The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-31

his superior ability and intelligence, and
that was poor and had to follow hard
work because 1 lacked the necessary in
telligence. 1 saw all these kind of peo-
pie in Gunnison and still the darned
place wouldn't boom. But there is
class who are not there and who are sell
dom counted on except at the general
"round up" on election day, such as the
brick molders, stone cutters, miners,
machinists, glassworkers, etc. I might
safely say there are not fifty men work
ing in the town, while there $50 of the
better CLASSIFY who expect to wear plug
hats, narrow-toed boots and Prince Al
bert coats. have kept strong think
ing that if there were larger number Of
the common mudsills, l have referred to,
working in that town it would boom,
but if it did, we all admit it would be
the man of brain and enterprise that
caused 1t. well, or course.
THE RAILROAD SECTION MEN.
AS my ignorance, fate and misfortune
have compelled me to associate with the
lower strata of society, feel only at ease
when talking to men of my own standing,
consequently took pleasure in learning
the condition of the section men, be-
cause l have often thought, no matter
how the intelligent better class may esti-
mate their worth, that to their care and
in their hands rests the life and safety of
the defaulting bank president and all the
gentle, tender better class who occupy
the palace drawing room and sleeping
cars that pass with lightning speed over
the railroads.
1 have often thought how those wicked
Russian Nihilists, by enlisting the sec
ton men in their movement, could, by
disjointing rail, dispatch train load of
the lords chosen to the happy hunting
grounds, and thereby prevent their
presence in this world from being a
source of misery to those who inhabit
Siberia
The following wages are paid to the
section men on the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad: On two sections at the
top end-Crested Butte branch and
few sectious on the Marshall Pass, where
there are eight months winter, they get
$1.75 per day; lower down the range
they receive $3.50, and in the valley 81 40
per day-no Sunday work. They pay
$4.62 per week for board, and furnish
their own beds, do their own washing
and ironing. One of the men told me
that if they worked steady and lost no
time by bad weather or sickness they
could clear 1878 per week. While l was
speaking the express tram passed with
her palace cars. I,could not help draw
ing contrast between the man with
whom was speaking and the occupants
of those magnificent coaches. Fifty
miles from any town; cut off from
church association or amusement; no
daily papers, that would be extravaganza
no family circle; no pleasant home, and
not the shadow of a hope for one in the
near future no hours of physical and
mental relaxation, looking at some opera
or drama. Why, bless you, weeks saw
ings would not pay for two good seats
in the Tabor opera house one night, Is
Siberia much worse? Is 1t any wonder
that when one of these poor drudges
reaches civilization, views the magnif-
cent structures, the numerous cosy homes
erected by men like themselves, with the
modern invented label on them, "for
rent" which simply means that the
holder has by some means got possession
of some other PERSONS home-when he
views the grandeur of the opera house,
parks and pleasure grounds knowing
that it is but his privilege to take pass
ing glance, like the Russian political
prisoners departing from Moscow for ST.
beria-the only difference is that the
one is convicted Of having made manly
effort to throw off the yoke, and the
other bends she back in silent SER
vile obedience it any wonder, I say,
that many of them should seek the sa-
loon and there, by voluntary insanity,
seek for while to forget their miserable
condition =? But, Mr.. Editor, 1 have al
ready intruded too far on your valuable
space. To the quartz miners and pros
pectors will say that this is a very late
season and on account of snow many of
the camps will not start for nearly a
month yet. In my next 1 will give an
account of Pueblo, the Pittsburg of the
west, and other towns in the state.
ORGANIZER.