Washtenaw Can Put Out

1605 Barrels of Flour Every Day

FROM 14 FLOURING MILLS

The Average Daily Output Last year was 835 — Interesting Labor Statistics

The Twentieth Annual Report of Labor and Industrial Statistics for Michigan is just out. During 1902 there were 63 factories in Washtenaw county, 26 of which were in Ann Arbor, 24 in Ypsilanti, 9 in Chelsea and 4 in Milan. All but two of these factories, both of which were in Ypsilanti, reported business good or fair. There were 1,589 hands employed in the factories in the county, of which Ypsiiany had 750, Ann Arbor 602, Chelsea 216, Milan 21. Although Ypsilanti exceeded Ann Arbor in the total number of hands employed, it did not in the number of men employed at the time of the inspection, which were 436 in Ann Arbor, 328 in Ypsilanti, 174 in Chelsea and 10 in Milan. The women employed at the time of the inspection numbered 296 in Ypsilanti, 135 in Ann Arbor and 35 in Chelsea. 

The average daily wages of superintendents employed was $4.06 in Ann Arbor, $3.31 in Ypsilanti and $3 in Chelsea. The average daily wages of the foremen was $2.59 in Ann Arbor, 12.47 in Ypsilanti and $2.42 in Chelsea. The average daily wages of office employees was $2.66 in Chelsea, $1.98 in Ypsilanti and $1.94 in Ann Arbor. The average daily wages of other employees was $1.54 in Milan, $1.51 in Chelsea, $1.36 in Ann Arbor and $1.34 in Ypsilanti. 

Fourteen of the Ann Arbor factories used steam power, 1 Water power, 4 electric power, 4 gas power. In Ypsilanti 18 used steam power, 2 water power, 1 electric power. 

A woman inspector canvassed 13 firms in Ann Arbor and 148 employees. Only 9 of the women employees were married. The average daily wages was 78 cents. The average cost per week for board was $2.60, for room rent $1.10, and the average monthly rent was $6.52. Fifty-six of the employees were able to save from their wages and 92 were not. 

A canvas of six labor unions — plumbers, painters, typographical, hod carriers, bakers and metal workers — showed 171 members. The average daily union wages July 1, 1901, was $1.90, and on July 1, 1902, it was $2.08. 

In the county 14 flouring mills and 6 feed milis were canvassed. The mills are located: Ann Arbor 4, Chelsea 3, Ypsilanti 3, Manchester 3, Delhi, Dexter and Saline 2 each, Manchester 1. The mills had a daily capacity of 1,605 barrels of flour and had actually averaged 835 barrels of flour.