Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-09-05
THE MINERS UNIONS.
The Compromise With the Super.
intendents Ratified.

ant duty to perform in making the
announcement that the matt r of
difference between the Miners
Unions and the mine managers had
been settled in manner mutually
satisfactory to all parties. As we
said on that occasion, we commend
the spirit of Cancellation which
animated the Superintendent, and
we also commend the wisdom and
forbearance displayed by the com
mittee of the Union. The arrange
ment agreed upon will be equally
beneficial to both sides-the corpo
rstions will be relieved Of the ex-
pense attending the care OF miners
accidentally hurt underground, and
they will be sure OF having compe-
tent and willing mn in their SER
vice; the regular payment of dues
will enable the Union to PROV lie u
sick fund and establish u II ,spi al,
il deemed advisable, where all
their disabled, sick aud INDECENT
may be kindly aud properly taken
care of at a reasonable cost, aud the
general morale of the miners will
be materially improved by this sys-
tenn OF mutual dependence and
benefits. All the Unions have rati-
fed the compromise between the
committee of miners and the super
intendents, and due notice OF the
ratification will be given to-day. On
and after the 10th instant all who go
down in the mines will do so with
the consent of the Unions.
The opinion was expressed by
one of the stock papers of San
Francisco that the miners would at.
tempt to increase wages and shorten
hours OF labor as soon as the rule
prohibiting non-union men working
underground was established. bat
we expressed the conviction at the
time that no such danger existed.
The miners are satisfied with the
prevailing wages and number of
hours constituting o days work,
bu: they very justly claim that the
former should not be reduced. nor
the latter heightened The labor
is ardous, much of it performed in
almost insutferable heat and in
water, and the danger to lite and
limb is attested by the frequent &C
cidenis. involving six deaths and
several lesser casualties during the
past month. The miners we're ad-
monished by certain efforts to es-
tablish a brokerage between them
and their employers that they must
soon submit to reduction of wages
il these practices were continued,
and this menaclng danger is what
led them to make the order that all
employed underground must belong
to the Unions. Their action Was
not grounded in any hostility to
the mining companies, for the in
terosts of both IRE mutual, but it
was based on the first law of nature,
self-preservation, and we again take
occasion to express the firm belief
that there is no probability whatever
of The miners attempting to change
wages or hours
The herdy and intrepid miners
are adding many millions 20 the
wealth of the country every year,
anil they should be suitably re-
varied for the great labor per
formed and the dangers they face
on every shift. Every time aminer
descends shaft he incurs q degree
of danger that should be taken in
to account when wages are agreed
upon. Ii all departments OF com
merce or business every risk is ron-
sidered in the rate charges, and
the same rule il only just in this
case.
Under the new order Of things the
Miners Unions will partake very
much of the character OF other be-
nevoIent orders. Every member in
good stan ing will be paid a fixed
weekly allowance in case ot sickness
or disability. and this certainty of
receiving n 81 lpulaled sum in case Of
need will lift from the heart of every
miner a dread that WAS ever present
A great load will be thus lifted from
the mind of every miner who has n
family dependent upon the wages of
his daily toll. The fortunate turn
the affair has taken will better the
condition of the miner to much
greater degree than was at first an
ticipated.
WELL informed parties assert
that a ledge has been passed
through or p ,netrated by the Sutro
tunnel, that is over twenty feet
uiJa and aaouva ,Ihout 41tM