Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-09


| rnent buildings. Believing that as much
money al possible should be kept In the
nome city the union Is circulating q petit
ZION to that end, which will be submitted to
tAe Commissioners.
Charles Eawkes Of Chicago, vice presi-
denA Of the International Typographical
UnioP. was visitor to Columbia Union
during the week. He was on his way from
Boston to his home.
Mr.. swilliam M. Garrett secretary of CO.
iumbta Typographical Union. No. 1O1 Is in
receipt of a letter from Mr. william Wade
secretary of the South African Topographic
cal Union. with headquarters in Durham,
Natal. which contains an Enclosure in the
form OF circular. under the caption of:
To Intending Emigrants-A Warning" In
the wake of the Boer war. according to the
circular. followed depression Of business
interests and general hard times, and the
price OF groceries and other necessaries
OF life have reached a point almost be-
yond the reach fthe working masses of
the territory.
The circular. in part. follows:
The late disastrous war between Boer
and Briton has left it's mark, the evils of
which are far-reaching in their effect. and
press heavily on the producers and wage
earners of South Africa. For the benefit
OF those OF our craftsmen and others. who
may be induced to leave the mother coup-
Try Tor Natal. and other centers of South
AFRICA. by means of the glowing accounts
gwen by emigration agents. employers
agents, and many such who exc out a liy-
ing by these means, and those of our BROTH
ers VINO may be deceived by advertisements
couched In terms which are inveigling and
deceptive and be persuaded to sign agree
menus 10 serve a certain length of time to
an employer we have prepared a list of the
cost or the necessaries of life and house
rent In the so-called Garden Colony of Ma
tai. 1t may be well to at once state
these prices are taken from Natal trades
man Dill presented in the month of March.
I@S, and are retail prices The other In
formation appended Is common knowledge
ana no one item can be questioned. Many
nunoreds OF artisans have come to South
Erica IN the hope of ma King a fortune,
ana unfortunately, have found both hone
ana fortune blasted. Married men in mar
ucular should take note of the information
ProVioed here especially for their benefit
a very seriously consider the position be-
lore accepting situations in Natal under
any circumstances
authentic information In Natal has II
.nat agents are on their way to Great Rrit
sign contracts -'iei "
Vegetables are brought round the door
ny lnoian hawkers. and can very seldom be
b but o la from any one else at the door;
peis vegetables and fruit of all dissertations
can can be purchased at the stalls in the mar
Ret mouse, where the prices generaIIv rI,ia
I nuch higher than those of the Indian baw-
Coal at the nresen+ t,,,o l., o. o.,
bag. " 90 'o pei
!, House rents are excessively high, and
nave peen rapidly rising for a considerable
ume ana are now on another upward ten
dency. For cottages in the heart of the
town OF Tour, five and six rooms. f6, IS
ana ITO per month are common prices and
very little less in the suburbs where tram
and riksha fares help to increase expendi-
ture.
THE popular price for drink is Cd. and
for swim in the town baths the same,
with Sd. for towel
Board and lodging ranges from 25s per
week upward, and at per month averages
TO los. (washing extra). For single room
35s., 4os. and Cos. per month (furnished)
are common prices and poorly furnished in
most instances. in fact. these prices are
now generally asked where room is
shared with one two others. For the
last two years it has been very difficult to
obtain unfinished houses, and any one in
tending to build generally finds a tenant
on the first load of bricks being dropped
on the ground: The cost of materials re-
quisite for building house are very high.
Bricks average about sos. and Dos. per
1CG0. Enormous quantities of timber are
being forwarded daily by. rail to the new
colonies which no doubt has something to
do with the high cost Of materials in coast
towns.
Land at moderate prices Is practically
unobtainable. A working man is compelled
to go several miles out of town in order
to get piece of land within his means
Easy terms of payment are the general
rule, with per cent interest. The build
ing society is the only institution of note
in town which may lay claim to being the
workman's friend.
Doctors fees are IS. Sd. town. rs. Cd.
suburb, per visit: medicine extra, generally
IS Cd 3s and IS. Cd. per bottle.
professional nurses fees range from
2 guineas to 4 guineas per week.
Correct information can always be OBJ
tanned by keeping in touch with the differ
emit secretaries of trade unions here in
fol of South Africa
Parliamentary representation here Is lack
Ing so far the workers are concerned.
Organized workers can only hope by their
combination to keep up a miserable mini
mum standard of wages in many instances.
1t is possible, ere this reach you the print
ers will endeavor to raise their pittance
a few more shillings per week. The work
ers generally throughou South Africa are
in an unsettled state, and one can only adj
wise and counsel much patience on the part
of those intending emigrants to country
which Is wrongly represented by agents as
an Eldoradoy land flowing with milk and
honey
Notwithstanding the fact that the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor Is bending its |
every effort to bring about an ending to
the struggle between the Brotherhood of |
Carpenters and Joiners of America and the |
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and |
Joiners, the is Waging more fercely |
than ever before. Especially is this true in |
forces of the striking brotherhood men |
were increased by several thousand. max |
ing in all total of about 10000 men on |
strike.
1t is intimated that unless the pending |
negotiations being exchanged |
between the officials of the two bodies ter |
inmate the controversy, the American Fed |
Grafton of Labor will adopt most stringent |
measures, including perhaps. the election |
of one of the warning factions from mem |
bership in the international central body.
If the amalgamated society will unite |
with the brotherhood or the brotherhood |
with the amalgamated society all trouble !
will be at an end. Such action cannot be |
regarded as among the possibilities. as the |
entire membership of each proclaim It's |
allegiance and both have. it is said made |
the declaration that they will not recede |
from the position taken. According to re- |
ports, the membership of the brotherhood |
more than 10000 in the United |
States as against 5000 amalgamated work |
men.
Fruit and Gout.