In Polish
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WORK
The most important thing for an emigrant after coming to America was to find a job.
They found work in factories as well as huge corporations. In the United States a resident of a Masovian village had to face a capitalist system, so new to him.
A new phenomenon observed by the emigrants was, above all, unemployment, or the pure existence of it alone. The Masovian farmers who arrived in the United States came across it quite frequently, especially seasonal unemployment such as in the winter.
Seasonal unemployment was a specific phenomenon observed in the States. It even appeared in large cities, large industrial plants, in mines, even at Chicago's slaughterhouses. Emigrants coming from the countryside were dependent of seasonal changes, so, no work in the winter was a normal thing for them.
They frequently warn their relatives interested in travelling to America not to travel in autumn or winter. There is no work then:
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Piotr Borowski of Brooklyn, N.Y. to Antoni Borowski, Giżynek, Rypin district,
January 27, 1891 As to the fraikarte, you will get it on March 15; I wanted to send it to you now, but it's hard to get a job now. Lots of people are out of work now that it's winter so I thought it will be better in the spring. Wait for a second letter and the fraikarte in the middle of
March.
The State Archive of the Capital City of Warsaw, Emigrants Letters No 128 Franciszek Chinc of Philadelphia, Pa., tu his family (an adress unknown), February 23, 1891 ... I am healthy thanks to the Grace of God, which is also what I wish you my dear parents and brother and sister, and I would like to tell you about my work. I am making very little because our factory is doing poorly; I am only working three days a week or two days, but it [-] it will get better in the spring when there's no worry about work, but in the winter hiring drops and you can't make money.
The State Archive of the Capital City of Warsaw, Emigrants Letters No 459
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Antoni Grzecznowski of Scranton, Pa. to Wiktoria Grzecznowska,
Łążyń, Toruń district, February 21, 1891 Praised be Jesus Christ.
Dear Mother and Brother and Brother-in-law, I received your letter on February 20. Your letter found me in good health that I also wish you with all of my heart. Dear Brother and Brother-in-law, you ask if I can send you szyfkartes. Why shouldn't I? You know I wrote you that I'll send them, but not right now because there is no reason to hurry. I wrote you more than once that the best work starts in May and June. Now, there is nothing to do during the winter. I myself don't have any job as of the New Year. Just half of everybody has a job. You can't get work noplace now. The factories run only half of the time and under the ground there is also little work.
The State Archive of the Capital City of Warsaw, Emigrants Letters No 496
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YOU HAVE TO WORK IN AMERICA
Rural emigrants were drawn into a new employment system in the new country. They had to submit to corporate discipline.
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HEALTHY PERSONS CAN WORK
We can frequently find information in the letters about lack of work due to an illness.
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