The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-07-23
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
Report Of the Statistician of the Agri-
cultural Department Om Farm Labor
and Wages.

Report Of the Stattsttcian Of the Agrt-
cultural Department Oh Farm Labor
and Wages.
Col. Worthington, the Statistician of
the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington, has finished his annual report on
farm labor and wages, from which the
following interesting facts are gathered.
The table giving the average of wages
of farm laborers, with and without
board, rs compared with the wages paid
in several branches of skilled mechanical
labor, was compiled from returns made
to the department last April From it
it is learned that in the Pacific and
mining States and Territories the range
of wages for farm laborers, without
board, is between $30.75 in Montana
and $40. 80 in Washington Territory. OF
the States east of the Mississippi, Min
nesota pays her farm laborers better
than any other Northern State, the
monthly wages, with board, being
$l6.33, while Vermont pays only $l2.62
In the Southern States the prices paid
range from 1922 in Louisiana to 81. 81
in South Carolina, the average being
$3.50. A comparison with similar re-
turns made last year gives clear idea Of
the change i'll the value of labor since
then. The decline, which had been
steadily going on since 1873 till last
year, seems to have been cor
rected, and there is decided
advance in almost every section. The
average wages of labor engaged by the
year or season, and which represents the
steady and reliable force on the farms,
was, for the whole country, last year, an
average of $20.26 month, without
board. This year it is SCI. rs, being an
increase of 1925 per cent. The cost of
subsisting the laborer for the average Of
the whole country, in 1880. is ST. n
month, against ST. in 1879 Hereto
fore in the decline of wages the cost of
subsistence declined in the same ratio,
but for this year the proportion is large
ly in favor of the laborer, as the cost of
subsistence remains nearly at the lowest
rate, while the wages have materially
advanced. The average price of labor,
with board is $14.50. AS was to be ex-
pected, the greatest INCREASE has been
in those States where agriculture had
been the most remunerative since last
year. In the West and those States
bordering on the Ohio river, which were
the most favored, the increase has been
the largest. The same applies to the
cotton States. With the higher price
for cotton the advance has been univer-
sal, and is in some as high as s to 10 per
cent. The demand for labor is good
in all sections of the country. In the
New England and Middle States
there IL q steady and good
demand for reliable men, and
prices for that class have advanced very
materially. The larger number of re.
ports from these sections state that the
usual custom is to hire with board and
for the season. In the South Atlantic
and Gulf States there is an active de-
mand for all kinds of steady labor.
Many correspondents report that the
share system, or division of the pro-
duct in lieu of wages, was growing more
unpopular daily, and that the freedmen
are becoming more and more land
holders. In Mississippi and Louisiana
there are few reports of a scarcity of
labor, owing to the exodus to Kansas
and the North but in the same localities
there is reported good demand for relia-
bic labor of all kinds. In the North
western States the supply of labor is
quite equal to the demand In that Sec
ton most OF the inhabitants are land
owners, and only hire help at harvest
time; but skilled labor is reported i'll
good demand. In the Territories ana
on the Pacific slope the demand is re-
ported as good, except in New Mexico
and Montana. In the tirst-named Ter
ritory the surplus is attributed TO the
opening of the railway from Kansas, and
i'll the latter to the large number OF
young and unskilled laborer5 arriving.