The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-28

great China mail line Of steamers, and the
rapid advancement being made to wards the
completion Of the Pacific Railroad sugges ed
that broad, new fields for labor, capital and
enterprise would be thrown open shortly on the
Western seaboard and continue 10 widen aud
augment III Importance with every voyage OF the
steamers aud every section adoed to the rail-
way. These were con'ributors; bat the chiet
Contributors to the exodus were the untoward
condition OF things in tue Atlantic States last
year, and the reduction OF fares on the California
steamers.
"Just in the midst of the sorest distress of the
winter, when mills and factories were suspend.
ing work and thousands of men were being
thrown out OF employment just TOO late to enjoy
the eghthour system and tue augmented wages
they had fought so manlnllY Tor, the opposition
line and the regular mail line OF California
steamers BEGAN system of mu'ual throAtcut
ting, IN the matter oil freight and jares, which
has continued to the present time. First CABIN
taIes suddenly came down IRON 500 or S5O0 to
Sl6O-steeraee fares even below $50, often. 1t
was cheaper tn spend three weeks at sea bet Heen
here and California, than to stay at home.
Swarms OF men who were IDLE, aud who saw no
prospect OF employment in the states, found
California forced upon their attention all at
once. There was great demand there for work'
iDgnen of all descriptions; the wages were
excellent; TRANSPORTATION thlther was cheap.
Sixty thousand men seized uuon this inviting
opportunity 10 better their fortunes.
"The Pacific steamers still carry three thou
sand Pmigrants out OF New York every m nth,
and the prospect is good that the rush W II
say about Fe ebruary. Has the Pacific cOtst
found employment for these people? Yes. For
every one that asked II. 1t can iud work for as
many more, think. 1t need not be supposed
that alt these emgtants have remained IN Cali
fornia. On the con rary, probably half the
number, or more, have spread themselves
abroad over Oregon, Washington Terri Org, the
Blillsh Possessions. Alaska, Arizona Nevada
Idaho and Montana, and few have struggled to
Japan and China. San Francisco was be viii
Gered for awhile. Sue found herself beseged
by vast army of unexpected visitors, many of
them without a cent, and she did not know
what to do wi them.
"As 81. Paul justly remarks in his oOistle to
the FenianS, Necessity is the mother of inven-
,lon.' The business men OF san Francisco
invented the California Labor Exchange. 1t
proved equal to the emergency. For the past
SIX or seven months it has found labor aud the
customary wages tor from fifteen hundred to
two thousand ina iYrants a mOnth-her full
share OF the immIe grafton. The others scattered
abroad, as / have sad. The Labor Exchange
hot only found employment for fifty, sixty, or
seventy men day, but Wben lett San Frau
cisco the demand upon it for various classes OF
laboiers and mechanics was greater than the
supply. Every steamer oay' On ,omlug) lis
Offices were crowded with immigrants. They
were sent to work in mines, muls, factories, on
railroads aud in shops. Yet, still there were
orders on the books that could not be Tiled as
have just said With the present light trips
OF the steamers Give hundred ptssengerS) the
Exchange hnds its labors exceedingly hgnt, no
doubt.
"Californa is a very good State to 90 to. 1t
IS not So speculative country us 1t was N mat
ters Of pure business. II has sobp1el do Su
considerably and taken upon itset the steady
going habits OF legitlmate lrdue and commerce.
Formerly, 10 be a Californian wa, to be specu-
lator. A man COnld not help it. Que man tried
to be Otherwise, but he was only kicking against
fate. While every body was wild with a spirit of
speculation and 'ull OF plans Tor MAKING sudden
fortunes, be said he would just tarm along
quietly. and slo Wy gam mooest Con pateuce,
auC so be happy. But his crop of onions hap.
pened to be abort the only onions pro Oced that
year. He sold it lor a hundred thousand dollars
and relirnl.N