New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-24
AyERAGE WAGES IN MASSACHUSETTS,,
INVESTIGATION MADE BY THE BUREAU OF
IA

INVESTIGATION MADE BY THE BUREAU OF
STATISTICS OF LABOR.
Boston. March p C>pcciaD.-rhc relation of wase'
to the cost of production shown III the report "l
The Bureau Of statistic Of Labor, made hv Horace
g. WaGlin chez OF the bureau by order Of the Lcei>
laturc contains some facts OF Interest. c-pc'hlN u
manufacturers and to student, OF political economy
The evidence submitted PLAYS an important part III
the solution OF certain practical problems aud hAS
bearing upon the proper adjusting Of a protective
taris The material collected by the bureau upon
which the present part rests j. from original sonf'r'
and is In the form distinct and complete returns
from 1913 different manufacturing c-tall s.mcn- IN
thc commonwealth II i, not only entirely reliable,
hnt 1t is new, the field having never III no" been
covered by any extended investigation In tic thl'"
certain selected article of manufacture under 't'n
classified head presented. tie total cost oi pi'
ducing specified quantity being given bv percentages
showing the proportionaie expenses fpF wac ~"
material and for expenses not specified. by the latter
item j. meant any expense, not properly included
under the head Of wage. a. for instance rent ta>'-
Insurance etc Each article = followed by similar
presentation for the establishment IN which II Wa
made showing the expense Of production oi All art'r'
made in the establishment upon the same basis A. tha'
used in giving the cost Of the selected article MI
Wadln draws these conclusions from the tfbI'7 :
In industries In which the total value Of goods
sl5 99l 6-7. or 237 per cent Of the value oi i''d'
made in the manufacturing and mechanical Industries
Of the Commonwealth the average wage cost doe,
not fall below 30 per cent, or one hall Oi the t'N1l
cost Of production, the range being from Ola per
cent 10 II .O6 pc cent. ia these ndu-trc' l4'-lJ
males and $40 female were employed Ia the census
l--5.
second-In industries in which the total value ol
goods made was %l5- OlG.9JQ. or 231@ per cent oi
the value of the goods made In the state, the average
wage cost does not rise above 20 per cent n one
nftl Of the cost Of production, the range beng rom
2 % per cent 70 1874 per cent. In ihca" lilduii
9044i males and 7.-6i females were employed IN
the census year 1r-J. " , ,
Third In Industries in which the total valnc ~
goods made was $1G3 7l7 ~, 24.2- per cent q
the value Of good. made IN the state NE proportion VI
average wage cost doe not fall bclo" t'1 pc CEN
nor rise above 50 per cent. or, ~ other ""iFs u
more than onctlrd but ie-' fhan one half OF me cost
Of prOtuclOn In these indu- rieo - '3l males ana
74i4 female, were cmployci in The c"nsu, year l-r
Fourth In ndusiric, In which the value ~ gfs'h'
made was s}1 g. 100 O-G. 4GiO per cent Of the value
~ goods made n the Commonwealth the proportion
Of average wage dOcs not fail below 20 per cent
nor rise above 1888 per cent or ~ olhcr words J..
more than oncnfth hui lc-- than ono tnTd pf t'' COSY
of producfOn In these inGustrIc, ll22D1 males ana
o. Os females were employed IN the census year or1