Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-03-27
THE TREADNELL MINE


the ore rolling into their Unsuitable
mouths, 81 400 worth OF powder II
used I'm blasting every day. Inc
amount of gold realized from every
2i-hour run is about $4,000. and th-
expense OF operating Is about S,0Oo'
The ore is low grade-the lowest III
the world to pay such profits. II
averages only S2.65 per ton. bu; there
is so much of il, and ii is handled IN
such Wholesale and economical
manner. that il runs fast into money.
On account of the Treadwell be
ing so remote from civilization, II rs
necessary 10 maintain a most com
plcte plant. There is a fully equipped
foundry where any piece of broken
machinery can be replaced immedi-
atcly. A fine assay Office makes II
unnecessary 10 send the ere away to
have its value established. aud a
modern hospital is maintained to
care for the sick and wounded. So
many people work in the mine that
il supports United States post
Office of the third class. The com
pany store has a stock of iron and
steel constantly on hand which is
worth 1000, and the supply of pow
der is worth 100000.
Firm Boards Its Men.
The company store. butcher shop
and cookhouses are large depart
mcnts. because the firm boards Its
men. II is no small undertaking to
feed all these robust miners. The
butchers in the company shop cut
up three beeves every day. besides
quantities of fish. pork. and mutton
II takes 5000 pancakes TO go around
In the morning. and four barrels of
-four are made into $500 biscuits
every day. Another daily ration is
90 pounds of coffee and i2 pounds
of butter. The number Of eggs used
daily is $4,000.
The usual working force of the
Treadwell consists of 1.500 men.
There Is such mixture of nation
alitios that seventeen different Ian
guages are spoken in the camp. and
the unique fortitude of the situation
is that the superintendent can talk
TO only 20 per cent of his men. To
the remainder he has to make signs
or depend upon interpreters. which
always is unsatisfactory. Few of the
men are married. They get from 81
TO $3.50 per day and their board and
lodging Many of then come direct
from Europe to enter the employ OF
the company, and most OF them save
the greater part of their wages. They
cut their own hair. do their own wash
ing, and in fact, get along as cheaply
as only Europeans can. Their only
regular expenditure seems to be the
purchase OF cigarettes, of which they
tire excessive smokers. Many of the
men leave their money with the COM
pany, the books at one time show
ing that more than 100000 in wages
was uncalled for The company pays
no interest on this money. but agrees
TO pay any or all of it on demand.
The largest sum due any one man
was $4,000 He did not draw y cent
for a year and half after he went TO
work
Slave and Scandinavians predomi-
nate among the nationalities employ
cd in the mine. About the only ex-
preston in English that they can
ever master in all right" and the
work il overtime. No matter whether
one of them is called. he invariably
answers. all right" Their in abili-
~ to understand what is said to them
often causes trouble. One day a new
boss was experimenting a big blast.
and as a couple of workmen approch-
ed he shouted. Don't go that way
or you'll get your heads blown of. -
n,. r. sh,.,, "An right y