New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-17

Canadian Pacific Steamship Line. and who pay no
attention to registering their names at the Consul
mates the NUMBER Of q mis- se conirymen in California
at something 1000 c. l.. Daw, Deputy S ,d!
in the State He bases his figures on the results OF
recent INVESTIGATION by the Commission OF 'apa-
nese laborers in the fruit-growing counties. ma
AT present the Irish lead all o;her foreign ma
tlonaites In California their number oeing ss '
Increase 10000 in SIX years. The French popu,
laton OF the SIate has remained almost stationary
more than 1900 The Italians numbered l0,iss IN
1880: now there are. fully 1000 in the state; Inc
Spanish Consul estimates that only 800 OF his ma
tonaity in California. though the last census
gave s35 The Portuguese have increased from 9sSs
prox.mate They have been obtained from many
sources but the State, wnich should compile a Sus
rate returns OF population and Industries does
practically nothing and its few statistics are moi 10
The foreigners in California have come into active
competition with native Americans in nearly every
industry, and often this rivalry mas been atienueu
with disastrous results Yet study OF the various various
nationalities reveals some curious facts as certain
races have made a practical monopoly OF several
tives. TO make confusion worse COMPOUNDED; ana
to complicate the labor problem so tast solution
seems almost Impossible. the two oriental ra,es
the Chinese and the Japane-e-play an impor,11 h
Chinese question il being slowly but surely settied
so far as active competition is concerned II the
decade the number OF Chinese left in California Will
be so small as TO constitute no danger 10 whte
ldDOfe1- But the 1OO1 or Japanese lliiHssIhHtS II
distinct menace and the wonderful stimulus given
to Japan by the late will be sure to add TO the
new field Of work where wages are princely In conn
parson with the wretched pay OF their own country
industry in California they have made liite i'm.
preston on tn skilled trades In all the cities and
thousands Of women and girls from factories. Now
the create part Of the cigars co5hlng s nb
labor turned out by Chinese operatives Many
preieniious shops which cater to the be;! trade
The dresses and underwear OF women and children
are made almost entirely by Chinese. while of the
monopoly. The Chinese has no nerves" and he
can thus run heavy sewing machine for ten hours
tern and little construction. he will turn out
work tina; cannot be surpassed by the mos, expert
wnlie operatives.
AN EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS.
An example OF the way Chinese secures trade is
for women's and childrens shoes two years ago IN
narrow alley. They made good shoes to order for
in the stores Now they have a large store on
main street, and they make shoes for both sexes.
a. well a the fines, custom shirts for men and the
dantes, Undertaking for women. They use the
best materials but as they are satisfied with one
quarter the Profits OF their white competitors, they
are gaining trade every month.
The great Lrk Of the laundry work in California
most other States This is the custom in small vii
lagos as well ~ in large cities. The Chinese are not
clean in personal habits, but they wash clothes
with less wear and tear than the steam laundries.
and they are very accurate in marking and return
Ing articles In pioneer days the Chinese worked
as placer miners. but Of late years they have be-
come power in mining. managing large companies
that require dig capital In Northern calitorniss
several of these Chinese companies own miles OF
the richest river beds. These claims they are able
to work with simple appliances. but they nave
Shown no MEDITATION toward quart mining Wneh
one secret OF Chinese success in mining Is their
patience. which often brings them big rewards.
farmers and fruit growers. but the State Labor
Bureau officials declare that they are rapidly be.
farms. In many they lease large tracts Of
land i'm the richest berry and vegetable districts.
poyed to do the poughing and teamng. the Chi
nese having small success with horses or mules
The Chinese will pay more rent for land than white
men can afford to pay and yet make money. be
and they Sndersand thoroughiy What small pieces
Of land will produce when heavily fortified and
conducted by Chinese. one in San Francisco and
the other in San jose. In the latter num-
merry the Chinese were counted upon to pick the
fruit of the State. but now they have been dis
placed by the japanese. who work for less wages
one OF the curious results of the struggle for
work in this state is that "Chnese cheap labor
reau admits that the Chinese demand practically
Wee s hry M Tom SO tn $50 Sr monh and
this rate they are found cheaper than women. a.
work than the strongest women. They have gone
into ci,y factorle, SO generally that musn Of the
fallen to the Japanese who willing to work at
about half the wages expected by the Chinese
petition with white labor only in the fruit orchards
bur the, signs show that they are reaching out in
wages will soon cause trouble. Nearly one-half the
OF an educaton They are told that gold may be-
picked up in California. and hence they usually ar
hausted They find that 1t costs four or five times
as much for living expenses here as in Japan. and
chard work in order that they may pursue their
studies.
BUT eyery month sees more Japanese arriving
ana larger percentage or them are common Ia
horers; who enter the hop yards, orchards and
ed out white men and women
They are as quick as women and girls in handling
fruit and are more accurate and steadily indus
trious. They practically monopolize the industry OF
sugar beet Complaints of the rapid displacement
OF white laborers by Japanese in orchard work in
vestgation. They found that tn japanese worked
under a cooperative plan and that by this means
Several associations in San Francisco engaged
in housecleantag dividing the profits among their
in San Francisco in bamboo ware and mating.
OTHER NATIoNALITIEs.
OF the 29olo italians in California large num-
supply of San Francisco Many are employed in
6e nnd rn ydng but the ma
makers and railroad section hands. They are rap
idly crowdng out Chinese on the railroad. In a
few districts they have gone into irut-growing
their own account. but generally when they nave
capital they seem to prefer trade.
The Germans AS a rule are engaged In occYpa tons
that demand skill and many are highly educated.
Tney are physicians, chemists. teachers and mer-
chants. Some occupations they seem 10 control
Brewery owners and employees. almost without ex-
ception, are Germans. and they also control most
OF the bakeries. OF recent German immigrants a
large number machinists, blacksmiths and
COOKS. The Germans show fondness for farm
ms. but they have strong Partially for retail
trade. ana more than hall the groceries the
State conducted by them
The French resemble the Germans in their high
standard Of education and the professions include
many of their nationality. With laborers fruit
growing, especially the cultivation OF the vine.
is a favori;c pursuit. Is also gardening Many
small farmers and sheep -herdcrs The French
make most of the good wine and brandy produced
the State and in the cities they much of he
high-class laundry
OF the applicants for positions : laborers al the
State Labor Bureau more than half are irish.
The pastering brick-lay ing, teamng and similar
classes of work almost monopoliZed by them.
h. .irnD L1a Of