The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-02-11
.PERNICIous SYSTEM
A Few OF the Haedships of
the "Lumberjack.'

The following letter received
from Hayward, Wis.,, will show
what human beings endure un-
der the stars and stripes:
In the cutting season the men
work II hours day, and some
II or 13; but in the hauling sea-
son they get up in the morning
at 2 or 3 o'clock, and load the
logs by torchlight.
The foremen are. selected be-
cause of their knowledge of the
work and their ability to drive
men. They frequently play
mean tricks on the men, and
fire any of them who speak
against the company. A good
square foreman is not kept
long, but is soon discharged.
The camps are nothing but
slave pens. Thef company
would not put their dogs to
sleep where they put their men.
"A. set of camps generally con-
sists offive or six log buildings.
The mems camp IS furnished
with hunks made of rough lum-
ber, and nailed. up in rows two
or three tiers high. A bundle
OF hay and two or three pairs
of blankets make up alumber-
mans bed.
There are benchessin front of
the bunk's and they are pretty
well crowded. Anything like
comfort and privacy is un-
known. >.z II .... 4.
At9 o'clock the lights are put
out, and everyone is required
to climb. into bed at once. In
the morning tin horn awakens
them, and a scramble is made
for the cook camp, where all
talking is prohi bited.
There are many camps in
Michigan where the food is
very poor. The m "a seldom
!. get fresh mex IIn 81 8 camp i
worked in last winter we got
fresh meat only once a month.
We had to eat what'was called
corned beef, but the men called
it cred horse, because it was
so red with saltpetre. It was
damaged beef, and had been
kicking around so long that
some of it had begun to decay:
The pork we got had been
good once, but in the days long
gone by. "a.
The class. Of men who work
in the woods are as rule jolly,
good hearted fellows, and If one
of them gets hurt the others
will willingly contribute to a
fund to help him.
They have no chance to save
any money. if they iye at all
like human beings: The com
pany has all sorts of schemes
to beat them out of their earn
ings. IF a man quits before
spring his pay is cut down
several dollars a month and he
is given a time check payable
in April. When he goes to get
it cashed a heavy discount is
taken off. I never knew of an
honest lumber company in all
my experience. .~-
The big companies are get
ting meaner and stingier every
year, and the richer they get
the more they seem to want.
They are mostly composed of
hard, worshipping men,
who care less for their men
than for their horses. It seems
to me they would have liked to
have been highwaymen only
they hadn't the sand. '..>
Another branch of woods
work is the cedar business
getting out ties, paving blocks
and fence posts. They are paid
for by the piece, and the men
receive nothing for culls. The
company, though, puts the culls
back with the good ones, and
gets full price for them.
Another curse to lumbermen
is the employment offices in
such cities as Duluth and Min
neapolis. They charge man
So for getting him a job, and
then send him to some outland-
ish place where the job is no
good. T." p.
A bill has been introduced in
the Legislature providing for a
pay day every two weeks and
compelling payment in cash or
it's equivalent. The time check
system as it is in vogue is little
| Lace than hiohwav robbery and