New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-15
WASHINGTON NE us.
FARM LABOR AND WAGES.

REPORTS TO THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
COMPARATIVE TABLEs-wAGEs INCREASED AND
A GOOD DEMAND FOR LABOR.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsuIxGToX, July 14.-Colonel Worthngton, the
statistcian of the Agricultural Department, has
finished his annual report on farm labor and wages,
from which a number of interesting facts given be-
low are gathered.
The table giving the average of wages of farm
laborers, with and without board as compared
with the wages paid in several branches of skilled
mechanical labor, was compiled from retu rms
made TO the Department las. April, from which 1T
is learned that IN the Pacific and mining States and
Territories the range of monthly wages for farm
laborers without board is between $50 40 in Mon
tana and S22 90 in Washington Territory. OF the
States east Of the Mississippi, Minnesota pays
her farm laborers better. than any other Northern
State. the monthly wages with board being SIG 33,
while Vermont pays only $12 62. In the Southern
States the prices paid range from So Z6 III Louis
lana TO S7 32 III South Carolina, the average being
SO so.
The following are the most important portions of
the report:
1874 nj last year seems to have been arrested. and
there is q decided advance in almost every secton he
average wage or labor engaged by The year or season.
and which represents the steady and trustworthy force
OH farms was for the whole country It year ?<o 20
increasa oi = 25 per cent The OF subsst-
ence the aborer for the average OF the whole country
in 1880 Ia 81 II month against ~ IA IN loI9.
Heretofore, the decline of wages the cost OF SUP, SUB
sisence declined u quite the same ra'l0 put i9r ths
as The cost Of subsistence remains nearly at the
rate while the wage has materially advanced Inc hv-
ersge price for labor with board Is Sl4 o. ID.
An analysis OF the figures OF Wages pald WltIOut
board shows only three States reporting less than aSt
wear, viz: Texas Minnesota and CaliOrnla; put y
glance at tho report OF the wa2e pad WIN Doala
howeyer that tI all these States tue sparsenes5
or population aud absence OF the iaces OF le Ouel
States render ii both necessary ana cohVeheht 10
lodge ard feed the hired help Inc pfce pam, theIe
fore with board the safest indication OF tue NUuc or
labor AS be expected the greatest increase mas
been ia those States where agriculture has Deen the
most remunerative since last year TAus in the est
and those States bordering on the ono RIVER Whch
we're the most favored, the increase has been the
largest fhe same applies 70 tne SotCn has Secn p
yersal and Is In some as high az 8 or 10 per cent
The demand labor is good IN al sections OF inc
oonntrv In the New-En gland and Middle States there
a. s,eadv and good demand for Trustworthy men, ana
nrces for that class have advanced very materla.
be larger number Of reports from those sect0hs e
that the usual custom is TO lire WIN ooau auo i '
In The South Atlantic and Gulf States there Is an
active demand ali kinds OF steady labor hhy COT
resnondens report that the share system or DIVISION
~ thc nroduct In lien OF WAGES. growing more un-
nonuIar daily, aud that the freedmen are Dec9mips
more and more landhoders IN s, lhnr % owpg
IN The exodus TO Kansas and the North but IN he same
localities there IL reported good demand ior uusV
Y The Northwestern States the supply OF labor Is
nne eaua 60 the demand IN that section Most OF to
inhsbitns are landowners and only hre nep az mar
% tba Territores aud on the Pacific slope the demand
ia reported as good except In ana MonIaa'
where surplus noticed In inc nrst nae1 ~ u
from Kansas and In the latter 10 the large humpor
of young and unskilled IabOrers arriVing'