The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-09-13
A COMPARISON OF WAGES.
lSan Francisco CALL

United States. While the State Bureau
complies statistics which furnish ground
for comparison of the laboring classes
of Massachusetts, with corresponding
classes in foreign countries, it does not |
extend its researches into other States of |
the Union. But the conditions which |
prevail in Massachusetts, will be found, |
with slight variations, throughout New
England, SO that statistics for that State |
may be accepted as substantially cor
rect showing of the condition of the New
England group of States. In the volume
just issued a comparison is made between
the wage.earners Of Massachusetts and
England, showing the rate of wages,
cost Of living and prices in Massachusetts,
and in England The basis of the in
quiry is the twenty -four industries which
produce rs per cent. of all the products
of the manufactures of Massachusetts,
Comparing the general average weekly
wages in the specified industries of the
two countries it is found that in each in
lustry the wages in Massachusetts, are
higher than in England. Taking the
whole and striking an average, the ad-
vantage with Massachu etts is rs per
cent There is considerable difference,
however, in the per cent. of advantage
in the various industries. In the manu-.
facture of food preparations the wages
IRE 269 per cent. higher than in England,
hut in breweries and distilleries the diff.
ference is less than two per cent. In the
manufacture OF wooden goods, weekly
wages average AZ per cent. higher in
Massachusetts, than in England; in
Sorsted goods l03 per cent; in cotton
goods 3S per cent !; in bouts and shoes
l66 per cent; in clothing 40 per cent,
and in machinery 20 per cent. The av-
4rage weekly wages of the American
workman in the twenty.four industries
nnder investigation are Sl0.3l; of the
English workman, $5 Sc. The American
aorkmen have, however, to earn these
higher wages, the difference being II per
cent. in favor of the English workmen.
There is so.ne difference in the cost of
living, but less than is generally sup.
posed In food all the difference is in
favor of the American workman. The
Massachusetts, workman expends 4S.4l
per cent. more for the support of his
family than the Englishman, of which
amount $50 is in the form of higher
prices for commodities. The remaining
l2.6l per cent. indicates the extent to
which the American obtains better home
surroundings and higher standard Of
living. To state conclusions, the stand
ard of living Of the Massachusetts work
ing man is to that of the British l 40 te
II. The average higher cost of such
things as both buy is $50 per cent
higher in Massachusetts than in England
Last year provisions averaged % pei
cent. higher in England than in Massa
chusetts; but almost everything else wal
cheaper in England Fuel was l03 PEI
cent. cheaper, dry goods of all grades l;
per cent, boots and shoes 63 per cent
clothing As per cent, rents 90 per cent
board and lodging 80 per cent. Thes'
statistics do away with the idea that tn
real cost of living is much less in England
than in America The difference is les
than 6 per cent. so, to be exact
Wages, on the whole are 76 per cent
higher. This IS is reduced by II pc
cent, the excess of hours the American
works, and further by $50, the excess
, the cost of living. Making these deduc
tions, the Massachusetts workman
5S. 20 better paid for his work, with tn
; cost of living on the same standard equal
than his English competitor. This 5s.2
. per cent. represents the benefit the work
l uItu ucIlNC itoui Out PtosSo"'S s~''
! It would be impossible to preserve tn
y Inference between wages in this countr
. and in England under free.trade sy'
TEN. If our workmen did not wor
h about as cheaply as in England, tn
d English manufacturer would get all til
!. work to do There are some exception
however, which are confined to produc
Of which we have an advantage i'll II
e way Of raw material, The raw naterl
q ior boots and shoes, for example, belr
y | , product of this country and bulky
If proportion to value, so as to make tran
'e portation expensive, affords the Amer
\, can manufacturer an advantage WIN
" offsets the cheaper labor of his Engli
competitor.
At Benny Butler appears to have fully
termined to wait till the clouds roll