their superior knowledge of English, were employed in addition to Japanese in 3 of the stores. These were paid $65, $54, (2) $43, $35, and $30 per month without board or lodging. Three Japanese women were paid $43, $26, and $22 per month, respectively, without board or lodging. The remaining 22 Japanese employees were paid wages per month as follows: Three $75, seven $50, four $45, five $40, one $35, one $30, and one $25.

Some of these stores and shops are in the "shopping district." Except in the case of one store, the majority of the patrons were members of the white race. With unimportant exceptions, the classes of goods carried in stock are not sold by other dealers save the Chinese. The competition which exists is limited practically to the dealers of these two oriental races.

Other stores.-There are several retail shops of kinds other than those already mentioned. Among those investigated by the agents of the Commission were two "men's furnishing" stores, one with a capital of $5,000, the other with a capital of $2,500 invested; the first established in 1906, the other in 1907. Both of these are located in the center of the older "Japanese quarter," but each reports that 40 per cent of its patronage was by persons other than Japanese. One carries a small stock of Japanese goods. The sales for the year amounted to $21,000. There is also one shoe store, which was established in 1907. It carries a stock of goods worth only about $1,500, and 80 per cent of its patrons are Japanese. Of the 5 book and stationery stores, 2 were investigated. One of these reported that about 90 per cent, the other about 60 per cent, of its goods in stock were of Japanese origin, while 90 and 80 per cent of their patrons, respectively, were members of the Japanese race. Their combined capital was $6,000; their aggregate sales for the year amounted to $15,000. Three drug stores are reported, two of which were established in 1905, the other the following year. All three are located in the older Japanese quarter" and each has a capital of $4,000 or a little more invested. Thirty per cent of the stock of two, and 50 per cent of that of the other, were reported to be Japanese patent medicines. From 50 to 60 per cent of their patrons are members of the Japanese race. Among the other patrons about one-fifth are negroes.

66

Of 5 watch and jewelry shops, 2-1 of which was established in 1902, the other in 1903-were investigated. One of these had a capital of $7,000 invested and employs two clerks, while the other is engaged in watch repairing almost exclusively. Fifty per cent of the patrons of the larger and 60 per cent of those of the smaller shop were reported as Japanese. One general merchandise store was reported. It had a small stock of American and Japanese goods worth perhaps $4,000. Sixty per cent of its patrons are Japanese. One liquor store, with a slightly larger capital, dealing in both American and Japanese intoxicating drinks and patronized by both white persons and Japanese (70 per cent of the latter class), was reported. Finally, one bicycle shop engaged in the sale of new bicycles, as well as in the repair of old ones, and patronized in about equal proportions by Japanese and white persons was investigated.

Cigar, confectionery, and ice-cream stands.-There are perhaps about 20 cigar, confectionery, and ice cream stands other than those conducted in connection with pool rooms and other establishments

already mentioned. These have all been started in very recent years. Of 9, for which data were obtained, the oldest was started in 1905. Most of them deal in vegetables, canned goods, candies, ice cream, soda water, cigarettes, and cigars. Only 2 of the reported a capital in excess of $700. All but I is conducted without hired assistance and all but 2 reported profits varying from $300 to $960 for the year. These small shops are located in the most frequented part of the Japanese colony. Most of them are patronized chiefly by Japanese, but a few report that the majority of their customers are of the various other races residing in the locality.

Boarding and lodging houses.-The conducting of boarding and lodging houses for their countrymen engages the attention of a larger number of Japanese business men than any other branch of business enterprise, for the vast majority of those residing in the city are without families, and unless provided with board and lodging by their employers, seek these establishments conducted by their countrymen. Moreover, the agricultural class when not employed come here in large numbers. In 1908 there were 104 such establishments, but at the time of the investigation the number had decreased to 90. In 1904 only 18 were reported, but doubtless the list was incomplete and included only the more conspicuous among a much larger number. Whatever the number at that time may have been it is certain that with the influx of agricultural laborers to southern California and the larger number of Japanese permanently located in Los Angeles, it increased rapidly. More recently, however, as the number of Japanese laborers has diminished and as the Japanese population of the city has become smaller, a comparatively large number of the less profitable establishments have been closed and the profits of some of the others are much smaller than they formerly were. The boarding and lodging houses have very few patrons other than Japanese. Only 2 of some 30 known to the agents had any white patrons, and in those instances they constituted for one 20 per cent and the other only about 1 per cent of the total number.

The 90 boarding and lodging houses are of diverse types, but in a general way may be placed in three groups, according to the character of the patrons and the character of the accommodations provided. A large number provide meals and lodgings at low prices for transient agricultural laborers and have a comparatively small number of regular boarders and lodgers employed in the city. An equally large, if not greater, number provide meals and lodgings of the same kind for house cleaners, restaurant employees, and others similarly employed in the city, and have a small percentage of transients. Finally, a smaller number provide better lodgings and, in some cases, meals for the more well-to-do classes-business men, reporters, interpreters, etc. Six boarding and lodging houses were investigated. The details reported by the agents show how a large percentage of the Japanese in Los Angeles live and the cost of their board and lodging. One of the boarding and lodging houses investigated was conducted in an old two-story frame structure. There were 1 female and 18 male boarders and lodgers. Three of the latter did house cleaning, 2 were elevator "boys," 5 were restaurant employees, and 1 was a ranch hand. Practically all of the males were regular boarders and lodgers, who paid $9 per month for board and from $3.50 to $7 per

month for lodging. Transients pay 35 cents per day for meals and from 15 to 35 cents per night for lodging. With two exceptions the rooms were not crowded and were well ventilated and lighted. The rooms were furnished with iron beds and fairly clean bedding (including counterpanes) and cheap chairs and tables. The floors of the hallways and some of the rooms were carpeted. The care of the apartments, but not the toilets, was fairly good.

A boarding house of another type was conducted in a large dwelling house, which was in fair repair. The 34 boarders and lodgers included 7 men and their wives, 3 married men with wives abroad, and 17 single men. Of the men 18 were farm laborers, 2 were house cleaners, 2 were porters in saloons, and 2 were cooks. Of the women 4 were employed as waitresses. The price of meals was 10 cents each, of rooms per month from $5 to $10, of lodging per night 25 cents. The rooms were all clean, comfortably furnished, and well ventilated and lighted. Iron spring beds were used, the bedding (including counterpanes, etc.) was clean, and the apartments well cared for. Most of the rooms were carpeted. The proprietor has alliances with "bosses" of agricultural laborers, whereby he supplies them with men, but does not conduct a regular employment agency.

A boarding house of a slightly different type and conducted in an old frame dwelling had 29 boarders and lodgers. These 29 included 4 married couples, 5 married men whose wives were abroad, 14 single men, and 2 children. Ten of these men were ranch hands, 5 were restaurant employees, 2 were house cleaners, 1 a janitor, 1 a porter, 1 an elevator "boy," 1 an expressman, 1 an actor, 1 a "boss," and one a "day worker." Regular boarders paid $10 per month, transients 40 cents per day for their meals; regular lodgers paid from $3 to $10 per month, while transients paid 20 to 35 cents per night for their lodgings. Many of the rooms, which were not large, contained two double beds. For the greater part iron beds were used, the bedding (including, as elsewhere, counterpanes, pillowcases, etc.) was not clean, the furniture was of the cheapest kind, the floors were bare; the plumbing was poor and malodorous, the care of the apartments poor. The proprietor did not conduct an employment agency, but supplied laborers to ranch "bosses," "who, if it pleases them, send me money in acknowledgment of the services rendered." a

Another large establishment investigated was a three-story modern brick structure, the first floor of which was used for business purposes, the other two as lodgings. In every respect it was a very good rooming house, the rooms well furnished and well cared for. The price of lodgings was from $8 to about twice that sum per month. The lodgers were of the professional and business classes of Japanese. The other boarding and lodging houses, except in minor details, were duplications of these. As a group they compare favorably with those conducted by other foreign races, and are distinctly better than those conducted by some races represented by comparatively large numbers of single men and men whose wives are abroad, and most of whom are unskilled laborers or engaged in conducting petty shops. Employment agencies. Conducting employment agencies has been one of the most important branches of business enterprise engaged in

• Free translation of proprietor's statement to agent.

by the Japanese. It has usually been carried on in connection with the supply business or in connection with those boarding and lodging houses the patrons of which are largely transient laborers. Large agencies supplying railroad laborers have maintained branch offices here. Since the substitution of Mexicans as section hands on the southern route of the Southern Pacific and on the Santa Fe west of Albuquerque, however, this branch of the business has not been of great importance. Only one branch office of any great importance is now maintained in Los Angeles by an agency engaged in supplying Japanese laborers for railroad work.

Many of the lodging houses have until recently conducted agencies for supplying domestic and farm and other laborers, but the imposition in 1909 of a state tax of $50 on all employment bureaus in cities of the size of Los Angeles in addition to the city license tax of $48 per year, has caused most of these establishments to discontinue that part of their business. Many of the lodging houses, however, still supply farm laborers to ranch "bosses." These "bosses," who have their groups of laborers in different localities, correspond with lodging-house keepers or visit Los Angeles to secure more laborers when needed. Since Japanese laborers have become scarce the "bosses" usually pay the lodging-house proprietors for the men secured at their places. In several instances the payment was found to be 50 cents for each man secured.

Aside from the house-cleaning groups, which in a sense are employment agencies supplying men for domestic work by the hour or day, only 7 Japanese employment agencies were found by the agents of the Commission. The majority of the latter are general agencies engaged for the greater part in supplying domestics and general laborers. Some of them are patronized by both Japanese and white persons. The Commission collected from persons for whom employment is secured is usually 7 per cent of the first month's wages of domestics and general laborers, if paid in advance, or 10 per cent if paid later. The fee for agricultural laborers is usually $1.50 or $2.

Petty manufacture.-The Japanese have engaged in manufacture to a small extent. Establishments engaged in the manufacture of bamboo furniture, tofu (bean curd), soda water, and artificial flowers are reported, the entire number of establishments being about a half dozen. These are all small places, the work ordinarily being done by the proprietors. Most of the goods produced are sold to the members of the Japanese race.

Other business.-Several other kinds of business, practically all designed to serve the needs of their countrymen, are engaged in by the Japanese of Los Angeles. Among them are two banks engaged in commercial banking. These also serve as savings institutions and as agencies for forwarding money to Japan. There are also 11 expressmen. They do little business except for their countrymen. Their charges do not differ from those of negro and white expressmen, and they earn from $40 to $75 per month. There are 7“ job carpenters," one of whom employs two helpers at $35 and $30 per month, respectively, with board and lodging. These mechanics do cabinet work and odd jobs"-chiefly in altering the interiors of buildings occupied by Japanese for business or residence purposes and in installing store fixtures. They are employed to only a small ex

σε

tent by the members of other races. Much of the work is done by "contract," but the standard rate of wages-which is not necessarily adhered to is $3 per day of ten hours. Of small photograph galleries there are now six. Only one studio has any considerable number of white patrons. With this exception, from 90 to 100 per cent of their patrons are Japanese. Their gross earnings are comparatively small, and the annual profits of two investigated were reported as being $360 and $600, respectively. There is also one rubbish man," who is said to have deprived a negro of the work of hauling away débris and waste of various kinds for the members of the older Japanese colony.

În addition to the various kinds of business thus far enumerated, there are several small printing establishments. Two (and beginning with the first of the year 1910, three) daily newspapers are published. Five so-called magazines are published also, but most of them are small leaflets and reports published by Japanese societies. There are also two small job printing offices, which engage for the greater part in printing "matter" in the Japanese language.

Japanese professional men.-Finally, in order to account for the Japanese not working for wages, reference should be made to the professional men. These at the close of the year 1908 included several interpreters, four physicians and surgeons, two dentists, and three midwives. All of these, save the interpreters, serve their own countrymen almost exclusively and do not compete for the patronage of other races.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF THE ESSENTIAL FACTS RELATING TO JAPANESE BUSINESS.

From the details presented above, it is evident that the Japanese of Los Angeles have engaged in many branches of business enterprise and that their business establishments are much more numerous than in 1904. Practically all of these people, save the domestic servants, live in the two colonies to which reference has been made, and in many cases are not welcomed in desirable places conducted by other races. This is true of hotels and lodging houses, restaurants, barber shops, poolrooms, and similar places. In other cases, because of convenience, language difficulties, personal taste, and race sympathy, the vast majority of the Japanese patronize establishments conducted by their own countrymen, in so far as fairly satisfactory service is available. As deduced from these several facts, it is clear that the Japanese patronize almost exclusively the business establishments of their own race, with the possible exception of those selling American clothing. They usually patronize dentists, physicians, and photographers of their own race as well.

It is evident, also, from the details presented that in most lines of business the Japanese establishments find many patrons among the other races. The patrons of the curio and art stores are found among all the races frequenting the shopping districts. In most other cases, however, the non-Japanese patrons are practically all of the white people, Mexicans, and negroes who live in or near the two districts in which the Japanese have settled in large numbers. Much, if not most, of the business of the cobblers, restaurants serving American