498 TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



of instances for the men, under $1,000, and for the women, under $750. 

 In most industries, from a third to a half of the men receive less than 

 $500 ; and usually at least three quarters receive less than $750. Four 

 fifths of the women are paid less than $500. Women working in the 

 manufacturing industries receive, for the most part, wages varying from 

 $250 to $500. 



VIII. Wage Eates Paid in the Manufacturing Industries, as 

 Eeported by Certain States and by the United States Census 



Much emphasis has been placed upon the wage figures derived in the 

 course of special wage investigations, because in most cases these figures 

 represent actual conditions at a definite time. There remain the 

 general figures for manufacturing industries published by certain states 

 and by the United States Census Bureau. In neither case do these 

 figures materially alter the conclusions which were derived as a result of 

 the study of special wage investigations. 



The wage facts secured by many states are grossly inadequate.*' 

 ISTevertheless, there is a growing body of usable information relative to 

 the wage scales paid in certain states. As regards the excellency of 

 their figures, New Jersey and Massachusetts are well in the lead. Sev- 

 eral other states are making strenuous efforts to duplicate or better their 

 good work. 



The state wage figures are usually given in two forms. First, in the 

 form of wages for the entire state; and second, in the form of wages 

 for certain industries. Several states present, in addition, wages for the 

 larger cities. The figures for the entire state are meaningless in one 

 sense, because of the great diversity of industries. In another sense, 

 they are profoundly significant. The wage statistics, for example, of 

 Massachusetts show for six hundred thousand men and women (out of 

 a total population of 3,366,416 in 1910) what the wage scale is in the 

 manufacturing industries. There could be no more effective metrical 

 test applied to the community, unless the actual family incomes were 

 measured. The wage scale for the manufacturing industries of a manu- 

 facturing state shows at least roughly the economic background of the 

 people living in the State. For both New Jersey and Massachusetts, two 

 of the six leading manufacturing states, there are extant sufficient wage 

 figures to paint the economic background of the gi'cat body of the 

 industrial population in these states. 



An examination of the figures for various states, and for all of the 

 leading industries of the country, corroborates the conclusions already 

 made from the special reports. The wage rates are such that, making 

 no allowance for unemployment, about one tenth of the males receive 

 more than $1,000 per year, and about one eighth of the females more 

 than $500 per year. At the same time, from a quarter to a third of 



45 ' ' Wages in the United States, ' ' op. cit., Chapters 1 and 2. 



