The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-05-25
LABOR STATISTICS.
The Annual Report of Commis-
siOner Carroll d. Wright.
Wages and Cost Of Living in This
Country and Europe.

The Hon. Carroll D. Wright, Commis-
sioner Of Labor, transmitted to the Pres-
dent his annual report.
In that part of the report relating to cost
of living, facts are given from 52s4 families.
representing 27,577 persona These families
arc distributed through the cotton and glass
producing States of the United States, Bel
Rium, France, Germany. Great Britain and
Switzerland, and constitute the most extern
sivs collection Of data relative to the cost Of
living that has ever been published.
Tho total average income Of families from
all sources for different countries, for the
number of families for which budgets
were obtained In each country, was:
For the cotton industry, s58:76 In
S302.ll in Germany. s55s.14 in
Great Britain, and $35s.56 in Switzerland.
In the wooden industry 1888. Is in the United
States, S424.51 In France, $275.99 in Ger
many. and S5l5.84 in Great Britain. In the
glass industry in the United States $859.64,
IN Belgium s827.65 and in Great Britain
$501.89. "..i
Bringing these averages into comparison
with those Of Incomes In other industries, as
reportsd in the sixth annual report, the
Commissioners finds that In the United
States the total average income OF
fss: ss.s, engaged %s: .5I il 81 tho in pE p.sa 51ss
ss74.53, and in Great Britain, S45s.ss. The
bar iron workers are welLp class, and
their incomes per family were as follows: For
the United States S764.1l; for Belgium
$3.50. 81; for Francs, $464. "A; for Germany,
s2S2. 20, and for Great Britain, $5l999.
Looking at some Of the items Of EXPENSE
Of families in different countries and fol
different industries it is learned from tht
report that in the United States thu aver
age cost OF rent for the familie
reported in the cotton industry
So7.o8. and In Great Britain, Ssl.24 Fol
families engaged In the woolen industry. IL
the United States, $90.s7; In France, <33. .25i
In Germany, $751; and In Britain, S52.A
For families in the glass industry in tht
United States, S109.51; in Belgium, S.9S
and in Great Britain, $50. .73.
The suDs expended for amussments and
vacation, indicate very clearly the tendency
of tho families Of working men. For tht
families In the United States in the cotton
industry. the average cost was 1885; In
France, s18.02; In Germany, .Sl9.33, and 10
Great Britain, $500. The glass workers 10
this country. however, spent more money
than those OF any other country for amuse-
ments and vacation. In the United States
such expenses amounted to $23.66 per an.
mum; In Belgium, $l1.40. and In Great Brit
Tho comparisons on Intoxicating liquors
ere as follows: For the families engaged IN
tia cotton industry in the United STATES, 80
far as considered, s159s; in France Sl5, ,0s;
in Germany, $11.41, and in Great Britain.
$l9.47. In the glass industry, In the United
States, $As4; in Belgium, $46.09 and IN
Great Britain, s32.H.
The expenditures for food BY tha families
OF the cotton workers In the United States
was on the average s2SZ06; IN France.
SIG. 90; in Germany, $142.3a, and In Great
Britain, $246.50. For the families engaged In
the woolen industry: In the United States.
S282 85: in France, $lS6.78; in Germany,
Sl4O.2 and in Great Britain, $223.50. For
the families Of glass workers: In the United
States, $294.75; in Belgium, $2S72s, and In
Great Britain, $22096.
The reading propeusities OF the families
comprehended in the report constitute inter-
esting points Of comparison. The average
cost Of books and newspapers for famines en-;
gagged In the cotton industry in the United
States was 81. IS; in Franco IS. 70; In Ger-
many. s.. .4S, and in Great Britain, 1886. For
families engaged In the woolen industry: In
the United States, $766; in France, 1888; In
Germany, $1.37, and In Great Britain, SO. A..
For the families engaged in the glass indus
try: In the United States 1914; in Bel
gium, Sa.s2, and in Great Britain, s3.A .,
The total average expenditures per iamily
for all purposes in the cotton industry In tho
United States were $6l06l; in France,
S33S. 10: In Germany, $2s2.5S; in Great Brit
ain, s5Oa. 13. and In Switzerland, $348. 68. The
families in the woolen industry In the United
States expended 1894 .09; in France, Sss4o5;
in Germany, S2sl. SO, and in Great Britain,
s4sl. ga. The families engaged in the glass
industry in the United States expended
s769.C6; In Belgium, s492.42, and in Great
Britain, S48O.A.