Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-05-27
LABOR STATISTICS.
The Annual Report of Commits
siOner Carroll ID. Wright.
Wages and Cost of Living in This
Country and Europe.

The Hon. Carroll D. Wright, Commits
sioner Of Labor, transmitted to the Presi-
dent his annual report
In that part OF the report relating to cost
OF living, facts are given from 1854 families
representing 27,57 persons These families
are distributed through the cotton and glass
producing States of the United States, Bel
GUM, France, Germany Great Britain and
Switzerland, and constitute the most extern
sive collection Of data relative to the cost of
living that has ever been published
The 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 tina cotton industry, $50. 76 in
the United States, 1854 in France.
$500 II in Germany, S556.14 in
Great Britain, and 1855 ST in Switzerland
In the wooden industry 1868. 13 in the United
States, $424.51 in France, S275. SO in Ger
glass industry in the United States S85964,
IN Belgium S627.65, and in Great Britain
SOL SO
Bringing these averages into comparison
with those of incomes in other industries as
reported in the sixth annual report the
Commissioner finds that in the United
States the total average income of
families engaged in the pig iron
industry was 1891 81; in Belgium,
1874. SO, and in Great Britain, $3.50 SO. The
their incomes per family were as follows: For
the United States, S764.11; for Belgium,
S35937; for France, $464. "A; for Germany,
$28220, and for Great Britain, s5l999.
Looking at some Of the items of expenses
of families in different countries, and for
different Industries it is learned from the
report that in the United States the aver
age cost of rent for the families
reported in the cotton industry
was SO; in France, $34 rs; In Germany,
d.
families engaged in the WOODEN industry. in
the United States, $90.87; in France, $33. IS;
in Germany, $25.45, and in Britain, $50 "a.
For families in the glass industry in the
United States, $1O9 81; in Belgium, $3S. 95,
and in Great Britain, $50.73.
The sums expended for amusements and
vacation, indicate very clearly the tendency
of the families of working men. For the
families in the United States in the cotton
industry. the average cost was g. SO; in
Great Britain, $500. The glass workers in
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 $2866 per an
mum; in Belgium, $l1.40. and in Great Brit
ain, S2256.
The comparisons on Intoxicating liquors
are as follows: For the families engaged In
the cotton industry In the United States, so
far as considered. 1888; in France, SIS, 0S;
Ia germany, SAI.41, anu III 0rSaG DTtCdin,
S19.47. In the glass industry, in the United
States, $54. 81; in Belgium, $500, and in
Great Britain, S32.74.
The expenditures for food by the families
of the cotton workers in the United States
was on the average s287O6; in France
$164. o.; in Germany, $142. %, and in Great
Britain, $246.50. For the families engaged in
the wooden industry: In the United States
$262S5; in France $1S6.78; in Germany,
s14O27, and in Great Britain, s223.S0. For
Tt.
States, S294.75; in Belgium, $23722, and in
Great Britain, 1920. 90.
The reading propensities Of the families
comprehendedi in the report constitute inter-
esting points of comparison. The average
cost of books and newspapers for families en-
gagged in the cotton industry in the United
States was s.. IS; in France, So. 70; in Ger
many, 81 AZ, and in Great Britain 1886. For
families engaged in the wooden industry: In
the United States, S7.66; in France, So. 80; in
Germany, 81 81, and in Great Britain, So A..
For the families engaged in the glass indus
try: In the United States, So. IA; in Bel
GUM, So 49, and in Great Britain, 1914.
The total average expenditures per family
for all purposes in the cotton industry in the
United States were S6l0.61; in France,
1888 10; in Germany, 1882. So; in Great Brit
ain, 1902. - and in Switzerland, S346 90. The
families in the WOODEN industry in the United
States expended 1894 .09; in France, S384.O5;
in Germany, 1921. SO, and in Great Britain,
S4S1. ga. The families engaged in the glass
industry in the United States expended
S769.O6; in Belgium, $492. AZ, and in Great
Britain, s46O.44.