The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-02

for Labor in Denver.
II was noon. The sun was 6ercely hot.
Pedestrians sought the shady side Of the
street, while the loungets and street loafers
sought out every available nook that afford
ed shelter from the burning rays Of old Sol
A gentleman who is we'll posted on the
question Of supply and demand Of labor in
Denver, turned to his com hpaniom, a Tribune
reporter, as they turned from Larimer street
into Sixteenth street, yesterday, and point
ing to crowd of men who were idling on
the opposite corner, remarked
"How many shoemakers do you think
there are in that gangT
The question was so peculiar; it was put
so sententiously that the the newspaper man
feared for moment that his companion was
laboring under an hallucination. Before he
had framed reply, the gentleman went on
as abruptly as no had asked the first ques-
ton:
am bet hat you'll find shoema ker, a
tailor and two or three laborers in that
crowd"
"What of IL" asked the reporter, trying
to fathom the speakers meaning.
"What OF il ?" echoed the political econo-
mist sternly. "Why, there is just this of it;
There is a demand for the very class of work
which these men are supposed to follow
and yet we find them loafing in the shade.
This is notorious city for loafers I've no
doubt there are at present more than thou
sand men in Denver who do nothing but lie
around the street."
"But how do they lite," put in the report
er, doubtlully.
"They all manage to get square meal OF
two day. They keep their eyes open fol
Handouts"
Handouts" repeated the Tribune man
inqulringly. "What is 'handout p"
"a lunch handed out from back doors OIL
restaurants and hotels. You ask any hotel
man in Denver for a definition of the ex.
preston, if you want to go deeper into it
But to these 900 men," continued the gen
tleman, returning to his original subject
"l believe half OF them wouldn't go to work
if you were to offer them job. The Others
are either too stupid to get work or such
poor workmen that no one will employ them.
large per centage of the men who come
here are mechanics who, having only hall
learned their trades, seek new fields where
they may earn as good pay and stand al,
even chance Of getting work with good me-
ehanics. happen to know that good shoe
makers and good tailors can now get worl.
IN Denver and the towns surrounding a.
first class wages, while laboring men are al.
ways in demand"
Later in the day the reporter improved
that opportunity suggested by the above re-
marks 10 give the readers of the Tribune an
idea Of the demand for labor in Denver at
present. and the wages earned by rnechanl
les, clerks and laborers. %.
The greatest demand for labor in Denver
just now is for class of people who, while
they do not create much of lasting nature
are yet necessary in all well regulated faml-
lies. Bright, honest servant girls arc at q
premium. One hundred Of them could be
furnished with good positions within twenty
four hours. No Irish need apply, and girl.
OF color are not particularly desirable IN
Denver families. American girls are given
the preference, while swedes and Germans
are nearly as desirable. Female cooks are
also wanted. They can earn from $25 Il
$50 per month, according to ability.
From what the newspaper man could
learn there seems 10 be- one class Of labor in
Denver in which the supply is greater thar
the demand; there are more sewing girl
than there is sewing to be done. This ovor.
flooded condition of the seamstrees marke
is explained by the fact that many Of tn,
ladies who come to Colorado in poor health
and not particularly rich in pocket, endeav
or to earn enough money 10 pay their boaYC
with their needle, ofIen making an agree.
ment with their lAndladies to do sewing in
pay for food and lodging. Thus the girls
who are compelled to earn their living by
sewing "seam, gusset and band' find pc
culiar kind Of competition that cannot be
overcome.
The wages paid to hrst-elass mechanic.
and 10 clerks, cooks and servants In Denver
are from 20 TO 25 per cent. higher than the
pay in the East. The following Is a list Of
the average wages paid men in the princi-
pal trades and occupations in this section o
| Colorado