The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-06-26
The Condition of Laboring Men in
Massachusetts,.

The Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau
Of Statistics of Labor Of Massachusetts
March, 1870, contains a detailed state
ment Of the condition OF 307 IAboring men
Of the towns Of that State, representing the
various occupations and nationalities, and
skilled and unskilled labor in about the
same proportion as they exist in the State.
Without giving the details, which are
well worth an examination, and we pre-
sumo the Report can be had by enclosing
80 cents Of stamps to George ii. Long, Dep.
Chief, SO Pemberton Square, Boston, we
give the conclusions at which the Chief Of
the Bureau arrives
ART OF LIVING.
|. In the majority of cases, workingmen
III this commonwealth do not support their
families by their individual earnings alone.
This fact also appears in earlier reports. ]
2. The amount Of earnings contributed
by wives, generally speaking, is SO small
that they would save more by staying at
home than they gain by outside labor.
3. Fathers rely, or are forced to depend,
upon their children for from one quarter
TO one-sixth of the total family earnings
4. Children under ID years Of age supply,
by their labor, from one-eighth to one sixth
Of the total family earnings
8. More than one-half Of the families
save money, less than one-tenth are in
debt, and the remainder make both ends
meet. THEY are not the debtor but the
creditor class.
q. Without chlldren's assistance, other
things remaining equal, the majority Of
families would be in poverty or debt.
Z. Savings, by families and fathers alone
are made in every branch Of occupation
investigated but in only few cases is
there evidence of the possibility of acquir-
ing a competence, and In those cases II
would be the result of assisted or family la
Dor.
&. The higher the income, generally
speaking, the greater the saving actually
and proportionally.
=. The average saving Is about three per
cent. of the earnings. The recipient OF
yearly wages of less than $500 must get
in debt.
RENTS.
1. But an significant proportion Of work
ingmen, whose condition we investigate,
are able to own their own houses. 4 out
Of 397.
2. The families containing the greatest
number of child workers occupy the most
crowded rooms, and the inferior class OF
tenements.
3. About three-luarters Of these work
ingmen's homes are in good condition, a:
regards locality and needful, sanitary pro
visions but
l. Nearly one-half Of the unskilled la
borers live III inferior tenements.
,. While the homes Of these working
men compare most favorably with those IL
foreign countries and other States of tn,
Union, yet in certain Of the United States
workingmen have better opportunities fo
acquiring homes Of their own.
FOOD.
l. The working classes of Massachusetts
Judging from our Investigations, are we'll
fed
2 Their food, in variety ond quality, i
above the average Of that consumed IL
foreign countries, and that, as regard
quantity Of animal food used, their ''hlshe
level IL unreasonable.
DRESS
L. As far as the investigations extended
the workingmeD are. on the average. wei
and comfortably clothed.
2. Their manner Of dress is, at least
capable Of the most favorable comparison
with that in foreign countries.
3 Judging from the proportionate out
lay for dress, as regards entire expenses
there is no evidence that our worklngmen
in obedience to fashion, indulge in al
EXCESSIVE or dispropOrtlonate expendi
ture.
GENERAL EXPENSES
l. From our Investigations, we find n,
evidence or Indication that workingmel
spend large sums Of money extravaganza,
or for bad habits.
,. A large proportion of skilled workmel
have sewing and other labor-saving ma
chimes in use IL their families.
3. As evidence of material prosperity, t,
a certain extent, significant numbers Of tn,
families (the aid Of child labor being full
auowed) own pianos or cabinet organs anC
maintain pews IN church.
''Of the 397 families, III per cent hav,
pianos OF cabinet organs "a per cent. hav,
sewing machines 52 per cent. have one o.
more carpeted rooms 70 per cent. paiC
rents for church pews."
We make no comments but will asl
our readers to examine these facts care
fully and make their own deductions.