Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1905 — WAGES ON THE JUMP. [ARTICLE]

WAGES ON THE JUMP.

Advance of 41 Per Cent in 1904 Over 4 the Average. Weekly earnings of all persons employed in the United States advanced 41 per cent in 1004 over the average of the years between 1890 and 1899, according to bulletin No. 59 of the bureau of labor, just issued by the federal government. The same report shows that the price of food has increased 11.7 per cent. Elaborating the figures gathered from many industries, the document indicates that the average hourly wage would purchase 4.7 per cent more food in 1904, and the earnings of a week would purchase 0.4 per cent more edibles. Figures gathered and compiled by the bureau show that prosperity has not been confined to the owners of capital in land and machinery, but has been distributed somewhat in higher wages. Compared with 1903, however, 1904 does not make a good showing. The figures for the two years mentioned show that the total number of employes decreased 0.6 per cent, the hours of labor shortened 0.7 per cent, wages an hour increased 0.6 per cent, weekly earnings for each employe decreased 0.1 per cent, the total weekly earnings decreased 0.8 per cent, retail prices of food advanced 1.3 per cent, the wages of one hour would purchase 0.7 per cent less food, and the earnings for each employe in a week would purchase 1.4 per cent less food.

Retail prices secured from merchants are compared with facts gathered by agents of the bureau from 2,567 families representing a total of 13,643 persons. The average income a family in 1904 was $827.19, average number in each family 5.31, annual expenditure a family for all purposes $768.54, and the average expenditure a family for food alone is given $326.90. Family expenditures for clothing shows that the average wife spends annually $26.03 and the average husband spends $33.73. The children use $48.79 in clothing a year. The amount expended by the average family for life insurance is interesting in view of the recent expose of the uses to which lifo insurance funds are put by managers of insurance companies. The annual outlay is $19.44, 2.53 per cent of the entire income. Rent takes $99.49, fuel $32.23 and lighting $8.15. Following is the remainder of the table: Taxes $ 5.79 Insurance —Property 1.53 Organizations— I.nlmr 3.87 Other 5.18 Religious purposes 7.02 Charity 2.39 Furniture and utensils 20.31 Hooks and newspapers 8.35 Amusements nnd vacation 12.28 Intoxicating liquors 12.44 Tobacco 10.93 Sickness and death 20.54 Other purposes 45.13 It is the purpose of the bureau to issue an annual report on wages and cost of living. These will be more valuable as the years pass and figures become more nccurate.