Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-09-18
Wages Of Farm Laborers.

Among other Interesting matter in
the report of the Commissioner of
Agriculture, at Washington, recently
prepared, IS chapter on the agricul
tural labor question. The Depart
nent has been gathering information
IN every county in the Union with
regard to the rate Of wages paid to
farm laborers and the average cost
OF living. According to the returns
in all quarters of the Union, except
Minnesota, California, Colorado, Ore
gon, New Mexico and Washington
Territory, the average monthly rate
OF pay tor farm laborers declined dur
ing the year ending last April from 8
to Is per cent At the same time,
the expense of living in the majority
of States declined in equal or greater
proportion, so that the relative con-
dltion of the labofer really improved
during the year.
The average rate of pay in New
England for farm laborers on yearly
engagements, without board, aver
ages $40 81 per month, against $22 so
at the beginning of the year, a de.
cline OF 10 per cent. The average
cost OF living has fallen from $9.l3 to
$500 per month, decline of more
than Is per cent. Ir tie Middle
States the conditions were reversed ;
the monthly pay of the farm laborer
being $40 80, decline OF per cent,
while the average cost of living had
declined only per cent. In New
York farm laborers receive "a per
cent. less than they did year earlier,
but pay 10 per cent. less for their
living. In the South Atlantic States
labor has been reduced Is per cent,
and the cost OF living l6 per cent
The average pay in these states was
$l1.l9 per month. In the gulf States
the average monthly pay Of $l4 80
shows decline of per cent, while
the cost of subsistence fell only per
cent. In the nine inland States east
of the Mississippi the monthly pay
varies from sl5 so per month south
of the Ohio, to $40 90 in the north,
the rate Of decline in wages being
fraction less than that of the cost of
living; while ia the six States west
OF the Mississippi the present average
pay for farm labor is S23.Sl per
month, slight increase over that of
year earlier, and the price of sub.
sistence falls off about 2 per cent
West of the Mississippi the in.
crease in the rate of wages is chiefly
due to the extension of mining opera
tons. In this region large number
of artisans have appropriated public
lands and seek to pay for their claims
by working part of the time at
their trades. Quite number of
farm laborers have done likewise,
and they work part of the time for
wages on the farms of others. The
large immigration has enlarged the
stock of labor, but it is to a great ex
tent somewhat inefficient in charac-
ter. All who desire work can get it.
No surplus is reported from any
county in Colorado In the two Pa
cific States the average monthly pay
of farm laborers is $3S 90, against
$50 so one year earlier, an increase
of Al per cent, while the cost OF lv-
ing has increased fully Is per cent.
In New Mexico, Dakota and Wash
ington Territory there is a demand
for skilled and unskilled American
labor at remunerative wages. In
Utah laborers receive s2S.s7 per
month, decline of I per cent. dur
ing the year, and surplus of labor
is reported.
A statement of the average rate of
wages paid to agricultural labor in
several countries in Europe affords a
basis of comparison between the con-
dition of the American and the Euro
pean farm-laborer. From the tables
prepared tor the report OF Secretary
Evarts upon this subject the follow.
ing information is gathered. the fig
ures referring to the year 1873: Ag.
ricultural laborers in England re-
celve, without board or lodging, an
average per month of $l5.6O; in Ire.
land, $4.73; in Scotland, Sl7.42; in
Normandy, $l2.44; in Italy, sl5.-
10; in Spain, Sl4.95; in France,
$l3 50. In no country are the labor
ers so well off as in America.