Before proceeding to treat of the cheap or “scurf” labourers among
the rubbish-carters, I shall do as I have done in connection with
the casual labourers of the same trade, say a few words on that kind
of labour in general, both as to the means by which it is usually
obtained and as to the distinctive qualities of the scurf or low-priced
labourers; for experience teaches me that the mode by which labour is
cheapened is more or less similar in all trades, and it will therefore
save much time and space if I here--as with the casual labourers--give
the general facts in connection with this part of my subject.
In the first place, then, there are but two direct modes of cheapening
labour, viz.:--