The Washington times., 1914-11-04
ALL BORN To TOLL
IN CANARY ISLANDS
Cost Of Living Low, But So Are
the Wages for All Workers.
Coal Heavers Best Paid.

Although a compulsory education law
has been in existence for many years in
tt; Canary Islands, it is practically
dead letter as the low scale of wages
today makes it desirable, and. in fact,
imperative, that children of tender
years enroll among the wage earners,
the support Of the family depending
upon the labor of all. OF population
of 100000 it Is said that practically one
half are illiterate Consul Brett, of
Teneriffe. in recent report Of condi-
tions and trade Of the Canary archi-
pelago. comments thus on the low scale
OF wages and high cost Of living:
Measured by the profits of industry
and by the cost of living, wages in the
canneries are exceedingly low. Because
of the arduousness of their occupation
and the long hours often necessary.
coal beavers are the best paid Of all
laborers, receiving about 80 cents per
day. Ordinary agricultural workers get
36 to 40 cents (women % cents) and
foremen p cents. Carpenters and other
mechanics are paid y cents, the work.
ing day for all classes being ten to
eleven hours. There is constant agita-
been issued putting government en-
ployers upon an eight-hour basis, but 1t
has not yet been put into effect.
Some Retail Prices.
Retail prices for some commodities
are: Sugar. II cents per pounds; -four
cents; meat, 26 cents; lard, IS cents !;
coffee, sc cents; tea, 55 cents, and but
ter, 3S cents. These articles are entirely
out of the reach of the poorer classes.
Many Of the country people have never
tasted meat and most can not even af-
ford bread, but live upon a compound
of ground maize and wheat (known as
gofio) and fruits and vegetables. They
appear, however, to be healthy and Wig
orous.
Labor is fairly efficient and Canary
Island truck farmers are among the
most skillful in the world. Their in.lus-
try and knowledge are in demand abroad
and there Is considerable emigration,
principally to Cuba. In the last four
years 25,4 462 people have left the islands,
but the annual exodus is considerably
less than the natural rate of increase
in this country. There is also consider
able immigration. but no account is
taken of this, and the outward move
ment has been such that efforts are be-
ing mace 10 Dettef the cOnQltlOn OF the
working classes.
This group of islands, thirteen in
number and under Spanish control, COM
prise an area of 2,700 miles lying off
the southern coast of Morocco, and al
most in the tropics. The climate is most
even and delightful, being modified by
sea and lofty mountains. They annually
attract thousands of health and pleas
ure seekers, their expenditures greatly
adding to native prosperity. The limited
quantity of rainfall is supplemented by
water from underground sources. The
land is of volcanic origin, but yields
well under cultivation, making agricul-
ture the first industry in the islands.
The development of the West Indies
made cane culture less profitable, and
wine assumed the position of first inn
portance. Sugar is still produced. but,
Notwithstanding protective duty or
about 6 cents per pound, the land is
needed for still more remunerative
crops, and the production. equaling only
about half the consumption, does not in
crease Diseases almost caused the
total disappearance of the vine in the
middle of the last century, and the in
dustry. though partially revived, is not
important enough for wine to figure in
the list of exports.
The cochneal insect was brought