The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-12-14
CONDITIONS AS TO TRADES
As Sati: factory Now as at Any
Time in State
of Labor and Printing Is
sues a Report Showing What Labor
is Doing and Draws Conclusions
That Affairs Are Very Satisfactory.

is Doing and Draws Conclusions
That Affairs Are Very Satisfactory.
The Department of Labor and
Printing in the preparation of its an
nual report has taken a general sur
Vey Of the conditions under which the
Trades or more properly speaking, the
body of working men and omen are
now labOrlng. The conclusions reach
ed, based on answers to inquiries sent
out are such as cannot be comprehen-
Slvely answered by yes or no or by fig
ures. There is found that there has
been ~regained to a certain amount,
losses in quantity of work offered and
prices paid for service in the latter
part of 1907 and 1908, and while en-
p1oyment is by no NEAR SO easily
found, and the wages may be slightly
less than in the flood tide of 1907, on
which the conclusions are reached that
conditions affecting the trades may
be said to be in a shape fully as at
any time in the industrial history of
the State.
h repor continues as follows:
During the season of depression
above referred to the less w~ell-quali-
fled members of the various trades
were forced out, and found their
places in other spheres, possibly re-
turning to the situations from which
they had been drawn by the unusual
demand for workmen more or less
skilled, and have become established
in their original occupations. OF
course, some of the ones that had en-
tered into the trades, having develop
ed the necessary qualifications were
not forced out with the reaction. When
conditions improved those working
men still remaining in any given oc-
cupation represented a type of
higher average ability than was repre-
sented in the trade in the first in
stance, and these were able to at once
command wages in keeping with the
of service rendered.
1T is true that there is not suffi-
cient employment for all labor, but
it is also true that there is not sutfi-
cient of certain kinds of labor to meet
demand The progress of the period
calls for a better class of labor, and
this demand has a stimulating effect
on the production of the supply
needed.
Following will be found the con-
illusions reached from the direct an
sWerS to questions to W~age-earnerS
themselves, and represent individual
reports. The conclusions concerning
wages and w~age-earners given in the
factory tables are from the factories
and represent collective reports
Summary.
THE average wages of the different
trades are as follows: Barber, sos, an
increase of fifty-three cents over last
year. Blacksmith, $1.53, a decrease Of
thirty-four cents. BrickmasOn, 1852,
an increase of twelve cents. Carpenter,
sta, a decrease of six cents. Clerk,
$1.62, a decrease of three cents. Fire
man, 1927. Hostler, so cents. Iron
moulder, $2.2S, a decrease Of twenty
two cents. Lather, $3.50. Linotype
operator, 1924. Machinist, $2.67. a
decrease of eight cents. Painter, s1.87,
a decrease of nineteen cents. Plasterer.
So. FRESHMAN, $3.50. Printer, $2.87, an
increase Of sixty-two cents. Sheet
metal worker, S1.75. Textile worker,
$1.17, a decrease OF eight cents.
Wheelwright, $1.85, a decrease of
twenty-eight cents.
"Eighty-seven per cent are paid
cash in full, and thirteen per cent
part in cash.
"Twenty-one per cent report in
crease in wages twenty-three per
nc change.
Fifty per cent work by the day,
thirty-four per cent by the week, four
per cent by the month, three per cent
by the year, three per cent by con-
tract, two per cent by job. and four
per cent do not answer question.
"Seventy-four per cent are paid
weekly, twelve per cent monthly,
three per cent s~eml-mOnthly, three
per cent daily, two per cent by job,
and answer question.
"Eighty-four per cent favor weekly
payment, eleven per cent monthly,
one per cent semi-mOnthIy, one pei
cent daily. and three per cent do not
answer question:.
''Fifty-two per cent make full time,
forty-five per cent part time, and three
per cent do not answer question
s"Thirty-one per cent work overtime,
s~ixty-six per cent do not work over
time, and three per cent do not re-
spond to question.
Ninety-six per cent report cost OF
living increased, one per cent de-
creased. three per cent no change.
"Thirty-one per cent favor a ten
hour day. forty-six per cent an eight
hour day, fifteen per cent a nine-hour
day. three per cent a twelve hour day.
and five per cen do not answer ques-