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

We print, this morning, the letter OF
correspondent, in which plan is suggested
for securing the introduction into the State
of o number of Chinese sufficient to give the
planters and farmers as much efficient agri-
cultural labor as they require. The plan ap-
pears to be a good one, but it is suggested
that it would be necessary to fix beforehand,
the rate of wages to be paid the immi-
grants as well as the scale Of rations and
the period for which they would certainly
be paid.
At present, there is little precise and
definite information to be had in regard to
the wants and peculiarities OF the Chinese.
The planters who agree to take number OF
them are cropping in the dark, and do not
know whether they offer enough, in the right
way, to induce the cautious Asiatic to immi-
CRATE to the South. Every ounce OF fact is
worth pound of theory, and we are glad to
be able to give, from letters received from
the Hong Kong correspondents OF Messrs.
Robert Mure g. Co., some idea Of the only
way in which contracts with the Chinese
can be safely made.
The correspondents referred to, writing on
October 18th of the present year, say that
it is essential at the very start to determine
the legality in the United States OF contracts
made with Chinese laborers This should
be easily done. The Law is plain and eX-
p.icit, and is intended to prevent the coolie
trade, not free Chinese immigration. The
correspondents say that agricultural labor
ers ''do not willingly leave China unless forced
Soy the distress OF dear rice season, and
'then they prefer emigration to countries
.:where other Of their conntrymen have been
'before, have been well treated and have re-
ssturned home again. to adventuring to anew
'.locality." For instance, they so readily to
British India and to San Francisco, but are
less eager to go to Dutch Guiana, "while
''ship requiring three hundred Chinese for
s.Peru, "a new port, } and offering liberal and
'trustworthy contracts, has been aoout ten
''months procuring her complement" Short
periods of service, too, are preferred.
The method Of obtaining the laborers is
somewhat as follows: On Chinese being
required, the contract is translated into Chi
nese, 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 emigrants who
engage with them are sent on TO Hong Kong.
Here they have to wait until the ship is
ready, and are fed and clothed at their en-
ployers' expense. A bonus Of eight dollars
is given them upon engagement, as well as
" couple OF suits of clothes, blankets, nuts,
pillows, Sc., and IN advance of months
wages, seven dollars. a female laborer re-
ceives . bonus o. twenty dollars. and if
children accompany the man ond wife,
further bonus is paid A bonus OF sixty dol
lars is to be paid at the termination OF the
contract, or the laborer has instead ct his
OptIOH d l,tC pASSSsoSJ "ieh i"o.VAA'' Wv" W
China The foregoing expenses before en-
barkation average about seventy dollars,
the dollar being taken as equal to IS. Cd.
sterling Provisions for the voyage have to
be found by the employer, rs well as medi-
cal attendance and passage money, the
whole costing from Ell to Els head.
According to the calculations OF the Hong
Kong firm OF whom we nave already spoken,
the total cost Of each male laborcr, besides
his monthly wages, would be- for bonuses,
advance, &C., seventy dollars, and expenses
OF passage say sl3 sterling, or equal to sl7O
in Federal currency.
These particulars are 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, We publish in another column the
form OF agreement usually adopted by per-
yons engaging Chinese to work in Dutch
Guiana