Biennial report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of California ...

JAPANESE STATISTICS.

Tables 1 to 27, on Japanese engaged in commercial pursuits in California, are compiled from data gathered during the investigation of Japanese of this State by the previous commissioner of this bureau, in accordance with an Act of the Legislature of 1909. The data collected on Japanese engaged in business was very complete, covering a record of 2,548 establishments, and showing conditions during the year 1909.

Of the 2,548 establishments investigated, 1,934 were owned by individuals, 550 by partnerships and 64 by corporations. The capital invested in these establishments was, in most instances, very small, 68.7 per cent of the total having a capital of less than $1,000. The total aggregate capital invested, exclusive of that represented by banks. was $4,075,226. The total annual business transacted by these establishments amounted to $16,114,407, of which about 37.0 per cent was carried on with white persons. The total annual rent paid by these Japanese business houses was over $900,000. Data obtained from 435 establishments engaged in the sale of food, clothing, general merchandise, etc., and whose annual business amounted to over $10,000,000, showed that 47.8 per cent of all their wares were produced in the United States, while 51.9 per cent were imported from Japan and 0.3 per cent from other countries.

The following table shows the length of time these establishments had been in business at the time of the investigation:

In the conduct of these establishments, 6,556 persons were engaged. of which number 2.546 males and 562 females-principally wives of owners were classed as employers and 3,214 males and 234 females as employés. In addition there were employed by these Japanese firms 35 male and 20 female white persons. In 1.410 instances, or 55.3 per cent of the total, the establishments were conducted entirely by the owners without the assistance of any employés. In 1,782 establishments, or 69.9 per cent of the total, employés were lodged at the place of work.

The sanitary condition of the places of work was reported as follows: Sanitation good, 81.8 per cent; sanitation fair, 16.8 per cent; sanitation bad, 1.4 per cent.

The sanitary condition of the lodging places was reported as follows: Sanitation good, 68.5 per cent; fair, 27.3 per cent; bad, 4.2 per cent. Of the total number of establishments investigated 1,568, or 61.5 per cent, were located in the seven larger cities, as follows:

Although San Francisco did not have the largest number of establishments, 34.0 per cent of all the capital was represented there, and 40.2 per cent of the total business transacted by these Japanese firms was done in that city.

Ten hours constituted the prevailing number of hours that the Japanese employés were obliged to work, and the ruling rates of wages paid to them by their Japanese employers were from $25 to $35 per month with board, and $40 to $50 per month without board.

In tables 28 to 32 will be found a record of the land owned and leased by Japanese in the State of California, as shown by the official records of the various county assessors and recorders. Figures gathered in 1909 are also given in order to show the increases and decreases of land ownership during the past three years.

The following extracts from the above mentioned tables will show at a glance the important facts relating to the ownership of land by Japanese:

Farm Land Owned by Japanese.

(Assessment rolls March, 1912.)