LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AND INSPECTION, CITY OF JEFFERSON, Jan. 1st, 1885. To His Excellency, T. T. CRITTENDEN, Governor of the State of Missouri: SIR: As required by section 4 of an act entitled, "An act to establish a Bureau of Labor Statistics and Inspection," I have the honor to submit to Your Excellency, the Sixth Annual Report of the work of this bureau. Since my last annual report, my time has been occupied in visiting the various coal mines of the State, and in personal visits to manufacturing establishments, witnessing their operations and ascertaining the various classes of operatives employed in them, and the wages paid, and in general to the procurement and collation of such statistics as would be of most value to the public, and which could not be obtained otherwise. The work in the office has, in consequence of this, fallen mainly upon the chief clerk of the bureau, Mr. J. W. Zevely. In my judgment, success in the performance of official duty in any position in which both labor and skill are required, depends largely upon the character of assistance rendered by the employes in such office; and that the credit of success should be cheerfully accorded to them, and I desire in this connection to state, that much of the credit-if any be duewhich attaches to my administration, is due to Mr. Zevely's intelligent and faithful services. The collection of statistics has not been unattended with difficulties which, in some instances, threatened to be of such a nature as to deprive the State of much valuable information. I am happy to state, however, that in most instances the difficulties were overcome; and I trust that the report herewith submitted will be valuable, not alone in the information furnished, but also as showing the incalculable value of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to the laboring classes of Missouri. If my incumbency of the office with which Your Excellency has honored me, shall result in the amelioration of the condition of the honest wage workers of the State, or in throwing any light upon a problem which is destined ere long to overshadow all other questions of mere governmental policy, I shall retire from office with the consciousness of having performed my duty. I have the honor to be Your Excellency's Obedient Servant, HENRY A. NEWMAN, Commissioner. |