Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-10-13

GOld Jnat Does not Return.
1.-The people of the east who seem
SO anxious to keep the Chinese in this
country do not realize that the injury
caused by their residence here is not
alone confined to the localities where
they come i'll competition with Ameri
can labor, but they are gradually alb
sorbing the wealth of this country"
said John C. Quinn, collector Of internal
revenue, yesterday.
Il have been looking UP some alta i'm
reference to the Chinese who have been
residing and doing business in this
country during the last thirty years and
the result Of my labor is astonishing.
In 1860 the United States census
showed q popula ton Of 1OO, 900 Chinese;
! in 1870, $4,000; in 1880, 10000; in
1890, 100000. In the four decades the
total population was $4,000, and in
order to arrive at a fair average popu-
lation for the entire period the total
, can be divided by four, and that gives
j an average Of 131 900 Chinese for the
! thirty years.
During the years that the population
of the coolies was the largest most Of
/ them were employed in the mines, the
! lowest compensation for their services
being 81 a day. They have always
been in dcmand because they will work
i for less money than an American, but
it will be difficult to find many instances
where they have worked for less than
81 day.
i But in order that I may fairly esti-
mate l will say that during the thirty
years that laborers among the Chinese
have averaged 81 for their services.
And out of the 131, 600 who have been
here each year ] will deduct 1000
! for the merchants, physicians and
others than the laboring class.
On the very reasonable basis that
100000 have worked continuously on an
average Of 81 day, they have earned
on every day in the year 100000. l
say every day. because the Chinese
do not respect Sunday by making it a
day Of rest. Those who are familiar
with the Chinese mode of living know
| that it costs but trifle to furnish
them with food and clothing. A white
man would starve to death If he at
tempted to live as cheaply as a China
man. So | have allowed 25 cents a day
i for the expense Of each one of the 1OO,-
! 600 coolies or total of $4,000. That
leaves a net income for them of $75,-
600 day.
If YOU will make few calcula tons
! you will discover that every thirty days
| they have absorbed $2,25O,O0O of the
money of this nation. Every year they
have received $27 100000, and for the
period of thirty years their net earn
! ings were the astonishing sum of $780,
100000.
Il believe every dollar Of the $780,
100000 has gone to China, and to that
/ fact in great degree is responsible the
scarcity of money in the United States
| at the present time. But in addition to
that loss they injure us in another way.
During 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 am
annual difference Of $5,OOO,OOO.
Take the year 1892 as an example.
+ The custom-house records shows that
| the imports from China amounted to
S2O,4SS, 291. The exports were $685.
! 10, showing a balance against us of
! $14, S25, 1S1. Add to that amount the
net earnings of the coolies for the year,
S27, 100000, and it will be seen that
the celestial empire during 1892 alb
sorbed SAL ,S25, ISL Of the wealth Of
| the United States.
MY estimate on the number of Chin
csc is low and is based on the United
| States census.
From 1880 to 1890 the census shows
on increase of 1000 Chinese. The
| custom-house records show for the
same period that 10000 had been enter
ed regularly and that $1,000 had de-
parted from the United States, making
it very plain that $4,000 coolies had been
smuggled in during those ten years.
This number has not been taken into
consideration in making my calcsla
TONS"
Did the $4,000 a day expended by
the coolies for living reach the pockets
of the American producers?" the col
lector. was asked.
NO, it did not. Fully threefourths
of that amount was paid to Chinese
merchants for goods that were ini-
ported from China. They buy pork and
a few other things, but it is a small
portion Of their living.
..E,11llv three-fourths of the immortal
tons from China each year consist Of
clothing, food and other articles for the
sole use of the Chinese residents, and
the only benefit to the United States
is the duty that is charged on the
goods.
"Of England and Germany, where the
importationS consist largely Of maehin-
cry that is destined to increase the
production of this country, we can not
complain, but the Chinese importations
take out Of circulation the money that
has been paid to the Chinese laborers.
On the other hand, the money paid to
the English and German laborer is
spent here in building homes and in
the country and in buying
the productions of the American farm |
ers and manufacturers.
Il have confined myself in making fig
ures to those employed as laborers at |
a stated compensation for their ser
vices. I have not taken into considera- |
ton the merchants, because they are |
in reality only the middlemen between |
the laborers and China. But even they |