EEPOET OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



381 



reduced, allowance for board than in the additional cash allowance, and 

 the reduction, though material, was less than it seemed. 



Ill the following period of cumulative effect of the depression, culmi- 

 nating in 1879, there was much labor unemployed, an excess of rural 

 laborers, an abnormal reduction of wages, from which a gradual recov- 

 ery resulted, which in 1SS2 had raised the rate nearly fo the level of 

 1875, quite up to it in the Western States. The following statement 

 shows by sections the cash rates where board is not furnished, showing 

 the gradual decline of inflated values of the speculative period, the 

 undue depression of the era of panic, and the ultimate recovery iu 1882, 

 with the changes indicated by the present returns of the 1st of ^lav, 

 1885 : 



Thus during twenty years past wages were higher in 1866 than at the 

 date of any other inquiry, except on the Pacific coast and in the South. 

 The dechne continued to 1879, and amounted to 39 per cent, in the 

 Eastern States, 35 iu the Middle States, 30 in the Western States, and 

 17 in the Southern States. Wages have been best sustained in Cali- 

 fornia, being now higher than in 1866. Comparing the rates of the 

 present day with those of 1875, the decline is least in the West, being 

 there less than 6 per cent., 11 in the Middle States, 12 in the South, and 

 13 in the Eastern States and California. 



WAGES PEK MOXXn BY THE YEAE. 



This statement gives the result of the present investigation, in con- 

 nection with those of five prior inquiries, at intervals from 1866 to 1885: 



states and Territories. 



1885. 



1882. 



1S79. 



1875. 



1S69. 



1366. 



Maine 



Kew Hampshire 



Vencont 



Ma8s;\chnsetts.. 

 Rhode Island... 



Couuecticut 



Kew York...... 



Xew Jei-sey 



Pennsylvania .., 



Delaware 



Mar>land.^.... 



VLipnlA 



Xorth Carolina. 

 South Carolina. 



Georcia ,. 



Florida 



Alabama 



Miuifislppl .^.. 



