So you were there after Albert and your brother John had already worked at the park?
My brother John was up there in ’22, I presume. Then I went up in ’23 to work as a hand laborer. That’s when building the dock took place. The next year I went up, they gave me the team job. That was the year I wanted to be a truck driver, too, and didn’t make it.
We have a question about wages. What were they, year to year, and then for various jobs?
I can’t remember what the wages were, but you could save about $300. That would be three months work, as I remember. Of course, me getting a dollar a day extra for taking care of the horses, and being a teamster, made quite a bit of difference in those days.
Was it quite a bit more than what the concession people were getting.
I don’t know what they would be getting. You have no expenses and no place to spend anything. Your board was included in your wages. We had a good cook there, W. Van Camp, at the bunkhouse, the government camp (3). They’ve got so many building there now, it looks like a city.
Let’s go over to Albert and have him do an introduction.
Well, my name is Albert. I was born in Nebraska. My folks moved here when I was six months old. I’ve been in Jacksonville ever since.
What was the year you were born?
I was born in 1902. so I’ve been around quite awhile.
You’re as old as the park, then?
Just about. I decided I wanted to get out and make some extra money. There wasn’t enough work on the ranch for all of us, so I got a job at Crater Lake. That’s where I spent two and a half years.
