The Industrial Revolution

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1027928145

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-159926

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Cunningham, William http://d-nb.info/gnd/128907487

Title:: The Industrial Revolution

Place of publication:: Cambridge

Publisher:: The University Press

Year of publication:: 1922

Scope:: xxii S., S. 404-886

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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COTTON WEAVERS AND WAGES ASSESSMENT 633 she action of other causes, the weavers sank rapidly from a ADTs condition of unusual comfort into one of terrible privation. ’ During the peace which preceded the Revolutionary War, the manufacture had been rapidly developed, and had been in part taken up by speculators who produced recklessly?, As tre cotton a consequence the payments for cotton weaving rose to an enjoyed unprecedented figure®. The attraction of the rates offered was 30 great that labour was drawn from other employments; it, temeoranly was only by agreeing to raise wages that farmers could obtain the necessary hands®. As Dr Gaskell writes, “ Great numbers of agricultural labourers deserted their occupations, and a new race of hand-loom weavers, which had undergone none of the transitions of the primitive manufacturers were the product of the existing state of things. This body of men was of a still lower grade in the social scale than the original weavers, had been earning a much less amount of wages, and had been accustomed to be mere labourers, The master spinners therefore found them ready to work at an- inferior price, and thus discovered an outlet for their extra quantity of yarn. This at once led to a great depreciation in the price of hand-loom labour, and was the beginning of that train of disasters which has finally terminated in reducing t “Tt has arisen in this way, that people having very little or no capital, have been induced to begin by the prospects held out to them, perhaps by people in London, and when they have got the goods into the market, they have been sbliged to sell them for less than they cost, or without regard to the first cost, and his hag injured the regular trade more than anything else. I think,*** when the regular Manufacturer finds that he cannot sell the goods at the price they cost, heis sompelled to lower his wages. * * * Perhaps three, four or five (of the new persons) may be insolvent every year in the neighbourhood (of Bolton), and when they some to be examined before their Creditors, it turns out the cause of their insolvency is, the goods being sold for less than they cost” (Mr Ainsworth’s svidence, Reports, etc., Journeymen Cotton Weavers, 1808, ir. p. 102). See also the Report on Manufactures, Commerce, etc., in 1883. “Trade at present requires industry, economy and skill. During the war, profits were made by plunges, by peculation.” Reports, 1833, vi. 27, printed pag. 28. ? Owing to the plentiful supply of cotton yarn, weavers were attracted from woollen to cotton. Annals of Agriculture, xvi. 423. 8 Reports, 1808, 11.119. Mr Atherton said that the wages of agricultural labourers near Bolton, which were from 3s. to 8s. 6d. a day in 1808, rose at the time when weavers’ wages were high; “they rose up from 2s. 4d. a day when wages were so ‘hat we (weavers) could get a good living; at that time people would not work out- work, if they could get Weaving.” * The pay of agricultural labour is much higher than it has been, owing to a great many cotton mannfactories being erected in this county’ (Cumberland in 1795). Annals of Agriculture. xxIv. 318.

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