The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
5000 PEOPLE; 80 NAT1oNALIr1Es
RED Jacket. Mich, the Most Cosmopolitan
Town In America.


RED JACKET. Mich. Oct. 3.-Mining towns
are, as II rule. populated by a cosmopolitan peo-
pie, but what Is perhaps the most cosmopolitan
town in the United States, il not in the world.
is the little city of Red Jacket, Houghton
county, Mich.
Located in the heart of the Lake Superior
mining region, it Is tho metropolis of the up
per peninsula OF Michigan. From beneath the
ground on which the town Is built has been dug
moro wealth than is contained in the United
States Treasury vaults at Washington. The
whole'town is undermined and honeycombed by
vast artcry-likc shafts. drifts. crosscuts. levels,
and slopes. Each twenty-four> hours secs a for.
tune brought To the surface in this little town.
The people who make up the population of
Red Jacket hail from all points and almost all
countries on the globe. The adult foreign resi-.
more than n hundred to one. Red Jacket. The
town proper. has a population OF 5000. while
camp" make up a total Of @S.oSo people "'~ mmii
they are 5000 OF the most Iumhlod up, job lot
posed so small n community.
Red Jacket has never had an advertising
boom. nor have stories been told OF the vast
wealth which lie beneath, the rugged ground
upon which tho town is built. But the fact re-
mains that moro wealth is dug from beneath
United States at the present time can produce.
Natives of almost every land and CLINE under
5as ssn a ans P e WoSld NATURALLY at ars S0BB Be suppose cd t hSSa
with such enyironing clements tho town would
BIO one Of vice and lawlessness. but Red Jacket.
with all its multifarious nAtionalities. is as
quiet, orderly, and well regulated as any town
OF its size in the country.
up the population of Red Jacket follows: Native
born. English. Scotch. Irish. Welsh, French,
feEmaGhi u l,"lsGh; nas Xrabia h%sSs arecf tshs sMeSes,
Danes. NorweRians, Swiss. negroes, Brazilians.
Rclgians, Dutch, Jews, sganisrds. Turks. Per-
Sims, Chinese. MeHicans. Moors.
In addition TO the above there is also one
family Of Laplanders. any number Of CANADIAN
ands. There may also be a few more races still
lost in the shuttle. but tho ones mentioned all
have a considerable representation more or less.
in the c0nglomeration OF foreigners who popu.
With such an amalgamatlon of foreign blood it
would not no surprising. n the town was given
over to gambling, drinking, ana more or less
lawlessness. but MS an illustration OF the order
gambling house in town, while one ofiicer-the
Village marshal-guard and keeps the peace by
little to do in the line OF official duty, their chief
task being to watch and walt, for the month
~ village council Hnc meeting and pay dTX; the IN
men and Films. and the balance Of power at
elections is probably Invested IN a combination
Su I@S sS by tSe@ Is si a sure Win anss.' f Polit is1IS
the town is oysrwhelminsIy Republican ~,
cosmopolitan citizens 10 the best advantage.
Explanations and salutations In every language
and before traversing half a block one encoun,
tiers a score OF stalwart miners who hail from as
many different climes.
In an attempt to estimate the general charac.
ter of the people who throng the streets Of Red
Jacket in the evening it would be found that no
would at once DO apparent that the population
was mixed. and mixed 80 badly in fact that 1t is
not only difficult but impossible TO point out tho
component parts. These miners are far differ.
ent in character from what they are generally
credited in being. They are neither rough, wild.
excita BILE. or hilarious, and lawlessness Is the
last charge that could be truthiully laid against
them. Exposed as they are to constant dangers.
they are cool, collected, fearless. brave. and
daring fellows. whether under or above ground.