The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-08-15
Wages Rising
Faster Than
Cost Of Living.
LABOR BUREAU SAYS WoRkMEN
soFtsRER cEMTINcREAsE
LAST YEAR-c4N BuY
MORE THANIEWER.

gAEHsEEgNG1Ee H-WsEsa
WASHINGTON. Aug 15 report
has been issued by the Bureau Of La
Dor Of an investigation into the wages
land hours Of labor In 1906 in the prin.
Bcipal manufacturing and mechanical
industries OF the United states: The.
report gives the average wages and.
hours OF labor and the number Of EN-
p1oyes In Identical establfshments in.
both 1900 and 1906. The report says:
#The results of the Investigation
show that in 1905 the average wages
per hour in the principal manufactur
ing and mechanical Industries OF the
country were 1.6 per cent. higher than
In 1901; thai the ayeage hours of
labor per week remained the same as
in 1904, and that 6-8 per cen more
persons were. employed in the estab-
Hshments. AS there was no reduction
In the average hours Of labor per
week, the average weekly earnings
for each employe 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,
there was an Increase offs per cent. in
the weekly earnings Of all employees.
"Whsn these figures and those of
another article relating to retail prices
of food are compared, 1t is seen that
the retail prices of food were 9.6 per
cent. higher in 1905 than in 1904. As
the average wages per hour incteas.
ed more than the retail prices of
food, he purchasing v OF wages
Increased.
tIn 1905 the purchasing power OF
sboth hourly and weekly wages was
per cent. higher than in 1904, The
average of wages per hour in 1905 was
1879 per cent. higher than the average
for the ten-year period from 1890 to
1899 inclusive. The number of en-
ployes was 1916 per cent greater and
the average hours of labor per week
we're. Al per cent. lower.
The average earnings per, week In
1905 were IA per cent. higher than the
average earnings per week during the
ten years from 1890 to 1899. The ag-
gregate weekly earnings Of all an
ployes-that is, the total amount OF
the pay rolls, were 52.S per cent. high
er in 1906 than the average during the
ten-year period named.
"The retail price 70 the principal
articles OF food weighed according to.
family consumption of the various ar
tlcIes. was 12.4 per cent, higher in
1905 than was the average price for
the ten years from 1880 1899, aid the
purchasing power of an hours wages
in 1905 was SIS per cent greater and
of a weeks wages IA per cent. greater
"The average wages per hour in
1905 were 21.5 per cent. higher than
1894. the year OF the lowest wages
during the period covered, and the
weekly earnings were 16.6 higher. The
purchasing power of an hours wages
was greater in 1905 than in any other
wear covered by this investigation, be-
~ ner cent. greater than in 1894, the
wear of lowest wages, the year OF
lowest retail prices. The purchasing
nower Of a weeks wages ia 1905 was
3.5 per cent. greater than in 1894, but
81 per cent less than in 1896"
"In making the inquiry the Labor
Bureau sought to oniy those IN
dustries In which the wages paid in
one "a we're $10,oOo,OoO Grover The
results were obtained in all cases by
special agents of the bureau through
personal visits to the establishments.
Evening Clothes on the street,