THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK. 583 



considered prosperous. In the United States there is little evidence 

 thus far that labor has been disturbed or depressed to any great ex- 

 tent from this cause. But there is undoubtedly a feeling of apprehen- 

 sion among the masses that the opportunities for employment through 

 various causes — continued large immigration, absorption of the public 

 lands, as well as machinery improvements — are less favorable than 

 formerly, and tend to be still further restricted ; and this apprehen- 

 sion finds expression in opposition to Chinese immigration, to the im- 

 portation of foreign labor on contract, to the increase in the number 

 of apprentices, and in the endeavor to restrict the participation in va- 

 rious employments to membership of certain societies. The reports 

 from many of the large industrial centers of the United States during 

 the past year (1887) have been to the effect, that while specific results 

 are now attained at much less cost and with the employment of much 

 less labor, the increased demand, owing to a reduction in the price 

 and improvement in the quality of the articles manufactured under the 

 new conditions, has operated not merely to prevent any material re- 

 duction in the rates of wages, or in the number of employes, but to 

 largely increase both rates and numbers. The annual investigation 

 made by the managers of " Bradstreet's Journal " into the condition 

 of the industries of the country for 1887, indicated that in March of 

 that year 400,000 more industrial employes were at work than in 1885. 

 In thirty-three cities the number of employes at work was 992,000 by 

 the census of 1880, 1,146,000 in January, 1885, and 1,450,000 in March, 

 1887. The change in the average wages received between 1885-87 

 as compared with 1882-'85, shows a very general increase : from 10 to 

 15 per cent in woolen goods and clothing ; 15 in cotton goods, silk 

 goods, and iron-mills ; 12 per cent in the wages of three fourths of 

 the employes of beef- and pork-packing establishments ; 20 per cent 

 in anthracite-coal mining, and the like. In the case of the boot and 

 shoe industry, an opinion expressed by those competent to judge is, 

 that while " there has been a reduction in cost and in the number of 

 employes per 100 cases produced of from 15 to 20 per cent, the act- 

 ual number of j^ersons employed has been increased ; and in cases 

 where the wages of old classes of workmen are affected they have 

 been raised." 



On the Continent of Europe, the grievances of labor attributable 

 to new conditions of production and distribution seem to be mainly 

 confined to the agriculturists and to those bred to handicraft employ- 

 ments ; and for both of these classes the outlook is not promising. 



In Great Britain the number of persons who are in want, for lack 

 of employment, appears to have largely increased in recent years.* 



* " The one thing which I, and those associated with mc, always at once peremptorilj 

 refuse to do," said recently an English (London) clergyman whose life is among the poor, 

 " is to try and get men, women, and children work to do. I say at once : ' That is impos- 

 fiible. To get you work would be to deprive some other one of work, and that I can not 



