-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2
Waitress | 10 | 78 | 46 | 2 | 1 | -- | -- | 137
Dishwasher | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1
Sick nurse | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------
Total | 165 | 972 | 834 | 78 | 64 | 17 | 8 | 2138
Percent | 7.7 |45.5 |39.0 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 100
----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------
[A] Day's work, 1 at $1.00 a day, 7 at $1.25 a day, and 15 at
$1.50 a day.

The earnings in hotel service play such an important part in the
income of males of the Negro group, that some special note was taken
of wages for waiters and bellmen. Records of 249 waiters in Manhattan
and 46 waiters in Brooklyn showed that they received $25.00 per month,
not including tips. Forty-nine bellmen received $15.00 to $20.00 per
month, exclusive of tips. Out of these wages lodging and car-fares
must usually be paid, and besides uniforms and laundry are not small
items of expense.

2. WAGES IN OTHER OCCUPATIONS

The wages of skilled trades do not affect the larger part of the Negro
population, because so small a percentage are engaged in these
occupations, as reference to the occupational tables in Chapter IV
will show. But the numbers are increasing, for there is a constant
struggle of Negro wage-earners to rise to these better-paid
occupations. Colored carpenters have a local branch of the Amalgamated
Carpenters and Joiners Union; there is a street-pavers union, with
about a third of the membership Colored men, and the Mechanics
Association is composed of Negro artisans of all kinds who wish mutual
help in securing and holding work. Since Negroes who are union men are
reported to receive the same wages as white workmen, the approximate
union wages in 1909 for such skilled occupations as had a considerable
number of Negro males will be a good index. The approximate number of
Negro union members in 1910 and union wages in 1909 were about as
follows:[63] Asphalt pavers and helpers, Negro union members 350, rate
of wages, pavers $2.50 per day, helpers $1.75 per day; rock-drillers
and tool sharpeners, Negro members 240, employed by the hour, average
daily earnings $2.77; cigar-makers, Negro members 165, piece-workers,
average daily earnings $2.00; carpenters, Negro members 40, rate of
wages $4.50 p