The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-26
AMONG The MINERS.
RRIIEH1LLE. Feb. Is, 1870.


,0,1, Editor Of the wOaEUSSAEs ADVOCATE.
arrived at this somewhat celebrated
mining district on Monday, where l
found our excellent friend, John Hinch-
cliae, Esq, and with him paid a visit
% the Catholic church and convent,
which are considered the most notable
bindings in the city. The church is
9Ox25O; the exterior is not yet COM
ueted but the interior ia beautifully
fitted up and finished, with the excep-
ion Of the statues, which will be in
psce soon. The convent is $4,000,
ma contains q sisters aud $50 pupils.
more happy, cheerful looking set Of
,cholsrs, from the little miss Of 10 to
he young lady just entering on wO-
manhood, never saw. Such evidence
certainly speaks volumes in favor Of
he guardians, and / desire through you
Vi express to the worthy Sister SuPe-
uOr my thanks for the kindness, ex-
panation and attention received during
NV visit.
We next visited the nail mill which
i now being fitted up, which, when
completed, viii furnish employment for
300 men. The buillng- and yard at
jacbed thereto cover an area of FIVE
acres; water is furnished by a lake or
pond, about 400 feet long and 200 in
width by IN depth. 1t was dug by
The city authorities at the city's ex-
peBse, which also donated the ground,
kc, so you see Belleville is alive to her
best interests. The company is now
lIgging for the third vein of coal,
which they claim is equal to any
Eastern coal for smelling purposes (;
and, if successful, they Viii build a
Hast furnace and rolling mill.
rnE MINERS AND THEIR GRIEVANCES.
Now word about the miners, who
found to be a rough, sturdy set of
Tarm-hearted, cool-headed, hard-work-
ng men. was somewhat agreeably
'Hprised to find them all united in the
'onds Of brotherhood, having their
zeal unions consolidated in a district
union. | had the pleasure of attending
d delegate meeting at East St. Louis,
rsterday, and assure you / never met
more intelligent or determined set Of
"orkngmen in my life. The opera
yes Of the Illinois Coal Mining Com
Nany are at present on a strike, the
"'n'e Of which | propose to make
'.ur readers acquainted with. The
eratlons Of the company are confined
" this section to three mines, located
'pectively at O'Fallon, Confidence
md Franklin, which employ about Isl
men. The cause of the difficulty arise
from the following circumstances
y. The company refuse to pay as othe
rompanies in this section do, viz.
~emI-monthly. They persist in psyin,
'heir men on the 10th of the month
SrePing ten days pay on hand at al
lines, thus depriving the men Of thu
e Of their hard-earned money. Th'
''mpany have their own store, and, o
curse, the poor miners, not having tn,
ay' must 60 there to get the necessa
'e' OF life, paying the compsny's price
H everything obtained; thus, in reali
", making him work for 40 per cent
less than is paid by other companies il
ne neighborhood.
"a They refuse to return the weigh
oliIs Of the railway company to tn
miners as is done elsewhere, and t
winch they have an undOubted right
ou' compel them to take such weight
Is The monopoly sees fit to render. Blu
AN glad to learn that steps have bee
'aken by the men to compel them 1
zone to terms or close their mines
Geeungs are being nightly held owe
We ent re mining district to sustain tn
NoTkmen in their demands. To-mOl
,Os (Ihursday) they have a gran
uass meeting Of all the miners in thi
~cuOn OF the country to adopt sue
, Leasures as may seem best adapted t
IeiT wants in the present instance.
Mail forward an account of the prC
ceedings. OUsunrvP