Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1902 — WAGES AND LIVING [ARTICLE]

WAGES AND LIVING

Wage-Earner’s Pay Has Increased More Rapidly Than Price of Provisions. Li.. .' .•. ■ , • •' -i. "r"* 1 ... ... , .. ,y , . '..1 ' • FIGURES ON STAPLE ARTICLES Show That There Has Been a Substantial Decrease in the Price of Staple Articles of Food Since 1891. The assertion that the cost of living has advanced in the same proportion as wages during the past decade will not stand investigation. Indeed, there is a very general misapprehension as to the relative-cost of staple commodities at this time and the price obtaining.in former years. That wages have advanced very substantially during the past five years and that labor is better paid today than during any previous period in the history ofjthe country is very generally granted. Figures-collected by the Indiana bureau of statistics show that the average daily wages paid to skilled labor in the 193 manufacturing establishments covered by the inquiry in 1901 were $2.56; to unskilled labor, $1.58. In the industries covered by the report of 1890-1 the average wages ti) skilled labor were $2.09; to unskilled labor, $1.38 —an, increase in the case of skilled labor amounting to 25. per cent, in that of unskilled labor of more than 15 per cent. The Cost of Living. • > Has the cost of provisions, for instance, increased in proportion? Investigation shows that most staple articles of food Were lower in price last year than they were ten year ago. In 1890-91 the average wholesale price of flour per barrel on the New York Produce Exchange, derived from the Monday quotations during each week of the year, was $4.72, in 1901 $3.31; the average wholesale price of rice per pound at Chicago in 1890-91 was 6 cents, in 1901, 5 cents; of potatoes in Chicago, 67 cents per bushel in 1890-1, 56 cents in 1901; of eggs in New York city 20 cents per dozen in 1890-91, 21 cents in 1901; smoked ham at Chicago 10 cents per pound in 1890-91, 10% in 1901; of the best grade of graulated sugar in New York city in 1890-91, $0.0535, $0.05 in 1901; of bacon and short ribs in New York city in 1890-91. $0,063 per pound, in 1901 $0,086 per pound. A Practical Illustration. The following table will illustrate the relative cost of of a bill of staple groceries in 1890-91 and in 1901 t 1890-91 1901. 2 lbs. butter...so.47 $0.42 5 lbs. smoked hamso .55 5 lbs. rice3o .55 1 bu. potatoes.... r 67 .56 2 doz. eggs .40 .42 1 bbl. flour 4.725 3.31 3 lbs. baconl99 .258 $7,799 $6,268