, 1877-08-26
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
Result of Mr. Gibbs Invitation tt
People to Call On Him.
The Kind Of Persons Who Would Be
Ready to Go on Farm.
The Proposition to Go to Texas Looked
on with Favor by MI. G.
Beassas Nhy Working on Shares in tht South
Failed Few fears Aso.
To tho Editor Of The 1'ribuat.

To the Editor Of The Tribunt.
CHICAGO, Aug. 24.-1n closing IN article to
TEE TE1BuSE Of last Sunday upon the subject
pf some plan by which the unemployed Of our
ctr might be aided in settling upon cheap land,
for the purpose OF ascertaining il any considera-
bic number Of persons could be found who de-
sired to DO SO, invited all who felt so disposed
to call at my office during tho week. Up to the
prescut time nearly 800 persons have called and
registered their names. and these persons rep
resent more than an equal number Of those who
cesircd to report through them. In some cases
thcv have said, ''Thcrc are a dozen or more
families OF us who would be glad to go to the
country if there can be any practical way
opcncd.'' So that during the week there have
not less than 1000 families reported {cither di-
r,ctly or Indirectly their desire to 20 to the
country to settle upon new lands. In order
that might be able to show to the public the
class OF people they represent, have made:
registry of their names, residence, nationality,
employment, whether possessed Of anv practical
knowledge Of farming, size Of family, and
amount Of means they could command TO help
themselves in making settlement.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST 100 EEG1sTEREp:
which is fair average Of the whole, gives thc
following results:
.Satiouadtis- 81 rer cent; Scotch,
EC10Q1G1flAH. [tLF.llsI@ Tvs tEl A1A3
French, 4; irish, 20; Canadian, 7.
Occupations IS; carpenters. "a;
tho remainder divided among nearly all branches
ol mechanical trades and business. Those who
report as laborers are far above the average of
the common laborer Of the city.
Experience in Farn.ing-Seyenty-four were
raised on farms In this country OF Europc, and
claim 10 hare a practical knowledge ol farm
fnr; Is have worked on farms more or less, but
do not claim to be practical farmers; and IL
-IrrA~ fS1 fArrY 9$1AFr
4ges-Between 20 and 30 years. 80; between
30 and 10 years, IS; over 40 years Of age, a.
Sac Of Families number OF children re-
ported in 100 families cages from to 20 years)
2l4. or an average Of 2. Il TO each family.
amount Of Ied,.s-About Is PCT cent could
command some small means ranging from 500
to s4oo or $500. Some five or sir report avail
ab1c means q unincumbefed property from
$1,000 to So co., These persons would prefer to
Join colony rather than strike out alone.
About 20 70 Is per cent have some property, but
soincumbcred that little If anything can be saved
from it, and the remainder are entirely without
means except their household effects.
E.np.o1unent-A few who have called have
steady work at the present time, but at low
wares. Some have only occasional iobs, but
tho largest share have not only no work, but no
prospect OF obtaining any IN the city; Many
say they have had to sell their tools and house
hold effects to obtain food.
General Chdracter-From the foregoing the
reader viii be prepared for what
/ now state: that Us 3 class they are
Intelligent, reliable men Of good charac-
tcr and labits. Many Of them have car
ricd on business operations OF their OVID as
and builders. etc.
/ fully believe that on a rigid scrutiny Of
character, habits, intelligence, and reliability.
fully Is per ceat would bear the test, and De
to locate on land they would faithfully live up
TO ary contrasts entered into and would, By
their industry and energy, in few years, achieve
u comfortable Independence. While portion
Of those families are in condition to get
through the winter without MD, the majority
ran sec nothing before them but suffering and
priyation, and the humiliation OF eating the
bread Of charity. They are not OF the class With
whom a state OF chronic poverty ls their
normal condition, aud who have little care a
whether their bread comes from the Relief
Society or County Agent, or Is earned
by their own labor, but hare been brought from
a condition OF comfort to destttution through
the same influences which have made many
...nil4ionaircof five years ago into the bankrupt
OF to-day
repeat from my previous article, We have
the three clcmcnts-unlinitcd quantities OF
cheap and fertile land lying unproductivc, capa-
Zone: any amount Of intelligent. experienced,
rc,;abIc men who would be glad to settle upon
and cultivate these lands, but lack the means to
get to them, build cabin, and supply them.
heh Mt an mere au be made productive: and
Ta..i r,anev iv;no if1Ic in banks for the want
- .r.rs n whfch il can be profitabiy used.
THE PRoBLEM FOR SOLUTION
:, ,,o1v +ha canirn1ist and moncyeGi man can use
his money In placing these people upon the
lands in such q way as to be sure that every
1n11ar sn used will in time be returned, to him
LII interest.
" nTn IDEAS mn this subject we're given in my
nr,r;ous ar1icIc and wc-c that these capitalists
l.a,i5 az safe business enterprise purchase
uac 1srnc 4rscts ~ of cean lands, well iocated and
lat:ie IN a centra1 location upon them colonies
- sar twcntr-fyc to fifty ca1efully-sclected
9,;;;ee ~, 4rac+s If e;ohty acres each selling at
.1n'sTs ~ af m ncr cent on purchase price
,st an n,, fo1iir as 1,ieht be- found NECESSARY
asiast ss;,i choan nonses securing team, tools
,J eaa5. so1lioc- land m CONTRACT and retaining
an 1;aa s.eu n Ss1I team am 1neis. etc, charging
~! !sn -+oroe+ ~ land and advances o1
asoaai o..s .s-one-tr for The first two or three
easooat ~, h;cR thc nr;nrinnl is to be paid
}eI 1,..Hs,an,e liz Tia sn,t1e,nent of such .
III ~ ha ae,,+-o ~ fou.nshn wor,ld double
tp.ons ~ -a,;,,rr Eeine of ali the Remaining
,e 49, ,rn,,1G attract settlers Tor such lands
sahas, h o,,i n h,,s, Ior cash and make their own
;'.,,.s 49, "Uu.u Tne cn1ouists mirht be allowed
tpa fnr .l,ef,Acam. Tools. ctc.. in breaking
~ Ps ~ ."s1a ,1tt;so lands for the nyoDrictors
anu tS.e!'S ~. irars h,ve nartia1lv in1nroycd
MAo "ou1" aS sa 80 eaia ~ frnmi1rsnts Will