The Russellville Democrat., 1893-09-28
WHERE ANERI AN GOLD GOES
Startling Facts and Figures Furnished by
 Collector Quinn,
Eight Hcndred Million Dollars Paid to Chinese Laborers During Thirty Years May Have Caused the
 Present Financial De-
 precision to Exist.

nere IS not alone cOnunGO 10 the tO- calities where they come in cempe- tition with American labor, but they are gradually absorbing the wealth of this country" said John C.. Quinn, collector of internal revenue, yesterday.
 "I have been looking up some data in reference to the Chinese whe have been residing and doing busi- ness in this country during the last thirty years and the result of my laoCr is astonishing.
 ''In 1860 the United States cen sus showed a population of 100, ,000 Chinese; in 1870, 213,00O; in 1880, 105, 000; in 1890, 106, 1000. In the four decades the total popu- lation was 524 0G0, and in order to arrive at a fair average population for the entire period the total can be divided by four, and that gives an average of l3l, ,000 Chinese for the thirty years.
 During the ears that the popu- lation of the coolies was the largest most of them were employed in the mines, the lowest compensation for their services being $2 a day. They have always been in demand be- cause they will work for less money than an American, but it will be difficult to find many instances where they have worked for less than $1 day.
 "But in order that 1 may fairly estimate 1 will say that during the thirty years the laborers among the Chinese have averaged $l day for their services. And out of the 131,- 900 who have been here each year I will deduct 31 900 for the me erchants, physicians and others than the labor ing class.
 "On the very reasonable basis that 100000 have worked continu- ously on an average of $l day, they have earhed on every day in the year $100 900. 1 say every day, because the Chinese do not respect Sunday by making 1t day of rest. Those who are familiar with the Chinese mode of living know that it costs but a trife to furnish them with food and clothing A white man would starve to death if he attempted to live as cheaply as Chinamen. So have allowed twenty five cents a day for the expense of each one of the 10000 coolies, or a total of $25, ,000. That leaves net income for them of $75 900.
 ''If you will make few calcula- tions you will discover that every thirty days they have absorbed 3D. 250, ,000 of the money of this nation. Every year they have received $27,- GOO, ,000, and for the period of thirty years their net earnings were the as- $ founding sum of $8l0, ,000, GOO.
 ''I believe every dollar of the $810, ,000,000 has gone to China, and to that fact in great degree is re- sponsible the scarcity of mony in the United States at the present time. But in addition to that loss they injure us in another way. Dur ing the thirty years the balance of trade between the United States and China has been in favor of the latter country, and it is safe to estimate an annual difference of $5, ,000, 900.
 "Take the year 1892 for an ex- ample. The custom house records show that the imports from China amounted to $20, ASS, ,291. The ex- ports were $5,663, ,110, showing balance against us of $l4 1925, 181. Add to that amount the net earn ings of the coolies for the year, $27 ,000, ,000, and it will be seen that the celestial empire during 1892 absorbed $4l 1925, l81 of the wealth of the United States. My estimate on the number of Chinese is based on the United States census.
 "From 1880 to 1890 the census shows an increase of 1000 Chinese. The custom house records show for the same period that 16,000 had been entered regularly and that GA, 1000 had departed from the United States, making it very plain that AS, 900 eoolies had been snug gled in during these ten years. This number has not been taken into consideration in making my calcula- tions.
 "Did the $25, ,0OO day expended by the coohes for living reach the pockets of the American produc- ersf" the collector was asked.
 No, it did not. Fully three fourths of that amount was paid to Chinese merchants for goods that were imported from China. Tbey buy pork and a few other things, but it is small portion of their living.
 Fully three-fourihs of the i'm portations from China each year consist of clothing, food and other articles for the sole use of the Chinese residents. and the only ben fit to the United States is the duty that is charged on the goods "Of England and Germany, where the importations consist largely of machinery that is destined to in- crease the production of this coun- try, we cannot complain, but the Chinese importations take out of cir culsti )n the money that has been paid to the Chinese laborers. On the other hand, the money paid to