Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-05-11
The Lql,or fIsrkat.
| From the Philadelphia Ledger.


VIII he price Of labor come downl That's tb,
Question that enters most largely into the engage
ments and preparations for future business The
advance ofwages went up. not alone upon the de-
mand for Increased services in the several der,r,
ments Of labor, but mainly because laborers were
taken from their respective pursuits to the battle
field by n.lreds of thousands, the consumption q.
all the various products of labor steadily going on
~ largely rs ever. Thus used mp all currcn,
production and all the accumulated stock ON hand
at the commence cment of the war.
very general self denial in the way cf con.
sumption has been observed, and in this way We
now approach the cnd of the war, and the time of
the return of our thousands Of soldiers to their
usual avOcati0ns. In MANY branches of indust, Y
there will henccforth be lessened demand, and
particular manufactures, recently most Incurred
for, viii be given up altogether.
Ther, will neccs sarIy be a change i'm the en-
ployment of many manufacturing establishments.
they will be discontinued. This will create
more competition in the ranks of labor the natural
consequence Of which is a reduction in the price
The tendency of The labor markets. manifestlv to
lower figures, and the engagements now being en-
tcrcd upon III The several productive pursuits for
future delivery are also at lower prices, based to
considerable extent, on "A reduction in wages
We have heard of contracts enteret! into. within
the last few days, for the manufacture and deliv-
cry OF iron 1T future day, at fully dollars ner
ton below the pres mt actual cost of making il.
This contemplateS not only fall in the wages o.:
the labor IN aud about the iron works but also in
similar reduction at ,he iron and coal mines, and
in the transportation charges on our canals bv the
greater supply oIboatS, which follow the release
Of the great number now, aud for two or three
years past, in the scrcice OF tue government
The same Is true of the rsilways. Released
from the heavy tonnage required of them bv the
Government. they will hive ~ abundance Of ctrs
with motive power. for tie ordinary business Of
their respective lines. tins bringing back the usual
competition. and consequently lower chlrres
But these changes vii. be comparatively slow
The sOdc.s will be mustered ont gradually.
even when peace is declared. and the use orour
canals and railways VIII rs Gradually fall back to
legitimate traffic. The indications all ro;nt.
ultimately. 20 low wages. for the reasons stated
and the reduction in prices of the necsssarics of
life, already commenced by a ii..l in groceries.
and alin0s -! manufactures. The sooner prop.
er point is reached, the sooner will business ac.
lively revive.
The longer the time Is DELAYED in reaching the
lowest point warranted. 10y changed circu,nstal.
ces, the longer viii active trade be deferred, for
the reason that the producer Of coal, iron, manu-
iactursd goods. &c.. will not care to proceed much
beyond the daily want, TO carry stock into the fu-
ture when it may be more cheaply produced, and
afforded at lower prices. IL is true, there is
counrergaling for any decline in stock prices,
and to some extent fall in the prices of every.
thing measured by eheapeHel currency.