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Letter to Editor
March 30, 1881
The Cheyenne Daily Leader
Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming
What is this article about?
Correspondent 'PIONEER' from Fort McKinney recounts humorous encounters with soldiers minimally digging tree holes and avoiding work, concluding soldiers dislike labor. He advocates for a U.S.-built free bridge over Powder River and opportunities for seamstress, housework, brewery, and hotel in the remote area.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
PIONEER'S POINTS.
An Open Question Discussed-News
Notes.
Correspondence of the Leader.
Fort McKinney, March 23.
A few days ago I happened to pass a soldier who was sitting hard on a diminutive pile of fresh dug earth, toying with a long handled shovel. I stopped, and timidly asked the man of war if I might ask him a question. "Begod certainly," he replied. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Diggen holes for to plant trees in," was his answer. If he had said, taking a rest, the remark would have fitted the circumstances better. I passed on and soon came to another soldier similarly occupied, whom I addressed in the same manner. "You bet your yum yum," he replied. "What are you doing?" said I. "Well," he replied, "I'm a revolutionist, and don't you give it away." How's that, said I? "Well, when I joined the reg'lars, four years ago, work was the first thing, the next thing was more work, and begod stranger, its work ever since. I've turned agin work, and I'm tryin' to abolish it from the army, that's the way I'm a revolutionist. I can do as much square down restin' as any man of my figger. That's the kind of a peddler I am. 'Tain't healthy for one to have his shirt drippin wet all the time, sweatin' from hard work."
I moved on, and subsequently learned that the last mentioned soldier succeeded in digging three holes, each about 16 inches square, and the same in depth, for a day's work of eight hours. Previous to this occurrence, there was a doubt in my mind as to whether a soldier would or would not work. My mind is clear on the subject now.
A good wagon bridge across Powder river, near old McKinney, is very much needed. The settlers in this remote section are not able, financially speaking, to build such a bridge; it should be built at once by the U. S., and be made a free bridge.
A good seamstress could do well here; and two or three good girls can obtain employment to do housework in families after the first of May.
A well conducted brewery would coin money here.
If there was a snug little, well managed, hotel and restaurant here, the proprietor of it would have no cause to complain of lack of patronage.
PIONEER.
An Open Question Discussed-News
Notes.
Correspondence of the Leader.
Fort McKinney, March 23.
A few days ago I happened to pass a soldier who was sitting hard on a diminutive pile of fresh dug earth, toying with a long handled shovel. I stopped, and timidly asked the man of war if I might ask him a question. "Begod certainly," he replied. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Diggen holes for to plant trees in," was his answer. If he had said, taking a rest, the remark would have fitted the circumstances better. I passed on and soon came to another soldier similarly occupied, whom I addressed in the same manner. "You bet your yum yum," he replied. "What are you doing?" said I. "Well," he replied, "I'm a revolutionist, and don't you give it away." How's that, said I? "Well, when I joined the reg'lars, four years ago, work was the first thing, the next thing was more work, and begod stranger, its work ever since. I've turned agin work, and I'm tryin' to abolish it from the army, that's the way I'm a revolutionist. I can do as much square down restin' as any man of my figger. That's the kind of a peddler I am. 'Tain't healthy for one to have his shirt drippin wet all the time, sweatin' from hard work."
I moved on, and subsequently learned that the last mentioned soldier succeeded in digging three holes, each about 16 inches square, and the same in depth, for a day's work of eight hours. Previous to this occurrence, there was a doubt in my mind as to whether a soldier would or would not work. My mind is clear on the subject now.
A good wagon bridge across Powder river, near old McKinney, is very much needed. The settlers in this remote section are not able, financially speaking, to build such a bridge; it should be built at once by the U. S., and be made a free bridge.
A good seamstress could do well here; and two or three good girls can obtain employment to do housework in families after the first of May.
A well conducted brewery would coin money here.
If there was a snug little, well managed, hotel and restaurant here, the proprietor of it would have no cause to complain of lack of patronage.
PIONEER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Comedic
Informative
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Infrastructure
Social Issues
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
Fort Mckinney
Soldier Work
Powder River Bridge
Pioneer Needs
Wyoming Frontier
Tree Planting
Local Economy
What entities or persons were involved?
Pioneer.
The Leader
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Pioneer.
Recipient
The Leader
Main Argument
soldiers in fort mckinney show strong aversion to manual labor, as illustrated by minimal tree-hole digging; local settlers need u.s.-funded bridge over powder river and opportunities for seamstresses, domestic workers, breweries, and hotels.
Notable Details
Humorous Irish Dialect Dialogue With Soldiers
Soldier Dug Three 16 Inch Square Holes In Eight Hours
Suggestions For Local Business And Employment