[C] Includes clerks and copyists.
[D] Includes some wheelwrights for all cities except one.
[E] Includes waitresses in 1900.
[F] Decrease.
The evidence, then, that the economic call of Southern cities has received response from Negroes as from whites is fairly conclusive. That the economic motive of the Negro has had a large place in causing his migration to urban centers is further shown by the testimony of Negro wage-earners in a Northern city.
In a personal canvass in New York City, 365 wage-earners were asked their reasons for coming to New York City. In reply to the question put in this direct manner 210 out of the total 365 wage-earners gave replies; of these, 99 or 47.1 per cent gave answers that are easily classified as economic. The other replies have been grouped under "family" reasons, 68 or 32.4 per cent, and "individual" reasons, 43 or 20.5 per cent. Many cases in the last two groupings, as appear below ([pp. 31-32]), would probably be seen to have an underlying economic cause, if we knew more of their history. The 99 answers classed as economic were as follows:
Table V. Economic Reasons Given by 99 Wage-Earners for Coming to New York City, 1909.
| To "get work" or "find work" | 38 |
| To secure "better wages" or "more money" | 19 |
| With former employers | 18 |
| To complete trade training | 2 |
| To engage in work previously assured | 4 |
| To "better my condition" | 15 |
| "Business low at home" | 1 |
| "Wanted to buy house at home by (with) money made here" | 1 |
| "Seeking business" | 1 |
| Total | 99 |
This evidence is further corroborated by a record of the wages of 64 of the 365 wage-earners before and after their coming to New York City. For 38 males and 26 females statements of the wages received just previously to their coming to New York City and of their present wages were secured. These figures are presented because they suggest that a wider survey of such facts would probably be in line with the body of data given above. For instance, of 37 men, the median weekly wage before their coming to New York City was in the wage-group $6.00 to $6.99, and after coming, the median weekly wage increased so that it was in the wage-group $10.00 to $10.99. Of the 26 women, the median weekly wage was in the wage-group $4.00 to $4.99 before their coming to New York City and advanced so that it was in the group $6.00 to $6.99 after coming. These facts indicate a decided response to the higher wage attraction of New York City. It should be remarked that the wage-earner in his migration to secure higher wages seldom takes into consideration the higher cost of living in New York City. Table VI, following, gives the details of the comparison:
Table VI. Weekly Wages Received by 64 Individuals Before and After Coming to New York City, 1909.