Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-10-25

well OF unier Tree competition with
European labor as they now are under
the Protective S: stem. They say that
the average American workman has
but little sqyed A. the enl OF the year,
and hat even were their wages to be
fo!uced they would sill be as well off
b caqse of be re1nced cost of living.
let Us ,xAmino Mr.. THURMAN's
assertion That this reduced cost OF living
makes The European workman's wages
practically as high IS those paid in this
country.
Our clitf compiiiors in manufacture
ing amongst European nations are
Engl2ad Germany. Switzerland, Bel
eiam. and Italy. It is true that the
working people 10 those countries live
far more caeaply than in America. 1t
is true that they support their families
on / IS than half the wages ordinarily
paid for similar labor in this country.
But ,otat sort of ijeing Is Il?
Carroll D. Wright, tie National Com
missioner Of Labor Statistics under
Cleyeland's administration. in his re-
port for 1886, thus describes the con
ton Of labor in Italy.
"The condition OF the 'a5oring cIa.s in Italy.
especially in the Southern portion Of the state.
j. one Of extreme poverty and hardship The
hsbltaiien o. che la5orer anl mechanic Is gener-
ally room in damp, ill-smeiling blildihg, on
a street ten or fifteen feet wide ali rarely Wis
tied bj the sun. The coffee grounds
FROM the wealthy maus kitchen are dried and
resold 70 the poor, OH shoes. hats
clothes, candle ends dried coffee grounds
second hand OH, ETC. are spread ont upon the
broad stones Of he plaza, or square, of town
aud Ii is IA such places, to a considerable extent
that the workingman buys hls supplies.
The pay Of a mason or skilled mechan-
ic in Italy. according to this report.
ranges from 40 to 20 cents per day Of
ten to twelve hours He is able to exist
on this sum and nothing more. A fam
lily Of father and mother aud Ealf-a-
dozen children viii lnhaLit one room
with 40 earth or brick floor, damp and
dinlly lighted.
The following is the diet Of an ordi-
nary mechanic with family of six rs
given by the Official repnrts,--
Break fast; Bread anl ii or coffee. Dirner
Boiled chestnnts or mlcariai. onions. bread
and wine; sometimes sat- ro-k. Sapper: Bread
and coffee or cheese.
Years earnings o, father Sis3 GO
Earnings OF SOILS 1879 90
1915 50
The room in which this family live
costs SIP to sl5 per year; suit of
clothes [soeond handl, g to Sc; shoes
20 cents 10 $3.50.
The following is the average cost of an
Talian mechanics living
Average cost Of breakfast scents
Average cost Of dinner
Average cost Of supper :
Average cost Or food per day &c cents
The following are the prices Of COM
modities in Italy as quoted in said re-
port
Ariclo Price'Article Price
Fsgs. Der dol. +! 10 dc Nation. per H. Is 10 isc
Bread per ID. to &c. Pork, per To- IL to lsc
Cheese.per 10 to isc. Goat. per ton S. to s.
Macaroni,per ID 3io &c. Coal of railroads $ to IS
Potatocs.per ID. > 70 Bel
A stylish suit Of clothes, tailor made,
would cost $40; ordinary suit, $40.
A laborer's suit costs from s4.45 up;
leather shoes 81 % to 81. 80, and wooden
shoes 20 cents A bricklayer's clothing
outfit, comprising breeches, Jacket.
shirt, underwear, hat, handkerchief and
shoes, cost at the lowest from $40 to
$3.50. These figures vary but very lit
lie in Belgium, Switzerland and Ger
many, either in wages or cost of living,
with the exception OF some expert me-
chanics in skilled industries, like the
Belgian glass.blowers, who make consid-
erably more than ordinary mechanics.
1t will be seen from this that the cost
of food and clothiug such as American
workmen are accustomed to use is very
little cheaper in Europe than in Amer
iea, and the European laborer is enabled
to live upon the pittance he receives
only by denying himself what American
workmen call necessaries and wearing
cheap cast-of clothing
IL England, with her iron hold upon
he markers of her extensive colo1is
and the greater self-assertion of her
people. the condition of the working
people, especially the skilled labor Of
the country, is better than on the con-
tinent. The foo is of better quality.
Meat and vegetables are used twice a
day in the families of her factory opera
tives. A mason or bricklayer averages
five TO six shllings (s1.20 TO S1.44 per
day.A skilled male weaver may average |
g. 20 pea week; woman weaver. from
s2.l0 to So GO per week, according to
skill. A laborer fares very poorly. |
however. A large family will be found
in two room, wretched lofts and their
fare chiefly bread and molasses. with
meat or soup once q dsy. dis earn
ings are froA SIS to SIS per month.
Tie price Of the necsssaries of life
are not in many instances cheaper than
similar articles IN America. They are
quoted by Mr.. Wright as follows:- !