7O American Economic Association [868 



for the United States and for the several geographical 

 divisions, was as follows : 1 



igoo 1890* 1880 



United States $454-37 . $287.19 . . . $286.82 



North Atlantic div 620.20 . . . 380.47 . . . 420.41 



South Atlantic div 229.01 . . . 175.46 . . . 165.26 



North Central div 672.59 . . . 357.05 . . . 369.39 



South Central div 269.19 . . . 206.89 . . . 187.87 



Western div. . .- 723.72 . . . 433-95 506.25 



Considering only the data for the United States, as a 

 whole, we have found 3 that in 1879, 1890 and 1899, 

 the average monthly wage of dependent farm workers 

 was, respectively, #10.43, $ I2 -45> an( ^ # I 4'O7> an ^ n - 

 crease of 34.9 per cent, in the twenty-year period. But 

 the average value of agricultural products per farm 

 worker for the years 1880, 1890, and 1900 was, respect- 

 ively, $286.82, $287.19, and $454.37, an increase of 

 58.4 per cent, for practically the same twenty-year 

 period. 4 



It is self-evident that if the increase in the income of 

 the dependent class alone is represented by 34.9 per 

 cent., while the increase in the income of all agricul- 

 tural workers dependent and independent taken to- 



1 For data of value of products see Twelfth Census, Agriculture I, 

 p. 703. For number of persons in agriculture, see p. 93 of this study. 



2 The low valuation reported by the Eleventh Census was not the 

 result of a decreased production ; but rather, if it can be proper to 

 use the term at any time, to an over-production. Take, for illustra- 

 tion, the case of corn : The corn crop produced in 1889 (the crop re- 

 ported upon b)' the Eleventh Census), was so greatly in excess of the 

 production in previous years that not only the price per bushel but 

 the total value of the crop fell below that reported for any one of the 

 nine preceding years. The same statement applies, more or less, to 

 most of the staple farm crops for that year. See Dept. of Agr., Year 

 Book (1901 ), pp. 699 et seq. 



8 See p. 65. 



4 Excluding the " Southern States," the corresponding showing for 

 this twenty-year period is, for dependent workers, an increase of 31.7 

 per cent ; for all farm workers, 71.2 per cent. 



