Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-09-22
THE MINING JOURNAL.
WEIGHTS Of Coal.

ment Of our productive economy. It
il already denounced as a monster
evil wherein the companies rob the
miners and realize NO benefit to them
selves. This was set forth very strong
! " at the two Knapp's meadow mass
meetings recently held, by gentlemen
Of known integrity, intelligence and
ability. 1t was asserted by these
miners that some of the mines load
thirteen tons Of coal upon each hopper,
tho miners receiving pay for only ten
tons. For the truth of this statement
they were willing to stand responsible
ct any and all times.
That there is extended and deep
seated complaint throughout the reg
ion with regard to this matter, there
can be no doubt. and the trouble is
it is well-grounded. We hope to SET
it removed at an early day.
This abuse creptin upon the miners
and caught them unawares. If they
had sternly resisted it in its incipienc,
it could never have grown to sucl.
oppressive proportions the companies
could have sold their coal quite as
we'll. and all parties would have re.
tanned the most important Of all in
= dustrial slements-peace and satisfac-
ton. The companies particularly
would have enjoyed the consciousness
(if corporations without souls can be
said to entertain moral considerations
Of having observed the golden maxim
-"do unto others" etc. In this case
however, some companies have made
the miners contribute to them wha,
no power under the sun could compel
them to concede to the miners. Sup
pose, for instance, the miners should
claim and insist upon $7.l5 pay for
$3.50 worth of laborl Who can
measure corporate indignation under
such pressure, or estimate the confusion
with which the miners would be over
whelmed? Yet this very thing-$7. Is
worth of work for $5.50-has been
and is extorted from the miners by
the companies with an assurance and
persistence that would be remarkable
had they not developed into second
nature.
The origin Of this disturbing system
Is traceable to one company exacting
moro than its due of weight from its
men in order to gain undue advanta-
ges over its rivals in market. Anoth-
er, seeing and feeling the force of such
competition, resorted to the same tao
tics, and another, until well nigh the
entire circle Of companies is involved
in the disreputable practice. The
miners are not only thus injured, but
trade prestige is impaired, and oui
standards put upon doubtful footings:
In the rush for contracts no compan,
knows what another is going to do,
but all keep themselves we'll advised
Of the fact that the only doubtful ele-
ment in the whole business is the "un-
'ertain miners They are uncertain.
because it is not known whether they
will this year submit to the exactions
, suffered last year. Meanwhile, oul
coal business is hawked about in ways
more dubious than diversified trans
actions in multitudinous qualities OF
old rags. Even the bone trade is
more uniform and solid.
shrewdly enough, the miners are
always charged with deplorable dis
position to disturb the equilibrium o:
things. But have they ever revoltea
without having something to revolt
against? Are the companies SO pure
and "unspotted from the world" that
they "can do no wrong" A great
many people think SO, but grea'
many people are frequently mistaken
The reason is, some companies do no.
think much of some other companies
and race Versa. So strong does thi,
feeling become that trade papers have
been hired to write down" obnoxious
competitors, and people have been
employed to traduce them around the
stock boards 1t is known, too, that
they have come down just low enough
to incite a strike, and gone up again
in good time to lay all the deviltry Oh
the miners
These matters are briefly adverted
to to show that miners troubles ar.
rarely original with them. In nearly
! if not ali cases their grievances are
real, but they are so frequent and nu-