Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-01-27
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
The Wages Question Discussed
from a Comparative
Standpoint.

Editor Frostb,ug Mining Jounal:-
As there is a great deal being said
at the present time about the pro-
posed reduction through the press and
otherwise, I would respectfully ask a
small space in the columns Of the
JOURNAL to enable me to give my
views as briefly as possible on the sub
ject. ...-..........
l think reduction in the price Of
mining at this time is altogether un-
necessary, unless. the companies are
determined to reduce the miners to
object poverty and starvation, as
nine tenths of the miners in this
region last year barely made living.
We're we to accept the reduction of Is
cents per ton, or over % per- cent. as
proposed by some of the companies,
We would have to dig 80 per cent. more
coal to enable us to earn the same
amount as at the old price--65 cents.
Again, should the companies accept
the proposition of the miners, made
at the meeting held at Lonaconing on
the 10Th inst. of reduction of 10 cents
per ton, or over Is per cent.,we would
have to produce over Is per cent more
coal than we did last year, to earn the
same wages.
think that any one who gives the
subject few minutes serious consid-
Grafton will be convinced that the sole
object of the reduction Is to make the
miner, and all those dependent on him,
make up all of the deficiency in the
lost trade since 1878 If the reduction
should become an established fact,
and the trade of this year equal that
Of 1878, will the miners, and those
with whom they have any CONNER
cial dealings, be benefited? l an
swer, they will not, simply because the
miners will not have one cent more
money to disburse, and the laborers
considerably less.
In an article published in your is
sue of last week, copied from the Min
ing and Engineering Jo,oHal, we are
told that the anthracite coal trade
has fallen off over II per cent. since
1878. viii some of our operators,
or our friend (?) of the Aheganlan,
(who delight to dabble in miners af-
fairs be so kind and SO condescending
as to inform us how this happened
We are we'll aware that the anthracite
miners wages have been considerably
reduced since 1878. I would also re-
quest either of the above parties to in
form US what coal region supplanted
the anthracite
We have also been told that the
Clearfield region has taken away our
trade. Probably this is the case, but
We find that the increase Of shipments
from that region for 1876 to be about
one quarter Of a million tons over
1875; and the decrlse frou our re-
gion to be about half a million tons as
compared with 1875. Assuming that
the same amount of semi bituminous
coal was consumed in 1876 as in 1875
the question here arises, who, or What
coal region furnished this deficit O
cf over 25O,O0O tons? VIII the Min,
ing and Engineering Journal or th'
ANeganian t Il us?
II the parties who are SO anxions t.
reduce the miners would inform them
selves Of the average wages Of the min
ers of the county CONSOLIDATION min
ers especially for the last two or three
years, | think they will be convinced
that We are not overpaid, and that W.
are not making fortune al the bust
ness. PoMPEY.
.-