Working Men's Prospects in the United States.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 653, 27 November 1874, Page 5

Working Men's Prospects in the United States.

We have before us a letter addressed to a Scotch paper from a working man in America, in which he, without apparent exaggeration, puts tbe prospects for working men in the United States before those in the old country who are being induced at present to leave there for America. The latter is written by a Mr CaHert, of Ohio, in consequence of reading false statements of all kinds, which have been put into the Home papers by interested parties. Mr Cabert, whose statements may be read with advantage by those who are fond of decrying this country in favor of America "says : — " I have been in the United States two years and a half; I have lived in many cities and states of this vast. Republic, but in all my travels and experiences 1 have never found the working man enjoying the high rate of pay, the luxurious living, and the high consideration which some people set forth in such glowing colors. The working man is better paid, lives in a better way, and society is less stiff than in Scotland ; the country is large, is rapidly settling, and has, in consequence, many needs, and offers many chances for enterprise; but none of these things can justify such a letter as your correspondent has written Tn good times America offers employment to laborers and mechanics ; she offers land to the farmers, and chance for speculation to the trader and capitalist. But of clerks, salesmen, lawyers, and doctors she has a superabundant supply from home sources. The clerk or salesman who comes here to find employment will find himself bitterly disappointed indeed, unless he has some influence tj help him on ; and when in case he is lucky, he does get a situation, he will find that the average salary is not from 1500 dols to 4000 dols. a year, but from 10 to 20 dols. a week. Many of the highest State officials do not make 4000 dols. a year, if they are honest. Many of the Judges of the Supreme Courts do not j get that sum. The ordinary clerks in most of the State departments at Washington do not get more than 800 dols. a year, and men are nearly ready to cut each other's throats to get that. An American is just as much averse to an honest trade as the most snobbish Englishman. He hates a trade that, noils Irs hands; he wants' something thrt will admit of his wearing (dress suits and fine linen — something, in short, which is genteel. This is a matter, however, about w'.iich there may be an honest difference of opinion, but in the matter of wages there cannot be a difference — men either do or do not get the wages your correspondent has quoted. Let us take the statement that mechanics, such as engineers, plumbers, founders, painters, blacksmiths, &c , receive 5 to 6 dollars a day, and test his accuracy and candor by that. I have before me a report for the month of May, 1874, issued by the ' Machinists and Blacksmiths' International Unkm of North America.' It is a report of he state of trade and the rate of wages in nearly all the states and principal cities of the republic. This is the report of the subordinate union at St. Loin's — ' Trade has improved alittle for machinists, but there are men enough here to make the employers feel somewhat independent. Without exaggeration, I believe there are at least two applicants for every vacancy tbat oc •urs. Wages for machinists, 2 - 25 to 315 dols. ; blacksmiths, 2*45 to 3"25 dr>ls. f \ A machinist is a highly-skilled artizan, what you call a fitter or engineer in Scotland, and yet you see that the average pay is under 3 dollars a-day. Blacksmiths much thn same, and if you cut down the rest of Mr Maccallura's quotations to a similar amount, you -will be pretty near the truth. Laborers 1 wages are about 1 dol. 50 cents a day ; before the panic, they got a little more, but not much The laborer who comes here must remember that he has to compete with swarms of Irish, German, and negro laborers. If he keeps in constant employment he may, with economy, do pretty well ; but if he has a family he must not expect high living or fine clothes-^-I dol, 50 cents a day won't do very much for a family in the United Spates. MrMaccallur^'a prices for provisions I shall di.«7 ia3s w ith a notice of two words--hp quotes the wAofe-

sale rates. Bin his and Mr Lender's statement that there wcs ))•• tax '»ii the peur-le's food, I distinctly lon'iad.c-. Lup* rti-d beef, mutton, barley, sn; ar. spires, hint, corn, and beans art nil t*xed Tt» >* taxed at the rate of 25 cent? a pound ; coffee, 5 cents ; sugar from 3to 5 cents a pound, according co grade. I have the free list before me and I can certify that it is very short. The statements that working men are not looked down on, that they are treated with the'Bama respect as any other member of the community, that they always travel first-class, wear the finest clothes, and despise cordu. r rys and nails in their boots, are all ridiculous exaggerations. There are four classes on \merican railways — the emigrant, the second, the first, and the drawing-room cars. A working man never thinks of entering a drawing-room car ; he contents himself with the emigrant for long western j"ur- eys, and with Becond or ordinary first-class for shorter trips. "I would advise any one who may be thinking of coming to America to get employment to put the venture off for a time' Thousands of working men have been out of employment for months, and are likely to remain jut for some time longer. Trade was never known to be worse in this country than at the present time. There may be a revival in the fall ; we hope and pray for it on the behalf of thousands who are starving with hunger and trembling in rags. How many a strong and willing man has searched in vain for work, and with the wreck of his little home around, lays down his head this night with hunger at his vitala only God can know. I do not wish to say one unjust word about this country ; I believe in its great future. I know that in good times working men may do better here than at home ; but when work is Bcarce, and men have to travel great distances to get it, the little savingß of months and years are eaten up. It is madness to come out at such a time aa this, it is almost certain ruin ; but in the whole of that long letter from St' Louis, not a word of warning is given. If I have spoken strongly, it is because I have felt how much misery and sorrow that letter might cause. When times are better, I shall be glad to give a word of encouragement to all who wish to Bettle in America I Bhall be glad to write that America offers once more a fair field for all who are not afraid ot, hard work and a little dirt on their hands.