The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-30
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Troubles at the Coal Mines.

louisville, PA, Nov. %, 1866.
Tothc Editor Of the Press
Copperhead. Don't think, gentlemen, that
the above expressive epithet is intended to be
applied to yourselves. l am thinking of that
class of human animals who take the liberty
to defile our national political system by their
criminal Vaccinations against the peace Of So
ciety, and stir up, not only, the rebels of the
South TO the basest deeds of which fire-caters
are capable, but inflame the semi.sayagc ele-
ment OF some Northern communities and spur
it on to the commission of crimes equaled
only by the atrocities OF the early Indian
wars under the leadership of men whose
names are to be perpetually the synonyms for
cruelty and perfitly.
The coal districts of this State are inhabi-
ted principally by English, Irish, Welsh and
Scotch miners, and until within the last two
years they were as peaccable and quiet people,
as could be expected with their generally rude
habits of life and limited education. But
since the commencement of the New Dis
pensation of the Gospel of Peace" the fruits
of which were vividly illustrated in the Irish
riot at New York, and outbreaks at other
places, these mining communities have become
very turbulent and so lawless that assassina-
tion and murder are almost daily and nightly
occurrences.
A detailed account of events which have
happened during the two ycaIs past would
PosihtSit stailic puuliC anu CduSc II
oil horror TO penetrate the stoutcst heart$
Twill give you an idea of the way these iu-
surgent miners carry on their lawless opera
tions. II is well known that they are organized
into secret societies, for the purpose OF carry
ing out their selfish and murderous purposes.
The Operators that is, the Capitalists who
own and operate the coal mines, are obliged
TO grant the most unreasonable demands of
their employees, the miners, or they are not
a1 ff. "a t1,., q
tor OF mine attempts to resist or stand out
for a while against "strike,' or il he threatens
TO employ gang Of miners, who are willing
to work for reasonable wages, he is immcdi-
ately waited ON by the COMMITTEE" who tell
him no man shall lit pick, or do a stroke OF
work unless he accedes TO their demand Thus
the operator is intimidated, kept In constant
fear Of these rapacious and bloodthirsty
wretches until he deems discretion to be the
better part of yalor, and succ umbs to the
force Of circumstances he cannot control.
Coal operators have been assassnated and
shot dead in their own houses at dead of night
merely for giving Union soldiers In their
neighborhood a meal, and treating them with
common hospitality. The foremen aud clerks
OF these operations are in constant danger as
they are watched assiduously by the Vigilance
Committee, specially deputed by the secret
organizations above referred to.
|. The present high price of Anthracite Coal
Is owing principally TO this state of affairs.
The proprietors are obliged to raise the price
OF coal at the mines in proportion to the
greatly increased trouble and expense of pro-
ducing 1t. Yet it may be, some take adyall-
tage oil the unsettled condition of things, and
the great demand for coal, and put it up 10 a
higher rate than the real liabilities will war
rant. Coal is selling here, within three miles
of st. Clair and other extensive coal works, at
- to 80 per ton. Two years ago il. was only
~ to S2 so. Poor women and children are
seen daily by scores sitting out the waste
heaps, or debris of old worked out mines
about here, to get what little coal they can
CLEAN from tee immense mounds. What mis-
cry must be the lot Of thousands of poor in
the northern cities during the coming winter
caused by the extrayagant prices of fuel.
In the Press of the 19h inst. you say, sthc
present high price of coal is undoubtedly in
consequence OF the extraordinary demand in
manufacturing establishments, machine shops
for steamboats,, DC. | am informed by those
who have means of knowing that such is not
the case, but that there is an abundant supply
OF coal in the market. Tie amount of coal
put into the market during the week ending
NOV. 2lst was 239,69S tons from the Schuyl-
Kill, Lehigh, aud other adjacent sections. The
Reading II. r. carries, on am average, nearly
l2.O0O tons daily TO Port Richmond the great
depot OF coal for shipment near Philadelphia
You say coal Is Si2 a ton in Portland. With
Red Ash prepared coal from $3.50 SS75, and
White Ash Egg aud stove ss.2J $3.50 at
Philadelphia, and freight s2.T5 TO Portland,
certainly the coal merchants OF that city can
not be making very great profits at the present
prices.
Then where is the source of the grievous
complaint which fills the country? 1t is un-
doubtedly here at the mines; the rapaeity of
the insurgent miners compelling the operators
10 knuckle TO them by threats of murder, OF
pillage and burning. Coal breakers are burned
by incendaries every few days, and within
two weeks there have been strikes at nearly
all the mines about here, aud the cost of pro
ducing coal is advanced ) TO 10 per cent. =
This Is why the government has seen tit TO
occupy several points in this State with mil
itary force until as now, comparative security
Is ieit Dy tile good people of this region. No
more warm-hearted or hospitable people exist
than the unionists of Pennsylvania. They
cannot do too much for the comfort Of those
who are lighting TO protect them from danger
and suppress anarchy among them. But while
l say this most gratefully of the Union-lovinr
population, l must tell you that ia this com
munity are some of the most desperate and
INSCRIPTIONS traitors that ever cursed the
earth, and 1t is directly in consequence OF
their Internal teaching that riot, bloodshed and
civil strife exist In this devoted State. Frank
Hughes, leading copperhead, whose treach,
cry to liberty and his own State is only
equalled by that Of ysllandigham and Fernan.
do Wood, lives here, and | assure you he Is
well understood aud duly appreciated us he
deserves.
But must close this hasty letter. | re.
ceIve the Press daily, and il gives me tn,
greatest pleasure, next to beholdinu the face
of a beloved friend, of any | experience.
MILES.
have seen a pay roll belonging 10 small ope
rator near here. showing that most of the common
miners receiving here from siO0 TO $50 pcI
month of 81 days, aud they do not work more thar
9 hours per day generally. Boys only II years o
age make s25 and $50 per month at present rates.
When General Lafayette was in the Unite,
States. two young men were introduced I,
him. He said to one, "are you married
"Yes sirn was the replv--"Happy man - ouotl