The Elbert County tribune., 1906-08-16
'PRICESVS. WAGES
SLIGHT INCREASE IN PuRcHAs-
ING POWER OF WAGES.
RISE IN WAGES IS SMALL
Interesting Report of Government 5u-
reau Of labor-onIy Large Indus
tries lnvestisated-Hish Prices for
Food

Food.
Washington.-A report has been is
sued by the bureau OF labor for an in
vesugation into wages and hours of
labor in 1905 in the principal manufac-
turing and mechanical industries of
the United States. The report gives
the average wages and hours of labor
and the number of employees in identi-
cal establishments in both 1904 and
1905. While the figures presented are
not exhaustive for the United States,
the report says:
1T is believed that they are fairly
representative OF the industries inves-
tigated.
The results OF this investigation
show that in 1905 the average wages
per hour in the principal manufacture
ing and mechanical industries of the
country were 1.6 per cent. higher than
in 1904; that the average hours of Ia
Dor per week remained the same as in
1904, and that 6.3 per cent more per-
sons were employed in the establish
.ments investigated. AS there was no
reduction in the average hours of la
Dor per week the average weekly earn
dngs per employees were 1.6 per cent.
higher than in 1904. AS there was an
increase in the number of employees
as well as in the weekly earnings per
employe, there was a considerable In
crease in the weekly earnings of all
employees, or in other words in tho
amount of weekly payroll. This In
crease was eight per cent. in the estab-
lishments investigated.
when the figures of this article re-
lating to wages and hours of labor and
those of the succeeding article relat-
ing to retail prices of food are brought
together it is seen that the retail prices
of food. due weight being given 70 the
quantity and cost of the different com
modities consumed. were 06 per cent
higher in 1905 than in 1904. AS the
average wages per hour Increased
more than the retail prices OF food, the
purchasing power of wages increased
In 1905 the purchasing power of both
hourly and weekly wages was one per
cent. higher than in 1904 or, expressed
in other words, an hours wages in 1905
would purchase one per cent. more
food than an hears wages in 1904.
'The average wages per hour In
1905 were 1873 per cent. higher than
the average for the ten-year period
from 1890 to 1899, inclusive. The num-
Der OF employees was 1886 per cent
greater and the average hours of labor
per week were IL per cent. lower.
The average earnings per week in 1905
were fourteen per cent. higher than
the average earnings per week during
the ten years from 1890 to 1899. The
aggregate weekly earnings of all en-
ployes, that is, the total amount of
the pay rolls. were 52.3 per cent.
higher in 1905 than the average dur
ing the ten-year period named.
The retail price of the principal ar
ticles of food, weighted according to
family consumption of the various ar
ticles, was 12,4 per cent. higher in
1905 than was the average price for the
ten years from 1890 to 1899. Compared
with the average for the same ten
year period, the purchasing power OF
an hours wages in 1905 was 5.S per
cent. greater and of a weeks wages
Ia per cent. greater, the increase in
purchasing power Of weekly wages be-
ing less than the increase in purchas-
ing power of hourly wages because of
the reduction of the hours of labor dur
ing the period.
THE average wages per hour in 1905
were 21.5 per cent. higher than in 1894,
the year of lowest wages during the
period covered. and weekly earnings
were 16.7 per cent. higher. The pur-
chasing power of an hours wages was
greater in 1905 than in any other
year covered by this investigation, be
ing TT per cent. greater than in 1884,
the year OF lowest wages, and 1.3 per
cent. greater than in 1896. the year OF
lowest retail prices. The purchasing
power of weeks wages in 1905 was
3.5 per cent. greater than in 1894, but
81 per cent. less than in 1896"
In making the inquiry the Labor Blu.
reau attempted to cover only those in
dustries in which the wages paid in
the United States in one year were
s10,000,000 or over. The data pre-
sented were obtained in all cases by
special agent of the bureau through
personal visits to the establishments
represented.