Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/537

ILLINOIS. of great importance; but it is interesting to note that while the production of these vehicles scarcely increased at all during the decade, the production of bicycles and tricycles increased 82.3 per cent. during that decade, and has become almost as important. The production of bicycles and tricycles in 1900 was about double that of any other State. Of the manufactures dependent more wholly upon wood, the most important is furniture, confined almost exclusively to Chicago, while planing-mill products and other lumber and timber products are more generally distributed throughout the State. There are important manufactures depending largely upon agriculture for raw materials. The most important of these are manufactures of liquor, flouring and grist-mill products, glucose, cheese, butter, and condensed milk. About two-thirds of the total manufactures of liquors represent distilled liquors. Peoria leads in the industry, and is the largest producer of fine high wines in the United States. The glucose plants of the State

make thirty-five distinct products directly from corn, and consume 20 per cent. of the corn crop of the State. Chicago has become an important centre for the manufacture of men's and women's factory-made clothing as well as of boots and shoes, and has a very large printing and publishing business. The manufacture of electrical apparatus and supplies, although almost wholly the development of the last decade, has become an industry of first rank. The manufacture of musical instruments also experienced a very significant gain during the decade. The greatest absolute increase in the manufactures of the State was made in the decade 1880-90. During the last census (1900), however, the percentage of the entire population engaged as wage-earners in the industry was greater than in any previous census, being 8.2 per cent., or 395,110 persons. It will be seen from the table that the per cent. of increase for the number of establishments is greater than the per cent. of increase for the value of products; but in, a number of the more important 