Litchfield enquirer., 1868-01-23
LABOR AND WAGES IN THE WEST

In consequence of numerous inquiries from various points of the country with .re- gard to the prospects of finding employ ment in the Northwest journal of Mil wauke publishes long and interesting ar ticle upon the prices and chances in all de- partments of labor in that region. This article gives in some respects different idea from that generally entertained herea- bouts of the opportunities for remunera- tive occupation in the cities of the nortl l- west, and artisans, mechanics and other young men possessed of reckless spirit, or dissatisfied with the wages they obtain in the Elst, may do we'll to read the facts and figures which are here offered them from the local authority above referred to.
 Merchants, says the journal before men toned, arc approached every day by appli- cants who would be willing to work for barely sufficient to buy their daily food. From the country young men are contin- ually pouring into the cities. of whom com paratively few meet with full success. The occupations regarded as gentlenanly are all over stocked. Thousands of young men, in their determination not to soil the white hands nor darken their sallow complex ions, apprentice themselves to'callings to enable them only to live in Q sort of genteel pinchery.
 Among the so-called ''gentlemanly" laborers are ranked clerks of all sorts, pub lie and private, telegraph operators and school-teachers. These are equally crowded in Milwaukee and the western cities general ly. The telegraphic operators especially ''swarm like bees" though their salaris on- ly range from $50 to $90 month. It is further remarked that owing to the depres- sion of business the trades are not at pres ent in fourishing condition. Marble cutters are scarce, but their wages are low. Bricklayers only get good wages during the building season. Printers on morning pa- pers are we'll paid, but there are enough to meet the demand. Machinists and moul- ders are far too numerous and many are out, of employment.
 The average compensation of the profess sions trades and callings in the chiefcities of the West is given here.
 The annual salaries of clergymen aver age about &, ,O0O; editors, 1,2OO; law clerks, $500; school teachers, male, $l, 200; female $400; telegraph operators, (skilful) $9OO
 The average weekly wages of those who follow the various trades and other occu- pations are: Bakers, $14; blacksmitl.s, $15; boiler makers, $16; boiler laborers, Sill; book binders, $l5; book-keepers $15; brew CTS, S15; bricklayers, (season) $21; cabinet makers, IA; caulkers, SIS; carpenters, join CTS, (ship) $17;. carpenters, joiners, (house) SIS; chair makers, Skilled mem, SIS; cur riers, SIP; conductors on street cars, $10; coopers, SIS, cigar makers, s15; clerks, (ho- teD S16; clerks. (post-ohice), $17; drivers on street cars, $9; druggist, (clerks) SIP; engineers (stationary) $25; express drivers, SIP; harness makers, SIP; letter carriers, SIS; machinists, $17, marble cutters, $17; moulders, $20; millers, $14; printers, Gob) Sl7; printers, ion morning papers) $25; pressmen, SIS; plumbers, $l7; salesmen, (dry goods, wholesale) SIS; salesmen, gro cery, wholesale) SIS; salesmen, (grocery. retail SIP; salesmen, (dry goods, retaill Sl3; shoemakers, SIP; saddlers, $14; sail; ors, Summer season, with board) SIP: stone cutters 80; tailors, (best workmen ! Sl5; tinsmiths, $14; tobacconists, $15; tur. ners, sl6; upholsters, $l6; wagon m akers, Sl5; watchmakers Skilled workmen) $2O.
 It will be seen that many of these sums are less than those received by similar work men and women in the eastern cities: and though the skillful laborer is everywhere worthy of his hire, and can command a fair price, there is little temptation for the 1a- zy or inexperienced to emigrate west ward.