The record-union., 1891-08-17
HOP-PICKIHG.
The Season Opening Up in Excellent
Shape.
Apparently No Lack of Labor-The
Growers Paying 81 per Hundred
for PickinG-Heavy Crops.

1t looks as if the hop-growers are going
to have all the help they will require in
gathering in their crops in good season.
Besides whatwhite help they are able to
get, there are hundreds Of Indians,
Cinnamon and Japanese to call upon.
Under these circumstances there should
be no lack of hop-gatherers.
Owing to the variety that prevades the
hop-picking labor circles, there is little
likelihood of the growers being placed at
the mercy of Cinnamon, or any other
class that might wish to put up the price
of hop-picking. There can be no Chinese
Piute, Japanese Chinese, nor Piute-
japanese combinations TO raise the price
of labor in the hop fields, for these races
do not assimilate with one another.
The growers are always willing to pay
such rates for Op-piclling as will enable
their employees to make good wages
nearly double what other field labor
brings, and any corner that might be
formed to force them to pay exorbitant
wages for this work would be hardship
upon them and an injury to the county,
for men would not take the chances that
hOp-grOwers are obliged TO take If they
were at the mercy of hop-pickers.
This is the first season in which the
La ~ NlNS ~ uIG III
the labor market, but they ARE in it''
now, good and strong. Several hundred
OF them have labored in the harvest fields
in this county the present season, and
farmers that have employed them say
they greatly prefer them to the Chinese.
The highest price paid this season by
hop-growers Is 81 per hundred pounds,
and at this figure the pickers can make
good wages.
The hop harvest is now on, and every
day great crowds Of laborers are depart
ing for the various fields. According to
all accounts, the crops are turning out
abundantly, and there will be a large
output from the Sacramento yards this
season.
Growers expect to realize from eighteen
| to twenty cents per pound for this sea-
sons crop, which-Nghile not up to the
boom prices that are occasionally paid
will yield very handsome profit
Where drying-kllns, poles, etc, are
already on hand, the average cost of rails
ing and harvesting hops IS from nine to
ten cents per pound, sometimes a little
more, but not less. Therefore, if the
growers receive from eighteen to twenty
cents for their hops they will come out
considerably ahead.
AS rule the hop-growers ofthis county,
at leas: those who have stuck to the bust
| ness through good and bad seasons have
| done well, and are mostly prosperous
One great advantage they possess over
growers in other parts Of the world is the
/ fact that the hops in the Sacramento dis
| trict are comparatively free from the
! draw backs that exist elsewhere, and
! good, clean crops are the rule.
According to the Marysville ADDeuL,
| the owners of the Wheatland hop yards
are trying hard to get as much white help
as possible. The Chinese monopoly is
said TO be doomed, and the business men
/ will reap the benefit. The Chinese pick
! ers do not benefit the merchant one cent,
! for the large amount that is paid out in
! labor is sent back to the Celestial King
1 dom. The employment of Japs is IA new
| experiment They must be an improve
ment on the heather Chinee, but whether
they will be q desirable acquisition re-
mains to be proved.
On Thursday about three hundred pick
| ers were at work in DIR. Durst's yards.
! Families are daily arriving. and Wheat
land is crowded with people in the search
of work. All classes of people are repre-
sented in the hop fields, from the homely
old maid, to the pretty schooimarm. The
! crews in the Roddan Bros. and Woods
! yards will commence next Monday.
There is plenty of employment in Wheat
land at the present time. The hop men
have decided TO pay 81 per hundred
pounds for picking this season.