Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-07-30
T HE MIN EsE.
Interesting Facts About Them W al
They Can dG-Iaow they Live and " hat
o they Believe

From very interesting letter from the
special San Francisco correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette we make The following
extracts regarding the new class of citizens
rapidly pouring into our country from the
Oriental Empire:
What of the Chinese Mach that j.
interesting and important. There are IN
round numbers one hundred thousand OF
them in the Pacific STATES, and the rev
arrivals now average from fifteen hundred
to two thousand per month. They abound
as laborers alone the Whole line of The
Central Pacific railroad to Prcmontprs
Point, and over this distarcc have pushed
Oft into the towns as servants aud trades
men, and into the mines wherever allowed
to come. They are spreading eastwardly
slowly; there are a few in Omaha. and
John ChinamAn. with his round hat and
pig tai: coiled under it or dangling te-
tween his heels. lis long blue shirt which
he wears over his pantaIoons, will shortly
be no curiosity in the Mississippi Valley
He is on his way III force to make his fu,
ture Eastern employers d visit.
Chinatown, rs the quarter of the city in
which the Celestials hive is called, is Ger
tainly one OF the most interesting spots to
visit in California. There are about do
zen blocks, whose four sides swarm with
them. and half dozen streets for a dis
lance OF several squares are filled With
their stores and shops. It is live scene.
The Ch!naman moves quick, and the
stream in the streets seems constant,
though it is heaviest when those employed
over the city pour out from their quarters
to their places of employment in the NOR
ming, and return in the flood tide at
night.
California is blessed with gold, and rich
soil, and charming climate. It's resources
are beyond computation. Its best citizens
speak of these, and then say that Of ali
their blessings that of Chinese labor is one
of the greatest. The whole business and
commerce of the State was ianguishing be-
cause Of the scarcity Of laboIeIs. But just
in the time of greatest need the relief came.
Women were few in California, house SER
wants could be found for the wealthiest
alone. But John arrived, and though he
knew nothing of American housekeeping
or cooking, he learned both with almost
single lesson. And taken as a class there
are no better servants in the land to-
day than these, if indeed there is any class
SO good. And they are equally as efficient
as cooks, chamber maids Or nurses. Show
them once or twice how to do anything
Wlbliiu IuuSG III tHtif uLu LII
household matters it is wide one, and he
was shown to the end of his days
But for John the Pacific Railroad would
have been delayed three years. AS an
artist with shovel or drill, wheel-barrow
and cart he has proved himself unsurpass-
ed. He is temperate, has no rows, is not
at home in q riot, knows nothing Of
strikes, has few holidays, boards himself,
cooks his own food to his own liking, does
his own washing, keeps himself scrupulous-
" clean, is always respectful, contented
and jovial. He is above all other Glasses
most useful and pleasant person to build
railroads with.
An then he is good at almost everything
else where Intelligent labor is required
The largest and finest wooden mill on the
coast, and in fact whose work is not equal
led elsewhere, employs Cinnamon alone
This company, after making very heavy
contracts, were subjected to the test of a
general strike among their white workmen.
10 yield to the demands was to lose large
ly, to stop was to be ruined. In this strait
they decided to try Chinese. Enough
we're selected to attend all the machinery,
and in few days the mill was running
again up to its full capacity, and produc-
ing its best quality of goods. Ana here
the most improved machinery known in
such establishments is in use.
They do all the work in the most extern
eive shot towers in the West. They make
all fine articles of gentlemen's wear where
the neatest machine sewing is required
They bind books and make books ; they
set type without knowing the language !;
they carve with great skill in short, they
are learning all trades rapidly, and becom-
ing versed in the mysteries of all heavy
machinery, and delicate and labor saving
machines as well and in all their move
ments are about as acute and regular as
the machinery itself. Most of the beauti
full photographs and microscopic views
which the Central Pacific Railroad Compa-
ny has sent throughout the East are
printed, finished and mounted by Chi
namen.
Ninety eight per cent of those who
come here can read and write their own
language, Most Of them are rapid in fig
uring. Their children learn our language
quickly the parents with difficulty,
though they soon manage to acquire
stock of words and sentences which an
swer their purposes. They show great
anxiety to send their children to school
where English is taught, though as yet
few facilities have been given them, for
while they pay full school taxes, they have
as yet been furnished but one school house
for forty pupils. AS class, there is none
SO law hbiding-not even the Americans,
and none more honest. They pay all taxes
cheerfnlly and carefully, and the School
tax of the State, though they have very
small returns for the latter.
They are idolaters- This is the most
difficult point in the whole problem
Still, those who suppose that American
civilization cannot stand against few
thousand or even . few millions Chinese,
are borrowing muoh needless trouble.
Contrary to the opinions of most, the
Cinnamon erects no idol as God. He
would noisooner do this than the Chris
tian. His faith is this: God is good and
kind, and so merciful that He will under
no circumstances do us anything bnt good.
But the Evil One hates us, and is ever
watching an opportunity to injure and de-
stroy us we must conciiate him. And
so Joss or Devil houses are erected, and
incense is burned constantly, and offerings
made to conciliate tho Devil.
n: SnHn of