, and are also the oppressors of the wage-earners.
They want it all at once. Why not let our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren
have a part in the development of our country, as our ancestors
did for us, and not let one generation destroy the pleasure, happiness and
prosperity of all future generations. Fifth, look the country over and where
you find the most foreigners there you will find the worst government and
the most crime. This is sufficient, it seems to me, to satisfy all lovers of good
government, that we do not need immigration, especially of the low classes.
If the best element of foreign lands wish to come to our country at their own
expense and cast their lot with us and be of us, as near as possible (no for-eigner
can be an American at best), such ought to be welcome to our shores.
But our country should not be the dumping ground for the world's worst ele-ment
of mankind.—J. H. Smith, Smith field.
Child-labor Law and Compulsory Education.—The child-labor law is good,
so far as it goes, but I would be glad to have a compulsory law in connection
with it. There are a number of children out of school in idleness, with no
excuse for it, except that they and their parents seem to enjoy idleness. Give
us a compulsory educational law, no undesirable immigrants, and we will
soon have as good a State as there is in the Union.—G. T. Boyette, Princeton.
JONES COUNTY.
Should Attract Capital.—I am heartily in accord with the child-labor law,
but do not think it is strict enough. I do not think North Carolina needs any
poor immigrants. I consider the Southern negro a much better laborer than
any foreigner. I hope the present law for encouraging immigrants may en-courage
those with capital.—M. J. Green, Whitford.
Very Good.—I think the child-labor law now operative in this State is very
good. I do not think immigration would be 'a benefit to the wage-earners. I
do not think we need immigrants ; plenty of labor here if they would work.
—
J. W. Mallard, Trenton.
54 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
LEE COUNTY.
Educate and Protect the Children.—I am not living near any of the facto-ries
that employ child labor to any extent and am not posted on that question,
but from what I have heard and read I think the laws should be very strict,
and these executed. The great bane of the country is not executing the laws
we have. The State certainly ought to protect its children and educate them.
The protection of wage-earners and employers alike, is a large question, that
calls for the best thought of our ablest lawyers and legislators, in framing
such laws as will be just to both and such laws as will be executed. There
is a disposition among our laboring class to "job" around here and there, pay-ing
no attention to contracts and promises, leaving whenever they choose,
working for a few days or weeks here and there, and if one jumps a contract
it will cost more, as the laws are now, to prosecute and bring him to justice
than it is worth. It is a serious question and deserves our best thought and
legislation. If we could have our choice of immigrants would prefer any
good, moral protestants. There is plenty of room for them and plenty of land
to buy or rent for those able to do so, also plenty of work for those who will
work and behave themselves.
—
George Willcox, Carbonton.
English, Irish and Dutch.—I think our child-labor law is good. I like it,
but think it would be better if the age was fifteen years, as a child at that
age would be more able to stand exposure. I think wages are too high for
farm work, for the price of produce. We have lots of good land to rent or
for sale. The wage-earner is going from one place to another and is not
saving his wages. I think it would be better for them if they would settle
down and buy homes and go to improving them. Then they will have some-thing
when old age comes and for their descendants, and that would give
those who have it for sale a demand for their land, and would be a means of
building up our country. If our lands were improved it would be a source
of revenue. I think it would be well for us if we could get a good class of
immigrants. If we could attract English,' Irish or Dutch, I think they would
suit us better, as we have some of those with us and they are good workers,
good citizens and are willing to be law-abiding. I hope we can get a good
number of this class.—J. R. Bright, Sanford.
LENOIR COUNTY.
Opposes Credit System.—I think the less child-labor law you have the bet-ter.
I think the parent should make his or her own rules or laws for their
own children. They have much more interest in them than does the State.
Could say very much more on this subject. You may carry the child to school
by law, but you cannot make him learn. I am not opposed to education. As
to wage-earners, will say, in my opinion, the credit system does more harm
than good. The average wage-earner will not work if he can get supplies for
credit. After he makes his arrangements for supplies he then goes to town
or fishing instead of to work. Necessity is the only thing that will make the
average wage-earner work, and work is the only thing that will benefit him.
Condition of Farmers. 55
There are always some exceptions. We need good immigrants or none. We
need small farmers from the North or Northwest, who will work and build
up the country. We have plenty of dead-beats already.—E. P. Loftin, Einston.
LINCOLN COUNTY.
Employees Should be Respected.—A good law is not worth much if the
authorities are lax in the enforcement of it. The child-labor law is good. I
think it needs strengthening and more rigid enforcement. One great need of
wage-earners is more considerate treatment by their employers. They need
to be treated more like men and women and less like mules. The more I
learn of immigrants the less use I have for them. I think we get ten bad ones
to one good one, and I think we had better rid ourselves of them altogether.
—
Thomas F. Cornwell, Lincolnton.
Mcdowell county.
Wants Farmers.—If we have any immigrants at all we need Dutch, or at
least a good class of farming people with good morals.—J. N. Yelton, Bridge-water.
Economy of First Importance.—The child-labor law is all that could be de-sired.
A law to keep children in school until of age to work in cotton mills,
especially where schools are provided in cotton-mill towns, is one of first im-portance.
In regard to the wage-earner, impress upon him, by every means
possible, the importance of saving a part of his wages as the only way to bet-ter
his condition.—J. C. Crawford, Sugar Hill.
MACON COUNTY.
Enough to Meet the Demands.—Relative to child labor, children under six-teen
years of age should only be allowed to work on farms; they should be
kept in school at least one-third of their time. I hardly know what would
be best for the wage-earners. I am opposed to immigration. It seems to me
that we have people enough of our own to meet all the demands.—J. M.
Keener, Scroll.
Suggests Labor Law.-—I think the child-labor law now operative in this
State is very good. I believe the wage-earner would be very much benefited
if there was a law passed requiring him to stand to his contract. He would
then be enabled to make better contracts with his employer at better wages,
for the employer would know that the contract would be fulfilled. As it now
is, if a man hires another for a stated time he does not know whether he will
fulfill his contract or not. As to immigrants, we do not need any of any
kind.—N. L. Barnard, Franklin.
56 ]Sobth Cabolt^a Labob Statistics.
Shotted Take Peide rs" Farm Woek.—We have no factories in this moun-tain
section of the State and therefore child labor does not bother us. but
manufacturers should be restricted about working poor little children. As to
wage-earners, they have a fair chance and a square deal in this part of the
State. They get money for work, and then it is with them to save or waste
their money. In regard to immigrants, we need none in this part of the
country. All that is needed in this part of the State is for our own people to
go to work on the farms and quit having such hatred for farm work. It is not
any harder than most of the public work. Let people go to work with as
much pride and interest on the farms as a merchant or man of any voca-tion,
and this will solve the immigration question.—J. A. Parrish, Franklin.
Childbed ox the Farm.—The child-labor law does not affect us people in
this county. We have no cotton mills, etc. The children of this county, who
work at all. are those living out in the country, and they only work on the
farm while they are not in school. As to wage-earners, upon the whole they
are prosperous. A great many of them own no lands, but at the same time
own milk cows, horses, hogs and. in a great many cases, make very nearly
all of the bread and meat they use. and in nearly all cases wear good, com-fortable
clothing. At the same time there are some worthless fellows in this
county as well as other counties. In my opinion, the wage-earners of Western
North Carolina need more encouragement, and it would possibly be beneficial
to them. As to immigration, in this county we only need such people to come
among us as are good, law-abiding, moral, high-toned, intelligent and Christian
people. Such people are welcome to come among us and they will always be
treated with kindness and given a cordial welcome.—W. J. West. West's Mills.
MADISON COUNTY.
Immigration Not Reliable.—The present child-labor law is very good and
should not be changed materially. But in connection with it I think a mild
compulsory school law would be a blessing to many children who are not sent
to school, but who are allowed to roam the country at will. Such a law
would be of great benefit to such children, as they will never be educated un-less
the parents are compelled, by law. to send them to school. That which
would benefit the wage-earners most is a higher regard for their promises
and obligations to their employers and to have more interest in their welfare
and prosperity. This would, in most cases, not only advance their moral con-dition,
but secure for them much better chances for financial advancement.
If there could be a law passed to prohibit labor agents visiting from one mill
to another, praising the advantages of the mill without telling its disadvan-tages.
I think it would be of some benefit to the wage-earner. As to immigra-tkm,
:t is not at all desirable with our people here, as it is calculated to re-duce
the price of labor. We have plenty of boys here to do all kinds of
labor. That is the reason our boys go to the West to get better wages.—D. P.
Davis. Spring Creel:.
Cohditiou of Fakmebs. 57
MARTIN COUNTY.
Ought to Let Well Exough Aloxe.—I think the present child-labor law.
if enforced, amply protects the child and should give general satisfaction. As
for the wage-earners, they get ample pay. The only thing to benefit them
would be a law to make them work instead of idling tbeir time away. The
more wages they get tbe fewer days the majority of them work. As for immi-gration.
I. for one, do not think we need it. especially in the eastern portion
of the State. It will pay better to let our land rest every other year and raise
a plenty for home consumption, and then plant those that pay best for money
crops. In our section we plant cotton, tobacco, peanuts and potatoes, and. as
I stated before, if the Southern States would only plant half as much cotton
and tobacco, which would take only half as much labor, they would recei