Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-16
TIE R0TTOM EACrG.

Whenever THE GAZETTE is asked for
Information II does the best 1t can TO an
swer the question, and TO answer correct
ly. The subject is carefully investigated
before reply is given that claims to be
Of good authority. When an inquiry was
sent to this paper, some days since, II
the assertion II Mr. M. j. Nolan, that the
wages OF workers are twenty-five per
cent less now than in 1870, was true,
THE GAZETTE published in reply figures
showing that the amount paid to work
ingmen In various manufactures was 1907
per capita in $40 and SS47 per capita in
$50, giving, instead Of decrease Of 20
per cent, an increase of IS per cent.
Mr., Nolan now comes with the reioin.
der that THE GAzETTE's figures were
wrong; that the amount paid for wages
In 1870 was trlne OF Sl55, 900, 900 under
stated; that instead Of $500, ACT, 474, as
given, 1t should have been S775,5S4, 848,
THE GAZETTE is referred to page 1923 of
the compendium of the tenth census,
part ?, for confederation OF these figures.
Mr.. Nolan's sources OF knowledge are
very incomplete, for one who writes so
positively for the instruction OF the peo-
pie. II he viii turn 10 page xi Of Vol. 9,
statistics OF manufactures Of the United
States, compiled from the census of 1880,
he will zee whore the discrepancy between
his figures and THE GAzETTE's figures
comes in. lie will find there table show
Ing, at first glance, that the wages paid
out TO labor in 1870 amounted to ST75,.
St,3i9, as he says, and Immediately be-
meath 1t another table, which the statistl-
clan who compiled the volume explains in
a note is the true value OF the wages paid
in 1870. The corrected figure Is $500, lG7,-
47i, as given by THE GAZETTE,
The cause OF this difference is easily
explained. At the taking of the census
OF 1870, greenbacks were the currency in
which all payments were made, and at
that time greenbaCks were at discount
Of 20 3 per cent. In 1880 greenbacks
We're at their face value. In order, there
fore, TO make n correct comparison of
the amount of money paid in 1870 and in
1880, the figures OF 1870 must be dlmin-
ished 26,S per cent, which cuts down
Mr.. Nolan's S775, 6s+ ,34S to $500, i67, 474,
This reduction is made In all figures show
ing payments of money in 1870 1t is of
course necessary to get at true com
parlson, for the greenback dollar that
was worth only 10 cents In 1870 cannot
otherwise be compared with the dollar
that was worth 100 cents in 1880.
The talk about the worklngmen being
so much worse of now than In 1870, and
stu getting worse, Ia founded on about
as substantial basis rs Mr.. Nolan's
figures. The man who Is paid so day
now is better OF than when he was paid
81 80 in 1870, for he was paid then in q
dollar that was worth but 70 cents, and
his $3.50 was worth only Sl.syb. His
days wages now viii purchase moro than
II would then, for everything has cheap
ened at the same rate In fact, by cor.
rect comparison, he is paid SS47 year
now, as against sSO7 In 1870, and until
the correctness Of the census In this re-.
spect is lmpeaohed IL cannot be main
taiued that the worklngmen of to-day is
worse of than he was In 1870, or as bad
OF.