CONDITIONS AFFECTING EMIGRATION 575 



The better class of table wine costs 7% cents per quart, and less in 

 bulk. There has been a notable increase in the consumption of meat in 

 the kingdom. At Genoa the consumption of meat has increased 50 per 

 cent, in fifteen years; at Milan, 50 per cent, in seven years; at Eome 

 about 10 per cent, in seven years. At Naples, since 1902, the number 

 of beeves slaughtered has increased 150 per cent. At Milan the number 

 of horses slaughtered in 1897 was 4,586, in 1907, 7,132. Horse meat 

 retails at 6 to 9 cents per pound. The per capita consumption of meat 

 ranges from 8.8 pounds per year in the extreme south to 163.43 pounds 

 in the province of Milan. 



Coral manufacture is an important industry in Naples. The coral 

 is sorted, cut in pieces, filed or engraved, and polished. Women do the 

 less skilled work and receive from 40 to 60 cents a day. Men receive 

 from 60 cents to $1.20. Very skilled engravers receive relatively high 

 wages, but rarely as much as $3 a day. 



A consul at Messina, commenting upon the effects of emigration, 

 said that prices of both labor and foodstuffs had been raised, but that 

 the standard of living of the laborer had become markedly higher. A 

 part of this result was attributed to the money sent back by persons 

 working in the United States. Italians who return from the United 

 States are a disturbing factor, as they do not return to their old stand- 

 ard of living and they make those about them discontented with their 

 lot. 



Italian farmers are accustomed to intensive work. They make ex- 

 pert truck gardeners and vineyard tenders. 



The state, voluntary organizations, and, to some extent, religious 

 societies have been doing an increasing amount of progressive and in- 

 telligent social work in Italy. Already the effects of this work are be- 

 coming apparent. 



Switzerland 



Swiss manufacturers have several difficulties to combat. There is 

 such a scarcity of workmen that Italians, Germans and Austrians are 

 imported. No night work is allowed, while in Italy men can work at 

 night. Many mills are in places difficult of access, thus making the 

 cost of transportation high. All coal and almost all machinery must 

 be imported. In spite of these difficulties considerable manufacturing 

 is done. 



The Swiss are patient, industrious workers, and however small their wages 

 they always contrive to have an account at the savings bank. In the country 

 their diet seems to be coffee, bread and potatoes three times a day, with meat 

 and wine on Sundays. 



The standard of living of the workmen in the cotton mills can be 

 judged by comparing the wages paid with the prices of food. The fol- 

 lowing table presents the data for four separate mills. 



In but one mill would a day's wages purchase so much as four 



