The San Francisco call., 1896-02-04

so very long ago either, when every room
In Chinatown had tenant, and some of
them TWO or three and perhaps four. To-
oay they are not living that way. as rents
are becoming cheaper, owing to the failing
demand forquarters. and people can afford
to put on little more style. Some years
ago attempted to rent store on Dupont
street, and the agent wanted $3.50 for it.
Now l can get the same place for $50.
Chinese merchants tell me that they have
had to go out OF business because the Chi
nese working men were becoming so
scarce. hear the same complaint all over
the quarter, and there must be great deal
in it.
Another sign that 1 consider the best
evidence of a decided decrease is the fall
ing off of trade at the entrance to the Chi
nese temple. Some years ago the priyi-
lege OF selling wax tapers, idols, blessed
paper and other idolatrous paraphernalia
brought the temple keeners something in
the neighborhood of $4,000 year, but now
it is difficult to get any one to take the
privilege at $500. This state of affairs
does not arise from the destruction of idol
worship but from the fact that there are
not so many people engaged in it.
"Take it all in all | think we can au-
tribute it to the exclusion act of 1888,
framed by Scott, and the McCreary act of
1892 authorizing the issuance of certifi-
Gates. These two acts and their effects
combine to bring about the result that to-
day seems to point to gradual reduction
Of the Chinese population of this City.
No one knows it better than the China
man and be is preparing to move himself
and his effects to other parts of the coun-
try. The exodus has really begun and is
destined to last until most of them are
gone."
This opinion by one of the best authori-
ties In San Francisco would seem to bear
out the general impression and give
strength to added information supplied
by Wendell Easton, who says:
"Chinese real estate is falling in value
all over the section of the City occupied
by them. | have given the realty question
in that quarter great deal of attention of
late and find that white people are gradu-
ally crowding the Chinese out of their old
precincts. The putting i'll of electric-cars
has facilitated travel at that end of
town and people who might have been
ultimately driven out BY the China
man have concluded to stay. They
see, as does everybody else, who has
paid any attention to the question, that
the Chinese are preparing to GO, and the
result is that white tenants are debating
prices in the realty market. 1t is only
question of time before all of that prop
erty will be occupied by white people,
and during the interval the Chinese are
concentrating themselves nearer the cen-
There are good many influences that
will work to the detriment of the Chinese
in the long run, and / think we will see
very few of them here in few years from
now. They are becoming scarcer all over
the City, and l am told that Chinese cooks
are not nearly SO plentiful to-day as they
were three or four years ago. This state
of affairs has resulted in decided raise
in salaries for Chinese domestics, and
those who remain reap the benefit of the
market.
Another thing that will have con-
siderable weight in driving them off their
old streets is the fact of the new City
Prison being prepared for the spot where
the old hall stood. That will bring con-
siderable business down to that end of
real estate will pick up. In the meantime
there is nothing particular to keep the
Chinese here, as their support - princi-
pally of their own peoples dwindlng
away. 1t is bound to come, and nothing
can stop it. White people are gradually
spreading over the territory, and the
Celestials will in time depart
Another significant thing is the fact that
many Chinese land-holders are mortgag-
ing their property as high as possible
with the intention of forfeiting the mort
gage when it falls due. A financial man
of this City was recently called upon to In
vestigate the financial condition of China
town for the purpose of reporting to cer-
tain banking houses. He recommended
the rejection OF all loans on the ground
that propertyowners there were seeking
to secure good mortgages, and then give
the property up to the mortgages and
join the rest OF The tribe who are seeking
naW fialde