The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-11-15
Wages of Farm Labor

Inc wages Oh 1dIIi IdUol 10 eiiS So
iect of 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 of Production and
Distribution. 1t contains the details OF
the latest of series of 10 investiga-
tons covering period of "A years,
In contracts of hiring by the year,
with board, the wage rates of men per
month increased from $10.09 in in 1866
to s18.O5 in 1909, or gain of 1873 per
cent. The gain from 1890 to 1909 was
1878 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
500. 80 in 1909, or $50 per cent.
The wage rates of men per day, with
board, for day labor, where ascertained
throughout the period, and were found
to increase from 81. 04 for harvest work
in 1866 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
increased from Ga cents in 1866 to ST. O3
in 1909, or 6O.9 per cent. The percent
age of increase from 1890 to 1909 was
43. l, and from 1909 it was 37.3.
Rates of wages do not express the
real wages received by the farm labor
er 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
value of the dwelling, garden, and other
appurtenances, the use OF which was
a part of the real wages paid, without
board, in 1909. ranged from S1.75 to
S., throughout the United States, and
the amont when wages were paid, with
board, ranges from 81 to So. SO.
The average value of feed for COW,
horse, swine, or poultry, per month";
ranges from Sill to $3.11: the value
pasturage for COW. horse, or swine
ranged from IS cents to $1.61; the value
of fire wood for family use, and the
team to haul it, ranged from $1.O6 to
50. 80: the occasional use of team for
hauling was valued at AZ cents to 81 ~
and the occasional use of horse and
buggy, probably reaching as high as
frequency as weekly use, range from
81 cents to $2.37.
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
women on the farm are higher than IN
hiring by the year. The monthly rate
by the season was S9.71 in 1906; and
S12. OF in 1909 The Western division
of States has an average for the
United Sta es in 1909, namely, $21.55;
the rates for the North Atlantic and
North Central divisions are a little
above the national average, while IN
the South Central division the average
is &c. go; and in the South Atlantic div
ision, 1925. The foregoing rates are
with board.
When the domestic labor of women
was employed by the day, the day rate
of wages was 81 cents IN 1917; 10 cents
n 1906; and II 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 undesirab e. Joined
with this fact is the other one that the
women of the farmers family are
neither able or willing to repeat. the
manual labor performances of the farm.
Besides this, the-farmers standard of
living has risen, certain y on the med
Ium and better sort of farms in the
North and West; and in perceptible
ueSIGG llG WOLuoil VI IiiS AoA Incl
family have engaged in social func-
tons which are beginning to be
incompatible with the performances of
household labor without the aid of
servant. The social obligations under
taken by them are for the Grange, the
women's clubs, the Macabees. the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
the local church, the farmers clubs,
and list that might be much extend
ed.
The old time domestic Industries are
all forgotten. The women of the farm
make no more soap, candles, or lye,
and so on with long list of domestic
products of former days, it is rare that
one of the younger of the women knows
how to knit. Throughout large areas
the pride of the housewife is great
store of preserves, dried, and picked
fruits, berries, and vegetables exists
chiefly in history, and dependence is
placed mostly upon the local store for
the products of the cannery and the
evaporation.