The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-12-12
The Outlook for ;
the Farm Hand /
9oe99.esseassooosseaoee

] AuADA lJl tue hcdcoa 3 WNAA Was &ou
per month with extra pay at harvest
tins. wages heretofore having ranged
from s12 to SIS per month where
men were hired for the entire sea
son with no extras az harvest time.
A recent report on the wages paid
farm labor. issued by the Division Of
Statistics Of the Department Of Agri-
culture, shows that the average
monthly wage Of farm labor by
the year in Indiana in 1899 was
little less than s15. Or $1A76,
with board. At first glance this
seems small sum, and It Is. so small
that competent capable. Intelligent
men can not be long retained at thar
figure. They may serve an apprentice
ship until they have learned the busi-
ness and accumulated a small capital.
but sooner or later, if they have ambi-
tion and ability, they demand and re-
ceiye better wages or they become
tenant farmers or go west where land
Is cheap and develop farms Of their
own. The farmer dependent on cheap
hired help has to accommodate himself
to the situation and do the best he can
with raw material consisting OF such
apprentices, or half-grown boys, un-
tutored and unreliable, foreigners re-
Gently arrived who accept this chance
to secure a home and learn the Ian
guage and ways Of a new country. or
the dissipated. irresponsible or incom-
petent class who cannot secure employ
ment in other lines OF work. He must
furnish the brains and inspiration.
must maintain a rigid supervision TO
insure the proper or thorough doing Of
every task assigned. and even then
gets but Indifferent service In addi-
ton to the cash paid he furnishes as
good bed and board to every man in
his employ as his own family enjoys.
and many unreckoned home privileges
unknown to the town laborer con-
demned to the doubtful comforts OF a
boarding house.
But are the wages unreasonably low
as compared with those OF labor in
other avenues OF employment? The
daily wage OF transient labor in
most villages is 81 to $3.50 per day.
Such men dig bitches, make gardens.
work on the roads. and seldom have
constant employment even during the
summer months. In the winter their
chances Of securing work are stlil less.
In the larger towns. where factories
are found. the unskilled. uneducated
laboror seldom receives to exceed $3.50
per day; the competition be has to
meet is keener and the cost OF living
increased. His expenses for board.
lodging. washing and car fare will sell
dom fall below IS 10 So per week aud
he has. besides, 10 meet the regular
assessments OF the labor unions. II
be saves So per week he does well, but
he mover knows when labor troubles
win compel him to be idle and under
an expense that viii soon eat up his
savings What advantage does he pos
sess over the agricultural laborer. who.
ii he be Industrious. can always get his
board and small wages in the duh win
ter season, and during the summer
months, especially during the harvest
season. can command good wages? We
firmly believe that n a census could
be taken and the estates could be com
pared OF laborers IN agricultural and
mechanicalllnes It would be found that
the sober. industrious, ambitious farm
hand can ordinarily show more cash
on hand at the end OF a years service
than the town workmen, and a far
better physical condition as the result
Of good, plain food and plenty OF out
door exercise. AS his health Is his
capital. this last item is not to be de.
spised.
Il Is sometimes said BY those who
take the opposite side Of the argu-
ment that the difficulty experienced BY
farmers in securing help arises from
the fact that farm work offers no in
to ambitious men anxious
to get on in the world. This is not
true. The fact Is. as before remarked, /
the best help the average farmer is
able to secure is the transient help OF
Young men serving "a apprenticeship
az farming. who. in a few years. rise
to the management Of farms OF their 4
own. either rented or purchased.
But the possibilities OF subordinate
positions on the farm are enlarging
rapidly, also. The competition that
has resulted from the rapid develoD.
ment Of the western states has brought I
farmers face to face with the same
problems that manufacturer
have been called upon % solve. yix.
how to effect the maximum Of pro8he. I
.ion with the minimum Of cost. Their /
farms must be made to yield more and I
better products and al labor saving
must be resorted 70. This has
created q demand FOR trained lntslli.
Fence on the farm. for farmers have
learned that one man Of brains and
skin. whose judgment and INTEGRITY
,an be depended upon, who knows the
best ard quickest way to achieve
given result and who can be trusted
10 work without supervision. Is worth
two farm tyros or clodhopDara. Who
san cnly work as 1.ai-h~cy else turns
he crank and furnishes the brains. and
Eeli-to-do farmers are willing 70 pay
well for such service. Again. wealthy
men, looking for safe investments. are
putting money into farms in frn..-r.