Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-28
LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA.
Machinery Cannot Do Away with the
Primitive Methods In chill.

Cannot Do Away with the
Primitive Methods In chill.
The day we were anchored in the
BAY of Coronel the Osiris was SUP
rounded by lighters laden with coal,
which was being rapidly shoveled into
the hunks by dark skinned natives.
The white mist that hung over us made
the water look like dull silver; in the
foreground were ships al anchor, and
small lighters provided with winches
and nets for dredging up tire bits OF
coal that fall into the water while the
steamers are loading; In the back
ground we're the winding wheels of the
coalpits; the moles surmOunted by
trains of coal trucks; the sickly sui
phurous smoke streams of the inevita-
BILE smelling works the small town 81
Coronel clustered along the sandy black
beach, and, behind, the green hills
diapered with mule paths and patches
of red or yellow earth.
The meals of the coal beavers on the
fore deck interested us Great bowls
of beans. Jumps of salt beef and fat,
piles Of biscuit and gallons Of coffee
were served "a to them. Each man
took what he needed of the solids,
chose his corner on the rail, over the
matches, or simply on the bare deck,
and ate with no more comfort than a
dog. Then each man produced a large
violet mussel shell, which he used in
lieu Of a spoon 20 scoop up the beans
and drink the coffee. Let 1t be re-
marked that these coal heaves earn
high wages. as much as five Gillian
donarS. or say ten shillings gold, a day,
and their food gratis; and yet they re
main little better than good natured
brutes, taking no strong drink while
they are at work. but ready for any
quantity Of dissipation after sunset, i'm
provident ia the extreme, and willing
20 work, and 20 work well, only when
they have no money left 20 spend.
While watching those strong muscu-
lar fellows / had some conversation
with the Russian timber merchant
about bis experience Of men and things
in Chill. the subject having been led up
70 by my remarking the frequent evil
dences Of primitiveness in CHILEAN
methods Of working. Speaking Of the
great strength and harliness Of the
! CHILEAN native labOrer, Herr C said
that this was still more noticeable IN
the more southern forest districts Al
Puerto Montt, for instance, which II
one OF the most important timber Ports'
the work Is done entirely by hand Th'
trees are feIled with ares, sawn int
! plAnks on the spot by hand, and tn
planks carried 20 the port from a dis
, lance of ten or twelve miles balances
on the shoulder Of a man, who goe
\ along under his burden At run Non
z but native ChilAns could do sucl
> work. and, given the absence Of roads
; and above all the nature Of the work
c men. all attempts 70 modemiDe tn
: methods of getting out the timber hAv
= failed.
Expenments have been made In ir
= PRODUCING North American mAchiner.
" but without Success The innovation
! have invariably lost their money. an
the natives accustomed Ia do ever
, thing with their hands. have IN n
e end wiIlfully broken the machinery
a order 10 have done with II. mention
ed the fact that the Gillian COVER
= ment. a. / had been informed. me
I itated the essay Of Norwegian ar
Y Swedish colonies in these southern 70
VI est regions. Herr c. was Of opini'
y that this scheme Is utterly impractic
y BILE. for the simple reason that Scanc
- navian colouists would refuse 90 Ii
at like pig. as the Chilians live. III
"a present primitive methods are the ehea
est and the most practical -Theodo
Child la Hnrpcr's.