The New York herald., 1874-11-27
The COAL REGIONS.
Poverty and Distress Near
the Mines.
Mayor Lotus Letter to the
Herald.
A SAD REVIEW.
SAD REVIEW.
A Letter from President
O'HallOran.
INTERVIEW WITH BISHOP O'HARA.

SCRANTON, Pa, Nov. 25, 1874
Your correspondent has the pleasure Of giving
below two personal letters addressed TO the
HERALD, which were placed in his hands to-day
one from the Mayor or Scranton and the other
from Mr.. James O'Halloran, the President OF the
Miners National Association OF Luzerne county.
Pennsylvania The Mayor, in his communi-
cation, reviews the situation exactly as
It is, and corroborates his statements
by the reports OF his police, while Mr..
Uhall0ran reflects the opinion OF the miners and
shows that their grievances date back 10 1865.
Both letters Will be found to be fair, manly and
dignined. TOO much cannot tie said in behalf OF
the poor men, women and children OF this district,
many OF whom are utterly destitute already, and
all OF whom must become SO before spring. Des-
titute Of means as well as credit, with no work
and with large families to support, these men
must have assistance or they will starve
BISHOP o'HARA'S VIEW.
During the course OF conversation held with
Bishop O'Hara to-day, he said:-
"When l came here frst six years ago, you
could see the miners turning out from their little
hamiets everywhere, come into town merry and
llgnt hearted, ana return home again with their
geese and turkeys and the like: but fail to see
them doing so now. Un the contrary, great
poverty exists In this neighborhood. l know
OF two instances where two men with families earn
only SO a week, and hence are compelled to use
extraordinary economy TO live. You know the
Irish love good healthy, wholesome food but these
swO parties are actually forced to turn away
from food OF this kind and purchase
that which is poor and unpaatable; that
is instead OF fresh bread they are obliged TO buy
stale. The situation Is extremely sad and the
price OF everything very high. Rents in Scranton
are actually higher IN proportion to the popula-
ton than they are in New York or Philadelphia.
! am informed that there are hundreds OF men
about here who do not work more than six months
OF the year. We have relief society, and we will
have to raise much money this season in order
tnat the poor may survive the wlnter.n
A NATIONAL CALL.
As stated in former communication, be-
iieve that before spring the country Will have to
come to the assistance OF these poor people, who
cannot md work. and many OF whom now
forced to either steal or beg their bread. The
destItutlon OF their homes aud the miserable.
Rnimal-ike lie they are forced to live on Shanty
Hill will be communicated hereafter. At present
1 gladly make room for the letters Of Mayor Lotus
ano Mr.. O'Halloran:-
MAYOR LOTUS LETTER.
SCRANTON, Pa, Nov. 25, 1874
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The city OF scranton contains population OF
which depend upon the coal and iron works OF the
city for their support. All the immense coal works
son, thus throwing out OF employment for a period
Of about six months fully tnree-quarters OF the
men engaged therein. Al present the man
only hall and three-quarter time. Working
men and their lamllles are now suffering
OF October unusually large number OF people
were provided for, and yet twice this great num-
ber have been cared for during the present month
OF November. l consider mat it would be
charity TO aid people VINO now md IL Impossible
TO main tain themselves and families, and the
products Of whose toll have been SO beneficial to
the country at large. When 1t Is taken into con-
stderation that wages are only balI what they
we're last year, even those VINO are at work find
1t almost Impossible 10 iced their wives and
children, while the families OF those who are idle
must OF course, become utterly destitute.
The number o. persons accommodated in one
single station house during the month OF October
was l26 The parties were all exceedingly poor
and represented every condition OF misery and
distress. A few were comfortably clad, but
almost ali were so stricken with poverty that their
bodies could not properly be said TO have any
clothing at all. THIS month the indications from
the police reports are tnat we shall
AT the station houses than we had last. We can
only accommodate a certain number ana when
our house is iul. unless they are otherwise pro-
vided Tor, many must be turned away
have no other motive IN addressing you these
lines than TO acquaint you with the actual slJua-
iiOn OF thousands OF our inhabitants. Tney have
no work. they have no money, and they must live.
Respectfully yours, Al. w. LOTUS,
Mayor Of Scranton.
JAMES o'HALLoRAss LETTER
SCRANTON, Pa, Nov. rs, 1874.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
am practical miner, having worked In the
coal mines OF Pennsyyania Tor ten years; at the
present time / am President OF the Miners
the recent grave disturbances have been travel
ling from point to point, and therefore consider
myself competent to address you concerning the
struggle here between capital and labor.
The troubles are not OF recent origin but date
back TO 1865. Al that time the rebellion was over
and the consumption OF coal greatly decreased.
During the war an immense number OF men were
employed IN the mines, many OF whom at the
uawn OF peace found themselves without work.
The hire OF the laborer and miner was suddenly
reduced from twenty TO thirty per cent, while
necessarles OF life, still held their original war
prices Additional reductions were made year
the capacity OF coal cars in the mines was IN
creased, and iayors shown to particular natlonali.
ties. which caused frequent and almost constant
STATE il as iact, because it was
IN 1871 the different operators entered into q
combination and instituted what was known as
. man discharged, either Justly or unJustly BY
one corporation was sent 70 every other, so that
man discharged at any given point could not
Lorer from the anthracite coal field alto
time embracing Luzerne, CARBON, Columbia,
Northumberland and Scnuylkill Counties Pre-.
vious to 1865 and up to the present time the ma
iorlty OF the principal operators Luzerne county
held, In connection with their works, stores in
which were sold all things that e. the iaooring INA man
nour, meat groceries, clothing, boots
and shoes, furniture &c. and though
there was no order issued compelling
men to deal at these companies stores they were
Indirectly obliged to DO so, sometimes beng
compelled TO pay from twenty to thirty per cent
more for given article than 1t could be bought for
elsewhere.
In the Lehigh region the company employed
physician, to whom everv man In the mines was
compelled TO pay rom nlty 10 seventy-nve cents
per month, whether he needed the DOCTORS SER
vices or not. single men paid the former
sum, married men the latter. state all the facts,
tor the authenticity oil which I make an afii-
davit, TO show the injustice which for years and
years mas been dealt out TO the laborer in the
Pennsylvania coal fields. Beng thus systematl-
cally robbed and imposed upon The miners, In 1869,
aw0ke TO the realities OF the situation ana formed
league for their mutual beneht and protection.
for which the state government granted them an
Qdlclal chQrLer. -