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

Inc inter cream 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 oil occupations, are given for the
years, 1860, 1872, 1878, and 1881. Az
rlcuitural laborers received in 1860 Sl3-
% per month, TO S23.09 in 1872, S15.7
III 1873 and SlS in 1881. Shoemakers
received HlO33 per week in 1860, Sl4.-
90 IN 1872, 80 in 1873, and Sl2.2l in
1881. Carpenters received 1892 per
week in 1860, Sl4,66 in 1872, SlI.3S in
1878, and Sl2.64 in 1881. Iron molders
received $3.50 per week in 1868, Sl4.67
IN 1872, $3.50 in 1870, and $3.50 in
1891.
Comparing the rates of wages by in.
dnstrieS for 1872 with 1881, there has
been an increase OF AL per cent in ag-
rlculture, lis per cent in blacksmith
ing - per cent in building trades, POT
per cent in clothing, 81 per cent in cot
ton goods, ll.6 per cent in glass, 1875
per cent in hosiery, So per cent in leath-
err % per cent in machines and ma
chlnery, l3.7 per cent in metals and me-
taIllc goods, 1873 per cent in musical in
struments. 10 per cent in paper, 1912
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, ~ per cent in carpetings, Sd
per cent in carriages. 0.5 per cent in
rubber goods and elastic fabrics and 2.7
per cent in straw goods. Average in
crease in all industries considered to-
gelher, 60 per cent In every case the
wages are the average, and are on a
gold basis
In connection with the tables of wages
are given the retail prices of commodi-
ties for 1860, 1872 1878, and 1881. The
finer grade OF flour which sold for S7.6l
per barrel in 1860 sold for $40. IS in 1882,
$3.50 in 1873, and 1921 in 1881. The
family grade, which sold for S7.l4 in
1860, sold for Sl2.75 in 1872, 1896 in
1873, and 1857 in 1881. Beef, roast
sold for II cents per pound in 1860, 10
cents in 1872, l4l cents in 1878, and II
cents in 1881. Salt pork sold for IL
cents in 1860, II cents in 1872, 81 cents
IN 1873, and ia cents in 1881. Butter
sold for q cents in 1860, 39i cents in
1872, 25l cents in 1878. and 81 2-5 cents
III 1881. Potatoes, which sold for SO
cents per bushel in 1860, sold for STOP
in 1872, 97t cents in 1878, and 81. 25} in
1881 Coal, which sold for So. 40 per
ton in 1860, sold for SO, % in 1872, So
40 in 1873, and 1881 in 1881. Men
who paid 1919 per week for board in
1860, paid 1852 in 1872, S4.l9 in 1873.
and ~. 70 in 1881.
Or TO put it in another way, the one
dollar that purchased 27.77 pounds of
family flour in 1860 bought ID. 80 pounds
in 1872, 70 pounds in 1873, and 22.s7
pounds in 1881. The one dollar that
paid for BIS pounds Of roast 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 (retaiD 81 per
cent, provisions POI per cent, fuel g 1
por cent, dry goods 9 per cent, rents 81,
per cent, board 1877 per cent Boots
"'Nil"tu III price 10 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 wears the
average increase in wages was 6. per
cent, and the maximum in special call
iagS was Y per cent.
From 1873 to 1881 the wholesale
prices OF groceries in the Boston market
increased y per cont provisions 20 per
cent dry goods II per cent. coal 0 per
cent, These figures are given to show
that profits to retail dealers were LIGHT
IN some departments of business. but
heavy m others. As for example, in fuel
solo IN small quantities, where the in
crease to the consumer was over 80 per
cent, and the increase TO the dealers 9
per cent.