282 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
accepted as a very close approximation to the real prices of steady and 
permanent labor. Comparing the figures of this column with figures 
obtained from similar inquiries last year, we gain a clear idea of the 
movement of the agricultural labor market during the last twelve months. 
The average of the whole country has declined from $21.29 per month 
to $20.26, or 4.88 per cent. If we take the differences between the first 
and second columns in the above table, differences between wages with 
beard and wages without board, we arrive at a very close estimate of 
the actual cost of subsisting the laborer in the different States. Taking 
the average of these differences for all the States, we find the average 
cost of this subsistence in 1879 to be $7.14 per month, against $7.45 in 
1878, a decline of 4.16 per cent. The decline in wages is thus shown to 
be almost exactly in the same ratio as in the cost of subsistence. 
Only four States and two Territories report an advance in wages; 
Minnesota and New Mexico about 4 per cent.; Colorado 15 per cent.; 
California 24 per cent.; Oregon 14 per cent.; and Washington 25 per 
cent. All the other States show a decline. 
The different sections of the Union, taken together, present some very 
interesting points of comparison. New England, as a whole, pays in 
1879 $20.51 per month without board, on yearly engagements, against 
$22.60 in 1878, a decline of 10 per cent. But in this section it costs the 
laborer but $3.02 per month to live, against $9.13 the previous year, a 
decline of over 13 per cent. This indicates a relative improvement in 
the condition of labor, the cost of living having declined in greater pro- 
portion than wages. Massachusetts maintained her previous rate of 
wages, while reducing her cost of living over 12 percent. Rhode Island 
reduced wages 134 per cent., and cost of subsistence 7 per cent. Con- 
necticut lowers wages less than 6 per cent., and subsistence over 15 per 
cent. Asa general thing wages have declined in a smaller proportion 
than subsistence in manufacturing districts. 
In the Middle States the average rate of annual wages fell from 
$21.19 per month to $19.69, or 7 per cent., while the average cost of sub- 
sistence declined from $8.51 per month to $8.27, or less than 3 per cent. 
New York reduced wages about 8? per cent. and cost of subsistence 10 
per cent. On the other hand, New Jersey and Delaware increase their 
cost of subsistence each 2 per cent. while cutting down wages, the 
former nearly 6 per cent. and the latter 3} per cent. 
The South Atlantic States pay an average wage of $11.19 against 
$13.11 last year, a decline of nearly 15 per cent. The cost of subsist- 
ence fell from $4.16 per month to $3.52, or over 16 per cent.; the great- 
est falling off is found in Maryland and Virginia, the former showing a 
decline in wages of nearly 25 per cent., and in cost of subsistence of 40 
per cent., and the latter 183 per cent. in wages, and 23 per cent. in living. 
North Carolina cuts down wages 63 per cent. and cost of board 8 per 
cent.; South Carolina 102% per cent. and 7 per cent. ; Georgia 8% per 
cent. and 16 per cent. In these States the laborer gains slightly in the 
reduction of subsistence. Manufacturing and mining enterprises are 
on the advance. South Carolina is producing largely of phosphatie 
fertilizers and turpentine. Gold-bearing quartz is being extensively 
worked at several points in Georgia. Market-gardening and fruit-pro 
duction for northern markets are enlarging the scope of skilled agri- 
cultural labor at various points along the coast. Kew complaints of 
surplus labor are received from this section of the Union. 
The Gulf States pay $14.80 per month against $15.52 in 1878, or less 
than 5 per cent. decrease. The cost of subsistence fell from $5.14 per 
mouth to 25.20, or a little over 5 per cent, Florida declined 8 per cent. 
