The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-14

WAGES OF FARM LABOR.

The wages of farm labor is the sub
ject Of 4 bulletin recently issued by
the u. S. department of agriculture.
1t was prepared by direction of Secre-
tary Wilson by George, K. Holmes,
chief Of the division reproduction and
distribution. 1t contains the de-
tails of, the latest of a. series of 10 in
V~estigations covering a period of a.
years, and a summary of the preceding
Investigations is included in the bulle-
tin.
In contracts of hiring by the year,
with board, the wage rates of men
per month increased from $1,000 in
1866 to $1S.05 in 1909, or a gain Of
1873 per cent. The gain from 1890 to
1909 was 1913 per cent.
In contracts of hiring by the season,
with board, the wage rates Of men per
month increased from $12.69 in 1866 to
$20.S0 in 1909, or 63.9 per cent.
The wage rates of men per day, with
board, for day labor, were, as%certained
throughout the period, and were found
to increase from $1.04 for harvest work
in 1856 to SLAB in 1909, or 37.5 per
cent. From 1890 to 1909 the increase
was 32.4 per cent, and from 1899 to
1909, 300 per cent.
For labor other than harvest, with
board, the wage rates of men per day
increase lei from Ga cents in 1866 to
$1.03 in 1909, or cos per cent. The
percentage of increase from 1890 to
1903 was 43.1, n from 1909 it vas
1913.
Among the geographic divisions of
states in 1909 the highest rate of
wages per month in hiring by the
Year, with board, is found in the West
ern group, where the average was
$3.50. Next in order was the North
Central division with $22.22; third III
order was the North Atlantic division
with Spots; the South Atlantic had an
average of SLABS; n lowest Of all
was the average of the South Atlantic
states, $3.50 -
Rates of wages do not express the
real wages received by the farm lab
orer in this country. Apart from the
changes in the purchasing power of
money wages there are various extras
that supplement wage rates. In this
investigation an attempt was made TO
get information with regard to the
value of supplementary allowances. 1t
appears that the average monthly val
Ue of the dwelling, garden, and other
appurtcnances, the use of which was a
Fart Of the real wages paid, without
board, in 1909, ranged from $1.75 to
SIS, throughout the United States, and
the amount when wages were paid,
with beard, ranged from 81 to $3.50.
The average value of feed for cow,
horse, swine, or poultry, per month,
ranged from Sill to $3.11; the value
of pasturage for cow, horse, or swine
ranged from IS cents to $1.61; the val
ue of fire wood for family use, and the
team to haul it. ranged rom $1.06 to
$2.39; the occasional use of team for
hauling was valued at .4S cents TO
$1.70, and the occasional use of horse
and buggy, probably reaching as high
a frequency as weekly use, range from
81 cents to $2.37.
The estimated value of the fruit Civ
ell to the family of the laborers was
reported to be worth from so cents to
$1.64 per month; the value Of the
stabeling for the laborer's horse, il he
had one, was estimated to be 40 cents
to 50 per month; and the laundry ser
vice for the laborer was estimated to
range from rs cents to 81 a month.
The increase in the purchasing pow
er in the wage rates of farm laborerS
as compared with that of workingmen
was ascertained by the Bureau of
Labor. The purchasing power of
wages, in terms of retail prices of food
from 1890 tc 1898, is regarded as being
1000. For the period 1899 to 1907, the
purchasing power in the case Of work
ingmcn increased only to lola, but, in
the case of farm ~laborers, h pur-
chasing power Of wages per month III
hiring by the year and season in
creased to 110.1; the purchasing pow
er of day rates of wages for harvest
work increased to 111.5, and of day
rates for other than harvest work rv
1872. notwithstanding the increase
of retail prices of food, the rates Of
wages of farm labor have increased in
degrees sufficient to make as a new
result a substantial rate of increase.
The wages of women for domestic
labor ON farms receives attention. This
subject was first investigated in. 1902.
In hiring by the season, the wage rates
of the domestic labor of Wonen OF
tina farm are higher than in hiring by
the year. The monthly rate by the
season was 1911 in 1902: $11.95 iii
1906; and $12.02 in 1909. The western
division Of states las an average rate
far above the average for the United
States in 1909, namely, $21.55; the rates
for the North Atlantic and North Cen
trail divisions r a little above the
national average, while in the South
| Central division the average is 1922;
and in the South Atlantic division,
1925. The foregoing rates are with
beard.
When the domestic labor of women
was employed by the day, the day rate
of wages was 81 cents in 1902; 7e
| cents in 1909.
The report declares that in farm
household matters the situation is
acute with regard to the supply OF
hired labor. Country girls as well as
city girls seem to regard household
labor for hire as undesirable. Joined
with this fact is the other cne thai
the women of the farmers family arr
neither able nor willing to repeat thu
manual. labor performances of theil
grandmothers on the farm. Beside.
| this. the farmers standard of Twin:
has risen, certainly on the medium
and better sort of farms in the mort
and west, and in a ~perceptihle degre'
1.-THE women of the farmers famil,
have engaged in social functions which
nra hegipning to be Incompatible wit