1 2 |10 8 |12 2 |15 1 |15 6 |15 0 |13 3 |
+--------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+

The most noticeable features of these tables are the decrease in the
proportion of children employed and the steady increase in the number
of operatives as a whole until recent years. The contraction of the
body of operatives of late years seems to have occurred primarily
among children and young persons (where the first check would
naturally be looked for), and secondarily among adult males. If
allowance be made for the smaller value of children as compared with
adults, and the census results be taken, it is not evident that there
has been any diminution in the amount of labour-power; and if the
factory inspectors' returns be accepted, the falling off in the number
of operatives cannot be proved to have taken place in either of the
chief branches of the industry at so rapid a rate as to have
occasioned the enforced dismissal of any hands. An industry which was
not recruited at all would have dwindled at a greater rate. At least
it may be inferred from these figures, when taken in conjunction with
the large increase in spindles and looms, that the output per head has
considerably advanced in spite of the rise in the average quality of
both yarns and fabrics produced. This rise in the value per unit of
the output accounts to some extent for the fact that wages have not
been adversely affected of late.

Wages and piece-rate lists.

Mr A. L. Bowley has calculated index numbers of wages for the leading
trades, including the manufacture of cotton. Those for the cotton
industry are given below, together with averages for cotton and wool
workers, the building trades, mining, workers in iron, sailors,
compositors and agriculturists (England), the numbers in each class
being allowed for in the average. Side by side with these figures,
Sauerbeck's index numbers of general wholesale prices are given,
together with the average prices of wheat per quarter.

It must be remembered that the figures given above for cotton workers
and average wages for eight trades do not measure the differences
between each, but only the differences between the movements of each.
Actual average money wages in the cotton industry have probably been
approximately those stated in the second table beneath, but as these
figures are culle