312 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
STATISTICS OF THE BUTTON INDUSTRY. 
In the following series of tables the extent of the button industry of the Mis- 
sissippi Kiver is shown for the calendar year 1897 and the first six months of 1898. 
At the time of the investigation the season was not over and no complete statistics 
for 1898 could be obtained. It should therefore be borne in mind that the figures 
given for that year represent less than half the extent of the business, as a number 
of new factories were established after duly 1. 
Outside of Muscatine, there are only from one to three factories in any one place; 
and in order that private interests may not be disclosed, the statistics for all the 
factories in each State are combined. 
The 811 persons employed in 1897 are shown to have received $157,050 in wages, 
while the 1,434 employed in the first half of 1898 were jiaid $133,980. 
The capital invested in the button-manufacturing business, in buildings, machin- 
ery, equipment, and land, was $118,300 the first year and $171,435 the second. 
The cost of raw materials used in button-making was $40,408 in 1897 and $37,008 
in 1898, these amounts representing 3,002 tons and 3,041 tons, respectively. 
The manufactured products consisted of 403,200 gross of buttons and 073,200 gross 
of blanks in 1897 and 399,489 gross of buttons and 701,113 gross of blanks in 1898. 
The market value of the buttons and blanks was $243,055 in 1897 and $252,570 in 1898. 
Persons employed and wayes paid in the button industry of the Ulississijipi River in 1897 and 1898 
Localities. 
Male 
1 Pemale. 
Total. 
Wages. 
1897. 
1898. 
1897. 
1898. 
1897. 1 1898. 
1897. 
1898. 
1 Muscatine, Iowa 
334 
590 
198 
239 
532 1 829 
1 $120, 100 
$87,890 1 
Otlier j)laces in Iowa .. 
87 
168 
62 
123 
149 . 291 
11,800 
23, 190 
Places in Illinois 
105 
284 
28 
30 
133 1 314 
25, 750 
22, 900 
Total 
526 
1, 042 
288 
392 
814 ; 1,434 
157, 650 
133, 980 
Capital invested in the button industry of Iowa and Illinois in 1897 and 1898. 
Localities. 
1897. 
1898. 
Muscatine, Iowa 
$77, 300 
23, 000 
18,000 
$98, 705 
34, 000 
38, 730 
Ot.lip.f pln.i'ps in Tnwn, .... 
iTi Tllinois 
Total 
118, 300 
171,435 
Quantities and values of mussel shells used in the button industry of the Mississippi Hirer in 1897 and 1898. 
Localities where used. 
Niggerheads. 
Sand sliells. 
Muckets. 
All others. i Total. 
Tons. 
Value. 
Tons. 
Vauie. 
Tons. 
Value. 
Tons. 
Value. 
Tons. 
Value. 
1897. 
Muscatine, Iowa 
Other ])laces in Iowa 
Places in Illinois 
Total 
1898. 
Muscatine, Iowa 
Otlier places in Iowa 
Places in Illinois 
Total 
2, 309. 00 
450. 00 
.525. 00 
$24, 184 
3, 675 
5, 2.50 
1G4.00 
$5,410 
31. 75 
$187 
17.25 
$502 
2, 522. 00 
450. 00 
630. 00 
$30, 283 
3, 675 
6, 450 
50. 00 
1,000 
50. 00 
100 
5.00 
100 
3, 284. 00 
33, 109 
214. 00 
C, 410 
81.75 
287 
22. 25 
602 
3, 602. 00 
40, 408 
2, 216. 00 
741.00 
572. 00 
24, 175 
5,865 
5, 591 
20. 60 
2. 50 
50. 00 
547 
500 
26. 25 
154 
10.39 
. 50 
2. 00 
149 
2 
10 
2, 273. 24 
744. 00 
624. 00 
25, 025 
eboi 
3, 529. 00 
35, 631 
73. 10 
1,062 
26. 25 
154 
12.89 161 
3, 641.24 
37, 008 
