Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-04-22
Cheap John.


we'll written communication from DIR. 5.
A. Merrell on the Chinese question,
which merits the careful perusai OF all
who seek TO inform themselves OF The
nature OF the controversy. The Doctor
says:
Step by step the Chinese are forcing
themselves into the industries OF the
Pacific coast. and what they once gain
they never abandon. The slipper OF the
Chinaman 10 shod with steel, and be
pulverizes everything he treads upon.
Hundreds OF poor men had established
small manufactures and were doing well
until driven out by the inevitable Chi
nese. White men have been driven TO
drink, and white women TO still worse,
by this pitiless and irresistible Asiatic
competition that conquers everything
and relinquishes nothing. In the city OF
| San Francisco, according to writer In
the Chronicle, the shoe and boot facto-
rjes, few years since, furnished en-
ployment to over 700 American work
men. Now, Notwithstanding the great
| increase OF business in that department,
they employ only 200. The Chinese
have absorbed all the remainder OF that
important branch Of trade. At first em-
ployed as hands by many Of the small
manufacturers in place OF American OPP
eratives, because cheaper. they have at
length superseded and driven out the
capitalists themselves. They have mo-
nopolized the vegetable, berry and small
fruit business OF San Francisco county,
and have taken it entirely out OF the
hands Of the Italian, French and other
gardeners and fruit growers near the city.
They have already carried nearly all the
small trades and occupations, and have
made large inroads upon the higher.
They build all the railroads on the coast,
and they have now upon the Central Pa
cifc railroad been taken into employment
along the entire line as hands upon the
road, and i'll the engine rooms. White
men being retained only as section
bosses.
The fish business has been captured by
John, and he now exports annually to
China million dollars worth of this
article, besides what is consumed at
home. Indeed so terrible had become
the inroads made upon the young stock
of fish by the Chinese, that the Legis.
lature felt called upon to pass law al
its last session to prevent their utter de-
struction.
In the country the Chinaman is fast
taking the place of the Apglo-Ameriean
upon the farm.
John takes along with him his bed and
cuisine and supplies his own board and
lodging. Some barn or other out house
or the protecting branches Of some
friendly tree, afford his ample protection
from the weather. This makes him 6
very convenient laborer, and he is
"cheap," and the farmers are fast learn
ing to tr ain and utilize him.
He is fast supplying the wealthy agri
cuturist with cheap and abundant ser
vile labor, that in the course of time viii
reduce the American laborer to the con
dition of the "poor whites" of the South
before the war. Even now the white
laborer in California almost universally
initiates John in itinerating over th,
country with his bed upon his back
sleeping wherever he can find a place
and eating at another table than the ont
occupied by his employer.
OF course under such system the con
dition of the white laboring man in Cali
fornia will not improve, socially, moral.
or industrially, as the rich become NOR
wealthy and less dependent on the whit
f element as labor force.
| --S-~--A-
As STRANGE AS TRUE.-It is trite re
! mark that truth is stranger than fictior
n and new illustration of it is given i
e the case of remarkable coincidenc
which we are about to record. A yea
or more ago young couple were maj
ried in this city and went on shol
bridal tour. During their absence the
. were members of q party that went OF
: to fish for salmon. BY an accident th
{ husband lost his wife bridal ring ovel
a board, and as it was impossible to reco,
er it then they gave up all ideas OF eve
u seeing it again. But few days ago the
y opened can of picked salmon. As b
was cutting the tin the husband remarke
in sportive way that the can had bee
= put up near the place where they lo'
4 the ring, aud perhaps they would find
!, inside He removed the top and wa
X startled to catch glimpse of glitterin
IS and sparkling object, partly exposed an
n partly hid. With greedy haste |
a snatched it. and found that it was n,
= the diamond ring, but piece of sold
9 that had been detached from the cal
Vallejo Chronicle,