Daily Republican., 1881-06-16
work and Wages In Germany.

The emigration to this country espe
cially from the German States of Eu
rope is so great that it is causing un
easiness at home and attracting NOR
than usual notice in this country. 'Th,
question naturally arises, what is the
cause of this unparalleled emigration :
Does it arise from the pecuniary neces.
stiles of the emigrants, from political
depression or from fear of military SER
vitude? The New York Commercial
Bulletin has been giving this question
some thought and in Srder to arrive at
correct conclusion in regard to these
matters it has interviewed the officials
of the German Society in New York, an
institution which has done much to aid
the German emigrants. 1t finds that
the principal causes for the exodus
movement are the over crowding at
home and the reports of abundant work
and high wages in the United State,-
The great mass of farm laborers in Ger
many can earn but scapty subsistence
and the prospect Of their children ever
becoming Independent is hopeless.
Skilled workmen also come in large
numbers for the reason that while wag-
es are low, the purchasing power of
money is not as great as it used to be.
In many parts of Germany business is
very much depressed and thousands of
workmen are idle. Weavers from Sax.
ony reported that they could not earn
more than S3.75per week, and in MANY
cases only $l.75 was paid. What would
our Wilmington weavers think of that,
Tobacco cultivators from East Prussia
SAID work was scarce and wages very
low. The ordinary board for farm
hands, with lodging was only twenty
nve cents week. In harvest time az
high as $3.50 week was paid Our
A merlcan farm laborers think they are
poorly paid at S. a week and boarded. r
AS Germany is nation favoring free =
trade, he must be blind who does not 4
see the beauties and benefits of protec- /
tion.
Nearly all the tradesmen said they !
left Germany because of low wages. A I
carpenter from Arnesbergin Prussia :,
Westphalia said he earned s.. - week: n
a smith from Chemnitz also received =,
$3.50, goldsmith could earn from s.. +
to S6 per week, cigar maker from Ber +
lin SIj, silk weaver on the Rhine re- !,
ceives the same and linen weavers from h
Saxony only received from 81. 30 to 81 q
per week !.
These immigrants also represent that II
the iron industry is especially in an un- II
favorable condition throughout Gerlna- h
ny. Some of the largest foundries have h
shut down entirely while others u
are employing but limited number of r,
men. The wages are very low in all q
departments of the iron trade, that for Il
A>AS p'AAsS ohl,N w. CcIllS ltE IL Gay Ni
eight hours, and large emigration is W y,
now setting in to this country from the ii
mining districts. 1t would thus ap- CT
pear that the scarcity of work and the
low prices for labor are the chief causes
jf the emigration. There may be many -,
other causes to be sure but these are tho
main ones. If there were plenty of p,
work and good wages at home the tide q,
would soon diminish ip volume or if all J.,
the protection barriers were broken IL
iown work would be as scarce here and -
wages as low as they are in Germany. =,
1t remains but moments reflection to -,
zee that the great prosperity which has a,
blessed this nation has been brought =,
about by its protective tariff m