1942: Rhode Island

Area and Population.

The United States Census, 1940, gave the total area of Rhode Island as 1,214 sq. mi.; total land area, 1,058 sq. mi.; inland water surface, 156 sq. mi. The greatest length of the state, north and south, is 48 mi., and the greatest width, 37. Rhode Island is the most densely populated of the states, having 658 persons per sq. mi. The Federal census of 1940 gave the population as 713,346, but the tremendous increase of permanent Navy Bases and military centers, and of defense industry, has been responsible for great advances in population.

Providence, the capital is also the largest city, with a population of 253,504. Other important cities are Pawtucket, 75,797; Woonsocket, 49,303; Cranston, 47,085, and Newport, 30,532. The town of East Providence has a population of 32,165.

The foreign-born whites in the state number about 144,952 (21.3 per cent of the total), of whom 33,105 are French Canadians; 30,093 Italians; 20,458 English; and 13,459 Irish.

Education.

In 1941-42, the 329 public elementary schools had 2,154 teachers and 61,625 enrolled pupils; in addition 34,415 pupils were enrolled in private and parochial schools. The high schools (28 senior and 34 junior) had 1,997 teachers and 44,321 pupils.

Local current expenditures for day schools for the school year ending June 30, 1942, totaled $11,353,010.97; state and Federal expenditures for education were approximately $2,200,000. Excluding the supervisors' and the principals' salaries, which range from $4,000.00 to $5,000.00, the average salary for a teacher in public and high schools is $1,650.13.

In 1942 Brown University amended its charter so that no denominational qualification shall be required to make any person eligible to hold any office in the University.

Industry.

According to the United States Census of manufactures, in 1939 Rhode Island had 1,460 manufacturing establishments with 106,260 wage-earners, who earned $105,406,954.00; materials, containers, fuel and power used were valued at $278,101,981.00, and the output at $516,390,541.00. In the year ending Apr. 30, 1942, the state had 811,588 active cotton spindles. The number of bales of cotton consumed amounted to 11,933.

During the General Assembly session of 1942 the Legislature made six changes in the workmen's compensation law. Additional time was granted to the special commission studying employment problems of the Negro. The employees' contribution to the unemployment compensation fund was changed so that on and after June 1, 1942, and annually thereafter, each employee shall contribute to the fund an amount equal to half of one per cent of his wages, up to $3,000 per annum. The act was also amended in relation to benefit credits.

Agriculture.

Although Rhode Island is primarily a manufacturing state and there is little farming, it ranks fourth in the United States in the value of commodities per farm unit. According to the 1940 census, the state had 3,014 farms with an area of 221,913 acres, of which 48,753 acres were crop land. The total value of farm land and buildings in 1940 was $26,334,374.00.

Banking.

On June 30, 1942, Rhode Island had 12 licensed national banks with deposits of $156,314,650.39; loans of $52,871,431.00; and investments of $67,998,212.39. The 23 licensed state banks had deposits of $430,177,311.10; loans of $134,700,573.20; and investments of $263,988,724.37.

Legislation.

Legislative matters of import dealt with by the General Assembly in 1942 were these: requiring only one number plate upon motor vehicles, thereby conserving metal; development of the state airport at Westerly; authorizing housing authorities to undertake the development of projects to assure the availability of safe and sanitary dwellings for persons engaged in national defense activities; prohibiting the use or sale of fireworks; authorizing the Governor to lease the Theodore Francis Green airport to the Federal Government for the duration of the war; conferring upon the Governor and the state Council of Defense emergency powers, to cope with the problems of protection and relief of civilians arising from the war, providing for additional payments of the soldiers' bonus (World War I); and extending veterans' benefits to veterans of the present war.

Defense.

All National Guard troops from Rhode Island were in Federal Service by June 30, 1942. The strength of the Rhode Island State Guard on that date was 60 officers, 1 warrant officer, and 937 enlisted men. There have been astoundingly rapid developments in assigning locations for the training of the fighting services in Rhode Island, among these are the United States Naval Air Station at Quonset Point; the United States Naval Construction Training Center and Advance Depot Base; the United States Naval Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center; the United States Naval Anti-Aircraft Training Center; several additional forts, and enlargements of the United States Naval War College, the United States Naval Training Station, the United States Naval Torpedo Station, and others.

In addition to a stepping-up of defense industry, a new shipbuilding plant launched on Nov. 28, 1942, the S. S. William Coddington, first of many cargo liberty freighters of the Merchant Marine to leave the ways at Providence. Other ships are also under construction at various points in the state.

Finance.

In the General Fund, the cash balance on July 1, 1941, was $2,898,289.00; receipts, 1941-42, $20,965,829.00; total $23,864,118.00. Disbursements, 1941-42, $20,435,732.00. Cash balance, June 30, 1942, $3,428,386.00. Net bonded debt, June 30, 1942, $23,990,696.00. The total net state appropriations during 1941-42 were $17,764,239.06.

The total recommended state appropriations for Public Assistance for 1942-43 amounted to $4,748,775.00 In addition there will be available $1,468,840.00 of Federal funds, making a total amount available for Public Assistance during the fiscal year 1942-43 of $6,217,615.00.

State Officers.

Governor, J. Howard McGrath; Lieutenant Governor, Louis W. Cappelli; Secretary of State, Armand H. Cote; General Treasurer, Russell H. Handy; Acting Director of Finance, Edward L. Leahy; Attorney General, John H. Nolan; Director of Education, James F. Rockett.

United States Senators:

Peter G. Gerry, Theodore F. Green.