Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-02-17
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
A Talk with Coal Men.

localities. however, where the laboring
classes depend upon the public works
for employment the depression is most
seriously felt. Our statesmen and
most intelligent people have their
plans, more or less impracticable of
application, showing that the subject
is employing the serious consideration
of the public. The impression is ex-
tant, unhappily, that the depression
has not touched the. bottom. In this
region at least this eseNs to be the
fact, Judging by the reports published
in our local papers with regard to the
intended reduction of the miners wa
ges. The uncertainty hanging over
this matter keeps us in feverish con-
dltion. The miner, the houseowner,
the business man,-all are unsettled
and fearful.
10 analyse the causes Of such action
on the part of our coal companies is a
task too heavy for your correspondent.
He is not posted as to the costs of
production, shipping, etc, or as to the
transactions of the stock boards in
New York, nor does he profess to be
informed of the average prices of coal
as realized in the eastern markets.
But he is satisfied there must be
something wrong when the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad company can buy
coal cheaper at Meyersdale than in this
region, despite the greater distance
from the railroad line, and the supe-
riority Of our product. Here the mi
ner has the advantage of working a
thicker vein-an advantage which,
think, should enter largely into his
calculation of the cost and labor of
digging.
Hence, there seems to be miscalcu-
latlon somewhere, as to the produc-
ton, sale and consumption, Of our coal.
The nearest parties to your CORES
rondent are the producer (miner) and
seller. These two parties are deepl,
interested in the welfare of the trade.
If there is misunderstanding, why not
confer together upon the causes opera
ting the disagreement > Failing in
this, is not the modern plan of arbi-
tration open, in which the 'bottom
facts may be brought up and justly
weighed? Is not this the age of com
promise and Cancellation Why, you
coal field owners, do you not come out
Straightforward and tell the men, who
are willing to work for you, the reason,
far and square, why you cannot pay
more than so much, and so much?
A few Of our miners may be prejudice
ed, unbelieving, excitable and unrea-
sonable, but the majority are rational
and calm. We are all free citizens of
a free country, and aristocracy should
not make distinctions between the
master and his employees. Otherwise
the latter will labor so much better
and more cheerfully. If, with open
ness, honesty and kindliness, the for
mer conferred with the latter, it would
soon be found they had a common in
terest to protect a common cause to
defend-,he maintenance of the coal
trade You coal companies cannot af-
ford to shut up your mines, pay inter-
est for money invested, and heavy
taxes on unproductive property. And
you, fellow miners, cannot stand idle,
or walk about Both of you are COM
PEELED to meet and agree, finally.
Why not at once, to avoid a crisis
when the trade cannot afford it? We
may hope for better times-for smooth
sailing, but we must keep the ship
ahoat. We may look for better times.
for stability of trade, for larger de-
mands for coal, but of what avail will
they be if, torn by wages dissensions,
we are unprepared to meet them?
Your correspondent noticed with
great satisfaction a short time ago the
meeting of a Homecoming coal agent
with his men ito have a talk with
them" No matter what the result
has been, the instance shows that
due regard was had for the rights and
feelings of the men. l hope this is
the beginning of better policy, of
more communion upen questions of
mutual interest and Importance.
The coal operators have no occasion
to think hardly of the miners for COM
bining to maintain wages, because the
former see fit to do a similar thing
through their boards OF exchange, ETC.,
1.