Louis Raymond Oral History Interview (2 of 2)

The second interview from Raymond initially begins with his time in the mines of Bolivia. Essentially he gave recommendations in what actions should be taken to increase production in the mines. While his career mostly took him to North American mines, Raymond occasionally traveled internationally to conduct his work. For example he traveled to European mining camps and came into contact with refugees fleeing from Hitler’s influence prior to World War II. While many were disgusted with the occurrences in their home country, they remained loyal to their sense of nationality.

Raymond also spent time in Canada looking for mining opportunities for Mond, the company that he worked for in the States that was based in England. Unfortunately, nothing came of his prospects because the British government would not allow for capital to export out of the country. Outside of financial concerns, other dangers lurked in the world of mining. Something that Raymond is particularly conscious of is the safety of the crews he would work with. Concerns such as methane gas spurred his insistence of well-ventilated mines and enforcement of good safety practices. Outside of his work, Raymond was an avid collector of many various artifacts, including beaded work, textiles, and copper vessels.