INTRODUCTION.

In this, the nineteenth annual report of the bureau, are presented statistical information and data covering a variety of subjects. The matters treated upon, and the questions dealt with, have been arranged with a view to economy in space, and tabulated in such a manner as to bring into view all the leading features and facts so concisely as to render a perusal of the publication interesting.

Before proceeding to describe the subjects treated upon in each chapter of the report which follows this introduction, it is not out of place to state here the conditions which obtain in the other states of the Union in so far as they pertain to labor legislation, much of which has been of recent enactment.

Of the forty-five states thirty-three have bureaus of Labor Statistics. The twelve that have none are Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming.

Of the forty-five states twenty-four have established rules and adopted statutes for the hygienic and sanitary inspection of factories. The twenty-one states which have not are Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.

Of the forty-five states sixteen have boards of arbitration and twenty-four have inspection of mines. The twenty-one which have not such inspections are California, Connecticut,

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Fourteen states have free public employment bureaus: New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Of the forty-five states thirty-one have laws requiring seats to be furnished to women working in stores or factories, and twenty-seven have laws regulating the amount of work which may be done by women. The eighteen states

which have not such laws are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

From the foregoing it is seen that Connecticut is well in the forefront among the states in respect to legislation in the interests of the toiling masses. In this connection it might be well to make known that the General Assembly of 1903, at its January session, made some changes in the law concerning the inspection of factories, increasing the term of office of the inspector from two to four years, extending the powers of inspection of elevators so as to include those in use in mercantile and other buildings, when formerly elevators used in manufacturing establishments only came within the meaning of the statute.

NEW CONSTRUCTION.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the bureau has published data showing the amount of new factory or mill buildings constructed during the year. Examination of the text which appears upon page 19 of this report and the descriptive material which follows it, together with the tabulated statement beginning with page 39 will be of interest. It would be superfluous to give a repetition here of the information to be found on the pages mentioned.

STATISTICS OF MANUFACTURES.

Following Part I, referred to in the preceding paragraph will be found "Statistics of Manufactures," classified as Part II of this report. This chapter of the report has been collated, collected and tabulated in practically the same manner and along the same lines as has been the custom during the past five years. The facts are here presented in detail as to the average number of persons employed in the various manufacturing establishments represented, the number of days the factories were in operation, the amount disbursed as wages, the average annual and daily earnings per employe, the gross value of product manufactured during the period covered by the investigation, and the proportion which the amount paid for labor bears to the cost of material, miscellaneous expenses and profit. Examination of the report from pages 45 to 193 will give much detailed information which it is unnecessary to duplicate here.

MANUFACTORIES.

Part III represents a new departure in the work of the bureau and exhibits illustrations of seventy-three representative manufacturing establishments of the state, which were taken promiscuously from the number which had made statistical reports to the department. The purpose of the bureau in making up this chapter, and devoting the necessary space for the proper presentation of the material accompanying the illustrations was two-fold; first to show the remarkable progress made in manufactures in Connecticut during the century, and, second, that it might be made known the degree and to what extent improved style of architecture and advanced methods of manufacture obtained in the state. This chapter of the report is given on pages 195-356, and includes much interesting statistical data from the United States Census Report issued in 1902.

LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

In Part IV will be found a directory of Labor Organizations. This directory is the most complete of any which

the bureau has thus far been enabled to secure. Particular attention has been given to the collection of the data, and every effort made to the end that absolute accuracy be obtained. As will be found upon examination of pages 357379, there are 591 separate and distinct labor unions known to be located within the state, and as the names and post office addresses of the secretaries are also given, this portion of the report cannot fail but be of deep interest and great value to members of organized labor everywhere.

STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS.

Part V, pages 381-470, is devoted to the subject of Strikes and Lockouts. In addition to the labor disturbances in Connecticut during the year which are here described and chronicled, will be found a brief historical sketch descriptive of some of the more important labor troubles which have occurred throughout the United States from 1796 up to and including the present year. There are also given in this chapter exhaustive extracts from the report of the "Anthracite Coal Strike Commission" which will be found of intense interest to economist, wage earner and employer alike.

FREE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT BUREAUS.

The detailed reports of the operations of the five free public employment bureaus will be found on pages 471-484 of Part VI. These bureaus continue to hold a high place in public favor, and are becoming of increasing value as avenues through which those desiring employment may be provided, and those wishing to secure competent help can secure it.

APPENDIX. CONNECTICUT LABOR LAWS.

At the close of the report, following the blue insert leaf, are presented the labor laws of Connecticut. They are taken from the revised statutes of the state, and have been carefully compiled. The laws as published herein include all