Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-01
LIFE in MINING CAMP
Pictured by Rev. j. R. Beard, For
merly of This City.
A VERY INTERESTING ACCOUNT
The Will Known South Side Minister
Tells Some Striking Truths As He
Sees Them by Personal Observa.
tions-Letter Written in Creole.


tions-Letter Written in Creole.
The second of series of letters
from Rev. ]. R. Beard, the former pas
tor of the Second Congregational
church, of this city, has been receiv-
Gu by the Christian Endeavor so.
ciety of that church and has
kindly been furnished the Cour-
Ter for publication. The letter deals
with Rev. Boards Impressions of life
in mining camp" and is very inter-
esting. Rev. Beard writes from his
own experience. and gives the views
as he sees them by personal observa-
ftion. He covers practically all phases
of life in the frontier town, where the
occupation of the people is to dig in
the earth for hidden treasures. The
letter is as follows:
/ Creede Co.. July 25, 1901.
Dear Friends:-I have not forgotten
that promised you Letter as socie.
ty and as l understand that letter
which | wrote descriptive of the jour
ney and with it an imperfect picture
of our surroundings, was published it
!, has occurred to me that a few
iglimpses of life in a mining camp
might be of interest and profit as we'll.
The more completely one becomes
, identified with one of these settle,
ments the more fully will he realize
the appropriateness of the word
Camp" as applied to them. In most OF
them whether large or small, there are
no homes. No one expects to remain
, now frequently there will be found
those who have been associated with
the entire history of the camp but all
| of the time they have been eagerly
: watching for that delusive thing, a
stake" which once in their posses
t sion they will go elsewhere for home
( This one fundamental fact has much
: to do with shaping the entire life oil
: the camp. In no respect is this more
true than in its influence upon the
l moral and spiritual life. Here is a
: camp of 1900 people, established ten
5 years ago. 1t has passed through its
2 boom and settled down to earnest hard
: work and may be said to be fairly rep
resentative.
? The Houses.
These are mostly small, one story
implanted, unsubstantial logs or rough
pine boards, many of them unplaster
ed. Why should any one care to in
D vest very much in house that he
5 does not expect to occupy but few
: months. The love for the beautiful
/ may prompt such internal ornamental
) ton as can be carried away but yer,
little that must remain. This fact, to
I Igether with the usual barrenness O
. mining camps, will account for tn
profusion OF house plants Here is
( camp, two blocks wide, overshadowe,
by towering walls on either side grad
l. ually narrowing until it consists of ;
e row Of houses hugging a precipitou
S wall on either side with only room
between for a wagon road or railroad
track and narrow rushing stream
and part of the way even this stream
underneath one row of the houses, tn,
p whole as utterly devoid of vegetation
as a paved boulevard, the only tree
a to be seen are the stately giant pines
i that seem too proud to grow in tn
i. canyon and are clinging to the almos
S perpendicular walls that tower I'D an,
/. up till they seem to play hide an,
g seek among the clouds.
= The Commercial Spirit.
i. The commercial spirit that prompt
n ed each one to come dominates every
d thing. Here is mine, one of MANY
!, that beginning at the base of tn
{. mountain and has tumbled toward it
If heart III tortuous winding that folloy
the vein until it is two and one-hal
a miles from the entrance and meets
J. shaft that has been sunk from th
< crest of the mountain one-third of
n mile above. Thousands of dollars hay
!: been invested by men who, prompte
:, by the common spirit, are anxious TO
J. speedy returns. AS a result the
l. must run night and day for seven day
+, III the week. Other business in til
If same spirit is open every day and ia
i into the night; many of saloons eve,
advertising to be open at all hours
If This same spirit, together with exper
siye transportation, prompts what Il
a "tenderfoot' appears to be exorbitan
prices for everything, no matter HOY
mad the rush for gain, nature dc
:. mands.
- Amusement.
With scores of men who can boas
OF no place more homelike than
L cherries stall just large enough for
II bed who will wonder that a saloon
s. with its games and music and cas-
a. chairs and social intercourse is attrac
- tive l am more and more conyince
10 that one of the most needy and fruitful
fields for Christian benevolence. no
e only in mining camps but in cite
Il where men must board. is the estat
81 lishment of places in which men ca
IS board and have around them the a,
d. mosphere of the home. One or tw
'e doors from the church is a gambIin
g house where at any hour of the. day O
6 night may be seen in front of III
II screened doors tables surrounded b
y men and covered with money and tn
y paraphernalia for gambling. The mos
u nlnll 1af -.