The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-04-01
THE REEF.
Colonel Ogden, Superintendent OF
the Barbes and Walker,
Interviewed
He Talks Of the Situation at the
Sandstone Camp

! 1H6 arrival OI NOl. IL. l.. OSu6u
superintendent of the Barbee anC
Walker Mine, at Silver Reef, sug.
costing the probability of being able
to lay before our readers the latest
news from that troubled section OF
the territory, a HERALD reporter
Yesterday sought and obtained an
interview, the substance of which is
given below:
Reporter-HOw did you leave
matters at the Reef?
Col. 0gden-All quiet.
R.-Is there probability of any
| further acts OF violence by the
miners union?
! o. think not.
R.-What has brought about such
creditable change IN the condition
of things?
GA little exhibition of the
power of the law, a little reflection
on the part of many sensible men in
the union, and-shotguns for those
wlfo don't reflect.
R.-DO you contemplate resuming
work in case the union men refuse
to accept less than 81 per day?
O.-NO-never.
R.-Can you afford to let your
mines lie idle for an indefinite
period?
O.-Yes, much better than to pay
81 per day.
RS it solely on the difference
between $3.50 and 81 per day that
you expect to make your saving?
Ono; that is only one item.
Materials and all other expenses
would fall in proportion, and the
miners would net as much as they
do now by virtue of the decline in
the cost Of living.
RS it true that you have had
offers of all the miners you want,
from this vicinity, at the wages you
propose to pay?
O.-Yes; more than we could en-
ploy, and as good miners as any in
the territory.
R.-Why do you not accept their
services?
O.-Because we are not ready to
resume work. speak for the Bar
bee and Walker Company. When
we are ready we shall accept good
miners from any source, preference
being given to good men at the Reef,
who have families and such as are
not agitatoTS.
R.-Do you intend hereafter to
refuse employment to members of
the union who participated in the
act of turning Col. Allen out of
town?
O.-By no means. There were
many good men in the ranks of the
union that day who were opposed 1
to that actiOn-opposed to violence
of any kind, and are so still. They
are sensible enough to know that we
cannot afford to pay the past rate Of
wages, and nearly all Of these men
would 90 to work tomorrow if they /
had the moral courage to act on
their convictions. l am satisfied |
that the agitatOrs and leaders will |
never again work in that camp, for |
the reason that all those who COM !
posed the troublesome element are
well known, and hereafter they |
must expect to be refused employ |
ment.
R.-Do these agitatOrs comprise a /
of the miners union?
Ono; not to exceed One-foUrth
of it.
R-Suppose that miners from the
north come to you and offer to go to
work and the miners union should
to prevent it, what would
be the result?
O.-SOmewhat unfortunate to the
union, l think, as these men will
come prepared to take their chances,
fully understanding the situation.
R.-Have you not men and arms
within easy reach to protect your
selves in case of violent demOnstra-
tons?
THE colonel declined to answer
this question, but from the smile
that came over his face the reporter
drew his own differences.
R.-One more question, Colonel.
1t is said that the superintendent of
the Christy Company announced in
the beginning of the trouble that he
was a S4-a-day man; that he would
stand by the boys" to the last, and
when he could not pay 81 a day he
would pick up his carpet-bag and
leave camp. 1t is said, further, that
in making this announcement he
committed himself to that which he
would now be glad to get out of. Is
that so?
OIL don't know. The ChTisty
Company runs its own business, and
it would hardly be proper or neigh
borly for me to discuss their affairs
or policy.
Rs it not a well-known fact
that the Christy Company is unnec-
eSSarily paying out matter of
couple of thousand dollars a month
for wages, when the superintendent
has only to announce that he will
reduce wages to the schedule Of
feTed by the other companies to
have his force fall into the arrange
ment, and thus settle the whole
question?
OIL can only answer that Cap
tain Lubbock unquestiOnably holds
the key to the position. but as to
what course he will take 1 certainly
have no intimatiOn.
Auction.