The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-31
RAY RAYMOND AT MERCUR
NO WAR THERE AND NONE LIKELY
TO OCCUR
The Disturbing Element Confined to
a Very Few and Law and Order
Reigns-Signs of Prosperity on
Every Hand.

Yesterday morn. the while winds and
snow did buffet and blow in good earn
est. 1 wendell my way to the Union Pa
cific depot to take the train for Mer-
cur. And I want to say that there was
a whole crowd all intent on the same
landing place-the storm evidently had
no terrors for them.
On arrival at Mercur peace and quiet
reigned supreme, and there was no
where visible hastily thrown up barri-
| cades with desperate men behind ner-
vously clutching the deadly Winchester
On the other hand, a good number of
the curious population was grouped in
front of the hotels to witness the arri-
walls from the city, a custom which is
much observed in the great camp.
| On the day before rumors 1oated in
to this city that grim visaged war had
been declared between the Miners I'M
ion and some bad men on the one hand,
and the people on the other hand.
Now, as between the miners CT Mercur,
be they members of the union or not,
and the people which goes to make the
grand total of population, there is GER
J tainly a strong analogy-aye, and a
striking one.
The miners are dependent upon the
great camps prosperity, and the bust
ness element prosper alike with the
former while good times come to roost
fixedly upon all that district.
True, there are few bad men among
Mercurs population, the same as can
be found in any great camp. By this
don't mean that they have any of
them brought down their man, nor yet
would they do so unless filed up on
tanglefoot and laboring under excite
ment resulting therefrom. It's true also
that some of them carry guns and &C.
casionally shoot about promiscuously,
and the people have had enough of such
capers. More than this, it will be
stopped to degree compatible with
good and honest government. From the
best information obtainable, and 1
talked pleasantly with the different ele-
ments during my three hours stay
among them, I am forced to conclude
that the ripple of excitement pervading
Mercur arises from the following
causes:
F'irst-A few bad people who do not
look with favor upon the mandates of
law and who are evidently determined
to run things on their own hook.
Second-There are a few more who
are intent solely ON using the hon.
est labor element and all other elements
that can be attached, for their own self
ish ends. And again, an election is
approaching, which cuts a figure.
Third-It is claimed that some of
those of the lawbreaking element have
entrenched themselves within the min
er's union. knowing that backing would
be thus accorded them. Now, unde-
sirable members nearly always creep
into organizations no matter how
tightly the lines may be drawn. Then
what? If they are permitted to remain
within the ranks of organized labor.
and no effort is made to expunge them,
then so sure as day, it is but ques-
ton of time until the organization goes
to the wall, for the honest and lava
biding men Notwithstanding else is
left for them to do.
The Miners union cannot afford to
uphold a lawless number, Tor can 1T
afford to be run in the interests of any
person or clique striving for personal
gain. The Herald gave to organized
labor in Mercur the first kindly greet
irgs vouchsafed by the press, but any
continuance must be based on HSan-
lied labor conforming strictly TO law
and order. No special privileges must
be accorded it.
AS to the statement that a hundred
or more guns were given out in Mercur
last Sunday among the miners 1t is
simply a canard, and Mercur people
are strongly averse to the spread of
such reports. Legitimate advertising
is all right, but red lettered literature
is not the thing. On last Sunday there
three or four men did parade the
streets with guns, but that was all the
damage done.
The Mercur people are able to con-
duct things about right, and Deputy
Sheriff Jack CUdfhee is a good man at
the helm. So is his aid, Ed Randolph,
who was formerly of this city Never
fear but they will see that law and or
der are enforced. 1t appears as though
there are some people intent on stir
ring up the saloon element IN order to
array it against the other business in
terests, and all for political capital
Such a move should be sat down up
on. There should be no divisions IN
business circles; all should pull to-
gether and work harmoniously to a
common end, i. e., the future growth OF
the great camp on scale commensu-
rate with it's wonderful resources.
Mercur is growing all the time
Even in storm as well as in sunshine.
the sound of hammer, saw and plane
continues on and 1T grows while you
wait
The Salt Lake &, Mercur railroad is
doing a heavy business, and the two
coaches now on the run between there /
and Fairfield are every day comforta-
bly, filed. Freight business is heavy.
General Agent Hall is up to his eyes
in business, and acquits himself with
dispatch and thoroughness betoken-
ing familiarity with all the details.
The Mercur house and all the other
hotels are kept crowded. AT the Mer
cur house they now have girl walters, |
and the change so wrought is crafty
ing-that's the way it looks.
The postoffice is doing a mammoth |
business, and steadily increasing all |
the while.
Mining Recorder Higgins is as busy |
as ever in filling up his books with |
location notices and the Mercury is Gin |
it,
The Telephone company now has a
central office there. and telephones all |
over town give a metropolitan air to |
the place.
In short, Mercur is going ahead with |
steady jumps, and the coming season I
will witness notable increase in both
business and population
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