LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. State of West Virginia, Office of Commissioner of Labor. Charleston, West Virginia, To His Excellency, John J. Cornwell, Governor of West Virginia: SIR: In accordance with the provisions of Section 2, Chapter 12, Acts of 1915, I have the honor to transmit herewith the Fourteenth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor. Very respectfully, SAMUEL B. MONTGOMERY, Commissioner of Labor. INTRODUCTION. The fourteenth biennial report of the State Bureau of Labor of West Virginia, constituting the work for the years 1917-18, with statistics of manufacturers for the years ending January 31, 1916, and January 31, 1917, is herewith submitted. Samuel B. Montgomery, of Kingwood, Preston County, was appointed Commissioner of Labor by Governor Henry D. Hatfield for a term of four years, beginning March 1, 1917, and ending February 28, 1921, this being the first biennial report compiled and submitted by the present Commissioner. The personnel of the Bureau of Labor, as provided by law and through appropriations by the Legislature, consists of two State factory inspectors, a chief clerk and one stenographer. The Commissioner, upon assuming the duties of the office, appointed Mr. R. E. Mumaugh, of Parkersburg, and Mr. Alo. izo Prince, of Follansbee, as factory inspectors; Howard S. Jarrett, of Charleston, was appointed chief clerk, and Miss Nelle C. Schaeffer, of Kingwood, stenographer. There have been no changes in the office since the inception of the work of the bureau by the Commissioner. Factory Inspection. The work of inspection has necessitated the continuous services of the two factory inspectors since the development of West Virginia as an industrial State has taken on such a rapid stride and a permanent attitude. The phenomenal growth in the number of industrial plants in the State should be the source of pride, for there is locating within the borders of this commonwealth manufacturers employing hundreds and thousands of our people. There is also being located within the State, not in any one particular locality, but over the State as a whole, manufacturing industries whose volume of business increases with such rapidity that our factory inspectors, who are only able to cover their territory once each year, can hardly recognize some of the plants as being the ones which they had inspected on their previous rounds. This is particularly true of metal working and glass plants. As an instance of the rapid growth of the glass industry it was found in compiling our statistics of manufacturers we were astonished to find that this industry dow glass, bottles, lamp chimneys and table glassware reported capital enjoyed its banner year in 1916. Forty-three plants manufacturing wininvested of $8,701,985.47; the value of these plants' production for the saine year amounted to $16,574,984.32, with 9,249 employees receiving in wages for the year $6,172,203.47. The year 1917 showed a larger number reporting, but the value of production was not as great as for the year previous. Fifty-six glass industries reported for the year 1917, showing an invesement of $10,911,849.77, with $14,925,914.08. They further showed that there were 11,356 persons em a value of production of |