GHENT. Report, by Consul Millward, on the (1) rates of wages; (2) cost of living; (3) business habits, for the district of Ghent. I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on the rates of wages prevailing; the cost of living to the laboring classes; the condition of labor and the laboring classes; the business habits and customs of this consular district. 1. Rates of wages.-Agricultural laborers: Males, 17 cents to 20 cents per day; females, 15 cents to 17 cents per day, besides their eating, which is supplied. When hired as servants, having eating and lodgment furnished, they are paid $1.75 to $2 per month. Mechanical laborers and those employed upon public works earn from 60 cents to $1 per day. 2. Cost of living. The cost of living to the laboring classes varies according to the locations they inhabit. For example, the cost of living to the laboring classes inhabiting cities, towns, and villages, averages, with rent included, 20 to 25 cents per day per person, and in the country from 15 to 20 cents per day. The prices of the necessaries of life are as follows, per pound: White bread, 5 cents; rye bread, 4 cents; beef, veal, and pork, 16 to 20 cents; lard, 20 cents; potatoes, 1 cent; butter, best, 30 to 50 cents; butter, common, 20 to 22 cents; cheese, 20 to 25 cents; coffee, 30 to 40 cents; sugar, 15 to 20 cents; chickens, 50 cents to $1 each; eggs, per 13, from 20 to 25 cents. The present rates, as compared with those prevailing during the last five years, both as regards wages and cost of living, are about 3 per cent. higher. 3. From all sources of information and personal observation, touching the present condition of trade throughout this consular district, I find that the depression is very great, and the general complaint is "hard times," with an apparently darker outlook for the immediate future. The paper currency of this kingdom is at par with gold. The amount in circulation is 78,218,000, secured by reserve gold in the treasury. 4. Business habits. For the business habits and systems prevalent throughout this district, I respectfully refer to my report of trade and commerce, sent to the department in February last.* # GHENT, August 20, 1878. JAMES MILLWARD. The following extracts, from the report above referred to, illustrate the habits and customs of the laboring classes of Ghent: About 80,000 of this population (Ghent) are work people, employed in the various manufactories situated here, of which there are a large number. The habits and customs of this large number of work people are particularly noticeable for frugality, exemplary behavior toward their employers and toward each other, and their strict attention to business. Drunkenness is almost entirely unknown among them, and, according to the reports of the police department, charges against them for crimes are very rare. They, as a class, are a people who enjoy themselves in their own manner with each other in their innocent amusements, without broils or quarrels. CANADA. Report, by Consul-General Smith, of Montreal, on the rates of wages, cost of living, and currency of Canada. LABOR AND WAGES. The depression of business has, as in the United States, largely affected the price of labor. It is impossible to state with accuracy the extent of this depreciation, as I have received many varying statements. Different kinds of labor have been differently affected. I think it may be stated that, throughout the consular district of Montreal, farm labor is now about 25 per cent. lower than it was five years ago. The wages now usually paid seems to be at the rate of from $10 to $14 per month for the summer months, and from $100 to $120 per year, with board. During the present year a reduction has been made of from 5 to 10 per cent. on the salaries of officers of the city of Montreal. Day laborers employed by the city receive from 90 cents to $1 per day. In the country districts mechanics, carpenters, blacksmiths, &c., are receiving from 80 cents to $1.50 per day, or about 50 per cent. less than four years ago. RAILWAY WAGES AND TARIFF. The following table, kindly prepared for me by the officers of the Grand Trunk Railway, shows therein the rate of wages now being paid by that company to their employés; also, the tariff of freight charged by the Grand Trunk road between Chicago and Montreal for the year ending June 30, 1878; also, the tariff between Chicago and Portland for the same period. GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Rates of wages in Montreal and tariff on merchandise from Chicago to Montreal and to Portland during the year ending June 30, 1879. On July 2, 1877 On July 2, 1877 1 2 3 ..per 100 lbs.. $1 40 $1 00 $0 75 $0 30 $0 25 $0 50 $0 40 $0 35 $0 30 1 10 80 65 30 25 TARIFF ON MERCHANDISE FROM CHICAGO TO PORTLAND. per car.. 115 00 ..per 100 lbs.. $1 60 31 20 $0 90 30 40 $0 35 $0 70 $0 50 45 $0.40 35 30 60 45 40 35 $0 80 Provisious. COST OF LIVING. The cost of living in Canada is about 25 or 30 per cent. less, including house rent, food, fuel, and clothing, than it was a few years since. The general result seems to be that the wages now paid will procure about the same quantity of the necessaries of life as the wages paid four or five years ago would have procured. It is undoubtedly true, however, that a greater number of persons find difficulty in securing employment than formerly, and large numbers are either unemployed or employed only a portion of the time. MONEY OF CANADA. The money in circulation in Canada consists mainly of Canada banknotes, American gold, and Canada silver subsidiary coin. American silver is not in circulation, and probably will not circulate in Canada to any considerable extent. United States legal-tender notes and United States national-bank notes, though not received by the banks, have been passing into circulation as they have approached par in value; and I see no reason to doubt that when the Government resumes specie payments Dressed hogs, &c. both of these classes of notes will become current money throughout Canada for all commercial purposes. There is but little gold in use except that of American coinage. BANKS AND FINANCES. The banks acting under charter of the Province of Ontario and Quebec had, on the 30th of September last, according to the returns furnished by them to the department of finance, capital paid up of $58,075,683.42, with a note circulation of $19,929,229.00, with specie on hand at that date to the amount of $4,909,216.36. Their total liabilities were estimated at $89,657,317.82, and their total assets at $162,603,437.75. These banks, as a rule, have established credit, and there seems to be little disposition to demand gold in payment of their notes. UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, Montreal, November 21, 1878. J. Q. SMITH. GODERICH, ONTARIO. Report, by Commercial Agent Abbot, on the rates of wages, cost of living, &c., in the district of Goderich, Ontario. I inclose tabular statement of wages paid at several ports in this commercial agency. The ports which I selected for inquiry are Goderich, Stratford, Kincardine, Owen Sound, Meaford, Collingwood, and Sault Ste. Marie. At all these places workmen can live cheaply and comfortably. Neat frame houses, having from four to seven rooms, with an eighth or a quarter of an acre of ground attached thereto, rent for from $4 to $7 a month. These lots are quite sufficient, when carefully cultivated, to furnish the tenants with fresh vegetables, and most of them take great pride in cultivating flowers and vegetables and in making their lots of ground look neat and pretty. The prices of food are very low. I annex a recent price-current of market rates at Goderich and some of the neighboring towns. At Southampton, the next port above Kincardine, on Lake Huron, and distant from here 62 miles, I was told that the best roasting pieces of beef could be had at 7 cents per pound; mutton the same. In this town similar pieces are 10 to 12 cents per pound, or 5 cents by the quarter; chickens, 36 cents per pair; white fish and lake trout, 5 cents per pound. The usual rents paid by the railroad employés at Southampton for cottages are $4 to $5 per month. Rents for comfortable cottages in Goderich, with an eighth to a quarter of an acre of ground, are from $5 to $7 per month. Handsome twostory houses, with stables, &c., can be had at from $100 to $200 per annum. Board in the best hotels in Goderich is from $8 to $12 per week, and for permanent lodgers a considerable reduction is made. The proprietors of the largest flour and salt works here, who are also the owners of the only elevator in the harbor except the one owned by the Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and who have, besides, extensive works in Montreal and one or two other places, have found it for their interest to give their workmen and all persons employed by them, whether as bookkeepers, clerks, engineers, or laborers, in addition to their regular wages, a share in the profits of the works, which in good years amounts to a very considerable sum. In a recent year, the head bookkeeper at Montreal received, in addition to his salary, as his share of the profits, $4,000. One of the proprietors informed me that by this plan every employé became interested in all the operations of the concern, as though he were really one of the proprietors, and all took care to prevent the least waste or theft in any part of the works, and great care was exercised in the running of the machinery to prevent breakage or injury in any way. One of the bookkeepers said that it was not only for their interest to do this, but it became a habit with them. Another good result from this plan was that the workmen remained a long time in the employment of the company, having no desire to leave the service or take part in strikes for increased wages. All this region bordering on Lake Huron is very healthy, and invalids resort to it from many parts of the country. Many mothers with their children come here and pass the summers; also persons attacked with hay-fever. This latter disease is unknown here, and persons afflicted therewith find immediate relief on their arrival here. There are several mineral springs, which are found beneficial. Salt baths, hot and cold, for bathing and swimming, are open during the summer season. GEORGE J. ABBOT. COMMERCIAL AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES, Goderich, November 2, 1878. do... ..per quart.. 5 cents. 40 cents. 12 cents. Meats can be bought from the market-wagons somewhat cheaper than the above. |