CODEBOOK AND USER'S MANUAL: A SURVEY OF 259 WAGE-WORKERS IN MISSOURI, 1891 REPORTED IN THE FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MISSOURI BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AND INSPECTION Version 1.1 July 7, 1993 Susan B. Carter Roger L. Ransom Richard Sutch Hongcheng Zhao Historical Labor Statistics Project Institute of Business and Economic Research University of California Berkeley, California 94720 This codebook is a preliminary draft. The data described here and accompanying this version of the codebook is still in a preliminary format and may contain errors. Those wishing to use this data for research purposes should check with the authors for an update. Neither the collectors of the data or those sponsoring the data collection wish to bear responsibility for the use to which others may make of this data. The financial support of the National Science Foundation, the All-UC Group in Economic History, and of the Institute of Business and Economic Research and the Laboratory for Historical Research, both of the University of California, is appreciated. For further description of the Historical Labor Statistics Project, discussion of the social, economic, and political context in which the data were collected, and an assessment of data quality, see Susan B. Carter, Roger L. Ransom, and Richard Sutch, "The Historical Labor Statistics Project at the University of California," Historical Methods 24 (2) (Spring 1991): 52-65 and Susan B. Carter, Roger L. Ransom, and Richard Sutch, "Doing the Wright Thing: Carroll Wright and the State Labor Statistics Movement." Paper Presented at the Conference on Historical Labor Statistics, Lawrence, Kansas, June 1991. Suggested Citation: Susan B. Carter, Roger L. Ransom, Richard Sutch, and Hongcheng Zhao. Codebook and User's Manual: A Survey of 259 Wage- Workers in Missouri, 1891; Reported in the Fourteenth Annual Report of the Missouri Bureau of Labor Statistics and Inspection. Berkeley: Institute of Business and Economic Research, 1993. A SURVEY OF 259 WAGE-WORKERS IN MISSOURI, 1891 The survey of 259 wage-workers in Missouri was conducted in 1891 by the State's Bureau of Labor Statistics and Inspection and published in its Fourteenth Annual Report. [1] The stated purpose of the survey was a desire to present: not only a statement of the average rates of wages paid to workingmen in the various trades and callings in Missouri, but the actual earnings of each individual in the course of a year, as well as to convey to our citizens at large accurate information concerning the number of persons dependent upon each man's labor, together with such information as would tend to show the nationality, age, and some data concerning the education and literary tastes, of the workingmen and their families.... [2] A detailed questionnaire was drawn up and sent to "every labor organization of which [the Bureau] could learn in St. Louis, and to many labor bodies in other portions of the State." Blanks were also sent to individuals who were not members of labor organizations, "it being the desire of the Bureau to obtain as general a knowledge of the home life of wage-workers as possible." [3] Surveyors also visited a number of labor organizations. The Bureau expressed disappointment in workers' responses to its efforts. It reported: out of the 2400 blanks given our, but 600 were returned, notwithstanding each blank was accompanied by an explanatory circular, printed in English and German, and an addressed return envelope. Out of 118 organizations to which the blanks were delivered, two returned the communication without comment or answer of any kind, while answers were received from representatives of 51 organizations--the others failing to respond, although repeated communications were sent to them. Two of the Unions, instead of sending in individual reports from their members, instructed their secretaries to make the necessary inquiries and furnish the Bureau with a statement of the average results of their inquiries....[4] The Bureau felt that the reason for the poor response was a misconception of the purpose of the survey, "some fearing that the information given would in some manner be used against them, either in their situations or for purpose of taxation; other regarding the questions as an unnecessary inquiry into their private affairs." The Bureau also speculated that, "the great majority simply postponed replying to the questions until they forgot to answer." [5] The Bureau also disappointed with some of the questionnaires that were returned. It noted that: Many of those who did reply overlooked or were unable to answer some of the questions, often replying that it took all they earned to live upon, or that they kept no account, or had forgotten; while some included in their family expenses the amount paid for rent or board, and others made separate accounts from these items. [6] The Bureau concluded that, "While this investigation lacks much of being as complete as it was hoped it would be" it nonetheless felt that "enough information was obtained" to enable it to present "some interesting facts." [7] The Historical Labor Statistics Project has transformed these data into machine-readable form using the procedures and codes outlined in this Codebook. Table 1 lists the questions asked in the survey and the variable names assigned to each response. Tables 2 through 34 present descriptive statistics on the values and distributions of responses to the questions asked including, where necessary, the numeric codes used in entering the data into the computer. Since version 1.0, some of the variable names and variable codes have been changed. Additional variable, NMUSIC, has been added. Users are reminded to be aware of these changes. The data from this sample of 259 wage-workers in Missouri in 1891 has been archived at the Laboratory for Historical Research at the University of California, Riverside. For additional information regarding the availability of these data please contact: Professor Roger Ransom Department of History University of California Riverside, CA 92521 FAX [909] 787-5299 NOTES [1] Missouri Bureau of Labor Statistics and Inspection, Fourteenth Annual Report 1892. Jefferson City: Tribune Printing Company, State Printers and Binders, 1892. [2] Ibid., p. 442. [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Ibid., pp. 442-3. [6] Ibid., p. 443. [7] Ibid. Table 1 Questions Asked of Respondents, A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Name Decription PAGE Page on Which Worker's Survey Results Begin ID Case Number OCC Present Occupation AGE Age POB Place of Birth PPOB Parent's Place of Birth RENT Monthly Rent Paid MS Marital Status KIDS Number of Children in Family SCH Number of Children Attending School DEP Number of Persons Depending on You for Support WEEKS Number of Weeks Worked during Year EARWK Average Earnings Per Week when at Work EARDAY Average Earnings each Day in Year DLOST Number of Working Days' Time Lost WHY Causes for Loss of Time TOTEAR Gross Income of Self and Family during Year TOTEXP Gross Expenses of Self and Family during Year OWNHM Do You own your Home? HMVALUE Value of Home HMDEBT Indebtedness on Home PAYDUE Paid on Debt and Improvements during Year SAVINGS Amount Saved during Year WORTH What is your Present Worth beyond Debts? STAKE How Much had You on Arrival in U.S.? BOARD If Boarding, Cost of Room and Board Per Week INSLIFE How Much Life Insurance Have You? BENESOC To How Many Benefit Societies do You Belong? BNSICK Weekly Benefits to Which You are Entitled in Case of Sickness SEW Have You a Sewing Machine? NMUSIC How Many Musical Instruments Have You? MUSIC What Musical Instruments Have You? WORKHD Do You Work at Machine or Hand-Work? YRSUS How Many Years in U.S., if Foreign-Born? DAILY Number of Daily Newspaper Taken? WEEKLY Number of Weekly Newspaper & Magazine Taken? RELIG Number of Religious Newspaper & Magazines Taken? LABOR Number of Labor Newspaper & Magazines Taken? SCIENCE Number of Scientific Newspaper & Magazine Taken? BNUNION Has Your Labor Organization been of any Financial Benefit to You? Table 2 Present Occupation of Respondents [OCC] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency 1 Compositor/44 extra, average 1 2 Baker 3 3 Bench hand-plan mill 4 4 Bench&machine hand 1 5 Book-binder 4 6 Brass finisher 4 7 Brass moulder 1 8 Brass polisher 2 9 Brass & metal polisher 1 10 Brick-layer 9 11 Cabinet maker 2 12 Candy maker 4 13 Car repairer 1 14 Car & carriage painter 6 15 Carpenter 16 16 Carriage wood worker 1 17 Chipper 3 18 Cigar maker 1 19 Clay miner 6 20 Composition roofer 1 21 Compositor 73 22 Cooper 11 23 Engineer chief 4 24 Compositor/1 extra, average 1 25 Fresco painter 1 26 Hod carrier 1 27 Horse-collar maker 3 28 Laborer steamboat 1 29 Laborer, general 2 30 Lithographer 1 31 Machinist 3 32 Marble polisher 1 33 Marine fireman 3 34 Molder iron 2 35 Molder, iron&brass 1 36 Musician 34 37 Musician & teacher 1 38 Musician & cigar maker 2 39 Painter 5 40 Pattern maker 2 41 Pipe burner 1 42 Plasterer 1 43 Plumber 2 44 Pressman 1 45 Quarryman 1 46 Sew laborer foreman 1 47 Sheetmill beater 1 48 Sheetmill catcher 1 49 Sheetmill pr beater 1 50 Sheetmill rougher 1 51 Slate roofer 3 52 Stair builder 2 53 Stove mounter 1 54 Stove repairer 2 55 Tailor 5 56 Team and hauling 3 57 Trunk repairer 1 58 Upholsterer 1 59 Wire-worker 2 60 Wireman & lineman 3 61 Wood engraver 1 62 Zinc smelter 1 Total 259 Table 3 Age [AGE] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Age Frequency 19 - 20 years old 3 21 - 25 38 26 - 30 49 31 - 35 53 36 - 40 31 41 - 45 25 46 - 50 26 51 - 55 19 56 - 60 11 61 - 71 4 Total 259 Table 4 Place of Birth A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Frequency Code Response Respondent Parent [POB] [PPOB] 1 Alsace 1 1 2 America 145 69 3 Austria 3 4 4 Baden, Germany 0 1 5 Bavaria 0 1 6 Bohemia 4 6 7 Canada 6 1 8 England 15 16 9 Europe 0 2 10 France 2 7 11 Germany 48 90 12 Hanover 1 1 13 Ireland 17 35 14 Italy 2 2 15 Prussia 4 2 16 Roumania 1 0 17 Saxony 1 0 18 Scotland 2 7 19 Spain 0 1 20 Sweden 1 1 21 Switzerland 6 9 22 Wales 0 3 Total 259 259 Table 5 Monthly Rent Paid [RENT] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Rent or code Frequency -9(No response) 118 $6.00 3 6.01 - 8.00 24 8.01 - 10.00 26 10.01 - 12.00 31 12.01 - 14.00 14 14.01 - 16.00 14 16.01 - 18.00 15 18.01 - 20.00 5 20.01 - 30.00 9 Total 259 Table 6 Marital Status [MS] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 1 1 Single 69 2 Married 174 3 Widowed 15 Total 259 Table 7 Number of Children in Family [KIDS] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Number or code Frequency -9(No response) 95 1 child 35 2 46 3 35 4 15 5 14 6 7 7 4 8 3 9 3 10 2 Total 259 Table 8 Number of Children Attending School [SCH] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Number or code Frequency -9(No response) 168 -8("0") 1 1 child 33 2 34 3 13 4 6 5 3 6 1 Total 259 Table 9 Number of Persons Depending on You for Support [DEP] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Number Frequency 1 person 52 2 43 3 46 4 43 5 38 6 14 7 14 8 4 9 3 10 2 Total 259 Table 10 Number of Weeks Worked during Year [WEEKS] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Weeks or code Frequency -9(No response) 3 18 - 20 weeks 6 21 - 25 2 26 - 30 12 31 - 35 7 36 - 40 45 41 - 45 41 46 - 50 62 51 - 52 81 Total 259 Table 11 Average Earnings per Week When at Work [EARWK] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 5 $3.50 - 6.00 3 6.01 - 8.00 9 8.01 - 10.00 23 10.01 - 12.00 26 12.01 - 14.00 29 14.01 - 16.00 37 16.01 - 18.00 42 18.01 - 20.00 22 20.01 - 22.00 17 22.01 - 24.00 15 24.01 - 26.00 17 26.01 - 57.70 14 Total 259 Table 12 Average Earnings each Day [EARDAY] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 1 $0.29 - 1.00 26 1.01 - 1.50 48 1.51 - 2.00 59 2.01 - 2.50 58 2.51 - 3.00 31 3.01 - 3.50 17 3.51 - 4.00 12 4.01 - 8.22 7 Total 259 Table 13 Number of Working Days' Time Lost [DLOST] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Days or code Frequency -9(No response) 72 6 - 20 days 44 21 - 40 30 41 - 60 38 61 - 80 34 81 - 100 15 101 - 120 8 121 - 140 4 141 - 198 14 Total 259 Table 14 Causes for Loss of Time [WHY] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 74 1 Bad state of river 3 2 Bad weather&machinary 1 3 Building trade slow 1 4 Can't get to work 1 5 Change location 1 6 Close of season 1 7 Don't want to work 4 8 Dull business 10 9 Dull times 7 10 Dull trade 13 11 Dull trade & rain 1 12 Holidays 1 13 Injured during winter 1 14 Injuries at work 1 15 Laid off 2 16 Looking for work 1 17 Mill shut down 1 18 No material 1 19 No work 26 20 No work and strike 1 21 Out of city 5 22 Out of work 3 23 Overstock 4 24 Rain & no materials 2 25 Rain & wait'n brick 1 26 Repairs 4 27 Resting 5 28 Rheumatism 1 29 Sick & dull trade 1 30 Sickness 29 31 Sickness and no work 1 32 Sickness in family 2 33 Strike 5 34 Strike & dull trade 2 35 Strike & lockout 1 36 Taking stock 2 37 Taking vacation 6 38 Theater closed 3 39 Too many to do work 3 40 Too many work to do 1 41 Traveling 1 42 Traveling for work 1 43 Unfavorable weather 15 44 Unionism 2 45 Various causes 1 46 Visiting friends 2 47 Weather and sickness 1 48 Went fishing 2 49 Work at stand-still 1 Total 259 Table 15 Gross Income of Self and Family [TOTEAR] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 1 $165.00 - 300.00 8 300.01 - 400.00 26 400.01 - 500.00 21 500.01 - 600.00 35 600.01 - 700.00 28 700.01 - 800.00 36 800.01 - 900.00 29 900.01 - 1,000.00 18 1,000.01 - 1,100.00 22 1,100.01 - 1,200.00 9 1,200.01 - 1,300.00 10 1,300.01 - 1,400 00 6 1,400.01 - 1,500.00 3 1,500.01 - 3,000.00 7 Total 259 Table 16 Gross Expenses of Self and Family [TOTEXP] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 82 -8("All") 4 -7("Unknown") 7 -6("Can't tell") 1 $50.00 - 100.00 3 100.01 - 200.00 4 200.01 - 300.00 17 300.01 - 400.00 27 400.01 - 500.00 32 500.01 - 600.00 25 600.01 - 700.00 22 700.01 - 800.00 26 800.01 - 900.00 8 900.01 - 1,050.00 1 Total 259 Table 17 Do You Own Your Home? [OWNHM] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 5 1 No 205 2 Yes 48 3 Fm 1 Total 259 Table 18 Value of Home [HMVALUE] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 210 -8("None") 1 $200.00 - 500.00 1 500.01 - 1,000.00 8 1,000.01 - 1,500.00 8 1,500.01 - 2,000.00 9 1,000.01 - 2,500.00 9 2,500.01 - 3,000.00 4 3,000.01 - 3,500.00 3 3,500.01 - 4,000.00 2 4,000.01 - 4,500.00 2 4,500.01 - 6,000.00 2 Total 259 Table 19 Indebtedness on Home [HMDEBT] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 230 $100.00 - 200.00 4 200.01 - 400.00 3 400.01 - 600.00 6 600.01 - 800.00 4 800.01 - 1,000.00 3 1,000.01 - 1,200.00 1 1,200.01 - 1,400.00 1 1,400.01 - 1,600.00 2 1,600.01 - 3,000.00 5 Total 259 Table 20 Amount Paid on Debt and for Improvements [PAYDUE] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 221 $25.00 - 50.00 2 50.01 - 100.00 7 100.00 - 150.00 4 150.01 - 200.00 2 200.01 - 250.00 2 250.01 - 300.00 3 300.01 - 350.00 2 350.01 - 400.00 3 400.01 - 500.00 3 500.01 - 3,300.00 10 Total 259 Table 21 Amount Saved During Year [SAVINGS] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 186 $25.00 - 50.00 7 50.01 - 100.00 21 100.01 - 150.00 13 150.01 - 200.00 12 200.01 - 250.00 9 250.01 - 300.00 6 300.01 - 600.00 5 Total 259 Table 22 Present Worth beyond Debt [WORTH] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 100 -8("Nothing") 1 $20.00 - 500.00 96 500.01 - 1,000.00 24 1,000.01 - 1,500.00 9 1,500.01 - 2,000.00 12 2,000.01 - 2,500.00 5 2,500.01 - 3,000.00 3 3,000.01 - 3,500.00 2 3,500.01 - 4,000.00 3 4,000.01 - 6,000.00 4 Total 259 Table 23 How Much Had You on Arrival in U.S.? [STAKE] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 196 -8("Nothing") 6 -7("Don't know") 1 $1.00 - 50.00 31 50.01 - 100.00 9 100.01 - 150.00 3 150.01 - 200.00 1 200.01 - 250.00 4 250.01 - 300.00 3 300.01 - 350.00 1 350.01 - 800.00 4 Total 259 Table 24 Cost of Room and Board per Week [BOARD] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 197 $3.50 - 4.00 7 4.01 - 5.00 27 5.01 - 6.00 7 6.01 - 7.00 8 7.01 - 8.00 4 8.01 - 9.00 1 9.01 - 10.00 2 10.01 - 15.00 6 Total 259 Table 25 How Much Life Insurance Have You? [INSLIFE] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 177 $50.00 - 500.00 18 500.01 - 1,000.00 22 1,000.01 - 1,500.00 1 1,500.01 - 2,000.00 27 2,000.01 - 2,500.00 2 2,500.01 - 3,000.00 6 3,000.01 - 10,000.00 6 Total 259 Table 26 To How Many Benefit Societies Do You Belong? [BENESOC] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Number or code Frequency -9(No response) 122 1 society 113 2 17 3 6 4 1 Total 259 Table 27 Weekly Benefits in Case of Sickness [BNSICK] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Value or code Frequency -9(No response) 127 -8("Opt.") 10 $2.50 - 3.00 4 3.01 - 4.00 12 4.01 - 5.00 48 5.01 - 6.00 5 6.01 - 7.00 3 7.01 - 8.00 2 8.01 - 9.00 0 9.01 - 10.00 32 10.01 - 50.00 16 Total 259 Table 28 Have You a Sewing Machine? [SEW] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 22 1 No 108 2 Yes 129 Total 259 Table 29 How Many Musical Instruments Have You? [NMUSIC] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Number or code Frequency -9(No response) 30 -8("None") 129 -7("Several") 3 1 music instrument 80 2 4 3 6 4 6 5 1 Total 259 Table 30 What Musical Instruments Have You? [MUSIC] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 30 -8 None 129 -7 One or more but not report what music instrument 21 1 Accordion 2 2 B. Viol. 1 3 Flute 4 4 Guitar 9 5 Harp 1 6 Mandolin 1 7 Organ 10 8 Piano 36 9 Viola 1 10 Violin 9 11 Zither 1 12 Cornet 2 13 Trombone 1 14 Tuba 1 Total 259 Table 31 Do You Work at Hand or Machine Work? [WORKHD] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 1 1 Hand 225 2 Machine 16 3 Both 17 Total 259 Table 32 How Many Years in U.S.? [YRSUS] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Years or code Frequency -9(No response) 147 2 - 5 years 7 6 - 10 24 11 - 15 16 16 - 20 17 21 - 25 19 26 - 30 11 31 - 35 5 36 - 40 7 41 - 45 4 46 - 50 1 51 - 62 1 Total 259 Table 33 Number of Newspaper & Magazines Taken A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Frequency Number Daily Weekly Religious Labor Scientific or code [DAILY] [WEEKLY] [RELIG] [LABOR] [SCIENCE] -9(No response) 56 159 213 119 185 -8("Several") 0 0 0 0 1 1 newspaper/mag. 184 71 41 104 52 2 18 25 4 28 13 3 1 4 1 7 6 4 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 0 0 0 1 Total 259 259 259 259 259 Table 34 Has Your Labor Organization been of any Financial Benefit? [BNUNION] A Survey of 259 Wage-Workers in Missouri, 1891 Code Response Frequency -9 No response 23 -8 Not a member/Have no union 19 1 No 37 2 Yes 166 3 Not much 1 4 Not yet 8 5 Not directly 1 6 Not to me 1 7 A little 1 8 None 2 Total 259