The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1875-12-02
THE MINERS TROUBLES IN WYOMING.
A Fair Statement from an Outsider.

The Omaha Herald OF a recent date
has the following on the miners
strike in this Territory:
/, q The Union Pacific railroad company
owns large and valuable a mines
at Rock Springs and Carbon, in Wyo-
ming. These mines are the source oil
supply for the company's own use,
and also Tor great numbers ot people
alnny the line. The miners who have
been EMPLOYED there understood how
NECESSARY these mines were To both
the comuany and the people, and
they haveNdevelOped II disposition to
indulge i'm chronic strikes, that HIS
been source OF annoyance and eX-
pense 20 their employers.
Last summer they had n strike,
and Mr.. Clarke made arrangements
with them which it WAS agreed
should be permanent. They were to
be retained In their places, and were
to get out coal at four cents a bushel.
Yet a month ago he found they were
about to strike again. GOV. Ihayer
learned OF the situation, and went TO
both places 10 study the facts mr HIM
self on the spot A committee of the
miners union called on Supt. Clarke
at Rock Springs, and demanded five
cents per bushel for getting cut The
coal. He very firmly and decidedly
refused to acceue To the demand, and
reminded them of their agreement.
The miners union then ordered q
strike, and work WIS stopped. Gov.
Thayer went into a meeting oil mi
ners and advised them against this
step, and warned them kindly or the
consequences. But the turbulent
spirits controlled the union, and the
sensible men were compelled, for the
moment, TO Join the strike. Superin-
tendent Clarke, realizing the great
value of the mines, and the danger
thar they might be fred or other dam
age done the property, called on Gov.
Thayer for protection. The civil Of
ficers were powerless against the mi
ners' union, and Gov. Thayer had no
militia. lie therefore made requisi-
tipn on General Crook for troops, and
four companies were promptly sent,
two to Rock Springs and w to Car
bon. Gov. Thayer himself made the
assignments, and gave the officers or
ders to protect the property and pre-
serve the peace.
superintendent Clark then brought
one huudred Chinese to Rock Springs
toTake the pidee or the revolving mi
nerS. This euraged the strikers and
feeling mounted at a high pitch. Gov.
Thayer went to the miners meeting
and declared that any man be he
American, German, Irish or Chinese,
no matter o fwhat nationality, should
be protected in his right to labor and
that this rule would be enforced If it
tOuk the full power of the govern
ment. This principle was go sound
and just that it soon worked its way
into The heads ofthe strikers and they
offered to go to work as a body at the
former rate, provided that Supt. Clark
would send back the Chinese. He
answered that it IA too late; that
the Chinese were already at work and
they should remaid. A list was pre-
pared of the miners who would be
permitted to work and the others
the fire brands-were offered free
transportation out of the country.
This has been accepted and men
reached this city utterly destitute who
might, but for their own misconduct
be earning four or five dollars per
day. The mines are now being
operated by Chinese and American
labor and the gangs work together in
harmony.
The Union Pacific could scarcely be
operated without its coal mines and
the people along the line would o
be in distress without this coal. Had
the Wyoming miners been allowed
to go on the rampage for eight months
togeth ar las their brothers did in Penn
syivauia an injury would have been
done to western interests that few
comprehend. We were saved this
experience by the pr, mptmess ability
and courage ofSuperintendent Clarke
and Gov. fhayer, seconded Ivy the
hearty c~n-nnprnfinn of Gen. Crook.