Some enthusiastic readers convinced me that I should continue the story of Jānis Sirms's adventures in America. What jobs did Latvian immigrants work, and how much did they earn? What was the work like in factories, and what was it like on rural farms?
"After two days, I got a job for about five days at some iron factory, where I earned around 6 dollars. That job ended, and I had to spend two weeks searching for work in vain. Then, I got a job for one day at an iron foundry. Although that could have been a permanent job, it was too difficult and hot for me, so I had to quit. At that time, Tilberģis and Birziņš had also returned from berry picking. Now we were all without work.
A few days later, Tilberģis and a man named Stieciņš went to Philadelphia to try to find work. When they arrived, they informed me that they had met several Latvians and that there was much more hope of finding work in Philadelphia than in Baltimore. So, on July 3, I left Baltimore. When I arrived in Philadelphia, I still had no luck finding work, and my money was running out. I decided to try working on a farm for a few months. On July 23, Stieciņš and I agreed to work for a farmer for $14 a month. We left that very day with the farmer. The farm was located near Delaware City, on the banks of the Delaware River.
When we arrived, we immediately disliked the place. Farmer turned out to be a harsh taskmaster. The food was also meager. Stieciņš ran back to Philadelphia the next day. I decided to endure for a month, as I wondered where I could go without any money. I managed to get through the month, though it was difficult. On August 23, I asked the farmer to pay me my wages, telling him I wanted to leave. He refused to listen and said if I wanted to leave, I could, but he wouldn't pay me. He wanted me to stay for another two or three months. I felt very sad. The next morning, after much arguing, I finally got $13, though the man withheld one dollar. I cursed him well and wished him good luck.
I took a steamboat back to Philadelphia and started looking for work again. On September 1, I found work on a railroad construction project not far from Philadelphia. After working for one day, it began to rain the next day, so we couldn't work.
On September 6, I found a job in a barrel factory in the city. The work was hard, but I could manage. The pay was $8 per week. I worked there until Christmas, and then the factory shut down, and I was laid off. Now, I am without a job.
Philadelphia, December 28, 1890.
On January 13 of this year, I got a job at the new Spreckels sugar factory, unloading barrel tables from railcars. I immediately started earning $9 per week, and the work was better than at my old place. From July to September, I earned $9.60 per week, and since then, I’ve been earning $10. In October, I was promoted to foreman at the factory. Things are going well because I can perform my tasks.
Philadelphia, McKean Street 137, August 23, 1891.
I am still working at the barrel factory. Since May, I’ve been earning $13 per week. In August, I was given one week off. During that week, I planned to visit Biederman in Boston.
On Sunday, August 8, I left Philadelphia for New York. My goal was to first explore New York and visit my fellow countrymen there. Around 11 a.m., I arrived in Jersey City, which is across the Hudson River from New York. After getting off the train, I thought I was already in New York. I started searching for the addresses of my countrymen, but soon realized I wasn’t in New York yet. I still had to take a steamboat across the Hudson River.
In New York, I soon found my fellow countrymen. I met again with Fricis Steinbergis, who had come to New York from Liverpool. At that time, he was also without work. Materially, our fellow countrymen had not yet settled much, just like everywhere else.
After visiting the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, and other sites, I went to Boston to visit Biederman. I found him only after a long search, as he had changed his address. I also met R. Hedeberg, whom I knew from Courland. I especially wanted to see the life of the Latvian society there, but I didn’t gain any fond memories from it. This trip cost me more than $20.
Lakewood Farm, New York State, May 1, 1892.
After returning from Boston, I worked at the barrel factory until March 13, without any significant events. On March 13, the barrel factory where I worked burned down. The fire started at night in the barrel table drying room, exactly where I was the foreman. The entire factory burned down to the ground. The damage was estimated at $250,000, but it was fully insured. Due to the fire, I lost my job. I deeply regretted it, as I had settled in quite well. About a week later, I found work for about 7-8 days at the same burned-down factory, but that was all.
The factory manager, under whom I worked, owned a farm. His name is R. Woods. He asked if I wanted to work on his farm. Since I didn't know of any other work, I agreed to leave Philadelphia and go to his farm.
In Philadelphia, we had established a Latvian society, and I was elected its president. I got along well with my fellow countrymen, and life was becoming more pleasant. Leaving was not at all to my liking, but what could I do?
On April 13, I left Philadelphia for the farm. Mr. Woods paid for the journey, and he traveled with me. The farm is located in Sullivan County, New York, about 4-5 versts from the Rockland railway station. The entire area is very hilly and rocky. Due to the abundance of rocks, there's no talk of good farming here. I don’t like this area at all, but I have to live somewhere—where else could I go?
There’s no reason to complain about the work, and the food is quite good. Mr. Woods doesn’t spend much time here, as he mostly lives in Philadelphia. In his place, a German man named Bruno Jaschke runs the farm. I met him in Philadelphia. His mother and sister help manage the farm, and a cousin of Bruno also lives here. The sister and cousin are young girls.
They are building a large new house here, which they plan to turn into a hotel where gentlemen from New York and elsewhere will come to spend their summers in the countryside. This area is romantically beautiful, and the air is said to be particularly cool and healthy during the summer. Therefore, this area is well-visited by vacationers. At the moment, the weather is still quite cold. Most of the surrounding residents are Germans, with a few Yankees.
Life here is lonely. I’m not sure how long I can endure. I hope to return to Philadelphia after some time."
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