The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-03
A Fortune in Dirt Heaps.

evening of two boys on Rising Sun
lane.
'No, SIR" was the reply. ..He don't
/ live around here"
HE IS a colored man, and has some
thing to do with ash-dumpS and"
/ 80, Bill, he means Niger Dick, y
said the other boy, ''and he lives in
there, pointing to q small house from
which came forth n faint light but
you'd better not 90 in, unless you want
to be ct up. He keeps bloodhounds
and bulldogs to guard him and his
money after night. He's awful rich.
Why, he owns more'n fifty houses and
has piles an piles of money besides,
continued the boy in voice filled with
awe
''How did he make his fortune?"
was asked.
30, he found mos of it in pickin'
over ash-dumps-that is, hen his men
did. He has about regiment of men
workin' for him, an they find dia-
mOnds an gold an iewelry an green
backs, an Niger Dick keeps it all in
his house, and that's why he has the
dogs, and tell you they are ferociOuS.
Notwithstanding the foreshadowed
dangers of running the canine gaunt-
let, the reporter penetrated to the abode
of the owner of this fabulous wealth.
After passing through a large lot,
which appeared to be potato patch,
he reached the dwelling without adven-
ture, other than the barking of several
vicious little ours at his heels during
the trip. The outside of the dwelling
gave no promise of the imputed 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 calls
me, tho my name is Spriddal, sab;
John Spriddal Take cheer, sab.
Git up dar. chile, and glib de gentle
man dat cheer. 'Scuse me fer not
rizin', but I'm troubled wild de rheu-
matiz-rheumatiz in bot my feet. An
ter what, sab, am | ter tribute dis
social wisit?'
1T is said that you have realized a
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; 1 see, sab. Thinking OBJ
dat line yO'self, sah?"
On being assured that he saw in his
visitor no prospective rival in the
profits of his business, Dick continues:
':Well, sab, I've folly'd de profession
about fou'teen year and hev done toll
able well. In dat time hev scraped
togedder eight or nine little properties,
and hev some little savin's in de bank
all out of dust and dirt. The way de
business is done is dis: You hearn of
someone that owns ground dat he wants
filled in. You goes to him and asks:
Can l hab charge of de dumpg 1t
don't cost him nothin', and you must
see to keepin' de dump level and only
the right sort OBJ dirt is put in. Den l
goes to de men who is haulin' ashes
and other like things that is always
h,ein' moved away and tell dem dat dey
Kin dump at my dump. Den / gets my
Iaen, and what is hauled there is care
fully picked over, and what we get out
is my pay for superintendent de job. ]
pay my men 81 day mostly, but some
times work 'em on shares. Almost
everything is found in desc cart-loads
of dirt. I've found money an jewelry
SIGH as breast-pins, lockits, charms,
ia hit oVn1 cIlN mr.
an greenbacks. A short spell ago
found a so bill in some ashes. But
the principal things, of course, is rags,
bones, brass, bottles, tin cans, and old
boots and shoes, and the like, and dey
all paws well. | sells dem to dealers.
For wagon-load of tin cans l gifts
$3.50 Old boots and shoes is worth
ten cents barrel.
''What is done with the boots and
shoes?"
al don't know dat, sab. l sells dem
down by Gray's ferry road, but could
nebber larn what was done wild dem
dar. De tin cans is sold to a place
where de solder is melted of. and then
they 60 to the chemical works. The
rags brings me from one to ten cents
pound. So, you see, out of five dumps
I have charge of the business can be
made to pay livin' for plain, unas-
SUNNI family like me and the chill
dren."
How many men do you employ at
each Dump"
'.From three to ten: it's accordin' to
the pickins'.''
And are they mostly colored men?"
s.No, sahr' was the indignant re-
Spouse; '.dey is mos'ly Italians and
sich trash. Good night, sab; look out
for de dogs. Here, you, Sam! 60 wild
de gentleman and keep de dOgs'off. "
Pb;Iu,yeynbi1 Times