The herald., 1894-02-24


EDITORS HERALD:-M My attention has
been called through the weekly press to
the scheme for the EN- ployment Of Los
Angeles surplus labor proposed by +. J
Moll in a recent mum her OF the HERALD,
in manner which would be least bur
densome and most advantageous to the
taxpayers OF this city and county. His
plan is in brief that the county issue
scrip in suitable denominations, re-
deemable in taxes within a specified
period, and put all the une mployed men
at work on public improvements; and
he suggests as a practical measure that
the city and county unite and de-
velop the water supply which
is ga d to exist in The mountains north
of this in sufficient quantities and at
sufficient elevation not only to supply
the city with water and irrigate the fer.
tile SOL OF the Cahuenga valley, but also
to furnish power for all our electric
lights and cars as well. This statement
/ see receives editorial Endorsement in
the Times OF Thursday; but the editor
appears to think that the work must OF
necessity be undertaken by private capt.
talists.
Every candid citizen must acknowl-
edge that the problem of the unem-
poyed is, and is likely to remain for
some time, most serious one.
For, while with the opening
OF the spring work in the country the
pressure may be somewhat lessened, 30
great is the depression throughout the
country that we are bound to have a
large idle class on our hands for months
to come, especially as the closing OF the
midwinter fair will undou btedly drive
quite a number OF workingmen from
san Francisco to this section. Our peo
pie have got to provide for the unem.
ployed in one way or another, for if
work is not provided for them they
will get their living by beg
cling or theft. 70 continue to
employ any considerable number OF men
for cash on work which affords no pros
pect of direct profit to our citizens,
would result in bankruptiDg both the
city and county in few months; but ii
they can be Get to work without any
pecuniary outlay, and their labor at the
same time be made to contribute to lift
ing a burden from the shoulders OF our
Taxpayers. the advantage is obvious.
Probably large number OF the read
ers of the Herald are familiar with the
facts connected with the building
OF the Guernsey market house
by means of scrip, according to much
the same plan as that proposed by Mr..
Mol; but some may have doubts as to
" hether such scheme could be made to
work in this country. OF this there can
be no doubt, as it ia by no means an
untried experiment in the United
States. At the beginning OF the war, a
time to which in the matter of financial
stress the present bears close resem-
bance, in my native state of New
York not only was scrip issued
by several counties and free.
ly circulated at par, but
even private firms and individuals
issued credits which we're extensively
used as substitutes for money. Gustave
Lindenmueller. q leading Bowery saloon
keeper. issued copper checks redeem
able in trade or cash. which were used
throughout the city and in neigh boring
towns, being even taken in pay OF
faresby the street car companies. The
Westchester iron works was one OF the
firms issuing their own credits. st.
Joseph Mission is one mun,cii
patty know OF that has
issu' scrip for general circulation.
All hat would be necessary to max,
such plan suct essfui here would