•^ ^WEUNIVER% o ^lOSANCELfx> o %a3AiNn-3WV ^UIBRARY^/^ A^lllBRARYQ^ "^.yOJIlVDJO^ A\^EUNIVER5'//v v^WSANCElfj^ %a3AiN(imv ^OFCALIFOft^ "^^AHvaani^ ^OFCAIIFO/?^ ^^Abvaani^"^ ^IIIBRARYQ<^ -s^lllBRARYQ^ ^^WEUNIVERi"/^ ^.!/ojnvojo^ \^myi^^ ^lOS-ANCElfj;> o »— . . ^ i vj^lOSANCElfj^ 3wv^ "^(^AavaaiH^ ^^AavaaiH^ s? ^WEUNIVERy/A , ^ ^ o so ^/5a3AINn-3WV^ .^;OFCALIF0% ^OFCALIF0% ^ ^MEDNIVER5/A vvlOSANCElfj-^ ^ _ <^ O %a3AlNn-3WV^ <5^lllBRARYQ^ -^tllBRARY^^ ^\\EUNIVER% Or o ^ s \ VERS/A ^lOSANCElfj^ O ^^^ " ,^,OFCAIIFO%, ^OFCALIFO% %a3AiNii-3^v ^- ■ %5130NVS01^ "^ ARYQ<. -s^lllBRARYQc. I aWEUNIVERJ//, .^lOSANCElfj> o ^^l•llBRARYQc A^ *& «i? i/3-jO>^ % ^^,0FCAIIF0%, to UNITED STATES CONSULAR REPORTS. L^BOR IN AMERICA, ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALASIA, AND POLYNESIA. EEPORTS FROM CONSULS OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE SEVERAL COUNTRIES OF AMERICA, ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALASIA, AND POLYNESIA, ON THE STATE OF LABOR IN THEIR SEVERAL DISTRICTS, IN RESPONSE TO A CIRCULAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRlNTINa OFFICE. 1886. 5140G CONTENTS OONTINEIVT OF ARIERICA. Page. North America: Dominion of Canada 1-115 Mexico 116-160 Central America : British Honduras 161-168 South America : United States of Colombia 169-183 Venezuela 183-201 British Guiana 202-210 Brazil 210-226 Falkland Islands 227,228 Peru 228-237 Ecuador 237-243 West India Islands : British West Indies 244-250 Spanish West Indies 251-262 COIVTIIVEIVT OF ASIA. Turkey in Asia : Asia Minor 263-272 Syria 273-281 Palestine 281-292 Persia 293-304 Ceylon 305-313 The Philippine Islands 313-316 Japan 317-342 China 342-348 COJVTIIVEIVT OF AFRICA. Morocco 349-351 Cape Colony 352-357 Senegal , 357-361 Sierra Leone 361-364 Madeira 364-366 AUSTRALASIA. Victoria , 367-397 West Australia 398 New Zealand 399-411 POI^VIVESIA. Hawaiian Islands 412-414 Samoa 415,416 III CONTINENT OF AMERICA. [NORTH AMERICA. domi:n^ioi^ of cais^ada. PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. AMHERSTBURG. REPORT BY CONSUL TURNER. I. General trades. Wages per weelc of sixty hours in Jvilierstiurg. Occupations. Average. Occupations. Average. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers $21 00 i 9 00 18 00 I 7 50 21 00 7 50 15 00 12 00 7 50 18 00 9 00 10 00 Other trades— Continued. $9 00 *500 00 t300 00 6 00 12 00 10 00 Slaters 10 00 15 00 6 00 Plumbers Drivers Urayinen and teamsters 3 00 5 00 5 00 6 00 OTHER TRADES. 9 00 15 00 Bakers . 7 nn 5 00 Blacksmiths 9 00 * Males per year. t Females peryear. The prices paid for the necessaries of life. Articles. Flour per pound. Tea do... Sugar do . . . Rice do . . . Butter do. .. Sirup per gallon. Prunes per pound. Soap do . . . Vinegar per gallon. Crackers per pound. 92 A— 2 LAB 1 Cost. $0 03 40 08 05 20 75 08 05 25 08 Articles. Salt per pound . . Potatoes per bushel. . Corn-meal per pound.. Pork do Oatmeal do Cottee do Clothing outfits Rent (average for laboring classes) per mouth Cost. 02 50 03 10 03 25 15 00 4 00 2 LABOR IN NOETH AMERICA: CANADA. The habits of the working class, as a general thing, are good and trust- worthy and saving, and the causes which affect their habits good. The feeling between the employe and the employer, as a general rule, is good and prosperous. There are no organized conditions of labor in this district. In regard to strikers in this district, there are none. The working people j)urchase where they choose, paid weekly in Canada funds. There are no co-operative societies in this district. As to the general condition of the working people, their homes are comfortable, food good, clothes good ; their chances for bettering their condition good, if they would take the advantages offered. As a general rule, no provisions are made for the working people in case of accident. The general relations prevailing between the em- ployer and employed are good. II. Factories, mills, etc. TVages 2}o,id per week of seventy-two hours in factories or mills. Occupations. Average wages. Occupations. Average ■wages. Clerks $12 00 $9 00 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per tveek in foundries, machine-sJiops, and iron works in this district. Occupations. Average wages. Occupations. Average wages. $12 00 Workmen $9 OO YI. Eailway employes. Wages paid per month to raihvay employes (those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, lineme7i, railroad laborers, 4'c.) in Amherstburg. Occupations. Station-master Conductors Engineers Brakeman Average wages. $75 00 75 00 no 00 50 00 Occupations. Fireman Telegraph operators Clerks Average $50 00 45 00 50 oa LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. YIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per eight months to seamen (officers and men) — distinguishing between, ocean, coast, and river navigation, and between sail and steam — in the Amhersthurg district. Occnpations. Average wages. Occupations. STEAM CRAFTS. I Captain $1,000 00 Mate I 720 00 Engineer . 840 00 Second mate 600 00 Seaman I 240 00 Captain. Mate ... Seaman. wages. $900 00 800 (10 300 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in stores, to males and females, in Amhersthurg. Occupations. Average wages. Occnpations. Average wages. $8 00 Clerks, female X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per week to household servants {towns and cities) in this district. Occnpations. Clerk Waiters Chambermaids Porter Cook Average wages. Occupations. PRIVATE HOUSES. $12 00 Male... 2 50 I Female . 2 00 I 3 00 Average wages. $3 00 2 00 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Amherstburg dis- trict, tvith board and lodging. Occupations. Average wages. Occupations. Average wages. $30 00 Household servants, female, per week . $3 00 XII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per year to employes in Government departments and offices — exclusive of trades- men and laborer!) — in Amherstburg, Canada. Occupations. Average wages. Occupations. Average wages. $1, 500 1,000 600 $800 500 4 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement shoicing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers {compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, tfc.) in Amherstburg. Occupations. ^TLT^ °'^Jif* *^ Tvacfis. wages. Printers $8 00 $9 00 Compositors 8 00 9 00 Pressmen 8 00 9 00 Proof-readers 8 00 9 00 JOSIAH TURNEK, United States Consul. United States Consulate, Amherstburg, April 23, 1884. BELLEVILLE. REPORT BT CONSUL PRINOH. As a rule, labor in this district is less than it is in the United States for same class, and as far as I am able to procure information prices are rather better than in 1878. I can give no reason for this, only that in 1878 the depression in business then prevailing no doubt affected the price of labor in Canada. As a rule, also, the service is of a poorer nature than with us in the United States. The laborer here seems to dictate, so far as his manner of service is concerned, as competition is not keen enough to keep him up to what would be called first-class service. As a generality, ordinary work is slowly done; in many instances im- I)erfectly unless closely superintended. Many who could earn more do not seem to care to. In the department of home servants the service is poor ; farm labor but ordinary. The usual causes for destitution, mainly drink, prevail to a great extent here, and a sort of desire to do as little as possible for the amounts paid is, I think, a fault quite prevalent. A mechanic or laborer can live here at a moderate expense, though food prices are higher in the same proportion — about as labor — than in 1878. Rents are moderate; a good tenement in a "terrace or block," with from five to seven rooms, can be had from $5 to $7 per month. I have also lately" inspected some houses, newly built — brick, 44 by 24 feet, in lot of 64 by 32 feet — containing three rooms and hall on first floor and six bedrooms on second floor; house well finished; good cellar, hard and soft water (cistern and well), wood-house and shed; very neat, com- fortable tenement, that rented for $10 and $12 i)er month. These are, of course, exceptional, yet there are others equally roomy though not quite so well finished, and some of them in better locations, to be had at the same price. The poorer classes of tenements, say from two to four rooms, can be had fiom $2 to $3.o0 per month. Very few of these tenements have any ground attached. The Knights of Labor have an organization here, but I do not see that it has any appreciable effect. The Molders' Union regulate prices in the stove works. No strikes have occurred since I have resided here. The laboring classes are free to purchase their necessaries where they choose, very little being done in the way of " store pay." LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 5 Ko co-operative societies are in operation in this district. The honrs of labor are 10 hours per day, although on Saturday labor- ers are dismissed from 4 to 5 o'clock. The public offices here — cus- toms, internal revenue, and inspector of weights and measures — are open from 9 a. ra. to 4 p. m, ; the post-office from 7.30 a. m. to 6.30 p. m. The banks and the custom-house close at 1 o'clock on Saturday. The right of suffrage here is given to all who own, rent, or occupy a tenement, the value of which in cities must be $400, for townships $300, and incorporated villages $200, or if he be assessed on an income of The rate of taxation in this city the present year is 15 mills, and it has been as high as 19 mills ; about 17 to 18 is the average. This in- cludes all taxes — city, school, and state. The rate of taxation in the county, outside of city, for all purposes, is about 13 mills. A system of promotion exists here in some branches, based to a great extent in length of service. It is confined mostly to the railways and banks, and a benefit fund exists amongst the employers of the Grand Trunk Railway. The Bank of Montreal has a superannuation and pen- sion fund, now amounting to several hundred thousand dollars. The salaries of all employes are taxed 3 per cent, for this fund. A system of superannuation and gratuities exist in the civil service of Canada, a certain per cent, of each employe's pay being retained for the fund. This insures a certain annual allowance or a fixed gratuity on retirement. I have thought it well, in view of the interest attaching to the move- ment for civil service in our own coriitry, to present an epitome of the acts relating to the civil service, and rhe superannuation allowances of Canada. It will be observed that tlu' act covers about all the employes of the Government except the heads of departments, who are supposed to retire on a change of Government. THE CIVIL SERVICE IN CANADA. The act providing for the civil service in Canada divides the service into two divisions : The first, or "inside departmental division," comprises the employes mentioned in Schedule A employed in the several departments at Ot- tawa and in the office of the auditor-general. The second, or "outside departmental division," comprises employes of classes mentioned in Schedule B, and who are employed otherwise than on the departmental stafis at Ottawa. Schedule A. — {a) Deputy heads of departments ; (ft) officers who have special, professional, or testimonial qualifications ; (c) chief clerks ; {d) first-class clerks; (e) second-class clerks; (/) third-class clerks; (^) mes- sengers, packers, and sorters. The yearly salaries of this division are as follows : Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Deputy heads of departments , Chief clerks First-clasH clerks Second-class clerks Third-class clerks Messengers, packers, and sorters * An ann\ial increase of $50 till the pay reaches $1,800 t An annual increase of $50 till the pay readies $1,400 1 An annual increase of $60 till the pay reaches $1,000 § An annual increase of $30 till the pay reaches $500. $3, 200 1,800 '1,400 tl, 100 ;400 SiiOO $4, OOO 2,400 1,800 1,400 1,000 500 6 LABOR IN NOETH AMERICA: CANADA. Schedule B comprises all the officers, clerks, and employes here enu- merated, and such other officers in the lower grades as may be deter- mined by order in council. Occupations. Inspectors Collectors Surveyors Chief clerks Clerks Chief landing waiters . Landing waiters Gangers Chief lockers Lockers Tide 8 nrveyors Tide waiters Preventive ofBcers Messengers Appraisers Assistant appraisers . . Customs department. Inland revenue department. Chief inspector , Inspector of distilleries District inspectors Collectors Deputy collectors Clerks (accountants) , Special class excisemen First, second, and third-class excisemen Probationary excisemen Messengers Lowest. $1, 600 400 1,200 1,200 600 800 600 600 800 400 800 400 400 200 800 600 2,000 500 400 600 600 '206 Highest. $2, 000 4,000 2,500 2,000 1, 200 1,200 1,000 1,200 1,200 800 1,000 600 600 500 2,000 1,500 3,000 2,500 2,500 2,200 1,500 1,200 1,200 1,000 500 500 For surveys of important manufacturing establishments an additional salary for the special class excisemen who perforin that duty, not ex- ceeding $200 per annum. Occupations. Annnal pay. Post-offlce department. Chief inspector First class : On appointment After ten years' service After twenty years' service Second class : On appointment After ten years' service After twenty years' service Assistant post-olfice inspector : On appointment After ten years' service After twenty years' service $2, 800 2,200 2,400 2,600 2,000 2,200 2,400 1, 000 1,200 1,500 Salaries of clerks in post-ofiSce inspector's ofBce the same as for clerks in city post-ofiices. RAILWAY MAIL CLERKS. Class. On appointment. After two years' service. After five years' service. After ten years' service. Day service. Night service. Day service. Night service. Day service. Night service. Dajr service. Night service. First class $720 600 480 $880 720 660 $800 640 520 $1, 000 800 640 $800 720 560 $1, 100 880 700 $960 800 640 $1, 200 1,000 800 Second class Third class In addition to regular salary an allowance not exceeding half a cent a mile for every mile traveled on duty in the post-office cars. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. MARINE MAIL CLERKS. On appointment. After two years. After five years. After ten years. After fifteen years. Class. Salary. *Trip allow- ance. Salary. Trip allow- ance. Salary. Trip allow- ance. Salary. Trip allow- ance. Salary. Trip allow- ance. First class Second class $480 360 $80 t50 $560 420 $80 50 $600 $80 $800 $100 $1, 000 $100 * "Trip " means the round voyage from Quebec or Halifax to Liverpool and return. t Only one-half, or $25, to be allowed whilst learning duty. POST-OEEICES. Lowest. Highest. Oity postmasters. $2, 600 2 400 Class 2, where postage collections are from $60,000 to $80,000 2,200 2 000 *$1, 400 1,800 Assistant postmasters. Class 1 2,000 Class 2 1,800 Class 3 1,600 Class 4 1,400 ClassS 1,100 400 900 1,200 300 1,400 800 Clerks in city post-offices. Third class! Second class J 1,200 First class § . 1,500 Letter-carriers and messengers. Box collectors and porters {| 600 *|1,400 to $1,800, as the postmaster-goneral may determine. These salaries are not supplemented ^y any allowance or perquisite whatever. tBy Annual increment of $40. J By annual increment of $50. § Specific duties in each case, with fixed salaries, to be determined by the postmaster -general. No .«alary shall be less than $1,200 or more than $1,500. II By annual increment of $30. INSPECTOR OF PENITENTIARIES. The same scale as ytost-office inspector. The salaries of the employes belonging to "the second or "outside division" of other departments than those enumerated above shall be fixed by the governors in council. SUPERANNUATION. The superannuation of persons employed in the civil service of Canada as provided for by statute, a general digest of which is as follows : The superannuation of any civil servant shall be preceded by an in- -quiry by the treasury board ; Whether the person it is proposed to superannuate is eligible within the meaning of the act. Whether his superannuation will result in benefit to the service, and is therefore in the public interest; or Whether it has become necessary in consequence of his mental or 8 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. physical infirmity. And no civil servant shall be superannuated unless? the board report that he is eligible within the meaning of the act, and that such superannuation will be in the public interest. The different sections of the act provide as follows : First. Superannuation may be granted to any person having served ten years and upward, or being incapacitated by bodily infirmity, the allowance being calculated on his average yearly salary during the then last three years, not exceeding the fallowing rates: If he has served ten years, and less than eleven j^ears, an annual allowance of ten-fiftieths of such average salary ; if for eleven years, and under twelve years, an annual allowance of eleven-fiftieths thereof, and a further addition of one-fiftieth of such average for each additional year of service up to thirty-five years, when an annual allowance of thirty-five-fiftieths may be granted, but no addition can be made for any service beyond thirty- five years. If the service has not been continuous, the periods during interruption are not to be counted. Second. Provides that in case of any person who has entered the service over 40 years of age and who is possessed of some i)eculiar pro- fessional or other qualification requisite for the office to which appointed and not ordinarily to be acquired in the service, there may be added to his actual years of service, any number of years not exceeding ten, for the purpose of superannuation. Third. Provides that for the paymeutof superannuations, there Shall be an abatement made from all salaries under this act of 4 per cent, on each salary of $600 and upward, and of 2^ per cent, on all less than $600, but such ;batoment shall not be made after thirty-six years of service. Fourth. Provides that fun jsaperannuation allowance shall be granted only to those who shall have been subject to such abatement during ten years and upward. The allowance to any person Wx.o has not paid it, or have paid for a less period, is subject to a diminution of one- twentieth for every year less than ten during which he has not paid it. Fifth, Retirement is compulsory on any person to whom the superan- nuation allowance is offered, and such offer is not considered as imply- ing censure ; nor shall any person be considered as having any absolute right to such allowance, but it is granted only on condition of good and faithful service during the time on which it is calculated. ISTothing, however, is understood to impair the right of dismissal. Sixth. Provides that if any person is constrained to apply through, infirmity of mind or body to quit the service before the period at which a superannuation allowance ought to be granted to him, the council may allow him a grant not exceeding one month's pay for each year of hi» service ; and if in case of bodily injury received without his own fault while in the public service, he may be allowed bj' the council a gratuity not exceeding three months' pay for every two years' sv^vice, or a super- annuation allowance not exceeding one-fifth of his average salary during the then last three years. Seventh. Provides that if any person to whom the foregoing enact- ments apply is removed from office in consequence of its abolition, the governor in council may grant him such gratuity or superannuation al- lowance as will fairly compensate him for his loss of office, not exceed- ing such as he would have been entitled to had he retired in consequence of permanent infirmity of body or mind after adding ten years to his- actual term of service. Eighth. Provides that any person receiving a superannuation allow- ance, and being under sixty years of age, and not disabled bodily of LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 9 meutally, shall be liable to be called ui)on to fill in any part of Canada any imblic ofiice or situation for which his jorevious services render him eligible, and not lower in rank or eniolnuient than that from which he retired ; and if he refuse or neglect so to do, his allowance is foifeited. All allowance aud gratuities under this act are payable out of the consolidated revenue fund of Canada, aud a statement thereof made before Parliament the session next after grant or i>ayment. A civil servant in Canada is j^rohibited from voting for members of Parliament; i. e., if he is in the provincial service he may not vote for a provincial member, if in the Dominion service he may not vote for the members of the Dominion Parliament. He has the right to vote for municipal oflicers. It is held that thus divorcing them from i)olitics assures a more faithful service, and it is not expected they will be in any way active in politics, even in municipal matters. The rates of compensation fixed for the majority of the positions seem low, yet it seems that the positions are coveted by and filled with per- sons of ability, and the social position of a Government employe is good. As a class I have found the employes in the civil service of Canada intelligent, capable, and obliging, and while the positions are sought for, the manner of appointment — depending mainly on fitness — deprives it of much of the indiscriminate application that has characterized our service. FREDERICK W. PRINCE, Consul. Consulate of the United States, Belleville, Canada, December 29, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours, in Belleville, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Bricklayers Hod-carriers . Masons TendiTS , Plasterers Tenders Slaters Koofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants... Carpenters Gas-fitters BUILDING TEADKS. OTHEB TRADES. Blacksmiths Strikers Brickraakers Cipar-makers Drivers : Draymen and teamsters. Cab, caiTiaj^e, &.c Horseshoers Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Printers Teachers, public schools. . . Saddle and harness makers . $12 00; 12 00 10 50 9 00 6 50 8 00 7 00 6 00 9 00 10 00 5 40 5 50 $15 00, 15 00 12 00 10 50 9 00 12 00 10 50 7 00 13 50 15 00 7 50 10 00 $13 50 7 50 13 50 7 50 12 00 7 56 11 00 10 OO 7 50 12 00" 9 00 12 OO 12 OO 12 00 9 OO 7 50 10 OO 8 00 6 50- 12 00 12 50 6 00 8 50 9 00 I .J^ 12 00 10 0» 10 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. Wages paid per week of sixty hours, in JBelleville, Canada — Continued. Occupation. Other trades - Continued- Stevedores Telegraph operators Tinsmiths Teachers, puVilic schools, male per year Teachers, public schools, female per year Teachers, public schools, city, female Teachers, city, male Teachers, city high school Lumbermen, winter wages in camps : Chopper i Skidder > Per month with board Sawyer ) Summer wages, driving logs Coots for above Foremen, both winter and summer Lowest. $6 00 7 50 9 00 3 00 2 75 3 00 6 00 6 00 10 00 26 00 30 00 50 00 Highest. $9 00 15 00 13 50 5 50 4 50 4 50 7 50 11 00 15 00 35 00 37 50 65 00 Average. $7 50 12 50 12 00 4 50 3 50 3 75 6 50 8 50 30 00 35 00 55 00 *In the high schools of Ontario if the amount of wages exceeds $2,000, 45 per cent, of the amount is paid by the provincial government. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per week of fifty-eight hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron tvorks in Belleville, Canada. Occupations. Stove foundry. Engineer Melter Polisher . , Tinsmiths Carpenters Blacksmiths Pattern makers i Finishers Holders . . Mounters. Ui Iron foundry. Molders Foreman Pattern makers Machinists Blacksmiths Boiler makers . . Lowest. $15 00 13 50 00 12 00 10 00 10 50 12 00 Highest. $18 00 15 00 12 00 15 00 12 00 13 50 13 50 Average. $12 00 12 00 10 50 9 00 13 50 16 50 14 00 10 50 15 00 13 00 11 50 12 50 13 00 YI. Railway employes. Wages paid to railway bmploy4s {those engaged about stations as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, lintmen, railroad laborers, cj-c.) in Belleville, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Jlailway baggagemen Ticket clerk .. per day.. do $1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 90 1 30 90 90 500 00 400 00 300 00 $1 50 2 00 2 00 1 50 2 00 1 50 2 50 1 80 1 50 1, 500 00 1, 000 00 850 00 $1 25 1 50 Frei^bt checkers do.... do.... 1 50 1 25 Yard foremen do.... do.... 1 50 1 20 do-... 1 90 do..-. 1 35 do... 1 20 Station agents ■Telefjraph operators Freight clerks per annum . . do do... LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. IX. Store and shop wages. 11 Wages paid per week of sixty-four hours in dry goods and grocery stores, wholesale or reta ih to males and females, in Belleville, Canada. Occupationa. Lowest. Highest. Average. $7 50 10 50 4 00 2 00 $12 50 12 50 8 00 5 00 $10 00 11 00 MILLINERY DEPARTMEST. 5 50 4 OU 6 00 3 50 2 50 5 00 5 00 4 00 Knitting factory girls 4 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month or year to household servants [towns and cities)in Belleville, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. House servants (female) $6 00 $8 00 $6 50 jpu XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid to agricultural laborers and household (country )s€rvant8 in Belleville, Canada; with or without board and lodging. Occupations. Farm hand, with board per month.. Farm hands, wit lion t board do... Farm domestics, with board per week.. Farm hands during harvest, with board per da j' . . Lowest. $16 00 1 25 1 00 Highest. $20 00 1 63 1 25 Average. $18 50 25 50 1 50 1 20 XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid to the corporation employ^ in the city of Belleville. [A week of 58 hours.] Occupations. Ordinary street hands ■ per week.. Sidewalk hands do Culvert hands do Entrineers fire steamers, with residence, fuel, and lights, per annum ... Stokers fire steamers do Lowest. $4 80 1 00 1 00 Highest. $7 50 1 75 1 75 Average. $6 00 9 00 9 00 450 00 50 00 12 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid pel- year to employes hi Government departments and offices — exclusive of trades- men and laborers — in Belleville, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest, Arerage Customs. Collector Clerk Landing waiter . . . Do Preventive officer. Internal revenue. Collector... Deputy — Exciseman Do... Post-office. Postmaster Asfli.stant postmaster . Third-class clerk Do Letter-carrier Inspector of weights and measures - -do. 1,200 900 600 300 20O 1,200 1,000 980 60O 1,400 800 600 560 360 1,200 XIV. Trades A'sb labor — Government employ. Wages paid hy the year to the trades and laborer's in Government employ in BellevilU, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest, Average. $600 XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, tfc, ) in Belleville, Canada. Occupations. Lowest, Highest, Average. $5 50 $10 00 $8 50 9 OO 12 00 14 00 13 OO 12 OO 7 00 CHATHAM. REPORT BY OOMMEROIAL AGENT BUFFINQTON. I have the honor to submit herewith such information as I have been able to obtain on the subjects referred to in the " Labor Circular" of February 15th ultimo. rates of wages. The rates of wages current in the various trades and labor depart- ments, represented in my district, will be found in the accompanying LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 13 schedules, which have, as far as practicable, been prei)ared from data furnished by the employers of the labor specified aud gleaned from in- quiries among the workmen themselves. While an " average" is very difficult to arrive at, in some cases, the figures quoted will be a close ap- proximation to the prevailing rates, the highest rates being rarely paid. THE COST OF LIVING. The prices of the necessaries of life in this part of Canada, when compared with the current rates of wages, are exceedingly high, and it is a matter for wonder how the more poorly paid among the workingmen, and multitudes who have been unable to obtain employment during the past severe winter, contrived to subsist. It is generally conceded that the season just past has been the hardest one on laborers for many years ; in this part of Canada the failure in crops was more marked than in the east, and, of course, intensified their suiferiugs. Clothing is rather cheaper than two or three years ago, but the de- cline in prices has been consequent on the general stagnation of trade and the glut in the cotton aud woolen market of the Dominion ; so that it can scarcely be said that the decline in the prices of wearing material, under the circumstances, inured to the benefit of labor, as with that decline came sweeping reductions in the number of men employed and in the hours of labor, as well as the general reduction in wages. A decline in the cost of the commodities used by the wage earners is little to their advantage when the causes which combine to bring it about take from them the greater proportion of the scanty means at their dis- posal for their purchase. I quote a few of the prices of the staple articles of food by way of illustrating the uecessary narrowness of the margin between receipts and expenditure, even in the case of the most economical and steady wage worker who has a family depending upon him for a livelihood : Flour, $3 to $3.50 per hundred weight; beefsteak, 12^c.to 15c.; beef, roast, 12ic. to 15c. ; ditto, boiling, Sc. to 10c. ; pork, per quarter, 9c. to 10c. ; retail, roast, 12^c. to 15c. ; bacon, 15c. to 17c. ; hams, 17c. to 18c. ; mutton, 12ic. to 15c.; potatoes, 50c. to 60c. per bushel; apples, 25c. to 30c. per peck ; onions, $1 per bushel; parsnips, 75c. to $1 per bushel; eggs, per dozen, 25c. to 35c. ; butter, 25c. to 32c. When these prices are taken into consideration it becomes evident that with a large num- ber of the wage earners the practice of economy is not a matter of choice but rather of stern necessity. WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. Compared with that of the year 1878, the condition and prospects of labor are not as encouraging as could be wished for. That year was the culmination of a lengthened i)eriod of crop failures, local and gen- eral, and intensified by the prevailing world-wide financial stringency. But living expenses were light, the prices of food and clothing, fuel aud rent beiug at a minimum, so that the wages paid — small though they were — bore at least a kind of pro}>ortion to the laborers' necessi- ties. Thus it happens that although the wages paid are, in some in- stances, higher than those of 1878, the increase in the cost of living is such as to more than deprive the laborer of any advantage arising from that circumstance. Wages are rather lower now than a few months ago and the indications are that should anything occur to blight the crop prospects they will drop still lower. It is a common remark that 14 LABOR IN NOETH AMERICA: CANADA " times are very tight" for labor, and if anything was required to con- vince of the fact the number of unemployed men to be seen walking the streets of the towns and villages would furnish sufficient evidence. The Dominion Government has agreed to advance the Canada Pacific Eailway Company a loan of $30,000,000 to enable them to proceed with the construction of their road and branches, one of which is expected to pass through this town and connect their Credit Valley road, at Ingersoll, with the American system at Detroit, and without going out of my province to speculate on the wisdom of the grant or otherwise, or the probable eflect of a road calculated to compete with other lines being heavily bonused by the Federal Government, I may say that it is the general opinion that in certain portions of the country the expenditure will act as a stimulus. In the meantime large numbers of the more enterprising workmen, recognizing the difficulties to be overcome, are betaking themselves to the prairies of the West, a goodly proportion settling on the American side in consequence of the greater liberality,, stability, and more judicious administration of the settlement regula- lations as compared with those of the Canadian Northwest. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The habits of the working classes, generally speaking, are regular,, and, as a rule, they are industrious, intelligent, and reliable. The only evil which afflicts them in any marked degree is that of intemperance j and that, perhaps, as slightly as in any portion of the continent where intoxicants are sold under license. Vigorous efforts are being put forth to bring a prohibitory measure before the people of this county, and, it is admitted bv its opponents, with reasonable hopes of success. From the general satisfaction its operation has given in other counties in which it has been in force, and the fact that after lenghtened trial the attempts to repeal it have been overwhelmingly voted down, I incline to the opinion that its introduction will be beneficial. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOY]^. The feeling between employer and employ^ is generally of the most cordial character. The desire for reciprocal benefits seems to influence both in their dealings. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. With the single exception of the railway employes, I know of no or- ganization of labor, in my district, comprising more than a few mem- bers of some of the more widely scattered associations. Organizations- of capital to aflect labor are equally conspicuous by their absence. STRIKES AND THEIR EFFECTS. It follows that there being no organizations of labor, and good feel- ing between employer and employe prevailing, such a contingency as a strike must be an untoward occurrence. With the exception of the railway hands there has been no striking in this district. The strike of the Grand Trunk Kailway employes, some time ago, did not result in obtaining the concessions asked ; but it has been the means of bringing about many reforms in the service. Wages have, however, even during the most active period, remained low, and at present the management propose a cut of 10 per cent, all around, and this after largely reducing the staff' employed. I am informed that, profiting by the experiences of the last strike, and believing they were unfairly paid during the in- LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 15 terveninf? period of the road's prosperity, the men have intimated that sooner than submit to the proposed cut (which would reduce some men'a wages to considerably under $1 i)erday) the employes will go out on strike, and that in event of such an occurrence the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers will be with them. As the company, at this season of the year, is not in a jiosition to cope with such a strike, it is extremely im- probable that they will attempt to carry into effect the proposed reduc- tion. FREEDOM OF PURCHASE. Workingmen are generally in the enjoyment of the fullest liberty to purchase where and how they please — customs regulations, of course, excepted. Some few firms who own stores and employ labor exercise an imi)lied restraint in this particular; but the number is rapidly de- creasing, and the system is unpopular. PAYMENT OF LABOR. When no contract is made specifying other terms, payments are made weekly, usually Saturdays. Eailway hands are i^aid monthly, fifteen days' pay being held. Farm laborers seldom have regular times- of payment, and in many cases draw what they require to use as wanted and the residue at the end of their term. Payments in bank notes, silver, or gold. American currency passes at par in all transactions, Government departments excepted, in this i)art of Canada. Such is not the case further east, where United States silver is subjected to a discount. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. Co-operative societies are represented in my district by a solitary specimen, the Grange, a kind of farmers' club and association for co- operative i^urchase. Mechanics and laborers have not found those ventures warranted, and the indifferent success attending the Grange, in which no small amount of capital has been invested, has not been calculated to promote experiments in that direction. The, at one time, dreaded effect of the " Grange stores " on general trade has passed away, and as far as relates to their influence on prices of or demand for merchandise they are a nullity. GENERAL CONDITION. The general condition of the laboring classes is not dissimilar to that of tliose of our Northern States. Wages, I believe, rule lower. Work- men interviewed say that it is next to impossible to save anything; and from the figures obtainable I am led to indorse the view that only in the most remunerative of the occupations named can a man of familj^ main- tain them in comfort and lay away a reserve fund. SAFETY OF EMPL0Y:6s. The provisions for the safety of employes in mills and factories are wofully inadequate. I would scarcely overstate the case if I said there were none. In fact some of the railway companies oblige their em- ployes, on hiring, to sign an agreement intended to release them from liability should the employ^ be injured or killed, while in their service, by any cause whatever. The courts, however, have decided that, in cases of carelessness on the part of the servants of the road at least, such contract shall be no bar to a suit for damages. 16 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. In mills and factories a very unsatisfactory neglect of the employes' interest is manifested. I note that acts for providing for the safety and general regulation of factory employes are now receiving eg slative consideration. The sanitary influences to which labor is subjected come under the scrutiny of the local and provincial boards of health, and sanitation is so carefully attended to that it is almost a science in execution as well as theory. The police are health officers under the direction of the municipal and medical advisory boards and inspectors, armed with all necessary authority to make weekly visits to every part of the towns and villages. This house-to-house inspection — the inspectors being changed from one beat to another weekly — is productive of general cleanliness and conducive to the well-being of the community. POLITICAL RIGHTS. The workingmen enjoy all the rights and privileges political of the country. If a man's name appears on the assesmeut roll of the munici- pality of which he is a resident, as tenant or occupant of premises that entitles the owner thereof to a vote, he also is entitled to vote; and as his liberty is religiously guarded by the ballot system of voting, he has the inivilege — and exercises it — of making himself felt in the country's legislation. The tendency of recent legislation has been to increase these privileges. EMIGRATION. The general cause of emigration is the settled conviction that in the existing condition and apparent prospects for the future there is but little hope that labor can secure a profit. The causes influencing their selection of objective points are varied, but the central one is to secure a home and a means of subsistence which will render them independent of the many circumstances which go to immediately affect labor. Many go to the manufacturiug districts of the United States to seek a more liberal remuneration for their toil and skill — and it is an axiom here that first class men are better paid "in the States" — but large numbers go, as I have previously intimated, to settle and secure homes. I can- not speak for other parts of the country, but from this district the ma- jority emigrating go to become American citizens. JSTo less than six or eight railway agents devote their whole time to organizing and taking out parties from this locality. Thus early in the season several large parties have left for Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. There is consider- ble dissatisfaction with the regulations aflectiug Canadian northwest lands and their administration, the result of which is the diverting of the stream of very desirable emigrants into our northern States and Territories, where the regulations work more smoothly. FEMALE LABOR. The extent to which female labor is emi^loyed in my district is so limited that I would scarcely be justified in lengtheniug out this report by extended remarks on the subject. The number employed is small, and chiefly confined to public school teachers, clerks, music teachers, hotel and household cooks, laundresses, «&c. In these employments they are subject to the same conditions and!, perform the same work as for service of a like nature in the United States. Their remuneration, however, is less generous and the field is much more circumscribed. They are not employed to su.(;h a degree as to affect the wages of male labor. To obtain employment outside of household service women re- quire to possess a fair education. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 17 GENERAL SUiDdARY. Tlie fjeiKM-al condition of labor in this district, which is pre-eminently an a^ricultnral one, is unhealtliy. Wages are low and enii)loyinent scarce, while the necessaries of life are high. An improvement is looked for in the opening of the season, bnt I see no reason for an- tici|)atiiig more than a slight and temi)orary improvement at best. My opinion is based on the fact that the market for manafactiires is glutted, and in consequence of that a suri)lus of labor is already at hand, so that a great increase in the rates of wages paid is not to be expected. Add to this the fact that the Caliadian Government have already arranged for a large im])ortation of '' assisted emigrants" during the season, and the various IJritish societies are prei)aring to supplement their efforts, and it will be admitted that the outlook for the wage-earner is not the most inviting. True, a great number of these emigrants soon find their way across the lines, while some go to the Xorthwest, but the fact remains that their continuous introduction on a market already overstocked cannot but be displacing and depressing to labor. H. C. BUFFINGTON, Commercial Agent. United States Cojoiercial Agency, Chatham, July, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per iveek of sixty hours in Chatham. Occapations. Lowest. $10 00 6 00 12 00 6 00 9 CO 6 00 8 00 7 50 6 00 10 00 7 00 9 00 9 00 7 50 8 50 7 00 7 25 8 00 6 00 7 50 8 00 7 50 6 00 7 00 5 00 8 00 7 50 6 00 8 00 Highest Average. Bncltlayers Hi id-carriers . Masous Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Koofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants . . CarppDters Gas- filters BUILDtNG TRADES. OTHES TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Book-binders Brick-makers Butchers Cabinet-makers Confeitioiiers Cortpei'rt Draymen and teamsters, and cab and carriage drivers Dyers Gardeners Horseshoers Jewelers Laborers, porters, 6f' week of sixty hours in Chatham — Coutinued. Occupations. Other trades — Continued. Printers Teachers, public school Saddle and harness makers Tanners Tailors Tek-graph operators Weavei s (outside of mills) Shoemakers Lowest. Highest. $7 00 *200 00 8 00 7 50 7 50 6 00 8 00 7 50 $12 00 1, 000 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 9 00 Average. $8 50 *450 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 7 50 9 00 8 25 ■ Per annum. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid jyer week of sixty hours in factories 07- mills in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $9 00 $15 00 7 50 10 00 6 00 9 00 9 00 13 50 4 00 6 00 7 50 9 00 4 00 6 00 4 00 8 00 7 00 9 00 Average. Head sawyer or filer Engineer General saw-mUl hands Stave-cutters Handlers "Wood-working machine hands "Woolen-factory spinners "Weavers Dyers and finishers $10 00 8 50 7 50 10 00 5 00 8 00 5 00 7 50 8 50 III. — Foundries, machine-skops, andiron works. Wages paid per iveek of sixty hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works in Ken County, Ontario, Canada. Occupations. Molders Laborers and assistants Lathe hands "Vise-hands Painters (fancy) Wood-workers Lowest. Highest. $8 00 $10 00 7 50 9 00 9 00 12 00 8 00 11 00 9 00 12 00 8 00 10 00 Average. $9 00 8 00 10 00 9 00 10 00 9 00 YI. EAILWAY EMPLOYlfiS. Wages paid per month to railway employes {those engaged abovt stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, tfc. ) in Ontario, westerly part. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $22 00 $40 00 26 00 35 00 40 00 65 00 40 00 100 00 30 00 45 00 26 00 32 00 26 00 32 00 20 00 40 00 26 00 35 00 1 75 3 00 500 00 1, 000 00 Average. Brakemen per month.. Baggagemen do Conductors do Engineers do Firemen do Flag and switch men do Oilers do Operators do Section-men do Repairers (machinists) per day. . Station-masters per annum. . $32 00 30 00 50 00 65 00 35 00 30 00 30 00 26 00 30 00 2 25 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. IX. Store and shop wages. 19 Wages paid per tveek of sixty hours in dry goods and other stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Occapationa. 1 Lowest. Highest. Average. i $6 CO 3 50 3 00 j 6 00 400 00 $10 00 6 00 6 00 9 00 1, 000 00 $7 50 4 50 5 00 7 00 Bookkeepers per annum.. 600 00 Tailoresses usally paid piece-work, a« follows : Coat, $1.50 ; pants, 75 cents ; vest, 75 cents. y. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per week to household servants {toicns and cities) in Kent County, Ontario, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. I Highest. Average, Laundresses Cooks (in hotels) , Cooks (private houses) General household servants $2 00 I 3 00 i 1 75 I 1 50 I $6 00 I $3 00 7 00 ! 4 00 3 50 I 2 50 2 50 I 2 00 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Kent County, Ontario, tvith or without hoard and lodging. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Farm laborers when engaged by year (with board) 1 $150 00 $250 00 Farm laborers when engaged tor term of 6 mouths (with board) from April 1 to October 1 Farm laborers when engaged for harvest only, per day (with board) . Female household servants (per week) $200 00 100 00 1 25 1 00 125 00 2 50 2 00 (*) 1 75 1 50 * About $18 per month. Note. — The number of females employed in household service in the farm residence is small. XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid to the corporation employe's in the city of Chatham, Ontario. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Clerk Police magistrate Treasurer Collector (commission). Assessors (three) each . Chief of police Policemen Street surveyor Firemen Workmen .per annum. do... do... .per annum. do... do... do... do... . . per week . $350 00 6 00 $450 00 8 00 $1,000 00 1, 000 00 600 00 J of Ip.c. 133 33 750 00 450 00 450 00 7 50 20 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per annum to employes in Government departments and offices {exclusive of iradea- men and laborers) in Chatham and Kent generally. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. AT CHATHAM. Customs collector . Landing waiter. ... Subcollectois $400 00 AT WALLACEBUEG. Customs collector Landing waiter SubcoUector District weights and measures inspection : Inspector Subinspectors District inland revenue: Collector Two deputies, each at Eight deputies, each at Gas inspector Chatham postmaster County oftices Clerk of Crown School inspectors Light-hou.se keepers Fishery oflScers 686 00 500 00 150 00 50 00 $600 00 900 00 300 00 1, 000 00 400 00 50 00 $L 100 00 800 00 700 00 600 00 400 00 900 00 500 00 1, 764 00 980 04 508 81 *2, 100 00 t450 00 600 00 * And allowances of $640. The above are actual salaries as given in the Government returns. t And fees. XV. Printers and printing offices. Wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers {compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, ^-c.) in Kent County, Ontario. Occupations. Foreman Compositors Compositors, per thousand ems Job printers Pressmen Feeders (youths) Proof-readers Apprentices Lowest. Highest. $9 00 $12 00 7 00 10 00 21 25 8 00 12 00 7 00 9 00 4 50 6 00 8 00 12 00 2 50 4 00 Average. $10 00 8 50 9 00 8 00 5 00 9 00 HAMILTON. REPORT BY CONSUL HAZLETON. The rate of wa^es paid to the several classes of laborers employed in this consular district I have been unable to obtain fully, as there is no published statement giving the same in detail, and business men whom I have asked for the information have varied considerably as to the rates paid by them for labor of the same class, while others have declined to furnish any statement of rates paid when requested to do so. acknowledgments. I am greatly indebted to the following parties for information kindly furnished which appears in the inclosed tables, viz, Charles Stiff", man- ager of the Great Western Division of the Grand Trunk Eailroad ; LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 21 John Smith, agent of the Ontario Imniig^ration Society; the Ontario Cotton Mills Company at Hamilton, tlie Dnndas cotton mills at Dundas, the Stewart Stove Manufactory, and the Waiizer Sewing Machine Com- pany at Hamilton, as shown by the tables inclosed. COST OF LIVING. The cost of living to the laboring classes varies considerably, owing to the kind of employment, habits, &q., of the employed. In this con- sular district most of the industrial pursuits demand hard labor. In this city are ten iron foundries em])loying about nine hundred work- men ; cotton mills employing six hundred workmen; glass companies employing one hundred workmen; the \Yanzer Sewing Machine Com- pany employing two hundred and fifty workmen, besides many smaller manufactories of various kinds giving employment to a large number of laborers; all of whom require substantial living, consisting usually of meat with potatoes and bread twice a day. The third meal consists of some kind of bread with butter, or something taking its place. ISTearly all use tea and coffee. The retail prices of ordinary articles of food and raiment used by the working classes in this district are as follows, viz : Articles. Cost. Articles. Bacon per pound.. Ham do ... Shoulder do Beef do Mutton do Veal do ... Butter do Cheese do ... Coffee do Codfish do Mustard do Pepper do Eice do Soap do Sugar do Tea, green do Tea, black.. do.... Tobacco do Corn meal 100 pounds.. Flour do Buckwheat flour do Bread 2-pouud loaf. . Milk quart.. Eggs dozen.. Oatmeal 100 pounds. . Potatoes 60 pounds . . $0 10 to 12 to 9to 8 to 10 to 8 to 15 to 10 to 25 to 7 to 30 to 20 to 5 to 5to 6to 40 to 25 to 30 to 1 75 to 2 .SO to 3 00 to 5 to 15 to 2 00 to 60 to $0 13 15 12 12 12 12 22 13 40 8 35 25 6 6 9 50 50 50 2 00 2 75 3 50 6 6 17 2 25 80 Salt 60 pounds Herrings barrel Fire-wood cords Coal 2,000 Coats, over Coats, under Pants Vests Shirts, flannel Shirts, cotton Shirts, under Drawers, woolen Hats, felt Socks, worsted Socks, cotton Blankets pair Flannel yard Cotton shirtings do.. Cotton sheetings, wide Canadian Tweed cloth Shoes, men's per pair Shoes, women's ... do Boots, men's do. . Boots, women's do . Rubbers, men's Rubbers, women's Cost. $0 60 to 5 50 to 4 50 to 6 uOto 7 00 to 4 50 to 2 00 to 1 00 to 1 50 to 75 to 25 to 90 to 75 to 25 to 10 to 3 00 to 30 to 10 to 20 to 60 to 2 00 to 1 25 to 2 00 to 1 75 to 80 to 70 to $0 65 7 00 7 00 6 50 12 00 6 50 4 50 2 00 2 00 1 00 35 1 00 1 25 35 15 4 50 35 12 25 1 00 2 50 1 75 4 00 3 00 1 00 80 Those who have families and keep house, rent dwellings with four room for $8 per month ; with six rooms, from $9 to $12 per month. Board may be obtained for $4 per week. WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. As between the rates of wages now and those which ])revailed in 1878 and since that time the present rates are somewhat higher than in 1878. After the depression of 1878 business steadily imi)roved until 1883, when it began to decline and has so continued until the present time, producing great depression in manufactures generally. The price of labor, however, does not seem to decline materially in consequence. The employers have retained their best men as a general rule, expecting 22 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. an increase of business in the early autumn, while the discharged em- ployes have found temporarj" employment on the land and are stimu- lated by the hope, which is very strong, that business will soon revive. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The habits of the working classes are generally to be commended. Many of them are steady and trustworthy, saving something for sickness and old age. The causes which afl'ect their habits for good or evil are various. On the one hand are strong religious influences, excellent public schools, an active, earnest feeling in favor of temperance and good con- duct; while on the other hand is much vice, much licentiousness, many dram-shops and gaming-places. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The feeling which prevails between the employer and employe is gen- erally kindly. The Canadian law authorizes the arrest and imprison- ment of indentured apprentices for absence without leave. Public sentiment, however, is generally opposed to its enforcement, and it is seldom resorted to for punishment. The effect of this feeling on the general and j)articular community is good. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. In this district until last year there was no organized condition of labor. Then for the tirst time laboring men of every class, numbering about two thousiind, marched in procession through the streets of tlam- ilton to Duiidwin I'ark, where they passed a day of enjoyment, listened in the evening to an address on "the dignity of labor," and returned to their duties on the d;iy following. This year the same programme has been repeated without increase of numbers. I cannot learn that this organization has attempted to change the status of anything. Persons are employed and discharged without reference to other employes. STRIKES AND FOOD PURCHASES AND COOPERATION. Strikes have never occurred in this consular district. Working people are free to purchase the necessaries of life wherever they choose. No conditions in this regard are imposed by the emyloy- ers. Wages are paid weekly or monthly to the laborer in Canadian currency. There are no co-operative societies here. GENARAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The general condition of the working people here is comfortable. The cities and large manufacturing villages in this district afford a sub- stantial market for the produce of the farms, and give employment to a great variety of laborers at rates of wages which enables them to pro- vide comfortable homes with good food and clothing for themselves and families, and to save something for sickness and old age. SAFETY OF EMPL0Y:6S. iSTo meiins are i)rovi(lcd for the safety of employes in factories, mills, or railroads, »S:c., in case of accident, excepting the ordinary stairways, doors, and windows. In case of accident, h<)si)itals and other suitable l^laces are provided where the injured may be taken and cared for. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 23" I am unable to learn that the einploj'er ^ives es])ecial consideration to the moral and physical well-being of the employes, the ability to perform acceptably the duties required of the employe beinj? generally satisfactori' to the emi^loyer. Their general relations are not intimate. POLITICAL EIGHTS. Political rights in this country are enjoyed principally through i)rop- erty, so that the workingman rarely has anything to do with politics. CAUSES OF EMIGRATION. The causes which lead to the emigration of the working people are various, the desire to better their condition being the principal. Farm- ers knon- that hind is cheaper in certain parts of the United States than here. Mechanics also realize that every class of labor is demanded in the United States, and when overcrowded here emigrate with full con- fidence as to the result. FEMALE LABOR. I am unable, because T can find no statistics, to give a satisfactory statement showing the number or approximate number of women and children em])loyed in my district. In the cities they are employed in considerable numbers as saleswomen in dry-good stores at wages rang- ing from 84 to $6 a week. Many find employment in making clothing of all kinds by the jjiece for ready-made clothing houses, taking the cut garments to their homes, where, with the sewing-n\a(;hines, they earn from -$6 to $10 a week. The tobacco paper bag, and cotton factcnnes of the district also afford employment to a large number at from $4 to $6 a week. In the Hamilton public schools one hundred female teachers are em- l^loyed at salaries running from $188 to $435 a year, and forty at sala- ries running from $75 to $133 a year. The employment of women has no percei>tible effect upou the wages of men. Its effect on general social and industrial conditions is bene- ficial. J. F. HAZLETON, Consul. United States Consulate, Hamilton, August 4, 1884. 24 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. I. General trades. Wages 2^ did per week of sixty hours in Hamilton. Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasteiera Tenders Slaters Koofers Tenders Plumbers I f.. Assistants Carpenters Gas-fitters OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders Brickmakers Brewers Butcheis Brass founders Cabiuet-maker.s Confectioners Cigar-makers Coopers IDrivers : Draymen and teamsters Cab, carriage Street railways Dyers Gardeners Hatters Horseshoers Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Millwrights Printers _ Teachers, public schools ". Saddle and harness makers Sailmakers Stevedores Tanners Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths "Weavers (outside of mills) Lowest. $15 00 6 00 15 00 6 00 9 00 6 00 15 00 9 00 6 00 9 00 6 (lO 10 50 9 00 7 50 9 00 6 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 7 50 10 50 9 00 7 50 6 00 9 00 6 00 6 00 *7 50 4 60 6 00 7 50 10 50 7 50 1 00 12 00 10 00 t75 00 8 00 8 00 9 00 8 00 9 00 9 00 8 00 3 00 Highest. $16 50 7 50 16 50 7 50 12 00 7 50 16 50 12 00 7 50 12 00 7 50 12 00 15 00 10 50 15 00 7 50 15 00 12 00 15 00 9 00 15 00 15 00 9 00 9 00 10 50 9 00 9 00 7 50 15 00 9 00 10 50 18 00 10 50 1 25 15 00 10 00 1833 36 12 00 12 00 13 .50 12 00 12 00 15 00 12 00 7 50 Average. $15 50 7 00 15 50 7 00 10 00 7 00 15 50 10 50 ■ 7 00 10 50 7 00 11 00 12 00 9 00 10 50. 7 00 12 00 10 00 10 50 8 00 12 00 10 50 8 00 7 50 9 50 7 50 7 50 7 50 6 75 7 50 8 00 12 00 9 00 1 10 13 50 10 00 f303 58 10 00 10 00 11 00 10 00 10 50 12 00 10 00 6 00 * Of 84 hours. t Per year. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. II. Factoeies, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in factories or mills in Hamilton, Canada. 25 Occapations. Lowest. Average. Card room : OveTseers . Cardt-rs . . . Scntcbers . Drawers... Slubbers .. Rovers Throstle room : Overseers . Dolpbers. . Spjuuers . Killing room : Overseers . Packers Dressers . "Winders. . Eeelers Doublers. .. Spoolers... Warpers. . Twisters. . "Weaviiiii room: Overseers . Weavers . . Mule room : Overseers . Spinners... Warcrormr Dj'e bouse Mecbanics Laborers . . Firemen... Engineers.. 4 80 1 25 2 75 5 40 3 00 2 00 « 00 4 50 4 50 6 00 4 00 6 00 7 50 12 00 6 00 5 70 4 20 4 80 5 00 8 00 1 50 3 60 5 00 3 25 8 75 3 75 5 00 4 50 2 75 4 75 5 50 9 50 4 75 4 50 10 75 5 00 6 75 12 00 5 00 7 50 10 50 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works in Hamil- ton, Canada. Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $10 50 10 50 7 50 7 50 7 50 9 00 12 00 9 00 4 50 6 75 12 00 12 00 9 00 6 40 7 50 11 25 6 00 9 00 7 50 9 00 10 50 10 50 7 50 7 50 16 5o' 16 50 14 00 14 00 17 50 12 00 13 50 11 25 9 00 7 50 24 00 15 00 20 40 18 00 9 00 11 25 9 00 18 00 14 22 19 50 15 00 12 00 14 00 13 50 12 00 Pattern-fitters •. 12 00 9 00 8 25 9 00 10 50 12 00 10 50 6 00 7 20 Sewing-machines: 17 22 13 32 Fitters 34 58 11 40 1 37 11 25 7 50 12 00 9 72 10 74 12 96 11 00 9 00 9 00 26 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. IV. Glass workers. Wages jjaid per week of forty-two hours to glass-workers in Hamilton, Canada. Occupations. Blowers Laborers (boys) Lowest. Highest. Average. $11 3 $35 5 VI. Railway employes. Wages paid to railway envploy^s {those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged on ihe engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, 4'C.), in Hamilton, Canada. Occupations. Cond uctors per day . Brakemen do . . . Bajrjriigi'iiien, train do. .. Baygrigeiiiuu, station do .. Enuint-ers ...' do... Firemen do... Engine cleaners do. .. Switchmen do. .. Yardmen do... Trackmen - do. .. Portcr.s do . . . Section foremen do . . Track foremen per year. Train dispatchers do. .. Station agents do... Clerks do... Telegraph operators do . . Lowest. $2 00 1 30 1 40 1 15 2 75 1 CO 1 00 1 15 1 60 1 10 1 00 1 50 900 00 600 00 420 00 300 00 360 00 Highest. Average. $2 50 1 60 1 60 1 50 3 00 1 80 1 00 1 60 2 25 1 10 1 25 1 50 1. 000 00 1, 260 00 1, 000 00 1, (100 00 600 00 $2 25 1 40 1 50 1 25 2 87i 1 70 1 00 1 40 1 75 1 10 1 10 1 50 850 00 1, 000 00 600 00 600 00 480 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per iveek of sixty hours in dry goods stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Hamilton, Canada. Occupations. Clerks Dress-making Maritlemaking Shiit-making Quilt-niaking Tinderclothing making Highest. $20 00 8 00 8 00 8 00 8 00 8 00 Average. $7 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and cities) in Hamilton consular district. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $9 00 7 00 7 00 8 00 7 00 $12 00 8 00 8 00 9 00 9 00 $10 50 7 50 7 50 8 50 8 00 LABOR IN NORLH AMERICA: CANADA. 27 XI. AGRICULTUKAX WAGES. Wages paid per month to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Hamilton consular district, tvith board and lodging. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $12 25 6 $15 35 10 XII. Corporation employdSs. Wages paid to the corporation employes in the city of Hamilton, Canada. Occnpations. Fire department per annum.. Police nia<;istrate do Chief of police do Policemen (54) do .. Teacliers, hijih school (17) do Teacliera, public schools (112) do Cierk, public schools do Treasurer, public schools do ... . Mayor do City clerk do Assistant clerk do Do do... City treasurer do Do do.... Assistant treasurer do Tax collector do Assistant collector do .. . Do ; do . . Do do .- City messenger do City eniiinper do Street laborers per day.. Street inspector per annum . . Superintendent cemetery do. .. Pound-keeper '. do Superintendent house of refuge do Superintendent wood mai ket do Lowest. Highest. Average. $122 10 2, 000 00 1, 200 00 91 24 60 00 75 00 300 00 300 00 $1, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, 200 OU 723 00 1,433 00 833 36 300 00 300 00 $433 00 2, 1)00 00 1, 2U0 00 460 00 702 00 303 58 300 00 300 00 1, 200 00 1, 800 00 500 00 100 00 1, 100 OO 437 00 413 00 1, 100 00 600 00 550 00 500 00 600 00 650 00 1 25 624 00 713 00 256 00 350 00 600 00 XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per annum to enxployes in Government departments and offices — exclusive of tradesmen and laborers — in Hamilton, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Collector of customs Surveyor of cu.storas Clerks, customs (7) Appraisers, cu.stonis Lauding waiters (5) Searcher and packer Messenger Packer Inspectors , Gangers Lockers Inland revenue : Chief inspector Inspector of distilleries. District inspectors Collectors Clerks (accountants) ... Post-oflice : Postmaster. Assistant postmaster. . . Clerks ia city post-otfice $2, 600 1,500 600 1,000 600 600 450 550 1,600 GOO 400 3,000 2, 5(10 2,000 500 600 2,400 1,500 400 $2, 600 1, 500 1,400 1, 200 850 600 4.50 550 2,000 1,200 1,200 3,000 2, .=iOO 2,500 2,200 1,200 2,400 1, 500 1,400 $2, 600 1, .500 943 1, 100 683 600 4.i0 550 1, 800 900 800 3,000 2, 500 2,250 1.350 2,400 1,500 28 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement slioiving the wages paid to printers (compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, ^-c.) in Hamilton, Canada. [Per week of sixty houra.] Occupations. Compositors: Evening papers per M.. Morning papers do... Weekly papers per week.. All weekly employ6s do Lowest. $0 28 30 10 00 10 00 Highest. $0 28 30 10 00 10 00 $0 28 30 10 00 IG 00 KINGSTON. REPORT BT CONSUL TWIWHELL. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest Average. BUILDING TRADES. $12 00 7 50 12 00 7 50 12 00 7 50 12 00 7 50 7 50 9 00 6 00 7 50 9 00 8 00 7 50 4 50 7 00 11 00 6 25 6 00 10 00 7 50 7 50 10 00 6 00 10 00 7 50 6 00 ■ 9 00 7 00 9 00 6 00 10 00 7 50 2 50 7 50 9 00 $16 50 7 50 16 50 7 50 16 50 7 50 15,00 12 00 7 50 15 00 6 00 12 00 15 00 12 00 10 50 6 00 12 00 11 00 7 50 15 00 18 00 8 75 8 75 10 00 9 00 10 00 10 50 7 50 15 00 9 00 12 00 15 00 13 00 15 00 2 50 12 00 12 00 $14 40 7 50 14 40 7 50 14 40 Tenders 7 50 13 50 9 60 7 50 10 50 6 00 9 60 10 50 OTHER TRADES. 10 00 9 00 5 10 9 00 11 00 7 00 9 00 14 00 8 10 8 10 10 00 7 50 Hatters 10 00 9 00 6 50 12 00 8 00 10 50 8 50 Tailors 11 50 11 25 2 50 Tinsmiths 9 60 Painters ! 10 50 1 25 *1, 300 00 Cigar-makers per thousand . - 6 00 6 00 10 00 10 00 6 00 15 00 7 00 6 00 13 00 Raftsmenll . 6 50 8 00 7 25 * Per annum ; no fixed hours t78 hours per week. t78 hours per week. 1 54 hours per week. § 20 cents per hour ; 25 cents per thousand bushels grain ; 10 II 8 months in year.' cents per ton of coal or i LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in factories or mills in Kingston, Canada. 29 Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Cotton factory : Mule spiunera % $9 00 1 50 1 80 6 00 1 80 5 40 3 00 6 00 $12 00 4 80 4 50 7 50 4 20 7 50 6 00 6 00 $11 10 2 40 3 00 6 60 3 00 6 60 4 50 6 00 08 Four-loom weavers Kovei's do . . 06 i5- 07 07 Knittiiij: mill * : 15 00 6 00 4 -.0 3 00 3 00 5 00 2 00 15 00 00 4 50 3 00 3 00 12 00 10 50 15 00 6 00 4 50 3 00 3 00 8 00 6 00 * Wagps same as in 1878. i Pianos made by piece-work. Piano-makers average about $4 per day. "Wages higher than 1878. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid in foundries, machine-shops, car works, and iron works in Kingston, Canada. [Per week of sixty hours.] Occupations. Lowest. Average. Stove foundries * : Molders per week.. Stove molders do Laborer.^ do ... CaippDters do Blacksmiths do Car works t : Blacksmiths do Molders do ... Carpenters do Laborers do Painters do Foremen do Machine-shops: Machinists do Locomotive works { : Fitters per day. . Boiler-mak^s do Blarksraiths do Molders do Laborers do Carpenters do Apprentices do • Turner.s do Erecters do Planers or drillers do Pattern makers do.... * Wages higher than 1878. tCar works not built in 1878. I Wages lower than the above by 25 per cent, in 187f $9 00 7 50 6 00 8 40 10 50 10 50 9 00 8 40 6 60 7 80 12 00 10 50 $12 00 10 50 7 50 11 40 10 50 11 40 12 00 11 40 9 ro 10 20 16 50 12 00 $11 10 9 00 6 80 9 90 10 50 10 80 10 50 9 90 7 80 9 00 14 40 n 25 2 00 2 50 2 25 2 00 2 50 2 25 2 00 2 50 2 25 2 00 2 25 2 00 1 00 1 50 1 25 2 00 2 25 2 00 30 80 60 1 85 2 25 2 00 2 00 2 50 2 25 1 50 2 00 1 75 2 00 2 50 2 25 30 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. V. Mines and mining. Wages paid per iveek of sixty hours in and i7i connection with iron mines in consular dis- trict of Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $37 50 10 50 12 00 7 50 $37 50 10 50 12 00 7 50 Average. Superintendent ^■ Drillers ■ Engineers Laborers $37 50 10 50 12 00 7 20 VI. Eailway employes. Wages paid per tveek to railway employes (those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, tj'c), in Kingston,Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $6 75 $6 75 6 75 8 45 6 75 6 75 11 80 16 90 9 45 9 45 8 10 8 10 5 60 8 45 10 15 13 50 Average. Station hands Line men Laborers Engineers. . .. Firemen Brakemen Clerks Conductors* . . $6 75 7 45 6 75 14 35 9 45 8 10 7 00 11 80 ' 120 miles per day. VII. Ship- YARDS and ship-building. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in ship-yards, in Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Building wooden ships: $15 00 9 00 9 00 8 40 10 50 7 50 6 90 $15 00 10 50 9 00 10 20 10 50 7 50 6 90 $15 00 9 75 9 00 9 30 10 50 7 50 6 90 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. VIII. Seamen's wages. 31 Wages paid to seamen, {officers and men)— distinguishing between ocean, coast, and river navigation, and between sail and steam — in Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest Average. SAIL. Lake and river navigation : Captain per month . . Cook do First mate per day.. Second mate do Able seamen do Ordinary seamen do STEAM. Captain per month.. Purser or clerk do Steward do First mate do Second mate do Engineer do Assistant engineer .do... Firemen do Deck-hands do Cook do Waiters do $40 00 20 00 1 75 1 50 1 25 1 00 40 00 30 00 30 00 30 00 25 00 50 00 40 00 15 00 14 00 20 00 10 00 $80 00 30 00 2 00 1 75 1 50 1 25 80 00 50 00 50 00 50 00 35 00 75 00 50 00 30 00 20 00 30 00 10 00 $60 00 25 00 1 85 1 65 1 35 1 15 60 00 40 00 40 00 40 00 30 00 62 50 45 00 22 50 17 00 25 00 10 00 Seaman's Union organized in 1879, since which time wages have averaged as above. Able seamen in 1879, $25 per month. IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Kingston, Canada. [Per week of fifty -seven hours.] Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average, Wliolesale clerks (male) per annum.. Retail ch-rks (male) do. .. Retail clerks (female) per week.. $1,000 00 $1,800 00 $1,200 00 300 00 600 00 450 00 6 00 14 00 10 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and cities) in Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Cooks $10 00 Housemaids) I 5 00 Coachmen 20 00 Highest. : Average. $35 00 10 00 30 00 $15 00 8 00 25 00 "Wages higher than in 1878. XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Kingston, Canada, ioith board and lodging. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. per annum.. $120 00 60 00 *90 00 tl 25 $156 00 72 00 *!08 00 tl 75 $138 00 Household servants do 66 00 *99 00 nerdav.. tl 50 ' For best six months in the year. t Harvesting season. 32 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XII. Corporation employes. Wages jyciid to the corporation employes in the city of Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Higheet. Average. Mayor per annum. Treasurer do.. City clerk do... Collector do . . . Assessor do — Messenger do. .. Solicitor do... Engineer do . . . Chief engineer fire department do. . . Assistant engineer fire department do. .. Police niatristrate do. . . Chief of police do. .- Sergeant of police per month. First class policeman do . . . Second class policeman do .. Clerks per annum. City laborers per day. $100 00 $400 00 $800 00 1, 100 00 1,400 00 1, IttO 00 800 00 450 00 700 00 700 00 200 00 175 00 1,400 00 800 00 *42 50 MO 00 *35 00 300 00 1 00 *In addition allowed $45 per annum for clothing. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per annum to employ^ in Go"ern7nent departments and offices, exclusive of tradesmen and laborers, in Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Collector of customs Surveyor . . Chief clerk and deputy collector . Clerks Appraiser Landing waiters Preventive officers Collector of inland revenue Excisemen Warden, penitentiary Deputy warden, penitentiary Chaplain Surgeon Accountant Storekeeper Schoolmaster Steward Trade instructors Keepers Guards Teamsters Matrnns Postmaster Assistant postmaster Clerks Letter.carriers . . . .- $550 00 $800 00 150 00 235 00 450 00 i,'o66 66 400 00 500 00 1, 000 00 700 00 250 00 500 00 400 00 1, 200 00 300 00 480 00 $1, 600 00 1, 100 00 1, 000 00 650 00 900 00 600 I 300 00 1, 400 00 600 00 2, 600 00 1, 400 00 1, 200 00 1, 800 00 1,000 00 900 00 600 00 650 00 700 00 600 00 450 00 350 00 375 00 1, 800 00 1, 400 00 800 00 390 00 XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement shoiving the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, ^c. ) in Kingston, Canada. Occupations. Compositors Pressmen ... Reporters - . Apprentices Lowest. $8 00 8 00 10 00 1 00 Highest. $12 00 12 00 16 00 3 00 Average. $10 00 10 00 13 00 2 00 LABOR IX NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 33 COST OF LIVING. Cost of living to the lahoring classes, the prices paid for the necessaries of life, clothing, rent, Jtc. in Kingston. Articles. Rent of qiiaitevs for laborer, coiifisting of fiom 3 to 5 rooms ... per siunutu . . Flour per 100 poumlp.. Oatiiie^il do ... Corn meal do Buckwheat do . . Beef do.... Mutton do Pork (fresh) do Pork (salt) pcrponud.. Bacon do ... Veal do.... Butter do Articles. Pot->toes ■ per bushel. . Apples do Turnips do Carrots do Beets do Onions do ... Coal per ton . . Wood (hard) per cord. . Tui keys Geese Ducks Chickens Cost. 60 1 70 40 38 38 65 7-00 5 25 1 75 1 00 75 60 WAGES, PAST AND PRESENT. Since 1878 cost of living sliows ;i material enlargement ; price of labor advancing in a slightly increased proportion, with the following excep- tions: Sail making and shipbuilding, on account of competition from the railroads in the carrying trade, has been steadily declining. HABITS OF THE WORKING-CLASSES. The working-classes are steady and trustworthy ; 20 per cent, are es- timated as having dei)osits in some savings institution, making pay- ments ui)on homes, or in other ways saving money ; intemperance seems to be the only prominent cause of evil and suffering among them. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYiE. There is the best of feeling between the employer and employe. ORGANIZATION OF LABOR. Islo organization of labor with the exception of the sailors' union. I am of the opinion that the union advantageously effects the condition of the seamen ; at all events it relieves the consulate of much trouble and the Government of considerable expense. STRIKES. Strikes are very unusual and quite limited in their effects. There is no special system of dealing with disagreements between capital and labor. FOOD PURCHASES. No restraints upon the employ6 by his employer in reference to pur- chases. Tlie laborer is paid in Canadian currency weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly. COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES. I think there are no co-operative societies in the district. 92 A— 2 LAB 3 34 LABOR IX NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING-CLASSES. The condition and surroundings of the working-people are good ; they are well clothed, well housed, and well fed. Their opiDortunity for sav- ing is much better than their inclination. In seeking an answer to No. 4,1, in common with prominent citizens of the district, am surprised at the small number of laborers who are saving money. I have been un- able to find any laborer who keeps an account of his expenses. SAFETY OF EMPLOYES. The safety of emploj'es is carefully guarded. rOLITICAL RIGHTS. All citizens assessed on $400 in the city or $200 in the country, and pay- ing taxes thereon, without regard to the ownership of the property, are voters. The right of suifrage gives him a much better position as a laborer, securing for him better treatment and more steady emiiloj'ment. The tendency of legislation is towards sufirage without property or qualification. EMIGRATION. The general prosperity of their friends and relations living in the United States; the ease with which good homes on fertile lands may be procured; the policy of our Government in encouraging the laborer in owning his land; with the feeling that in the United States all posi- tions of trust and profit are open to him and his children without regard to nationality, birth, or religion. Canadian emigrants proper are mostly agriculturists. There is quite an emigration, of which but little is known, taking advantage of the facilities given emigrants to Canada from Great Britain, who stop here a few months on their way to the United States. M. H. TWITCHELL, Consul . United States Consulate, Kingston, Canada, May 21, 1S84. OTTAWA. IlErORT BY COMMERCIAL AGENT ROBBIKS. THE DOMINION GOVERNMENT. The executive authority of the Government of Canada is vested in the sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland, and carried on in her name by a governor-general and privy couTicil. The legislative power is ex- ercised by a Parliament composed of two houses, viz, the Senate and House of Commons. The Senate consists of 77 members who are rec- ommended by the privy council and confirmed hy the governor general as representative of the Crown, and are appointed for life. The House of Commons is composed of 21.J members elected by ballot, and for the term of 5 years. The salary of the governor-general is $48,GGG.6G per annum, and i)aid by Canada. The \y<\y of the members of the Senate and House of Com- mons is $10 per day up to the end of 30 days, and if the session is longer, the sum of $1,000, with traveling expenses of 10 cents per mile. Eight dollars per d;iy is deducted for every day's absence unless the same is caused by sickness. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 35 OFFICIAL SALARIES. The privy council cousists of a premier, whose salary is $8,000 per anuuni, and twelve members, who are also heads of departments, at a salary of $7,000 each per annum. Occupations. Lowest. I Highest. Oommitsioners, deputy heads, secretaries, <£c. 1 High comniiasinnor to Ensrland per aiinnm. 1 Deputy lu'.id se^ietaiy of treasury board do... 1 Deputy liead of railway.s and canals .•...do... 1 Auditnr-ffpnoral do 9 Deputy heads and secretaries (each) do . . . 1 Assistant auditor do... 1 Commissioner of inland revenue do. .. 1 Assistant of inland revenue do. .. 1 Commissioner of customs do. .. 1 En<:ineer of canals do. .. 1 Engineer of railways do. .. 1 Engineer of public works do. .. 1 Architect do. .. $10, 000 00 Dei>art)nent clerkti. Chief clerks per ann urn. . $1, 800 00 .$2, 800 00 First-class clerks do....i 1,200 00 1,800 00 Senior second-class clerks do 1,100 00 1,450 00 Junior second class clerks do ' 700 00 ; 1,000 00 Third-cla.s8 clerks do.... 400 00 050 00 Messengers. Messengers per annum . . ' 300 00 500 00 Laborers. (Jardeners per week.. 7 50 8 40 Laborers do i 6 00 I 7 25 Average. 200 00 100 00 200 00 3, 200 00 2, 450 00 .'{, 200 00 2,400 00 3, 200 00 4, 500 00 4, 000 00 3, 000 00 3, 000 00 .$2, 175 0» 1, 593 00 1, 271 00 884 00 530 00 449 00 8 10 6 75- CORPORATION EMPLOYES. Official salaries paid hy the city of Ottawa. Occupations. Police magistrate per annum Police clerk do.. Chief do.. Sergeants do . Policemen per month. FIKK UEP.VKTMKNT. Chief per annum Deputy chief do . 1 foreman per month 2 foremen do . . CITY CI.EUK'h office. Cily clerk per annum. Deputy do. . Clerk.' do.. Messenger do.. CITY TEKASUKEU'S OFFICE. City treasurer per annum. Accountant do... Bailiff do . CITY ENGINEEU'S OFFICE. City engineer per annum. Street foreman do... Clerk , do... Average wages. $1,600 00 640 00 1, 200 00 *720 00 *45 00 1, 240 00 720 00 45 00 40 00 • 1, 700 00 1,200 00 560 00 200 00 2, 000 00 1, 500 00 000 00 Occupations. Average wages. -iSSESSMEXT OFFICE. 1 Commissioner per annum.. $1,400 00 Assessors do 400 00 A.ssistants do 180 00 Clerk do.... 650 00 Inspector and constable . . per annum . HOARD OF HEALTH. Medical officer per annum.. 1,000 00 Inspectors do 420 00 LAHOItKKS. Laborers on streets per day..! 1 25 Coal-weighers jier month . . | 25 00 rUKLIC SCHOOLS. 2 teachers (male) per annum..! 1,000 00 1 teacher (male) do.... 85(i 00 4 teachers (male) do....| 750 00 2 teachers (male) do : 650 00 2 teachers (male) do...., 600 00 1 teacher (male) do 450 00 1 teacher (female) do 450 00 2,000 00 ii 9 teachers (female) do.... 400 00 840 00 j 6 teachers (female) do 350 00 660 00 i: * With uniform. 36 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. CONDITION OF LABORlNGr PEOPLE IN OTTAWA. The condition of tlie laboring people in Ottawa has improved since 1878, as I am advised, and especially within the last three years, so that at present all kinds of labor are in good demand at fair wages. The habits of the working-people are, as a rule, good — the resnlt of religious influences, good schools, and steady employment. There exists a kindly feeling between the employers and employed, and no organized bodies of workingmeu exist, except among printers and telegraphers. Strikes are not prevalent. !N"o restrictions are placed to prevent laborers frora purchasing goods in the cheapest market, lients are moderate. The emigrants from this section are mostly ;^oung men who hope to better their condition, and enterprising farmers of limited meansj most of the latter go to the Western States and largely to Dakota. FOOD AND RAIMENT. L'lbt of retail x)'>'ices of the ordinary articles of food and raiment required hy the xvorking- classes in Ottawa, April 8, ldb4. Articles. PROVISIONS. JJacon : Smoked per pound Green do . . Butter do.. Mutton do.. Veal do.. Pork do.. C an dies do.. Cheese do. . EgfiS per doz'ii Flour per barrel risli : Cod per pound Haddock do. . Ham do.. Shoulders do . Milk per quart Potatoes per bushel Eice per pound Soap, yellow ,do.. Sugar, brown do . . Tea: Black do . . Green do.. CLOTHING. Overcoats Cost. 08 to 10 $0 15 12 25 10 12 10 13 16 23 6 25 06 OG 15 10 08 40 05 05 OS 40 40 5 00 15 00 Articles. C LOTH ING— Continued. Undercoats, tweed Troiiseis Vests Shirts: Flannel Cotton Uiideiwear Drawers, woolen Socks: Worsted Cotton Blankets per pair Flannel per yard Ciitton .>^hirting ':s. 43 Wugti< paid to raihvaif employcx (those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, .J'-c.) in Simcoe, Ontario. OccupatioBB. Clerks : per day . . Engine-drivers do Conductors do Bagpageiiien, train do Station agents do Station baggage-nieu do Station tclt'grapli operators per niontb.. Station porter ...■ per day.. Track foreman do . . . Track-men do Flag-mon do Switchmen do Pumpers ^ do .. Track snperinteDdents per month.. Lowest Higheot. Average. $1 00 2 90 1 90 1 50 1 Ot 1 00 30 00 1 00 1 75 1 15 90 1 15 1 15 75 00 $1 25 3 10 2 25 1 60 2 50 1 20 40 00 1 00 1 76 1 20 1 00 1 35 1 35 85 GO VIII. Seamen's avaoes. Wages paid to seamen {officers and men) on Lake Erie, Canada. Occupations. Captain per month. Mate do. . . Crew per da j' . Lowest. $75 00 40 00 1 00 Highest. $1 12i 3 00 2 10 1 55 1 7S 1 10 35 00 1 00 1 75 1 124 95 1 2* 1 2« 80 09 $100 00 CO 00 1 50 Average. $85 0« 50 09 1 2S IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per year in stores, to malts and/emales, in Simcoe and vicinity. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Dr vgofids ('lorks •tlSO 00 $650 00 450 00 . 600 00 1, 000 00 $350 09 ^ 300 00 200 00 700 00 :!25 00 400 09 800 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household serrants (town and cities) in Simcoeand vicinity, Ontario » Occupations. Lowest. Highest, Average. House hold servants $4 00 $8 00 $6 0« XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid to agricultural laborers and household (country) serrants in Norfolk County, Ontario, with board and lodging. Occupations. Agricultural laborers per month . Household servants per week. Lowest. $12 00 75 Highest. $16 00 1 50 Average. $14 0* 1 M 44 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid per day often hours to the corporatioti employes in the town of Simcoe, Ontario. Occupations. I Lowest. Highest. Average, Common laborers $100 1 $1 00 | *1 00 XV. Printers and printing offices. statement shoicing the iv ages paid per tceek of sixty hours to j^r inters. Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. . $7 00 $12 00 $9 00 HENEY M. JANES, Commercial Agent United States Consular Agency, Port Rowan, May 30, 1884. PORT SARNIA. REPORT BY CONSUL PACE. description of district. In compliance with Department circular under date of Febrnary 15, 1884, I have the honor to submit the following iuforination relating to labor and the condition of the laboring classes in the consular dis- trict of Port Sarnia. Manufacturing establishments are not numerous in this district, and they are principally confined to the three cities of London, Strathroy,* and Port Sarnia. The factories of London give permanent employment to about 1,500 men, whilst Strathroy, and Port Sarnia, employ about two hundred each. The principal articles of manu- facture are machinery, stoves, plows, agricultural implements, ale, and wookn clotlis. Several oil refineries are also established in this district, tlie principal ones being located at London. Daring the past ten years several steamers and schooners have been built at this port, but at the present nothing whatever is being done in the way of ship building or repairing. The i)eople of this district are for the most part employed in the pursuits of agriculture. Stock-raising and cheese-making are fast becoming iiermanent and profitable employments. rates of wages. As to the rate of wages, I must refer to the accompanying tabular Btatement, whicli is as full and complete as I could make it from infor- mation furnished me by both employers and employes. COST OF living. There are represented in the laboring classes of Canada most of the •ountries of Europe as well as the native Canadian. The habits of •conomy practiced by the European laborer, and which he of necessity LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 45 inherited from liis borne beyond the sea, give luni an advantajje in the battleoflife over those ^vho^verebonl in Canada, Nvherewagesarehigher and food more easily obtained. In the rural districts the farm laborer lias usually assigned to him a small i)iece of land sutlicient for his use as a vegetable garden, and I am iufoiined that it is also customary to provide for him ])astuie for a cow. Under these circumstances 1 have known men to accumulate (uipital sufficient to make a first ])ayment on ii new farm, and finally become landed i)roi)rietors themselves. Whilst I would not recommend Canada as a country where fortunes are easily or raj)idly made, yet J am fully ])ersuaded, by inquiry and observation, that in this country iiulustry and economy seldom seek in vain for a reward. "WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. In every department of skilled labor there has been an advance in wages since 1878. The protective policy iiianguratod by the Govern- ment of Sir John A. McDonald, commonly known as the national pol- icy, has stimulated all branches of manufacturing industry, and, as a matter of course, a greater demand for labor has liad the effect to in- crease the rate of wages paid ; the increase in wages is estimated at the present time to be 20 per cent, in advance of 1878. With agricultural labor, much dej)ends ui)(ni the prospect for crops, and the prices real- ized for the various products of the farm, as to the increase or decrease in the rate of wages paid for hired help. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. As a rule, tlie habits of the Canadian working classes will compare favorably with the same class of citizens in the United States; to be sure, there are evidences of shiftlessness, and drunkenness, and squalid poverty to be observed here and there, but the opposite is also api)arent. The crime of druidvenness, I am glad to say, is decreasing. The sale of intoxicating liquors is now regulated hy a license system, and in some localities the sale of intoxicants is verj' much restricted by a local op- tion law, known as the Scott act. It is not claimed, even by the most enthusiastic advocates of temjierance, that drunkenness is entirely re- strained by this measure, but it is doubtless true that drunkenness and its attendant evils are greatly restricted in localities where the Scott act, by a vote of the people, has been placed upon the statute books. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. So far as my observation goes I should say the most amicable rela- tions exist between the laboier and the man who employs him, and es- pecially is this true in the rujal districts. To judge by what we can see, it is hard to distinguish the; larm laborer from the i)roprietor of the soil ui)on which he labors. The hired man and the hired girl, as they are termed on the farm, dine at the same table with the proi)rietor and his family, and to all outward appearances they fare as well as do the owners of real estate. ORGANIZATION OF LABOR. There are but few labor organizations in this district, and they are confined to London. They consist of a railroad engineers' society and a lodge of the ''Knights ot Labor." 1 cannot observe that these organi- zations have any further eflect uj)ou labor than to assist the laborer in 46 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. a social aud intellectual manner. At the present time there does not appear to be any antagonism — at least any marked antagonism — be- tween capital and labor. THE PREVALENCY OF STRIKES. Strikes do not frequently occur in this country. A mechanic said to me recently, in reply to the question, " Do yon operatives ever strike?" "No," said he with a smile, " w^e do not strike; we emigrate. The United States is too near to make strikes necessary. When we cannot agree with our employers on the subject of wages we go to that larger country across the border." FOOD PURCHASES. " Are working people free to purchase the necessaries of life wherever they choose?" To this question I say yes. 1 believe the workingman has no condi- tions imposed upon him in this regard. He is paid in cash once a week and sometimes oftener. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. These societies do not prosper in Canada; A few have been estab- lished from time to time, but they die early. For some reason they do not carry out in practice what the^' promise in theory. GENERAL CONDITION OF WORKING-PEOPLE. To visit the home of the Canadian laborer one does not discover enough of difference between it and the home of the laborer in the United States to make the description of it a matter of interest to our people ; and the same is true in reference to their moral and physical condition. " What means are furnished for the safety of employes in factories and mines ?" There are no mines in this district, and I cannot learn that any spe- cial provisions are made for the safety of working-people in factories. POLITICAL RIGHTS. Since the adoption of the ballot in 1874, the Canadian voter may ex- press his choice at the polls, without the slightest interference on the part of anybody. The voter, on reaching the polls, procures a ballot, which has printed upon it the names of all the candidates — the candi- dates of his choice and those who are opposed to him politically. With this paper he retires to a room by himself, and, being previously pro- vided with a pencil, he makes a mark on the margin of the ballot, op- posite the name of the candidate of his choice ; he then folds the ballot, and handing it to the returning officer he sees that it is deposited in the ballot-box precisely as he prepared it. - The tendency of legislation in Canada is to extend rather than curtail the voting privilege. EMIGRATION. "What are the causes that lead to emigration?" Canadian emigrants to the United States come principally from the rural districts, and their object generally is to procure cheaper lands. Available farming lands in Canada are high, as compared to lands in Michigan aud other Western States, and as the native Canadian has LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 47 no national prejudice to surrender, he as readily assimilates with our people as he would with the ])eople of an adjoining county in Canada; he desires to better his condition financially, and for that ])urpose he seeks and finds a conj^enial home in the United States. When once across the border the Canadian emigrant seldom returns to remain per- manently. Occasionally, however, a discontented person will find his way back. In such an event he is quite apt to be gratified by seeing his name in print. He is usually interviewed by some press reporter, or he is induced to write a letter. In these literary efforts I have been frequently struck with the evident similarity of style. He tells how he was lured away from Canada by false representations ; how he expected to find an Eldorado, instead of which he found the ague, and now that he is safely back again he declares his intention never again to wander from British institutions. Notwithstanding these sol- emn declarations and pledges, I have known them to be violated over and over again. One man whom I chanced to meet as he was re-cross- ing into Canada after a six months' sojourn in Michigan, said he had got quite enough of the United States, and that he was glad to get back again to Canada. Notwithstanding all this, in less than six mouths he again emigrated to Michigan. SAM'L D. PACE, Consul. United States Consulate, Port ^Sarnia, June 28, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid p^r week in Port Sarnia. Occupations. Building trades Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Teuders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Koofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants Carjjenteirs Gas-fitters Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders Brickmakers Brewers Butchers Brass founders Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cigar-makers Coopers Dyers Gai'deners Horse-slioers Laborers, porters, &c Millwriirhts Printers Teachers, public schools... Saddle and harness makers Sailmakers Tanners Tailors Telegi'aph operators Tinstnitiis Lowest. Highest. $9 00 $12 00 12 00 15 00 6 00 7 50 12 00 15 00 6 00 7 50 12 00 15 00 6 00 7 50 1 12 00 15 00 1 i 12 00 15 00 i 6 00 7 50 ! 12 00 15 00 1 G 00 7 50 12 00 15 00 12 00 15 00 9 00 12 00 9 00 10 50 C 00 7 50 15 00 20 00 9 00 12 00 12 00 15 00 C 00 12 00 1 12 00 15 00 1 9 00 10 50 9 00 12 00 ; 12 00 15 00 i 9 00 12 00 1 12 00 15 00 ' 9 00 12 00 1 12 00 15 00 CO 7 50 1 12 00 15 00 12 00 15 00 7 50 15 00 9 00 12 00 9 00 12 00 1 9 00 12 00 ' 12 00 15 00 1 9 00 15 00 ! 9 00 10 00 ! Average. $10 50 13 50 6 75 13 50 6 75 13 59 6 7S 13 50 13 50 6 ?!» 13 50 6 75 13 50 13 50 10 50 9 75 6 75 17 5 J 10 !50 13 50 9 00 13 5() 9 75 10 50 13 50 10 50 13 50 10 5« 13 50 6 75 13 .50 13 50 10 00 10 5» 10 50 10 50 13 50 12 00 9 50 48 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. PRESCOTT. REPORT RY COXSUIj SLAGHT. I liave tlie liouor to rejiort ou the labor interest of this district as follows: Agricultural interests being so largely in excess of all others labor is tcostly applied to the production of crnde material. Farm implements of a useful and substantial class are quire largely' manufactured, cloths of the more serviceable kinds are produced. The building trades of the ordinary class are fairly represented. Skilled or artistic labor is in very limited demand; many branches of the latter class are wholly unrepre- sented. Hence the very meager scope of this report, The constant in- tercourse existing among the i)eople of American cities in this vicinity, together with the continuous interchange of commodities, renders the <30st of living in this i)art of Canada very nearly if not quite equal to places of like size in the United States. HARET L. SLAGHT, Consul. United States Consulate, Prescott, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid 2)er day in Prescott. Occupations. BUILDING TKADE8. Bricklayers H(i Common hands - - - -- SHERBBOOEE. REPORT BY CONSUL PARSES. business depression. I have the honor to transmit herewith, in response to the circular of February 15, 1884, the fullest and most reliable information that I have been able to obtain relative to the condition of labor and the industrial pursuits in the consular district of Sherbrooke. Before entering upon the matters directly connected with the inclosed statements it seems proper to remark that there is, at this time, a temporary depression in the market for certain lines of skilled labor, owing- to the fact that the stimulating influence of the Canadian tariff on imports caused an overproduction of cotton, leather, woolen, and a few other kinds of man- ufactured goods, thus embarrassing operations, crippling .some manu- facturers, and causing a few to suspend, and many to curtail production. This is, however, but the natural result, which was foreseen by many as inevitable in a country of such comi)aratively limited population, and so rich in cheap water-power and other natural advantages that invite manufacturing enterprise. This evil effect of the " National Policy " as it is termed here, will, in all probability, work its own cure ; and the condition of the laborer, while not so favored as in the United States, will continue to be greatly in advance of that of his fellow workers in the principal countries of Europe. In the city of Sherbrooke the effects of this depression has been most severely felt by the woolen uiills oper- atives. The woolen mills of A. G. Loomis & Co., that employ from 100 to 150 people, have been closed for the past live months and will not reopen until the stock on hand is sold, while the mills of the Paton Manufacturing Company — the largest woolen mills in Canada — have 52 LABOR m NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. been running for many months on three-fourths time. As these mills employ over 500 people, the loss of one-fourth their time amounts to a very considerable sum in the aggregate. AREA AND DIVISION OF LABOR. This consular district embraces about 4,098 square miles of territory, containing, as nearly as I can determine, 95,500 inhabitants, of whom 49,048 are males and 46,452 are females. The occupation of the people is largely agricultural. Many of those, however, classified as agricult- urists, are, a portion of the time, engaged in other pursuits — many in connection with the lumbering and mining interests. The following partial classification of the adults is the best that I have been able to procure, and may serve to indicate, with sufiicient accuracy, the facts in the case : Agricultural pursuits 18, 774 Commercial - 1, 199 Industrial 3, 394 Professional 1, 022 Domestic service 999 Unclassified 4, 073 Of these 13,230 are owners and occupiers of farms. The mills and principal manufacturing establishments of Sherbrooke, the principal city of the consular district, are given in detail in the tabular state- ments transmitted herewith ; but outside of these there are in various parts of the district many large industrial establishments from which it has been impossible to obtain anything like exact ihformation. Among these latter may be mentioned a number of saw-mills which employ a great many laborers both in the work of cutting the timber in the for- ests and driving it down the streams to the mills, and at the mills them- selves. Hundreds of men also find employment during the winter in cut- ting logs for shipment to the mills of the United States, in getting ship- timber and ship-knees for the ship-builders of Maine and Massachusetts, and in peeling hemlock bark for the American and other tanneries. The copper, sulphur, and nickel mines of Capletou give employment to prob- ably 1,000 men. A tabular statement of the wages paid at the largest of these mines will be found among the inclosed papers, and the schedule of wages, methods of work, and cost of living are so nearly the same that one may serve the whole. The extensive asbestos mines of Thet- ford, and the production of vast quantities of quicklime from the quar- ries at Dudswell, also consume the labor of many people, but the wages at these places are very little in excess of those prevailing for ordinary labor. The gentlemen who compiled, under my direction, the statistics transmitted herewith, and who made diligent and careful inquiries at all the mills and manufactories within reach, places the average of earnings of skilled labor at $8 per week. COST OF LIVING to this class of workers per week as follows, to wit : Rent $1 50 Clothing 2 50 Food 3 50 Incidentals 50 Total 8 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 53 I think, however, that the cost of living is very generally less than the figures he has given and that laborers who receive $8 per week often save something beyond supporting themselves and the dependent mem- bers of their families, but the savings are necessarily very small. This relates to men's earnings, and in all such cases the other members of the family are put to earning something for their own support as soon as their ages and strength will permit. The wages of women and children are so varied that each kind of labor must stand for itself; no correct average can be given. In lumbering, ordinary woodsmen and choppers average $1 per day, and ususually board themselves in the woods ; head sawyers and managers of planing and clapboard machines receive from $1.50 to $1.75 per day. The rate of ordinary uuskilled labor varies from 75 cents to $1.20 for men, and from 25 cents to 50 cents per day for women. The tenements occupied by laborers are generally somewhat poorer and their comforts considerably less than those enjoyed by the same classes in those portions of the United States with which I am best ac- quainted, to wit, the North and West. BENJ. S. PAEKER, Consul. United States Consulate, SherbrooJce, June 23, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in Sherhrooke. Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Bricklayers Hod-carriera. Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Plumbers Assistants... Carpenters Gas-fitters BUILDING TRADES. OTHER TRACKS. Bakers , Blacksmiths Strikers Brick-makers Brewers Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cigar-makers Drivers : Draymen and teamsters . Gardeners Horseshoers Laborers, porters, &.C Printers Teachers, public schools Saddle and harness makers Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths Painters Sawyers Lumbermen $12 00 6 00 10 50 6 00 8 GO 6 00 8 00 6 00 6 66 8 00 7 00 7 50 6 00 6 60 20 00 6 00 7 00 9 00 7 50 6 00 6 00 5 40 6 00 *200 00 8 00 1 50 140 00 6 00 8 00 8 00 6 00 $18 00 8 00 I 15 00 , 8 00 12 00 8 00 12 00 ' 6 00 1 12 00 12 00 ■ 12 00 10 50 6 00 12 00 20 00 12 00 12 00 20 00 12 00 12 00 10 00 8 00 10 00 *1, 000 00 14 00 2 00 teo 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 8 00 $15 00 7 00 12 00 7 00 10 50 7 00 10 00 6 00 9 00 10 00 8 00 9 00 6 00 9 00 20 00 10 00 8 00 12 GO 9 00 9 GO 9 00 6 00 8 00 •500 00 10 00 1 75 150 GO 8 00 9 GO 10 50 7 00 * Per anDTim. t Per month. 54 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid pe)' week of sixty hours in factories or mills in Slierbrooke. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. PATON'S WOOLEN MILLS. Mm. $6 00 4 50 5 10 5 40 5 40 6 00 1 25 6 00 6 00 4 50 6 00 6 00 6 00 2 70 3 00 2 40 2 10 3 00 $7 50 7 50 9 00 9 00 10 50 9 00 1 25 12 00 12 00 10 50 18 00 10 50 9 00 3 00 3 60 3 80 4 00 3 00 $6 40 6 10 6 42 6 30 6 90 8 16 1 25 8 00 7 25 28 finishers 6 27 8 68 7 56 7 56 Women. 2 82 13 carders 3 14 25 winders 3 17 3 spoolers . 3 20 21 twisters 3 00 4 50 1 5 00 3 pattern-makers - 5 00 2 10 5 00 3 90 5 00 12 pickers, waste . . . Boys. 2 61 3 00 1 dyer 3 00 1 picker 3 00 3 00 2 10 4 12 3 00 3 50 3 56 2 corders 3 00 8 spinners 2 50 1 spooler 2 70 2 twisters . .. 2 50 9 weavers 2 00 2 25 3 00 3 50 2 50 18 finishers 2 50 3 00 1 machinist . . 4 50 4 pickers, waste . . Girls. 2 10 3 00 2 70 27 carders 3 00 24 spinners 2 70 5 winders 2 40 4 20 3 00 2 88 8 00 4 50 2 60 9 spoolers 5 05 8 warpers , 3 45 123 weavers ' 4 00 45 finishers " 2 25 3 00 3 75 2 75 2 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 4 00 4 00 3 00 4 pattern-makers 4 25 A. L. GUINOD & CO., WOOLEN MAIJUFACTURERS. Women. Weavers 4 50 Spinners 3 00 Carders 3 00 Dyers Men. 6 00 6 00 Corset-makors CORSKT MANUFACTURERS. 1 25 6 00 9 00 6 00 2 10 7 50 9 00 9 00 6 00 2 10 4 50 Snath-niakers DOMINION SNATH COMPACT. 7 50 Sawyer PULP-MAKERS. 9 00 Laborers 6 00 Boys 2 10 Paper-makers 8 10 LA.BOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. III. Foundries, maohine-shops, and iron works. 55 Wages paid per week of sixty hours in foundries, machine shops, and iron works in Sher- brooke. Occupations. Lowest Highest Average. $9 00 6 00 10 50 $12 00 10 50 16 50 $10 50 Strikera -- 7 50 Blacksmiths 14 50 Bov 8 3 00 V. Mines and mining. Wages paid per week of sixty hou^s in and in connectian with copper mines in Capelon. Occapatious. Lowest. Highest Average. Strikers and miners Trammers and laborers $7 50 6 00 DUD8WKLL LIMB QUARRIES. Quarry men. $9 GO 7 50 12 00 $8 00 6 75 8 10 VI. Eailway employes. Wages paid to railicay employes {those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged an the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, ^*c.), in Sherbrooke. Occapations. Snperintendents per month. Night agents per week. Telegraph operators do... Porters do. .. Switchmen do... Clerks per annum. Agent do . . . Brakesmen per week. Conductors per month. Engine drivers , do... Firemen do... Section men foreman do. . . Laborers, per week. Fitters do... Jingine turners do... Laborers do... Lowest. $6 00 7 00 300 00 800 00 7 50 40 00 55 00 Highest. $6 80 9 00 500 00 800 00 9 30 65 00 70 00 Average. $100 00 7 50 7 50 6 60 7 50 450 00 800 00 9 00 50 00 60 00 40 00 40 00 6 60 15 00 9 60 6 60 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid in all kinds of stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females in Sherbrooke. [Per week of aicty hours. J Occupations. Lowest. Clerks per annum.. $160 00 Highest. $800 00 Average. $420 00 56 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants in Sherirooke. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $5 00 $12 00 $8 00 XL Agricultural wages. Wages paid per month to agricultural laborers and household {country) servants in St. ■ Francis district with board. Occapations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $12 00 $20 00 $16 00 XII. Corporation employi^s. Wages paid to the corporation employes in the city of Sherirooke. [[Per week of sixty hours.] Occupations. Lowest. Highest Average. Secretary treasurer per annum . . Chief of police and fire do rive policemen per week.. Five firemen do Inspector of roads do Forty laborers do $8 CO 8 00 $12 00 12 00 6 00 7 50 $1, 500 00 *1, 200 00 9 00 9 00 12 00 6 75 'With honsc, &e. XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, ^e, ) in Sherbrooke. Occupation. Lowest. Highest. Average. Printers $6 00 $10 00 $8 00 LABOR IN NORTU AMERICA: CANADA. 57 STRATFORD. REPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT BENEDICT. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in Stratford, Ontario. Occupations. BUILDmS TRADES. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Lowest. Highest. Tenders... Plasterers Tenders. .. Roofers Tenders. . . Plumbers Assistants Carpenters Gas-litters OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Brickmakers Butchers Cabinet-makers Confectioners .. Cigar-makers ... Coopers , Draj-men and teamsters. Furriers : Females Males Gardeners Horse shoers Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Millwrights Potters Printers Saddle and harness makers . Tanners Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths $9 00 7 50 9 00 7 50 12 00 7 50 12 00 7 50 10 00 3 00 7 50 10 00 8 00 7 50 5 00 10 50 5 00 7 50 8 00 7 00 7 50 6 00 3 00 10 00 6 00 7 50 7 00 6 00 9 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 8 00 6 00 9 00 $15 00 9 00 15 00 9 00 18 00 10 50 12 00 9 00 14 00 5 00 13 50 14 00 12 00 12 00 7 70 13 50 10 00 12 00 IZ 00 20 00 12 00 9 00 5 00 25 00 10 50 10 50 12 00 9 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 7 50 12 00 12 00 12 00 Average. $13 50 7 50 13 50 7 50 15 00 9 00 12 00 7 50 12 00 4 00 10 50 12 00 10 00 9 00 6 00 12 00 7 00 9 00 10 00 12 OO 10 50 7 50 3 50 15 00 7 50 9 00 10 00 7 50 10 50 9 00 7 50 8 00 7 50 10 00 10 00 10 00 II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in factories or mills in Stratford, Ontario. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Woolen mill : Dyers Carders Carders, boys . . . Spinners Winders, girls . . Weavers Fullers , Finishers Engineer Flour mills : Millers Packers Laborers Engineers Cabinet shops: Cabinet-makers Upholsterers Finishers $7 50 $12 00 $9 00 7 20 10 50 7 50 2 40 3 00 2 70 9 00 j 10 50 9 00 2 40 i 3 00 2 70 4 00 1 7 50 6 00 7 20 ! 7 50 7 50 9 00 , 10 50 9 00 7 50 9 00 j 15 00 12 00 7 00 1 7 50 7 00 6 00 ; 7 50 7 00 7 00 1 9 00 8 00 7 50 12 00 10 50 7 50 I 13 50 10 50 7 50 i 9 00 9 00 68 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per tveek of fifty-four to sixty hours in foundries, machine-shops, andiron works in Stratford, Ontario. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. ▲verag*. Grand Trunk Railway repair shops. $9 72 9 18 11 34 9 72 11 88 6 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 4 80 7 50 9 00 10 50 9 00 6 00 4 50 6 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 $11 88 13 50 11 88 9 72 11 88 6 00 12 00 12 00 10 50 6 75 10 50 16 50 10 50 10 50 7 50 16 50 12 00 10 50 12 00 10 50 10 50 12 00 $11 34 12 96 11 34 9 72 11 88 6 00 Dominion Agricultural works. 10 50 10 50 9 00 5 40 9 00 Mill-furnishing works. 10 50 10 50 9 00 6 00 9 00 7 50 Iron foundry. 9 00 10 50 Blacksmiths 9 00 9 00 10 50 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per U'eek of sixty to sixtx-five hours in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Stratford, Ontario. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Clerks Groceries. $5 00 5 00 6 00 7 00 1 00 6 00 8 00 3 00 12 00 6 00 3 00 6 00 2 00 6 00 5 00 5 00 4 00 10 00 3 00 7 00 $9 00 8 00 12 00 12 00 3 00 12 00 12 00 9 00 20 00 12 00 6 00 12 00 6 00 15 00 12 00 9 00 10 00 25 00 5 00 12 00 $7 00 Waresmen 7 00 Bookkeepers - 8 00 Watchmakers . . Jewelry, watches, and clocks. 10 00 Apprentices 1 50 Clerks Men's furnishing and clothing. 9 00 Tailors 10 00 5 00 Cutters - ... 15 00 Clerks: Dry-goods and millinery. 9 00 Females 4 00 Milliuers 9 00 Trimmers 4 50 Bookkeepers 10 00 Clerks Hardware. 8 00 Clerks Hats, boots and shoes, and furs. 6 00 Shoemakers 8 00 Furriers : Males 15 00 Females 3 50 Drug clerks Drugs, die. 9 0« LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 59 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servatits (towns and cities) in Stratford, Ontario. Ocoapations. Private residences : General servant Cook Nurse ^rls Hotels : Porters — Bell-boys Cooks : Waitresses and chamber maids Lowest. 1 $1 00 : 6 00 3 00 1 12 00 i 4 00 1 8 00 5 00 Average. $9 00 8 00 5 00 25 00 7 00 15 00 7 00 $7 00 7 00 4 00 18 00 6 00 10 00 6 OO XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in county of Perth, Ontario, ivith board and lodging. Occupations. General farm bands per year. Laborers, during harvest per day. Servants, female per month.. Highest. Average. $200 00 2 25 6 00 $180 00 1 75 4 50 XII. Corporation employi&s. Wages paid to the corporation employes in the town of Stratford, Ontario. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Laborers per week . . $6 $10 50 $7 50 450 00 Chief of police Nit;ht police . do . - 500 00 . do 450 00 do 300 00 do 1,200 00 Foreman of fire-brigade Tcwn clerk do ... 200 00 .. . do 500 00 Assessor do 350 00 Collector do 300 00 Treasurer An 350 00 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. * 800 00 .................. ..::.ao..:: 475 00 do... 250 00 300 00 275 00 High school : 1,500 00 1, 050 00 1, 000 00 700 00 COUNTY SCHOOLS. Teachers : Male - 375 00 200 00 550 00 375 00 420 00 Female 300 00 60 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per year to employes in Government departments and offices — exclusive of trades- men and laborers . Occupations. Collector of customs InRpector of customs Collector of internal revenue. Clerk Lowest. Postmaster Post-office clerks. Highest. $150 $600 Average. $1,200 700 1,200 750 2,000 XV. Printers and printing offices. statement shelving the wages paid pei- week of sixty hours to printers {compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, ^-c. ) in Stratford. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $6 $10 50 $7 50 Retail food and fuel prices in Stratford, Ontario, May 1, 1884. Articles. Beef per lb . Beef (best roasting pieces) .do. . . Mutton do... Lamb per qnarter. Veal per lb. Pork, fresh do . . . Pork, salt do. . . Bacon and ham do... Butter do... Lard do.. Commeal do... Oatmeal do. . . Flour per 100 lbs. Cost. $0 07 to $0 15 12 7 to 12* 1 00 to 1 50 5 to 12* 10 to 14 14 15 16 to 18 14 2 to 2* 3 to 3* 2 75 to 3 10 Articles. Cost. CoflFee, green per lb. Coffee, roasted do . . . Tea do... Cheese do . . . Eggs do... Potatoes per bush . Turkeys each. Geese and ducks do . . . Chickens per pair. Wood, soft per cord. Wood, hard do... Coal per ton. $0 15 to $0 20 30 to 40 20 to 80 15 to 16 13 to 14 55 to 60 75 to 1 75 50 to 75 40 to 60 2 25 to 2 75 4 50 to 5 00 7 00 to 7 50 J. S. BENEDICT, Consular Agent. United States Consular Agency, Stratford, May 19, 1884. TORONTO. REPORT BY CONSUL HOWARD. RATE OF WAGES. The rate of wages paid to laborers of every class in the month of May of the present year is given in the tables accompanying this report. COST OF LIVING. The cost of living to the laboring classes is shown to some extent in the tables submitted herewith. The table containing the prices for the years of 1877, 1878, and 1884 shows the wholesale prices for these years, LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 61 and is chiefly valuable for the purpose of comparing the cost of living one year with another; the relative cost being shown as well by wholesale as retail prices. The quotations from the Saint Lawrence market are retail prices, and all the tables are for the middle of May in each year. Keady-made clothing is fully as cheap now as in 1878. Higher class clothing is dearer, and domestic cottons are dearer. Boots and shoes are no more expensive now than in 1878. Rent has not advanced much, if any, except, possiblj', in the higher class of houses. In this connec- tion it may be well to remark that these inquiries are of special force in Canada, for the reason that in 1878 the national policy, so called, or the policy of protecting home industries, was adopted here, and the question of the relative advancement of the price of labor and the cost of living is an interesting and a disputed one. It will be seen, by reference to the tables, that meats have nearly doubled in price. This is doubtless due, in a large measure, to the extensive export trade to England that has lately sprung up, and which would have caused an increase in prices independently of the national policy. It will also be observed that there is a sharp decline in the price of flour and some other kinds of farinaceous foods — in the price of sugar aud other grocer- ies. It must be concluded, however, that as compared with the year 1878, the cost of living, as a whole, has considerably advanced. As compared with the year 1877, however, the prices are more nearly even. There is a duty of 50 cents per ton on coal, and as the coal consumed in this part of Canada comes from the United States, the price of fuel has advanced almost directly in proportion with that duty. In con- versation with many laboring men they have universally stated as their impression that the cost of living has advanced out of all proportion with the advance of wages. As one man put it, "To get along as easily now as I did in reciprocity times, when I was getting $1.60 per day, I ought now to be getting $3 per day." I doubt, however, if the im- pressions of these men are to be relied upon. In an interval of even ten years the average man's expenses are greatly increased. His family is larger in number, or older in years, and requires more monej*. Besides, if a man gets $1.60 per day and spends it all, when he gets $3 per day and spends it all he at once concludes that there is a want of proportion somewhere. And the laboring men here, as a class, spend all they earn. It is evident, at all events, that both the wages in Canada and the cost of living have advanced since 1878, and the tables sub- mitted herewith give better data for comparison than any one's impres- sions. COMPARISON OF WAGES. As compared with 1878, wages have advanced from 20 to 30 per cent. The conditions affecting the labor market now and in 1878 are very dif- ferent. Then the wages were lower, but not so much competition was noticed in the various avocations as at the present time. Men found employment the year around. Now there have come into Canada thou- sands of Italians aud other foreign laborers who compete with the na- tive Canadians for the coarser kinds of manual labor and weaken the price of mere muscular exertion, while hundreds of young Englishmen seekiug clerkshii)S, mechanical and the various forms of lighter manual labor have, by crowding the market with men eager to accept any wages for a temporary expedient, brought down also the price of skilled labor to a minimum. The natural flow of immigration has been unduly stimulated by assisted passages, the rivalry of transportation lines, and the eftbrts of immigration agents. The assisted immigrants have, for 62 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. the most part, been dwellers in cities, and when they reach Canada gravitate instinctively into the cities and towns, and shun the lonesome fields and farms. Thus there is produced in all the large cities in Can- ada a plethora of labor, which shows its effect not so much in smaller wages, the natural result of competition, as in keeping down the natural and even increase with the increased cost of living, which the advocates of the national policy reasonably expected, in reduced time and scarcity of employment. The efforts of the trades unions have also to some ex- tent counteracted the natural effect of competition. During the sum- mer there is usually employment for all who are determined to work, but the winter soon comes with enforced idleness, want, and distress. Last winter was one of unusual hardship and destitution, demanding public and private charity to prevent absolute starvation. Soup kitch- ens were maintained for months to give the hungry one meagre meal a day, and various schemes were devised to give employment to those who were able and willing to work. But the difficulty of carrying on public works and improvements during the winter months in this cli- mate is obvious, and resort was had to j^rivate benevolence rather than to public enterprises. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The laboring classes in Toronto and in Ontario differ but little from those of corresponding classes in the United States. There is about the same proportion of saving and improvident, of temperate and in- temjjerate, of virtuous and vicious. I think there is more time given to recreation and more money spent on amusements here, and that intemperance is the vice that steals away the savings and destroys the comfort of the homes. There are licensed saloons on every corner, and I think the drinking habit is much more common than with us. Whisky, gin, and brandy are so cheap that even the poorest man can indulge in a drunk at a very trifling expense, and so easily obtained that a drunken woman is by no means an uncommon sight, and children easily learn to taste and tipple. All this might be said of an American city of equal size, to our shame. It is quite apparent to my mind that the laboring classes do not own their own homes to the same extent that the same classes do in the United States, and that the almost uni- versal ambition of the American laborer to possess the title to his own house and lot is largely wanting here. The absence of this incentive to saving may account for much of the recklessness and apathy that one sees among the working classes in Canada. As a class I should say that they are honest and faithful, but more plodding and less am- bitious than the same classes with us. The hope of bettering their con- dition or the desire to give their children a better position in life than their own seems to me to be less a vital and constant force than with the working classes in the United States. The cause of this is due in large measure, I believe, to the old-country idea of the son walking in the footsteps of his father, inheriting his social position and his trade, and therewith being content. A man is a " gentleman" here by act of Parliament. employ:^ and employer. The relation between the laborers and their employers is purely self- ish — each looking out for what he supposes to be his individual interest without very much consideration of the idea that their interests are in any degree mutual. The laborer aims to give as little work as possible LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 63 for his wages aud the employer designs to give as little wages as pos- sible for his work. This feeling has undoubtedly been fostered by labor organizations, counter organizations of capital, strikes, surrenders, or compromises. These contests have an accelerating tendency to reduce the problem of labor and capital to an inhuman question of pure polit- ical economy, and the law of supply aud demand finds an excuse for amending the golden rule. So that when business is dull aud times are slack the emi)loyer discharges his employes or cuts down their wages without compunction because when business was active, when orders were brisk and labor had capital ou the hip, it exacted the utmost far- thing. All this creates au antagonism between labor and capital, and more and more crushes out all faithfulness and loyalty — all sentiment, sympathj', or pity. Except for a few philanthropists, the employers have no consideration for the moral or intellectual improvement of the laboring classes, and the general feeling is that there is very little in common between them. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. Nearly every leading industry or trade has its union. These unions are productive of some good in redressing the absolute wrongs of the working classes and in promoting unity of action, community of inter- est, fostering mutual aid, and to some extent in stimulating thought, though in many cases wrong thinking rather than right. On the other hand it is questionable if these labor organizations do not intensify the natural antagonisms between labor and capital, foster unnecessary class distinctions, encourage foolish struggles against the laws of trade, and often serve as an excuse for the tyranny of capital. The trades unions have forced capital, in its turn, to organize, and in nearly all lines of in- dustry there are here powerful counter organizations of employers, and as business has been for some time in Canada a lock-out, even though it may end in an advance of wages, has been on the whole an advantage to the employers, while the trifling increase of wages, finally temporarily secured, has poorly compensated the workmen for weeks of enforced idleness. Strikes are of frequent occurrence, and it is the general tes- timony of all classes that the strikers usually carry their point as far as the bare demand is concerned. Many of these unions have a large re- serve fund upon which they can draw while the strike continues, and are also usually assisted by kindred unions. I am not aware that ar- bitration by reference of the cause of difference to a third party is prev- alent, although in some organizations there is a provision for such a method of settlement. LIBERTY OF TRADE. The working people are free to purchase their supplies where they please, A few years ago it was customary to i)ay laborers one-half in money and one-half in store orders, but that practice has been abolished and all are paid in the paper and silver currency of the country and usually every Saturday, though some pay on Monday, thinking it better for the men, and that the money will be less likely to be squandered. Few employers, however, take sufficient interest in their employes to adopt this system, and many workingmen would resent the attempt. Saturday afternoon is largely given up to recreation, all the banks and most of the business houses being closed. 64 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. CO-OPEBATIVE SOCIETIES. There are in Toronto two regular co-operative societies witli branch stores, besides a bakers' co-operative society and a co-operative sewing machine society. The first society of this kind was started in 1877, and is modeled upon the English co-operative system. Each member sub- scribes for two shares of capital stock of $5 each. A board of directors and other officers are elected. Goods are purchased and sold to mem- bers and others at the same price at which goods of the same quality are sold in other stores. At the end of six months the expenses are computed, such as cost of goods, rent, wages, taxes, and as part of the expenses a certain rate of interest on the share capital is allowed. If there is then any balance, a dividend is declared and paid upon the amount each member has traded at the store. The first society started here has been quite successful. They have paid 8 per cent upon their share capital and some years have declared a dividend as high as 17 per cent. There is no effort directly made to sell goods at a lower price than other dealers, and indeed I have an impression that some things often cost the members more than if purchased elsewhere, but the advantage is supposed to be in the interest on the share capital and the dividend upon the amount of the individual purchase. One real advantage and merit of these societies is their teaching of business methods and the encouragement they offer to habits of saving. They urge their members to leave their dividends in the treasury of the society at interest, and in that way become a kind of savings institutions for small sums. They foster industry, economy, and the satisfaction ot accumulating something for a rainy day. They also make some effort for the intellectual growth of their members. There are about one thousand members of the different societies in this city. They have had no effect on general trade. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING PEOPLE. Of course, in such a country as Canada, comparatively new as it is, and in such a city as Toronto, growing steadily, if not rapidly, the general condition of the masses differs but little from the condition of the same classes in the United States. Their methods of life, their homes, their food, their clothes are all similar to those of the working- people across the line, varying, as among us, with nationality, habits, amount of income, education, and general character. As I have before remarked, there seems to be less personal ambition among the working classes here — less push and nerve, less desire to rise in the world, less hope of wealth, less determination to " succeed," more lethargy, more acquiescence in fate, more torpor. Consequently there is less chance of bettering their condition, subjectively. Objectively, the traditions of society and the conservative habits of business aiein the way; wages are too low, taking the year together; business too dull and slow; for- eign laborers too eager to work for bread alone. All these things are obstacles in the way of the laboring men bettering their condition, and their ability to lay up something for a rainy day or for old age is bounded by the narrow rim of their daily toil, which gathers through the short summer but barely enough, and often not enough, to take them meagerly through the long winter. Physically, the Canadian people are fine, strong specimens of mankind, healthy and robust. There is, however, less nimbleness and dexterity among the workingmeu than is seen among the native Americans, and the Canadians will be a week LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 65 at a job that the same number of Americans would have accorapb'shed in half the time. It woukl be stronaid per week in the city and district of Montreal — Coutiaued. 85 Occupations. Otheb TBADB8— Continned. Cigar-makers: Males Feiiiiilt's Coopers (ximiraer) Coopers (wiuter) Coiipers uiuployed iu sugar refineries Drivf rs : Draymen and teamsters Cab and caniago Street railway employ68: Coiuluctui'S Drivers St.iblemen Track nit-u Car-biiildcrs Blacksniiilis Horseslioera Painters Dyers, iiiales Dyers, helpers, males Dyers, helpers, ^irls and boys En>;raver8: Jewelers Watch-makers Work in jr jewelers Engravers, lithographic: Stone and copper- plate - Steam press printers Furriers : Males Females Gardeners Hatters : Males Fetnales Horseshoer^ Laborers, jiorters, 00 City auditor 2, 8(l0 00 Assistant auditor 1,'JOO 00 City atUiiiiey 5,000 00 Assistant attorneys 1, OnO 00 City a«8cs8ors...." 1,400 00 City surveyor 2, 800 00 Deputy surveyor 1, 600 00 Assistant surveyor 1, 5ii0 00 Inspector of sewers ], 550 00 Chief of polire 2, 8tl0 00 Deputy chief of police 1,400 00 Subchiefs of police 1, 000 00 Chief 1. 057, 846 294, 400 343, 520 138, 380 516,011 2, 499, 170 774, 360 44, 530 290. 656 497, 000 2, 445, 000 3, 770, 201 290, 112 725, 000 110, 200 2, 050, 750 291,927 654, 121 156, 378 112,300 983, 860 120, 000 2C3, 700 209, 140 223, 500 36, 600 310, 787 142, 500 845, 300 1, 637, 403 134, 000 171, 200 145, 000 320, 000 312, 000 117,640 140, 700 809, 500 627, 746 343. 200 152, 800 534, 000 50, 000 483, 400 15, 100 71, 200 100, 000 64,000 1, 513, 159 30, 000 27, 000 160, 300 479, 000 60, 000 800, 000 34, 000 660, 100 38,000 92 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. Statement, condensed from the rejyort of the Canadian census of 1880-'81, ^o. — Continued. Industries. Glass-worka Glove and luitt manufactories Gliip-niakiiif: Irdia-rubbtT factories Iron-siiieltiug furnaces and. steel Lamp and chandelier facto- ries Last factories Nail and tack factories Jiut and bolt works Paper bas: and box making .. Paper-ci'llar factories Phming and molding mills.. Rolling inills (iron) Rootiug-f' It manufactories... Scale factories Sewing-machine factories ... Shii't, collar, and tie making Ship-material making Shook and box making Silk-mills Spike and lailway chair fac- tories : Sugar refineries Type fiiundiies Veimicelli and macaroni fac- tories Vinegar factories Wall paper factories Wire-woiks Hands employed. Over sixteen years. 2in 39 133 34 34 561 130 44 4 76 325 95 23 515 70 16 25 50 29 460 18 9 12 20 33 Grand total 1,296 18,425 32 985 15 144 10 Under six- teen j-ears. 10, 927 79 1,974 175 "ii $108, 200 25, 600 3.700 154,612 32, 918 15,400 12, HOO 24n. 000 45, 000 16.230 7,000 32, 200 120, 000 30, OHO 9. 060 231 571 217,196 12, 040 7.400 35, 600 11.000 240, 000 21, 100 2,260 6,000 20, 000 14, 100 $83, 400 76, 070 3t, 650 437, 604 31, 800 19,400 12, 000 590, 000 80, OUO 31,3U0 9, 500 41,000 320, 000 150, 500 20, 900 220, 500 3K6, 842 37. 5n0 18, 500 158, 000 75, oeo 6, 100, 000 16, 000 15, 000 50, 000 60, 000 147, 000 8, 795, 165 I 31, 629, 981 5^ 1230, ODD 108, 670 58, 920 679, 500 142, 000 46. 000 36, 000 930, 000 200, 000 79, 050 25, 000 98, 000 500, 000 205, 600 43, 000 521,031 9:55, 394 61.000 32, 500 275, 000 144, 000 6, 800, 000 64,500 22, 500 90, 000 100, 000 191, 000 51, 219, 360 PRICES OF THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE. Statement showing the retail prices of prorisions, groceries, and other leading articles ofcon- sumjytio}! and of house-tent and board in the city of Montreal, Canada. Articles. PKOVISIOK8. Flonr: Wheat, extra superfine per barrel superfine do.. city bags, delivered 100 pounds Oatmeal do. . Coriinieal do. . Buckwheat do.. Pease per bushel Butter, in the tub per pound Cheese do . Lard, iu pails do . Bggs per dozen Potatoes per bag of li bushels Milk: Summer per quart Winter do.. Tea: Oolong, or other good black per pound Green and Japan do. . Coffee : Roasted .-. do. . Ground do. . 13 to 07i 08J 12 35 $4 60 4 10 2 30 2 10 1 10 2 00 80 20 08 09i 14" 45 05 07 70 80 15 tx) 15 lOi 16 85 30 25 $5 00 3 50 2 80 2 50 1 75 1 6;> 1 15 18 16 12 22 90 06 08 70 80 40 35 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 93 Statement showing the retail prices of provisions, grocei-ies, per pnuud. Beans do .. Coal oil per gallon . MEATS. Beef, frr fih : l{oa.xtiti<: pieces perponnd. S'lnp nieces do .. Round steaks do. .. Sii'loin steaks do .. Coi ned do . . . Veal : Fore-qiiarters do .. Hiiid-quaittTs do... Citl.-Ls do... Mnttnii : Fore-quarters do. .. I>g do. .. (llhiips do... Pork: Fresh do . . . C'TTied or salted '. do. . . Bacon do Hams, smoked do. .. Shoulders do. . . S»iis!.L'es do... Codfish, dry do... Mackerel, pickled or salt do... DUY GOODS. Shirtings : Hronn. J standard per yard. Blt-aihed, J standard do... Sheet injrs : Riiiwn. -',"■ standard do... Blnached. V standard do. .. Canton (coiton) flannel, medium do... Tick ing, good do. . . Prints : Amciican, good do. ., Enijlish, trooil do. .. Moiissiline de laines, good do... Satinets, mndinm do . . . Boots, men's heavy per pair. FUEL. Coal, anthracite: Sfovo per net ton. E.'H do. . . Chestnut do... Wood ( French measure) : Maple per cord Birch do... B-ech do.. Tamai a ck do . . Ueiiilock do.. 1878. 1884. OC to $0 07 I 07*1 08' O.'ito$0 06 06 or.) 07 08 70 50 7.'; onj 06 16 05 C4 20 10 05 12i 15' 10 04 08 10 09 12 12 10 12 30 40 20 25 12i 15 20 50 2 50 5 50 5 00 4 50 4 00 4 00 12J 08 15 18 12 07 10 12 10 15 15 10 10 15 15 12 12 08 10 12 18 38 45 25 35 18 25 40 75 3 50 5 50 5 25 5 00 6 50 6 25 5 fiO 5 00 4 50 75 onj 07 18 04 04 22 124 05 15 10 05 10 12J 12J 124 06 10 28 38 16 22 OH 12" 15 40 2 00 70 50 00 07 08 2U 05 05 25 15 08 16 18 12 07 12 15 10 15 15 12 12 16 16 15 12 08 10 10 15 30 55 23 30 10 20 30 CO 3 00 6 no 5 75 6 00 7 50 7 00 6 .^0 6 no 5 00 94 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA House-rent in the city of Montreal, Canada. Per month. Three-room tenements. Four-room tenements.. Five-room tenements... 1878. 1879. 188J. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. $2 50 $2 50 $3 00 $3 00 $3 50 $4 00 $4 OO' to to to to to to to 3 00 3 00 3 50 3 75 4 00 5 00 5 00 3 00 3 00 3 50 3 50 4 00 4 50 6 00 to to to to to to to 3 50 3 50 4 00 4 00 4 .iO 5 50 7 00 5 00 5 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 6 40 to to to to to to to 5 50 5 50 6 50 6 50 7 00 7 00 8 00 The rate of Louse-rents depends upon whether the tenement is situated in the first, second, or third flats, and according to the location and con- dition of the building. In most instances in addition to the house-rent the tenant has to i)ay the city taxes on the property, and in all cases the tenant is assessed and is called upon to pay the water-tax. The water rates are based upon the rental. Board. 1884. For men — mechanics, &c For women employed in factories, &c. $3 00 to $4 CO 2 00 3 OO' A blacksmith's statement. Question. How old are you ? — Answer. I am forty years old. Q. What is your business? — A. I am a blacksmith. Q. Have you a family ? — A. Yes, a wife and four children. Q. What wages do you receive?— A. Eleven dollars a week. Q. How many hours a day do you work ? — A. Ten hours a day. Q. How much time are you allowed for meals ? — A. One hour for dinner. Q. Can yoii support your family upon such wages ? — A. Yes. Q. What do the united earnings of yourself and family amount to in a year ? — A. About $600. Q. Will yon explain in detail the uses you make of this money ? — A. Yes. For rent of six rooms, $9 per month $108 00 For clothing for self ajid family, about 200 00 For food and fuel per day, about 6.5c 237 25 For taxes, about 10 00 For dues to society 3 00 For school books, doctors' bills, and incidentals, about 25 00 583 25 Balance for other purposes 16 75 600 00 Q. Of what kind of food do your daily meals consist? — A. For breakfast, oatmeal porridge aiul molasses, bread and butter, tea or coffee ; sometimes we take a steak ; other times we take some hash made from the meat left over the day ])revious; for dinner, soup, beef, and potatoes, bread ; pudding or siruj) for dessert ; and for supper, bread and butter and tea, sometimes a piece of cake or crackers or a piece of pie. Q. Are you able to save any portion of your earnings for days of sickness or old age?— A. No. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. 95 SAINT HYACINTHE. REPORT BY COMMERCIAL AGENT FISH. The following are the wages paid per day of ten hours for services of laborers in the city of Saint Hyacinthe and the consular district in which it is embraced. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Thrashing-machine and horse-rake works. Lathe and vice hands : $2 00 80 $1 00 1 75 80 Wo<)8 do... Second mates do . . Able seamen do... Ordinary seamen do. . . Cooks do. .. Sail vessels, coasting. Masters per month . Mates do... Able seamen do . . . Ordinary seamen do... Cooks do . . . Steam vessels. First engineers per month. Second engineers do... Third engineers do .. Firemen do.. . Trimmers do... Donkeymen do . . . Sailway employes. Station masters per annum Telegraph operators per month Checkers do . Porters per day Conductors; Pas.senger per month Ft eight do.. Engineers do.. Firemen per day Baggage -masters : Express per month Other do. . Brakemen per day Yard masters do.'. Swit. Clothing is as cheap or cheaper than at home, and rents are quite as low. Vegetables are abundaut. But little fruit is grown in the province, the soil not seeming adapted to it. Fuel, both wood and coal, is very reasonable, the coal being procured from the ueigh- boriug i)rovince of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton island. Soft coal, the only coal produced, varies in price from $2.50 to $3.75 per ton. 112 LABOE IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. CONDITION OF THE LABORING CLASSES. The condition of the laboring class is probably rendered better by the enforcement of what is called the " Scott act." This act prevails throughout the province, and by its adoption prohibits the granting'of licenses and sale of malt or spirituous liquors. There are no trades unions nor organizations for the protection of labor. The population of the province numbers about 110,000. There is not sufficient consumption of manufactured articles to warrant any ex- tended manufactories, and the greater part are imported from the other IDrovinces, the United States, or Great Britain. There are in the island two Government hospitals into which seamen are admitted. By a late act of the Dominion Parliament the dues here- tofore paid by American vessels are not now received, and m conse- quence lam advised that seamen of our service are refused admittance. I trust that the requirements called for by the circular have been in part met, and that the information may be in some degree serviceable. WARREN A. WORDEN, Consul. United States Consulate, Charlottetown, July 22, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in Charlottetown. Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers Hqdcarriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Roofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants Cari)euters Gas-fitters OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Book-binders Brick-makers Brewers Butchers Cabinetmakers Confectioners Coopers Drivers Draymen and teamsters Cab" and carriage Gardeners Horseshoera Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Millwrights Potters Printers Teachers, public schools Lowest. Highest. Average. $12 00 $12 00 $12 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 12 00 12 00 12 09 6 00 6 00 6 00 9 00 12 00 10 50 6 00 6 00 6 00 15 00 15 00 15 00 9 00 12 00 10 50 G 00 6 00 6 00 8 00 10 00 9 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 9 00 7 50 8 00 9 00 8 50 4 00 6 00 5 00 9 00 10 00 9 50 6 00 6 00 6 00 4 00 10 00 7 00 6 00 9 00 7 50 6 00 6 00 6 00 4 00 6 00 5 00 6 00 10 00 8 00 4 00 6 00 5 00 6 00 8 00 7 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 4 00 6 00 5 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 5 00 7 00 6 00 7 50 9 00 8 25 6 00 15 00 10 50 4 00 7 00 5 50 6 00 20 00 13 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. Wages paid per iveek of sixty hours in CharJotietown — Continued. 113 Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Other trades — Contintted. $7 50 9 00 12 00 5 00 10 00 5 00 7 on 6 00 $7 50 12 00 12 00 ti 00 14 00 10 00 9 00 12 00 $7 50 10 50 12 00 5 50 12 00 7 50 8 00 Boot aucl shoe makers 9 00 II. FACTOErES, MILLS, ETC. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in factories or mills in Prince Edieard Island. Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. WOOLEN MILLS.* $12 00 1 3 00 7 50 7 00 3 00 $18 00 5 00 7 50 12 00 10 00 $15 00 J 4 00 7 50 9 50 6 50 6 00 STAUCH FACTORIES, t 20 00 Other bauds i 6 00 * There are two woolen mills in the island : each employ ahout forty hands. — t Tliere are ten starch factories in Prince Edward Isl.ind, which produce ahont 2.50 tons of starch an- nnally, nianniactnred solely from potatoes. They work only between 25tli September and 1st Decem- her, and employ about twenty hands each. The starch is exported to United Kingdom principally. Some small shipments go to tipper Canada and the United States. LOBSTER, MEAT, AND MACKKKEL FACTORIES. In 18^*3 there were eijfbty-eiglit factories on the island, employing about 2,600 men and l,(iOO women. The men get on an average $1 per day, and women 50 cents per day w lien employed. Those factories turned out about 56,000 cases of 4-dozen 1-ponnd caii.s of lobsters, vahio about §280,000. After the lobster season is over in many of the factories the canning of mackerel is carried on. In 1883 there were 4,313 cases of 48 1-pound tins of mackerel preserved, value, $17,622. Alter the mackerel season is over some few factories pack meats, mutton and beef principally. In 1883 there were 7,236 cases of 48 1-pound tins put up, value, $32,765. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per tveek of sixty hours iv foundrirs, machine-shops, and iron works in Prince Edward Island. Occupations. Machinists Holders and brass founders Smiths Average I $0 00 9 00 8 00 Occupations. Average wage^. Boiler -makers $9 00 Pattern-makers 8 00 Laborers 1 6 00 ^There are two foundries and machine-shops in Prince Edward Island, and employ on an average fortv-five hands. 92 A— 2 LAB- 'S* 114 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: CANADA. VI. Railway employes. Wages paid to railway employes (those engaried aiout stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, lintnun, railroad laborers, ^-c.) in t'rince Edward Island. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Station-masters per month.. Cleik.s do... Conductora do Bagffage-raasters per day. . Brakenien do Enjiineers do Fiieraen do Machinists do Carpi;ntfirs do Sectionraen do Laborers do $30 00 30 00 1 35 1 25 2 15 1 15 1 50 1 40 1 00 \ 1 00 i $80 00 70 00 1 35 1 25 2 40 1 35 2 20 1 70 1 50 1 25 $55 00 50 00 55 00 1 35 25 .SO 25 85 55 25 12i There are 200 miles of railway in Prince Edward Island, owned and operated by the Government of Canada. VII. Ship-yards and SHip-BuiLDiNa. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in ship-yards in Prince Edward Island. Occupations. Foremen 4 Carpenters Calkers Lowest. Highest. Average. $12 00 5 00 9 00 $15 00 7 00 12 00 $13 .50 6 00 10 50 VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen {officers and men), disiingnishing hetween ocean, coast, and river navigation, and btiiveen sail and steam, in Prince Edxoard Island. Occupations. Coasting and river navigation : Masters Mates Seamen _.. Ocean-going vessels (sailing) : Masters Mates Seamen Cooks Lowest. Highest. $30 00 $40 00 20 00 30 00 15 00 20 00 40 00 80 00 20 00 35 on 16 00 25 00 25 00 35 00 Average. $35 00 25 00 17 50 60 00 27 50 20 .50 30 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Prince Edward Island. Occapations. Salesmen Clerks Book-keepers Shop-boys — Lowest. $2 00 2 00 8 00 1 00 Highest. fl2 00 12 00 20 00 2 00 Average. $7 oa 7 OO 14 00 1 50 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month with board to household servants (towns and cities) in Prince Edward Island. Occnpationa. Lowest. Highest. Average. $7 00 4 00 $20 00 8 00 $13 50 6 0roduction and consumption which affect the work- ing classes equally with all other citizens. There are also taxes on in- comes and license taxes on trades which affect the artisan directly and the journeymen indirectly. EMIGRATION. As heretofore stated, the native Mexican laborer is remarkable for the , strength of his local attachments, and he never emigrates voluntarily. FEMALE LABOR. The i^roportion of women and children employed in factories, cigar- making, &c., is estimated at about 50 per cent. In the city there are shop girls and saleswomen in a few of the fancy and dry goods stcres. Pastry and candy shops, for the most part, are carried on by foreigners, French and Germans. The proportion of females employed in commercial houses is, however, very insignificant. In general transportation I am not aware that females aiipear at all, but in the transportation which is done by the Indians on foot the women do their full part according to their strength. The ruling opinion in Mexican society would prohibit absolutely any respectable female from engaging in any professional or personal occu- pation, including Government officials and clerks, teachers, artists^ chemists, hotel and boarding-house keepers, journalists, laundresses^ musicians, inventors, bankers, brokers, lecturers, and public speakers. No female name appears on the official lists of the Government in any capacity whatever, and any occupation or pi'ofession that would draw a ■woman from the seclusion of her domestic circle would entail upon her loss of caste and the general reprobation of her sex. An educated lady may devote herself to teaching the poor from motives of religous zeal, or exhibit her musical talents in public at a charity concert, but profes- sionally never. Pressed by ixwerty a Mexican lady will work in lace, embroidery, or other artistic labor and sell her productions privately^ or even give private lessons in music, &c., but all the female profes- sional teachers, artists, boarding-house keepers, &c., are foreigners, or nearly all, for of late years foreign travel, foreign education, and con- tact with foreigners at home, combined with the liberalizing tendency of the reform laws, have somewhat modified the strictness of Mexican society in this regard. The laundry business is altogether in the hands of the Indian women, who wash the clothes on the traditional flat rough-grained stone used in the days of the Montezumas. There was an American steam laundry here a year ago wiiicli failed for lack of encouragement, and the China- man has not yet made his appearance. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 121 The Indian women and children work in the fiehls with the men, like the European peasantry, sharing; all the labors of the farm. Mining" is exclusively carried on by male labor. I never saw females engaged about the mines or the'Smeltiu<^ and separating works in any other way than in ])reparing and carrying food to the workmen. Among the u])])er classes, as before stated, the dominant social opin- ion withdraws women, not only from all professions and occupations, but from many of tlie amusements and social ceremonies where the male sex predominate. Among the Indians and lower classes the women take their i)art promiscuously in all the labors, occujjatious, interests, and amusements incident to their condition in life. They are neither oppressed nor sectluded, but live on terms of natural equality and com- panionship with their husbands, sharing their labors and the profits by rules of natural justice. FEMALE WAGES AND HOURS OF LABOR. In the same employments the average wages of women are about one- third less than of men : Cent*. Seamstresses are paid per day . . 37 Weavers at baud looms do 50 Wasberwomeu do 37 Irouers do 50 Cigar-makers may earn from 50 cents to $1 per day, according to their industry and skill in manipulation, as they work by the job, receiving for cigarettes a tlaco {h^ cents per package) of twenty, or 7^ cents per hundred. The usual hours of labor are from 6 in the morning until 6 at night, with intervals of an hour each for breakfast and dinner. MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION. The moral and physical condition of female employes is apparently good. They are quiet and decent in their behavior and generally look healthy. There are ijublic free schools supported by the Government for the benefit of females as well as males of the working classes. They receive here the elements of literary and technical education, and if they develop any especial talents may be admitted to the higher schools and colleges. There are also mutual aid societies as among the men, as well as some private charities, whose object is to assist and improve the social condition of females of the working classes. Public attention in Mexico is much more occupied with this subject than formerly, but the movement is too recent to have produced as yet any decided or appre- ciable results. PAST AND PRESENT WAGES. Generally there has been no change whatever. In this city the prices of the necessaries of life have gone up during the past two or three years, but are now resuming their former status. As the employment of women in the labor of the country is of ancient date, I have not, in the last five years, observed that it has any especial influence on wages or on the general condition of labor. FEMALE EDUCATION. The state of education among the working classes generally is very low, although since the establishment of free schools it is improving, especially in the towns and cities, as also among the employes of some in LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. of the larger factories. In a country like Mexico, where the lower classes of the population are sunk in ignorance and poverty, where their ordinary mode of living is on the lowest scale, with its attendant vices and miseries, where low wages and lack of regular employment would seem to forbid the hope of improvement, all regular and reasonably re- munerative labor must be regarded as beneficent in its effects, both on the individual and the family, educating, civilizing, and improving, both morally and physically ; and in the cities as in the country I have ob- served that the employes and dependents of the manufacturing, mining, and agricultural establishments, where there was regular and organized labor, were decidedly superior in appearance, intelligence, and civilized appliances to the ordinary population. DAVID H. STROTHBR, Consul- General. United States Consulate, Mexico, February 15, 1885. I. General trades. Wages paid in the city of Mexico. Occnpations. BUILDING TEADE8. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Kooters Tenders Plumbers per day.. Assistants do Carpenters do Gas-fitters do OTHEU TKADE3. Bakers : Chief bakers do Attendants do Blacksmiths do Stii U ers do Book-binders do Brick-uiakors (peons) do Brewers (peons)t do Butchers : Those who kill the cattle do Those wlio deliver or sell do.... Brassibumlers: Head workmen do Assistants and pilers do Cabiiiet-mak('i .do .. (*) $1 00 50 75 1 00 3 00 1 00 1 50 62J 75 50 50 3 00 1 25 75 1 00 50 50 Confectioners do . Ciyiar-makers (by the 100) do . Coopers do 1 Cutlers do .. Distillers (peons) do — Drivers : Draymen and teamsters do — Cab and carriage r do Street railways : Drivers do.... Conductors do * In Mexico all these occupations are under one heading ; the mason builds the walls, roofs, floors, stairways, of the same material, with his assistant to cnrry miiteiial, stones, bricks, and mortar; this carrier is a peon or half-grown boy generally. The mason works by the day. earning from 75 cents to $1 per day. Tlie assistant earns from 37^ to 50 cents per day. The boy from 18J to 25 cents. Driver who delivers the beer in the city, $60 per month. 1 00 75 1 00 75 1 00 50 50 25 75 1 00 (*) $1 50 62 J 1 00 1 50 5 00 1 25 2 00 75 1 25 75 75 3 50 1 50 2 00 75 3 00 1 00 1 25 1 00 3 00 62i 50 Average. (*) $1 00 50 75 1 00 3 00 1 00 1 50 G2i 75 50 50 1 25 75 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. Wages paid in the city of Mexico — Contiuued. 123 Occupationa. Lowest. Highest. Average. Otheu tkades — Continued. Dyers : Skilled workmen i do... Assistants (peons) do — Knpravtrs do... Furriers do... Gaideiiers : Head do... Peons do... Hatters (woik by piece) do... Horsi shoers, I'arrieis, and nail-makers do Jewelers : Chief workmen do Gold and silver smiths do Laborers, porters, ifcc do Litliograpbers do Milhvrij;bts do Potters do Printers do Teachers, public schools per month.. Saddle and harness makers per day.. Sail-makers Stevedores 'Tanners and I'urriers per day.. Tailors do Telegrajjh operators per month.. Tinsmiths per -day.. Weavers: Outside of mills (reboaa and scrape weavers) do It) factories do — Lace do Gilders do Gold-leaf beaters (work by the piece) do .. 6hoem:ikers do Painters, hoase and sign do $1 50 r>o 2 M 1 50 1 00 50 75 75 $2 00 3 00 2 00 1 50 75 41J 1 00 (*) 75 1 00 30 00 50 (t) C) 1 50 75 1 50 1 00 3 00 1 00 50 3 CO (*) 1 00 1 50 40 00 1 00 (t) C) 2 00 1 00 75 75 75 75 75 50 75 75 1 00 1 00 75 1 25 $1 50 50 2 50 1 50 1 00 75 75 1 00 (*) 75 1 00 C2i (t) C) 1 50 75 , 60 75 75 1 00 87i *No separate business; work done by machinists, t This business not carried on here. J None in Mexico City or districts. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixtg hours in factories or mills in and near the city of Mexico {Mexicans}. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $18 00 12 00 12 00 9 00 3 00 $35 00 25 00 25 00 18 00 6 00 $25 00 18 00 18 00 Ciitton mill 12 00 4 50 III. Foundries, machine-shops, AND iron works. ITages paid per week of sixty hours in foundries, machine-shops, andiron worksin the city of Mexico {Mexican mechanics). Occupations. Brass foundry Iron foundry. Machinists ... Brass turners Iron turners.. Bhicksniiths.. Laborers Lowest. $9 00 6 00 12 00 12 00 9 00 00 4 50 Highest. $18 00 15 UO 24 00 24 00 18 00 18 00 9 00 Average. $15 00 12 00 18 00 18 00 15 00 12 00 6 00 124 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. IV. Glass workers. Wages paid per toeek to glass-workers in the cities of Pueblo, Apizaco, and Apam {Mexicans). XDccnpations. Average. Pane-glaas ■workmen . . . Pressed-ware workmen Coinmou blowers Laborers : Men , Boys $17 50 i 6 00 1 6 00 : $37 50 24 00 18 00 1 $25 00 18 00 12 00 4 50 '• 1 50 1 9 00 1 4 50 i 6 00 3 00 V, Mines and mining. Wages paid pe^- week of sixty hours in and in connection ivith mines in the States of Mexico, Hidalgo, Guanahuato, and Zacatecas. Occnpations. Lowest. I Highest. Average. Director Miner bosses Undergronnd miners Ontsirte miners Underground laborers Outside laborers Ptimpmen Engine-drivers Firemen Machinists Blacksmiths Carpenters Teamsters Assayers Clerks and like employes $25 00 $100 00 $50 00 15 00 25 00 18 00 6 00 12 00 9 00 4 50 9 00 C 00 3 25 3 75 3 00 1 871 3 00 2 25 12 00 18 00 15 00 15 00 25 00 20 00 6 00 15 00 9 00 18 00 35 00 25 00 6 00 18 00 12 00 6 00 18 00 12 00 3 00 6 00 4 50 18 00 35 00 25 00 12 00 25 00 18 00 YI. Eailw^at employes. Wages paid per week to railway employes {those engaged aboitt stations, as trell as those e?i- gagcd on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, ijc.) on Central and Xational Builroad. Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Station masters $25 00 $45 00 $35 00 35 00 Engine-drivers Firemen 12 50 Conductors i 35 OO Brakesmen ! 10 00 Baggage-masters ! 15 00 Linemen t 12 00 Laborers (Mexican) - 1 3 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages jyaid tceek of sixty hours in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Mexico. Occapations. Book-keepers '. i $20 00 Head clerks (dry goods) Under clerks (dry goods) . Head clerks (groceries) ... Under clerks (groceries) . Head clerks (hardwares) . . Under clerks (hardwares) . Tailors. Shoemakers. Hat makers. . Dressmakers (females) - Milliners (females) Sewing- women Female clerks Shop-women 18 00 12 00 12 00 6 00 18 00 12 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 4 50 6 00 3 00 6 00 3 OO $40 00 25 00 18 00 18 00 12 00 25 00 18 00 12 00 18 00 12 00 9 00 V2 00 6 00 12 00 6 00 $25 00 20 00 15 00 15 00 9 00 20 00 15 00 9 00 12 00 00 6 00 9 00 4 50 00 4 5» LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 125 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and cities) in Mexico City. Occupations. Lowest. Cooks : iVench or Italian i $45 00 Mexican | 10 00 Servants : ' Kitchen duties Chamber duties "Waiters : Hotel Restaurant , Household , Coachmen Footmen Highest Average. 3 50 3 50 10 00 5 00 3 50 10 00 5 00 $100 00 25 00 10 00 12 00 20 00 15 00 12 00 30 00 15 00 $50 00 15 00 5 00 6 00 15 00 12 00 6 00 15 00 10 00 xr. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per month to agricultural laborers and household {country) servants in Mexico. Occapations. Lowest. Ariniiiii-itiatorsof sugar estates and other agricultural j $100 00 Field bosses I 25 00 Assistants 12 00 Field hands: I Plo\vmen* i 7 50 Reapers* I 4 50 Average. $150 00 45 00 15 00 10 00 8 00 * "With rations. Xll. Corporation employIjs. n ages paid per week of sixty hours to the corporation employes in the dty of Mexico. Occupations. Lowest Highest. | Average. Secretary of the municipality i $62 5i) First oiBcer Second officer Treasurer ($2,000 per year) Clerks Doorkeepers, passes, &c Chief of the police department Captains of the police department Lieutenants of the police department Policemen 25 00 15 00 38 40 15 00 6 00 $18 00 $62 50 25 00 15 00 38 00 15 00 9 00 60 00 37 50 20 DO 15 00 XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per year to employes in Government departments and officers, exclusive of trades- men and laborers, in the city of Mexico. Occupations. President of the Republic i. Ministers or members of the cabinet. First officers of each of the departments, such as of finances, war, justice, interior, and public works Second oflicem Treasurer- jreneral of the nation Assistant Ireasarer Chief officers of the different sections of these departments Clerks of tlie same ; Porters, pa;ies, (fcc Chief of the custom-bouses of different ports, from $250 to $500 per month, averaging about Under clerks Coast guards Average wages. $36, 000 8,000 4,000 2,500 4,000 2,500 1,800 800 360 3,600 800 1,200 126 LABOK IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. XIV. Trades and labor — Government employ. Wages paid by the week of sixty hours to the trades avd Jalorers in Government employ at the citidal, city of Mexico. Occupations. Carpenters Blacksniiths Wheel wiij;ht8 Saddlers Shoemakers Brass t'Dunders Iron founders Mettle turners Macbinists and gun-makers Laboi'ers Engineers Engine-drivers Lowest. Highest. Average, $6 00 & 00 6 00 4 50 6 00 9 00 6 00 32 00 Iti 0(1 4 50 25 00 15 00 $18 00 iS 00 18 GO 12 00 12 00 18 00 15 00 24 00 35 00 9 00 50 00 25 00 .$12 00 12 00 12 00 9 00 9 00 15 00 12 00 18 00 25 00 6 00 35 00 18 00 XV. Printers and PRiNTma ofpices. statement showing the uiages paid per iveeJc of sixty hours to printers (compositors, pressmen^ proof-readers, ^c.) in the city of Mexico. Occupations. Average. Compositors . Pressmen . ... Proof-readers $16 60 12 00 20 00 $12 00 9 00 15 00 Salaries of the civil and military officers and eynployds of the Federal Govei-nment of Mexico, 1884. Occupations. EXECUTIVE DEPAE.TMENT. President of the Republic OFFICE OF THE PEIVATE SECKETART. $30, 000 00 Secretary . Clerk STAFF OF THE PRESIDENT. Adjutant, lieutenant- colonel of in- fantry Ad, j utant, colonel of cavalry ._. . . Adjutant, lieutenant -colonel of in- fantry Adjutant, lieutenant-colonel of cavalry . Service. Doorkeeper of the President's house.. Assistant doorkeeper of the President's house Messenger STATE DEPARTMENT. Secretary of State.. Assistant secretary DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS. Section of America. Chief of section . First assistant. .. Second a.ssistant. First clerk Second clerk Third clerk 3, 000 00 800 00 , 466 00 , 714 40 652 40 807 20 800 00 370 00 000 00 500 00 3, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, 500 00 800 00 600 00 600 00 Occupations. Section of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Chief of section First assistant Second assistant First clerk Second clerk DEPARTMENT OF COMifERCE. Chief of department First assistant Second assistant T h i id assistant Kirst clerk Second clerk Third clerk DEPARTMENT OF THE SEALS. Chief of department General clerk (assistant) Penman (cal6grafo) First clerk Second clerk English tran-^lator German translator ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES. Keeper of the archives Fit St clerk Assistant clerk Service. Doorkeeper First messenger Second messenger.- Third messenger Salary. $3 000 00 2 000 00 1 500 00 800 00 600 00 3 000 00 2 000 00 1 500 00 1 200 00 800 on 600 00 600 00 3 000 00 1 500 00 1 000 00 800 00 600 00 1 500 00 700 00 1 500 00 600 00 500 00 600 00 300 00 240 00 220 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 127 Salaries of the dvil and military officers and employes of Mexico— Contmned.. Occupations. GENERAL ARCHIVES OF THE NATION. Chief of department Assistant Cl.ik I'aleoarrapher Clerk, a.s.sistant of above Dooikeiper Orderly TREASURY DEPARTMENT. secrktary's office. Secretary of the Trea.snry Pi i vate Bocretary of above Clerk CHIEF clerk's office. First clerk (chief). Second clerk A ssistaut Clerk Section 1. — Customs. Chief of section First assist:) ut Second assistant Third assistant Foiirt h assistant Clerk Siij)ernumerary Keeper of the archives (general clerk) Section 2.— Nationalized estates. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Fourth assistant Clerk Supernumerary General clerk, keeper of the archives Section 3. — Taxes. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Clerk General clerk, keeper of the archives. Section 4. — Accounts of the Treasury. Chief of section Paymaster Bookkeeper Assistant book-keeper Clerk in charge of the archives. Clerk Salary. Section .'5. — Payment of the foreign serv- ice. Chief of section First assist.'int Second assistant Clerk Supernumerary General clerk, "keeper of the archives. Section 6. — Public credit. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Clerk Book-ke(^por General clerk , keeper of the arohlvM . $2,000 00 1, 200 00 COO 00 1, 200 00 GOO 00 300 00 60 00 8, 000 00 2,400 00 600 00 4, !)00 00 3, .'iOO 00 1, 800 00 COO 00 3, 500 00 2, ."iOO 00 2,000 00 1,800 00 1,500 00 600 00 300 00 1, 200 00 3, 000 00 2, 500 00 2, 0(10 00 1, 800 00 1, 500 00 000 00 300 00 1, 200 00 3, 000 00 2, 51)0 00 2,000 00 1, 800 00 600 00 1, 200 00 3,000 00 2, 400 00 1, 5U0 00 1,200 00 1,200 00 600 00 3,000 00 2,500 00 1,200 00 COO 00 ?,00 00 1,200 00 3, 000 00 2, 500 00 2, 000 00 Olio 00 1, 500 00 1, 200 00 Occapattons. Section 7. — Land tax and statistics of the department. Chief of section Fiist assistant Second assistiint Tliiid assistant Fourth assistant Clerk Section 8. — Archives. Keeper of the archives Assistant Clerk DKPABTMENT OF COMril.ATIOX OF LAWS AND OF THE LIBRARY. Chief of department. Sccretai-y Clerk of the libraiian. Assistant of above Clerk Salary. OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT ATTORNEY. Attorney Clerk.... DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL CONSULTA- TION. Consulting attorney . Civil engineer Clerk Doorkeeper. Messenger. - Janitor Orderly Service. GENERAL TREASURY. Treasurer General clerk. Clerk Auditor's o_ffice. Auditor First book-keeper Second book-keeper Clerk Treasury. Treasurer Assistant treasurer Collector and executor.. Clerk Section 1. — Collection of taxes. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Fiiurth assist.mt Book-keeper Assistant bookkeeper. Clerk Section 2.— Pay department. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant. Fourth a-ssistaut Book keeper Assistant book-keeper. Clerk $3, 000 OO 2, 500 0(« 2,000 00 1,800 00 1, .500 00 600 OO 2,400 00 1, 200 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2, 100 00 1, 800 00 1,800 OO GOO 00 3, 000 00 600 00 3, 000 oa 3, 000 00 600 00 720 00 300 00 240 00 60 00 6, 000 Oa 800 00 600 00 5, 000 00 4, 000 OO 2, 500 00 600 00 4, 000 00 2, 500 00 900 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2, 500 00 1, 500 00 1, 200 00 1, OHO 00 2, 000 00 1, 200 00 600 OO 3, 000 00 2, 500 00 1, 500 00 1, 200 00 1, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, 200 OO 600 00 128 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. Salaries of the civil and military officers and employes of Mexico— Corxtmued. Occupations. Section for revision of the department accounts. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Fourth assistant Clerk Section of public credit. Chief of section First assi stant Second assistant Third assistant Fourth assistant Book-keeper ■ Assistant book-keeper Clerk ■ Section for liquidation of the public debt. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Clerk General messenger Archives. Keeper of thei archives Assistan Clerk Service. Doorkeeper Messenger Orderly Liquidation section. Chief of section Revisinjr auditor Assistant Clerk Book-keeper Assistant book-keeper Doorkeeper Messenger REVENUE STAMP DEPARTMENT. General office. Chief of department First corresponding clerk Second coiTespondiug clerk Clerk Keeper of the archives Inspector v^ Auditor's office. Auditor Book-keeper First assistant Second assistant Treasurer Clerk Section of revision. Chief of department First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Fourth assistant Clerk Salary. $3, 000 00 2, 500 00 1, 500 00 1, 200 00 1, 000 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2,500 00 1, 500 00 1, 2U0 00 1, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, 200 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2, 500 00 1, 500 00 600 00 300 00 2, 000 00 800 00 600 00 600 00 300 00 60 00 3, 000 00 2, 400 00 1,000 00 600 00 1, 500 00 900 00 480 00 300 00 4, 000 00 1, 500 (10 1, 200 00 600 00 1, 000 00 2, 000 00 3, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, 200 00 1, 000 00 1,200 00 600 00 3 800 00 2 000 00 1 800 00 1 500 00 1 200 00 600 00 Occupations. Store-house for stamps. Guard of store-house Assistant guard of store-house Clerk First messenger Second messenger Service. Collector and counter of money Messenger Watchman Doorkeeper Orderly POSTAGE STAMP DEPARTMENT. Director's office. Director Sub-director Corresponding clerk Book-keeper Assistant book-keeper Clerk Storehouse for stamps. Guard of store-house »-. Assistant guard of store-house Cutter, folder, and perforator stamps. Messenger Engraving office. First class engineer. . . . Second class engineer . Third class engineer - Fourth class engineer . Machinery department. Mechanical engineer Black and locksmith Carpenter Fireman for steam engine . Printing department. Chief pressman Second pressman Third pressman Lithograplier Assistant lithographer. Stamp-gumming department. Chief stamp-gummer Assistant stamp-gummer Service. Doorkeeper. Messenger.. Watchman . NATIONAL LOTTERY. Director Secretary of the directive junta, also comptroller .' Clerk of tlie directive junta First auditor Second auditor, also book-keeper Chief clerk of revision and accounts . . . Clerk of revision and remittances Corresponding clerk Treasurer Chief clerk of treasurer Clerk who exauiires the tickets Small boy who draws the numbers Doorkeeper Messenger LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 129 Salaries of the civil and military officers and emplofih of Mexico — Continued. Occupations. CHIKF DIP.KCTOUY OV THE CUSTOMS OF THE FKDEHAL DISTKICT. Director FirMt assistant, chief of the section of c«ir(-s|i(>n(ience Second assistaul Clerk Auditor'ii office. Ainlitor IJook-keoTJer Clerk of bookkeeper Clerk Cbiff of revisions in charge of statis- tics Cliief of llio comparing section Clerk of the comparing section Supernumerary Chief clerk in diarjre of revision and cop.\ ing of miscellaneous documents Keei)crof the archives .. Chief of the section for selling foreign and national goods Treasury. Treasurer Money-counter, responsible formissing or counterfeit money Clerk Inspection department. Examiner Assistant examiner. Apothecary Store-houses and warden slips. Chief store-house guard Clerk for stoi e-houscs guard Servant foi' store-liouse guard ... Storc-liouse f:uard at St. Jerome Servant for store-house guard at St. Jerome Warden of entrances Warden of exits Clerk for warden of exits Head porter Buena Vista section. Treasurer, responsible for missing or counterfeit Warden of entrances and exits , Clerk General service. Head doorkee])er of the custom house. Assistant do(irkeej)er of the custom house Janitor Corps of customs guards. Commander Adjulant-comniander Corporal, mounted anil armed. I'rivate, mounted and armed... Private, on foot and armed Boatman City (jatcs. Collector of customs. Clerk As.-istant clerk Gatcman 92 A— 2 LAB- Salary. $4, 000 00 1, ,'iOO 00 1,000 00 600 00 3, .100 00 1,500 00 1, 000 00 600 00 2, 000 00 2,0(10 00 1,000 00 300 00 1, 200 00 800 00 1, 200 00 1, 800 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2, 000 00 2, 500 00 1, .500 00 600 00 180 00 1,000 00 IKO 00 1,200 00 1, 2U0 00 600 00 700 00 1,000 00 1,000 00 600 00 300 00 300 00 2, 500 00 i 2, 000 00 1,200 00 900 00 600 00 180 00 2, 000 00 1, 200 00 600 00 180 00 Occupations. Salary. DIKECTOUY OF THE TAXEB OF THE FKD- EUAL IJISTKICT. Directory. $4,000 OO Director I Corresponding clerk 1,200 OO Clerk of the archives 1 , 000 00 Assistant clerk 600 00 Auditor's office. Auditor First revising clerk... Second revising clerk Book-keeper Assistant clerk , Section of census and settlements. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistiiut Inspector Collectors' offices in the capital. Collector of taxes Clerk Treasury. Treasurer responsible for missing or counterfeit money Doorkeeper, also money-counter Supernumerary Service. Messenger. Orderly DEPAKTMENT OF WAR AND MA- RINE. SECRETARY 6 OFFICE. Secretary of war and marine Chief clerk First assistant, colonel of cavalry Second assistant, colonel of cavalry Tliird assistant, colonel of infantry Fourth assistant keeper of the archives, lieutenant-colonel of cavalry Fifth assistatit librarian, lieutenant-col- onel of infantry First eapt-aiu of cavalry • First captain of infantry Second raptaiu of eavairy ! Second captain of infantry | Lieuten^int of cavaliy ' Lienteiiaiit of infantry i Finsitcn of cavali .^• Sublieutenant of infantry Assessor of tlie army First captain of cavalry, clerk of the army 3, 000 00 1,300 00 1, 100 00 1, 200 00- 600 0(V 2, 200 OO 1, 500 00 1,200 00 1, 000 00 300 00 2, 000 00 600 00 1, 400 00 500 00 300 00 300 00 60 00 8 000 00 4 500 00 2,714 40 2 714 40 2 466 00 1 807 20 1 652 40 1 140 00 960 00 060 00 840 00 780 00 720 00 720 00 600 00 3 000 00 Service. Doorkeeper. .Janitor Ord.trlv STAIT OF THE ARMY. 600 00 300 00 60 00 Active general of division 6,000 00 A etive general of brigade i 4, . 000 00 Kisrve general of division 4,000 00 Reserve general of brigade | 3, 000 00 130 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. Salaries of the civil and military officers and employes of Mexico — Continued. Occupations. MILITAUy ASSESSORS. Military assessor SUPREME COUUT OF MILITAUY .TUSTICE. President of the first hall, jieneral of di vision Second magistrate, general of brigade Third magistrate, by courtesy general of brigade Secretary, by com tesy colonel of cav- alry, who also serves as secretary dur- ing the meeting of both halls (tribu- nal pleno) First clerk, a first adjutant Second clerk, a second captain of cav- alry First assistant clerjs, lieutenant of in- fantry Second assistant clerk, sublieutenant of, infantry Ordeily, second sergeant of cf,ain of cadets Lieu tenant of cadets First sergeant of cadets Second sergeant of cadets Corporal of cadets Private of cadets Musician ! Service. Superintendent (third in command) ...I i Nurse for the ho.spital I Kidiug master, also veterinary ' Couk I his rank. 1, 080 00 192 00 300 00 300 40 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 1^51 Salaries of the ciril and military officers and emi)loii6s of J/earico— Coutiuiied. Occupations. Service — Continued. Artificer Scullion Janitor Keeper of thefore.st. Gardiner Battalion of sappers. Colonel of the staff Lieutenant-colonel of the staff Major of the staff Adjutant, tirst captaiu of the staff.. Subadjutant, lieutenant of the staff. First captain of the staff. Second captain of the staff Lieutenant of the staff First sergeant Second sergeant Corporal Private and musicians Teamster $158 40 120 00 144 00 .S60 00 140 00 2, 826 00 1, 807 20 1,560 00 1,140 00 840 00 1,140 00 9«0 00 780 00 360 00 313 20 157 50 135 00 180 00 COUPS OF AKTILLEKY. General or colonel of the staff, chief of department, pay of his rank Lieutenant-colonel of the staff', chief of first section Chief of the section of material and ex- penses .. Firstcaptain of the staff. translator,also in charfie of the archives Powder-guard clerk General ammunition department. Colonel of the staff, chief of the depart- ment First captain of the staff" Lieutenant of the staff, adjutant...... . Storehouse-keeper (considered as third in command) Paymaster (considered as third in com- mand) Powder-gnard Thiid-class artificer Doorkeeper . ; Trustworthy laborer(Peon de confianza) JVork-shoxis. Colonel or lieutenant-colonel of the staff, dii-eclor First captain of the staff Lioutenant of the staff, adjutant Storeliouse keeper (considered as third in command) Paymaster (considered as third in com- mand) Powder-iruard Doorkeeper Trustworthy laborer (Peon de con- fianza) . . .". Company of workmen. Second captain of the staff. Lieutenant of the .^taff First-class machinist Second-class machinist Head worknian Sergeant of workmen Corporal of workmen First-class workman Second-class workman Third-class workman Apprentice .• Occupations. Salary. School of artillery. Colonel, director Lieutenant-colonel or major, subdirect- or First or second captain or lieutenant, secretary First sergeant, clerk Si cond sergeant, head doorkeeper . . . Assistant doorkeeper 1,807 20 2, 820 00 1, 140 00 720 00 2, 826 00 1, 140 00 780 00 1,140 00 960 00 720 00 225 00 360 00 360 00 (*) 1, 140 00 780 00 1, 140 00 960 00 72C 00 360 00 360 00 960 00 780 00 1,140 00 1,080 00 900 00 630 00 540 00 450 00 360 00 225 00 135 00 Battalion of artillery. Colonel - . - Lieutenant-colonel Major Adjutant, first captaiu. . Subadjutant, lieutenant First captain Second captain Lieutenant First sergeant Second sergeant Corporal Private and musician... Ve teriuary Riding-master Saddler .. Corporal of teamsters. .- First class teamster Artificer Squadron of train guards. Major First captain, cliief of detachment. Lieutenant, adjutant Second captaiu Lieutenant First sergeant Second sergeant Bugler Corporal of teamsters First-class teamsters Riding-master Veterinary Saddler Artificer MILITAUY POLICE. Colonel or lieutenant-colonel of cav- alry M;ijor, chief of detachment Subadjutant, ensign First captaiu Second captain Lieutenant Ensign ■ Fir.st sergeant Second sergeant Corporal Private and musician Veterinary Saddler Artificer DEPARTMENT OF INFANTRY. G encrjil or colonel, chief of the depart- ment of infantry and cavalry Colonel of infantry, subinspector Lieutenant-colonel of infantry Major of infantry First ca])tain of infantry Second captain of infantry Lieutenant of infantry • * Pay of his rank. $2, 826 00 (*) (*) 360 00 313 20 ISO 00 2, 826 00 1, 807 20 1, 560 00 1, 140 00 78U 00 1, 140 00 960 00 780 00 360 OO 313 20 167 50 135 00 360 00 360 00 360 00 270 00 225 00 180 00 1, 560 00 1, 140 00 840 00 960 00 780 CO 360 00 313 20 135 00 270 00 225 00 360 00 360 00 360 00 180 00 (*) 1, 560 GO 780 00 1, 200 00 1, 020 00 840 00 780 00 540 00 480 00 420 00 360 00 340 00 360 00 180 00 (*) 2, 466 00 1, 652 40 1,468 80 960 00 840 00 720 00 132 LABOR JN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. Salaries of the civil and military officers and employes of Mexico — Continued. Occupations. Battalion of infantry. Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major First captain, adjutant Sublieutenant, subadjutant rirat captain Second captain Lieutenant Sublieutenant First sergeant Second seriieant Corporal Private and musician Teamster , DEl'ARTMEKT 01'" CAVALRY. Colonel, subinspector. Lieutenant-colonel ... Major First captain Second captain Lieutenant Regiment of cavalry. Colonel Lieutenant-colonel Major First captain, adjutant Se<-ond subadjutant, ensign. First captain Second captain Lieutenant BnsiKU First sergeant Second sergeant Corjioral Private and musician Satldler Veterinary Artificer Teamster DEPARTMENT OF MARINE. Chief of department. Assistant Clerk Cbi<-f of siiuadron Captain or commander ... SeoDUil lieutenant First lio;its\vain Second boatswain Gunner Carpenter Cook Steward Surgeon First corporal of sailors . . Second corporal of sailors. Fiist-class sailor Second-class sailor Firstcla.'iH gun-corporal . . Second-class gun-corporal Hugli-r or drummer , Engineer, inspector First-class euginecr Second-class engineer , Third class engineer Ai>X)renti(;e engineer First-class fireman Second-class fireman $2. 466 00 1, 652 40 1, 468 80 1,140 00 660 00 960 00 840 00 720 00 660 00 .360 00 234 00 135 00 112 50 180 00 2, 714 40 I 1, 807 20 1, 560 00 I 1, 140 00 I 960 00 ] 780 CO ! 2, 714 40 1,807 20 1, 560 9(> 1,140 00 720 00 1,140 01) 960 00 780 00 720 00 360 00 270 00 157 50 135 00 360 00 360 00 180 00 180 00 3, 000 00 1,200 00 600 00 3,000 00 2, 100 no 1,440 00 540 00 360 00 540 00 420 00 240 00 300 00 300 00 300 00 240 00 180 00 120 00 ■300 00 240 00 1><0 00 2,100 00 1,800 00 1,440 00 1, 200 00 300 00 480 00 240 00 * Pay of Occupations. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTE- SIOR. SECRETARY'S OFFICE. Secretary of the Interior. Chief clerk First section. Chief of lirst section, inspector of the other five , First assistant Second assistant Clerk Supernumerary Second section. Chief of section First a'^sistant Second assistant Clerk Supernumerary Third section. Chief of section, inspector of rural po- lice First assistant Second assistant Clerk Fourth section. Chief of section, inspector of public im- provements First assistant Second assistant Treasurer Inspector (visitador) Clerk (auditor of the Treasury) Clerk Salary. $4, 500 00 4, 500 00 3 000 00 1 2(10 00 800 00 600 00 180 00 3 000 00 1 200 00 800 00 600 00 180 00 Fifth section. Chief of section . Assistant Clerk Supernumerary . Section of the archives. Chief of section, general clerk . First assistant Second assistant Clerk Sujiei nuraerary Service. Doorkeeper. Janitor SCIIOOI, FOR THE BUND. Director Ailministrator Professor of primary instruction I Professor of secondary instruction .. I Lady in charge of the interior of the house Lady prcfesscu- for gills Keeper of chililren j I'rofe.ssor otiI brass instruments, leader j of the orchestra Professor of gymnastics Professiir (lads) of piano for girls Professor of stiinged instruments I Professor of the clarionet his rank. 3, 000 00 1, 800 00 1, 000 00 600 00 3, 000 00 1, 800 00 800 00 2, 000 OO 1, 800 00 800 00 600 00 3, 000 00 1, 200 00 600 00 180 00 1, 500 00 1, 200 00 800 00 600 00 180 00 600 00 240 00 1, 200 00 360 00 900 00 480 00 480 00 680 00 300 00 480 00 240 00 240 00 240 00 240 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. Salaries of the civil and military employes of Mexico — Continned. 133 Occnpations. School for the blind— Continned. Professor of the flute Professor of tlie liaiitboy and fagot Professor of printinji Professor of the l)iiH8 guitar Professor of the piano, also instructor in singinj: for children. Professor of eane- weaving Professou of lace making Professor of book-binding Professor of chain-making Lady instructor in cigarette making... Doorkeeper Chamberlain Janitor Cook Scullion Chambermaid Gardener Doctor Washerwoman Salary. SCnOOL OF ARTS AND PROFESSIONS FOE WOMKX. Director Subdirectress First monitor Second monitor Thiid monitor Fourth monitor Ladv in charge of expenditures.. Clork Pupil in charge of the wardrobe. Book-keeper and paymaster HOAUl) OK HKALTH. Voter (vocal) Secretary Clerk of statistics Clerk First general messenger Second general messenger Preserver of vacuna Collector (ageute) of vacuna Keeper of vacuna Vaccinator foi' the federal district. Inspector of drinks and eatables.. Auxiliary of above RURAL POLICE. Corps of cavalry. Commandant Chief of detachment Paymaster First corporal Second corporal Private $1240 00 240 00 240 00 120 00 240 00 240 00 240 Oil 240 00 120 00 84 00 108 00 108 00 108 00 108 00 72 00 96 00 120 00 192 00 384 00 1,200 00 1,0(10 00 360 00 360 00 36u 00 360 00 300 00 180 00 96 00 360 00 1,400 00 800 00 800 00 500 00 240 00 • 180 00 1, 000 00 460 00 460 00 600 00 2, 400 00 600 00 2, 520 00 1, 800 00 1, 440 00 1,260 00 720 00 405 00 MUNICIPAL POLICE. Mounted police. Commandant | 2, 000 00 Chief of battalion j 1, COO 00 Paymaster - 1, 600 00 (y'ompany commandant 1,000 00 Second adjutant ' 800 00 Clerks 800 09 Detachment commander I 365 00 Private i 273 75 Farrier 540 00 Saddler 365 00 Armorer 365 00 Occupations. Foot police. Chief of battalion attached to central station Paymaster attached to central station. . Company commandant Clerk ..: Private Auxiliai y POSTAL SERVICE. Central office. Postmaster-general . General clerk Ordinary clerk First section. Salary. $1,600 00 1, 600 00 1, 000 00 840 00 365 00 182 50 4, 500 00 1, 200 00 600 00 Chief of section | 3, 000 00 Clerk.s, speaking Eogli-sh and French.. 1, 200 00 Keeper of the archives 1,200 00 Clei k 1 600 00 Printer I 500(0 Assistant printer I 300 00 Second section. Chief of section . First a.ssistant . . . Second assistant. 2,400 00 1, 200 00 600 00 Third section. Chief of section 2,400 00 First assistant First assistant in charge of stamps. Second assistant 1, 200 00 1, 800 00 600 00 Fourth section. Chief of section 3,000 00 Examining clerk 1,500 00 First bookkeeper 2,400 00 Second book-keeper 1,000 00 Cashier I 1,800 00 Clerk ! 600 00 Service. Doorkeeper . Messenger . . Special agents. District inspector Supernumerary inspector (visitador) . . . DEPAKT:\IENT of PUBLIC AVOKKS, COLONIZATION, IN- Dl'STKY, AND COMMERCE. secretary's OFFICE. Secretary of public works, coloniza- tion, iudustry, and commerce Chief clerk , Section 1. — Geography, statistics, coloni- . zation, and public lands. Chief of section . Fiist assistant... Secoud assisiant . Third .assistant.. Fourth assistant. Fifth assistant... Clork 400 00 300 00 3, 200 00 1, 800 00 8, 000 00 4, 500 00 3, 000 00 2, 000 00 1,800 00 !, 500 00 1,200 00 960 00 6O0 00 134 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO, Salaries of the civil and military offic(rs and emploijeH of Ifextco— Contiuued. Occupations. Section 2.— Industry, mints, telegraphs, weights, and measures. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Clerk Section 3. — Road*, bridges, canals, rail- roads, drainage of the Valley of 2Iexico, harbor and general improvement. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Fourth assisfant Fifth assistant Clerk Section 4. — AgrictMure, commerce, and mining. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assistant Fourth assistant Clerk Section 5, — Pay department, revision, and auditing of the accounts of all branches of the Department, including telegraphy. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Third assisfant Fourth assistant Fifth assistant Sixth assistant '. . . Seventh assistant (examiner) Clerk ; Section 6. — Maps of the department. Engineer director Draftsman Aspirant (aspirante). Section of the archives. Keeper of the archives. General clerk Clerk Salary. Occupations. Service. Doorkeeper. Messenger .. Orderly GENERAL DIKECTOUY OF STATISTICS AND bOCIETY OF GEOGUAPHV AND STA- TISTICS. General directory of statistics. Director First assistant Second assistant Clerk of the archives . Clerk , General messenger $3, 000 00 2,000 00 1,800 00 1, 500 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, 800 00 1, 500 00 1,200 00 900 00 600 00 3, 000 00 2, 400 00 2, 000 00 1,800 00 1, 500 00 600 00 3 2 1 1 1 1 000 00 000 00 800 00 200 00 200 00 000 00 960 00 900 00 GOO 00 2 1 000 00 200 00 600 00 1 800 00 ()00 00 600 00 600 00 300 00 60 00 Society of geography and statistics. Clerk Messenger 3, 000 00 2, 000 00 1, .500 00 1, 200 00 600 00 300 00 GOO 00 300 00 CENTRAL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVA- TORY. Director First observer (subdirector) Second observer Auxiliary Telegraph operator General messenger DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AKD PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. • SECRETARY'S OFFICE. Secretary of justice and public instruc- tion Chief clerk Section of justice. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Clerk Section of public instruction. Chief of section First assistant Second assistant Clerk Section of the archives. Keeper of the archives Clerk in charge of the department's statistics . . - Clerk Service. Doorkeeper Chief messenger General messenger PALACE OF JUSTICE. Doorkeeper Messenger TRIKUNALS OF THE FEDERAL DISTRICT. Supreme court of the district. Property-holding j udge Property-holding judge (supernumer- ary) Secretary Cliinf clerk Book-keeper of the first hall Clerk of proceedings Clerk Librarian Solicitor Executor Janitor .Doorkeeper Civil courts. Judge of civil courts. Secretarv Chief clerk Clerk of proceedings. Clerk Commissary Criminal courts. Judge of criminal courts Secretary Clerk Commissary LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. 135 Salaries of tie civil and militari/ officers and employ^H of Mixico — Contiaued. Occupations. Public office. Solicitor ol' justice Deputy Book-keeper Clerk General messeufrer Clerk hired sessious Connnissarj' of Belom prison, assistant of above Attorney for tlie poor Petty courts. Judge Secretary (attorney) . Chief clerk .". . . Clerk Commissary DEPART^fE^•T OF I'UULIC INSTRUCTION. Directive committee of public instruc- tion. Secretary Clerk Doorkeeper of the Ex-Hospital de Tar- ceros and of the School of Commerce. Doorkeeper Messenger , Dustniau Secondary school/or girls. Directress Subdirectress i also chief prefect Secretary of this school and the annex of the finishing school l also in cliarj;o of the library : Prefeet Professor of mathematics, first and sec- ond ,\ ears Professor of mathematics, third and fou ith years Professor' of mathematics, fifth and sixth years; also inspector of the classes of the two forogoing I'rofessor of physics aud elements of chemistry, ftftii .and sixth years A.ssistant of above ." Professor of theoretical tolenraphy. . . . Professor of practical telegraphy. Professor of tjal vano-plastic . Professor of S])anish grammar, first and second years Pruft ssor of Spanish grammar, third and toiiith years Professor of "Spanish grammar, fifth and sixth years; also insi)eetor of the classes of the two foregoing Professor of chronology andgeography, fii st and second years Professor of history, third and fourth years Professor of history, fifth and sixth years; also inspector preceding years' classes Profes.sor of peinnauship Professor of book-keeping Professor of medicine, domestic econ- omy, aud duties of wonum Professor oi' hygiene aud physiology ; also physician of the school Professor of natural and ornamental drawing and painting in water colors. Assistant of above Professor of French Professor of English Professor of Itjliau Professor of manual labor 600 00 2, 400 00 2, 400 00 1, 200 00 720 00 360 00 300 00 1, 200 00 800 00 600 00 240 00 192 00 60 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 600 00 720 00 720 00 600 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 600 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 1,200 00 Occupations. Salarv. Secondary school for yirls — Continued. Professor of teachiug Professor of operatic singing Professor of piano nuisic Assistant for tlie two foregoing Professor of horticultures and garden- ing, and the elements of practical and natural sciences, with their ap plication to the ordinary usages of life Instructress in the higher branches of manual Labor and in the art of ar- ranging mosses Instructor in fancy-bos making and wood-carving Professor of gymnastics for the school and also for the finishing annex Doorkeeper Assistant doorkeeper A servant for the dei>artment8 of phys- ics, chemistry, natur.al history, tele- graphy, and galvano-plastic, who as- sists in making preparations for ex- periments Maid servant Man servant Watchman A servant wlio attends to the pumps- and waters the fiowers of the estao- lishment Preparatory school for boys. Director Ciiief prefect and secretary Clerk of the directory and secretary's ofiice Prefect Superintendent Clerk of superintendent Librarian Assistant librarian Professor of mathematics, first course . , Assistant professor of mathematics, first course Professor of mathematics, second course Professor of cosmography and geogra- phy ■- -. .. Assistant in charge of the ai)paratus of the foregoing classes, of the astro- nomical observatory, and of the col- lection of mineralogy, and geology. .. Professor of physics Assistant, who performs experiments. . Assistant of above ... Professor of practical mechanics Professor of mineralogy and geology. . . Professor of chemistry Assistant, wlio ])rei)ares the experi- mental apparatus Allowance for above when he performs expci-iiiu;nts Prolessor of natural history Assistant in charge of the geological department and the botanical mu- seum Assistant of above, in charge of the garden and green-house Professor of logic and morals i Professor of general clironology and I Mexican liistory I Professor of music Professor of shorthand writing 1 Professor of gyninastics Professor of literature Allowance to one of tlie foregoing who teaches matliematics ! Professor of Latin I Professor of Spanish $1, 200 OO 700 00 700 OO 500 OO 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 600 OO 300 00 500 OO 300 OO 300 09 144 00 144 OO 180 OO 144 00 o 000 OO 1 300 00 600 00 760 00 1 000 00 300 00 700 OO 600 OO 1 200 00 1 000 OO 1 200 00 1 200 00 480 OO 1 200 00 1 000 OO 300 00 1 000 00 1 200 00 1 200 00 1 200 00 300 OO 1 200 00 1,200 00 480 OO 1 200 00 1 200 00 400 00 800 00 500 00 1 200 00 600 00 800 00 1 200 00 136 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. Salaries of the civil and military officers and employi's of Mexico — Continued. Occupatious. Preparatory school for boys — Continaed. Professor of Mexican or Nahuatl Professor of Greek Professor of French Professor of English Professor of Geiniau Professor of Italian Professor of lineal drawing Professor ofgalvano-piastic and electro- gilding Assistant of foregoing Professor of ])racticai telegraphy Professor of theoretical telegraphy.. Professor of natural and ornamental drawing .. Salary. Service. Head doorkeeper Dooi keeper of the big side of the school building , Dooi keeper of the little side of the school building Chief of servants Janitor and servant of the telegraphy class '. . Master's doorkeeper Servant of the iihysics class Servant of the cluiiiii'al class Servant of the natural liistory class, who also collects plimts Servant of the galvauo-plastic class ... Servant (general) Gardener A ssistant gardener SCHOOL OF JURISriiUDENCE. Director Secretary Pi'efect Superintendent Librarian Professor of liter.attire and eloquence.. Professor of natural law Clerk of the secretary Professor of first course of Roman law. Professor of second course of IJoman law Professor of first course of national law Professor of second course of national law Professor of constitutional and admin- istrative law Professor of international and maritime law Professor of elements of penal legisla- tion .... Professor of civil jiroceedings •Profepsor of criminal proceedings Professor of com|iaiaiive legislation... Professor of legal uieilieitie. Professor of political economy Service. Doorkeeper Assistant doorkeeper. Servant SCHOOI, OF MKDICINE. Directors Secretary Superintendent Prefect Librarian, al.so clerk Assistant of librarian Professor of descriptive anatomy. $800 00 1,000 00 700 OU 700 00 700 00 700 00 700 00 720 00 300 00 720 00 720 00 700 00 300 00 240 00 192 00 240 00 192 00 192 00 300 00 192 00 192 00 300 00 144 00 2, 000 00 1, 0()0 00 760 00 1,000 00 460 00 1,200 00 1,200 00 300 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1,200 00 1, 2110 00 3,200 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 300 00 240 00 240 00 Occupations. Preparatory school for 6oj/«— Continaed. Professor of practical and theoretical pharmacy Professor of physiology Professor of general and topographical anatomy Professor'of external pathology forsec- ouook-kt-eping. Proff.ssor of sreojiraphy, statistics, and history of eoiiiinerce Professor of mercantile, consular, and maritime law Professor ot adininistrativo and consti- tutional law Professor of practical knowledge of home and foreign produets . . . ." Professor of chemistry applied to com- merce Assistant who prepares mixtures for above Professor of French (morninff classes). Professor of French (eveninj; classes) Professor of Kn;:Iisli (morning classes). Professorof Eny:lish (evening classes). Professor of (Jerniau Professor of political economy, theory of eredit. rights of tlie people, diplo- matic usages, and correspondence... Professor of MeMcaii liistory Janitor Servant of the chemical class Occapations. $1, 5oe 00 600 00 400 00 300 00 800 00 1, 000 00 800 00 1,200 OU 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 600 00 800 00 SCHOOL OF FINE AKTS. Director Subdireetor and seeri-tary Superintendent, treasurer, and prefect Watcher (celador) over the students.. Librarian, also clerk Professor of painting Professor of sculpture and ornauiental molding Professor of embossing Professor of e-igraving on plates Professor of drawing from nature Professor of drawing from copies (day classes) Profes.sor of drawing from copies (nil: lit classes) Professor of diawinsi with crayon Professor of decorative and ornamental drawing Profes.sor of anatomy of figures Professor of lineal drawing Professor of composition architectme, classic orders, and copy of monu- 300 00 6.'>0 00 C.30 00 650 00 6.i0 00 700 00 1 , 200 00 J , 200 00 240 00 100 00 1 200 00 1 200 00 1 200 00 500 00 720 00 1 200 00 Professor of descriptive geometry and stereotypography Professor of legal architecture, esti- mates, valuations, anil topo!ira))hy.. Professor of rational (racioual) and ap- plied mechanics Professor of elementary minerology and iieology, who will also make a chemical analysis of the building materials used in this city Professcu- of practical consttnction, 'architecture, and carpentry . Keeper of the galleries of painting and sculpture Keejjerof the galleries of engraving.. Restorer of paintings Service. Doorkeeper . Servant 1,200 00 1,200 00 1, 200 00 1,500 00 800 00 800 00 800 00 1,500 00 fiOO 00 COO 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 0» 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 000 00 1, 200 00 360 00 240 00 900 00 300 00 240 00 SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES. Director Secretary, chief prefect, and librarian. Superintendent and treasurer Toolaiul store housekeeper Prefect Professor of French Professor of English Professor of mathematics Professor of natural and ornamental drawing Professor of molding and wood carv- ing Professor of lineal and mechanical drawing Piofessor of Spanish grammar, arith- metic, geography, .and penmanship.. Professor of physics and elementary mechanics Professor of general and industrial chemistrj' Assistaut preparer of apparatus for above Assistant preparer of apparatus for physics class Director of work-rooms .... Assistant director of work-rooms Servant of w ork -rooms Professor of music Professor of gymnastics Salary. $2, 000 00 1, MO 00 1,000 00 1. 200 00 760 00 700 00 700 00 1, 200 00 600 00 Doorkeeper Watchman . Janitor Service. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. Director General professor Assistaut professor Treasurer-secretary Ph.\sician for this "school, also for the "preparatory" "jurisprudential " and •' arts and trade.s" schools Professor of horticulture Professor of drawing Professor of book-keeping Professor of penmanship Professor of gymnastics Prefect First girl aspirant (aspirante) to a pro- fessorship Second girl aspirant (aspirante) to a professorship First boy aspirant (aspirante) to a professorship . Second boy aspirant (aspirante) to a professorship Third boy aspirant (aspirante) toapro- fe.ssoiship Chief workmjin in book-binding and gihling rooms Teacher of lithography Lady prefect Service. Doorkeeper Cook Scullion Washerwoman Seamstress and ironer Servant Gardener NATIONAL MUSEUM. Director Professorof mineralogy. . , Professor of paleontology . Professor of zoology ". . 800 00 600 00 1, 200 00 1,200 00 800 00 800 00 600 00 240 00 180 00 480 00 300 00 300 00 180 00 240 00 1,500 00 1,200 00 600 00 1, 000 00 1,000 00 360 CO 300 00 360 00 360 00 400 00 480 00 360 00 300 00 360 00 300 00 240 00 240 00 360 00 400 00 180 00 108 00 72 00 84 oe 120 00 144 00 150 00 1, .'■>oo 00 1,200 00 1,200 00 1,200 00 138 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. Salaries of the civil and military officers and emjyloyes of Mexico —ContinvLed. Occupations. National museum— Coutinued. Professor of botany Professor of taxiderra.y Draftsman Secretary, clerk, treasurer, and keeper of the collections Servant Doorkeeper Orderly Service. NATIONAL LIBRARY. Director Clerk Librarian Clerk in chargeof artisans' department. Decipherer of ancient documents Clerk Service. Doorkeeper , Assistant doorkeeper... Gardener Messenger National primary school for boys {No8. 1, 2, 3, and 7). Director, also professor Second professor, who uses objective method Assistant professor Auxiliary professor Professor of English Profassor of music Assistant of above Servant Gardener for No. 7 Pupil who assists in teaching National primary school for girls (Nos. 4, 5, G, 8, and 9). Lady professor (directress) Assistant lady professor, who uses ob- jective method Assistant professor Professor of English Professor of English (Xo. 9) Professor of music Professor of music (No. 6) Professor of gymnastics Servant Pupil wlio as.sists in teaching Paymaster Occupations. Night school for men. Director Second professor Assistant profes.sor . - Servant Night school for women. Directress Second lady professor Assistant lady professor Servant Finishing school for girls. Directress in charge of reading class, also of second year's cour.se of study and English cliiss ". . Assistant lady professor in charge of first year's course of studies , Lady prefect in charge of first section Lady prefect in charge of second section Lady prefect in charge of third section. Ladv ))r()fos3or of manual labor Lady pi-ofcssor of music Lady professor of drawing Auxiliary Servant 1,200 00 300 00 240 00 60 00 2, 500 00 1, 000 00 480 00 700 00 1, 200 00 600 00 500 00 240 00 295 00 200 00 1, 200 00 900 00 480 00 360 00 600 00 600 00 360 00 150 00 1.50 00 300 00 1, 200 00 900 00 480 00 600 00 300 00 600 00 300 00 300 00 150 00 300 00 360 00 800 00 600 00 300 00 120 00 800 00 600 00 300 00 120 00 1, 200 00 480 00 480 00 480 00 480 00 600 00 600 00 480 00 576 00 144 00 Auxiliary primary school for boys. Director Assistant Auxiliary Professor of English Professor of English Professor of gymnastics Servant Elementary school. No. 1, for girls. Directress Assistant . Servant . . . Conservatory of music. Director ■. Clerk of director Librarian in charge of music and in- struments Superintendent Clerk of superintendent Prefect of the boj's Watchman Inspectress of girls Lady watcher (celadora) over the girls. Assistant of foregoing Copyist of music Tuner of instruments Doorkeeper and gardener Janitor Street-sweeper Proftissor of elements of theoretical music and preliminary ideas of har- mony Piofessor of music for children Professor of music for adults Professor of music for girls and young ladies Professor of chorus-singing (solo) Professor of popular glee-singing Professor of chorus-singing, lyith ac- companiment Professor of high artistic singing and elementary anatomy, physiology, and hygiene of the vocal organs Professor of the piano Lady professor of the piano .... Professor of piano accompaniments. . . . Professor of repeating piano Professor of violin and viol Professor of violin Professor of repeating violin Professor of violoncello Professor of liass viol Pnif'essdi' of'liarp Professor of flute Piofessor of hautboy and fagot Professor of clarionet Professor of trumpet Professor of biass instruments Professor of liarmony, counterpoint, and composition ... Profes.soi' of thiol etical and practical ajstheties. history of music, and bio- graphy of celebrated nuisioians Professor of acousticsand phonography Professor of music and zithern playiugj Professor of writing music Professor of French Pi ofessor of Italian Player of accompaniments Salary. $1, 000 OO 600 00 480 00 300 00 300 00 300 00 150 00 600 00 360 00 150 00 2, 000 00 600 00 800 00 1,000 00 360 00 300 00 260 00 900 00 720 00 360 00 240 00 ISO 00 300 00 120 00 36 00 Academy of j)rofessors of primary in- struction. Professor of teaching, whose classes are attended by the assistants of the primary schools Secretary 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 000 00 600 00 1, 200 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 500 00 600 00 600 00 500 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 1, 200 OO , 200 00 350 00 350 00 350 00 600.00 600 00 210 00 1, 200 00 600 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: M?:XIC0. 139 Salaries of the civil and military officers and vmplotj4s of ifexico— Coutimied. Occupations. Salary. Academy of medicine. Clerk (medical student) $600 00 Servant 300 00 LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. CHAMHEK OF DEPUTIES. i Deputy I 3,000 00 CUAilBKH OF SEXATOKS. Senator , OFFICE OF THE CHAMBF.K OF C0XGUE68. Chief clerk First assistant Second assistant - - Third assistant Fourth assistant Fifth assistant General clerk auxiliary of the firat sec- tion ("hief editor Assistant editor Clerk Clerk (telegraph operator) Section of stenography. Chief stenographer Second stenoiiraplier Ordinary stenographer Supernumerary stenographer.. Section of the ai-chives. Chief of section Assistant chief of section. Clerk 3, 000 00 3, 000 00 1,800 00 1,200 00 1,000 00 9U0 00 800 00 1, 000 00 1,400 00 800 00 600 00 800 00 1, 800 00 1,200 00 720 00 200 00 1, 200 00 800 00 600 00 Administration of the "journal of de- bates." Director of the "journal " 600 00 Editor of the "journal " 1,200 00 Pr.iof-reader [ 300 00 Folder 1 340 00 Messenger | 200 00 Treasury of Congress. Treasurer i 4,000 00 Mes.senger ; 240 00 ■ I Service. Doorkeeper Doorkeeper for chief clerk's depart- ment Messen nor House guard Watchman Dustman ■ 1, 200 00 600 00 410 on 400 00 3011 00 72 00 OFFICE OF THE CHAXIBEK OF SENATE. | Chief clerk j 3,000 00 First assistant I 1,800 00 Second assistant i 1,200 00 Third assistant I 1,000 00 Acting general clerk I 800 00 Clerk I 6C0 00 Section of stenography. \ Stenographer '. 1,200 00 Clerk I 600 00 Occupations. Administration of (he "journal of de- bates " of the Senate. Director Editor Folder Messenger • Section of the archives. Chief of the section Clerk Salaiy. Doorkeeper. Mes.senger.. Service. DEI'ARTMEXT OF THE CHIEF AUDITOR OF THE TllEASURY AXD PUUUC CREDIT. Chief auditor First-class auditor Second class auditor Examiuing clerk Book-keeper Corresponding clerk Clerk Chief of the archives Clerk of the archives Doorkeeper Messenger Orderly Sjyecial section for the revision of re- tarded accounts, commencing on July 1, 1865. Chief auditor Second auditor First examining clerk Second examining clerk Third examining clerk Fourth examining clerk Fifth examining clerk Clerk DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Supreme court. Judge of the supreme court Supernumerary judge of tho supreme court Solicitor-general of the nation Clerk of above Attornej--o;eneral Clerk ot aliove Agent advocate, who is prohibited from practicing law within the fed- eral jurisdiction, assistant of solic- itor and attorney 'jenerals Attorney for the defense wlio practices exclusively in the federal tribunals and the courts of the federal district. $600 00 1, 200 00 300 00 240 00 1, 000 00 600 00 800 00 410 00 4, 000 00 2, 500 00 2, 000 00 1,000 00 1,500 00 1, 000 00 600 00 1, 000 00 600 00 500 00 360 00 60 00 2, 500 00 ■>, 000 00 1,500 00 1, 200 00 1, 000 00 800 00 700 00 600 00 4, 000 00 4, 000 00 4, 000 00 600 00 4, 000 00 600 00 2, 000 00 Secretaryships. , Secretary of mandates of the first court, i Secretary of mandates of the second ' court Chief cleik Assist->nt of above Book-keej)er , Clerk Auxiliary clerk | Executor , Second assistant in charge of the ar- | chives Clerk of proceedings j Solicitor Service. ' Doorkeeper] ' Janitor - 1 Orderl v 2,400 00 3,000 00 3, OOO 00 2,600 00 2, 000 00 1,800 00 600 00 360 00 eoo 00 2, .^OO 00 1, 200 00 600 00 500 00 300 00 00 00 140 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. LOWER CALIFORNIA. REPORT BY CONSUL LAMBERT, FOR SAN BLAS, GUADALAJARA, AND TEQUILA SAN BLAS. DIFFICULTY IN SECURING LABOR STATISTICS. Pursuant to the Labor Circular issued by the Department of State at the solicitation of the leading- trade and industrial associations of the United States, Avith a view of obtaining through consular officers the fullest attainable information concerning the condition of labor through- out the world, I have the honor to submit the following results of an imperfect and unsatisfactory investigation made in this consular dis- trict. 1 say unsatisfactory-, because it is a difficult task to examine the labor question in this vicinity from the American standpoint on account of there being neither racial, climatic, nor industrial similarities. It is equally difficult to deduce useful comparison, for the reason that a study of thesubject hereresultsiu presenting to thestudentacomplete economic paradox, namely: Labor in this portion of Mexico, with its knowledge and requirements, is more satisfied, contented, aud independent than labor at home, yet a transfer of the Mexican laborer and his conditions into the United States would be at once revolting to our ideas of man- hood and civilization. HABITS AND CONDITION OF THE LABORERS. As an abstract proposition, labor in this consular district is polite, honest, and faithful, and these qualities are mainly attributable to the almost wholly natural and untutored condition of the laboring class. Nearly, if not quite all, of the trials and troubles Mexico has under- gone politically may be attributed to the discontent and ambitious of men, begotten hj a promiscuous system of education, aided no doubt by their racial antecedents. On the other hand, the comforts required by the laborer of the United States, the food and attention, the demands of society and appearance, the laudable ambition to lead, the dissatisfaction which prevails to a greater or less extent in the breasts of our workmen at the misfortune of their lot in life, the temptation of so(;ial and political preferment — these and other considerations frequently culminate in politics, laziness, or crime. It absolutely disqualifies a great many of our best laborers for usefulness in the broader and nobler fields of production. Notwithstanding the social friction produced by these antagonistic and conflicting forces agitating the majority class, the Anglo-Saxon race (so called) in America and Australia have gradually advanced in material and political prosperity. By these acts of orderly progress they have unveiled to the world a colossal monument unconsciously erected and dedicated to the inherent power of that great race for self-government, and it has no contempo- rary on earth. Those Anglo-Saxons who settled in the United States of America are even prospering to-day, with universal education among the masses, regardless of race or color; unlimited emigration from Europe, and an unrestricted system of naturalization. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 141 With these euornious economic gaps existing between the twin sister republics of the western hemispliere, Mexico is not behind by any means; in fact, she leads all others, except, perhaps, Chili, One mnst visit this conntry and observe its nndeveloped commercial, agricnltnral, and mineral resources in order to fully com[)rehend the magnitude of the calamity which befell Mexico when Oortez escaped from the battle of Otumba. GUADALAJARA. INDUSTRIES. In size and commercial importance Guadalajara stands next to the national capital. It has 15 tanneries, 1 glass manufactory, 5 sugar factories, while nearly every hacienda h;is its panuchc pans ; 5 wax- match factories, 6 cigarette factories, 10 shoe factories, 11 Hour mills, 4 cotton factories, 7 soap factories, 5 breweries, 21 places where mescal is distilled, 4 hotels, and a i)laza de torros where bull-fights are regularly held every Sunday afternoon, and which I am constrained to include among its prosperous industries from the attendance noticed last Sun- day. The manufacture of leather is eminently successful ; the same may be said of i)ottery and all agricultural industries. On account of the altitude, flour of a very good quality is made and sent to all the coast districts, the nearest competitor being the State of Sonora. The large industry of Mexican pottery occupies a great many Indian laborers, but has no orgnnized form, every hut making its own wares. Iron, tin, and copper cooking utensils, as well as water-coolers, bottles, &c., are almost entirely unknown in ilomestic life. The Indian manufact- urer ])acks his pottery into wicker crates, about 2 feet square and from 5 to {) feet long, and starts to diftereut portions of the country on foot with the crate on his back. I have seen one arrive at the port of San Bias, a distance of over 230 miles, dispose of his articles at prices vary- ng from 1^ cents to li'^, and in cases of large pieces as high as 18 cents per piece. The aggregate sales of his cargo will not exceed 812 or $15, but it is nearly all clear gain, there being very little expense except the wear and tear of sandals. The image- makers are generally of a more elevated grade, although their i)roducts find distribution in nearly the same manner. All the skilled labor employed in the industries before referred to receive generally 25, 31, and 37i cents ])er day, Mexican money, when they work. The wax-match factories employ only boys and girls, who average 12^ and 15 cents per day. The large cigarette factory of Lucas Barron employs GOO women and 95 men. I happened to be there Avhen they were being paid otf, and found that it was all i)iece work, the average wage per day being about 30 cents. RATES OF WAGES. The prices ])aid laborers here are from 33.V to 50 per cent, cheaper than at San Bias or any other seaport. This is owing to the tropical climate of the coast, its unhealthy rainy seasons, and expensive travel- ing into the interior every time that season returns. The altitude and latitude of this city makes it the perfection of climatic excellence. 142 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. FOOD PRICES. Xotwithstancling' the difference in wages between the sea coast and the table lauds, they are substantially equal in effect, for the reason that the purchasing' power of a dollar here is equal to about a dollar and a half on the coast. For example, at San Bias beef and pork is worth from 18 to 20 cents per pound ; sugar, 20 cents ; coffee, 25 cents ; corn, from 2 to 3 cents ; beans, from 2 to 3 cents ; flour is little used among the working classes, and is worth froai 10 to 12 cents per pound, while in this locality beef is worth from 12 to 15 cents ; sugar, 15 cents ; coffee, 16 cents ; corn aiid beans, about 1^ cents per pound, and ffour 5h cents. The clothing used- b^^ the laboring classes exclusively is heavy un- bleached muslin, and a serape, while sandals and a broad-brimmed straw hat complete the outfit, at an aggregate outlay of $3. TEftUILA. This place is noted for its celebrated distillations from a peculiar branch of the Aloe americana, which grows much smaller than that branch of the same fsxmily producing imlquc. As these plants are only ready to yield their valuable saccharine product once, and that at the exceedingly tardy period of seven years after planting, the area devoted to its cultivation must necessarily be large. The product of this local distillation having become so popular, the beverage is called after the name of the town where it is made, and not vino de mezcal, which is the correct name. The price of labor here is the same, but, like nearly every industry located outside of city limits, there are hacienda stores everywhere, and it is rarely that the laboring class ever get out of debt. LABOR IN LOWER CALIFORNIA AND IN THE UNITED STATES. This country is beyond question the Utopian paradise of the capital- ist, there being no known " intelligent masses" here to menace or abridge the "reasonable demands" of corporations. However imperfect this report may be in the direction of furnishing comparative statistical data, it will nevertheless tend to show to my fellow-countrymen, the laboring and mechanical classes of the United States, that they do not half realize the exalted itosition they hold to- day as compared with the laboring classes of their near neighbors. The average laborer and mechanic of this country scarcely ever has a bed or pillow to sleep on ; he may have a mat and serape, and that is really all he wants. He rarely knows the toilet uses of wash-bowl, towel, or soap, and is equally irnmindful of his head. He may be for- tunate enougU, if luck be not too uncharitable towards him, to get a suit of tanned goat skin, costing about $6, which will last him as many years with pro])er care. His daily food consists of tortillas, beans, and fruit. He has by law every civil, political, and charitable right belonging to the best citizen of this Eepubiic, but his conditions are incompatible with the exercise thereof. His comparative relation to the employer is about equal to the relations enjoyed between the New York bootblack and the Wall street banker. Strikes are comparatively unknown ; poverty and redundancy of pop- ulation render these institutions entirely impracticable. Therefore, LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 143 every laborer or meobtuiic who can squeeze ont a living in the United States, even in this age of commerce and competition, vshould never per- mit the ephemeral si)irit of venture nor the fictitious legends of the Aztecs to turn his head, unless he be a natural faster and trained to feats of eudarauce on foot. RATES OF WAGES. Following are the daily wages paid laborers, reduced to American money, at 87. o for the Mexican dollar. RICHAED LAMBERT, Crh belonging to the'stato of Jalisco. This is the only method which insures peace in those localities, so remote from the seat of state government, and which oven defied ihe General Government for twenty years, under the leader- ship of Lorado. In ihe ports of San Bias and Santiago. Occupations. Sub-director politico 2 chiefs of police (each) 1 captain of day police 1 captain of ni;:ht police 5 day police (each) 4 nijiht poliee (each) Mnnicipal treasurer Muiiiiipal clerk 3 guards at citA custom-house (each) . Clerk to municipal j udge Highest. $66 66 35 00 20 00 18 00 15 00 18 00 50 00 30 00 25 00 30 00 Occupations. 1 porter (!lcrk to municipal council Ilos|iitaI steward Pliysician I'oiter to hospital Cook to ho.npifal 2 public school teachers (each) 1 health otKcer 2 street cleaners (each) Highest. $15 eo 30 00 40 00 150 00 8 00 5 00 50 00 30 00 15 00 The sub-director politico is appointed by the military commander at Topic, and is superior to the civil authority. The municipal council and judirea are purely honorary and receive no salary. The foregoing salaries are given in Mexican money. 92 A— 2 LAB- 10 146 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month of two hundred and ten hows to employes in Government depart- ments and offices — exclusive of tradesmen and laborers in the custom-house at San Bias. Occupations. 1 collector of cnatoma 1 cashier 1 treasurer 1 appraiser 4 clerks (each) , 1 commandant 1 keeper of warehouse 1 assistant 2 chiefs of harbor police (each) Highest. .$291 66 i 218 75 1 145 83 175 00 51 04 182 29 131 25 109 37 109 37 Occupations. 10 harbor police (each) . . 2 captains of boat (each) 8 boatmen (each) 1 porter to cashier 1 porter in custom-house 1 captain of the port 1 captain of boat 4 boatmen Highest. $65 62 29 16 20 41 35 00 17 50 70 00 29 16 20 14 The captain of the port also receives $3.50 from every vessel entering the harbor. There is also a pilot, who is not required to go aboard, but receives $1.75 per foot for every foreign vessel arriving also $4 for every time a vessel changes her anchorage. These salaries are reduced to American money. XV. Printers and printing offices. statement showing the wages paid per day of twelce hours to printers {compositors, pressmen, proof-readers, 4'0.,) in Guadalajara and Tepic. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Printers Pressmen... Apprentices 37i 43 15 $0 33 33 12 Compositors receive from 33 to 43 cents per thousand proof-readers about ployed. The styles of printing are crude and unartistic. I per week, when em LA PAZ. REPORT BY CON SVL VIOSCA. I have the houor to inform the Department that with all the diligence within my power, my investigations with certain class of laborers and also about the general wages paid to laborersin the different trades and industries of this peninsula, became effective ; the result could not be attained as desired or expected, on account of the exceptional condition, practices, habits, customs, and the entirely primitive state of every in- dustry and of its people ; as to the practicability to give an answer on each of the subjects, it is beyond the reach of any human being, at pres- ent, because the instability of every leading trade, as well the irregular- ities by which the enterprises are managed, the depopulated condition of this country, and the long and slow way of communicating with the interior towns, leave no way or chance for a more extensive or correct report on the subject. I liave simply filled the forms alluded to in the circular and which are here inclosed, knowing that it is not conforming with the manner explained by the Dei)artment, but have arbitrarily filled them as the circumstances permit it, leaving the average column to be taken as tbe standard of wages prevailing in this country. JAS. VIOSCA, (Jonsui. United States Consulate, La Paz June 7, 1884. LABOK IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. I. General trades. Wages paid pel' toeek of ten hours in La Paz, Lower California. 147 Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. Bi'icklavers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Carpenters OTHER TRADES. Baliers Blacksmiths . Stiikers... Bookbinders . Brick-makers . Brt rewers. Bntcliers Drivers, draymen, and teamsters Gardeners Laborers, porters, &c , Printers Teachers, public schools Sailmakers Stevedores Tailors Tinsmiths Lowest. $1 00 63 2 00 50 2 00 75 Highest. Averag*. $1 50 75 2 50 62 2 50 1 33 1 75 1 00 75 1 00 1 00 50 50 80 2 00 1 00 1 50 1 00 1 75 1 50 1 33 80 67 1 00 3 33 1 25 1 50 1 50 2 00 $1 25 6» 2 25 58 2 25 1 00 1 li 87 75 1 25 1 16) «5 58i 90 2 66| 1 12i 1 50 1 25 1 87J Food and food prices. — The working people of this country are free to purchase the necessaries of lif« to mit their own convenience. Their daily food consisting of corn, beans, jerked beef, and meat ! Cost of corn, 3 cents per pound ; beans, 2i cents per pound; jerked beef, 20 cents per pound; meat (fresh), 10 cents per pound. V. Mines and mining. Wages paid in and in connection with the Progreso Company, Valle Perdido Compantf, and San Jose Island Mines in Lower California. Occupations. Superintendents per year. Assay ers do... Assayers' assistants do... Foremen do . Ore millers per day. Engineers per month. Machinists do .. Drillers per day. Minersi inside of mine do Operators in the furnaces do. . . Boys employed in the separation and cleansing of the ores do. . . Common laborers do... Lowest. Highest. $5, 000 00 $4. 000 00 2, 000 00 2, .500 00 900 00 900 00 900 00 900 00 1 1 50 1 50 1 80 00 100 00 60 00 80 00 1 75 2 50 1 75 2 50 1 75 2 00 I 50 75 1 00 1 00 Average. $1 50 90 00 70 00 2 12i 2 12i 1 87J 62i 1 00 VII. Ship-yards and ship-building. Wages paid per day often hours in shijy-yards in La Paz, Lower California. Occupations. "Wood ship-building First assistants Second assistants . . . Lowest. $2 50 1 00 50 Highest. $3 00 1 50 75 Average. $2 75 1 25 62i Note. — Computation for average wages cannot be rated here, as per form suggested in circular, for it would not be exact with the rules for labor ; rates for wages customary in this country, as wages are generally paid by month or day iu isolated works. 148 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen (officers and men) — disUngimhing between odean, coast, and river navigation, and between sail and steam, in La Paz, Lower California. OccapatioDs. OCEAN BAIL NAVIGATION. Masters Mates Seunien Cooks COAST SAILING NAVI 4ATI0N. Masters Mates Seamen Cooks STEAM COAST NAVIGATION. Captains First mates Secoud mates Si'amon Chie f engineers Fiist assistant engineer Second assistant engineer Third assistant engineer Firem en Lowest. $60 00 30 00 16 00 25 00 40 00 20 00 14 00 18 00 100 00 60 00 30 00 20 no 100 00 60 00 40 00 40 00 30 00 Highest. $100 00 50 00 22 00 25 00 75 00 30 00 18 00 20 00 100 00 70 00 35 00 20 00 100 00 80 00 60 00 60 00 30 00 Average. $80 00 40 00 19 00 25 00 57 50 25 00 16 00 10 00 100 00 65 00 32 50 20 00 100 00 70 00 50 00 50 00 30 00 It is bevond possibility to give an idea of the wages for oil and pe^rl fisheries, around the bay and adjacent islands ; but nien employed in that line of bu.siness generally work under contract ; a com- mon rule taken for an average rate makes it at $0.31 per week. IX. Stoke and shop wages. Wages paid per month in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in La Paz. Occapations. Bookeepers Clerks, first claas . . Clerks, Betond class Clerks, assistants . . Lowest. $75 00 40 00 30 00 20 00 Highest. $125 00 60 00 50 00 30 00 Average. $100 00 50 00 40 00 25 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month, with board and lodging, to household servants {toivns and cities) in La Paz, Lower California. Occupations. Female cooks . . . Male, cooks Chambermaids .. Maloseivants . .. Female servants Washwomen Lowest. $S 00 12 00 10 (0 00 4 00 8 00 H ighest. $10 00 15 00 10 00 10 no 6 OU 10 OU Average. $9 00 13 50 10 00 8 00 5 00 9 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. 149 XI. Agricultural wages. Wageapaid to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Lower California. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Male servants* per month . . Servants employed in the sugar mills per day.. Honsehold male servants* per monln.. Household female servants* do $10 00 50 5 00 4 00 $14 00 75 8 00 8 eo $12 00 62^ 6 50 6 00 * With hoard and lodging. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month to employh in Government departments and offices, exclusive of trades- men and laborers, in La Paz, Ijower California. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $333 33J 150 no 80 00 50 00 50 00 20 00 100 00 100 00 80 00 60 00 $333 33i 150 00 80 00 50 00 50 00 20 00 100 00 100 00 80 00 60 00 $333 331 150 00 80 00 50 00 50 00 20 09 100 00 100 00 80 00 Male teachers in the interior 60 00 XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement shoicing the ivages paid per month to printers (compositors, pressvien, proof-read- ers, 4'c.) in La Paz, Lower California. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Printer! $25 00 16 00 $30 00 20 00 $27 50 18 00 Type-setters -- - - - NUEVO LEON. REPORT BT CONSUL OAMPJSELL, OF MONTEREY. I have the honor to submit the following notes on the industries and labor of the State of Niievo Leon : principal industries. The principal industries of this State are cotton factories, flouring mills, tanneries, distilleries, maim factories of hats, shoes, blankets, sad- dles, harness, soap, matches, candles, carriages, wagons and ice; also such industries as tin and coppersmiths, bookbinderies, printing, &c. The above manufactories and induNtries furnish employment to a very- large number of laborers, both male and female. There is very little machinery used in the different shops, and that of the most antique style ; nearly all the work being done by hand. 150 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. RATES OF WAGES. The rates of wages paid to laborers of every class, mechauical, miii- iDg, factories, public works and railways, domestic, agricultural, &c., are exhibited in the inclosed tabular statement. ' COST OF LIVING AND FOOD. The cost of living to the laboring classes is about the same as that in the United States, though their food is of a different kind. The la- borer here lives principally on beans and tortillos (a flat cake made of a coarse corn-meal ground on a stone with the hands) and a small quan- tity of fresh beef, goat, or mutton. They could not afford to eat bacon, as it is 50 cents a pound, and other articles commonly used by laborers are very expensive here. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. Thej' are steady workers, but are generally eye-servants. They make it a rule to spend all they make, chiefly for good clothing. They are very proud about their dress, and will stint themselves of food in order to buy a $10 sombrero and a good suit of clothes. They are generally temperate in their habits. The feeling existing between employ^ and emijloyer is good. STRIKES. Such things as strikes are not known among this people. FOOD PURCHASES. No restrictions are imposed on the laborers by the employers as to where they shall purchase the necessaries of life. They are j)aid alto- gether in silver, as they are afraid of any other kind of currency. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The general condition of the working people is good, though at pres- ent tliej^ may be compelled to live unusually economically on account of a long-continued drought and the unsettled condition of the country. Their houses are built of adobe (sun-dried brick), covered with a thatched roof, neatly whitewashed on the inside, and are generally quite neatly kept, however sparse their furniture. They are not of large frame, but of great endurance physically. While a large number are fond of mescal, a spirituous liquor, yet very few comparatively are addicted to intoxica- tion. The wages of both male and female laborers have been consider- ably increased in the last five years, caused by the introduction of rail- roads and other American enterprises. The wages of men and women do not conflict with each other except perhaps in cotton factories, which of course tends to maintain harmonious and kindly relation among all concerned. A majority of the women can read and write, and the chil- dren are being educated in the public schools ; the education of the children is, however, limited to reading, writing, arithmetic, and geog- raphy. There is desire on their part to increase the facilities offered by the public schools. KOBT. C. CAMPBELL, Consul. United States Consulate, Monterey, Mexico, May 1, 1884. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. I. General trades. Wages paid 2)er tvetk in Monterey. 151 Occupations. BUILDING TKADES. Bricklayers . Hod-carriers Masons Tenders , Plastorors , Tenders Roofers Tenders Carpenters OTHER TRADES. Baki>r8 Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders . . . Brick-makers . . Butchers Brass-founders . Cabinet-iiiakeis Confectioners .. Cigar-makers . . . Coopers . Lowest. Distillers Uriver.s: Draymen and teamsters. (,\ib and carriage SI reet railways Gardeners Hatters Horseshoers Laborers, porters, &.c Lithogra)>hers Milhvrights Nailmakers (hand) Potters Printers Teachers public schools Saddle and harness makers.. Tanners Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths "Weavers (outside of mills) . . $6 00 2 2S 4 50 1 .lO 4 50 1 50 4 50 1 50 4 50 3 00 9 00 4 50 3 00 G 00 4 50 9 00 9 00 3 00 3 00 4 50 3 00 3 50 3 50 5 00 2 00 G 00 9 00 2 00 7 00 6 00 3 00 3 00 5 00 10 00 10 00 2 50 7 00 12 50 3 00 3 00 Highest. $12 00 4 50 12 00 4 .=)0 12 00 4 50 12 00 4 50 12 50 9 00 12 50 9 00 4 50 9 00 G 00 12 50 15 00 6 00 4' 50 12 00 4 50 5 00 5 00 5 00 3 00 7 50 12 50 4 00 10 00 9 00 4 50 4 50 8 00 15 00 12 00 3 50 10 00 25 00 4 00 6 00 Average. $10 00 3 00 10 00 3 00 10 00 2 50 10 00 2 50 10 00 6 00 10 00 7 5Q 3 50 8 00 5 00 10 00 12 00 4 00 3 50 10 00 3 50 4 50 4 50 5 00 2 50 6 50 10 00 12 50 10 00 3 00 8 00 18 56 3 50 5 00 MONTEREY STREET RAILWAY. Wages paid, ivithout board. Occupations. Bookkeeper per month . Yard foreman do. . . Blacksmith do... Conductors do. . . Drivers do... "VVatcInnan do. .. Ordinary stable hands do. .. Kolay boys do . . . CONSTRUCTION. Foreman of track do... Track hands per day. Spikcrs do .". . Lowest, Average . $100 00 $100 00 $100 00 50 00 75 00 20 00 20 00 25 00 20 00 10 00 100 00 50 75 152 LABOK IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week in factories or mills in and near Monterey. Occupations. Foreman Spirners Weavers Servants Females: Spinners . Weavers Servants . Others ... Lowest, Highest. $8 PO $10 00 4 00 6 00 6 00 8 00 4 00 6 00 4 00 C 00 6 00 8 (JO 2 00 3 00 6 00 8 00 Average. $9 Oft 5 00 7 00 5 00 5 00 7 OO 2 50 7 00 Board in factories, $2.50 per woek. V. Mines and mining. Wages paid per day in mines in the State of Kuevo Leon. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $0 50 75 50 $1 00 1 25 75 $0 75 1 00 62i IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per week of seventy-eight hours in stores, wholesale and retail, to males, in Mon- terey. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $5 00 10 00 12 50 2 00 $15 00 20 00 25 00 3 00 Average. Clerks in retail stores Clerks in wholesale stores Bookkeepers Porters $10 00 15 00 18 50 2 50 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and cities) in Monterey. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $8 00 10 00 10 00 5 00 4 00 3 00 $20 00 20 00 20 00 8 00 10 00 5 00 $12 00 12 00 12 00 6 00 Villaiies : 8 00 6 00 XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the ivages paid per week to printers in Monterey. Occupations. Job pvinters Cbmpositors Pressmen Lowest. $5 00 5 00 4 00 Highest. I Average. $20 00 8 00 7 00 15 00 7 00 6 00 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 153 XI. Agricultural, wages. Wages paid to agricultural laboi'ers and household {couniry) servants in State of Niievo Leon. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Laborers : * yield Dnriujr harvest . .. Field laborers f Shepherds per day.. do per month.. do $0 37 50 5 00 8 00 4 00 $0 50 1 00 8 00 10 00 8 00 .$0 37 75 7 00 9 00 Househuld servants. . . do.... 6 00 ' Without board. tWith two bushels of corn. SONORA. REPORT JIT CONSUL WILLARD, OF 6UATMAS. SONORA, ITS PEOPLE AND INDUSTRIES. 1 beff leave to acknowledg^e the receipt of "Labor Circular" from the Department, date of February 15 last, and in reply would state: That in this consular district of Guayinas, which embraces the State of Sonora, Mexico, Ihe largest city, Hermosillo, contains not more than 12,000 people, and the port of Guaymas 6,000 people. Three other towns, Alamos, Magdalena, and Altao, containing from 2,000 to 3,000 population each ; also a number of small villages and pueblos of from 100 to 500 inhabitants. The entire consular district, which is estimated to contain an area of 35,000 square miles, contains less than 120,000 people, which includes the civilized Indian tribes, estimated to be onefitth of the entire popu- lation. There are no manufacturing establishments in the State, ex- cepting a small cotton mill, near Hermosillo, for the manufactun^ of unbleached muslin, which is idle for six months of the year, the pursuits of the people being contined to merchandising, stock rai.siug, and min- ing. The status of this consular district is such that it is difficult to meet the requirements of the circular as to the information sought for. I beg leave, also, to state that the rates given are more applicable to, at or near, what is called our large towns or cities. In the small towns in the interior of the country there is proportionately a cheaper rate paid for all classes of labor than mentioned in the following tables. RATES OF WAGES AND COST OF LIVING. I herewith inclose rates of labor, which will be found in tables an- nexed. The cost of living of the laboring classes varies in the large towns and cities, where the cost is full 30 i)er cent, higher than in the interior of the country, and varies according to condition irom 20 to 60 cents ])er day, while skilled labor, clerks, and employes vary from 30 cents to $1 per day. The articles of food consist of meat, bre:id,coflee, sugar, vegetables, &c., a List of which is hereto annexed, with the retail prices in our towns. In making a comparison of the rates of labor from 1S78 to 1884, as regards prices ])aid for work, it can be estimated at 30 pi'r cent, higher and the price of food, &c., 10 per cent, more than the year 1878. 154 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The working classes as a rule spend wLat they acquire almost as soon as earned, rarely saving money. Their wants are few and simple, and they appear to act on the adage of " sufficient unto the day are the wants thereof." FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The feeling between emploj6 and employer is not marked by the an- tagonism which exists in other countries more populous and prosper- ous. There are no labor unions or organizations, no strikes of employes on any organized scale, and, generally speaking, all disputes are set- tled amicably, without reference to law. HOURS OF LABOR. A day's work is generally considered from sunrise to sunset, with two hours' intermission at noon. This applies to out-door emplo^^inent. In the mines they usually receive task-work, which is, as a rule, estimated at about ten hours per day. The laboring classes that work by the day or week are ]iaid in silver (coin). Those that are emi)loyed by the month are paid according to contract entered into. In some cases one- half or one-third is paid in cash, and the rest in provisions and merchan- dise. In the agricultural districts men are generally employed at the rate of $8 i^er month, receiving iu addition an almud (about a peck) of corn or wheat each week. Beef, sugar, and other articles of food or clothing, if said laborer needs them, lie must purchase. The peon system in this IDart of Mexico, which formerly existed, is practically null and void. POLITICAL RIGHTS. The laboring classes, as a general rule, have few political rights or do not care to exercise them, and they do not enter into the political contest. Their votes always, as a rule, go with that of their employer. EMIGRATION. There has been from this consular district before the commencement and completion of work on the Sonora llailroad a considerable emigra- tion to Arizona and California, as wages there were higher and the dis- ordered condition of the country was such that more chances of bettering their condition and obtaining personal security was presented. Since the completion of the railroad some few have returned as price of wages have increased and a more prosperous condition of aflairs throughout the country exists. RAILROADS AND REVOLUTION. With the advent of the railroad liave ceased revolution and civil dis- turbances, and the laborer to day is not liable to be com])elled to do forced military duty, as was the case formerly in the constantly recur- ring civil disturbances which api)eared at one time to be the normal condition of this part of Mexico. LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. 155 WOMEN LABORERS. The eiuploymeut of women wlio labor iu this consular district is al- most entirely confined to household duties, such as housekeepers, laund- resses, seamstresses, teachers, musical instructresses, cigarette- makers (small cigars), cooks, shop-keepers, &c. The average rate i)aid per day for such emi)loyment, including board and lodging, ranges from 20 cents to 81 per day. FOREIGN LABORERS IN SONORA. The foreign labor, as it exists in this consular district to-day, is con- fined almost exclasively to skilled artisans in different branches of trade. In Sonora there are 56 Chinamen, 50 of whom are engaged exclusivelj'' in the manufacture of shoes and boots and the others as cooks at hotels or mining establishmeuts. I hope that this incomplete report may serve to give an idea of labor as it exists to-day in this part of the northwestern portion of Mexico. A. WILLAED C07lSlll. United States Consulate, Guaymas^ June 12, 1884. I. General trades. JVages paid pel' iveek of sixty hours in Guaj/mas. Bakers Blacksmiths . .. strikers Bookbinders . . . Brickmakers... Butchers Cabinet-IB a ker Confectioners.. Cijrar-niakers .. Drivers Occupation.s. Lowest. Highest. Average. GENERAL TRADES. $15 00 6 00 1 12 00 1 4 50 1 12 00 1 4 50 ' 13 50 1 $18 00 7 50 18 00 6 00 18 00 6 00 27 00 $16 25 6 60 14 40 5 10 14 40 5 10 Carpenters 18 90 OTHER TRADES. bb*i Draj-men and teamsters Cab, carriage, and street railway. Gardeners Hatters .• Jewelers Laborers, porters, (tc. Printers Teachers, public schools Saddle and harness makers Sail makers Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths , 10 50 9 00 4 50 6 00 7 50 6 00 12 00 6 00 4 50 12 00 15 00 18 00 4 50 6 00 6 00 3 50 6 00 12 00 7 50 6 00 7 50 16 00 6 00 15 00 12 30 13 50 10 80 6 00 5 10 8 00 6 80 15 00 8 00 6 80 15 00 13 20 9 00 7 20 8 00 5 80 16 00 13 60 20 00 17 00 30 00 22 80 6 OS 5 10 7 50 6 GO 10 00 7 60 6 00 4 50 7 50 6 60 20 00 15 20 10 00 8 50 8 00 6 SO 12 00 9 30 18 00 16 80 8 00 6 80 156 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA : MEXICO. VI. Railway employ:6s. Wages paid per day to railway employes (those engaged ahout stations, as well as those en- gaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, ^c.) in Sonora, 1884. Occtipations. Lowest. Highest. Ayerage. Conductors $4 25 3 00 6 00 3 50 4 00 2 50 2 50 2 00 2 50 3 00 1 00 1 50 2 50 1 75 3 75 3 00 2 50 3 00 1 00 2 50 $4 25 3 00 6 00 4 00 4 00 4 50 5 00 4 25 5 00 3 00 2 00 1 75 3 00 2 00 4 25 4 00 3 50 5 00 1 50 3 00 $4 25 3 00 Engineers, locomotive 6 00 3 70 4 00 3 10 3 50 Telegraph operators 2 90 Clerks 3 50 Section foremen . . . . 3 00 Laborers .. . 1 40 Track-walkers ... 1 60 Baggage-masters ... 2 70 Engine-cleaners 1 85 Car- builders 3 95 Carpenters 3 40 2 90 Civil engineers .. . . 3 80 1 20 Painters 2 70 VII. Mines and mining. Wages paid per day of ten hours in and in connection with gold, silver, and copper mines in Sonora, Mexico, 1884. Occnpations. Foreinan Aesaver Bookkeeper . Miners Engineers ... Mill hands... Blacksmiths. Carp^ters . . Storekeepers Lowest. Highest. $1 50 $2 00 1 50 2 00 1 00 1 50 2 00 4 00 3 50 4 00 2 50 4 00 2 00 6 00 2 50 6 00 75 1 25 $1 70 1 70 1 20 2 80 3 70 3 10, 3 60 3 00 95 VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen (officers and men) in the port of Guaymas, Mexico, 1884. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Captains .,, . . _ .. $30 00 20 00 12 00 10 00 $60 00 35 00 18 00 IG 00 $42 00 26 00 14 40 12 40 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages phid per month, Guaymas, Mexico, stores, wholesale and retail, to males and females^ 1884. Oecnpations. Bnolclieepers Clerks. Porters Famale clerks in shops Lowest. Highest. $40 00 15 00 16 00 8 00 $150 00 45 00 20 00 12 80 Average. $84 00 27 00 17 60 9 60 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. 157 _X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants, towns and cities, in Sonora, Mexico, 1884. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Cooks ...... ..... $6 00 4 00 3 00 8 00 5 00 $15 00 16 00 8 00 12 00 8 00 $9 60 8 80 Washera and ironei a 5 00 9 60 6 20 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per month to agricultural laborers and household {country) servants in Sonora, Mexico. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Avenge. Foreman of ranch work $20 00 6 00 10 00 6 00 $40 00 8 00 15 00 8 00 $28 00 6 80 Laliorers Herders (vaquoros) 12 00 Cooket 6 60 XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid per week of sixty hours to the corporation employe's in the city of Guayma^, Sonora. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $15 00 $25 00 5 00 7 50 12 50 15 00 25 00 31 25 6 25 7 50 5 00 6 25 2 50 3 75 20 00 25 00 12 50 15 00 25 7 50 2 00 3 00 2 00 2 00 10 00 25 00 10 00 15 00 15 00 15 00 Average. O ity secretary clerks Surveyor Assessor Collector Jailer Assistant jailer Treasurer Captain police Policeinon Cartmcn Indian crovornors Sc'liool te.ichers, male . . School teachers, female City physician $19 00 6 00 13 50 27 50 6 75 5 60 3 00 22 00 13 50 6 75 2 40 2 00 16 00 12 00 15 00 XV. Printers and printing offices. statement shoiving the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers {compositors, press- men, proof-readers, tfc.) in Sonora, Mexico. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Foremen $10 50 9 00 9 00 4 50 $15 00 12 00 13 50 7 50 $12 50 10 20 10 HO 5 70 Type setters Assistants 158 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. A general average of values at retail of provisions, rent, clotMng, cfc, in Sonora, Mexico. 18ri4. Articles. Flonr per pound. Sugar : White do. . . Brown. do... Coflfee do . . . Tea do... Beans do... Corn do... Lard do. . . Meat: Fresh do. . . Dried do . . . Dried peas do. .- Articles. Vinegar per gallon. Milk do... Bread .per pouad. Fish do. . . Oysters ..per gallon. Vegetable per pound . Water per gallon. Potatoes per pound. Rent per month. Calico per yard. Mantu cotton cloth do... Shoes per pair. Value. 60 70 5 3 2i 3| k 6 4 00 20 18 1 75 MATAMOROS. REPORT BT OONSTJL-QENERAL SUTTON. I. General trades. Wages paid per iveek of sixty hours in Matamoros. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Roofers Tenders Carpenters OTHEK TltADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders Brick makers Brewers Butchers Confectioners Cigar-makers Drivers : Draymen and teamsters Cab and carriage Street railways Gardeners Horseshoers Jewelers Laborers, porters, &(5 Printers Teachers public schools Saddle and hanieas makers Tailors Tinsmiths $9 00 3 00 9 oe 3 00 6 00 3 00 9 00 3 00 9 00 6 00 6 00 4 50 6 00 4 50 4 50 4 00 4 00 4 50 2 50 2 50 3 00 3 00 9 00 G 00 e 00 6 00 6 00 G 00 7 50 7 50 $15 00 3 00 18 00 6 00 12 00 4 50 12 00 4 50 18 00 15 00 9 00 4 50 9 00 9 00 9 00 5 00 10 00 6 00 5 00 5 00 3 00 4 50 12 00 12 00 9 00 12 00 25 00 9 00 18 00 9 00 $12 00' 3 00 12 00 4 00 9 00 4 00 10 OO 4 00 12 00 9 CO- 8 00 4 50 7 00 6 00 6 00 4 50 6 00 5 0» 3 00 3 00 3 OO 4 00 10 00 8 00 7 50 9 00 10 00 7 CO 9 fO 8 0« LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. VI. B,AILWAY EMPLOY]6s. 159 Wages paid per month to raiUcaij emploi/^ (those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, i^c.) in Malamoros, OccDpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. 160 00 $85 00 $60 00 50 00 75 00 40 00 75 00 46 00 20 00 20 00 75 00 30 0« 83 00 27 50 80 00 Warehousemen 30 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Waqes paid per loeek of eighty hours in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Matamoros. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Bookkeepers $7 50 12 50 10 00 3 00 1 25 $25 00 30 00 29 00 7 00 7 50 $15 00 ''5 00 Salesmen : Better sort 15 00 Small shops 5 00 Boya 5 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wagespaid per month to household servants (toivns and cities) in Matamoros. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Cooks : Men , $6 00 4 00 6 00 3 00 3 eo $25 00 $10 00 10 00 7 00 House servants : Men 30 00 12 00 15 00 1 8 UO Nurses 15 00 R on XI. Agricultural wages.* Wages paid per month to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Mata- moros, Mexico, with or without boardand lodging. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Farm laborers $5 60 $15 00 $12 CO 'An allowance of com, and occasionally other .supplie.s, and houses, are generally added. 160 LABOR IN NORTH AMERICA: MEXICO. XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid per week of sixty hours, more or less, to the corporation employes in the city of Matamoros, Mexico. Occupationa. Secretary "Writers Porter Keeper of the clock Treasurer '- Book keeper Weigher Guards at gates Alcalde Diiectorof hospital Administrator Druggist Chief nurse* Nurses" Cook* Grinder* Chief of police First assistant Mounted jiolice Foot police Night police Scavengers Hide and cattle inspector. Lowest. Highest $7 50 20 00 12 00 8 00 4 00 5 00 5 00 $12 00 30 00 25 00 12 00 6 00 7 50 8 00 Average. $20 00 10 00 5 00 5 00 25 00 15 00 20 00 10 00 7 50 15 00 8 00 6 00 6 00 3 50 4 00 2 75 15 00 7 50 7 50 5 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 * And food. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month of two hundred hours, more or less, to employes in government depart- ments and offices, exclusive of tradesmen and laborers, in Matamoros, Mexico. Occupations. Collector of castoms — Auditor Chief clerk Second clerk Vista Writers Chief of guards Second chief of guards Guards Federal district judge. . Secietarv to couit Pnl)lic prosecutor Postmaster Feder.il fiscal agent Auditor Division superintendent. Manager Operators Book keeper Clerk Translator Governor Secretary Privale secretary Clerks and writers Dl^putiea Chief clerks Writers, &.c TELEGEAPH. SUPREME COURT. Magistrates • Treasurer Secretary W riters. &c Defender of poor Judges of ihe first instance Defender of poor AV Titers ■ Treasurer Auditor Bookkeepers, writers, &c ... Puidic printer Director Lowest. $40 00 30 00 20 66 30 00 Highest. Average. $60 00 75 00 '45 66 70 00 $300 00 200 00 125 00 100 00 125 00 6U 00 150 00 125 00 50 00 300 00 120 00 200 00 80 00 200 00 125 00 125 00 108 00 70 00 60 00 50 00 25 00 300 00 200 00 100 00 50 00 100 00 100 00 30 00 1.50 00 150 00 100 00 50 00 80 00 125 00 30 00 30 00 2(10 00 100 00 50 00 100 00 40 00 LABOR IN CENTRAL AMERICA: BRITISH HONDURAS. XV. Printers and printing offices. 161 Statement showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (composito-rs, pre^ismm, proof-readers, aid per month to agricultural laborers and hounehold (country) servants in British Honduras, without board and lodging. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Frnit plantations : $13 20 $14 60 6 50 { 8 40 14 50 16 20 6 50 8 40 $14 40 7 20 Sugar plantations : Males 15 20 Females 7 20 Other farm laborers (male). Mahogany cutters . . Mahof:anj- raftmen. Logwood cutters ... Logwood boatmen . Wood cutters : Foremen Clerks 10 00 15 10 9 40 14 .50 8 90 15 00 16 M 12 60 16 50 10 80 11 70 15 65 10 60 15 65 9 60 16 50 18 40 168 LABOR IN CENTRAL AMERICA: BRITISH HONDURAS. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month to employes in Government departments and offices, exclusive of trades- men and laborers, in British Honduras. Occupations. Hours per day. Lieutenant governors Private secretaries to above Colonial secretaries First clerk to same Second clerk to same Colonial treasurers First clerk to same Second clerk to same Surveyor-general Clerk to same Colonel engineer Clerk to same Chiefjustice Chief police (inspector) . . . . Sergeants (inspector) Corporals (inspector) Constables: First class Second class Third class Revenue officers Prison superintendent Turnkeys Matrons Overseers Lighthouse keepers District magistrates Interpreters and clerks Attendants and messengers. Lowest. Highest. $675 00 $7 00 20 00 24 00 15 00 Average. 44 00 200 00 50 00 24 00 $675 00 88 00 212 00 80 00 70 00 206 00 112 00 70 00 140 00 30 00 200 00 46 00 375 00 128 00 36 00 32 00 27 00 23 00 18 00 45 00 85 00 39 00 20 00 20 00 30 OO 120 00 38 00 19 00 XIV. Trades and labor — Government employ. Wages paid by the week of fifty-four hours to the trades and laborers in Government employ in British Honduras. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $10 20 10 20 5 40 5 40 9 60 9 60 9 60 9 60 6 90 12 60 14 85 3 05 4 20 4 60 9 60 $10 20 10 20 5 40 5 40 Roofers 9 60 Carpenters 9 60 Blacksmiths 9 60 Coopers 9 60 Draymen 6 90 Gardeners 12 60 Printers $5 95 2 55 3 05 3 10 6 90 9 50 Agricultural laborers 2 8i Female laborers 3 00 Male porters, &c 4 20 Painters 9 eo XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of fifty-four hours to printers (compositors' pressmen, proof-readers, ^c. ), in British Honduras. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. News compositors $6 30 $10 00 $9 00 Pressmen (hand) .. .. 6 00 Book work (law) 14 85 14 85 12 00 Job work (plain) 9 00 12 00 SOUTH AMERICA. u:n^ited states of Colombia. BARRANaUILLA. REPORT BY CONSUL DAWSON. DIFFICULTY OF SECURING STATISTICS. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Labor Circular of February 15, 1884, and in reply to the same I beg respectfully to call your attention to the difficulty of obtaining such information accurately iu this country, where there are no statistics or organizations to aid one. Consequently the facts presented have been obtained after many per- sonal applications to those in authority, who finally consented to their use. This has naturally consumed much time in the preparation. I will now consider your questions iu their order. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in the consular district of BarranquiUa, United States of Colombia. Occupations. BUILDDIG TRADES. Bricklayers Hoa-caniera Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Hoofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants Carpenters Oas-fitturs OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmit hs St rikers Book-l)inder8 Brickmakers Bntchers Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cl^ar-makers Distillers Drivers : General Draymen and teamsters Cab, carriage, &c Lowest. Highest. Average. $3 34 $9 66 $7 74 1 92 4 84 3 90 3 84 9 66 7 74 1 92 4 84 3 90 3 84 9 66 7 74 1 92 4 84 3 90 5 62 12 06 7 74 5 62 12 06 7 74 1 92 4 86 3 90 12 06 24 18 14 52 4 84 9 72 7 74 5 92 12 06 7 74 12 06 24 18 14 32 3 84 7 74 4 84 3 84 12 00 9 60 1 92 4 84 4 84 4 84 5 92 4 84 1 92 9 66 4 84 1 92 3 81 3 84 5 92 14 52 7 74 1 92 7 74 4 84 1 92 4 84 4 84 1 92 4 84 3 84 1 92 7 74 3 84 1 92 4 84 3 84 1 92 7 74 4 84 1G9 170 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. Wages paid per week in the consular district of JiarranquiUa — Coutinued. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Otiieu trades— Contimied. | Gardeners j $1 92 Hatters ' 1 92 Horse-.sboers ' 3 84 Jewelers 5 92 Laborers, porters, &c 1 92 Nail-makers (hand) 3 84 Potters •. . 1 92 Printers 3 84 Teachers (public schools) 7 74 Saddle and harness makers i 4 84 Stevedores 4 84 Tanners j 4 84 Tailors 3 84 Telegraph operators 3 84 Tinsmiths (outside of mills) ! 3 84 .$7 74 7 74 12 06 12 06 4 84 12 06 9 66 5 92 30 22 7 74 7 74 9 66 9 66 20 15 9 66 $3 84 3 84 9 66 9 66 3 84 9 66 4 84 4 84 12 09 5 92 5 92 5 92 4 84 12 09 5 92 II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in factories or mills in the United States of Colombia, Barranquilla consular district. Occapationa. Lowest. Highest. Average. Soap and candle factory : $4 03 12 09 3 22 1 92 4 03 12 09 1 92 4 03 12 09 1 92 4 03 12 09 1 92 4 03 3 84 12 09 20 15 7 74 1 92 $12 09 20 15 4 03 5 92 9 66 20 15 3 84 12 09 20 15 3 84 12 09 20 15 3 84 24 18 7 74 12 09 20 15 7 74 1 92 $7 74 12 09 3 22 3 84 Saw-mills : 7 74 12 09 2 90 Cotton ginning : 7 74 12 09 2 90 Sugar-mills : 7 74 12 09 2 90 Tannery : 12 09 4 84 Match factory : * 12 09 20 15 7 74 Errand boy 1 92 * Only one of these. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iro)i works, in Barranquilla consular district. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Railroad shops : ■ $30 22 16 12 12 09 12 09 6 04 $30 22 16 12 12 09 Blacksmiths 12 09 Helpers 6 04 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. 171 IV". Glass- WORKERS. There are no fjlass workers in the country, started near Bogota, but did not succeed. A glass manufactory was V. Mines and mining. Waget (laid per day or week of fiixti/ houra in and in connection with the gold placer mines in Barranquilla consular district, United States of Colombia. Occupations. Foreman $30 22 ! $30 22 Engineers I 24 18 ' 24 18 Laborers, washers t 4 84 I 7 74 Clerks i 16 12 | 16 12 There are a few mines working in this consular district. These are gohl placer, and are worked very simply. They are exploring for copper, co il, petroleum, and aaphaltum. VI. Eailway employes. Wages paid per month to railway emplo;ies in Barranquilla consular district. Occupations . Average wages. Managers Cashier Assi-stant cashier Clerks Ticket agents Telegrai)l» operators . . Storekeeper Assistant storekeeper Check clerks Master mechanic Conductor Engine driver $201 50 80 00 40 30 32 24 56 42 36 27 80 60 48 36 40 30 120 90 64 48 48 36 Occupations. Foreman of shop Master carpenter Road foreman Linemen Switchmen Track boss . Captiiin of tugboats .. Engineer of tug boats Seamen * Pilots' Bargemen* Porter Average wages . $64 48 64 48 32 24 32 24 24 18 32 24 80 60 80 60 20 95 32 24 25 79 16 12 ' Put with railway employ6s, as they work under the control of the railway company. VII. Ship-yards and SHip-BUiLDma. There are no ship -yards established here. The river steamers are built abroad and erected here under the man- agement of foreigners sent out with tlie material. Flat-boats, canoes, and bungoes are built and all classes of vessels are repaired by house carpenters. If any modeling is to be done, plans must come from abroad. 172 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen in Barranquilla consular district. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Steamers, river : Captains Pilots Pursers Engineers Second engineers . Mates Firemen Stewards Superintendents . Agents* Steamers, ocean : Captain Engineer Seamen $48 36 64 48 32 24 72 54 48 36 16 12 12 09 16 12 161 20 $241 80 120 90 48 36 120 90 64 48 40 30 16 12 32 24 403 00 $120 90 80 60 48 36 120 90 48 36 24 18 12 09 24 18 Pilots . Bargemen Canoe-men and bargemen : Pilots Canoe-men 06 24 18 I 7 68 I 80 60 80 60 20 95 32 24 25 79 80 60 24 18 32 24 ■ Five per cent, commission of the freight receipts. IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per month of three hundred hours in stores, wholesale and retail, to males and females, in Barranquilla consular district. Occupations. Corresponding clerk $24 18 Bookkeepers 24 18 Salesra en i 6 48 Apprentices 1 * 03 Errand boy 4 03 Storage * *One-half per cent, commission. Many of the retail stores are attended by the members of the family, and consequently no salaries are paid. X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and cities) in Barranquilla consular dis- trict. . Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Averajte. $7 24 2 42 7 24 4 84 12 09 8 06 $16 12 9 67 16 12 16 12 16 12 24 18 $12 09 4 84 12 09 Waiters 8 06 12 09 16 12 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per week to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in Barran- quilla consular district, with hoard. Occupations. Lowest. I Highest. $4 84 $20 15 4 84 20 15 4 84 20 15 n 1 8 oe ' Board. LA.BOS I.V SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. 173 XII. Corporation employes. fVages paid per month to the corporation employes in the city of Barranquilla, United States of Colombia. Occupations. 1 Wagea. s Occupations. Wages. (Jovemor $120 90 120 90 1 56 42 80 fiO 1 Policemen . Servants... $12 09 Id&yor 4 84 161 20 Interpreter 46 36 XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month of three hundred hours to employes in Government departments and offices, exclusive of tradesmen and laborers, in Barranquilla consular district. Occupations. Pay. AEMY.* j General (army*) $201 50 Colonel I 141 05 Lieutenant-colonel 100 75 Major ' 80 60 Captain 65 49 Lieutenant j 50 37 Ensi^in 40 30 Private : 12 09 Occupations. CUSTOM-HOUSE Collector Assistant Storekeeper ■Weighmaster Clerks Captain of the port Interpreter Guardsmen Inspectors Laborers Pay. $201 50 120 90 48 36 72 54 32 24 80 60 48 36 20 15 120 90 24 18 * In time of war all officers receive three times this amount of pay. XV. Printers and printing offices. Statt'ment showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (compositors, j3/T8smert, proof-readers, Jj-c.) in Barranquilla consular district. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Editors $8 06 6 45 81 $40 30 Printers 16 12 2 42 COST OF living. The cost of living to the laboring classes varies greatly in this consu- lar district; and it may be well to refer to m^' report on " Labor in Co- lombia," printed in the United States Consular lleports, No. 34, October, 1883. It is perfectly safe to say the cost of living to the work-people here is equal to their wages. WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. The rates of wages have not changed since 1878. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The working classes are steady and trustworthy for a time, but owing to the facility with which their necessities are supplied, they are not as much disposed to laborious industry as they might be. Tiieir vices are -those attendant upon drinking. They do not save. 174 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOY:^ AND EMPLOYER. As this is a free country, employer and employe affiliate freely, and the eft'ect is a general interest in any subject affecting the community, and the educational standing is thereby increased. Much can be accom- plished by appealing to their citizenship which would otherwise remain undone. ORGANIZED CONDITION OF LABOR. There is no organized condition of labor or capital. All business is conducted in accordance with the local conditions which surround cap- ital or labor, and vary in detail as the localities vary. While the laws authorize the governor to bind men to work as per any agreement which may be made before him, yet few, if any, of the authorities would aid in compelling men to carry out their contract should they see fit to break it. PREVALENCY OF STRIKES. Strikes are unknown here. Most disagreements are settled by arbi- tration. FOOD PURCHASES. The working people are free to purchase what and where they please. They would resent any other treatment. They are paid every Saturday night in silver or bank bills. It is sometimes customary to give each workman 20 cents per day to buy the day's provisions. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. These societies are unknown here. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING PEOPLE. The homes of the working classes do not vary greatly, excepting those in the larger cities who may belong to a better class than those in the small towns or country. In the country a man can locate his house in the woods without fear of disturbance, erect the same in one day from the wild growth surrounding him, and soon have a clearing made upon which he can grow three crops of corn in a year. He must not plant more than his children can protect, however, from the wild parrots and animals, whicli like cultivated food. The plantain and banana produce within eight months from the seed, and thereafter, without nuich care, yield a continual harvest. The yam and yuca, a species of potato, yield quickly and are very hardy. Sugar-cane once planted is always pres- ent. With these productions growing around him, and the river near to supply him with fish, the native is happy, depending for his meat upon the wild animals he can kill with spears made from the lance- wood of the country, or which he can entrap with the variety of contrivances he has the faculty of making. His only necessity for money is to pro- vide salt, rum, tobacco, clothes, and the machete, a long knife which he uses for every purpose, from picking his teeth to cultivating his lands. The money is gained by work for some richer neighbor ; by cutting wood for the river steamers ; by catching and drying fish for the city markets, or by cultivating the ground in excess of his own require- ments. Fruits grow very abundantly. By planting the necessary trees the native secures his marketing very easily, if living near a large city. LABOR IN SOUTir AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. 175 The iminber of uiticles which he obtains, the purchase of which requires money, depends in a great nunisure on the facility for securiiio- remuner- ative work and tlie energy of the man. The salt for the food of the family amounts to very little, and becomes an im[)ortant factor only, when tishing or hunting, to niake the results of his labor available for the market. The rum of the country varies from the Chicha, which is merely fermented cane-juice, to the distilled liquor. As taken by the poorer people, the liquor is colorless and cheap. The tax imposed by the municipal authorities varies from $1 to $3 per demijohn. Tobacco is grown in certain sections of the country, and as men, women, and children generally use it, this article has become a necessity, and money goes for this as long as any remains. The clothing of these families amounts to very little, as the children usually go without any until they attain an age at which they are self-sustaining j and as neither hat, shoes, nor stockings are required, this expense is saved. If any wish these articles, they make them from the fibers of the trees and plants near them. The men wear hats, shirts, pantaloons, and shoes; the hat is plaited from the reeds of the swamps; the shoes are cut from the tanned hide of any animal they may kill, domestic or wild, pig or alli- gator. This shoe is simply a piece of the leather cut more or less ac- cording to the shape of the sole of the foot, and fastened on by strings. The clothes are made of coarse cotton or linen goods. Two suits will last a man a year. The actual cash required to supply this family one year would be about as follows: Actual necessities, $S; rum and to- bacco, $10.40. There are many of this class in the country. In Barran- quilla a laboring man can get board for $6.20 per month. Laborers in the city and on cattle ranches eat the most meat. They will have meat daily, if possible, or at least three times a week, and house servants expect it twice a day. Salt fish is, however, the main support, and as the city laborer must purchase everything, he is better paid, as will be seen from the following statement : A BARRANQUILLA MASON'S STATEMENT. I am t hirty years old. I am a mason. I have a wife and six childreu, the oldest ten years aud the youngest one month old. I receive $1.61 per day. The average wage* paid to masons is $l.'it) per day. I have work about two-thirds of the time. I begin worlcat (i o'clock in tlx- moriiingand quit at a o'clock in the afternoon, and have one hour for breakfast at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Supper comes after the day's work is done. My wife does not earn anything in addition to my earnings. With general good health I can earn about $3d(J per year. I pay per annum as follows : Items. i Cost. Items. 1 Cost. $8 60 15 00 For water, Vironslit on donkeys' l)acks, ati 10 cents a Ina.l 1 29 92 , For repair to tool.s, &c For tobacco, rum, sweets, &c 36 50 9 37 i-or I'ood, alxmt ! 116 80 ! Total 380 DO For doctor's bills, as per last year 12 09 My family and myself have coftoe and corn bread. The latter is made out of corn pounded tine, mixed with water and salt, wrapped in a corn husk, and boiled. For breakfast we have dried tish, plantain and yam, yuca and beans boiled together into a "sancoche" (a soup) ; for dessert, melons, mangoes, bananas, or other fruits. For dinner we have a meat " sancoche," Sometimes we have bread ; always collee, or a drink made by dissolving the native sugar in water, called guarapo. It is difficult to save anything with my family, and the»very little that is saved is by my wife from her chickens, pigs, and goats. 176 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. The standard of the laboring class is improving slowly. Their natural physical condition is one of strength ; but the climate does not promote Ionge^^ty, and consequently there are but few old men. RELATIONS BETWEEN EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYE. The relations between employer and emjiloye are those of amity and good-will, as the laboring man will not work for money only, but re- quires to be treated as a freeman. POLITICAL RIGHTS. Every man, under the law, has the right to vote, but comparatively few exercise that right; consequently the workingman has little or no influence on legislation. The revenues of the General and State governments are raised by imjjost duties; the local tax by imposts on rum, rents, and licenses; also by a direct tax of two days' labor annually or its equivalent in cash. The tendency of legislation is to extend railways and open water com- munication by subsidizing various projects, and thus benefit the laboring classes and give greater facilities to actual settlers on Government lands. Part II. — Female Labor. Any statement of the number of women and children employed in this consular district in industrial pursuits, not including ordinary household duties, or domestic servants, would be mere guess-work, as there are no statistics to aid one, and no returns by the manufacturer to the Government. Therefore I can give but a general idea. In the manufacturing and mechanical pursuits women make hats, mats, and i)ottery. They do not work by the day, but sell their own wares. Their number is small. Commercial, including transportation, number small. Yery few women in this country fill any of the professional and per- sonal occupations, excepting those of teachers, hotel and boarding- house keepers, laundresses, and musicians. The last two classes abound. In the pursuit of agriculture the women and children often take the place of the men, and cultivate the ground and market the i)roduce, while the head of the house is fishing or attending to other matters. Where gold is washed out of running streams, it is not unusual to see husband and wife washing the dirt side by side, but women never work in the mines for wages. It is supposed there is a surplus of females in the country, and that a majority of them are workers ; but it is impossible to classify or number them. It may, i)erhaps, be safely said they do the heaviest part of the work, and yet are in comi^lete subjection to their lords. The average wages paid to female adults do not vary from those paid to males, when they perform the same work. The hours of labor are the same, and in general the same remarks may be applied to both sexes. THE COLOMBIAN WORKINGMAN. The laboring man is willing to work, docile in his nature, apt in learn- ing, and, when treated with the kindness and consideration due to human nature, will accomplish any reasonable task assigned him. His LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. 177 wajjes are low, but on a scale with his requirements. Without any great incentive to improve his condition, the innate desire of ^ain and comfort causes his exertions, and the inbred principle of barter makes merchants of all of them, and Colombia has the bone and sinew and natural resources to raise her into a great i)roducing country. THOMAS M. DAWSON, United States Consulate, Barranquilla, August 23, 1884. Consul. MEDELLIN. REPORT BY CONSUL ESMOND. In accordance with the " Labor Circular " from the Department of State of February 15, 1884, I hav^e the honor to submit the following in response thereto : RATES OF wages. The rates for every class of labor in this State vary only in the ex- pertness of one laborer over another, independent of the vocation, whether mining, mechanical, or agricultural. Price per day, from 4 rials to 1 peso (32 to 80 cents), and if away from their homes board in- cluded. COST OF LIVING. The cost of living is greatly dependent upon the mau's disposition to work extra hours or not, as the natural fertility and cheapness of the ground renders it easy for each laborer to possess a garden spot sutlicient to produce the necessaries of life, with but little taken from his wages to accomplish the same. Xearly all grow their own corn, platinos (species of banana), and yucas, and in addition to these their food is simple, and costs, according to the locality, whether mining or agricultural, as follows : Minim) districts. — Panela,* 2 to C pounds for 2 rials (16 cents) ; beans per almud {11.^ pounds), 8 to 20 rials (64 to 100 cents) j beef is used very sparingly, 15 to 25 cents per pound. Agricultural districts. — Panela, 7 to 15 pounds, 2 rials (16 cents) ; beans per almud, 5 to 12 rials (40 to 9G cents) ; beef, 7J to 12J cents per pound. The few who do not raise corn, platanes, and yucas need to pay for the same in mining districts. Corn per alnuul {11.^ pounds), to 10 rials (48 to 80 cents) ; platinos and yucas, 5 to 10 rials (40 to 80 cents) .per 100, Corn i)er almud, 2i to 6 rials (20 to 48 cents) ; platinos and yucas, 2 to 4 rials (16 to 32 cents) per 100. Kice, cheese, and butter are luxu- ries, and bread from Hour of wheat is a rarity. The " representative man" is generally in debt, keeps no account of his income or expendi- tures, and any definite idea of the costs per capita of his family living j)er month or year would be quite troublesome even for him to obtain. The clothing consists of trousers of coarse cotton cloth, costing from 9 to 13 rials (72 to 104 cents), and a shirt of white cotton or a fancy- P'.* Crude sugar in l-pomid cakes. The "staff of life" of the laboring class of this State. 92 A— 2 LAB 12 178 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. checked calico, costing 4 to 10 rials (32 to 80 cents). Needing neither boots nor coats, the cost of clothing is inconsiderable. The majority have small houses of their own. Those not having them live with relatives and escape rents. WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. Am not aware whether report upon Labor Circular was made for this district in 1878 or not. By inquiry I find that the wages of all classes have advanced 20 per cent, since that date without any change in the conditions then prevail- ing other than the preseut increased and increasing currency of bank bills in lieu of the silver coin, concerning which bills the laboring class, possibly without reason, are very suspicious. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The majority steady, but not trustworthy ; faithful, but as a man knowing that lie has to work and is watched. Many are trustworthy and receive from their employers confidences that if misplaced would cause losses of thousands of dollars. They have small chance of "saving," as their families are large, and until such time as a man has a family expense of his own he is called upon and generally does assist that of his parents. The principal cause of evil is the extreme laxity in enforcing good laws, and the rank poison, aguardiente (new white rum), sold at nearly every house on the road or in towns at less than 2 cents per glass. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The employer pays the least he can, taking advantage of every cir- cumstance of the man, and demands ail the work the man is capable of executing; the man working for the best price he can get, for such time as his convenience permits, and leaves without notice, no matter how great inconvenience or loss the employer may suffer thereby. A contract to labor a specified time at a specified price is of no account. A feeling of distrust exists between employer and employe to the ex- tent of preventing the carrying to success any considerable work of im- portance depending upon the services of the laboring classes.* This dis- trust I believe hinders in a great degree the prosperity of the community. There are laws upon the statutes that would correct the cause of this distrust, but they are not enforced. There are no labor organizations within this State, and strikes are unknown. FOOD PURCHASES. They are free to purchase where they choose. Some mines have stores of their own, but neither ask or expect the men to purchase there if they do not wish to. Establishments in or near cities pay weekly in coin and bank bills. Mines distant from cities pay every month and during the month if re- quested — all in silver coin. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, ETC. There are none here. * Since writing the above, in speaking with several prominent capitalists and mer- chants, they tell me that such is the fact. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. 179 GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. From the fact that tliej' can save bnt a very small sum, if anything at all, for old age, accident or sickness,their general condition is bad. In that it is.true that to all who care to work oi)i)ortunity is never lack- ing at wages that will secure the necessaries of life (with which their ambitions are satisfied), one might say their condition was good, for no severe seasons or failure of employers to pay ever distresses them. They live harmoniously, ^ach man securing a habitation for his family by themselves, it being very rare indeed for two families to live under the same roof. Their homes are in small houses of two or three rooms, beside the cook room (generally a small " liutern" unconnected with the other rooms), neither having a tioor other than the earth, and without chairs or fur- niture, and generally lacking a table ; a rude bench upon one side of the main room serving for a "settee" during the day and bed at night for those of the family who cannot "pack in" in the bedroom proper. These rooms are kejjt clean and tidy. Every family keeps a few hens and a pig to fatten, the pig being their only savings bank, the receipts from the sale of which are not used for living expenses, but in reducing the little store debt or re enforcing the clothing of the family. Food. — At 5 to 6 a. m. agua dulce (sugar and water) and one arepa (cake of corn bread); at 9 to 10 a. m. breakfast brought to the work, consisting of sancocho (a mixed soup of yucas, bananas, and a small piece of meat), one-fourth pound of panila (crude sugar in cake), and one arei)a, the meal occupying 20 or 30 minutes. Dinner brought into the works at 3 p. m., occupying 30 minutes, and consisting of sancocho, a large dish of boiled beans, a pint of masamora (similar to the American farmer's "hulled corn"), and one-fourth pound of panila. After work at night, the agua dulce and arepa, same as in the morning. Clothing. — Working suit of pants and shirt so skillfully patched as to completely hide the original material. Hat of straw, cheap affair. For Sundays and feast days, clean autl tidy trousers and shirt of fancy- col- ored design, surmounted by the cloth ruana (poncho). A tine hat of home manufacture costs from $2 to $6. With the exceedingly strongly marked line that exists between the employer and employe, and the reciprocal distrust between them, with the money in the hands of a few, it seems evident that the chances for bettering the condition of the laboring classes here are very slight. Their moral condition is generally good ; the physical more than good, and the majority take a pride in performing long and arduous tasks when directed what to do, or working at tasks that they understand how to l)erform. The influences that surround them for good or evil are, upon the one hand, the church and family ; the other, lax administration of the law and free rum shops. STATEMENT OF A WORKINGMAN. A representative man of the working class answers as follows: Question. How old arc von ? — Answer. Forty-two. Q. What is your trade ? — A. Rough carpenier and experienced miner. Q. How much of a family have you ? — A. Wife and six children. Q. What wages do you receive per day ? — A. Four to eight reals (32 to 65 cents) for twelve hours' work. Q. How much time out of the twelve hours do you have for meals ? — A. One half hour for breakfast and one half hour for dinner. 180 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. Q. Cau you lay up auy money upon those wages ? — A. No, not a cent. Q. What do you do, then, in case of sickness or you suffer an accident ? — A. Oh, get along some way ; what ever God wills (/o que Dios quiera) ; run iu debt maybe, or if the wife has the pig fattened, we sell it. Q. Can you tell me how much it costs you for your living per month or year ? — A. No ; only that it is all I earn, whether I work every day or not. Q. Are you contented with this? — A. (with a shrug of the shoulders and raising of eyebrows). Why not? I might be worse off. I only worry when the wife or children are sick. SAFETY OF EMPLOY:6s. No meauvS furnished for safety nor provision for care of laborers in case of accident ; no thought given by employer to the moral or physi- cal condition of his laborers. The relations between the two are civil, polite, and with outward kindness, the laborer taking offense at any seeming "bull-dozing" or severe criticism, and may stop work, however urgent it may be. POLITICAL RIGHTS. They have all the political rights of others. Without ambition or organization, they liave no influence upon legislation whatever. There having been no taxes collected upon real estate or personal property, the laboring class pay nearly all the taxes, in the way of high prices (comparatively) for all things purchased, as all taxes are levied upon the importations of goods and merchandise into the State. Recently there has been passed a law to tax real estate, and is now being put into effect. Present legislation is upon questions that would not appear to effect labor or the working people. CAUSES OF EMIGRATION. The laboring classes do not emigrate. They vegetate, work, and die in or near the State in which they were born. I deem it but just to say that from a personal experience of two years in employing a large number of these laborers, they are more faithful and better workers than the railroad and canal building laborers of our own country, and although the native emj^loyer is indifferent to the moral and physical condition of his laborers, he is very charitable to the infirm, aged, or crippled. FEMALE LABOR. Tn this State the female industrial labor of auy number congregated is confined to the one hundred or more in the Zancudo gold and silv^er mines, and the seventy-live to one hundred carrying coal for the evap- orization of salt water at Helicouia. In the mines they are paid according to the amount of labor per- formed, consisting of wheeling or carrying mineral from the mines to the mill, earning from 3 to 6 reals per day (24 to 48 cents.) There is but very little, if any, difference between the work and the pay of the men and the women. In the salt works at Heliconia the works pay a stipulated i)rice [)er 84 arrobas (2,100 pounds) of coal delivered, the coal mines being located from 300 to 1,000 yards distant; the women iiurchasing from the mines LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: UNITED STATES OF COLOMBIA. 181 and "backing" or carrying the same in bags (100 to 200 i)onn(ls each) ui)on their heads \o the works. They gain for this from 4 to ]0 reals (32 to 80 cents) jier day. Keither of the above descriptions of work of women has produced any effect upon the wages of the men. Like the men, they are uneducated beyond the forms of the church (Catholic). Ai)art from the above are numerous women working in the tobacco districts as "selecters" and "strippers," realizing from 4 to 5 rials (32 to 40 cents) per day. Many women throughout the State employ their spare time in mak- ing so-called Panama hats, thousands of which are annually sold at the capital and for exportation. The labor is performed at their homes, and this scattered product is so great that it would be a hazardous venture to erect a factorv for this class of work. E. RICHARD ESMOND, Consul. United States Consulate, MedeUin, May 28, 1884. I. General trades. fVagts paid per day of twelve hours hi Medellin. Ocoapations. Lowest. Highest. Average. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers : $0 40 Plasterei-s 40 TemliTs 20 Plunibei 8 \ 40 Aseistauts 20 Carpenters < 1 00 OTHER TRADES. Blacksmiths ! 80 Strikers (apprentices) ! 20 Bookbinders ' \ 50 Briek-makers 40 Brewers 30 Distillers 1 20 Drivers (boys) 20 Cab and carriage drivers 20 Laborers, porters, eoi)le live largely upon vsoup made from a little meat and vegetables ; they also eat bananas and plantains, beans, Indian corn or maize, raised in the country, rice, and salt tish. Bananas and plantains cost from 1 to 2 cents each, as they are plentiful or otherwise; beef is from 14 to 19 cents a pound ; salt fish, 9^ to 14 cents; beans, when plentiful, 5 cents a i>ound ; maize, from 1 to 2^ cents ; rice, 5 cents a pound. WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. As far as I am able to learu, the rate of wages at present paid in this country is about the same in the cities and towns as it was in 1878, but in the country, on the estates, wages are lower now than in 1878. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The working classes here are for the most part trustworthy. All the testimony on that branch of the subject is the sarue. In illustration it is stated that postmen who for years have traveled on horse!»ack over lonely roads, and who often carry large sums of money with them for merchants or others, have never been robbed. The muleteers who drive the donkeys or carts with merchandise between different points, are often intrusted witli snmsof money to carry by parties to wiiom they are strangers and to whom their names are not even known; the simple fact that they are muleteers and going to any given point is enough, and they faithfully deliver at its destination the money which they have had in charge. The working classes in this country are not saving. On the contrary they are exceedingly improvident. Many are addicted to drinking and gaml)ling. As has been stated, their wants are few and easily supplied, and they spend their money quickly after earning it. On this point, too, the testimony all agrees. Said oni' emi)loyer to me, " If they are paid on Saturday night their money is gone on Monday morning." PEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The feeling is kind on the part of the employer, and independent on the part of the emi)loye. No organization of labor exists here. Strikes are unknown in this country. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: VENEZUELA. 197 FOOD PURCHASES. The laborer buys wherever he chooses, No couditious are imposed by the eini)loyers. The hiborers are paid by tlie week — every Saturday uight. They are oenerally paid in silver — Veiiezuehm aud other dollars and fractional parts of dollars. There are no co operative societies in this country. GENERAL CONHTTTON <>F THE WORKING PEOPLE. The climate is such they do not need the same shelter or clothing as those who live in colder climes. Their food is healthful and oenerally abundant. As a whole, the workin<; classes in this country are a sim- ple people, of kind disposition, and trustworthy ; but they are ignorant, and their life generally is on a very low plane in the scale of humanity. Part II. — Female Labor. NUMBER OF FEMALE EMPLOYES. There are not many women or children iir this district employed in industrial pursuits. Cotton mill in Valencia. — In the city of Valencia there is a cotton factory, or weaving establishment as it is called, where quite a number of M'omen are employed. Valencia is a city of from 25,000 to 30,000 inhabitants, and is the capital of the State of Carabobo, in which State is Puerto Cabello. This factory was started by Senor Domingo A. Ulavarria, manager of the Bank of Carabobo ; but at first it was not successful, owing to the cost of the machinery and exi)ense of putting it up, «&c. It was subsequently sold at a reduced piice to a company, and when I \ isited the establishment recently it was said to be run- ning on a paying basis. The cotton used in this factory is grown in the vicinity. From this cotton is manufactured a coarse but strong and durable cotton cloth, which is used by the people of the country for shirting, sheets, &c. They also manufacture a coarser cloth, which is used for making into cheap shoes, or sandals — shoes that retail for 38 cents a pair. As many as one hundred hands, chiefly women and chil- dren, have been emi)loyed at one time at this establishment. At the time of my visit the tbrce was about seventy hands. All the o})era fives at the looms are women and boys, the boys being for the most part tenders, or assistants, to the women. The women who liave become skilled at the work are paid 38 cents a day, United States currency, for their work; the boys, when they commence to work at the factory, are paid only 9A cents a day, and arepnid more as they become more skilled. The time for the ojjcratives to be at the factory is from 6 o'clock in the morning until G in the afternoon, with one hour allowed for meals. The engineer and foreman are paid from 815.38 to ."r^30.77 per month. The establishment can turn out 20 pieces of 40 yards each in a day. MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION OF FEMALE EMPLOYES. To the interrogatories in regard to the moral and physical condition of such emi)loyes, the means i)rovided for their improvement, the means provided in case of fire or other dangers, and what provisions are made by the employers in regard to sanitary measures, and for the care of the sick and disabled, I reply : The women and children seemed in good 198 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: VENEZUELA. health, aud appeared bright and cheerful. They compared favorably in appearance in these respects with operatives of a similar class in the United States. No children, however, should be allowed to work in any factor^-. The factory is all on the ground floor, so that, of course, the same necessity does not exist for providing means of exit in case of lire as for factories of several stories. There are no means of im- provement provided for these operatives, and there are no provisions made in regard to sanitary measures or for the care of the sick and dis- abled. Women in hat factory. — The firm of Sandoval & Co., in Valencia, hat- ters, who manufacture felt hats, out of a force of from sixty to seventy hands — men, women, andboys — in April last, employed fourteen women. These women were paid 48 cents a day. The working hours at this establishment are from (5^ o'clock in the morning until 12 at noon, and from 1 to 5^ o'clock in the afternoon. Women cigar-makers. — Quite a number of women in Puerto Cabello gain their livelihood by making cigars and cigarettes. Some of them purchase the tobacco and manufacture the cigars and cigarettes, others work for cigar manufacturers. A'CKNOWLEDaMENTS. In obtaining information for this report I am indebted to General Joaquin Berrio, president of the State of Carabobo, and to Senor Do- mingo A. Olavarria, of Valencia, manager of the Bank of Carabobo. I have also received valuable assistance in obtaining rates of wages, «&c., from WiUiam Von der Brelje, esq., of Puerto Cabello, who has been for thirty years a resident of this country. EDWARD E. WHITE. ('onsnl. United States Consulate, Puerto Cabello, June 10, 1884. I. General trades. [In converting Venezuelan into American values in the followin}? tables, the Venezuelan dollar was estimated at 76.92 cents, and the Venezuelan real at 9.6 cents United States currency.] Wages paid per week in Puetto Cabello. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. BUILDING TRADES. $6 90 4 62 6 90 2 28 6 90 4 62 6 90 4 62 4 62 * 1 79 8 04 6 90 4 62 13 86 4 62 t 1 15 .$11 .52 5 70 11 52 4 62 11 .52 5 76 9 24 5 76 11 52 * 3 59 ]3 86 6 90 6 90 13 86 11 52 $8 04 5 04 8 46 3 43 8 04 Tenders 5 04 7 50 Tendois 5 04 6 48 OTHEK TltAUES. * 2 42 9 66 Strikers 6 90 6 24 Butchers 13 86 Cabinet-makers 6 48 Cigai'-makers * And found. t Per thousand cigars. 1 Per hundred cigars. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: VENEZUELA. 199 II. Factories, mills, etc. There is in Valencia, in this consular district, a cotton factory con- cernini; which details are given in the body of this report. In the Puerto Cabello there is a SDap and candle factory where a small number of hands are employed. The average rate of wages paid is 96 cents i)er day. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. The firm of Winckelmann Brothers, a German firm in Valencia, in tliis consular district, have a machine shop, an iron-foundry, and wheel- wright establishment in one. They employ 44 men in the shops, but have about 100 men altogether employed, including those em])loyed in cutting wood, driving mules, &c. The 44 men employed in the shops are paid as follows: Lowest wages, $1.15 a day; highest wages, $1.91{a day; average wages, $1.35 a day. This firm is allowed by the Venezuelan Government to import a cer- tain amount of raw iron each year free of duty. Messrs. Wittstein & Co. have a machine sho^) and foundry in Puerto Cabello. At present they have employed only about 10 or 15 hands. The lowest wages are 90 cents a day ; highest wages, $1.54 a day; aver- age wages, $1.15 a day. VIII. Seamen's wages. JVages paid per month to seanun {officers and nun) engaged in navigation on the coast of Venezuela. Occapations. Lowest. H ghest. BTEAHERS. $61 54 30 77 Mate 11 55 Do 9 23 92 31 38 46 23 08 Do 19 23 Captain SAILING VESSBI^. $23 13 7 08 85 09 46 15 Mate 19 23 SailorB , -- - - -- -- 10 77 X. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per month in stores, wholesale and retail, to males, in Puerto Cabello. Occapations. Wholesale stores Ketail stores or shops . Lowest. I Highest. Average. 76 92 i $192 30 $115 38 7 69 I 30 77 12 69 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants (toivns and cities) in the consular district of Puerto Cabello. Occupations. Lowest Highest. AverajTP. Hoasehold servants ... $3 08 $7 69 $6 12 200 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: VENEZUELA. XI. Agricultural wages. Agricultural laborers are i)aid by the piece. A certain amount of work is allotted tliem, for which they are each paid 58 cents. In the vicinity of Puerto Cabello this is generally a day's work, though some laborers perform more work and consequently receive more pay. In the interior, on more elevated land, where it is cooler, the laborers can perform more work, and some do. It may be stated in general terms that the wages of agricultural laborers are from 58 cents to 96 cents per day, without board, in the vicinity of cities and towns. In the interior a less rate by the piece is paid. XII. Corporation employes. Sularies paid per month to corporation employes in the municipality of Puerto Cabello. Occupations. 1 civil chief 1 secretary 1 clerk of council 1 porter 1 secretary of council , 1 administrator of municipal taxes 1 booklieeper 1 clerk 1 chief of the police guard 18 members of the police guard, each . . , 8 chiefs of municipalities (lesser munici- pnlities all comprising the municipal- ity of Puerto Cabello), each ] prefect of the market place Salary. $115 38 46 15 30 77 26 92 76 92 123 08 46 15 23 08 46 15 30 77 15 38 30 77 Occupations. Salary. 1 warden of the market place $30 77 1 warden of the cemetery 26 92 1 warden of the prison 23 08 1 warden of the aqueduct 23 08 1 first master of public works 19 23 1 warden of plaza "Guzman Blanco"..' 34 62 1 warden of plaza "Concordia" ' 23 08 3 school teachers (male), each i 61 54 3 school teachers (female), each.. \ 38 46 6 school teachers (male), ea h ' 23 08 6 school teachers (female), each 23 08 1 suijerintendent of schools i 50 00 1 city physician | 23 08 1 physician for hospital 15 38 Monthly i^alaries of custom-house (Officials and wages of laborers hi the consular district of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, per month. Occupations. MARITIME CUSTOM.HOU.sk. Collector of customs Second collector of customs Clerk of liquidation . — Second clerk of liquidation Cashier Bookkeeper Clerk of coasting trade Clerk of weights ... storekeeper Clerk of correspondence and archives . InteipretcT Physician of public health Porter First commander of coast guard Second commander of coast guard Commander of coast guard in Tucacas. Commander of coast guard in Yaracuy . 5 corporals of the guard in Puerto Ca- bello, each 2 corporals of the guard in Yaracuy . . . 1 corporal of the guard in Tucacas Salary. $184 62 1 123 08 ! 115 39 76 92 I 92 31 ' 92 31 76 92 76 92 76 92 1 43 08 43 01 23 08 25 64 92 31 , 76 92 51 28 51 28 1 38 47 \ 26 92 26 92 Occupations. Makitime custom-house — Continued. I 36 wardens of the guard iu Puerto Ca- bello. each 12 wardens of the guard in Yaracuy and Tucacas, each ! 25 boatmen in Yaracuy and Tucacas, i each ; 2 chiefs of laborers of custom-house, i each 2 overseersof laborers of custom-house, I each 101) laborers of custom-house, each i Judge of the public treasure Secretary I Porter . ." ADUNATKRRESTRE INLAN1> CUSTOM-HOUSE. Collector of customs Bookkeeper Clerk Porter Sala>-y. $30 77 23 08 23 08 76 92 46 16 38 4? 92 35 46 16 19 23 123 08 61 54 38 47 19 23 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: VENEZUELA. •201 XIII. Government departments and offices. Yearly salaries paid to members of the State legi'^lature, Government officials, tj'c-, «'" *'<« State of Varubobo, in the consular ditsirict of Puerto Cahello, f'ene:uela. STATE LKGI8LATUUK. 14 deputies from thf T districts of the State paid for a session of 40 days (19.3 cents each per flay) each . KXECUTIVE KUANCII. President of the State Secretary general First officii*! 3 officials each.. Official in charge of statistics 3 counselors of admiiiistration ..each.. Amanuensis Civil, AUTHORITIES. 7 civil chiefs of districts 7 secretaries $2, 81U OS 3, 242 40 2, 316 00 1, 158 00 1, 667 52 555 84 3, 800 88 370 56 4,215 12 1, 945 44 1 secretary 1 Judge of the first instance of the sec- ouddistrict 1 secretary 1 judge of the first instance of the third district 1 secretary Judge of the district of Valencia Judgi- of the district of Puerto Cabello 2 secretaries 5 judges of the districts of Nirgua. Bejuma. Monsalban, Giiatare, and Ocumare 5 secretai ies Attorney general: First district Secoud district JUDiriAI. AUTH01UTIE6. 6 ministers (judges) of the supreme court 2 lirst officials 1 judge of the first instance, criminal cases 1 secretary 1 judge of the first instance of the first district 7,781 76 1, 296 96 1,482 24 741 12 I PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. i| 6 teachers (male) of the schools Cate- 1 dral, Sta. Kosa, Candelaria, Los Gayos, Puerto Cabello, N'irgna 4 teachers (male) of the schools Belen, Cu j'agua, Agnirre, Cedeiio 1 teacher (male) of the school El Olivo. I Night school for artisans in Puerto : Cabello 741 12 1, 389 60 694 80 1, 019 04 579 00 1, 019 04 926 40 1, 111 68 2, 779 20 1, 621 20 1, 158 00 926 40 2, 223 36 1,111 68 231 60 185 28 1,389 60 Ij I XIV. Trades and labor — Government employ. Wages paid hi/ the month to laborers in Hover nment employ in the to nsular district of Puerto Cabello. Occupations. Poiter employed at the capitol in Va- lencia Porter employed in charge of the gar- dens al the'capitol 2 porters at supreme court each. 1 porter at court of first instance . - . 1 porter at court of first instance, first district , Average wages. Occnpations. 1 porter at court of first instance, sec- $23 16 1 ond district !■ 1 porter at court of first instance, third 30 88] district 19 30 i 2 porters at district courts of Valencia 19 30 j and Puerto Cabello each.. 1 5 porters at other district courts. each. . 19 30 I Average $19 30 15 44 15 44 7 72 202 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRITISH GUIANA. REPORT BY CONSUL FIGYELMESY. The rates of wages paid to laborers in this colony are contained in the tabular forms. COST OF LIVING. The cost of living to the agricultural laboring class is as follows : Coolie laborers. — The coolie laborer indentured for five years spends from 50 cents to 60 cents per week for the necessaries of life, say for food, consisting of rice, eurry, tumeric, and ghee or native butter, and drinking cocoanut toddy, saving most of their earnings, consequently living nig- gardly, their clothing being only a muslin or calico turban for the head, and a simple cloth folded round the loins, commonly called "baba," the other parts of their body being nude; they are comfortably lodged, and have medical attendance and medicine supplied to them free of expense by the plantation on which they work. These laborers, after five years' service, and being employed for five years more as free immigrants, are entitled to return passages to India ; they often remit or take with them from $50,000 to $60,000 in money and jewelry— each batch of 300 to 400 — which they accumulate during that time ; some 2,000 to 3,000 im- migrants arrive annually, and about 1,500 to 1,800 depart. The free or unindentured coolie laborer lives on the same food as the indentured coolie, is clothed in the same manner, but chooses to lodge wherever he likes in town or counliy, renting a small room at $1.50 to $2 per month, in which three to four dwell. Chinese and Portuguese laborers. — The Chinese and Portuguese labor- ers spend from 32 to 48 cents per day for food, consisting of both fresh and salt meat, poultry, and fish; for vegetables they use pumpkins, cab- bages, rice, onions, garlic, and potatoes ; tea and coffee being their principal beverage. They clothe and house better than the former, and save money. Native laborers. — The Creole or native laborer spends from 24 to 32 cents per day for food, consisting of salted codfish, pickled mackerel, herrings, beef, pork ; and for vegetables, plantains, yams, potatoes, rice, corn, and cornmeal ; wheat flour, butter, oil, lard, and sugar are used for culinary purposes. These laborers are very much addicted to drink- ing strong spirits. Their clothing is made of cotton and woolen cloth, from 8 cents to 20 cents per yard ; house rent from $2 to $4 per month for one tenement built to hold two persons, but in which are crowded together some six to eight, including children — hence all kinds of sick- ness. Tradesmen and clerics. — Tradesmen, operatives, and clerks, earning more money, live very well at from $1 to $3 per day for the necessaries of life in food and clothing, and for house rent from $10 to $30 per month. WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. The same rates of wages prevail here now as in 1878. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRITISH GUIANA. 203 HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The coolies, Chinese, and Portuguese are industrious and save money, but the Creoles, or natives, and inimigrants from the West India islands, are indolent to a great extent, which affects their habits for evil. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The feeling which prevails between employe and employer: If the em- ployer is kind, generous, and liberal, it affects the employe to energy, honesty, and general good feeling throughout the community ; but if the employer is unkind, strict in rules, and exacting, it affects the em- ploy^ to negligence and ill teeling. ORGANIZED CONDITION OF LABOR. There is no organised condition of labor in this colony. Strikes do not prevail. FOOD PURCHASES. The working people are free to purchase wherever they choose. The laborer is paid weekly in dollars and cents. CO OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. The societies formed in this colony are as follows : The Portuguese Benevolent Society, which is the largest and most prosperous ; entrance fee, $4.80; one-half to be paid on admission and the other half to be paid in live months after in monthly installments of 48 cents per month, and 24 cents contribution, besides, to be paid regularly every week. A mem- ber of one year's standing falling ill is entitled to medical attendance, medicines, and, in case of death, a decent burial ; a member of two years' standing falling ill is entitled to medical attendance, medicines, and $10 per month ])ecuniary relief, and, in case of death, a decent burial ; a member of three years' standing is entitled to medical attend- ance when ill, medicines, and $15 per month pecuniary relief, and, in case of death, a decent burial ; members of four years' standing are each entitled to medical attendance when ill, medicines, and $18 per month pecuniary relief, and, in case of death, a decent burial. Widows of members are each entitled to $10 per month pecuniary relief, and where a widow has more than one child, $15 per month pecuniary relief is al- lowed for tive years. Children of members who have lost both parents are entitled to re- ceive $5 per month, each, until they attain the age of twelve years. The other societies are: The Friendly; the Guild ; the Mechanics; the Hand of Justice ; the St. Vincent de Paul; the Foresters No. 1 ; and the Foresters No. 2. These last seven societies are in connection with the Anglican, the . Scotch, Koman Catholic, and ^Methodist churches, and though less pros- perous than the Portuguese Benevolent Society, are founded on the same basis, and guaranteeing similar relief. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The general condition of the working people is with the coolies, Chinese, and Portuguese laborers, better than the Creoles, or natives, 204 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRITISH GUIANA. auil laborers from the ueighboriug islands, as the fonuer three manage to save money with the prospect of returning to their countries to en- joy it, while the two latter spend all their earnings, and never have a thought of laying by one cent for sickness, old age, distress, or death; their ultimate report, when incapable of working, being the public hos- pital or almshouse. SAFETY OF EMPLOYES. There are no means furnished for the safety of employes. In case of accident the working people are taken to the public hospitals on the X)lantations or in the city of Georgetown, where every care is taken of them at the expense of the Government. MORAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEINO. The moral and physical well being of the employes have no consid- eration with the employers. In some instances confidence is placed in the employe, in others not. POLITICAL RIGHTS. Workmen possess no political rights here, and have no influence on legislation ; they bear their portion of the duty levied on imports of provisions, clothing, &c., but no direct tax. The tendency of legislation in regard to labor is chiefly to encourage immigration from other coun- tries. CAUSES OF IMMIGRATION. The causes which lead to the immigration of the working i)eople to this colony are their poverty, starvation, and not being able to obtain work in their native countries, and the scarcity of Creole laborers in this colony ; also the high rate of wages offered here, which induce coolies, Chinese, and Portuguese to emigrate. The principal occupations of the laborers here are working on the plantations — sugar-cane and others — and many, after their time of serv- ice have expired, and have saved money, either return to their native countries or settle here and open business of all kinds. NUMBER OF FEMALE EMPLOYES. Children, uoue ; women in luechanical anil manufacturing pursuits, none; in com- mercial jjursuits, none; in personal, see Tal)le No. X; as clerks, see Table No. IX; as teachers, see Table No. I; as artijits, none ; as chemists, none ; as hotel and board- ing-house keepers, (i; as journalists, none; as laundresses, cannot be accurately as- certained, as nearly every female of the laboring class is a laundress : as musicians, 6; as inventois, none; as bankers, none; as brokers, none; as lecturers, none; as public speakers, none; as agriculturists, cannot be accurately ascertained ; m min- ing pur.snits, none. FEMALE WAGES. There are from three to four domestic servants generally employed in every large house, working from 10 to 11 hours daily. For their wages, see Table No. X, a(,*companying. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRITISH GUIANA. 205 MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION OF FEMALE EMPLOY:6s. Moral condition bad ; physical (condition of some is good, and of robust and bealthy constitutions, of great endurance aiul etficiency as servants, while others are indifferent and inefticient. Domestic servants as a class are fair, ami generally answer the requirements. MEANS FOR IMPROVEMENT. No means provided other than there are upwards of forty churches, school-houses, meeting-houses, &c., of all denominations, in this colony, but which have little or no effect in counteracting the immorality which prevails to the greatest extent. 1 may here state that on this account the i)risons are crowded. SAFETY OF EMPLOYES. There is a very eflicient lire-brigade here under the superiutendeuce of the inspector general of the police force, which works admirably and answers every emergency. CARE OF SICK AND DISABLED. There are no provisions made by the employer iu regard to these measures, but the colony is under the control of a board of health ami sanitary superintendents; the latter visit all over the colonj- periodically and cause it to be cleansed from all im])urities and infectious matter. Public hospitals and almshouses are provided for the sick and disabled, which are kept up at the expense of the Grovernment. FEMALE WAGES PAST AND PRESENT. There has been no increase during the past five years in the wages paid to women. The employment of women has no effect on the wages of men, as women are generally allotted to lighter tasks in agriculture thau men; therefore the effects, if any, are rather beneficial, causing both male and female to obtain labor. FEMALE EDUCATION. Some of the women are entirely uneducated, others partly educated, but the children by a compulsory law of this colony, which enforces very strict measures on the parents if the children are not put to school, are being educated. This system of education is entirely new to the laboring class, being only established about four years. It may have a good effect in the future, but at present 1 could not offer an opinion on it. PH. FiaYP]LMESY, Consul. United States Consulate, Demerara, June 16, 1884. 206 labor in south america : british guiana. 1. General trades. Wages paid per week in British Guiana. Occupations. BUILDING TBADB6. Brictlayers Hod-tarriers . Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Roofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants . . . Carpentei-8 Gas-fitters ... OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders Butchers Brass-founders Cabinet-makers Coopers Drivers : Draymen and teamsters Cab. Carriage Tram-car Gardeners : Women Men Horseshoers Jewelers Laborer.*, porters, &c Teachers public schools Saddle and harness makers . Sailmakers Stevedores* Tailors , Telegraph operators Tin8mitli.«i Hours per day. Lowest. 9 $4 80 9 1 92 9 6 00 9 1 92 : ! 9 6 00 ; 1 3 1 92 i 9 4 80 i 1 9 4 80 1 9 2 88 9 7 20 9 1 20 1 3 4 80 1 9 6 00 I 12 4 00 9 4 00 1 9 1 92 1 9 4 00 10 4 00 9i 3 24 9 5 00 : 11 1 92 10 1 92 12 3 36 12 2 40 16J 3 00 H 1 44 9J 1 92 9 8 00 9 2 40 10 3 84 5 75 9 4 00 9 9 50 10 3 00 11 3 84 10 3 84 1 Highest. .?7 20 3 36 '7 92 3 36 7 92 3 30 7 20 7 20 3 84 10 08 4 16 6 48 8 40 15 00 10 00 2 88 20 00 7 00 40 00 12 00 10 00 2 88 6 00 6 00 3 00 1 44 4 80 8 00 12 00 3 84 12 50 10 00 12 00 Average. 10 00 38 46 9 00 $6 00 2 64 6 96 2 64 6 96 2 64 6 00 6 00 3 36 8 64 2 70 5 76 7 32 6 08 7 00 2 40 9 50 5 00 11 50 6 40 4 09 2 30 4 80 4 12 3 00 1 44 3 30 8 00 8 20 3 84 6 62 7 24 10 18 5 00 8 40 7 80 * These are not paid per week, but have special charges, viz: For sugar hogsheads, 20 cents each; tierces, 16; barrels, 8; bags, 6. Bum buns, 16; hogsheads, 12; barrels, 8. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of Jifty-eight hours in factories or mills in British Guiana. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Match-making Box-making 1 00 $25 00 4 32 Average. $4 72 1 26 III. Foundries, machine shops, and iron works. Wages paid per week of fifty- four and one-half hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works in British Guiana. Occupations. Brass and iron founders. Smiths LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRITISH GUIANA. 207 VI. Railway employes. Wages paid per week to railway employes (those engaged about stations, as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, 4'c.) in British Guiana. Occupations. ' Lowest. Highest. Average. $7 50 $12 50 15 00 8 00 5 00 3 84 $9 43 10 00 12 50 7 50 7 75 4 40 4 T7 3 84 3 84 / VII. Ship-yaeds and ship-building. Wages paid pei- week of fifty -four and one-half hours in ship-yards {wood ship-building) in British Guiana. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Ship-carpenters . Apprentices $f 5C 60 Average. $15 00 I $12 40 8 12 I 1 98 There are no iron ships bnilt here. VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen (officers and men) — distinguishing betivan ocean, coast, and river navigation, and between sail and steam — in British Guiana. Occupations. Ocean : Sailing Steaming... Coast : bailing Steaming... River steaming . Lowest. Highest. $9 60 $100 00 11 20 120 00 Average. $35 00 45 60 10 00 15 00 15 00 40 00 14 00 50 00 24 50 50 00 24 50 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per month in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in British Chiiana. Occnpations. Wholesale: Males . . . Retail : Males ... Females Lowest. ' Highest. Average. .$25 00 $150 00 10 00 3 00 50 00 7 50 $45 00 22 50 4 50 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants (towws and cities) in British Guiana. Oconpations. Lowest. Highest Average. $6 00 6 00 3 00 3 00 $15 00 10 00 5 00 6 00 $10 00 Cooks 7 20 4 32 5 00 208 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRITISH GUIANA. XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per day to agiiciiltural laborers and household {country) servants in British Guiana, with lodging. Occupations. Predial : * Cane-cutters Shovelraeu Weeders Suppliers Puntmen Manufacture : Cane tlnowers Boilermen Firemen Sugar carers Boxmen Megass carriers Clarifiers: Headmen Other than headmen Distillers Others about the buildings. Tradesmen : Engineers Carpenters Masons Coopers Managers t Overseers t Domestics i Lowest. $0 24 40 24 32 I 36 1 32 48 48 40 32 20 I 48 20 32 ': 24 \ I 96 ! 80 80 1 20 2, 400 00 200 00 36 00 Highest. $0 80 60 32 60 60 40 56 80 54 40 24 48 24 48 32 2 00 1 20 1 20 1 52 3, 000 00 600 00 144 GO Average. $0 64 56 29 54 56 37 50 72 48 35 22 48 23 44 28 1 50 96 88 1 24 2, 700 00 450 00 87 60 * This work is ordinarily done by task, and industrious coolies and blacks can earn more by working beyond the seven hours defined by law as a day's work. t These are annual wages, with board and lodging. There is really no fluctuation in the rate of the foregoing wages. A careful inquiry into the matter has shown that the total amount of money paid away for wages per annum is about $5,000,000. The falling off in the supply of ininiigrants has interfered with the progress of the extension of cultivation, and until there is a considerably larger imjiortation of immigrant laborers the area under canes is likely to decrease. XII. Corporation emploihes. Wages paid per week of forlg-nine and one-half hours to the corporation employe's in the city of (Georgetown, Denierara, British Guiana. Occupations. Mechanics Engine-drivers Firemen (stoking) Masons and liricklayers.. Carpenters Foremen of tradesmen . . . Foremen of laborers Street labor: Men Women Boys Task gang labor : Digging canals, &a; . . Mowing grass Cart hire : Mule, cart, and driver Stone breakers : Men and women Lowest. Highest. Average. $5 28 $9 50 $7 39 4 40 5 28 4 84 2 64 3 74 3 19 5 50 6 38 5 94 4 4U 6 00 5 20 9 00 12 00 10 50 4 00 4 00 4 00 2 64 2 64 2 64 88 1 76 1 32 88 1 32 1 10 2 20 5 50 3 85 2 64 3 28 2 96 9 90 11 00 10 45 84 3 20 2 02 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRITISH GUIANA. XIII. Government departments and offices. 209 Wages paid per vionih of one hundred and eighty hours to employes in Government depart- ments and offices (exclusive of tradesmen and laborers) in British Guiana. Occupations. Governor Private secretary . Admiiiistratoiis-general Analytical chemist AuilitorgciU'ials Civil eujiiuoers Cominiasiiries Crowu asent Customs Lowest. $50 CO 60 00 30 00 50 00 Ilarbor-mastor Health orticer. Iiuttiigratiuu agent at Calcutta . Iiumigralion , Inspector of villages Judicial Magistrates : Special , Stipendiary Magistrates' clerks Police magistrates Postal 12 00 Provost marshals .. Registrars (births and deaths) Secretaries Secretary to central board of health. Surveyors Treasury 15 00 200 00 280 00 80 00 40 00 7 75 25 00 50 00 40 00 41 67 20 00 Highest. Average, $600 00 400 00 400 00 320 00 400 00 1, 000 00 200 00 320 00 120 00 400 00 250 00 333 34 160 00 600 00 240 00 400 00 $2, 960 00 120 00 152 50 250 00 140 00 122 09 141 00 40 00 91 19 200 00 125 00 640 00 123 06 250 00 207 74 200 00 286 66 83 62 132 50 21 57 82 42 82 85 180 00 240 00 123 12 106 54 * $2,000 salary, and for contingencies $960. Government institutions. Wages paid per month of one hundred and eighty hours to employes in Government institu- tions in British Guiana. Occupations. Ecclesiastical: Church of England. Church of Scotland Missionaries .... Koman ( Catholics *... "Wesleyans* Dissenters* Educational board , Hospital Leper asylum Lunatic as,\ lum Militia Orphan asylum Police force Poor-law board Prisons Lowest. $120 00 166 67 120 00 30 00 70 00 30 00 25 00 9 00 10 33 10 00 32 00 10 00 Highest. $800 00 280 00 160 00 400 00 291 68 80 00 320 00 80 00 100 00 400 00 160 00 320 00 Average. $177 62 204 67 136 00 12, 000 00 7, 000 00 1, 000 CO 125 72 149 50 39 00 50 88 17 60 22 51 23 25 38 40 34 12 * This amount is an annual grant. XIV. Trades and labor — Government employ. Wages paid by the week of forty-nine and one-half hours to the trades and labwers in Gov- ernment employ in British Guiana. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $5 28 6 00 3 84 6 48 $12 00 8 64 3 84 9 00 $6 62 6 29 3 84 6 90 3 84 92 A— 2 LAB 14 210 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. XY. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers (compositors, prestmen, proofreaders, ,^-c.) in British Guiana. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $3 25 2 88 2 00 48 $7 00 3 12 2 40 72 $6 12 2 96 2 18 64 BRAZIL. RIO DE JANEIRO. REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL ANDREWS. The following is a report on the rate of wages, cost of living, &c., of the laboring classes in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in answer to the ques- tions contained in the " Labor Circular" of the Department of State of February 15, 1884 : RATES OF WAGES. The answer to this question is contained in the tables numbered from I to XV. COST OF living. In the following list is given the lowest and highest price of goods : Article. Fresh beef* per poand . . Pork do Mutton do Dried salt meat do Dried codfish do.... Coflfee : Ground do Grain do Tea: Black do Green do Butter do Cheese do Bread do Lard: American do National do Black beans per pint.. White beans do Indian corn do Kice do Mandioca flour do... Sugar per pound.. Potatoe.s do Bacon do Starch do Soap do Indian-corn meal do Rice-meal do Macaroni do Tobacco do Salad oil per bottle.. Lamp oil do Kerosene per can.. Vinegar per bottle.. Boer do Wine do Lowest Higheat price. price. $0 07 16 14 12 12 16 11 95 95 36 16 08 22 17 03 05 02 04 03 07 03 16 13 04 06 10 22 26 32 22 1 72 10 08 22 $0 10 24 19 13 13 26 14 1 06 2 15 59 59 26 22 04 j 25 43 51 26 2 15 16 43 4 30 Article. Cognac per bottle Rum (national) do. . Milk per quart Fowls each Chickens do.. Eggs per dozen Felt hats each Beaver hats do.. Straw hats do.. Suits : Black cloth Diagonal Kerseymere Coats : Alpaca Drill Trousers : Black cloth Kerseymere Drill, linen Boots per pair Shoes do.. Slippers do.. Wooden shoes do.. Cotton socks per dozen Cotton ^tockings do.. Shirts ' do.. Collars do - . Cuffs do.. Drawers do. . Umbrellas eaeh Shirting per yard Print do . . Satinet do.. Merino do . . Silk do.. Velvet do.. Lowest Highest price. price. $0 63 13 12 86 26 32 2 58 4 30 1 29 25 80 21 50 21 50 2 58 2 15 4 30 3 44 1 72 1 72 2 15 43 16 2 58 2 58 15 50 3 44 3 44 15 50 1 29 08 10 25 86 86 2 15 $1 72 16 14 1 08 51 51 5 16 4 73 2 58 38 70 30 10 30 10 5 16 4 30 8 60 7 44 2 58 7 44 6 00 2 15 75 3 97 5 16 25 80 4 30 4 30 25 80 8 60 16 26 50 1 50 6 45 4 30 * Considerable waste meat is sold with the parts that can be consumed, of fiank accompanies a piece of sirloin, and the round is cut lengthwise, not much cheaper at Rio than in the United States. For example, a long strip Actually, therefore, beef is LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. 211 As a rale, laborers who have no family take their meals in cheap and very plain eating-houses, termed " pasture-houses" {casa de pasto). There with 10 to 16 cents they get a breakfast or a dinner, having for breakfast a hasli or a stew with rice, mandioca flour, bread, and mat6 (a kind of te i grown in the south of Brazil) or coffee ; for dinner they can have a soup, black beans with dried salt meat, and mandioca flour, a hash with rice, and bananas. The married laborers bring their break- fast from home, and only dine after the day's work is over, at home. Usually at 4.30 o'clock the day's work is finished. The chief support of the workpeople is black beans, dried beef, dried codfish, small fish (such as sardines, which can be got four for 1 cent), mandioca flour, rice, sweet potatoes, bread, and coffee or mate. Instead of beer or wine they take rum at their dinner, and consider it very good for helping the di- gestion. As regards clothing, the women wear usually print dresses, or else a coarse national drill, both of which, comparatively, may be got cheap. The men generally get their clothes in second-hand shops, where they may obtain — Articles. Coat, •woolen or kerseymere Waistcoat, woolen or kerseymere. Trousers, drill or kerseymere Shirts, cotton or linen Vests, cotton Drawers, cotton or linen Hats, straw or telt lioots, new The laboring class usually live either in " estalagens " or in " corticos." "Estalagen" is the name given to a number of small houses built to- gether, forming a square, rectangle, or sometimes even occupying the ground floor of a respectable dwelling house. A "cortico" is where these houses are almost limited to one room each, and have to be reached by a common staircase and veranda. A house in an estalagen may be rented for from $5.16 to $8.60 a month, whilst a dwelling in a cortico does not exceed $4.30 and may be had even for $3.44 a month. Single men who hire only one room pay from $2.58 to $3.44 per month. WAGES, PAST AND PRESENT. The answer to this can only be given in general terms, namely, that no marked change has taken place between the present rates and those which prevailed in 1878. The times, however, were more flush in Kio then than now. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The working people may be divided principally into two parts— the native and the Portuguese elements, and the Italian element. The work- ing people are chiefly composed of these three nationalities. The latter are rather disorderly ; living close together in the corticos, they have ample opportunity ot quarreling, and they avail themselves of it. The former are more quiet. As a rule the working classes are perhaps steady, but there are too many Avho are not trustworthy, and who think very little of living in a house two, three, or more months without pay- 212 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. ing a cent for it, until the owner turns them out. Buying on credit at the shops and paying the seller with " have patience" is too common. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The general feeling prevailing between employ^ and employer is that of fear on the part of the employe, especially as regards those serving corporations. There is certainly no marked sympathy on either side. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. Both labor and capital appear to be devoid of organizations in respect of their relations to each other. STRIKES. Strikes are not common and their effects have been of no importance. The last strike on record, if such it may be called, was amongst the laborers of the custom-house; Government having enforced the use of a uniform, the laborers refused to go to work, but were put down by military force and obliged to wear the uniform, the cost thereof being deducted from their salaries. FOOD PURCHASES. The working people are free to purchase wherever they choose. They are paid as a rule every fifteen days in paj^er money. Servants, clerks of shops, and the higher officers are paid every mouth in the same cur- rency. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. There are no cooperative societies in Eio. There did exist one once, but it was unsuccessful. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The lower working class live as described before. The best of their houses never have more than three rooms, a sitting-room, a bedroom, and a kitchen. The sitting-room and the bedroom are generally each about 10 feet square, the kitchen much smaller. Some houses have no kitchen, in which case they cook out in the common yard. In the sit- ting-room are generally found a pine-wood table, wooden or sometimes cane-seated chairs, and more rarely a sofa, which would be cane seated. In the bedroom stand a bedstead, an iron washstand, and perhaps a chest of drawers, and on the walls may be seen some cheap picture of a saint. In the kitchen there are an iron stove belonging to the house, a water-jar, and shelves. As a rule the bedroom is without a window, but there is some opening at the toi) of the wall for ventilation. These quarters are generally crowded and their sanitary condition poor. The workman leaves his home for his work, and the wife passes the whole day washing and ironing. On visiting these dwellings one will see, stretched across the common yard in all directions, lines upheld by bam- boos, with linen hung thereon to dry, and the women either at the washing-tub or in their sitting rooms over the ironing-table. The moral condition of these people is of rather a low grade. As regards their physical condition, the men are as a rule strong and enjoy health, but LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. 213 among the women it is otherwise ; the continual going and coming from the wash-tub to the ironing-board and back again to the washing soon t«lls upon them, and often results in pulmonary consumption. Their chance of laying up for old age or sickness is small ; however, one does see men, particularly the unmarried, put themselves to all kinds of pri- vation and lay by their money in the savings bank, and sometimes evea acquire a fortune and afterwards a title of nobility. A short time ago there died here a baron owning nearly a whole row of houses in one of the best streets of the city, which brought him in monthly the revenue of $1,720, and who began his life as a peddler of liver, tripe, &c. After the day's work is over, time is frequently passed in card-play- ing or in a game at quoits, or in singing. Especially the Italian partof the work people are very fond of singing, and they amuse themselves by singing to the accordion or the banjo. A laborer's statement. The following questions were put to a laborer, aged 25 years, in com- pliance with the circular, and his answers are given : Question. Are you married or single ? — Answer. I have a wife and a daughter. Q. What is your employment ? — A. I work in the custom-house, where I get 66 cents a day. Q. Is that sufficient for you to support your family ? — A. No ; my wife has to help me ; she washes and irons, by which means she gains an average of 43 cents a day. Q. In wliat way, more or less, do you spend your money ? — A. We pay for a house of three rooms, nicely situated in a by-street, monthly, $5.16; for food we manage with $10.7.0, eating what poor people generally eat ; and the rest of our earnings is for clothing, &c., $13.49; total, |29.40. This man is unable to read or write, and states that he does not lay up anything. At many wholesale and retail stores and manufactories in Rio the em- ployes receive their breakfast and dinner at the establishment. SAFETY OF EMPLOY:6s. As a rule employers furnish no means at all for the safety of the work- men, neither provide for them in any way in case of accidents. There are nevertheless some establishments provided with an arrangement in case of fire ; and some corporations provide in some measure for accidents amongst their employes ; in cases of death through an acci- dent in the service of the corporation they help towards the burial and set a small i^ension on the widow ; in cases of sickness, they provide for a doctor and the medicines ; but for the latter they are generally made to pay a small percentage of their income. The general relation between employer and employes is merely that of courtesy. POLITICAL RIGHTS. There is no especial application of the law in regard to the working people; they enjoy the same rights as any other class. To have the right of voting the citizen must have an income of $8G yearly, which may consist of wages or salary as well as income on capital. A person wishing to vote must draw up a petition to the judge of the court of his district, inclosing documentary evidence of his qualification, which may cost him some dollars. This has to be done in September before the election. If the judge finds the documents satisfactory, after forty days 214 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. (time allowed for opposite parties to protest against his qualifications) he goes to an official recorder, who gives him his permanent " diploma" of voter. Having done that, he has only to wait for the election day. The voting takes place in a church or other public building in his par- ish, where he must appear, within the time appointed, to answer his name, presenting his diploma when his name is called. The list is called by the judge of the judicial district in presence of two other delegates appointed by law. They are subject to the same direct and indirect taxes as the other classes, according to their income, expenses, and property. There are no laws which regulate labor, apart from the existence of slavery, in any especial way. The tendency of legislation is ftivorable to labor. As yet, however, the employment of minors in manufactures has not been the subject of legislation. CAUSES OF EMIGRATION. There is no emigration from Brazil. The immigrants to Brazil are principally from Portugal and Italy, and mostly engaged in agricultural work in the interior. The farmers, especially in the provinces of Sao Paulo, Parana, and Rio Grande do Sul, enter into contracts with them as is most convenient to both parties. Immigrants who have any special qualifications find emi^loyment in the public works, on railways, in pri- vate enterprises, &c. NUMBER OF FEMALE EMPLOYES. Up to the present time the employment of women in industrial pur- suits has been very limited. There are no authentic statistics published on this subject, nor, indeed, any statistics. a. I have ascertained that one cotton and woolen factory in this city emi)loys 60 women and 47 children, boys and girls, as operatives. Other such factories employ some female operatives. Six boot and shoe manufactories that have been visited employ 108 women, the most of whom work at home. They are not employed in bookbinderies. In two of the principal dress-making establishments 57 women are em- ployed at sewing. Estimated number employed in manufacturing, 1,500. h. Are employed only in a few French and German shops; estimated number employed, 100, c. Public teachers paid by Government, 90 ; in private schools, 100 ; teachers of music, drawing, and languages, 40; in telephone stations, 20; laundresses, nearly every poor woman. d. Agriculture, generally only slaves. FEMALE WAGE RATES. Wages paid to females, where there are any, will be found specified in the tables of wages paid to men. Public teachers are paid the same as the men. Hours of labor are the same as for the men. MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION. The same as the men, with the exceptions that have been stated. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. 215 aiEANS OF IMPROVE:vrENT. There are 94 public schools belonging to Government, 47 for each sex, besides other schools belonging to private beneficent societies, where they can receive any education they wish, free of any expense whatever beyond that of books. Besides this there is nothing else pro- vided for their improvement. SAFETY OF FEMALE EMPLOYES. None whatever. Fires, however, are very rare in Eio, owing partly to the style of building, and partly to the infrequent use of tires for heating purposes. PROVISIO>fS FOR SICK AND DISABLED. The provisions made by the employers in regard to sanitary measures and for the care of the sick and disabled are very scanty, if any. EFFECTS OF WOMEN'S EMPLOYMElSfT. There has been some little increase in the wages of women in the past five years, but the necessaries of lifCsfive years ago were exceptionally high on account of the famine in the north part of the Empire. How- ever, there is liability of an increase in the prices of necessaries hence- forth, on account of the probability of increase of duties on articles of imi)ortatiou. The employment of women does not appear to have af- fected the wages of men. STATE OF FEMALE EDUCATION. The women employed as operatives possess, as a rule, very little edu- cation, and are mostly single. Their occupation in this regard has not apparently produced injurious effects on the family circle. As apply- ing generally to the working classes, the habits of thrift are not so well developed here as in some other countries. Although, as has been said, the tendency of legislation is favorable to labor, yet the fact that Gov- ernment supports lotteries for the purpose of revenue, notwithstanding their acknowledged injurious effects on the economical condition of this class, illustrates the situation tolerably well. The bone and sinew of this large city are replenished every year by some thousands of tem- perate, industrious, and hardy people from the Azore Islands and the mountain districts of Portugal. The lot of the laborer here is not neces- sarily a hard one. With reasonable skill in his calling ; with attention and application, and of course thrifty habits, he can lay up money. It is my opinion that the condition of the working class has much im- proved in the past thirty years. In my annual report published in the April, 1884, number of Consular Rei)orts are some observations on slavery in Brazil, and upon agricultural and other labor. Attention is called to explanatory statements, also remarks in regard to pensions in the civil service, in the accompanying Tables I to XV. C. C. ANDBEWS, Consul- General. United States Consulate- General, Rio de Janeiro, August 4, 1884. 216 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in Eio de Janeiro Occnpations. Lowest Highest. Average. BUILDING TEADES. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Roofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants Carpenters G-as-fitters OTHER TEADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders , Brick-makers Brewers Butchers Brass-founders Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cigar-makers Coopers Distillers Drivers : Draymen and teamsters Cab, carriage, &c Street railways , Dyers Engravers Gardeners Hatt«rs Horseshoers Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Lithographers Millwrights Potters , Printers Teachers, public schools Saddle and harness makers Sail-makers Stevedores : Day (12 hours) Night (11 hours) Tanners (besides 2 meals per day*) Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths Watchm akers -' Painters $6 48 3 87 7 74 3 87 9 03 3 87 6 45 4 64 3 87 7 22 3 87 7 74 7 74 5 16 15 48 5 70 5 16 8 25 10 75 3 09 10 32 9 03 4 30 7 74 3 80 15 92 2 58 2 58 8 60 2 58 12 90 4 30 2 58 7 74 7 74 3 87 12 90 3 52 3 09 5 16 10 75 3 87 10 32 7 74 11 61 2 60 3 87 6 45 5 67 10 75 5 16 $10 30 5 67 11 61 5 67 15 48 5 67 10 32 9 03 5 67 9 03 5 67 10 32 10 32 9 00 25 80 7 74 12 90 10 32 21 50 5 16 25 80 12 90 12 90 15 48 8 60 21 50 4 30 4 30 9 50 15 37 25 80 6 45 12 90 9 80 20 64 5 67 51 60 25 80 5 16 25 80 21 50 6 45 20 64 9 03 12 90 4 87 13 00 15 70 11 61 32 25 25 80 $8 25 4 64 6 45 4 64 12 90 4 64 8 25 8 25 4 64 8 25 4 64 9 03 9 03 7 74 16 77 6 45 9 03 4 64 16 00 3 87 12 90 11 61 7 50 12 90 6 45 15 92 2 58 2 58 9 5« 5 37 12 90 4 30 10 32 9 CO 12 90 4 64 12 90 15 48 3 87 12 90 16 00 5 16 10 32 7 74 11 61 4 3ft 5 16 10 75 9 03 21 50 7 74 *Some other classes of workmen, such as drivers, saddle-makers, and tailors, get two meals a day besides the wages stated in the columns. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid in factories, mills, ^c, in Eio dr. Janeiro, 217 Occupations. GLOVE FACTOBT. Men in cutting out gloves per month. Men in scraping the skins do... Dyers do... Sewing women do Apprentices: Men do... Women do . . . FURNITURE MAKERS. Cabinet-makers per week. Sculptors do... Cane-seat makers do Varnishera do... Turners do... Ironsmiths do... CLOTH MANUFACTOKT. Masters per week . Overseers do... Engineer do . . . Firemen do... "Weavers : Men -. do... Women do... C hildren do . . . Packers do . . . WALI.-PAPKR PRINTING FACTORY. Maater per week. Workmen do .. Lowest. Highest. Average ^2 90 10 75 10 75 6 45 6 45 6 45 3 87 5 16 6 45 6 45 19 35 7 74 12 90 6 45 5 16 2 06 77 5 16 8 60 3 22 $19 35 12 90 15 05 10 75 15 48 15 48 6 45 10 32 15 48 14 20 43 00 11 61 25 80 7 74 6 45 3 35 2 06 6 45 21 50 5 37 $17 20 11 00 12 90 8 60 3 20 4 30 11 61 11 61 5 16 7 74 11 61 10 32 34 40 7 74 17 20 6 45 5 16 2 60 1 30 5 16 16 00 4 30 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per day of ten and a half hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works in Bio de Janeiro. Occupations. Lowest Highest. Average. Machine department: $0 52 1 50 2 15 $2 15 2 58 3 00 $1 72 Fitters 1 72 2 50 1 07 64 21 Copper-boiler makers : 3 44 2 15 1 07 Iron-boiler makers : 3 00 1 29 77 21 3 00 1 72 77 3 44 2 58 1 03 3 00 1 29 4 30 3 00 1 03 64 4 30 2 58 1 03 4 30 3 00 1 29 3 21 2 15 4 30 1 93 86 21 Foundry; 4 30 2 15 86 Blacksmiths: 4 30 2 79 1 07 Modellers: 3 00 1 72 218 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. IV. Glass-workers. Wages paid per week of fifty-six hours to glass- workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupations. Apprentices "Workmen, blowers, &c . Highest. Average. $2 58 7 74 $1 29 5 16 Not much can be said of glass-workers in Kio, since there exists only one manufactory, and that very insignificant. The working room is perhaps not larger than 15 square yards ; it is on the first floor of a wooden-built edifice, staircase, floor, &g., all being of wood. In the center of the room stands the fur- nace with the molten glass ; on one side of the room stand the annealing ovens, whilst the other three sides of the room are of glass. Lamp chimneys, common tumblers, j ars, & c. , are about the only articles manufactured. V. Mines and mining.* Wages paid in connection ivith the gold mine in Goyaz, Brazil. Occupations. The following is all that could be ascertained of the above mine: Manager per year.. Chief engineer do Carter per month . , Workmen on the hydraulics per week.. Carpenters do... Blacksmiths do Fitters do... Miners do Lowest. Highest. } $2 06 .$5, 160 00 5, 160 00 8 60 12 90 Average. $2 58 * No details can be given in this line, since there are no mines in Rio de Janeiro. There is a total of 108 employes receiving monthly the amount of $1,075. VI. Eailway employes. Wages paid per week to railway employes {those engaged about stations, as well as those on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, tfc. ), in Bio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $25 80 9 03 15 91 5 67 7 74 Average. $10 32 5 16 8 60 3 87 5 16 $15 48 6 45 12 90 5 16 C 45 5 16 5 16 4 64 5 67 6 45 5 16 7 74 5 16 4 61 6 45 5 16 10 75 6 45 7 74 10 32 9 03 9 03 10 32 5 16 21 50 15 70 9 03 12 90 10 32 11 61 15 48 6 45 19 35 Telegraph operators 10 75 7 74 Masons .. 11 61 Bricklayers 9 80 Carpenters 10 32 Ironsmiths, adjusters Strikers 12 90 6 45 Solderingman 10 32 Assistant 6 45 Pavers 6 45 8 24 7 74 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. VII. Ship-yards and ship-building. 219 Wages paid per tveek of sixty hours in ship-yards — distinguished between iron and wood build- ing — in liio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occapations. Lowest. Highest. lAverage. Iron-boiler makers . . . In iron : Turners Molders Fitters Riveters Copper-boiler makers Blacksmiths Carpenters Calkers In wood : Riveters Pulley-makers Turners Fitters Sail-makers Apprentices $5 16 $25 80 $14 19 5 16 i 25 80 14 19 5 16 25 80 14 19 5 16 25 80 14 19 5 16 1 25 80 14 19 5 16 25 30 14 19 5 16 20 64 i+ie 5 16 1 20 64 14 19 5 16 j 20 64 14 19 5 16 20 64 14 19 5 16 20 04 10 32 5 16 20 64 10 32 9 03 25 80 14 19 32 20 64 ; 15 48 2 00 3 87 2 58 VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen (officers and men) — distinguishing between sail and steam — in liio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average, Sailing vessel : Captain Able seamen Ordinary seamen , Steamers : Captain Able seamen Ordinary seamen . Stewards $43 00 15 05 10 75 $107 50 15 05 10 75 $64 50 15 05 10 75 143 00 258 00 215 OO 15 05 17 00 15 05 10 75 12 90 10 75 17 00 25 80 ! 21 50 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per week of ninety-six hours in connection ivith stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females in Bio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Accountants $32 25 21 50 5 37 1 29 $86 00 53 75 21 48 2 58 $53 75 Cashiers 32 25 Salesmen 10 74 Apprentices - . . . . ..... 1 29 Employi'-s in stores are paid according, first, to the wealth of the establishment ; secondly, according to the tniininii of the individual ; it makes no difference whether it be in a wholesale or retail store, or whatever kind it may be. X. Agricultural wages. Unfortunately, up to tlie present time most of the agricultural labor has beeu done by slaves. To the south of Rio, however, they are beginning to employ free hands, and these generally get 43 cents a day, besides their food. Government, however, favors emancipation, and slavery has already been abolished in two provinces — Amazons and Cear^. 220 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. XI. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and eitiea) in Bio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $12 90 8 60 21 50 6 45 6 45 6 45 8 60 8 60 8 60 $25 80 19 35 38 70 12 90 17 20 17 40 17 20 12 90 25 80 $17 20 12 90 25 80 8 60 Laundress 12 90 12 90 Sewing woman 12 90 10 75 Gardener 17 20 XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid to the corporation employes in the city of Rio de Janeiro. (Per week of sixty-six hours.] Oconpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Street-railway company : Pavers Master of the line per week.. do $6 45 $8 24 $7 74 10 32 Conductor of the cars . do 9 50 Drivers of the cars , do 1 9 50 Sweepers of the line do.... 5 16 Changer of animals do.... 5 16 Stjiblemen do.... 5 16 "Workmen on the line Car-cleaners Despatchers Signal-men Banks: Managers do..-. do.... do... do.... permonth.. do do... do. .. 5 16 4 66 10 75 4 66 430 00 142 00 129 00 43 00 129 00 7 74 5 16 12 90 5 16 1, 290 00 387 00 2.58 00 150 00 215 00 5 16 4 66 10 75 4 66 Sub-managers Accountant Clerks 86 00 Cashiers Ho - XIII, Government departments and offices. Annual salaries paid to employes in Government departments and offices, exclusive of trades- men and laborers, in liio de Janeiro, Brazil. Occupations. $5, 160 00 3, 225 00 2, 580 00 1, 376 00 688 00 1, 720 00 1, 376 00 860 00 516 00 1, 980 00 1,720 00 1, 4-JO 00 1, 120 00 1, 032 00 3, 096 00 2, 580 00 774 00 2, 580 00 1, 290 00 ^ Gratification only paid, or a proportionate part when full time is devoted. Ministers (each) Senators Deputies Professors (medicine) Snb.stitutes (medicine) Polytechnic Enginering School : Director Profe.s.sors Substitutes Public teachers (primary schools). Observatory : Director First astronomer Second astronomer Third astronomer Calculator Hospitals : Director Physicians Chemists Supreme court of justice : Presiding judge Secretary Gratifica- tion.* $688 00 344 00 860 00 688 00 430 00 258 00 1, 030 00 860 00 730 00 600 00, 516 00 1,290 00 645 00 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. 221 Annual salaries of employ^ in Government departments, ^c. — Continued. Occnpations. Salary. Gratifica- tion.* $1, 032 00 $516 00 1,032 00 516 00 5, 160 00 2, 580 00 1,290 00 2, 064 00 1,032 00 2,064 00 1, 032 00 2, 064 00 1. 032 00 2, 064 00 1, 032 00 1, 118 00 602 00 1,118 00 602 00 1,118 00 602 00 903 00 473 00 645 00 344 00 903 00 473 00 645 00 344 00 301 00 129 00 2, 150 00 946 00 344 00 1, 290 00 645 00 1, 290 00 688 00 258 00 688 00 344 OO 860 00 430 00 430 00 215 OO 688 00 344 00 430 00 258 oa 344 00 172 00 510 00 215 00 35, 368 00 48,934 00 55, 900 00 166, 625 00 Hospitals — Continued. Jndgos Chrcf of police Department of finance: , 1 nuni.'itcr 4 directors general (each) 2 8ul>-(lirect()r.s (each) 1 assistant attorney-generaW 1 secretary in chief 5 counters (each) 4 secretaries or clerks (each) 2 secretaries (each) 34 first clerks (each) 32 second clerks (each) 30 third clerks (each( 4 second secretaries (each) 4 copyists (each) 14 supernumeraries (eacb) 1 ti'easarer-goueral To cover losses 2 curators (each) 1 teller To cover losses 4 curators (each) 1 archivist , 1 assistant 1 doorkeeper 1 assistant Department of finance : 9 messengers (each) 4 mount ears service receive a pension equal to their full salary. If thej- retire before the thirty years have expired they receive a part of their salary propor- tionate to the time they served. As to professors their term of service is 25 years, receiving full Eay ; and if they continue beyond that time and then retire they receive a certain part of their grati- cation additional. XIV. Trades and labor in government employ. Wages paid by the week of sixty hours to trades and laborers in Government employ in Eio de Jantiro. Occupations. Custom-house : Overlooker Assistant Woikinen at the cranes. Labor er, effective Laborer, additional Public works : Foreman Assi.-itant Clerk Cinie keeper Chaiu-iiian Foreman : Bricklayer Carpenter Stone masim Blacksmith Bricklayer Carpenter Stone mason Pavers Blacksmith Fitter Turner (in iron) Molder Vice men Plumber Lowest. Highest $9 03 6 45 6 45 6 45 6 45 Average.. $12 90 7 74 10 32 9 03 7 74 $25 80 10 32 6 45 5 16 3 87 10 32 6 45 7 7i 7 74 6 45^ 10 32 15 48 12 90 10 32 15 48 12 90 10 32 15 48 12 90 10 32 15 48 12 90 6 45 10 32 7 74 6 45 10 32 7 74 7 74 10 32 9 03 6 45 9 80 7 74 6 45 10 32 9 03 7 74 10 32 9 03 7 74 9 03 7 74 8 80 10 32 9 50 7 74 10 32 9 oa 6 46 10 32 9 oa 222 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: BRAZIL. Wages paid hy the week of sixty hours to trades and laborers, ^c. — Continued. Occupations. Public works— ContiDued. Common painter ' Miner Striker Laborer I • Gardener Carter Marine and war departments : Iron and copper boiler-makers, turners, molders, fitters, riveters: Master Undermaster Workmen : First class Second class Third class Fouith class Fifth class Sixth class Apprentices Blacksmiths : Master Workmen : First class ... Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Sixth class Apprentices Carpenters, calkers, and riveters : Master Undermaster Workmen : First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Sixth class Apprentices Pulley -makers and turners : Master Undermaster Workmen : First class Second class Third class Fourth class Fifth class Apprentices Sail makers : Master Workmen: First class Second class Lowest. $7 74 6 45 5 16 3 87 5 16 5 16 16 77 14 19 9 00 7 74 6 45 5 67 5 16 3 87 2 06 14 19 9 00 7 74 6 45 5 66 5 16 3 90 2 06 11 61 9 03 7 74 6 50 5 16 3 90 3 12 2 58 2 00 11 61 9 03 6 45 5 67 5 16 3 90 3 09 2 00 11 61 6 45 5 16 $10 32 9 80 5 67 6 45 6 45 5 67 25 80 20 64 14 19 12 90 11 61 10 32 9 03 7 74 3 87 20 64 14 19 12 90 11 61 10 32 9 03 7 74 3 87 20 64 18 06 14 19 11 61 9 03 7 74 6 45 5 16 2 58 18 06 14 19 10 32 9 03 7 74 6 45 5 16 2 58 20 64 11 61 10 32 XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of forty-eight hours to printers {compositors, pressmen, and proof -readers) in Eio Janeiro. Occupations. Compositors Pressmen : Large Liberty press . . Small Liberty press .. Job-work Bookbinders Men to damp piiper Men to fold papcir Men to fold inferior work Proof-readers Gilders. Lowest. Men to rule paper. . Men to page books . $10 32 5 16 5 16 5 16 16 12 12 90 Highest. $12 90 10 32 10 32 12 90 21 50 15 48 12 90 ' For every 1,000 ems. tFor every 1,000 sheets. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. 223 PERNAMBUCO. REPORT BY CONSUL ATHERTON. COST OF LIVING. The work-people live iu tbe most primitive way, not any of them i)ay- ing over $42 a year for rent. Codfish from Newfoundland is a j^-eat article of consumption — it costs 2 to 3 cents a pound ; mandioca flour also is their principal article of consumiition in the way of flour. Im- ported flour is too dear for them, costing at retail about 10 cents per pound and $9 by the barrel, while the mandioca flour costs 16 cents a peck. Potatoes are dear; fruits are cheap, and in the way they are eaten by the working-class do more harm than good. Beef is worth from 16 cents a pound to 30 cents. Jerked beef, of which a great deal is consumed here, is worth about Hi cents a pound. Comparison of present price of labor (1878) about the same. HABITS OF THE ^yORKINO CLASS. Work as little as they can to live. It is to be hoped that as the children of these people have a chance for common-school training that there will be an improvement in the next generation (the children are bright and, I understand, learn quickly). They do not save any money ; many of them have been slaves and have not the habit of saving. The slaves on the plantations, manj^ of them, are degraded and stupid, but that depends greatly on the kind of masters they have or have had. PREVALENCY OF STRIKES. There has been one since I have been here, done by a sort of impulse; no organization about it. There are no organizations of labor that I know of. The working people are free to purchase, as a rule. Most of the employes are backwards in paying; only well-to-do people and tradesmen pay promptly. They are paid iu paper money and in cop- per coin. No other money is in circulation here. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The general condition of the working people, as a rule, is that they are poorly paid, fed, and clothed; but they are satisfied with their life so long as they have enough to eat and a place to live in. POLITICAL RIGHTS. Some few are voters ; they have no influence on legislation except, perhaps, by their talk when excited. They do not pay any taxes un- less they are voters ; then it is a small sum. The whole may be summed up in this : They are changing from slave to free labor, and the present generation of laborers as a body do not know how to read or write ; they have no hope of improving their con- dition, and therefore live from hand to mouth ; but I think there will be a decided improvement in the next generation, as they will have (the 224 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. most of them) a fair common-school education, and will learn quickly any trade or calling they may be put at, and with the knowledge they have will probably be anxious to live better. There is no female labor except as servants ; they are paid from $4 to $12 per month with board. The same state exists in the consular agencies, so that one report will answer for all. HENEY L. ATHERTON, GonsuL United States Consulate, Pernamhuco^ June 2, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per week in Fernamluco. Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Roofers Tenders Plumbers Assistants .. Carpenters Gas-fitters OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Bookbinders Brickmakers Brewers Butchers Brass-founders Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cigar-makers Coopers Distillers Drivers Draymen and teamsters , Cab and carriage Street railway Horseshoers Laborers, porters, &c Printers Teachers (public schools) . . . Saddle and harness makers. . Tailors Telegraph operators* Tinsmiths Lowest. $2 54 5 04 5 04 1 92 2 52 1 92 1 98 1 92 5 04 2 52 3 78 2 52 2 52 5 04 2 52 1 26 1 50 2 52 2 52 5 04 2 52 3 78 3 75 3 04 1 94 5 04 5 04 2 52 3 72 Highest. $19 20 10 08 7 56 1 92 5 04 1 92 2 52 1 92 10 08 2 52 15 02 10 08 5 04 15 02 5 04 6 30 2 52 6 30 7 56 4 56 14 32 5 04 3 72 5 04 7 56 14 32 5 04 7 56 5 25 10 08 3 78 12 00 12 60 7 56 12 60 6 30 6 30 Aveiage. $7 56 5 25 5 25 1 92 3 72 1 92 2 42 1 92 7 59 2 52 5 26 5 04 3 72 10 08 3 72 6 30 2 42 5 04 5 25 5 04 5 25 2 52 2 52 2 52 5 04 7 50 4 50 5 14 4 28 5 04 2 00 12 00 7 56 7 56 5 04 5 04 * The operators of the English submarine cable are paid about $3.50 per day. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : BRAZIL. 225 II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per iceek of forty-eight hours in factories or mills in Pernamluco. Occnpations. Cotton factories : Workmen Clerks Directors, superintendents, &o. Lowest. $2 52 3 78 12 60 Highest. $10 08 12 60 35 28 Average. $5 04 5 04 25 20 Only one factory here of cotton ; they have the right for this province ; they only make cotton hag- ging ; all the other cotton goods are^ported; the lowest sort of white or unbleached cotton sells for about 12 cents per yard. III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per month of two hundred and eighty-eight hours in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $168 00 24 60 24 60 3 36 $246 00 49 20 49 20 6 30 $147 00 31 50 33 60 4 20 YI. Bail WAY employ:6s. Wages paid per month to raihvay employes (those engaged about stations as well as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, olitically and socially. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The habits of the working classes are not so satisfactory as might be desired. There are three obstacles, principal ones^ standing in their way: First, the laxative influence of the climate, combined with the pecu- liar character of the Spanish-American people in the tropics. Second, the extraordinary aud wholly unuecessary number of feast- days, religious, political, and social, observed during the year, it being computed that, exclusive of Sundays, there are fifty days of the three hundred and sixty-five that are given over to the celebration of religious anniversaries, some political or martial reminiscence, or birth-days or saints' days. A peculiar custom obtains amongst almost all Peruvian workmen of the laboring class, of knocking oft" work on Mondays, which they i^oijularly term "San Lunes," or Saint Monday ; and. Third, the unfortunate circumstance existing of the abundance and cheapness of the native brandy, made from the Italia grape, and termed aguardiente, pisco bianco, &c., and of the chicha, an intoxicating com- pound produced from the fermentation of grain and copiously seasoned with strong liquor. The Peruvians of the lower class, male and female, are passion- ately addicted to these beverages, and the result is painfully and fre- quently noticeable in deficient pay-rolls and crowded calabooses. In the interior the Indians, possessing land that is extraordinarily fertile, need only till their ground for three or four months of the year ; the harvest- ing of their crops of maize, potatoes, and " garbanzos," similar to our lentiles, requires but little labor, and for the rest of the twelve months they are busily engaged in feasting, and spend their easily-acquired subsistance. On the plantations, estates, and mines it is different, for there the overseers so manage to keep them bound as regards salary, that it be- comes essential to labor more regularly. I -am referring now to the Peruvians who hold small farms or "cha- caras." It will be readily understood that these habits are, in a measure, transmitted to and adopted by the Peruvian workmen on the coast," without being what might be precisely designated as indolent or lazy; a few days of hard labor are always rewarded by a spell of idleness and frequently of debauch. Of course there are many exceptions to this rule. With regard to their stability of character, I may safely say that no contractor in Peru would guarantee to terminate his undertaking on a fixed day, had he to wholl}^ depend on the assistance of the lower classes of Peruvian laborers. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: PERU. 231 Artisans, skilled mechanics, small tradesmen, and the like, observe better habits from a sense of respectability and of necessity. Bnt in my opinion nothing conld be more harmful to the laborers than the incessant recurrence of these feast-dajs, or holidays, and, notwithstand- ing the efforts made by the Government and Church authorities to cur- tail them, the custom still holds. Therefore, as a class, the Peruvian workman cannot be considered as steady or, as a general thing, trustworthy, in so far as a persevering application to labor is concerned. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOY:^. As to the feeling between employ^ and employer, I would pronounce it in the main as friendly and considerate. There is a good deal of that old patriarchal spirit of intercourse yet existing that was general in the time of Spanish domination, on the coast, and the emi^loy^s in many cases regard their employers as a sort of feudal lords. Socialism has not yet taken root in this republic, and when an isolated attemj)t at general robbery and spoliation was made by the worst classes of Lima, after its fall in 1881, it was so effectually stamped out by the good people of that city, Peruvian and foreign, that a recurrence of the danger is not dreaded. The relatious between the different classes of the community are, I think, eminently satisfactory. I except, of course, the transitory ex- citement and feelings brought into existence by some political or revo- lutionary disturbance. ORGANIZATION OF LABOR. Trades unions are unknown in Peru. The artisans and some classes of laborers have guilds established, but the object of these is to secure uniformity of action when engaged on questions of paying duties or trade licenses to the Government, and sometimes to dismiss some unruly or unworthy member. Neither are there any organizations of capital, since the reason does not exist. STRIKES. During ray long residence in Peru, extending over twenty years, only two strikes have come within my notice, and those within the past few months. In both cases the matters were promptly and amicably ar- ranged, both of the interested parties making concessions. FOOD PURCHASE. I have never learned of an instance where the liberty of food pur- chase was restricted. With the exception of the mines in the interior, and the nitrate works at Tarapac<4, there are no general provision depots connected with industrial establishments, excepting, of course, on the large sugar-producing plantations that are remote from towns or villages. The laborers are paid according to contract by week, day, or month, and in silver, or its equivalent in paper money, which is more conven- ient for ordinary daily transactions. 232 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA : PERU. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. These are as yet unknown in Peru. The general condition of the working people has already been described in this report. SAFETY OF EMPLOYES. Ordinary precautions are taken for the safety of employes in factories' mines, on railways, &c. The character of the buildings in Peru, spa' cious and low, does away with the necessity of fire escapes, there not being one of these appliances in this republic. I know of no provision made for the workman in case of accident. Such cases are so extremely rare that no standard has been established, but I am clear on the point that as a general thing the employers are liberal to a degree with those who may become incapacitated in their service. COOLIE LABOR IN PERU In this relation I must, however, except the cases of the Chinese laborers on the sugar and agricultural properties. Now that the supply of labor from China has wholly disappeared the planters are of necessity obliged to treat the few coolies they have under contract with consideration and care, but in former years the lot of a Chinese laborer on a plantation was a miserably unhappy one. As soou as their contracted terms expire, the Chinese seek new occu- pations, generally in the cities where they become domestic servants, or open small cheap condas or eating houses. Many of them remain on the plantations, but as free laborers, receiving fair wages, and re- leased from the absolute control exercised over them during the term of their obligatory servitude. The number of Chinese to-day in Peru is calculated at forty thousand, scattered throughout the republic as far south as Mollendo. POLITICAL RIGHTS. The working men, Peruvians, have the same political rights that are granted to all the citizens of Peru under the constitution. They possess the right to vote at all elections but their innate in- fluence is insignificant, as in the very great majority of instances they obey the orders and follow the views of some personal favorite. There is no poll-tax in Peru. The heavy contributions are laid on landed property, and on the privilege of doing business. Therefore the workmen are almost wholly exempt from the burden of aiding financially in the support of the government. EMIGRATION. There is no emigration from Peru. With the exception of a few hundred i)eoi)le who left this country for California in the days of the gold excitement, I can hear of no further instances of emigration. FEMALE LABOR IN PERU. With regard to female labor and the labor of children in this republic, outside of purely domestic products, there is nothing to be said, for the reason that such labor is not emj^loyed. LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: PERU. 233 At the cotton-cloth factory of Santa Chira, 20 miles from Lima up the Oroj-a Railway, there are a few, probably twenty-five or thirty, women engaged in the more delicate i)ortions of the mannfacture, but, so fiiT as 1 can learn, this is the solitary exception. In the far interior the women sometimes labor together with their husbands or brothers on their little farms, but I scarcely thinlc that this instance is comprised in the interrogatory made by the Department. In conclusion I hope it will be remembered, when taking this report into consideration, that the existing state of affairs and labor in Peru is i)articularl3- referred to, and w^ere we again in normal and prosperous, times, the condition of tlie laborer, the prospects of emolument and advantage, and the sphere of his action might certainly be portrayed in a highly favorable and even inviting light. H. M. BRENT, Acting Consul. Consulate of the United States, Callao, May 5, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid in Lima and Callao. Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers Hoil- carriers. Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Carpenters Gas-litters .per day. do-.. ....do... .do... .do... .do... .do... OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Book-binders Brick-makers Brewers Butcliers Cabinet-makers , Con fectiouers Cifjar-makers Coopers Drivers : Draymen and teamsters. Street railways Engravers Gardeners Hatters ^ Jewelers Laborers, poiters, &c Litliof^raphers Print I'rs Teaclicrs (public schools)... Saddle and harness makers.. Stevedores Tanners Tailors Tek'i;raph operators TiDsmiths .... per day. do.'.. do... do... do... .per month. per day. do... do... do... do... .per month. do... per day. .per month. per day. do... do... do... do... per month. per day. do... do... do... .per month. per day. Lowest. $1 64 82 2 46 82 1 64 82 1 48 40 2 05 1 00 1 34 1 64 82 30 1 64 2 46 60 "i"oo 12 00 28 75 3 29 20 00 1 50 1 64 33 3 29 1 34 41 15 2 46 82 82 1 64 49 38 1 00 Highest. $2 46 1 00 2 46 82 2 46 1 00 1 64 82 3 29 1 50 3 29 2 46 82 30 2 46 2 46 82.3 tl 20 1 50 16 00 28 75 3 29 20 00 1 50 3 00 82 3 29 1 80 60 00 2 46 82 82 1 04 49 38 1 50 * Per Job. t Average. 234 LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA: PERU. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid in ice factory and hreivery of Backus in foundries, machine-shops, and iron works in Guaya- quil, Ecuador. Occapations. Lowest. Highest Average. Common laborers \ $3 60 7 50 20 00 25 00 $6 00 12 00 25 00 50 00 $4 50 10 00 Meclisiiiics Foreincu . ,. ■ 22 00 Engiueei 3 35 00 V. Mines and mining. Wages paid per week oj forty-eight hours in and in connection iciih Zarumti mines in Ecu4x- dor. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $4 20 10 00 16 00 25 00 $4 50 18 00 VI. Railway employ:6s. Wages paid per month to railway employes {those engaged about stations, as well as those en- • -v i J 9'^god on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, y. Masous do . . . Carpenters do... Baleen I's do . . . Blacksmiths do . . Butchers do . . . Cabinet-makers do. .. Cij;ar- makers do. .. Coopers do . . Drivers on the tables of rieh and poor alike. Articles of quite common consumption cost at retail as follows : Articles. riour: Wheat per pound.. Cum per quai t. . Butter per iioimil.. Kice per quart!. Coflfee per pound. . Tea do Sugar : Brown do. . . . Kefiued do Grits per quart.. Bacon per pound.. i Cost. l| il Cents. , 3 to 6 * ■ 30 50 6 8 1 18 24 1 40 100 7 10 i : 15 20 11 i c 7 " ™ii Articles. Salt pork per pound. . Salt fish. do.... Fresh tish do Bread do Cheese do Fresh meat .'do Milk i>cr quart.. Chirkens per pair.. Ej;;is per dozen . . Caudles per pound.. Kerosene oil i)er quart.. Lard per pound.. Cost. Cents. 15 to 20 In the matter of clothing it is very evident that much more money is sjH^nt by many of the poorer classes than there is any necessity for. A desire to dress well and to wear personal adornments is prevalent among these people. In a climate where the thermometer never falls to 50°, and where it seldom drops to even G0<^, but little clothing is required to i)rotect from the cold, and yet competent Judges assert that not less than 75 per cent, of the earnings of a majority of the laboring people are spent for wearing ai)i)arel and adornments. The working clothes of the poor are largely of cottons, prints, or calicoes, and Jeans or drills, straw or palmetto hats. Many wear no shoes at all. Good cottons can be bought for 9 cents per yard; prints for 8 cents; Jeans and drills for 20 cents; lawns for 25 cents; shoes for $1.25 to 81.50 per pair, and other goods in ])ro])ortion. But these qualities do not suit for Sundays, holi- days, and iestive occasions, when many really expensive articles are worn, l^right colors and showy goods are the favorites regardless of cost, and the appearance presented by an assemblage of the laboring classes of the Bahamas, u])on some public occasion, in the matter of dress, would be suggestive of anything but poverty or hard lines in earning a livelihood. With the same economy in clothing that their fellows exercise in America or in England, the laboring classes here could easily put by something in store for a rainy day. GENERAL CONDITION OF WORKING PEOPLE. The working classes are in a reasonably comfortable condition, that is, there is a fair amount of work to be done at fair i)rices, so that while there is not much accumulation of proi)erty amongst them, there is on the other hand comparatively little of actual want or suffering. Thrifty ones generally own their own plot of land and cabin, whilst comfortable houses can be rented at from $2 to $3 per month. Their houses are either of stone or wood, with wooden or tiiatched roof, containing from one to four rooms, mostly one story in height, with many oi)enings, as is needed in ,i tropical climate. No fuel is required excej)t a little wood for cooking purposes. These cabins or dwellings are generally sur- rounded by fruit trees, which give shade and contribute to the support of tiie family. It is very customary for the women to take in washing or sewing to hel]) the husband when it can be procured. The laborers begin theii daily work at o'clock in the morning, stopping from 8 to 9 for break- 248 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: BRITISH WEST INDIES. fast, aucl continue from 9 till 5 p. m., with an lionr's intermission at noon for a meal. Tliey liave' their sn])per about 6 o'clock. I have made reference to their food, and will only add that fresh meat, and indeed any kind of meat, is seklom used by the i)oorer classes. There is considerable intemperance among the poorer classes, quan- tities of Holland gin being drunk, and much Jamaica rum, the latter being sold very cheai)ly. There are, on the other hand, a number of temperance societies which are exercising a good reformatory influence upon the drinking classes. MISCELLANEOUS INFOEMATION. There has been no change for many years in the rate of wages paid in the colony, and the conditions which suriouud the labor question here continue the same from year fo year. There are no organizations of either ca])ital or labor, and strikes may be said to be unknown in the islands, a kind and friendly feeling almost always iirevailing between employer and employe, which has a benefi- cial effect upon the prosperity of the community. Co-operative societies are not known. The working people are paid each day or each week in British gold and silver, and are at perfect liberty to make all i)nrcbases wherever they may choose, employers im- posing no conditions in this regard. PoUtical rights. — The political rights possessed by the workingmen are few. The colony is a der)endency of Great Britain, and officials are not elected by the people. Once in seven years a lower house of assembly is elected by popular vote, every male citizen over twenty-one who owns any real estate, kee])s a house, or pays taxes, being a voter. As, how- ever, the ui)per house is appointed by the Imperial Government, and as the governor, also, is a crown official, and possesses an absolute veto power, the authority of the popular house is much curtailed. And even in the lower house, owing to crown and official influences, an independent majority is seldom obtained at an election. This septennial election is the only opportunity the workingman has to exercise any political in- fluence. It is but just to say, however, that the crown and colonial authorities have usually a most kindly feeling towards the laboring classes, and that the tendency of legislation is in the direction of the improvement and welfare of these peo])le. Taxation. — The proportion of taxation borne by the laboring classes is not easily determined. There is very little of direct or local taxation in the colony; indeed, nothing in the way of municipal rates, or of levies upon assessed valuations of real or personal property. Probably seven- eighths of the entire revenue of the colony arises from duties on imports and from licenses. The laboring classes, therefoi e, pay taxes in ])ropor- tion to the quantity of imports thej' consume, which, being an unknown quantitj^ prevents me from giving a satisfactory answer upon this point. There is no discrimination against them in the matter of taxes. Duties on imports are about 20 per cent, ad valorem. Fjmigration. — There is very little emigration fiom the colony. The working classes are generally contented with their condition. The cli- mate is semi-trojjical; they are certain of a living here; but little toil is necessary to earn a livelihood ; they are not ambitious to improve their condition, but as a rule are content to let well enough alone; and are attached to their homes with the indolent, free from -care life of these quiet islands, which are not inaptly termed the "negroes' i)aradise." Fopulation. — The population of the entire group of the Bahamas will not exceed 45,000 souls, and of these it is safe to assert that not to exceed LABOR IN THE WI-:ST INDIES: BRITISH WEST INDIES. 249 5,000 or 0,000 arc Avhitos, tlic rest bein^- made up of all shades of color, from the ])ure octoroon to the coal-black native African set free from slave shi]>s captured in the adjacent waters by British cruisers. Slavery was abolished in these islands in 1838. The i)hysical condition of the whites and blacks is good ; but the mixed race seem deficient in good constitutions, yielding easily to the attacks of disease. The moral condi- tion of the better class of working i)eople is not different from that which obtains among such ])eoi)le in the world generally ; but among the lower orders vice and immorality abound to a shocking extent. Population increases slowly, about 1 percent, per annum being the rate during the past decade. Wo))ie7i employes. — Women are em]iloyed in agricultural work, in the l)reserving of iruit, and in household services generally, but I do not know that this fact has any api)reciable efl'ect upon the wages of men or on social and industrial conditions. Their wages, as appears else- where, are lower than those paid to males. There are no female artists, chemists, journalists, inventors, bankers, lecturers, or public speakers. There are perhaps twenty clerks, twenty-tive teachers of schools and in music, six boarding-house keepers, and one hundred workers in shell manufacture. Outside of the services mentioned in this paragraph there is little employment for women in this colony. I do not know that any special consideration is given byem])loyers to the moral or physical well- being of their employes; in fact, I think they are quite indifferent to the same. And as their em})loyments are not dangerous no i)rovisions are made for the safety of employes or for their care in case of accidents. Education. — The majority of the laboring classes are ignorant, but among the better classes of the working people there is considerable intelligence. There are public schools throughout the colony, supple- mented by many schools under the ausjjiccs of the Church of England. Tliere are also in existence strict comi)ulsory education laws, which are fairly well enforced, so that many children are receiving a common- sc1k)o1 education in tliis colony, a condition of affairs that cannot but produce beneficial results in the near future. Labor organizations. — There are in the colony, among the working people, a number of organizations called " friendly " and "burial" socie- ties, the object of which is to encourage habits of industry, and economy among the members, and to provide relief in case of illness or to secure l)ro[)er burial at time of death. These societies are prudently managed and are largely united with by the laboring classes, and are unques- tionably exerting a wholesome and desirable indaence amongst the people for whose benefit they were created. CONCLUSION. In conclusion I would say that labor in this colony is in such a primi- tive condition (very little of what can properly- be termed "skilled" labor existing, and scarcely any that finds em[)loyment iu the operating of machinery or of any complicated mechanical ap[)liances) that it has been difhcult to treat the subject in a way that would enable the Depart- ment to institute a satisfactory comparison between our rude forms and the advanced and highly-developed condition in which labor exists in the United States. 1 have, however, done the best I could in the i»remises and trust the report, which embraces ail my agencies and the entire Biilr.imas. will be acceptable to tli<> Department. THOS. J. McLAIN, Jr., Consul. United States Consulate, Nassav, New Providence, liaJiamas, May 7, 1884. 2o0 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: BRITISH WEST INDIES. TURK'S ISLAND. * BEFORI BY COySJJL SAWTEIi. Jn response to Department circular under date of Febrnar}' 15, 1 have the honor to make the following brief statement in regard to labor on this island and the dependency thereof. There are but few daily laborers, and these are engaged in the manu- facture of salt in some of its branches, or in the manufacture or gather- ing of guano at two points. There are but few mechanics and these of the most ordinary kind. These command $1.25 per day, supposed to work ten hours for the day. Common laborers at the salt business receive 75 cents per day of ten hours. The local authorities regulate the time when to commence work and when to quit. The men are supposed to commence work at 6 o'clock a. m.; they work until 10 o'clock w^hen they have an hour for breakfast. At 11 they commence work, and some crews quit for the day at 2 o'clock ; these receive 50 cents for the day, while those who continue until 5 o'clock re- ceive 75 cents. ^ The Government interferes for the laborers and says the men shall be paid weekly and in cash, but as many of them have to anticipate their wages, when Saturday night comes they have taken up a good share of the week's wages at the shop, as most of the manufacturers keep a supply shop. The cost of living is what provisions cost in New York, freight, the local tax here, and the profit of the dealer added. Good feeling exists between the employers and the employed. The workmen are mostly black or colored. They are, as a general rule, in- dustrious and frugal. N. K. SAWYER, Consul. United States Consulate, TurWs Island, Augvst 20, 1884. LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. 251 SPANISH WEST INDIES. CUBA-. CIENFUEGOS. REPORT BY CONSUL PIEROK. Referring- to your circular letter of Febrnnry last, I beg^ to say that almost all the unskilled labor of this consular district, as well as a very considerable i)roportion of the skilled labor, iseniidoyedou sugar planta- tions in cultivating sugar cane and converting the same into sugar and molasses. WAGES ON SUaAR PLANTATIONS. The following table will show the monthly cost and arrangement of labor upon a sugar plantation of 1,500 acres, well supplied with modern machinery, in full operation during the late grinding season and during the present dull season: LATE GRINDING SEASON. Occupations. Atlininistrator's services Cult ill •> cane Lilting cane Dii villi; <-ai8 and wajrons LeadiiifT stock-catlle (boys) Layini: poi table railroad Attending furnaces Atteiidin;: buileis Cai ling t lie iiu-srass Dryiui: the nieyass (women) Attendinf; i-nolitical equality, their children being educated and the i)athways to honorable distiriction opened before them; their own manhood rec- ognized and their occupation respected, they wereconstrained to place confidence in the future, and to be animated to industry and laudable ambition. Here such bids fair not to be the case. Freedom to the Cuban negro, while a step in the right direction, will hold out no such incentive to personal wealth and patriotism. The froednum will remain an insignificant factor in the political world; motives to subserve the i)ublic good of his i)rogeny will not be inspired by the situation ; and without such motives and without the necessity of gaining his live- lihood by labor he will be apt to become a very unreliable and iuditi'er- eut tiller of the soil." THE COLONIAL SYSTEM. Within the last few years what is called here the "colonial" system has been inaugurated and meets with considerable favor. This consists in farming out land for cultivation or iu making such arrangements with small land owners as to enable them to cultivate their land iu su- gar cane. These conditions somewhat vary. They are, however, in the main, about as follows : The ])lanter allows a certain (piantity of land to the "colono," who is to i)ay for it at $1 ])er acre, and duly cultivate it in sugar (;aue, and cut and deliver the cane at the "central "place where the ])lanter grinds it. The planter on the other hand i)ays to the "co- lono " ^'MiO for each 2,;'3()() pounds of canes so delivereil ; and the i)lanter also fuinishes sutiicient cane for the first two plantings, and sufficient live stock aiul utensils. HOW THE LABORERS LIVE. The daily habits and mode of life of the working classes in the coun- try are in no wise elevated. jS^early, if not quite all, live in thatched houses without fiooring ; they look forward to the necessities of old ago with little concern, and are much more content to live from " hand to mouth" than any class of laborers in the United States. 254 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. During- the busy or crop season (about five months) they work during the entire Sunday on some estates and part of the Sunday on all of them. They are, however, fed as well or better than the corres])ondin,a;" class of laborers in our Southern States, who, in Georgia at least, formerly received 2i pounds of bacon (uncooked) and a peck of meal per week, together with such vegetables as they themselves might raise around their cabins. Here their daily rations are nsually taken in sufficient quantities from the following list: jerked beef, sweet potatoes, rice, bread, beans, plantain, pork, aguardiente, codfish, olive oil, lard, fiesli beef, and salt beef; and they usually get a daily allowance of coffee and sugar. The skilled laborers (machinist, carpenters, &c.) are allowed to eat at a table and the food of the unskilled laborers usually given to them on ])lates. The owner of one of the largest plantations in the island, which during the crop season employs about five hundred per- sons, tells me that by cooking for them, which he does by steam, he is enabled to feed the skilled laborers at 33 cents a day, the unskilled white laborers at 22 cents a day, and to feed the unskilled negro laborers at 16 cents a day. A distinction is usually though not always drawn be- tween white and negro laborers of the same class. SLAVE LABOR. The slaves here are allowed by law $3 [per month ?] (equal to $2,796 in United States money), and it has long been customary to allow plan- tation slaves to have a piece of land on which to cultivate vegetables, raise poultry, and also raise one or two pigs. This custom, it is said, was intended to create an inducement for the slave not to run away from the plantation. It is noticed here, as it was in the United States, that the negroes on becoming free usually leave the plantation on which the}' have been held as slaves, but show a disposition to return to it after an absence of a year or two. WAGES IN THE CITY OF CIENFUEGOS. The following table will give an approximate idea of the price of labor in the city of Cienfuegos, a i)lace of about 21,000 inhabitants. 1 beg to state, however, in advance that the prices are unsetlled, emidoyment uncertain and irregular, and the sources of information on the subject more or less unsatisfactory. I have attempted to show the monthly compensation each occupation gives, when em])loyment is obtained, though in some cases payment is made according to the work per- formed, and in other cases by the day. All classes of laborers in the city usually work from 6 to 5, sto])])ing one hour for breakfast, and most of them work an hour less on Saturday. Shops and stores are kept open and retail business transacted on Sunday, but artisans are not required to work on Sunday when emi)loyed by the month. When l)aid by the day twenty-six days are accounted a month. Prices are so irregular that it is extremely difficult to approximate an average. Owing to the fact that the su])ply of the city labor is greatly in excess of the demand, it would seeui not unreasonable to assume that the average wages will not exceed 10 per cent, over the lowest throughout the table. The tables of this report and all amounts of money mentioned are in Spanish coin ; a dollar in Spanish is equal to $0,932 in United States coin. LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. Wages paid per month. 255 Occupations. Brick-layers Hotl carriers Stone-uiasous Plasterers Phiinbei 8 OarpeiittTs Hon sill carpenters Gas-litters Baki'rs Blacksmiths Strik. rs l)Oi)k-l>iu(lers Brick-uiakers Butchers Caliinet-niakers Confectioners Ci^rar-niakors Coopeis Draynion and toauisters. Cab and carriage Gardeners Hatters HoiS'Shoers Jewelers Laborers and porters ... Printers Lowest. $38 00 21 00 65 00 C5 00 52 00 65 00 39 00 25 00 ao 00 52 00 26 00 25 00 30 00 17 00 78 00 60 00 37 00 45 00 25 00 30 00 17 00 34 00 27 00 50 00 21 00 30 00 Highest. $52 00 30 00 78 00 78 00 65 00 78 00 52 00 51 CO 60 00 65 00 32 00 34 00 34 00 25 00 91 00 80 00 00 00 60 00 34 00 37 00 34 00 62 00 40 00 80 00 34 00 60 00 Occnpations. Teachers, public school. . . . Saddlers and harness-niak- eis Sail-makers Stevedores Tanners Tadors ... Tin.tniiths Shoemakers Barbel's Household servants, with board : Cooks Chambermaids Dress-makers Kailroad employes : Road-masters Switchmen Breakmen Firemen Blacksmiths Boiler-makers Cai-penters Brick.layers Enjiiueers Lowest. $50 00 30 00 60 00 52 00 25 00 25 00 32 00 34 00 30 00 10 00 4 00 12 00 40 00 30 00 30 00 30 00 6.1 00 05 00 32 00 45 00 120 00 Highest. $100 00 50 00 105 00 104 00 40 00 4.-) 00 49 00 55 00 54 00 25 00 9 00 15 00 102 00 30 00 30 00 30 00 187 00 130 60 154 00 £8 00 130 00 COST OF LIVING TO CITY LABORERS. The laborers of Cienfuegos are Diore intelligent than those of the country, and coumiaiid better wages, though the general depression of business has thrown a large number of them out of employment. Living, of course, is more exi^ensive than in the country, and is probably more expensive in this particular city than any other of its size on the island. Plantains (which, according to my liking, are a better substitute for meal and bread than either sweet or liish potatoes) are as a rule brought here fiom other localities, and so are yams (another substantial food of the island), in considerable quantities, in order to supply this market. The usual cost of living per month in this city of a family consisting of husband (under employment at $3.50 per day), wife, and three children under twelve years of age, may be estimated as follows: Wages ;j!91 00 House reut |17 00 Provi-ious 30 00 Clothing 11 no Education (two children) 8 50 Washiug, fuel, lights, aud other necessaries 16 00 83 00 Leaving for cigars and diversions only 8 00 If, however, the husband should lose his employment, aud he should wish to curtail his expenses while looking for work, and at the same time keep up appearances, he could maintain his family without much discomfort on $40, and, if the worst should come, he could manage to maintain them all with wholesome food and dry shelter, but without coflee, bread, and meat, on from $10 to $15 per month. FEMALE LABOR. Female labor is very much more restricted than in the United States. Female slaves work in the plantations reasonably well. Emancipation from slavery, however, decreases the efficiency and amount of their 256 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. labor luncli more than it does that of men. In the cities female occupa- tions, outside of private domestic einployraeut, is exceediu.<4ly limited. There is probably not a single chambermaid or other female employed in the management of any hotel in this city. The females, however, are generally- industrious in their respective homes. Their sphere of usefulness is greatly restricted by the customs of the country, but within their allotted sphere they are faithful, cheerful, and industrious. WM. P. PIEECB, Consul. United States Consulate, Cienfuegos, July 31, 1884. SANTIAGO DE CUBA, REPORT BY CONSUL LANDREATT. In regard to the laboring classes it is impossible to give an exact aver- age, as the so-called slaves are paid three different rates of wages ; the free ones have adopted an arbitrary rule, and the sugar ])lauters have found themselves compelled to agree to their demand, that is to say, that at present and for the last four months they iiave been obtaining $30 and food monthly, and some of them u}) to $45, and the consequences are that the ])lanters find themselves compelled to abandon the sugar cultivation. Concerning the prices paid by said laborers for necessaries of life, this remains a complete mystery, owing to their different ways of living. Generally speaking they are neither steady nor saving, being too fond of pleasures. Strikes are never heard of here. They are free to purchase uecessaries of life wherever they choose, and no conditions imposed by employers, and they are paid in Spanish gold. Rents are very high here, and living very costly to people who have to do so decently. Owing to the planters stopping work, it is feared that the result will be a bread war, due to so many people out of einplovment. JOHN C. LANDREAU, Consul. United States Consulate, Santiago de Cuba, June 30, 1884. I. General trades. Wages i^aid per day in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons BUILDING TRADES. Tcnilers — PlastortTs ... Tenders Koofers Plumbers AsslstJiuts Carpenters Gas-litters Lowest. Highest. $2 00 $5 00 1 00 2 00 1 00 2 (10 1 00 2 00 1 00 2 00 1 00 2 no 1 00 1 50 1 50 3 00 1 00 3 00 2 50 4 00 1 50 2 00 Average. LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. Wages paid per day in Santiago de Cuba — Continued. 257 Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. OTHER TRADES. $1 50 2 50 1 00 1 00 1 50 $2 00 3 00 3 00 2 00 2 50 $1 50 1 50 1 00 1 50 2 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 1 00 Jewelers 1 50 1 00 Teachers, public schools *30 00 1 50 1 50 80 00 2 00 2 00 1 00 Tailors 1 00 1 50 1 50 2 50 ■> 00 * Per month. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per day of ten hours in factories or mills in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. General labor . $1 00 $1 25 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per day in foundries, machine-shops, andiron worhs in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $1 50 $3 50 V. Mines and mining. Wages paid in and in connection ivith Iron Mines Company in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Chiefs of camps per month. Storekeepers do. . . Doctors' assistants do... Ovoi'seers : do... Carpenters per day. Laborers do Railroad men do. .. Locomotive engineers per month . Bridge carpenters per day. Firemen do... Track -layers do. . . M iners do . . . Drill runners do . . . Clerks per month . Lowest. $1 15 225 00 2 50 1 25 75 Highest, $1 90 300 00 3 00 1 75 90 Average. $100 00 35 00 30 00 30 00 1 25 80 1 50 2 00 92 A— 2 LAB- -17 258 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. VI. Bail WAY EMPLOYES. Wages paid per annum to railway employes {those engaged about stations as ivell as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, t^-c.) in S' ntiago de Cuba. Occupations. Administrator of railroad. •Computer Treasurer Secretary Cashier ,.. Office clerks wages. Occupations. $2, 400 00 1, 200 00 1, 200 00 1, 000 00 1, 000 00 500 00 Conductors Station clerks Telegraphists ... Machinists Chief of foundry. Laborers 1. $720 00 720 00 720 00 1,200 00 2,400 00 *1 00 * Per day. VII. Ship- YARDS and SHip-BuiLDma. Wages paid per day of ten hours in ship-yards — dislinguishing between iron and tvood ship- building — in Santiago de Culm. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. • $2 00 $5 00 YIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per' month to seamen {officers and men) in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $15 00 $25 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per month in stores, wholesale or retail, to males and females, in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Book-keepers... Cashiers Salesmen Grocery clerks Lowest. ! Highest. $70 00 I $85 00 60 00 75 00 25 00 30 00 10 00 I 17 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {totvns and cities) in Santiago de Cuba, Island of Cuba. Occupations. Coachmen Cooks Servants Washer and ironers. Lowest. $17 00 8 50 6 00 8 00 Highest. $20 00 17 00 10 00 9 00 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per month to agricultural laborers and household {country) servants in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Free laborers Patrocinados, or conditonally freed. $17 00 $20 00 2 00 I 4 00 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SPANISH WEST INDIES. 259 XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid, per year, to the corporation emploijes in the city of Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Lowest. I Highest. Average. Mayor of the city Secretary Clerks Computer of hoard of aldermen. Secretary of hoard o^ aldermen. OflBcers Clerks Mnnicipal school teachers *$40 00 *$90 00 $2, 000 1,200 500 1,600 1,600 840 4,000 *Per month. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per year to employes in Government departments and offices, exclusive of trades- men and laborers, in Santiago de Cuba. [Five hours a day.] Occapations. Civil governor Secretary of government Assistant secretary Five officers, Ist, 2d and 5th. Civil judges Attorneys SUBDJTENDENCY. Subintendent Secretary First officer Clerks Collector of taxes Chief of section Third officer Fifth officer Coui^selor at law Computer Second officer Fourth officer Sixth officer Treasurer CUSTOM-HOUSE. Collector Computer Fifth officer Third officer Fourth officer Interpreter Druggist Weighers Captain of port Assistant captain of port Clerks Paymaster POLICE. Chief of police Officers BOARD OF IIEALTIT Doctor-secretary Aveiage 11 "Wages. 1] Occapations. $7, 000 3,000 1,800 1,260 4,500 2,700 6,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 2,800 1,600 1,400 1,070 1,400 2,050 1,400 1,200 1,000 1,600 2,500 1,850 1,000 1,400 1,000 1,000 500 1,200 4,200 1,125 720 480 3,000 1,200 1,200 POST-OFFICE. Postmaster Intflrventor Officer A ssistants International officer Mail-carrier, steamers' officer. Clerk INSPECTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. Chief engineer. Assistant INSPECTION OF MINES. Chief inspector. Assistant Clerk PUBLIC WOKKS. Chief inspector . Assistants Overseers Drawer TELEGRAPH. Station chief Officexs Officer of station Do Clerks Telegram carriers Clergy : Archbi.shop Vicar- general A ttorney -general Clerk Dean of the cathedral . Prebendaries Bo Do Cathedral orchestra Parish priests Average 1,800 1,300 1,000 400 1,000 330 400 3,700 1,300 3,700 1,750 400 4,000 1,800 700 500 1,500 600 690 900 400 240 18, OOo 4,000 2,700 480 4,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 5, 200 600 260 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SAN DOMINGO. XV. Printers and printing offices. statement showing the wages paid, pet- annum, to printers {compositors, pressmen, proof- readers, c^'C.) in Santiago de Cuba. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Manager of printing office $480 00 Type composers 300 00 Pressmen 340 00 Proof-readers 204 00 $500 00 400 00 400 00 250 00 SAN DOMINGO. PUERTO PLATA. REPORT BY CONSUL SIMPSON. In answer to labor circular of February 15, 1884, I have the honor to return herewith the blanks which refer to the classes of labor in this district, filled to the best of my knowledge correctly, and to submit the following in answer to the interrogatories. COST OF LIVING. The cost of living to the laboring classes here is but little, as with a loaf of bread, a few i^lantains, and occasionally some fresh beef or pork, they have all they want to eat. Of clothing but little also is required, and that of the commonest kind. Eents are from $5 to |10 per month for one or two rooms. Flour sells for $14 per barrel, but is seldom bought in a crude state, as they have neither ovens nor stoves in which to cook it. Fresh beef costs from 12 to 15 cents per pound, and pork from 20 to 25. Common cod and hake (of which considerable is consumed) sells for 10 cents per pound ; salt pork, 20 cents. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The habits of the working classes are not very steady, especially in the country, as when they have worked hard and accumulated a few dollars they are apt to want a rest, and generally at the time when their services are most needed. Within a year or two, however, there has been a marked improve- ment in this respect, and it is believed it will continue. As for laying by anything for a rainy day, few do it. MISCELLANEOUS. Good feeling prevails between employe and emj)loyer. There are no labor organizations and no strikes occur. They are free to purchase where they please, and are paid weekly, generally, in Mexican dollars or their equivalent. There are no co-operative societies. WORKING PEOPLE. Their wants are few, as the climate is always warm. A roof to cover them, a few chairs, a table, cot or hammock, are sufiicieut for the hour. LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SAN DOMINGO. 261 One or two suits a year of blue denim, with the same number of shirts, of coarse cloth, are enough to clothe them. As for bettering their condition, few think or care ; neither do they think of laying by anything for old age or sickness. They are quite temperate, but somewhat addicted to gambling in the form of lotteries, cock-fighting, &c. POLITICAL RIGHTS. All males over twenty-one years of age are entitled to vote, and may vote for whom they please; but they generally follow the lead of some official or prominent man in their district. Their votes have, however, very little influence on legislation. There are no direct taxes on the workingman, the revenue of the country being derived from duties on imports and exports. THOMAS SIMPSON, Consul. United States Consulate, Puerto Plata, May 28, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per toeek of sixtsj hours in Puerto Plata. Occupations. . Carpenters Bakers Cigar-makers Coopers Laborers, porters, &,c . . . Printers Teachers, public schools Stevedores Tailors Lowest. Highest. $6 00 $12 00 6 00 11 50 6 00 11 25 6 00 11 50 6 00 6 00 6 00 7 50 HO 00 *100 00 9 00 12 00 4 75 9 00 Average. $7 50 7 25 7 10 7 25 6 00 6 75 *80 00 10 75 7 25 * Per month. II. Factories, mills, etc. fVafjes paid per week of sixtij hours in sugar mills iu Puerto Plata. Occupations. L9we8t. Highest. Average. $12 .50 12 50 3 00 $25 00 25 00 3 60 $20 00 20 00 3 30 VIII. Seamen's waqes. Waf/es 2)(iid pm' month to seamen {offieers and men) in Puerto Plata. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Ordinary seamen (coast) Masters $12 00 25 00 $12 00 25 00 $12 00 25 00 262 LABOR IN THE WEST INDIES: SAN DOMINGO. IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per month v^stores, tvkolesale or retail, in Puerto Plata. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Clerks (with board) Bookkeepers (without board) . $20 00 100 00 $50 00 200 00 $30 00 125 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants {towns and cities) in Puerto Plata. Occupations. Lowest. Hie;hest. Average. Cooks $3 00 3 00 2 50 $5 00 4 00 4 00 $4 00 3 50 3 00 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per week to agricultural laborers and household {country) servants in Puerto Plata. Occupations. Lowest Highest. Average. $3 00 4 00 3 00 $3 60 5 00 3 60 $3 30 4 50 General laborers* '. 3 30 * Without board. t With board. XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month of two hundred and eighty-eight hours to employes in Government departments and offices {exclusive of tradesmen and laborers) in Puerto Plata. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $120 00 90 00 150 00 90 00 60 00 60 00 60 00 15 00 20 00 $120 00 Collector, deputy 90 00 150 00 90 00 Registrar 60 00 Interpreter 60 00 Clerks $45 00 10 00 15 00 50 00 Tidi waiters 11 00 17 50 XV. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of sixty hours to printers {compositors, press- men, proof-readers, ^c.) in Puerto Plata. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. $6 00 6 00 $7 50 1 $6 75 7 50 6 75 «F CONTINENT OF ASIA. TURKEY I^ ASIA. ASIA MINOR. SMYRNA. REPORT BY CONSUL STEVENS. WANT OF STATISTICS. Soou after receiving the Labor Circular bearing date February 15, 1884, Department of State, I began the collection of facts and figures required in the preparation of a truthful statement of the present con- dition of labor within my consular jurisdiction, which extends over the pashalic of Aidiu and includes the chief commercial city of the Turkish Empire. The work has been attended with difficulties from the outset, hinder- ing expedition and calling into exercise all the skill, ])atieuce, and tact at my command. The natives are suspicious of all foreigners who question them concerning their social and economic relations. More- over, the methods of imposing and collecting taxes are such that they conduce to habits of reticence, concealment, and evasion. These and other qualities peculiar to Mohammedans and to rayahs, render them unpromising subjects for the interviewer. Nevertheless, I have succeeded in getting full and nearly accurate information on all essential points. The industrial conditions here are, however, so exceptional when contrasted with those of Christian coun- tries that I have been compelled to deviate somewhat from some of the i)rinted forms and to omit others altogether. I cannot learn that statistics covering the subjects named in the circular have ever before been collected in this country. In 1854: the American consul here sent a partial report on the then rate of wages and cost of living, but if any later statement ot a kindred nature has been made, the records in this ofQce fail to show it. EXPLANATORY. In striking averages the instructions of the Department have been closely followed. Hence the average column represents the amount of wages paid to the larger number of the workmen in the various occu- pations enumerated. Many of the occui)ations given are followed for only a part of the year, being dependent upon agricultural or horticultural production, and the wages fluctuate accordingly as this is large or small, or as it is affected in price by the markets. Then, again, workmen engage suc- 263 264 LABOR IN ASIA: ASIA MINOR. cessively in two or more different kinds of employment, and in this way fill out the year. Formerly nearly all the skilled workmen on the two lines of railway which connect Smyrna with the interior came from England. Latterly, however, their places have been taken by young men of the country, who have been trained in the workshops of the two companies. The rates of wages were all collected in the Turkish unit of values — the piaster — and then reduced to our currency, careful consideration being given to fractional equivalents. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. For valuable assistance in the procurement of information, I take pleasure in acknowledging indebtedness to the following-named parties: Mr. Thomas Hall, firm of Hall & Mingardo, ship chandlers; Mr. Stab, a local statistician of merit and correspondent of various learned socie- ties; Mr. Edward Purser, geueral manager of the Ottoman Kailway ; Mr. H. Kemj), general manager Smyrna and Cassaba Eailway; Mr. Papps, proprietor machine-shop; Mr. Carmanyolo, in^oj)rietor machine-shop; Mr. Issigonis, proprietor machine shop ; Mr. D. Uffley, an American merchant and farmer residing in Smyrna. I come now to the specific inquiries. RATES OF WAOES. The hours of labor vary somewhat, but in no branch or department are the hours so many or the labor so continuous as in Europe or America. Mechanics frequently work from sun to sun, but they take two hours for dinnerj with long " rests " in the intervals of work. Eailway work- men average about the same number of hours and perform pretty much the same amount of labor as their prototypes in the west. Agricultural laborers work about six hours per day. They begin at 8 a. m. and finish at 4 J), m., with two hours, suspension at noon. When, as sometimes happens, there is work which requires haste, such as digging the vine- yards (in the month of February), and similar work, more hours are im- proved, usually with a corresponding increase of pay. At such times an able-bodied farm laborer gets 20 piasters (81 cents) per day. There are certain kinds of labor, such as packing figs, sorting valonia, gather- ing grapes, i&c, the demand for which is confined mainly to the harvest season. If the demand is pressing, wages are increased; if lax, wages fall correspondingly. COST OF LIVINGr, ETC. If the wages of the laboring man are small, so are his necessities. He is content with the cheapest and simplest food, an abode having little or no furniture but such as he has himself fashioned, and cloth- ing of common material, made up in the family. The climate is so mild that for nine months in the year shoes or other covering for the feet, and heavy clothing as well, are dispensed with. The daily meals consist of coffee and bread for breakfast, olives, onions, and bread for dinner, soup (made of peas, beans, or rice), vegetables, and bread for supper. This bill of fare is varied occasionally by the addition of eggs, meat, and fish. The cost of living to an average family in the country does not exceed 4 piasters, say IG cents, per day, and the clothing can hardly aggregate $15 per year, except for the better class of mechanics and laborers residing in Sraj-rna or along the railway lines, where there is a disposition among the female members of the family to wear showy dresses. It is noticeable that the hardest working laborers in the cities, viz, the porters or " hamals," live the most frugally. Their daily fare LABOR IN ASIA: ASIA MINOR. 265 consists of bread and onions, with now and tlien an olive, and yet they carry enormons loads npon their bent backs, loads such as few Euro- pean porters could stand under, much less carry, over uneven pave- ments, and through streets too narrow and crooked for the passage of any four-footed beast of burden. The material of their «lothing, which is always scanty, is thin canvas, and a suit costs about $2. One suit will last a year or more. COMPARISON OF WAGES, ETC. As I have no data at hand from which to draw a comparison with the wages which prevailed here in 1878, 1 am compelled to go back to a re- port made in 1854: by the gentleman in charge of this consulate at that time, from which I have been able to construct the following statement covering some of the leading occupations : Occapations. 1884. Bakers per week.. $0 80 $1 46 Blacksmiths do 4 80 6 11 Butchers do ! 3 00 3 67 Carpenters do 3 84 | 4 89 Coopers do 5 40 ! 6 11 Dyers do 4 32 I 3 67 Laborers.-. do 1 44 2 69 Masons do 3 36 4 16 Millers do.... 2 88 2 93 35 69 Increase. ^■5 85 * Nearly 20 per cent. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. Unobjectionable in the main. If regularly employed and paid, they are trustworthy and steadj", although inclined to be indolent. An aver- age American laborer will do as much work in one day as an Asiatic workman in two. This is due, in part at least, to climatic influences. They are not, as a rule, frugal or saving, being content to live in the sphere in which they were born. In the cities, however, they display more ambition, and some of them have acquired considerable property. Nearly all own the houses in which they live, miserable structures, to be sure, but rent free. Even the poorest laborer seldom marries until he has a roof to cover him, although it may not be worth, land included, $25, and consists of only one small apartment. In the rural districts he is a very poor laborer indeed who does not possess a cabin and a goat or two. One of the chief causes operating against the advancement of the laboring classes in Asia Minor is the insecurity of property, arising from lawlessness on the one hand, and the rapacity of dishonest ofiicials on the other. The peasant sees his rich neighbor and employer despoiled, and is content to remain an object too pitiful to temi)t the cu})idit3' of the despoiler. Then there is a strong tendency, in the rural districts, to keep to the old ways, using tools identical in pattern with those of the dark ages, and to look with disfavor ui)on the march of improve- ment. THE FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYE AND EMPLOYER. There is no feeling of antagonism between employ^ and employer. On the contrary very kind relationsexist between tliem, and they not unfrequently share and share alike. With a prosperous season the em- 266 LABOR IN ASIA: ASIA MINOR. ployer shares his good fortune with his faithful workuieu ; in a bad season, the burdens are proportionately borne. As a result of this state of affairs, emi)loyers do not make large fortunes, as in some other coun- tries, nor are the laboring classes ever reduced to absolnte want, a con- dition of things often brought about in more favored (?) lands. ORGANIZED LABOR, STRIKES, ETC. In answer to paragraphs six and seven of the circular, I may say that there is no organized condition of labor or of capital, hence no local laws bearing upon the subject, no strikes, and few cases for arbitration. Concerning the eighth jjaragraph it can be said that the working i)eo- ple are free to purchase the necessaries of life wherever they choose, and that they are paid weekly as a rule, in the current coin of the country. Paper money is not current anywhere in Turkey. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES. There are but two such in this country, and they are of English origin, having been established for the convenience of the English employes on the two lines of railway heretofore mentioned. The shares are mostly owned b}^ workmen. They are understood to be in a prosperous condi- tion, enabling the workmen to jjurchase the ordinary necessaries of life at a low figure, and also to get from England some of those articles of food and apparel to which they were formerly accustomed. GENERAL CONDITION OF THE WORKING PEOPLE, ETC. The condition of the working people in Asia Minor is not one of hard- ship or destitution. There is no suffering from poverty, and employment of some kind can almost always be had. Their homes are not attractive, but for eight months of the year they pass most of their time out of doors. Their food is wholesome, but simple ; their clothes scant and cheap; they have no wish apparently to better their condition or to make provision for old age or sickness. There are exceptions, of course, in the cities and among the artisans, especially those of foreigh birth, but the great mass of the laboring population in the rural districts is content if present needs are supplied, and it takes little heed of the morrow. Physically, they will compare favorably with workingmen of other countries; but their moral standard is not high. They are igno- rant and superstitious. Few of them know how to read. 1 refer to all the races and sects, Moslem, Greek, Jew, and Armenian. Tlie influences by which they are surrounded are not calculated to elevate them in the scale of humanity or of happiness, unless it be true that " ignorance is bliss." Until a government of organized oppression and roboery is suc- ceeded by one having the welfare of all its subjects at heart, there is little hope of the moral and material improvement of the working classes of this country at all connuensurate with its natural advantages. Here I submit a statement made by the owner of a large farm : The united earnings of a husband and wife having two children de- pendent upon them for one year amounts to, say, 3,000 piasters or $122.25. They spend as follows : For rent of two rooms and a kitcbcu |26 89 For clothing _. 24 45 For food 45 64 Savino; 25 27 LABOR IN ASIA: ASIA MINOR. 267 In additiou, tbey generally cultivate, after regular work hours, a small piece of land, purchased of the Government, and raise grapes for the market, realizing quite a little sum. No special provision is made for the safety of employes in factories, mills, or railroads. The working i)eo])le enjoj' no political rights what- ever, but bear their full share of the burdens of taxation. FEMALE LABOR. Women are found in almost every department of labor, but children are only employed at farm work and in the cities in fruit iiacking and valonia cleaning. Women labor in the fields as continuously as the men. In the towns they cultivate the gardens, pack fruit, and do white- washing in addition to their usual avocations. The whitewashers are stout Jewesses. Why they have taken up this branch of work, so coarse and laborious, I do not know ; but it is true that they have a monoi)oly of whitewashing. The average wages paid to females are given in the accompanying tables. Their hours of labor are from seven to eight per day, with rest for meals. In the country they frequently work from nine to ten hours. They are physically strong and healthy, and morally not lower than the same class in other countries where women are regarded as inferior beings and treated as beasts of burden. The effect of the employment of women on the wages of men is not perceptible, but taking the former from the care of the household and placing them in the fields and at other masculine employments is in every way injurious. There is absolutely no education among the em- ployed women and their children ; but while the home circle is neces- sarily much broken family ties seem to be very strong. CONCLUDING REMARKS. I ought to have stated in the introductory part of this report that this consulate does not possess a copy of the Department publication " Showing the state of labor in Europe in 1878." I have not been able therefore to institute any comparisons based upon that work. It should be stated also that there are no public institutions in this country for the support of the poor or the unfortunate, and no public schools. There are no workhouses, no asylums for the insane, the blind, the deaf and dumb, or the idiotic. There are hospitals in the larger places, and also schools, but they are wholly supported by private sub- scriptions. The result of this state of affairs is swarms of beggars of hideous mien upon all the streets and thoroughfares, and universal illiteracy among the poorer classes of the laboring people. Well-informed people remark a change for the better among laborers, especially in Smyrna, where the wages of both sexes have increased during the past six years from 10 to 20 per cent. Among the more re- munerative trades a desire to educate their children is shown. I cannot close this report without giving credit to my faithful clerk, Mr. E. G. Corbetti, for his share in its preparation. The labor of pre- paring the tables, a titlie of the amount of which and the necessary painstaking does not show to the casual examiner, was performed by him. I have incurred no extra expense in gathering the facts embodied in this report; but in view of his very inadequate comi^ensation, his 268 LA.BOR IN ASIA: ASIA MINOR. fidelity and loyalty, I venture to suggest that a gratuity be allowed to Mr. Corbetti, Eegretting the unavoidable delay which has attended the prepara- tion of this report. W. E. STEVENS, Consul. United States Consulate, Smyrna, July 11, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of sixty-six hours in Smyrna. Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. BricTilayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Roofess Tenders Plumbers ". Assistants Carpenters Gas-fitters OTHER TRADES. Bakers Blacksmiths Strikers Book-binders! Brick-makers Butcbers Brass-founders Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cigarette-makers (girls) Coopers Cutlers Distillers Drivers : Draj'men'and teamsters Cab and carriage Street railway Dyers Engravers Furriers Gardeners Hatters Horsesboers Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Lithoijraphers Millwrights Nail-uiakors (hand) Potters Printers Teachers, public schools Saddle and harness makers Sail-makers .• Stevedores Tanners Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths Weavers (outside of mills) Lowest. $3 67 1 22 3 67 1 22 3 67 1 22 3 67 3 67 1 22 3 67 2 44 2 44 3 67 Highest. Average. 2 44 4 89 2 44 4 89 2 44 4 89 4 89 2 44 9 78 3 67 6 11 12 22 2 44 12 22 4 89 7 33 4 89 4 39 12 22 12 22 4 89 1 95 I 7 33 2 44 2 20 4 89 4 89 4 89 4 89 9 78 7 33 3 67 6 11 3 67 9 78 2 93 9 78 6 11 3 67 4 89 4 89 12 22 3 67 6 11 6 11 2 93 4 89 C 11 4 89 2 93 $4 16 1 71 4 16 1 71 4 16 1 71 4 16 4 16 1 71 4 89 2 93 4 89 6 11 1 46 6 11 2 44 3 67 2 44 3 67 6 11 4 89 3 67 1 46 6 11 1 71 1 71 3 67 3 67 3 67 3 67 7 33 4 89 2 93 3 67 2 44 6 11 2 69 7 33 4 89 2 44 2 44 3 67 6 11 2 44 4 89 5 37 2 44 3 67 2 93 3 67 2 44 KOTE.— The above wages are given in Dnited States gold dollars at the rate of silver piaster. ).04075 per Turkish LABOR IN ASIA: ASIA MINOR. 269 II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixty-six hours in factories or mills in Smyrna. Occupations. Engineer (native) Foremen Stone dressers Firemen Millers Assistant millers. Laborers Lowest. $11 00 9 78 5 38 3 42 2 69 2 44 2 44 Highest. $16 50 12 22 9 78 i 16 3 91 2 93 3 42 Average. $13 20 10 76 6 60 3 67 2 93 2 69 2 69 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages j>a(t in the above mentioned. FEMALE WAGES. Female adults are paid as follows, i)er week, from seven to eleven hours a day : Minimum, 48 cjntsj maximum, $S', average, $2. LABOR IN ASIA: SYRIA. 277 HOURS OF LABOR. Wherever women are engaged with men in the same work they work the same nnmber of hours, i. e., from seven to eleven liours a day. MORAL AND PHYSICAL CONDITION. The moral condition of women here will compare favorably with those of other countries. From best information, the number of illegitimate chiklren born in this country will not amount to more than 2 per cent, of the whole population ; but in an educational point there is much to be desired. With regard to the physical condition of the working classes of women it is unsatisfactory, as little, if any, attention is given to their physical welfare ; further, man}- of the girls employed in factories fall victims to long hours and bad ventilation of the factories. niPROVEMENT OF FEMALE LABORERS. No means are jirovided by the manufacturers for the improvement of their employes. The moral and educational imin'ovement of the coun- try is provided almost entirelj' by foreign missionaries. SAFETY OF FEMALE EMPLOYES. No special means are provided in case of fire or other dangers for their safety, but fires are here of rare occurrence. There are no provisions made by the employers regarding the sani- tary condition of their employes. In case of sickness the employes have to return to their huts; in many instances sick girls and women are sent to tlie missionary or charitable hospitals in town. During the past five years an increase of about 10 per cent, has taken place in the wages paid to women, as well as in the price of the neces- saries of life. The effect is insignificant. The women employed in the factories are not educated, and there is little attempt to educate the children of women so employed; but in some seasons of the year some of these children employed in factories attend mission schools. In collecting reliable statistics for this report I found the same difficulty as when trying to get reliable information on the com- mercial and manufacturing resources of the country. In each class of labor I have had to make -personal inquiry, as no statistics can be ob- tained. In many instances the people would not answer questions re- garding the wages received or cost of living. The answer they give is, why do you want such information, and what do you want to make such report, for ! JOHN T. ROBESON, Consul. United States Consulate, Beirut, July 8, 1884. 278 LABOR IN ASIA: SYRIA. I. General trades. Wages paid per day of d wen hours in Beirut. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. BUILDING TRADES. $2 30 2 88 1 20 2 88 1 20 3 60 1 70 3 84 2 50 2 40 96 48 5 00 96 2 40 72 2 20 76 1 20 24 4 80 3 60 1 20 48 48 1 20 48 48 1 00 50 1 20 1 92 72 24 1 20 3 80 3 40 1 92 $4 70 6 00 1 92 4 80 1 92 10 00 2 50 6 00 3 50 4 80 1 92 3 36 9 00 1 92 6 00 1 44 3 30 1 92 1 92 1 92 7 00 4 80 2 40 2 40 2 64 2 40 1 44 4 32 3 50 2 50 4 80 4 80 2 40 2 6t 2 40 5 00 4 80 2 68 $4 on 4 80 1 68 3 12 1 68 5 50 2 00 4 32 3 00 4 08 OTHEK TRADES. 1 44 1 20 6 50 1 44 4 80 1 20 2 30 1 44 1 44 1 20 5 70 4 20 1 92 1 44 1 68 Laborers, porters, &c Potters . 1 68 96 2 16 2 00 1 50 3 36 2 88 1 92 1 30 1 75 4 40 Muleteers (man and mnle) 2 40 II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per iceeJc of seventy-seven hours in factories or mills in the United States con- sular district of Beirut, Asia, Turkey. Occupations. SILK FACTORIES. Inspector Pireiuan Cocoons-mover Spinner (boy or girl) Cocoons-cleaner PAPER-IIILL. Machinist Fireman Cylinder inspector Paper cutter Bleacher Kags and rope cutter Cyfinder workman Assistant machinist Lowest. Highest. Average. $3 70 $4 60 $4 10 1 50 4 60 3 00 95 1 90 1 40 48 1 56 1 00 24 74 49 3 50 9 00 6 00 1 00 4 20 2 60 1 00 3 20 2 00 1 30 2 50 1 85 1 20 1 50 2 50 1 90 1 80 1 66 1 50 1 80 1 60 50 1 90 1 20 LABOR IN ASIA: SYRIA. 279 VI. Carriage roads. Wages jxi id per month to employes on Ottomati Carriaijf Road Company between Beirut and Damascus in the Beirut consular district. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. . Average. Director I $172 00 Comptroller 75 00 Head saddler 25 00 Clerk 20 66 Head uoachman (conductor)* 18 58 Station otlicer 1 16 00 Coachman. 12 80 Farrier 12 80 Saddler l 10 33 Toll-collector | 10 33 Carman I 10 00 $206 00 $183 00 103 00 89 00 56 00 40 00 41 33 25 00 24 83 20 66 18 58 15 50 U 40 13 40 20 66 15 50 12 80 12 00 12 80 11 15 ♦Fixed. Note. — The Ottouian Eoad Company own and control the wagon road from Beirut to Damascus, crossint; the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains, 112 kilometers in len^^th. By this road 65 percent, of the jroods transj)orted between the said cities are carried aiid the foresroinj; table shows the wages paid to the employes of said Ottoman Road Company. Tlie said company is owned and controlled by Frenchmeu. VIII. Xative seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen, coast and river navigation, in the ports of Beirut, Haifa, and other Syrian ports. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Captain of sailing (coast) vessels $13 00 $25 50 $19 00 Seamen Lightermen Boatmen 9 00 5 50 5 00 15 00 7 00 6 80 11 50 6 00 5 50 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid per week of fifty-four hours in banks and retail dry-goods stores to males in the consular district of Beirut. Occupations. Bank comptroller and cashier Bank clerk Book-keepers Salesmen Helpers Lowest. $24 00 4 00 3 00 2 50 1 00 Highest. Average $42 00 19 00 12 00 6 00 3 20 $33 00 12 00 6 50 4 15 2 00 X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month to household servants (towns and cities) in the Beirut consular dis- trict. Occupations. Lowest. $4 50 4 50 1 00 Highest. Average. Cook $12 00 6 00 4 30 $8 00 Nurse 5 00 2 55 280 LABOR IN ASIA: SYRIA. XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per cJay to agricultural laborers and household (countrt/) serm.)its in the Beirut consular district, ivithout board. Occupations. Farmer .. Gi after. . . Keappr . . Plowman Shepherd LoTrest. $0 32 25 18 30 12 Highest. $0 60 50 38 45 Average. $0 40 35 23 33 15 XII. CORPORATIOISr EMPLOYES. Wages paid per weelc to the corporation employes in the city of Beirut, Occupations. Average wages. Occupations. Average wages. $36 00 ]9 60 18 57 IS 57 $6 20 Contract notary of municipality Chief police of municipality 6 20 Doctor of municipality 6 20 3 25 XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per month, seven hours a day, to employes in Government departments and offices — exclusive of tradesmen and laborers — in the j^^'ovinces of Syria, Aleppo, and Adana. Occupations. Class I. "Wali (governor-general) $1, 118 00 Mntasarrif (governor) 1 447 00 Judge (cadi) 225 00 Attomev-Keneral 179 00 Comptroller 112 00 - - - 156 00 100 00 76 00 78 00 67 00 33 00 67 00 65 00 President of court. Kaimmakam (deputy governor) . Assistant attorney Chief clerk Chief of police Mudir (director) Member of court Clerk Inquirer Officer of police . Policeman Jailer 44 00 18 00 15 00 11 00 Class n. $800 00 330 00 120 00 130 00 90 00 88 00 80 00 70 00 46 00 44 00 27 00 39 00 35 00 30 00 14 00 Class III. $559 00 266 00 35 00 100 00 67 00 22 00 56 00 62 00 13 00 22 00 18 00 11 00 10 50 13 50 10 00 00 4 50 Turkish military service — pay of officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, per month, independent of rations, in the Beirut consular district. Occupations. Average wages. Marshal (mushir) | $637 00 255 00 170 00 85 00 54 00 51 00 42 00 32 00 32 00 17 00 17 00 14 00 Full general Lieutenant-general Major-general Brigadier-general Military doctor Colonel (binbashi) Lieutenant-colonel (kol aghari). Chaplain (imam) Apothecary Arms repairer Major Color-bearer Adjutant Quartermaster. . Sergeant-major . First sergeant . . Second sergeant Chief larrier Assistant f.irrier Saddler Corporal Chief fifer Fifer $14 00 10 70 10 00 8 00 2 50 2 00 2 50 1 80 1 80 1 42 1 23 1 00 LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. 281 Wages paid to the Beirut custom-house employes, iter week, for seven hours ivoric a day. Occnpatioos. Lowest. Highest. I Average. Chief collector (nazer). Director (niudir) Assessor Chief clerk Cashier and treasurer ^Vei;;hter Clerks Seaichera Chief jruardian Guardian $2 50 2 80 2 80 55 00 4 60 4 60 $61 00 20 00 12 00 12 00 9 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 4 00 1 40 XIV. Government telegraph offices. Wages paid paid by the week, of seventy-two hours, to the telegraph employe's iu Government employ in the consular district of Beirut. Occupations. Chief director | $12 50 Inspector 12 00 Assistant director 8 00 Assistant inspector ' 7 80 Chief operator. eniploy6 6 43 Operator, employe | 3 21 Wire repairer 1 2 00 Janitor and message boy i 1 00 Highest. ! Average. $23 00 $17 50 18 50 1 15 15 10 00 1 8 75 9 80 j 8 50 7 50 ■ 6 96 4 75 ; 4 00 3 00 i 2 50 1 50 1 25 XY. Printers and printing offices. Statement showing the wages paid per week of fifty -four hours to printers (compositors, press- men, proof-readers, 4'^.) in the consular district of Beirut. Occupations. Proof-read srs and revisers Compositors Enixineor Printers Book-collectors Book-seamstresses Lowe.st. Highest. Average. $3 00 $8 00 $5 00 2 50 6 00 4 22 3 00 5 00 3 70 2 73 3 45 3 00 1 00 2 00 1 30 80 1 90 1 30 PALESTINE. REPOnr BY CONSUL MERRILL, OF JERUSALEM. Ill answer to the circular from the Department of State, dated Feb- ruary 15, 1884, I have the honor to make the following- rei^ort on the condition of labor and the laboring cla.s.ses in Palestine : difficulties under which the report l!^ MADE. It is hardly po.ssible to exaggerate the difficulties under which such a report as that required by the Department of State in its labor cir- cular of Felnuary 15, 1884, is made in Palestine. The Turkish (Jovernment takes almost no interest in anything. which might concern the welfare of its subjects. Instead of a happy and 282 LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. prosperous people, one sees on ever}" liaud oppression and suifering, ignorance and degradation. ^o statistics of any kind are kept, Uence tlie consul must first collect and collate his facts, which in a more advanced country would exist ready to his hand, before a report on any subject can be made. After all the trouble and time that I have expended in getting materials for this report, I feel that I have only the most meager results to offer to the Department. In reality it seems to me that any results and facts which I am able to present will serve much more as a matter of curiosity than for auj' purposes of comparison with anything that exists in America. NO BASIS OF COMPARISON BETWEEN PALESTINE AND THE UNITED STATES. There is between the two countries no common basis of comparison, as will readily be seen by such facts as the following: 1. Everything here is of the most primitive character and on the smallest scale, while in the United States everything is modern and costly and on the grandest scale. 2. No one here works by the week. In fact, so far as the Mohamme- dan portion of the inhabitants is concerned, there is no distinction of weeks in the matter of labor. The Mohammedan laborer observes no day of rest unless he is employed by a Jew or a Christian. Most labor here is done by the day or by the job. 3. There is no rule about the number of hours which constitute a day's work. The apparent rule is from sunrise to sunset, yet the laborer often begins his work long before sunrise and leaves o& before sunset, or continues working after sunset, as the particular circumstances de- maud. 4. There is no very marked distinction between emploj'ers as a class and laborers as a class, because of the fact that nine tenths of all la- borers are in some way for themselves. A man may be absolutely for himself, he maj^ combine with others and each have a certain share in the profits, or he may give his labor as an offset to that of another man who does an entirely different kind of work. 5. Hardly any kind of labor continues throughout the year; this af- fects the living and the habits of the ])eople in a very marked manner. 6. Large numbers of trades and kinds of occupation that are well known in America do not exist here, and, on the other hand, there are a few trades and kinds of occui^ations common in Palestine that are not known in America. 7. There are here no settled rules about paid labor. Every workman asks at first a very high price and in the end takes what he can get, it may be only a fraction of what he at first demanded. 8. Furthermore, there are here no fixed values either of anything that is -sold in the sliops or of any article of produce that is raised in the country and brought to the towns for sale. (There are two or three shops kept by Europeans to which the first part of this remark does not apply, but these are the only exceptions.) Every person asks about double what he actually gets at last for his goods, provided he makes a sale. The people of the country do not seem to have any well-defined ideas about values; they know in a general way that 20 cents will buy more than 10 cents, but of intrinsic values they know nothing. LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. 283 CHARACTER OF JERUSALEM AND ITS INHABITANTS. The population of Jerusalem is reuiarkable as being composed of Mohammedans, Jews, native Christians, and Europeans. Of the 40,000 inhabitants of the city, one fourth are Christians (inchiding the Euro- peans), one-fourtli are Mohammedans, and one-half are Jews, who num- ber not far from -0,000 souls. The houses are built of stone, the looms in them are small and poorly lighted, the streets are narrow and filthy, and the i)eople crowd together in stilled apartments where all sanitary laws are set at defiance. The present city is built upon the ruins of ancient Jerusalem, or rather upon the ruins of many ancient cities, since the city has under- gone uo less than twenty-six sieges, in several of which it has been re- duced to a heap of ruins. The Jerusalem of two thousand or tliree thousand years ago, lies in some i^laces at a depth of 10 feet, in other places at not less than 1)0 feet, below the present surface of the ground. The Jerusalem of today is i:)oorly built, and the inhabitants are for the most part poor and wretched. Formerly there were among the natives a large number of wealthy families, while today there are very few, their wealth having been dissipated by the peculiar social and political circumstances of modern times. PEOPLE SUPPORTED BY CHARITY. JSTearly all the Jews of Jerusalem receive charity, while two-thirds of them depend mainly upon these funds, which come mostly from Europe, for their support. With many of the Jews the struggle for life — for a daily pittance of bread — is a hard one. In spite of the large sums that are annually distributed among the Jews of Jerusalem, itcaunot be shown that their condition is thereby materially bettered year by year. On the other hand, it would be easy to show how this so-called charity is a curse rather than a blessing, chietly because it puts self-reliance at a discount and fosters Idleness. Among the Greeks (meaning those who are of the Greek religion) we find some wealth but a great deal of poverty, and the same is true of the Latins or Roman Catholics. The Greek and Latin convents are large owners of property in the shape of gems, jewels, and treasures stored away in the churches and convents, and also in houses and lauds in and around Jerusalem. Both the Greek and Latin convents give to every family in their special communions a house fi'ee of rent. It is a common i>ractice for a Greek, if heowus a house, to rent it to a Moham- medan, a Jew, or a Protestant, and get for himself a house free of rent from the convent. Each convent has likewise a large flouring mill and a bread-making establishment, and they furnish bread gratis to every family twice a week. It is not probable, from all the data that I am able to collect, that there are fifty Cliristian families (and this number, of course, includes the native Protestants, but does not include the Euro])eans) in Jerusalem, who pay house rent. It will be seen that neither Greeks, Latins, nor Jews are self-support- ing. Were the aid which they receive from outside to be cut off sud- denly they would perish Irom starvation. Greeks, Latins, and Jews are here for religious purposes. They wish to devote themselves to re- ligion and meantime to lean on someone beside themselves for support. This state of things is just the opposite of what it should be. The cur- rent now indicated is so strong that the native Arabs or Mohammedans have been largely affected by it, and they likewise find idleness more 284 LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. pleasurable than labor, consequei.tly tbey are consuming whatever they may have inherited from their fathers, and they lack both the enter- prise and the disposition to accumulate anything either for themselves in their old age or for their posterity. OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT BLANK FORMS. With regard to the blank forms furnished by the Department, I have retained those from II to XV, since under only four of those fourteen difierent heads could I make any entries, and the scanty information which I might give under those four heads is incorporated in my gen- eral report or in the list of "general trades," which accomi)anies it. OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S LIST OF GENERAL TRADES. Some miscellaueous observations are necessary with regard to the list of "general trades" that has been furnished by the Department. Although there is no absolute rule in the matter, I consider that twelve hours in twenty-four is about the time that a laborer is expected to de- vote every day to his work. I have taken the liberty to draw a line through such of the trade men- tioned in the list as do not exist in Palestine. Among these, for exam- ple, I have thus marked out "cabinet-makers" for the reason that no such class is known here in distinction from " carpenters." In like manner there is no distinction between " tenders " of masons, " tenders" of plasterers, and "hod-carriers," who in America have to do chiefly or exclusively with brick-layers. Under the head of " drivers " only one class is known here, namely, those, who drive the so-called " carriages " corresponding to our lumber or farm wagons, which pass between Jerusalem and Jalfa. I have been obliged to make a distinction between the wages received bj' the natives of the country and those received by Jews. It is inter- esting to notice that of thirty-three different trades mentioned, the Jews engage in twenty-two, that is, in two-thirds only, and of these twenty-two trades they receive wages equal to the Arabs in thirteen, while in the remaining nine they receive less than the Arabs. VERY FEW STEADY EMPLOYMENTS. While all the trades are uncertain as to the income to be derived from them, some are far more precarious in this respect than others. For instance, " porters " I have put down as earning $2.40 per week. This means, of course, if they have continuous work. There is a large num- ber of this class and the work is hard. One of these men will carry a heavy box half across the city, take it upstairs beside, if need be, for 6 cents, and be occupied in doing this thirty minutes or one hour. If he is fortunate he may ])ick up Ave or six such Jobs during the day. One day he \^ill earn half a dollar, perhaps, and then for one, two, or three days he may not earn a cent. Similar remarks apply to the boatmen at Jaffa. Their life is one of danger and hardship, and their income is very uncertain. Again, barbers, in order to eke out their precarious livelihood, take up dentistry as a branch of their business. There being no proper dentists in the city, the barbers are the dentists, or rather, since they never (ill teeth, they are the teeth-pullers (literally jaw-breakers) of Jerusalem. Barbers also keep leeches for sale, and bleed people when they imagine they need it. LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. 285 DIFFICULTY OF AKRIYING AT "AVERAGE WAGES." lu four ouly of the trades mentioned have I been able to obtain a middle late of wages, consequently it is much more difficult to arrive at what maj' be called the " averaj^e wages" of a working-man. But I arrive at it apj)roximately in this manner: Considering that the ma- jority of laborers receive the lowest rate of wages mentioned in the schedule, wliile only a very few receive the higher, it is sufficiently cor- rect to say that where one man receives 60 cents a day, or $3.00 per week, four others will receive each 40 cents a day, or S^.40 per week; hence — Four men at S2.4U per week $;9 60 Oue man at §3.60 per week '.i 60 13 20 This amount divided by five gives $2.64 as the average i)er week. The above computation is in the case of blacksmiths. lu tlie case of Jew Macksmiths — Four men receive Bl.'J2 per week $7 68 Oue man receives ^2.40 per week 2 40 10 OS This amount divided by o give $2.01f per week. It may be put down as a rule that where one man receives the larger wages mentioned in the schedule four men will receive the smaller "wages. To this there are important exceptions, for in some cases where one man receives the larger wages nineteen others will receive the smaller wages. COST OF LIVING. Daily ex])ense of living of a laboring man who receives 40 cents a day, or 82.40 i)er week : Bread, 10 cents ; olive oil, 2 cents ; vegetables, 2 cents ; olives or cheese, 2 cents; total, 16 cents. Daily expense of living for a family of five persons — a man, his wife, and three children — where the man earns 40 cents a day, or $2.40 per week: Bretul, 16 cents; oil, 4 cents; lentils, Scents; vegetables, 8 cents; charcoal, 4 cents; total, 40 cents. Daily expense of living for a common farm laborer who receives 24 cents a day, or $1.44 per week : Bread, 8 cents ; oil or olives, 4 cents; onions, 2 cents; total, 14 cents. Daily expense of living for the family of a common farm laborer, con- sisting of himself, his wife, and two children, who receives 24 cents a day, or $1.44 per week : Bread, 16 cents ; oil or olives, 8 cents ; onions, 4 cents ; total, 28 cents. Daily expense of living of a laboring man, if he is a Jew, who re- ceives 40 cents a day, or $2.40 i)er week : Bread, 5 cents ; vegetables, 6 cents ; coffee, sugar, tea, salt, and pepper, 6 cents ; total, 17 cents. The daily expense of living for a Jewish family of five persons — a man, his wife, and three children — where the man receives 40 cents a day, or $2.40 per week, would be 40 cents a du.v or $2.80 per week solely for food; and for their yearly expenses they would require: For food, $145.60; lor rent, 822 ; for clothing, 825; total, 8192.60. Incase of a common farm laborer, his wife and chiklren, if the latter are old enough, labor in the field as well as himself. While the figures show what a common Jewish family requires yearly for their support, it should be said that very few families have that 286 LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. amount to spend. Probably they do not have even $100 for their entire expenses, per annum. in regard to all these classes, so far as food is concerned, they must live on less than they earn, else they could not pay for rent and clothing- in the towns, or provide farm implements and clothing for themselves on a farm. As to the laborer who receives 40 cents a day and spends, according to our reckoning, 10 cents a day for food, it will be asked if he does not lay up something; it is almost certain that he lays up nothing or at best but very little. ^Ye must remember that he has work but about half or two-thirds of the time. This reduces the surplus to nothing, es- pecially where they have no habits of economy and never think of lay- ing up anything for the future. These people have the habit of spending all they get whether it be little or much. If they receive large wages they consume them all, and if they receive next to nothing they manage to live on that. Those who receive larger wages than those indicated above are able to live slightly better, but ouly slightly after all. They are able to add rice to the variety of their food, and also meat once a week, or it may be three times in a fortnight. The staple articles of food of all the la- boring classes, and of the large majority of the inhabitants of the country, are bread, oil or olives, leben or cheese, rice, aud vegetables. Under the head of vegetables they have onions, garlic, watermelons, two kinds of cucumbers, kusa, egg-plant, and grapes. HOURS OF DAILY LABOR ON A FARM. AVith regard to the number of hours which constitute a day's work it may be said that farm laborers start before it is light so as to reach the field by daybreak. In the harvest fields women and children labor equally with the men. They start thus early because the wheat or barley must be cut while the dew is upon it. After about 10 o'clock the grain becomes so dry that it falls from the head if an attempt is made to cut it. The laborers lie off until near sunset when they commence again. HOUSE SERVANTS AND NURSES. As to house servants it must be remembered that there is a consider- able class here who have been held as slaves. They are black people from Nubia, and having been brought up as slaves aud knowing no other kind of life, they, in many cases, remain with their old masters. Practically, some of them are still slaves, although they are not bought aud sold ; such persons get nothing besides their clothing, shelter, and food. There are likewise numbers of native servants who in a sense belong to the families with whom they live, who get little besides their clothing, shelter, aud food, but are free to go when they choose. A good native servant will receive 50 cents a week aud her food. A good European servant-girl — this class are mostly Germans — receives 75 cents or $i a week aud her food, while a German man-servant will receive $1.50 per week and his food. Germans are employed, it need hardly be said, only in hotels and in European families. A native woman who is employed as a nurse receives $1.50 per week. LARGE CLASSES DEPENDENT UPON TRAVELERS. People who are not familiar with this country' can hardly realize to what an extent the laboring classes aud trades-people are dependent LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. 287 ui>oii travelers for a larjie part of tbeir support ; among these are boat- men, carriage owners and er classes of Europe from entering the United States. The head of the family referred to as coming last year had only $4 in his pocket wlien he arrived in this city, and he had not a dollar in the world besides, that he could draw upon for his support. The family were soon re- duced to terrible straits, and a few charitable persons assisted the con- sul in sending him back to America. One ot those who came last Jan- uary was in our war with the Federal troops, and was in forty battles. He has been twi(!e to my ofliee and cried like a child while begging me to send him home to Massachusetts. If some of the facts which I have reported, with regard to labor in" this country, could be placed before such people, they might be deterred from coming here. The trouble is, however, that they would believe their own religious leaders sooner than they would believe the Govern- ment. Palestine is one of the poorest countries in the world to which a laboring man can go with the hope of earning a living. He cannot comjjete with native laborers, who work for 15 cents a day and find their own food. It is very doubtful if he would be able to stand the climate. Even if one has some means, this is not a country where bus- iness can be created easily as it can be in America. No oue should think of connng here unless he has ample means to live upon for a period of years, or until he can establish himself in some business or employment that will yield him a living income. SELAH MEEEILL, . Consul. United States Consulate, Jerusalem, July 5, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per week of seventy-two hours. Occupations. BUILDING TRADES. Hod-carriers : Jews , Natives Masons : Jews Natives Tendens, natives Plasterers : Jews Natives Tenners, natives Carpenters : Jews Natives Lowest. Hiaheet. $0 72 72 $0 96 1 20 2 40 2 88 72 3 60 7 20 1 20 2 40 2 88 72 3 60 5 52 1 20 1 02 1 92 3 CO 7 20 292 LABOR IN ASIA: PALESTINE. Wae^es paid per week oj seventy -tmo hours — Continued. Occnpations. Lowest. OTHEK TRADES. ■Bakers: Jews Natives iBlacksmitlis : .Jews Katives Book-biuders : .Tews Natives Butcbers : Jews Natives ..-.- Drivers of carriages : Jews Natives DyerS : Jews Natives Horseshoers, native Jewelers : Jews Natives Porters : Jews ■ Natives • Potters : ■Jews » Natives Printers : •Jews Natives Teachers public schools : .Jews Natives Saddle-makers : Jews Natives Tanners, native • Tailors, native Telegraph operators, native Tinsmiths : .Jew s Natives Weavers (outside of mills), native Barbers : Jews Natives Boatmen, native Cooks, native Dragomans, native Ka wasses, native Oil-makers : Jews Natives Pearl- workers, native Shoemakers : Jews Natives Stone-cutters : Jews Natives "Waiters, native Whitewashers : •Jews Natives Farm laborei-s : Jews Natives Post-office clerks, native Police, natives Shop hands or clerks : Jews Natives $1 20 1 20 1 92 2 40 1 92 2 40 2 40 2 40 2 40 2 40 2 40 2 40 2 40 92 92 1 44 1 92 20 20 92 92 40 44 50 44 44 92 1 20 20 20 00 .2 00 00 92 92 20 20 92 1 44 2 40 6 00 2 40 2 40 1 20 1 44 1 50 76 50 50 LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. ■ 293 PERSIA. REPORT BY OONSVLGENERAL BENJAMIN, OF TEHERAN. I Lave the honor to inclose to you to-day a report on the statis*tics of labor or the laboring classes in Persia. Illness has prevented an earlier response to the circular of the 33epartmeut. Mr. A. B. Keiin, our dragoman, and Mirza Ali Asker- klten, our moonchee, have aided me in collecting the facts embodied in this report, which have been obtained from every possible source in this vicinity. It will be seen that it includes a variety of trades and pursuits peculiar to this part of the Orient. Observations in the margin convey additional facts. I may say here, however, that there are no strikes in Persia, and little evidence that there has been much change among the laboring classes for ages. They are not more discontented than the same classes elsewhere, all things in life being relative, and discontent generally arising from two causes — a knowledge of a better condition of things and a hoije or ambition of reaching it. The ignorance existing here regarding the conditions of society elsewhere, the fact that all, high and low, are equally slaves of the King, and that the great, being more prominent, are more liable to the outbursts of royal caprice, rage, or injustice, tends to produce content. I know of no laboring classes in other countries who appear more cheerful and satisfied with their lot. The climate, also, in most parts of Persia, is of such a nature as to reduce the actual wants of the peo- ple. One hears occasionally of riots or attacks on tax collectors, guilty of more than ordinary rapacity, but I cannot learn that these are more frequent than formerly. The peasant class are, man for man, actually better off and happier than the peasantry of Turkey or India. Of course, as foreign ideas creep in and foreign labor-saving inventions gradually take root in Persia, displacing methods in use for thousands of years, discontent in larger measure may be looked for. Discontent among all classes is the penalty the nineteenth century pays for the privilege of being foremost among the progressive ages, so-called. But material progress will a long time be so gradual in this country that the laboring classes will be able to adapt themselves to the changes without the violence Avhich attended the introduction of steam in the mills of England early in the century. S. G. W. BENJAMIN, Consul- General. Teheran, September 6, 1884. ^94 LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. I. Geneeax, trades. Wages paid per day to workmen in Persia, a Occupations. Persian name. English name. Fixed, b Lowest. Highest. Bena seft kar Chaggird Bena guetch kar Clinggird Bena gool kar Chaggird Amaleh K"aveh kesch Bena Kooreh pez Chaggird Khecbt mall » Nadjai- : Chaggird Nadjar nazook kar Cbasgird Messgu6r Four assistants : Calemzenn Icharkoshzen Chaggiid Messgodass Sefidgueir Chaggird Kftnod Chaggird Keng rez Chaggird Hakak... Chaggird Noon za Six assistants : A; Chatirr noon za Khamirguirr Sararoudarr Attechendaz Nanguirr Chaggird...; Khar dooz Cha-gird Kulah dnoz Chaggird Serkfsh dooz Chaggird Sarradj . . Chaggird Dahbagh Three assistants: Cha ngird Pucht tarrach Moo kenn Oroo ssi dooz Chaggird Halabv saz Chaggird Wall maker or bricklayer. Assistant c Plasterer Assistant . - Fine plasterer Assistant ^ Tender d Hod carriers Roofer, mason, &c Brick-maker Assistant Sun-burnt brick-makere. . Carpenter/ Assistant Joiner Assistant Copper-smiths gf Engraver on copper. Beater Tender Founder Copper ■whitene^/^ .. Assistant Confectioner Assistant Dyer . . ■ Assistant Engravei' (seals) i... Assistant Baker j $0 20^ mi Handler of loaves at the oven. Kneader Weigher of bread Oven tender Distributer of loaves Tender to all Fur sewer Assistant Persian hats-maker I Assistant Saddle sewer Assistant Bridle and saddle-bag maker. . . Assistant Tanner Tender ... Hide splitter. Hide cleaner. Shoemaker... Assistant. Tinsmith Assistant. 19^ 64^4 64i? 32#T 64 1?- 32#i 64M 243\ 32,? 125! 64 i? 323"! 323«r 323^ 163\ 561* 24A 1251 245'V 20,^ mi 24#r 32#T 32A 56J 'i2>T 16A 48 it 16A 48i? 24A 48^ 243\ 80§? 323T 20A 48iJ 401? 80f? 32s«i mi 481? 80S? 80§? 32#i 24A 1 6U\ 24,^ 1293't mi 32A 32A aWork from snnri.se to sunset. In winter ahotit one hour's leave at noon for breakfast. In sum- mer workmen leave twice in a day; first, at about 11 o'clock for breakfast, and then in the afternoon for lunch. Generally there is no work on Fridays. bTbfse might al-^o bo considered as average wages. cChag>;ird is an assistant and at the same time a pupil. d Ainalch is a general tender or assistant used in any gross work. e Generally paid 48 Jf cents for a thousand bricks. / ArTiicman carpenters are paid at higher rates : .80§J cents to $1.6l3\ to the carpenter, and .24g\ to .S4Jf cents for his assistant. g Owner of tlie shop or foundry. /iAlso j)aid according to weight of copper to whiten. iAlso paid according to number of letters engraved on the seals. Avery important pursuit in Persia. J Owner of the .shop. A; These assistants receive also, each of them, about half a maSn or 3 pounds of bread. I Important industry. Hats being of same form aud made of lambskin, or imitation lambskin. LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. Wages paid per day to xvorkmen in Persia — Continued. 295 Occapations. Persian name. Hasseer baff ChafTgird Alagh beud Chasginl Keniad mall . Two assistants: Chagsiixi Nahuhreez Chichi'hjiiieiT Cluijigird Attes endar Ahen KiiL't'r Cbairgird Koorch dam Khaviatt Cliagjiird Khayiatt armeny , Chaggird Tchitt sazl : Xaloop trach Siali saz , Za};li saz Tal)z saz JCill saz C hagrjird Poteel reng koon Ciiagiiid Sahia karr Teguer saz Mooreh kech Nakach Chaggird Saleni kar uioomy : Siah saz ". Zaghvaz Moom saz, . . . :Moom pessgnir Davatt giierr , Chaggird Samovar saz Chaggird Kharratt Chaggird Fooladgucrrv : FiMiladsaz Pficlakhguir Tela koo Kaleujsen raonabettkarr Chaggird Eooh saz , Chaggird Cbemt-hir saz Cliaggird Tchiikoo saz Chaggird , Kaetcbeo saz Chaggird Zerguer Chaggird English name. Mat-makorrt... Assistant... Ribbon-maker Assistant ... Pelt-maker Tender Painter of designs of felt carpets. Glass-worker Assistant Fire-tender Blacksmith Assistant Tender Tailor Assistant Armenian tailor Assistant Cotton printing: 6 Wooden patterns maker c Printer in black dyes Printer in red d> es Priuti-r in green dyes Finisher of work of the above Assistant Dyer and tixer Assistant Washer of prints d Applier of gold designs Print sizer Painter Assistant Prints for export : e Printer in black dyes / Printer in red dyes g Wax applier Finisher to above Metal re])airer Assistant Brazier Assistant Turner Assistant Steel foundry : h Founder Polisher Damascening i Engraver in steel Assistant Turner in stone Assistant Sword maker J A ssistant Penknife maker J Assistant Scissors-maker j Assistant Jeweler Assistant Fixed. 40J? 20,\ 24j\ 64Jf 32s\ 484? 13§! 40|? 203\ 80§? 322\ 48if 24J Lowest. $0 48 J J. 24s«. 48^1- 48^i IGrfr 64|! 32/1 43i! 48i? 16.^ 323^ mi 323\ 12|f 16,\ 20A 1 12§! 163*1 1 6lij mi 24^1 40H 16A 40J? 12sf 48Jf a Generally paid 4,^ to 5§J cents per square yard. 6 Very important industry though European imports are daily ruining it. Principal factories .at Ts- pahau, Broudjird, (fcc. c One hundred and forty-two of these patterns are employed to complete the designs on one curtain. d The poteel reng koon or dyer and fixer of designs dyes the cotton cloth after it passed throusrh the printing process, then it goes to tbe washers, who, spreailing the cloth on the ground near the stream, throw water on it during forty days, after which the paint applied by the dyer disappears, leaving the cloth white, with only the designs printed and fixed by this proce.ss. e These are for Turkestan. /Afghanistan. g Kurds, &.c. They are not so good in quality as the first, but are more showy. A coat of wax is applied to the cloth, and the surplus taken otf by the finisher after absorption. h Chief foundries are in Tspahau, where they form an important industry. r Tlie tel.a koo generally gels paid by tnkinir half the gold orsilver given to him to inlay in steel ; that is, if one wants to have live grains of gold inlaid ten grains must be given to the telil koo. j These are three separate industries, every man working in his own shop generally. 296 LABOK IN ASIA: PERSIA. Wages paid per day io tvorkmen in Persia — Continued. Occupations. Persian name. ShaU ba£f Chaggird Haladj.. Chaggird Ossar . Chaggird Kachee saz , Chaggird Sa-aff .- Chaggird , Rah saz Chaggird Achpez bazarce Chaggird Baghban Amaleh Mok anee Chaggird Kenaz Araalehs labah Keeh Icharkochzen Kassap Chireh kesh, or arak frooch Nael bend Nael boor Mich saz Koozehguerr Senisar Chaggird Basmatchee Tchaptchee Zinn saz Sarradj Hayam Chaggird Lah baft Gaali baff Zen Merd Tharerbaff Dellac Khamal Gordjehdooz English name. Shawl-maker a Assistant Cotton beater , Assistant, boy Oil merchant Assistant Potter in faience Assistant Book-binder b Assistant Rice and butter-merchant c Assistant Cook at the market place c Assistant Gardeners Assistants, each Sanaught digger d Assistant Sewerer A ssistants, each Tray can ier Hammerer e Butcher Cigar-makers Distiller and wine merchant/ Horseshoer Horseshoe-maker Kail-maker Potters Broker g Assistant Lithographers Printers , Musical instrument makers Saddle-maker Harness-maker Tent-maker Assistant Rope-maker Carpet-weaver h Woman assistant Man assistant , "Weaver i Barber j Gunsmith , Porters Shoemaker for women Women: Gross work Pearl embroidery ; silk, silver, and gold work, &c. rixed. $0 40/j % 24A 24A 16,\ 48J? 24A Lowest. '32A 32,«r 243\ 24#i 123^f 32,\ 914. « 24fi ^%\ 243\ 16s\ 243\ 48 it 24#i 24s\ 61 #t 323^ 404? 251! 323\ •'■^31 323'r 48^ 243«r 16A 40i? 243\ 404? I63V 163\ 08,,-r 163\ 5dwt Highest. 801? "mi mi 243\ 80«? 163\ 32A C163\ i 64if 64i! 40|? 401? 323\ 243\ 323\ 64Jf 323\ 40^» 96 77^ 404f mi 48H 40^ 48^ 48^ 64§f 32A 32A 48^1 32^ m'x 323«r 404? 243^ 40Jf 80f? 1 QU\ a Factories in Meched, Tezd, and Kachan. 6 Sometimes paid at the rate of 12 3^ ci nts for each book when there are many. c This is an important industry, as the pillo or pilloff, the national dish in the Orient, is made only of rice and butter, and accompanied by the khorecht, or ragoiit of some sort or other, both sold at the market-place. d Sanaught is the subterranean aqueduct common in Persia. e Special industry. Total stock in trade, a hammer applied wherever required. /These are the wages paid to the assistants by the owner of the shop, who is always a Jew or Ar- menian. g This is an important business ; a semsar being a broker, pawnbroker ; and a semsar in Persia has never been known to fail; and the corporation of Teheran pays a tax of $967.74g\ to the King. h Owner of factory. i Piincipal factories of weavers at Kachan, Yezd, and Rescht. j The barber works from morning to noon in the hot baths, then goes to his shop ; he cannot make more than 40!^? cents a day, except in exceptional oases. But the work is steady, for the prophet or- dained the shaving of the crown of all true believers of the male persuasion. LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. X. General household wages in Persia. Wayea paid jjer month to Persian servants. 297 Occupations. Persian name. English name. Lowest. Highest. Average. Nazeer Steward Pich1aid by the Government, whose business is to take care of the office of the legation, keep the keys, clean the rooms, bear letters, and be employed as messengers for otHcial errands. 6 The valet or ferrach belvatt is a personal servant, the equerry and three of the hostlers are paid by the Government. c The kavetchee is paid by the Government, as well as his assistant. d These are personal servants. e These are paid by the Government. Note. — All the.se servants receive twice yearly cloth for a coat and the amount of one month's wages on an average as a present. Note. — The moonchee ; the onlymoonchee employed at the United States legation receives only 10 tomans ($16,125") a month, with some of the usual presents, and no allowance in summer, and owing to insufficiency of appropriation no gholams or lerraches can be employed at this legation at present ; the same is true of several other classes of servants. The moonchee is an em ploy^ of legation, Persian asa rule, their monthly wages vary according to qualiflcations, rank, and term of service, from $.'',2.2.5§f and $24.19J? to $80.64Jf ; they receive a present on the new year's day, and in the summer when the legation is transferred to the country place, they receive a ceitain sum a day for the surplus of expenses ; their work is to take verbal messages to the foreign office or officers of the Government, to write and copy Periiian letter.s, to attend to the small business of the legation, to be sent to witness punishments demanded by the legation, to bring infonnation, to attend to complaints from legation servants, and under instructinns from their snperiois to see to justice being done to such claims ; their duties, in a word, are peculiar to a legation in Oriental countries. Eveiy legation employs one to four, but when a legation has oidy one moonchee his wages must not be less than $24. 19^?, and go to $48.38jf a month. They are very useful. They have no rank among Europeans and are not considered as officers of the Government by the foreign office. The office is considered to omount to something more than a steward and less than a private secretary. The minister of foreign ati'airs receives them soTuetimes on official business, but as a rule they are directed to address themselves to the under-secretaries of the foreign office. COST OF LIVING TO THE LABORING CLASS. Thonsli the following may be considered as a fair average of cost of living in all Persia, it is special to Teheran : The cost of liv^ing of the laboring class or of any class in Persia is difficult to find out; there are ptople who earn 1 kran = IGg^j cents a day and live on that; others earn $6,453^^, or 40 krans, a mouth, and spend 10 tomans, or $16.12ff. Un an average one might say that a married man with three children, and having a house of his own, may live on 2 krans = 'S2:^j cents a day ; if obliged to i)ay rent, on 3 krans, or 48i| cents a day. But this is poor and miserable living even in Persia. To live in comparative comfort a workman who has to support a wife and three children needs 7 krans, = $1.12f^ a day. A man might even live on 83-j and 1G^\ cents by eating anything and sleeping anywhere. The rate of expenses for such a family is as follows: Daily : One maun = 6^ pounds of bread, 10 slialii.s $0 OSfi Oue-quarter of a niann of meat, 8 slialiis 06^f Light, coal, wood, tobacco, &c., 20 sbahis 163^ LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. 299 Weekly : A disli of pillan or rice, butter, and meat, 3 krans $0 48^ Hot bath for tive persons, 3 krans 48^ Monthly : Rent of house, 20 krans 3 22-^| Yearly: Man's clothing, 100 krans 16 12|| Woman's clothing, 100 krajis 16 12|4 Three children's clothing, 150 krans 24 19^^ One kran at actual rate of exchange equals ICg*^ cents ; one shahi (20 sliabis making I kran) equals f f^ cents ; the toman is worth 10 krans. The currency has depreciated recently slightly over 2 shahis to a dollar. This would make l,595i krans of annual expenses (equaling $257.33|f ) or 4 krans, 7 and f^ shahis a day (= 70i| cents), and is still a very low average, not enabling the workman to save anything for old age or in ■case of illness or accident. INCREASE IN LIVING EXPENSES. It is said that the cost of living has increased since 1878 25 per cent., the chief reasons being the depreciation in the A^alue of money, the European imports crushing Persian industry and somewhat the increase of European population. THE MODAKHEEL OR COMMISSION SYSTEM. The servants generally earn 3 to 5 tomans a month (equaling $4.S3|^ to $8,061^), this not being suflflcient for their expenses, especiall.v if they have a family to support^ The difference is made up by what is called the " modakheel." This is a Persian word meanin g^ro/f, but specially applied to the 10 per cent, (or more) commission persons in service are accustomed to add to cost of purchases ; many do not attempt to gain more than this ; but on the other hand, as it is easy to see, advantage is taken by multitudes to appropriate far more than the 10 per cent, winked at by custom. It is scarcely too strong a statement to affirm that the modakheel is accepted by all, in every grade of Persian society. TAXES. There are no regular taxes bearing on the working class. Brokers, traders, artisans, farmers, land-owners, an.d miners pay duties to the Government. Villagers, after having cultivated their land and disposed of the crop, come to the cities and engage themselves as workmen. Out of tlie money they earn daring their stay in the cities they pay their taxes. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. The habits of the working classes are generally steady and saving. They attend to their religious duties; they like to have their houses in good condition and properly furnished. When their means allow it they dress well, and are comparatively clean in their dress and habits. On'an average one might say there are 10 per cent, of unjiriucipled men, most of them to be found among camel and mule-drivers and ferraches. These are rather given to gambling, drinking, and quar- reling, but the working class is otherwise less affected by these vices. Most of them try to save money, no matter what their wages may be. Those who come for a certain time from their villages would even save 300 LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. on seven cents a day. They are also more careful now about their ex- penses than they were a few years ago. Formerly it was customary for a well-to-do workman to give twice a year an entertainment to his friends, costing each time from 15 to 30 tomans (about $24 to $50). This is not done any more, or rarely, as, seeing the cost of living rising every day, they prudently try to save more. An average of 50 per cent, can be said to be honest among them ; but honest in their way. They would not steal openly the smallest sum of money, but would make any amount of "modakheel." Their general condition is good when compared to that of the work- ing classes of other oriental countries. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The feeling that prevails between employes and emi^loyer is usually good; strikes are exceptional occurrences, necessarily never general, and do not succeed. Workmen are paid in copper or silver currency every day or week ; they are free to buy the necessaries of life wher- ever they choose. As a rule, the employer is solicitous of the safety and health of the workmen. Tbe custom exists that when a workman is wounded or gets ill while in service the employer will provide for his and the family's expenses until the man is cured. In case of death by accident in building, &c., the employer offers a certain sum of money to the family of the deceased (from $160 to $320), and in case they refuse to accept it the employer, according to usage, provides for their daily expenses until the children are old enough to work for the family. EMIGRATION. Emigration does not exist. In case a workman goes out of Persia he goes with the intention of returning, and only goes when sent. In such case he does not leave unless a good sum of money is first given to his family to pay expenses until his return. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, POLITICAL RIGHTS, ETC. Regular corporations and societies do not exist in Persia, as they would not be approved by the authorities, and no co-operative associa- tions are found. The working class does not enjoy any political rights. WOMEN WORKERS. Education among men, women, and children of the working classes is not worth mentioning. A great many of them can keep their ac- counts and read the Koran, but that is all they get in the way of edu- cation. Women have no education whatever, generally speaking. CAUSES OF REDUCTION OF WAGES. The employment of women does not seem to affect workmen's wages, their respective work being quite distinct and diiferent. What has con- tributed to reduce wages were and are the imports from Europe, which, having been a cause of ruin to a great number of small factories all over Persia, have thrown out of work since the time of Fath Ali Shah thousands of workmen and lessened the demand for labor. Paper, ink, LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. 301 lamp oil, leather, cotton prints, cloth, and nearly all the necessaries of life were uianufactnred in Persia, bnt the cnstom dnty of 5 per cent, not protecting- enongh the Persian trade and industries, the European im- ports got possession of the market. MINES AND MININa.* This industry is not thoroughly developed in Persia, though the coun- try is rich in mining districts. Turquoise mines are worked to a great extent; gold and silver mines could not be made to pay until now. Copper, alum, sulphur, coal, and lead mines are worked to a certain de- gree, and pay, the only working materials being gunpowder, hammer, pickaxe, and crow-bar. Sometimes people farm a mine and work it for themselves. "When the Government or a farmer of mines employs miners their wages vary from 10 to 15 and 20 shahes for boys (83^ and 123^^ to IGtj^- cents), and 20 to 50 shahes for men (lOg^j to 40i^ cents) a day. The work begins at sunrise and ends at about sunset, meals (bread and cheese) being taken in the mine. The chief workman is sometimes paid 3 krans (481=- cents) to 4 krans (04if^ cents), and some, whose chief business is to build props, and who are known to be experienced, receive up to 5 krans or 80|f cents a dviy, this being considered very high pay. The overseer receives from 35 to 50 krans a month ($5.64if to $8.0Gi|^). Mining is uot a special pursuit (except turquoise mining), as the work- men are generally peasants who go to the mines when uot required, or getting as high wages, in the fields. FEMALE LABOR. Women are ofteu employed in weaving factories, cotton work, carpet work. They are also employed for cutting down wheat, fruits, &c., for light work at mines but not in mines, and for farm work. In some wandering tribes they herd sheep, bake bread, make cheese and butter. People are wont to say that in some tribes in the south women do men's work to the extent of even putting on male clothes, only covering their faces with the yachmak, and ride off to attack caravans and commit robberies on the highways. Women do nearly all the embroidery work. They are employed as servants only in the harems or enderouns, and sometimes in European families. They do not suffer from impertinence in going about their work, being generally respected. Their wages vary a great deal. As servants they receive from 5 to 35 and 40 krans (80f^ cents to $5.64if and $6.45^y) a month, with board and clothing, in Per- sian houses; they only board in European families. Thirty-flve and 40 krans ($5.64if and $6,453^) a month are high wages, paid only by Europeans; the Persians, as a rule, do uot give thtjn more than 30 krans ($4.83fi). Embroiderers can earn a great deal either working at their houses or going out in families; they caii get from 10 to 30 tomans a month ($l().12ff to $48.38|f); exceiitionally, more than that. For other work their wages var^' from 10 shahis and 1 kran to 2J krans and 5 krans, in exceptional cases, a day (12|^f and IOt^^j- to 40i| and 80f^ cents). In many cases their work amounts to the time they can save from their household duties, as they must be at home one or two hours before sun- set to prepare supper. Sometimes they employ a maid at home so that they may be able to go out to work themselves out-doors. * Report prepared by Mr. A. B. Ketin for Consul-General Benjamin. 302 LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. It is impossible at present to find out the number of women em- ployed. As for the means afforded for their improvement, safety, &c.,, there is no rule. Much depends on the good-will of the employer. In general, so far as safety is concerned, the employer is solicitous of not appearing too hard. PERSIAN vs. UNITED STATES CURRENCY. 1 shahee (copper) equal $0 OOf^ 1 abbassee, 4 sbaliees, equal 03^^ 1 kran, 20 shahees (silver) equal l^^V 1 re-all, 25 sliahees, equal 20^^ 1 tonianu, 10 kraus (gold) equal 1 Qhh: 1 kooroor (or kroor) is a term used for 500,000. 1 cent, equal sbabee l^g- $1, equal krans 6^^ HAMADAN. REPORT PREPARED FOR CONSUL-GENERAL BENJAMIN, BY THE REV. R. Y. HAVTKS^ OF HAMADAN. In reply to your request to fill out answers to the questions contained in the labor circular received a few days ago, I have collected the fol- lowing facts, which I hope you will find serviceable : MALE LABOR. The following is a list of classes of laborers who receive the wages mentioned opposite their names and are engaged in this city : Occupations. Masons per day.. Hod-carriers do Carpenters do Blacksmittis do Wood-clioppers do Muleteers do Shoemaliers do Pack-saddle sewers do Silversmitlis do Coppersmiths do Eock-cutters do Well-diggers do Laborers : Common (or amaleh) do In tannery do , In flour mill - do On telegraph line do Lowest. Highest. Krs. Sh. Krs. Sh. 1 10 2 10 1 10 2 00 1 00 1 15 12 1 10 1 5 1 18 1 00 1 10 16 1 10 1 00 1 10 1 5 2 00 1 5 2 00 2 00 2 10 2 00 2 10 12i 18 1 10 2 10 12 1 00 1 00 1 10 Krs. Sh. 2 00 2 00 15 1 15 15 1 5 Servants receive per mouth from 8 krans to 10 tomans, with food and clothes, one suit per year. A very common agreement is to pay them 12 tomans a year and 2 kharvars of wheat. PERSIAN MONEY AND WEIGHT. The money in use here is the same as that of Teheran.* There are two "mauns" or "battmans" in use here, the first, like that of Teheran, * See Currency of Persia and the United States. LABOR IN ASIA: PERSIA. 303 has 40 "seers," and the second 50 "seers." One maun of 40 seers equals Gi pounds. Imported articles are weighed bj^ the tirst, while the second is the more common and is always used in heavy weights. PRICES OF THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE. The prices of the necessaries of life are about as follows : Articles. Lowest. Highest. Average. Bread . . per maun.. Krg. Sh. Krs. Sh. Krs. Sh. 7 do 1 12 15 1 12 2 20 2 4 1 10 2 00 10 10 2 00 do... 1 00 Kice do.... 1 15 Fruits do .. 7 do... 7 Milk do .. 15 Flour do... 5 4 00 5 5 6 25 00 15 14 6 00 12 14 10 40 00 1 00 5 Oil lard do ... 5 GO do... 5 Cracked wheat do... do.... 10 8 Wheat perharvar.. 30 00 18 Notes. Onetotwo "mauns" consumed per day in a family of six. One-quarterof "maun" consumed per day in family of six. Bread, meat, fruit, melons, cheese, together with sout mil,k, are staples of diet. Cracked wheat is also eaten, one-quarter of "maun " making a meal for five persons; one-half "maun " rice makes ameal for five. COST OF CLOTHING. The rule for clothing is two suits a year, costing from 3 to 6 tomans per suit. An average suit costs 3 tomans. A suit for a woman costs from 3 to 5 tomans, an average suit costing about 3 tomans. The cost of separate articles ranges as follows : Articles. Lowest. Highest. Hat Shirt Socks Shoes Pantaloons Coat Cloak Dress Krs. Sh. 12 2 00 10 2 10 4 10 12 00 12 00 4 00 Krs. Sh. 4 00 00 1& 20 00 30 OO 10 OO COST OF FUEL. For fuel these people use fine charcoal, which costs al)Out 4 shahees a "man," and it takes about 50 mans to keep a fire during the winter mouths. Kent for one room with cellar ranges from 6 to 8 tomans a year. HABITS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. Their habits are good under certain limitations. Intemperance among them is rare. They work well under an overseer, otherwise not well. They are good-natured. Lying and stealiug are not considered sinful, but are habitually practiced. They are steady so long as they are iu need of the necessaries of life, but when these become satisfied they 304 LABOE IN ASIA: PERSIA. become lazy. Very few of them are saving, since they cannot more than supply their wants; and, again, if they could save anything it would be liable to be taken from them by some "ferrach," who lives on what he can pick up legally or otherwise. But for all this they are more peaceable and their habits better than the higher classes. FEELING BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE. The employes feel well toward most employers, except sayyids (de- scendants of the prophet), who have a reputation of being poor pay- masters. LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. There are no regular organizations of laborers, except as the members of a single trade unite, employes and employers, to resist the Govern- ment in the imposition of excessive taxes. On such occasions they sometimes close their shops and stop work until a settlement is made. On the other hand the local authorities sometimes close a certain branch of trade when it is making good or extra profits, in order to obtain a tribute, to allow them to go on with their work. The general effect of all this is demoralizing to trade and checks prosperity, though in in- dividual cases tbe laborer gets the benefit of carrying his point. FOOD PURCHASE AND MODE OF PAYMENT. If there are any restrictions on the laborer in respect to the purchas- ing of the necessaries of life, they are of minor importance. Day laborers are generally paid oft' in the evening in the currency of this part of Persia ; others, according to agreements, in the same cur- rency. I hear of no co-oiierative societies. STATEMENT OF A HAMADAN PORTER. A "hammal" (or porter) came into my yard to-day on business, and upon inquiry I obtained the following facts in regard to his life : He is about thirty-seven years of age ; has a wife and three children, the oldest being a girl of eight years. He makes from 15 to 30 shahees per day, averaging about 1 kran. His work is hard, and he has about twenty holidays a year, but no Sunday. He owns one-half a house, which is worth about 20 tomans. He just about makes ends meet, take the year round. The food for himself and family is as follows : Bread per day, 1 kran ; fruit and melons in their season, 1 kran ; meat, 0.3 shahee worth; oil, 1 "man"* per year; rice, 1 "man" per year; cracked wheat, 15 "mauns" per year; sour milk, 2 "mauns" per month. He spends on clothes for himself about 1 toman per year, and for his wife and children 3 tomans per year. Fire costs him about 2 tomans a year. Bathing at public bath with soap costs him about 16 krans a year. His case is representative. E. J. HAWKES. Hamadan, Persia, August 20, 1884. *A inann of 40 seers ainoimttj to about G^ pounds ; the liarvar equals 100 mauus. LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. 305 CEYLOX. MEPORT BY COXSUL MORET, OF COLOMBO. LABOR CONDITIONS IN CEYLON VS. THE UNITED STATES. Department circular of February 15, 1884, requiriug "labor statis- tics," reached me somewhat late, say May 17, 1884, and I have been ever since to some extent engaged collecting materials for a reply. The result, I suspect, in regard to a bearing ui)on industrial problems in the United States will prove iv.signihcant, as the conditions of labor throughout the Orient are so different from those ju'evailing in the United States as to be inconceivable to people who have not observed and carefully studied them. Here labor is a degradation imposed uj)on certain classes by ancient customs and unwritten laws, as immu- table as the "edicts of the Medes antl Persians." Here the producers of wealth, they who, delving in mines, abstract from the bowels of the earth valuable minerals, or toiling as handicraftsmen and manufactur- ers, fashion crude materials into forms of utility ; those who, to a great ex- tent, plow the fields, sow the seed, and reap the harvest, all in fact who " earn their bread by the sweat of their brows " and contribute a fraction to the world's utilized wealth, are, and have been from time immemorial, the most inconsiderable beneficiaries from the results of their own toil, and mere ministers to the idle, greedy, luxurious drones forming the so- called superior castes and classes: Poverty in consequence, paucity of intellect, want of ambition, and an incapacity to comprehend more than the littlest things iu life, are therefore so bred and ingraim^d in the veiy natures of the coolie peo- l)le at least, that even the miserable pittances allowed them are or- dinarily (juite as much as they know how to use properly, and any en- hancement of their pay generally results in demoralizing them alto- gether. It will be difficult for an American blacksmith to comprehend that $2.50 per week (scarcely one day's i)ay for himself) is not only the aver- age of his Ceylon fellow-craftsman's earnings, but as much as the latter knows how to expend proi)erly. Yet such is tbe case. This is the natural result of the degradation of labor; though it must be said the picture applies more to the people of continental India, who come here in large numbers and do most of the coolie work, than to the inhabitants proper of Ceylon, who seldom hire out as common laborers, but exchange work in agriculture and cultivate the ground on shares ; also in the capacities of clerks, handicraftsmen, and domestic servants, monopolizing most of those pursuits. With them (the Singhalese) caste restrictions have never been so bur- densome as in India, owing mostly to their being Buddhists, which re- ligion, in its purity, excludes all idea of c^iste; nevertheless, even these regard labor as a degradation, and avoid it by all available means, al- ways considering that the smallest compensation possible is enough for those who work with their hands. SCHEDULED PARTICULARS. Schedule forms Nos. I to XV, minus Nos. IV- VII and XIV, have been filled up from theinost reliable sources; the latter numbers beingomitted on account of there being no such occupations here as glass-working and 92 A— 2 LAB 20 306 LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. sbip-biiilcliug ; uor is there any material difference in the v^ages paid to tradesmen and hiborers in Government employ to what they get pri- vately-. HOW THE GENERAL TRADES-PEOPLE LIVE. It appears per schednle I, that amongst handicraftsmen, gas fitters earning an average of 84.50 per week, jewelers $2 per week, black- smiths, ijlumbers, and brass-founders $2.50 per week, are as a rule the highest jiaid of that class of people, though occasionally a head mason gets as much as $3.42 per week. The lowest paid are the hatters, uiostlj' women, who work at home in their villages, and earn from 30 cents to 50 cents per week, average 40 cents ; just enough, in fact, to pay for their simple clothing and a few cheap ornaments, these being their only incentives to such labor, as they belong to families possessing small patrimonies yielding a plain livelihood to all the members thereof who remain content to abide by it. The lowest average wage per week for adult men* is $1, the recipient of which would generally be a bachelor, whose frugal subsistence on rice and curry costs 50 cents per week, lodging 12^ cents, making a total of 02} cents per week, and leaving a balance of 27i cents for clothes, washing, and a little arrack, &c. If the same man happens to have a wife she will earn half or two- thirds as much as himself in various occupations, such as grass-cut- ting, tending on masons, coffee- sorting, &c., besides keeping house for her husband ; and thus between them the pair might save 75 cents per week for purposes exclusive of bare food and shelter. Some of the arti- sans, earning from $1.00 to 4.50 per week, take advantage of their en- hanced emoluments, to inhabit better houses, consume better food, wear better clothes, and occasionally drink gin or sour beer in prefer- ence to arrack or toddy. A good many, however, neglect to improve their mode of life, and instead patronize the gin and cheap beer afore- said to such an extent that they soon are unfit to earn even $1 per week or anything at all. Then they take to begging, and great numbers of such characters are now to be seen in our cities, who, having dis- carded the degradation of work, beg with an effrontery only to be accounted for on the principle that they have abandoned the mean habit of earning a living and adopted something more honorable, labor, in the Asiatic mind at least, being counted meaner than begging. FOUNDERS AND MACHINISTS. Schedule No. II. applying to a Government iron foundry and machine- shop, was filled up authoritatively, and denotes that artisans are not more highly paid by Government than by private employers. Mj"^ foregoing remarks therefore apply exactly to their condition. In fact, it appears from Xo. Ill, which refers to the principal private foundry here, that native employes there are paid quite as high an average as those emplo3*ed in corresi)ouding situations by Governmeut, and it will be seen throughout the whole ensuing roll, from miners to printers, that, where ever natives are concerned, their pay is perhai)s a twelfth of what people correspondingly employed in America receive. * PIandicTa''tsmen. LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. 307 SINGHALESE AGRICULTURAL LABOR. Respectius: agriculture, as I have before intimated, the Singhalese seldom employ labor for fixed pay, or hire themselves out in that manner, the custom rather being witli them to exchange work in hus- banding their crops, or to labor for a share of same; and I believ'e it has been carefully computed that the absolute earnings of an ordinary farm laborer in Ceylon do not amount to over 10 cents per diem ; though, as most of them are small owners, the spontaneous productions of their little patrimonies enable them to live in comparative comfort and save up some wealth. COOLIE LABOR IN CEYLON. There is, however, a branch of agriculture under European patronage, viz, estate planting, in which the laborers, mostly emigrants from Southern India, are paid, or sui)posed to be jjaid, by the day. I alluded to those in both my annual reports for the years 1883 and 1884, respt'ctively, and therefore have less to write on this occasion. There have been in the past probably as many as 500,000 of these coolie people in the island at one time, but that number will be considerably reduced now, owing to many having gone away on account of the partial failure of the cotiee enterprise. The pay these coolies were popularly sui)posed to get was 12 cents per diem, and throughout the year they probably were given work five days per week, upon an average. At this rate their earnings would amount to GO cents per week, and in prosperous times that was about the amount they were paid. After 187S, however, as the cotfee crops diminished so likewise did the payments to these people fall otf, until, in 1883, Lhe fact that they could scarceh' be said to be paid at all became so notorious that near the close of that year the local government interfered and early in 1884 the labor laws were so amended that those poor i^eople were enabled to go into the courts for their earnings with some chance of obtaining the money. The passing of these new ordinances raised a terrible storm in plant- ing circles, and the parties responsible for their enactment got so well abused for their interference that much which was pur[)osed to be done in this direction was abandoned hy t'le executive. .Enough was accom- plished, however, to give the poor coolies some juridical status, and a sufficient sentiment of public shame was engendered to cause in some measure an alleviation of the hardships of a much sufCering laboring pojtulation. During the discussion of this burning question of " coolies' pay," the newspai)ers were full of correspondence, pro and con, u[)on the subject; and I interpolate herewith one of the most characteristic of the letters, appearing in the Ceylon Observer, during that period, together with the editor's very proper retort upon his correspondent, merely adding, en passant, that the luxuries of life the writer prates about would be, if they were forthcoming, just so much as 32 cents per diem would pay for, and the equivalent of 32 Ceylon cents is 12 cents in United States currenc3\ As a matter of tact, however, many estate coolies have been getting less than half that sum as daily pay for years. The "clean and water- tight shelter," so feelingly alluded to by the same writer, is, alas, gen- erally a vile hut, into which the planter would not like to put a favorite horse. The bushel of rice, sometimes supplied as almost the sole sus- 308 LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. teuance for a month, costs about $1.20; and the "cumblie" is an in- describable blanket, furnisbed once a year, costing- 27 cents, and charged for perhaps at 50 cents. The privilege of going to court for their pay, which is so strongly ob- jected to, was simply a new provision by which all the laborers on an estate might sue en misse, it actually being the case that it required the combined earnings for several months of the whole gang to make up a sum sufficiently large to go to court for; and tbe " three isolated cases," so naivel^^ referred to, were, properly speaking, near three hun- dred. [Extract from the Ceylon Observer of Ifovember 24, 1883.] coolies' wages — AND KG WAGES. Dear Sir : In your editorial of the 19th instant yon say the " few inclined to cheat and by the much larger number who put off payment hoping for better times and ability to pay." Not denying that there are some inclined (to cheat I emphatically decline to believe) to put off [>a.yraent, I ask you, is the native who uevercame to Cey- lon, and icho has no money due him bi/ the estate better off than he who has ? Not he. The estate laborer receives regular rice, cumblies, and small advances in money, has a clean and water-tight shelter over his head, with medical officers to attend him when ill, and lives here contented and happy with wife and children"; does he who " stays at home" get these advantages? What is hislifeat his " c/(«em(e ?" A dog's life! Ask any cooly you like — and " wages " or " no wages" we shall always have a supply of labor quite sufficient for all our wants. Seeing, thus, how nuich better off the Cey- lon brother is to his Indian brother, I cannot agree with you in wishing for further legislation on his behalf. That for the sake of three isolated cases facilities are to be given to a kaugani or his gang (with a few months' pay due) of going to law is, in my opinion, absurd; and by this, the power in the event of any disagreement with the proprietor, of retaliating by putting him (tbe ))roprietor) into court and placing him in a most undesirable position both as regards his agents and estate. I do not take up my position, as yon see, on moral grounds, I say that he (the pro- prietor and planter) who supports and helps to supply so many human beings with the necessities, and, but for providential visitation, with the luxuries of life, should liave some consideration shown him. With this, I remain, yours truly. [We insert this as a mental curiosity, for the writer candidly states he does not go on moral grounds. Truly not. He agreed to give his coolies so much per diem for every day they worked. He gives them only part in tlie shape of rice, and then says to the coolies, "True you have not got what I promised to gis^e you and what you ought to get. but then consider how much better off you are tlian your brethren who never came to Ceylon!" The poor devils could not dispute such wonderful logic, but they could say : " If we do not get our money balances we can never go back to see how it is with the old folks at home ; whether they are worse off or better. Grant- ing, what we fear, that they are badly off, we should like to have our cash balances to help them. It was in the hope of being able to do so we came to Ceylon." Wages or no wages, this wonderful reasouer says, the planters will have plenty of labor ! If our correspondent can get men to agree to serve him merely for rice advances, good and well ; an agreement is an agreement. But so is an agreement to pay 32 cents per diem, and the agreement ought to be kept or enforced, otherwise coolies will ceaso to come to Ceylon. — Editor C. O.] Further comment upon this subject is almost unnecessary ; neverthe- less the fact should be stated that, nothwithstanding all the ventilation such matters luive received during the last twelve months, the sys- tematic robbing of coolies out of their miserable pittances for years is even now regarded here as so mild an offense that insolvents, whose indulgence in the practice was notorious, and who, during their passage through the conrts, were able to live luxuriously, and go rolling about in gay equipages, finally emerged from their bankruptcy proceedings, with clean No. 1 certificates, and apparently were none the worse thougiit of for their heartless behavior. Non-resident and absentee proprietors are the greatest oftenders in there matters, for they neither know the coolies who cultivate their estates nor have they any sympathy with tliem, whereas resident pro- prietors and superintendents generally, I believe, become tolerably fa- LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLGN. 309 miliar with their people and too solicitous of their welfare to mulct them willingly of any ])art of tlieir small eainiiigs. ]\Iost of the latter class, however, are in the liaiids of their agents, who, ha\ ing advanced them funds, want their " pound of tiesh" hack, and, as planting has not beeii profitable lately, tiunncial embarrassment is common; consequently many jieople have failed to pay their laborers who fain would have done otherwise. Keferring again to the "Observer'' article, it is a significant fact that the people in Southern India, from v\hom the estate laborers in Ceylon are drawn, and who that writer states are in worse i)light thau their miserably paid brethren here, are likewise under British rule, though not in European employ. W. MOKEY, Consid. United States Consulate, Colombo, Ceylon, December 5, 1884. I. General trades. Wages paid per iceek of fifty-three hours in Ceijlon. Occnpations. 1 Lowest. i Highest Average. BUILDING TRADES. $'> 04 85 42 54 31 60 50 54 40 45 50 75 80 30 85 75 85 50 75 75 70 75 00 00 00 00 30 00 50 00 25 40 50 50 00 00 00 20 85 00 $2 31 85 3 42 85 2 31 75 1 50 85 2 60 1 45 3 42 00 2 40 3 42 1 20 3 37 1 50 3 42 3 50 3 50 2 30 5 00 1 50 1 50 1 50 1 50 50 3 00 3 50 2 00 2 50 6 50 9 00 3 50 3 00 2 50 2 00 2 40 1? 50 1 50 $2 25 85 ' 3 3 42 75 1 •"> 2 31 T.-ndeiB' I 68 i 1 1 50 Teudeis* 75 Plum bers 2 2 50 ' 1 1 45 Caipeiiters 1 1 60 Gas-filters 3 4 50 OTIIEU rnADES. Bakers 1 1 95 IBLickstniths 2 2 50 Strikers 1 1 00 Book-liiiiders 1 00 Brick-makers . 1 25 Buti-lieis 1 1 2 00 1 2 50 1 2 25 1 2 00 Distillers '' 3 4 00 1)1 i vers I 1 '5 1 1 25 1 1 25 Gardeners 1 1 25 Hatters (women) 40 o 2 25 Jewclei 8 2 3 00 Laborers, porters, &o Pott ers I 1 1 75 1 75 Printers 3 50 1 2 5 00 Smltll and harness makers Sailinakers 9 2 75 2 25 Stevedores o 2 25 1 1 75 Tailors 1 1 50 Telejiraph operators ... . . 3 5 87 1 1 1 25 1 *Boys, old men, and women. 310 LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in the Government factory, Colomio. Occupations. Highest. Lowest. Average. Fitters $5 62 6 75 5 62 5 62 5 62 3 38 4 50 $0 84 84 1 24 1 13 1 13 1 09 1 13 $1 69 1 69 Smiths 1 69 1 40 1 69 Pattern-makei s 2 25 Cabinet-makers 1 69 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. JTcujes paid per ireel' of ftfty-e'ujM hours in foundries, machine-shojis, and iron icoi'lca in Colombo. Occnpations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Native: $1 20 1 20 60 15 00 11 50 11 50 $7 20 4 80 70 30 00 25 00 25 00 $2 50 2 C) 75 European: 23 00 20 00 20 00 V. Mines and mining. Wages paid per week of sixty hours in and in connection ivith plumbago mines. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Foremen .. $2 40 1 20 90 60 $2 40 2 40 1 80 1 40 $2 40 2 00 Tnnnelers Pitmer 1 50 Carriers 1 00 VI. Railway employes. Wages paid to railway employe's (those engaged about stations, as jvell as those engaged on the engines and cars, linemen, railroad laborers, cj'c). Occupations. European locomotive foremen per annum European enjriiiedrivers do . European firemen do.. European foremen platelayers do. . Euroj)ean plate-laying overseers do.. Native sbntitiiig engine-drivers do. . Kative firemen do. . Native patrols do. . Native plate-layers do.. Native litters do.. Head eariieiitc^rs do.. Car]i(-iitei.s do.. Time-keepers do.. Storenicu do. . Engine-turners per day Engine-lighters do.. Engine-cleaners do.. Lowest. $1, 200 00 575 00 288 00 244 00 "oo'oo :,o 00 90 00 240 00 74 00 192 00 108 00 CO 28 17 Highest. $1,600 00 960 00 384 00 384 00 'i30'66 60 00 420 00 420 00 240 00 384 00 264 00 60 50 40 Average. $1, 400 00 750 00 335 00 864 00 250 00 360 00 120 00 74 00 55 00 200 00 300 00 120 00 250 00 175 00 GO 39 20 LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. Wages pa\d to railway emploiji^^, <^-c. — Coutiuued. 311 Occupations. PuinpinK engine-men per day . Pumpers do. .. Coppcrsniitlis do. .. Head blacksmiths do... Blaik.smitlis do. .. Painters do. .. Pattern-makers do ... Ai)preutice8 do... Machinists do. .. Boih'r washers do . . . Moldcrs do. .. Stationary engine-men do... Stokers do . . . Saddlers do... Trimiuei's do... Caiiiage examiners ...do. . . M asous do.. Cauganies(gang overseers) do. . . Laborers do... Carriage cleaners do. .. Carriage greasers do . . . Gate men per annum. Watchmen per day . Lowest. $0 40 17 1 30 1 20 30 34 50 20 20 60 35 30 25 50 35 40 25 30 07 17 20 60 00 20 Highest. $0 40 40 1 30 1 20 1 00 60 70 40 30 60 50 30 25 50 60 140 60 60 20 20 20 60 00 20 Average. $0 40 20 1 30 1 20 60 35 60 23 25 60 41 30 25 50 47 80 35 40 14 18 20 60 00 20 Cf.yi.os Goveunment Eailway, Engineer's Dki'aktment, Colombo, 2d Juhj, 1884. ED. STRONG, Jtesidcnt Engineer. VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per month to seamen {officers and men), distinguishing between ocean, coast, and river navigation, and between sail and steam. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. European sailing vessels and steamers. $60 00 30 00 20 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 10 00 6 00 4 00 3 00 $80 00 55 00 40 00 36 00 20 00 20 00 12 00 12 00 10 00 12 00 32 00 8 00 6 00 4 00 $70 00 40 00 30 00 15 00 Cooks - 16 00 Stewards 16 00 Seamen 10 00 Native boatmen 10 00 Native sailors . . 8 00 Native cooks . _. . . 10 00 Masters Native coasters, saiiimj. 11 00 Mates 7 00 Sailors 5 00 Cooks 3 50 IX. Stoke and shop wages. Wages paid per month in stores, uholesale and retail, to males in Colombo. Occupations. Europea'n general assistants Burgher general clerks Native general clerks Coolies Tor store w^ork Lowest. $57 75 3 85 3 85 3 85 Highest. $192 50 38 50 19 25 , 5 27 Average. $115 87 19 25 9 77 4 82 312 LABOR IN ASIA: CEYLON. X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages jioid j^er month to household servants {fowns and cities). Butlers Cooks Nurses General helps , Coachmen Grooms Gardeners Occupations. Lowest. $4 10 3 50 3 50 2 50 4 10 3 50 8 00 Highest. $8 20 5 00 6 50 4 10 10 00 4 10 6 00 Average. $5 00 4 10 4 50 3 50 5 00 3 80 4 00 XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per da >j to agricitlturalJahorers in the Central Province {Ceylon), tvithout board. Occupation. Lowest. Highest. Average. $0 05 $0 15 $0 12 * This is what they are popularly supposed to get, hut during the last five years they prohahly have not received half of even so small an amount. XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid to the corporation emjjloycs in the municipal city of Colombo. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Secretary of the council Clerks $2,240 00 do $9G 00 $800 00 300 00 Sanitary officer Gas inspector Superintendent of roads do 1,200 00 do 1,200 00 do 3, 000 00 150 00 do Minor overseer per day.. do 30 10 14 30 60 20 20 60 35 15 do ... 17 do... 40 XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages p>aid per annum to employes in Government departments and offices, exclusive of tradesmen and laborers, in surreyor-generaVs depeirtment. Occupations. Chief surveyor* District surveyors* Assistant suivoyors* Extra assistant surveyors*. Clerks and draughtsmen t .. Lowest. Highest. $2, 000 $3, 200 1, 300 2,000 438 1, -277 146 920 219 1, 277 Average. $2, dOO 1,650 858 350 500 ' European. t Burghers and natives. LABOR IN ASIA: THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. XV. Printers and printing offices. 313 Statement ^howixf/ the uaf/eH paid per day to printers {compositors, pressmen, jjroof -leaders, tfc.) on the Ceylon Observer, Colombo. Occupations. Proof-readers Picce-woik compositors (first class)... Pii'ce-work conijjosiiors (second class) Fixed coiiii)ositors Volunteer compositors (apprentices) . Pressmen Foremen Lowest. Highest $0 60 $3 00 2 50 4 50 1 80 2 50 2 00 4 20 40 1 00 60 2 00 5 DO 6 50 Average. $3 00 3 50 2 25 3 00 65 1 12 5 85 THE PHILIPPINE ISLA:N^DS. REPORT BY COXSUL YOIGHT, OF MANILA. lu reply to tlio labor circular issued by your Department, dated 15th February last, I have tbe houor to address the tollowiog i)reliminary remarks : The Philippines, with a population of about 6,500,000, are still in a very primitive state, there being, counting Spaniards and their de- fecendants, less than l!0,000 white foieiguers to be met with. The natives, a Malay race, ])eacefal and frugal enough, are yet decid- edly below the average, both iu their physical and intellectual endow- ment, and do not begin to co-u])are in that respect with the Chinese, who, to the number of perhaps 35,000, form the only element of real la- boring industry in these regions. Owing to the tropical climate, added to a wonderful fertility of the soil, the simple wants of the native race are easily satisfied, who, moreover, shun exertion and disclaim ambi- tion. The hardly-concealed contempt of all foreigners, Spaniards particu- larly, towartls these people does not lend to render them more willing laborers, and, althougli actual servitude does not exist, yet the condi- tion olten resembles enforced obedience. It is a singular fact that here- abouts the female intellect is so much above that of the male popula- tion, that in matters of business the women are conceded the lead, and acquit themselves with credit; bu^ they never perform hard or any un- becoming labor, such as other Indian or even more advanced nations exact. Under the above circumstances it will serve but little purpose to fur- nish data for laborer and wages in comparison with those obtaining in civilized countries or even regulated communities. For what is not in its crude state here is but slightly and artificially removed therefrom. For instance, should the f-w foreigners and the industrious Chinese quit these islands nothing would prevent iheir speedily retrograding into dullness and stupid stagnation. I therefore have, in the accoini)anying schedules, confined myself to an approximate outline of cuireut wages in Manilla and vicinity, dis- claiming all intention to be able thereby to contribute towards the labor statistics invited bv the circular of 15th February. JULIUS G. VOIGHT. United States Consulate, Manila, September 1, 1884. 314 LABOR IN ASIA: THE PPIILIPPINE ISLANDS. I. General trades. Wag es paid per week of fifUj-fonr to seventy-two hours in Manila, Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. UUILDING TRADES. Bricklayers Hod-carriers Masons Tenders Plasterers Tenders Slaters Roofers Tenders riiimbers A ssistants Carpenters OTHER TRADES. Balvcrs Blacksmiths Strikers Bouk binders Brick-makers Butchers Brass-founders Cabinet-makers Confectioners Cigar-makers Coopers Distillers Drivers Draymen and teamsters Cab' and carriage Street railways Dyers Engravers Gardeners Hatters Horseshoers , Jewelers Laborers, porters, &c Lithographers Nail-makers (hand) Potters Printers Teachers (public schools) Saddle and harness makers Sail-maliers Stevedores Tanners Tailors Telegraph operators Tinsmiths "Weavers (outside of mills) $3 62 2 25 3 75 2 25 3 75 2 25 3 75 3 75 2 25 3 75 2 25 4 50 3 00 4 50 4 50 6 00 2 25 4 50 9 00 4 50 3 00 4 50 6 00 4 50 2 25 4 50 2 25 3 00 4 50 9 00 1 90 4 50 4 50 5 00 3 00 4 00 3 00 3 00 4 50 3 00 3 00 3 00 4 50 4 50 6 00 4 50 4 50 4 50 $6 00 3 00 6 00 3 00 6 00 3 00 6 00 6 00 3 00 C 00 3 00 6 00 4 00 18 00 6 00 9 00 3 75 6 00 15 00 9 00 4 50 6 00 10 00 6 00 3 50 6 00 4 50 6 00 6 00 18 00 3 00 6 00 9 00 12 00 4 00 7 00 6 00 6 00 8 00 5 00 (i 00 6 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 .$4 00 2 50 5 00 2 50 5 00 2 50 5 00 5 00 2 50 5 00 2 50 5 00 5 00 12 00 7 00 4 00 5 00 7 00 5 00 3 00 5 00 3 50 5 00 5 00 12 00 2 50 5 00 7 00 10 00 3 50 6 06 5 00 5 00 6 00 4 50 5 00 5 00 7 00 7 00 7 00 7 00 7 00 7 00 KOTES. — Consul Voight has computed his wage-rates in Spanish dollai-s^r 96 cents American. Average wages for common laborers are 5 reales = 62^ cents per diem, and all the skilled labor here is foreign, excepting Chinese mechanics. No female labor, except .seamstresses and cigar-makers. The average cost of living for native ordinary laborers amounts to about $200 per annum for one family. II. Factories, mills, etc. Wages paid per iveek of serentij-two hours in faetories or mills in Manilla. Occupations. Highest. Average. Kope-makers . . Sugar refiners. $G 00 5 00 $4 00 4 00 LABOR IN ASIA: THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 315 III. Foundries, machine-shops, and iron works. Wages paid per week of sei'entij-two hours in foundries, machine shops, and iron worls in Manilla. Occupations. Lowest. Highest Average. $9 00 $18 00 $10 00 Y. Mines and mining. Wages paid per week of serenty-two hou7-s in and in connection u-itk gold ynines in the rhilippines. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Miners $2 25 $6 00 Note. — There is but one gold mine in the PhiUppines. No silver mining and very little coal, which being of poor quality is neglected. YII. Ship -YARDS and ship -building. Wages jyaid per week of seventy -two hours in ship-yards {wood shijj-huilding) in Manilla. Occupations. Various grades Lowest. Highest. $4 50 $6 00 VIII. Seamen's wages. Wages paid per 7nonth to seamen {officers and men) distinguishing hetween ocean, coast, and river navigation, and hetween sail and steam, in Manilla. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Native boatmen $18 .50 $22 ."JO 15 00 50 00 $20 00 10 00 Native coasting sailors . . ' 7 00 Toreign sailors 1 1 5 on 1(5 00 IX. Store and shop wages. Wages paid in retail and wholesale stores to males in Manilla. [Per week of seventy-two hours.] Occupations. Male employment in retail stores per week. Clerks in wholesale stores per annum . Lowest. Highest. $3 00 $7 50 1, 500 00 5, 000 00 Average. $4 00 2, 500 00 316 LABOR IN ASIA: THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. X. Household wages in towns and cities. Wages paid per month, and found, to household servants {towns and cities) in Manilla. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. $4 00 $10 00 30 00 40 00 4 00 6 00 4 00 10 00 4 00 10 00 Average. House servants . Cooks (Chinese). Coolis (native) .. Coachn)en Gardeners $5 00 30 00 5 00 5 00 5 CO XI. Agricultural wages. Wages paid per day to agricultural laborers and household (country) servants in the Philip- pines. Occupations. Lowest. Highest. Average. Iiaborers • 10 50 $1 50 .$0 50 XII. Corporation employes. Wages paid per annum to the corporation employes in the city of Manilla, 1884, [Office hours from 8 a. m. to 1 p. ni.] Occupations. Lowest. Highest. "Various grades $600 00 $2, 500 00 XIII. Government departments and offices. Wages paid per annum to employ^ in Government departments and offices, exclusive of Iradesmen and laborers, in Manilla. [Office hours from 8 a. m. to 1 p. m. | Occupations. Lowest. Various grades $600 00 Highest. $5, 000 00 Xy. Printers and printing offices. statement showing the wages ^jaid per week of sixty hours io printers {compositors, press- men, proof-readers, ^-c.) in Manilla, 1884. Occupations. Printers, various. Lowest. $5 00 Highest. $12 50 Average. $6 00 LABOR IN ASIA: JAPAN. 317 JAP AX. REPORT BY CONSUL-OHNJERAL VAX BURES. Refemn<>- to the Department's " Labor Circular" of the loth of Feb- ruary last, addressed to all the consuls of the United States, I beg res])ectfully to refer to my report upon the subje(;t, dated October 6, 1880, and published in the Department's Consular lieports, No. 2, of November, 1880, which is exhaustive, and which I beg may be included in any general publication the Department may contemplate making up from the reports irom other consulates when received. THOS. B. VAN BUEEN, Consul- General. United States Consulate General. Kanagaica, Japan, April 25, 1885. LABOR IN JAPAN.* [Republished from Consular Reports, No. '2, for November, 1880.] In all historic times the subject of labor and the condition of the la- borer have been of the first importance. In later ages, since trade and commerce have multiplied, population increased, wealth and accumu- lated capital in a few hands, the question has been comi)licated by that of the relations which should exist between cajiital and labor, and now that steam and electricity are bringing all nationalities and races into close and active competition, the subject has received added impor- tance. In all the countries of the civilized world this topic is agitating the public mind, and is being discussed in the halls of legislation, in the busy marts of trade, ou the great money changes, in the homes of the artisans, and in the huts and hovels of tlie humblest toilers. All sys- tems of government and all organizations of society' on every continent and on the far-off islands of the ocean are disturbed by this question and its portending conflict. In view of this a full, accurate, and comprehensive account of the con- dition of the laborers of any race or country is of more than passing im- portance. The following statement of the status of labor in a new and comparatively unknown land cannot fail, therefore, to be of interest: It is now nearly a quarter of a century since Perry opened the sealed gateways of Japan to the conimerce and travel of the world. The unique civilization of an island eini)ire, with an area of 150,000 square miles and more than 35,000,000 of people, was then first presented to modern times for stuii^' and investigation. Since that time libraries of books and pam[)hlets and volumes of letters have been written ui)()n every phase of that civilization, except the status and condition of the laborer. Of the im[)()rtance and i)ower of 35,000,000 of people as added factors in the products of the world there can be no question. In this paper I shall refer briefly to all facts that seem to me to aflfect * Cuu.siil-Geiieral V^aii Biiren ackiiowleil^es tlie valuable assistance of Dr. H. La- tham, formerly vicc-cousul-general at Shanghai, in the preparatiou of this report. 318 LABOR IN ASIA: JAPAN. to any appreciable extent the condition of the laboring population of Japan, believing that such information will be found vahiable to the economist, statesman, or ])hilanthro])ist, who shall make the happiness of mankind his study. The topograi)hy, soil, climate, laws, religion, government, education, moials, hntmces, and means of transportation, as well as the prices of labor and living, all have an influence, directly or indirectly, upon the condition of the laborer, and are all, therefore, legitimate subjects of study in this connection. LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE OF JAPAN. The islands of Japan extend along the eastern coast of Asia, from the 31st to the 4Gth parallels of north latitude, and from the 130th to the 145th degrees of east longitude. It is estimated that these islands con- tain from 150,000 to 1(30,000 square miles, or once and a half the area of the British Isles. TOPOGRAPHY. Through the center of this island chain is one long mountain range, with spurs of lesser elevation running at right angles. Interspersed tlirough all these mountain masses are innumerable fertile valleys, through which the drainage of the whole area finds its way to the sea. Along either coast are extensive alluvial plains, the weatherings and washings of the mountains during untold centuries. The crests of the higher mountains are rocky and precipitous, but as the spurs slope away toward the sea they present gentler hill-sides susceptible of tillage. It is on these allu- vial plains along the sea, through these fertile valleys and on the gentle mountain slopes, that the laborer is to be found. Both the eastern and western coasts present deep indentations of gulfs and bays extending far into the mainland. SOIL. For all the purposes of this paper, it is sufficient to say that the soil, with which the laborer of Japan lias to deal, is a black, vegetable mold, from 2 to 10 feet. in depth, superimposed upon a deep clay subsoil. This mold is a mass of decomposed vegetation, grown luxuriantly in a warm summer climate, combined with a great rain-fall. It is a true humus, with an excess of humic acid, which renders its fertile elements more or less insoluble. Even in its virgin state this black, rich-looking soil, without some chemical solvent, will not produce a paying crop, but with lime or potash every product of the latitude grows luxuriantly. WATER. Draining the great mouutain range and its spurs is a system of rivers and canals, furnishing abundance of clear, pure water. Excellent wells can be had almost everywhere on the lower levels for the digging. CLIMATE. I shall nof attempt to give the full meteorology of this country, as the temperature and rain-fall will be sufficient for our purposes. Temperature. — In Yokohama, in latitude 35° 46', observations have LABOR IN ASIA: JAPAN. 319 been made for nine years. The following- are the monthly and anuual means of temi)erature: Fahr. January 39.2 Ftibriiary 42.2 March 46.0 April 54. 7 May G4.6 Juno 71. G July 78. 7 Au<>u,st 79. 4 Scptfinber 70.2 OctobiT .59. 8 November 49. 5 December 47. 5 Annual moan .57. 7 The highest temperature for these nine years was 93°, and the lowest, 21°. The absolute range of mercury was, therefore, 72°. Rain f((U. — The average precii)itation, as observed at the same place and about the same time, was as follows : Inches. January 4. 23 Febr II ary 4. 22 March 3.19 Ai>ril 5,84 May : 4.3:J June 10.17 July : 3. 15 August er cent., however, of all labor is still manual. In 1878 the number of farmers, out of a population of 35,000,000, was something over 15,500,000, of which over 7,000,000 were women ; but as a large number of these latter, including the old and young, are engaged in household duties, spinning, weaving, making clothing, &c., there were i)robably not more than two or three millioa women employed in field work. The area of land in actual cultivation in the whole Empire in 1875 was about 12,000,000 acres, so that to the actual farming population there were only three quarteis of an acre per head. The tillage is of the most thorough order. Two crojis are invariably raised each year, so that the producing capacity of the area cultivated is double that of the number of acres named. The wages of an able-bodied farm-hand are about $35 per year with board, and without board, $50. Per day, with board, it will not average more than 15 or 20 cents. Female labor is much cheaper. To do work in a house or on a farm stout healthy women are engaged at from $8 to $10 per year with food, and without food from $25 to $30, and by the day at from 10 to 15 cents. The number of hours of labor will not aver- age more than 9 and ])robably not more than 8. The Jai)anese farmer is an easy task-master, and treats his hired la- borer with great kindness. In ordinary farming there is little skilled labor, but in tea, silk, and sugar cultivation and prei)aration, skill and experience are required, and are paid higher prices. A good tea-firer on a tea plantation, or a silk-winder, receives double the wages of the unskilled laborer. Food. — The food of a farm laborer is almost entirely vegetable. It consists of rice, barley, or wheat, millt^t, beans, peas, turnips, potatoes, onions, carrots, and a few other vegetable i)roducts. In some districts rice is too high in price, and only barley, turnips, and millet, with some few additions, are used. On rare occasions the laborer may eat an egg or chicken and some cheap fish, but he is essentially a vegetarian. Re- ligion, custom, popular prejudice, and price forbid the use of animal flesh. (Jlothrncj. — Tiie clothing of the farm-laborer in summer is little more than nature sent him into the world with ; in winter, a cotton garment or two is worn, with straw sandals or wooden clogs. The whole cloth- ing of a year will not cost more than $4 or $5. Holidays. — Several holidays are allowed each year, such as religious festivals and family celebrations. When a man and his wife work for yearly wages they will receive, without board, about $75. From this he has to i)ay from $8 to $10 for a two or three small-roomed house, and buy clothing for a family of four or five, amounting, perhai)s, to $20. He will have a small garden with his house, Irom which one-half of his living is produced ; a lew chickens and ducks, tended by the children, will buy many articles of necessity or of ornament for holiday use; a child of six or seven years, perha])s with a babe of six months strapped on its back, will gather brush or dried grass on the commons for fuel; and by great frugality in eating, and scrupulous care of clothing, at the end ot a year he finds he has sup[)orted his family, had several enjoya- ble holidays, and has a few dollars hidden away in some secret jdace. LABOR IN ASIA: JAPAN. 329 Tadi'S.* — The average goveninient tax of low irrigable rice-laud is $5 i)er acre. The average value of sucli lauds is 8-JOO per acre. The land tax is therefore 2h per cent. ; this is tlie goveruiucnt assessmeut ; that for local i)urposes is i per cent., making- 3 per cent, in all. Rice culture. — The average value of the jjroduct of rice-land is about $40 i)er acre. Four or five acres of lowland rice liehls form quite a re- spectable holding for one person. This, with another acre or so of up- land where vegetables are raised, and a little bluff land for timber, fuel, and grass to feed the pacl<-liorse, supports his family, pays for hired help, an«] gives a little surplus at the annual settling day. The homes of the rice, silk, and tea farmers are the best of all the agri- cultural laborers in Ja})an. Tiie house is often as large as 30 or 40 feet square, universally one story, thatched roof, strongly built, vritli veranda in front, and tive or six rooms, one being kept as a spare or reception room. If built with a view to light and warmth, they would compare in comtbrt with the average Is'ew England farmhouse. Rice is grown in all of the sixty provinces of Japan. The whole area in cultivation in 1878 was about (),oOO,00() acres, and the i)roduct was 180,000,000 bushels. This includes upland as well as lowland rice, the average yield of all being about 30 bushels per acre. On low laud the yield will average 40 bushels. The total value of the rice product, as returned to the home depart- ment in 1878, was $202,521,750. Wheat. — Wheat is grown in all parts of the empire. The product in 1878 was 38,000,000 bushels, valued at $19,0011,000. Barley. — The climate and soil are everywhere favorable to the growth of barley. The product in 1878 was 60,000,000 bushels, valued at $30,000,000. Millet, beans, peas, tOc. — The value of these products for the same year was returned as $10,007,300. The value of all other vegetables was $10,849,023, and of seeds and fruits, $8,217,798. Tobacco. — The produ(;t of tobacco was about 90,000,000 pounds, valued at $7,500,000. A considerable quantity was exported to England and Geiniany. The quality is inferior and the price low, but much higher than ten years ago, averaging about 8^ cents i)er pound. 'Tea. — The lea-culture is one of the most important and lucrative of all Japanese industries, the leaf being one of the chief articles of export. The product in 1878 was about 00,000,000 pounds. The export trade has increased wonderfully. In 1809 the amount exported was 4,8911,430 pounds; in 1875, 22,384,A93 jtounds ; in 1879,33,092,391 pounds; and that of 18S0 is estimated to reach 38,000.000 i)ounds. As has been remarked, the tea farmer lives in a comparatively good house, has servants, keeps a horse to do his packing, and has a balance to his (;reilit at the end of a good year. The best tea grows on the liillsides, sheltered from the sea wiuds, which latter make the leaf tougii and of bad flavor. The ordinary labor wages are paid for the tillage of the soil, but the man who trims the plant must bo skilled, and will get as high as 30 to 35 cents i)er day. The tea-i)i(;klng is done by women and girls and re- quires care. When they work by the day they get from 10 to 12i cents. Tea rollers and firers in the country must be skilled, and they command from 15 to 30 cents per day. In the open ports tea-tiring is done en- tirely by women, who are paid about 15 cents per day. 'As to general taxation, see Table B, Apj)endix. 330 LABOR IN ASIA: JAPAN. In the export of tea there is einplo.ynient for a large number of car- penters in making boxes, printers and lithographers in the manufacture of labels, &c., who are paid as skilled mechanics. The area of tea-growing is rapidly increasing, and as there are plenty of hillsides and plains well adapted for the culture available, and still un- occupied, it will increase as long as there is a foreign demand. It seeme to be one of the great tields for the spread and use of an increasing la- bor poj)ulation. The habit of adulterating tea, however, with leaves oi the wisteria plant seems to be on the increase in' this country, and if not arrested may materially affect the demand. The wisteria leaf is not poisonous, but cannot be said to improve the flavor of the cup that "cheers, but not inebriates." Silk. — The area of land in mulberry trees is not stated in any of the late census product returns. In 1875 the total value of silk product is given at $31,250,000. The export o*" silk and silk-worm eggs for the year ending June 30, 1878, was $11,040,976.64. The trade is steadily growing and giving increased employment to la- bor, and as better processes of preparing silk are introduced and a bet- ter article is produced, more and more skilled labor will be required and higher wages be paid. Mulberry plantations are found in fifty of the sixty-six provinces of Japan. The soil nowhere is exclusively devoted to this tree. Univer- sally between the rows of trees, otlier crops, both summer and winter, are grown. The business of silk production is carried on in the house where the family lives. The mulberry leaves are either picked off by women and children and carried into the house, or the young limbs with the leaves on are cut off and taken there, where the leaves are i)icked off, washed, cut up, anil fed to the worms. Little skill is required. When the cocoons are ready for winding, that, as well as all the other work thus far referred to, is done by women and girls. To make an even thread requires experience, care, and skill, ami such labor commands wages accordingly. Spinning, warping, dyeing, and weaving are all more or less skilled branches and require skilled labor. There are some establishments that buy the cocoons, wind them, spin the thread, and weave the cloth ; but nine-tenths of the silk, raw and manufactured, of the country is family made. The machinery of manu- facture, whether in the factory or i>rivate house, is crude, and still re- mains as though Jacquard and Arkwright never lived. The beautiful stuffs made by such crude means testify to their skill and ingenuity. The man who tends the trees commands ordinary farm wages, while the leaf-j^ickers and feeders, winders, spinners, and weavers of jdain cloth will get from 20 to 40 cents per day. Weavers of fancy-patterned goods get much more, even as high as $1 per day ; but this if very ex- cei)tional. Cotton. — Ileliable statistics cannot be obtained by which to estimate the amount of this staple raised in the country. The returns of 1875 show cotton goods manufactured to the value of $10,564,578, and that it formed part of textures valued at $12,915,586. The cotton itself is coarse, and in consequence the manufactured cloth is of an inferior quality, and the labor employed is not skilled and commands small wages. It is generally believed that these manufacturers have increased within the past few years from 30 to 50 per cent. ARTISANS. The Japanese artisan, like the farmer, has always held a res])ectable l)Osition. He was in a class above the merchant and banker, but in reality his position, pay, and privileges were no greater. LABOR IN ASIA: JAPAN. 331 For a thousaud years a very high ineehaiiioal art lias existed. The Japanese articles and iin[)leinents of steel were of the best. Some of the old swords are worthy tobeclassed with the Toledo and Damascus blades. Their lacquered wares have been and still are unrivaled, and they made beautiful porcelain long before Palissy and Boettcher were born. Their silk cloth, embroideries, and silk tapestries were exquisitely beautiful at a time when some Western jieoples wore the coarsest stuffs. Their oldest bronze compares with the finest products of Europe. Their paintings on silk and paper, porcelain and lacquer excite the warmest admira- tion. Their ivory aiul wood carvings are wonders of skill, ingenuity, and patient labor. There is hardly a house in Jaj^an where some mechanical trade is not carried on. Even in the households of the higher classes, silk, cotton, and other goods are made by the servants, and the members of the family have some knowledge of the art. Everj' farmer's house has its wheel aiul loom. Many of the smaller merchants make more or less of their goods. In this view there are many more artisans in the country than are shown by the census of 1875. The number, as I have previously stated, is placed between 700,000 and 800,000. I believe that there are more than double that number who devote the greatest share of their time to manufacture, and five or six millions who work more or less at mechani- cal trades. Many of the wares used for home consumption require no special skill in their production, and therefore the labor wage is low. In the manu- facture of silk, lacquer, porcelain, enamels, bronzes, embroideries, and in their paintings, skilled labor must enter, and is paid proportionately. What has been said of agricultural labor as to the use of machinery can be rei)eated of mechanical work. Jt is, in the main, haud labor. Labor-saving machinery does not enter as a factor, to any appreciable extent, into the industries of Japan. I doubt if there are more than two saw-mills in the whole Empire. All such labor is by haud in every branch of mechanical art. Porcelain and earihenware. — Porcelain and earthenware are manufact- ured in every province. By the last census returns available (1875) the value of all porcelain produced was about $3,000,000. With one excep- tion, that of the home departuient in the province of Hizen, there is no foreign machinery or mode of manufacture in use. The clay is manipu- lated as it was in the earliest days. The same wheel is used for turn- ing that is pictured on the walls of the tombs and temides of Egypt. All decorations are by hand. There is a marked improvement of late years in designs and decorations of all kinds of articles of oruameut. No more beautiful or exquisit<3 ceramic articles are made than come from the hands of the Japanese artisan. Love of beautiful pottery has been a national i)assion for a thousand years, and skilled labor has com- manded relatively high wages. Much of tlie cruder work can be done by apprentices and common journeymen, but a good turner at the wheel gets from 50 to 70 cents per day, and the best painters from 75 cents to $1.15. The average is, how- ever, much less. INIakers of flowers and figures of birds, &c., foj- ornamenting the larger vases and Jars in bas-relief receive from 50 to 70 cents per day. A safe person skilled in baking the ware can be had for from 40 to GO cents per diem, an