10 



tion of the currency to gold values, and still more from the effect of the 

 period of monetary depression, and reached its minimum in 1879. The 

 last investigation made by the Department of Agriculture in 1882, when 

 labor was in a normal condition and currency equal in value to gold, 

 was 18.58. An increase of fully 40 per cent, has been made since the 

 rise of the manufacturing system. 



The differences in local rates illustrate the influence of an industrial 

 population in the midst of an agricultural district in a very striking 

 manner. In Northern Ohio, where Cleveland and Toledo and other 

 cities compete for labor in various industries, the average value in 1882 

 was $25.96 per month; in the western counties, with Cincinnati and 

 Columbus, Dayton and Springfield, agricultural wages average $24.75. 

 In the more exclusively agricultural counties of Eastern Ohio the 

 average is $22.65. By such a sliding scale is the rate diminished as a 

 penalty for lack of industrial variety. 



Comparing the State of Ohio with Kentucky the decline is more 

 abrupt, from $24.55 to $18.20. 



Illinois, like Ohio, has a sliding scale just in proportion to the num- 

 bers of workers outside of rival industry in northern, central, and 

 southern districts, from $27.52 to $24.65, and $19.87. 



It was found in these investigations that in the period of manufact- 

 uring depression the wages of agricultural labor declined most in the 

 manufacturing States, and ultimately reduced the wages of farm labor- 

 ers in agricultural States. The assertion has often been recklessly made 

 that operatives and artisans thrown out of employment do not seek 

 agricultural labor, but these official investigations prove incontestibly 

 the contrary, and show that the effect is serious and far-reaching. The 

 average rate of wages in Massachusetts in 1879 was $25, and $30.66 in 

 1882. In New Hampshire the increase was from $19.75 to $25.25. So 

 with other manufacturing States. 



And in this connection I will call attention to the decrease in price 

 and yet improvement in actual value in those implements of husbandry 

 in use among agricultural workers, grass-mowers and grain-reapers, 

 wagons, and others. And, sir, I believe I can confidently appeal to the 

 recollection of the farmer that, taking into account quality, the prices 

 will average 25 per cent, less now than in 1860. And this has been 

 the result of a system of protection which, guaranteeing a home market, 

 invited capital, organized labor, and educated it to the highest excel- 

 lence, stimulated invention, and produced competition in these produc- 

 tions and these labor-saving machines, enabling the farmer while he 

 pays higher wages for labor to employ far less to accomplish far greater 

 results. And thence it is that we are able to show a larger production 

 at the same cost DOW than we were 1860. 



I have promised to again refer to the great question of what the 

 American farmer shall do with his surplus, and whether he can safely 

 depend upon a foreign market for it. And I propose to present a few 

 facts in regard to the wheat production of the world and the possibili- 

 ties, yes, probabilities of that production, and leave it to those who 

 hear or read what I say to judge if a foreign market can be depended 

 upon. 



The United States now stands at the head of the wheat-producing 

 nations of the world. Until 1874 France held the first rank. The 

 wheat area has nearly doubled since the ninth decennial census was 

 taken. The product of the last seven years has averaged 436,000,000 

 bushels. The production has increased from 100,000,000 bushels in 



