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WILLAMETTE FARMER
English vs. American Workmen,
In pursuance of instructions, United States
oodbqIs in Europe have been supplying totbeir
government some information relating to tbe
laboring classes, and tbe ebief of tbe Bureau of
Statistics has published tbe result of tbe in
quiry. Tbe general conclusion to be drawn
-from tbe answers is unfavorable to tbe effi
ciency of English labor as compared with Ameri
can. It would seem that nine hours of an
American's labor are equal to about ten of an
Englishman's, tbe superiority being nearly
represented by tbe ratio of 10 per cent. Tbe
consuls at Bradford, Sheffield and other manii
iacturing cities, and tbe chief of the borean
himself, came to this conclusion after much in
vestigation. This is especially true of heavy
manufacturing work, such as machine and en
gineering work and tbe fabrication of hard
ware, cutlery and other manufactures of iron
and steel. In all these branches 900 Americans
are tbought to be equal to 1,000 Englishmen in
the tiuiount of work per week they will accom
plish. This corresponds with the experience of our
own manufacturers. It has before been observed
here that in labors demanding enormous phys
ical strength and endurance like iron pud
dling the Americans were superior to the En
glish ; while in patient, steady drudgery the
British "navvy" or Irish day laborer is much
be)ndthe Yankee ; and Mr. Brassey's expe
rience la no doubt true, tht the English day
laborer is the cheapest laborer in the world, -because
he accomplishes tbe most for tbe
money. The American demands a toil with
some peculiar stimulus to call out his best
powers. Thus, in a dangerous, difficult em
ployment like lumbering, demanding; great
strength and presence of mind, no nationalit)
is equal to the American. Tbe superiority,
however, of which we have spoken, seems to
be less true in other branches, aud in cotton
and woolen manufactuie the British superior
ity is expressed by the ratios of eight and six
per cent.
The explanation given bv the report of the
greater efficiency of American labor is proba
bly the true one that it lies in its gre iter
"adaptability, " ow ing to tbe superior education
and intelligence of tbe American factor work-'
man, and in more temperate American habits.
The English workman requires a day or two to
get over bis Saturday night and Sunday night
drinking sprees, lhe extent to which tbe En
glish laboring class drink up tbeir wages ap
pears in a melancholy form in this report.
The consul at Sheffield reports that great num
bers of working men ttop work on Saturday
noon, and do not commence again till tbe follow
ing Wednesday. This U, in part, because they
need Monday and Tuesday to nable them to
recover from tbe effects of Sunday's drinking.
"Increase of pay," says the consul at Birm
ingham, " means increase of drink." In Man
chester, our consul reports that many sober
working women complained that incieaed
wages and shortened hours of labor were a curse
to the families, as the men were only more
tempted to drink. In Lnerpool there seems
a widespread and fearful demoralization of tbe
laboring class from their intemperate habits.
And thus from almost all the manufacturing
centers our officials report a wretched condi
tion of workiugmen's families and reduced
efficiency of labor from the habits of intern
jperance prevalent.
A curious fact also appears in tuee re
searches, namely, that a rise ot wages does not
always produce more work. Thus in the col
lieries ot Leds the product for each person in
1864 wan 327 tons for 313 working days, or
21 cwt. for each person per diem In 18C8 it
fell to 317 tons, or 20 cwt. per diem; in 1873 to
17Vi cwt. for each person per diem. That is a
reduction ot production in 10 rears ot 19 per
cent , wliile wages nave risen 3U per cent and
upward. In Manchester tbe average earning-)
of a certain mine were four shillings seven
pence per day in 1871 ; in 1872 the wages had
more than doubled, and yet the earnings were
two pf nee less per week for eaoh man. The
workmen averaged less than four working days
per week, while many only worked three days.
'The statistical proof presented by the United
States Bureau of Statistics of the terrible loss
and degradation to tbe English laboring classes
produced by their drinking hibits will not be
one of the least of tbe good results accom
plished by this able report. Iron Age.
Carelessness.
It has become so very common to hear of
accidents from the reckless use of firearms,
that it is but fair to conclude from their great
increase in numbers, that either we are growing
more careless or else guns are more plentiful.
While there can be no doubt that the latter,
when accompanied by th low price and poor
eraalitv of tbe article, has muoh to do with it.
vet it does not excuse the many accidents which
happen through worse than carelessness, aud
for which the usual plea is, "I didn't kuow it
was loaded." It has several times been pro
posed to make it a criminal offence to point a
gun (loaded or not,) at another. This would
be of very little use in making us more care
ful, for in most cases tbe offense occurs when
it would not be punished. Under tbe head of
"making excuses," the Scientific American uses
this somewhat harsh, but nevertheless true
language:
"Our statute and other laws distinguish be
tween murder committed with premeditation
and malice, from that committed without fore
thought. The insane escape punishment for
crime, however heinous. The man who shoots
his sister by accident is at once acquitted. Bat
doeo the ballet discharged by accident prove
less fatal than it would bad murder been in
tended? Tbe severed artery, the pierced lune,
the concerted brain, listen to no excuses. To
him that is murdered it is all one whether it
was premeditated or not.
The American Worklngman.
The followinr- is an extract from tbe first
speech delivered in Congress by Hon. D. J.
Morrell, President of tbe Cambria iron com
pany. It has tbe trne ring:
The American workingman must live in a
house, not a but; he must wear decent clothe",
and eat wholesome and nourishing food. He
is an integral part of tbe municipality, tbe
State and the nation; subject to no fetters of
class or caste; neither pauper, nor peasant,
nor serf, but a free American citizen. He has
the ballot, and if it were possible it would be
dangerous to degrade him. The country stands
pledged to give him education, political power,
and a higher form of life than foreign nations
accord tbeir laborers, and be must be sustained
bv hisber rates of wages than those of Europe.
Our industries operated by American citizens
must do ireea from loreign inieriereuce sua
organized into a distinct American system,
which will exact some temporary sacrifices, but
result in general prosperity and trne national
independence. In maintaining diversified in
dustries we utilize every talent, provide a field
for every capacity, and bind together the wbole
people in mutual dependence and support, as
suring tiie strengtn and security oi ourrepuouc.
CoxsomuTisa Ashes. The discovery of a
process by which ashes can be converted into a
sona mass as bard as marnis nas revived me
discussion of cremation in Germany.
Pacific Mail Steamship Co.
New York to San Francisco, via Panama.
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JEIA.TES OF PASSAGE.
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t&STho Rates include the transit of the Isthmus of Panama via Panama Railroad. Also, Bed
ding, Boaid and all necessaries for the voyage. An experienced Surgeon is on each ship, and no charge is made foj
medicines or medical attendance.
Steamers leav6 New York every Saturday at 12 o'clock, Noon,
And Make the Trip to San Francisco in Three Weeks.
This Route offers Special Inducements to EMIGRANTS, who will avoid the delays,
discomfort and expense of the tedious trip overland by rail.
THE STEATSEES OF THIS LINE CONNECT AT NEW Y0EK WITH ALL THE TEANS-ATLANTIC LINES FE0M EUB0PE
Also at the Isthmus of Panama with Steamers of the
Hamburg American Packet Company, from Hamburg and Havre,
The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, from Southampton,
The West India and Pacific Steamship Company, from Liverpool,
And the General Trans-Atlantic Company, from St. Nazaire.
All information regarding Through Rates of Passage, can be obtained from the Agents of the above Lines at any
port in Europe, from whom Through Passage Tickets can be purchased.
THE OFFICE OF THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSIIIP COMPANY, IN NEW YORK, IS ONTnE WIIAKF, -
,;pie:r -42 north eivee, foot of canal street.
Pelton's Six-Fold Horse Power.
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R. J. Trumbull, Dealer in and Grower of
SEEDS FfarH&i
FL0WEBS,
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TREES,
T"or tlui C3A.rtrI3Tr, IT ,A.nr, nnrt MANSION1,
43T Sonsome Street, San rranclsio I7"D a rlptlve Catal 'nion application.
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So: 337. 139 nd 831 lUntomt BtrMt,
u mxoisoo.
IT1IU M.W IMPROVED
HOME SHUTTLE
Sewing Machine.
3PILIOEI, - - S4.S.OO.
WE ALSO SELL
The Home Sewing Machine,
Thetfi macbloe nM a ahattle, straight needle,
and make Ibi Ix'k HlltcU.
They are surpatuwtl by none.
Titty art tkt iimplui and UghtttUrunnlng mo
cAinef in tht icorW.
Bend (or clrtuUri.
Mme. Demorest Reliable Patterns.
BESD FOR A CATALOGUE.
Royal Cbarta, IS.W.
E. W. HAINES, Axent. 17 New Montgomery
Street (Qrand Hotel llulldinu), San franclaco.
Ilavlni: made new arranRementa with Mr. McKenzie, lam prepared to supply my powers to all person
favorlnii me wiib tbeir ordirs All powers boreafter manufactured can only b obtained of ma or my agents.
In future they will be made under my directions and specifications, aud nothing but a prime quality
Machinery Iron will be used In tbeir manufacture. .........
I have greatly Improved the application aud bracing my Levers which will give them ample strength.
All powers fully warranted. For further Information, Send for Circulars aud Prico List to
Address,
Mv9-lam
S. PELTON, Patentee.
Salem. Oregon.
1 will send 12 Flowering Tlnnta for On Tlrllir
lourchotce from 100 aort), by Jl til. Oil r PIIISS.
--? MV ILLOSTflAIED CATALOOUr,
?&J dr.rrliie.hrrit'iMrc Plants A: Seed.,
jrTir '- ' nr Arid"-.
11. t DO'trillTC II, .!.' Warren st llostan, Ma.
,20 FINE VERBENA8 FOR $1.
Any of the following ntmed DUntnntby null.
potaBf mliJ, ut lucciiliracti An three tMjrimor
23 utit i, or num. (or SI. No order received for
mini
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Zonal. Sri nli el ami Ivn. itetiOiiUl, C'riilloti.
PlLki. CaktMbrcu. iiaaki-t Flantu, Acfuiuiiii,
A bullion, (.Joiaiiibni, Coku. Lun, C'lr)wm-
tit ut u llir.lij I'IiI.l sTii.ru.n L.iv.htfhrssiBfiH
SJ4llllUlljai, II4MI si Ul Wt IIJ'ttVHS f llav. 1. USItav
Ste.l, FtLTUvrt llellotririhei, FTrtrroc ittrum,
LtUMiU, Maliirnla, J'lt HibJUx, Doublu I'ftunUi,
buUr.um Capatruiiruiu, VvrouWa Ono uckf ( A
ter, JUUajj, rrtnitla. I'hlox ami Vtrln-na for 2ft
cenU My llluitraltil Catalogue of btw Plunu
Seeds for W and any two iukfM of lUe above
ocmiKmporcifipiDi hi ci nn AU'irtKH
V. A, nJUWAX W iillC, sTB.
Published Quarterly. Jasuahv Nimiih jut
iutd, ami com tin uvtr 100 1'auis(5001 m.kaim.s(
ecrt Hum of in ,rc Ohm &00 of our best Flowera
and Vegetables, with Ihrullu.itforCiilttiTC.OoinKj-i)
I'LAH.itL - I In. mol iitctul and eltyant uorlc or
the kind in the wi rid "(July 35 ccnta lor the yea
I'uMmhed in 1 nHlilt ho 1 ('urn tin
Vdiiwi lATlFS V1CK Rochester. N. Y.
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