Hall County NEGenWeb
Reminiscences & Narratives of Pioneers
MANY MIDDLE MEN

[Return to the Index]

Transcribed from
the ©1920 "History of Hall County," by Buechler, Barr, and Stough

Woodchoppers were set to work, tie choppers, saw mills put in action, and timber certainly flew along the track. The contracts for grading were let to some of the most noted political men, who sub-contracted them to private parties, and they in turn sub-contracted them. These contractors all made the money, but the men who did the work came out at the little end of the horn, but how the dirt did fly. When the day for the month's pay rolled around, the gang bosses informed the men that they would be obliged to throw off $5.00 of their wages. Most of the men had families, and inquired what this was for and were informed it was for a reserve fund, which they were told was customary where they paid cash. If they did not consent to this, they were obliged to wait ninety days, but most of them were compelled to get it on account of their dependent families. Even at this early date the monied men, speculators, and corporations controlled all the business matter, no matter of what nature. The little farmer, and small property holders, and hard working class of people paid their bills. Dear reader, I do not take those facts from any one. I have been through the mill. I have worked for corporations and private individuals, and in every case, I have been obliged to pay them interest on what they owed me. In the fall of 1867 and the spring of '68, the working gang began to work at laying ties with a force that averaged about seven miles a day.