PART IV. Labor-Wages of Mechanics in America in 1874 as compared with 1860-The Rise under Protection. The following tables, prepared in the Bureau of Statistics, will furnish an interesting study to the artisan and mechanic, as exhibiting the rise in wages from 1860, when the Democrats were in power, to 1874, when the Republicans were in full power. Mechanical Labor. Table showing the average Daily Wages, without Board, paid in the several States and Territories to persons employed in the undermentioned Trades in the respective years 1860 and 1874. Blacksmiths. Bricklayers or Masons. Cabinet Coopers. Carpen- Painters. Plasterers. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. General average....... Pacific States (gold).. Average.... 1122 3 75..... 5 50 00 2 50 75 3 2122 54 5 00... 34 42 4 00 2 50 2 75 3 00..... 2222 2222 ය. 3 00 4 25 3 00 3 50 400 3 00 34 333 ∞ 3 14 4 90 4 23 5 46 5 05 4 74 3 57 4 03 3 50 4 66 4 29 4 69 4 25 5 39 4 91 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. Massachusetts ....... 1 72 2 25 2 50 3 94 PART V. Rise in Comparative American Farm-Wages in Statistician Dodge of the Department of Agriculture says (Feb 1884), with respect to the wages of the American farm-laborer: There has been an increase of wages with the growth of manufacturing and other non-agricultural population, as shown by investigation of former prices, compared with repeated and thorough investigations in the Department of Agriculture. Fifty years ago, at the commencement of the era of manufacture, the ascertained average of wages of farm-labor was about $9 per month, with board. At that time the rate was but little higher than at the establishment of the Government. From 1790 to 1830 there was a slow but appreciable advance. This tendency operated slowly with fluctuations incident to changes in legislation and industrial prosperity, until 1861. The inflation of the succeeding period carried the rate of wages, with board, to $15.50. A decline of course followed during the era of descent to a gold basis. In 1875 the average was $12.40. In 1879, when the National currency was at par, and industrial depression was at its lowest depth, the rate was $10.54. With the healthful development of industry that followed, the average in 1882 was $12.41, almost exactly the average of 1875. This may be considered the average of the present era, under normal conditions, and it is an increase of 37 per cent over the wages of thirty years ago, the advance being made coincident with the principal development of the present status of our agricultural industries. But this is the rate of wages "with board," the money paid when the laborer is given the remainder of wages in board. As the cost of board has been somewhat increased during thirty years by reason of the higher price which the farmer is able to obtain for his products, the real cost of labor is greater than is shown above; and a fairer exhibit would be the rate of wages when wholly paid in cash, or "wages without board." The rate of wages per month paid wholly in cash, forty years ago, was approximately, $13.25 per month. In 1866, when currency was inflated and all prices high, the average was $26. During the monetary depression, as reported in 1879, the average rate was $16.16. In 1882, when labor was in a normal condition and paid in currency at par, the average rate per month was $18.58, an increase of 40 p. c. during the era of industrial development. Comparative Farm-wages in the States. The following statement exhibits the rate of wages, with and without board: Wages per month for the year. STATES AND TER RITORIES. FIRST GROUP. Farm-wages highest amid other industries. The influence of large industrial population on the are seen in different sections of the same State, accordrate of agricultural wages is very striking. Its effects ing to the industrial development of such section. The State of Ohio, with only 40 per cent in agriculture, pays comparatively high wages for farm labor, because of its relative scarcity. Thus the northern part of the State, with Cleveland, Toledo, and other manufacturing cities, averaged, in 1882, $25.96 per month. The western district, which is agricultural, with Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield, and other manufacturing towns, averages $24.75 The eastern district has a larger agricultural element, and therefore a lower average, which is $22.65. Kentucky furnishes a fine contrast with Ohio. A river dividing, one State with four tenths in agriculture, the other with five eighths, and most of the remainder commercial and professional rather than industrial; the average has been as follows: A part of this difference, a small part, it may be conceded, comes from a large portion of negro labor. Illinois has a large proportion of its non-agricultural population in the northern counties. Dividing the State by east and west lines into three belts, the same result is seen, with quite as much contrast as between STATES. NEW ENGLAND STATES. Maine..... 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. New Hampshire 3 75 Vermont Comparative American Farm-Wages in Statistician Dodge of the Department of Agriculture says (Feb 1884), with respect to the wages of the American farm-laborer: There has been an increase of wages with the growth of manufacturing and other non-agricultural population, as shown by investigation of former prices, compared with repeated and thorough investigations in the Department of Agriculture. New Hampshire Utah........... Ohio......... Vermont......... Missouri ....... Minnesota... Louisiana...... Tennessee... Average...... Fifty years ago, at the commencement of the era of manufacture, the ascertained average of wages of farm-labor was about $9 per month, with board. At Virginia that time the rate was but little higher than at the establishment of the Government. From 1790 to 1830 there was a slow but appreciable advance. This tendency operated slowly with fluctuations incident to changes in legislation and industrial prosperity, until 1861. The inflation of the succeeding period carried the rate of wages, with board, to $15.30. A decline of course followed during the era of descent to a gold basis. In 1875 the average was $12.40. In 1879, when the National currency was at par, and industrial depression was at its lowest depth, the rate was $10.54. With the healthful development of industry that followed, the average in 1882 was $12.41, almost exactly the average of 1875. This may be considered the average of the present era, under normal conditions, and it is an increase of 37 per cent over the wages of thirty years ago, the advance being made coincident with the principal development of the present status of our agricultural industries. But this is the rate of wages "with board," the money paid when the laborer is given the remainder of wages in board. As the cost of board has been somewhat increased during thirty years by reason of the higher price which the farmer is able to obtain for his products, the real cost of labor is greater than is shown above; and a fairer exhibit would be the rate of wages when wholly paid in cash, or “ wages without board." The rate of wages per month paid wholly in cash, forty years ago, was approximately, $13.25 per month. In 1866, when currency was inflated and all prices high, the average was $26. During the monetary depression, as reported in 1879, the average rate was $16.16. In 1882, when labor was in a normal condition and paid in currency at par, the average rate per month was $18.58, an increase of 40 p. c. during the era of industrial development. Comparative Farm-wages in the States. The following statement exhibits the rate of wages, with and without board: Wages per month for the year. Georgia...... Average.. Farm-wages highest amid other industries. The influence of large industrial population on the rate of agricultural wages is very striking. Its effects are seen in different sections of the same State, according to the industrial development of such section. The State of Ohio, with only 40 per cent in agriculture, pays comparatively high wages for farm labor, because of its relative scarcity. Thus the northern part of the State, with Cleveland, Toledo, and other manufacturing cities, averaged, in 1882, $25.96 per month. The western district, which is agricultural, with Cincinnati, Dayton, Springfield, and other manufacturing towns, averages $24.75 The eastern district has a larger agricultural element, and therefore a lower average, which is $22.65. Kentucky furnishes a fine contrast with Ohio. A river dividing, one State with four tenths in agriculture, the other with five eighths, and most of the remainder commercial and professional rather than industrial; the average has been as follows: 13 10 Ohio... 1879. 1882. $20 72 $24 55 15 17 18 20 A part of this difference, a small part, it may be conceded, comes from a large portion of negro labor. Illinois has a large proportion of its non-agricultural population in the northern counties. Dividing the State by east and west lines into three belts, the same result is seen, with quite as much contrast as between |