The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-27
WANTED EMPLOYMENT.

lzlng the Administrator of Improvements
employ a hundred additional laborers come
from good and commendable motive, whic
the public will appreciate and commend
The action Of Major Burke in increasing tn
number of new employees at a dollar and
half day will meet with general approba
ton, not alone because the protection of tn,
city from epidemic and other diseases re
quires additional work, but because it is
real act Of charity wisely done to give work
to some of those who are suffering from the
want OF it.
Yet to employ hundred and fifty laborers
for brief period at no more than living
wages Will not go far towards relieving the
army of unemployed men and women in New
Orleans Of all colors and vocations. With a
city of two hundred and forty thousand in
habitants there is not business and labor
enough to employ, during reasonable hours,
the population Of city Of one half that size
If New Orleans contained a population OF 12O,-
900, out of the one-half, or 10000 males,
three-fourths, or 1000, would be of the work
years These would fully suffice to perform
with ease and comfort all the labor that is now
or at any time has been done in the whole of
our enlarged city. IN this we include every
occupation, whether it calls for unskilled
labor, skilled or mechanical labor, profess
sonal and professional employment or
that which takes up time and absorbs atten,
ton during ordinary business.
The work and business now done would |
not afford mole than full employment for
orty-tive thousand working men and BOYS,
nor would the gains on business actually
lone and work performed (wages and profits
lfford comfortable subsistence to more than
wo-thirds of the present population. The
Necessary consequence is that great many
thousands of persons of all races and colors
an find nothing at all to do here A further
consequence is that great many thousands
more are getting wages'and salaries so meagre
$ to be insufficient for a decent support.
len of experience and ability, we'll indorsed
nd eager for occupation, seldom find it, or if
ley find positions, they command salaries (
earcely sdequate to the wants of their
miles What is true of male labor is
lually applicable to that of females in
very employment open to them, from
ousehold servants up to teachers of =.
assics and of female accomplishments.
atistics upon the subject are not accessible, :
1t every observing citizen who has been in i
is city continuously for a tenn of wears
ust agree with us that the labor supply in y
branches, greatly exceeds the demand.
ae proportion OF this excess of supply over o.
maid is not less than one-third and is =
obably nearer one-half.
The mere statement of the case is enough
show to any intelligent person, although =
anger to our city, that there must be very
UGH distress among those classes whose y
ual or sole dependence is upon their wages
n is this distress confined to those who =
rk with their hands when labor can be had.
t it reaches to all who depend upon sala- -
s. chiefly to those wholly unemp' Dyed, but, =;
some degree, to those who feel in their -
aries the pressure Of great competition -
The employment of few hundred labor =.
on the streets can be but drop in the N.
cket. After they are set at work with their -,
IS and shovels, for every one of them -,
re will be twenty others still suffering for oe
Mt OF work. Some are waiting for better n,
es. and great many are wholly unable to n.
away to where the demand for labor is -,
alter and the supply less. a.
he highest charity to the unemployed, -
who are eager to find work, would be to NJ
d them where the demand for labor is con- O.,
1t and where living wages could be earned ho
IRE are more inhabitants in New Orleans 49,,
4 are needed, and the surplus of numbers r.,
r requirements ought to find occupation al
where.
oppressed business has caused enormous txo
nkage is values, and obliged capitalists to 0ls,
ldraw millions of dollars. Hard times ca
3 in the same manner, and for analogous II
ons, driven away professional and business beo
lt and the outhowing tide is only IVA;
ked by inability to sell, or want of re- b.,
tie means to get away respectfully and of
fortably. .