The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-03-28
Canton. Ill. March 30. 1874

CANTON, H., March 80, 1874.
! 70 the Editor of the WoRKISGMAS's ADVOCATE.
After leaving Kingston, | wended my
way toward Canton, and arrived somewhat
late in the evening, having failed to make
connection at Glassford. Being ''leetle"
tired, having walked sixteen miles. My
and learn what | could abort the place. |
was soon informed that
CANTON
was quite a town. of about fifteen hundred
inhabitants, including men, women, chill
dren and babies. OF course there must
be babies in all towns, and Canton is no
exception. Also several very fine churches,
an opera nall, and one billiard hall. There
are no saloons, but you can buy any amount
Of cordials and such like stutfs, as you
want. There is one pillow mandatory, q
wagon shon and cooper shop, on a small
scale. 1t possesses couple of very fine
school houses, the high school especially,
and many very handsome dwellings, well
provided with fruit and shrubbery. What
is called the Square is the most attractive
locality Of the place, as it IS here all the
business Of the place is transacted. There
are few respectable dry goods stores, a
hardware shop, some clothing stores, one
or two groceries, drug store, and a bank
ing house. of course the shoemaker and
tailor must not be forgotten, and the
lather- aDd-shave-man is easily recognized
by the colored pole. But to ind
THE MINER
you have to walk about a mile or so to the
northeast Of the depot, and there you find
the Canton Coal Shaft, owned by David
Williams q Son, and running about thirty
men and boys, on short time.
LAST MONTH
they had about five days work, and this
month they do not promise to be any bet
ter off, unless the reduction Of quarter
Of cent on the bushel, which goes IN force
to-day, will enable the magnanimOus
Williams & Son to run the shaft more reg
ular. The men, however, have began to
think of their salvation, and how to obtain
it.
The GOSPEL OF TRUTH
has been preached unto them, and they
have placed themselves in communication
with the headquarters at Cleveland, and
have resolved to live up to the doctrine of
miners rights. From here your CORES
pendent winged his way
TO CUBA,
a small village on the t. r. 4 W. r. r.
Here there is a shaft, owned by one
Frsmme, who runs about forty-hve or
forty-six men and boys. The oily point
Of interest here was the shaft When your
correspondent began his inquiries he found
that the men had heard something about
the union" and had been seeking infor-
nation about it. This much he learned
from outside parties, but as he wished to
be sure, he took out his portfolio and con
suited it. Finding the name he wanted,
he asked if the individual was at work.
He received an affirmative answer, accom-
panied with the information that he would
have to wait some time to see him.
While waiting about the shaft, several
Of the miners came up, and one of them
was considerably scared, because he took
your correspondent to be that fellow
that looks like me" Soon after, the party
your CORES pondent was in search Of made
his appearance, and after little converse
ton 1t was determined to hold
CONSULTATION
at night, and see what could be done We
met at a friends house after supper and
talked the matter over. 1t was agreed to
hold meeting on Saturday night. Your
correspondent finding he would have to
wait two days, faced toward the west, and
came to a halt in
| COLCHESTER,
McDonough county From this place the
Quincy Coal Company draws It's supply of
coal. There are Sc Ell shafts, ive of which
are workable and two are worked out, all
belonging to the company There are sew
eral other small shafts OF county banks IN
the vicinity. 1t is the opinion Of your
correspondent that there is not a body of
men anywhere in the United States
MORE IN NEED OF UNION
than are these men. They are virtually
slaves, being bound hand and foot to the
company, as will be seen by the following
CONTRACT
MINERS ANNUAL CONTRACT.
This agreement, made this - day Of -
A. ID. IS, between - Of Colchester, in
the county Of McDonough, and State of Ilh-
noIs, of the first part, aud The Quincy Coal
Company ~ Illinois, party of the second part.
WaneSseth, That the said party Of the first
part has agreed, and by these presents does
agree, to enter into the employment Of the
said party Of the second part as a Coal Miner,
to commence work ON the --- day Of -
1873, and to continue there until the -
day of - 1874. subject to the rules and
regulations hereto appended, which are made
part of this contract, and to ali other rules
and regulations which may be made from
time to time by said company for the purpose
Of regulating mining and other employment
in and about the coal mines Of the said com
pany.
And the said party Of the first part further
agrees not to be absent from work without
leave, except in cases Of sickness or other un-
avoidable contingency that would prevent
him from work. Also, to keep his room in
good working order, as directed by the pit
boss.
The said party of the second part agrees to
pay said party Of the first part five cents for
each bushel of merchantable coal mined BY
him and delivered in pit cars cage At foot
Of shaft during the months of March, April,
May, June, July and August and siA cents
for each bushel 50 mined and delivered as
above during the months OF September, Octo-
Der, November, December, January, and
February. Entries will be paid for at the
Y Il III IA Il