El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-19

MONG the novelties Of the day is the spectacle Of
~ mining companies engaging In agriculture Here
- tOfOre, It hasn't been done Like the shoemaker
to his last the miners have stuck to mining few OF
the day wage have had their little patches Of
never gwen II thought nor would they TINS year mad
not nation wide campaign for greater production of food
set everyone thinking in the night direction
As a result Of the campaign, the mining companies Of
the southwest looked around them and made the best Of
such opportunities for agriculture gardening presented
themselves The Calumet & Arizona company IN the War
district planted the park of several extent
rounding its general offices Warren IN potatoes and
onions and arranged for converting the Warren ranch
several hundred acres, owned by the company from an
alfalfa farm to potato and bean farm
At Ajo the New CorneIia Copper company an off
spring Of the Calumet Arizona bought beans and fur
ushed them to the PapagO Indians who farm IN spots be-
tween Ajo and Tucson the Indians to return the equv
lent IN beans when they harvest their crops. number
Of young IN the employ Of the New C0rnea company
also became imbued with the idea Of making something
grow They arranged 10 lease land and place competent
farmer in charge Of couple Of places on the desert where
water is available.
At Miami the Inspiration Copper company gave over
Of its available ground to the miners and furnished
water for irrigation. Possibly other companies Of the
GobeMlaml district followed the example At any rate
quite acreage provided by the companies crops and
by strange turn in events the companies lind they have
furnished land and water to produce crops from which
their former employees, strike viii reap the benefit.
The miners taking the best Of these garden plots
and the produce theTeom is counted upon to help
them IN stavng off hunger i the strike continues long
time.
The Detroit Corner COMPANY of Clifton also arranged
aid II food production and the Ray Consolidated Copper
company only helped others the district to raise
foodstuff but undertook production its own
account.
The Magma Copper company Of Superior, appropriated
S60oO0 amounting practically to gift, to develop more
power order assist farmers water for add
tioHal acreage
The United Verde and the Verde Extension companies
at Jerome both planned for farming lands in their
possession in the Verde valley with the idea Of raising
siderable crops Of potatoes and other food crops
Such arrangements as these cost the companies very
little and their value should not be exaggerated for they
VIII lack much Of providing for the needs IN the various
communities But they VIII help some at time when
been so as food is concerned dead weight other
localities That is to say, they paid for their food and
paid all It worth but someone else had TO produce
It and ship II to them. Even little farming In the
vicinity of each Of these large mining camps VIII result
producing quantity Of food which viii reduce by Just
that much the high cost Of living the amount to be shipped
IN and the demands transportation Not 10 be over
looked the evidence Of desire the part OF the
mining companies to make conditions easy possible
for their employees Officials and the highly paid
employees could get along passably under almost any c
cumstances II Is the ordinary miner and his family who
viii benefit by the thoughtulness Of the employers, strike
strike
Mixing farming or gardening with mining IS good
thing, anyhow. It Is especially good this year and It VIII
good thing any year Work IN garden OF IN large
potato patch for hour two daily before or after the
shift the mine viii be beneficial open air exercise for
the fortunate enough have 1t to do. It viii also
result IN supplying their tables with fresh wholesome food
not out can and that Is something which be fully
appreciated only by those who have had to resort to the