The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-16
The Price OF the pistuI,s

we print, this morning the letter of u
correspondent, in Which plan Is suggested
for SECURING the introduction into the State
Ola number OF Chinese sufficient TO give The
planters and farmers as much efficient agri-
cultural labor rs they require. The plan ap-
pears to be good one, but it is suggested
that il would be necessary TO fix beforehand,
tho rate OF wages to DC paid the immi-
| grants as we'll as the scale oil rations AMI
the period for which they would certainly
he paid.
At present, there is little precise and
definite Information TO DC had in regard to
the wants and peculiari;ics of the Chinese.
TIE planters who agree to take q number OF
them arc cropping in the dark, md do not
know whether they offer enough, in tho right
way. to induce the cautious Asiatic to immi-
crate to the South. Every ounce OF fact is
worth pound OF theory, and VIC are glad to
hc able to give, from letters received from
the Hong Kong correspondents OF Mcssrs.
Robert Murc g. Co., some idea OF the only
way in which contracts with the Chinese
can bn safely made.
The correspondents referred 10, writing on
October 18th of the present year, say that
it is essential ut the very start to determine
thclogaiity in the United States of contrncts
made with Chinese laborers This should
be easily done. The law is plain and cx
pHcit, and is intended to prevent the coolic
trade, not free Chinese immigration. The
corr Spon,lents say that agricultural labor
Ion,
''iy the distress OF Il dear rice season. and
ellen they prefer emigration TO countries
''whrrc other O; their coun;rymcn have been
''hfore, have been well treated and have re-
'turncd home again. to advcnturng to new
'locaity." For instance, they go readily to
British India and 10 San Francisco, but are
lcss eager to 70 TO Dutch Guiana, "while 81
"SHip reQuiri '"rac hundred Chinese for
'Peru. ian ,rt,) and Offering liberal and
'trustworthy contracts, has been about ten
''months procuring her complement" Short
periods OF serTice too, are preferred.
The method OF obtaining the laborcrs il
| somewhat rs follows: On Chinese being
| required, the contract is translated into Chi
ncse, and under certain local and provincial
guarantees, is circulated in the proper official
quarters in the country districts. Brokers
and agents are also sent on their travels in
the same quarters, and The emi,rants who
engage with them are sent on 10 Hong Kong
Here they have 10 wait until the ship in
ready, and are fed and clothed ut their en-
p'oycc3 expense. 4 bonus Of eight dollars
il given them upon engagement, ~ we'll as
= couple oi sIi.5 OF c!olhrs, blankets ml,s,
pillows, &C., and III advance of a lnons! 8
| wages, seTen dollars. \ fem ,;c labor,r re-
| coivcs iOnus o. twenty dollars, ani il
children accompany the man and wife, n
| further toa"s s paid. a lonus Of sixty dol
lars is to io pail at .hc termination OF the
| contract, Or the iaiorar has inst .aI ut lis
option ifec paSslgc. with ratons, back 70
China The foregoing expenses before en-
! harkaion average ahout seventy dollars,
The dollar bein., taken us equal TO As. 6l.
sterling Provisions for the voyage iayn 70
be found by the employer, as we'll az ineAi-
Cal atteniinca and passage money, the
| whole cost!n., from Gil TO Els lcad
According to the calculations Of the Hong
hon5 firm OF WHOM We have already spoken,
the totul cost OF each nal. lal>orcr, besides
his monthly wages, would be, for bonuses,
/ advance, &c, seventy dollars, and expenses
OF passage say cl3 sterling. OF equal to Sl70
in Federal currency.
These particulars ere Of great interest
coming from well known and responsible
firm. and to make the Information Of our
readers upon this subject as complete as
possible, VIC publish in another column the
form oi agreement usually adopted by per-
sons engaging Chinese to work in Dutch
Guiana.