1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



207 



per month: were at £4 Is. in the beginning of 

 the summer, and at 36s. and 45a. before the war 

 in Europe. A common laborer, as one to carry 

 the hod, or help in clearing out a ship, 4s. 6,1. per 

 day. Carpenters, 5s. 7.\ I.; masons and bricklay- 

 ers, 6s. 9.1. and 7s. 3'j ■.!.; all other mechanics and 

 handicraftsmen, about 5s. 3d. These several last 

 descriptions of people rarely wo;k more than ihree 

 days a week, as is usually the case with people oi 

 their class in other countries, where wages are too 

 high. 



July 1795. Seamen's wages were then risen 

 to £6 15s. Nothing is allowed to laborers in 

 New York city, except sometimes spirits to those 

 who work on shipboard. 



The average of the country in the state ofNew 

 York, lor agricultural labor, for six months from 

 May-day, when hired by the month, Is. 5d. per 

 day; the other six months Is. Id.; if lor less time, 

 or by the day, 2s. may be reckoned the average of 

 any part of the year. A foreman's wages £14 

 per annum; for mowing buckwheat, or other light 

 mowing, 2s. lOd. per day; for cradling wheat, 

 usually one bushel of wheat per day. 



Exclusive of the above wages in money, every 

 one in the country is provided with victuals, and in 

 harvest expects at least a pint of rum, or other 

 spirits, a day. 



Wages appear to have risen, in this state, in 

 the proportion of four to three, or thirty-three and 

 one-third per cent, in the last three or four 

 years. 



NEW ENGLAND. 



1794, autumn. Laborers by the month in sum- 

 mer per day, 2s.; by the month in winter, Is. 3d.; 

 if lor a less time, or by the day, 2s. 7d. may be the 

 average of any part of the year. Foreman in 

 husbandry, or best working man, £ 18 15s. per 

 annum. Laborers on the canal of the Connecti- 

 cut, from 31s. 6d. to 40s. 6d. per month, according 

 to abilities. Carpenters and handicraftsmen about 

 3s.: the wages in harvest are usually regulated by 

 the price of maize, a bushel of which is allowed 

 for a day's work; this year maize being high, 

 wages are high likewise; 3s. per bushel, or per 

 day; used to be 2s. 3d. All the above laborers, 

 exclusive of their wages, are provided with vic- 

 tuals, and generally with cider to drink. 



NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA. 



1794, winter. Wages in Philadelphia, much 

 the same as in the city of New York. In the 

 country, laborers by the month in summer per 

 day, 2s.; by the month in winter per day, Is. 9|d.; 

 if for a less time, or by the day during any part 

 of the year, 2s. 3d.; in hay time and harvest by 

 the day, 3s. 5|d. Foreman £24 per annum. 

 Laborers working by the piece at the Conawaga 

 falls of Susquehannah, earn about 3s. per day, 

 which is not too much, considering the unhealthi- 

 ness of the place, and fatigue of the work. 



At Elizabeth iron furnace, some of the head 

 men have £90 per annum. All the common 

 workmen, of which many are free blacks, have 

 £21. All the above have their victuals found 

 them, and in hay time and harvest the workmen 

 expect, and drink at least their pint of rum, or 

 other spirits, a day. 



Aug. 1795. Seamen's wages, in Philadelphia, 

 were as high as £7 17s. 6d. per month, and 

 every ordinary seaman received it. 



About the same rise of wages has taken 

 place in these states, as elsewhere before no- 

 ticed. 



Somewhat less difference is paid here in wages, 

 in winter and summer, than to the north, the cli- 

 mate admitting of more equal labor. 



DELAWARE AND MARYLAND. 



1795, summer. While laborers by the day, at 

 any time of the year, Is. 6d.; free blacks ditto, 

 about Is. Labor in harvest 4s. 6d. Free blacks 

 by the year £8 8s.: hired slaves £7 4. Over- 

 seer, or head husbandman £22 10s. Laborers, 

 on the canal of the Potomac, chiefly men who 

 have worked on the canals in Great Britain, 36s. 

 per month, board, and every necessary being 

 likewise found them, except liquors. All the 

 above have their victuals found them; the hired 

 slaves are also clothed. 



At the city of Washington, masons, 6s. to 7s. 

 2Jd. per day; carpenters, 4s. 9|d. to 6s.; negro 

 laborers (hired slaves) 36s. per month, board and 

 clothes. 



Baltimore, mechanics, 6s. per day; common la- 

 borers, 4s. 6d.; seamen's wages £6 15s. per 

 month: 



Little, difference in the rate of wages is made in 

 these states, between winter and summer, the cli- 

 mate admitting of nearly equal labor throughout 

 the year; nor does any rise appear to have taken 

 place in them, except in Baltimore, where the de- 

 mand for mechanical labor, in the construction of 

 the new city of Washington, seems to have af- 

 fected it considerably. 



VIRGINIA. 



Every thing here is performed by the labor of 

 slaves, except on the west of the Blue Ridge, 

 where they are not numerous; there the labor of 

 the white people maybe procured, during almost 

 any part of the year, at about 2s. and their vic- 

 tuals; where slaves are doomed to toil, the free- 

 man holds labor to be a degradation. Virginia is 

 in a rapid decline, brought on by her adherence to 

 so pernicious a regimen. 



The value of slave labor I have taken consider- 

 able pains to investigate and prove, but have not 

 been able to accomplish it to my satisfaction; it ia 

 the opinion universally received there, that it is 

 much dearer than that of freemen; but I do not 

 find, that anyone in the country, where alone it 

 could be ascertained, have ever undertaken the 

 subject; some say it is more expensive by one- 

 third, others by one-half; all agree in the fact, but 

 none can fix the amount. The price, however, 

 paid for the time of a slave can be easily estab- 

 lished, and from that we must reason upon the va- 

 lue of his labor. Great numbers of slaves are 

 hired out in this state by their owners, who may 

 be overstocked, or may not have sufficientemploy- 

 ment for them at the time; these are frequently 

 hired by individuals, who are in want of their 

 labor; or by the proprietors or undertakers of pub*. 

 lie works. 



The usual price paid for a slave, employed in 

 husbandry, is £9 per annum; he and hi* wife may 



