CODEBOOK AND USER'S MANUAL:
A SURVEY OF 1490 MECHANICS' AND WORKINGMEN'S RETURNS
IN WISCONSIN, 1895
AS REPORTED IN THE SEVENTH BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE WISCONISN BUREAU OF
LABOR, CENSUS AND INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS
Version 1.0
March 15, 1992
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 1490 Mechanics' and
Workingmen's Returns in Wisconsin, 1895;
Reported in the Seventh Biennial Report of
the Wisconsin Bureau of Labor, Census, and
Industrial Statistics. Berkeley: Institute
of Business and Economic Research, 1992.
The data from this sample of 1,490 mechanics and
workingmen in Wisconsin in 1895 has been archived at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 [714] 787-5299
A SURVEY OF 1,490 MECHANICS AND WORKINGMEN
IN WISCONSIN, 1895
In its Seventh Biennial Report of 1895-1896, the
Wisconsin Bureau of Labor, Census and Industrial
Statistics published the results of its survey of
mechanics and workingmen in that State. The Bureau
undertook a survey of employed mechanics and workingmen
to complement its earlier surveys of employers. It
argued that surveys of employers were a satisfactory
way of gathering information on wages. But when
information on matters other than wages was desired it
felt that "the most reliable data are as a rule
obtained either by actual observations or from direct
inquiries from the parties themselves." [1]
The Bureau developed a questionnaire which
included questions on the personal characteristics of
the worker and his expenditures and savings, as well as
conditions of work. Personal characteristics requested
included nativity, age, number of dependents, level of
expenditures and savings, home ownership, and
insurance. Questions regarding conditions of work
included hours and regularity of work, wages and
whether wages were withheld.
The survey was conducted by mail on schedules
"developed for this purpose." [2] Over 15,000 blanks
were in the principal manufacturing cities in this
state. Approximately one-third of the blanks were sent
to trade and labor unions. The rest were distributed
by employers in factories and shops or mailed directly
to workers. [3]. The Bureau noted that,
Special efforts were made to have these
blanks so distributed that the reports
received would represent the lowest as well
as the highest scale of wages and living in
each occupation and thus on the whole show
the average standard in this state. [4]
The response rate was not high. Only 1,488 useable
reports were returned. Despite this disappointing
showing, the Bureau felt that the individual statements
that were submitted were very valuable. First, the
Bureau felt that the returns "had been carefully
prepared and ...the figures given to each question were
correct." Second, it felt that the returns were fairly
representative of the population of workers. The
Bureau admitted that:
the rather small number of reports returned
in some occupations may leave it an open
question whether the tables in these
instances can possibly show a fair average.
Then it added:
But when these tables are examined more
closely or compared with similar tables of
the same occupations in other reports it will
be seen that there is little cause for
apprehension on this ground, as differences,
if any, between the averages of these and the
averages of other tables covering the same
field are small and unimportant. [5]
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 26 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.
NOTES
[1] Wisconsin Bureau of Labor, Census and
Industrial Statistics, Seventh Biennial Report, 1895-
1896. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Co.,
State Printer, 1896: 178.
[2] Ibid., viii. Dates for the mailing and return
of survey forms were not stated in the Report. The
Historical Labor Statistics Project has, somewhat
arbitrarily, assigned the year 1895 to the survey.
[3] Ibid., 178-9.
[4] Ibid., 179.
[5] Ibid.
Table 1
Questions Asked of Respondents,
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Variable Name Question
OFFICE Office Number
PAGE Page Number of Bureau Report
POB Where Born
CITY Location
OCC Occupation
AGE Age
SUP Number of Persons Supported
SUMHRS Hours of Employment in Summer
WTRHRS Hours of Employment in Winter
MOSEMP Number of Months Employed
WGDAY Average Wages Per Day
WGWK Average Wages Per Week
PERPD How Often Paid?
TOTEAR Individual Earnings For The Year
OTHEAR Earnings From Other Sources For The
Year
SAVE Amount Saved From All Sources
LIVEXP Family Living Expenses
CLOTH Family Expenses in Clothing And Dry
Goods
FUEL Family Fuel Expenses
RENT Family Rent Expenses
OTHEXP All Other Family Expenses
TOTEXP Total Family Expenses
MS Marital Status
LIVEXP2 Expenses in Board And Room, If Single
CLOTH2 Expenses in Clothing, If Single
OTHEXP2 All Other Expenses, If Single
TOTEXP2 Total Expenses, If Single
NEGEXP Expenditures Over Earnings
HOMVAL Value of Home
MORT Amount If Mortgaged
MORGINT Rate of Interest Paid
LIFINS Amount of Life Insurance
WHOLD Is Any of Your Wages Withheld?
Table 2
Place of Birth
[POB]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Code Description Frequency
-9 No response 4
2 Austria 31
3 Bavaria 3
4 Bohemia 20
5 California 1
6 Canada 41
7 Connecticut 4
8 Cuba 1
9 Denmark 37
10 England 37
11 Europe 2
12 Finland 1
13 France 5
14 Germany 436
15 Holland 8
16 Hungary 2
17 Iowa 9
18 Illinois 32
19 Indiana 2
20 Ireland 10
21 Kansas 1
22 Kentucky 1
23 Maine 4
24 Massachusetts 7
25 Maryland 1
26 Michigan 20
27 Minnesota 8
28 Missouri 5
29 New Hampshire 2
30 New Jersey 5
31 New York 54
32 Norway 84
33 Ohio 25
34 Pennsylvania 10
35 Poland 10
36 Prussia 14
37 Russia 4
38 Saxony 1
39 Scotland 12
40 Sweden 32
41 Switzerland 13
42 Tennessee 1
43 United States 8
44 Vermont 5
45 Wales 2
46 Wisconsin 475
Total 1490
Table 3
Location
[CITY]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Code Description Frequency
1 Appleton 23
2 Eau Claire 62
3 Green Bay 24
4 Janesville 36
5 Kenosha 37
6 La Crosse 123
7 Manitowoc 21
8 Menasha 22
9 Milwaukee 513
10 Neenah 14
11 Onalaska 1
12 Oshkosh 135
13 Racine 96
14 Sheboygan 292
15 Stanley 2
16 Superior 89
Total 1490
Table 4
Occupation
[OCC]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Code Description Frequency
1 Blacksmiths 48
2 Boiler Makers 7
3 Bookbinders 6
4 Brewery workers 34
5 Cabinet makers 35
6 Carpenters 117
7 Cigar makers 37
8 Coopers 40
9 Engineers(stationary) 42
18 Molders(brass and iron) 66
19 Painters 54
20 Paper makers 12
21 Plumbers and steamfitters 7
22 Printers 17
23 Shoemakers 44
24 Tailors 10
25 Tanners and curriers 54
26 Teamsters 13
27 Tobacconists 4
28 Tinsmiths 6
29 Upholsterers 6
30 Wagon makers 12
31 Unskilled labor 301
32 Miscellaneous 241
33 Firemen 101
34 Machine hands 61
35 Machine wood workers 79
36 Masons and Bricklayers 16
37 Mattress makers 8
38 Millwrights 12
Total 1490
Table 5
Age
[AGE]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Code Frequency
-9(no response) 11
15 - 20 38
21 - 25 191
26 - 30 317
31 - 40 529
41 - 50 281
51 - 60 107
61 - 70 16
Total 1490
Table 6
Number of Persons Supported
[SUP]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Persons
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 262
1 102
2 195
3 232
4 244
5 170
6 123
7 71
8 43
9 27
10 18
11 2
12 1
Total 1490
Table 7
Hours of Employment in Summer
[SUMHRS]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Hours
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 27
5 3
6 5
7 3
8 102
8.5 6
9 52
9.5 2
10 1196
10.5 1
11 29
12 52
13 7
14 2
15 2
16 1
Total 1490
Table 8
Hours of Employment in Winter
[WTRHRS]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Hours
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 91
1 - 5 16
6 - 10 1317
11 - 15 65
16 - 20 1
Total 1490
Table 9
Number of Months Employed
[MOSEMP]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Months
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 2
1.0 or less 2
1.1 - 2.0 6
2.1 - 3.0 18
3.1 - 4.0 21
4.1 - 5.0 28
5.1 - 6.0 68
6.1 - 7.0 74
7.1 - 8.0 113
8.1 - 9.0 194
9.1 - 10.0 270
10.1 - 11.0 288
11.1 - 12.0 402
12.1 - 13.0 3
85.0 1
Total 1490
Table 10
Average Wages Per Day
[WGDAY]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Wages
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 5
$1.00 or less 184
1.01 - 2.00 902
2.01 - 3.00 320
3.01 - 4.00 54
4.01 - 5.00 15
5.01 - 6.00 2
6.01 - 7.00 2
7.01 - 8.00 3
8.01 - 9.00 2
9.01 - 10.00 1
Total 1490
Table 11
Average Wages Per Week
[WGWK]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Wages
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 3
$1.00 - 5.00 37
6.00 - 10.00 758
11.00 - 15.00 522
16.00 - 20.00 120
21.00 - 25.00 38
26.00 - 30.00 9
31.00 - 35.00 2
36.00 - 40.00 0
41.00 - 45.00 1
Total 1490
Table 12
How Often Paid?
[PERPD]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Code Description Frequency
-9 No response 11
1 2 months 6
2 2 weeks 90
3 Irregular 45
4 Monthly 555
5 3 months 1
6 Semi-monthly 293
7 Weekly 489
Total 1490
Table 13
Individual Earnings For The Year
[TOTEAR]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 3
$100.00 or less 34
100.01 - 200.00 111
200.01 - 300.00 301
300.01 - 400.00 301
400.01 - 500.00 244
500.01 - 600.00 180
600.01 - 700.00 129
700.01 - 800.00 82
800.01 - 900.00 46
900.01 - 1000.00 18
1000.01 - 1500.00 39
1500.01 - 2000.00 1
2000.01 - 2500.00 1
Total 1490
Table 14
Earnings From Other Sources For The Year
[OTHEAR]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 1175
$10.00 or less 5
10.01 - 50.00 74
50.01 - 100.00 79
100.01 - 150.00 44
150.01 - 200.00 34
200.01 - 250.00 17
250.01 - 300.00 16
300.01 - 350.00 12
350.01 - 400.00 9
400.01 - 450.00 4
450.01 - 500.00 5
500.01 - 1200.00 16
Total 1490
Table 15
Positive and Negative Savings
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Frequency
Value Savings Expend.
over earn.
or code [SAVE] [NEGEXP]
-9(no response) 953 1167
$50.00 or less 163 156
50.01 - 100.00 133 75
100.01 - 150.00 73 32
150.01 - 200.00 57 21
200.01 - 250.00 27 11
250.01 - 300.00 34 12
300.01 - 350.00 11 0
350.01 - 400.00 16 0
400.01 - 450.00 1 0
450.01 - 500.00 7 0
500.01 -1481.00 15 16
Total 1490 1490
Table 16
Family Expenses
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Frequency
Value If family If single
or code [LIVEXP] [LIVEXP2]
-9(no response) 356 1250
$100.00 or less 45 11
100.01 - 150.00 171 35
150.01 - 200.00 328 121
200.01 - 250.00 217 49
250.01 - 300.00 188 14
300.01 - 350.00 63 0
350.01 - 400.00 56 0
400.01 - 450.00 27 0
450.01 - 500.00 20 0
500.01 - 901.00 19 10
Total 1490 1490
Table 17
Family Clothing, Dry Goods and Rent Expenses
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Frequency
Value Cloth. & dry goods Rent
or code [CLOTH] [RENT]
-9(no response) 375 832
$50.00 or less 473 132
50.01 - 100.00 437 368
100.01 - 150.00 139 124
150.01 - 200.00 51 23
200.01 - 480.00 15 11
Total 1490 1490
Table 18
Family Fuel Expenses
[FUEL]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 367
$10.00 or less 32
10.01 - 20.00 226
20.01 - 30.00 392
30.01 - 40.00 255
40.01 - 50.00 148
50.01 - 60.00 41
60.01 - 70.00 13
70.01 - 80.00 5
80.01 - 90.00 4
90.01 - 100.00 7
Total 1490
Table 19
All Other Expenses
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Frequency
Value If family If single
or code [OTHEXP] [OTHEXP2]
-9(no response) 454 1274
$50.00 or less 407 77
50.01 - 100.00 282 53
100.01 - 150.00 153 33
150.01 - 200.00 90 27
200.01 - 250.00 41 7
250.01 - 300.00 31 0
300.01 - 1000.00 32 19
Total 1490 1490
Table 20
Total Family Expenses
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Frequency
Value If family If single
or code [TOTEXP] [TOTEXP2]
-9(no response) 242 1133
-8(not applicable) 109 109
$100.00 or less 6 14
100.01 - 200.00 31 28
200.01 - 300.00 194 79
300.01 - 400.00 285 60
400.01 - 500.00 226 36
500.01 - 600.00 144 22
600.01 - 700.00 113 0
700.01 - 800.00 58 0
800.01 - 900.00 32 0
900.01 - 1000.00 20 0
1000.01 - 9600.00 30 9
Total 1490 1490
Table 21
Clothing Expenses, If Single
[CLOTH2]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 1284
$20.00 or less 16
20.01 - 40.00 54
40.01 - 60.00 69
60.01 - 80.00 30
80.01 - 100.00 15
100.01 - 120.00 2
120.01 - 140.00 8
140.01 - 510.00 12
Total 1490
Table 22
Value of Home
[HOMVAL]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 896
$200.00 or less 15
200.01 - 400.00 15
400.01 - 600.00 29
600.01 - 800.00 48
800.01 - 1000.00 95
1000.01 - 1200.00 61
1200.01 - 1400.00 31
1400.01 - 1600.00 71
1600.01 - 1800.00 38
1800.01 - 2000.00 42
2000.01 - 3000.00 83
3000.01 - 6000.00 61
6000.01 - 15000.00 5
Total 1490
Table 23
Amount If Mortgaged
[MORT]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 1113
$100.00 or less 19
100.01 - 200.00 39
200.01 - 300.00 42
300.01 - 400.00 31
400.01 - 500.00 47
500.01 - 600.00 31
600.01 - 700.00 34
700.01 - 800.00 28
800.01 - 900.00 14
900.01 - 1000.00 25
1000.01 - 5100.00 67
Total 1490
Table 24
Rate of Interest Paid
[MORGINT]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 1125
4% 5
5 18
6 198
6.5 12
7 109
8 18
10 4
11 1
Total 1490
Table 25
Amount of Life Insurance
[LIFINS]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Value
or code Frequency
-9(no response) 923
$500.00 or less 59
500.01 - 1000.00 207
1000.01 - 1500.00 41
1500.01 - 2000.00 150
2000.01 - 2500.00 23
2500.01 - 3000.00 41
3000.01 - 3500.00 7
3500.01 - 4000.00 22
4000.01 - 7000.00 17
Total 1490
Table 26
Is Any of Your Wages Withheld?
[WHOLD]
A Survey Of 1490 Mechanics' and Workingmen's Returns
in Wisconsin, 1895
Code Description Frequency
-9 no response 204
1 $1/125 1
2 $1.50 each month 2
3 $10.75 1
4 $15.00 1
5 $2.00 1
6 $20.00 1
8 *3 cents per day(*for insurance) 1
9 25 cents a day 1
10 25 cents per month 1
11 25 cents per week 1
12 1 day 25
13 1 month 28
14 1/4 1
15 one week 42
17 1.5 days 1
18 1.5 month 2
19 1/2 1
20 1/2 cent on dollar 1
21 1/2 day 2
22 1/2 month 6
23 1/3 3
24 one-fourth 1
25 10 days 108
27 ten weeks 1
28 10 percent 2
29 11 days 1
30 12 days 8
31 3 days 13
32 14 days 1
33 15 days 60
34 16 days 2
35 17 days 6
36 18 days 1
37 2 days 16
38 2 months 14
39 two weeks 43
40 20 days 49
41 20 per cent 1
42 25 days 4
43 26 days 1
44 27 days 1
46 3 weeks 2
47 3-5 days 1
49 4 days 3
50 four weeks 6
51 40 days 2
52 5 days 34
53 5 per cent 1
54 50 per cent 1
55 6 days 13
56 six weeks 16
57 7 days 1
58 8 days 3
59 8 weeks 1
60 9 days 1
62 irregular 1
63 no 671
64 sometimes 2
65 yes 71
Total 1490
†ㄠ†††‹††††㈠‵散瑮慤⁹††††††††††ㄠ††ㄠ‰††††㈠‵散瑮数潭瑮††††††††ㄠ††ㄠ‱††††㈠‵散瑮数敷步†††††††††ㄠ††ㄠ′††††ㄠ搠祡†††††††††††††††㔲††ㄠ″††††ㄠ洠湯桴††††††††††††††㠲††ㄠ‴††††ㄠ㐯††††††††††††††††ㄠ††ㄠ‵††††漠敮眠敥†††††††††††††㈴††ㄠ‷††††ㄠ㔮搠祡†††††††††††††ㄠ††ㄠ‸††††ㄠ㔮洠湯桴†††††††††††††㈠††ㄠ‹††††ㄠ㈯††††††††††††††††ㄠ††㈠‰††††ㄠ㈯挠湥⁴湯搠汯慬††††††††ㄠ††㈠‱††††ㄠ㈯搠祡††††††††††††††㈠††㈠′††††ㄠ㈯洠湯桴†††††††††††††㘠††㈠″††††ㄠ㌯††††††††††††††††㌠††㈠‴††††漠敮昭畯瑲††††††††††††ㄠ††㈠‵††††ㄠ‰慤獹†††††††††††††ㄠ㠰††㈠‷††††琠湥眠敥獫†††††††††††††ㄠ††㈠‸††††ㄠ‰数捲湥⁴††††††††††††㈠††㈠‹††††ㄠ‱慤獹††††††††††††††ㄠ††㌠‰††††ㄠ′慤獹††††††††††††††㠠††㌠‱††††㌠搠祡††††††††††††††㌱††㌠′††††ㄠ‴慤獹††††††††††††††ㄠ††㌠″††††ㄠ‵慤獹††††††††††††††〶††㌠‴††††ㄠ‶慤獹††††††††††††††㈠††㌠‵††††ㄠ‷慤獹††††††††††††††㘠††㌠‶††††ㄠ‸慤獹††††††††††††††ㄠ††㌠‷††††㈠搠祡††††††††††††††㘱††㌠‸††††㈠洠湯桴†††††††††††††㐱††㌠‹††††琠潷眠敥獫†††††††††††††㌴††㐠‰††††㈠‰慤獹††††††††††††††㤴††㐠‱††††㈠‰数散瑮††††††††††††ㄠ††㐠′††††㈠‵慤獹††††††††††††††㐠††㐠″††††㈠‶慤獹††††††††††††††ㄠ††㐠‴††††㈠‷慤獹††††††††††††††ㄠ††㐠‶††††㌠眠敥獫††††††††††††††㈠††㐠‷††††㌠㔭搠祡†††††††††††††ㄠ††㐠‹††††㐠搠祡††††††††††††††㌠††㔠‰††††映畯敷步††††††††††††㘠††㔠‱††††㐠‰慤獹††††††††††††††㈠††㔠′††††㔠搠祡††††††††††††††㐳††㔠″††††㔠瀠牥挠湥⁴††††††††††††ㄠ††㔠‴††††㔠‰数散瑮††††††††††††ㄠ††㔠‵††††㘠搠祡††††††††††††††㌱††㔠‶††††猠硩眠敥獫†††††††††††††㘱††㔠‷††††㜠搠祡††††††††††††††ㄠ††㔠‸††††㠠搠祡††††††††††††††㌠††㔠‹††††㠠眠敥獫††††††††††††††ㄠ††㘠‰††††㤠搠祡††††††††††††††ㄠ††㘠′††††椠牲来汵牡†††††††††††††ㄠ††㘠″††††渠†††††††††††††††㘠ㄷ††㘠‴††††猠浯瑥浩獥†††††††††††††㈠††㘠‵††††礠獥††††††††††††††††ㄷ†††††††††††††††††††††††††††††潔慴††††††††††††††††††††㐱〹