The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-10-13
WAGES AND COST OF LIVING.
New Orleans Picayune.

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New Orleans Picayune.
The Picayune has more than once
called attention to the effect OF mod
ern civilization in ameliorating the
of the laboring classes. To
day the workman, for the expendi-
ture of cents, has carriage IA street
carl to carry him to and from his
work. He lives in better house,
which is provided with more conven-
fences, than was the residence OF ma
ny rich man 80 years ago. He lives
better, and his family are able to
dress in style and taste that would
have been impossible even in the Pc
riod just before the American civil
war.
All these facts are due to the extra
ordinary Improvements and cheapen-
ing in the production of all articles
of consumption, caused by the won
derful progress in machinery and in
the application of science in the in
dustrial arts. The steady cheapen-
ing of most articles of prime con-
sumption Is Il fact well known. But
cheapness accounts for nothing to
people who have no money to buy
with. The entire problem of the ben
eft derived from the cheapening of
necessaries depends on the ability of
consumers to buy what they need.
The question arises, then: How have
wages kept pace with the prices of
products? Have wages decreased,
stood still or increased?
According to statistics prepared by
Colonel Carroll d. Wright, United
States Commi sioner in charge of the
Bureau of Labor, they have increased.
Some figures furnished by him to the
Forum Magazine are worth attention.
Commissioner Wright shows that in
lS40 laborer in a large brewery in
the city of New York received 62.5c
day; in 1860, S4c.; in 1866, Sl.30 a
day in 1891, from Sl.90 to 81 a day.
Compositors who worked by the day
received, in 1910, 81 80 in 1860, So in
1866, from $3.50 to SO and the same in
1891. These quotations are from a
well-known establishment in the
State of Connecticut. A building
firm in Connecticut paid journeymer
carpenters, in 1910, from $l.25 to $l.6
day; in 1860, from $l.25 to $l.75 a
day; in 1891, from SO to 1925 IA day
A firm of builders in New York paid
in 1S40, sl.50 a day: in 1860, 50; in
1865, $3.50; in 1891, $3.50. Painters
received the same. Similar quota
tions could be made for carpenters
and painters in different parts of Tho
, Eastern States The rates of wages
, paid to whcelwrights were, in lS4O
, 1925; same in 1860; in 1866, 81; ir
1891, $3.50.
According to reports made by Hon
W. II. Harris, United States Commits
sioner of Education, brain work wa'
: paid as follows: Principals of boys
: high schools in Boston received pc
: annum, in 1S4O $500; in 1865, $1,000
$ in 1891, $24OO. Principals in primar.
s schools, for both boys and girls, II
S the same city received salaries rang
d ing at $3.50, $500, 500 per annum.
e Stepping outside of cities, the fact
e are found very complete for remot
7 Massachusetts districts. In 1S4(
= 500 month; in 1860, $40; in 1856
k s53 in 1890, 1853. Principals in Cir
y cinnati received for our four periods
d from $500 to $1,000 year.
: From the above it will be seen tina
wages have not been cut down by til
extensive introduction of machiner
' and improved processes In productio
!, and tor the reason that there is in e.
l. cry department Of skilled labor
= high degree of responsibility restin
! on operatives and employees. Whe
! nearlg everything was dependent Q
I" handwOrk the process of manufactul
~ was slow, the production was limitt
'e and the goods could not be sold at
'e price as low as the necessities of co
sumers required. Prices were hig
W and many people were forced to del
at themselves indulgences which n
$. now common. Wages and cxpens
5. had to be kept down to the lowest 4
,e ure In order to meet the abilities
d. the masses of purchasers Moreovt
n. II an unskillful handworker shou
at spoil his job, the loss would be co
he fined to the particular article up,
at which he was engaged, and til
i. would not be serious. To-day an |
h. competent workman may, In a II
ty minutes, destroy machinery and m
nd terial worth great deal of none
es AS consequence, his position is o
,r. of responsibility and must be pa
h. for.
70 Low prices, which are the result
ne improved methods OF production
tie not lower the standard Of wages, b
a few low prices which come from, fina
1t cial disturbance and industrial {
preston do. The difference shot
be fully noted. In order to make
country prosperous, set all the whc
OF industry in motion. The mt
people earn the more they spend. u
everybody gets the benefit of the ST