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Indiana University Studies 



CHAPTER XII 



RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL AND 

 INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS 



It has been customary to consider Indiana as one of the group 

 of Middle Western States in which agriculture was the dominant 

 pursuit. Twenty years ago this classification was correct, but all 

 the facts available show this to be no longer entirely true. There 

 are fewer farms and a smaller farm acreage in Indiana now than 

 in 1900, and a smaller per cent of the total number of workers are 

 farmers. The value of farm property and farm products has, 

 however, greatly increased, indicating perhaps that future agri- 

 culture expansion will result from more intensive rather than 

 extensive development. On the other hand, during the same period 

 the number of manufacturing establishments has greatly increased, 

 the capital invested in manufacturing has greatly increased, there 

 is now a greater percentage of the total number of workers in 

 industry than ever before, and the value of manufactured products 

 now far exceeds former values. Also in the last two decades there 

 has been a marked growth in the urban population. 



As a background for this section it is essential to recall the 

 fact that in 1890 only 26 of every 100 people in Indiana lived in 

 urban communities, increasing to 34 in 1900 and 43 in 1910. In 

 all probability in 1914 one-half of all residents in the State are 

 living in cities and towns. The urban gain from 1900 to 1910 was 

 267,541, or 30.5 per cent. During this period the rural loss was 

 83,127, or 5.1 per cent. 



§1. Comparative Number of Workers in Agriculture and Industry 



Considering the number of workers in agriculture and industry, 

 changes no less significant have been taking place. In 1880, 52.2 

 per cent of all the workers in Indiana were farmers; in 1890, 46 

 per cent ; in 1900, 39 per cent, and in 1910, 32.2 per cent, showing 

 direct and continued decrease in percentage of agricultural work- 

 ers. In industry, however, in 1880, 17.2 per cent of all were so 

 engaged; in 1890, 20.5 per cent; in 1900, 29.9 per cent, and in 

 1910, 32.2* per cent, showing a direct and continued increase in 



'^Includes mining in 1910, as in the previous years, 1880 to 1910, mining was 

 listed in the census under the manufacturing and mechanical group. 



