Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-10-28
THE MINING JOURNAL.
FRosTBURG, MD, OCTOBER %, 1876.

whose pOlnC touches tue Wuole hepup-
lie from centre to circumstance.
Weshave ever believed that a ire
public" may have centre" but that
it as necessarily possesses geomet
rical circumstance" is confusing. 1t
is quite easy to see that "a drawn
sword" may "touch" centre" but
the area between the centre and
circumstance is too indefinitely sur
veyed for US to see room for even a
swords point" If they don't be
careful such compositors and proof
readers will spring another system Of
evolution upon an innocent world.
THE question of wages is delicate
one. From our view, if reduction is
sought it is our neighbor more than
ourself who should come down. This
is wrong. The officer of a coal COM
pany whose wages 60 on uninterrupt-
eddy at amounts ranging from 81 900,
to $4,000, is confident the prosper
ity of the region is hindered by
the price paid to miners, who make
money if they have work but make
nothing if they have no work. Like
the doctor, the lawyer, and other pro-
fessional gentlemen, the company Off
GERS think their work mandatory of
high salaries, while the miners labor
is reckoned as rightfully cheap on &C.
Of the aggregate Of muscle as COM
mon and plentiful commodity. 1t is
assumed that anybody may be mi
ner, but every one cannot become a
Q lawyer. So that we are brought
back to the old starting point of quail
i6cation." Every man claims com
pensation corresponding with his
estimate of his own competency !;
all the trouble usually comes from
over-estimate. Then others, with
out plucking the beam from
their own eyes, readily find the meats
Of disproportion in the wages of their
fellow-workmen. But It is quite GER
tain that in very many avocatlons
there is great diversity of ability.
Many others. The same is true of me-
chanics. etc., and for these employers
can afford to pay more, and so on.
But in the matter Of coal digging
by the ton there seems to be little OF
no room for discrimination. The ton
produced by one miner is worth as
much as one produced by another
True, some are more skillful and clear
up better, but, in the main, these
tend to the latter's own good fortune
as we'll as the employers. Wages
here, then, turn not so much on com.
potency as exterior considerations
such as market prices, demand, etc
If we take the farm laborer we will
find his wages do not fuctuate with
the prices of wheat and corn. If rye
is scarce and high next year that will
make no reason for increased wages
and vice persa. Then why should not
the miner enjoy the same prerogative
In this connection we will ask-what
is it worth to dig a ton Of coal
Counting the labor, peril, etc, the
miner swers-slxty- cents. He
ought to know. But the company
says "this is too much; it is out Of
proportion with the prices of goods,
now lower than before the war "a
condition of things which really argue
his lesser ability to buy. Four years
ago he could buy more calico at
twelve cents 4 yard than he can now
buy at six, because he had the work.
but the company can provide work
at less price. The miner thinks
not he entertains the idea that the
existing demand for coal is the maxi
mum for these times, and that he
would obtain no larger number of
tons at 80 or IS cents than at IS.
How far he is right it is difficult to
say, but certain it is he holds good
reasons for his judgment.
But, as heretofore, We favor good
pay for good work, If the COMMUNITY
feeds its COWS well the community
will more likely get good milk end
plenty Of it. The miner, especially
should be paid what it is worth to dig
coal. He should be the last to be cut
down. Railroad carriage needs re-
duction far more strenuousTy; and
official salaries deserve to be reached
first. Then, when nothing else will
do to maintain the prosperity of the
region, the miner will not be slow to
discover his duty in the premises.
Then in all nroha hilitv will ba dana