The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1869-07-22
Especial Correspondence ofthe Cincinnati Gazette
LETTER FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

WOrkmen and Cheap Labor
An Important QUestiOn-Its
Main Aspects.
SAN FRANCISCO, June %.
What of the Chinese? Much that is in
teresting and important. There are in
round numbers one hundred thousand OF
them in the Pacific States, and the new
arrivals now average from fifteen hundred
to two thousand per month. They abound
as laborers along the whole line OF the
Central Pacific Railroad to Promontory
Point. and over this distance have pushed
off into the towns as servants and trades
men, and into the mines wherever allowed
to come. They are spreading eastward
sIowlv. there are a few in Omaha, and
John Chinaman, with his round hat and
pig tail cOiled up under it or dangling be-
tween his heels, his long blue shirt which
he wears over his blue pantalOOns, will
shortly be no curiosity in the Mississippi
Valley. He is on his way in force to
make his future employers visit.
Chinatown, as the quarter of the city in
which the Celestials liveis called, is GER
tainly one of the most interesting spots to
visit in California. There are about dOz-
en- blocks whose four sides swarm with
them, and halfa dozen streets for dis
tance of several squares are filled with
their stores and shops. tits a lively scene.
The Chinaman moves quick, and the
stream in the streets seems constant,
though it is heaviest when those employ
ed over the city pour out from their quar-
ters to their places of employment in the
morning, and return at flood tide at night,
Nearly all are dressed alike, in long
blue overshirts and pants. The round
straw hat is, however, rapidly being aban-
doned for the American felt, and the pecu-
liar clogs and shoes for our boots. The
higher class of merchants wear a similar
dress in style, of a dark and fine cloth,
and the rank and station is shown by the
length and thickness Of the cue. The Ia
dies may be glad to know that these citi-
zens of the FlOwery Kingdom brought
with them the art of weaving most decep-
Tive additions into their hair, so that no
matter what the crop is the ladies can
have waterfalls of any given size, and the
men of standing, even of any length.
Through all these streets, flaming red and
yellow hand bills, covered with columns
of their peculiar characters, tell these null
titudes of sales, and cheap goods, of letters
land new arrivals, of theatres and places
where laborers are wanted. Every store
has its Chinese sign, and most of them an
English one also. Chy Lung & Co., are
lold merchants of wealth and standing; so
are Hip Yik and Hip WO. They sell silks
land ivory goods, inlaid work, teas, China
ware, table ware, groceries, cigars, and
the countless other articles which are in
cluded in the name "curiOus." Their
word or bond is good as gold among the
bankers and merchants of the city. Hung
Lung sells you cigars. Gem Lee, Hung
Lee, Hip HO and other firms with similar
names, make your cigars, mend boots or
inC
ket stalls abound in articles which Amer |
leans know little about. Dried fish from
an inch to two or three inches in length, |
are brought from China in great num-
bers, many kinds of roots, strong if not
fragrant kind of butter, rice in large guam
! titles, several kinds of peas and beans, |
and a great variety of similar cheap |
food. They use pork in all forms, and |
very little of the animal goes to waste
In all these stores accounts are footed up |
with counting frame, strung with paral-
lei bars, upon which slide buttons of rose
wood, and with this their bookkeepers
ontstrip our method of addition. The |
books are kept with brush, and with
neatness which is surprising.
HOW THE CHINESE COME.
| Six years ago the emigration began in
earnest. Before there had been only |
enough on the coast TO make them more
than curiosity. They came quietly and
engaged in such labOrs as they could OBJ
tain. They worked for a tribe, were tenn
perate, industrious, honest and respectful. |
They became popular, and consequently
| inquiry for them soon increased the sup
ply. The numbers which answered the
call created alarm among the classes which
| had previously mOnopOliZed labor, dema-
gogUles caught at the opportunity of pan
dering to the lower classes, and began to
denOunce the newcomers. From that
time John has seen trouble enough. But
his friends are rapidly increasing now,
and he has already obtained foothOld
J from which he can not be driven. He is
here, and his friends and neighbOrs are
coming. No power in America, as ouri
laws are constituted, and considering the1
demand for labor on the whole coast, can
| drive him back, even if any considerable
number of respectable citizens should de-
sire to bid him goodbye.
The fact is, there is not such widespread
prejudice against the Chinese as Eastern
people have been led to believe existed in
California. The large majority Of respec-
table people of both parties consider their
presence a blessing. The lower class of
foreign labOrers oppose their coming, and
! persecute them whenever opportunity oe-
ours. The Irish are their worst enemies,
but Irish capitalists who employ labor are
glad to obtain their services.
Politicians, or rather the unsCrupulOus
demagogues among politicians, have
caused most of the trouble. To secure the
support of the most reckless and vicious
portions of the population, they have
framed unjust laws, and winked at outra-
ges and abuses which are disgrace to the
I Ga T,1,v, FNyT hIG
skill, patience, exemplary conduct, indus
try, and moderate charges for labor, is
slowly but steadily working his way.
As the State refused them protection, +
they formed companies to aid, and so far
as possible, to protect each other. There
are now six of these in San Francisco, each
under the direction OF Chinese merchants
of wealth, culture and standing. The di-
rectOrs of these companies have common
place of meeting, and their organization
is complete.
! The existence of these associations has
given rise to the story that the Cinnamon
who were brought over were really held
in a kind of slavery by these corporations,
and that they were actually bought and
sold like slaves. There is no truth in
this. The companies were formed as be-
nevolent associations, and in no respect do
they depart from their original design.
Each company represents a certain district
in China, and all who arrive have the Op-
portunity of joining the particular one
covering the place from which they come.
Each is free to become a member or not,
as he chooses. The fee of membership is |
ten dollars. For this he receives assis-
tance from the directors and their agents
in obtaining employment; he is taken in
to the company's lodging houses and
boarded free, or at very small expense, till |
he obtains place, and whenever he leaves
or loses his situation, or comes in from the |
farms or the mines, he finds free lodging
place, and a hospital in case he is sick.
Whenever a ship arrives with immigrants |
these directors board her with a small |
steamer which they own, and all new COM
ers are escorted to the lodging houses or
otherwise provided for. Such informa-
/ tiOn is given them as they stand in need
of; assistance is rendered at the Custom
/ House, their baggage is brought off free in
the company's wagons, and in short ev-
/ erything that these companies can do is !