Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-27
EUROPEAN FARM LABORERS.
More Enviable Than Town Mechanics
and Factory Operatives.

anu dStOIy opera ives.
English Letter in Country Gentle
man: The reports Of the assistant
commissioners to the Royal commits
sion on labor form very interesting
reading; albeit the view taken is far
too rose cOlOred, at least in respect
to the labOrer, in some districts of the
country. That there is not so great a
decrease in the number of people en-
plOyed on farms as was AT one time
expected, the full analysis of the last
census returns now makes clear. 1t
is evident enough, however, that ait
Is chiefly aged men who are left for
held work; the younger (the sinew and
muscle of the shires) are betaking
themselves at far too great a rate to
our large towns. This may be a mis-
take on their part by the lure of higher
money wages, and by the Inducements
of seeing life" instead of sharing in
a perennial dizziness all the year round.
AS to remuneration, the reports for
Great Britain prove that the agricult-
ural labOrer is much better off than he
Is commonly supposed to be. and that
this is the case in some counties where
the ordinary weekly wages are among
the lowest. Wherever his average
earnings exceed or reach So a week
his lot is far more enviable one than
that of the ordinary town mechanic
or factory operative; and even where
they barely reach 81 it is in many re-
spects superior to that of the unskilled
town workman. His life IS spent in
the open air and among the beauties
Of nature instead of in a stuffy or
draughty workshop or dusty factory;
his dwelling is usually healthily stu
ated, as compared with one placed in
sitting court or Squalid back street;
his work is healthy and varied, while
that of the tOwnsman is often injurious
and monotonous; and his food is as
abundant as that of his town brother,
and more wholesome, although it may
include fewer luXurieS. 1t has been
we'll said that the great want of the
agricultural labOrer is "a career" and
it is true that his chance of rising to
a higher social level is often small;
but in many parts of the country the
number of labOrers who have become
farmers is much greater than outsiders
suppose, and the present facilities for
acquiring land in small portions and
gradually working up to the position
of a greater holding, are greater than
n
The chief difficulty now is. not that of
getting land, but that Of making 1t
pay; and while the able. thrifty and
industrious man still has a good chance
of getting on in certain branches Of
agriculture or horticulture, there is a
serious risk in the modern craze for
creating farmers by act of parliament,
and setting them UP in business on
capital provided by the state. 1t is
only those who are capable Of rising
by their own efforts for whom there
is any assurance of success in the pre-
carious undertaking of farming on a
large scale, and no greater mistake
could be made than that of creating a
peasant-proprietary burdened with
debt in such times as these l do not
conceal from myself that there is am
pie room for the new development;
we paid to other lands over S54O, OOO,-
900 last year for meat, butter, eggs
and general farm and garden produce,
some considerable portion of which
could have been provided at home.
But, for all that, there is no very
great prospect for the rank and file
OF the agricultural labOrerss its duIlness
continues, and it gives little scope for
that laying by for old age which is
the duty of every Well-cOnducted citi-
zen. In this respect he is no worse
off than the unskilled town worker;
and it is sad to find that One-third of
the entire population, over 65, were
last year in receipt Of indoor or of
outdoor relief. But if you analyze the
condition of other classes, the result
is not at all cheering; in consequence
of distress among the clergy, even the
ecclesiastical authorities have decided
to amalgamate a number of poor hir-
! ings in the agricultural districts of the
Q1gQlE IdNOr6u equity VI NShI'
1t is not needful to refer again to the
taxed and burdened state of the
French laborer: but we certainly may
turn to Scandinavia. and inquire, with
some interest. how things are with the
| hardy toilers of the north. The ma
iority of the Iaborers in Sweden hold
land-many of them under the old
tenure, which gives two or three days
| work a week to the landlord instead
| of money rent. The peasant proprie-
| tors, also, who form a numerous class,
! often work for others, to a greater OF
less extent; while the laborers engaged
| by the year are provided with houses
| gardens. certain quantities of grain
! equivalent to oatmeal in Scotland)
and salt herrings in addition to money
| wages. 1t is difficult to arrive at q
! correct estimate, but one would moi
be far out in stating that money (ol
money value, where part is found