The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-11-29
EmpIOymenlIn the West.

We find the annexed communica-
ton in the Boston Courier. Its truth
will be endorsed by every competent
judge. In all the important cities of
the West, and we republish it for the
benefit Of whom it may concern:"
We are permitted to publish the
following extract from the letter of a
gentleman Of much intelligence and
experience In one of the principal
Western cities to friend IN Boston.
Multitudes may fad its counsel of
great value: I" My object in addressing
you is to speak plainly of a source of
suffering and distress which pre-
walls widely in all the Western
cities, and for which the Eastern
newspapers are In a measure RESPONSE
BILE. / allude to the unqualified
assertions which are continually pub
lished, that here is abundant employ
ment for men who are willing to
work, coupled often with a sheer at
the stupidity aud want of enterprise
of the thousands who are idliDg away
their time at the East, when they
might be building up fortunes for
themselves, and furnish the means of
acquiring fortunes to others, by com
ing here. The assertion Is plausible,
aud to a certain extent true, and yet
il requires qualification, without
which 1t will continue, as heretofore,
to draw thousands here who have no
capacity whatever for the only posi-
tions in which they can be Of service
TO themselves or others. Every west
ern city is crowded with young men
with the best testimonials as to
character and capacity, who are vainly
seeking employment as clerks, book
keepers, "or any position IN which
they can make themselves useful.
In multitudes of cases they are men of
education aud gentlemanly culture,
aud q more painful position can hardly
be conceived than that Of man of
refined feelings, conscious of his own
integrity, aud anxious only for an OPP
portunity to do what he is capable of
doing. with all his heart and soul and
strength, at finding himself looked
upon at best with pity as a kind oil
better class of beggar, and, perhaps,
received with an unfeellng admonl-
ton that he had better go into the
country and go to work on a farm-a
niece Of advice which many of them,
doubtless, would be glad to follow; but
they know, and any man of common
sense ought to know, that their chance
of getting employment on a farm is nc
better than that of a farm labOIeI
would be of getting q place as clerk
in fashionable store. 1t IS idle Il
cd back of this and complain of tht
folly of those who had charge Of theiI
education, that they had not brough
them up differently. That involves 8
discussion on which much may b.
said on both sides, and after all i
does not meet the case immedlatel.
in hand. The fact remains, tina
every year brings thousands of youni
men to these Western cities, OF whom
a small proportion, by dint of supe
rior natural abilities, or the aceiden
of circumstances, become successful
and are pointed out as examples
10 induce others to seek their for
tunes here, while multitudes struggl
on, year after year, upon bare pit
lance. and thousands seek relief II
the hours of desperate hopelessness
from sources which speedily lead t
ruin aud disgrace. This IS sad PIC
ture, and yet Its truthfulness IS ap
parent to any resident of q NJ ester
city, who is in the current OF busi
ness life. Neither Is it true that ms
ebanies are more certain OF IucratlE
emnloyment here than at the Eas
THE wages Of 6rst-class machlnl:
are higher here than in New Englant
and thew are no mOre-I think hard
"A much in demand. The slmp
truth IS this-that we have always
large surplus of men seeking emplo.
ment from others, and no encourage
ment ought to be offered to indus
more to come with the same objeC
But for any man who IS able al
willing to do almost kind of manu-
labor, and has only capital enough,
can contrive by any means to ke'
himself alive until he can get startt
in his business tor himself, the We
offers far greater advantages than Il
East. Such men arc wanted ever
where-men who en- make or {
something which is wanted. 1t tn
can only get started and keep alive
frst their business is as certain
increase as the West is to grow
population; and it will not be 10
before they will begin 10 want |
sistants. who can always be for
among the great army which
always here seeking empleyms
and whose numb VIC!
hardly be perceptlbly diminished
Ire srpply from the Eastern CIT
we've CIT off, since 10 IS o0utinualiy
ornited from Europe. You may +
here English, German and Irish, Il