Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-17
GOES
INTO COLOMBIA

INTO COLOMBIA
GEORGE HARKER, FORMERLY OF CO.
LUMBUS, MONT, TO DO CONSTRUC-
TION WORK IN SOUTH AMERICA
Leaves With Wife and Daughter to Take
Up Residence in City of Medillon, %
Gated in Heart of Mountains of Region
Where He VIII BE Employed
George Harker, for a number of years
a resident of saltwater county has left
with his wife and daughter for South
America where he will spend the next
two years in construction work for the
Winston Construction company of
Minneapolis in the interior of the
United States of Colombia
Mr.. Harker spent two years in railroad
construction work in Colombia for the
company, returning two years ago last
August. For a year or two previous to
his first South American trip, he was en-
ployed by the company during the build
ing OF the Mystic lake dam and power
plant of the Montana Power company,
having charge Of the construction and
maintenance Of the road built UP to the
power project on the West Rosebud.
On his former trip, Mr., Harker was
alone but this time is taking his family
with him. They will live at Medillon,
Colombia, n Of the finest and most
healthful cities in South America. More
than a month will be consumed in reach
ing Medillon. which is in the heart of
the mountains. They will 20 to New York
and take passage on a United Fruit ON
pany steamer which carries about 10 first
class passengers. After touching at King
ston. Jamaica and other Caribbean sea
points, they will transfer to a river steam
er on Magdalena river, going up the
great river for nearly two weeks before
they strike a railroad head. They will
pass by the great oil fields of the Tropi-
cal Oil company which has nearly 800
oil wells.
Few Highways
All transportation in Colombia is either
by railroad or river BOAT or by mule.
There are practically no highways where
wagons or cars can be used out the build
ing Of railroads In the interior Is rapidly
being developed. On his previous trip,
Mr.. Harker worked on a government rail
road project up the Cacua river, a large
tributary of the Magdalena. The road,
which is still under construction, is being
bQilJ l1lJO lllS OllC SlOWAiE ~
the uplands of Colombia. On this stay
in Colombia, Mr.. Harker will be employed
at a huge gold placer mine OF the Mare
Mining corporation, a subsidiary Of the
Winston company. Water which Is
brought Town from the central Cordil
leras through an ID inch pipe is sent
through a two-inch pipe at the mine,
exercising a tremendous hydraulic pres
sure in washing out the mineral.
Mp6i11nn iC a hpal1fjf111 rifu Cify1pfnd of
an altitude of 1890 feet. he said. 1t lies
between the main Cordilleras or Alps and
q lower parallel range. While the lower
country is hot and unhealthful with
prevalent fevers, the climate at Medillon
is delightful. There is perpetual spring
there with a continual climate like JUNE
in Montana. The palm trees are always
green and the grass luxuriant. From the
sides OF the mountains, Medillon with
its white buildings and red-tiled roofs.
surrounded by the green countryside, is
a beautiful sight.
American Capital Aids
Antioca, the state in which Medillon
is situated, is one Of the most progressive
sections of the country and a large
amount of Improvements has been car
ried on In recent years. Colombia has
been rapidly developed In recent years,
largely with the aid of American capital.
Ian <AAAANo 01 AibAA
throughout their long extent although
the highest portion is farther south.
From the region where Mr.. Harker has
been working, a SnOW-capped mountain
which is almost under the equator can
be seen, although in the immediate vi
entity the peaks do not reach n the
region Of perpetual snow.
Living conditions in Columbia, espe-
cially In the higher and more progress
sive areas, are quite attractive, although
sometimes the Americans wish there
were a few more of their kind. There
are quite a number of Germans who are
the keenest competitors of the Ameri-
cans. Quite a few British citizens are
connected with banks and commercial
houses in the cities. Young men from
England usually sign up for a period OF
from three to five years service with the
banking houses doing business in Colon
bia. The country offers real %Opportuni-
ties for young Americans, especially sin
gle men, according to Mr.. Harker.
Labor Costs Low
Practically all the labor is done by the
lower classes and their work as a whole
is quite satisfactory and they give little
trouble, according to Mr.. Harker. They
average about a dollar a day, which un-
der living conditions there, Is as good as
three o. -four dollars here. There is very
little labor turnover on construction
work and the men do not give near the
difficulty and do as good work as the or
binary construction worker in this u
try. Mr.. Harker declares.
There are three classes In Colombia,
the very rich, who WI practically every
thing; a class Of supervisors and better
class employees of the rich, n the com
mon workmen whose wants are little and
are always carefree and happy. Most OF
these people in the years past have
worked on coffee plantations. Because
OF the demand for construction labor,
many desert the plantations but they
usually 20 back every two or three years