The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-15
Doe. the Forge nsnsat the Harm'

A very interesting chapter Of the report
Of the Commissioner Of Agriculture for
1882 is devoted to the wages Of farm labor
srs. The Statistician Of the department has
been at considerable pains to collect his
fscts and TO yet them out in comparative
tables and diagrams. Assuming the inior'
nation to be correct, it would have been Of
advantage to those members oil Congress
who made liberal reference to the subject
during the recent debate on the tariff bill,
most Of those references being based on
allegations unsupported by any official or
respectable authority.
In 1858 the average monthly rate Of farm
laboreu wages was $3.50 with board, with
out board $50. By 1859 there had been q
general but not great decline in the mar
ket value Of farm products, but increased
production OF textile and iron manufactures
in the Eastern and Western States kept up
affair average, 70 that the average Of farm
wages without board fell only to SIS ID
But the effect OF lower prices for products
was continuing and showed itself more by
1876, the panic Of 1873 having interviewed
and forced wages still lower. An inquiry
in 1879 showed that the agricult-
ural laboren in the manufacturing
States suffered most. Manufacturing
was largely curtailed, in some lines and
localities had ceased and the farm hand
found himself confronted by the compe-
tition Of labor thrown out Of the work
shops. The nearer to manufacturing cities
and towns the sharper the competitor and
greater the reduction Of wages, amounting
to 80 per cent in New England, 25 per cent
Ia the Middle States, and in the remote
States Of the West where manufactures
mad taken less hold, IA per cent. In Maine
the falling off was from s25 10 to SIS 25; in
New Hampshire from S2S 81 to $40 70; in
Vermont from $50 81 to $40.
In the three years following, bringing us
70 1882, there has been an almost complete
recovery as compared with 1875, the largest
percentage Of increase being in those Sec
tons which had shown the heaviest falling
of. Manufactures had revived. and the
labor diverted from them by depression
had sgain left the farm for the workshop.
The average for the year 1882, without
board was, for the Eastern States, SIG 81;
for the Middle States, so "a; for the Yves
tern States, s2S 63, for the Southern States,
$3.50; for California, remote and subject
to peculiar conditions, SIS 25. 1t will be
observed that the South Is lowest in the
list, her industrial development being Of
recent beginning, her laborers lacking the
advantages oldiversifed employments. A
comparison between Ohio and Kentucky
shows the marked difference between the
wages Of farm hands in States almost en-
tirely agricultural and those largely devoted
TO manufactures.
Last year the Ohio farm hand averaged
$24 IS, his brother in Kentucky, SIS 20. In
West Virginia, not 80 favorable as Ohio
and more favorable than Kentucky, $40 10.
The difference is scarcely less marked in
the States themselves. In Northern Ohio,
including thriving manufacturing commu-
mites, the rate was s25 90; in the western
district, where the manufacturing interests
were not SO great, s2l IS; in the eastern
district, except along the Ohio river more
distinctly agricultural, so SO.
It Is as true Of the prices OF farm pro
ducts as Of the rates Of wages, that they are
enhanced by nearness Of large, busy COM
mufities; 1t Is also true that with the ex'
ception Of shipping ports, manufactures are
the chief dependence for urban population,
The most important seaport in the country
was shown by the last census to be the city
most largely engaged in manufactures, SO
that without It's vast manufacturing inter
ests New York would have neither the pop
ulation, the buRiness nor the wealth which
makes her the first city Of the country.
The employing farmer and farm laborer
have their direct and obvious interest in
the growth Of manufactures, and the nearer
home the better for their pockets.