490 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



inspectors, repairman, switchboard men, testers and trouble men earn 

 from $750 to $1,000. 



The figures for transportation and commerce permit of no further 

 generalization than this — so far as the data at hand may be relied upon, 

 those occupations which have counterparts in manufacturing industries 

 apparently pay about the same rate of wages. At the same time, there 

 are in this field a number of highly skilled occupations which pay 

 wages far above the usual run of wage rates. Even in these high-paid 

 occupations, however, only a small proportion of male employees re- 

 ceive over $1,000; about an equal proportion of female employees re- 

 ceive over $750. Here and there a male employee is paid over $1,500 

 per year, and a female employee over $1,000 per year. These cases are 

 so rare as to be unique. 



VI. The Income of Wage-earners in the Mercantile Industry 



The wage figures for the mercantile industry are even less conclu- 

 sive than those for transportation and commerce. Their inconclusive- 

 ness has far more excuse for existence, however. Until recently the 

 mercantile industry has been conducted on a small scale. The individ- 

 ual proprietor is still the dominating force in many fields. In no sense 

 have the mercantile trades been organized as the railroads and the 

 steel industry are organized. At the same time, organization is becom- 

 ing the rule of the road, and the mercantile industry is rapidly shaping 

 itself into a highly developed business. Meanwhile, the meager data 

 on wages in the mercantile houses are indicative, though not in any 

 sense conclusive. 



The last report from California gives in elaborate detail the facts 

 regarding the wholesale and retail mercantile establishments.^^ Al- 

 though the figures are scattering, a summary for San Francisco and 

 Los Angeles (the two chief mercantile centers) gives the following re- 

 sults for male employees. 



The contrast between the wages of males and of females is sharp 

 indeed. While only a tenth of the males receive less than $500 per 

 year, and only a third less than $750, a tenth of the females in retail 

 establishments receive less than $250 ; from a fifth to two fifths receive 

 less than $500 ; and from three fifths to four fifths fall under $750. 



The wage rates for both sexes are higher in wholesale than they are 

 in retail establishments. This is more true in the case of males than 

 of females, although it is striking in both instances. It is also inter- 

 esting to observe that the wage rates in San Francisco do not differ ma- 

 terially from those of Los Angeles.^^* 



28 Biennial Eeport for 1911-12, Sacramento, 1912. Figures compiled from, 

 the tables. 



28a The reader should bear in mind the fact that wages in California are 

 perhaps a fifth or a fourth higher than wages for corresponding occupations in 

 the East. 



