Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-07-19
THE WAGES OF LABOR.

INFERIOR races. Let seupLV
in another direction. We notice with
sincere regret, that very many "kaai-
cals"-indeed all Of the latter day Rad
icals-evince a relative contempt so
far as their feeble intellects afford them
power of initiating expressions OF morai
despising, for anything except equal
rights" as claimed to be embodied in
extending the franchise. "Seek the
enfranchisement of the inferior races
in this country" is the grand absorb
ing demand Of the ramfusticus radicals.
And any movement calculated to
secure ''equal and exact justice" which
is no, under the above programme is
treated with disdsin; if not opposed d.
rectly, is meauly disparagsd, is usually
suspected of being an obstacle 10 the
way of the progress" they champion.
Efforts TO secure or maintain good
wages and a reasonable time table Of
daily labor, are not worthy the support
Of these alteration planners. Perhaps
not. Their opposition to movements Of
this kind are generally characterized
BY cowardice and ~maliguancy; which
should be observed as a commentary on
their p~re,ense Of vast courage in bur
raining for negro and Mongoliap suf'
frage.
We believe these sayings, however.
survive as standards, in the dictionary
of homes. civilization: "'Labor is hon.
orable," 1.-THE lsborer is worthy Of his
hire" Is labor really accredited as
honorable, when wages are ut ''eking
OUT figures? Is no, the lsborer made
honorable BY his accepted worthiness
to receive liberal wages?
We propose &c glance at this subjee,
from an entirely homo and practical
stand point.
Nevada has been peculiarly fortunate
as a State, the large majority Of whose
white citizens are daily laborers.
Wages were set at a good figure 10 early
times, and have been retained at nearly
the original per diem. We wish they
were SIS per day, and think they ought
to be; but 81, the price usually paid
miners, is a fair compensation. Most
Of those "foreign capitalists against
whom q. G. Blasdel whispered all maa-
ner Of dirty abuse, TO arouse prejudice
for his infamous mine tax bill, last Win
ter, have eviuced so far a disposition to
keep the rates for labor at present
prices.
There are in this State about eight
thousand white laborers, who depend
for their livelihood absolutely on the
wages Of daily labor in the mines and
mills. |, is important to retain this
population, the very men now working
in Nevada. The Radical" journals,
par excellence, desire the Introduction Of
Mongolians, who will work for from $50
to $50 per month. Our people, our
,radesmen, and other business men, who
are not miners proper, should recognize
the great importance OF keeping well
paid white labor 10 the State. Your
prosperity here depends, in primary
degree, upon this keeping.
Now lie, US estimate. The per diem Of
81 is not much more than sufficient TO
wellsupport a man of family in this State
q, this time. Allow the father to work
seven days in the week. Allow the
family to consist of wife and two little
children, of infant school age. This is
the average" by political economy
writers generally. T~wenty-eight dol
lars per week is the sum earned. We
will suppose the mar has no rent to pay.
We will take less than an average Of
Summer and Winter prices for the ab-
solute necessities Of life. He has an
income Of Sl,456, per annum. Flour
will COS. SllO. Meat, $3.50. yegeta-
bles, 500. Tea, coffee, sugar, $50.
Clothing, $500. Fuel and lights, $3.50.
Taxes, $40. Charities, S25. Total
Ss55. We have taken q man who owns
bis own house aud is more than ordi-
nsrily frugal in his household economy,
and makes, by himself and wife, good
purchases for the seasons. We do not
suppose that he loses a day, or spends
a ecu. for tobacco, liquor or amuse-
meuts. A violent and rather unnatural
presumption, we admit but we now
seek an acknowledged minimum. We
have a surplus Of S5ol. Really, on the
average, for lost time, on account OF
Sickness or lack of steady employment,
we may deduc. 5000 from the above.
But say, for the outside calculation tina,
a laboring man Of family could save S4oC
per anuum. Is not that little enough oil
laying up in store" and ought no,
any advantage hereafter to accrue from
eheapened cost Of living to be held By
the white daily laborer of Nevada?
We have been assured by those who
ought to know, that the actual average
saving Of q daily laborer IN Nevada, per
year, rarely exceeds $500.
Consider that these men have chill.
dreu, whom we all should feel interested
in vingaforded a first class education.
Instead of having the railroad brino