Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-03

cans Chinese who have persistence and
courage are able to make their way here
in spite OF the utmost vigilance of the
authorities.
From a sentimental point of view it
would appear that Chinese would not care
TO come here for fear they would be sub
jected to indignities by the inspectors who
are stationed at ports of entry and in
the principal cities and towns on both the
northern and southern borders. This does
not apply to the more conservative OF the
race, but there are hundreds of shrewder
and holder spirits who see a chance to
gain wealth and they miss no means OF
gaining admittance to this country. They
are eager to take the places of the thou
sands who are now leaving the United
States for good with fortunes and COM
petences.
Gain Wealth and Return.
Express companies which have branches
in Chinatowns in the larger cities are busy
transferring accounts OF thrifty celestials
to Picking, Hong Kong and Canton. Hun
dreds Of the returning Cinnamon are buy
ing large establishments in the trade CEN
ters of their native country, while others
are investing in farms and plantations.
They return with stories of how they are
often ill-treated in the United States, but
they also clink the American gold which
they have garnered. The depletion Of the
Chinese population is. as investigations
made in the principal colonies in the United
States show, hardly met by the birth rate
or by the Influx Of the orientaIs across
the borders. The result OF all this has
been TO increase the wages Of Chinese
workmen in America 10 exorbitant figures.
Chinese are in demand not only for work
n e 1anndrxrrnaVt hut fCbT
wants. The prevailing rate for laundry
men is from SIS to so or more a week, with
board. Once a Chinese has learned the use
Of irons and starch his services are in de-
mand at the highest figures. To keep up
with their work some of the larger Chinese
laundries have been obliged to hire white
help. Others whose proprietors cannot get
along under such an arrangement are SELL
ing their establishments. Chinese laundries
are at present for sale by the score, be-
cause OF the scracity in the labor market
owners OF these establishments are I'M
! usually liberal I'm their treatment OF EN-
| ployes. Where charge Of 10 cents is made
for laundering a garment the proprietor
gets cents and the ironer Z. The cents
represents the cost of washing, materials
and rent. To even IN accounts the owner
works, creditlng the house with the labor
OF his own hands. II the patronage hap
pens TO run light. however, he takes what
his men are unable to do. It is Impossible
TO keep them unless they are able to main
| tain an average OF at least SIS a week.
Many ironers OF more than average intel
ligence have been rejecting offers OF clerk
ships at SIS TO $50 a week and some are
working only part time, so as to attend
schools and colleges.
Make Money in Laundry.
Chinese laundrymen who save $50 a month
out OF their wages are common. It costs
only 81 a month to maintain one person IN
China. A laundryman in this city, for in
stance. may send money home TO maintain
/ wife and children also his parents and the
parents Of his wife, II need be- TO say moth
ing OF contributing TO the support OF a
needy member Of the clan. and yet be able
10 have a substantial emergency fund
Within a year or so an expert laundry
man may establish a shop of his own OF
found a little business in oriental wares
II he does he may go to China visit as
long as he wishes and boldly pass through
port Of entry as a merchant, for no Il
entitled 10 that privilege under the law
The ironing board at the present time, how.
ever. Is the best means by which the av
erage Chinaman may ind life smooth anC
profitable.
To get a chance 10 avail himself OF pres
ent conditions In the labor Rlarlze, Chimes