St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

Missouri Labor Problem

St. Clair County Republican
15 December 1898

Interesting Statistics from the Annual Reports of Labor Commissioner Rozelle – Work of the Labor Exchange
Jefferson City, Mo., Dec. 12 – Missouri’s manufacturers, her agricultural products, strikes and boycotts in the state, the work of organized labor, the labor exchange, the state employment bureau, manual training schools – these subjects with others will make up the twentieth annual report of the state labor commissioner, Arthur Rozelle, to Gov. Stephens.
Mr. Rozelle explains in detail the workings of the free employment bureau, which he opened in St. Louis last year. He recommends that one be opened in Kansas City. Mr. Rozelle says: “Not all those who apply for work can be provided for. The one who is best qualified for certain positions and produces the most satisfactory recommendations, as a rule, is the one chosen to fill the position. The records for the last year show that 5,680 men and 2,103 women registered. Of these employment was found for 4,651, or more than half. The list of applications for help that were filed includes 82 stenographers, 31 professional men, 1,064 solicitors and salesmen and 1,344 house help.”
The commissioner’s report shows that Missouri last year produced nearly 174,000,000 bushels of corn valued at $41,000,600; 14,601,000 bushels of wheat valued at $12,000,000; 2,500,000 tons of hay valued at $15,500,000 and 24,000,000 bushels of oats valued at $14,000,000. Over 4,000,000 head of cattle, 3,501,000 hogs, 187,335 sheep, 105,265 horses and mules and 52,060,800 pounds of poultry were marketed.
Over 2,000,000 bushels of the big red apples were sold; 4,500,000 melons; 294,583 crates of strawberries; 7,000,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables; 8,500,000 pounds of canned goods, 2,500,000 barrels of flour; 7,500,000 pounds of corn meal, and 41,000,000 pounds of mill feed. Of minerals Missouri sold nearly 2,099,000 tons of coal, 50,000 tons of pig lead and 235,325 tons of lead and zinc ore.
Missouri has still nearly 500,000 acres of government land subject to homestead entry. About 42,000 acres were pre-empted last year. Among the counties with the largest number of acres are Camden, with 41,799 acres; Taney, with 61,120; Ozark, with 57,399; Stone, with 20,675, and Douglas, with 19,237. Most of these lands can be purchased for $1.50 an acre, and all are open to homesteaders, who must be at least 21 years old. The commissioner says: “While these lands are generally rough and broken they are admirably adapted to stock raising, the growth of all kinds of fruits, vegetables and tobacco. Much of it is underlaid with minerals and is covered fairly with good timber. Thousands of comfortable, substantial homes can be made on these lands.”
In his recommendations for legislation Mr. Rozelle points out defects in the present law for factory inspection, which provides no penalty for failure of a city to appoint an inspector. He urges that fire escapes be required on factories more than two stories high. Arbitration of labor troubles has been found ineffective and he recommends that the decision of the board of arbitration be made binding. The prohibition of the employment of children under 14 years of age in steam factories is urged and reforms in the laws are suggested.