The morning call., 1893-12-20
Observation-Disclosures
Rich Men, Poor Men and Would
Be MOney-Makers.
MANY ARE LOOKING FOR WORK.
A Large Percentage of the Arrivals
Travel in the Steerage and Hope
to Find Employment.

francisco by coast steamers within the past
sever days. OF this number 301 landed
from the steamship Walla Walla from
Victoria and Puget Sound ports on Mon
day last Such an influx of strangers natu-
rally excites the question, Where do they
all come from?
Where do they all come from? Well.
that is hard 10 say. but most of our visitors
are from the East, attracted hither by the
Midwnter Fair or driven out of uncon-
genial homes in the bleak cities of the
East by hard times and harder climate.
The Canadian. Union Pacific and Atchi-
son roads are bringing thousands of immi-
grants TO the north and south OF us, and
leaving them for the steamship lines to
take care Of This the latter are attempt
ing to do to the best of their ability, but
the rush is taxing their accommodations to
their utmost capacity.
who are these newcomers ?" asks the
San franciscan, cycling with keen inter est
the crowded decks of an incoming steam
er. Are we getting desirable class of
Immigrants or Otherwise?" The careful
investigator answers. Both"
Before going into explanation let a good
word be said Tor the coast people. Steam
ers hailiDg from Eureka and coast ports
not tapped by transcontinental railroads
are healthier, weather. and wiser looking
than the average passenger from Victoria,
| San Diego or Los Angeles. Eighty per
cent of our up-coast visitors-and there
have been hordes of them of late-travel
| hrst-class, while. on the other hand. Oh
new friends from the East patroniZe the
steerage largely In comparison with the
cabin.
Out of 997 passengers arriving by steam
er from Portland. Victoria and sound
ports wit hin the past week, $50 have come
by steerage. The remainder bought first
class tickets.
The cabin passengers may be divided
into three classes, viz, the sightseers, the
adventures and the capitalists who are
travelling for their health. The latter have
come early to avoid the harsh winter of
the Atlantic and Middle States. The ad-
venturer says, Times are awful back
East and [ think I msy be able to get
something TO do during the Midwinter
Fair, enough to keep me going until sum-
mer anyhow" He is looking for SNAP"
or fostering scheme" He travels 10
| the cabin and asks questions. He comes
from New York, via Montreal, over the
Canadian Pacific and takes the steamer at
| Victoria. AS soon as Cape Flattery is
passed and the snowy granduess of the
Olympic range of mountains has ceased
TO be Interrogation points which demands
constant and harassing explanations
from the officers of the ship, the schemer Is
ripe for crOss-eXamlnation of any one
who has ever been to San Francisco and
who Is foolish enough to acknowledge So
Where is the fair located? Are laws
against gambling strict in California?
Gould fellow operate a wheel of fortune
on Twin Peaks or run faro bank in the
Cliff House?" He speaks quickly and re-
celyes slow answers. sometimes encourag-
Ing and sometimes rather dlscOuraglng.
The sghtseer is iDQuiSitive too, but he
is generally mild-manneret man who is
looking for information which he de-
sires to i'm part to the old folks at home. or
perhaps TO his town journal.
The sightseer does not intend TO make
San francisco his home. He has little
money 10 spend. will see the fair and re-
turn TO his home when the temperature is
a little warmer.
The health-seeking capitalist is not
numerous because he would rather not
take an ocean trip IL he can help it. He
prefers to come overland via the Atlantic
and Pacific or the AtchisOn to catch a
gimpse OF the blossoming San Gabriel
Valley and inhale the perfumed air of mid
winter Southern California untainted by
several days of salty breeZes and flying
flakes of seafoam spent on board of a
coast steamer.
1t is the steerage passengers that attract
the most attention. Local workmen shake
their heads ominOusly and say, ''Why
uon some OF the newspapers warn East
ern worklpgmen to stay away? The
IOcdi Uechanlc uOeS not speak splteiully,
but simply in a sorrowful sort of way for
he knows that our own working people
are but poorly provided for and no more
OF this class are wanted here.
A talk with the crowd IN the steerage
ellcls the information that nearly all of
them are poor but honest voyaEers, and
ridiculous as it may seem nearly all say,
I'VE have come here to better our con-
ditioD. to look for work. to see VIII COM
fort, cheer and encouragement the Golden
West is going TO offer US, for the East is
dead to charity now, and being out of work
In New York and Chicago means starva-
ton and miserable suffering
You don't know how well off you are
out here" said a steerage passenger by
the Walla Walla. Its blessing to even
be allowed to starve 10 such country as
this. Why. in st. Paul, where have only
until recently resided, the thermomete is
10degrees below zero and still going down."
Il think" said an officer of the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company, that the pres
ent influx is simply the forerunner of the
weather. classes to follow. We are un-
doubtedly getting these crowds through the
Midwinter Fair, but it is too soon to say
whether we are benefited or injured by
this extra population. A much better class
of people is arriving now than came in by
steamers four weeks ago. Numbers of
genuine travellers. who will come solely TO
ha bi CcI! l.