1942: Pennsylvania

Area and Population.

In size the 32nd state in the Union, Pennsylvania has an area of 45,126 sq. mi. According to the last official census (1940), the population of the state was 9,900,180 persons, a total which showed an increase of 268,830 during the preceding decade. Of these inhabitants, 472,708 were non-white, and 365,192 registered aliens. During 1941 there were 174,591 children born in the state. Deaths during the same period numbered 108,401. Three general trends in the population have been observed during the last year: an increase in the birthrate; a movement to the cities, which have gained an estimated 208,744 persons; and the loss of young men and women who have entered the armed forces.

Education.

According to the annual school census, there were 1,951,299 persons in Pennsylvania, of the ages six to 17 inclusive, during 1941-1942. The net state enrollment in the schools for the same period was 1,739,701: including 34,034 in kindergartens, 1,039,748 in elementary schools, and 664,919 in secondary schools. The state system included 473 kindergartens, 8,735 elementary schools; and 1,260 approved public high schools.

Current public school expenditures amounted to $152,939,741 during the school year.

Agriculture.

Pennsylvania is one of the most important agricultural states in the Union. More than half its total area is adapted to farming, and there is a larger investment in farms, stock, and farming equipment than there is in mining and quarrying. In cash income from farm products Pennsylvania ranked 12th in the nation for 1941. For the same year the state was first in the production of buckwheat and cigar-leaf tobacco; fourth in clover and timothy hay, potatoes, commercial apples, and maple products; fifth in grapes and sour cherries; sixth in sweet cherries; seventh in all tobacco and all cherries; eighth in timothy seed, peaches and pears, tame hay, and clover seed, as well as in milk production; tenth in the value of cows on farms.

For 1941 the principal field and fruit crops were valued at $155,351,000, compared with $135,345,000 for 1940. Although the acreage of field and fruit crops harvested in 1941 was 2 per cent less than in 1940, the total production was 2 per cent greater because of good corn and tobacco crops. The hay crop was 16 per cent less in 1941 because of the dry summer. Prices paid the farmer ranged from 5 per cent more for rye, to 42 per cent more for potatoes than in the previous year.

While complete statistics are not available for 1942, it may be said that record-breaking harvests were headline news. Aggregate crop production was estimated at 14 per cent higher than in 1941, and 13 per cent ahead of the former all-time peak reached in 1937.

Many crop changes were made to meet the demands of the war effort. For instance there was an increase in the acreage devoted to crops which can be crushed for vegetable oils. Soybeans were increased 125 per cent over last year. To meet the growing demands of livestock and poultry, there was an increase in field crops of 6 per cent; corn 5 per cent, oats 3 per cent, barley 21 per cent, and tame hay 3 per cent. Pennsylvania farmers concentrated on the production of relatively bulky, perishable products, such as milk, poultry products, fruits and vegetables. During 1942 milk production was higher than it had been for several years. Poultry raising is the second most important enterprise in the state. Pennsylvania ranks first among the states in the value of eggs produced, and second in the value of chickens.

Honey production, in which Pennsylvania is one of the five leading states, showed a large increase in 1942 because of the sugar shortage.

Industry.

Pennsylvania is first among the states in heavy manufacturing, and in many essential raw materials for war. It produces more iron and steel than Great Britain; and one-fifth of the fuel produced in the U.S. It is first in the value of its mines and quarry products, and leads the nation in forty important industries. Production has increased in all these fields.

Legislative Matters.

On Feb. 17 a special session of the Legislature was called by Governor James to pass legislation for the reapportionment of the state into 32 congressional districts and the election of one representative at large for Congress, a law made necessary by the 1940 census. Other legislation was required by the national emergency. Following are some of the chief measures passed:

For the protection of property and industry against sabotage.

For conferring certain powers and duties upon the state and local councils of defense to provide for the mobilization of municipal personnel and equipment.

Other laws were passed which suspended or relaxed certain laws which would obstruct the war effort. These provided for the transportation of explosives on the Delaware River in certain areas formerly restricted; the use of small license tags on automobiles in lieu of the regular plates; the revision of hunting regulations; and suspension of laws requiring uniformity in traffic lights.

The principal amendment passed was that which liberalized unemployment compensation benefits from $15 to $18 a week for 15 weeks.

Finance.

On July 30, 1942, there were in Pennsylvania 396 banking institutions operating under state charters, with resources of $3,491,202,429, an increase of $100,033,873 over the comparable figure of the preceding year. Included were 167 banks, 202 bank and trust companies, 8 savings banks, 16 private banks, and 3 trust companies. The number of depositors decreased from 3,801,180 to 3,648,956, between June 30, 1941 and June 30, 1942. Loans decreased from $863,709,070 to $839,159,215, while investments increased from $178,294,890 to $1,704,510,370.

Events of Interest.

On Jan. 5, 1942, The Philadelphia Evening Ledger, started in 1914, went out of business. On Feb. 3 the first blackout test in eastern Pennsylvania was held. On Feb. 16, 639,848 men, 20 to 44, registered for selective service. A 24-hour patrol to protect piers and industry was begun on Feb. 23. Floods throughout the state caused heavy damage and on May 23, 31 deaths.

State Officers.

Governor, Arthur H. James; Lieutenant Governor, Samuel S. Lewis; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Sophia M. R. O'Hara; Treasurer, G. Harold Wagner; Auditor General, F. Clair Ross; Attorney General, Claud T. Reno; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Francis B. Haas.

United States Senators:

James J. Davis, Joseph F. Guffey.

1941: Pennsylvania

Area and Population.

The southernmost of the group of North Atlantic States, Pennsylvania has an area of 45,126 sq. mi., which ranks it 32nd in size in the Union. According to the census of 1940, the population numbers 9,900,180, an increase of 268,830 during the last decade. Of the present number of inhabitants, 472,708 are non-whites. An increase in the proportion of persons 65 years of age or over and a decline in the proportion of persons under 20 years of age is observed, thus showing that the population of Pennsylvania aged considerably between 1930 and 1940.

The state capital is Harrisburg (pop. 83,893); and the largest cities are: Philadelphia, with a population of 1,931,334, the third largest city in the nation; Pittsburgh, 671,659; Scranton, 140,404; and Reading, 110,568. While the largest cities showed a decrease in population during the last decade, 51 towns of 10,000 or more showed an increase. Mount Lebanon, with 19,571, made the greatest gain, amounting to 44.8 per cent.

Education.

There were 1,863,315 children enrolled in the public schools of Pennsylvania during 1940-1941. Of these, 34,755 were in kindergarten, 1,129,927 were enrolled in the elementary grades, and 698,633 in secondary grades. There were 58,480 full-time students in the state's 58 liberal arts colleges and universities, in 1939-1940, an increase of about 600 over the previous school year. There were approximately 11,400 public schools in the state, of which number 1,277 were approved secondary schools.

During 1941 the city council of Philadelphia appropriated $100,000 for the free feeding of undernourished school children.

Agriculture.

The farm land of Pennsylvania, slightly more than one half of the total area of the state, is adapted to the cultivation of a great variety of crops, since the elevation ranges from near sea level to 3,000 ft., and the crop-growing season is from 80 to 207 days. This range makes possible the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and grasses. In 1940 Pennsylvania ranked first in the production of cigar-leaf tobacco, second in buckwheat, third in peaches, fourth in clover and timothy hay, potatoes, sour cherries, commercial apples, and maple sugar and syrup, fifth in grapes and sweet cherries. Production was large also in pears, tobacco, timothy seed, rye, hay, winter wheat, and corn.

According to the 1940 Census of Agriculture, there were in Pennsylvania, as of April 1940, 169,027 farms comprising 14,594,134 A., with land and buildings valued at $864.199,795. Although the average size of these farms was 86.3 A., 127 of them extended to 1,000 A. or more.

The effect of the war on agriculture, may be seen already in Pennsylvania in a shortage of farm labor, the supply of which was only 56 per cent of the demand for the current year, whereas last year the supply was 93 per cent of the demand. The shortage was met partly by the employment of boys and elderly men, and the women of farm families.

The state ranks tenth in the Union for the number of milk cows, estimated at 923,000; sixth in the value of its milk cows ($73,840,000), and seventh in milk production (4,778,000,000 pounds).

Mineral Products.

Pennsylvania, despite occasional declines in production, ranks normally next to Texas, the leading state, in the value of her mineral wealth. The total value for 1939 was $532,355,651, an increase of $59,582,314 over the figure for 1938. Her rank is due largely to vast resources in both bituminous and anthracite coal. The war has already increased the output of these mineral products. The total production of bituminous coal in Pennsylvania for 1940 was 112,907,000 net tons, ranking Pennsylvania second among the states. Production of anthracite was 51,484,640 net tons, valued at $205,490,000, a decrease of only 2,737 tons compared with the 51,487,377 tons produced in 1939, valued at $187,175,000. The production of anthracite for the first ten months of 1941 (46,434,000 tons) showed an increase of 9 per cent above the same period in 1940. It is estimated that total production for 1941 will approximate 56,000,000 tons, the largest since 1934.

The anthracite industry was benefited by several important developments in 1940. The first of these was the voluntary anthracite production control, or allocation plan, approved by the Governor in January. Next a scheme was devised to end illicit, or 'bootleg,' coal. Finally a more stable price situation developed, which enabled producers to realize higher prices in 1940 than in 1939.

Increased production of steel, for which Pennsylvania ranks first, reflected defense needs in 1940, with 18,469,170 tons of open-hearth and 1,366,017 tons of Bessemer. Coke production, and cement, for each of which the state also takes first place, increased in 1940 to 14,861,700 tons for the former, and 27,499,786 bbl. for the latter. Petroleum was close to the 1939 figure, at 17,353,000 bbl. Although figures for 1940 are not yet available, natural gas continues to be a Pennsylvania product of approximately equal value with petroleum, each having added in 1939 about $35,000,000 to the state's mineral resources.

Industry.

According to the Bureau of the census in 1939, there were in Pennsylvania 13,801 plants (with an annual production of more than $5,000) engaged in manufacturing. They employed 858,296 wage earners, who received $1,003,349,392; and 105,977 salaried employees who received $253,221,190. The total products were valued at $5,475,925,482.

Among the leading industries in 1939, with the value of their products, were the following: electrical machinery, apparatus and supplies, $178,262,200; newspapers, periodicals, and job printing, $171,259,700; ingots — iron and steel — $152,278,400; bread and other bakery products, $132,326,200; slaughtering and meat packing, $114,271,600; clothing — men's, $88,067,100; women's and children's, $78,332,000.

Statistics for manufacturing in the city of Philadelphia show a decrease of 117 in the number of plants, from 1939 to 1940, but increases of 12,095 in the average number of employees, $28,936,600 in payrolls and $165,978,900 in the value of products.

Legislative Matters.

The 134th regular session of the Pennsylvania Legislature, which convened on Jan. 7 and adjourned on July 18, 1941, was unusually long. Of the 2,460 bills introduced, 497 were approved by both Houses and 428 were signed by the Governor. Among the laws passed by the Legislature may be mentioned the creation of a State Council of Defense and of a Pennsylvania Reserve Defense Board, to meet the needs arising from the war. Subversive groups were banned from the Pennsylvania election ballot and from the public payrolls and relief lists. Laws were also made to legalize the tonnage quota plan aimed to eliminate free-lance mining of anthracite coal; and to prevent price wars, laws were passed which allow the large oil companies to fix the price of gasoline. (See also INTERNATIONAL LAW)

Finance.

The 1941 Legislature passed appropriations which totaled $408,101,590.27; of this sum Governor James vetoed $50,989,723.87, leaving $357,111,866.40 for approved expenditures. The state's fiscal program aroused considerable controversy which ended, after five months debate, in a compromise. This included the enactment of the Administration's $542,000,000 budget, plus $16,500,000 requested by the Democrats for state operation of 12 county hospitals. The Earle emergency taxes, estimated to yield $188,075,000 during the 1941-'43 period, were re-enacted. The sum of $106,023,000 for relief was appropriated. This is to be supplemented by $15,000,000 more in 1942, if tax receipts show such as increase over the estimated returns.

On June 30, 1941, there were in Pennsylvania 687 national banks, with total assets of $3,877,073,000; 399 financial institutions under state supervision, with resources of $3,391,168,556; 166 banks with resources of $278,079,155; 8 savings banks, resources, $680,682,796; and 16 private banks, resources, $24,899,694. Banking business showed a definite improvement, as may be seen by comparing the figures of last year.

Events of Interest.

On Feb. 25, 1941, Efrem Zimbalist was chosen to succeed Randall Thompson as director of the Curtis Institute of Music. On March 17 Marian Anderson, Negro contralto, was given the annual Bok Philadelphia Award of $10,000.

The Baldwin Locomotive Works delivered the first 28-ton tank to the Army on April 24. On the 15th of May the U.S.S. Washington, 35,000 tons, was commissioned at the Navy Yard. On June 6 the U.S.S. Terror, a mine layer, was launched 16 months ahead of schedule. The formal opening of the Cramps Shipyard was held on Sept. 6. During the first four days after war started 13,000 applied for military service from Pennsylvania.

On June 14th Robert L. Johnson, N. Y. publisher, was chosen president of Temple University to succeed Dr. Chas. E. Beury. On July 22 Mayor Lamberton of Philadelphia died suddenly, and the next day Bernard Samuel was sworn in as acting mayor. On Nov. 28. Dr. Katharine McBride was appointed President of Bryn Mawr College, as successor to Dr. Marion Edwards Park.

State Officers.

Governor, Arthur Horace James; Lieutenant Governor, Samuel S. Lewis; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Sophia M. R. O'Hara; Treasurer, G. Harold Wagner; Auditor General, F. Clair Ross; Attorney General, Claude T. Reno; Secretary of Revenue, Walter J. Kress; Secretary of Agriculture, John H. Light; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Francis B. Haas.

United States Senators:

James J. Davis, Joseph F. Guffey.

1940: Pennsylvania

Area and Population.

Southernmost of the group of North Atlantic States, Pennsylvania has an area of 45,126 sq. mi., which ranks it 32nd in the Union. According to the census of 1940, the population numbers 9,900,180, an increase of 268,830 during the last decade. According to the census of 1930, there were in Pennsylvania 9,192,602 whites (of whom 1,233,051 were foreign-born), and 431,257 Negroes, with a scattering of other races.

The state capital is Harrisburg (pop. 83,893); and the largest cities are: Philadelphia, with a population of 1,931,334, the third largest city in the nation; Pittsburgh, 671,659; Scranton, 140,404; and Reading, 110,568. While the largest cities showed a decrease in population during the last decade, 51 towns of 10,000 or more show an increase. Mount Lebanon (19,571) made the greatest gain (44.8 per cent).

Agriculture.

The farm land of Pennsylvania is adapted to the cultivation of a great variety of crops, since the elevation ranges from practically sea level to 3,000 ft., and the crop-growing season from 80 to 207 days. This range makes possible the general cultivation of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and grasses. Pennsylvania in 1939 ranked first in the production of cigar-leaf tobacco, second in buckwheat, third in clover and timothy hay and sour cherries, fourth in sweet cherries, maple sugar and sirup. Production was large also in apples, peaches, pears, and grapes, potatoes, timothy seed, rye, winter wheat, oats and hay, and corn and clover seed.

In value of dairy cows, Pennsylvania stands sixth among all the states. In milk production, it also ranks sixth, and in cash income derived therefrom, third. Dairying leads in farm income in the state.

Mineral Products.

Pennsylvania, despite occasional declines in production, ranks normally next to Texas, the leading state, in the value of her mineral wealth. The total value for 1938 was $472,773,327, with a definite increase in most items for 1939. Her rank is due largely to vast resources in both bituminous and anthracite coal. A comparatively mild winter in 1938 together with low industrial activity resulted in a drop in the production of bituminous coal, and lesser declines in anthracite, petroleum, and natural gas. The new defense program, however, has already begun to increase the output of these mineral products.

Pennsylvania ranks first among the states for anthracite. Production dropped to approximately 46,099,000 tons in 1938, only to rise again in 1939 to 51,399,707 tons. The value of anthracite in 1939 was $5.00 per ton, or a total of $256,998,535. In 1939 bituminous coal production, in which Pennsylvania ranks second to West Virginia, was 89,397,222 tons, valued at $2.20 per ton, or a total of $196,673,888.

Production of coke amounted to 12,120,225 tons in 1939; petroleum to approximately 17,337,000 bbl. Pennsylvania has been an oil producer since 1859. Pig iron has been produced there since very early times; Pennsylvania is now the leading state in the Union for that product, with 8,979,648 tons in 1939, worth $186,302,533.

Industry.

According to the 1937 Biennial Census of Manufactures there were in Pennsylvania 13,084 industrial plants, which employed 954,340 wage earners, and produced commodities with an aggregate value of $6,032,083,005.

Among the leading industries in 1939, with the value of their products, were the following: Electrical machinery, apparatus and supplies, $178,262,200; newspapers, periodicals and job printing, $171,259,700; ingots — iron and steel, $152,278,400; bread and other bakery products, $132,326,200; slaughtering and meat packing, $114,271,600; clothing — men's $88,067,100; women's and children's, $78,332,000.

Education.

In the school year 1939-1940 there were in Pennsylvania 2,081,616 inhabitants of school age (5 1/2 to 17 years inclusive). Of this number about 1,165,596 pupils were enrolled in 9,253 elementary schools, and 708,730 pupils in 1,313 secondary schools.

The latest available data on public school expenditures for Pennsylvania are those for the school year 1938-1939. In that year $149,604,396 were expended for current expenses and the total expenses for the same year were $212,590,947.

Banking.

On March 26, 1940, there were 404 banking institutions operating under grant of state charter in Pennsylvania, with total resources of $3,947,393,000. On the same date, deposits, exclusive of interbank deposits, of all the 1097 banks in Pennsylvania totalled $4,997,844,000. Principal assets reported amounted to $3,079,641,000. The number of national banks in Pennsylvania was 693, with principal assets of $2,290,039,000, and deposits, exclusive of interbank deposits, of $2,471,314,000.

Events of Interest.

On Jan. 1, 1940, the so-called wage tax, a 1 1/2 per cent levy on salaries and wages earned in Philadelphia, went into effect. This tax, estimated to collect $1,250,000 monthly, was upheld by the State Supreme Court on Feb. 5.

On May 19 the University of Pennsylvania announced the establishment of the Foundation for the Study of Neoplastic Diseases, a foundation to coordinate the results of research in the treatment of cancer. On May 7, Dr. Thomas S. Gates, president of the University, became the nineteenth recipient of the Philadelphia Award to a distinguished citizen. In September the University celebrated its two hundredth birthday with pageantry, speeches, the conferring of honorary degrees, and the donation by the alumni of a fund of over $5,000,000.

At the end of June the Republican Convention, meeting in Philadelphia, nominated Wendell L. Willkie as presidential candidate. On Oct. 1 the new Pennsylvania Turnpike from Irwin, near Pittsburgh, to Middlesex, near Carlisle, was opened. This highway, built at a cost of $70,000,000, is one of the finest in the country.

State Officers.

Governor, Arthur Horace James; Lieutenant Governor, Samuel S. Lewis; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Sophia M. R. O'Hara; Treasurer, F. Clair Ross; Auditor General, Warren R. Roberts; Attorney General, Claude T. Reno; Secretary of Revenue, Wm. J. Hamilton; and Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Francis B. Haas.

United States Senators:

James J. Davis, Joseph F. Guffey.

1939: Pennsylvania

Area and Population.

The 32nd state in size in the Union, Pennsylvania has an area of 45,126 sq. mi. According to the last official census (1930), the population of the state was 9,631,350. Of this total, 7,959,551 were native white persons, 1,233,051 foreign-born white persons, 431,257 Negroes, and 7,491 Indians, Japanese, Chinese and other.

The state capital is Harrisburg (80,339), located on the Susquehanna River; and the largest cities of Pennsylvania are: Philadelphia, with a population of 1,950,061; Pittsburgh, 669,817; Scranton, 143,433; and Reading, 111,171. Cornplanter Reservation in Warren County, with 34 Indians residing there, is the only State Indian Reservation.

Agriculture.

Although Pennsylvania is one of the foremost industrial states, agriculture represents a larger investment of capital than either mining or manufacturing of primary metals. According to the 1935 census of agriculture. Pennsylvania has 101,284 farms comprising 15,855,343 acres (55.3 per cent of total land area), with a value in land and buildings of $861,796,599. In 1930 there were 172,419 farms comprising 15,309,485 acres, valued at $1,203,017,645. In 1938, Pennsylvania ranked tenth in cash income from livestock and livestock products, with a total of $190,145,000. Among states east of the Mississippi, Pennsylvania ranks fifth in livestock. Cash income from farm production in 1938 amounted to $260,870,000 as compared with $284,509,000 for 1937. Pennsylvania farmers own $150,000,000 worth of machinery and agricultural implements.

Favorably situated for the cultivation of a variety of crops. Pennsylvania in 1938 ranked second in production of buckwheat and cigar leaf tobacco, fifth in peaches and potatoes, third in hay, fourth in apples, and eleventh in value of winter wheat.

Mineral Products.

In spite of generally reduced production in the mining industry in the United States in 1938, because of economic conditions, Pennsylvania still retained her rank as second in mineral wealth among the states (total in 1937, $599,817,364). Her outstanding resources in both anthracite and bituminous coal largely account for her leading position. Production of anthracite, in which the state stands first, was lowered by 11 per cent from 51,856,433 tons (value, $197,598,849) in 1937 to an estimated 46,099,000 tons in 1938. The estimate for 1939 is 50,807,000 tons. The output of bituminous coal, in which Pennsylvania ranks next to West Virginia, was reduced by 30 per cent from 111,002,289 tons (value, $228,665,000) in 1937, to an estimated 77,040,000 tons in 1938. Coke too was produced in a correspondingly lower quantity, totaling 7,606,799 tons as against 16,260,310 in the preceding year. Figures for petroleum compared fairly well with those of 1937, at 17,426,000 bbl. In the industrial field production of pig iron and steel, in both of which Pennsylvania ranks first, showed a substantial reduction, the former from 11,036,467 tons to 4,684,017; the latter from 14,561,700 tons of open-hearth steel to 7,072,157, and from 830,440 tons of Bessemer steel to 348,000 tons.

Pennsylvania produces nearly one-half of all the steel produced in the United States, and ships to all parts of the world. Pittsburgh is the center of the greatest metal production ever attained in one locality.

Industry.

The principal manufactures of the state are metal and metal products, textiles, food and kindred products, paper, clay, glass and stone products, leather and rubber goods, tobacco products and lumber. The printing industry, and railroad and street railway repair shops also add materially to the state's income. During 1937 there were 13,084 manufacturing establishments credited with an output of $5000 or more each. Their product was valued as $6,032,083,005, as compared with $4,191,368,642 reported by 12,926 plants in 1935. The average number of wage-earners in 1937 was 954,340, an increase of about 140,000 over 1935. Wages totalled $1,176,957,270 as against $816,022,112 in 1935.

As of Oct. 25, 1939, the Works Progress Administration was employing 145,177 persons in Pennsylvania, with a weekly payroll of $1,956,000.

With approximately one twelfth of the country's population, Pennsylvania produces about  the value of manufactured products in the United States.

The 10,452 wholesale establishments in Pennsylvania had net sales of $2,741,012,000 in 1935, an increase of 36 per cent over 1933; retail sales showed an increase of 33 per cent, the 129,719 stores reporting $2,490,910,000.

Education.

Pennsylvania has 58 colleges and 14 teachers' colleges, ranking fourth among the states in the number of institutions beyond high school rank, with a total of 96. There are 1,261 high schools in the state. The value of property used for public school purposes during 1936-1937 was $601,068,389, representing an investment in buildings and equipment of $308.89 for each of the 1,945,901 pupils in net enrollment.

Banking.

In 1939 there were 410 banking institutions operating under state charter in Pennsylvania, with total resources of $3,113,171,812. In 1939, deposits of the 1,061 insured commercial banks in Pennsylvania totalled $4,697,220; total assets were reported on June 30, 1939, at $5,585,158,000. The number of national banks in Pennsylvania was 694, with total assets of $3,313,834,000, and deposits $2,851,323,000.

State Officers.

The chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, Arthur H. James; Lieutenant Governor, Samuel S. Lewis; Auditor, Warren R. Roberts; Treasurer, F. Clair Ross; Secretary of Revenue, Wm. J. Hamilton, Jr.; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Sophia M. O'Hara; Attorney General, Claude T. Reno; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Francis B. Haas.

United States Senators.

James J. Davis, Joseph F. Guffey.

1938: Pennsylvania

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, Pennsylvania ranks 32nd in size among the states, with an area of 45,126 sq. mi. In population it ranks 2nd, numbering 9,631,350 according to the census of 1930; 10,176,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. The largest cities are Philadelphia, 1,950,961 (1930 census); Pittsburgh, 669,817; Scranton, 143,433; Erie, 115,967; Reading, 111,171. The capital is Harrisburg, 80,339.

Of the 1930 population, 7,959,557 were native white persons, 1,233,051 foreign-born white persons, 431,257 Negroes, and 7,491 Indians, Japanese, Chinese and other nationalities. Cornplanter Reservation in Warren County, with 34 Indians residing there, is the only State Indian Reservation.

Agriculture.

Pennsylvania has at present 172,419 farms under cultivation; 172,056 are operated by white farmers, and 363 by Negroes; the farming sections near Lancaster and York are the principal sites of the excellent Pennsylvania-German agricultural development.

Although Pennsylvania is one of the foremost industrial states, agriculture represents a larger investment of capital than either mining or manufacturing of primary metals. The latest Federal census placed a valuation of $861,706,599 on the 191,284 farms of the state, and estimated its livestock at $143,719,000. Pennsylvania farmers now own $150,000,000 worth of machinery and agricultural implements. Favorably situated for the cultivation of a variety of crops, Pennsylvania ranks first in production of buckwheat, and cigar leaf tobacco, second in value of potatoes, third in value of hay, fourth in value of apples, and ninth in value of winter wheat. More than 55 per cent of the total area of the state, or 15,855,343 acres, are now in farms, and approximately half of this is crop land. The value of farm crops in Pennsylvania on the 1937 basis of prices was $250,000,000. Pennsylvania ranks fifth in value in livestock of the states east of the Mississippi River.

Mineral Products.

Ranking second among the states in the value of its mineral products, Pennsylvania owes this position primarily to the abundance of coal within its borders. The Department of Mines of Pennsylvania reported that in 1937 the output of coal was: anthracite, 54,264,016 net tons, bituminous 108,964,865 net tons, and beehive coke 1,186,194 net tons. The combined valuation of this production was $461,436,176. Next in importance are natural gas and petroleum. Production of the former in 1936 amounted to 110,362,000 M cu. ft. (value, $42,874,000). Oil production in 1937 increased to 19,189,000 bbl. from 17,070,000 bbl. in the preceding year. Shipments of cement, in which Pennsylvania leads the states, totaled 22,952,603 bbl. in 1937; of stone, 16,091,160 tons. The total value of Pennsylvania's minerals in 1936 was $617,138,041.

Manufactured products in which Pennsylvania ranks first among the states include steel and pig-iron. Of these, the amounts produced in 1937 were: steel (both open-hearth and Bessemer), 15,392,140 tons; pig-iron, 11,036,467 tons. Pennsylvania produces nearly one-half of all the steel produced in the United States, and ships it to all parts of the world. Pittsburgh is the center of the greatest metal production ever attained in one locality.

Industry.

The principal manufactures of the state are metal and metal products, with a capital investment of $1,654,008,400; textiles, $748,973,000; food, $610,203,800; mine and quarry products, $396,533,800; chemicals $380,715,400; leather and rubber goods, $134,578,300; railroad and street railway repair shops, $97,997,500; tobacco, $67,445,100; and lumber, $56,090,000.

Education.

There are 70 accredited colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, 56 of which are known as arts colleges and 14 as teachers colleges. During 1938, 85 per cent of the 57,000 full-time students attending the colleges and universities of Pennsylvania were residents of the state.

WPA artists have reproduced the best of Pennsylvania's native paintings and etchings for educational purposes. The Federal Writers' Project has published several books and numerous pamphlets on Pennsylvania; a Union Library Catalogue embracing every library in the Metropolitan Philadelphia area is now housed in The Historical Society of Pennsylvania Building in Philadelphia, and is progressing with the aid of WPA workers.

Banking.

There are 420 state banking institutions in Pennsylvania, including 182 banks, 209 trust companies, 8 savings banks and 21 private banks, with total resources of $3,040,118,479. In 1938, there were 3,839,548 depositors with total deposits of $2,357,574,983. The number of national banks in Pennsylvania is 709, with total resources of $3,245,131,000 and deposits totaling $2,788,690,000.

Events of the Year.

The 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg was celebrated there from June 26, 1938 to July 6, 1938, under the direction of the Pennsylvania State Commission cooperating with the Federal Commission appointed by President Roosevelt for this observance. There were present 1800 survivors of the G.A.R. and the United Confederate Veterans. April 8, 1938 was declared a legal holiday by the State of Pennsylvania, and designated as Forefathers' Day, in honor of the 300th Anniversary of the arrival of the Swedish ships Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip on the Delaware River in 1638. The 300th Anniversary of the establishment of the first permanent settlement by the Swedes, who landed at Upland (Chester), was formally commemorated in Philadelphia on June 26, 27, and 28. For this celebration, Crown Prince Gustav Adolph of Sweden, Crown Princess Louise, and their son Prince Bertil, visited the United States.

A Pennsylvania Constitution Commemoration Committee was appointed in 1937 by Governor Earle to carry on celebrations during 1937, 1938 and 1939. The 150th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution was commemorated on Sept. 17, 1937, and the ratifying of this important document by Pennsylvania was appropriately celebrated on December 12, 1937. The celebration in Pittsburgh on June 21, 1938, included a pilgrimage to Fort Pitt Blockhouse, with services at Carnegie Music Hall, followed by a tribute at the grave of John Nevill, delegate to the 1787 Pennsylvania Ratification Convention. In Philadelphia the three-day observance from June 18 to June 21 included a school pageant, participated in by 12,000 school children, a Festival of Nations at the Municipal Stadium, and a celebration at Valley Forge where Governor Earle was the principal speaker. A Women's Program honored the birthday of the Constitution at Independence Hall on June 20.

State Officers.

As the result of the November election the chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, Arthur H. James; Lieutenant Governor, Samuel S. Lewis; Auditor, Warren R. Roberts; Treasurer, F. Clair Ross; Secretary of Revenue, Wm. J. Hamilton; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Sophia M. O'Hara; Attorney General, Claude T. Reno; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lester Kelly Ade.

United States Senators:

James J. Davis, Joseph F. Guffey.