Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-23
FOREIGN LABOR.
How IL Can Re SecEred Through
the Bureau OrAgFicuIlure, Sta
tistics, Mines and Immigration
.InferestiDg Information for
Farmers and Others.

American, 2l.l
The following letter was written by
Commissioner Hawkins yesterday, in
answer to an application made TO the
Bureau of Agriculture, Statistics,
Mines and immigration, and will
serve as a response to a large number
of letters Of inquiry on the same sub
ject:
NASHVILLE, Sept. 10. 1681.-Mr.
Blair Pierson, Ripley, Tenn: Your
favor of recent date is before me. |
have established an agency in New
York City with the view OF supplying
the demand for labor in this State.
To what extent this arrangement may
succeed | cannot as yet say. The ar
rangement is this; Parties wishing
laborers file applications in this Blu
reau, as you have done, stating amount
and kind of labor, wages which they
are willing to pay, etc. With this
application they deposit with me the
funds necessary to defray the expense
of procuring and forwarding the labor
ers desired. l then direct the agent
at New York to secure and forward
such laborers as are required, sending
through him an order to the railroad
agent at New York for transportation,
for which, when furnished, he draws
on me. The immigration agent se-
cures the laborers required as soon as
he can, using all possible care to Sc
cure only such as will be satisfactory.
1t may sometimes be difficult or i'm
possible to procure such as are wanted,
in which Ease the money deposited
will be refunded. In other cases, the
orders may be filled after more or less
delay.
| notice in the list you send me Of
parties wishing laborers, that all ex-
cept yourself wish female labor exclu.
sively. 1t is very difficult to get girls
to come 10 Tennessee except in com.
pany with the families to which they
belong, and especially at the wages
named by you. A competent German
girl who arrives at Castle Garden
without any incumbrance of family
can readily command from ten to
fifteen dollars per month in the city
or vicinity. The only way to secure
the girls for homework in Tennessee
is to secure homes for the families and
employment for the male members, as
well as the females.
The amount necessary to cover ex.
penses Of procuring and forwardin(
laborers will be five dollars for the
services Of the agent in New York fol
each laborer forwarded by him. By
an arrangement with the agent Of the
Tennessee & Virginia Air Line, they
will be forwarded to Nashville fol
Sl2.50 per head. To points east O
Nashville the cost would be some
thing less, while to points west Of thii
city it would be something more, say
to your town, about SIS The cost o
transportation would be refunded t
you out Of the wages earned by thu
laborer. This is the cheapest rate
have been able to secure.
| regard this matter of introducin,
foreign labor into our State as one o
importance. To be successful tn,
effort must be conducted with stric
regard to integrity and fair dealing
The German and Scandinavian people
from whom these laborers must most
ly be drawn, constitute, both as labor
ers and as citizens Of the State, a mos
valuable class. As they come anon,
us, ignorant of our language, as wei
as of our laws and customs, they ar,
comparatively helpless. 1t, therefore
behooves every good citizen to soc tina
no advantage be taken of their wan
of information. l should, therefore
not feel at liberty to forward an appli
cation for laborers without satisfactor,
evidence that the parties desiring
them would deal fairly and justly will
them.
| will only add that the labors o
this Bureau in this direction are en-
tirely gratui;ous and will be cheerful,
performed as a public duty. Respect
fully,
A. W. HAWKES., Commissioner.