Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-04-29
Some Interesting Figures.
TIE EARNINGS OF NEW JERSEYS WORK
ERs AND WHAT THEY DID FOR THEIR
MONEY.

In New Jersey last year the average
srm earned by skilled workmen was
S6G7 and by common laborers 1914 So
each. The report of James Bishop,
Chief of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor
and Industry, shows that New Jersey is
ahead Of all other States of the Union
combined in the production of silk
goods. These goods are manufactured
by eighty-four firms, in whose mills
were consumed last wear 1872, 079
pounds Of raw silk. The capital in
vested in the business is 81. .524 900,
and the valuo of the product SIS, ,053 90,
one dollar of capital annually reproduc-
ing 50 80 in silk goods. The AVERAGE
number of hands employed was IA, 152,
Of whom ), 45S were men. 5, 175 women
and 3 489 children. Their average
earnings per day were Men. 81 81 ;
women. Sl01 children, So 1-10 cents.
Skilled men received rs high a. 81 and
skilled women - day. In the entire
United States there are 3S3 silk mills,
employing 81 800 hands, who are paid
$4,000, 00C. These mills furnish 80 per
cent. of all the silk goods nov used by
rs. Twenty years ago all but Is per
cent. Of the silk goods consumed III the
United States were imported.
New Jersey holds the fifth place
among the iron producing States.
Skilled mechanics earned 50 % per dav
and unski.led 81 u. There vas paid in
wages 164 per cent. of the value of the
products manufactured-$10 81 500.
In the hat factories, which produced
53S, G26 dozen hats, over 81 per cent. of
the total value of the product went to
the employees. The average daily
wages was for men 50 OF; for women,
81 06; for children, 733 cents.
In the pottery industry. for every dol
lar Of capital invested SLIP was pro-
duced. 1t gave employment to 3.6S2
persons. The average daily wages was
S2.01 for men, IS cents for women, and
10 cents for children.
The brick, glass and clay industries
yielded S12l for every dollar invested.
Thirty seven per cent. went into the
hands of the employees. The average
daily wages of men varied from 50 to
81 10, those of women from 81 to 75
cents, those Of children from Sl.12l to
40 cents. Skilled workmen earned as
high as S5 day.
Glass blowers and mil cutters were
paid the highest wages, their yearly
average earnings amounted to from 5000
to 81, 0S0
Unakilled workmen made annual
average earnings as follows: Employees
in canning factories GOi hours, S237 so;
brick yard lahorers 90 honrs). $3.50 66
Izrx,.sA CtQRG n
dlers' helpers C14 hours). S375; nail
factory feeders (boys, 10 hours), s2S7 so
glass batch mixers 90 hoRrs), $500
glass packers co. hours), $3.50, 50; rail
road employees (102 hours), $500 90
'longshoremen 90 hours), S425 mis-.
cellaneous iron workers g.. hours)
Si3S miscellaneous glass workmer
90 sc hours, S3S3.S9; miscellaneous
occupations 104 hours). s457; laborers
unclassified QG3 bours), S3I9.93.
In those industries where all or the
greater part of the employees are womer
or children, the pay Is not only com
paratlveiy small, but the hours OF work
are many, and, in general, as the mum
Der of hours increase the wages de-
crease.
OF the II 900 employees mentioned il
the report the wages of 1,9l6 were in
creased last year, while those of 81 were
reduced. The advance was among glass
blowers, harness makers, hatters, iror
moulders, shoemakers, trunk makers,
machinists, printers, bricklayers, car
penters, masons, painters and carriage
makers. Among those who suffered {
reduction were miners and jewelers.
and the silk workers in some depart
ments.
Farm wages averaged. without board
800. 80; with board, S14 S6 month
New England paid S22.76. without
board, per month on yearly engage
ments, but the cost of subsistence there
was 50 month, against S7.5S in New
Jersey.