Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-06-28
The Life of q Miner.
CareIessness his Greatest Fault


In an article ON the late coalmine dis
asters, New York paper says: The
sto.y of a miners life is little known
outside the locality where he works. He
begins as a boy, picking slate from the
coal at about So q week next becomes
mule-driver in the mine at $40 to $14,
according to his efficiency, and now
having attained manhood he is consid-
cred miner, and works on shares with
his father or some onemore experienced
than himself. A skillful miner working
ten hours day can earn $175 month,
but as he is not employed by the day,
but by the job, he works only as long
or as hard as he likes. As no amount
of experience in it can render the work
very inviting, or deprive it of q certain
degree of danger, he can hardly be
blamed if he does not pursue it very
persistently. The miner goes down at
7 in the morning, and comes ont of the
mine at 5 in the afternoon. He then re-
turns to his home, or too often spends
the evening Mt the bar-room. 1t is the
general testimony of superintendents
that, only for intemperance, miners
would be among the most comfortable
and independent members of the com
munity. There are, however, some
steady men, like Isaac May, who acquire
collieries of their own; or like
Mr.. Kendrick, who hold responsible po-
sitions or like Col. Brown, are CONVEX
SAINT with the scientific literature of the
day, and yield to none in intelligence
and professional skill. On the whole,
however, the miners are good-hearted,
peaceful fellows. When they descend
into their gloomy caverns they forget
all distinctions of politics, nationality,
or creed, and are willing to risk their
lives in securing each others safety.
They keep up social observances with
great strictness, being rather pleased
than otherwise at good excuse for q
holiday.
If death occurs, all attend the fun.r-
al, and it is not unusual to find the
works suspended because there is a cir
Gus or lottery in the village. Educa-
ton, it is to be feared, is neglected.
You are told that the slate -pickers at
tend school in the winter months, but
there is too much reason to believe that
they fail to do so regularly.
Carelessness is, however, the miners
greatest fault, and tells most against
themselves. The second shaft, which
the law requires, is wanting at very
many colieries, and there are numbers
who handle fire or gunpowder reckless
ly. "Where do you keep your main
supply of powder?' asked Farraday of
the foreman, when examining British
mine. "Oh, i'll bag" was the answer.
And where do you keep the bag?"
" You are sitting on it." was the answer
the astonished chemist received. There
is good reason to fear that in this indif-
ference to danger miners are the same
the world over. Although the elevator
in New York house is so arranged that
if the wire rope breaks it's descent would
be retarded by iron teeth, no similar
appliance, or one intended to effect the
same pdrpose, is used in the coal shafts,
and it was observed to a reporter that it
is better not to have too many precau-
tions, as they would render miners too
confding and reckless It is, however,
the duty of the public to look carefully
after the welfare of the miners, both
from humane and pecuniary motives.
When mining is deprived of the risks
and terrors which surround it, many
more persons will be disposed to engage
in it, the production of minerals will in
crease, and people will no more be hor-
riied by the spectacle of eight lives
being sacrificed and thirty-five others
being imperilled by carelessness and
want Of rigorous adherence to fixed
ruless