The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-25
FOR THE GOOD OF THE MNER
"A Former Butte Man Says He Had
Almost Monopoly of the Blue
Bird Library.

Not the least surprising thing in Grip
PIE creek to western mining man is
the interest shown by Woods Brothers,
or the Gold Coin and other mines, in proc
noting the comfort of their many en-
ployes says Louis Janin, Jr., in the En-
sineer and Mining Journal. To this end
they have erected Ga former one having
burned DOWN a handsome building we'll
equipped with gymnastic apparatus.
bowling alleys, billiard tables, library
ana reading room. baths and, perhaps
what is fully as much appreciated. a
bar from which beer and mild drinks
are dispensed at reasonable prices. The
stronger liquors, as in the much la
mented army canteens, are tabooed, All
these privileges may be enjoyed by any
employe of the Gold Coin mine who has
worked for certain short period The
tariff for billiards, bowling and baths is
merely nominal, being barely sufficient
to pay the running expenses; the object
IN charging at all is to make the insti-
tuition self-sustaining as far as possible,
the members. however. enjoying the
privileges of well-equipped social and
athletic club without payment of an mi
tiation fee or monthly dues.
Occasionally at our western mines the
comfort of the officers is we'll looked
after, but the advantages of the Gold
Coin club house are not confin "a to all
employees. To the writer this is a novel
departure in the west, considerably in
advance of the we'll intentoned attempt
OF the Blue Bird mine, Butte, Mont, to
assist the education Of the miner by
placing library we'll selected-as it was
the gift of Sir John Lubbock and his
daughter. Mrs. Van Zandt-ata the
nlinarS' HiSnnSn1 o;,rl,t
severe work miners seek relaxation and
amusement rather than brain work, so
much so that a library is neglected.
The writer when an employe Of the Blue
Bird company had a solitary usufruct
of it's library amounting almost to per-
Sonal possession.
At the Gold Coin club house the ath-
letic workman may rest his tired mus
Cles by using others in mentally enjoy
able exercise and when studiousy in
clined can find books and periodicals.
Both classes can be satisfied. The club
gives greater advantages than the sa-
loon and should be a strong factor in
promoting temperance as we'll as the
formation of an esprit de corps.
With all these manifest advantages
it is we'll to ask how it is received by the
miners. By appearances it is we'll pa
tronized. yet the writer was Informed
that less than half the miners had A.
piled for membership This is some-
what difficult to account for, yet this
reluctance to join a company institu-
ton has doubtless common origin with
the deep-seated opposition of miners to
company stores and company boarding
houses--a great Discrimination on the
part of the workman to be controlled in
any way outside of his work, though
any control in the case in point, Is pure
ly ina ginary. Doubtless in time all the
workmen will appreciate it. and other
companies will follow the excellent ex-
ample Of Woods Brothers in localities
where such an institution is even more
needed than in the populous Cripple
Creek district. Owing to the difference
in social conditions efforts in this di-
rection will hardly be as ambitious y
those of the Germans at several Of their
mines or those at some of our large
industrial establishments, yet DISPOSE
ton to consider the miners further than
as an integer of work is as welcome as
&c oil