PENSACOLA, FLA., 4-29/17.
_Dear Sir_: I was looking over The Chicago Defender & I saw where you wanting mins to work & the meantime was advanceing transportation if it is so i would thank you kindly if you will aid me with a Transportation that i may come and get some of thoes jobs thae i am a painter by traid but i will & can do eny kind of worke i am a sober and hard working Man my weight is 179 Lbs heigth 6 ft 2 in i see where you can use sum moulders i am not a Moulder but I am a moulder son I can do that worke till the Moulder Come very skilful at eny kind of work Hoping to here from you Soon for more rezult.
PATTERSON, LA., May 1, 1917.
_Kind Sir_: I saw your ad in the Defender for Laborers I am anxious to get north to do something I am a Cleaner and Presser by Trade exprence Hoffman Pressing mashine oppreator of this Trade is Not in your line. I would be very glad if you could get me a Transportation Advanced from Chicago to woek with the Molders I am anxious to lean That Trade I hope you with them and I would like to learn the Trade.
I hope you will attend to the above matter as I am in Eanest about this matter.
ATLANTA, GA.
TO THE URBAN COMMITTY--
_Dear Sir_: I am comming north and have read advice in the Chicago Defender and I would be very much obliged to you if you would direct me to some firm that is in need of brick layers for that is my Professical trade and can do any cla.s.s of work and if I can"t get Brick Work now I will consider any other good Job as I want to come right away I have 3 in fambly and I have no objection to work in other small towns I will be very glad to hear from you right away as I have never been north and advice will be excepted yours truly and friend of the race.
HATTIESBURG, MISS., 12/4/16.
HON. JOHN T. CLARK, _Sec. National League on Urban Conditions_, New York City, N.Y.
_Sir_: I am writing you on matters pertaining to work and desirable locations for industrous and trust worthy laborers. Me for myself and a good number of Friends especially thousand of our people are moving out from this section of whom all can be largely depended upon for good service, for the past 15 years I have been engaged in insurance work of which I am at the head of one now, And have a large host of people at my command. I have had a deal of experience in the lumbering business, Hotel, Agency of most any kind. Any information as to employment and desirable locations especially for good School Conditions Church Etc., will be appreciated.
FAYETTE, GA., January 17, 1917.
_Dear Sir_: I have learned of the splendid work which you are doing in placing colored men in touch with industrial opportunities. I therefore write you to ask if you have an opening anywhere for me. I am a college graduate and understand Bookkeeping. But I am not above doing hard labor in a foundry or other industrial establishment. Please let me know if you can place me.
NATCHEZ, MISS., Sept. 22-17.
MR. R. S. ABBOTT, _Editor_.
_Dear Sir_: I thought that you might help me in Some way either personally or through your influence, is why I am worrying you for which I beg pardon.
I am a married man having wife and mother to support, (I mention this in order to properly convey my plight) conditions here are not altogether good and living expenses growing while wages are small. My greatest desire is to leave for a better place but am unable to raise the money.
I can write short stories all of which potray negro characters but no burlesque can also write poems, have a gift for cartooning but have never learned the technicalities of comic drawing, these things will never profit me anything here in Natchez. Would like to know if you could use one or two of my short stories in serial form in your great paper they are very interesting and would furnish good reading matter. By this means I could probably leave here in short and thus come in possession of better employment enabling me to take up my drawing which I like best.
Kindly let me hear from you and if you cannot favor me could you refer me to any Negro publication buying fiction from their race.
BATON ROUGE, LA., 4/26/17.
_Dear Sir_: I saw your advertis.e.m.e.nt in the Chicago Defender. I am planning to move North this summer. I am one of the R. F. D.
Mail Carriers of Baton Rouge. As you are in the business of securing Jobs for the newcomers, I thought possibly you could give some information concerning a transfer or a vacancy, in the government service, such, as city carrier, Janitor, or something similar that requires an ordinary common school education.
Possibly you could give me information about some good firm, that pays from, $3.50 upwards. If I could get a Job with a good reliable firm I would not mind quitting the government service, I have been a Mail carrier for 11 years.
I want to buy property and locate in Chicago permently with my family.
Please let me know what are your charges for securing positions.
DECATUR, ALA., 4/25/17.
THE CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE
_Gentlemen_: Gentlemens desious of Settling in some Small Northern Town With a modrate Population & also Where a Colored man may open a business Also where one may receive fairly good wedges for a While ontill well enough, azainted with Place to do a buiseness in other words Wonts to locate in Some Coming town Were agoodly no, of colard People is. Wonts to Work At Some occupation ontill I can arrange for other buiseness Just Give Me information As to the best placers for a young buiseness Negro to locate & make good. in. Any Northern State
Thanking you inavance any information you may give in regards to Laber & buiseness Location Also when good Schools or in opration Please adress
P. S. answer this at once as I plain to leave the South by May the 3rd. I can furnish best reffreces.
DYERSBURG, TENNESSEE, 5/20, 1917.
THE DEFENDER, NEGRO NEWS JOURNAL,
_My dear Sir_: Please hand this letter to the Agency of the negro Employment Bureau--connected with your department--that I may receive a reply from the same--I am a practical fireman--, or stoker as the yankee people call it--have a good knowledge of operating machinery--have been engaged in such work for some 20 yrs--will be ready to call--or come on demand--I am a married man--just one child, a boy about 15 yrs--of--age--a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church--and aspire to better my condition in life--Do me the kindness to hand this to the agent.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
I seen your advertis.e.m.e.nt in the Chicago defender where you would direct men with families where to go in order to find good work.
I am a Southern cook, butler or Janitor I have two boys age 15 yrs & 13 yrs, and wife that does maid work now I would like for you to help me locate myself & family some where up there for work I can furnish reference to thirteen years of service at one place I am anxious to come right away.
LEXINGTON, MISS., May 12-17.
_My dear Mr. H----:_--I am writing to you for some information and a.s.sistance if you can give it.
I am a young man and am disable, in a very great degree, to do hard manual labor. I was educated at Alcorn College and have been teaching a few years: but ah: me the Superintendent under whom we poor colored teachers have to teach cares less for a colored man than he does for the vilest beast. I am compelled to teach 150 children without any a.s.sistance and receives only $27.00 a month, the white with 30 get $100.
I am so sick I am so tired of such conditions that I sometime think that life for me is not worth while and most eminently believe with Patrick Henry "Give me liberty or give me death." If I was a strong able bodied man I would have gone from here long ago, but this handicaps me and, I must make inquiries before I leap.
Mr. H----, do you think you can a.s.sist me to a position I am good at stenography typewriting and bookkeeping or any kind of work not to rough or heavy. I am 4 feet 6 in high and weigh 105 pounds.
I will gladly give any other information you may desire and will greatly appreciate any a.s.sistance you may render me.
PASCA GOULA, MISS., May the 8, 1917.
_Dear Sir & frend:_ as understand that you ar the man for me to con for to & i want to Com to you & my frend & i has not got the money to Com Will you pleas Sir send me & my frend a ticket to Com an if you will I will glad La Com at onC & will worK et out will Be glad to do so I will not ask you to send the redey Casch for you dont nae me & if you Will Send me 2 tickets i will gladly take the, & i will Com Jest now hoping to hear from you by re torn male Yors Evor.
MEMPHIS, TENN., May 5, 1917.