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""Leno and Maria: A Success Story"" by Vincent P. Cano - 1985

Page 34

About the time Maria finished her questioning, the motion of the train broke in speed and the quick sound of the steel wheels hitting the joints in the tracks became more and more pronounced. 

"It appears we are nearing the end of our journey Maria." Leno responded. "The last time I cam through here with Antonio, there were many places that advertised for help on the railroads. I hope that there is still a need for someone who is willing to work for a living."

The train coasted into the San Antonio train station and came to a jerky stop exhauling its steam from its sides from the exhaustive trip. The passengers filled out one by one onto the wooden platform where they unconsciously found themselves in little groups. Getting their bearings on solid ground, the groups quickly scattered off into different directions for whatever reasons that brought them there. The train emptied itself of one last breath of steam and sat lifeless on its tracks. The steam slowly drifted away leaving the Cano family completely exposed on the platform to begin their new life on United States soil.

In the early 1920s, railroads such as the Southern Pacific hired increasingly large numbers of Mexicans and Mexican Americans as track maintenance workers. A 1929 study supported the fact that 70 and 90 percent of track workers were Mexicans on southwestern railroads. This recruitment extended as far north as Detroit, Michigan, and as far east as Altona, Pennsylvania. However, the facts may be, when Leno inquired as to this type of work, there was none available. He was told, however, that farm laborers were being hired in Houston, Texas. After a short layover in San Antonio which allowed him ample time to exchange his pesos and to feed his family, they boarded the train once again and headed for Houston. 

Tired and hungry, the family arrived late in the evening of the same day. Carrying  the girls in their arms, Maria and Leno were directed to a hotel exclusively set aside for the housing of Mexicans. Once Leno was sure his family was secure in their small room, he went out into the street to seek out clues that might lead him to where they were hiring for the farm work he was told about in San Antonio. 

Because of the continued growth of agriculture through the extension of irrigation, demand for workers increased. Agribusiness, therefore, began paying fees for the recruitment of farm workers to labor contractors. This act resulted in the creation of the agricultural labor contractor known within the Mexican American communities and agribusiness as "contratista" or "engachista"

The labor contractor was the broker between spanish speaking Mexican laborers and agricultural labors. Customarily, they were Mexican Americans who knew the language and the labor needs of the farmer which made it possible for them to secure Mexican workers for short term jobs. He played an important role for decades by recruiting, transporting, organizing and supervising immigrant and Mexican American workers. Bear in mind that the heavy influx of Mexican workers into the southwestern

34.

Saving...

About the time Maria finished her questioning, the motion of the train broke in speed and the quick sound of the steel wheels hitting the joints in the tracks became more and more pronounced. "It appears we are nearing the end of our journey Maria." Leno responded. "The last time I cam through here with Antonio, there were many places that advertised for help on the railroads. I hope that there is still a need for someone who is willing to work for a living." The train coasted into the San Antonio train station and came to a jerky stop exhauling its steam from its sides from the exhaustive trip. The passengers filled out one by one onto the wooden platform where they unconsciously found themselves in little groups. Getting their bearings on solid ground, the groups quickly scattered off into different directions for whatever reasons that brought them there. The train emptied itself of one last breath of steam and sat lifeless on its tracks. The steam slowly drifted away leaving the Cano family completely exposed on the platform to begin their new life on United States soil. In the early 1920s, railroads such as the Southern Pacific hired increasingly large numbers of Mexicans and Mexican Americans as track maintenance workers. A 1929 study supported the fact that 70 and 90 percent of track workers were Mexicans on southwestern railroads. This recruitment extended as far north as Detroit, Michigan, and as far east as Altona, Pennsylvania. However, the facts may be, when Leno inquired as to this type of work, there was none available. He was told, however, that farm laborers were being hired in Houston, Texas. After a short layover in San Antonio which allowed him ample time to exchange his pesos and to feed his family, they boarded the train once again and headed for Houston. Tired and hungry, the family arrived late in the evening of the same day. Carrying the girls in their arms, Maria and Leno were directed to a hotel exclusively set aside for the housing of Mexicans. Once Leno was sure his family was secure in their small room, he went out into the street to seek out clues that might lead him to where they were hiring for the farm work he was told about in San Antonio. Because of the continued growth of agriculture through the extension of irrigation, demand for workers increased. Agribusiness, therefore, began paying fees for the recruitment of farm workers to labor contractors. This act resulted in the creation of the agricultural labor contractor known within the Mexican American communities and agribusiness as "contratista" or "engachista" The labor contractor was the broker between spanish speaking Mexican laborers and agricultural labors. Customarily, they were Mexican Americans who knew the language and the labor needs of the farmer which made it possible for them to secure Mexican workers for short term jobs. He played an important role for decades by recruiting, transporting, organizing and supervising immigrant and Mexican American workers. Bear in mind that the heavy influx of Mexican workers into the southwestern 34.