Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1895 — “The Turn in The Tide.” [ARTICLE]

“The Turn in The Tide.”

Under this captain Bradstreets of June 1 presented a table showing “the industrial revival among more important establishments within two months,” In 1890 there were 186,147 industrial establishments in 165 different cities. This number had undoubtedly been increased to 200,000 establishments by the end of 1892., and at least 50,000 of them were closed during 1893 and 1894. Bradstreet's now find that 227 establishments started up again during April and May last, giving work to 53,400 people. "TH* 1 eiTutlil.iijti "pt the. wageearners in 1894, as shoWn by the investigation of The American Protective Tariff League, published October 12 in that year, represented 1,413,550 hands idle, who had been busy in 1890. Out of this total of 1,413,550 idle people, Bradstreet's is able to report that employment has been given to 53,400, which, would loave 1,360,(XX) persons still idle. But against the 53,400 hands to-whom employment was given during April and May, we -find from Bradstreet's that 36,000 have struck and 25,000 are striking for higher wages. Deducting the 25,000 who were then striking for higher wages from the 53,400 employees who were given work, leaves only 28,400 as the net number benefited during the two months Another column of Bradstreet's exhibit shows that 178,000 employees had their wages advanced, but there is nothing whatever in the article to indicate the extent of this advance. Hence from an economic standpoint, it is a perfectly useless exhibit, and we are surprised that Bradstreet's should present it without some comparison or explanation that would serve to explain what it really means. According to the census of 1890, there were 4,711,832, hands employed at different occupations throughout the United States, but the condition of 1894 showed that 1,413,550 hands were

idle Tn 1890 the aggregate of the wages earned was $2,282,823,265; in 1894 the aggregate of wages lost was $1,027,270,469. Bradstreet's should show what proportion of this billion dollars of wages has been restored through the 178,000 employees whose wages have been advanced. On the basis of the loss of 1894, the restoration of money in circulation through these advanced wages would reach $128,050,000 only, still leaving a loss in wage earnings of $900,000,000 a year. What a pity it seems that Bradstreet's should be compelled to record an “industrial revival” with such results!—American Economist.