The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1904-08-06
WASHINGTON
THE CITY OF MAGNIFICENT DIS
TANCES.

THE CITY OF MAGNIFICENT DIS
TANCES.
A Collection of a Few of the Events
Occurring Among the Afro-Ameri-
cans of the Capital of This Great
and Glorious Nation for Our Many
Readers.
Washington, D. c., August 1.-The
industrial condition of our race is un-
dergoing a change that invites the
serious consideration of our educators
and leaders. While our progress along
some lines of industry is very crafty
ing, yet there are indications that we
are not holding our own in several i'm
portant occupations and that in 9TH
ers we are but barely keeping pace
that will save us from a complete shut
out at a time not far distant. For
instance, the number Of AfrO-Amer-
lean carpenters and jOiners has de-
creased from 22581 in 1890 to Fl, 113
in 1900. A decrease is also noted in
the number OF. white carpenters and
joiners, but the per cent of decrease
is smaller. The occupation Of black
smith is another for which the num-
Der of our race reported was less in
1900 than in 1890 the decrease being
81 per cent. Meantime the number
of white blacksmiths increased 8.S per
cent.
The occupation Of seamstress stands
with those Of carpenter and joiner and
of blacksmith as one Of the three i'm
portant occupations in which the num-
Der of Afro-American breadwinners
decreased between 1890 and 1900. 1t
is to be regretted that our race cannot
or is not holding it's own in these very
important occupations and it might
be we'll to inquire into the cause.
There was once time, not long
since, when the Afro-American barber
and hairdresser was supreme, but he,
too, is passing, and it is his own fault.
The first investment made by the av-
erage Afro-American barber is his
last. His furniture and fixtures for
ever the same. The money he makes
is never put back into his business by
way of improvements. The hen that
lays the golden egg is actually starved
and as a result the patrons of the
shop leave one by one and give their
support to the barber who is up to
date, whose place Of business appears
new. fresh and attractive With the
"brother in black it's all going out
and nothing coming in.
In 1900 there were 1892 Afro-Amer-
lean BARRIERS and hairdressers. an in
crease of 14.1 per cent since 1890.
During the same period the number of
white BARRIERS and hairdressers in
creased at the alarming rate OF 64.5
per cent. The handwriting is on the
wall, brother, and the referee will
soon count you ont unless you get
busy.
Another instance: In 1900 there
were 22O,104 launderers and laund-
resses, an increase during the decade
of 43 per cent. Meantime the white
launderers and laundresses increased
81 per cent, or just about twice as
fast as the Afro-American. AS JAM
tors and sections, housekeepers and
stewards and fishermen and oyster
men the percentage of increase in the
number of persons occupied does not
compare favorably with the increase
shown by the whites who are engaged
in the same occupations. There is
nothing in the argument that the TAX
ing up of NEW labors, trades and pro-
fessions accounts for our bad showing
in the occupations indicated above.
The whites are taking up the new and
hanging onto the old lines of industry.
There appears to be something wrong,
brother, and we would better pay a
little more attention to industrial con-
ditions, because much, if not all, de-
pends upon our ability to hold our
own in the broad fields of industry.
This is an industrial age and it's a
case of now or never.
Among the musical celebrities who
will visit this country during the COM
ing season none will have greater
interest for Washington than S. Cole
ridge Taylor. The choral society here
which bears his name, composed OF
over 200 Afro-American singers, is
preparing to entertain him, as he will
be it's guest while in this city. TWO
concerts will be given in his honor in
Convention Hall, on November 18th
and 17th About one-third of the hall
will be sacrificed. and partition and
sounding-board will be erected in the
rear of the stage, so as to bring all
seats used into hearing distance OF the
singers. The people of the great
Northwest will doubtless be pleased
TO know that they may have an oppor'
tunity to see and hear this great com
poser, as he is planning to visit Chi
cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul while on
this his first visit to the United States
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur S. Gray are
visiting their home in Atchison, Kan
saS.
The new Freedmen's Hospital will
be three stories in height, the wings
running from each side of the admin
istration building, and having an L in
addition to the frontage. The admin
istration building will contain the
operating room, Offices and other de-
rartments, while one of the wings will