380 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



of imports, leaTinjj a difference of only $90,000,000 in our favor. After 

 foreign freight bills are paid and undervaluation deficiencies settled, 

 tliore could not remain to the credit of the nation on the exchange oi 

 iiiiimal and food products a sum equal to $1 for each inhabitant. 



If we take all exports, cotton included, reducing them to their valne 

 on the farm, and add to the cost of imports ocean transportation and 

 the expenses of internal distribution, we shall find that the net rcsnlt 

 of our large exportation of agricultural products is the means of liqui- 

 dation of charges for imports of products of agriculture, an increase in 

 railroad earnings, and very little else. In brief, the agriculture of this 

 country is able to produce enough to supply its wants, directly or by 

 exchange, as does nearly every other country in the world. 



The worst aspect of this exchange is an overproduction of some prod- 

 ucts, wheat especially, at low prices, and an underproduction of others, 

 sugar, for instance, and the expenditure of the proceeds of low-priced 

 wheat in the purchase of high-priced sugar. 



Diagram V shows the proportions of this export trade according to 

 the official figures, without allowance for undervaluations or cost of 

 transportation to this country, and therefore in a much more favorable 

 light than these modifying considerations throw upon it. 



WAGES OF FARM LABOR. 



In 1866 an investigation was made to ascertain the prevailing remu- 

 neration of farm labor, whether employed by the year, the season, or 

 during the hay or wheat harvest. The payment is reckoned by the 

 month for the longer periods and by the day for harvest work. Two 

 usages prevail : payment wholly in cash, the laborer in one case pro- 

 viding his own board and lodging, and in the other receiving board as 

 part of his compensation. The diflerence in the rate represents the 

 assumed value of board, and differs according to the cost of living, 

 being less in the West than in the East, and still less in the South. 



In the South the wages system is less prominent, though everywhere 

 in use. The change from involuntary servitude in a large class of labor 

 was naturally, and perhaps necessarily, attended with too much uncer- 

 tainty, too wide a range of eflficiency and value, for the cash wages 

 plan ; hence a system of share contracts was introduced, which still 

 prevails to a considerable extent. 



It was found, in 1866, that the average for white labor was $28 per 

 month, and $16.50 with board, this wide difference being caused by the 

 high prices prevailing for food products, and especially for other ex- 

 penses of living. An accepted estimate of thirty years before made $9 

 por month with board the average cost of farm labor. An advance 

 of 70 per cent, is thus indicated, much the larger part of it between 

 18GI and 1866. But this high rate was not to be fully maintained, as 

 currency depreciated in value as prices fell and normal conditions re- 

 turned. 



In 1869 the rate for labor paid fully in cash was $25.13, a reduction 

 luiving occurred in the West, some decline in the East, while in tbc 

 S(Mith an advance had resulted from increasing efficiency in labor and 

 rising confidence in its reliability. In 1875 a further decline had oc- 

 curred ; the reduction in six years being from $32.08 to $28,96 in the 

 East, from $28.02 to $26.02 in the Middle States, and from $27.01 to 

 $23.60 in the West. The average rate with board was $12.41, which is 

 only $3.09 less than in 1866. The difference was therefore more in the 



