Not the least surprising thing in Cripple Creek to a Western mining man is the interest shown by Woods Brothers, of the Gold Coin and other mines, in promoting the comfort of their many employees. To this end they have erected, a former one having burned down, a handsome building well equipped with gymnastic apparatus, bowling alleys, billiard tables, library and reading room, baths and, perhaps what is fully as much appreciated, a bar from which beer and mild drinks are dispensed at reasonable prices.
The stronger liquors, as in the much lamented army canteens, are tabooed. All these privileges may be enjoyed by any employee of the Gold Coin Mine who has worked for a certain short period. The tariff for billiards, bowling and baths is merely nominal, being barely sufficient to pay the running expenses; the object in charging at all is to make the institution self sustaining as far as possible, the members, however, enjoying the privileges of a well-equipped social and athletic club without payment of an initiation fee or monthly dues.
Occasionally at our Western mines the comfort of the officers is well looked after, but the advantages of the Gold Coin club house are not confined to the administration department, but are thrown open to any or all employees. To the writer this is a novel departure in the West, considerably in advance of the well intentioned attempt of the Blue Bird Mine, Butte, Mont., to assist the education of the miner by placing a library well selected—as it was the gift of Sir John Lubbock and his daughter, Mrs. Van Zandt—at the miners' disposal.
After eight hours of severe work miners seek relaxation and amusement rather than brain work, so much so that a library is neglected. The writer when an employee of the Blue Bird Company had a solitary usufruct of its library amounting almost to personal possession.
At the Gold Coin club house the athletic workman may rest his tired muscles by using others in mentally enjoyable exercise and when studiously inclined can find books and periodicals. Both classes can be satisfied. The club gives greater advantages than the saloon and should be a strong factor in promoting temperance as well as the formation of an esprit de corps.
With all these manifest advantages it is well to ask how it is received by the miners. By appearances it is well patronized, yet the writer was informed that less than half the miners had applied for membership. This is somewhat difficult to account for, yet this reluctance to join a company institution has doubtless a common origin with the deep-seated opposition of miners to company stores and company boarding houses—a great disinclination on the part of the workman to be controlled in any way outside of his work, though any control in the case in point, is purely imaginary.
Doubtless in time all the workmen will appreciate it, and other companies will follow the excellent example of Woods Brothers in localities where such an institution is even more needed than in the populous Cripple Creek District.
Owing to the difference in social conditions efforts in this direction will hardly be as ambitious as those of the Germans at several of their mines or those at some or our large industrial establishments, yet a disposition to consider the miners further than as an integer of work is as welcome as it is encouraging.