The New York herald., 1871-03-07
JEDDo, Luzernc county, Pa, March 4. 1871.

JEDDo, Luzerne county, Pa, March a, 1871.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
DEAR SIR-As t.e coal question is the principal
topic Of discussion now in the country we, the
undersigned committee on behalf of the working
men, wish to make few appropriate remarks. We
see in your paper OF the Sd instant (vesterdayh
quoted from the Philadelphia Ledger, great rigma-
role concerning the earnings Of the miners in this
region Jeddo included. II gives the earnings OF
thirty-two miuers, who earn the fabulous wages OF
SIS 58 per day. There are 200 miners in Jeddo moro
or less. and why not average the small wages with
the high wages, SO that the public might know how
those oodsucking operators are trying to deceive
themg They are very sure to present only one side
OF the question 10 the plblic, While at the same time
they contrive to concea! the other side. We shall
leave the public to Judge which side they present.
There are some men here who have large contracts
ana have great risks to run and number OF men to
pay, and why not accord the same rights and prvi-
leges to those men or contractors as they do
to others working on railroads or rock tunnels
Now. Mr. Editor these operators never inform the
public what the balance OF these zoo miners earn.
Several Of our miners told us to-day that they did
not earn two dollars per day on an average. We
say several including or embracing the minority,
and previous to our organization these 200 sons OF
toll barely earned what was necessary to support
lille. We have $50 outside laborers who earn the
an average. and we can freely say that these figures
60 above the mark. In answer to letter which
we see in the Philadelphia inquirer of the I'd inst.
layishsng insinuattons against us as a committee,
allow us to make few remarks. The writer
supscribes his name .sWalnut Street." He be-
gins to show, or calls the attention Of the public TO
the great cost OF sinking shafts and slopes; building
breakers for preparing coal, machinery, company
stores. and company houses &C. of these two last
rtina
letter. Now, when these men first leased coal works,
where were their millions Of dolarsf They were SO
mlserably poor as to carry their grub in basket.
mand fifty cents to gain admlttance to ballroom.
while others were bosses who became con.
are now mionnalres and can drive four or
SIX fast horses with slvernounted harness, besides
their costly and Splendid mansions, The furniture Of
Which would or should be considers ed handsome
fortune for one OF their daughters, If only converted
did they accumulate ali this ill-gotten wealth, or
where did II come from? From the sweat OF the
persons because they become wealthy; on the con-
trary we respect them, provided tney get 1T hon
ssy se n Wa11 o sosygSs ag gS @ e sw
running pumps, and several other expenses We
would ask NJ Walnut street, IN the first place, who
operators and as matter Of course looks to us
employers for his monthly pay, yet strictly speaking
helper. We shall show you, Mr.. Editor, how the
miners ray him. They pay sixty cents per month for
already alluded TO at sixty Cents % each. wi win make make
sl2o. We shall allow seventy dollars per
month % h to pceT es no oonnua and os oa to a 6sr
SS a ses s n h n @ PS aS
Nhsrs dSes ne BALANCE Of t1s price Of ton of coal coal
raroad Yet they baW about the great sat' expense s
cf oJ
poor, oppressed and downtrodden miners let them
have 5nelr own way. Wnat time this may be we
IN his sc c6maploaon that The miners alone are 9eiys re-
sponsble for the suspension which we can prote to
be erroneous. Previous to the order OF the General
council Tor suspension some OF our leading opera
encouraged the Woriingmeh's Benevolent Associa-
knew INST i, those men working lor tne large com
would not suspend, the operators in ithe Lehlgh
region wishing for general suspension, but as
end reduce the mems Wages and that strike was Vas
inevitable. what did these leading operators OF the
Lenlgh region doS Tney offered their men the i've
Walnut Street says), though coal was selling actu.
ally below five dollars. Iney very wen knew By
OF coal would soon have a tendency upward and
hence we enall pay me five dollar basis-the very
for general suspension. We can prove this to
their very lace: and we, the committee, or as Mr.
challenge him or nv other operator Of the LeiigH
region 10 meet us face to face before reporter ana
discuss me above facts. Moreover, Mr. Walnut
fields OF Pennsylvania and the value of black ala.
monds before the majority Of the Jeddo committee
and lump OF chalk. Why did he not mention the
whole OF the committee, as there are only FOUR and
three must oe q majority But well le, knew that
his acquaintance or learn the value OF black diamond
by iIang after span Of fast horses at the expense
for Mr. Walnut Street Now. MI. Editor, we viii
esndeavor to give the public brlef history Of the
ana cempany sIJg houses fSs ilTsS S6sy say: We Vs
ing exorbaat ppces ior the n neSese W s, Nth
M nlss NJ q I'D dpsg bsgs M g sSy SoS a az yoP n us ass
published in the offices Of ali the adacent colsfes
80 that You might as well look for the grace Of God
other place at respectable distance from tue coal
the least spsrk Of principle or humanity connected
win THIS though these gentlemen belong to the top
shenY ltmisht be asked why we did not deal else.
where. we could not because, our petty months
earning was gobbed up, go that scarcely ever had
cent comlng i 70 US on pay DAY, and IN fact. the
pay day, for instead OF having money to receive on
that day It would come nearer tho truth by saying
us take one dozen spoes OF cotton, for instance Tor
ns which We ere charged 81 20. or ten cents
each. IN tne puDuc stores we can, OF
could, get them for fifty cents or little
over four cents each. Now II these public stores
can AFFORD to sell them for little over four cents
each we might suppose the cost price not TO exceed
three cents. and yet we have TO pay nearly three
times this amount In the operators stores Again,
choosing, probably some particular friend Of the
0perator), seyenfy.hve cents per month, or nine
dollars per annum, from married men, and ffty
cents per month, or six dollars, from unmarried
men. We say We are compelled to pay HIM, for 1t
Is kept in the Office Again, he charges to married
men i've dollars extra for visiting Oh attending to
their wives III confinement, and you must not
object, for lie VIII give you 10 understand that 1t
wil be kept In the companys office, and in many
instances has he been known 70 stop these five
dollars IN the company's Office without attending on
such occasions, because four weeks alter he had
occasion to visit the house. Then we have to pro-
cure all our own medicines, with the exception ef
few worthless powders or three or four sugar coated
pills, and probably o very small bottle or cough
medicine. Next comes their butcher, who collects
his bills in Mr.. COMMANDS Office, IL IS true he has