8 
by machinery requiring skill and knowledge in its management, and accom- 
plishing marvellous results in its swift and efficient action. An English writer 
on political economy recognized this element of increase in labor rates when he 
said: “The average annual wages in England are three times as high as in 
Ireland; but as the laborer in Ireland is said not to do more than one-third 
of what is done by the laborer in England, the price of labor may in both 
. countries be about equal.” There is a tendency to a just equilibrium in the 
labor markets as in all other markets; and if laborers by superior skill and 
celerity of movement inay do double work, they will obtain, other things being 
equal, a double price. Agricultural machinery has done more in this country 
than anything else towards the elevation of labor. 
LOCAL VARIATION OF RATES. 
The “ Panhandle” of West Virginia is a notable example of high local rates of 
wages, as compared with the State average. Its circumstances have been 
peculiar. Hemmed in between Ohio and Pennsylvania, and with fair facilities 
for getting to market, it has developed higher skill and a better style of farm- 
ing than other sections of the State. The influence of slave labor in depressing 
rates of wages has aided in widening this difference and reducing the State 
average below that of the Panhandle. Sheep husbandry, which has here been 
successfully and very extensively conducted, (placing a sheep upon each acre 
of improved land,) has contributed to the high prices here prevailing. The 
comparison is as follows : 
- 
l 
Question 1.* Question 2./Question 3.|Question 4. 
| 
B31 75 | $1850] $37 00 $95 50 
25.35) 16 47 29 34 21 20 
! 
The rates with and without board also differ widely—$13 25 and $8 88. 
Dairying —The dairy and fruit producing interests of northern Ohio have 
been of late unusually prosperous. Labor has been in demand at comparatively 
high rates, as will be seen from a comparison of the averages for the western 
reserve, the Miami valley, and the entire State: 
Question 1.* |Question 2./Question 3.|Question 4. 
Wiestermmeservel =o). sec... eee eee $30 43 $20 72 $36 24 $26 22 
Miamiyalley --2. 222) 5-22 ces ane eee 28 79 18 75 32 71 23 08 
32 45 23 15 
MtceMOlios....J22s6.2 1. eee 28 46 18 i 
The difference in wages with board is not very material. The board allow- 
ance is slightly greater in the western reserve than the average for the State, 
and more for the “season’’ than for the entire year. ‘The reverse is true of the 
Miami valley. 
7 
* Question 1. Average wages per month (without board) of farm laborers hired for the 
year. Question 2, Average wages per month (with board) of farm laborers hired for the 
year. Question 3. Average wages per month (without board) of farm laborers hired for the 
séason or a portion of the year. Question 4. Average wages per month (with board) of 
farm laborers hired for the season or a portion of the year. 
