Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-06
THE WAGES OF LABOR IN EUROPE AND
AMERICA.

AMERICA,
We have i'll this country no very full or
reliable statistics concerning the wages
and general condition of the working
classes. 1t is one of the objects of the pro-
posed Labor Commission to fully investi-
gate this whole question. AS the law of
Congress proposes to do nOthing more than
compile by patient and impartial research
full information on the subjects of great
Importance to both employers and en-
plOyees we can see no excuse for the
closest stickler for States Rights Directing.
The States Rights men should certainly
not object to the General Government
furnishing them with the information,
which they have not, and without which
they can not legislate intelligently or I'M
partially. But whether they object or not,
we hope the law will pass and be carried
out.
In general way we know that the con-
dition of the laboring men in this country
is much better than elsewhere. While
they pay more for some articles of living,
their wages are much higher. Upon this
point we give some valuable statistics pre-
pared by the English Government. What
laboring men are paid in Europe may be
seen in the following figures. The price
is given in our own currency:
In Prussia common manual labor in
agriculture is paid from eighteen to twen-
ty-five cents per day. The hours are twelve
TO thirteen in summer, and eight i'll WIN
ter. In the manufacturing districts, the
hours of labor are eleven to twelve, being
sometimes as low as ten, but more fire.
uuently above twelve. The price of skill
ed labor varies from thirty to thirty-five
cents per day.
In Austria the average wages of the
agricultural IabOrer are reported as only
twenty to thirty dollars per year. Wages
of mechanics vary from forty cents (the
minimum) to 81 30 (the maXimum) per
day. A good journeyman shoemaker
makes as much as two forms eighty cents
Il day. Weavers make only seventy cents
a day. Iron workers and smiths do better,
earning from ninety cents to 81 80 day.
Builders are i'll great demand in Vienna,
vet head workmen receive only seventy
cents day. Printers and typefounders
number at Vienna about two thousand
workmen and seven hundred to eight hum
bred apprentices. Average wages of type
settlers, 81 p a day of ten hours. In most
Of the other trades, the hours of labor are
twelve day.
Wages in France are, SO far as develop
ed in this report, the rates paid in Paris,
where the rates of compensation for labor
have risen over % per cent. within few
years Blacllsmiths receive from 90 cents
to 81 90, daily wages; bakers get only b
cents to 81 90; boot and shOemakers 81 90
to 81 20; carpenters 81 20-working twelve
hours day. Dressmakers only 80 to 80
cents a day; halter, 50 cents to 81 10; ma
sons, 90 cents for unskilled laborerS, and
81 10 for skilled ones, house painters 81 20,
and printers 81 90 to 81 % for day work
men, or 10 to l. cents the l 900 letters for
piece worllmen.
In the French Departments, the wages
of skilled mechanics vary from 50 cents to
81 90 Agricultural laborers receive from
80 to 81 cents.
&c, receive 90 to % cents for days work.
Weavers and other manufacturing hands,
IS to 80 cents. Painters about the same,
and shoemakers only % cents a day.
In the Kingdom of Italy skilled me-
uhanics receive so to 60 cents per day of
eleven hours. More ordinary workmen %
to 40 cents. Printers receive only from 70
to 90 cents per day, according to their skill
and experience at their profession.
In Sicily, laborers employed in railway
construction and road making receive from
20 to So cents per day, the working hours
being from sunrise to sunset.
At Rome, the ordinary wages of the
working man is three pauls (33 cents per
day.
In the Netherlands, factory laborers get
from so cents to 81 per day, the hours of
labor being eleven to twelve.
Switzerland is full of industry from one
end of the country to the other. Cotton,
flax and wooden factories pay their opera
tives thirty to eighty cents, the general
average being for men forty cents. Printers
get forty-tive to eighty cents, and litho-
graphers (which class of artisans abound
in Switzerland) fifty cents to eighty cents
for each days work.