The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-03-08
A FORTUNE IN DIRT HEAPS.
How ".Nigger Dick Made His Money
...Trade secrets of Boss seaven.
Philadelphia Times

lfnliadeIph1a 1Isne23
After passing through large lot,
which appeared to 70 potato patch,
the reporter reached the dwelling with
out adventure, other than the barking
OF several yicious little ours at his heels
during the trip. The outside of the
dwelling gave no promise of the re-
puted riches within, being simply an
unpretentious whitewashed shanty.
through the chinks in the door of which
streamed the light. A knock at the
door was answered by an invitation to
Come in.' The rich man was seated
at the supper table, which was laden
with corn bread and bacon
Does Nig-that is, does Colored
Richard live here?" was asked.
Yes, sab; yes, sab. I'm Niger
Dick; leastwise that's what dey call
me, tho my name is Spriddal. sab;
John Spriddal. Take a cheer, sab
Git up dar, chile, and glib de gentleman
dat cheer. 'Scuse me fer not risin', but
I'm troubled wild de rheumatiz-rheu-
matiz in bof my feet. An ter what,
sab, am ter tribute dis social visit?
It is said that you have realized nice
little fortune out of the ash-dumps of
which you have had charge, and
would like to learn something of the
business"
YES. sab; I see, sab. Thinking ob
dat line yo'self, sah?"
On being assured that he saw in his
visitor no prospective rival In the profits
of his business, Dick continued: well,
sab, I've folly'd the profession about
fou'teen year and hev done tol'able
well. In dat time I hev scraped toged-
der eight or nine little properties, and
hey some little savin's in de bank--all
out of dust and dirt The way de busi-
ness is done is dis: You hearn of some
one that owns ground dat he wants
filed in. You goes to him and asks:
Can hab charge of de dump?' 1t
don't cost him nothin', and you must
see to keepin' de dump level and only
de right sort OBJ dirt is put in. Den
goes to de men who is haulin' ashes
and other like things that is always
bein' moved away and tell dem dat dey
kin dump at my dump. Den gets my
men, and what is hauled there is care
fully picked over, and what We get ont
is my pay for superintendin' de job /
pay my men 81 a day mostly, but some
times work EN- on shares. Almost ey-
erything is found in desc cart-loads of
dirt. I've found money an iewelry-
such as breast-pins, lockits, charms, and
sleeve-buttons-an silver money an
greenbacks. A short spell ago found
$40 bill in some ashes. But the prin-
cipal things, of course, is rags, bones,
brass, bottles, tin cans, and old boots
and shoes, and the like, and dey all pays
we'll sells dem to dealers. For q
wagon-load of tin cans gifts $3.50. Old
boots and shoes is worth 10 cents
barrel"
What is done with the boots and
shoes %
II don't know dat, sab. I sells dem
down by Gray's ferry road, but could
nebber larn what was done wild dem
dar. De tin cans is sold to place
where de solder is melted of, and then
they go to the clinical works. The
rags brings me from l to 10 cents a
pound. So, you see, out of five dumps
have charge of, the business can be
made to pay liyin' for q plain, unas-
sumin' family like me- and the children.
How many men uo you employ at
each Dump"
"From three to ten; it's accordin' to
the pickin's."
"And are they mostly colored men ?"
"No, sah!' was the indignant re-
sponse, adey is mostly Italians and
sich trash. Good night, sab; look out
for de dogs. Here, you, SAM go wild
de gintleman and keep de dogs off.