The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-07 00:00:00

Tl 3 +' SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 7, 1863.

men of all parties in the line of conduct he adopted
between the ruthless factions now distracting Mis-
souri. The Radicals of that State will not be easily
put down, nevertheless, and the time has perhaps
come when their " Committees of Public Safety"
will resort to violence and take the law into their own
hands. Already Governor Gamble, the President's
nominee—who, like Scholefield is charged with
lukewarmness in the good cause," and worse than
suspected of a leaning to rebels, Southern sympa-
thizers, &o.,—has called upon the central Govern-
ment for protection against personal violence. Mis-
souri is ripe for mischief, and the anarchy which
reigns throughout the provinces is not unlikely soon
to reach the principal city.
COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

TUE RAISING OF HOLBORN VALLEY.
A Special Court of Common Council was held yes-
terday in the Egyptian Hall at the Mansion-house
for the purpose of receiving a report from the Im-
provement Committee upon the subject of the im-
portant metropolitan improvement of altering the
present dangerous thoroughfare of Holborn-hill, by
raising what is called the Holborn valley, and also
to consider the propriety of taking such steps as
may be deemed expedient by the Court for prose-
cuting a bill in the ensuing session of Parliament
for effecting the improvement contemplated.
The Lord Mayor presided, and there was a very
full attendance of members of the Court, the ques-
tion being one of considerable public importance.
Deputy FRY, in bringing up the report, which
had been printed and circulated, said he was sure
that every gentleman present felt deep anxiety on
the important question that was about to be brought
before them. (Hear, hear.) He said it was unne-
cessary to waste any time in descanting on the cry-
ing evil that had existed for so long a period, or in
observing upon the necessity of remedying that evil.
Many plans had been suggested, but the evil still
existed ; and he believed they would ail agree with
him that the time had come when it was absolutely
necessary for the public interest that something
should be done. (Hear, hear.) In consequence of
the advertisements issued by the committee 84 gen-
tlemen sent in plans and designs for making the pro-
posed alteration, and he could not help expressing
the high sense entertained by the committee of the
very great talent exhibited by these gentlemen, and
the labour and cost they had expended in prepar-
ing these plans and designs, and thanking them
most sincerely for the trouble they had taken.
(Hear, hear.) The total number of plans sent in was
105, and the committee—being of course somewhat
bewildered by having so great a number of plans
to take into consideration—felt it was necessary to
have professional assistance, and they applied to
Mr. Haywood, the engineer to the Commissioners
of Sewers, to assist them. That gentleman had sent
in plans of his own for effecting the alteration, but
he, in the most honourable and liberal manner,
withdrew these plans from their consideration, and
placed himself at the service of the committee; but
he thought it right to say that he in no way inter-
fered with the decision arrived at by the committee
in reference to the plans submitted to them, or on
the decision they ultimately arrived at. He then
proceeded to explain that the committee, after due
consideration, raduced the number of plans to 48,
and this number they divided into nine classes, and
they afterwards reduced this number to 4. Deputy
Fry, after entering into some details, said that by
the plan recommended by the committee Skinner-
street and Holborn-hill would be entirely removed,
and a fine new street erected from Newgate-street
to Hatton-garden, or higher up if necessary, upon
the high level road ; and he said he believed that
this proposition would meet all the difficulties that
at present existed, and that the plan was one in con-
formity with the present intention of the act of Par-
iiament, and which would undoubtedly receive the
sanction of the Legislature. He concluded by
stating that he did not consider it necessary to go
into further details; but he would simply observe
that the public were anxiously watching the pro-
ceedings of the corporation of London in reference
to this important question, and that it was neces-
sary this Court should agree with the recommen-
dation of the committee, in order that the necessary
plans might be at once prepared, and the formal
notices given, so that a bill might be brought before
Parliament in the ensuing session. He concluded
by moving that the report of the committee should
be agreed to. (Hear.)
The TOWN CLERK put the motion to the Court,
which was at once unanimously agreed to.
It may be stated as to the mode of making the
proposed alteration as included in class 1, in which
there are three candidates, namely,
Mr. Frederick
Marrable, Mr. T. C. Sorby, and Mr. It. Bell, it will
be left for further consideration to decide which of
the plans will be ultimately carried out, and which
of the competitors are entitled to the premiums o
£250 and £l5O offered by the Corporation rape
tively for the two best plans submitted to them.

THE COLLIERS' STRIKE,

Mr. Joseph Love, one of the proprietors of the'collieries,
in a letter to a contemporary, says :—" The first cause of
complaint is the discharge of 12 men from Oakenshaw
Colliery. These men received 14 days' notice, according
to agreement, but the Union men-, in commencing the
strike, ceased work without a moment's notice ; therefore
they are the originators of the strike, and are answerable
for all the miseries such an act may entail, It is also
stated ' their conduct has been marked by the greatest
order,' I will leave you to judge of this from the fol-
lowing circumstance :—The men first commenced to reduce
their labour to 3s. per day, then to ls, 3d., after which I
gave 14 days' notice to the Brandon men ; they at once
commenced the strike, using intimidation to influence the
men at the coke ovens to give up their work also. This
was on Friday; on Saturday they went to `Millington
Oakenshaw, and Brancepeth with colours and music, and
succeeded in influencing both pitmen and men at the ovens
to give up work, without a moment's notice, at all those
collieries. One of their grievances was as to the contents
of the tub in use, and their statements were entirely false ;
the contents of the tub, which the owners require of the
men, are the contents they pay to the landlord, with an
allowance of 281 b. to the men before a tub is confiscated.
This has been the custom for 20 years. They state if a tub
comes to bank deficient by accident it is forfeited. This is
incorrect. In such a case the tub comes to bank with a cer-
tain mark denoting accident. They also state that, if a tub
is deficient, the landlord loses the tub as well as the men.
This is untrue ; the landlord receives full pay for all deficient
tubs ; hence he is a gainer and not a loser in such a case.
And then it is stated that 6d, is given to the person whose
duty it is to confiscate a deficient tub. Now, I dispute if
there was ever such a thing Known in the coal trade; at
any rate, I never knew or heard of such a thing. I would
here remark that all fines levied in our collieries are
devoted to charitable purposes among our own workmen,
and never once has one penny gone to the pockets of the
owners; therefore we have no interest in enforcing fines,
except for discipline, or carrying out the regulations of the
collieries. There has also been a misunderstanding as to the
281 b. allowed to the workmen before a tub is confiscated. If
a tub is deficient 271 b. the man receives full pay, as though
the tub was quite full, and many men have worked a num-
ber of years and have never lost one tub from deficient
weight. A great deal of misrepresentation has been made as
to the difference between weight and measure. The only
reason the owners prefer measure to weight is because it is
more simple, easier done, and a saving of time, as measure,
once ascertained, is weight. But for the great difficulty in
carrying out weight the owners would much prefer it, and if
the men had applied for such a change, without advance of
price, it would have been granted on application. I have
now done so.
The true origin of the strike is an advance of wages from
20 to 25 per cent. This the men have demanded in our col.
lieries, and I state, without fear of contradiction, that a good
workman, in an average place upon any of our collieries, can
make ss. and upwards in eight hours'. This is the standard
by which I fix the price in every colliery. I have taken the
average wages of 20 men for the last six fortnights at Bran-
don Colliery, and find it upwards of £3 net to each man per
fortnight. The advance asked would increase that average
to nearly £4 a fortnight. This is a model colliery for com-
fortable houses and gardens, and many of those houses have
coat the owne rs £BO each. The workmen are much better
rewarded for their labour than the owners are for their capi-
tal on this colliery, and, as it is a less evil to lay the colliery
in than to comply with their request, I have done so. I
would also add that the men in the west district are better
rewarded for their labour than the coalowners are for their
capital. Any advanceis impracticable, much less the demand
of 20 to 25 per cent, ; and, however long the men may be able
to stand out, the masters have no alternative but to resist. I
have been asked to assign my reasons for opposing the Union
upon our collieries. With your permission I beg to do so, I
oppose it because it interferes both with the freedom of the
master and servant, and consequently leads to a system of
tyranny. It denies the right of the master to choose or re-
move his servant, unless at the Expense of the stoppage of
his works. This is ono of the fundamental articles of the
Union, and is now carried out upon Inkerman colliery, near
Tow Law. When the owners gave notice to two men, about
a month ago, a deputation waited upon the agent to say that
if these men were not continued upon the works they would
lay the colliery in. The agents had to withdraw the notices
in order to prevent the stoppage of the colliery. A few days
afterwards, the same agent having had occasion to set on
some fresh men, the deputation already alluded to again
waited upon the agent, and said that if he continued to set
more men on they would all stop work. Now, I would ask,
is it within the range of possibility to conduct public works
under such a system of dictation anc tyranny ? And yet
this is the universal practice where the Union is established.
When I gave notice to men upon our collieries whom I con-
sidered dangerous to the peaceable working of the collieries
I was given to understand this—that if these men were dis-
missed they would all cease to work. This is the result of
the working of the Union wherever it is established. The
Union Committee dictates all terms, both for agents and
men, and many men submit as reluctantly to their terms as
the agents do, but from fear are compelled, and the agents
from necessity. This is the power the delegates are deter-
rained to possess—viz,, the entire control of the working of
the collieries, to dictate terms, prices, and the quantity of
work done. Under such a state of uncertainty owners would
not dare to make those prospective sales necessary for the
regular working of the colliery, as they could have no cer-
tainty on the amount of produce. For instance, the Brandon
men, at the dictation of the Union Committee, reduced
their labour (and some of them were working for as much
as ss. Gd. per day) without a moment's notice to the owners
of their intention. After a few days at 3s. per day they
made a further reduction to Is. 3d. per day, and about three
days afterwards they stopped the colliery. Under such a
system of uncertainty as 1 have described any person may
easily see the impossibility of owners entering into large
contracts, by which alone they can successfully work a coke
colliery. Hundreds of men who were in our employ have
been applied to by our agents to resume their work, and
many of them have expressed their anxiety to do so, but were
afraid of the Union men, We promised them protection;
they replied that after the strike was over they threaten to
drive the blacklegs out of the country. Is this a state of
things for any considerate man to tolerate ? And yet there
never was a Union established among pitmen without such
threats and consequences, Every colliery, sir, has its own
peculiarities ; but it can matter little to the workman in
what was the work is dote provided he is fully remunerated
for his labour. I believe no pitmen in the county have been
better rewarded for their labour than those upon Straker and
Love's collieries, and no collieries are safer, being free from
gas. I would here state that if any of the delegates could
prove to me that any colliery in the district is better paid
than ours, I should make ours the same as that colliery. I
am prepared to pay equal wages to any in the trade, and I
fully believe I have always done so ; the fact was stated at
their public meeting, and none attempted to dispute it. I
have already said that a good workman can make ss. per
day within eight hours. I shall be glad to be called on to
prove this by facts ; if so, they cannot justly complain that
they are not paid for their labour. If it be asked why the
delegates have attempted to stop our collieries first, the rea-
sons I have heard from reports at their own meetings are that
our works being so extensive, and being under large contracts
to the blast furnaces, that if the men were firm they might
force us up to any price or terms, as we dare not let our works
stop, owing to the fear of the parties coming upon us for
damages for non. fulfilment of contracts. Also, our works
being large, if they could succeed in bringing us up, they
could easily bring up every other colliery in the district. It
is stated that I have fixed a standard that the tub cannot
bring to bank. This would be extremely foolish. I have fixed
the standard paid to the landlord at Brandon at a less weight
than we paid last year; but, as we new propose to work
by weight, the standard is a matter that can be easily ad-
justed. The public express great sympathy for the families
ejected from their houses at this season of the year, and
properly so if the parties ejected had no choice. But no
person is ejected without the question being asked, " Will
you resume your work or give up your house ?" If they
consent to go to work, of course they remain in the house;
if they refuse the owners have no alternative, as the houses
are necessary for the working of the colliery. Other men
comel
ca n cannot
at
eb
lee
nggo ta
aw
thoseit he ut the
men houses
remain to livet i
he
place.
and n
Tnhoeree fwa
riel
until they are removed, it is impossible to get the colliery to
work. The men know this, and remain in their houses to

accomplish their object. I have received a document from
each colliery, stating the advance price wished, but at the
close of each document it is stated " We demand the resto-
ration of each dismissed man before we start work." Thus
they would compel the master to employ men of whom he

disapproves. If the owners submit to this they must give
up the control of the collieries to the men.

The strike has now assumed such a magnitude that it has
induced many persons to express their opinions in the cliffs-

rent papers. The want of experience and knowledge of such
persons in pit matters leads them to very erroneous conclu-

sions, and as my name has been so freely spoken of by the
public, I think it my duty to lay before them a brief state-
_

ment of facts from the commencement of the strike. The

value and extent of the works over which I have thesu;er:
vision aro too extensive and important, as I have :already
said, for me to hand over to the management of delegates
and committees, which is, I repeat, the great object the con-
ductors of the union labour to acquire. They appointed a
committee upon each of our collieries, and their duty was to
issue orders to the men when they were to work and when
not to work, how much to work, and what way to work.
Upon the knowledge of such proceedings, and not being
disposed to yield my powers to such committees, I gave
all those men 14 days' notice. Deputations waited upon
me and gave me to understand that if those men were

not continued they would V stop the collieries ; and
knowing that to be the least of evils, I declined to withdraw
the notic*s. They then sent in a written document from all
the coil; e.„ies,
advar stating the advance they demanded, which
co upon our present workings would amount to about
'1.0,000 a year. At the close of each document is placed,

"We demand the restoration of every dismissed man." A

deputation waited for my reply. I told them I could give
no advance of price, neither could I continue those men
under notice. If they were dissatisfied, all I desired was
our usual notice. This they declined. They then reduced

their labour, as I have before stated to 3s. per day, then to
la, 31, and three days after ceased work without any notice.

A large number of the men were wishful to work, but they
were intimidated, and said if they could get protection they
would work. We then got a large police force, and a num-
ber of men went to work at Oakenshaw, Brancepeth, and
Willington pits. The working of these pits inflamed the
worst of passions in both men and women. The annoyance
and insults passed upon the men going to and front work
became so brutal and vile that many of them could not pos-
sibly endure it, and ceased to work, for while they were at
work their wives and children had to fasten themselves into
their houses. The remaining men that continued their work
then waited upon my agent, and said unless those families
were removed they must cease to work, as they could no
longer endure such persecution. Thus a choice of evils was
placed before me—either to eject those families, or the col-
lieries must be finally stopped. Of course, I decided upon
what I considered the least evil. We gave sufficient notice of
our intentions to remove them to any place they might wish
to go to. We also offered horses and waggons to remove their
furniture; but they gave us to understand that they would
not remove from the place. As this is their principle, to
compel the owners to eject them, that they may secure the
sympathies of the public, I was informed the committee
of the union had mode arrangements for all the ejected fami-
lies previous to their being turned out; but they were
urged upon to place themselves in the most pitiable condi-
tion, to cast odium upon the masters, and to create sym-
pathy for themselves. But for that motive they would all
have been housed on or before the day of ejection. I appeal
to any reasonable, disinterested person, whether it was a
greater nil to eject 38 obnoxious families from Sunnybrew,
or to stop a colliery in full operation, giving employment to
a large number of people. The latter would have been a
real calamity upon well-disposed people; the former wa
self-inflicted, and could have been avoided, but for the sake
of creating public sympathy, as there is accommodation for
twice the number of people we turned out within a very
short distance from thy spot. The same remarks apply to
Oakenshaw. Everything that I could invent has been done
to prevent the evils of the strike. No ejectments would
have been sanctioned, but they were found necessary to pre-
vent greater evils, viz., the stoppage of three collieries which
are now at work. Since the ejectments the work has in-
creased instead of being stopped. The ejectment was the
evil of a day or two, but the stoppage of three collieries
might have been for months. The number of those ejected
is but a small portion to those who are in full and good em-
ployment; and to show that nothing has been done out of
resentment at Brandon Colliery, where the men have shown
the greatest hostility, I have allowed them to remain in
their houses, as I did not see by ejecting them a sufficient
prospect of getting the colliery to work. When the number
of houses we have upon our collieries is considered, the
number ejected bear but a small proportion to the number
of union-men who live in our houses and refuse to work.
Some of your contemporaries have expressed great better-
ness against us for using the power of ejectment; but if we
do not use that power how can we gain possession of our
property ? It is the only means we have, and has always
been enforced. If once understood by the union men that
coalowners were intimidated by the public not to use this
power, we should have no end of strikes, for it is the only
protection we have. The houses are as necessary for work-
ing a colliery as the engine, and if the union-men are al-
lowed to keep possession of the houses they could effectu-
ally stop any colliery, and as long as they chose, If there
is any odium due against the firm of Messrs. Strakers and
Love for the ejections, such odium must fall upon myself,
as the Messrs. Strakers have nothing to do with the ma-
nagement of the collieries. I defy any man to prove that
I am the author of any unkind action, unless done to
prevent greater evils.