The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
MINERS MISERIES.

THEIR WAGES REDUCED FIFTY-FoUR PER CENT
IN TWELVE MONTHS
ARCHIBALD, Pa, August II. 1877.
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
1t Is plainly evident, on q perusa Of the leading
daes Of tho metropolis, that the uncomfortable griev-
which underie the strike Of the miners Of the
Lackawanna Valley Is not fully understood by the
press aud people of New York, or, II understood has
not found adequate expression in its great pubic
organs. To remedy this want OF correct information
tho subject crave place and hearing on the fol
lowing through the columns OF your widely read
and influential journal The mners OF this val
ley, from Carbondae TO Pttst0n, were and
an industrious, respectable and independe set
OF men in their habits and bearings One year
ago this class OF men made from So to So SO daily.
now they make only fifty cents day, working halt
time, for a full days only 81. Their monthly
pay, when working, amounts to only about $13, and
on this a compelled TO support himself and
family, which sometimes embraces as many ten
dviduas Surely, In such circumstances, there is
need OF the utmost economy, and even Beecher's pre-
scriptiou, prac tiscd would ia to insure abundance
The method by which the present state Of things has
been brought about by The corporations is as follows
Firsl-They reduced the miners ten per cent, and
again, after the lapse OF tow months, ten per cent
moro, and still more alter the third month another
cut or reduction OF fifteen per cent But this even,
is not the worst. One month alter the
last reduction, thinking correctly that they
bad reduced the miners OF this region,
through their impoverished and INDECENT necessities
to complete submisso on to their most tyrannous and
hcarticss oppression, the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company ana me small unchartercd Operators
the same line from CarDoDdac To Oily plant, well
as Filler and Livey, OF the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western line, imposed 2, 700 pounds gross
weight on their mi ners Tor u ton This 10 equivalent
to 3o24 pounds net TOR ton, and rs in itself equal to
reduction OF thirty-hve per cent Now adding ull
these reductions together thoy foot up Gty per
cent thus leaving the mluers, II employed and work
ing full ime only ioty-slx per cent oil tho wages
earned one year ago. But even TINS ALL To add
still further to their grievances, If they not
already inlly oppressed, they are, upon the
inliy and lraudulcnty locked IN the weight
Of coal mined by them each day; as
example, y miner sends out from his chamber a car OF
coal winch weighs Tor instance, J. $40 pounds among
when dock ng master may possibly discover four
Ave pounds OF slate culm, aud arecompensc TO
the company, no instantly docks the from 900
pounds TO 1000 pounds--that ~, instead Of oUV
pounds, the amount oi coal sent out by the MINER he
allows hun only 200 pounds or 500 pounds, Just
his caprice or dishonesty directs him. and TINS dock
rug may be repeated Win every alternate car sent
by the MINER am very frequently is, 1t being The rule
rather than the exception. Here II will be noticed,
the forfeit arbitrarily imposed on the miner Is no
measure proporlioncd to the offence. IL Is nothing
less than systenatizcd piece OF villsny, and is
only one OF the many devices used by corpo-
rations TO rob their miners OF their Just aud
honest rewards. Under what rulc OF equity they
assume To impose on the miner the duty OF
mining 1924 pounds net Tor u ton while they
only give tLee customers =, $40 pounds net Tor a
ton IS paradox that would puzzle ANY but
corporation magnatc TO answer IL to these
already rccounted expressions DO added the charges
frequently bruitcd ABOUT privately by the miners that
they verify believe the scales which their coal Is
weighed are dishonesty aud rauduicny balanced Tor
the purpose OF cheating them, there be any Ian.
gutee sufficiently strong used 10 dcnouncc in adequate
terms tue per ious vainy OF corporation ma nasers
residence OF twenty-five years in this valley, with
the most unboundod facilities OF information every
topic discussed In this letter enables me TO vouch Tor
the accuracy OF every charge put forth in this commu-
nIcation, the irnucucDtly balanced scales alone
copied. Under these circumstances Is 1t wonderful
That there should be strike among the miners Of the
Lackawanna Valley The only wonder Is that they
could 20 long be sufficiently patient endure many
multiplied WRONGS L. j. WHITE.