High Wages in the Soo? In 1909-Yes!

Did you know there was a time when the average worker's wage of a Soo was the second highest in Michigan? It was exceeded only by the wages paid in Marquette. I found the following piece in the Battle Creek Enquirer. The section was telling what happened on today's date in past years.

100 Years Ago Today, 1909:

The profound fallacy of many of the ridiculous charges made against industrial conditions in Battle Creek by a few disgruntled parties here and elsewhere is apparent in a list of statistics received this morning from the state labor bureau. The average daily wage paid in Battle Creek is the highest of any manufacturing city in Michigan and the third largest in the state. The average wage paid in Battle Creek is $2.34. It is exceeded only by Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie, both of which are smaller and one of which is a mining town. In Marquette the rate is $2.41 and in the Sault $2.35.