The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-08-02
A PROFITABLE INDUSTRY.
A Novel Means of LfvIihood I'm which
Citizens of Detroit are Engaged.


detroit Post and TribuBe.l
There is an enterprise carried on in
Detroit which is not generally known,
and never appears in the statement OF
the city's varied prosperous industries.
It's novelty is such that it has never as
yet attained the dignity of a name.
It is carried on when a majority
of citizens are asleep. Those en-
gagged in it prosper upon the
carelesshdss and misfortunes of
Others Their income defes definite pre-
diction, but can be depended on for
handsome return on the capital invested.
The few engaged in this industry might
be termed Fighters" The pioneers in
the business were gas-hghters. Scarcely
one of their number, who has been en-
gagged with the craft for any consider
able length of time, has failed to find
one or more articles which afforded a
handsome addition to his regular in
come. Almost every night there was
valuable find or two, and as knowl-
edge of the fact came to few men who
were waiting for something to turn up,
they saw in it golden opportunity, and
are now laying up treasures from what
they can find.
One of these individuals lives in Closes
alley and is negro. At the very peep
of day he may be seen abroad, travelling
at good round space, scanning the side
walk and doorways, and swooping down
on anything of sufficient value to repay
the loss of minute or so. There are also
three men who travel together, their
rounds generally beginning about mid
night and continuing until daylight.
They walk abreast, taking in the side
walk, scanning it as they go, the center
man carrying bull's-eye lantern at
tached to the front of his coat. They
go as rapidly as is consistent with their
business, and nothing of valu escapes
their notice. A basket is the receptacle
for many articles, money goes into
their pockets, and heavier finds some
times necessitate the sending of a detail
of one or two for assistance or a wagon.
What they pick up comprises almost
every movable commodity worn or car
ried upon the strt S. They secure hats,
handkerchiefS without number, coats,
money, umbrellas, feathers of value,
occasionally valuable watch dropped
by some night marauder, purses, rings,
DlodStpliIo, CuiCS, ClietHIoj D1dCClCCo,
keys, letters, gloves, furs, skirts, and
even hose, dropped by some luckless
adventures. An invoice of these find
ings would show an immense annual
aggregate. A plume picked up not
long since netted eight dollars to the
finder. A watch was quietly disposed
of for fifty dollars, and the purchaser
had bargain. Much of the jewelry is
sent to a distant market. Ready money
is tucked away and tells no tales.
Curious finds are also made An old
lamp-lighter said to reporter: 81 have
picked up two bushels of potatoes when
| they were worth dollar and half per
bushel, and no one even called for the
bags"
Another had found a new suit of
clothes, neatly done up, and found them
a good fit without the change Of a but
ton Some disciple Of Bacchus tucked a
twenty-dollar bill outside his vest pocket
and the eagle-eyed finder gathered it in
| Purses containing several times that
amount have been picked up, and the
business is said by those informed to be
lucrative one
A peculiar case is that of an aged
negro who is found around the market
building at an early hour during the hot
weather. He gathers up the heads and
feet of chickens, declaring when ques-
toned: "Boss, dem am de quintessence
OBJ de fowel. De possum am de only
bird dat CELEBRATES desc fob regalah ole
time soup" He never misses a squash,
bunch of vegetables, or some other
bit of diet.