The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
DRY GOODS WEN Go VEST.
They Are Quitting Business Here 10 Work
on Western Farms.

The reports of the steadily increasing
demand for farmhands in the Middle West
to harvest the big crops has resulted in a
large emigration of young men from this
city. Especially has this been felt in the
wholesale dry goods district,
Only the other day forty young men gave
up heir places and started for the West
Some of them had enough money to paw
their fares all the way, some had enough
TO pay it part Of the way and expect 10 use
their wits to carry them the rest of the
journey.
In THF Sun the other day was an account
of number of students from the UNIVERSE
ties hereabouis who were starting out to
become harvesters. OF those who leave
here 10 60 to work on the enormous farms
Of the Middle West. the college men will he
in a very small minority.
Three young men called at The sun office
on Wednesday, and asked for information
about the best part Of the farming district
to go TO. All three had been employed as
salesmen in the wholesale dry goods dis
trict, and in response to questions rs 10
why they were willing to give up places in
New York 10 take Jobs on West ern farms
~ small pay and a limited time of employ
mcnt said that II was because New York
was 80 crowded with young men seekin
advancement that there was little or no
rh,illtt' 1OT IIl' average man 10 get ahead.
There's lot Of lls fellows up in the drv
goods district who We're born and brought
mp here in New York, and who have made
up our minds that there is a better chance
for MS OUTSIDE Of New York than there is in
IT,, said the leader Of the party Every
young man born outside of New York
hustles into the city as soon as he gets old
enough 70 take job.
We think the thing for us to do, is to go
out into the country these fellows have
left, and take. the chances they have thrown
away in their anxiety to break into the
metropolis. We may he wrong, but we're
going TO give il chance and we're not
going TO quit until we have worked every
opportunity between the farming district.
where we are going first, clear to the Coast
Inquiry in the dry goods district hy a
Sun reported revealed the fact that almost
all of the big houses have lost young men
owing to the present craze to get TO the
West. Tho head of one firm told the re-
porter. that because the average Of pay
in the mercantile lines was small for young
men because many big iobbing houses
were gradually going out of business on
account Of the tendency 10 abolish the
middleman, h" young men in these houses
wer" particularly susceptible TO tempta
tions to try their luck in other places
When the kIondike craze came on,
he said, hundreds of young men left the
dry goods district and now there is every
indication that this demand for farmhands
in the West is going 70 take scores Of others.
II cannot say that blame the youngsters
at that. for the opportunities for young
men in the Wholesale dry goods line are
not what they used to be One thing l
can say about the youngsters from the
dry goods district who are going West, and
that is that they are a bright lot Of young
hustlers and that If there are any chances
out there In the West, they will improve
them