Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-03-19
LABOR IN SOUTH AMERICA.

Machinery Cannot 10 Away with the
Primitive Methods In chill.
The day we were anchored in the
bay Of Coronel the Osiris was sur
rounded by lighters laden with coal,
which vas being rapidly shoveled into
the hunks by dark skinned natives
The white mist that hung owe us mails
the water look like dull silver; I'm ia.
foreground were ships at anchor, and
small lighters provided with winches
and nets for dredging up the bits "
coal that fall into the water while the
steamers are loading; in the back
ground were the winding wheels of the
eoalpits; the moles surmounted by
trains Of coal trucks; the sickly sui
phurous smoke streams of the inevita-
BILE smelling works, the small town Of
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 out 10 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 nc more comfort than a
dog. Then each man produced a large
Violet mussel shell, which he used in
lieu of "A spoon to scoop up the beans
and drink the coffee. Let il be re-
marked that these coal heavers earn
high wages. as much as five CHILEAN
dollars. or say ten shillings gold, a day,
and their food gratis; and yet they re-
main little better than good uatured
brutes. taking 40 strong drink while
they ara at work. bat ready for any
quantity Of dissipation after sunset, i'm
provident in tire extreme, and willing
{ % work, and 20 work well. only when
they have no money left 10 spend
While watching those strong muscu
lar fellows | had soIue conversation
with the Russian timber merchant
about his experiences Of men and things
in Chill, the subject having been led up
To by my remarking the frequent evil
dences Of primitiveneSs in CHILEAN
methods of working. Speaking Of the
great strength and hardness Of tire
CHILEAN native labOrer, Herr C said
the more southern forest districts. At
Puerto Mont, for instance, which is
one Of the most important timber ports,
the work is done entirely 10y hand. The
trees are felled with axes, sawn into
planks on the spot by hand, and the
lance Of ten or twelve miles. balanced
on the shoulder Of a man, who GOO
along under his burden { a run. None
but native Chilians could do such
work. and, given the absence Of roads,
and above all the nature Of the work
men, all attempts TO modemize the
methods Of getting out the timber have
failed.
Experiments have been made in in
PRODUCING North American machinery.
but without success The innovatOrs
have invariably lost their money. and
the natives, accustomed to do every
thing with their hands. have in the
end willfully broken the machinery in
order 70 have done with it. mention
ed the fact that the CHILEAN govern
ment. a. | had been informed, med
itated the essay Of Norwegian and
| Swedish colonies in these southern for
! est regions. Herr e. wa Of opinion
that this scheme j. utterly impractical
bic, for tine simple reason that Scandi-
navian coloni.ts woulI refuse 10 live
like pig as the Chilians live. The
present primitive methods are the cheap
est and the IN 81 practical Theodore
Child in Harpers.