The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-01-01
rARM LABOR.


From 1900 to about 1885 tho wages
paid for farm labor were quite steady,
The ayerrgc per month being - and
board. Subsequently prices fluctuaied
considerably, and as the country devei-
opcd were at the same time much great
er in some sections Of the land than in
others. The wrr thoroughly disturbed
nc equilibrium Of supply and demand
in labor. This was heightened by the
currency of the day. Upon the termi
nation of the war the Government
made its first investigation of the mar
ket value of agricultural labor. The az
G age wages Of farm hands who board
ed themselves was then 1923 per month.
For short time an advance was appa-
rent, and then for awhile wages seemed
to be Mt stand-still. In 1869, when an
other investigation was made, it was
manifest that decline had set in. This
was heavier in Western States, where it
was from S29 to S27 per month, than in
New England, where prices receded
from $33 to 1872. The Southern States
and California were exceptions TO the
rule, for in them wages still advanced.
although they only reached $3.50 per
month for the average in the South,
while they were as high as SAG in Cali
fornia.
In 1875 the average decline 10th in
New England and the South had
amounted to 10 per cent. In the West
il was heavier still, but in California it
was very slight. In Maine, New lamp
shire and Vermont the sudden with
drawal of labor from the factories which
closed operations caute rapid decline
of more than 25 per cent. A proper
tionate depression occurred in Western
States, but far more gradually. Taking
Kansas as fairly representative State,
the rate Of decline in average monthly
wages has been from $3S.9i in 1866, TO
$685. in 1869, and to $3l.37 in 1875, and
finally to $25 in lS7S-all for the first
quarter Of the year. In that part OF the
South east of the Mississippi moder-
ate decrease came slowly, but in Arkan-
sas and Texas prices of labor were well
maintained, and up to last year the ay-
crages in those States had not fallen be-
low Sl7 and $l9 per month respectively.
Wages were continuously higher in H.
linois and Iowa than in the Eastern
States. Comparing the averages of the
whole country during the first quarter
of 1879 with the same period in 1873, il
appears that the value Of labor declined
from S2l % per month to S20.26, or al
most five per cent.
Continuing the comparison between
the present year and 1873, il seems t:al
labor in New England declined 10 per
,.eut. vet the condition of the working
men was was really improved, for the
cost of living decreased i3 per cent
Massachusetts, was an exception. She
maintrined wages, but reduced living
expenses more than II per cent. Wages
in the Middle States, rs a whole, declin-
ed per cent. but subsistence was less
han per cent. cheaper. New York
reduced subsistence expenses 10 per
cent. and the price of labor only less
than per cent. Delaware and New
jersey advanced the cost of subsistence
and lowered wages. Wages in the
south Atlantic States declined IL per
cent. and subsistence over 16. The Gull
states make difference of five per ceut.
decline in wages and THREE per cent. in
the cost of living, rs a general average.
The five States north of the Ohio about
rqualize the decline in both wages and
subsistence The six States west OF the
Mississippi pay slightly higher wages
although the cost of living has fallen
about two per cent. Both wages and
the cost of living in Missouri suffered
IN equal decline of a little more than Z
per cent. Oregon and California adj
yanced the price of labor about per
cent. and the cost of living no less than
80 per nt.-Globe- Democrat.