New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-06
Condition Of Laborers in China.

D..
Condition Of Laborers in China.
In the Democratic Revicw for November we find
paper from the late Alexander II. Everett on the
Condition Of China with reference to the Mathu
sian theory Of the influence OF a dense Population
upon tie Rewards Of Labor or Rate Of Wages
This subject has been the theme Of an smicsbe dis
eassion between Mr.. Everett and Prof George
Tucker late Of the University Of Virginia the latter
Affirming and The former denying the proposition that
Wages decline 10 proportion to the Increase Of Popula
roa Mr.. Everett. whose communication IL dated at
Macos April 80 presents facts respecting the con-
dillon q China that interesting and valuable.
The statements Of the population of this empire.
which have long been before the public rest official
srumoratons regularly tskeD corrected every year
The whole empire Is divided for administrative pur
poses into provinces and these sseip into departments
md smaller districts the lowest Of which competed
Of ten iemilies-sl from the province to the decade
tsvng their appropriate heads The bead of each dis
tici OF ten families Is required TO keep tablet upon
shch entered the number OF The persons In each oil
s families composing bis dsiric under the two general
hisds of able bodied men, or tar payers and mouds
women md children. Once Ia every year the governor
each province collects these tablets end makes re-
aRevenue or Treasury Department, at Picking. Here
they put order and employed for tho various pur
poses, such military service taxation, &c for which
such return Is wanted. The result is published from
eue time by authority and thus possesses oil the
hinty that well belong TO the subject.
Psu,ber the celebrated French orientaiist In work
potl,hed n ls4l gives In detail q large portion Of the
Of the population in 1872 The total number at
that time. according to Panther was 36l693l77. This
Mr. Everett believes 10 be far carefully made up
and consequently reliable estimate of the popua-
ton Of China than bave OF any other country the
gobe y, the United States The population 10 sup
posed 10 have doubled between l7l2 end 1894 Between
1924 sud lel2 Ia supposed TO have increased about
3O&O0O0 The total population at present Mr. z. esti
mates In round numbers st 100000 600. This immente
IL distributed Ia different degrees Of density
territory the OF which has been vsrously stated
Mr J. . Adams ia his lecture China. reckons 1t in
rouud numbers at millions OF square miles-in.
cud.ng OF course Chinese Tartary. Bsbi perhaps the
highest authority and who In this has the endorse
meut Of Humboldt states ii at 5350O00 This would
give Tor the whole empire. destiny Of shout seventy to
the square nile Much the greater part OF the population
To- however concentrated in Chins proper, which In.
elades 297 900 squsre miles, s307l963O English
On ths, territory the population STANDS TO the
geographical extent In the ratio OF 257 to the square mile
This higher than the average rsto in the hicky
peoped parts OF Europe In come parts Of the Neither
ls.ds for example the ratio 275 in England shout
225 In the Grand duchy Of Luccs $50 In the province
oi Yoounsu In China proper the aversgeis low a.
which rather lower than II the State Of Asssschu
se,s while 10 Chez Lee the most populous OF all, and
he which Includes Pekins the average rises Ia 6i
10 the province Of Kwsn,ung Canton it lie stated at 26i
~
b.sfug between the OF population and the sup
py Of the mean, Of subsistence, which has prevailed IN
Great Britain and elsewhere undertakes to prove ,hsi
hs Reward Of Lsbor regularly declines in proportion to
The Increased density OF tbs Population. Mr. Everett
sys ,ha, the impression he hss received from reading
- well - from personal observation, Is sssinst this
ueor, and 10 attempts t. show that, In Chins, while
tbs money price Of Labor Of most other srte!e 10
lover than IN the United States the real rate Of Wages
that H. the supply OF the necessAres and comforts Of life
which the aborer Is able procure with his PAYS
greater than ia other countries including those
which regard the best Administered and mOsi pop
uiOus IN toe Western World.
Mr. l. SHOVE conclu.ivey we think that many of the
statements which have formed the basis " opinion IN
respect ~ the condition Of The Laborrrs Of China are
exceedingly loose and Inaccurate sDo therefore uneOr
ny ooufdenoc aud 10 these statements and specuia
u0os be Opposes facts gathered cufug hs rcsdt In
TIE country We quote from his observations follows
Toe wages usually paid 10 domestic servants in China
are use collars mouth. am also informed good
tg.Aority and fad II stated 10 wellwTuen article In
~ CAiaese Repssh0s before me. this, the wages
Pals 10 servants Dy foreigners here about the same
With those which thev receive from their country.
men IL spears from the same authority, thst the
wsges OF saborer 10 The field or the Workshop gen
rfsly one mace cay POIiers, meniss and Other
isb1rer. get about The s6Ine. One mace day may,
tsr,iOre. be assumed ths average rate OF The To-
~-rd Il dsy labor IN China mace Il ihe tenth
part ct tae and about the seventh part OF spanish
dollar. OF ffCm fourteen 70 nisoen cents.
Persons Of tne description here mentioned can D.
e1aided Al irom dollar a toilsr and bali month
hne are boarded al 81 so. Their food a. thus pro
ufod Ia not ss Father Premsfe describes that Of the
bof Chinese IN general li.ia spoonful oil rice. nor
oer Drink the iDsipa water Ia Which u was boiled
hsy have Tor their 81 50 the month, much rice -
e) can Get three times Gay Tnis 10 the great staple
y iood With al classes. from the Emperor dornvsrd
"a sociion 10 this they have fish fowls AID pork 10
'1losree beet and mutton are scarce spt cesr Trey
e'r sso an ample supply OF vegetables and fratstuch
"fsnsss and bananas For dunk, hey have tea =,
nseftuen a. all hours. This 70 The universal beverage
oman, ~ho kecpss school for Chnese boys NJ Hong
aoes IN Which there from twenty thirty pupis
..fd' te' m II the rate d dollar month Ia the
~r cetefioed above.
lne sssrsr- eos, Of rice Ia about one and bali tsel
- perl Qj5s 0s) or cent pound and pound Oi
y h A. buso q man In q day. The dsy
e'frr receives therefore. IN his mace an amount OF
ohJ tquivacrt 10 value 10 the daily subsistence Of
-ibtn or h'tecn men. II he b. the head CT family.
enposed Of tour eve persons be his disposal