The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-04-02
LUMBER CAMP
CONDITIONS
ARE BETTER
F. A. DAVID AND PROF. LEWIS
VISIT MANY CAMPS IN LATAH
COUNTY
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
ADVOCATE MEANS OF IMPROVING
CONDITIONS AND PROVIDE
READING MATTER

1.-THE firm attitude of the Protective
Association toward the I. w. w. is the
one thing that has saved the county
from serious trouble. The releasing
of we'll known spectators on insignif-
icant bail or the releasing of men who
should be held for trial must not be
practiced The association must in
every case act quickly and decisively.
The I. w. w. as an organization is by
no means extinct and relaxation would
be fatal"
This is a warning sounded by Pro-
fessor Howard T. Lewis of the uni
versity in report just completed on
a trip made by committee appointed
through the Latah county Protective
association and composed of Professor
Lewis and Frank David which last
week visited eight of Latah county's 12
lumber camps with the view of def
initely ascertaining what camp condi-
tions are.
With one or two exceptions, condi-
tions in the camps were found to be
excellent, both as regards food and
sleeping quarters, but Professor
Lewis report insists that these sat
isfactory conditions must be main
tanned whether the man supply is or
is not plentiful, since anything else
would be distinctly unfair to the men"
In each of the eight camps men
were interviewed personally and in
dividually, talks were had with the
foreman and a meal was eaten at the
camp table wherever possible. At
every camp an explanation of the ma
ture and purposes of the Latah County
Protective association was made.
The men admitted, according to the
report, that conditions are now far
better than they we're year ago, but
they attributed the improvement to
two causes, first, the effect OF last
summers strike and, second, the ne
cessity for holding men in the camps
because of the general labor shortage.
All the camps are now electrically
lighted. the hunks are equipped with
springs and mattresses, several camps
boast sheet and pillow-case equipment
and in most instances hot and cold
showers and laundries have been pro-
vided.
The custom of drying damp, soggy
clothes in the bunk-house which is
prevalent in some of the camps was
The feature of the logger's life which
lrew most condemnation in Professor
Lewis report. 1t was urged that more
attention be paid to matters OF ventll-
alton and sanitation by the camp fore
men and, if necessary, instruction at
,empted with the view of bringing the
nen to an understanding of the vital ]
of pure air. The sugges-
ion was also made that more adequate
Trying rooms and better systems OF
ventilation in the bunk-house be pro-
,ided.
The monotony of the meals profer-
ed day after day was one cause forI
complaint stressed by the men and
Professor Lewis makes the suggestion
hat a varied, balanced ration menu
prepared with the assistance of the :
University home economics depart
aent might be utilized. ;,
The report urges that the men be =
FINISHED with quantity of good read :
ne matter and that Saturday night or 9
unday afternoon lectures to be given + l.
Bovill and Deary be arranged for r
t is understood that speakers might !,
asily be secured from Moscow and 4
rom the university and that logging
would be willing to pro-
ide transportation for their crews
.om the camps to the towns in ques-
on. a
A final importuning of the report "
omes in the suggestion that steps n
lust be taken to insure satisfactory e
vino conditions in tho harvest fields II