Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-19
WAGES OF LABOR.

The laboring men in this country do not reflect
on the effect the policy of Walker and Polk is &c
have ON their immediate wages. We are TO have
(under these wise rulers the protection taken from
our labor, and laborers are to enter into compe
tition with the pauper laborers of Europe. This is
the undeniabe consequence OF the free trade prnci-
pie which our locofoco rulers are now carrying out.
They say that we must manufacture as cheap as
Europe, and therefore our laborers must be placed
on the same footing with European laborers We
do not think that many of our working people in
this country would be much elated with the idea of
being paid and fed as European laborers are-We
happen TO have an article from the 'eAbany Guilt
vator," on the wages in Europe, copied from the
report of the Commissioner of Patents.
From an instructive article on the subject of agri-
cultural labor in different countries its wages, and
the comparative condition of the laborer in the Lon
don Mark Lane Express, we condense the follow
ing facts I'm our estimates we have called the
shilling sterling twenty-five cents, though its val
ne Is trfe less and the comparison tho instituted
with English laborers, can be easily made with
those in this country.
In England the average rates of agricultural wa
ges Tor able men with families, is nine shillings, OF
81 ,9S per week. From this is deducted cottage
rent at thirty cents per week, leaving 81 .63
per week TO provide himself with the necessares of
llle In France, laborer in the same situation re-
ceives ST. "a per week in Prussia Go cents; in
Germany ST ,O2 per week in Holland and Beg-
um 81 20; in Italy and the Austrian States ST. Is.
II will be remembered that these averages are those
OF the common shepherds. carmen and
mechanics, receiving rather more. The food which
1ah,,
raj countries. is stated in the Express as follows:
In England the laborer can obtain for his 1853 cts
or his weeks wages, either thirty-nine pounds of
bread or lbs. of meat, Z. lbs. of butter l2s lbs
of cheese, la lbs of potatoes.
In France, with his "a cents he can buy either
DO lbs of bread, l2l lbs of meat OF PSI lbs of po-
taoes.
In Prussia, with his GO cents per week the Ia
borer can buy either Sc lbs. Of bread, l6 lbs of
meat, or 81 lbs. of butter.
In Germany, with lO2 cents he obtains either
43s lbs. of bread, Is lbs Of meat, IL lbs of but
ter, "A lbs. of cheese, or 54 quarts of beer
In Holland and Belgium, 100 cents will buy
either 81 lbs of Bread 90 lbs of beef or 46S lbs of
potatoes.
In Italy and the Austrian States, the laborer.
with his l ID cents, can buy either so lbs Of bread
Y lbs of beef, lbs of cheese or l6O lbs of poa-
toes.
This table is interesting, as showing not only the
prices of labor in the countries named but also the
prices of bread, meat, butter, cheese, Sc 1t is
true, the bread is stated by the pound instead of
grain by the bushel but the flour of bushel of
wheat, say 5O lbs, will make from 63 to 65 lbs of
bread, an estimate may easily be made Of the guam
hty of wheat -four man in any of the countries
named would receive for weeks work.
The laborer in this country, who receives his
bushel of wheat day, other articles in proper
ton, will readily conceive the meagre fare, and
slender chance of ''laying by anything" which
must attend the foreign agricultural laborer. In
all these countries it will be the value of pro-
visions is at least great as here and in some in
stances much greater. 1t is only by the COMPARE
sous which such authentic statements enable them
to make that the free laborers, the farmers or me-
cha'lcs, of this country, can fully appreciate the
advantages of their position.