Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-09-08
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH.
(From the New York Tribune)
The True American Policy.

PROTECTION AND WAGES.-A correspondent
asks us to state what has been the influence Of
the protective policy on the wages OF labor and
the condition of the laboring class in New Eng
land, contrasting what now is with what was
thirty, forty, fifty and sixty years ago.
Now, while we do not admit that what now Is
can fairly be employed to illustrate the effects of
protection, since Protection has been to n great
extent overthrown, to the detriment Of labor and
the depression Of wages, We agree that while
there were few or no manufactures Except house
hold) in New England forty to sixty years ago.
there are now many, and that protection has done
much toward planting them there. We will,
therefore, run the parallel indicated by our cor
respondent, to the best of our ability.
l. Food is far more abundant and more acces-
sible to the industrious poor throughout New
England now than it was forty to sixty years
ago, Then, when agriculture was the only re-
source, bad season frequently cut short the
crops, and left the poor without resource. They
had only labor to sell in the long, hard winter
that followed, while nobody wanted labor to help
thresh out their meagre yield Of grain, get wood,
&C., or felt that they could afford to hire. 1t
was by no means uncommon, therefore, in New
England half O century ago, for worthy and capa-
BILE young women to aoork for their board (and
work well) during such winters of scarcity, and
for poor men to work for next to nothing; now
there is for such no scarcity, either Of work or
food
g The father of the present writer, when
young man OF eighteen, has done mans full
work in New England through the winter for
seven dollars q month and board-going out into
the woods before daylight and hauling timber
till dark without dinner. No New England youth
Of equal ability now does just such work for less
than twelve dollars per month, and better fare
than was then furnished is Indispensable
3. The editor Of The Tribune was born forty
one years ago, within few miles of the now
great manufacturing cities of Lowell Mass, and
Manchester, N. H., but there was no factory at
either of these places and hardly habitation
during the ten years he lived in their vicinity
He distinctly remembers that laboring poor
man-a good hand, then in the prime Of life
worked through haying and harvest in 1878 for
half a Jushel Of Indian corn per day, then worth,
perhaps, fifty cents. Now no such man would
work through haying and harvest on that same
farm for less than dollar per day, which would
buy him at least bushel and peck of corn
a. He recollects that young American woman
of good character and at least average efficiency,
worked through the year 1919 for ftty cents per
aceek and her board; now no such American girl
could be hired to work just there for less than
dollar and a quarter per week, and we think
not for less than a dollar and a half In a fac
tory, after little practice, she could as easily
earn (beside board) from dollar and half to
two dollars and q quarter.
g. To the best of our knowledge, the prices
now paid for native labor, male or female, range
higher in New England than in any other part of
the world where living is as cheap and population
as abundant. The school-teachers, household as-
sistants, seamstresses, &C., of New England re-
ceive higher wages than those of western New
York, Ohio, Illinois, or Wisconsin. Immigrants
from Europe not paid so high as natives, be-
ing supposed less educated and skilful yet thou
sands of Irish and German girls now throng the
New Eagand dwellings and factories, finding bet
ter inducements there than elsewhere. Their
migration to a region so densey settled is rarely
paralleled. We regret it-or, rather, that which
causes it. These girls are all wanted for wives
in the great West where there is large excess
of men, while in New England there is prepon-
derance of women. We anxiously desire such a
remodelling of our national policy as will call
into existence factories, silk and iron works, &c.,
along the great rivers and on the iron and coal
beds Of the West, drawing thither thousands of
females now pent up in New England because
there they find employment most accessible and
wages most satisfactory.
u. 1t should be borne in mind that nearly every
description Of fabrics which o man. or woman
hired or boarded would be likely to buy, is now
far cheaper than it sixty, fifty, or even thirty
years ago. No hired girl, previous to 1920, could
afford to wear such clothes as are now possessed
by nearly every woman working for wages in
New England.
Our correspondent makes an inquiry respect.
ing the hour Of labor In New England before and
since the introduction of manufactures. We an
swer, they were generally too long then, and are
too long now. New England was always a hard
working region; we doubt whether there is an
other portion of the earth's surface on which 80
much is accomplished by a like number Of per-
sons actually employed. We do not think hired
laborers work longer now than formerly, but fac
tory labor is more monotonous more confning,
and oftener performed in close, unwholesome
atmosphere. There ought to be laws in every
State prescribing the number Of hours which
shall constitute n legal days work, and not al
lowing minors to be employed beyond those hours.
These laws should not be confined to any class or
pursuit, but should be Of universal application
and there should also be laws prescribing and
enforcing the thorough ventilation of every build
ing and apartment wherein ten or more persons
are employed. We deem this even more import
ant than limitation Of the days work. We trust
not many years will pass before the general en-
actment of such laws. Who will help on the good
work.
REALIZATION OF A APREsENTIMENT. Huey,
of Delaware, just across the line from Kennett,
Chester county, left his home in company with
two Of his men to fell tree. At first one of his
men objected to go, in consequence Of q singular
dream Of the night previous, which 50 impressed
him with danger, that he was fearful of its real
ity. He finally went, however. When the work
was nearly accomplished, and while those pres
ent were looking for the tree to fall, Mr.. Huey
took hold of a branch and attempted to push it,
he was warned to leave, and just at the moment
of falling, sprang, but instead of out Of the way
he fell directly under, and was crushed to death
Horse STUNa TO DEATH BY BEEs.-A horse
belonging to Mr.. Hopes, of Mill Creek Hundred,
Delaware tied near beehive, q few days ago,