Polynesian., 1853-02-19
Gle polpnesian.

att -o~oo~>~~-o~~o~~-~~-o-o- ~-o-o-o-o-oooooooo
l. Plenty of GOld-but a scarcity of Bread!
The San Francisco Times and Transcrip
e. of January Oath, contains the following arti
Gle, which persons bound to California wou
do well to ponder.
High Prices-Hard Times for Laborer..
Probably at no period since the discover,
OF the gold mines have the people of Califor
MIA found it SO difficult to procure the neces
saries of life for their labor as during the pas
. few months. In lS49, prices were for tim,
even higher than at present, but then golt
could be found in greater abundance, and il
closer proximity to navigable streams where
food could be readily procured. Then the
laborer could almost anywhere in the miner
al region or in our cities, procure the neces-
saries of life by few hours exertion each
day. But fer the past few months thousands
Of our population have actually suffered from
hunger. They have been forced to live up
on coarse and unwholesome food, and have
in many instances not had even enough OF
this
We hazard but little in saying, that the
laboring portion of our population has made
nothing for the past four or five months.
The extraordinary price Of food has taken
all. Nor have merchants, with the exception
of importers Of such articles as were essen
tial to the very existence of the people, made
their expenses.
! With an abundance of the necessaries of
life in our markets, food has advanced
While a feet Of vessels have been employed
in bringing to our shores, every commodity
which the heart of man can DESIRE thousands
of our citizens have actually suffered from
hunger. They have not been able to obtain
for their services what would supply their
daily wants.
Let the man who doubts what we have
| said, follow the poor laborer to the market
even in this city, where every commodity is
cheap in comparison with the prices exacted
in other portions Of the State. Let him see
how far the earnings Of the laborer will 90
towards the support Of large family; flour
at twenty-five cents per pound, choice pieces
of beef fifty and as often sixty-two and half
cents; potatoes twelve and half cents;
pork fifty cents; butter from sixty-two to one
dollar and twenty-five cents per pound; wild
ducks from two TO four dollars per pair;
chickens four or five dollars each; lard thirty
seven and half cents per pound; coffee
ana na Ssass svsy ar
ticle Of food in our market, and give prices
correspondingly high, were we SO inclined,
but here are enough to show how the poor
man stands. To show how difficult it must
be for the ordinary laborer to obtain even
the necessaries of life. The man who has a
family must, even in addition to food, rent a
house and purchase fuel, which are within
themselves important items of expenditure.
We have given the prices of few commodi-
ties which the poor man must have-such ar
ticles as spectators know must sell.
We would ask the reader TO turn to an
other branch of busness-to dry goods deal
ers, and see what profits they are makings
Scarcely enough to hold soul and body to-
gether. The prices in this instance will
barely pay cost and carriage from Atlantic
ports 1t is thus with clothing, hardware,
etc., and indeed we might urge, with all
branches Of business, with the exception of
those Immediately connected with the sale or
Transportation of food. The prices of those
articles which the poor man must consume,
are so very high that he has nothing left with
which to obtain other articles after their pur-
chase. All that the laborer can possibly
earn, must 60 for food. He has nothing to
spare for dry goods, clothing, etc.
We are told that trade will regulate itself
if left alone-that the poor man should not
be protected by the passage of laws which
will shield him against the extortions of the
merciIess speculator. In word, that it
would be wrong to pass laws which would al
low fair competition in trade.
Those gentlemen who urge that il is ''anti-
democratic" to prevent speculations in food,
will see, ere long, that they are preaching a
doctrine which will never suit the Masses
They will see that they are urging policy
which will paralize trade and impOverish tie
State.
From the arguments which have been used
in certain quarters, it would seem as if it
was highly commendabIe for a few men to
purchase all the food in the country, and hold
il for high prices; that it was praiseworthy
to form associations for the oppression of the
poor.
We speak of this subject for we apprehend
speculations are as yet IN their infancy IN
California. Rich men have but recently as
socialed together to advance prices.
Let the Legislature adjourn without per-
fecting some law upon the subject, and we
shall have twelve months of such times as
have not yet been witnessed. We shall have
an average Of prices which will make the
poor man falter.
Such persons as doubt this, we would ask
TO turn their attention to almost any article OF
food. Within the last week or two, prices
have steadily advanced. Butter, lard, pota-
toes, beef pork, and indeed almost every ar
ticle has shown the incipi. mt steps towards
| speculative prices-a preparation which is
beingSmade to exact from the necessities Of
the people. We are even informed upon
pretty good authority that combination has
already sent its agents South, to purchase
beef cattle, preparatory to great operation
| in that article