The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-11
IN THE MOUNTAINS
HELPER, UTAH. An IDEAL HOME FOR
LABORING MEN.
Almost Shut on from the Great World,
H Has Been Made q Beautiful
Place of Habftation.

An example OF what is being done in the
West along the lines of industrial better
ment is shown in the town of Helper,
Utah, situated lis miles southeast of SAT-
Lake City and $50 miles west of Denver.
lhe town is located in a pretty spot, high
up in the Wasatch range and almost in
closed with towering peaks capped with
STOW. Looking westward from the town is
Castle Gate, the gigantic pillar on one side
and the precipitcus cliff on the other. form
ing. as II seems. the only avenue of APP
proach To the mountain hamlet. on the
north and west sides are great mountain
walls and the eastern line OF Enclosure is
pressed a little farther back by a deep
canyon and small ravines running down
from the mountain sides The town fits
snugly into the pocket near Castle Gate
and is backed up against the southern line
o. mountain peaks.
Here in this isolated but delightful spot
that has a population OF less than l,0eo
live many employees Of the Rio Grande
Western Railway Company. Helper is a
division point on the railroad and has quite
extensive shops and "A roundhouse. Many
of the helper engines used i'm assisting
the heavy trains i'm climbing the steep
grades up the mountains are housed here
and the keeping OF them in repair fur
nishes employment 10 a large per cent. of
the male portion OF the mountain colony.
TRAINMEN LIVE THERE.
n number OF the trainmen also make this
place their home. IL is a favorite location
Tor the employees OF the railroad company
and the pure air and quiet OF the little
municipality are so attractive that they
take advantage of it TO make it their home
when convenient. a number of miners have
also showed a decided preference for Help
er, with its electric light and water plant
and municipal advantages, and added TO
the population by iocalfng their families
there.
The striking feature Of the town is the
similarity OF nearly all the houses. They
are all painted a dark drab and resemble
each other In construction. This unusual
sight usually brings forth ommen and the
~lightened. The town was built by the rail-
road company for its employees. At first ii
seemed that ii would he difficult to induce
men 10 take their families and live in this
Cut-of-the-wav place. but after the town
was fairly well estab lished. comfortab bic
residences provided and modern conven-
fences furnished. no encouragement was
ton. Now, since the trees have added to
the beauty Of the place and pretty green
lawns adorn the streets, living is desirable
VI NiltA anu AiN dAlVdu lliF CIV lAOit
than pleased 20 be numbered with the in
habitantS.
WORK OF THE ROAD.
The Rio Grande Western has done much
for its employees at this place. The ex-
pense of building homes. all four to six and
seven-room cottages. a water and electric
light plant. the building and improving of
streets. was shouldered by the railroad
company. il was a matter OF business with
the company 10 establish a division point
at this place, but while they were at 1t
they decided TO make IL a place worth liv-
ing in. The success of the undertaking
speaks for itself. An average-sized cot
tage. equipped with electric light and
water, Is furnished TO the employees of the
company for 81 a month. Most Of the
houses are also provided with bath and
the additional expense of a house a little
better than the average Is nominal. The
company has also spent much money about
its station. making lawns and flower beds,
which give the surroundings an additional
touch of beauty So, in this little town,
cept for the railroad. many laboring men
have found pleasant homes. where they
have taken their families and enjoy their
work and make life worth living.
Financially the railroad company has
found that il pays. although the beginning
was expensive. The company gets a bet
ter class of men. particularly married men
with families. and above all has a con-
tented, well-pleased and industrious set Of
employees. Tho men are we'll paid and no
industrial contests mar the serenity or the
quiet village. II has been demonstrated
that these favorable conditions and pleas
ant features play their part in increasing
the dividends of the railroad company, to
say nothing OF the satisfaction to the com
pany of knowing that il is doing something
10 benefit its employees as we'll as making
money.