The Republican journal., 1909-01-28
Conditions in Waldo County
The Result of Investigations by the Labor
Department.


Department.
Considerable space is given in the 22nd
annual report of the Bureau of Industrial
and Labor Statistics of the State of Maine
to Rural Conditions in Name" and we
print below the matter relating to Waldo
county:
BELFAST.
Farms with buildings for sale within
the limits of the city of Belfast range in
acreage from SO to 200 acres, and the
selling price is from $500 to So, 900. These
farms are from to miles from the rail-
road station. From 80 to 40 reliable farm
laborers can find continuous employment
at wage of $40 and upwards per month
in addition to board From our CORE
spondent we learn that 100 farm laborers
can find temporary employment during
the busy season, which is about 6 months
of the year, wages averaging about $25
per month and board. Day wages are 81
and board. There is not much opportu-
nifty for employment for men other than
as farm laborers.
One hundred females can find employ
ment at domestic service with wages
from So to SIS per week There is also
demand for female help in pants and
shirt factories, the work being done by
the piece and earnings averaging about
Sc per week without board There is no
demand for additional mechanical labor.
Carpenters and painters work 9 hours
per day and receive $3.50 per day. Ma
sons, bricklayers and plasterers work 8
hours at $3.50 per day, and laborers 10
hours at ST. to 81.
Rents in the city are not very plenty,
prices per month being Sc and upward.
The rate of taxation is $50 per 1000
valuation. If foreign immigrants were
coming to the city to become permanent
residents the preference is for Swedes,
the greatest need being for farm laborers.
There seems to be a growing scarcity
of farm help in this vicinity due some
what to the awakening interest that is
taking place in agricultural pursuits.
This lack of help will be keenly felt the
present year unless the supply is greatly
increased. During the fall of 1907 it was
almost impossible to get even temporary
help to assist in harvesting the crops, and
in many places great losses were expert
enced on this account due somewhat to
the early arrival of freezing weather
BELMONT.
In the town of Belmont there several
farms with buildings that can be purchased at
for $1,000. They of various sizes and are
located about miles from the railroad station
at Belfast There also in the vicinity
farm lands without buildings, the selling price
of which is from SIS to SIS per acre. There is
a constant demand for farm laborers for both
permanent and temporary employment, wages
ranging from SIS to $35 per month and board.
Day wages for brief periods are from $l50 to
S2.25. Work for those temporarily employed
on farms can be had at pressing hay, lumber
ing, etc.
There is no demand for additional mechan-
cal labor except occasionally little carpenter
work The wages paid carpenters are from 81
to So per day, and masons bricklayers and
plasterers. So per day. Ten hours constitute
days work for all mechanical labor. If
foreign immigrants coming to Belmont
as laborers or to become permanent residents,
our correspondent informs US that the prefer
is for those of Irish birth, the greatest
need being for farm laborers. The tax rate for
1907 was S29 per $1,000 valuation.
BROOKS.
Farms with buildings for sale in the town of
Brooks range from 80 to 200 acres The value
placed upon these farms is from 5000 to 81 900.
There are also farm lands without buildings
valued at SO per acre. These farms and farm
lands are located the railroad. Probably
25 farm aborers could find employment at from
SIS to S22 per month and board and 80 adj
ditional laborers can find temporary employ
ment during the busy season which is about 6
months of the year at wages averaging about
$50 per month and board. Day wages are $50
to 81. Temporary help, when not employed on
farms, can find employment chopping wood at
from rs cents to $l.50 per day.
Twenty or more females can find employment
at domestic service with wages from ST. to
$3.50 per week. There is also demand for
female help finishing pants and in the corn
factory. Work is done by the piece and earn
ings vary from IS cents to Sl50 per day. No
additional mechanics are required. Carpenters
and painters work 10 hours per day and receive
So per day. Masons brickayers and plasterers
work 10 hours at So per day. There are a few
rents that can be secured for from 81 to s. per
month. If foreign immigrants coming to
the town for employment with the intent of
becoming temporary or permanent residents,
the preferen e is for Swedes, the greatest need
being for agricultural laborers. From our cor
respondent we learn that there is good OPP
portunty here for few industrious families.
Farm help Is very scarce and the farmers
handicapped to the extent that the product of
the farms Is not so large as it would be could
efficient help be secured at reasonable price.
The tax rate for 1907 was S22. 80 per $1,000.
BURNHAM.
There three or four farms for sale rang
ing in size from 60 to 100 acres valued at from
$500 to $780, These farms from 3 to d
miles from the railroad station. There is no
manufacturing and very few farmers hire
extra help except during haying and the potato
harvest. This class of labor is paid $40 per
month and board or by the day, from 81 to
slips and board
There is demand for female help. Me-
chanics work 10 hours per day, but none adj
ditional are required. The preference given
for foreign immigrants, provided they were
coming to the town to become permanent set
tiers, is for Germans. The tax rate for 1907
was S21 per $1,000 valuation.
ISLESBORO.
Farm and farm lands for sale in this island
town are held at high figure owing to the
place having developed into favorite and
popular summer resort Farms containing 35
to 40 acres are valued as high as $4,000
JACKSON.
Farms with buildings that are for sale in
jackson range in acreage from 10 to AGO acres
varying in price from $500 to $1,000. There is
some tillage land that can be bought for from
$40 to S25 per acre. There is other land that
is valued at not over SIS per acre. These farms
and farm lands are from 2 to miles from
railroad station. There is no great demand
for farm laborers for permanent employment
from to 10 being sufficient for all needs In
the busy season, which is from to months
about Is can find employment at from 500 to
S25 per month. Day labor for brief periods
commands 81 to S2.25 per day.
There is not much demand for laborers out
side of those required on farms There is very
little call for female help No additional me-