Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-22
Work and Wages in China.

The United States consul general at
Shanghai has made special investiga-
tion and report on the wages and modes
Of living of the working people of
China. Skilled laborers- artisans,
workers at trades, etc.-live mostly in
the cities. where all prices are higher
than outside. Art and taste, although
appreciated, are not paid accordingly. A
painter may win renown, and his name
or his seal may live after him; but dur
ing life he will be no better off than his
neighbor who makes coffins. Painters
of porcelain, designers and weavers Of
the most exquisite patterns of silks, and
the artisan who makes wonderful pieces
of enamel or "china," are satisfied if
they put by enough for burial expenses;
the butcher does as well as any Of them.
Gold and silver smiths, and others
whose work is peculiarly responsible,
do little better; the weaver or spinner
of silk is probably the best paid day
laborer, getting 81 to SO day. The
average pay of skilled labor is probably
SO week for a master, $3.50 for
workman, and so cents for youngsters
or females"
The master lives generally at his
workshop, having 800 to $50 worth of
household goods; he pays s72 year
for food, $36 for rent and sundries, $12
for clothing. and is rich with $36 left.
The ordinary workman, if unmarried,
lives with his parents or with some
friend. His effects may be worth SIS,
and he pays $40, $12, and So for the
three items above mentioned. Females
and youngsters are assumed to cost all
they can earn. On the farm everybody
must work, the children beginning at
six years. Two and half acres of ara
bic land, with house built of mud and
reeds and thatched with straw, and a
COW, few fowls and pigs, and some
very primitive tools, may constitute q
well-to-do farmers property. The soil
will usually support the family, and 20
cents day will pay for their food
Rice, or bread, with vegetables and
common tea, varied by little poultry
or pork on festive occasions, makes
their diet. Their bit of land may be
worth $400, their annual working ex-
penses may be $42, and they will pro-
duce about $3.50, leaving about $50
clear. In cotton the land will average
| 1,600 pounds at cents; cost CT c1lti-
yation and tax, $31 net yield, $33, If
the soil suits cotton. A woman weaves
one piece per day of cotton cloth, 6 to
yards, 80 to 46 inches wide; she spins
one-t third Of pound Of yarn, at cents
for labor 6 working days convert the
raw fiber into 1-3 pounds of cloth, worth
so cents.
The farm laborer gets 10 to Is cents
a day, or 70 cents to 81. 05 week, in
harvest time, besides his food, estimat-
ed at 10 cents a day by the month,
1.50 to So and board I; by the year,
$12 "and found" About 50 a year
will clothe him, and he does well If he
saves twice that IN a year. For cody
labor, comprising boatmen, carriers,
wheelbarrow men, etc., from-5 to 80
cents q day are paid the carriers in
West China, who carry for 90 con-
secutive days 300 to 400 pounds of tea
on their backs over mountainous
country, are considered well paid at 25
cents day. The ordinary cody earns
S4. so a month, and spends $4. Coal is
mined entirely by hand, and sells OF
the pits mouth for 81 ton. Gold
diggers on the Han river in 1870 were
earning 5 to Is cents q day; 7 men
were estimated to wash 20 tons o
gravel day, yielding or cents tc
the ton. The Chinese soldier costs $67
1 q year.