The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-06-22
Wages and Prices,

-
The inter Ocean collates from the
thirteenth annual report Of the Massa-
chusetts Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
the following interesting facts:
Rates OF wages in Massachusetts, and
Tor all occupations, are given for the
years. 1860, 1872, 1873, and 1881. Ap-
ricuItural laborcrs received in 1860 Sl3'-
63 per month to $23.09 in 1872, Sl5.7
in 1873, and SlS in 1881. Shoemakers
received $lO33 per week in 1860 Sl4.-
90 in 1872, ~ in 1873 and Sl2.2l in
1881, Carpenters received 1892 per
week IN 1860, Sli,66 in 1872, Sll.33 in
1913, and Sl2,64 in 1881. Iron molders
received $3.50 per week in 1863, $l4.67
In 1872, $3.50 in 1870, and $3.50 in
1881.
Comparing the rates of wages by in.
dnstrics for 1872 with 1881, there has
been an increase of A. per cent in 40.
rlcUlture. lis per cent in blacksmith
ing' 40 per cent in building trades, POT
per cent IN clothing, 81 per cent in cot
ton good% l.6 per cent in glass, 1875
per cent in hosiery, 80 per cent in leath-
or, y per cent in machines and ma
chIncry, l3.7 per cent in metals and me-
taIhc goods, 1873 per cent in musical in
strumcnts, 7.5 per cent in paper, l0.2
per cent in printing, Ia per cent in
stone, and 73 per cent in wooden goods.
A decrease of "A per cent is reported in
boots and shoes, II per cent in cabinet
making. I9per cent in carpetings, "a
per cent in carriages, 0.5 per cent in
rubber goods and elastic fabrics, and 81
per cent in straw goods. Average in
crease in all industries considered to-
gether, 60 per cent, In every case the
wages are the average, and are on
gold basis
In connection with the tables of wages
are given the retail prices of commodi-
ties for 1860, 1872, 1878, and 1881. Tho
finer grade of -four which sold for S7.6l
per barrel in 1860 sold for SIC. rs in 1882.
Ss.63 in 1873, and 1891 in 1881. The
family grade, which sold for S7.l4 in
1860, sold for Sl2.75 in 1872, 1896 in
1878, and 1857 in 1881. Beef, roast,
sold for l. cents per pound in 1860, 10
cents in 1872, l4l cents in 1873, and II
cents in 1881. Salt pork sold for II
cents in 1860, II cents in 1872, 81 cents
in 1873. and Is! cents in 1881. Butter
sold for u cents in 1860, 1911 cents in
1872, 253 cents in 1873, and "a rs cents
IN 1881. Potatoes, which sold for SO
cents per bushel in 1860, sold for $l.O2
in 1872, 97i cents in 1873. and Sl.25a in
1881. Coal which sold for So. 40 per
ton in 1860, sold for SO. % in 1872. So
10 in 1873 and $7.83' in 1881. Men
who paid 1919 per week for board in
1860 paid 50, 81 in 1872, S4.l9 in 1878.
and 81. 70 in 1881.
Or 10 put it in another way, the one
dollar that purchased 27.77 pounds Of
family flour in 1860 bought 10. 80 pounds
in 1872, Is pounds in 1873, and 22S7
pounds in 1881. The one dollar that
paid for 9.lS pounds Of roas, beef in 1860
only paid for 5.26 pounds in 1872, 6.94
pounds in 1873, and 5.sS pounds in 1881,
and so on through the list.
Comparing 1873 with 1881, groceries
have advanced in price (rctaiD 81 per
cent provisions 20. | per cent, fuel 3l.l
per cent, dry goods 9 per cent, rents 35.l
per cent, board l3.7 per cent. Boots
declined in price l.6 per cent. On these
main items Of expense entering into the
cost OF living, the average increase was
I'll per cent. In the same years the
average increase in wages was 6.9 per
cent, and the maximum in special call
ingS was % per cent
From 1873 to 1881 the wholesale
prices OF groceries in the Boston market
increased - per cent provisions 20 per
cent, dry goods Il per cent, coal per
cent These figures are given to show
that profits to retail dealers were LIGHT
IN some departments Of business, but
heavy in others. AS for example, in fuel
sold in small quantities, where the in
crease to the consumer was over 80 per
cent, and the increase TO the dealers 8
per cent.