The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-11
THE PIGTAILS.
The Cost OF Importing Chinese Labor.

The Vicksburg Times reports at consloer-
able length speech Of General W. R. Miles,
who has recently returned from San Francis
co, where he went at the instance Of the Vicks-
1nurg Chamber OF Commerce in the interests Of
the Chinese immigration scheme. The fol-
lowing is portion Of his address:
Can we get this labor? II the United States
Government does not interfere We can. In small
quantities for next year, afterwards as many
as We WISH.
And having satisfied myself that the labor
would suit us, directed my attention to the
question OF encouraging immigration.
Bear in mind that those who are we'll OF, and
have means, do not want to migrate; and that
those who want to come and work for term
of years are not able to pay transportation and
subsistence from China here; but they are
willing and anxious to enter INTO contract IN
for period OF five years, that out OF the total
sum to accrue for the five years labor. enough
shall be advanced, by the party who makes the
contract With them, to pay all expense growing
out of their transportation and subsistence,
and that the balance OF the wages stipulated
for shall be paid to the laborer monthly, quar-
terlv or annually, as may be agreed upon.,
Finding this disposition to exist, made ar
rangements to send to China, by the steamer,
to leave San Francisco on tho 4th OF Septem-
ber, and to contract with as many as transpor-
tation could be. found for. Some 5000 or III, OOO
might have Been obtained in time for the
next crop. But just as this arrangement
bad been completed, MIR. Secretary Boutweli's
letter to the collector at New Orleans was pub
llshed in the newspapers. This letter SEEM
ingIy forbids the coming TO this country OF any
number OF Asiatics under contract for labor, or
service tor o term OF years, entered into in
foreign country; and, in consequence OF this
appai ent prohibition, the party who was to go
out 10 China suggested that he could not en-
counter the risk OF the great outlay for char
teripg and provisioning ships for these labor
ers, 30 long as it was probable. or even possi-
Bile, that the government would interfere with
his delivering them in fulfilment nf the foreign
contract. But he stated to me that IL the land
owners, and others here who wanted this
labor, were willing to run the risk OF the gov
ernment interfering, he would 20 out on the
October steamer and bring as many as trans
portation could be found tor to New Orleans.
Going out in October, the laborers could not
well reach New Orleans before Februlry or
March.
It is impossible to state with precise accu-
racy what this labor will cost, because in exc
cutting the contracts before Chinese authori-
ties. and having them certified before the
American authorities there, certain expenses
for fees whi,h we do not know how to estimate
will have to bs paid. For neither the Chinese
Mandarin nor the American Consul will work
without pay. I feel safe in saying that from
six hundred to six hundred and fifty dollars
Will cover everything, Of which two hundred
dollars must be paid on the arrival of the Ia
borer, and the residue at such intervals Though
The FIVE years. monthly or otherwise, as may
be agreed. Payment to be made IN currency.
not in coin. This will be between ten and eleven
dollars per month, the hirer to supply rations,
the iaborer to clothe himself and pay his
own doctor bills. II this labor is wanted on
these terms, all you have to do is to deposit,
each for himself, with Writ Adams & Co., a
sum OF money in proportion to the number of
iaborers he wants. Whenever a sum shall be
deposited sufficient to cover one or more car
goes, will write or telegraph to San Francis
co. The party engaged there will go over to
China by the first outgoing steamer, and will,
| with all convenient speed, make the contracts,
ship the laborers, aud will deliver them on
board ship, anchored in the stream off the
| Customhouse in New Orleans, his responsible
ty being at an end when anchor is cast, you
taking oil the rick of government interference.