the work of collecting statistics of manufactures particularly difficult and expensive, and the results far below that degree of completeness which its great importance demands. This is to be regretted, considering New Jersey's high rank among manufacturing States, and the extent to which all interests, public and private, are dependent for their prosperity on the maintenance of its position in this respect. Bureaus of industrial statistics are now established in thirty-seven States of the Union and in a majority of the countries of Europe. They are regarded as indispensable in States or countries where, as with us, manufacturing is the principal source of wealth and prosperity. These Bureaus are useful and answer the purpose for which they are intended in whatever degree they are endowed with sufficient funds and authority. Both are essential. At a recent session the Legislature saw fit to reduce the appropriation for this department. More money is needed to enable the Bureau to fulfill its full share of usefulness. Authority to require manufacturers to reply to all reasonable requests from the Bureau is also needed. Where this is lacking the most conscientious efforts on the part of those employed in this work fail to make up for the support which the law should give, and the results are generally insufficient and unsatisfactory. Legislation that will meet this difficulty and place the Bureau on a higher plane of usefulness is respectfully urged. WILLIAM STAINSBY, Chief. PART I. STATISTICS OF MANUFACTURES OF The present is the third report on the statistics of manufactures of New Jersey and is issued in accordance with the following act of the Legislature, Chapter 112, Laws of 1898: BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The bureau of statistics provided for in the act to which this is a supplement shall, in addition to the duties prescribed in said act, collect and publish in the annual report of said bureau, statistics showing the number of private firms and corporations engaged in the several industries of this state; the capital invested; amount of raw material used and its cost value; quantity of goods manufactured and the selling price of said goods; number of persons employed by months and distinguished as to sex; total amount paid in wages; classification of wages, and such other information as may be necessary to show the true condition of each of the said manufacturing industries. 2. The information secured shall be presented in the annual report by figures only; the names of persons, firms or corporations shall in no case be printed and the business of manufacturers individually shall not be divulged. The collection and publication of these statistics was begun in 1896 under the general authority given the Bureau by the act which established it. Only 196 returns were obtained, which was of course but a very small proportion of the total number of manufacturing |