4.—Statement of the wages of agricultural laborers and servants throughout Denmark. Daily average of earnings of agricultural laborers. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. Cents. 233 25 24 24 24 28 29 21 26 24 14 10 13 10 13 9 12 13 12 46 13 45 Average half-yearly wages for servants, hired. Average working time. Sum Winter. mer. FRANCE. BORDEAUX AND THE GIRONDE. Report, by Consul Gerrish, of Bordeaux, on the laboring classes of the Gironde; the industries of Bordeaux; rates of wages and food-prices in Bordeaux; and the principal industries of the Gironde. THE WORKINGMEN OF BORDEAUX. Despite the agitation of the working classes in other large cities of France, Bordeaux, thus far, has remained exempt from reckless action by its industrial classes; not that they lack in desire or ambition to improve their condition, but they are patient, and, as a rule, more orderly and prudent in their conduct than men of their class in the large manufacturing districts. The industries of Bordeaux and the department are so numerous and so varied, that comparatively few men are employed in any one establishment, and no trades-unions or associations of any sort have attempted to dictate or fix their wages. There are upwards of 150 workingmen's societies here, existing through voluntary subscriptions, and designed to relieve such of their members as may become sick or disabled, but to the present time these societies have formed no union for any other purpose. The large majority of the workingmen barely earn sufficient for the necessaries of life. Their food, from month to month and year to year, consists of bread, soup, and wine. To this may be added grapes and other fruits when they are abundant and very cheap, and sometimes, but rarely, a little meat of the poorest quality. The married workman takes his meals with his family, but the unmarried takes his in cheap restaurants, which are found in every part of the city. Small as is the amount of wages received, and little as it will permit to be expended in food, the laborer often economizes on that for the entire six working days for the sake of indulging himself or his family in an extra bottle of wine or a more sumptuous repast on Sunday. Formerly the better or more skillful class of workmen lived frugally the year round, and laid aside something for their future wants; but, although wages have increased somewhat, the savings of this class have diminished. The principal cause of this comes from the pernicious habit of spending their time in cafés. The number of these drinking-. places in Bordeaux and its environs is upwards of two thousand. Wherever a shop remains empty for a fortnight it is almost invariably transformed into a café. Walk in any direction from the center of the city and you will pass some new café about to be opened. The hard-earned money, as well as the time, uselessly lost in the these resorts of idleness and bad manners, it is impossible to calculate. Notwithstanding these cafés are such a universal resort for the workingmen, drunkenness is a rare exception; it is not the quantity drank there that is so prejudicial as the fascination of the place to seduce them from all serious occupation. Light wines and beer are the principal beverages indulged in. Although brandy, rum, gin, and other liquors are to be had at very low prices, no "prohibitory law" has yet led the workmen to consider them of prime necessity, and they are rarely used. At his work the French laborer lacks the energy of the American of the same class, and the amount of work executed by him is much less in the same number of hours. It has frequently been amusing to me to watch these laborers at their tasks. A housepainter, for example, will perhaps work steadily for fifteen or twenty minutes, then descend from his scaffolding to the middle of the street, roll a cigarette, regard the work he has thus far accomplished, and for the next ten minutes enjoy his smoke with all the nonchalance of one living upon an ample income. In all other trades, the manufactures excepted, this slowness and instability in their manner of working is equally observable. The number of hours of labor per day is from eleven to twelve, but an average American workman would accomplish as much efficient work in nine hours. To this improvidence and want of care for the future among the workmen there are, of course, many exceptions. Unquestionably a large portion is both industrious and economical, men of energy, capable of resisting the attractions of cafés and other resorts of idleness, who care for their families, and endeavor in every way to better their condition and make themselves somewhat independent; especially is this so where encouragement is offered them by those in better condition. A striking example of this in Bordeaux is afforded by the efforts of one man, Mr. Lescarret, secretary of the city and professor of political economy, to whom I am indebted for many statistics herewith furnished. In 1872 he established in one of the lower quarters of the city, as an experiment, a provident savings society among fifty workmen, the poorest of the city. The average of their wages was from 50 cents to 60 cents per day. The suspension of work at the ship-yards in which they were engaged shortly after reduced their earnings from even this pitiable sum; they were actually brutalized by misery, without force, without courage, and without hope for the morrow, and with hearts filled with hatred against their employers. Notwithstanding these discouraging circumstances they were induced to form a society, and to-day their savings, on which they are drawing interest, amount to upwards of $2,000. Their condition is in every way notably ameliorated. They make arrangements as an association with certain shopkeepers, all purchasing at the same places, and thus obtain such goods as are essential to them at a discount of 15 per cent. As Mr. Lescarret said to me, "they have no longer a hate for capitalists; they feel that they are capitalists themselves." The farm laborers are frequently economical to the extreme of avariciousness, and many of them, in the course of time, become quite wealthy proprietors. They are hired either by the year, the month, or day. Those hired by the year are paid from $75 to $85 per year, lodged and boarded by the proprietor. When hired for a more limited period, they are paid according to the season of the year and the length of time engaged, but on an average, if lodged and not boarded, at the rate of from $160 to $170 per year; if engaged by the day, 30 cents per day from the month of November to March, and 45 cents from March to November, with board; without board, 45 cents to 60 cents per day and one bottle of wine. The cost of living to the agricultural laborers is slightly less than in the cities. The clothing used is the same as that of the workmen in the cities, and costs the same. It is of the cheapest material, and a suit is obtained for about $3 or $1. Few of the workmen in Bordeaux are proprietors of the houses they inhabit. Some are making efforts towards becoming such, notably coopers and foremen in wine-cellars; these enjoy a certain independence and aspire to possess a small house of their own. Among the shipcarpenters, also, a few by long years of frugality have been enabled to save sufficient to make themselves independent of landlords. The price of rent varies according to the location, but the tendency is to increase from year to year. It is difficult to fix with exactness the prices paid by workmen; but approximatively, for the majority, it can be stated as follows: For one unfurnished room, $1.60 to $2.40 per month; two rooms, $2.80 to $3.20; three rooms, $3 to $4. The subjoined tables, compiled from the records of the bureau of statistics of this city, establish with sufficient exactness the wages actually paid to workmen in the various industries of Bordeaux, and also the price of provisions for the last five years. From these tables it will be seen that the average wages is from 80 to 90 cents per day, an increase of nearly 20 cents since 1873, and that the prices of such articles of food as form the principal nourishment of the laboring classes have not increased, but rather decreased within the last five years. This decrease was notable in 1875 on bread, meat, and potatoes. INDUSTRIES OF BORDEAUX. The mint.-Although there exist coins stamped at Bordeaux under the reign of Charlemagne, and even previous to his time, it appears that the veritable establishment of the mint was by a decree of Charles the Bald in the month of July, 864. After having been closed and reopened at different times under the pressure of varying circumstances, it was re-established in 1455. During the French revolution all mints were suppressed, and the mint at Bordeaux remained closed until 1795. It was also again closed in 1868, but the events of 1870, with Paris and Strasburg besieged, caused it again to be put in operation. The coinage of silver since 1795 has been as follows: From 1795 to 1848.. From 1848 to 1868. From 1870 to 1875. Francs. 146,363,000 30, 000, 000 closed. 70,000,000 246, 363,000 The number of workmen employed varies from 50 to 80. Government cigar manufactory.-This manufactory, established in 1816, is one of the largest and most important in France. Cigars of all kinds are manufactured, and for this purpose at least 1,500,000 kilos of tobacco (valued at about $3,000,000), are used annually, much of which is imported directly from the United States. Employment is given to about 150 men and 1,400 females. The wages of the former average about $1 a day and of the latter about 40 cents a day of ten hours' work. Saltpeter refineries.-Bordeaux possesses two private refineries, producing about 3,000,000 kilos of saltpeter, and employing about 20 men; and one national refinery, employing about 50 men, with average wages of about $1 per day. Cooperage. The department of the Gironde counts upward of 700 cooper-shops, of which about 150 are established in the city of Bordeaux. More than 4,000 workmen are employed during the greater part of the year in the manufacture of pipes and wine-casks. A workman can make from eight to ten casks a week. He is paid by the dozen, and generally earns from $7 to $9 per week. The total number of casks manufactured is about 1,200,000 a year, valued at about $3,400,000. The staves of which these casks are manufactured come principally from the borders of the Baltic and Adriatic Seas. Some 18,000,000 to 20,000,000 are imported annually for this department. A few come from the United States; and, were any efforts made to prepare the staves there as desired by the French establishments, I doubt not large sales might be made here. Objections are made to the American staves: (1) To those that are sawed, which are rarely used here; and (2) to the thickness and the bungling way in which others are split. It is alleged that it takes a third longer time for a workman to prepare an American stave than it does one from the Adriatic. Glass-works.-To-day there are seven large establishments in the city for the manufacture of bottles, employing about 700 workmen. The glassblowers and their assistants are paid by the 100 bottles, and their earnings vary from 70 cents to $2.40 per day, according to their skill. The other employés are paid from 40 to 60 cents per day. About 15,000,000 bottles are manufactured annually, valued at $600,000. There are also four manufactories of white glass, preserve-jars, flasks, &c. Three hundred workmen are employed, and their wages vary from 60 cents to $1.20 per day. The average production annually is 1,600,000 bottles for oils and liqueurs, 1,400,000 fruit-jars, 400,000 perfumery bottles; but this number is not sufficient for the local demand, and a third as many more are imported from other departments. Corks. About 75 workmen are employed in this industry, who are paid by the piece: the cutters from 8 to 10 cents the thousand and the turners from 40 to 50 cents the thousand. Ten million corks are produced annually; a small fraction of the number required here. It is estimated that the number of corks brought to Bordeaux for local use and for exportation amounts to 110,000,000 per annum, valued at 4,000,000 francs. Capsules for bottles.-There are three establishments, in each of which from 90 to 100 men, women, and children are employed, with average wages of 40 cents per day; 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 metal capsules are manufactured per annum, approximately valued at $220,000. Sugar-refineries.-Bordeaux has five, refining about 25,000,000 kilos annually, valued at $7,200,000. They consume from 11,000 to 12,000 tons of coal and 1,500,000 kilos of animal black. From 425 to 450 men and 50 women are employed, receiving for wages, on an average-the men 80 cents, the boys 40 cents, and the women 25 cents per day. The sugar used in these refineries is imported from the islands of Réunion, Cuba, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. Alimentary preserves.-The manufacture of preserves-fruit, vegetables, and meats-is one of the most important industries of Bordeaux, and these products deservedly hold a high rank. About 30 houses aré engaged in preserving fruits. The number of workmen employed in these houses varies very much from year to year, according to the quantity and quality of the fruit. These preserves are prepared either with sugar or eau de vie, and rival all similar products of any other department or country. For the preservation of vegetables there are about 20 houses, 10 of which also preserve meats; they employ about 500 men, women, and children, and furnish annually for local consumption and for exportation about $2,400,000 worth. Chocolates. The chocolate manufactories in the department of the Gironde employ about 350 persons; the average wage of the men is 80 |