The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-08-27
PROSPERITY RETURNING
Wages Have Advanced and More Men
Are Finding Enpioyment-
Bryanite Howieru.


turns from 2.229 manufacturing con-
Germs, giving the number of men en-
ployea and wages paid, 10 March, 1895,
and also In March, 1898. These estab-
lishments, which represent every In
dustry, are scattered through AZ states
and territories. They had OH their
pay rolls In March. 1895, al time when
the violence of the panic of 1893 had
somewhat abated, 204,5s0 hands.
Those men were paid during that
month as wages the sum of s7,o7o,oo0.
That was at the average rate OF $3.50
per month. Last March the same es-
Establishments had on their pay rolls
269, 1928 men, whose wages amounted TO
$40. 1913. 900. The average payment was
bare trife less than $3S.
Thus il appears that in three years
there was a gain OF - per cent. In the
number of men employed and of 8 per
cent. In the rate of wages paid. These
2,229 concerns, which have made re-
ports, have not been picked out ba-
cause they have been enjoying special
prosperity. They are representative
of the conditions obtaining in the
classes 10 which they belong. There
fore, the employers have been making
successive demands upon the unem-
ployed, of whom there were so many
| three years ago, until they have near
| ly one@third more men in their service
than early in 1895. and are paying a
| better rate OF wages. The wages are
paid too, in gold value money, and
not in free coinage silver dollars, with
purchasing power Of only about 40
cents apiece.
As result OF the employment of 30
many more men, and the disbursement
OF so much more money in the form OF
wages, all those persons who supply
the necessaries OF life 10 the wage
workers have been benefited. The gro
GERS, the clothiers, and all other re-
tail dealers have been able TO do more
business. The old debts due them
from the unemployed, whom they were
carrying, have been paid Oft in whole
or part. The merchants and shop
keepers have required the services OF
more men. and they, too, have made
drafts on the ranks OF the unemployed.
The war with Spain, which began
about a month after the above-men-
toned Industrial returns were made,
did not throw anybody out of work
40 branch OF industry was depressed
by Il. IL may be said that the transfer
OF 50 many men from peaceful 20 mill
tary pursuits tended to stiffen prices
In the labor market. But il appears
from the reports OF the commercial
agencies the advent OF peace Is TO bc
followed by greatly increased indus
trial activity. The working force OF
the textile manufactures is TO be in
creased. The rising demand for iron
and steel is putting up the price OF
these products. and calling for the en-
ployment OF more men 10 fiji new,
heavy orders.
In the meanwhile, the irritated and
unhappy Bryanites are crying out that
! there is no prosperity, and no present
hope OF any, and that the state OF az
: fairs could not be much worse than 10
Is. The men who were idle in 1895 be-
cause they could not get work, though
they hunted for IL, are busy now.
| Wages have advanced, wages are paid
ia what the Bryanites call "appre-
| ciated gold dollar" dollars which
, they allege buy too much for the
, workingmen who receive them. But
, the Bryanites contend that all that
! does not indicate prosperity. There
} can be no prosperity according to
them until the country Is flooded with
t. free coinage legal tender silver dol
! lars, which will buy only two-fifths as
, much as gold value dollars do, but
which by dishonest, retroactive legis-
! iation viii be made 10 go as far in the
' payment OF gold-standard debts as
io0-cent dollars.--Chicago Tribune.