New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18
WAGES OF FARM LABoRERS.

We pubisbeds short time since request for infor-
nation a. 10 the present and prospective wages OF
farm laborrs. Ne solicited replies 70 the following
questions: ~
J. W hat have YOU paid a day ans month the s5oTe's
employed upon year farm during the present winter With or
H. What do you propose pay month for farm
laboers for the season, eonniencing say, Apnl
III Are wages your section likely TO be higher OF lever
". your opinion that fsrmern win employ more or less
iaborer, this year than last as general thing
v VIII generally employ aoorers wages are
many expect they VIII pc cososrsoy the neat 'ea'n
than the y have been in pat seasonsl
TIC these we have received responses which may be
not only interesting but valuable TO farmers We give
the localities and replies numbered as above.
Westckestcr Co., Jan. 2O.-Benj. +.
Camp, large milk dairy farmer answer: l. Per day.
s. &C., without board ii. Per month, for months,
$l23. III. Lower. ". Lsss. V. Yes.
In the same county, IA miles up the Harlem Rail-
road, On small farm Scion Robinson answers; l. Fer
day. 81, without board. Per month, for tie Winter,
for stout Inch lad s., with board. Per month last
year sl2 ass with board. ii. Not over $l2 per
month. H. Farmers generally are not disposed TO
ray a. high. Nv. Less, unless wages are lower.
v Ycs. very largely more, il they coald get better
value for then money; but as the aborers nearly
all Insh, and mostly unskillfdl, they ask eSoroitant
wages for what they can do, and so farmers will only
employ just enough TO get along. Tney are discour
aged TT, ing to improve, with such labor as they have
at its present high cost.
OtegO Otseg0 Co., Jan. lS.-Legrand Brown an
swers: l. Per day, e., to rs cents farmers seldom
lire by the month in Winter. II. We expect $40 to
sl4 per month. and $3.50 to $40 year. ILL., think
not lower aborers being scarce bat the general intent
il TO hire only what is absolutely necessary a. pres
emf prices. ". About the same. V. If wages were
reasonably lower double the number of farm labOrers
would be employed. We need more workers-not
hirepgs who only aspire to fine dress and fast horses.
The dary farmers here do not find it profitable to hire
al present wages but would 90 largely az 500 or
500 wear. We have but few Germans orls. N 10
this section.
W. b. Sweet of Pompey, 0nondaga Co., answers;
In Winter 81 cents day, or IS month, and board
H. Saw $I3 and board Ill. Wages will be lower.
". think less " If considerably less, farmers may
employ more.
Jas. f. FAR of Big Flats Chemung Co., Jan. 8, an
swers: l. Per day, 62 cents permonth, sSto slO and
board. H. From $40 to $3, with board and washing;
Der day. 80 to e.! cents for ordinary farm laoorers
III. About the same. ". As a general thing more,
in nv opinion V. If considerably 10 wer much more,
for then they would plant every abe acre, which OF
late has not been done, owing TO high price OF labor
Butterfv, Osweg0 Co., Jan. ia. w. Severance
answers: l. am paying 62le. per day, and si5 per
month, and board II. About sl3 for SUMMER or Sl2
by the year. III. Probably higher. Nv. More V.
Present prospects indicate that farmers can afford and
will expect 10 pay than last season since farm
produce has increased in value and farmers will use
all the labor that will pay profit. The above p'ces
are medium. F1rst-rate hands would command "
month higher.
A. Main of Cayuga Co. says, Jan. le: l. paid last
season Sl3 month for seven months, and Zoe day
hoeine, &c, and 81 % in haying. This Winter pay
ON Irisbman go month ] consider Yankee worth
81 a month more, Summer or Winter. l pay o23c.
a day. and board for chopping, this Winter. III. Ac.
eordine to quality $l2 10 So Ill. Farmers can't
afford 10 pay higher. ~. Not any higher. " Would
employ more, but with wheat at 81 bushe and pork
&c. pound, they will not
SeipiO, CGyuga Co., Jan. H.-Geo X. Rathbm
says i. have paid 62lc, with board, and 81 &C. with
out. and 50 a month, with board, t1is Winter. III.
Shall pay Si5 with board fol- eight months, for hrst-
rate hands Ill. About the same w. and " Not much
differences the system of farming requiring the same
help IL is difficult to procure good female help III the
house.
North Stephenson, Rensselaer, Co., Jan. lA.-Solon
W. Dabo says /. Ab0ut$lO with board, or $l6 with
out pei month ard 80 cents with and 10 cents without
board. per day. ii. Too early TO answer certainly.
III. About the same ". Ditto V. l think they
would The main business is cheese dsirying In this
neIghbOrhOod.
CooDersto,cn, Otsego Co., Jan. @.-l Per month,
sI2 per day, 50 cents, with board ii. For best for
eien help, SD, $l4, and Sl4 $40 for best native.
Ill. About the same. ~. No prospect OF less V.
Yes, much more.
OteeO. Otseeo Co., Jan. 15.-James Bundy, an
swers: l. Per day, 62I ais cents per month, sl2
II. Per month"; sl3osl5; per year. $50. III. No
higher. ~. Less if possible. 1t is a maxim among
farmers here the less we hire the better at present
prices" v Many wOuld-at present they cannot afford
it.
Loud. Ulster Co., Jan. l7.--Abraham Wicklow, an
swers: l. We pay 81 month for four Winter months,
with board, washing and mending. By the day, 81
cents and board. III. We have engaged our Winner
laborer for year from April for $780, with board,
washing and mending and boy of 10 years at 70 for
eight months with board. ILL., Probably atre lower,
certainly no higher ~. Ditto. V. II wages were
reasonably lower farmers would hire more, and make
improvements Now they are unwilling to undertake
any We live six miles west Of New-Pdltz Landing,
and land il worth $50 to SIS an acre.
HOTaeltsviHe, dag. 9.-Charles Hartshorn, q farmer
and lHmberman, says: l. am paying 81 cents day,
without board, and $40 month, with board. III. l
propose to pay the day wages except hayng and
harvest when ] shall pay 81 day; by the year, sl2
a month with board. III. and ~. Wages will I'M
doubedly be lower the frost last season nearly used
up the crops and made farmers feel poor, and unwil
hing to pay former wages employ any more hirsngs
than barely enough to get along with. V. This would
H.. oh tn