Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-09-18
wages OF Farm Labors.

Among the interesting matter in the |
report of the Commissioner of Agricul- |
ture, at Washington, recently prepared, |
is a chapter on the agricultural labor |
question. The Department has been gath
ering 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, Oregon, New Mexi- |
co and Washington Territory, the aver
age monthly rate of pay for farm lab0rers
declined during the wear ending last
April from 3 TO 10 per cent. At the same |
time, the expense of living in the MAORI |
ty of States declined in equal or greater |
proportion, so that the relative condition |
of the laborer really improved during the |
year.
The average rate of pay in New Eng
land for farm laborers on yearly engage
ments, without board, averages $20.31
per month, against $22.60, at the begin
ming of the year, Il decline of 10-per cent.
The average cost of living has fallen from
1913 to $S.02 ermOnth, a decline of more
than Is per cent. In the Middle States
the conditions were reversed the month
ly pay of the farm laborer being $l9.69,
decline of z per cent; while the average
cost of living had declined only per
cent. In New York farm laborers re-
ceiVe 3-4 per cent. less for their living.
In the South Atlantic States labor has
been reduced 8 per cent, and the cost of
living 16 per cent. The average pay in
| these States was $l1.19 per month. In
the gulf States the average monthly pay
of $3.50 shows a 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 $3.50 per month south of the Ohio,
| to $50 in the north, the rate of decline
i'm wages being fraction less than that
of the cost of living; while in the six
| States west of the Mississippi the present
| average pay for farm labor is $23. 81 per
month, slight increase over that of
year earlier, and the price of subsistence
| falls off about per cent.
West of the Mississippi the increase in
| the rate. of wages is chiefly due to the ex-
/ tension of mining operations. In this
/ region a large number of artisans have
appropriated public lands and seek to paw
| for their claims by working part of the
time at their trades. Quite a number of
1 farm laborers have done likewise, and
! they work part of the time for wages on
the farms of others. The large immigra-
ton has enlarged the stock of labor, but it
| is TO great extent somewhat inefficient
| in character. All who desire work can
get it. No surplus is reported from any
county in Colorado. In the two Pacific
States the average monthly pay of farm
| y
earlier, an increase of I-3 per cent,
| while the cost of living has increased
fully Is per cent. In New Mexico, Da-
kOta and Washington Territory there is a
demand for skilled and unskilled Ameri-
can labor at remunerative wages. In
Utah laborers receive $28.S7 per month, a
decline of z per cent. during 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 condition of the
| American and the European farm-laborer.
From the tables prepared for the report of
Secretary Evarts upon this subject the
following information is gathered, the
figures referring to the year 1873: Ag-
ricultural laborers in England receive,
without board or lodging, an average
per month of $3.50; in Ireland, $14.73 /;
in Scotland, $l9 AZ; in Normandy, $12.44 /;
in Italy, SIS 10; in Spain $14.95; in France
$l3 :55. In no country are the laborers
SO well off as in America.-N. Y. Observer.