New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-20


and observation on recent inland trip,
there might be work found in the Agricul-
tural districts Of our Country for Half
Million sturdy, resolure men, and for nearly
as many women. At the same time all our
Cities are crowded with surplus hands,
willing to work, yet doing nothing, because
no work is offered them, but vainly seeking
'something to do Yet, in spite Of all re-
monstrances, Thousands rush from the COun-
try to the Cities, while comparatively few
scatter from the Cities through the Country.
And at very short intervals we are made
heartsick by the inquiry, Can't you tell me
where may find something to do?'
Something to do Why what place this
is to seek i'll Here we are, Six Hundred
Thousand human beings on an area of five
miles souare-crowded, heated, sweltering,
suffering. There is not work enough here,
and cannot be, for fourth Of those who are
here. or, on the first intimatien that they can
have work, would instantly come here. We
nroduce next to no Food on this narrow
speck of earth, yet Food we must have, to the
value of many millions per annum, with
Cloth, Timber, Fuel, &c. &c. Three-fourtbs
of us have hard job to live, and could not
do it if we did not work harder than the
mass of Country people have any idea OF. A
few thousands are very wealthy, and can
afford to live anywhere; rather larger
number have good incomes from their bust
nese. and are saving something; but the
great mass live quite up to their means and
think they live lean enough at that. Many
Of our Young unmarried men are earning
or making good incomes, and squanderlng
the bulk of them in perilous and rulhous
designations as they will one day realize and
rue. But the great majority Of our people
work hard, live poorly, save nothing, and
have their match to get by quarter-day.
For Door Women and for poor Men with
large helpless families, there is no life so
hard AZ that of great city. Rent, Fuel,
Food are all dear here, while Labor COM
mands but little more than fair country
nr;ce. At this moment, Day Labor COM
mands 81 l2@, and it has with difficulty OBJ
tanned this, and will find still greater diff
Guilty in keeping it. A laborer must be
hearty and lucky who obtains $50 days
cork in a year, which would yield him $751;
in the course of year, suppoSing he gets
all his due Now very middling house in
q middling location rents for $500 year,
and poor family can hardly find shelter
two rooms and closet that costs less than
$50 a year. Decent wood for fuel will cost
a moor man IS per cord Milk is six-pence
per Quart, and any handful of Vegetables
coats as much. The dsy.laborer with a wife
and two dependent children who finds him
self as ell off on the last day of December
as he was on the lst Of January preceding
hos done well. There is little better chance
for the better-paid Observation-Disclosures,
Sb;p-builders, Hatters, &c.-but not for
Sboemakers, slop-work TailOrs, and many
o,bers. Even Of those who have the best
wages and earn from $40 to SIS per week,
not one in ten saves anything, though we
think they should. But it is hard to crowd
fam;lv into two rooms when it is possible
20 nav for three or four, and SO with regard
10 DENYING children Fruit, Milk, early We
ce,ahles, &c. And if a poor man allows
S;mself TO think Of comfort as well as econ
ouy his chance of ssyiDgis small.
We state these facts in order to enforce
our entreaty to men and women who can
i've in the country not to crowd into the
c;,;es Some young men who have talent,
.nerOv and means to live here until they
can find or make position, and whose par
t;cular gift qualities them to be useful only
or mainly in city, will come, and ought to
oome. but for the great majority even OF
single men this course is mistaken while 70
br;nv family here without an assurance OIL
steady employ ment and twice as mucn pay
as would support that family In O0"A'
village, is reckless-crlmina'
The down.trodden millions Of Europe are
.-d;n, 70 our shores, and will continue
70 ,hrops bither. They ought to come ana
s ~ generally do well if they love work and
Lathe strong drink. But even these ,s'
though most of them can live on nan sa 'r~,
'nU '',S .ubs;st an American-Ought to hurry
,hrongb our seapOrts without stopping anu
plant themselves firmly on the SOIL in'''