The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1916-02-18
UTAH is THIRD HIGHEST IN MATTER OF
FARM WAGES.

The general impression throughout the coun-
Itry-especially in the cties-is that the wages
OF farm laborers is considerably less than that of
city laborers doing approximately the same class
OF work. Whether or not this is true is an open
field for discussion. Many persons who ought to
know say that taking it "all around" the wage
OF farm labOrers is not at a low ebb Everyone
with experience knows that il isn't how much
money one handles that counts, but how much
of il one can hold, how much of it one is not
forced to expend for living expenses. In the
country living expenses are lower than in the
city. Farm hands usually have their board and
lodgings included with their pay, which is no
mean item. If the farm laborer is married his
family usually lives in house provided on the
place, and what the family eats is usually pro-
Wded by the farmer, necesstating an individual
arrangement with the laborer that usually af-
fects his wages in money. Conditions differ in
various sections Of the country. of course. The
government has compiled figures as an average
throughout the country that read like this:
when board Is furnished the monthly wages
for farm labor is $21.05; day wages. S1.13; day
wages for harvest hands, S1.55 When board is
not furnished the monthly wages for farm labor
Is S299S; day wages S1.45 day wages for har-
vest hands, $l.91. The states where highest
farm wages prevail, per month with board are
Nevada, $4,000; Montana, S36.t0; Utah, $4,000 :;
Idaho, $3.50, and California 1880 In these
states wages without board are about fifteen
dollars n month more. The states where lowest
farm wages prevail per month with board are
South Carolina, $1,000; Mississippi, S12.70; 4
Georgia, $3.50; Alabama. $500, and Louisi-
ana, $l4.3O. IN these states wages without board
are about six dollars month more. IL is evident
that the presence of negro labor and low cost of
living in the Southern States has its effect on
the prevailing wage of farm labor"
The average hours Of labor on farms by sea-
sons are, the government says, as follows
Spring, nine hours, forty-five minutes: summer
ten hours, fifty-four minutes; fall, nine hours
fifty-two minutes. and winter, eight hours, thir-
ty-three minutes. The longest average hours
the year around are in Wisconsin, Minnesota and
North and South Dakota. The shortest are in
Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming. In the
long hour" states dairying Is believed 10 be the
cause, and in the short hour" states cattlerais-
ing Is said TO affect the averages. Compared with
the same grade of city employment the hours
are not noticeably longer considering the time
the city worker must consume in going TO and
from work. Also, If the city worker deducts
his house rent and food bill from his wages he
can come to better understanding on the rela-
tive value OF working In the city and on the farm
Thousands of city farmers have gone into farm
work in recent years particularly during the late
business depression.
row 10 hoe than the unmarried man. He cannot
move about as frequently and II costs him more
10 live than II he were unmarried. But the same
Is true Of the city worker. and to n greater ex-
tent. The social status Of the farm laborer is
improving. In many sections of the country
preference Is shown for men that board them
selves. This Is a tendency 10 give them better
standing in the community and works for their
independence.