Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-06-07
WRITES INTERESTING LETTER
Company z Boy Tells Of Life At tn,
Temporary Quarters in Utah.
Garfield, Utah.
Monday, May q, 1917.

Dear Old Friend HOd-
/ do feel ashamed Of myself for not
having written you oftener and for not
being more explicit when did decide to
pour forth q little of my information
in regard to army tactics, maneuvers,
present surroundings, etc.
Company E was ordered out of Boise.
Thursday, May 10. 1 think that was
the date, anyhow it was Thursday.
We had boarded up our tents and
made preparations TO stay for the sum
mer but Sam blew his horn and we left
for Ogden at 500 P. M, the call havE
ing come at noon the 10th of the same
day.
Things were. quiet as we silently
marched the streets excepting the rare
beat of base drum and the shrill
note of a geed up fife. We landed in
Odgen 1000 A. M. the morning after
and in two hours all baggage was un-
loaded tents all up and acres Of Utah y
fertile soil was policed as it never was
before.
We were there just week, and board
ed the train for this town. Garfield is
small mining town of about 1900 in
habitants, copper mining being the
principle industry. We were sent here
to guard the smeltsr but have not been
| sent out yet.
Some 5000 men are employed here on
each shift, three hour shifts every "a
hours. Most of the working class live in
Salt Lake Is miles from here and 20
back and forth on a special train, run
| by the mining company.
This said company is some company.
They are spending about $1,000 building
us mess houses, sleeping barracks, hot
and cold water, electric lights etc. in
fact all the necessities and many Of
the Injuries of life, much appreciated
by the members of Company E.
This corporation I understand has a.
capital exceeding that of the Standard
Oil Co., this whole town and its sur
roundings is entirely owned and con
trolled by this outfit. Everything il
union, even the orchestra that plays
for dances is union.
The people here certainly treat us
swell, two free dances have been given
in our honor and we all were given q
free membership to a large club here
with gym, pool room, bath and dance
hall. "Not too poor / claim
1 Thirty of our men, including Ser
lgeants Gregg and Long, Corporals Cone
Bromley and McGinnis in charge were
sent out to "Lecin cut off," / think
that is the correct spelling, anyhow i
is an iron trestle across Salt Lake 1f
miles long. The posts are four miles
apart but only certain places being
deemed necessary to require guard.
i From what l hear it is rather un
desiable place to locate the winds art
I SO strong out on the lake, the vapol
rises and as it is IS per cent salt il il
not very pleasant about the time thi'
stuff dries on you when YOU come of
shift
An electric speeder l understand ha'
been chartered for the use of posting
the guards which will probably be yer,
beneficial as the fellow who had the II
mile post might have to start da,
ahead if they had to walk in order t.
! get to has post in time for his "a hour
: of guard duty.
The elevation here is about $500 fee
, and the climate reminds one of that o
lGraneeville, it has rained ever since w
Handed until this morning but now it /
lnice and bright and / think we will fur
/ lout tents and see if we can dry thing
out a little, everything smells like
e cellar.
IL We are located about two miles fron
l the lake and Saltair a big dance paw
: lion and general place of amusement !
g | Just hall mile out from shore and som
g night when we get paid we're goin
Y lover and investigate. They have tn
!, largest dance hall in the world and
e l37 piece orchestra and when it IS a
$ lighted it looks like monstrous battl
: ship. ~
t / hated to leaves"O Old Chick bt
t hind but it couldn t be helped he sur
t did want to come with us 'Po
Hounds' as he termed it, but he ca
l.aa11, r,arn ,aonav where he is.