The morning times., 1896-09-06
tai city. he moves q and makes room for

tai City, he moves on and makes room for
| another.
1t Is, however, his neighbors from across
the river in Virginia and the adtacent
counties of Maryland that the honest Ia
borer OF the District fears most, and not
without cause. Experience has taught the
workmen OF Washington that, unless they
| hold first mortgages on their situat ions dur
| ing the summer and fan they are in great
| danger OF losing them.
| INFLUX FROM NEARBY.
From contiguous districts is said TO come
hundreds Of persons seeking employment.
They are generally farmers, who are able
bodied workrneI, some OF whom are first
| class mechanics, who, having laid by their
crops, take advantage OF the time when
there Is nothing to do on the farm to turn
| an extra honest dollar.
Hhese country cousins, the city men cay,
can afford to work for less wages than
those who have to depend entirely OIL their
days work for a livelihood
These 'foreigners,'' as they call them,
come over from Virginia or the near counties
OF Maryland on Monday morning, put I'm a
weeks work, and return to their homes on
Saturday afternoon
BY this arrangeme mt they only have to
pay for four and oDe-haIf DAYS board and
lodging and all they make above this
amount is clear profit. Nearly every sne
of them have some other means Of support,
and having no urgent claims on them for
either time or money can afford to work for
a much cheaper rate Of wages than the
man who has to pay re Mt in the city and
whose family has 10 other means Of SUD.
port.
THAT NEARBY EVIL.
For this reason it is easily seen that the
local laborer has more to fear from the
business visits of his neighboEs from Viz
ginia and Mar yland in the summer and fall
than he has to fear the transient visitor
in the winter
OF Course great number who come
here from the surrounding country do
not find employment but As a general
thing they do rot remain very long Aud
the Few of this class who do remain are
always easily spotted. They are as q
rule not overly anxious to find work, es-
pecially hard work, and if their first at
tempts fail, they console themselves BY
blaming their bad luck and spend tbei:
days along the river fronts watching the
shipping and at night congrcgate in the
public places and scuss the great cues
tons which are now agitating the whole
country.
In these groups are often found many OF
the unemployed reside mt worAnIen These,
however, are nearly always unskilied la
oorers who seem to regret more the fast
that their wives, sons or daughters cau-
not find employ nient than that they them.
selves cannot. OF this latter class there
are not many, but the few there are cast
shadow on the honest toiIers OF the city
who are only too willing to work If they
could get anything to do.
In such places, however, very often
are found few of the willing but unenl-
pioyed workmen of the city. These wander
there. sometimes from curiosity or per-
haps. wearied OF idIeness al home. in tho
hope OF bearing something that might lead
10 their procuring employment. or. per-
haps. be lucky enough TO get the caU
on some small Job
PREPARED FOR BAD LUCK.
The worknIen OF Washington. however
especially the skilled laborers, are a
thrifty class and are generally prepared
to stand long siege OF enforced idle
ness 1t is not till all hope OF finding
work at their traces, and until starya-
ion stares them n the face, that they viii
accept work at reduced rates
There are others, however a ihrifti.ss.
ne'er -do-well set, who live from hand 10
mouth, week in and week out. who never
lay by anything for Il rainy day. And
When The crash comes and they ale thrown
out OF employment. it is but 4 short while
before they become burdens OH their frIrJ,.s.
II they have any, or fniiuc in This ia,
come subjects of public charity.
Soon these find their way to the Central
Union Mission, where, in Return for ,lnInr
chores, they are given something To eat
aud place TO sleep, and here they remain
until something turns up, or wIn'er cuaes
again.