West-Jersey pioneer., 1868-01-10
WORK FOR OUR CITIZENS.

surrounl it are of u character which has but
seldom occurred in the past Usually the
glass factories in our city have been in full op-
Grafton at this season of the year, and the
times were more prosperous for the men en-
ployed in them, than in the summer time. IF
any distress was realized by this class Of men
1t was in the heat of summer when the farmers
were glad te obtain all he extra help that they
could get and so serious difficulty was avoided
even then. But this winter the case is differ
ent. From some cause or other in connexion
with the unsettled condition of the trade of
me country, the glass works generally over
the greater part Of the country have essened
their manufacture, and in Bridgeton have
ceased 1t altogether, and for months now past
the men have had nothing to do What little
amounts have been saved by them have mostly
been expended in the cost of living during this
time, and now, with the best intentions and
the utmost willingness to labor, want is staring
them steadily in the face. Some of them have
been able to obtain little precarious employ
ment elsewhere, but the mass of them remain
here, simply because there is nothing better
of which they can learn anywhere else. The
old Cumberland iron works have stood upon
foundation of capital sufficiently solid to ena-
BILE them to afford work to their hands at al
most all periods of the year and under almost
all depressions of trade. 1t is greatly to the
honor of Mr.. Nichols and those associated with
him, that their works have often been run
without profit to themselves in order to give
employment to the men. Just now these works
are lying still. but as it is only for repairs 10
the machinery, it is to be hoped that they
""snme- and that the thud of the en-
ormous hammers will again be heard by our
people.
But still there is large number of our cit
izens out Of employment, and the chances are
that there will be more instead of less as the
season advances, and it becomes serious oues-
tlon what shall be done III order to relieve the
case To US it is clear that if it can possiblv
oe avoided, the pauperization of these citizens
IS about the poorest thing that we can allow
They are not men who by nature desire the
bounty of anybody, aud their habits in the
past have been of the most complete independ
ence A fair days work for fair days wages
has been their motto in the past, and there is
no desire in them to sink their manhood in this
question, and any community sins greiyously
againt its political economy who allows any
substitution ofa lower idea. Many of these
workmen have been economical and thrifty
and own the houses in which they reside, prob
ably larger proportion than in any commu-
nifty in one section. These could possibly
borrow money upon their property, and thus
avoid actual want, but it is poor policy to SO
demoralize the bone and sinew of any people
as would necessarily follow the months of en-
forced idlenas, and the Encouragement of be-
holding their property wasting away. In this
case also many of these persons would be
driven from our city, and they are not class
which we can afford to lose. There are many
however, who are not so favoratly circum-
stanced, and who have no property whatever
to fall back upon, and in these cases the ne
cessity for doing something it still more immi-
nent. high sense of self respect, combined
with enforced poverty, is strong incentive to
crime, while idleness from whatever cause, has
always been recognized as its strongest incen-
| tive. Men who have been accustomed to main
tanning their families in comfort and respecta-
bility are terribly tempted when they behold
rags and want around them. We think the
remedy is simple and easy. There are great
many public i'm proyements needed in our city,
improvement which our progress will necessi-
tate in very few year. The value of property
can be largely increased if they are made, and
while it might be considered by some doubt
full policy to run the city much in debt under
ordinary circumstances, still we think the poll
| CIV cannot be a doubtful one when it is oues-
tion offering relief to persons who must have it
under any circumstances.
Give to our citizens who are out of work in
their regular employment, the privilege of
| laboring upon their public improvements and
let the city borrow the money to pay them.
We do not believe that we should be the losers
in the end, then in monetary point of view,
if we completed these improvements at the
present time, while we are certain to lose
largely if we do not do it, for, as we said be-
fore, these citizens must either be supported
by their own labor, by munifcence, or pub
| lie charity. In either of the latter cases the
meaey will come out of US, without equival ent,
coupled with the degradation of the recipient,
while in the former, while pay the money
| .l. "a
and the morale of the men will be preserved
In the Irish famine, Great Britain adopted a
scheme Of public works by which large EN-
ployment was given, and it was this course
alone which prevented the most fearful riots
1t has also been her policy, when the opera
tives of England have been thrown out of en-
| ployment, and the works thus erected have
been Of lasting value, and have in themselves
paid the interest of the money expended. In
New Orleans, during the rebellion, while the
Union authorities held the city, the same policy
was adopted and the people preserved from
starvation while the city was permanently i'm
proved. In New York, during period of the
greatest financial distress, the "Central Park
was placed in its present beautiful condition
principally with the view of affording employ :
ment to their citizens and the property around
II has Increased in taxahla valne- sufficiently to
more than meet the interest on the cost. In
stances of this might be multiplied indefinitely
but these are sufficient. Our city authorities
are men of practical sense and could easily
select class of improvements which will be
the taxable value of property. If the season
is not the most propifious for the labor, still
men could be paid for what they accomplished,
and they would larralv nrafar Il tn hncnnninn