The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-18
The wages Of Agricultural Labor

The wages Of the agricultural laborer In
Europe are considerably below those which
obtain II the United States, when we lake
into consideration the superior qnality Of food
and other comforts and prospects. which are
enjoyed by the laborer in America: A recent
steteLaent which has come under our notice,
gives the daily price of the agricultural labor
CO In different portions Of Europe. The in
formation Is given by the Secretary Of the
Board Of Agriculture Of New York, who visit
ed Europe during last year. He reports that
IN England 81 cents day Is the highest
a1uvunt paid, ont of which tho .ahorer finds
himself In most portions Of ireland, 26
cents day, is the sum paid for q farm labor
er, out Of which no boards and lodges himself;
and even at this reduced rate, he ouiy- gets
work during, perhaps, half the year, 'ths days
labor being from sunrise to dark
III Belgium, the most densely populous
country in Europe, the average rate is. 30
cents day, the laborer finding himself AT
Bonn on the Rhine, the price paid is about 25-
cents cay. In Weisbaden, % cents day
ere paid for the bsst workmei1 on farms and
roads, but on many farms "a cents,are- paid
the laborsrs in all cases boarding themselves
In the Grand Duehy Of Baden, the price varies
from % to 80 cents. In Cassell and the ad~
iaoent district, the wages are 81 cents Fe-
male laborers are paid Is cents. and find
themselves. This price Is paid, too, during
= harvest time, when, 1t is stated tbs rate is
higher than at other seasons. ma ~ u u
Our informant states that, while the pros
Of living is not generally so high III ehess
countries as in the United States. yet-In order
to live as oi.r laborsrs Of the same class, do,
the cost woud BE- very nearly the same In
Dublin, potatoes sold for 80 cents bushel
and the price ofgsol butter throughout Ire
land is, on an average, a shilling a pounds
choice quality brings IS peneea or Sc cents a
pound. The price Of -four on the contihsnt
Of Europe. and the same quality Of meat. cost
about the same as with us. i9r~ r-~ 81
From such facts as these, we may not WON
dor or be amazed at the vast tide 81 in1migra-
ton which has poured and continues to pour
into this country, where the laborer is deemed
10 much more. worthy Of his hire-and where
industry and sobriety are sure to reward the
Immigrant far beyond what be could ever ,ex-.
pect to attain In his own land, where the COM
petition in the labor market keeps down the
price of his commodity almost below ga ex-i
lifting rate He must therefore p, oftshy the
wisdom Of bis more elevated. better condi-
toned and fer seeing fellow man, who seeks
investment for his capital in the markets
which pay -hest--and does not confns such
Investments TO the locality in which hy re-
Edas-but sends his money abroad, where ii
will more rapidly accumulate and prove more
pemunerative. The capital of the poor man
Is his labor, and as this resides in his person.
slity, in his thsws and sinews, he must re-
move himself to localities where he will be
bsst paid, and, by economy, industry and So
bfiety, provide for hirlself and family a
comfortable homestead where he may live,
and not merely exist Tie South presents to
tie poor ard half starved lsborer of Europe,
WHO'S compelled in his own country to SUBJ
DIST os from eigh.aen to'thirty seven espts q
day. a wide and encouraging fsld IN which to
3paliAs his lengings and aspirations. which ell
,eSs{gs 7ss7Tut FEsv