Industrial survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Part 6

Author: Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce (Ind.)
Publication date: n.d.]
Publisher: [n.p.
Number of Pages: 246


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MOTOR TRUCKING SERVICE


Motor trucking for the transportation of package and bulk freight operates out of Fort Wayne on regular schedules for the following points:


Bluffton. Ind.


Sims, Ind.


Santa Fe. Ind.


Angola. Ind.


Ossian, Ind.


Decatur. Ind.


Ray. Ind.


Paige. Ind.


Poneto. Ind.


Monroe. Ind.


Berlin. Ind.


Bericks Store. Ind.


Montpelier, Ind.


Preble. Ind.


Linderhook. Ind.


Camdon. Mich.


Hartford City. Ind.


Craigville. Ind.


E Gillette. Mich.


Syracuse. Ind.


Berne. Ind.


Honduras. Ind.


Nappanee. Ind.


Cromwell. Ind


Geneva. Ind.


North Manchester. Ind.


Wawasee Lake. Ind.


Avilla, Ind.


Bryant. Ind.


Servia. Ind.


LaOtto. Ind


I aGrange. Ind


Portland. Ind.


Laketown. Ind.


Kendallville. Ind.


Sturgis. Mich.


South Whitley. Ind.


Liberty Mills. Ind


Howe. Ind


Rome City. Ind


Colemer. Ind.


Churubusco. Ind


Wolcottville. Ind


Huntington. Ind


Sidney. Ind.


Merriam. Ind.


Marion. Ind


Kokomo. Ind


Bakertown. Ind.


Wolf Fake. Ind


Muncie. Ind


Wabash. Ind


Claypool. Ind.


Kimmel. Ind


Anderson. Ind


Upland. Ind


Silver Lake. Ind


Ligonier. Ind.


Alexandria. Ind


Hicksville. Ohio


Warsaw. Ind


Benton. Ind


Indianapolis. Ind


Farmer. Ohio


Atwood. Ind.


Goshen. Ind.


Sherwood Ohio


Vev Ohio


Etna Green. Ind.


lilkhart. Ind


Williams. Ohio


Montpelier Ohio


Bourbon. Ind.


Osceola. Ind.


Bryan. Ohio


Edgerton Ohio


Inwood, Ind.


Mishawaka. Ind.


I don. Ohio


Archbold Ohio


Plymouth. Ind.


Grovertown. Ind


Stryker. Ohio Wauseon. Ohio


Holland. Ohio


Bass Lake. Ind.


Hamlet. Ind Knox. Ind


Swanton. Ohio


New Paris. Ind


Burr Oak. Ind.


Culver. Ind


Toledo, Ohio


Roanoke Ind


Fairmount. Ind


Milford. Ind


I'remont. Ind


Swayzee. Ind


Summitville. Ind.


Converse. Ind


Peru. Ind


Wheeling Ind


Amboy. Ind.


Sycamore. Ind


Cas ( ity. Ind


Stockport Ind


Matthews. Ind.


Jonesboro. Ind.


I alcontaine. Ind


Michaelsville. Ind


Pane fitta for


Delta Ohio


Donaldson. Ind


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


LABOR STATISTICS EMPLOYMENT


Fort Wayne has 324 industries employing approximately 35,824 people. There is a total of 59,720 engaged in all occupations in this city. The wide diversification of industries and the balance maintained between male and female labor, together with the steady industrial growth of the city, has always attracted a plentiful supply of labor to this community. A labor shortage is practically unknown due to the large territory surrounding Fort Wayne from whence labor can be drawn.


TYPES OF LABOR


Fort Wayne enjoys the distinction of having a large majority of its population Native White American citizens. This means a high quality of intelligence among the working classes in both skilled and unskilled occupations. This gives this city great advantages over cities of its size as well as the large industrial centers where a great percentage of labor is drawn from immigrants or negroes.


Fort Wayne has been free from industrial troubles and strikes for many years.


LABOR STABILITY


The stability of Fort Wayne labor is due to two primary causes:


First, the fact that 69.3'; of Fort Wayne citizens own and occupy their own homes. This reduces labor turnover in a very large degree due to the fact that citizen- ship is knit to the community by a bond much stronger and more lasting than those whose entire tie-in with their city is represented by a 30 day lease.


Second. the fact that labor troubles are practically unknown is due to both this matter of home ownership plus the intelligence of the large number of skilled workers here employed, their steady employment, good wages, recreational facilities and other advantages. The relationship between employer and employee in Fort Wayne cannot be excelled by any city in the United States.


COMPOSITION OF POPULATION


According to the Federal census of 1920. the composition of Fort Wayne's popu- lation is as follows: See following Supplement


Native American White 90.6% 78.439


Foreign Born White 7.7


6.656


Negro


1.7


1.454


Illiterate Foreign Born 2.3


All of these figures have been considerably increased since the 1920 census with Fort Wayne's population of 86.549 as against the present population of 129.275.


STATE LABOR REGULATIONS


Labor laws in the State of Indiana. relating to the employment of women and children are as follows:


Every child between the ages of seven and sixteen years. unless other provision is made, shall attend public school, or other school taught in the English language which is open to the inspection of local and state attendance and school officers.


Any child over fourteen and under sixteen years of age who has completed the work of the first eight grades of the public school or its equivalent may be permitted


Page fifty-si.c 1920 Supplement


Estimated Division of Nationalities-1929


Native White American born Indians, Japanese and Chinese Negro Foreign born White


117,142 or 90.6% 32 or .025 4,007 or 3.1 8,094 or 6.29


Total 129.275


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


LABOR STATISTICS


EMPLOYMENT


Fort Wayne has 297 industries employing approximately 24.824 people. There is a total of 53,084 people engaged in all occupations in this city. The wide diversification of industries and the balance maintained between male and female labor. together with the steady industrial growth of the city, has always attracted a plentiful supply of labor to this community. A labor shortage is practically unknown due to the large territory surrounding Fort Wayne from whence labor can be drawn.


TYPES OF LABOR


Fort Wayne enjoys the distinction of having a large majority of its population Native White American citizens. This means a high quality of intelligence among the working classes in both skilled and unskilled occupations. This gives this city great advantages over cities of its size as well as the large industrial centers where a great percentage of labor is drawn from immigrants or negroes.


Fort Wayne has been free from industrial troubles and strikes for many years.


LABOR STABILITY


The stability of Fort Wayne labor is due to two primary causes:


First, the fact that 71.3 per cent of Fort Wayne citizens own and occupy their own homes. This reduces labor turnover in a very large degree due to the fact that citizenship is knit to the community by a bond much stronger and more lasting than those whose entire tie-in with their city is represented by a 30 day lease.


Second. the fact that labor troubles are practically unknown is due to both this matter of home ownership plus the intelligence of the large number of skilled workers here employed. their steady employment, good wages, recreational facilities and other advantages. The relationship between employer and employee in Fort Wayne cannot be excelled by any city in the United States.


COMPOSITION OF POPULATION


According to the Federal census of 1920. the composition of Fort Wayne's popu lation is as follows:


Native American White 90.6', 78.439


Foreign Born White 7.7 6.656


Negro


1.7


1.454


Illiterate Foreign Born 2.3


All of these figures have been considerably increased since the 1920 census with Fort Wayne's population of 86,549 as against the present population of 115.398.


STATE LABOR REGULATIONS


Labor laws in the State of Indiana. relating to the employment of women and children, are as follows:


Every child between the ages of seven and sixteen years. unless other provision is made, shall attend public school. or other school taught in the English language which is open to the inspection of local and state attendance and school officers.


Any child over fourteen and under sixteen years of age who has completed the work of the first eight grades of the public school or its equivalent may be permitted


Page Title u


STATE LABOR REGULATIONS


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


to withdraw from school upon the issuing to such child of a lawful employment certificate. Any child so permitted to withdraw from school shall return to school within five days after the termination of the employment for which such employment certificate was issued. No child. holding a lawful employment certificate at the time this act goes into effect, shall be required to re-enter school because of any increase in educational or age standards for the issuance of employment certificates.


Any child attending public school who has not completed the sixth grade by the age of fourteen years may be required to attend a part-time school for full-time work or to attend a special full-time school which any school corporation is hereby authorized to organize.


No minor under the age of fourteen years shall be employed or permitted to work in any gainful occupation other than farm labor or domestic service. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to employ or permit any minor to work in any occupation or service whatsoever during any of the hours when the common schools of the school corporation in which such minor resides are in session.


It shall be unlawful for any person. firm or corporation to hire or employ or permit any minor between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years to work in any gainful occupation until such person, firm or corporation shall have secured and placed on file in the office of such person. firm or corporation a certificate issued by the issuing officer, as hereinafter defined. of the school corporation in which said minor resides.


No boy between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years and no girl between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years shall be employed or permitted to work in any gainful occupation other than farm labor or domestic service more than eight hours in any one day. nor more than forty-eight hours in any one week. nor more than six days in any one week, nor before the hour of six o'clock in the morning, nor after the hours of seven o'clock in the evening of any day.


No minor under the age of sixteen years shall be employed, permitted or suf- fered to work in any capacity in any of the following occupations: Oiling, wiping or cleaning machinery or assisting therein: operating or assisting in the operation of. or offbearing at any of the following machines or apparatus whether power driven or not: Circular or band saws: wood shapers: wood joiners: planers: stamping machines used in sheet metal or tin work manufacturing: stamping machines in washer or nut factories, or any other stamping machine used in stamping metal: boilers or other steam-generating apparatus: dough brakes or cracker machinery of any descrip- tion: wire or iron straightening machinery: rolling mill machinery: punch: shears: drill press: grinding or mixing mills: calendar rolls in rubber manufacturing; laundry machinery; corrugating rolls of the kind used in roofing and washboard manufactur ing: metal or paper cutting machines: corner staving machines in paper box factories; assorting, manufacturing or packing tobacco: or in or about any quarry. or excava tion: or in any hotel. theater: bowling alley: or in any other occupation dangerous to life or limb. or injurious to the health or morals of such minor.


No boy or girl under the age of twenty one years of age shall be permitted to work in any public pool or billiard room.


No girl under eighteen years shall be employed in any capacity where such employment compels her to remain standing constantly.


No person or corporation or officer or agent thereof. shall employ any woman or female young person in any capacity for the purpose of manufacturing. between the hours of ten o'clock at night and six o'clock in the morning.


The employer of women and girls shall provide a suitable seat for the use of each female employee, placed conveniently where she works, and shall permit the use of the same when she is not necessarily engaged in the active duties for which she is employed.


Paar fiftu xe ten


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


STATE LABOR REGULATIONS


Not less than sixty minutes shall be allowed for the noonday meal in any afore- said establishment in this state. The chief inspector shall have the power to issue written permits in special cases, allowing shorter meal time at noon, and such permit must be conspicuously posted in the main entrance of the establishment. and such permit may be revoked at any time the chief inspector deems necessary, and shall only be given where good cause can be shown.


ORGANIZED LABOR


While practically all of Fort Wayne's industries operate under the American Plan of Open Shop with a 50-hour week, the following trades have organizations which have always been fair in their demands and negotiations have been carried on without friction. These organizations with their working time and wage scales are:


Trade


Working Time


Wage Scale


Barbers


56-hour week


$25.00 per week


Bridge and Structural Iron


44-hour week


1.25 per hour


Bricklayers


44-hour week


1.40 per hour


Carpenters


44-hour week


1.00 per hour


Cement Finishers


44-hour week


.90 per hour


Electric Workers (inside )


44 hour week


.80 per hour


Electric Workers (outside )


44 hour week


90 per hour


Hod Carriers


44-hour week


1.00 per hour


Knitters


44 hour week


40-60 per week


Lathers


44 hour week


1.25 per hour


Machinists


44 hour week


.50 -. 90 per hour


Meat Cutters


54 hour week


30 50 per week


Metal Polishers


44 hour week


.50 -. 75 per hour


Molders


44 hour week


80 per hour


Picture Operators


44-hour week


50.00 per week


Painters


44-hour week


.9712 per hour


Patternmakers


44 hour week


-5 1.00 per hour


Plasterers


44-hour week


1.25 per hour


Plumbers


44 hour week


1.00 per hour


Railway Carmen


44 hour week


.45 .72 per hour


Sheet Metal Workers


44 hour week


1 25 per hour


Street Railway Employees


54 hour week


48 per hour


THE FORT WAYNE INDUSTRIAL PLAN


Almost all the employers of Fort Wayne are members of the Employers' Asso- ciation of Fort Wayne. Incorporated. or the Associated Building Contractors, which associations stand for the American Plan of Open Shop.


A common understanding prevails among employers and employees in Fort Wayne's industries.


The employees of our industries represent the highest type of American work ers and to them should go no small part of the credit for our industrial prestige. They measure up to the required conduct, skill and loyalty. Initiative is encouraged. merit is rewarded and the natural ability and desire to progress can be. and is. inspired.


Page fifty-eight


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


FORT WAYNE INDUSTRIAL PLAN


WAGE SCALES The following table indicates the labor situation in this city : AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES


MALE WAGE EARNERS


FEMALE WAGE EARNERS


MONTH


Chicago Wage


Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Wage 1 Saving


Chicago Wage


Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Saving Wage


December 1926


$33.71


$27.50


S6.21


$19.94


$16.83


$3.11


January, 1927


31.97


27.45


4.52


20.18


16.91


3.27


February


33.31


27.50


5.81


20.65


17.11


3.54


March


33.07


29.00


6.07


20.10


17.13


2.97


April


33.62


29.00


4.62


18.78


16.90


1.82


May


33.37


28.99


4.38


19.04


16.90


2.14


June


34.19


28.80


5.33


20.30


16.64


3.72


July


33.96


28.50


5.46


20.44


16.73


3.71


August


33.86


28.61


5.25


20.16


16.97


3.19


September


32.75


28.90


3.85


19.01


16.90


2.05


October


33.20


28.18


5.02


19.72


17.25


2.47


November


32.86


28.19


4.67


18.53


16.95


1.58


Annual Average


$32.27


$28.39


85.09


$19.02


$16.94


$2.79


THEORETICAL SAVING IN ANNUAL PAYROLL AT FORT WAYNE


MALE WAGE EARNERS


Size of Establishments


Chicago Payroll


Fort Wayne Payroll


Annual Saving


1 employee


$ 1.678 04


$ 1.476.28


$ 201.76


10 employees


16.780.40


14.762 80


2.017 60


25 employees


41.950.00


36.907.00


5.043.00


50 employees


83.902.00


73.814 00


10.088.00


75 employees


1 25.853.00


110.720 60


15.132.40


100 employees


167.804 00


147.628.00


20.176 00


300 employees


503.412.00


442.884 00


60,528 00


500 employees


839.020.00


738.140.00


133.640.00


1000 employees


1.678.040.00


1.476.280 00


201.760.00


FEMALE WAGE EARNERS


Size of Establishments


Chicago Payroll


Fort Wayne Payroll


Annual Saving


1 employee


$ 989 04


$ 880.88


108.16


10 employees


9.890 40


8.808 80


1.081.60


25 employees


24.726.00


22.022.00


2.704 00


50 employees


49.452 00


44.004.00


5.448.00


75 employees


74.178 00


66.066 00


8.112.00


100 employees


98.904 00


88.080 00


10.824 00


300 employees


296.712.00


264 264 00


32.448.00


500 employees


494.520.00


440.400.00


54.120.00


1000 employees


989.040.00


880.800 00


108.240.00


1


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WAGE SCALES


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


Fort Wayne's average wage for common labor as reported by local industries is 45 cents per hour. Living conditions in Fort Wayne enable wage earners to main- tain a higher standard of living than the same class of workers in larger industrial centers where higher wages prevail.


Fort Wayne's average weekly earnings of $28.39 for male and $16.95 for female employees during a year are very favorable when compared to the same aver- age in Chicago and other large cities.


Theoretically the wage scale paid in the largest cities and industrial centers is almost identical, so that in using the Chicago scale as a comparison it is indicative of the general situation prevailing in cities of an equal industrial size.


The Fort Wayne differential will result in a material saving in production costs over a year's period of time and the foregoing tables illustrate the theoretical savings in an annual payroll which would result in moving a plant from Chicago to Fort Wayne.


GENERAL LIVING CONDITIONS


On page 38 of this survey an outline is given of the living conditions in Fort Wayne.


That Fort Wayne has adequate recreation facilities of the highest type for both the youth and the adults of the community will be readily admitted after study- ing the data on page 8 of this survey under the heading of "Parks and Playgrounds".


Amusements, other than athletics, are provided for by 18 up-to-date theaters and motion picture houses where the latest photo plays, vaudeville and stock pro- ductions are shown. Music, art and drama flourish and the Shuberts of New York supply road companies showing the latest productions throughout the theatrical season.


SCHOOLS


By referring to page 12. under "General Data on Fort Wayne", it will be readily seen that the school systems of this city are of the best and adequate to provide excel- lent educational opportunities for the children of the community.


WATER, LIGHT, GAS AND FUEL


By referring to page 68. under "Public Utilities", it will be found that the domestic rates for the various public utilities is conducive to economical household expenses and that they will bear favorable comparison with other cities, both larger and smaller than Fort Wayne.


The cost of coal and coke compare more than favorably with other cities, due to Fort Wayne's location.


The splendid housing situation. recreational and educational facilities. low liv- ing costs, high percentage of home ownership and many other factors too numerous to detail. combine to give Fort Wayne a staple and satisfactory labor supply.


Page sixty


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


RAW MATERIALS


That Fort Wayne occupies a strategic position in connection with raw mate- rials is indicated by the following statistics:


In 1925 Indiana produced 829.000 barrels of oil. 649.000 barrels of which were produced in the southwestern Indiana field and 180,000 barrels in the old north- eastern, or Trenton, field. In 1926 the State's production was 793.000 barrels, of which 654,000 came from the southwestern part of the state, and 139.000 from the northeastern section. Statistics show that last year 180 wells were drilled in Indiana.


FORESTRY


The last statistics give a woodland area in Indiana of 2.600.000 acres; esti- mated value per acre, $30.00. The capitalized earning value of the forest land in Indiana is probably in the neighborhood of a 5', income. The potential earning on the forest land is low at $1.50 per acre.


MINERALS


The latest mineral statistics for Indiana include the following :


Asphalt


$ 1.555,563


Cement (estimated )


23.000.000


Clay Products


16.368.139


Raw Clay


122.162


Coal


46.453,000


Coke


30.394.397


Pig Iron


52.507.720


Lime


991.003


Mineral Waters


152.082


Natural Gas


494.000


Petroleum


1.720.000


Potash


4.800


Abrasives


34.002


Sand and Gravel


5.070.339


Building Stone


17.269.407


Miscellaneous


1.493.371


Total


$112.299.075


FISH AND GAME


There are now more than 317 organized clubs in the State of Indiana formed in the interest of conserving fish, game and forests. The Division of Fish and Game operates five State fish hatcheries, at which eight different species of fish are propa- gated. In 1927 waters were stocked in 86 counties and the total number of fish planted was 13,003,355. Fish are furnished free to applicants who register prop- erly, and blue prints and original maps of the larger lakes made especially for fisher- men may be had from the Division.


Some of the wild game common to Indiana include: Fox. opossum, raccoon, skunk. mink. muskrat, pine squirrels, rabbits, beaver, otter. and game birds.


SAND AND GRAVEL


Sand suitable for re-inforced concrete and building is found on the outer edges of the city, along the Saint Mary's River. and in the bed of the Saint Mary's.


Gravel is obtained from gravel beds along the Saint Mary's River.


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


AGRICULTURE


COAL


Indiana ranks sixth state in the production of bituminous coal. The annual value is $45,492,726.


LIMESTONE


Indiana ranks third state in the production of limestone. having 67 quarries. with an annual value of $4.619.801.00.


LUMBER


Indiana contains 246 saw mills which produced 139.472.000 feet of lumber in 1926. Lumber common to Indiana includes: Maple, beech, sycamore, oak, wal- nut and poplar.


AGRICULTURE


Agriculture plays an important part in making Indiana one of the most diversi- fied states of the Union as to wealth and income. Farm wealth constitutes 27.7 per cent of the total wealth: urban wealth 29.4 per cent: industrial wealth 28.6 per cent, and all other wealth 14.3 per cent.


Only two states north of the Ohio River and west of New England have a smaller per cent of their owner-operated farms mortgaged than does Indiana and only 17 states in the Union have a smaller per cent of the value of property covered by mortgages. One hundred forty-one thousand out of one hundred ninety-six thousand farms in Indiana are located on gravel roads or highways of better quality. Indiana far excels all other states in the Union in this important particular and has approximately three times as many of its farms located on good roads as has the entire United States.


Allen County is a great farming region. with Fort Wayne its focus of distri- bution. Farming in Allen County has reached a very high state of development due to fertile soil and the work of efficient county agricultural agents. Allen is the rich- est agricultural county in the state, has the largest square mile area. and leads all other counties in the number of dairy cattle. having become the center of important dairy interests.


Allen County Contains:


426.880 acres of land with 91 per cent in farms: 76.1 per cent in crops.


82 per cent in improved lands.


Over three-fourths of the farm area in crops.


Allen County Ranks in Production :


Oats- 1 st Tame Hay- Ist


Wheat 3rd Clover-4th Corn- 22nd Hogs 24th Rye 29th Soybeans-51st


Indiana Contains:


23.000.000 acres of land. 91 per cent in farms: 70 per cent in crops. 79 per cent in improved lands.


Almost three fourths of the farm area in crops.


Indiana Ranks in Production :


Oats 9th Fame Hay -14th


Wheat 7th


Clover-3rd Corn 7th


Hogs- 6th


Rve 8th Soybeans 4th


Beef cattle are among the most important cash crops on Allen County farms. Other crops which are the most important in money value are: Corn. wheat. oats. clover, alfalfa. sugar beets, potatoes and garden produce. Hog raising in Allen County is primarily a method of marketing corn. Oats are raised in this section prin cipally for feeding purposes. The average value per acre of land is $100.00.


Pays virtutwo


Industrial Survey of Fort Wayne, Indiana


AGRICULTURE


Value of Livestock on Indiana Farms 1929 Obtained from 11.240.000 acres


Horses


$ 42.395.000.00


Mules


8.752.000.00


Milk Cows


58.905.000.00


All cattle


87.580.000.00


Sheep


8.131.000.00


Swine


34,900,000.00


Total


$181.758.000.00


Total value of agricultural crops in Indiana obtained from 11,240.000 acres (1928) $214.419.320.00


Average quantity of farm products produced in Indiana is as follows:


1928


Crop


Total for Allen County


Total for Indiana


Percert for Allen County


Corn


2.812.000 bu.


161.322.000 bu.


1.7 1;


Wheat


126.000 bu.


9.590.000 bu.


1.3 0;


Oats


2.860,000 bu.


93.684.000 bu.


3.054


Ry


7.000 bu.


946.000 bu.


.07


Hay


63,000 T.


2.481.000 T.


2.5


Horses and Mules


7.535


623.000


1.2


Hogs


29.374


3.227.000


08.


Cattle


18.188


1.294.000


1.4 47


Sheep


16.297


705.000


2.3


Poultry (Doz. )


19.668


937.448


2.09 ;


FORT WAYNE STOCK YARDS


Fort Wayne has a modern stock yards, providing a ready market for all classes of live stock. The following is a list of live stock coming through the stock yards for the year 1929:


Totals For


Live Stock


J.ın.


Feb.


Mar.


April


June


July


Aug.


Sept.


().t.


Nov.


Dec.


Year


C'attle


1259


1384


1498


1329


1139


1470


1080


93,5


1095


931


1155


025


14200


Calves


1048


1267


1541


1505


1643


1567


041


916


1072


-38


862


13877




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