New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-13
COST OF LABOR.

We have been favored by the author,
Edward Young, ESQ.,, in charge of the Ma
tional Bureau of Statistics, with pamphlet
of some seventy-ive pages, entitled "Cost of
Labor and Subsistence in the United
States" The work, which consists of a
series Of tables prepared, evidently, with
much labor, and showing the comparative
and average weekly wages paid in the
| several States and sections in the years
1867 and 1869, for factory labor, for ordi-
nary mechanical and agricultural labor,
and the cost of provisions, groceries, dry
goods and house rent. To these are added
tables showing the comparative cost of
building materials and labor in the years
1861 and 1869. As the work was prepared
for the use of the special commissioner of
the revenue, its correctness may be taken
for granted.
Although these tables extend only over a
limited space Of time, they are sufficient to
show a gradual and progressive increase in
the rates of wages, and consequently cor
responding improved condition of the me-
chanical classes. The inference will be, of
course, that all the benefits arising to So
ciety at large from the development of the
sciences and improvements in the mechanic
arts are shared in full proportion by what it
has been the fashion to style the lower classes
meaning those who support themselves
by daily labor. A not very deep study of
these and similar tables will at once, we
think, show the error of those who hold to
the opinion that the general rise Of wages is
of no practical Importance to the daily lab
orer; because, when his wages rise, the means
of living rise proportionally, leaving him in
the same position as when wages were
lower. 1t requires but little acquaintance
with political economy to see that the ad
vance of wages is positive benefit to
the man who works for daily or weekly
hire, even although the price of all the
necessaries, cOnveniences and Injuries of
life rise also. For, supposing that the la
borer, by proper thrift, is able to save five
per cent of his wages, if the wages are
doubled, the five per cent saved produces
twice the amount of money in given time;
in other words, the working man can save
one hundred dollars where he saved fifty
before
Besides, although higher wages than for
merly be paid to produce many articles,
the articles themselves are furnished at
much lower cost to the consumer. We may
take the book printing business as an eX-
ample. Forty years ago, when one of
Scott's novels sold for dollar and half in
New York, the price of composition type
setting) was twenty-five cents per thousand
ems. Now the cOmpOsitOrs obtain fifty
cents per. thousand ems, and the book is
sold for twenty-five cents. In planning mills
and sash factories the wages of the work
men are increased full seventy-fve per cent
more than in former years, yet the prices of
manufactured building materials are so re-
duced that it is in the power OF any journey
man mechanic or day labOrer, by few
years economy, to obtain a homestead for
himself and family.
On the whole, it looks as if the much
talked-of competition between labor and
capital SO fraught with ruin to the former
is mere chimera. At any rate, SO far,
wherever capital is employed to large ex-
tent, the remuneration of labor has surely
and steadily risen.
In the older settled parts of the United
States, what was, less than half century
ago. considered as a large fortune is now, i'll
numerous cases, not more than one years
income; and in many parts of the country
men are found who possess fortunes equal
to, and in some cases surprising the ave
rage incomes of the nobility and gentry of
Europe. But these fortunes, although re-
sulting from the successful application of
capital, are not accumulated by the depres-
sion Of labor. On the contrary, wherever
such fortunes exists, the condition of labor
seeems to have improved, and its condition
is such that every working man, by prac-
tising the virtues of industry, sobriety and
thrift, may accumulate a comfortable pro-
vision for the decline of life. The "rainy
day" may be anticipated and provided for;
but need never be feared.