The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1877-08-29
Surplus L Labor-HoW can il be Employ
ed?
The Boston ,J0yrnnL SAYS:

The Boston Journal says:
One extreme follows another During the
war the country bent its energies to that gi-
gantic struggle. When it ceased the peo,
pie Of both sections set themselves at work
to repair its ravages. Both sections had
been drained of all kinds of commodities.
The home markets were bare. There was
lack of nearly everything which pros
porous AID peaceful people need to pursue
the avocations and arts Of peace. Mann.
factures were started on grand scale, and
in passing from the extreme Of four years
spent in the wastefulness Of war to con-
dition of useful production, enterprise
went as far in the opposite direction.
There was great demand for everything,
and our people made the utmost effort to
supply that demand. Railroads running
during the war were not only "worn out"
but a system of railroad building was en-
tered upoa that was out of all proportion
to the demands ofthe business Ofthe coun-
try.
These enterprises called from abroad
thousands of laborers. Mere than this,
these enterprises led to the development Of
Inc iron industry. Hundreds OF furnaces
serc built, This new industry led to the
development of the coal mining business.
These two industries called from Europe
many thousands Of lajorers. Our in
crease in population during that period
was wonderful. Every ship came to our
shores crowded with immigrants. The
increase of population and the vast amount
of employment afforded by these enter
prises stimulated overy other department
of industry. Factories sprung up by magic.
Speculation Was rife. Cities and lare towns
were full OF business and industries which
afforded opportunity for all, and thousands
left the country and the farms where toll
and frugality had made them independent,
and hocked to the manufacturing towns
and cities.
Suddenly there came crash. Railroad
| building came to u standstill. The de-
mand for iron fell Oft. This affected the
coal interest so that in a brief period tens
of thousands Of people were left without
employment. Inflated enterprises, which
gave employment to tens of thousands
more, ended in failure. Cities which had
been expending millions in the aggregate
upon public works ceased to pursue this
questionable policy, and thousands who
had become residents found themselves
and their families without labor and bread.
1t was not long before this cessation Ut
activity in railroad building, iron making,
and the stopping of hundreds ofenterpris-
es began to be felt in the manufacturing
towns. So long as men got good pay
there was an active demand for clothing,
boots, and the luxuries and necessities OF
life, and factories were run at their utmost
capacity. Now, the pay of hundreds of
thousands throughout the country had
ceased, and the owners of factories found
their warehouses crowded with the pro.
ducts of their mills Many were compell-
ed to suspend, while others run with a re-
duced force on part time. In time the re-
action touched every industry and every
| branch of business, so that the number of
unemployed was largely increased in every
! manufacturing town. Business failures by
the thousand followed. Railroads failed
to pay interest on their bonds Every
body who had money invested in business
enterprises or railroad and other securities
lost largely, and an extreme feeling OF
caution and uncertainty followed the sea,
son of confidence and wild speculation.
For three years people have been look.
ing forward to better times. Meanwhile,
many of these people are idle or half EN-.
ployed and hall paid. They are waiting g
by thousands for something to turn up in
| their favor. In all this, one fails to sec
what the government has to do with the
matter, or just where it is responsible.
To find remedy for the present troub.
les-to give employment to the crowd OF
! idle people who would works. the prob,
lem of the hour. One thing is evident
This surplus of people in cities. in the iron