¹ For example see the classic work by Ware, Norman, The Industrial Workers 1840–1860 (Chicago, 1964), p. xii. Ware claims that “… the wages of factory operatives … did not, over the whole period, gain, but rather lost in relation to the cost of living.”Google Scholar

² David, Paul and Solar, Peter, “A Bicentenary Contribution to the History of the Cost of Living in America”, Research in Economic History, (Uselding, Paul, ed.) 2 (1977), p. 16Google Scholar

³ Lebergott, Stanley, Manpower in Economic Growth (New York, 1964), p. 510.Google Scholar

⁴ For example see Williamson, Jeffrey S., “Urban Disamenities, Dark Satanic Mills and the British Standard of Living Debate,” this JOURNAL, 41 (03 1981), 75–83;Google ScholarPollard, Sidney, “Sheffield and Sweet Auburn—Amenities and Living Standerds in the British Industrial Revolution: A Comment,”, this JOURNAL, 41 (12 1981), 902–04;Google Scholar and Williamson, Jeffrey S., “Some Myths Die Hard—Urban Disamenities One More Time: A Reply,” this JOURNAL, 41 (12 1981), 905–07.Google Scholar

⁵ Lebergott, pp. 510–511.Google Scholar

⁶ Niemi, Albert W. Jr, “A Further Look at Interregional Canals and Economic Specialization: 1820–1840”, Explorations in Economic History, 7 (Summer 1970), 502.Google Scholar

⁷ The following excerpts from 1830 indicate the range of variations. “… $6 per month and washing and mending his linen clothing also to make him 2 pair trousers he finding the linen ….”; “$7 per month … he finds his own washing and mending. I am also to furnish him with a house garden … but no fire wood”; “… $6.50 per month for the season he to furnish his own washing and mending. I am to allow him two days at Harvest (sic)”. From the Records of Richard Mansfield, Farmer 1825–1844, New Castle County (53), Delaware Hall of Records, Dover, Delaware.Google Scholar

⁸ Thus, between 1800 and 1860 over one-half of the increase in total remuneration was the result of an increase in the value of non-monetary payments.Google Scholar

⁹ Lebergott, p. 520.Google Scholar

¹⁰ Ibid., p. 519.

¹¹ Documents Relative to the Manufactures of the United States, Executive Document, 22nd Congress, 1 st Session, Document No. 308.

¹² United States Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1957 (1960), pp. 180–81.Google Scholar

¹³ Samuelson, Paul A., Economics, 10th ed. (New York, 1976), p. 210.Google Scholar

¹⁴ Employee accounts were credited with 6 percent interest on December 31 based on accumulated savings at the beginning of the year (January 1). Interest was Paid on $50 increments only. For example, an employee whose savings with the firm totaled $257 on January 1, 1830 would be credited with $15 interest (6 percent of $250) on December 31, 1830.Google Scholar

A more thorough discussion of workers' savings is contained in Adams, Donald R. Jr, “Earnings and Savings in the Early 19th Century”, Explorations in Economic History, 17 (1980), 118–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar