HIGH PRICES IN SAN FRANCISCO—HARD TIMES FOR LABOURERS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 736, 4 May 1853, Page 4

HIGH PRICES IN SAN FRANCISCO—HARD TIMES FOR LABOURERS.

[Fron t! c “ Plactr Times,” Jannniy 2r.] Probably at no period since the discovery of (he gold mines have the people of California found it so difficult to procure the necessaries of life for their labour as during the past few months. In 1849, prices were for a time even higher than at present, but then gold could be found in greater abundance, and in closer proximity to navigable streams where foot! could be readily procured. Then the labourer could almost any where in the mineral region or in our cities, procure the necessaries of life by a few hours exertions each day. But for the past few months thousands of our population have actually suffered from hunger. They have been forced to live upon coarse and unwholesome food, and have in many instances not had even enough of this. We hazard but little in saying, that the labouring portion of our population has made nothing for the past four or five months. The extraordinary price of food has taken all. Nor have merchants, with the exception of importers of such articles as were essential to the very existence of the people, made their expenses. With an abundance of the necessaries of life in our markets, food has advanced. While a fleet of vessels have been employed in bringing to our shores every commodity which the heart of man can desire, thousands of our citizens have actually suffered from hunger. They have not been able to obtain for Iheir services what would supply their daily wants. Let the man who doubts what we have said, follow the poor labourer to the market even in (his city, where every commodity is cheap in comparison with the prices exacted in other portions of the Stale. Let him see how far the earnings of the labourer will go towards the support of a large family ; flour at twenty-five cents per pound, choice pieces of beef fifty and as often sixty-two and a half cents ; potatoes twelve and a half cents; pork fifty cents; butter from sixty-two, to one dollar and twenty-five cents per pound ; wild ducks from two to four dollars per pair ; chickens four or five dollars each ; lard thirty-seven and a half cents per pound ; coffee thirty-seven and a half cents per pound. We might thus enumerate almost every article of food in our market, and give prices correspondingly high were we so inclined, but here are enough to show how the poor man stands. To show how difficult it must be for the ordinary labourer to obtain even the necessaries of life. The man who has a family must, even in addition to food, rent a house and purchase fuel, which arc within themselves important items of expenditure. We have given the prices of a few commodities which the poor man must have —such articles as speculators know must sell. We would ask the reader to turn to another branch of business— to dry goods dealers, and see what profits they are making? Scarcely enough to hold soul and body together. The prices in this instance will barely pay cost and carriage from Atlantic ports, it is thus with clothing, hardware, eel., and indeed we might urge, with all branches of business, with the exception of those immediately connected with the sale or transportation of food. The prices cf those articles which the poor man must consume, are so very high, that he has nothing left with which to obtain other articles after their purchase. All that the labourer can possibly earn, must go for food. He has nothing to spare for dry goods, clothing, cct. We are told that trade will regulate itself if left alone—that the poor man should not be protected

by (he passage of laws which will shield him against the extortions of (he merciless speculator. In a word, that it would be wrong to pass laws which would allow lair competition in trade. . Those gentlemen who urge that it is (,<an \ ll “ democratic'' to prevent speculations in food, wi.l see ere long (hat (hey arc preaching a doctrine which will never suit the masses.—l hey will see that they are urging a policy which will penalize trade and impoverish (he Stale. From the arguments which have been used m certain quarters, it would seem as if it was highly commendable for a few men, to purchase all the food in the country, and hold it for high prices ; that it was praiseworthy to form associations for the oppression of the poor. Wc speak of this subject, for we apprehend speculations are as yet in their infancy in California. Rich men have but recently associated together to advance prices. Let the Legislature adjourn without pei feeling some law upon the subject, and we shall have twelve months of such limes as have not yet been witnessed. We shall have an average of prices which will make the poor man taullcr. Such persons as doubt this, we would ask to turn their attention to almost any article of food. Within the last week or two, prices have steadily advanced. Butler, lard, potatoes, beef, pork, and indeed almost every article has shown the incipient steps towards speculative prices a preparation which is being made to exact from the necessities of the people. We are even informed upon pretty good authority, that a combination has already sent its agents £VuMi, to purchase beef cattle preparatory to a giand operation in that article. Let speculations in fond bo fostered for a-while longer, and the consumer xvi 1 1 he able to determine whether (he policy be a good one or not. He will perhaps understand the new democracy which is so flippantly taughl by Whig and independent examples.