Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-28
Wages and Prices,

The tenth annual report Ct the Massachu-
sets bureau Of statistics Of labor contains
much interesting information relating to the
unemployed in the State. and the compare
tive wages and cast of living in 1850, 1872
and 1873 These show that the number OF
unemployed is diminishing. Estimates based
on actual returns indicate that while last
June there were 2l,Sl2 unemployed males
in the State -eeking work, the number in
November was not over lG ,000-a reduction
of one-ffth including women. the number
Of unemployed seeking labor was IS, sos in
June, and not more than $4,000 in Noyem-
ber-a reduction Of one-sixth. The figures
indicate a great improvement in the bust
ness of the State of Massachusetts,. Proba-
by a similar comparison in other States
would make similar showing.
During the labor discussions of last year,
the Greenback orators generally asserted that
wages were much lower and prices much
higher than they were few wears ago. The
statistics do not bear out the assertion. From
the exhaustive tables given in the report it
appears that wages have advanced as com
pared with 1860, before the war, 81 2-5 per
cent, and the cost of living only IA 10 per
eent,-a pecuniary advantage of 9 $40 per
cent. to the working man. The increase of
wages in 1873 over 1850, in several trades
is as follows:
Agricultural laborers, per day SO per cent,
per month Is blacbGmiths, A. book-bind
ing, IA to Il; boots and shoes, 2G; boxes,
IL to 3S: bakers. Is to So; brickmakers, 9;
building trades, l6: cabinet making, to |
l6; carpet making, % carriages, 80; cloth |
ing, s; dressmaking, 10; leather making,
%; machinery manufacture, %; metal |
lie fine work and jewelry, %; millinery, %;
musical instruments, 8 paints, %; paper, |
Al; printing, 80; soap and candles, l3
stone working, s; manufacture Of wO0llen |
goods, 80 worsted goods, %.
The price of groceries has advanced since
800, per cent provisions, Is; fuel, 5;
BOOTS. Is; rents, IS; board, 40; while dry
FOODS have fallen 9 per cent. On all the
tens entering into tho cost of living, the
verage price ioas IA ID per cent higher IN
SIS than IL teas an 1850.
Carrying out the comparison still further
" including 1872, we find that choice flour
ost SCI per barrel in 1860 against Sl0.75
n 1872 and So GO in 1873. Roasting beef
gasl cents per pound in 1860, 10 cents in
SO, and IA II cents In 1873. Corned
'eef stood at 6 IL cents per pound in 1860,
t 10 IL cents in 1872, and at 10 Il cents
n ISIS. Potatoes brought 50 cents per
ushel in 1860, against 81 % in 1872. and
: 81 cents in 1873. Coal sold at Sc 40 per
On in 1850, at 1925 in 1872, and at SG.45
, 1873. Dry goods have fallen of 40 per cent
! price; groceries 43 per cent. and fuel
/ per cent since 1872. Finally, board for
len cost 81 20 per week in 1860, $500 IN
So and $l.l9 in 1873, while board for
omen was obtainable at Sl.79 per week in
$50. against 1915 in 1872, and S2G3 in
37S.
The inference is plain that in Massachu
It's the condition of the la5oring classes is
stter than before the war. With the same
,onomy and industry. workingmen on the
serage can live better now than then. And
he same is doubtless true in the other New
nglaud States