The Sauk Centre herald., 1898-01-20
m,nne.ota miner. Are sorry.

Gently on the SPreSenJ FnaSe VI Ine
Currency and Coinage Question, "says
the ST. Cloud Journal Press, he re-
ferred with an apparent relish to the
fact that short time before represen-
tatiyes of a Mexican iron company
had visited the iron range towns ana
secured number of men to emlgrate
to Old Mexico, there to work in the
mines. They took their families with
them on their southern flight and the
excongressman poured the walls OF
his sarcasm on the Republican speakers
who in tee last campaign had held up
to the voters the instance of Mexico as
a free silver country. The attention
of Mr.. Towne and dthosewho applauded
his ingenious utterances on this topic
are respectfully referred to the follow
ing from Duluth paper of recent
date as showing the actual condition
of the working men of Mexico, judged
solely. by the report sent home to their
friends by these very men:
ssThe $50 odd miners and their fam
lilies that left the Minnesota ranges a
few weeks ago to work in the mines at
Corralltos, Mex, wish themselves
back again with all their hearts.
Many people suspected that the miners
were making great mistake. 1t was
a case where distance lent enchant-
ment to the view, or perhaps the rosy
| pictures drawn by the agents who in
duced themsto go to the land of the
Montezu mas did not correspond with
the original. No matter how it hap
| pened, there are a lot of unhappy
people late of Northern MINES Ota in
Mexico, and they are already figuring
now how long it Twill take them to get
back, for few Of them had money to
purchase return tickets. The mining
company in Mexico paid their fares
down to that country and the expense
is charged up and will be taken out of
the wages of the miners. After this
bill has been paid in each case then
the miners can figure on how long it
will take to earn enough to pay their
fares back to Minnesota A number
of lett ers have been received from the
emigrating miners. and one of them,
written by Andrew Johnson, brother
of Alderman Gust Johnson of Vir-
ginia, Mimi, is a very intelligent state
nent of the views of the party now
that they are>finally in Mexico, where
they had been assured they would do
so we'll. Mr.. Johnson says:
1--WE arrived here Corralitos on
the morning of dec. 2l. The journey
required five days and while tedious
was very interesting and many sights
were presented to us that few of the
party had ever seen. 1t was o'clock
in the morning when the train arrived
at Corralitos. From there we had to
travel di stance of three miles up the
mountain by mule train. Our recep-
tion was decidedly cool. Nothing had
been prepared for us and it was late
in the afternoon before we had an op-
portunity to appease our ravenous ap-
petites. At night matters did not i'm
prove. All were compelled to sleep in
an oil store room without mattresses
or covers. This might nave been all
right in July. but there were three
inches of snow on the ground and sew
eral more in the air. Our quarters
were exceedingly uncomfortable. We
did not find thing as represented, un-
less it was the Mexicans, and Judging
from their looks it would be difficult
to misrepresent them. They are the
greasiest looking mortals ever saw.
Everything is high. Board costs from
$50 to $40 per month. Clothing is very
expensive, don t wo nder that Messrs
Thompson and Harmon said that
people did not need much clothing in
this country when they talked to us
about coming here. The fact is they
cannot afford to buy clothing. job
bers receive So per day, but man
with family needs SO per day. Those
taking contracts at the mines will
make very good wages. Most of the
men that have brought there families
| here wish themselves back in Virginia
and other Northern Minnesota towns
from which they came. But it will be
many months before they can earn
enough to pay the company for their
transportation here and save money
| enough to purchase return tickets.
Christmas was one of the most miser-
able days that I ever experienced. Our
bill of fare was not tempting and l
wished myself back more than once
where could get nice piece of tur-
key. We have to go down for wood
| and up for water. The water is taken
from the river and hoisted up in tree
tops in pals, which acts as a purifier,
and then it is taken down and buried
in the ground to cool. -
The HERALD has just completed the
most artistic piece of printing ever
executed in this city a pamphlet pros
pectus of the Minnesota Beet Sugar