The state herald., 1909-01-01
CHINESE LABOR
BAD FOR STATE
SC SAYS LABOR COMMISSIONER
SWANSON IN HIS ANNUAL
REPORT.
IMMIGRATION FIGURES
MINING TROUBLES HAVE BEEN
SETTLED AND MINES EMPLOY
NEARLY 10000 MEN.

n"bver.-"ChiHese labor is detrimen-
tai TO the state" says Axel Swanson,
state labor commissioner in his bien-
nial report now ready to go to the
pr,nter. This is the first complete
report in six years to come out of the
labor commissioner office and it is
a voluminous document in which gen
eral conditions in the state are re-
viewed eXhaustively. Discussing the
question of Chinese labor, Commits.
sioner Swanson states there are about
500 Chinese laborers in Colorado, that
they are mostly engaged in small bust.
nesses, such as laundTies, stores and
restaurants; that they are few of them
married and they are detrimental to
the state because they spend but little
OF their money for American made
goods.
The commissioner recommends an in
vcstigation of their manner of living,
which lie declares is unsanitary and a
menace to the welfare of the commun-
ity in which they reside.
Another interesting feature of the
labor commissioners report is the fig.
ures showing the immigration to Colo
rado during the last two years. Italian
immigration leads, with 1,769 in the
past two years. and German immigra-
tion comes second with S95, and the
Creations come third with 7l3. That
the Chinese are not increasing by I'M.
migration apparently. II being shown
that only five have come TO Colorado
In two years. The number of people
immigrating TO Colorado is as follows
German. S95; Scandinavian, 4s5; Eng
lish. f375; Croatian. 7l3; Greeks, 200;
Armenian. /: Bohemian. 95 Bulga.
rian, 30; Chinese. 8; Cuban. /; Dal.
matian. 1901; Dutch and Flemish, 2S:
Finnish. "A: French, ~: Hebrew, ITS;
Irish. 139; Italian, 1.7G9; Japanese. IL
Corean. 1; Lithuanian. 3; Magyar. 80;
Poles, "a; Portuguese, 2: Roumanian.
/; Persian. IL: Scotch. lG4; Sloyaks,
81; Spanish. s. Syrian. "a. and 9th.
ers. G. The Total is 5.GOl for the past
Two years.
One of the most surprising parts o.
this report is the statement that only
eleven Japanese have immigrated to
the state within two years, II being
the general impression that the Jap.
anese had almost the largest number
Of immigrants coming In.
Conditions IN the mines of the state
are reported generally good at the
present time. II is stated that trou.
blcs occurring at various mines with.
In the past few years have been ad-
justed and that peace and prosperity
rcigns In the gold producing hills.
with employees and employers working
hand.in'hand. Improvements have
been made in the working conditions
of most OF the mines during the past
two years and there has been de.
crease in mining accidents OF fatal
character. The mines are giving EN-.
ploymcnt to nearly 10000 men at an
average wage OF $3.50 per day for Ia.
borcrs and OF $3.50 to $500 per day
for mechanics and skilled labor.
The petroleum industry is preemi.
nently mentioned, Il being shown that
the oil fields In the vicinity OF Flor.
encc have shipped nearly si5.00O,O00
worth OF crude oil and that 1000 bar.
rels Is the average production per
day In this territory. Efforts are be.
Ing made TO reawaken intcres, IN the
oil fields near Boulder and II Is pre-.
dictcd that n number Of wells will be
tapped there In the near future.
The remainder of the report deals
with labor unions, manufacturing In.
dustrlos, agriculture and irrigation.
and Indicate that the labor commits
sloncr has worked arduously In con.
ducting researches for data.