The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1857-10-29

kers would have the public believe that the
laboring people ot ST. Paul, as > class, are
On the point of starvation. We cannot see
from what data they draw their conclusions.
Since the first day Of April to within the
past two weeks. there has scarcely been
man idle 10 the city. The contractors for
city work have had large number Of men
in employ, and the laborers have generally
received all of their wages from week 10
week. The contractors, in taking their
work from the city, knew that they had TO
pay cash for labor, and made their con-
tracts safe enough TO allow OF their borrow
ing money from the bankers upon real es'
tate security, and upon the credit Of tax
certificates. They had no great difficulty in
obtaining funds until within the past two
months, so that il is not probable that there
il any amount Of Indebtedness to laborng
men.
The Gas Company have empioyeda large
number of men all summer, and still have
many in their employ. They have all been
paid off regularly. There has been, also,
very many mn employed in quarrying stone
and in the erection Of stone and brick build
ings, of which class Of improvements, there
have been more than twice the number built
tl,, 10, .ny proyi,us ypar
Our provision dealers are. Just now doing
an active business, mainly TO our own citi,
zcns, and, We are assured to the very class
Of men, of whom i, was impudently said,
they were on the point Of starving.
We have taken occasion TO look around
among the dwellings Of the laboring classes,
and We were agrecably surprised to find
them pretty generally supplied with wood,
and in numerous families we have seen two
barrels of flour which had al parcn,ly just
been purchased but this waa not all, nearly
all of them have quantities of potatoes on
hand, AMI other provisions. 1t is true,
few are not so well Off and will possibly have
to be aided by the city.
But taking our laboring men. as a class.
We are confident tley are well prepared
to live through the winter, il they did not
have another days work yet their case Is
not 50 bad as this they will tiui work dur
ing the winter in cutting wo"d, and in other
employments which can be carried on
1t is altogether proper and advisable for
the citizens who can do it, and for the cor
poratc authorities, to employ rs many men
"a possible, in order TO prevent disturbances
which might arise from great number OF
idle men in the city, lounging around bar
rooms and public places, and who for the
sake of doing something, might do mis-
chief.
We honestly believe the fears entertained
10y some Of our prominent citizens, as to
great suffering in store for our laboring pop
ulation, are without foundation, except 50
far "a there has been distress in former win.
tiers. There will. no doubt, bc many calls
upon the public for assistance, and our City
Council, we think, are the proper parties to
devise some plan by which the whole com
munity can alike b. reached to aid the dis
,rcsscl, and relieve the wants Of the poor.
/, will be impossible to raise funds for the
poor by private subscription. for the reason
tina, the mos, benevolent. the most wealthy,
will not have the funds themselves to adj
vance. however much they might he disposed
TO do So Charities, this winter. mus, be by
corporations, and regarded in the same ligh,
as general improvements are paid for. the
welfare and prosperity OF the city.
FIRE-Abou, halfIas, four O'Clock, w.
,cr,lay morning, fire was discovered in the
frame house owned ard occupied by Mr.. A.
Wiloughby, on Sixth, near jackson street.
The alarm was given by the servant 10 the
family, who cndcayored 20 save their iurni-
tire. Mr. Willoushby gave the alarm on
the street bnt they We're no bclls rnng and
the citizens were slow 10 gather. until after
five clock, at which time the smohe had
filled all the rooms 40 completely a to pre-
vent any persons from rescuing any articles
from the building. Most OF the furniture
down stairs was saved but the family lost
all of their clothing. The Ere IL supposed
10 have originated from a stove pipe which
had been heated by FIRE kept up in the
stove until halfpas, l. O'Clock on Sunday
night. coming in contact with come wool
work. producing smouSder.ng fire, which
was gradually gaining strength until it broke
on, in flame. 1t sprobabIe. tina, il half
dozen Of men had been on hand, within ten
Il