Gold, Silver and the Coinage of the Silver Dollar. 285 



weekly average; showing an advance of 65.6 per cent. See Report, 

 pp. 132, 133. 



In the same table, Mr. Wright gives us comparative average prices 

 of wages in all industries in Massachusetts in 1872 with those paid in 

 1833, which shows a decline of 14.8 per cent in the average for 1883. 

 Now, in 1872, gold was at an average premium of 12.5 per cent for the 

 vear, showing prices were that much inflated from irredeemable 

 rency. Allowing for which, the average for 1872 shows but 2. 

 ccnt'ahead. But 1872 was a year of exceptionally high prices, aside 

 from gold premium, which was, doubtless, reflected in wages. 



If we take 1874, as wages are stated in Mr. Wright's tables, for a 

 further comparison with 1883 (1873 not being given in these tables), 

 the difference in the average wages for that year, over 1883, shows 

 2.95 per cent highest for 1874. But as the premium on gold averaged 

 11 per cent for 1874, allowing for that inflation, we show 8.05 per cen' 

 for 1883 over 1874, and a resultant total advance from 1872-1874 t< 

 1883, of over six per cent in wages. 



Of course, if we go further back, to 1830 or 1850, we show much wide: 

 difference and larger advance, but I have chosen to confine myself as 

 near as possible to the years Judge Hughes selects for his supposed de- 

 monstration, and to show its fallacy. 



Mr. Wright says: 



" In the ninety industries in Massachusetts and Great Bntan 

 plying statistics of average weekly wages, for the period between the 

 years 1860 and 1883, the wages of at least 1,250,000 employees are 

 represented." Report, p. 127. 



In concluding his report he says: 



"As a rule wages show an upward tendency from the earliest 

 recorded period (meaning between 1752 and the present) to the present 

 time, the progress being broken at certain intervals, as relates to cer- 

 ■aiu industries, by fluctuations, temporary only, and, therefore, not 

 ;i „ i;t riallv affecting the onward current." Report, p. 463. 



To similar effect is the testimony of Mulhall, the distinguished Lon- 

 don statistician, as to labor in Europe. He says: 



"The workingman, in Europe, can now buy 140 pounds of bread 

 with the same labor as seventy-seven pounds, in the decade ending 

 1850." History of Prices,* p. 95. 



This shows a gain to the laborer of 83 per cent, and is, doubtless, 

 divided between advanced wages, and cheaper bread. 

 * History of Prices, Bince tut. f9U I860, by Michael G. Mulhall. London, 1885 



