New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-28

in the wages paid in the two countries vi COURSE
the calculation could be made with greater degree
of exactitude If as complete statement lor .no
United States is obtained as above presenter ioi
the United Kingdom. i feel sure that the ABOVE
figures lean toward the English manufacturer.
The actual book accounts of any Sheffield frm
think will not show quite the average amount III
dieated above paid out to each man for every week
of the year. The rates given mean sixty nouiS
steady and hard work-not a lost hour. Ihey also
mean the most skilled mechanics. Exceptional
cases might be given perhaps, Of men earning more,
but the average weekly earnings for twelve montns
would probably be 10 or 10 per cent less 'hah
the above counting in lost time, holidays etc. r.
With such wages as indicated by my tables' III.
Webster says that few of the workmen own thelr
houses, and that rule most o. the week saiaIy
OF the grinders GO to work Prices have fallen dur
ing the last twenty-five years. as labor Is pau
s with hhs the Of s sEssd bas Do
fallen of, especially with the Umted, otd,J I
Owing in part to the indifference OF Saeela wotn
men, who will not start new line OF goVus ~
pushed out of the market and III part TO AlneIica
ingenuity il is not an uncommon thing for Shei,
field TO ship grndstOnes TO PhliadelpMa 10 Siindd
American saws which are sh mFGTted g 20 In
lines Of edged tools and cutlery the United o'a'eS
eXcels Sheffield. -, cAo,
field of to-day the sixth largest town In Engal
with population of nearly 100000 FOR sleei
Sheffield Is still the worlds great workshop anu y
10 estimated that nearly $50 900 900 worth OF steer
is annually made in the Sheffield district nave
no space even TO enumerate the number OF uaueS
carried on in this busy hive of industry nor can
give but meagre idea of the progress maze since
the early part of the present century, when iIo
lers of Sheffield used 10 meet at tommy Rose :;
THE Bird in Hand" The business was conducted
on pack horses. When q buyer arrived the oSJltT
would 20 around and notify the manufacturers III
those days the door pack horse went shaulO'he
along crossroads fOrdmg rivers, ana chmDlDg
sleeps. At tinkle of bell the traders came OUT
frOn the inn and the bargains were mace. lhe
money paid and the goods delivered. The cutters
annual feast cost few pounds and home-hrewed
ale was the chi-f beverage. Sunday uppers were
put in the stocks. The GOOD old DANES so BIZ were
their hoops wee steered into church wlth some
officially. People were lnCarceTated IN JAN
tor debts and alehOuse scores, and the PTS
oners worked at their trades hammering and ming
away all day. Places in tie London stage coach
had 10 be engaged three weeks ahead ana Jour
ney to that great city neceSstaied making one :
will. Apprentices lived in their masters houses,
aud were little better than household drudgcs.
The " old smithy of those days has disappeared,
and the factory and the factory act nave taken rs
place. Within the memory Of the living buliS
were publicly baIted III sheffield, and anna
noise and camOr, passing eibes ana cnrsings ard
the yelplng Of dogs good game might be hhd NJ
"threepence a ship " for the dogs. These were Mt
ting sports for barbaTous days In spite OF Inc
draw backs OF the present day. and in spite OF the
many things we wish were otherwise, ana IN spile
even of the innumerabe opportunities TOT improve
ment IN dwellings, in education, IN morals: ana IN
all that tends to a higher civilization, IN short,
with ali his shortcomings the Stakeholder of to-day
RoBEET L. PORTER.