The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-23
The Chinese in California.
Their Nussber-Fo,r They Work-What We
Are Doisg For Them.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. 81.

Ex-GOv. Seymour, Mt mass meeting Of
workingmen held In Utica on the Sd inst.
stated that .'there arc now about 10000
Cinnamon In this country" and ian old
resident of California" who signs mmself
M. James,on Kelly" In The World Of
tho 9th and llth Of Oct, ailirms that tho
Chinese In California alono are ''variOusly
estimated from 100. 900 to SOC, 1000" These
numbers are simply fictions.
During the year 1869 the arrival 0f
Chinese in this State were 12,76l; the de-
parturcs wcrc l3,l0i, making n decrease
last year of 343. Tho number of Chinese
In this city at the close of 1869 was $4,000;
the numbers now are 1877. showing n
decrease In this city OF 2,l83. At the be-
ginning of this year there were In this
State Al 900 Chinese. Since that time
there have left 1t for other States 1000,
leaving the total In this State of $1,000.
On the 1st of January last, there were in
the II States and Territories Of the Union
where the Chinese reside, 1000 Of that
race. Since that the increase of the ar
rivals Of Chinese over the departures. ut
all the ssaports of tho United States. does
not exceed 6.000. making tho total popu-
latin of Chinese $1,000 In all the States
and Territories nj this date,
These figures show decrease in this
city, in 10 months, OF 2.l83, and In the
State, 1000, and an increase Of only 6,000
In all of the States and Territories of the
Union. The popular impression was that
there were 10000 Chinese In this city; the
correct number Is 1857. Mr.. Jameston
Kclly's "variously estimated" "100,0 900 to
100000" Chinese In California alone
dwindles to $1,000; ex-Gov. Seymours
"150. 900 Cinnamon in our country tum-
bes down to $1,000; and his statement
that an ''equal number (l50,0OO brought
here by selfish and designing men may bc
SO placed rs 10 force down the wages OF
workingmen." comes to this, that ut the
average rates Of arrivals over departures
for the last 10 months.--800 pcr month
It would take % years for the 10000
Chinese tn arrive in this country.
In this controversy one of the tricks OF
Inrtisans Is to make an impression on
workingmen. that the country Is going to be
hooded with Chinanen who will deprive
the laborer and tho artisan Of their work
and wages and their children Of breMl.
But the facts aud figures here given will.
to honest, inquiring minds, dispose Of the
false statements. .-
Chiuamen are not lowering the price of
wages In this State. Where they are Gnu
plOyed in the construction of railways, or
in making roads. tho lowest calculation
Is. that three Cinnamon can do the work
of two experienced, able-bOdied natives,
.nJ I'll -, ,,a;J In ,,rnvN,rtinn IN THAR
work. The white man generally gets $50
and board per month. and the Chinaman
$50 without board. While this estimate
may be admitted. the fact Is, that during
tho building Of the Central Pacific rail-
way, n test was frequently made of the re-
spective merits of the white men and Chi
namen. and the invariablc result was, that
the Chinese were able tn do rs much work.
and rs well. In the same time rs the most
experienced white hands. White men
would be employed almost exclusively on
such works. but In n:any cases they find It
too severe; In the vast majority Of the
cases they drink, fight, and riot, and then
strike for higher wages or shorter hours.
Then the Cinnamon step In, make their
bargain, do tho work, and eoonomize their
money. fIi'
The same Is the case with house scr
wants. White women would naturally bc
preferred but Bridget is ignorant, inso-
lent and exacting. and 80 John takes her
place, and, IL experienced gets tho same
wagcs-fiom $40 to s25 per month and
board. His politencs., good nature, will.
ingness to work and learn, and his trust
worthiness, make him general favorite.
Il is just the same with porters and con-
6dential messenger. Tho reasons that
secure the Chinese places as house scr.
wants, procure for them situations Of this
kind. They can all read, write and cir
culatc in their own language, and . large
number Of them in English. while ,6.3S5
Of their enemies in this city do not know
A form B, but feel at the samo time quite
competent 70 take charge Of tho American
Army and Navy. % ~
The winning party in this contest may