Reflections: Laborers organize in Encampment and Riverside

Reprint of this story is from the March 14, 1902 issue of The Grand Encampment Herald brought to you courtesy of Grandma’s Cabin, Encampment, Wyoming. Preserving History- Serving the Community.

LABORERS ORGANIZE

Local Union Has Membership of Over One Hundred and Fifty Men.

Entire Camp Will be Organized and Scale of Wages Demanded. The local labor agitation has terminated in a general organizing of forces all over the camp, including a union of Grand Encampment and Riverside men more than 150 strong, unions at Battle and Pearl, and more will follow.

President Brown, of Encampment union, is seeking to extend the movement to reach every miner, mill and smelter man in the district, so that they will all pull together toward the one central purpose,- that of regulating the price of wages.

A meeting of the laboring men of the district was held at Riverside Friday night. The original object of this meeting was for the purpose of hearing a report of the committee which had been appointed at a former meeting to present a set of resolutions to the management of the tramway construction concerning a scale of wages.

When the meeting was called to order it was made known that the committee was not ready to report, having been unable to see all the parties interested. It was announced that Mr. Charles H. Moyer, member of the Executive Board of the Western Federation, Miners of America, was present and would address those assembled on the subject of the formation of a local union.

Mr. Moyer at first dwelt upon the benefits to be derived from the closer association of men in the same walks of life, and pointed out the help which they could render to each other and their families in case of sickness and death, and further pointed out wherein as an organized body they could deal to better advantage with the perplexing questions which were constantly arising as between employers and employed.

He then went into details as to the formation of a local union and called upon all those present who wished to become charter members, to approach the Secretary’s desk and sign the roll. A recess was taken while those present were signing their names and after all had been given an opportunity, those who did not care to sign were asked to withdraw and the signers went into executive session for the election and installation of officers.

It was found that one hundred and ten men had signified their desire to become members of the local union, and the organization was given the name of “The Encampment Miner, Mills and Smelter Men’s Union.”

TWO MILES OF TOWERS

Aerial Tramway Construction Progressing Rapidly

Camp Going Up at Once

The construction of the aerial tramway from the smelter to the Ferris-Haggarty mine is progressing rapidly, the timbers from the sawmill being used up just as fast as hauled in. As soon as the Transportation Company gets in shape to furnish more timbers, the number of workmen on the tram will be largely increased. The Transportation Company is enlarging the capacity of its mill, and will very soon be able to out the necessary timbers.

A car load of bolts is expected to arrive here within a few days, and a carload of cables is expected by March 25th. The big tents for the camps have arrived and one of them will be raised this week at a point about four miles out of town. The floor for the camp has been laid and a small office has been built.

Nearly thirty towers have been erected, the towers extending over two miles out from the smelter. The construction of the big ore bins and terminal at the smelter has been commenced and will require 120,000 feet of lumber.

Workmen are arriving constantly from Spokane and other places, and it is expected that within a few days the entire force of 100 to 150 men will be given employment.