The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-12-12


mind rslstiye V What ~ day really y =
q miner.
We hass sls working dsys IN he ysss,
'sis true, and we're We snploysd q shrss
dollars dsy for Ne ysur, or wsgs wosld
amount 20 the truly handsome ssu, d 99Sc
Could We count our wage tina, - they d
IN many branches Of labor, then Ne certain.
ly might, IN short number Of years, ssss Z
sufhciency TO enable ~ 10 move % 10 free
homestead ~ our friend suggests. Hut alas
for the miner, he cannot reckon thus By any
ueaos. because from cases inevitable to
him, such - dulnsss Of trade In certain
seasons Of the year, accidents, brsakaees,
sickness and other inoidentals, gs might Il
least deduct 90 days from the amount and
this redaces the annual income 70 $500, and
then be has 90 rum his chances Of getting
into these evils which afaicts our trades %
mueh-and coal miners more, believe,
than others, mean ssrsk<s and their terrible
Consequences, poverty and wretohednsss,
which IL often tases yeass TO recover from.
Everything considered, don't think sor The
last year that coal minsrs, - rule, in the
United states have earned $500, which sam
think il . fair estimate aud reduces the
wage Of the miner from % day 10 less
than 800, on the average.
Nov TO the purport Of our letter--B aid
wood 10 situated about 60 miles southwest
Of Chicago, on the Alton q Sc. Loois rail-
road, and comprises q. village Of about 400
houses all scattered in . very irreg liar mat
ner, commencing about Zoo yards on the
southeast side Of the railroad depot, and
extending for q mile north Many OF the
houses are owned BY the Chicago Il VIII.
mington coal company, and those pretty
much, are ranged 90 either side Of q branch
track, from the Alton and Sc. Louis road,
which leads into their works, and BY which
the coal Ia taken on to the above track and
conveyed to Chicago, for sale. These houses
are chiefly occupied by the miners aud other
workers Of the company, their being no
other public works in the place save coal
mining. There is one public building only
in the place, namely, the school house. Is
is 100 feet long and "a wide, 60 feet Of
which is partitioned of and IN which the
children are taught. The other 40 serves a.
a grocer and dry goods store from whence
emenates pretty much, oil the necessaries OF
life consumed in that portion u the town.
Those other tennaments not owned by the
company, belong to Individuals mostly coal
miners who work for them. A much better
plan, think, in cases where it can be done
10 advantage, when We consider the state Of
the Law rei-ting to the landlord and tenant,
where, u q man ceases to work-Or they
cannO. agree upon the terms-and that be
must instantly give up possession of his do
micsIe also. ] fancy IL ia rather q hard
case as a man is not always prepared to do
so.
am not much Of a Judge of land bat
taxing il for granted what folks say who
profess TO be judges Of it, qualities should
say the land IN the vicinity Of Brsidwood
Is Of very inferior character indeed, It's
component parts being chiefly sand. Alto
gether II might be said 10 be mot much of y
place for farmer 90 settle ~ho was de-
pendant solely on the products OF the soil.
tne coal works Of the q. 4 W. coal CON-
pany here col.c,sts OF shafts altogether, 3
only Of which are at the present IN active
operation The others having been in dis
use for some time over = year. The cause
of their shondment, cannot detail. The
depths OF these shafts average only from 20
20 50 feet If l mistake not and | judge
about 500 coal miners, exclusive Of Others
are employed therein az present, this being
the busiest season Of the year with u. The
excayating Of the coal 10 done upon what is
called the long wall or long way system,
and The vein " coal is three feet tack. IL
IL bisumirons and said 70 Dc the best Illinois
coal that goes into Chicago. | cannot Tor
certain say what the annual production Of
these mines are, bat at present eonclade
tney vail rate shout 200 tone per day.
The work 10 only In its infancy, 40 jet
being only or 4 years old. The works may
be sand 10 be nothing more than built yet
for With the openings and facilities nov
made, the production Of coal can be larg, y
and have no doubt but it is the
iesign Of the company az no distant day 70
run all their mines to their full capacity,
With this brelf sketch and thanking my
friend "a Seeker Alter Truth" for his court
sry, | remain yours respectfully,
jim JANIS.