The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-30
San Francisco
DURING
~. The Week.

~ AN FRANcIscO. July E.-The
war h responsible for an un-
usual and serious state Of az
fairs in California Never since
w pioneer days has labor been 30
scarce as at present In every
lire the need Of more hands IL felt The
farmers and fruit growers whose crops
are demanding attention feel IL most Sc
yereiy, but even In the trades the same
conditions exist. and IL In no uncommon
thing TO see the sign Help Wanted
posted on q building under construction
Ia Sacramento and Santa Clara valleys.
where the fruit crop Is very large, the
situation Is serious Hot weather has
brought fruit TO maturity very rapidly.
and II demands atrsntion at once, but
cTchardists are utterly unable TO get men
10 handle their harvest. 90 In hundreds
Of cases the women and children have
been forced To take their places In the
orchards TO prevent the loss OF the crop.
Even the despised Chinese now sppreci-
ates his Importance in the labor market,
and to secure his services employers
must give him white mans wages.
Japanese by the thousands are at work,
and still the crop cannot be properly han
died In few places iaborers have been
imported. but employers hesitate 10 take
this step. as the present shortage OF La
gor is not likely to be permanent, and
they believe IL would be unwise TO bring
In people who probably would be forced
TO Hive In idleness as soon az the harvest
Is completed. which win be In about two
months
The causes OF the present condition are
various. In the first place the war has
taken from this state probably $500 men
all told. as nearly ali the regiments which
have been stationed here from time 10
time have secured few recruits. The
First California infantry. heavy artillery
and signal corps alone number about
1.s9. Another cause of the shortage in
labor Is the size of the crop. which has
been large nearly all over the state.
+ !. +
T cannot be said that the announce
IL ment that part of the troops 10 be
sent TO the Philippines would en-
bark at Seattle aroused enthusiasm here.
San Francisco had come to look on the
soldier business as an exclusive line OF
trade, so Seastle's advent as a competitor
In ths Industry was resented. Army men
AT first ridteuied the idea of San Fran
cisco losing any OF the soldier travel, and
pointea TO the elaborate preparations for
handling troops as proof that the report
must be wrong. but the Washington or
dera for the Third cavalry To take ship
al Seattle showed that the Sound is really
TO sc. a part of the military travel.
!. 4.
g AN FRANCISCO has developed an
~ other novelty In the thief line. A
young man of about 90 who has
made IL his business 10 rob the poor boxes
of Catholic churches. was captured by
the police this week. The young rogue
does not look prosperous, so his booty
probably has been small.
\. 4. I.
IL RED BERRY. OF Selma, Cal. one OF
II the Berry brothers OF Klondiks
fame. thinks his dog Is entitled TO
as much consideration as any other MEM
Der OF the family. so he has decided TO
take ST. Julian. his big mastifY. 10 the
seaeoast la the hope that the change
viii cure the rheumatism from which the
animal suffers. Kerry said that the dog.
which is beautiful specimen. did much
TO give them success In their search for
gold In the Klondike. and shall be well
treated as long as he lives.