New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
CHINESE L4CyDRruEy DRIVEN oUr.

STEAM sUPERsED1NG THEM At LOWER PRICES
From The Chicago Tribune.
Steam and the Chinaman seem to be eterualy
Steam IS Winning not oGS is III % FTad9av s ana e8
croaching on the Chinaman's home country but
occupation Steam laundries are everywhere taking
the wnlte mans washing out OF the hands OF the
CeleStlas; and are rapidly forcing them out OF the
A reference to the business directory Of Chicago
for score of years past verified the statement
In 1880 there but 26 laundries in Chicago and
caught the popular fancy right then however. and
as he was beginning TO come into Chicago in large
numbers he began to drive out of business the
hand workers of Caucasian blood. In decade.
than doubling. the Chinese washermen increased
fourfOld that in 1880 there 633 aundries in
In 1892 there 27s Of the latter. and in the
Worlds Fair year and the year Immediately fol-
lowing they increased rapidly 333.
That was the limit however Steam machinery
preston Chicagoans, and there were many new
enterprises started as a direct result of the in
branch was this more marked than in the laundry
machinery. and after the Fair steam laundrtes
them for time. The steam machines We're said
to, to tear the garments to do rough work to wear
even said TO be used with chemicals which
patronize them. When the various Iaundrtes began
to fight for trade. however. and cut the price Of
came TO their doors IN 4ocEs and rnore new su,drias
fell of One by one the CeIestiaIs took In the red
signs that had kept the devils away from their
went back TO the Flowery Kingdom to spend
their old age in afuence worshipping at the tombs
OF their fOrefathers
So rapidly have their numbers fallen on that IN
the new directory, while there shown 459 1aun-
steam of a total OF 7O7 hut 24S are Conducted bv
Chinese number smaller in itself and in propor-
tion than that Of ten years ago and greatly less
than that Of half decade ago.
1t is figured by laundrymen that If the Chinese
recede as fast as they gained they will in another
ten years have practically disappeared. and the
white laundry will again be doing all the washing
The shOp of the mysterious yellow VIII be only
even now. when everybody goes past a Chinese
laundry some time during the day. there IS much
that is unknown and little that is known about
them. w hen does John Chtnaman sleep? That Is
n question many ask and few can answer. Go bv
his shop at any time OF day or night and YOU will
see him busy over tub or washing board. seated
on the front steps gazing at the stars he used
to gaze at in his home ten Thousand miles away.
What DO the marks Chinese laundry ticket
mean? II is doubtful If John himself can answer
mat Iradltlon asserts hat the onlv requisite for
the checks is that thev he red and that the hfero
glyphtcs on each half be alike Meaning Is un-
necessary. But il may be that John has way OF
each Of his customers in this wav. and knows
when q presents a check fust what sort o. a
man he Is and whether there is already grlldge
against him outstanding.
And are all of the workers in the Chinese Iaun-
dries Johns. Of them Mrs Johns? And
this VIII never be answered unless some law be de-
enable the Caucasian TO distinguish between the
two when they ave clad in the same stvIe OF suits
OF loose blue stuff.
With al' the Questions however John Is doomed
Already the bulk OF the business Is handled bv tha
big steam machines. and soon thew will have n All
And then ChicaFo NAV have a rTrn OF Chinese
rants-or may lose her Chinese population alto
gether.