New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-12
LABOR AND RENTS.

Now comes the Price Current with its
mournful story about the low price OF
: wages and the high price of living, just
as if it had no other business than to feed
the general discomfort that prevails with
out reason or justification. 1t contradicts
all the other old women who are telling US
of our misfortunes very plainly, for while
the crones Of the Picayune declare that
landlords are merely the receiving agents
of the tax collector, the Price Current in
forms us that these house owners put up
their rents upon the laboring population
exorbitantly in order to cover their taxes.
One OF these stories must be incorrect,
and 1t is our opinion that both of them
are wrong in spirit. In the first place,
laboring men are well paid in New Or
leans, and they are never out of employ
ment if they deserve it. In the second
place, rents are as cheap to them in this
city as in any other large city, and we are
willing to leave this to their decision.
The truth Of the matter is that
these parties are magnifying their own
evils because it is fashionable to do so.
This is proven by the fact that hundreds
of mechanics come to New Orleans
during the healthy season because they
can make better wages here than they can
anywhere else east Of the Rocky
Mountains. Brick masons are paid from
two to FIVE dollars per day, and good
workmen are scarce at these prices. Car
penters who do their work faithfully and
skillfully need never be out of employ
ment at from two and a half to three and
half dollars per day. Day laborers are
paid from one to two dollars. Field
hands average twenty dollars per month,
with board and house rent free As to the
expense of living, board and lodging can
be had at four dollars per week. A man
and his wife can rent comfortable cot
tage, with a garden attached, for eight
and twelve dollars per month, and some
prompt paying tenants obtain rent |
at six dollars. A lot will cost one |
hundred and fifty dollars; house can |
be built for four hundred more. This
pays the landlord twelve per cent. De-
duct four per cent for taxes and expenses,
md he has return of eight per cent on
MS money. A man and his wife and child
IAN live comfortably, with their garden to
assist them, upon fifteen dollars per
month. Six dollars added for rent makes
:wenty-one. Car fare per mouth three
dollars, swells the cost Of living to twenty
i've. Twenty-six days labor at three
lollars nets seventy-eight dollars, or
clear saving Of fifty dollars per month.
Deduct incidental expenses, and thrifty
should lay by four hundred dol
ars every year. If he buys himself an
'ther lot and puts up house, the whole
costing six hundred dollars, he can pay
or the whole in three years, which will
cave him with his own home and one to
ent. This is the way the thrifty Germans
make their money in the Sixth District
nd Carrollton, and they still have their
TN, their lager beer and their pipe.
Instead Of being in the dumps we
hould be in the best Of spirits, for indus
ry is well paid, honesty is appreciated,
he country is improving. and the goose
langs high. Men who will not see these
hings had better take the advice of the
Bee and go back to the land Of their birth
len who can see them and viii not accept
hem are not worth considering.