The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-16
THE WAGES OF MECHANICS.
How they Rank in the Large Cities of the
United ststes--A Comparison with Form
|

|
How they Rank in the Large cities Of the
United states--A Comparison with Form
er Years.
| From the best data obtainable, en-
bracing the reports of the trades unions
and the statements of employers, it may
be asserted that the decline in the wages
of mechanics and laborers in this city
since 1873, says the New York Times,
has been between thirty-fve and forty
per cent. With this reduction from
former standards, there is in many
branches of industry so little demand
| for labor that mechanics are glad to take
anything that is offered hundreds have
left the city and sought employment
elsewhere, and many more are without
employment on any terms. That the
distress among the poorer classes has
not been greater than it was this winter.
may be set down to the providential
mildness of the season, and that gradual
dispersion of the superhuous artisan
class from the city which has been 60
ing on for the past two years. In our
recent review of the labor market, il
was pointed out that the various trades
connected with building had suffered
most severely from the panic of 1873,
and of course the reduction of wages
has been greatest among them. The
wages of bricklayers, plasters, and
painters have fallen from $3.50 and S5
per day to 81; carpenters and join
ers from $50 to 50 and $1.50 per day
paper hangers wages have fallen in
the same proportion the plumbers are
scarcely better off, the standard prices
having almost been abandoned by mu-
| tual consent stone masons can scarcely
obtain work at 9ny price, but the stone
cutters, a somewhat limited body, have
only been reduced from $3.50 to SO. 20,
though it would seem that further re-
| duction must come sooner or later. As
to laborers, before the panic, men could
not be had to sweep the streets at much
than 81. so per day, while now 81 per
day will bring hundreds of eager appli-
cants for work.
In other lines of business reductions
have been somewhat less. Cabinet
makers earn between $40 and S15 per
week, against S1S to 500 before the
panic /; the wages of the frescoers have
suffered little reduction carriage
makers have dropped from So. so to 81. sc
|
duced in number, but the wages
standard has not been much, if any, re-
duced; cigarmakers earn from S12 to
S15 per week, rs compared with $40 and
S23 three years ago. The musicians
union reports no reduction of rates and
steady employment at this season. The
tailors conceded reduction of ten pei
cent. from former prices some time ago
but the union, which is quite powerful,
is now maintaining a strike against 6
further reduction. This may be takex
rs pretty good evidence of the prosperity
of the tailors, as compared with many
other important trades, in which the
unions have gone to pieces and the mer
are begging work at any price. Wages
range from $12 to $40 per week. The
shoemakers have suffered very mucl
this winter, and rates have fallen from
$40 and $50 to S15 and $1S per week
but the reduction is probably greater
than it would have been had not tht
weather continued so mild. The hatter
are better situated, their wlges rate
having suffered no great change. Baker,
are poorly paid class, receiving from
81 to So per day, and the rate has no
DcCu VdIIcu. IloIstSuOeTo IeCtlNo tu'
same wages as before, except in isolated
cases, being So. per day.
In other trades, reductions hav
greatly varied. The wages of book anc
job printers have, by the last reduction
been brought down about twenty pc
cent. from the old standard, compost
tors now receiving S19 per week. Th
coopers have suffered heavily of late
and now earn about go or $l2, the for
mer rates being $18 and $40; boxmaEer
have come down from $40 to Sl2; irol
molders from SO. so per day to 80; bras
molders from $l8 per week to S15
blacksmiths and machinists from S18 t
$40 and $12; ship calkers from 81 pc
day to $3.50; sailmakers from 500 pc
week to $15.
From this exhibit it appears that il
some trades in which the highest wage
were paid before the panic the reduc
tions have been heaviest, being owe
fifty per cent; that in others, wher
wages were at lower and healthier rates
they have been reduced about twenty
| five per cent. that in some trades ther
has been no reduction at all, though tn
/ production has been less, and const
} quently the number of men employe
: greatly reduced; and that there are ati
: further reductions threatening, unles
} the business of the country receives
strong impulse in the spring. Whetht
9 the decline has reached its lowest stag
< is question which it would be usele'
to attempt to answer.