The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-07
TIE KErEcrs OF FKEK TRADE


frss six months of the presen. year. -
compared with similar condition, existing
between January and June %. 1892
Three hundred and twenty different en-
pioyers Of labor report that they are Abe
to End work for q. 500 fewer hands this
year than in ise2 They paid almost ss.-
90. 900 less money for wages and their out
pat. or the amount Of business which they
transacted, was nearly one-half less than
during the first six months of is92
The average earnings Of each wage
Garner between January / and June 50.
1862. Vas $50 The average earnings of
each wage Garner during the correspond
ing six months of this year Vas $685. Thus
there was loss of SIS to every one Of these
individuals Who were employed.
Under the Mckinley tariff in 1892 IL was
shown that over 81, 200 900 vas invested
in new and enlarged industries within two
years; also that work had been provided
for 81 2s5 additional hands. The Ameriean
Econonsists reports today show that q, so
people have been deprived Of work in $40
different industries: also that those who
are ut work have received nearly eight
millions less money In these six months
than they did two years ago.
1t Is further shown that the amount Of
business Is but IS per cent of that trans
acted in 1872 A year ago the Economist
reported that there had been q decreasein
business within twelve months of 472 per
cant q ascrsss. an ~~ras >.~o>J of so 49,
cent. and a decrease In the number OF per-
sons employed in factories Of abou: 6oI<
per cent The Economist today reports Q
shrinkage Of 80 per cent. in the number of
persons employed; a loss of 45 per cent. in
the amount of wages earned. and of a. per
cent. in the output of industrial establish
ments. A year ago the average decrease
was recorded as s2.35 per week in the
wages of each employe. or Sol 10 for the
half years work.
The Economist today records loss Of SIS
for each person for the frat six months
work this year as compared with the
money which lac earned during the same
period in 1892. There are today l,4l3. $50
idle persons in the country who were ac-
lively employed in 1880. There wa. more
than a billion dollars less wages earned
than in 1892. The value of the product of
factories has decreased by more than Eve
billion of dollars. and three billion dollars
less money has been paid for material to
be used in manufactures.
In other words the Economic finds ss
the first effects Of free trade that there
were As per cent. less wages earned this
year than in 1892: that there is no work
for 80 per cent Of the people; that the
output of the factories has decreased By a
per cent; that the average earnings have
fallen off by SIS per head: that billions OF
dollars less money circulated; . most i'm
pressive record of shocking loss to capital
and labor Here are the figures of the
Ecoaomist:
g.. ,.....,., Jan g June. 'hH. e June.
Hands employed ..-... 6e.sS 5so6o
Wages paid .......... Sl7,s5e9s7 saelIOga
Output OF fsciories..-. 100 per cent IS per cent.
COMPARISON WITH TIE exSsus OF 1890:
Census Of 1890. Condition Of 1891
Hands em- Hands
x.pioyed..... Lnl.ss2 idle........ l.iis5i0
Wages wages
earned. .2s2 2s2es loot. "a or, 27o,as
Product Product
value -. s.s7o.io7 ga not made Al22.s47.sss
Cost of ma Material
teriaL -. 5,l5s,sss.S5s no, used. 2,2os, o42is5
The reports Of the Economist from the
Pacific coast indicated much better condi-
tiops having existed there than aany-
where else in the United States. the loss In
tho employment of men being 10 per cent,
In wages 20 per cent. and in the amount of
business or output of factories 80 per cent.
From this IL would appear that the hands
have been kept working when not actu-
ally needed. That this should be the case
both there and in New England. and to .
less extent in the middle section, shows
the very earnest desire on the part Of en-
pioyers to give their employees every posi-
bic opportunity to earn their living even
at the expense of the bosses"
The Economists reports from CaIiforn Ia
announce that the wool men are all going
out Of business, the price for the last clip
being reduced to IS low as cents, where
ii vas formerly Is cents aud . cents.
shearers can barely earn pittanca
The oranges, lemons and raisins OF
Riverside. Cal. sold for 81, So, 900 in 1891
and for only 500 600 IN 1884 In Oregon
the sheep industry il ruined. Isis stated
that 500 sheep now offered at dollar a
head with no buyers we're quick sale in
is9e at three dollars per head. The wages
Of herders which were then SIS to $40 Der
month are nov so for the same work.
In the towns of Oregon carpenters are
working for ST. 10 and their board. The
frst-class painters get 81 = day. The .aw-
mills are shut down or running only q few
days week with q few hands on small
local orders. The mills pay small and
starvation wages.
In Warrington printer writes that he
has been obliged 10 lay of some Of his
men because Of the utter inability Of hi.
patrons to pay their bills.
There is no heps for the lumesr trade
under the new tariff.
Wheat Is sod fer less than half the
money il brought TIVE years age. Al
Washington town of SO inhahsiant.
there Is only one shingis mill snd
q couple Of storsa The mill has been run.
ming. although the proprieiors made no
morey. The stores are Just holding their
own, bat doing exclusively q cash bust
ness where they formerly gave credit
oshsr mills in the same county run 80 a.
10 make work Tor the men snd teaua be-
ing satisfied 10 cover expenses. Foar
years ago shingles sold at 81 and s.. Is. but
nov the sams shingles brisg only slN
Farmers are unable 70 meet their ohliga-