The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26

The department of agriculture has
made an investigation Of farm wages In
each state and the results have direct
interest for every farmer The fact Is
made most apparent that no one locality
has cause to lament the existence of
conditions under which farm wages are
no longer governed by the price of farm
products. All states alike find that
the wages paid for the production of
low-priced food products are governed
by the inducements held out by highly
protected manufacturers or else by our
own government in the prosecution OF
public works. Our national government
is always rich. by reason of the exer-
else Of its taxing power, aud pays high
wages, thus tending to keep the en-
ployes of private industries dissatisfied
with the remuneration commensurate
with the profits of business.
From Maine 10 California and from
the lakes to the gulf the statistics show
that farm wages have not fallen, while
the price of farm products has gone
down and down. and in most of the
states the cry is that the mine, the fac
tory and public works are drawing the
laborers from the farms. As our statis-
tician says the labOrers prefer the high
er wages with the greater cost of living
TO farm wages and cheaper living. The
highest wages are paid in the Pacific
coast states, being $3615 per month. with
out board. The mountain states follow
with a wage rate of S3216. Next come
the eastern states, paying s2446 per
month. followed by the middle states
with rate of $23.S3. and the western
states paying $2261. The southern states
with their colored farm help pay only
s14S6 but when the work accomplished
is taken into account this last rate is
about as high as that of any section.
California can we'll afford TO pay the
highest wages, as her climate and soil
are of such character that her products
are subject TO but little competition from
those of other states The growing of
vegetables, fruits and nuts of tropical
character makes her agriculture re-
munerative. and the laborers share the
prosperity Of the owners of the land
This is not the case in the eastern and
northwestern states, where grain and
vegetab les give comparatively small re-
turns from which 10 pay wages Suttl-
GENTLY large to compete with the attrac-
tfcns of town life and the wages posi-
BILE TO industries that thrive at public
expense.
The tendency to increase the gardens
and orchards is creating a great demand
for transient labor. and not in few
sections the harvesting of perishable
stuff is becoming a serious problem
While the towns are too full Of ldlers the
gardeners and orchardists often suffer
loss from failure to get their fruits into
market. As this business increases in
volume the difficulties will increase so
long as the farmer is handicapped by the
prevalence of conditions made hard for
him by class legislation. The country
is at discount in the estimation of the
mass Of laborerS, even when the farmer
is paying 80 per cent. more in food prod
ucts than he did years ago.
Ten years ago the average monthly
wage rate of Indiana was 1914. Since
that time il has not varied one dollar
per month. and in 1892 it was placed at
$22.75. Ohio's rate is $22.63 and that Of
Illinois S2425. The average harvest
wages Of Indiana without board is $15S
and that of Ohio S1.55 North Dakota
and California pay the highest harvest
wages, 81 p. many other western states
paying 81. In the southern states it is
noteworthy that while cotton has de-
clined in price nearly so per cent. within
the last twenty-six years the wages
of labor has declined only II per cent.
The difference between average
monthly wages with board and without
The average day wages without board
for ordinary farm labor in Indiana is
$l.06 and with board rs cents. Twenty
five or 30 cents form the estimated cost
Of board per day for men in farmers
homes.
These statistics are given as a matter
of special interest to every employer.
The statistician says: MANY a farmer
complains that labor costs too much,
that values OF products do not warrant
the rates demanded. and vet he must
have it and promptly makes the engage
ment. II is the compulsion of COMPETE
ton and not an indication of general
employment and a fair degree of pros
perity.' 1t does indicate prosperity, but
ii is the prosperity Of employers in
other lines of business rather than agri-
culture.
The Future of Whent Production.
We cannot wholly agree with all the
conclusions of the noted statistical
writer and Kansas wheat grower. G.
Wood Davis. but we make the following
extract from a recent article by him
for the consideration of our readers:
THAT this excess in supplies is wholly
due TO the remarkable acreage yields Of
the last two American crops seems be-
yOnd question. and this fact shows
that yields may be too abundant for the
welfare of the farmer. In the case of
the crops Of the United States In 1891
and 1892, yield officially estimated as
having been 30 per cent above the
average has certainly reduced the value
of wheat by greater percentage and
added nothing to the gross returns from
the crop, although a third more grain
has added largely TO the cost. These
enormous crops, and an acreage that
until recently, was too great for the
worlds needs. enables us to see more
clearly the effects following from the
too rapid development of the treeless
plains of the Mississippi and Missouri
valleys, and that in gloating over this
uneXampled agricultural development
we have lost sight of it's effect upon the
older and more valuable farming lands
Other crops may yield as greatly but
ii is certain that such yields have not
been known since the civil war. nor are
the probabilities in favor Of their OBJ
tanning during the coming decade: vet
If they do. so greatly do the annual
requirements augment that i'm two or
three years. at most, the world will re-
quire just such additions to its supply.
The destruction OF the crops OF AL
geria and Tunis the certainty that the
harvests over much OF western Europe
viii be below an average, the probable
reduction Of the Outturn in Kansas by
some 5O,000.000 bushels, and an equal
reduction 10000. 900 busheIs) in the re-
mainder OF the winter wheat belt
affOrd a reasonable assurance that such
extraordinary exports Will not result
from the current harvest, and that an
equilibrium will once more be establish
aH hafr.raaFa