, 1870-12-13


TIE COAL n1NERst srR1KE.
Tie present strike among the coal miners
Of Scranton and othex points in Pennsyl-
vania las some remarkable features, and
furnishes some food for wholesome reaec-
ton. The strike is among those engaged
in the anthracite region, embracing Lu-
=crne, Carbon, Sohuylkill. Columbia,
Northumberland, and DAupbin Counties.
Scranton, in Luzerne County, is the head
quarters of this district In these counties |
there are 0,00O miners and laborers at
work, md the men are chiefly Welsh and
Irish. Tho companies employing this |
force are the Delaware, Laekawannn and
Western Coal Company (Which also owns
tie railroad Of the same name }, tho Della
ware and Hudson Coal Company (which
also Owls the canal Of the Same namel and
the Pennsylvania Coal Company, (Which
OWLS railway in Carbon County
On which the loaded cars run bY
force of graritS). It will be
seen that the coal companies do their
own transportation. The ope1atiou of coal
mining is carried on as follows: Each miner
provides himself with his own tools, lamp,
oil, powder, and ali the requisites OF his
business; be employs and pays his own
lsborers. He gets paid at an agreed rate
for the amount of coal which he and his
helpers deliver ut the pits mouth. The
pEesen. wages at this ratio yields, for 8 full
days labor, to the miner, 59.17. Out of
'iis he pays his two assistant 1aborers s.
eacb, which, with II for other expenses,
leaves him SILT per day, According to
the basis agreed upon year and half
ago, the average prica paid to the miner
was Is cents per ton Of coal This
il what the company paid for the Coal
The average distance from these mines to
Philadelphia and Elizabcthport is 100 miles.
That is the amount Of transportation
that has to he performed. The pro-
duction of coal during the present
season hns been very great The
miners, in order to realize living wages
for themselves and their laborera, had to
bring out large amount each day. There
being more coal than there wns demand
tor, the price fell below s. per ton, aud
il was selling at the destination, by The
cargo, at 81 per ton. Tha difference be.
tween 81 cents per ton and 81, Was made
up OF the cost of transportation. Wehave
the authority Of the Philadelphia Inquirer
for the statement that a contractor deIiv
cred recently vesy large supply to the
government, at Washington City, at 81, ant
made a handsome profit We have nj
Doubt that at s. uer ton the coal compauie
cau mike an enormous profit. But, harinJ
q ,nonopoly. thew propose to reduce th
: rapes &; per cent Against this the miner
: hare nrotested and struck. This Was wha
: was elnected. and the coal companies no,
> rronosa thst in consaonenca of the s,r;tf
4 The nrice of coal sha], be advanced. Thj
rot, ~ 1,aoaa reanc,4 t9e nat EARNINGS n
a ,be m;ney for tls aame amount of coal t
h tcss than So so mar dar.
The wages Of all the operatiyes on thes
i three TRANSPORTATION lines hare also bee
b reduced. and to the army of discouteutc
e miners and 1aborers must be adlod Ii
l. ra;lroa5 md canal .,oe.atiyea.
IS The aifaen,ty is nit tie ordinary case {
u a Transportation company holding pr
e ducer at its mercy, and extorting the g,
p tire value of the article produced for I
J. transportation. Tho transportation cor
I panies in this csse are also owners of Il
y mines. They pug Is cants per t.
10 70. The coal at the mouth Of the mine. :
u earn a respectable living, the miner Al
~ his laboress must produce giyen ntnou
~ Of coal per day. Thers is no loss to t
-. company from sinking, nor from idlene
~ nor want Of skill, because the miner is OF
~ paid for the coal he brings out The d
ou ference in the price OF coal at the uarl
es- aud the price paid to the miner is, the
NJ fore, wholly made up by the cost
IN transportation. The Delaware, Lacl
''a wnnna i Western RAILWAY has
era lines from Scranton to Hoboken, a
w. as far west as Oswego, n. I. OF MI th'
oas routes, il is the ownes or lessee. This CO
on, pany does not publish the results Of
geu business in moving coal, though it dec1a
o. dividend Of 10 per cent on wate.ed ST.
on in 1860.
the Tie Delaware and Hudson Canal Cs
old nanv extends ffou, Houesdale, Pa. 10
dvyi1le. in New York. Il also owns
M D,laxare L Hudson Railroad. from Sc,
ian .ou 10 11onesosle, tn'1's.e"o "'aes'
tied miles in add;t;on. The cost of the q
in .na ra51,onas .nd s,n;nrents was SIN N
- WW, IN 1stss, the capital ssock WAS
e1- IN nm. IN 1se5 IL sin ooo ooo. and
ant .scs ~ s,1 -oo mn E,tu;tbatond
es~" tbss. -en.sta5 w,,srSn.a # ~. s,o,E
cep- .,1n,1 5;.;aa,as .;raa 1eca .,sra arsrs
ohm ~ 49, .a,t ..h:,h - aess, - o. 49,
are ~ e., ~, ,a,s.s, ,n-astss
ded. m, pennsr1,an;s Cad cou,.nr ;,
bach n;1,rax -r.,.tad w. st..;osaL -;
ions Tho rho1a cost ,,f tha ra,Iu.. r,s 81 n
hish aao o.-.4.