Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-01
WOULD BETTER
MINING CAMPS
MOVEMENT LAUNCHED IN DIS
TRcT 10 TO IMPROVE SANITARY
CONDITION OF VILLAGES.
RODGERS ACTIVE
President Of Mine Workers Working
Hard to Interest Miners in Self
Betterment to Improve Homes
and Surroundings.

That the sanitary condition Of the
mining villages throughout the state
of Iowa, and that the dwellings may
be properly cared for to make them
comfortable and the miners encouraged
to make gardens, and generally beauti-
| fly their homes and surroundings. a
movement has been launched by the
Mining Village Improvement Com
mission that will prove the greatest
boon in years to the mine workers
and their families. The initial step
was taken last Saturday evening when
the commission met in Oskaloosa, the
operators represented by H. l.. Water
man and Henry Phillips Of Ottumwa,
and E. c. Smith of Des Moines and
the miners by w. H. Rodgers. Of
tumwa, James G. Gadd, Madrid, c. j..
Burke, Hines, and Thomas Stevenson,
Mystic Mr. Rodgers was elected
president Of the commission and Mr..
Smith secretary. The two men were
authorized to prepare circular to be
sent to all mines, mining camps, vii
lagos, and mine officers with the re-
quest that all assist.
w. H. Rodgers, president Of district
10 Is taking an active part in the move
ment throughout his district and will
endeavor to arouse the interest OF
every miner to help attain the desired
end and benefit the mine workers by
this endeavor. Following is the cir
cular to be posted in the mining vii
lagos:
To the officers and members of local
unions of District 10. United Mine
Workers Of America, and members of
the Iowa Coal Operators association.
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to request of the Mining
Village Improvement commission. we
hereby issue this circular setting forth
the fact that it shall be the policy of
the Mining Village Improvement COM
mission to seek, by persuasion, to Sc
cure better sanitary conditions In and
about the mining villages Of the state,
and to have the dwellings properly
cared for and improved, or repaired
where necessary to make them
reasonably comfortable; to encourage
he making of gardens, planting and
cultivation of flowers and the beautify-
ng OF the homes and surroundings.
And in issuing this circular we de-
sire to urge that both miner and oper-
ator cooperate in seeking to create
md maintain better conditions in the
mining villages.
It is evident that in recent years
n the mining communities Of this
state there is q growing tendency Of
he desire for more sanitary conditions
md more homelike surroundings; and 1t
Is the purpose Of this commission to
foster and promote those conditions
that go to make for the inhabitants
Of the mining villages, more whole
some and homelike surroundings.
The mining industry and the min
ing villages Of our state are an i'm
portant factor In the industrial and
social life Of our commonwealth, and
both miner and operator should
earnestly seek to place our Industrial
and social life on the high plane that
it so Justly deserves.
And we desire particularly to re-
mind you of the futility Of such a
commission without the fullest CO
operation: we further suggest that
these circulars be posted In the lodge
rooms, at the mine shafts and the
coal offices and other conspicuous
places.
w. H. Rodgers, president mining
Village Improvement commission.
e. C.. Smith, secretary, Mining Vii
LACE Improvement commission.