Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog number |
1997.2.1819 |
Object Name |
Clipping, Newspaper |
Date |
1968 |
Description |
Oldtime Paternalism Dick Barrett [San Jose Mercury News July 21, 1968] The recent account here of how a New Almaden quicksilver miner lost his sight in a blast in the mine and failed to collect damages under the legal philosophy prevailing at the time, made it sound as if the company was a hard and even cruel employer. Certainly it kept close track of expenditures and was demanding of its workers, but the record book of C. F. O'Brion, the surface foreman shows it practiced a form of paternalism in many small ways. The record, which we are privileged to examine through the courtesy, of Fred P. Hauck Jr., tells, for example, the story of the mine's relations with the little Catholic Church there, which is of special interest with the recent establishment of a parish covering the area. "Aug.- 17, 1889-Raised new Catholic Church bell in tower today. "Aug. 8 - Special prayers said in Catholic Church today by Father Picardo for Mr. Randol, Mr. Von Leicht and officers of the company for the building of the new bell tower for the church, by order of Mr. Randol. "Aug. 23 - Finished bell tower for Catholic Church. Cost of same, materials $91.75, labor $83.25; total $175.00." School trustee O'Brion reported an agreement with the padre which might make the Supreme Court raise its eyebrows today: "March 27, 1890 - Had an agreement with Father Picardo who has charge of the Catholic Church property to this effect: if the Hill School trustees would pay the expense. of repairing the church melodeon, he, the priest, would consent to its being left in the Spanish School in Mexican Camp for use in school." I also ran across a note which may arouse the interest of City Councilman Clyde Fischer. This one was dated Sept. 7, 1889: "Zamlock, Austrian sleight-of-hand performer, gave an excellent entertainment in Hacienda Hall on Sept. 7 and in Hill Hall on Sept. 7. Took 25 per cent of gross receipts on Hill also for use of Hall." Might this have been the father of Carl Zamlock, the oldtime ball player and good friend of Clyde? Carl is also known as a magician, going under the name of "The Great Zam." Clyde told me a while back that Zamlock has been seriously ill in Sacramento. The workings of democracy at the mine are illustrated by a group of entries a few days earlier: "Aug. 31-Dr. S. E. Winn and family left today for Helena, Mont., having concluded 10 years labor as physician at mine. Miners presented a petition to Mr. Randol to not appoint Dr.. J. U. Hall Jr. as physician-134 names. "Sept 2-Mr. Randol replied to miners' petition stating that the miners fund had about 400 persons who paid monthly, and as 266 of the number had not signed the same, concluded that, as a large majority had not signed the petition, were willing to give Dr. Hall a trial, consequently his appointment was sustained." "Sept. 4-Dr. J. U. Hall Jr. arrived on the Hill at 10 p.m." He may have had something of a warm reception. The thermometer had reached 106 degrees outside the company offices the day before. |
People |
O'Brion, Charles F. Hall, J. Underwood (Jr., Sr., Dr.) Hauck, Fred (F.P., Jr., Sr.) Piccardo, Benito (Fr.) (Father Piccardo) Randol, James Butterworth Von Leicht, F. Winn, Smith E. (Dr.) |
Cataloged by |
Boudreault, Art |