Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1868-10-10
THE LOCAL SITUATION.

~ nearly "played out" and rushed to Silver
City, where they were very sure they wou'a
be able to find immediate employment NJ I'll.
most their own terms. Some OF them haa
quit work here with wages OF 20 per day' ana
nons of them would think of working for iess
wnoes. even at this slack mining season. on
thew rushed TO Owyhee. Mark the sequel oil.
ready developed
Within the past two weeks we have seen
and talked with dozen or more OF the men
,vbo went from here, but who are back again,
and content to remain in this Basin. and take
their chances for livelihood. sooner than To
again go farther and perhaps fare worse ON
ers. whom we have not met have also returned,
and every day the number Is augmented. They
all failed to procure employment In Owyhee'
Others yet, who left here during the Summer,
and went of TO Northern Idaho, TO Eastern
Oregon, and to Montana, have likewise I'd
turned, even though they were quite certain,
before they reached this place, that the chances
for employment before the opening OF the next
mining season would be very slender. And
from our merchants and others. who have Wis
tied San Francisco, Portland. and points along
the routes 10 these places, We learn that IN a.
most every place they saw men who LETT here
to seek better employment, and each and all OF
them were very anxious TO get back. but could
not for lack Of money to make the trip.
These are facts, and our people generally
know them Ia be- so. Now, We arr not going
to stifle the truth nor misrepresent the actual
condition of affairs in this section. We admit
the tunes are exceedingly dull. much dailrr
than ever before since the discovery nj this
Basin and that much harder times viii befail
us all before the next season OF mining viii
commence. But with oil this, where, wc ask.
can the laboring man do better. uay. evea as
well OF the many who have tried Owyhcc
comparatively tew have obtained employ
and the unlucky ones have not only failed 10
the search for better wages than they received
here, but have either seriously reduced or to-
tally exhausted. their scsnty means. and are
now both out al work and out Of money. and
this, too. in community where they find them.
selves without friends and without credit.
Here. they might. at worst. hare used the little
means they had IN the purchase of provisions
for the winter. and picked up odd Jobs enough
through the rigorous season to carry them
snuRly on until work in the mines should be
resumed next Spring. Or. il catch employ
ment entirely failed. they could procure credit
for winter stores from dealers who have nc
quaintance with them. and get Through till
employment was again furnished 10 the mines
BY the papers we learn that laborrrs' wages
in Oregon and Calif"rnia average from 80 "a
$40 per month. with board. for the most labor
Gus occupations. and the latter price IL paid
only to the best hands and for work which IL
most exhausting. II is rarely the laborcr grt'
steady employment in cities or towns. or on
public works. Take the averave p~riod o.
labor 10 the Who'll. year, and We doubt il il
will exceed that which 10 furnished to many ol
the men who are employed. by the day. in the
mines. But say the laborer in the city has ter
months labor in the year, at $40 per month
He receives an aggregate Of $500. AMER he
has clad himself, and paid for IN. variou. Incl
dental expenses which accrue with almost
every laborer, he will find himself at the end
of the full year. after practising the closest
economy, to have very small cash sum left
certainly not 20 much ~ 800. Here. say tha
only FIVE months labor is afforded 10 bim. a
s. per day. and hes to board himself Let hin
work only six. instead Of all the seven days o
the week, and be receives an aggregate %
$3.50 Good board can DOW be had at from o.
TO % per week. He pays then. for the 6v,
months board, $50. His clothing will Goa
him very little more than it would in SAT
Francisco, and the sane thing holds good IL
nearly all other necessary personal expenses
At the worst, he receives $3.50. and need pa,
out not to exceed $3.50. during his FIVE months
service. He il LEFT with e400-the sum which
the laborer receives fur the average labor Of
the year under the best auspices in the city
and he has this ssm Hct-not gross, as The
laborer in the city has ito carry him through
tili be can again obtain employment. And Il
he should entirely fail 10 find work, this sum
win comfortably carry him through the year
until the mining season reepeas.
We have shown up the worst side Of the
case In the foregoing, ~ our citizens will At