The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-08-17

ing their bate would not take, they there
fore requested the miners 10 draft rules, by
which both parties should be governed,
and there weuld be suspension of work
until some arrangement should be made.
So the miners drew fair, impartial agree
ment, which was handed to them. The
operators called a meeting to disapprove
or approve the miners agreement. Every
clause was accepted but two, and these
savored too much of uniOnism. The word
union il q terror to them. The miners
removed these two clauses. Ii in essential
here to write one 81 these clauses TO your
numerous readers, to show the operators
betraying deception. The miners agree to
yive eighty-five pounds to the bushel the
miners claiming all coal the car contains
over and above eighty-five pounds to the
bushel. Scales are to be repaired, pick
points, iron nuts, melted lead-al u these
to be cast away, and fair and just weight
to be gwen. Skeleton cars To be liked,
and all the cars to be weighed and aver
aged This is part Of the basis agreed
upon. Work was resumed the following
day.
When the miners had all descended the
shaft ~ their work, the mine boss walked
up to the weIgh-master and ordered him t.
take the eighty-five pounds "a the bushel,
but not to give any more, or allow more
than eight hundred weight to the car-the
old principle which they had been working
upon before. Towards evening the miners
had their days work done, little expecting
a. ,laxy "a my
ing the day. Looking on the tally board
and seeing the same old eight hundred
weight, they asked the mine boss for an
explanation Of the cowardly and dishonest
act He bolstered up his carcass like a
BARRIERS cat full Of wind, and said +" he be
id if he would give any more. They
violated their agreement the very first day
Work has been suspended for slime time
back. The operators gave another offer
for the miners to allow forty pounds t.
the car, but should claim all coal over and
above eight hundred pounds another
dodge to have both ends Of the rope. The
miners rejected this, believing that If they
got forty pounds they would steal another
forty to it. All confidence in the opera
tors is lost by the miners. The miners fell
back upon the old basis, that the scale be
adjusted 50 as to give fair and just weight
eighty pounds to the bushel, and restricted
to eight hundred pounds all coai over
and above to 20 to the operators. This is
the basis the miners stand upon at present.
But the golden egg" is this If the
miners would have signed their (the opera
tor's) agreement, it would have debarred
them from having any advance Of wages
in the coming fall and winter when the coal
trade would be brisk
The operators closed their store on the
miners, 50 as tO starye and compel them Ia
submit to their thieving and nefarious plot.
The coal trade has been very dull in this
county all summer, and no prospects for
better until the fall trade opens. Let all
miners read the above and beware Of being
beguiled to 90 to Boonsboro until the pres
ent trouble is adjusted.
If health permits, shall give you a
short sketch Of Moingona and the crossing
works, or as termed by some, Goal
Valley" Yours Respectfully,
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