Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-07-17
A New York Letter.


A Starch Trust in hot weather seems
the height of absurdities, butts never.
theless, fact. Why they should Sc
lect this particular season to effect
their combination in, does not appear
at all plain. We have been so very
hot, and starcbed clothes are so very
rare, the high collars are in such q
state of dilapidation-but that very
fact may he at the bottom of the
scheme. While the demand is lessened
prices can be managed easier than
than when trade is active.
Another thing-the Sugar Trust was
declared Illegal: does the decision ap-
ply to sugar only? Why not to starch,
coal, flour, and all commodities?
There is but one Trust left to he
formed. That is, combination that
would raise the actual value of man
of sound principles and healthy morals.
The theoretical value of the article is
of course very high, but com bination
that would place practical, honest
price on such man would be of use.
He should command very high sal
ary, should be placed at the top OF the
ladder and be given much power, al
ways with the understanding that
when he made any move that looked
suspicious, his place would be immedi-
ately filled by the next honest map.
The idea sounds old, but if put into
force the results would be new and
startling. One would not have the
hopeless feeling that now assails him
when trying to do right, but would be
com lorted by the prospect of apprecia-
ton.
With the Starch Trust comes the
misery of the cloak makers, and New
York is not cheerful. The people who
make our cloaks are starving and evic-
ton stares them in the face. They
live principally in the rear tenements
on the east side of town where light
and air are things to hear of but not to
know. The cheapest, coarsest food is
all they have, and what is sold for one
cent in any of the good stores is sold
for two cents there. Little, dirty gro-
ceries, miserable fancy goods shops.
where the very dregs of the fsctori es
are sold for twice their value, are OWL
ed frequently by the landlords who are
also the cloak manufacturers. A strong
man working all day may have at the
end of the week, six dollars. He has a
family, perhaps two or three children,
and his house room costs him nine dol
lars month. Az soon as the children
work, with the result of our having a
race. with some intelligence
and no physique, right here in our
midst. And the city allows it. There
are of course frequent momentary agi-
taiions of the subject, but the donation
of a part of the income derived from
these people generally serves as an eff
fective quietus. The churches and
private missions do much TO relieve
the actual suffering. but New York
nevertheless has in her heart the most
densely populated square mile in the
world. Even London can not boast
that her tenements are so high, and
the people are packed so close that
hers is the largest sardine box IN the
world.
Tomorrow, Independence Day, the
are going to parade and
show to the world their rags and mis-
cry. The stories of what these people |
lave endured are SO much like those
old of the French Revolution and, con-
so very disagreeable, that |
lie natural inclination is to shrug the |
houlders and conclude that the tales |
ire exaggerated. On the anniversary |
If the declaration of the freedom and |
equality of all men the lock ked-out |
loak makers are going to march |
hrough our dirty streets as an example |
If the fiourishing condition Of large |
part of our population.
There are whole districts in the city |
devoted to the people of Il nationality
II trade. The American is scarcely |
ver found in such localities, but the
German and Italian, the Chinaman
nd the Russian, have male complete
owns of their own. The condition of |
he greater part Of these people sug-
tests question, Would it not be ad-
,isable to check immigra ton until |
ONE of the foreigners now here be-
ome civilized? The city has a tremen-
ous mum Der of psople of the Kind that
nobs and wars are made Of Is it
wise to continue to import them?
Perhaps better plan would be for
be city to take special care of the i'm
,orted talent and see that decent ae-
was given them for their
money, and check finally this miser-
ble over-crowding which leads to dis
ase and immortality. What often ap-
ears to be a single row of tenements is
eally the outside building on block
acked solid, the entrance to the mid
lie houses being through dark and
irty alleys. What would be the ef-
ect of resolution demanding that
ach tenement should have a back
ard with at least fifty feet between
,