New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-05

From this table it appears that the average decline in
the wages OF all farm LABOR from lee2 10 $50 was ony
most surprising and gratifying conclusion. For
unquesonaby the decline ia the wages Of other labor
has been generally greater, and in some important
branches OF business IL has been very much greater t
may be that the decline in the OF other labor has
been less than has been generally supposed the returns
from the farms certainly pont plainly 10 this conclusion
II hardly conceivable that body OF workers embrac-
ing all the persons engaged productive
industry of any knd should be receiving so nearly the
returns for their labor shat they received IN 1857
while the other portion less in number has declined IN
rate OF wages as much as 10 or 20 per cent
Inevitably IL there had been great decline In the wages
of other labor, maay persons would have sought
employment at least temporarily on the farms
the price Of farm labor materially In fact the reports
Of the Bureau state that farm labor has been subjected
such competition In most of the States where manu-
featuring Industries are largely developed and that tho
siderable extent due to that cause But IN reply u ought
be observed that the depression IN wages OF isria
than in any other section. Yet manufactures are esa
developed in those states than else ana more
sustained during the past two years than In other
tons of the country lt Is curious fact that IN tho
largely developed and where the depression dur
ing the past few has been greatest the average
wages OF farm labor have advanced since 1852 over
per cent, and are higher now than ever before.
Turning to the earlier years OF the record let US
made during the past nineteen years. From 1866 %
1885, the OF farm labor In the Eastern states have
o States ss havs iss per
Western states they have advanced l53 per cent and
GAO per cent. But the comparatively small number q
employed In agriculture IN the Pacific states and
Territories renders this increase little mportancen
the general account In all the Northern states tns
average advance ma. oee n rem h tOs
Southern States has beeh still greater.
Rsckoned in the gold value OF the money paid. u
has less than 35.l per cent Hence the nseas
in the average OF farm labor IN all parts OF ths
country. been 2376 per cent during the past nn
years. Ii be added that such Information ~
exists regarding the wages OF farm labor just prior@
indicates clearly that advance occurred irom
1860 1866 primarily due TO scarcity OF MOOr
agricultural states when the ranks OF the armies
were filled with recruits and secondarily TO the ex
avagant prices which prevailed during the era OF dep
cia.d currency aud that this advance In the rate %
wages averaged fully 20 cent. Hence the adYanW
from 1860 to 1885 is not less than A per cent.
The conclusions TO which these facts point are too GU
vious need extended elucidaton IL Is very clear tn
the system OF protection has IN one respect
permanently much better markets for the prod
ucs OF farm labor, and much greater demand foS
labor generally and 80 much higher level FOR the re
ward OF all labor thar the farmer now gets return moro
than 40 per cent greater than no obtained when The
Democratic party out OF power with Its free trads
theories in 1860 And this stateof facts proved to er
moreover, not merely In one section OF the country
where manufactures have been especially DEVELOPS
die No doubt part OF the Increase in the South
ern States the better organization OF ab1
since the war; and the greater willingness OF sontlcn
employers recognize the value OF such labor BY ad
appears that there has been increase in all the Nofs
ern states. amounting to about 20 per cent dnny
the war. and about Is per cent aimee the war,
Alb per cent In all, notwithstanding the many nnctu
tons which have occurred, and notwithstanding w.
Development OF agriculture which has at times seems
likely TO so depress prices as " leave the producer
out fair returns. Yours G.h
hes- York, May 80, 1885.