Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-01
WHITE LABOR In VINEYARDS.
EXPERIENCE OF THE SUPERINTEND-
ENT OF THE VIVA RANCH.
The State Board of Trade Ready to
Assist Farmers to Secure Help for
the Coming Season.
IS. Z. Bulletin, July 29th. ]

and applications for situations are daily
made at the State Board of Trade. 1t will
be remembered that last year an earnest
effort was made TO supplant the labor of
Chinese, which had for years been the
chief help in the gathering of the grape
crop. The idea had been suggested before
last season, bat no determined action was
ever taken in the matter until the State
Board of Trade took the initiative step and
placed register in its rooms so that all the
white men and boys desiring to go to the
country could leave their names and ad-
dresses. With the aid of the State Board
of Trade the growers were induced to favor
the project, and Secretary Davies and Cen
eral Manager Brown labored diligently in
behalf OF the movement. Their labors
were crowned with success to a great ex-
tent, as correspondence was kept I'D with
the growers, and in response word was re-
ceived that boys and men would be &C.
cepted and given an opportunity to COM
pete with the Coolie labor. This was the
opening wedge, and information was Gag
erly awaited to learn what would be the
result of the experiment. 1t was not long
IN coming, for the growers who had I'M
dertaken to do away with the Cinnamon
and responded in the affirmative that they
would fill their places with the white
classes, as a rule, sent back reports that
they were satisfied with the manner in
which the work had been performed and
they would follow the same plan when the
next season arrived.
THE NEW EXPERIMENT..
One Of the first persons that answered
the question will you employ white labor
in preference to CHR ese in the picking of
the grape crop" was W. II. Mcintyre,
Superintendent of the famous Vina Ranch,
Tehama county, and who is also President
of the Grape Growers Association of Cali
tornia. That gentleman stated that he was
anxious to solve the question, and directed
the State Board OF Trade to supply the
labor, which was done.
AT the time all the growers that intended
masking the change were aware of the fact
that the white classes would have to be
paid higher wages than the Chinese were
receiving, and as it was themselves that
regulated the wages per day to be paid
which schedule proved entirely satisfac
tory to the white men and boys. all that
was lacking was the opportunity to be
given a chance To work for the rate estab.
IiShed, namely, 81 day and board for bows
who did the picking, and 81 10 10 81 %
and board to those who boxed the fruit
and did harder work than picking. The
coolies for the same work were receiving
81 hay and boarding themselves.
AS stated in the first few lines of this ar
ticle, 1.-The time being close at hand for the
picking of this years crop" reporter of
the Bulletin was detailed to find ont what
the prospects for the present yesr were, and
II as many whites would be employed in
the same work, etc.
THIS YEARS PROSPECTS.
The reporter at once sought out Mr..
Davies, of the State Board of Trade, and
requested information on the subject.
what Is the prospect for white help
going into the country this year," was
asked.
In reply, Mr.. Davies said that. as far as
he could ascertain, it was favorable, but the
grape crop being somewhat later this year.
orders had not commenced to come in on a
large scale as yet
will the demand be equal to that of
last year?'
u have every reason to believe il will,
although the depression that the wine in
dustry is likely to undergo may have some
effect on it, but if the orders come we can
Subpiy lne help.
Have any orders been received for help
from any outside localities?"
Yes, indeed, and we have been dispatch
ing some persons each day for a week;
sometimes five or more, and | would not be
surprised to receive letters for much larger
numbers before long,"
Gould you estimate the number that
Will be likely to go into the country this
year as compared with the last season."
NO, L could not; but if you can find Mr..
Mcintyre, prominent person connected
with the grape growing industry in the
northern portion of the State, be can prob
ably give you some reliable information in
connection with the matter"
on THE VIVA RANCH.
Mr.. Mcintyre was the person now wanted
by the reporter, and snort hunt located
him at the rooms of the Viticultural Com
mission.
Mr.. Mcintyre, as you hired white help
for the picking of the grape crop on the
VIVA ranch last year. will you relate the
success of the experiment."
Yes, shall be glad to do So" be re-
pied, and continuing. he said: "You
know, suppose. that l am probably one
of the pioneers in the business. Last wear
employed large number of bows and
men 10 replace the Cinnamon. With the
boys | had somewhat of time but after
they got settled down to work had not a
partIcle of trouble. One portion of them
found inclined to be rough and some
what of disturbers, but they were soon
weeded out; another portion of them got
nomeslck Tor their mothers; another
thought 1t was a little harder work than
he bargained for. while still another Der
uon arrived at the conclusion that thew
were on on vacation and had come for a
general good time. So by the time, as |
said, that | got them interested in their
labors fonnd had good 65 per cent. of
earnest workers, aud they did their work
to the best of their ability, and in man.
ner that was entirely satisfactory TO me. |
have learned through last years experi.
ence that 1t will not do to take boys that
are too young for the work for sometimes
1t turns out to be laborious and they
weaken, and / prefer to employ large
sized boys and men. Another point that |
gained in knowledge is that. while il is
well and good thing to have an agency
where the boys can register and be gath.
cred together when wanted, it is by far the
best policy to deal with the bows them
selves directly. This season I shall adop,
a new method of employing the bows.
When this help is desired shall notify the
proper parties to gather them together. and
will myself superiptend the selection OF
them. If you deal with boy directly and
make them one of the principal parties to
The transaction, they realize that they have
made an agreement and will look upon il
that there is some responsibility about the
matter. Where the employment of bows
IS made By outside parties, parents or
SUCH they do not regard the contract with
the same feeling as if it were made per
sonally.
HOW TO MANAGE BOYS.
"All of the growers can utilize white help
to splendid advantage if they will use a
little patience and make 8 boy that is ole
enough 10 work realize he IS somewhat OF
a man. speak of boys that range in age
from l6 to Is years. If the boys are allowed
To do their own talking in the making of
the agreement when they reach their ies-
tlnaiiun there is no grumbling, and they
Ind everything just as it was represented
when they entered into the contract and
before they set eyes upon the place where
they are tn labor. The main point with
the boys Is 10 make clear to them that
when the agreement is made it is binding
and they must live up to its conditions.
Where party os boys is taken and an en-
pioyer hiss never seen them until they
reach the point where the work is TO be
performed, he finds that Misrepresentation
has hppO made In fhar, ~ -.