Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 121, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1904 — WHAT THE STATISTICS SHOW [ARTICLE]

WHAT THE STATISTICS SHOW

Increasing Wages and Decreasing Hours of Labor Demonstrate That j Toilers Are Better Off Today Than : Bver Before in the„ History of the Country. The report of the State Statistician for 1904, which has just gone to the printer, shows that labor conditions in Indiana are better today than ever before in the history of the state. The report of the Indiana State Labor Commission, which has just gone to the Governor, shows that there have been fewer strikes and lockouts in Indiana during the paste-year than •ver before. The figures of the State Statistician relative to the mining industry are of special interest. .The two following tables contained in the report of the State Statistician were prepared from information obtained direct from the mine workers. Of these 4,238, representing 108 mines tn 13 counties, were questioned in 1902, and 8.486, representing 125 mines, in 1903. It will readily be seen that the information thus obtained gives a very fair report of the conditions of labor in the coal mining industry. The information is valuable as representing the wages earned, the hours and days of work, and the social condition of the laborers. The tables cover every branch of labor in connection with coal mining. There has been a very marked improvement in every direction during the two years covered by this report. There was an improvement in 1902 over 1901, and the improvement during 1903 is very marked. Average Daily Earnings.

In 1902 the average daily earnings ' ranged from SI.OO paid to trappers, to |3.09 for machine men. In 1903 the average ranged from $1.13 to trappers to $3.25 to foremen. In 192 the average for miners was 12.42, and in 1903, $2.74. In 1902 the average daily earnings of miners ranged from $1:80 in Perry to $3.25 in Greene. - i All wages were lower In Perry county than in the other coal sections. In 1803 there was a general advance in the average earnings. In this connection the following summary will he found convenient to the student of average daily pay of each class of mining statistics, giving as it does the mine workers for the years 1902 and 1903, and the Increase and decrease: 1902 1903 Inc. Miners $2.42 $2.74 $0.32 Loaders 2.74 3.03 .29 Machine men .... 3.09 3.22 .13 Drivers 2.25 2.56 .31 Tracklayers 2.30 2.56 .26 Cagers 2.25 2.56 .31 Trappers 1.00 1.13 .13 Greasers 1.50 1.50 Daymen 2.25 2.56 .31

Foremen 2.97 3.25 .28 Engineers 2.50 2.95 .45 Firemen LSI 2.05 .24 Pumpmen 1.90 2.20 .30 Blacksmiths 2.35 2.60 .25 ' 2.05 2.30 .25 ■"Check weighmen.. 2.81 2.85 .04 Flat trimmers .... 1.C2 1.92 .30 Helpers 1-60 1.92 .32 Timbermen 2.30 2.56 '.26 Hours of Employment There was also an increase in the average number of hours employed per week, and in the number of days from 1902 to 1903, as shown by the following summary: < 1902 1903 Hrs. Days' Hrs. Days. Miners3l 209 34 214 Loaders 32 215«* 35 222 Machine men 32 215 35 222 Drivers 35 224 38 240 Tracklayers-)39 254 42 246 Cagers .35 229 37 232 Trappers 32 208 33 215 Greasers 32 208 33 215 Daymen 37 243 39 240 Foremen 304 48 300 Engineers 63 260 63 365 Firemen 36 230 39 237 Pumpmen63 $65 63 • 365 Blacksmiths 40 260 44 252 JWelghmen 41 267 45 254 Check weighmen. .32 208 34 216 Flat trimmers 33 211 35 217 Helpers 33 217 35 218 Timbermen ....<..37 246 41 244 Social Conditions. There has also been a marked Improvement In the social condition of nine laborers. Of those reporting In 1902, 974 carried life insurance, the average being $355.48, and the total 1846,245. IA 1903, 2,002 carried insurance, the average being $324.5 and the total $649,100. In 1902, 1,191 had savings, the average being <87.20, and the total SIOB,855; in 1903, 2,641 had savings, the average bMng $132.25 ‘ and the total <349,270. The increase In the average earings Is very marked, it being a little more than 50 per cent In 1902 the lowest average savings iwas $75 tn Perry county, and the highest slls in Warrick. In 1903 the lowest was $95 in Perry, and the highest $142 tn Sullivan. In 1902 the lowest average Insurance tNurried was $l5O in Sullivan and the highest $625 fn Gibson. In 1903 ths lowest was $264 tn Pike, and the highest S4OO in Gibson. In 1902 one to each 4.76 carried tn•uranee and one to each 8.56 had sav|ags; in 1903 one to each 4.22 carried