Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-11-21
LABOR IN THE SOUTH.
A CORRESPONDENT TELLS OF
THE PRINcELY WAGES
Farm LabOrerS Getting Six Dollars =
MOnth-FaOts Regarding Reports Of
n Revival Of OSperity"-starVAtIOn
Has to Compete with Cheap Living.

lnl5 CITY anu the BTOuuuS OF tue COLLOn
States and International Exposition,
about three weeks ago, found every
thing In dire confusion. Two days be-
fore the opening there was only one
building really ready, and that was the
governments. Thousands Of workmen,
however, were rejoicing in hope that
their present condition would continue
and were free to talk of their wages, as
workmen generally are when they are
doing little better than common. And
verify was astonlshed at some Of their
statements. Thousands Of negroes have
tiocked in from the farming regions and
were getting 81 day for common labor,
where before the exposition boom the
rate was but 80 cents. One year ago
painters and carpenters in Atlanta got
but $3.50 per day. Now they get $3.50
and call 1t princely pay. Country me-
groes tell me that on the farms they get
$40 a month and rations, but that Is
only In this middle section, while south
ward and eastward wages are lower.
Orthodox party papers over In Tom
Watson's district have been making a
great to do over the improvement and
revival Of prosperity, and surely there
is an improvement II Editor Gate Sena-
tori Pat Walsh tells the truth, for he
says that not long ago able bodied me-
groes could be hired in the vicinity Of
Augusta for Sc month, while the latest
Corners from there tell me they can now
get SO. OF course these wages go with
rations-that is, enough cornmeal, pork,
coffee, peas, rice and black molasses to
keep laborer in working order And
even In this state I hear the familiar
statement that one great cause Of hard
I times is the extravaganza Of labOrers.
Last year the rate for picking cotton
was forced down to 30 cents per 100
pounds. This year there was an at
tempt at combine to force 1t up to 60
cents, the rate which prevailed In the
good old times" but am told to-day
that there is compromise by which
the pickers are to get As cents on first"
and "scant" and 40 cents on the late or
full boil. It takes lively darby to
| pick 200 pounds day, but women Occa-
sionally do better, and one was pointed
out to me who could turn In 240 pounds
day for week. In view of such and
many similar facts was not surprised
at seeing a very large chain gang with
out white man in 1t, and when resi-
dent friend called my attention to the
model Jail in the exposition grounds ]
was moved to ask:
"Will you explain your model convict
system?"
mot this year." he replied, with a
dry smile, and we changed the venue.
Street car men have also had their
wages raised and now get IL cents an
hour, a part Of the contract being that
they must maintain a neat and re-
spectacle appearance" That's a blamed
sight more than could do during the
long drought, when cloud Of red dust
hung perpetually over the grounds. Ed
itor Martin Of The Dixie Magazine tells
me that cotton mill operatives average
80 cents a day, and others put their
Wages at from $12 to S18 per month"
which does not seem to consist. sup
pose the latter are only the poorest class
Of workers. In the section where they
live board is phenomenally cheap and l
suppose correspondlngly plain. l had
to laugh at one good old lady who told
me she rally hadn't the heart to
charge the poor girls more'n eight dol
labs a month, though rally it's wuth
more in these hard times" In the
nicer sections board is much higher,
and rents are simply awful.
Gas and water rates are said to be
higher than in New York or Chicago.
while house service Of some kinds is dog
cheap. Even among men there is a
great diversity, and much more so
since the exposition company dis
charged so many common labOrers,
who are bidding against each other.
The firm l am best acquainted with just
now gets the services of preacher Of
the gospel for SO per week, and he Is
there from a. m. to 5 p. m, though his
duties as messenger do not employ him
all the time. He is rs years old, we'll
educated mulatto and licensed minis
ter, but is on the pay roll as a boy"
Draymen and hackmen get SO per week.
All these facts and many more Of the
same sort l gathered in my first ten
days here, for really there was not much
to see yet in the exposition, and IL 1t
had not been for the thousands Of vet
Grams who came down from the Chicka-
manga dedication and the ten govern
ors, including two candidates for the
presidency, and the generals here on
blue and gray day we certainly should
have suffered "ongwee." was particu-
larly struck with the fact that the
speakers laid great stress on the rising
tide Of prosperity and the advantages
to farmer and laborer. And all those
fellows profess to believe in God and
expect to be justified in his sight!-J.
H. Browning, in Chicago Express.
All in One Parcel.