Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-01-24
Our Colorado Correspondence.
CENTRAL Cry. COLORADO,
- Jan, Sth., 1868.

with the same Wlntry aspect as IN w Is
eonsin or more northern ATTITUDES. No,
we had what might be called pleasant
day for winter. At times the sun shone
brightly, the very light fall of snow OF
the night preceding soon melting gradual
lv before the persistent influence of " Old
Sol" Here, as elsewhere, the day was
kept as holiday by all classes, with few
exceptions AS elsewhere there were fes-
rivals, balls, private parties, and, am sor-
ry to say, the beer and liquor selling es
Adjustments had their numerous votaries,
who perhaps think wholesale drinking one
way of celebrating Christmas. We see
the effects in the number of drunken men
on the streets. | can exempt Wisconsin
men from the latter mode, who, as far as
my observation goes, compose no lncon-
siderable portion of the sober and indus
trious class in this community. We re-
member with something like regret the
many Christmas holidays passed at home,
with The sumptuous dinners, the merry
sleigh-rides, the music, the evening par
ties time passed pleasantly. We hope
for the return of these joyous occasions
Pardon all appearance Of egotism, but as
before stated, Wisconsin men are notedly
a sober and industrious class of this com
munity. Usually temperate, indeed
large number are members of the |. 0. u.
L. Industrious and economical, nearly
all of whom contemplate returning to
Wisconsin or elsewhere, to invest the hard
earnings of months, or years, in some
more congenial occupation. CAPITAL YER
sus Labor is question that has been dis
cussed largely and ably, but whether dis
cussion has benefited either is a subject
for doubt Certain it is that with the ad.
vance of civilization the working classes
have been materially benefited. The
prosperity of every country necessarily
depends on the laboring class. A well
ordered and we'll rewarded system of labor
is as essential to the success of the CAPT
talist, and even the government itself, as
the physical human system is to the men,
tai. This might seem at first degrading
comparison, but we think without preju-
dice a true one. When the physical suf-
fcrs the mental sympathizes, and when the
mental suffers the physical looses portion
of its original strength and vigor. To
continue the comparison-it is necessary
therefore that capital and labor should act
in harmony, being so inseperably connect
ed in all the avenues of business life. To
give ourisubject more practical signfi-
canoe, what the laboring man should have
is "a days pay foraa days labor" proper
tomato to the cost of living. The previous
history of the States lately in rebellion
has exemplificd this and proven the cor
rectness of our advanced principle. The
former labor system of the South was
system unrewarded, consequently irrecon-
cilably opposed to the predominating pow
or of capital, the bad effects of which
have been seen in the tardy growth of all
that goes to make up the sum total Of
prosperous civilization, compared to the
less favored North, less favored in point Of
soil, climate and other natural advantages.
The agrieulturaliSts of the country have
taken and will take still more advanced
positions as a laboring class. AS the pop
ulation increases and the amount Of gov
eminent arabic land decreases, SO the
farmers of the country will approximate
to higher standard of wealth, respect
ability and influence. But the mining
population of this and we believe of all
countries, have not this same hope of flu
ture prosperity and influence. The pioneer
miners in a new mining country often
amass considerable fortunes, but as the
tide Of emigration sweeps in the "good
times" gradually depart. Capital in the
form of incorporated mining companies
soon controls the mines. AS miners in
crease SO wages decrease to level with
miners wages in other portions Of the
continent. Such in fact has been the his
tory of Colorado. The time has been
when miners in Colorado received high
wages compared to the present, when
many of the mines were worked by con-
tracts. AS late as '65, and even later,
contractors made from five to ten dollars
per day, but such instances are rare at the
present time. Mining agents have almost
entirely abolished the contract system, be-
coming wiser by experience, and with the
assistance of energetic foremen the mines
are worked with the strictest economy
The hours for labor are longer than in
many places-ten hours day being al
most universally adopted, which in winter
will include all the time from the first APP
pearance of day until dark, and miners
probably work as hard here as in any
mines east of the Rocky Mountains.
Wages range from three to four dollars
per day; the later figure is paid, believe,
in only few mines. Contracts are let
with caution that precludes the con-
tractors from making high wages as for
merly. l give this information, more par
ticularlv for the benefit of the mining
- t. ub rna %