Jamestown Weekly Alert, 1886-01-14, p.5
Jamestown Weekly Alert, Jamestown, 1886-01-14, p.5
Summary
A brief, credited to the Bismarck Tribune, reporting that the previous day's east-bound train carried miners leaving Butte "with barely enough money to return to their friends in the east" — because, although the Butte mines paid handsomely and distributed great sums in wages, miners had flocked there in such numbers that many could find no employment. A concise 1886 snapshot of Butte's labour oversupply: the boom that drew Irish miners west also spat many back out. Context for why migration to Butte was a gamble in exactly the years the family's circle was moving.
In its time
Narrative
The Bismarck Tribune reports that yesterday's east bound train carried a number of miners leaving Butte with barely enough money to reach friends in the east, despite the reported good times there. The Butte mines are paying handsomely and distributing a vast amount of money among workmen, but so many miners flocked to the place that many were forced to leave without finding employment.
- “notwithstanding the reported good times at Butte, were leaving that place with barely enough money to return to their friends in the east”
- “the miners flocked to the place in such numbers that many were compelled to leave without employment”
AI-generated (claude-opus-5). Verify against the transcription before quoting.
Places
- Butte, Montana (subject)
- Jamestown, North Dakota (origin)
- Dakota Territory / North Dakota (origin)
Themes
Story threads
Tags
Source type
news_item
Related sources
Transcription
Dotted underlines mark key terms on first mention — hover or tab to one for a reference note. The wording is the source’s own.