66 American Economic Association [864 



the whole United States is given as $16.40; but the 

 average rates for the several geographical divisions are 

 not given. In a letter dated September 16, 1904, the 

 Secretary states that it was deemed unwise for the de- 

 partment so to extend the report on this last investiga- 

 tion. He suggests, however, that for the purposes of 

 this study it would be allowable to make use of such 

 " apparent " averages as are indicated by the published 

 report. Agreeable to this suggestion, I have averaged 

 the wages reported for the states in the several groups 

 and secured the following as the average wage rates in 

 1902 : Eastern States, $19.85 ; Middle States, $16.61 ; 

 Southern States, $11.85 > Western States, $19.48 ; Moun- 

 tain States, $28.91 ; Pacific States, $27.90. These figures 

 are averages of averages and must, therefore, be taken 

 with some allowance. Accepting, as true, the average 

 rate for the several states, as reported by the depart- 

 ment, the rate here given for the Middle States is 

 clearly too low since Delaware, whose wage rate was 

 $13.81, is given equal weight with New York, whose 

 wage rate was $19.65. The rate here given for the 

 Pacific States is likewise too low since Oregon, whose 

 wage rate was $25.98, is given equal weight with Cali- 

 fornia, whose wage rate was $29.38. For the Southern 

 and for the Western States the rate here given is prob- 

 ably too high, the highest rates being reported for the 

 less populous states. For the other groups the rates 

 here given are approximately correct. 



By reference to the accompanying chart it may read- 

 ily be seen that the average rate of wages for the whole 

 of the United States was somewhat higher in 1899 an( * 

 in 1902 than in 1866. It is very evident, however, that 



