122 Rents, Wages, and Profits in Agriculture 



Statistics issued in 1885 a report on wages 

 in the United States from 1760 to 1883. 

 It may be calculated from these figures 

 that from 1780 to 1850 the average wages 

 of the agricultural labourer are in pro- 

 portion to those of the carpenter, as 100 

 to 147, whilst from 1860 to 1883 the 

 proportion is as 100 to 188. Since 1883 

 the movement has been in favour of the 

 carpenter, his average wages being more 

 than double those of the agricultural 

 labourer. 



Besides the general law that agricultural 

 wages are in general lower than the wages 

 in the towns, it appears also that the more 

 purely any district is agricultural so much 

 lower are the wages. Conversely, if any 

 district has other important industries, e.g., 

 mining or manufactures, the rate of rural 

 wages is also higher. Rogers has remarked, 

 that for a long period the rate of wages 



