The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-21
BALTIMORE,
TUESDAY, AUGUST 81, 1860

II 10 ALWAYS interesting to compare the material
condition of one people with that of another anditis
particularly pleasant to so when the result of such
an investigation shows all the advantages to be on
the side of those who institute the comparison
That the workingmen of this country may have
the satisfaction of knowing they are better off than
their brethren elsewhere, we extract from the
Quarterly Regie,o for July some information about
the earnings Of English mechanics and laborers.
In 1852 the wages of those engaged in the various
occupations here named, were rs follows:
In cotton factories, steamengine tenders received
perweek, 81 20; scutchers (girls and women 81 92
shippers (boys and young mem $3.50; overlook
ers (cardng) S6.72; minders of selfacting mules
1928; power-loom weavers (mostly women S2.56
In the silk factories, mill-men and throwsers re-
ceived, per week, S4.os; spinners young men and
boys) 50 40; weayers $3.50. In other mechanical
trades workmen were paid as follows: Smiths and
wheelwrights, per week, S7.6S; painters $685.;
erectors S7.92 bricklayers 1872 in summer and
$3.50 in winter; stonemasons ST. in summer,
and S6.4s in winter; brick-moulders $l2 co in
summer, and S. .O4 in winter
But the highest rates Of wages are those which
prevail in the iron trade. t'It must, however, be
''premised," says the Quarterly "that the wages
fare for week of straightforward, heavy work,
Hwithout hours loss of time for change of
''orders or any casualty whatever" In the
Pudding Mills, puddlers received, per week,
$l0.OS; puddler's understands, S4.56; rollers,
$14.52; rollers helpers, S7.2o. 1t is only in the
iron works though, that men earn such wages and
the article from which we arequoting speaks of the
lion paid TO this class of
exceptional. Gin the
f e average wages of Ia
..s.-.- ..H-. l6 to sass per week.
r.-G therefore, is earned by
.st a $3.50 each per annum,
- chanics. The follow
ing instances will give some idea of the in
come which can be earned by those pursuing
other avocations. The salaries of Certified
"teachers'' in the National Schools are under
$500 per annum, and those of 'uncert6ed
teachers are under $3.50. A Dissenting con-
gregation at Colchester engaged its minister at Sc
per week. The average pay of bankers clerks
is not 500 per annum. 1t must not be supposed
that the mechanics and laborers of England are
now working for lower wages than they have
been in the habit of earning heretofore. On the
contrary, it is shown that wages have steadily
risen in almost every department of business
within the past twenty years. The wages
of painters, for instance have increased
20 per cent. since 1899, and those of brick
layers and stone.ma about 16 per cent,
while those of the workmen in the cotton factories
have advanced from 20 to 25 per cent. within the
same period. Nor is it on account of surplus
OF workmen that the rates paid are so moderate,
for a leading manufacturer has stated 'that at
''least 20, 900 additional operatives-men women |
"and children-are required in Lancashire alone |
"to enable the existing mills, and those in course
''of erection, TO be worked satisfactorily. p
When it is remembered also, that while men have |
been earning more money, the ''prices of nearly |
'all kinds of food have been considerably dimin- |
'ished;" it is manifest that the laboring popula- |
ton of England is in a better condition than it
has ever been before. We suppose there are few
American mechanics who are not now receiving |
for their labor higher wages than are paid for |
similar services in England, although business |
has been dull here for the last year or two and |
their earnings much lower than they expect to
receive in future. When, therefore, we add to
the excess Of their receipts, what they save in
food and house-rent, both of which are far cheap
er here than in England it is evident that the
condition ofthe workman here is a very enviable
one as compared with that of the artisans of Eng
land g.. |