Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Farm-Wages affected in each State and District by the Presence of Factories.

In every State the rate of wages is affected favorably by the presence of manufactures, whatever other causes of difference may prevail.

The Middle States furnish an interesting illustration of local proximity of great populations within a large district which may be considered a prominent manufacturing section. New York extends from the sea to the lakes, and Pennsylvania beyond the mountains; while New Jersey has a smaller arca, with New York and Brooklyn on the northern border, and Philadelphia, over the Delaware, on the west, and large industrial cities within her borders; therefore, a higher average rate of farm wages is found in the latter State, as follows:

[blocks in formation]

The fact especially noteworthy is, that the greatest reduction in rural wages occurred in the manufacturing States, the Eastern and Middle groups, from in ten years. This is precisely what should be ex$32.08 to $20.21, and from $28.02 to $19.69, respectively, pected. The liberated artisans and operatives returned to the country, competing with farm laborers; some of them went West, reducing the rates of agricultural labor there, though in a less degree, as many

became homesteaders rather than laborers.

setts and Rhode Island came
The factory laborers and artisans of Massachu-
New Hampshire, and Vermont (as well as from
largely from Maine,
Canada), and hence in 1879 we find the depression in
farm wages greater in those States than in Southern
New England, as follows:

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

vance.

Here are given the high wages of the period before resumption, the lowest rate attained after the monetary As manufactures prosper, farm-wages adrevulsion, and the recuperation and healthy status of business in 1882. In the period of manufacturing depression, just prior to 1879, agricultural wages were greatly depressed, as is shown in the decline for 1869 in New Jersey. A large force of operatives, thrown out of employment, competed with agricultural laborers, intensifying the general decline toward a gold basis of values, and aiding in bringing down the general average from $32.11 to $20.22 in ten years. Depression in Manufactures causes Decline in Farm-wages.

With the return of industrial activity comes general prosperity, and with it, as shown in the figures of 1882, a sharp advance in wages paid for farm-labor. Assertions have been plenty that labor on the farms is not affected unfavorably by manufacturing depression, but here are facts, in perfect accord with all similar records from time immemorial, which disprove that fallacy, and show that the farm-laborer is indissolubly bound up with the general prosperity of all the industries, and must share the good or ill fortune of workers in every legitimate line of human effort.

The rise in prices of farm-labor from 1860 to 1874.

The effect of a period of depression in manufacture is almost immediately manifest in a decline in the rate of agricultural wages. If long continued, it depresses wages in every part of the country. The decline is greatest, however, in the immediate vicinity of the silent factories. The panic beginning in the autumn of 1873 soon caused a reduction in manufacturing activity, and began to tell on prices in 1875. The stagnation gradually deepened, and the lowest rate of wages was reached later. In 1879 an investigation disclosed the fact that all sections were feeling the power:

The following table, prepared by the Bureau of Statistics at Washington, will show the rise in farm-laboring wages from 1860, when the Democrats were in power, to 1874, when the Republicans exercised full

Table showing the average Daily Wages for Farm-Labor in 1860 and 1874.

[blocks in formation]

NEW ENGLAND STATES.

1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874. 1860. 1874.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

For other points connected with the increase of wages of farm-labor, see Part VIII. of the chapter on "The

[blocks in formation]

Farm-Wages affected in each State and Dis

trict by the Presence of Factories.

In every State the rate of wages is affected favorably by the presence of manufactures, whatever other causes of difference may prevail.

The Middle States furnish an interesting illustration of local proximity of great populations within a large district which may be considered a prominent manufacturing section. New York extends from the sea to the lakes, and Pennsylvania beyond the mountains; while New Jersey has a smaller arca, with New York and Brooklyn on the northern border, and Philadelphia, over the Delaware, on the west, and large industrial cities within her borders; therefore, a higher average rate of farm wages is found in the latter State, as follows:

[blocks in formation]

The fact especially noteworthy is, that the greatest reduction in rural wages occurred in the manufacturing States, the Eastern and Middle groups, from $32.08 to $20.21, and from $28.02 to $19.69, respectively, in ten years. This is precisely what should be expected." The liberated artisans and operatives returned to the country, competing with farm laborers; some of them went West, reducing the rates of agricultural labor there, though in a less degree, as many became homesteaders rather than laborers.

The factory laborers and artisans of Massachusetts and Rhode Island came largely from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont (as well as from Canada), and hence in 1879 we find the depression in farm wages greater in those States than in Southern New England, as follows:

[blocks in formation]

$29 28
32 11

28 68

$20 61
20 22
19 92

$23 63

Vermont.

32 40

29.67

19 00

23 37

24 25

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

22 88

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

27 90

vance.

Here are given the high wages of the period before resumption, the lowest rate attained after the monetary As manufactures prosper, farm-wages adrevulsion, and the recuperation and healthy status of business in 1882. In the period of manufacturing depression, just prior to 1879, agricultural wages were greatly depressed, as is shown in the decline for 1869 in New Jersey. A large force of operatives, thrown out of employment, competed with agricultural laborers, intensifying the general decline toward a gold basis of values, and aiding in bringing down the general average from $32.11 to $20.22 in ten years. Depression in Manufactures causes Decline in Farm-wages.

With the return of industrial activity comes gen eral prosperity, and with it, as shown in the figures of 1882, a sharp advance in wages paid for farm-labor. Assertions have been plenty that labor on the farms is not affected unfavorably by manufacturing depression, but here are facts, in perfect accord with all similar records from time immemorial, which disprove that fallacy, and show that the farm-laborer is indissolubly bound up with the general prosperity of all the industries, and must share the good or ill fortune of workers in every legitimate line of human effort.

The rise in prices of farm-labor from 1860 to 1874.

The effect of a period of depression in manufacture is almost immediately manifest in a decline in the rate of agricultural wages. If long continued, it depresses wages in every part of the country. The decline is greatest, however, in the immediate vicinity of the silent factories. The panic beginning in the autumn of 1873 soon caused a reduction in manufacturing activity, and began to tell on prices in 1875. The stagnation gradually deepened, and the lowest rate of wages was reached later. In 1879 an investigation disclosed the fact that all sections were feeling the power:

The following table, prepared by the Washington, will Bureau of Statistics at show the rise in farm-laboring wages from 1860, when the Democrats were in power, to 1874, when the Republicans exercised full

Experienced Hands.
Summer.

Table showing the average Daily Wages for Farm-Labor in 1860 and 1874.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

For other points connected with the increase of wages of farm-labor, see Part VIII. of the chapter on "The

30

50 1 00

[ocr errors]

75

1 50

1 00

1 25

1 50

1 25

1 25

1 75

1 00

1 50

60 1 26

1 00

1 75

70 1 03

99

1 53

81 1 02

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

2888

[blocks in formation]

63

69

$87

$94

1 17 2 68

1 25 2 00

PART VI.

Comparative Cost of the Laborer's Liv. ing in Great Britain and Massachu

setts.

Having shown by undeniable statistics that under the Republican protective tariff the workingman of Massachusetts as well as in other States of the Union is much better paid and earns more than his less favored brother in free-trade Great Britain; let us see further whether it does or does not -as has been frequently asserted by the English Democratic free-trade advocates-cost so much more for him to live in this country that even with his higher wages he is absolutely no better off than the English workman. And it may be weil to continue the comparison between Massachusetts and Great Britain, touching the cost of living in each country. The items mainly comprised in the cost of living are groceries, provisions, fuel, dry goods, boots, clothing, rents, and, for those who prefer that mode of life, board and lodging. The report of Colonel Carroll D. Wright, then Chief of the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, for the year 1884, pages 440-469, contains a number of valuable tables bearing on all these in detail, to secure the data for which 75 retail stores in 10 cities and towns were visited in Massachusetts, and 150 retail stores in 20 cities and towns in Great Britain, and in addition, "the printed price-lists of leading retail houses in Boston and the 'supply-books' of the large workingmen's stores in Great Britain were consulted and used for verifications and to complete the grading of prices."

Analysis of tables of comparative cost of living for workingmen in Massachusetts

and Great Britain.

A careful analysis of these authoritative tables shows the following results for the year 1883.

which three grades workingmen make their purchases are .9 or less than one per cent higher in Massachusetts.

men's, women's, and children's, and comBoots, Shoes, and Slippers comprising prising the same three grades in Massachusetts and Great Britain, are 42.75 per cent higher in Massachusetts.

Clothing-comprising silks, satins, muslins, fancy dress-goods, mourning goods, ladies' underwear, ladies' hose, laces, men's and boys' shirts, men's merino underwear, men's hose, men's collars and cuffs, gloves, handkerchiefs, sewing-silks, cottons, needles, and pins, elastics, and trimmings, are 27.36 per cent higher in Massachusetts if you compare the three grades, but only 18 per cent higher in prices if the comparison is made on "low" grades.

Rents-These were, in 1883, on the average, 89.62 per cent higher in Massachusetts than in Great Britain, the investigation covering a wide field, from one, two, and three rooms in the most crowded parts of large cities, to six and eight-roomed houses in smaller manufacturing cities or with garden and fruit-trees in the suburbs of larger ones. It is shown that the average rent of one room in Massachusetts was 66 cents per week, $2.86 per month, and $34.38 per year, and in Great Britain 35 cents per week, $1.51 per month, and $18.02 per year, from which bases computations as to tenement prices can easily be made.

Board and Lodging. It appears also that board and lodging together was 39.01 per cent higher in Massachusetts in 1883 than in Great Britain. "The average price for board and lodging in Massachusetts, in 1883, for men, per week, was $4.79, for women $3.19; per month, men $20.76, women $13.82; per year, men $249.08, and women $165.88. Considering board alone the average rates for men, per week, were $3.84, for women $2.56; per month, men $16.68, women $11.09; per year, men $199 68, and women $133.12. Taking lodging by itself, the average rates, per week, for men were $2.20, for women $1.46; per month, for men $9.53, for women $6.33; per year, for men $114.40, and for women $75.92. Comparative figures for,

Groceries comprising flour, cornmeal, codfish, rice, beans, tea, coffee, sugar, syrup, soap, starch, and oil, were 16.18 per cent higher in Massachusetts than in Great Brit-board and lodging, in 1883, in Great Britain' ain.

Provisions comprising beef, veal, mutton, pork, sausages, lard, pickled mackerel, potatoes, butter, cheese, milk, and eggs, were 23.08 per cent higher in Massachusetts. Fuel-comprising coal only, was 104.96 per cent higher in Massachusetts. Dry Goods comprising sheetings, shirtings, flannels, quilts and comforters, blankets, cretonnes, table-cloths, napkins, towels, towelling, ticking-making the comparison on the basis of all goods of the "medium" "medium low," and "low" grades, from

are as follows: per week, for men $3.37, for women $2.37; per month, men $14.58, women $10.28; per year, men $174.98, and women $123.41. Women pay about two thirds as much for board and lodging as men. Parties lodging in one house and boarding in another pay more than those who secure board and lodging together. For this reason the averages for board added to those for lodging make more than the averages given for board and lodging."

From the same report the following concise comparative summary of prices is given:

« AnteriorContinuar »