River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-11-01
BENEFITS OF PROTECTION.
Wages In 1860 and 1855 and Their Pur
chasing Power.

chasing Power.
In respect to the data on which this
table had been compiled, | beg to say.
with regard to the rates of wages.
that they have been averaged from a
compilation of the figures given in the
number OF establishments treated in
Volume AX of the United States
Census, those of which / have had
some knowled &c myself as TO their
having been in continuous operation
throughout the period treated or else
such as from the nature of the work
must have been fully employed
throughout the whole period, being
selected for the purpose. The rates
are doubtless somewhat lower than
would be shown by compilation of
figures given by mechanics themselves
engaged in analogous trades. This
would always be the case if the wages
OF mechanics who are permanently
employed in connection with factories
We're compared with those whose work
is transient and not continuous
throughout the year, owing to the nat
ure OF the occupations. as in the build
ing trades. The rates OF wages have also
been compared with those computed
on special Investigations made on my
own behalf, from typical establish
ments in the State of Massachusetts,
which | know 10 be correct
With respect to prices had myself
made averages of prices from data OBJ
tanned by myself before Volume M
of the census was issued; and by COM
pairing my own data with those Of the
census | was able to verify the prices
given in that volume for the Eastern
States. The number Of portions as
signed TO 800 days work of course as
sumes continuous work, like that of
the factory, which runs every working
day in the year, emitting Sundays and
holidays, customarily computed at 800
days.
The computation of money or cur
rency per capita is as accurate as the
official data of the mint and of the
Treasury Department will permit.
The only issue which can be raised
or amount of coin in the hands of the
people. This subject has been mat
ter of considerable discussion; suffice
it TO say that the absolute knowledge
OF the subject possessed by the De-
partment of the Mint would substan-
italy verify the proportions of cur
rency per capita given in this table.
even if the amounts did not absolutely
correspond and were somewhat less.
1t may, therefore, | think, be safely
assumed that the margins for error in
these four computations are very
small; and if all errors were eliminated,
while the figures might BE- slightly
changed, the ratios or proportions
would not be varied sufficiently TO af-
feet the general conclusion:
RI latioa Of ,oaqes, prices, purchasing pousr or
rdges. ded rOlHD,s per cIpitI Of money or cur
ra-y Ia circulation at The respeeti0e aodges
QjceR:
No I.-Average wages OF mechanics, engineers,
carpenters, machinists and painters con-
nected with the mills and works tire ted in
Vol Xxx, United States Census; establish
ments in Eastern, Middle and Western
States
No 2.-Ayerage cost OF one days supply OF
fool, fuel ana material for clothing custom
arfy used by such mechanics, computed at
retail pr Cos in twenty shops; ten east and
ten west OF Buffalo. n. Y.
No. 3.-Purchasiug power OF Sd days wages
in equal portions Of the same kinds OF food,
fuel and cloth as above given.
No 4.-Quantity per capita of coin. cOnverti
BILE bank notes and legal-t ender notes in cir
culation or in use as money at the respective
dates