THE LABOR MARKET AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES IN SAN FRANCISCO.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5308, 30 March 1878, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE LABOR MARKET AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES IN SAN FRANCISCO.

(From the S.P. Bulletin, 7th ult.) It is not a very easy matter to measure the extent of the destitution which prevails in this city at the present time. Several facts which have recently come to light would seem, however, to indicate that somewhere about 1000 men are actually suffering for the necessaries of life. About that number were ready to go to work for the railroad company on Mission Bay at Idol, per day. The number of persons who are relieved in the churches is about the same. The applications for relief at these places vary with the extent of the employment attainable on the water front. No information of a reliable nature has been compiled as to who these men are. There are some indications thot they are mostly recent comers. Rev. Mr. I jams, whose church is doing noble work in succoring the distressed, gave it as his experience that they were nearly all single men without families. This would seem to argue that they are comparatively recent arrivals. That there is among them an infusion of a small, mean element is undoubted, but that perhaps was unavoidable. Captain Lees testified before the Committee of Inquiry, that in many cases of attempted arson some months ago Eastern labor papers were found mixed up with the shavings intended to create a conflagration. That must be regarded as a somewhat significant circumstance. Persons lately from the outlying States and Territories— Nevada and Arizona—state that the tramps have disappeared from those regions. In short, nearly all the distressed people of this coast seem to have flocked to this city. The great majority are most likely deserving persons who have not been able to find employment. But this is only the distress which comes prominently before the public eye. There is another phase of it that is more concealed, and therefore harder to estimate. It is confined to our own people who have been settled here for some time, but who have friends to help them along, and who perhaps have a little property of their own. Their distress results from the competition with the Chinese. This manifests itself for the most part in the lower grades of sewing; in the shoemaking business, partly in woollen manufactures, in washing and some other departments, and in slop-clothing. Some branches of industry that would furnish large employment to young persons, such as cigar-making, have been nearly monopolised by this alien race. But there is no competition from them that is apparent in foundries, in building in all its branches, in city improvements, in furniture-making, in waggon-making, and other important departments.

This is established by the fact that though the year just passed has not been prosperous in a large sense, the aeoumulations in the Savings Banks have increased by over two millions, and the depositors by several thousands. It is therefore clear that the distress that is now the subject of such general comment, prevails only in spots. It is most pronounced among new comers. It prevails only in special walks of life among our permanent population, but as the spring opens much of this distress will disappear. Superabundant labor will go to country, whore the prospects are now very cheering. As things begin to settle con-

fidence will be restored, and there will be more work going on in this city. Meanwhile the race conflict may be regarded l as fairly in process of solution. The area for Chinese labor is being constantly diminished. The 'injury which their presence in large numbers inflicts is generally acknowledged. The fact is everywhere recognised that the men and women of our own, blood are entitled to the preference where they nre willing t° work.

There are several industries in which Chinese labor a short time ago was used exclusively which are now in the hands of white men. The Chinese have been leaving the State in large numbers, and there are indications that the spring immigration will be less than for some years past. There are good grounds for the belief that some action will be taken by Congress at this session to restrict the incoming of these people. There is every reason, therefore, to look pretty soon for better and more cheerful times. It is certainly clearing up all around the industrial horizon. :