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UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL
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i >37
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S? e
c,
TENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
6% &# ^ ,Jy. >Jl . -Lacy,
J(rM/?tfJjrO/tt>/'.
WINSTON.
M. I. & J. C. Stewart, Public Printers and Binders.
1897.
Z Gj/f
^ * o ,
TENTH ANNUAL REPORT
of the;
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
OF THE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
FOR THE YEAR 1896.
B. R. LACY, Commissioner.
W. E. FAISON, Chief Clerk.
WINSTON.
M. I. & J. C. Stewart, Public Printers and Binders.
1897.
Z (oj/f
CONTENTS.
Letter of Transmittal v
Introduction VI
CHAPTER I.—Agricultural Statistics.
Introduction 1
Table 4
Letters from Farmers 20
CHAPTER II.—Cotton and Woolen Mills.
Introduction 52
Table 56
Letter from Traveling Agent 60
List of Mills 66
Letters from Employers and Employees 69
Child Labor and Compulsory Education.
Letters from Manufacturers and Educators 86
CHAPTER III.—Miscellaneous and Tobacco Factories.
Introduction 109
Table—Miscellaneous Factories 110
Letters from Manufacturers 118
Table—Tobacco Factories 144
CHAPTER IV.—Trades.
Introduction 149
Table 152
Letters from Mechanics 188
Organized Labor.
Introduction 211
Table—Organized Labor in the State 212
Letters on Organized Labor 216
National and International Organizations 221
Table—National and International Organizations 222
CHAPTER AT .—Railroad Statistics.
Introduction 224
Table 226
CHAPTER VI.—Newspapers.
Introduction 232
Table 234
Summary 244
CHAPTER VII.—Bureaus of Labor.
Introduction 245
Foreign Bureaus 246
State Libraries 248
Officers National Association 250
Chronology of the Association 251
Chronology of Bureaus 252
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
Raleigh, N. C, November 30, 1896.
To His Excellency, Elias Caer,
Governor of North Carolina,
Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—Pursuant to the law creating the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, I hereby transmit to Your Excellency the tenth annual
report of this Bureau. As the law also requires that the Com-missioner
shall recommend to the Legislature what " he may deem
calculated to promote the efficiency of the Bureau," I respectfully
submit the following:
First.—That a law be passed limiting the length of a working
day to eleven hours.
Second.—That no child under twelve years of age be allowed
to work in any building, and those between twelve and fourteen
only when they have a certificate showing that they have been ot
school at least three months during the preceding year. A pen-alty
should be attached to the violation of these laws, and the
Commissioner should be empowered to see that the law is lived
up to.
Third.—As this is the only tangible connection the laboring
man has with the Government, and as it is peculiarly his own, his
representative should be treated as the heads of other Departments
are; therefore his salary should be increased to $2,000, on a par
with the Railroad Commission, and $5,000 should be appropriated
to prosecute this most needed work.
I am glad to say that the influence of the Bureau is being felt
for good, and that the ministers and educators are taking a great
interest in its success.
I am, very respectfully,
B. R. LACY,
Commissioner.
INTRODUCTION.
There are some in the State who do not agree with Thomas Jef-ferson
when he says that the greatest function of the Government
is to see that one citizen does not impose on his weaker neighbor,
but those who do agree with him and regard him as an authority will
readily understand the importance of the work of this Depart-ment.
All agree that if a man is rich, well-connected, or has a
great deal of political influence, it is the sacred duty of the State
to see that he is not imposed upon by anybody, either in or out of
the State; but to help those who need it most, to do anything for
the amelioration of the humblest citizen, is at once " interfering
with private business.'" It should be understood clearly that the
State has not only the right but it is her duty to protect her citi-zens.
If a politician speaks a work for the masses he is at once
called a demagogue; if a rich man, a hypocrite; if a poor man,
an agitator, or worse, an anarchist. If employers combine to les-sen
the output, and thereby raise the price on the purchasing pub-lic,
to be able to give more luxury to their families, it is business,
but if the employees combine to put bread into the mouths of their
dear ones they are looked- upon with suspicion and distrust.
This Bureau has done a great deal of good in a quiet way. Its
mission is to allay friction, and by turning on the light prevent
the creeping in of injustice and wrongs. The friends of this work
should feel particularly kind towards His Excellency, Elias Carr.
His heart is true to the best interests of the great mass of North
Carolinians. Although very much interested in factories, he is
not one of the short-sighted mill men who are anxious for large
returns from their investments regardless of the needs or wants of
the employees, or for what is for the best interest of our grand old
State. When the student of history turns back to the administra-tion
of the u Farmer Governor" he will find one that will com-pare
favorably with any that the State has ever had. It has been
honest, patriotic, and clear of scandals; if not the best, certainly
Introduction.
on a par with the best. He is a friend of the Bureau because he
thinks its work is for the good of the State, and the wage-earners
should remember their friends.
The stringency of the times has caused a large majority of the
mills to shut down partially, which has caused a great loss of
wages to the employees. Many of the owners have run their
mills, when it was to their interest to shut down, to give employ-ment
and to keep their people from scattering. A great many
have built churches and school houses at their factories and added
to the school fund to lengthen the school term ; and what is very
pleasant about it all, they do not consider it charity or pose as
alms-givers, but do it from a sense of duty, and, as one told me,
"because it was a good investment." There is an erroneous
impression abroad that this Bureau is especially to show the con-dition
of cotton factory people. It is for all who earn their bread
by the sweat of their face, and the truth is that, except in isolated
cases, the cotton factories need the light turned on less than the
average person thinks.
There is little danger of the work being stopped, but the law
should be changed and the workingman's Department should be
put on a par with the other Departments. It should be considered
of equal importance with the Railroad Commission, which does a
great work in looking after material things, while this looks after
the needs of humanity. The term and salary should be the same
as that of the Railroad Commission, and the appropriation should
be commensurate with the territory to be covered and the work
to be done. Connecticut has no limit ; New York appropriates
$30,000 and pays her Commissioner the same we pay our Gover-nor.
This is a great work and should be more liberally supported.
CHAPTER I.
AGRICULTUKAL STATISTICS.
The following average table is compiled from blanks received
from 355 representative farmers of the ninety-six counties of the
State. The Bureau has never had any trouble in securing infor-mation
from the farmers. The blanks are mailed them, and they
fill them out and return promptly.
By reference to table it will be seen that the average wages
paid farm labor in the State is about as follows : Men $8.50,
women $5.00, and children $3.00. In addition to wages, rations
to the average value of $3.90, and house, pasture, garden, fuel,
fruit, etc., to the average value of $2.80, are furnished, which
brings the average up to $15.40. From the first dozen blanks
received the average of farm labor seemed to be about $6.75 or
$7.00, but when the whole 355 were averaged it showed thatito-oes
up to $8.50. I know that a great many will question the accu-racy
of the report on this account, but we have to collate the fig-ures
as furnished to us, although we think it is above the average-
It will also be seen that the average cost of production of a -100.
pound bale of cotton is $22.70, and that sixty-five per cent, of this
amount represents labor alone. Sixty-five counties produce cotton.
Eighty-five counties produce wheat at an average cost of sixty
cents per bushel. Ninety-four counties produce corn at an aver-age
cost of forty cents per bushel. Ninety-two counties produce
oats at an average cost of twenty-eight cents per bushel. Fifty-three
counties produce tobacco at an average cost of $6.33 per
hundred pounds.
The question"Do you favor compulsory education?" was asked in
the blank for this year, and seventy-two 'counties answer " Yes,"
seventeen answer " No," and set-en do not answer. Of the 355
blanks received 23-i answer " Yes," eighty-seven answer " No,"
and thirty-three do not answer. This is the first time the ques-tion
has appeared in the blank, and no reference was made to it
in the circular letter accompanying it. It is rather significant
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
that seventy- three per cent, should answer " Yes " when there
has been no agitation whatever on this question, and it proves
conclusively that there is an awakening on the subject of educa-tion
and that it is becoming apparent that the only way to edu-cate
the masses is by law compelling parents and guardians to
send the children to school.
Agricultural Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1.
FINANCIAL, SOCIAL AND MORAL CONDITION OF THE FARMERS.
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial, Social and Moral
COUNTY.
Has
building
of R. R.
increas-ed
value
of land
in your
section?
Alamance 1
Alexander 2
Alleghany 3
Anson 4
Ashe 5
Beaufort 6
Bertie 7
Bladen 8
Brunswick 9
Buncombe 10
Burke 11
Cabarrus 12
Caldwell 13
Camden 14
Carteret 15
Caswell 16
Catawba 17
Chatham..... 18
Cherokee 19
Chowan 20
Clay 21
Cleveland 22
Columbus 23
Craven 24
Cumberland 25
Currituck 26
Dare 27
Davidson 28
Davie 29
Duplin 30
Durham 31
Edgecombe .32
Forsyth 33
Franklin 34
Gaston 35
Gates 36
Graham 37
Granville 38
Greene 39
Guilford 40
Halifax 41
Harnett 42
Haywood 43
Henderson 44
Hertford 45
Hyde 46
Iredell 47
Jackson 48
yes
yes
*no
no
*no
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
no
*no
yes
no
no
yes
no
*no
yes
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
*no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
*no
yes
no
If so,
what
per
cent.?
25
10
10
90
60
30
30
40
40
60
20
Has there
been de-cline
in
value of
land past
year ?
If so, what cause ?
25
"is"
10
10
25
20
30
25
20
15
40
8
50
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
'low prices
low prices
low prices
low prices
low prices
low prices
low prices
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
'ow prices
scarcity of money
general depression
j scarcity of money
scarcity of money
general depression
scarcity of money
low prices
financial depression
general depression
scarcity of money
low prices
scarcity of money
financial depression
low prices
scarcity of money
low prices
hard times
Condition of Farmers in the State.
Condition op Farmers in the State.
Has value Have
of land in- Tendency
to have lar-
Improve- lands
creased by ments been re- Is fertili-growth
of been Nature of Improve- claimed ty of land
towns and ger or
smaller
farms ?
made on ments ? by ditch- main-villages
in land past ing or tained ?
your coun- year ? other-ty?
• wise ?
yes smaller yes building yes yes
no smaller yes cultivation yes yes
no smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes building yes yes
no larger yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes clearing yes no
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
no larger yes ferti izing yes yes
yes smaller yes draining yes yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
no smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
no smaller yes building yes yes
no smaller yes fertilizing no yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing no yes
no smaller
smaller
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes fertilizing yes
no smaller yes fertilizing no . yes
no smaller
smaller
smaller
yes building no no
no no
yes
no
yes
no
no fertilizing yes
yes smaller yes ditching yes yes
no smaller
smaller
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes clearing yes
yes smaller yes building yes yes
no smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes larger yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes building . no yes
no larger no yes yes
yes
yes
smaller no yes yes
smaller no yes no
no smaller
smaller
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes fertilizing yes
yes smaller no yes yes
yes smaller yes building yes yes
no smaller
larger
no
yes
no
no
yes
no building no
no smaller yes building yes no
no smaller
smaller
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes fertilizing yes
yes
yes
smaller yes
yes
no yes
smaller cultivation yes yes
yes smaller yes permanent yes yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
no same yes fertilizing yes yes
no smaller
smaller
no
yes
no
yes
yes
no fertilizing yes
no smaller yes building yes yes
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial, Social and Moral
COUNTIES.
Have
farmers
improved
in their
mode of
living?
Has cost of
living
increased or
decreased
past year ?
Wages per month of farm
laborers.
Men. Women. Children.
Alamance 1
Alexander 2
Alleghany 3
Anson 4^
Ashe 5
Beaufort 6
Bertie .7
Bladen 8:
Brunswick 9
Buncombe 10
Burke . .11
Cabarrus 12
Caldwell 13
Camden 14
Carteret 15
Caswell 16
Catawba 17
Chatham 18
Cherokee 19
Chowan 20
Clay 21 !
Cleveland 22
Columbus 23
Craven .....24
Cumberland ....25
Currituck
26J Bare 27
Davidson 28
Davie 29
Duplin 30
Durham 31
Edgecombe 32
Forsyth 33
Franklin 34
Gaston 35
Gates 36
Graham 37
Granville 38
Greene :^9
Guilford 40
Halifax 41
Harnett 42
Haywood 43
Henderson 44
Hertford 45
Hyde 46
Iredell 47
Jackson 48
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
• yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
ves
decreased
no
increased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
no
no
no
decreased
decreased
decreased
no
no
decreased
decreased
no
decreased
increased
decreased
no
decreased
decreased
decreased
no
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
no
decreased
decreased
increased
no
decreased
decreased
decreased
decreased
8 75
6 50
8 25
6 50
8 50
9 50
7 50
10 00
9 50
9 00
8 00
8 00
8 25
10 00
11 75
6 50
9 00
7 50
9 50
9 00
9 50
13 50
19 00
1 00
18 50
10 50
4 00
7 50
9 50
7 00
8 50
8 00
8 25
10 00
6 75
8 00
9 00
6 75
9 00
7 00
7 75
7 00
8 00
9 50
8 50
11 00
7 25
9 00
5 25
4 00
3 75
4 00
5 00
25
lO
50
50
50
50
50
75
50
00
25
50
00
25
7 50
5 00
7 50
6 00
4 75
5 00
6 50
9 00
4 25
6 00
6 00
5 50
5 00
4 25
4 00
5 50
4 00
5 50
3 25
5 00
4 00
4 25
4 50
$ 2 25
1 50
2 00
2 50
4 75
2 50
3 50
4 50
6 50
4 00
5 00
4 00
4 00
2 00
2 50
2 50
2 00
4 50
3 00
3 00
2 75
2 75
5 00
3 00
4 00
3 25
3 25
3 00
4 25
2 00
3 00
2 50
2 50
2 75
2 00
3 50
2 50
5 00
1 50
3 00
2 00
2 25
2 50
5 00
3 00
4 00
2 75
2 75
Condition of Farmers in the State.
Condition of Farmers in the State.—Continued.
Has
there
been a
decrease
during
the
year?
If so, from
what cause'?
Cost to produce.
Bale
cotton ?
Bushel
wheat ?
Corn >. Oats ?
100 pounds
tobacco ?
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
low prices
16 00
22 50
23 50
low prices
low prices 19 00
29 00
21 00
30 00
55c
65c
75c
40c
65c
55c
80c
40c
cheap produce
18 50
40c
65c
55c
65c
25 00
20 00
low prices
22 25
21 75
27 50
23
20
21
60c
35c
50c
60c
60c
70c
80c
75 c
50c
35c
35c
45c
45c
35c
30c
50c
35c
55c
30c
45c
30c
40c
35c
40c
30c
30c
40c
40c
25c
45c
40c
75c
40c
30c
30c
20c
35c
20c
25c
35c
30c
30e
25c
25c
25c
35c
25c
30c
25c
20c
25c
25c
30c
30c
30c
40c
25c
28 35 c 20c
6 75
6 00
6 00
6 00
4 00
5 50
7 00
6 50
7 50
no
yes
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
no
no
yes
no
25
low prices
low prices
18
24
20
20 00
20 00
20 00
low prices
low prices 19 50
22 25
21 00
low prices
scarcity of money
21 50
25 00
23 00
low prices 20 25
80c
70c
15c
65c
40c
60c
50c
75c
65c
75c
70c
40c
50c
55c
60c
50c
50c
50c
55c
70c
50c
40c
15c
55c
35c
35c
50c
30c
40c
40c
50c
40c
40c
45c
40c
30c
40c
35 c
40c
30c
45 c
35c
25c
5c
35c
25c
25 c
30c
30c
35c
25c
30c
25c
25c
30c
30c
30c
25c
30c
25c
25c
30c
3 00
6 00
2 00
8 00
6 00
9 75
5 00
8 75
5 75
6 50
7 50
3 00
6 00
6 00
4 00
4 25
9 25
North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial, Social and Moral
COUNTIES.
What part
of a bale of Raise cot-cotton
rep- 1 ton at
resents present
labor price ?
alone ?
Are farm i ^j, , .
laborers given !
What is
rations in ad- ,
the value
dition to „„.». _
wages? rations?
Alamance 1
Alexander 2
Alleghany 3
Anson 4
Ashe 5
Beaufort 6
Bertie 7
Bladen 8
Brunswick 9
Buncombe 10
Burke 11
Cabarrus 12^
Caldwell 13!
Camden 14
Carteret 15
Caswell 16
Catawba 17
Chatham 18,
Cherokee 19
Chowan 201
Clay 8ll
Cleveland 22!
Columbus 23'
Craven 24
Cumberland 25
Currituck 26!
Dare 27
Davidson 28
Davie 29
Duplin 30
Durham 31
Edgecombe 32!
Forsyth 33
Franklin...... 34
Gaston 35
Gates 36
Graham 37
Granville 38
Greene 39
Guilford 40
Halifax 41
Harnett 42
Haywood ...43
Henderson 44
Hertford 45
Hyde 46
Iredell 47
Jackson ...48
all
yes
no
no
no
no
i yes
8
4,
f
yes
yes
a4
f
no
no
a yes
no
no
no
yes
no
4 no
Ji no
no
! no
i
10
no
no
no
no
1 no
1
no
yes
X
Jt
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes-yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
* 3 75
4 00
4 50
1 50
4 25
2 25
3 75
4 50
4 50
5 50
3 25
5 50
2 50
1 50
4 50
3 75
6 75
3 00
7 00
4 00
3 25
4 25
6 00
6 00
2 25
3 00
2 50
4 00
3 50
5 00
3 00
6 00
3 25
2 75
4 75
3 00
3 50
4 50
2 50
o 50
3 75
4 00
4 75
Condition of Farmers in the State.
Condition of Farmers in the State.—Continued.
Do laborer!
have
house,
room or
lodging
free ?
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
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Gardens ?
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
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
Pasture V
The
monthly
value of
these ?
What other advantages
accorded farm laborers?
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
3 50
3 00
2 50
50
3 00
2 25
2 00
50
50
00
50
00
00
75
2 00
2 25
1 50
1 00
4 00
2 00
2 50
3 50
2 25
1 00
4 00
1 75
2 25
2 00
2 r,o
4 50 [fuel, fruit, team, etc
1 00 none
1 50 fuel, fruit, team, etc
1 50 teams and fruit
2 00 fuel, team, fruit, etc
2 00 fuel, team, etc
2 75 fuel, team, etc
1 50 fuel
3 50 team, etc
3 00 fuel, team, etc
00 teams, etc
50 fuel, fruit, etc
50
fuel, team, etc
fruit, etc
fuel, team, etc
fruit, etc
fuel, team, fruit, etc
fruit, etc
none
fruit, etc
fuel, etc
fuel, team, fruit, etc
fuel, fruit, etc
fuel, team, etc
fuel, fruit, etc
fuel, etc
fuel, team, fruit, etc
fuel, team, etc
team, etc
fuel, team, fruit etc
fuel, team, etc
team, etc
ifuel, etc
fuel, etc
fuel, team, etc
• fuel, fruit, etc
10 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial. Social and moral
COUNTIES. Is labor abundant
or scarce ?
Can
laborers
find
employ-ment
all
the year?
Alamance. 1
Alexander .'. 2
Alleghany 3
Anson 4
Ashe 5
Beaufort 6
Bertie .7
Bladen 8
Brunswick 9
Buncombe 10
Burke 11
Cabarrus 12
Caldwell . 13
Camden 14
Carteret 15
Caswell 16
Catawba 17
Chatham 1 : 18
Cherokee 19
Chowan 20
Clav 21
Cleveland 22
Columbus 23
Craven 24
Cumberland 25
Currituck - 26
Dare 27
Davidson = 28
Davie 29
Duplin 30
Durham 31
Edgecombe : 32
Forsvrh 33
Franklin 34
Gaston. 35
Gates . .....86
Graham 37
Granville 38
Greene 39
Guilford 40
Halifax 41
Harnett 42
Haywood 43
Henderson 44
Hertford 45
Hyde ...46
Iredell 47
Jackson 48
abundant
abundant
scarce
abundant
abundant
abundant
plenty
scarce
scarce
plenty
scarce
scarce
plenty
plenty
scarce
scarce
scarce
abundant
abundant
plenty
abundant
scarce
plenty
abundant
plenty
plenty
scarce
plenty
plenty
plenty
plenty
plenty
abundant
scarce
scarce
scarce
abundant
scarce
plenty
abundant
plenty
abundant
plenty
abundant
plenty
scarce
abundant
abundant
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
Xes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
Condition of Farmers in the State. 11
Condition of Farmers in the State.—Continued.
Is educational Do you favor
condition compulsory
improving ? education '!
Is mora!
condition
improving?
Have
religious
instruction
Is financial
condition
improving V
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes no
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
no yes
yes yes
no yes
yes yes
yes \ es
yes yes
no yes .
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
no no
yes yes
yes yes
no no
yes yes
yes no
yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes no
yes
yes yes
yes yes
no no
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
no
yes yes
yes yes
no no
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes yes
no yes no
yes yes yes
no yes no
no yes yes
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes yes
no yes no
yes yes n^
yes yes yes
yes yes no
yes yes no
yes yes yes
yes yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
yes yes no
no yes no
12 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1-Showikgthe Financial, Social and Moral
COUNTIES.
Has
building
of R. R.
increased
value of
land in
your sec:
tion ?
If so,
of
what
Johnston 49
Jones .50
Lenoir 51
Lincoln 52
Macon 53
Madison 54
Martin 55
McDowell : 56
Mecklenburg.. 57
Mitchell 58
Montgomery 59
Moore 60
Nash 61
New Hanover 62
Northampton 63
Onslow 64
Orange 65
Pamlico 66
Pasquotank 67
Pender 68
Perquimans 69
Person 70
Pitt 71
Polk 72
Randolph 73
Richmond 74
Robeson 75
Rockingham 76
Rowan 77
Rutherford ...78
Sampson 79
Stanly 80
Stokes 81
Surry 82
Swain 83
Transylvania 84
Tyrrell 85
Union 86
Vance 87
Wake 88
Warren 89
Washington 90
Watauga 91 [ Wayne.... 92
Wilkes 93
Wilson 94
Yadkin 95
Yancey 96
yes
no
yes
yes
* no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
ves
no
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes
no
no
Has there
been de-cline
in
. value of
cent.?
land Pf1
year ?
If so, what cause ?
25
35
10
35
5
30
25
25
20
300
35
25
50
15
15
20
10
50
40
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes
no
scarcity of money
hard times
scarcity of money
low prices
low prices
scarcity of money
low prices
low prices
low prices
low prices
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
low prices
low prices
scarcity of money
low prices
scarcity of money
jscaroity of money
[financial depression
low prices
low prices
low prices
scarcity of money
low prices
low prices
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
scarcity of money
financial depression
Condition of Farmers in the State 13
Condition of Farmers in the State.—Continued.
Has value Have
of land in-creased
by Tendency
to have lar-
Improve-ments
"lands
been re- Is fertili-growth
of been Nature of Im- claimed ty of land
towns and ger or
smaller
farms '?
made on provements ? by ditch- main-villages
in land past ing or tained ?
your coun- year ? other-ty?
wise ?
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
no smaller
smaller
no
yes
no
yes
no
no building yes
no smaller yes fertilizing yes no
yes smaller- yes fertilizing yes yes
no larger yes fertilizing no yes
yes smaller yes building yes yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes building- yes yes
no smaller- yes building no yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller- yes building no yes
y^s smaller yes building no yes
yes smaller- yes building- yes yes
no smaller no yes
yes •
yes
no smaller- yes clearing yes
yes smaller
smaller-no
yes
no
yes
no
no clearing yes
no smaller
smaller-no
yes
no
yes
no
yes fertilizing- yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes building yes yes
yes larger- yes cultivation no yes
yes smaller yes building yes yes
yes same yes building yes yes
yes larger yes draining yes yes
no smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller- yes cultivation yes yes
yes smaller yes cultivation yes yes
yes smaller yes terracing no yes
no smaller- yes building no yes
no smaller yes cultivation no yes
no s mallei-small
er
no
yes
no
yes
no
yes building yes
no smaller- yes fertilizing no yes
no smaller yes draining yes yes
no smaller-smaller
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes building yes
no smaller- yes building- yes yes
no smaller no yes
no
yes
no smaller- yes cultivation no
no smaller yes building no yes
no smaller- yes clearing yes yes
no medium
smaller-no
yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes larger fertilizing no
no smaller yes fertilizing yes yes
yes smaller yes fertilizing- yes yes
14 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial, Social and Moral
COUNTIES.
Have
farmers
improved
in their
mode of
Has cost of
living in-creased
or
decreased
Wages per month of farm
laborers .
liviixr? P^t year?
Johnston 49
Jones , 50
Lenoir 51
Lincoln 52
Macon 58
Madison 54
Martin 55
McDowell 56
Mecklenburg 57
Mitchell... 58
Montgomery 59
Moore 60
Nash 61
New Hanover 62
Northampton 63 ;
Onslow 64!
Orange 65
Pamlico 66
Pasquotank 67
Pender 68
Perquimans 69
Person 70
Pitt 71
Polk 72
Randolph 73
Richmond 74
Robeson 75
Rockingham 76
Rowan 77
Rutherford 78
Sampson 79
Stanly 80
Stokes 81
Surry 82
Swain 83
Transylvania 84
Tyrrell 85
Union 86
Vance 87
Wake - 88
Warren 89
Washington 90
Watauga. 91
Wayne 92
Wilkes 93
Wilson 94
Yadkin 95
Yancey 96
Men. Women. Children.
yes decreased $ 7 25 $ 5 00 $ 3 00
no decreased 10 00 6 00 4 00
no no 10 75 8 00 4 50
yes decreased 9 75 6 50 4 75
no no 10 50 5 25 4 25
yes decreased 8 75 4 00 2 25
no decreased 8 00 4 25 3 00
ves decreased 7 75 4 50 2 50
yes decreased 8 00 4 00 3 00
yes decreased 8 50 4 50 2 00
yes no 8 25 5 75 3 00
yes decreased 7 50 3 50 2 25
yes decreased 8 00 5 00 3 00
yes increased 11 50 6 25 3 50
yes increased 8 00 4 25 3 25
yes no 8 00 5 00 2 25
no no 8 00 3 00 1 00
yes decreased 8 25 4 50 3 00
no increased 9 00 4 00 2 50
yes decreased 9 75 6 50 3 50
no increased 9 75 4 50 3 00
yes decreased 6 50 3 00 1 75
no decreased 9 50 4 50 3 00
yes decreased 9 00 5 75 2 50
yes decreased 9 50 6 00 2 50
no' no 8 25 4 50 2 25
yes decreased 9 25 5 75 3 50
yes decreased 8 50 5 00 3 00
yes increased 7 50 5 75 4 00
yes no 9 25 6 25 2 00
no no 9 00 4 75 2 25
yes decreased 9 50 6 75 5 00
yes decreased 8 75 5 50 3 00
yes decreased 7 25 4 50 2 75
yes no 10 50 4 75 4 00
yes decreased 8 25 4 75 4 00
yes no 14 00 8 00 3 50
yes decreased 7 75 4 50 2 00
yes decreased 7 00 3 00 1 50
no decreased 7 50 4 00 1 50
no decreased 7 00 4 75 3 50
no no 9 25 7 25 3 25
yes decreased 9 00 4 75 4 00
yes decreased 8 00 6 00 3 00
no decreased 7 25 5 25 4 00
yes decreased 8 00 5 50 3 00
yes decreased 7 00
j
3 00 2 50
yes decreased 8 00 1 4 00
Condition of Farmers in the State 15
Condition of Farmers in the State.—Continued.
Has there
If so, from what
cause?
Cost
been a
decrease
during
the
year ?
Bale
cotton ?
Bushel
wheat '!
C(
no
'
$ 22 75
,24 50
25 00
27 25
25 00
25 00
24 25 i
21 00
21 25
17 25
25 00
22 75
25 00
20 00
18 50
40 00
65c
60c
50c
85c I
75c
55c
70c
65c
60c I
50c
70c
45c
50c
40c
65c
75c
30c
75 c
no
no
no
no
yes
no
Low prices
yes
no
scarcity of money
yes
no
scarcity of money
yes
no'
scarcity of money
no
no
yes
yes
no
low prices
low prices
no
no
no 24 00 75 c
no 50c
yes
no
low prices 24 50
17 25
20 00
26 50
20 50
75c
70c
60c
75c
45c
55c
65c
60c
55c
50c
45c
75c
50c
55c
60c
60c
50c
65c
80c
60c
50c
50c
55 e
1 75c
yes
yes
no
hard times
low prices
no
yes
no
scarcity of money 22 50
no 16 00
19 50
22 00
no
no
yes
no
low prices
yes
no
scarcity of money
26 00
22 00
27 00
17 25
22 75
27 00
yes
no
low prices
no
no
yes
no
scarcity of monej
no 25 00
yes
no
low prices
22 00
yes
yes
scarcity of mone>
low prices
100 pounds
tobacco?
30c
35c
20c
20c
30c
30c
25c
30c
35c
30c
25c
40c
25c
40c
25c
30c
25c
25c
7 00
10 00
5 50
5 00
6 75
5 00
10 00
16 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial, Social a^id Moral
COUNTIES.
What part
of a bale of
^otton rep-resents
la-bor
alone ?
Raise cot
ton at pres-ent
price ?
Are farm
laborers given
rations in ad-dition
to
wages ?
What is
the value
of
rations ?
Johnston 49
Jones 50
Lenoir 51
Lincoln 52
Macon 58
Madison 54
Martin 55
McDowell 56
Mecklenburg 57
Mitchell 58
Montgomery 59
Moore 60
Nash 61
New Hanover 62
Northampton 63
Onslow 64
Orange = 65
Pamlico 66
Pasquotank 67
Pender 68
Perquimans 69
Person 70
Pitt 71
Polk - 72
Randolph 73
Richmond .74
Robeson 75
Rockingham 76
Rowan 77
Rutherford -78
Sampson 79
Stanly 80
Stokes 81
Surry 82
Swain 83
Transvlvania ...84
Tyrrell 85
Union 86
Vance.. 87
Wake 88
Warren 89
Washington 90
Watauga 91
Wayne 92
Wilkes 93
Wilson 94
Tadkin 95
Y ancey 96
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
$ 2 00
2 75
2 50
. 4 50
5 75
5 50
2 75
5 25
2 25
4 00
4 75
3 75
2 25
3 00
2 75
4 25
2 50
6 50
5 00
3 75
1 75
5 50
2 00
2 50
3 25
3 25
5 50
3 25
5 00
4 50
4 50
5 00
4 00
3 50
2 50
2 25
2 75
4 75
5 75
2 50
5 00
3 00
4 50
4 00
Condition of Farmers in the State. IT
Condition of Farmers oe the State.—Continued.
Do labor-
•
ers have The
house,
room or
Gardens '? Pasture '?
monthly
value of
What other advantages
accorded farm laborers ?
lodging
1
these ?
free ?
yes .yes yes $ 2 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 3 25 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes yes yes 4 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 3 75 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 3 25 team, fruit, etc
yes yes yes 2 75 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 2 00 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 1 75 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 4 00 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 6 00 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 2 75 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes
yes.
yes yes 2 00
yes yes 2 00 fuel, etc
yes
yes
no no
yes yes 3 25 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
2 00
2 50
3 50 team, etc
yes yes yes 6 50 team, etc ,
yes. yes no 2 25 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 2 00 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 3 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes. no 1 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes no 3 00 fuel, etc
yes yes yes . 1 75 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 2 50 fuel, etc
yes yes no 2 00 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes yes yes 4 25 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 1 75 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 4 00
yes yes no 2 25
yes yes yes 2 00 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 2 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 5 25 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 5 00 fuel, fruit, etc
yes yes yes 4 00 fuel, fruit, etc.
yes yes no 2 00 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 3 25
yes yes yes 1 75 fuel, etc
yes yes yes 4 25 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 3 25 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes yes yes 4 00 fuel, etc
yes yes no 2 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 5 00
yes yes yes 1 75 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes . yes yes 4 50 fuel, team, fruit, etc
yes yes no 1 50 fuel, team, etc
yes yes yes 1 00
18 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
AVERAGE TABLE No. 1—Showing the Financial, Social and Moral
COUNTIES.
Is labor
abundant
or scarce ?
Can laborers Is educa-find
employ- "tional condi-ment
all the
year
Johnston 49
Jones 50
Lenoir 51
Lincoln 5*2
Macon 53
Madison 54
Martin 55
McDowell 56
Mecklenburg 57
Mitchell 58
Montgomery 59
Moore 60
Nash 61
New Hanover 62
Northampton 63
Onslow. 64
Orange 65
Pamlico : 66
Pasquotank 67
Pender .'. 68
Perquimans 69
Person 70
Pitt 71
Polk 72
Randolph 73
Richmond .....74
Robeson 75
Rockingham 76
Rowan 77
Rutherford 78
Sampson : 79
Stanly 80
Stokes 81
Surry 82
Swain 83
Transvlvania 84
Tyrrell 85
Union 86
Vance 87
Wake 88|
Warren 89
Washington 90J Watauga 91
Wayne 92
Wilkes 93
Wilson 94J
Yadkin 95
Yancey 96;
plenty
plenty
scarce
abundant
abundant
abundant
plenty
abundant
abundant
abundant
scarce
plenty
scarce
abundant
scarce
abundant
scarce
plenty
scarce
plenty
scarce
plenty
scarce
plenty
plenty
abundant
plenty
plenty
abundant
abundant
plenty
scarce
scarce
abundant
abundant
abundant
plenty
plenty
plenty
scarce
plenty
plenty
plenty
plenty
plenty
scarce
scarce
abundant
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
tion im-proving
?
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
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Condition of Farmers in the State. 19
Condition of Farmers of the State.-Continued.
Do you favor
compulsory
education '?
Is moral
condition
improving
Have religious
instructions?
Is financial
condition
improving ?
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
no
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
no
yes
no
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
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
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
no
yes
no
no
yes
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
no
20 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
LETTERS FROM FARMERS.
The following letters are selected from the large number received
for publication :
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Burlington, Alamance County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—It would be a great blessing to all working people if there
was compulsory education for children from eight to fourteen years of age
six months in the year, and a standard of school books for the whole State
It would greatly improve the moral and religious standard of the young
and keep many from jails and public roads. Let the State appoint a
Superintendent of Public Instruction for each county, and fix a price for
No. 1 teachers only on a par with the price of farm products.
Respectfully,
J. F. HOMEWOOD.
MORE SCHOOLS, MORE CHURCHES AND BETTER LEGISLATION.
Little River, Alexander County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I will say that more schools, and better managed, and more
churches, and better legislation—State and National—present homestead
removed and the old homestead enacted, and the coinage of silver bullion
at the ratio of 16 to 1. I honestly believe that if we had better legislation,
with good laws and the present homestead removed, and the coinage of free
silver bullion at the ratio 16 to 1, that the people would have better heart,
and be more prosperous, could work better and sleep sounder.
Respectfully,
Gk W. Long.
raise home supplies.
Taylorsville, Alexander County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The best thing for the farmers of my county is to make as
near everything as they can to live on, so that they will have to spend as
little money as possible. Raise their own stock, meat, grain and make the
manures to enrich their lands, and quit this constant outflow of money.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 21
We need in this hill country machinery adapted to the cultivation of the
same—better and deeper plowing—better drainage and an innumerable
amount of old mill dams taken out of or from across the streams so that
bottom lands may be benefited. Respectfully,
J. B. Pool.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND MORE MONEY.
Polkton, Anson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I think children should not be worked in factories, or any-where
else, longer than ten hours in summer and eight hours in winter. I
think all parents should be compelled by law to send their children to
school at least four months in the year, and to do this there will have to
be a four months1 free school, as there is a class of people that could not pay
the tuition. The greatest evil we have to contend with in this country is
lack of money ; and to get that, in my humble opinion, we must have free
silver and gold, and the use of a flexible currency issued by the government
only, and the abolition of the national banking system.
Respectfully,
S. W. Birmingham.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Goodman, Anson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—First, give us more money, and make every dollar worth
one hundred cents ; fine every man that kills birds, in any way ; work the
public roads by taxation ; give us longer public school terms and better
teachers. The farmers are in better condition than they have been for
many years, though many are in debt, and will remain so, unless they can
get more money for their produce. We hope that the day is not far dis-tant
when we shall have free coinage of silver, higher prices and better
times. As a general rule, I don't think that children ought to be com-pelled
to work regulai'ly, and especially in factories. A factory is no place
for child labor. I think about the bes%)lace for children under fifteen years
of age is the school room. The public schools of this county will compare
favorably with any in North Carolina, I think. It is true that our school
term is only about two months, but not over seventy five per cent, of the
children attend regularly, and what we need is a law compelling them to
attend, even if our school term is short. I think compulsory education
would be a good thing. We need something to dispel the ignorance of our
country.
Respectfully,
J. C. GrOODMAN.
22 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
LESS TALK AND MORE WORK.
Creston, Ashe County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—I think if we had fewer elections, and fewer X road politi-cians
among- us, we would get along some better. We certainly should use
much more industry and economy in our living, taking care of the many
advantages that nature has bestowed upon our country. "We need better
workmen, better farmers, and a greater desire to live upon what we could
make and produce at home. The Bureau is useful to those who take an
interest in labor, and it would be more useful if it could get in touch with
more of the laborers of the State.
Respectfully,
N. J. LlLLARD.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
Roberts, Ashe County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Commissioner of Labor, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—There is too much indolence, waste of time, talking politics,
drinking whiskey, using tobacco, spending money for novelties, loafing
in public places and on the highway among our people ; and then they talk
of hard times, which are brought on the people by lack of energy and
industry, never being in time or place to strike while the iron is hot, or
make hay while the sun shines. I think the laboring people would profit
by studying economy, to enable them to do first-class work ; in short, every-thing
they do, to do it well, and always in time, on garden, farm, in machine
shop and factory. What ground the farmer tends, let him put it in the
highest state of improvement and cultivation. What stock he keeps on
farm, keep it fat. So let us try to have everything in a condition to meet
the demands of a first-class market, and it will increase the price of prod-uce
and labor more than politics or whiskey. Children should not be
idle all day, and should not be too closely confined to slavish labor. Com-pulsory
education should include science, honesty, industry and econ-omy.
Respectfully,
W. J. Roberts.
abolish the liquor traffic.
Washington, Beaufort County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner. Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The greatest possible blessing that could be conferred, by
law, on the working people, and also many others, would be the exclusion
from the State of all intoxicating liquors. The next greatest woudl be
Condition of Farmers in the State. 23
„e, law woum most—Vot%Trna"tSrn th* "^
the total exclusion of intoxicating liquors, 01 at least sucn
sale as win, as ,nueh as possible, prevent their ^nse.^^
R. W. Wharton.
abolition of the liquor traffic, and education.
AULANDER, Bertie County, N. C.
B R Lacy Esq., Labor Commissioners, Raleigh, N. C.
SeirfiTe days' wages in flour, sugar,, offee and bacon to then- families.
h
Tt£e tempTafions were removed, they would soon become bettermen
,.„7/„ hpttPr laborers physically, and better citizens generally. 6. men
I :°o Id c^more Ukely to attend school three or four months in the
tear and the next generation of laborers would be more intelligent and
en^rbetter service to their employers. ,. From my observation^ for a
number of years, my conclusion is that, in order to meet the needs ana
Tpror/he condition of the working people, which is claimed b* the
Department to be one of its chief objects, is for the State by leg^ve
enactment, to remove every evil possible and to offer ee) possible
inducement to elevate and educate the great floating element of our Com-
Lonwealth from mere tools for the use of political de^ue,, tKV
now are to a higher plane of citizenship, which can only be done b> first
removing the evils existing as mentioned, and then, by compulsory eduea-
Hon, train the children of the laborers.
Respectfully,
A. J. Dunning.
KEEP AN EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
Windsor, Bertie County, N. C.
B R Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :-I would suggest that farmers pay a more strict attention to
their farm work. Keep a book of accounts that they can turn to on a
moment's notice and find what they paid for a particular article or what
was paid them. At the end of the year balance the accounts and see
whether they have made or lost. If they have lost, hunt up the cause and
24 Nokth Carolina Labor Statistics.
next year steer clear of it. At the end of the year their book will tell them
many interesting things, and will do them more good than all the farm
journals published between the oceans. If farmers would make compost
every Saturday that they spend in the town and X roads store they would
make big crops and have smaller store accounts. Farmers are the sinews
of the free institutions of our land, and look less at their own needs than
they should for their own good.
Respectfully,
W. R. Johnson.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Leicester,- Buncombe County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:— In our locality good, honest, industrious laborers have no
trouble in securing homes by renting land or working for part of the crop,
and in my opinion the most important item for them is educational advan-tages
in the free schools, but the class that the law intended to help are
the ones that will not take advantage of their opportunities, nor do I
think they will till forced to do so, and the sooner a compulsory law is
passed the better for them.
Respectfully,
D. F. Summy.
WAGES AS GOOD AS CAN BE GIVEN.
Alexander, Buncombe County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I am well pleased with the effort to bring capital and labor
more on an equality. We evidently have a class of laborers who would
rather get their living dishonestly, while on the other hand we have quite
a number who would oppress the laborers and take the advantage of their
necessities. In our county, however, I think the wages and advantages
given the laborer are as good as can be given, owing to the low price of all
products of the farm. As to the compulsory law for education, I do not
know whether the condition of the country will justify it at this time or
not. I, personally, am in favor of the education of the children, but I
think that probably at this time it would be well to go slow and be very
conservative in the matter. I am thoroughly convinced that the condition
of the farmer, and also the laborer, can be advanced by the restoration
of the free coinage of silver.
Respectfully,
W. H. Hunter.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 25
INTEMPERANCE.
Gtbbs, Burke County, >T
. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The first thirty years of my life I was an employee and
could always get plenty of work and the pay, and always did my work
faithfully and an honest job. I have been an employer for thirty years,
and scarcely ever have any trouble with employee or tenant, and the only
trouble I have I can almost always trace to intemperance. Liquor
always makes a hand careless, and he will soon put in half time, or less,
and will grumble about his wages and try to make all the other hands dis-satisfied,
and the next thing is a strike proposed. I have made it a rule
for years to dismiss a hand that will swear or get drunk, on the spot. I
am now seventy-five years old, lacking a month. I only regret that I can-not
write something that would be of more interest. I hope you will sup-ply
what is lacking.
Respectfully,
Joshua Gtbbs.
FARMERS BECOMING MORE SELF-SUPPORTING.
Morganton, Burke County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I am fully satisfied that the building of railroads in this
county has been of very great advantage in every shape and form to all
classes. 1 can't for the life of me attribute the decline in land values to any
other cause than the financial stringency—in a word, the great scarcity of
money. The debtor class are the worst off. In the towns and villages there
seems to be more life than elsewhere, yet at the same time there is nothing
like an old-fashioned boom. The fertility of land is being very well main-tained
by the use of improved agricultural implements, thorough plowing
and sub-soiling. Farmers are becoming more self supporting—that is, they
are making their bread and meat at home, and in this way are not depend-ent
on other markets, as they were a few years ago. Farm laborers have
an advantage over almost all others, as the employer on a farm of his
own or otherwise seems to be in an attitude to extend more favors.
Respectfully,
W. M. Winters.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Morganton, Burke County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Working small boys and girls in cotton mills is growing to
a very great extent, and in my opinion to the detriment of the work-ing
class. The employer pays very small wages ; the child is not
of sufficient age to do good work, hence the sale of the product
26 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
is injured in price, and very often the children are discharged
at a season of the year when there is no public school, there-fore
losing the whole school term. Therefore I am fully in accord
.with the fourteen-year compulsory law, which will give older persons
more employment and the children better education, for there is much
neglect on the part of parents in this section in sending their children to
school when they have good opportunities. Our school system is all good
enough, and the teachers get good prices, and the schools are kept open
three to four months each year.
Respectfully,
Samuel Hern.
compulsory education.
Globe, Caldwell County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh,, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Our State should appropriate more money for school pur-poses,
also should have compulsory school law so the working people
might have better educational advantages. Great injustice is done to our
poor laboring men in most sections of our State in regard to keeping up
public roads, as a man without anything is required to do the same
amount of labor on roads as one who may own his broad acres and numer-ous
teams to travel the roads, worked mainly in some sections by poor fel-lows
not able to own a horse. Legislators should have the " backbone "
to amend road laws. Many of our honest laboring people, because they
can get goods, etc., on time, are inclined to buy many things they could do
without, and by so doing cannot improve their financial condition. If the
liquor curse were removed from our fair land peace and prosperity would
reign, and the condition of all men would be benefited morally and finan-cially.
All Christians, as well as true citizens, should use all legitimate
means within their powrer to suppress the liquor traffic.
Respectfully,
Finley P. Moore.
DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES.
Hartland, Caldwell County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—What we need most of anything in this section is diversified
industries—factories all over the country to work our raw materials and
give empk>3Tment to our idle labor and a home market for our surplus farm
products ; then, and not till then, will this country be in a prosperous con-dition.
Respectfully,
J. T. McGrHINNIS.
Condition of Farmers in the State. -27
need money that labor can handle.
Marshallberg. Carteret County, N. C.
B. R. LACY, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—We need money that the laborer can handle—can reach—not
money absolutely beyond his highest aspirations, but money that is avail-able
and possible for him to get after his day's work is done. They become
discouraged when they see that they must toil and wait weeks and
months, and after the middle-man has been supplied they see no money in
sight for them on a single standard money, be that gold or silver or paper.
The burning need of the times is to rid the Government of gold bugs and let
the free silver come, 16 to 1, and then we will have better times and more
money: and all classes of men will see better times if your Bureau, or any
other, can heal the breach between capital and labor; then strikes and dis-satisfaction
will be seen and felt no more—the wheels of progress Mali be
unlocked and all industries quickened. God's word declares that there is
more hope for a fool than for a wise man in his own conceit. In my part of
this county we have small farms, and they are not cultivated in the right
way to make them a success ; in the eastern part of this county the people
live by fishing and oystering. Respectfully,
E. B. Satter.
SCARCITY OF MONEY.
Newport, Carteret County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—It cannot be denied that a restless and discontented spirit
prevails. There is no confidence or credit, and people are living from
hand to mouth and despairing of the future. They can make no debts, and
the fact that they know if their houses burn or their horse dies they must
live out and lose their crop robs life of its pleasure. Like the people of
Egypt who raise magnificent crops of wheat which they must sell and use
cheaper food, our agricultural classes in this favored land are compelled to
barter away for little medicines and necessary articles their choicest prod-ucts,
for lack of a mpdium of exchange. There is no scarcity of food.
We are in the midst of plenty. The situation is strange yet true—have
what you may to offer for security for a small loan, you can find nothing
on a farm to obtain it. If you must have $5.00, you must sell your cow to
get it. Respectfully,
S. H. Newberry.
BETTER COUNTY ROADS.
Pelham, Caswell County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Better country roads, which can only be had by the expend-iture
in each county of a sum sufficient to put them in good condition. A
road law, or taxation, if you please. Bad roads militate worse against the
28 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
farmer than anything else, free silver or go'.d standard not excepted.
Railroads are no good to farmers unless they can reach them. Your office
might, I think, pertinently look into and investigate this subject, as it is
hand in hand with development which closely concerns all the parties you
are trying to be of benefit to. If you will excuse me for saying so, I think
the frequent dissemination of reports and greater distribution of such val-uable
publications as your ninth annual report, which is replete with val-uable
information, would give your office more publicity and create a
desire to give the Bureau closer, better, more definite statistics, and thereby
elevate the Bureau, and let it accomplish more perfectly its mission for
good. It is doing all it can with the present aid ; more interest should be
centered in it.
Respectfully,
W. C. Swann.
SYSTEMATIC THRIFT.
Hickory, Catawba County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Cominitsioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :
—
"You ask for suggestions for the betterment of our working
people. In reply I would say that an experience of twenty years as one of
them has impressed me with the fact that we need especially to be taught
systematic thrift, to learn to use our money and means so as to get as
much good from it as possible. After they get to handle what they have,
then they should have a chance to widen out, a good primary education
with a course of general reading, not so biased and narrow as our news-papers
generally are. Something like the chautauqua courses would in my
opinion be the best way to acquire information, uch course to be under
the direction of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and distributed
in pamphlet form just as the Experiment Station now does on agricultural
topics. I regard the regular employment of any child under twelve years
of age, in a factory, as a crime against the child and the community, and a
fit subject for legislation, but do not believe that we are ready as yet for
compulsory education, but hope to see it in force sometime.
Respectfully,
G-. H. Geitner.
LOWER TAXES AND BETTER WAGES.
Hickory, Catawba County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—As to the working men, they need more encouragement in
their condition, more sympathy in the depressed condition by the author-ities
; lower taxes and better wages, better prices for their farm products,
and such religious instruction as would come from a servant of Grod and
not the willing or duped tool of plutocrac5T
.
Respectfully,
John W. Robinson.
Condition ok Farmers in the State. 29
EVERY ONE SHOULD BE A PRODUCER.
Edenton, Chowan County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Our country needs no high tariff protection, but it needs to
be protected against foreign labor coming in. At first they will work for
reduced wages for awhile, and when they have become acquainted with
our American ways they will strike, and we will have to call out our militia
at great expense and disturbance to suppress it. We need intelligence to
produce. Our facilities are as good as anywhere in the world, and we can
do more, and do it just as good, and compete with all the world combined.
We need more laborers and producers and less speculators on things pro-duced
; or, in other words, every man-ought to be a producer of something,
use what we need, and let some one else have the surplus.
Respectfully,
B. E. Bird.
cultivate less land and work it better.
Hayesville, Clay County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, 1ST. C.
Dear Sir :—Clay county is the banner county in western North Caro-lina
in mineral and natural resources. Her minerals, such as corundum,
garnet, mica, gold, silver, etc., are inexhaustible. The finest timber on
earth, such as poplar, oak, ash, hickory, walnut, cherry, etc, can be found
in abundance, but owing to the financial depression they cannot be devel-oped
now. I think the condition of the farmers would improve if they
would pay more attention to home-made fertilizers, and make five acres
worth ten. Cultivate less land and work it better. B,aise mules, cattle,
hogs and sheep. Kill out all worthless dogs, or let the mad- dog scare come
along again, as it did this year, and we will have fine lambs to sell. Let
all silver men get together on the 3d of November and elect a free silver
President and Congress, and if they don't pass a law for unlimited free
coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1, then hang the last one of them.
Respectfully,
Wm. T. Bumgarner.
better system op schools, and better system of working public
roads.
Ledford, Clay County, N. C.
B. R. LACY, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. 0.
Dear Sir :—Cotton is not grown in this county. Tobacco is receiving
some attention of late. If there was capital here to develop our resources
I think it would improve the condition of our working people, both farm-ers
and mechanics. A better free-school system, so that we could have
30 Korth Carolina Labor Statistics.
longer school terms, would improve our common people, both in education
and morals. Some change in the financial system, so that the farmers
could realize better prices for their produce and enable them to buy better
tools and machinery, would greatly improve farming. A better system of
working the public Dads would improve our county very much.
Respectfully,
W. T. Robinson.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Hayesville, Clay County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—I think the public school system should be improved;
employ better teachers, increase the term to at least 100 days. I favor a
compulsory school law ; as it is, at least one-half of the children get no ben-efit
of the public school money. We need to farm on the " intensive " sys-tem,
make as much on one acre as we now make on five. Too much land and
too little work is what is the matter. Our people need more industry and
less extravagance, more economy and less grumbling, work twelve months
in the year instead of four, as is the rule here. We need immigration to at
least double our population. This is a fine farming and stock-raising-county
if the people only had the " push. 1
' We need some good manufac-tories,
especially woolen and wood-working factories that would give idle
labor employment, make a market for the fanner and sheep-raiser, I
think a protective tariff that protects alike the farmer and manufacturer
would soon employ and elevate labor, raise wages, which would soon
•circulate and make money plentiful, even under a " gold standard. " We
have an abundance of water power and raw material lying idle. I think
if you could encourage a system of better roads it would greatly benefit
the people and raise the value of property. We need to make more home-made
manure, more clover and grass, less sedge and idleness and red gullies.
The Bureau is doing good work. Respectfully,
Geo. H. Snyder.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Tabor, Columbus County, N. C.
B. R. LACY, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I have always thought there should be some compulsory
laws to compel parents to send their children to school, so they might have
a_common school education when they became grown, and the older I
get and the more 1 learn by my daily observation, I am satisfied that morals
are not what they should be among the common class of people, and it is
chargeable to their ignorance, not being able to read and write. Ninety
per cent, of the farmers cannot write their names intelligible enough to be
read, and unless some compulsory laws are passed, compelling the ignorant
parent to educate his child, in twenty-five years ignorance will rule.
Respectfully,
C. W. Brown.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 31
PAY MORE ATTENTION TO CULTIVATION OF FARMS.
Manteo, Dare County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I am of the opinion that if the people of eastern North Car-olina
would diversify their crops more, and not pin their faith so largly to
fishing, and attend more strictly to their little farms, they would realize
more money, with less labor and exposure. Generally speaking the major-ity
of the people in this section depend on the three months of February,
March and April, shad months, as they are termed here, and November
and December, blue-fishing months, for their year's support, paying too
little attention to the cultivation of their farms. Hence, when a fishing
season is a failure, hard times and scarcity of money prevails. Educational
interests are looked after more than formerly, but not to the extent that
they should be. Respectfully,
C. B. Bliven.
LABORERS NOT IMPROVING.
Jerusalem, Davie County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :— I do not think the laborers are improving in their financial
condition. One prime cause is, I think, that they work too little. Instead
of putting in twelve months in a year, they work about six months,
through crop time, and then lay around the balance of the year. Healthy
financial legislation, so as to put more money in circulation with which to
pay, and also enabling employers to pay better wages, would also be a
benefit to laborer and employer. Respectfully,
S. J. Tatum.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION AND TEN-HOUR LAW.
Mocksville, Davie County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—Our people need to learn to live within their income ; make
their own home supplies ; stay out of debt and use their own bacon and
flour instead of getting it from the West. I am more and more convinced
that an extended system of education is needed. My experience has been
that an individual as well as a community is benefited by education.
Therefore I favor a compulsory school law. I am also in favor of the ten-hour
system, and think it should be fixed by law.
Respectfully,
W. A. Griffin.
32 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL LAW, AND ABOLISH HOMESTEAD LAW.
Clemmonsville, Forsyth County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—It occurs to me that legislation giving us a compulsory
school law, abolishing the homestead, and making it impossible for trusts
to control the prices of articles that enter into the necessities and
comforts of the life of the masses wduld help to better the condition
of the many. The products of labor should have a price fixed by the law
of demand and supply, and be protected from ruinous depression by spec-ulation.
Aside from all this, however, you can here and there put your fin-ger
on a prosperous farmer or thrifty hired man, showing that success to a
large extent depends on individual effort. There are many so-called farmers
who disgi-ace manhood and their calling by their indolence and shiftless
methods, blaming Providence and everything else for their want of suc-cess.
Respectfully,
A. C. Wharton.
UNIMPROVED LANDS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
Homestead, Grraham County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—There are thousands of acres of unimproved lands all over
western North Carolina now doing no one any good. I think if the com-mon
people would go to improving these idle lands on their own account,
and build for themselves a place called "Home " and look after their own
interest, and not the interest of others, I think the people Of this fair
country would be lifted to a higher plane of prosperity, and therefore
create a greater demand for the labor of those win) usually depend on
working for wages on the farm for a support ; and, further, select and pro-duce
some staple farm product and throw on the markets as a "money
crop " for this section. Tobacco would be a suitable product.
Respectfully,
W. H. Crisp.
NOBODY PROSPEROUS BUT THE BOND-HOLDER AND MONEY-LENDER.
Jamestown, Guilford County, jM. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—These are extra hard times. I have been an employer of
labor for many years, and never before saw such hard times. I am still
giving full time, full employment, and full pay, but the Lord only knows
how long it can last. As to what would be best for our working people, I
hardly know what to say. If all could have constant work, that would be
Condition of Farmers in the State. 33
a splendid help. Thousands are idle, not of their own choice, but they
just can't help themselves. I had rather belong to a country where every-body
had work, and everybody had to work, than have it as it is. ' Call it
socialism or what you please. Damn a country where there is nobody
prosperous but the bond-holder and the money-lender. I want all prospe-rous
—
give all work, and money enough in circulation to pay for it.
Respectfully,
J. S. Ragsdale.
NO indications op improvement.
Ringwood, Halifax County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The increase in acreage of tobacco, building barns, pack-houses,
etc., etc., causes an increase in value of land in some sections of the
county. The condition of working people remains about the same. I see
no indication of improvement. They spend about what they earn, and
have not formed habits of economy, therefore in many instances are not
thrifty and advancing as they should. The most of labor is done on shares,
the landlord furnishing the land and team and the laborer doing the work
on halves. This seems to be a fair and satisfactory way. If the public
school system could be made more effectual and a compulsory school law
enacted, it might be of benefit to the laboring classes, who pay but little
attention to it.
Respectfully,
Gr. E. Matthews.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Dunn, Harnett County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—It occurs to me that if the working people could learn more
economy and be educated to a higher sense of honor, that so many con-tracts
would not be broken. There ought to be a harmony and union
between the laborer and employer ; one is dependent on the other and
neither independent. Many of the children of the common man do not
attend school, and my opinion is that it would be a good plan to make it
compulsory to send them to the public schools.
Respectfully,
J. R. Godwin.
3
34: North Carolina Labor Statistics.
a suggestion.
Linden, Harnett County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I would suggest as a remedy for the ills of the farmer, more
religion, economy, education and supplies made at home, and less politics,
whiskey and tobacco.
Respectfully,
J. M. Davis.
raise supplies at home.
Forks of Pigeon, Haywood County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—There is a tendency among a few farmers to cut down their
farms to smaller ones, and then there are'others who are buying all the
land they can get. Labor is abundant all the year, except in harvest and
haying time, and then there is a scramble for hands, and sometimes they
are very scarce. I think above all the farmer ought to live within his own
bread and meat. I think the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Agricul-tural
Department to be of great benefit to the laboring class of our State,
and more especially the farmer.
Respectfully,
Morgan Mease.
DISPENSARY—TAX DOGS.
Crabtree, Haywood County, N. C.
B. R. La.cy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—So far as the working people are concerned, money is the
great stimulus that moves everything. I cannot see but one benefit from
scarcity of money, and that is there is less drunkenness and debauchery in
a time like this than when money is plentiful. In Haywood we have a dis-pensary,
and when money is easy it does a thriving business, and during
months that money is scarcest the dispensary does the poorest business.
Education on proper lines is the great whiskey antidote, and until people
are aroused on the subject of temperance there will be no great improve-ment
in the condition of laborers. The time-serving politician—and that
includes about all of them—is a great curse. The State ought to enact
laws for protection of sheep by taxing the dogs, and allow no man to vote
unless he has paid his last year's tax.
Respectfully,
M. A. KlRKPATRICK.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Dana, Henderson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
DEAR Sir :—I think more demand for farm products, with better prices
Condition of Farmers in the State. 35
for same, will be better for our people. The trouble at present is the farmers
cannot get market for their products, and when they do it is at such low
prices they cannot afford to make it at the present prices. As to child
labor, I think a child should labor four months and be compelled to go to
school eight months.
Respectfully,
P. T. Ward.
the bureau indispensable.
Hendersonville, Henderson County, IN". C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The bulk of our people are utterly ignorant of such a
Bureau. If you were able to procure the address and names of our least
informed farmers and send them literature, much good might be done.
^
The Bureau is indispensable. The working people in our section seem
to have no inclination to look ahead. The "hand-to-mouth" way of
doing "possesses them." All the Bureau needs is for the people to gain
a knowledge Of what it is doing.
Respectfully,
THOS. J. RlCKMAN.
STIR UP LIFE AMONG THE PEOPLE.
Clio, Iredell County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—If the State were able, and would send a small amount of
grass seed to our farmers, and get an industry started in that line,
so they could see the value of a hay crop, it would, in my opinion, do
a vast amount of good to the State and farmers. Some portions of Iredell
county will not produce clover to perfection, but will yield good crops of
grass. If our State could only get us aroused to have an annual fair for
the farmers of the county, I am perfectly satisfied it would result in great
good to us and the people generally. I think if the State would give the
correspondents another opportunity to visit the State Fair at Raleigh this
year it might perhaps stir up some life in the people of the several counties.
That is what we need. If the Bureau can stir up life it will accomplish
great good.
Respectfully,
P. W. Eagle.
GO TO WORK.
Quallatown, Jackson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, ST. C.
Dear Sir :—I don't think I could make any suggestions that would ad-vance
the work of the Bureau. I do think, though, if the people would
36 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
stay at home on their little farms, and try and make their support at home,
it would be better for them. They complain of hard times and abuse our
rulers for it, and at the same time it is the people themselves who are mak-ing
hard times to some extent. If there was a ear-load of gold at the depot
they would have nothing to exchange for it; there is not one-half of our
people who ever try to raise or make anything for sale, and yet they com-plain
of hard times. If the people would all go to work and raise some-thing
to sell we would have better times and more money in circulation.
Respectfully,
E. G. Hyatt,
WHAT IS NEEDED.
Cowarts, Jackson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, JST. C.
Dear Sir :—First, we want trusts, combines and monopolies broken up
so they cannot fix the price of what the farmer produces. Second, we
want the free coinage of silver, 16 to 1, made equal with gold. The ten per
cent, tax on State banks repealed so we can have a larger amount of money
in circulation, so that business would revive and farmers could pay better
wages to their workmen. Third, we want the whiskey traffic, which
causes so much crime, idleness, disease and poverty, done away with and
give us prohibition. Fourth, there is too much time spent loafing around
little country stores, pitching horse shoes and playing marbles and talk-ing
hard times. To advance the work of the Bureau the appropriation
should be larger, so the Commissioner of the Bureau could visitor send his
agents into every section of the State. I think that would be a great
benefit to the Bureau and to the people of the State at large.
Respectfully,
R. H. Stephens.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Cashiers, Jackson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—One-third of the people are so uncertain that you can't lay
out any plan that will suit them. They are so fickle minded ; they want
a system that will give them all and leave the farmer blank, or one that
does the paying, all pay and no work. The school system should be com-pulsory.
Parents will not send their children to school under any other-system.
Respectfully,
A. M. Hooper.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 37
NEED MANUFACTORIES.
Cullasaga, Macon County, >T
. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir -.-Macon county is a good county. The people can make
plenty to live on and be comfortable if they use the proper means that are
within their reach. We have fine water power and fine timber. If we
could get men to take hold of the business of manufacturing articles made
of wood, such as handles, fellows, spokes and pins of locust, I think it
would pay something on the money invested. We want something to
bring money into our county and a business that will put it in the hanas of
the laborer. I know we are making a great mistake in not doing some-thing
in this county to bring money in, instead of sending it all away
somewhere else to get goods that could be made cheaper here.
Respectfully,
W. A. Bell.
ABOLISH THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC—TOWNSHIP ENGINEER.
Mars Hill, Madison County, N. C.
R. B. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The working people, farmers in particular, need more cir-culating
money, which would stimulate them to greater effort, I think
they would be benefited, First, by an improved system of roads, especially
the grades in our mountain counties might be so improved as to render
transportation over dirt roads on wagons less than one-half what it is now.
In order to do this there should be a township engineer under every Board
of Supervisors, whose duty it would be to locate all new roads and properly
amend old ones by the use of instruments, instead of the present " fogy "
plan of laying them out by a jury. Second, suppress absolutely the man-ufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors, except in certain cities where
well-regulated police forces are maintained. Third, if you could have
available means to hire a good man in every county in the State for a few
days, say three or four days on an average for all the counties, to labor
in the interest of the Bureau in gathering reliable information, I think the
usefulness of the Bureau would be advanced and the interest of the peo-ple
materially improved.
Respectfully.
J. R. Sands.
GO TO WORK AND STICK TO IT.
Marshall, Madison County, 2s*. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, X. C.
Dear Sir :—What we want is a high protective tariff : stop pauper immi-
38 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
gration ; ask the North to come down among us with their machinery ;
ask for sound money and more of it; choke out monopolies; let the
mechanics organize and stick to it, though not ask anything unreasonable
of their employers. Gfo to work at something and stick to it, if it is in the
garden.
Respectfully,
W. D. Simmons.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Spring Creek, Madison County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I have tried to study some plan by which the working class
of people could be bettered, and after some yearsof experience and study
I have come to the conclusion that the education of their children would
be one of the best things that could be done to better their condition. As
farmers they would be better off if they could mix their brains with the
soil. I know the result would be better. To know the nature of the soil
you cultivate, what it is best adapted to, when to plant and how to culti-vate,
are prime factors in farming. How can the farmer know this except
by education, and through study of men and things? If we could get our
working people to take and read a good agricultural paper it would be of
great benefit to them, but to my mind the greater part of our working
class will never be educated under State aid unless we have a compulsory
school law. The free school system of North Carolina has done great good,
but the results would have been much greater if all the children of the
State were put and kept in school. As to the development of the Bureau,
if, as I have said, we could get our people to read, they would understand
the workings of the same, and give it more aid in furthering its develop.
ment.
Respectfully,
Jasper Ebbs.
LAND SLIPPING^FROM THE HANDS OF THE WEALTH-PRODUCING CLASSES.
Hopewkll Mecklenburg County. N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Owing to legislation in favor of monopolies our lands are
gradually flipping from the hands of the wealth-producing classes and
going into the hands of the few. I do not believe Gfod ever intended
that a few should own the earth, but that each should have a home. But
we cannot take the lands from the rich and give to the poor ; no, but let
us have legislation to limit a man's freehold, and all that he may own over
and above that the law limits him to levy a special tax, something of
the nature of an income tax, on it. By this means we could have a revenue
Condition of Farmers in the State. 39
for our State that would enable us to educate the children of the State.
Three-fourths of our population are tenants, and are not able to buy land
at present prices ; they are the men who create the wealth and pay the
taxes. Let us have legislation that will do justice to all, protect all, and
that will bless us as a nation.
Respectfully,
J. A. Wilson.
NOT MAKING SO MANY MORTGAGES.—GOOD REPORT FROM MOORE COUNTY.
Carthage, Moore County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—There has been a considerable increase in the southern por-tion
of Moore county in the way of peach, grape and berry culture. Farms
opened and paying a good large dividend, larger than any other one prod-uct.
Our county on the whole is 100 per cent, better in the way of grain
raised at home, arid our people are not making so many mortgages. Our
brown stone industry is improving; some new and valuable quarries are
being opened. In the north and west sections of Moore county the gold
mining industry is being investigated, and good reports have been coming
in on the test and examination. We have a fine climate the year round,
and our abundant fine springs and water make us as good a country as can
be found. Unimproved and new lands can be bought cheap here for $1.00
per acre ; improved land from $5.00 to $10.00 per acre. Some of our people
are looking after grasses f. »r stock, which has not been done heretofore in
our county.
Respectfully,
D. A. McDonald.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Rocky Mount, Nash County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Ralei»h, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Our people (the fanners) are all doing well that make the
proper effort. Labor is also well paid, and can purchase more with the
same money than at any time I have ever known, but as a rule they do not
save their money. Strong drink affects the laboring class more than all
other evils combined. We cannot make a step backward, but I think
machinery of every kind has robbed labor of much of the work they had
access to a few years since, but I am not able to suggest the remedy. I
think all children should have at least one year at school after they are
over sixteen years old, and that should be compulsory, if not otherwise
obtained.
Respectfully,
R. H. Hicks.
40 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
WAGES HIGHER AND BETTER SCHOOLS.
Battleboro, Nasb County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, X. C.
Dear Sir :—In my immediate community the chief and almost only
vocation is agriculture, and our labor is composed of negroes. It is very
difficult to express yourself accurately, but if there has been any change
recently it is for the better, as wages are higher and the number of schools
have slightly increased and are better equipped. I have no suggestion
to make as regards this element of our working class. The tenant system
is practiced very extensively among the poorer white people, and I think
the peasant proprietors are on the increase. The children of this element are
very rude and uncultured and very much in need of school accommodations
which at present are very deficient. I think our Bureau of Labor is too
young to think of trying yet awhile to insist on having laws affecting
our farm hands, women and children, etc., such as establishing age limits
and compulsory education. However, I think these are very badly needed
in our factories and I am glad to see the move you are making and am
sure our Bureau of Labor will help very much to better the condition and
culture of our children and increase the production of our State.
Respectfully,
T. P. Braswell.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Jacksonville, Onslow County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—People generally are in good spirits, mainly from the fact
that their crops are so promising—fully two weeks earlier than an average
the last thirty years. The weather has been such that the farmer could
accomplish much more than he could in average seasons. I think that the
taxpayer has more reason to object to being compelled to profit by the tax
he pays than he has to being taxed ; therefore I am in favor of compulsory
school laws. The parents of those children who do not attend school must
be compelled to take an interest in the education of their children or the
children will not get it. Our educators should devise some plan that our
legislators would adopt.
Respectfully,
M. C. HOYT.
INCREASED PRICE OF PRODUCTS.
Hertford, Perquimans County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, X. C.
Dear Sir:—The answers to the questions on the reverse of this sheet
apply to farm laborers, who work for wages. The low price of products,
Condition of Farmers in the State. 41
and consequent decrease in cost of living, improves their condition, but
the laborer who rents land and cultivates it himself is not generally
prosperous. The low price of products saps his prosperity. Anything
that would tend to increase the market value of farm products would
improve the general c mdition of all the laborers of this 'class and the
farmers in general, and indirectly the merchants, artisans and professional
men, whose prosperity is dependent upon the farmers and the laborers'
condition. As an agricultural section nothing else wall benefit us. Possi-bly
the establishment of factories, by varying the industries in which the
laborer could engage, would benefit all the laborers.
Respectfully, •
T. Gf. Skinner.
better public roads.
Hertford, Perquimans County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—A better system of public roads would greatly enhance the
comfort of our laborers, they being almost entirely colored and many of
them without means of locomotion except on foot. Better roads would
greatly benefit them in sending their children to school in winter. I
would not recommend that any steps be taken to regulate the hours of
labor for the farmer. The work is of such a varied nature that nothing of
the kind could be adopted that would not interfere to the disadvantage of
both employer and employee. I would recommend that the Bureau use
its best efforts to encourage a fraternity of feeling between laborer and
employer. This might be brought about by a series of publications on the
subject, which the State and local papers would gladly publish from time
to time. These publications might contain enough of the manner of the
workings of the Bureau to make them interesting.
Respectfully,
J. H. PARKER.
WAGE EARNERS LITE BETTER THAN TENANTS.
Bethel Hill, Person County, N. C.
B. R. .Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I do not see where legislation would do much for the labor-ing
people (that is wage earners) without doing harm to others. If all
employers would sympathize and instruct their hands how to get on in the
most economical way, and be in earnest about the matter, it would have a
good effect. Ignorance has a great deal to do with the bad living of our work-ing
people. Bad treatment has discouraged many and made them vicious.
The wage earners are living better than the tenants and renters in our
part. Our working people read too little; if they could be induced to read
some good weekly paper it would help them.
Re.- pectf ully,
S. C. Humphries.
42 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
NEED MORE FARMERS IN OUR LAW-MAKING BODIES.
GrRlMESLAND, Pitt County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—There are only one class of farmers for the past few years who
are keeping square with the world. These are the small farmers whose wives
and daughters do all the housework and the men and boys of the family
do all the field work. The farmer who hires all will surely, at present
prices, not be able to pay all his debts at the end of the year. The
laborers are better clad and getting along better than since their freedom,
because they can buy more with what they earn now than at any time
since the war. There is more disposition to loaf and idle away time on
the part of the negro laborer than ever, because, as a rule, they are only
willing to work enough to furnish themselves with the actual necessities
of life. Seventy-five per cent, of them would not work to exceed two days
cut of seven could he get one dollar per day. The mill men, who pay one
dollar per day, tell me the only way they can keep them is 'to settle by
the month and refuse to hire them unless they make regular time. In
answer to the question of the cost of a 400 pound bale of cotton : Some
years this can be done at one-third less expense than at others. My esti-mate
is an aver age taking one year with another. Every profession in
life has men of that profession to frame laws to be governed by, but the
poor devil of a farmer has no voice in this matter. Nobody knows where
the shoe pinches as well as the wearer. Politicians think they know it
all, but as a rule they provide only for themselves and the side that pays
the biggest fee. We need more farmers in our law-making bodies. This
step will remove wrongs and put us on the road to prosperity. We make
cotton at six cents, and buy it back next spring in cotton lines, and pay
fourteen cents per pound ; in unbleached goods, twenty cents per pound ;
in bleached goods, twenty-six cents ; in prints, thirty-five to forty cents.
Factories declare big dividends, while farmers get back eighty to ninety
cents where they spend a dollar.
• Respectfully,
J. J. Laughinghouse.
EMPLOYMKNT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
Asheboro, Randolph County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—We need employment for all our people. Idleness leads to
poverty and crime, and punishing crime is a costly economy. We must
diversify our industries and create a home market, and thus stimulate
industry. Each generation should do something for the next ; we should
not expect to reap all the time and never plant. The people of North
Carolina must learn to become more self supporting, and value thought
and industry and honesty more, and money and style and fashion less.
Respectfully,
J. A. Blair.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 43
LACK OF SYSTEM.
Branchville, Robeson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The great hindrance to the average farmer is a lack of sys
tern with regard to working hours. While some try to work according to
system, others disregard system, and this encourages indolence and a disre-gard
for business. I believe the State should make a sufficient appropria-tion
to employ a competent agent in each county to collect statistics. I
think they would be more accurate and satisfactory in every way. I
believe if this was done it would in a few years more than repay the out-lay.
Respectfully,
Geo. C. Fisher.
DIVERSIFIED FARMING.
Fulmore, Robeson County, N. C.
B. R. LACY, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—We should encourage in every possible way the immigra-tion
of those who believe in home living, such as the Northerners who
have' recently located near Chadbourn, Columbus county. This would
certainly start diversified farming. quicker than books or papers. Diversi-fication
is what we want in this farming section more than anything else.
We also need cotton factories in this county.
Respectfully,
L. T. TOWNSEND.
MORE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.
Madison, Rockingham County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—While I say I think as a rule the farming classes have relig-ious
instruction to some extent, I really think that if they could have the
proper instruction along that line it would be the best thing that could
come to them. And if they would as a rule contribute what money they
waste and throw away to religious causes, the whole world would in a few
years be brought to Christ, and the people would of course be improved
in every way.
Respectfully,
J. M. Apple.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
China Grove, Rowan County, N. C.
B. R. LACY, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Stringent ten hour law for children under fourteen years
of age. The South Carolina liquor law, or some other that will modify or
44 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
abate the drink evil. The improvement in the efficiency of public schools
by giving good men and women such inducements as will stimulate them
to adopt teaching as a profession. With more education among the masses,
many of the present evils will soon disappear—Populism among them.
Your Bureau ought to have sufficient means to do its work thoroughly. It
ought to have the right to compel answers from employers of large num-bers
in factories, especially where women and children are employed.
Respectfully,
C. H. Bruner.
compulsory education.
Woodleaf, Rowan County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—My business being that of a planter and stock raiser, I can
speak only of that class of employees connected with this business. The
great need of these people is education, and the facilities for this are
increasing each year. There is not a corresponding increase of interest in
the schools that should be manifested on the part of parents. Hence, as is
suggested in one of your queries, a stringent law of compulsory education
prior to the age of fourteen would not only be an advantage to this class, but
likewise a gain to the State at large. Larger appropriations should be
made for the public schools, and instead of the present plan of per capita
distribution the school fund should be equally divided among the districts,
thus giving to each equal advantages. With education comes morality,
and with morality a better class of citizenship, prosperity and good gov-ernment.
Wishing you success in your work, I am,
Yours truly,
J. B. Johnston.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Forest City, Rutherford County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I believe there ought to be a free school system as we have
it, while there ought to be a law to force all parents to send their children
to public schools, or at the time said schools are not in session to send to
other schools of higher grade. I believe that our farmers here are waking
up on farming and in a few years they will be doing ever so much better
than they are doing now. They terrace, sow peas, and make quite a
quantity of manures. The laborers are as a rule Christians, and their
moral condition cannot be beaten anywhere.
Respectfully,
Lee W. Lynch.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 45
ADVANTAGES TO UNSKILLED LABOR.
Harrell's Store, Sampson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I live on Black river, half way between Clear river and
Harrell's Store. As I have but recently moved from Raleigh to this section
and my own farm has been rented out, I can only give you information
derived from others in regard to wages. This section of Sampson has
many natural advantages, and unskilled labor has a better showing than
in any section of country I know of. Huckleberries and deer tongue grow
wild in the woods, and the gathering of these, with strawberries and cot-ton,
furnish employment to the negro women and children all the year
round, when they are not engaged in their own crops. It is difficult to
hire by the year or by the month at any price, and not easy to hire by the
day when help is wanted immediately, except around the country stores,
where the country negroes love to congregate. These stores pay out no
money, but give goods for everything except cotton and turpentine. This
prevents the circulation of money among the farmers and makes it diffi-cult
for them to procure cash for their other products, as the cost of trans-portation
to cash markets frequently is as great as the value of the farm
product. This is a fine section for trucking and for berry culture, especial-ly
for beans, potatoes and strawberries. Some of the lands are also well
adapted to the growth of fine bright leaf tobacco, an industry which is
just now being introduced.
Respectfully,
Needham B. Cobb.
inspector to grade tobacco on warehouse floor.
Saxon, Stokes County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :— This is a tobacco growing section of the State, and the crops
were raised the last two years at a loss by a large majority of our farmers,
as a result of the present arrangement for selling tobacco at auction,
with a law (of the Tobacco Association) compelling the auctioneer to dis-pose
of 150 lots or piles per hour. I have often reasoned, why not have an
inspector to grade or classify all tobacco as it is put on the warehouse floor
and let it be sold like cotton, then one man would get the same his neighbor
did for the same tobacco. As it is now, unless a fellow is in the swim and
has a special pull on the warehouseman and buyers, his tobacco goes for a
song. Couldn't you do something to make the change ?
Respectfully,
R. P. McAnally.
46 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
WHAT IS NEEDED.
Myatt Mills, Stokes County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Wipe out the homestead law. Tax each dog $1.50.
Exempt the sheep. Keep up the public roads by the convicts. A general
stock law. Now for we farmers, we need more system. We need more
economy. We need less and better stock. We need to raise home supplies
when possible. We need to take better care of stock and tools. We need
fewer visits to town and less politics. We need to improve our land by
sowing peas, raising grain and buying less guano ; and, above all, we need
a Democratic administration.
Respectfully,
N. G. Myatt.
compulsory education.
Rockford, Surry County. N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir:—I would suggest that the one thing needful to improve the
educational condition of the people would be to adopt the compulsory
school law. The school facilities are very good, but the pai'ents do not
take advantage of this opportunity. Until the masses of the people are
better educated I do not think there will be much improvement in the
condition of labor.
Respectfully,
W. P. Dobson.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Rockford, Surry County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I have given you the very best estimate I can on the ques-tions
asked. I think a compulsory school law for our free public schools
would be a great advantage to the children of the State, and would not be
a waste of the public school money, and would stop illiteracy in the future
generation.
Respectfully,
J. Gr. BURRUS.
CHANGE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Elkin, Surry County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—There ought to be a change in the school system for the
poor. The majority of teachers have first class or first grade certificates
—
and really are not competent to teach at all. I do not understand what
Condition of Farmers in the State. 47
the Superintendent means. Then the mass of the people do not seem to
understand what a privilege a free school is. They are grossly ignorant'
and really don't know whether their children are taught properly or not.
Of course I allude to the very poor people who have had no advantages
themselves. Our people are now being humbugged to death almost in
buying commercial fertilizers. In a recent list sent me by the Agricultural
Department I did not find the name of a single brand sold here. Just
think of it. I may have been mistaken, but I don't think I am.
Respectfully,
A. B. Galloway.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Bushnell, Swain County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—If people would go to work in dead earnest and raise blooded
stock of all kinds, that is all I see is lacking here. We have good crops,
good grass, finest in the State I know, and healthy for stock, plenty of fine
timber, best water power on earth, and the best health on earth. We have
good society here, and it is a great berry and fruit country. As to schools,
we will never do any good until we make the parents send their children
to school, so I, for one, say make them send them to school, for they make
us pay the taxes. Respectfully,
W. B. Cole.
MORTGAGES A CURSE.
Buck Forest, Transylvania County, N. C
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—The question of labor is one of very great moment, and I am
utterly unable to give any solution. There are some things, however, that
I may express my views on. The farming land, as a general thing, is not
properly cared for. Many farmers never do any seeding, nor do they let
their land have any rest. The sowing of more small grain and of peas
would improve the condition of the soil. The habit that many farmers
have of mortgaging is a curse to them. Every farmer should strive to
grow everything he uses, and to stay out of debt. They should strive to
learn more of the nature of the soil, of the influence manure in various
kinds of soil produces. If our people would not degrade themselves by
using whiskey and tobacco, and would spend more time striving to improve
themselves, their country and their fellow citizens, we would be a happier
people, a more prosperous people, and a better people. Much success to
the Labor Bureau in the great and good work it is doing.
Respectfully, WxM. C. Ray.
48 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
THOROUGH AND INTELLIGENT WORK.
Warrenton, Warren County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, llaleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—Our farmers are very much depressed. AH the evil is laid at
the feet of our National laws on finance and tariff. While I believe this
has something to do with the great depression of the agricultural classes,
yet I am not one of those who attribute it solely to these. The reason I
am of this opinion is, because I know men in this county who are nothing
but farmers and yet they are prosperous and before-handed, accumulating
property, their tax-list gradually increasing each year. The reason for
this is because they farm intelligently and principally on the intensive
system, plant medium areas, manure heavily and intelligently, work thor-oughly
and intelligently, and the consequence is a reward for their labors.
Wherever you find a farmer who stays at home, attends to his business
intelligently and thoroughly, you find one who is all right and can
give you the best of the land when you visit him.
Respectfully,
James R. Rodwell.
give us plenty of money.
Sands, Watauga County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—It is very hard to give a correct answer about the price of
land, as there is very little changing hands of late, and the most that has
changed went into the hands of large land owners. Some people, I think,
have built extravagantly for their farms. As to the fertility of the land
being kept up, people have to work their land to its full capacity for a
living and those who rent do not cultivate the land so as to keep it up.
One of the hard things about good farm hands is the low price that drives
them to public works to get higher prices and get money for their work.
As to the mOral condition, it seems that some have been oppressed until
they have lost self-respect and will do anything for gain. As to the relig-ious
instruction it is generally good, but I think the most of our religions
are on extremes on the paying question and drive many away from them.
As to the financial condition of the people, it gets worse every year about
selling produce for money, consequently we cannot get enough money to
run our business. Give us plenty of money and we can prosper.
Respectfully,
J. M. Brown.
Condition of Farmers in the State. 49
NOTHING LIKE SYSTEM.
Wilson, Wilson County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—This section of the country is in better fix now than it was
when I wrote you last year. I have read your report carefully and find
that you are doing a noble work and hope every one will give you their
help. We need more money, and you should have a larger appropriation
for your work. I think you have done remarkably well with limited
means, and I hope the next Legislature will give you ample means for
your work. We need regular hours for farm labor as well as regular
hours for other labor. Some farmers work ten hours and have no trou-ble
with labor, they have time to get their meals regular and work bet-ter.
Nothing like system.
Respectfully,
P. K. Kidder.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Boonyille, Yadkin County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—As for the need of the working class of people, I favor the
compulsory education law. My reasons are, that many children in our
county are hired for wages by their parents, while they themselves are
idle, sitting about public places, and their children also when not employed,
and are therefore subject to many temptations which lead to crime. And
I think that law Avould be a great advantage to the laboring class.
Respectfully,
R. H. Jarvis.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
Swan Creek, Yadkin County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—What the farmer needs is more money, and I think that if we
had free and unlimited coinage of silver money would be more plentiful, and
I believe from the way people are talking over this nation we will finally get
it. If the Legislature of North Carolina would pass a compulsory educa-tional
law in the State it would benefit the people thousands of dollars.
We have so many ignorant people they can't make good farmers, for it
takes an educated man to make a successful farmer. If we had more edu.
cated farmers in the State, more money, and better prices for produce, at
the rate the farmers are improving in farming and raising hogs, we would
50 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
soon be independent of any other State for everything that we eat and
most that we wear. I think the Bureau of Labor has been worth thou-sands
of dollars to the farmers of North Carolina.
Respectfully,
Benjamin Sparks.
from a successful colored farmer.
Jonesville, Yadkin County, N. C.
B. R. Lacy, Esq., Labor Commissioner, Raleigh, N. C.
Dear Sir :—I think abetter price for labor, and also for the commodities
of the farm, would greatly add to the cause, and to have a compulsory
school law for children under fourteen years. 1 further think to work the
public roads of the State by taxation would bean addition to labor, and I
approve of the ten hour system being enforced by law. I think both
capital and labor are on an equal footing in this section of the country.
I further think if there was some remedy to stop so much lying around
towns by both black and white it would help labor. I am a farmer
and a colored man, and have a family to the number of thirteen, and we
have raised them all and educated them at our expense, generally at a low
price. We have had losses to the amount of $1,200, and we still have
about eighty acres of land and a building on it which cost us #800. I never
got from labor more than forty- five or fifty cents per day and boarded
myself, and often had to wait from sixty to ninety days before I was paid
up. I think farmers are the most independent people on earth, if they
would only look at it in this light. It does not require much capital to
run a farm, and Providence is the best pay-master that I have been
acquainted with. I think wages are much better now than they were
before the war. My ancestors served about 240 years, and got nothing save
their clothing and food, and hardly that. I want both the farmer and the
capitalist to prosper alike. '
Respectfully,
Willis Hickerson.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 51
CHAPTER II.
COTTON AND WOOLEN MILLS.
TABLE SHOWING NUMBER SPINDLES AND LOOMS, NUMBER
OPERATIVES, WAGES, ETC.
LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURERS AND OPERATIVES.
52 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
CHAPTER II.
COTTON AND WOOLEN MILLS.
The following table is made up from blanks received from
nearly all the mills that have run during the year and of former
reports of the mills not running.
The 189 mills in the State are located in forty-two counties,
36 per cent, being found in four counties, Alamance, Gaston, Meck-lenburg
and Randolph, the first two having twenty each and the
last two fourteen each. Gaston leads in number of spindles, hav-ing
101,331, while Alamance leads in number of looms, having
3,735.
The total number of spindles in the State, according to the best
data at hand (reports from the same mill often differ, and pub-lished
statistics seldom agree as to number of spindles and looms)
is 888,792, looms 20,742. About 37,000 horse power is used in
operating the machinery.
Average daily wages are as follows : Machinist $1.68 J, engin-eer
$1.46, fireman 86 cents, skilled men (exclusive superintend-ents
and overseers) 99 cents, unskilled ' men 67 cents, skilled
women 66 cents, unskilled women 47J cents, children 31 cents.
Total number operatives employed 23,437, as follows : Men
6,822, women 10,567, children 6,046. 81 per cent, of adults and
66i per cent, of children read and write. Of the children 3,379 are
under fourteen years of age, 1,738 boys and 1,641 girls. A large
number of the mills being shut down a greater part of the year,
and so few making full time and working a full force, these figures
are based on estimates furnished by conservative mill men and on
former reports from the mills. The number of hours constituting
a day's work ranges from ten to twelve.
Following is a list of counties, with number of spindles and
looms and class of goods manufactured :
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 53
Alamance, with her nineteen cotton and one woolen mill, oper-ating
83,134 spindles and 3,735 looms, manufactures ginghams,
plaids, colored cottons, domestics, cheviots, shirtings, stripes,
jeans, blankets, warps and yarns.
Alexander, one cotton mill operating 832 spindles and fifty
looms, manufactures brown shirting.
Anson, one cotton and one silk mill, operating 7,332 spindles,
manufactures yarns and tran and floss silk. This silk mill,
located at Wadesboro, N. C, is the only one in the State.
Buncombe, one cotton and one woolen mill, operating 8,658
spindles and 425 looms, manufactures colored cotton and woolen
goods.
Burke, one cotton and one knitting mill, operating 3,425 spin-dles,
manufactures cotton goods and hosiery.
Cabarrus, five cotton mills operating 51,930 spindles and 2,166
looms, manufactures sheetings, ginghams, domestics, etc.
Caldwell, two cotton and one woolen mill, operating 5,350
spindles and fifty looms, manufactures plaids, yarns and woolen
goods.
Catawba, six cotton and one knitting mill, operating 26,300
spindles and forty-three looms, manufactures yarns and hosiery.
Chatham, two cotton mills operating 6,536 spindles, manu-factures
yarns.
Cleveland, six cotton mills, operating 16,004 spindles and 80
looms, manufactures sheetings, warps, yarns and twine.
Craven, one knitting mill, manufactures hosiery.
Cumberland, five cotton mills operating 27,296 spindles and
622 looms, manufactures plaids, sheetings, shirtings, cottonades,
bags, warps and yarns.
Davidson, two cotton mills operating 8,700 spindles and 440
looms, manufactures domestics, warps, etc.
Durham, four cotton and three knitting mills, operating 48,688
54 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
spindles and 1,467 looms, manufactures sheetings, chambrays,
muslins, white goods, rope, bags, twine and hosiery.
Edgecombe, one cotton and one knitting mill, operating 8,200
spindles, manufactures warps, yarns, hosiery and underwear.
Forsyth, two cotton and one woolen mill, operating 10,796
spindles and 218 looms, manufactures jeans, cassimeres, sheetings
and shirtings.
Franklin, two cotton mills operating 2,730 spindle?, manu-factures
warps and yarns.
Gtaston, twenty cotton mills operating 101,331 spindles and
1,857 looms, manufactures shirtings, plaids, sheetings, warps and
yarns.
• Guilford, eight cotton mills operating 23,361 spindles and
1,281 looms, manufactures plaids, checks, yarns and twine.
Halifax, one cotton and two knitting mills, operating 14,500
spindles, manufactures cotton goods, underwear and hosiery.
Haywood, one woolen mill operating 264 spindles and eight
looms, manufactures jeans, flannels, cassimeres and yarns.
Henderson, two knitting mills, manufactures hosiery and knit
goods.
Iredell, three cotton mills operating 10,950 spindles and 286
looms, monufactures shirtings, sheetings and yarns.
Lincoln, five cotton and one woolen mill, operating 23,196
spindles and four looms, manufactures warps and j
7 arns.
Lenoir, one knitting mill, manufactures hosiery.
Mecklenburg, twelve cotton and two knitting mills, operating
77,218 spindles and 958 looms, manufactures ginghams, sheet-ings,
white goods, hosiery, towels, warps and yarns.
Moore, one cotton mill operating 3,000 spindles, manufactures
yarn.
Montgomery, two cotton and one woolen mill, operating 10,-
380 spindles and 200 looms, manufactures cotton goods, yarns and
spun wool.
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 55
Nash, one cotton mill operating 25,000 spindles, manufactures
warps and yarns.
New Hanover, one cotton mill operating 6,804 spindles and
226 looms, manufactures shirtings and towels.
Pasquotank, one cotton and one knitting mill, operating 6,000
spindles, manufactures yarns, nets and twine.
Randolph, twelve cotton and two knitting mills, operating 45,-
308 spindles and 1,735 looms, manufactures colored cottons, shirt-ings,
plaids, sheetings, cottonades, bags, hosiery, warps and
yarns.
Richmond, nine cotton mills operating 42,828 spindles and
1,230 looms, manufactures cheviots, plaids, shirtings, warps and
yarns.
Robeson, one cotton mill operating 1,630 spindles, manufac-tures
yarns.
Rockingham, four cotton and one woolen mill, operating 22,-
16S spindles and 161 looms, manufactures plaids, checks, sheet-ings,
colored cottons, blankets and woolen goods.
Rowan, four cotton and two knitting mills, operating 10,600
spindles and 633 looms, manufactures ginghams, sheetings,
cheviots, hosiery, warps and yarns.
Rutherford, four cotton mills operating 71,200 spindles and
2,000 looms, manufactures sheetings, print cloths, warps and
yarns.
Surry, three cotton and three woolen mills operating 6,6o2 spin"
dies and ninety-six looms, manufactures blankets, flannels, jeans'
warps and yarns.
Union, one cotton mill operating 8,500 spindles, manufactures
yarns.
AVake, three cotton mills operating 21,388 spindles and 168
looms, manufactures ginghams, colored goods and yarn.
Wayne, one cotton mill operating 3,400 spindles, manufactures
yarns.
Wilson, one cotton mill operating 7,200 spindles, manufactures
yarns.
56 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
TABLE No. 2.—Showing Number Spindles, Looms, Average
COUNTIES.
Number
of
Mills.
Cotton. Woolen.
Hosiery,
Knit
Goods,
Rope,
Nets and
Twine.
Alanianee
Alexander
Anson
Buncombe
Burke
Cabarrus
Caldwell
Catawba
Chatham
Cleveland
Craven
Cumberland....
Davidson
Durham
Edgecombe
Forsyth
Franklin.
Gaston
Guilford
Halifax
Haywood
Henderson
Iredell
Lincoln
Lenoir
Mecklenburg.
Moore
Montgomery...
Nash
New Hanover
Pasquotank....
Randolph
Richmond
Robeson
Rockingham..
Rowan
Rutherford
Surry
Union
Wake
Wayne
Wilson
20
1
2
2
2
5
2
7
2
5
1
6
2
7
2
3
2
20
8
3
1
2
3
6
1
14
1
3
1
1
2
14
9
1
5
6
4
6
1
3
1
1
19
1
1
1
1
5
2
<]
2
5
20
8
1
12
1
2
1
1
1
12
9
1
4
4
4
3
1
3
1
1
*1
1
Total .. 189 158 11 20
*Silk mill—only one in the State, Wadesboro, N, C.
Cotton and AVoolen Mills. 57
Wages, Number Operatives, Etc.
Number
of
Spindles.
Number
of
Looms.
No. of
Horse
Power
Wages per Day
Machinist. Engineer Fire-
Children under
14 years.
Boys. ; Girls.
83,134
832
3,735
50
4,000
50
350
412
140
2,000
225
1,000
175
1,600
100
1,000
400
2,000
225
500
300
4,200
1,500
600
30
60
475
750
12
2,750
80
400
1,000
200
150
1,800
1,800
36
750
1,250
2,250
470
250
1,075
100
225
$1.25 $1.00
1.50
1.00
2.00
1.50
1.50
1.50
1.00
1.00
1.25
2.50
1.25
1.00
1.00
2.00
1.50
$ .85
.75
.65
1.00
.75
1.00
1.00
.75
.75
.90
.80
.90
.90
.90
1.00
1.00
.50
.85
75
1.00
112
6
24
9
8
85
5
85
10
12
2
95
16
115
14
14
4
214
36
65
94
5
7,332
8,658
3,425
51,930
5.350
26,300
6,536
16,004
17
425 2.00
1.50
1.50
1.50
6
6
2,166
50
43
65
3
65
1.50
1.25
2.50
1.25
1.25
1.50
2.00
1.50
8
80 10
4
27,296
8,700
48,688
8,200
10,796
2 73Q
622
440
1,467
91
10
95
9
218 10
3
101,331
23,364
14,500
264
1,857
1,281
1.85
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.25
1.00
1.25
2 25
2.00
1.15
1.65
1.50
251
56
35
8
7
27
36
2
182
12
26
25
11
9
75
115
6
55
90
70
6
14
22
5
12
5
10,950
23,196
286
4
1.25
1.25
1.00
1.75
1.00
1.50
3.00
2.50
1.00
1.10
.75
.75
1.00
13
39
3
77,218
3,000
10,380
25,000
958 221
14
200 2.00
3.00
2.50
1.25
1.30
2.00
1.00
.80
1.25
.75
.70
.85
14
35
6,804
6,000
45,308
42,828
1 630
226 9
6
1,735
1,230
123
105
.75
1.50
1.10
1.50
1.10
1.00
3.00
4
22,168
40,600
71,200
6,652
8,500
464
633
2,000
96
1.75 1.00
.85
1.00
.60
.75
1.25
.75
.75
25
75
2.50
2.10
55
7
10
21 388 468 22
3,400
7,200
5
2.00 8
888,792 20,742 36,690 $1,681 $1.46 .86
|
1,738
I
1,641
58 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
TABLE No. 2—Continued.—Showing Number Spindles, Looms,
COUNTIES.
Hours con-stituting
a day's
work.
Average Wages per
Day of
l
Men, Men,
skilled. unskilled.
1 Alamance 11 to 12
12
11
10 & 11
11
1U to 12
12
Hi
12
12
10|
11* & 12
11*
11 & 12
10 to 11
1W to 12
11
11 to 12
11 to Hi
10 to 11
10
10
12
Hi to 12
10
10 to 12
11+
12
Hi
11
10 & 11
10 to 12
11 to 1H
Hi
11 to Hi
10 to 12
it*
11 to Hi
Hi
11
12
12
$1.00
1.00
1.00
1.50
.95
1.00
.80
.^0
1.00
1.00
1.25
.95
1.00
1.10
.70
1.00
1.05
1.00
1.00
.90
2.00
.60
100
.75
1.50
• .95
.50
.75
1.75
1.00
.90
.70
1.00
.50
1.00
1.00
.75
1.25
.65
1.25
.60
1.00
$ .70
2 Alexander
3 Anson
.70
.75
5 Burke
.90
.65
6 Cabarrus .75
7 Caldwell .50
8 Catawba... .65
9 Chatham .65
10 Cleveland .65
11 Craven .75
12 Cumberland .60
13 Davidson .75
14 Durham. .75
15 Edgecombe •.
16 Forsvth
17 Franklin
.60
.75
.55
18 Gaston .65
19 Guilford .80
20 Halifax .75
21 Haywood .75
22 Henderson .50
23 Iredell „.
24 Lincoln
.85
.60
25 Lenoir .75
26 Mecklenburg- .70
27 Moore .30
28 Montgomery .50
29 Nash 1.00
30 New Hanover .75
31 Pasquotank .70
32 Randolph
33 Richmond
.60
.60
35 Rockingham :
36 Kowan
.75
.70
37 Rutherford .65
38 Surry .70
39 Union
40 Wake
.50
.75
41 Wayne .30
42 Wilson .110
Total $ .99 $ .67
Cotton and Woolen Factories. 59
Average Wages, Number Operatives, Etc.
Per cent, read
Average Wages per Day of Number Emp oyed. and write.
Wom'n, Women, Children.
'
1
Men. Women Children.
I
1
Adults. jChildren.
skilled. unskilled
1
$ .70 $ .55 $ .35 850 1,200 450 80 65
.70 .55 .30 18 20 13 80 75
.45 .30 .20 29 47 67 75 20
1.00 .75 .40 131 225 25 75 50
.75 .45 .30 24 43 23 80 65
.75 .60 .35 500 854 275 80 60 .
.50 .40 .25 34 58 21 90 . 70
.50 .40 .30 155 232 163 80 70
.60 .40 .35 15 75 40 80 60
.60 .50 .30 55 95 48 80 60
.75 .55 .30 10 30 6 90 80
.65 .40 .35 153 315 434 75 50
.75 .65 .30 102 133 46 75 50
1.00 .60 .35 317 334 392 80 70
.65 .40 .35 86 215 33 80 90
.80 .50 .35 95 152 39 90 80
.85 .45 .30 27 22 14 90 50
.60 .45 .30 883 1,116 763 75 60
.75 .45 .35 325 463 229 90 80
.80 .60 .35 110 165 125 90 80
.75 4
16
3
82
100
.55 .40 .30 22 90 85
.75 .50 .30 73 121 63 80 60
.60 .50 .35 125 215 155 70 50
.65 .50 .25 15 85 40 95 80
.65 .50 .40 666 917 622 85 75
.40 .30 .25 20' 28 26 75 30
.60 .40 .35 72 168 60 75 65
.75 .60 .30 80 100 100 75 80
.60 .40 .30 74 77 34 80 75
.60 .50 .30 20 75 30 80 75
.60 .40 .30 335 699 384 95 90
.65 .50 .35 437 532 478 80 70
.50 .40 .20 8 10 10 50 00
.80 .60 .30 150 305 115 80 60
.60 .50 .30 247 475- 265 80 60
.60 .50 .35 205 395 . 200 90 7">
.55 .45 .30 63 105 32 90 90
.60 .40 .30 70 160 45 75 75
.85 .50 .30 172 164 115 90 90
.40 .30 .25 20- 15 15 75 80
.50 .40 .25 31 42 30 75 80
$ .66 $ .m $ .31 6,822 10,567 6,046 81 . 66i
1
60 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
NEEDS OF THE FACTORY HELP.
After a personal visit to nearly all the mills in the State, a few
facts gathered from employer and employee, together with one or
two suggestions, as to the needs of the factory help, will be the
object of this letter.
It was quite a pleasure to meet a number of proprietors of mills
whose acquaintance we had made on a former trip on a like
errand. And just here we wish to say, and with emphasis, that
the mill owners of North Carolina, as a class, are conscientious,
Christian gentlemen who have the best interests of their employ-ees
at heart, and are always ready and willing to furnish any and
all information in reference to the workings of their mills. There
are, however, a few, and the number is growing smaller each y«ar,
who refuse to answer any questions and forbid their employees
filling out the blanks of the Bureau. It is hardly necessary to
write at length of this class, as they are types of such as are found
in every walk of life. The reasons they advance for refusing to
give information are numerous. The main one, however, is " The
State has nothing to do with my business."
Now, a few thoughts in reference to the cotton mill operative.
In many respects they are unlike any other class of labor, and
the mills have to contend with an element found nowhere else.
While the older mills that have practically raised their help around
the mill do not experience as much trouble with their operatives
as do the newer mills, yet there will be found in every mill vil-lage
and at every mill an element that creates all the trouble and
friction between employer and employee. There is to be found
at every mill the "cotton mill drone." The best description
we have seen of this man is the following from the Southern and
Western Textile Excelsior, of Charlotte, N. C, in its issue of Sep-tember
5, 1896 :
" The cotton mill drone is a lazy lump of humanity who is void of either
feeling or ambition. Such a man can be found slinking around localities
where cotton mills abound. The drone and work have parted company
ever since his little children were able to work in the cotton mill, after
which the drone's entire occupation is eating, sleeping and chewing or
Cotton and Woolen Mills. 61
smoking tobacco, together with daily going the rounds of the store and
blacksmith shop swapping lies with others that are as deep, probably, in
the mud as our drone is in mire. However, the lazy hound is full of
excuses ; he is always found to be sick, and, as a rule, troubled with heart
failure. Sometimes we have found the drone's nerves affected, or he is dis-abled
by corns or bunions. Indeed, there is not a disease in the calendar
that this surplus part of our population does not fall back upon, so that
the public, and more especially his family, may have some excuse for their
father's idleness. Away with such men ; they are not fit to live."
The gravest question that confronts the mill men to-day is,
What is to be done with the men around the mill ? As a rule,
especially at the newer mills, the help is made up of the small
farmers with large families, who see in the mill a chance to put
their children to work and, failing to find work themselves, they
soon go to swell the ever-increasing guild of " drones." This is no
less true of a class of men to be found in the cities, who are prone to
live off the work of their children. This class does not hesitate to lie
about the age of the child (quite a number of our mills have fixed
fourteen as the minimum age) in order to get them in the mill ;
and frequently, where they are refused admittance, the proprietor
will be threatened with the loss of the whole family ; and as it
probably contains two or three skilled operatives, rather than lose
these the children are admitted. One who has never been hr-ought
in contact with the average mill operative (and it is astonishing
how little is known of them among the outside world, and yet we
often hear the expression that cotton mill operatives are no bet-ter
than slaves, and cotton mills are nothing less than little hells)
would be astounded if he attempted to discuss the subject of edu-cation
with him. I asked a prominent gentleman to write an
article for this year's report on " Child Labor and Compulsory
Education." He afterwards told me that, happening to be in a
cotton mill village, he thought he might be able to get a few ideas
from the operatives for his letter. Accordingly he engaged in
conversation with a half dozen of the most intelligent men and,
without allowing them to know his object, led the conversation
to the subject of children under fourteen being prohibited from
working in the mills and compelled to go to school, and found
them unanimously opposed to anything of the kind. He remarked
62 North Carolina Labor Statistics.
that he was not much surprised at this, but the reason they gave
for their position was an entirely new idea to him. They informed
him that they had been to the expense incident to the birth and
childhood of their offspring, had clothed and fed them until they
were old enough to go to work (and they mean by this ten years
old, twelve at the outside), and it was nothing but right that they
should be put to work in or