The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-02-02
fStatesville Landmark

1Statesyille Landmark
We have received from Wesley n.
Jones, Esq, Commissioner of Labor
for North Carolina, the irst annual re-
port Of the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
the period from the 1st Of
March, 1887, to the Ist Of January,
1888, inclusive. The bureau was es-
tablished by act of the Legislature at
its last session to "collect information
upon the subject of labor, its relation
to capital, the hours Of labor, the earn
ings of laboring men and women, their
educational, moral and financial COLI
dition and the best means Of promot-
ing their mental, material and moral
prosperity" Mr.. Jones was appointed
under the act, by the
Governor, and $4,000 was placed at
his disposal for the first year, for the
purpose Of meeting all the expenses Of
the bureau in the payment of salaries
and the prosecution of its work, and
ST. 900 for each subsequent year. MFR.
Jones reports to the Governor that with
more means at his disposal his report
would be much more full, but still the
results attained have surpassed lis ex-
pectations, there being general dis
position to fill blanks sent out by him
and otherwise to forward the work he
has in hand. He thinks the work Of
the bureau has "been appreciated by
a good many Of the people Of the
State" shown by the large number of
persons "who have voluntarily fur
nished information upon various sub
jects." The report is highly interest
ing document. 1t presents a great
mass Of statistics of a class never be.
fore collated in North Carolina, and
the answers Of the correspondents, EN-
ployers and employed, to the questions
asked them, and the general views
which they express, are striking and
suggestive.
The first table shows the mechanical
operations followed, the rate Of wages
per day and the number Of hours con-
stituting days work, in each of the
counties of the State. Many blanks
were sent to each county and the re-
plies were averaged. The wages Of
blacksmiths are $500, SI.25, sI.5e
and $500 per day. Only two coun
ties, however-Bu1ke and Durham
pay $500; sI.z5 is about an average
of the State. Carpenters wages are
from s1.s5 to $500, though only one
county-Buncombe-pays $500
avaerge Of the State about $k5 Brick
masons get from sI.oo to $500 pc
day, Buncombe again being the onl!
county that pays the higher figure
average Of the State sI.5o to SITS
Plasterers about the same. Painters
$500 to $3.50; average, sI.a5 t
$3.50. Printers, 75c. to $a.33 Ch
latter figure in Wake); average, abou
$I.a5. Machinists, $3.50 to $500
average Sa.oo. Laborers +oc. to 9oc
(Buncombe alone AGAIN.; average
about 6oc. And so throughout tn
table. The working hours Of all classe
range from 10 to IL hours, the aver
age being more than IL.
The second table, showing earning:
cost OF living and general condition,
also an interesting one. 1t is seen thu
much time is lost by carpenters in par
ticular, both by reason Of bad weathe
and inability to get work. Cost
living per year is put down at fror
$500. 90 (Wilkes) to $4,000 (Bur
combe) varying according to localis
and number in family. About ha
answer that they live in their ow
houses. Rent ranges from $4,000
$4,000. A large per cent. are pal
only partly in cash. Another per cen
arc required to trade at certain place
A few answer that they live bette, tha
they did three years ago; the gre;
majority say they do not. About
per cent. report that they carry SON
insurance. The increase and decrea
in wages last year about balance eae
, other.
Under the head Of "Views Of Worl
ingmen,' arc presented extracts fro'
, letters on variovs subjects. "W. /
5 T." reports from Alamance distru
between labor and capital and in son
r instances much bitterness, but is Il
only correspondent who does so repol
, Railroad Agent" CASTOR count
, says he gets $1,000 per month, liv
: in his own house. has seven in famil
: three at school and three employed
D farm work, and accumulated som
thing las, year! Contractor" wri,
from Iredcll: 1.-The need Of the tim
!, is education and the suppression Of Z
;, liquor traffic. Until this is done !
: shall not have education. . - v
need compulsory education" NJ
t chinis, writes from Jones: "Color
:. labor is abundant though not very 7
S liable. They spend too much Of the
tim- preaching, hunting and fishing
"Teacher" writes from Columbu
e "Work 10 hours per day and get S..
!. per week pay $4,000 per year rem
have eight in family. four at scboo