Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-10-04
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from the Far West.

l Ii u
DOUGLAS, CARBON COUNTY,
WYoNING TERRITORY,
September Is, 1870.
Mr.. Editor There was time in
this country, even as late as 1868
that a workingman could command
almost any price for his labor he de-
sired. There is a gentleman here
who came from Colorado in 1867
and worked at the carpenter trade at
the government barracks, and his
wages were $40 per month and
rations; and he generally made about
500 per week additional doing extra
jobs for other parties. He says the
maj ority of the men spent their mon
ey as fast as they made it. He had
two carpenters working for him quite
a while whose wages we're Sc Per day,
and when they left him they were
about $40 in his debt. The town of
Laramie was then just beginning to
build up, and there were regular
frontier balls held every night. 1t
was at those balls they spent their
money. He lived in the city of Den
yer, Colorado, for several years, and
he says it was quite amusing to
watch the habits Of the government
teamsters. They would hire to drive
q trip across the plains and return.
Their wages were from $75 to 800
per month, and rations. 1t would
take six months to make the trip.
When they returned to Denver the
government would pay them their
money in full which would amount
to several hundred dollars. The ma
.iority would purchase Gne snlt Of
broadcloth; play the gentleman up
in frst-class style attend & bali aT-
cry night, and in the course Of few
weeks become bankrupt; pawn their
clothes; dress in the old apparel,
and often go out on another trip
across the plains with hardly enough
blankets for bedding.
It is amusing to NE to hear the
views of those regular old frontiers
men. One remarked to me the other
day that he would soon get out of
this. He thought next spring he
would 60 out on the Yellowstone
near where Custer and his party were
killed. I asked him why ?" His
reply was "to get away from the
railroad this is too near the railroad.
| CAP take a team up there" said he,
"and get big wages for hauling goods
for the government" They often
say that the railroads and churches
ruin the country, and that working
man has no show where they are.
These men penetrate into the country
right on the track of the Indians,
make some discoveries, ETC., and as
soon as few hundred people settle,
and capital begins the work of devel-
opment, then, it appears, it gets too
warm for them, and they pick up
their traps and leave, making for
now fields in Which to operate uldis-
1lrbed for some tins b., the march OF
civilization They certainly fill a
very Important position in the pro-
gress of our country.
Living IN this section of country is
a radical change to me. The habits
of the people are very different from
those I have been accustomed to at
home. When Sunday morning ar
rives there is no ringing of church
bells, nobody seen going to church,
hut, to the contrary, the old mill
rattles away. The miners and other
worlmen are seen going to and fro,
preparing TO so to work on their re-
spective shifts. The AK of the wood
chopper can be heard buaily engaged
the hunCer can be seen going out
with his dog, gun and pack horse, and
even tie women frequently wash
their clothes, bake or iron. So you
sec there is no observance of Sunday
whatever.
This is not the case in Laramie
City. There Sunday is observed as
at home l have spoken to some
here on the subject of religion and
churches, and they laughed at me.
One said I believe in Bob Ingersoll's
religion. But l must say to their
credit, in regard to honesty they are
up to the standard. They never
think of locking up things like We
do at home. You can leave anything
outside, or anywhere, and it will new
er be disturbed. Old Judge Lynch |
is No. l guardian of the public
peace. do not think his rcicy has
ever been applied in this mining
camp, but it has within a few miles |
too near to make it WHOLESOME /,
here. Above all other crimes de-
tested in mining camp is that OF
petty larcency.
TO give you some idea of the eli
mate here, l will relate my expert
ence upon my arrival in this country.
When put up at the hotel, Laramie
City, the hour being late was con-
Quoted at once to my bedroom. After
retiring | began to reflect as follows:
"Let's see, this is the llth day of Au-
gust, and where am /? Out in Lar
annie City, Wyoming Territory, in
led, under two pairs of woolen blank
cts and not very warm at that" But
| MANAGED to nut in the night. Got