Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-12-19
Frostburg, December 10. 1877 4
Comparative Wages of Labor.

collected by the national bureau of
statistics and by the Massachusetts,
labor bureau, showing how far wages
for mechanics and laborers correspond
in the United States and Europe
The figures are for the year 1872, and
are reduced to United States currency.
A comparison which has been made Of
the highest rate of wages paid IN differ
ent countries for a given branch
shows the following facts:
The weekly wages Of an ordinary
farm laborer in Massachusetts, are $6,
with board, which is undoubtedly
equivalent to $40 The highest wages
in England, paid in Lincolnshire, are
IS II, without board in Kent, SIS 81
in Devonshire and Cornwall, $4 o. in
Ireland, 81 81, without board; in
Prussia, So IS in Denmark, 81 43 in
Italy, SIS S9-all with board.
The difference in the trades is even
more remarkable. A blacksmith in
Massachusetts, receives $lS so per
week in England, 81 90; in Scotland,
81 81; in Germany, IS rs; in Prus-
STA, 81 %; in France, ST Oh. In the
bookbinding business the wages equal
ly remarkable in Massachusetts as
compared with England. A flst-class
tnisher gets $50 in Massachusetts,, and
$40 SO in England; a forwarder earns
SIS here, against SO 50 in the old
country female folder is paid SO in
Massachusetts, and So 81 in England.
Again, in the great trade of Massachu
sets in boots and shoes first class up
per-cutter will earn SIS, while the Eu-
ropean is paid 81 OS; the female ma
chine hand is paid $50, and So - in
Scotland a mender of shoes earns
SIS here against 50 50 in England,
S. Is in Germany, 81 So in Prussia,
and So So in Italy.
In the building trades which are
the most expensive here the difference
of wages between the two continents
is enormus. A tirst-class moulder of
brick earns 500 II with board in Mas
sachusetts, and s. 81 without board
in England A mason is worth $24
here against $40 II in England, 50 IS
in Scotland, 81 so in Prussia, and
S. p in Italy A bricblayer is paid
S24 here against SO II in England
and SIS "a in Germany. A plasterer
commands $24 in America. while his
wages in Europe vary from Sc OS in
Italy to SIT Oh in Prussia. \ carpen-
ter earns ST. in Massachusetts,, while
in England he would earn $40 l., in
Scotland s. 50 in Germany So IS, and
in Switzerland IS 10 Plumbers earn
the comparatively low wages in Mas
sachusetts of Sl6; in England they
are paid SO 70, in Germany 81 So
In the business Of stating houses the
wages here are SIS to about S. in Eu-
rope. In painting they are SIT, to
about $40 in England, and about $l2
in Germany.
If we come now to machine work
our wages do not show so great a SUI
periority to English wages, first class
boiler man earning here $l4 Al against
$l2 25 in England and $ll 81 Prus-
STA. Machinists, iron moulders, pat
tern makers and the like earn, about
double what they do in England and
treble what they would in Germany
or France In Prussia, however, this
class of work is better paid. In cabi-
net-making and upholstering Ameri-
can wages are about SO per cent. high
er than English or Prussian, and some
three times what they are in Germany,
France and Switzerland. Again, in
the manufacture of wagons and carria-
ges, and in all kinds of wheelwright
business, wages are fully double the
English and treble those on the con-
tlnent.
The same proportion seems to hold
good Of most kinds of cotton and wool
en- manufacture. In the iron manufac-
ture, in which the English have shown
such great skill and success, this
same proportion is found, namely, that
the American wages are generally
double the English, and nearly treble
those of the continent.
The figures would seem to show that
the American mechanic and artisan
receives from double to quadruple the
money return received by their fellow
laborers in Europe. The purchasable
power of this money is as great as re-
CARDS articles Of prime necessity as in
Europe. Such facts show that our
country offers to laborers, mechanics
an exceptional position, no where else
to be found in the world. The great
cost of living to the middle and salar-
led classes here, as compared with
similar ones in Europe, is part of the
contribution which all make toward
the prosperity of the laboring class
1t is true that this class during the
last year have suffered some losses,
but these, it is believed, nave arisen
from temporary causes, and will not
affect their permanent condition of
prosperity and comfort
Copper is plenty in Italy. but gold
is scarce, and the copper money of
Italy and France is of the same value,
SO traffic was organized of carrying
copper money into France on pretty
large scale and getting gold to return
to Italy. One dealer was arrested