Bureau of Immigration, Labor and Statistics Reports, 1895-1916.

A territorial Bureau of Statistics was created in 1892 with the Territorial Librarian serving as the Territorial Statistician. Deputy statisticians were appointed by the county court (later known as the county commission) in each county. The deputies were to gather information on farm land, including irrigated acreage, pastureland acreage, and acreage in each crop; crop production; livestock; numbers of communities; numbers of various kinds of industries with the numbers of people employed and at what wages; amount of industrial production or sales; etc. The Territorial Secretary was to compile a triennial report starting in 1895 for distribution to the counties, Chambers of Commerce, and kindred organizations.

The initial report contains tables documenting the required information. There are tables on farm mortgages, farm acreage, livestock, farm production (particularly various grains, fruits, wool, etc.), industrial and commercial output and employment, mining production, etc. Inaddition there is an 1895 census by precincts within counties tallying the numbers of men and women, native and foreign born, and white, colored, or Chinese. Other tables list the county deputies, reports of inmates and expenditures at the asylum and the penitentiary, numbers of street cars, temperatures and rainfall, and the overall employment rate. A copy of the 1892 act creating the bureau and an introduction precede the tables.

Only one triennial report was produced before statehood abolished the law creating the statistics bureau. However the Bureau of Statistics was recreated in 1901 "to collect, assort, systematize and present in annual reports to the Governor, statistical details relating to agriculture, mining, manufactures and other industries in the state." The reports from 1901 to 1911 represent those created under this act.

The initial 1901 report is less substantial than most as the bureau was not created until mid-May, by which time the county assessors, from whommuch data was traditionally obtained, were finished with their regular duties. There are tables covering state lands, county population censuses, county manufactures, manufactures by industry, metal production, assessments, county infirmaries, irrigation canal companies, criminal statistics, etc. Agricultural statistics are minimal, but do include an aggregate production summary based on federal reports. The second report is missing, but may be obtained in PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, series 240. The report is similar to the first, with the addition of county agricultural tables.

In 1903, it was made a misdemeanor to fail to provide requested data, and until 1907 the basic data on agricultural and commercial enterprises continues with more information included every year. In 1903, additional material on state and county receipts and disbursements was included. School population and property data were added in 1904, as were election returns. By 1905, State officers' salaries and data on nationaland private banks in Utah were included. In 1906, vital statistics information (births, deaths, marriage licenses) was incorporated.

In 1907, rather than operating under a commissioner appointed by the governor, the bureau was moved under the control of the State Auditor with the auditor acting as ex-officio commissioner. No 1907 report was published, as no appropriation had been made for the purpose. An unpublished "seventh" annual report is present. The report is more abbreviated, more narrative, and less comprehensive. It includes a short statewide summary of agriculture, mining, and transportation facilities. Assessment valuations were extrapolated from 1904 federal data. An approximate town census is included (no appropriation was made to take one), as is a copy of a letter sent to a London publisher the previous year in response to a general inquiry.

A published seventh annual report covers the years of 1907 and 1908. It too is more narrative with glowing essays on the promiseof the state and instructions on how to plant. Tables include statewide agricultural estimates, stock exchange tables for mining stock, assessed valuations, educational summaries and election returns. Road laws from around the country and a copy of a letter to the New Mexico Attorney General are included as well.

The 1909-1910 report is somewhat more comprehensive. A general narrative introduction includes discussion of the Homestead Act and Carey Land Act plus two reservoir projects. Numerous tables are included on water resources, timber resources, mineral production, agricultural production, manufactures, valuations, schools, insurance business, fraternal orders, labor wage schedules, banks, newspapers, towns, state boards, criminal convictions, vital statistics, and election returns. A state map showing forest lands, streams, railroads, and county seats is included.

In 1911, the bureau was reorganized and renamed the Bureau of Immigration, Labor and Statistics. It again becamean independent bureau and was expanded to include monitoring labor laws. The reports were expanded, including a balance of narrative information and tables. The usual topics of agriculture, manufacture, and mining are covered in detail. Other standard topics thoroughly covered include banking, assessments, climate, education, financial reports, lands, population, railroads, timber resources, criminal convictions, vital statistics, etc. Lesser topics include an article on song and game birds in Utah. A new major topic is labor law, including wage scales. A road map of the state also is included for the first time.

The final publications are similarly detailed. Tabular and narrative information continues to be provided for a wide spectrum of major and minor topics, from agriculture to "cliff dwellers of Utah" to the state song. Numerous maps and photographs are present.

In 1917, the Industrial Commission was created and the office of Commissioner of Immigration, Labor and Statisticswas abolished. Although the numbering system was retained through 1934 (e.g. "the Ninth Report of the Industrial Commission....same being the Seventh Biennial Report of the Commission and the Twelfth Report of the State Bureau of Immigration, Labor and Statistics"), future statistical reports were integrated into the annual reports of the Industrial Commission. Thus although the series ends, similar information continues to be included in the biennial reports of the Industrial Commission published in the PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SERIAL SET.