REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 283 
‘n wages and 5 per cent. in subsistence; Alabama 24 per cent. in wages 
and 24 per cent. in cost of subsistence; Mississippi over 9 per cent. in 
wages and 18 per cent. in subsistence; Louisiana over 3 per cent. in 
wages and 6 per cent. in subsistence. Texas, while lowering her average 
wages 1} per cent., has raised her cost of subsistence 17 per cent. The 
tone of correspondence shows, on the whole, a scarcity of labor rather 
than a surplus. 
In the four inland Southern States the average rate of labor has de- 
clined from $16.25 per month to $15.50, or nearly 44 per cent.; cost of 
subsistence from $5.47 per month to $5.20, or about 5 per cent. Labor 
generally finds fair remuneration, but many refuse to work at ruling 
rates of wages. Many complaints of shiftlessness and indolence on the 
part of the laboring population have been received. 
The five States north of the Ohio River pay an average of $20.90 per 
_ month against $22.06 in 1878, a falling off of 54 per cent.; the decline in 
subsistence has been very nearly at the same rate, or from $7.99 per 
month to $7.58. Obio has fallen off 24 per cent. in wages but maintains 
the same average cost of subsistence; Michigan fell off 4 per cent. in 
wages and 103 per cent. in cost of subsistence ; Indiana, 64 per cent. in 
wages and 8 per cent. in cost of subsistence; Illinois, 114 per cent. in 
wages and 14 in cost of subsistence; Wisconsin 5 per cent. in wages 
and 4 per cent. in subsistence. State and county expenditure on pub- 
lic works is quite liberal. Reliable labor can in most cases find employ- 
ment, but many localities are overrun with tramps. The tone of corre- 
spondence is very hopeful. 
The six States west of the Mississippi pay on an average $23.81 per 
month against $23.77 in 1878, a slight increase. The average cost of 
support has fallen from $9.04 per month to 8.91, or less than 2 per cent. 
The increase of rate of wages is due mostly to the extension of mining 
enterprise in Colorado, which shows an increase of wages from $30 to 
$35, and an increase in subsistence of 17 per cent. Minnesota also shows 
a Slight increase, from $24.42 to $24.55, or about 4 per cent., while 
her cost of subsistence has fallen off 3 per cent. Iowa pays nearly 6 
per cent. less than last year, her average being $22.09 per month against 
$23.45; her cost of subsistence fell from $8.56 to $8.19, a decline of 
nearly 4 per cent. Missouri lowered her wages from $18.94 per month 
to $17.59, or over 7 per cent., and her subsistence from $6.20 to $5.75, 
or 7 per cent.; Kansas, $20.67 against $22.22, or a loss of nearly 7 per 
cent. in wages, and 7.39 against $8.25, or 11 per cent. loss in subsistence, 
Nebraska, wages fell from $23.60 to $23.04, or less than 24 per cent; in 
subsistence, $9.60 to $8.18, or about 155 per cent. In this region a large 
number of artisans have appropriated public lands and seek to pay for 
their claims by working part of the time at their trades. Quite a num- 
ber of farm laborers have done the same, and work part of the time for 
other farmers. Thus, the vast immigration has enlarged the stock of 
labor, but it is, at least to a great extent, not very effective in charac- 
ter. Those desiring work can obtain it at fair wages. No surplus is 
noted in any county of Colorado. Railroad building, to a large extent, 
is noted in these States. 
The two Pacific States report an average wage of labor of $38.22 
against $36.62, an increase of 44 per cent. Their cost of living has in- 
creased in much greater ratio, being $13.16 per month against $11.12, or 
18 per cent. California raised her wages from $38.25 to $41, or less than 
8 per cent., and her subsistence from $10.25 to $14.73, or 35 per cent. 
In some quarters there are complaints of the competition of Chinese 
labor, while others state that white labor ie twice as efiicient as that of 
